On July 22nd, 1904, the King and Queen, at one of the great reservoirs, turned the tap which admitted the water into the aqueduct, and in due course it rippled to the noisy city so many miles away, and Birmingham drank its first glass of crystal water drawn from the three stupendous cups standing among the silent hills of Wales.
We are indebted for our illustrations to Mr. Thomas Barclay, of Birmingham, and to Messrs. Mansergh & Co., Engineers, of London.
THE FOUNTAIN.
LITTLE spring of water rose
Within a shady grot;
It bubbled up all bright and pure,
And freshened that sweet spot.
Clear as a crystal was its wave,
And I was very sure
The waters were so pure and sweet,
Because the fount was pure.
So when from little lips there flow
Words that are kind and good,
And thoughts that are as fresh and sweet
As violets in a wood,
The reason we can understand,
For, oh, we may be sure
The thoughts and words are pure and sweet
Because the fount is pure.
THE TRIALS OF LECKINSKI.
(Concluded from page [306].)
For about two hours Leckinski had slept in his dungeon, when the door was gently opened, and a woman entered very softly, with a hand shading the lamp which she carried. Then the hand was suddenly withdrawn from before the light; the woman touched Leckinski on the shoulder, and said, in French, 'Would you like some supper?'