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ee ee et le, BESS
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Vas SIX YEARS OLD. 2T

Floss ; “they don’t understand our plays. We
like best to go with you, nursie, and you to sit
down with your sewing near — that’s the nicest

1”

way. O nurse!” she exclaimed with sudden
eagerness, “wouldn’t you let us go alone?
You can peep out of the window and see us
every few minutes, and we'll be so good!”

Nurse looked out of the window doubtfully.

“Couldn't you play in the garden at the
back, instead?” she said. “Your papa and
mamma won’t be home till late, and I am
always in a terror of any harm happening
while they are away.” i

«We won't let any harm happen,” said Floss ;
“and we are so tired of the garden, nurse.
There is nothing to play at there. The little
waves are so pretty this morning.”

There was certainly very little to play at
on the green at the back of the house, which
was called the garden. Being so near the sea,
the soil was so poor that hardly any flowers
would grow, and even the grass was coarse
and lumpy. Then there were no trees; and

what is a garden without trees?