e few clouds
that now and then floated over his skies but made the sunshine seem the
brighter.

And day by day the world grew prettier and pleasanter to him. It had
been very pleasant to be carried out in his nurse's arms or wheeled
along in his little carriage, but when it came to toddling on the nice
firm sands on his own sturdy legs, and sometimes--when nurse would let
him--going "kite kite close" to the playful waves, and then jumping back
again when they "pertended," as he said, to wet his little feet--ah,
that was too delightful! And almost more delightful still was it to pick
up nice smooth stones on the beach and try how far he could throw them
into the sea. The sea was _so_ pretty and kind, he thought. It was for a
long time very difficult for him to believe that it could ever be angry
and raging and wild, as he used to hear said, for of course on wet or
stormy days little Ted never went down to the shore, but stayed at home
in his own warm nursery.

There were pretty shells and stones and seaweed to be found on this
delightful sea-shore. Ted was too little to care much for such quiet
business as gathering stones and shells, but one day when he was walking
with his mother she stopped so often to pick up and examine any that
took her fancy, that at last Ted's curiosity was awakened.

"What is thoo doing?" he said gravely, as if not quite sure that his
mother was behaving correctly, for _nurse_ always told him to "walk on
straight, there's a good boy, Master Ted," and it was a little puzzling
to understand that mammas might do what little boys must not. It was one
of the puzzles which Ted found there were a good many of in the world,
and which he had to think over a good deal in his own mind before it
grew clear to him. "What is thoo doing?" he asked.

"I am looking for pretty stones to take home and keep," replied his
mother.

"Pitty 'tones," repeated Ted, and then he said no more, but some new
ideas had wakened in his baby mind.

Nurse noticed that he was quieter than usual that afternoon, for already
Ted was a good deal of a chatterbox. But his eyes looked bright, and
plainly he had some pleasant thought in his head. The next day was fine,
and he went off with nurse for his walk. He looked a little anxious as
they got to the turn of the road, or rather to the joining of two roads,
one of which led to the sea, the other into country lanes.

"Thoo is doing to the sea?" he inquired.

"Yes, dear," nurse