And it was not so very long, as the Squire said before the blossoms
began to wither and fall away; and finally one day Mary looked out
over the sea and saw a little speck upon the waters that looked like a
sail. And when it came nearer and had grown larger, both she and her
mother saw that it was the "Skylark" come home again, and you can
imagine how pleased and happy the sight of the pretty little ship made
them.

And soon after, when Mary had been hugged by her two sunburned
brothers and was clasped in her father's strong arms, she whispered,

"I knew you were coming soon, papa."

"And how did you know, sweetheart?" he asked, giving her an extra
kiss.

"Because I watched the flowers; and the dingle-bells and cowslips and
cockle-shells are all withered and faded away. And did you not say
that, God willing, when this happened you would come back to us?"

"To be sure I did," answered her father, with a happy laugh; "and I
must have spoken truly, sweetheart, for God in His goodness was
willing, and here I am!"




The Wond'rous Wise Man

The Wond'rous Wise Man