to walk on?" he asked.

Aladdin's reply was: "It is called The Road of Troubled Children."

Everychild thought a moment. That was a strange name, certainly. "It
seems a little lonely," he ventured, thinking that perhaps Aladdin
would explain why he did not like the road.

"It is lonely," said Aladdin; "yet all children walk here sometimes.
You see, it is a very long road, so that many may walk on it without
encountering one another."

Neither spoke for a moment, and there was no sound save the wind in the
trees.

Then Aladdin said, "When you have walked here a little longer perhaps
you will not walk so bravely." There was an obscure smile on his lips
as he said this.

But Everychild replied quickly, "Oh, yes, I shall. You see, I shall
remember my friends."

"Your friends?" asked Aladdin.

"Father Time, for one. I wish you could have seen how he took my part!"

Aladdin nodded slowly. "I am hoping he will be a friend to me some
day," he said.

"And then there is the Masked Lady," continued Everychild.