166 History of Gutta-Percha Willie.

 

full of the scents which rise from the earth after a
shower, and the odours of the buds which were
swelling and bursting in all directions, Willie was
standing looking out of his open window into the
parson’s garden, when Mr Shepherd saw him and
called to him—

“Come down here, Willie,” he said. “I want to
have a little talk with you.”

Willie got on the wall from the top of his stair,
dropped into the stable-yard, which served for the
parson’s pony as well as the Doctor's two horses,
and thence passed into Mr Shepherd’s garden,
where the two began to walk up and down to-
gether.

The year was like a child waking up from a
sleep into which he had fallen crying. Its life was
returning to it, fresh and new. It was as if God
were again drawing nigh to His world. All the
wintet through He had never left it, only had, as it
were, been rolling it along the path before Him;
but now had taken it up in His hand, and was
carrying it for a while; and that was how its birds
were singing so sweetly, and its buds were coming
so blithely out of doors, and the wind blew so soft,
and the rain fell so repentantly, and the earth sent
up such a gracious odour.

“The year is coming to itself again, Willie—
growing busy once more,” Mr Shepherd said.

“Yes,” answered Willie. “It’s been all but dead,