Ralph Henry Barbour

“ The garden was well filled when Perkins and the gardener—the latter divided his labors among a number of places—raised the dove-cot and set its white post in the hole that had been dug in the middle of the oval rosebed, while a group of ladies who preferred shade to sunlight looked on from the porch. Allan explained that it had been his intention to have the guests join hands and dance about the dove-cot to the sweet and simple strains of a flageolet, but that he had been unable to find a flageolet in the village. ”

“ I heard of a man who made a great deal of money with them. I think they had peculiar tails or something. At least, they were rather out of the ordinary and brought quite fancy prices. I must come and see them some day, my dear. ”

“ Several of his hearers expressed re- lief, and Allan went on to say that instead of the dancing, the lack of which was to be greatly regretted, they would have tea and refreshments on the porch. The dove-cot was properly admired, and several ladies were heard to declare that they meant to have them in their own gardens. ”