improved it; and Mrs. Newton would walk out, leaning on Fanny's arm,
and look at the lilies and roses, and jessamine, and mignonette, and
talk of past times, and of their first garden, and their first
flowers, and of their first knowledge of the God who made them; who
watches the opening bud, and the infant head; who sends his rain upon
the plant, and the dew of his blessing upon the child who is taught
to know and love Him. And Fanny's father, when he joined them, talked
over his trials and dangers from the day that his poor wife lay dead,
and his helpless baby lay in his arms, and then he blessed the God
who had led him all his life long, and crowned him with loving-
kindness.

Three years passed, and Fanny, the little flower-girl, was a fine
young woman. A farmer's son in the neighborhood wished to get her for
his wife; but her father was very sorry to think of her leaving him
so soon for another home.

He spoke to Fanny about it, and said,--"My dear girl, I have no
right to expect you should wish to stay with me, for I never was able
to watch over your childhood or to act a father's part by you."

And Fanny answered, with a blush and smile, "And I, father, was
never able to act a daughter's part by you until now, and therefore I
think you have every right to expect I should do so for some time
longer. I have no objections to be Charles Brierley's wife, and I
have told him so; but we are both young, and at all events I will not
leave you."

"Now," said Mrs. Newton, who was sitting by, "instead of that young
man taking more land, which is very dear about here, would it not be