acquaintance, her favorite Sunday plaything.

When her mother wanted to secure a quiet hour for herself on Sundays, she
used to give her "Fortune rose" to her little Veronica, and it was sure to
occupy the child for a long time in perfect contentment.

"Look, this is the way you must do," said the child, as she pulled with
her fingers a small strip of paper that stood out from the side of the
picture; suddenly before the astonished eyes of the boy the red full calix
of the rose flew open, disclosing a glittering golden verse that lay in
the centre of the flower. Then Veronica pushed the paper-strip back, and
the rose folded its leaves and was a perfect flower again.

Quite dazzled by this wonderful magic the little boy stared with amazement
at the rose, and then seized it to try for himself.

While the children were playing, Veronica's mother was being laid in her
grave. After awhile Cousin Judith came back into the room. She was
"cousin" to all Tannenegg, though related to no one. She came back to take
the rose, and put it into the hook, which she replaced in the cup-board.
"Sit still awhile longer, children;" she said, "and presently your mother
will come for you. Be good and do not trouble her, for she has enough to
bear already."

It was the little boy's mother she meant, and the children knew it. They
knew also very well, that they must be good and not trouble her, for they
had seen her for two days going about the house with eyes red with
weeping. Presently she entered the room, and took the children one by each
hand, and went to the door with them. She seemed to be struggling with sad
and heavy thoughts. She usually spoke cheerily to the children, but now