All in a garden fair; the simple story of three boys ... - University Library

ALL LN A GARDEN FAIR, 235
There ^vere niotliers and wises—tliousauds
of them. Presently one came to him, her baby
in her arms, and told her tale, Avliich made his
fingers to clench and his teetli to grind together.
Then she fell back weeping, and was lost among
the waves of faces around her. And another
and another : and
another.
Always sadness, always disappointment,
always unhappiness ; was there then no glad-
ness in this u[reat Citv ?
There w^ere lovers—thousands of lovers,
and presently a pair came out, a workgirl and
a workman ; he listened to their tale and
understood that there is one thing always which
remains to us, even in meanness and monotony,
which is love.
As the visions grew, as I lie ])iippets of
his fancy became real, S(^ tlie young man's
daily task in tlie City became more intolerable,
and he longed, like a prisoner, for tlie hour of
his deliverance. For he could now think of
nothing but the figures which moved per-
])etually l)efore him, acting and talking before