VALLEY

"LET THE PIPER COME" 339The sun was setting over Rainbow Valley. Thepond was wearing a wonderful tissue of purple andgold and green and crimson. A faint blue haze restedon the eastern hill, over which a great, pale, roundmoon was just floating up like a silver bubble.They were all there, squatted in the little open gladeFaith and Una, Jerry and Carl, Jem and Walter,Nan and Di, and Mary Vance. They had been havinga special celebration, for it would be Jem's last eveningin Rainbow Valley. On the morrow he would leavefor Charlottetown to attend Queen's Academy. Theircharmed circle would be broken; and, in spite of thejollity of their little festival, there was a hint of sorrowin every gay young heart."See there is a great golden palace over there inthe sunset," said Walter, pointing. "Look at the shiningtowers and the crimson banners streaming fromthem. Perhaps a conqueror is riding home frombattle and they are hangingto him.""Oh, Ithem out to do honourwish we had the old days back again," exclaimedJem. "I'd love to be a soldier a great,triumphant general.battle."I'd give everything to see a bigWell, Jem was to be a soldier and see a greaterbattle than had ever been fought in the world ;but thatwas as yet far in the future; and the mother, whosefirst-born son he was, was wont to look on her boysand thank God that the "brave days of old," which