30 WILD FLOWERS OF THE PACIFIC COAST. 



which a wooden cross stood out plain and clear against 

 the sky. 



"You're not going to take me there?' cried the boy, and 

 his little hands clutched her arm. 



By this time we reached the platform, and the huge buildings 

 under the cross were before us. The woman picked up the bag, 

 and taking the child by the arm they got off the train. I followed. 

 Neither the woman nor the boy seemed to notice me. He, 

 poor child, saw nothing but the woman's face and the buildings. 



A path led up to the entrance of the inclosure, and the 

 woman, taking the child by the hand, walked rapidly ahead. 



" Oh ! what have I done ? Please don't take me there," I 

 heard the child saying, but the woman never spoke, but walked 

 quickly on. As she reached the gate it opened as if by magic, 

 and the two disappeared behind it. 



I stood in the path with an ache in my heart for the child 

 behind the gate, who did not know "what he had done," or 

 " why he was taken there." 



My situation was rather ludicrous. I stood there alone, 

 not a person to be seen. I walked back to the little platform 

 and saw on a poster that the train would not return in six hours. 



Green fields were all about me, arid in the distance a piece 

 of woods that looked cool and inviting. 



I walked over to them and found these pretty blue 

 flowers, with the dew still upon them. As I sketched them 

 the dew disappeared, and so, we will hope, the tears did from 

 the face of the dear little child. 



