ELSIE’S PRETTY LADY.

Erste had been ill, very ill; but Elsie was getting better.
She was able to sit at the window every afternoon, and ~
watch the passers-by. There was one lady who went past
Elsie’s window every day, and Elsie always looked out
for her; she was such a pretty lady. One day the lady
smiled at Elsie, but Elsie was so surprised that she did
not smile back again, until the lady had disappeared.
The next day happened to be Elsie’s birthday, and she —
persuaded her Mother to get her dressed very early. “I
should so like a birthday smile from my pretty lady,
Mother,” said Elsie. That day, however, the lady was
later than usual, and Elsie was beginning to feel uneasy,
when she saw her coming up the street, with a basket of
beautiful roses in her hand, “She looks prettier than
ever,” thought Elsie.~ The lady passed. the window, but.
she did not look in to see Elsie’s smile. Poor~-Elsie
was very disappointed. Someone tapped at the door, and
came round the screen beside Elsie’s chair, and_ said,
“Would you like these flowers, little girl?” It was
the pretty lady! I need not tell you. what Elsie said. —