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reflection from his own。
Sunday evening Mrs。 Minot sat by the fire； planning how she
should tell some good news she had been saving up all day。 Mrs。
Pecq knew it； and seemed so delighted that she went about smiling
as if she did not know what trouble meant； and could not do
enough for the family。 She was downstairs now； seeing that the
clothes were properly prepared for the wash； so there was no one
in the Bird Room but Mamma and the children。 Frank was reading
up all he could find about some Biblical hero mentioned in the
day's sermon； Jill lay where she had lain for nearly four long
months； and though her face was pale and thin with the
confinement； there was an expression on it now sweeter even than
health。 Jack sat on the rug beside her； looking at a white carnation
through the magnifying glass； while she was enjoying the perfume
of a red one as she talked to him。
〃If you look at the white petals you'll see that they sparkle like
marble； and go winding a long way down to the middle of the
flower where it grows sort of rosy； and in among the small； curly
leaves； like fringed curtains； you can see the little green fairy
sitting all alone。 Your mother showed me that； and I think it is very
pretty。 I call it a 'fairy；' but it is really where the seeds are hidden
and the sweet smell comes from。〃
Jill spoke softly lest she should disturb the others； and； as she
turned to push up her pillow； she saw Mrs。 Minot looking at her
with a smile she did not understand。
〃Did you speak； 'm？〃 she asked； smiling back again； without in the
least knowing why。
〃No； dear。 I was listening and thinking what a pretty little story one
could make out of your fairy living alone down there； and only
known by her perfume。〃
〃Tell it； Mamma。 It is time for our story； and that would be a nice
one； I guess；〃 said Jack； who was as fond of stories as when he sat
in his mother's lap and chuckled over the hero of the beanstalk。
'We don't have fairy tales on Sunday； you know；〃 began Jill
regretfully。
〃Call it a parable； and have a moral to it； then it will be all right；〃
put in Frank； as he shut his big book； having found what he
wanted。
〃I like stories about saints； and the good and wonderful things they
did；〃 said Jill； who enjoyed the wise and interesting bits Mrs。
Minot often found for her in grown…up books； for Jill had
thoughtful times； and asked questions which showed that she was
growing fast in mind if not in body。
〃This is a true story； but I will disguise it a little； and call it 'The
Miracle of Saint Lucy；〃 began Mrs。 Minot； seeing a way to tell her
good news and amuse the children likewise。
Frank retired to the easy…chair； that he might sleep if the tale
should prove too childish for him。 Jill settled herself among her
cushions； and Jack lay flat upon the rug； with his feet up； so that he
could admire his red slippers and rest his knee； which ached。
〃Once upon a time there was a queen who had two princes。〃
〃Wasn't there a princess？〃 asked Jack； interested at once。
〃No； and it was a great sorrow to the queen that she had no little
daughter； for the sons were growing up； and she was often very
lonely。
〃Like Snowdrop's mother；〃 whispered Jill。
〃Now； don't keep interrupting； children； or we never shall get on；〃
said Frank； more anxious to hear about the boys that were than the
girl that was not。
〃One day； when the princes were outahem！ we'll say
huntingthey found a little damsel lying on the snow； half dead
with cold； they thought。 She was the child of a poor woman who
lived in the foresta wild little thing； always dancing and singing
about； as hard to catch as a squirrel； and so fearless she would
climb the highest trees； leap broad brooks； or jump off the steep
rocks to show her courage。 The boys carried her home to the
palace； and the queen was glad to have her。 She had fallen and hurt
herself； so she lay in bed week after week； with her mother to take
care of her〃
〃That's you；〃 whispered Jack； throwing the white carnation at Jill；
and she threw back the red one； with her finger on her lips； for the
tale was very interesting now。
〃She did not suffer much after a time； but she scolded and cried；
and could not be resigned； because she was a prisoner。 The queen
tried to help her； but she could not do much； the princes were kind；
but they had their books and plays； and were away a good deal。
Some friends she had came often to see her； but still she beat her
wings against the bars； like a wild bird in a cage； and soon her
spirits were all gone； and it was sad to see her。〃
〃Where was your Saint Lucy？ I thought it was about her； asked
Jack； who did not like to have Jill's past troubles dwelt upon；
since his were not。
〃She is coming。 Saints are not bornthey are made after many
trials and tribulations；〃 answered his mother； looking at the fire as
if it helped her to spin her little story。 〃Well； the poor child used to
sing sometimes to while away the long hourssad songs mostly；
and one among them which the queen taught her was 'Sweet
Patience； Come。'
〃This she used to sing a great deal after a while； never dreaming
that Patience was an angel who could hear and obey。 But it was so；
and one night； when the girl had lulled herself to sleep with that
song； the angel came。 Nobody saw the lovely spirit with tender
eyes； and a voice that was like balm。 No one heard the rustle of
wings as she hovered over the little bed and touched the lips； the
eyes； the hands of the sleeper； and then flew away； leaving three
gifts behind。 The girl did not know why； but after that night the
songs grew gayer； there seemed to be more sunshine everywhere
her eyes looked； and her hands were never tired of helping others
in various pretty； useful； or pleasant ways。 Slowly the wild bird
ceased to beat against the bars； but sat in its cage and made music
for all in the palace； till the queen could not do without it； the poor
mother cheered up； and the princes called the girl their
nightingale。〃
〃Was that the miracle？〃 asked Jack； forgetting all about his
slippers； as he watched Jill's eyes brighten and the color come up
in her white cheeks。
〃That was the miracle； and Patience can work far greater ones if
you will let her。〃
〃And the girl's name was Lucy？〃
〃Yes； they did not call her a saint then； but she was trying to be as
cheerful as a certain good woman she had heard of； and so the
queen had that name for her； though she did not let her know it for
a long time。〃
〃That's not bad for a Sunday story； but there might have been more
about the princes； seems to me；〃 was Frank's criticism； as Jill lay
very still； trying to hide her face behind the carnation； for she had
no words to tell how touched and pleased she was to find that her
little efforts to be good had been seen； remembered； and now
rewarded in this way。
There is more。