Once upon a time there was a little old gentleman, very old indeed; his hair was as white as snow, his eyes were dim, and he had no more teeth than a baby. As to his ears, they were no use to him at all, for he could not hear a single word that was said. You might have fired off twenty cannons close to him, and he would not start half as much as when some one comes behind you, and says—Boo!!!

What a pity! because he was such a kind, little old gentleman. If he saw a little child like you, he would smile, and put his hand in his pocket, and take out a piece of candy, and say—"Do you love candy?" then the child would say—just what you would say, if anybody should ask you—you know. Then the little old gentleman would say—"I can't hear you, but I know you love it, so here is a famous piece for you."

One day the little old gentleman thought he would take a walk; so he put his hat on his head, his great coat on his back, his spectacles on his nose, took his cane in his right hand, and off he went.

It was a bright, cold day in spring; the little birds were very busy building their nests, but he could not hear them chirping to each other so sweetly. Indeed, he could hardly see them. Poor little old gentleman!

As he was walking quietly along, he felt something very soft take hold of his hand, and grasp it tight. What do you think it was? He looked down, and there walking by his side, and holding his hand, was a tiny little girl.

She was looking up in his face, with her sweet blue eyes; her little bonnet had fallen back, and the fresh wind was blowing her pretty curls all about.

"My name is Susy," said the little girl; "please take me home; mamma will say—'Where is little Susy?'"

"I can't hear a word you say," answered the little old gentleman.

"Well, then, take me home 'ight away," said Susy; "mamma can hear what I say. Please take me home, grandpa."

The dear little thing called him "Grandpa," because she thought all old gentlemen must be grandfathers.

"I can't hear a word, my poor child; I am deaf. Oh dear! what is it she wants? she must be lost," said the poor little old gentleman.

"Yes, I am lost," said the child; "and mamma wants Susy. She can't do without me. Papa, too. I'm his little mouse. I bring him his slippers when he comes home, and I sing to him about 'Three little kittens, lost their mittens.' Come, grandpa, take Susy home; ah, do;" and she looked up into his face with a sweet, coaxing smile, and clasped his hand tighter with her soft and pretty fingers.

"Oh, dear! oh, dear!" said the little old gentleman, "if I only could hear! But I can't! I am deaf."

So they walked along quite a distance, through the green lane, where the tender grass looked so dewy and fresh, and the first spring violets were peeping up; but no one came in sight, and the little old gentleman in his trouble, looked north, south, east and west, for somebody to come that could hear what the little one said.

All at once he thought, I will ask God to help me; and he said aloud, in a voice trembling with age—"Oh, my Heavenly Father! help me to find assistance for this tender little lamb."

When Susy heard him say that, her rosy lip began to tremble, and a great tear came into each of her blue eyes. Poor little darling! she knew something was wrong, but she did not understand why he could not hear her. She could hear him, and she did not know what it meant, to be deaf.

But now, as if in answer to the prayer, a carriage was seen approaching; and the little old gentleman said—"Don't cry, my little one; here, eat this candy, and don't cry. I will get you home safely."

As the carriage came near, he saw that there were two ladies inside, and he held up his hand and beckoned them to stop. One of them was a kind-looking lady, with soft gray hair; and he said to her—

"Madam, I am deaf. I cannot hear a single word. I was taking a walk, when this little child came up and put her hand into mine. I think she is lost; but I cannot hear what she says. Will you take her with you, and restore her to her home?"

"Certainly, I will, poor little darling," said the kind lady; and the door was opened, and Susy tenderly lifted in, and placed on the lady's lap.

The little old gentleman kissed Susy, and thanked the ladies; then taking off his hat, he made them a low bow, and then they drove away.

"Can you tell me where you live?" said the lady.

"Oh, yes; I live with mamma and papa," said Susy, "and my kitty, and my doll; we all live together."

The lady smiled, and said—"Well, dear, we'll try to find them." So they rode on a little way, and soon came where the houses were nearer each other. Susy looked out of the carriage window, and did not cry any more; because she thought she would very soon see her dear mamma.

Suddenly she screamed—"Mamma! mamma! here is Susy." Sure enough! there was a lady hurrying along; looking in every direction. As soon as she heard Susy, her face lost its troubled expression, and she ran to the carriage door, and opened it, caught her little child, and hugged her to her breast, and said—"Oh, my darling! my darling! Thank God you are safe!" and then she burst into tears—tears of joy and gratitude.

The kind ladies told her how Susy had strayed away into the green lane; and how the little deaf old gentleman had given her to them to take home; and Susy's mother thanked them again, and again; and carried her precious child home.

What a kissing Susy got that evening from her father! and how glad he was that his little girl was there to bring him his slippers! They did not get angry with her—of course not! Dear me! who ever heard of such a thing? She did not mean to do wrong; she had just wandered off, singing a little song, and talking to herself, and picking the pretty butter-cups that grew in the grass; and when she looked up, she could not see her home; she only saw the little old gentleman that she called "Grandpa."

So her papa and mamma talked kindly to her, and kissed her, and made her promise that she would not go so far again—never! never! never! which little Susy was very glad to do, for she had no idea of losing her dear parents. No, indeed.

But after that, she saw the little deaf old gentleman very often; and he grew to love little Susy dearly; and though they did not talk to each other, they smiled; and he always had something in his pocket for her. Guess what it was? Candy? Yes, that was the very thing.

Sometimes he would come to her house, riding on a nice old white horse; and Susy would run out and smooth down his nose; the horse's nose I mean; and the old white horse liked it very much; he would not have bitten her little hand for a thousand dollars; and ever after that Susy, and the little old gentleman, and the old white horse, were called—"The Three Friends;" and that's the end of this story; rorum corum torum. How do you like it?

THE END.