baby
features.

Baby pointed a small finger at me, "O' ook, gurgle-da," he said, in the
friendliest way; and I sealed our compact with many kisses.

"Dear me, ma'am," observed nurse, eyeing me in a dubious manner, for
probably the news of my advent had preceded me to the upper regions,
"this is very singular; I never saw Master Baby take such a fancy to
anyone before; he always beats them off with his dear little hand."

"Gurgle-da, ook ook," was baby's unexpected response to this, as he
burst into a shout of laughter, and he made signs for me to carry him to
the canaries.

I do not know what Mrs. Morton said to nurse, but she came up after a
minute or two and watched us, smiling.

"He does seem very friendly; more so than my shy pet here," for Joyce
was still holding her mother's gown.

"She will be friends with me too," I returned, confidently; "children
are so easily won." And then, as Mrs. Morton held out her arms for her
boy, I parted with him reluctantly.

There was no need for me to stay any longer then. Mrs. Morton reiterated
her intention of calling on Aunt Agatha that afternoon, after which she
promised to speak to me again, and feeling that things were in a fair
way of being settled according to my wishes, I left the house with a
lighter heart than I had entered it.

(_To be continued._)

[Illustration]

AMONG THE HOLLYHOCKS.

BY CLARA THWAITES.

Sing among the hollyhocks,
"Summer, fare thee well!"
Ring the drooping blossoms
For a passing bell.

Droop the sunflowers, heavy discs
Totter to their fall.
Up the valley creep the mists
For a funeral pall.

Lingering roses woefully
In the cold expire.
Heap the dead and dying
For a funeral pyre.

While the gale is sighing,
While the wind makes moan,
Sigh among the hollyhocks
Of the summer flown.

[Illustration:
"SIGH AMONG THE HOLLYHOCKS
OF THE SUMMER FLOWN."]

NOTICES OF NEW MUSIC.

[Illustration]

STANLEY LUCAS AND CO.

_O, hur vidgas ej ditt broest. Liebe, liebe._ Two Lieder. By Maude V.
White.--The first, from the Swedish, has also an English set of words;
the setting of the second is in German only, being a translation into
that language from the Hungarian.--There is a dreamy charm pervading
both of these little ballads, which will be best appreciated by truly
musical and well-educated singers.

_Two Locks of Hair._ Son