CHAPTER IX.
A MARVEL.
Early the next morning Mr Macmichael, as he was dressing, heard a laugh of strange delight in the garden, and, drawing up the blind, looked out.

There, some distance off, stood Willie, the one moment staring motionless at something at his feet, the other dancing and skipping and singing, but still looking down at something at his feet.

His father could not see what this something was, for Willie was on the other side of one of the mounds, and was turning away to finish his dressing, when from another direction a peculiar glitter caught his eye.
"What can this mean ?" he said to himself.

"Water in the garden! There's been no rain; and there's neither river nor reservoir to overflow! I can hardly believe my eyes!" He hurried on the remainder of his clothes, and went out.

But he had not gone many steps when what should he meet but a merry little brook coming cantering down between two of the mounds! It had already worn itself a channel in the path.