which is stealing over
his eyes, has grown thick enough, then we can take it off, and he can
see. But it is not thick enough yet. He must go home and wait."

Dr. Gray was not at all surprised by this. He had known all the while
that Preston's eyes must grow worse before they could be made better.
But how long the boy must wait, the oculist could not say; some months,
at any rate, and perhaps a year.

It was a sorrowful time for the whole family when Dr. Gray took Preston
home with him that night and told the story. Julia put her arms around
her dear brother as if she wanted to hold him safe from this trial.
Loving Julia! if darkness was coming upon him, _she_ would surely be, as
Uncle Ben had said:

"Like a little candle burning in the night."

And what would Flaxie be? I am afraid Preston did not expect much of
Flaxie, she was such a flyaway child.

She cried bitterly now, and said:

"Oh, I wish 'twas _my_ eyes, 'cause I'm a naughty little girl; but
Preston is splendid!"

Milly didn't say a word, she only laid her soft cheek against Preston's
hand to let him know she pitied him.

"There, there, don't feel so bad, all of you," said he, holding up his
head grandly. "I can bear it, you see if I can't."

How they all loved him for that! And he did bear it nobly and patiently,
and the whole family helped him. That is one comfort of having a father
and mother, and brothers and sisters; they always do help you bear your
troubles.

"Let's read to him," said Milly to Flaxie. So they read,--first one of
them, and then the other,--whenever he wished. This would have been very
pleasant if he had liked "nice books" such as little girls enjoy; but
no, he chose stories of lion-tamers, and sea-serpents, and wild,
dreadful Indians.

"Isn't it just awful?" said Flaxie to Milly; but they read away like
young martyrs.

On the whole, as the family was so large, and every member of it so
kind, Preston had a very good time, and seldom thought of his eyes.

One day the twin cousins were in the shade of the apple-blossoms, in
what was called the "orchard garden," driving a carriage full of dolls
to a "wedding picnic." Flaxie's dolls led a very gay life, and perhaps
that was one reason they all faded so young.

Just as "Christie Gretchen" was alighting from the carriage, assisted
by her young husband, "Dr. Preston Smith," and just as Milly had
sweetened the lemonade exactly to the bride's taste, and was cutting the
cake