24 CHRISTMAS IN SWITZERLAND.

sign of a contented disposition), and even went so far as to
sing a verse or two of a merry old song, which quite delighted
both the child and himself.

As they got near home, however,
and he began to think how
differently things would look
there to what they had done
under the beech-tree, a kind of
heaviness seemed to steal over
him, which Marie strove to
chase away by cheerful con-.
versation; and so they jour-
neyed on until they turned a
corner which brought them in
full view of their cottage
home.

But what a strange sight
met their eyes! How changed
+1, the appearance of everything!
The fence round the garden,
in front of the cottage, which

\

Ky, \ : y had been quite broken down, had
( \ \\y \ 4 aS disappeared altogether, and a spick

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‘

\\\ == and span iron rail fence stood
> there in its place. The weeds, which
Marie had not had time to «nish
plucking up, were gone, every weed of them, and the ga::ien
was as neat and tidy as if a regular gardener had been looking
after it, every day in the week. And then the house! Instead
of leaning a little over on one side as it used to do, tempt-,
ing the cruel wind to drive the cold rain against it, and to

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