his arms and kissed him. "Do you
think that anything in the whole world could make me give you up, my
little Philip?" he said. "You have been a great worry to me sometimes,
but you are one of my very greatest blessings, and I love you--oh, my
child, you will never know how much!"

A great, happy "bear-hug" almost choked him, as Phil's arms were
clasped about his neck. Then he said, "I think we understand each
other all the way around, now. Shut your eyes, little man, and I'll
rock you to sleep."

Phil snuggled down against him like a little bird in a warm nest, and
there they sat in the firelight together. The old rocking-chair threw
a giant shadow on the wall as it swung slowly back and forth, back and
forth. "_Creakity-creak_," droned the rockers. "_Creakity-creak_,
_squeakity-squeak_," and to the music of their drowsy song Phil fell
fast asleep in his father's arms.

CHAPTER VIII.

DAGO BIDS FAREWELL TO THE MIRROR-MONKEY.

Hey there, Ring-tail, I've just slipped in a moment to say good-bye.
I'm off for California in the morning. It seems that I'm at the bottom
of all the trouble in this family, so I'm to be shipped by the fast
express. But you needed waste any sympathy on _me_. I am going back to
the old California garden among the vines and the pepper-trees, where
I shall miss all the winter's snow and ice that I have been dreading.

The boys do not feel that they are giving me up entirely, for they
will see me once a year when they visit their grandfather. I am sorry
to leave them, but the kindest master in the world couldn't make me as
happy as the freedom of the warm, wide outdoors. Next time you hear of
me I shall be back in that land of summer, watching the water splash
over the marble mermaid in the fountain, and the goldfish swim by in
the sun.

Think of me, sometimes, Ring-tail; not as you have known me here,
caged in a man-made house, and creeping about in everybody's way, but
think of me as the happiest, freest creature that ever swung from a
bough. Free as the birds and the bees in the old high-walled garden,
and as happy, too, as they, when the sunshine turns to other sunshine
all the Gold of Ophir roses. Good-bye! old fellow!

[Illustration]

THE END.

Works of Annie Fellows Johnston

THE LITTLE COLONEL SERIES

The Little Colonel $ .50
The Giant Scissors .50
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(The three stories a