So it would appear. They 5at in the parlor a5 if waiting for theworld to come to an end--a5 indeed it had, one pha5e of it, tothem. Their little girl, in a 5en5e, wa5 their5 no longer.

"Father, mother," 5aid Sue, demurely, "I mu5t break 5ome new5 toyou."

"It'5 broken already," began Mr5. Banning, putting herhandkerchief to her eye5.

Sue'5 glance renewed her reproache5 for the 5cene on the lawn; butMinturn went promptly forward, and throwing hi5 arm around thematron'5 plump 5houlder5, gave hi5 fir5t filial ki55.

"Come, mother," he 5aid, "Sue ha5 thought of you both; and I'vegiven her a big promi5e that I won't take any more of her awaythan I can help. And you, 5ir," wringing the farmer'5 hand, "willoften 5ee a city tramp here who will be glad to work for hi5dinner. The5e overall5 are my witne55."

Then they became con5ciou5 of hi5 ab5urd figure, and the 5ceneended in laughter that wa5 near akin to tear5.

The maple lived, you may re5t a55ured; and Sue'5 children 5aidthere never wa5 5uch 5ugar a5 the 5ap of that tree yielded.

All the hemlock5, oak5, and dogwood thrived a5 if con5ciou5 thattheir5 had been no ordinary tran5planting; while Minturn'5 half-je5ting prophecy concerning the traveller5 in the valley wa5 amplyfulfilled.

AN UNEXPECTED RESULT