o harvests. You have
sixpence, I have twopence; with that let us buy all the soldiers we can,
and plant them at once; then they may reach Port--Port Alfred--in time.'

'Port _Arthur_, Father said.' murmured Willie, timidly, feeling,
however, that Ella was decidedly a genius. Yet he had still an objection
to make. 'The soldiers should be Japanese,' said he. 'When I asked
Father why our soldiers did not help the Japanese, he answered that we
were at peace with the Russians, and the army dared not go without the
permission of the Government. So, even if the soldiers grew, they would
have to stay in England. Perhaps it would be better to send the boxes
there to the Japanese. They could put the soldiers into the ground and
use them as soon as they come up.'

'No, stupid!' exclaimed Ella, rudely. 'You'd give our secret away if you
did that. Besides, if you planted a turnip in a cabbage-field, that does
not make it a cabbage. The men would be English just the same. Instead,
we can buy a box of Japs and paint those you have, so that no one will
ever think they are English soldiers. Mind you plant them with all their
arms, so that they may grow up all ready for the war.'

'And, Ella, what do you think?' asked Willie, a little hesitatingly;
'should I plant one of my ships too, so that they may sail away at
once?'

'Do!' replied Ella, enthusiastically. And Willie felt his spirits
return.

That evening, in the twilight, the roses were awakened from their dreams
by the sound of children's voices, and by strange movements at their
roots. If ever roses were indignant, I am sure these were so then. What!
Their sweet, fragrant, dewy earth invaded by rough soldiers! The soil
around their roots violently scraped away to make room for Willie's
ship! What did the fair flowers know of war and the Far East? How could
they guess that Ella was a genius? The Wind, it is true, told them many
things he saw in his wanderings, but he did not care to talk about
violence and bloodshed to things so sweet.

But the children did not hear the roses' sighs, and did not try to
explain. Had they done so, perhaps they would have heard some murmured
words, 'Sow seeds of peace! sow seeds of peace!' The moon saw the
children and smiled, thinking perhaps that they ought to have been born
in her land. Anyhow, the great work was soon accomplished, and the
children stole back to their room full of hope and excitement.

A sudden thought made Ella tremble as s