The Apricot Tree

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The Apricot Tree

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Title: The Apricot Tree
Author: Unknown
Release Date: February 7, 2004 [EBook #10976]
Language: English
Character set encoding: ASCII
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THE
APRICOT TREE.

PUBLISHED UNDER THE DIRECTION OF
THE COMMITTEE OF GENERAL LITERATURE AND
EDUCATION,
APPOINTED BY THE SOCIETY FOR PROMOTING
CHRISTIAN KNOWLEDGE.

LONDON:
PRINTED FOR THE
SOCIETY FOR PROMOTING CHRISTIAN KNOWLEDGE;
SOLD AT THE DEPOSITORY,
GREAT QUEEN STREET, LINCOLN'S INN FIELDS;
AND 4, ROYAL EXCHANGE.
1851.
* * * * *
Price TWOPENCE.
_R. Clay, Printer_,
Bread Street Hill.
[Illustration]

THE APRICOT-TREE.

It was a fine evening in the beginning of autumn. The last rays of the
sun, as it sunk behind the golden clouds, gleamed in at the window of a
cottage, which stood in a pleasant lane, about a quarter of a mile from
the village of Ryefield. On each side of the narrow gravel walk that led
from the lane to the cottage-door, was a little plot of cultivated ground.
That on the right hand was planted with cabbages, onions, and other
useful vegetables; that on the left, with gooseberry and currant-bushes,
excepting one small strip, where stocks, sweet-peas, and rose-trees
were growing; whose flowers, for they were now in full bloom, peeping
over the neatly trimmed quick-hedge that fenced the garden from the
road, had a gay and pretty appearance. Not a weed was to be found in
any of the beds; the gooseberry and currant-bushes had evidently been
pruned with much care and attention, and were loaded with fine ripe
fruit. But the most remarkable thing in the garden was an apricot-tree,
which grew against the wall of the cottage, and which was covered with
apricots of a large size and beautiful colour.
The cottage itself, though small and thatched with straw, was clean and
cheerful, the brick floor was strewed with sand, and a white though
coarse cloth was spread on the little deal table. On this table were
placed tea-things, a loaf of bread, and some watercresses. A cat was
purring on the hearth, and a kettle was boiling on the fire.
Near the window, in a large arm-chair, sat an old woman, with a Bible
on her knees. She appeared happy and contented, and her countenance
expressed cheerfulness and good temper. After reading for some time
with great attention, she paused to look from the window into the lane,
as if expecting to see some one. She listened as if for a footstep; but all
was silent. She read again for about ten minutes longer, and then
closing the Sacred Volume, rose, and, having laid the Book carefully
on a shelf, opened the door, and went out into the garden, whence she
could see farther into the lane, and remained for a considerable time
leaning over the little wicket gate, in anxious expectation.
"What can be the reason that Ned is so late?" she said, half aloud, to
herself. "He always hastens home to his poor old grandmother as soon
as he has done work. What can make him an hour later than usual? I

hope nothing has happened to him. But, hush!" she continued, after a
few minutes' pause, "surely I hear him coming now."
She was not mistaken, for in a minute or two Ned appeared, running
quite fast up the lane, and in a few moments more he was standing by
her side, panting and breathless.
"Dear grandmother," he exclaimed, as soon as he had recovered breath
enough to speak, "I have a great deal of good news to tell you. Farmer
Tomkyns says he will employ me all through the winter, and pay me
the same wages that he does now. This is one piece of good news. And
the other is, that Mr. Stockwell, the greengrocer, will buy all my
apricots, and give me a good price for them. I am to take them to him
next market-day. I had to wait more than half-an-hour before I could
speak to him, and that made me so late. O how beautiful they are!"
continued he, gazing with admiration at the tree. "O grandmother, how
happy I am!"
His grandmother smiled, and said she was glad to hear this good news.
"And now come in and have your tea, child," she