in the neighbourhood contribute flowers for the purpose.

"Is there a Well-dressing at any other place, mother?" asked Alfred.

"I believe not," said Mrs. Keppel; "I never heard of this custom being observed any where but here; though, perhaps, in old times it might be more common. The object of such a festival was, to return thanks to Heaven for a bountiful supply of water: and I think there are few places in Derbyshire, or, indeed, any where high upon the hills, which more abound in wells than this village."

"It is very true," observed Alfred, "that there are a great many wells here: one by the Hall gate, and three on the green, and one near John Fraser's cottage; that is five altogether."

"No one knows," added Mrs. Keppel, “when this custom of Well-dressing began; but it is a very ancient ceremony, and one so pleasing and appropriate in the way in which it is now observed, that I hope it will be long continued."

By this time, the party were come within sight of John's cottage. It was a very nice, neat looking cottage, built of stone, and covered with The little court in front was laid out in flower-beds, edged with double daisies, and

clematis.

not a weed was to be seen. Old Susan Fraser was cutting some pinks which grew near the door she looked up when she heard footsteps, and curtsied to Mrs. Keppel.

"Good afternoon, Susan," said that lady, as she approached; "we are come to see John's board, and we have brought him the flowers which we promised him."

"Thank you kindly, Madam," said the gentle old woman; "John is at work in the house, but his strength fails him sadly, and he cannot get on as he used to do. He will be proud to see you, however; pray walk in." So saying, Susan ushered Mrs. Keppel and the children into her cottage. There they found John seated at the table, and busily employed upon his task. He rose when the visiters entered, and tried to speak; but his cough hindered him, and he looked so pale and thin, that Anna and Alfred forgot their joy in bringing him their present of flowers, and turned to each other with sorrowful faces, whispering, "How very ill poor John must be !" However, when he smiled at them, and looked at the baskets, they came forward to offer their contribution; and, after they had helped to deposit the flowers on Susan's clean white platters, and received John's grate

ful and admiring acknowledgments, they joined their mother at the table, where she was standing, surveying the poor man's handy-work. He had covered a large board over with a layer of wet clay; and his art consisted in sticking flowers of various colours into the clay so as entirely to cover it, and to form words and other devices on the surface. Such boards were the customary ornaments placed over the wells on the day of the festival; and John Fraser had long been esteemed the most ingenious of the villagers in their construction.

He had heaps of wild flowers lying beside him, which the village children had been out that morning to gather in the fields and hedges. He had put an edging of daisies round the frame; and within this border a broad stripe of buttercups, whose bright yellow colour gave the appearance of a gilded picture-frame. The brilliant garden flowers which Alfred and Anna had brought, he intended to use in making the words and ornamental designs in the centre, and the ground was to be filled up with the pale May-flower.

"It is a pleasure to me, my Lady," said John, when Mrs. Keppel praised the design, "it is a pleasure to me to try to do this work once more: I feel it is for the last time; but, thank God, I

am not afraid to die; and if I could but see our poor Harry again, and not leave Susan alone, I should lay me down in peace."

Susan took up the corner of her apron, and, wiping a tear from her eye, said, "The will of the Lord be done!"

Mrs. Keppel expressed a kind interest for the sick man, and asked how long it was since he had tidings of his son. "Two years come Holy Thursday," answered the father, with a sigh. "A young man who was here at the last Welldressing but one, told us that he knew for certain he was gone to sea."

"And God only knows whether we shall ever see him back again," added Susan. "Poor dear Harry! he was a fine boy, though I say it, Mrs. Keppel, and a good son; but he had too great a love for roaming; and after George Ellis came back, who had been to America, he was always uneasy at staying at home."

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Well, Susan," replied the lady, "I trust you will some day see him return, and that he may yet prove a blessing to his father and mother. He certainly was a very well-disposed lad. You remember Harry, do not you, Alfred?"

"O, yes, mother! He made me a wheelbarrow; and he used to be very kind in coming,

after his work was over, in the evenings, to do the hard digging in our gardens for us. I wish Harry would come back again," said Alfred.

After Mrs. Keppel and her children had taken leave of John and Susan Fraser, they went into the village to see the preparations which were there making for the Well-dressing. It was a particularly pretty, neat looking village. The cottages stood shaded by fine old trees around a large green, across which the road ran; and at short distances, as before mentioned, were several wells, inclosed in stone basons, and overhung by trees or surmounted by alcoves.

There was no sign of idleness or poverty in the place. The people were under a good landlord, who lived at the Hall hard by, and who took pleasure in seeing his tenantry thrive, and in having the village kept in good order. As Mrs. Keppel passed along, every one she met accosted her with a respectful "Good afternoon." She stopped at the school, to desire that the children should come to her house on the morning of Holy Thursday for nosegays. Miss Sandford, the mistress, begged she would walk in, to see the large garland which they were making to hang over the Hall gate. Alfred and Anna were quite interested in watching the