the child again, coaxed it to look--coaxed it with tears streaming now,
and with a thrill that would not be denied--

"England, baby--England!"



JOHN AND THE GHOSTS.


In the kingdom of Illyria there lived, not long ago, a poor wood-cutter
with three sons, who in time went forth to seek their fortunes. At the
end of three years they returned by agreement, to compare their progress
in the world. The eldest had become a lawyer, and the second a
merchant, and each of these had won riches and friends; but John, the
youngest, who had enlisted in the army, could only show a cork leg and a
medal.

"You have made a bad business of it," said his brothers. "Your medal is
worthless except to a collector of such things, and your leg a positive
disadvantage. Fortunately we have influence, and since you are our
brother we must see what we can do for you."

Now the King of Illyria lived at that time in his capital, in a brick
palace at the end of the great park. He kept this park open to all, and
allowed no one to build in it. But the richest citizens, who were so
fond of their ruler that they could not live out of his sight, had their
houses just beyond the park, in the rear of the Palace, on a piece of
ground which they called Palace Gardens. The name was a little
misleading, for the true gardens lay in front of the Palace, where