Almost past speaking, but he understands."

"And old Shon Shones we teased so with the leek?"

"Dead." "When?" "December." Michael did not speak,

But muttered "Old Jones dead." A minute passed.

"What came to little Sue, his girl?" he said at last.

"Got into trouble with a man and died;

Her sister keeps the child." His hearer stirred.

"Dead, too? She was a pretty girl," he sighed,

"A graceful pretty creature, like a bird.

What is the child?" "A boy. Her sister heard