'Ah, happy hills! ah, pleasing shade!
Ah, fields beloved in vain!

Where once my careless childhood stray'd,
A stranger yet to pain.'

GRAY.

RANK LESLIE was the eldest of six children. I think you might go a

very long way in search of a happier

family than this somewhat noisy little group, who lived in a pretty country place in Somersetshire. Here, among the sweet songs of birds, the spreading foliage of ancient trees, and the blossoming of sweet wildflowers, these dear

little people were born, and had as yet spent the greater part of their young lives. Frank was between ten and eleven years old at the time my story begins. He was a fine, merry little fellow, possessing no remarkable qualities to distinguish him above other boys of his age, unless noise might have formed a distinctive characteristic, for I think that he and his pet sister Fanny were almost unrivalled in this peculiarity.

Fanny was eight years old, and a little girl so full of life and fun, that she often went by the name of 'Funny Fanny.' She and Frank were almost inseparable, for she was a very loving, good-natured little girl in addition to her lively qualities; and as their other brothers, Hubert and Gordon, were only three and four years old, Frank was glad to have such a pleasant companion in his play-hours.

There were two other sisters,-Blanche, a very delicate child of six, and Minnie, a fat, merry baby of about a year old; but these two children were unable to afford much companionship to their elder brother and sister.

Mr. Leslie was the only medical man resid