Francis threw himself down on the sofa and watched the bird as it swung back and forth in the apple tree, and by and by he dropped asleep. When he woke up he ran to the window to find the robin.
"Oh, he's gone," he said, very disappointed. "Did you hear what he told me, mamma?"
Mother shook her head.
"Why, he said to me that little boys can't sing with their lips as sweetly as birds can, but they can sing with their hearts: are you sure you didn't hear him, mother?"
"I'm sure as sure," said mother. "But I know that's what you heard him say in your dream for it's true as can be."
"What did he mean, mother?"
"He meant that in spite of rain, little boys can be happy, just as the birds are, and can carry smiling faces to show they have singing hearts."
Francis laughed happily. "I'll try to have a singing heart. Oh, the sun's out, and I'm going out to find the robin."