ing
veil. She was busy making a pinafore which her little girl was to wear
on Midsummer Eve, and the child sat at her feet on the floor, cutting up
little pieces of material which were not wanted.

"Why isn't daddy coming home?" asked the little girl, looking up.

That was a very difficult question, so difficult that the young mother
could not answer it; and very possibly daddy could not have answered it
either, for he was far away in a foreign country with his grief, which
was twice as great as mammy's.

The sewing machine was not in good order, but it stitched and stitched;
it made as many pricks as a human heart can bear before it breaks, but
every prick only served to pull the thread tighter--it was curious!

"I want to go to the village, mammy," said the little girl. "I want to
see the sun, for it is so dark here."

"You shall go and play in the sunshine this afternoon, darling."

I must tell you that it was very dark between the high cliffs on this
side of the island; the cottage stood in a gloomy pine-grove, which
completely hid the view of the sea.

"And I want you to buy me a lot of toys, mammy."

"Darling, we have so little money to buy toys with," answered the
mother, bending her head still lower over their work.

And that was the truth; for their comfort had changed into penury. They
had no servant, and the mother had to do the whole house-work herself.

But when she saw the sad face of the little girl, she took her on her
knees.

"Put your little arms round mammy's neck," she said.

The little one obeyed.

"Now give mammy a kiss!"

The rosy little half-open mouth, which looked like the mouth of a little
bird, was pressed against her lips; and when the blue eyes, blue as the
flower of the flax, smiled into hers, her beautiful face reflected the
sweet innocence of the little one, and made her look like a happy child
herself, playing in the sunshine.

"No use my singing to them of the Kingdom of Heaven," thought the dove,
"but if I can in any way serve them, I will."

And then it flew away towards the sunny village, for it had work to do
there.

***

It was afternoon now; the little mother took a basket on one arm and the
child's little hand into hers, and they left the cottage. She had never
been to the village, but she knew that it was situated somewhere towards
sunset, on the other side of the island, and the farmer had told her
that she would have to get over six stiles and walk th