untiring wing, chasing
each other, as it were, or teaching their young to fly. As to the
Robins, they hopped in at the open door under the rustic porch, just as
if they belonged to the place, and were sure of a welcome, which indeed
they were! And that porch--what a cosy corner it was, with seats on
either side, inviting weary feet to rest! the sunbeams were always
playing bo-peep through the leaves which hung clustering around; the
Honeysuckles and Clematis decking it, too, with their blossoms,
scattering their delicious perfume the while. But I always thought the
spot looked brightest when little Susie was there--she who was the very
sunshine of the old home! And how they all loved her, from the
white-headed grandfather down to the little ploughboy, who brought her
all the poor motherless or sick creatures he found on the farm, were it
but a half-fledged bird or a stray kitten, certain of her thanks, and a
sweet smile; and as to her three big brothers, who had such influence
over them as little Susie? for even when they were disputing as to whose
turn it was to ride Brown Bess (the joint property of the children),
Susie was always chosen umpire to decide the important question, and
they abode by her decision.

Why, it was Susie who saved us from being ruthlessly destroyed! for it
happened that one day old Peter was at work in the garden, and, to make
the place 'a bit more tidy,' as he said, was proceeding to cut us off
from the wall.

'They bain't o' much account,' he muttered, sharpening his hook; 'not
loike them there Roses maister sets sich store by, and thinks so much
on.'

Certainly it seemed very sad that, because we were merely 'common
flowers,' our lives were to be cut short long before the appointed time;
we had endeavoured to bloom as brightly as our more refined sisters, and
in sunshine or shower had tried our best to look gay, and, I think, had
succeeded, for we do not shut our petals as if we were sulking when
dark clouds come, but keep them always open. But the fiat had gone
forth--old Peter was the stern arbitrator of our destinies! and, feeling
that our fate was inevitable, we sighed a last long farewell to each
other, just as we saw him raise his sharp hook to cut us down. At that
moment, so 'big with fate' for us, who should come into the garden,
singing for very gladness like the birds themselves, but little Susie;
the sunlight was playing with her waving hair, her eyes sparkled as the
dewdrops