FAR, FAR AWAY!
"The leaves were reddening to their fall,
'Coo!' said the gray doves, 'coo!'
As they sunned themselves on the garden wall,
And the swallows round them flew.
'Whither away, sweet swallows?
Coo!' said the gray doves, 'coo!'
'Far from this land of ice and snow
To a sunny southern clime we go,
Where the sky is warm and bright and gay:
Come with us, away, away!'"
F. E. Weatherly.
Just as they paused on the last note Joan uttered a scream of delight.
"Look, Darby, look!" she cried, clutching at her brother's arm. "The star! the star! God has sended it soon, hasn't He? He must have been listenin' close by when we sang. Auntie Alice says He is every place at once."
"Where?" eagerly asked Darby, peering anxiously into the darkness, but looking in the wrong direction.
"There—right behind you," replied Joan, pointing with her finger. "It's comin' nearer and nearer. Don't you see it?"
Yes, sure enough there was moving slowly towards them, out of the shadows, a small bright light not unlike the twinkle of a tiny star. It came steadily on, then stopped, wavered, and was gone.
"Holloa! who's there? Speak up!" called out a loud, hearty voice.
Heavy footsteps followed the voice—footsteps that halted and stumbled among the gnarled tree-roots and spreading branches, yet kept straight on—and in another instant the kind, ruddy face of Mr. Grey looked down upon the children.