d dug a deep trench, and filled it, he
was much disappointed to find that the water sunk into the earth; and even
when he had lined it with stones and oyster-shells, there was only a very
faint trickling stream, and not the brimming river, that he had fancied to
himself; so then, in disgust, Arthur levelled the banks of his river, and
determined to plan his garden anew. At present it was really a pretty one,
though perhaps a little too bright, with hollyhocks and geraniums. Two
very large roses stood at the entrance, and the scarlet geraniums were
blooming there. There was a gravel walk through the middle, that led up to
a grotto, and the ferns that were growing there were well watered. Arthur
would have help from no one, in the care of his garden; and considering
this, its neatness did him great credit.

Mrs. Estcourt thought so too, as they stood together inside the enclosure,
which was all his own.

"Why, Arthur, I think you had better turn gardener, when you choose a
profession," she said.

"A gardener, aunt! Well, I shouldn't mind. But I am not quite sure I shall
not be something else."

"What would that be?" asked his aunt.

"Well, I think I might be a missionary."

Then he seemed to be thinking; and after some little time, he said, "I
wish he would not talk like that, I wish I could make him see."

"Who, dear?"

"Edgar North, auntie. I always thought he was very cross and disagreeable,
but it is not that, at all. It is because he is so unhappy. I do wish I
had thought of one other thing to say to him."

"What was it, Arthur?" asked his aunt.

"Why, you know, he is so frightened. Fancy," and Arthur's voice was soft
and low, "he is afraid of the Lord Jesus Christ. That must be, because he
does not know Him, must it not, auntie? And I wish I had said to him, 'If
the Lord Jesus were to come walking towards us now, and sit down here,
would you be afraid to see Him?'"

"And would not you, dear Arthur?" asked his aunt.

"Why, no, Aunt Daisy! How could I? The little children that He took up in
His arms were not. I am sure I should not be afraid."

Mrs. Estcourt did not say anything, but she was thinking of what Arthur
had said. It seemed to her then, that it must be very sweet to be one of
the little children, that the Lord Jesus had blessed; for she often felt
very lonely and weary. Some people--those who only care for the things
that gold can bring--might say she had everything that she wanted; but her