Page 100 - Fairbrass

a goodly bunch, and then, well sprinkled
with golden buttercup and dandelion dust,

sat down to arrange his nosegay* And as
he sat and worked, his mind dwelt on the

Big House on the side of the Hill, and the
lonely old man who lived in it; and he

became fuJl of a strange longing to wander
up there and see him.

So strong became this desire, that by
the time his flowers were all in order, and

their stalks duly trimmed and tied together,

his mind was made up, and carrying them
in his hot little hand, he started on this bold

pilgrimage. It was not long before he
stood under the shadow of the venerable

and stately gray stone house that had been
the home of his forefathers for generations.

It was still so early in the morning that most
of the blinds were down, but one of the

doors was open, and in the distance he could
hear the talk of servants. It was on a lawn

as smooth and soft as velvet that he stood,

half circled by yew-trees cut by man into
the oddest shapes. The diminutive effigy