sure it is lovely."

Her aunt only laughed, and would not tell.

"Just as soon as I can get them," she said, "I'll call a meeting of
the Order."

CHAPTER XVI.

SILVER KEYS.

"I wonder what they are going to do this afternoon," said little John
Armstrong.

He sat in his usual place in the bay-window, with his drawing
materials and his books beside him, but the doings of certain girls
and boys who constantly passed to and fro interested him more than any
story book.

John was twelve years old and had never had a friend of his own age.
That sad disease paralysis laid its hand upon him when he was only a
baby, so instead of going to school, and running and playing like
other children, he sat in a wheeled chair and looked on.

He was not exactly unhappy, for he had a quick, bright mind, and a
love of knowledge which made his lessons a pleasure. Everything that
love could suggest was lavished upon him by his father and mother, but
they did not guess how he longed for the companionship of other
children.

They feared the contrast between himself and them would only make him
miserable. So in the eighteen months since Dr. Armstrong had been
preaching in the church on the corner, John had hardly spoken to a
child. The M.Ks. and the G.Ns. never dreamed how eagerly they were
watched that winter. Some of them seeing him always at the window fell
into the way of nodding to him as they passed.

He knew their names from hearing them call each other, and his
favorites were Louise, Ikey, and Jim.

On this particular Saturday afternoon John felt that something unusual
was going on. Dora passed with her work-bag, to be met at the
Hazeltines' gate by Bess and Louise, and they seemed to have something
very interesting to talk about as they crossed the street together.

A moment later Elsie and Constance went up the Brown house walk. This
happened every Saturday, but when nearly an hour had gone by Jim
Carter appeared. His whistle brought Ikey, and then Carl and Aleck,
and they stood talking almost in front of John's window. How he did
wish he could hear what they said! Presently they were joined by Will
and Fred, and finally by Mrs. Howard, who had a package. Each of the
boys apparently offered to carry this for her, but she declined. Then
they, too, crossed the street and disappeared within the Brown house.

This was all John saw, except that Louise and Ikey came and sat in the
window and seemed to be laughing, but