soon solved. Who could mistake those "Strange and beau
tiful things upon which the morning sun above, a wondrous
beauty flings?"
With a bound he was out of bed, and for confirmation of
his suspicions, glanced out of the window. His heart was
pleased at the sight of the cold and frosty snow, for with it
came visions of sleighing and skating. Seeing the old man
below he shouted, "Hello, so late I What?" glancing at the
clock, "Nine o'clock ! Oh, why didn't grandmother wake
me ?"
While hastily dressing, he bestowed more than an occa
sional glance upon the mantelpiece, where his guardian an
gel rested serenely. It was the face of a girl, sweet almost
as the face of the Virgin Mary, "The beauty of which melts
and subdues the gazer." Turning and addressing the pic
ture, he murmurs joyfully to himself, "This is the day we
go skating together, for at the first snow I was to come
around for you." His eyes sparkled and lie thrilled with
the thought.
With a bound of exultation, he rushed down the stairs.
Hieing to the kitchen, lie met his grandmother, and his face
became illuminated with a look of reverence and love. With
great tenderness, he kissed the wrinkled cheeks and smooth
ed the snow-white hair, exclaiming rapturously, "Who has
such a good grandmother as I !"
"Oh, you foolish boy," she replied smiling,
think I was your sweetheart."
"So you are, Grandma." And then thinking of the oth
er one, lie added truthfully, "Except—"
"Except who? Except . May? " and her bright eyes
sparkled, for she loved to tease the boy.
"Come now, Grandma, and give me sonic breakfast. I
am as hungry as a bear."
Breakfast was ready in a moment, and together they
entered the pleasant dining room,—pleasant to her, because
it commanded a view of the whole street and consequently of
"One would