J. COLE. 85

hours our little fellow slept peacefully, and
so gradually came back to life.

We never quite knew the particulars of the
robbery, for, when Joe was well enough to
talk, we avoided speaking of it. Dr. Loring
said, “The boy only partly remembers it,
like a dream, and it is better he should for-
get it altogether; he will do so when he gets
stronger. Send him home to his mother for
a while; and if he returns to you, let it be
to the country house where there is nothing to
remind him of all this.”

Joe did get strong, and came back to us,
but no longer as a page-boy; he was under-
gardener, and his time was spent among his
favorite flowers and pet animals, until one
day Dick wrote to say his father had bought
more land to be laid out in gardens, and if
Joe could be spared he and Dick could work
together, and in time set up for themselves
in the business.

‘So Joe left us, but not to forget us, or be
forgotten. On each anniversary of my birth-
day I find a bunch of magnificent roses on
my breakfast table — “With J. and R. Cole’s