He used to like me to be fond of the country, and we'd go hopping in the autumn time down there in Surrey amongst the lovely hills, where the place is all sandy; and there's the big fir woods where you go walking between the tall, straight trunks, with the sweet scent meeting you at every step, as you walk over a thick bed of spines. Then out again, where the heath is all purple, and the whortleberries grow; while every hedge is loaded with the great ripe blackberries--miles and miles away from the smoke, but we never thought of the distance till we were going home. Ah! it was enough to make one grudge the people as had money, allus out there in the clear, bright air; and yet I don't know as they was happier than we when we made our bit o' fire under a sandy bank, and sat there and had our bit of bread and cheese or a drop o' tea. Hopping used to set us up well for some time; and how I used to love it! but the worst of it was when we went back again into the court--so dull and dark, when somehow or other, it allus seemed to come in wet and miserable when we went back home, though the old woman was allus glad to see us, and did all she could to cheer us up; for she never goes out because of her rheumatics. But it was of no use to be low, and we soon settled down again. All sorts we had in our place: finches, and canaries, and larks, and squirrels sometimes. In the spring-time we used to put pairs of canaries in a big cage, and give 'em stuff to build their pretty little nests; and there was one pair one year as I used to watch, and seem to pity so, for there was the nest and the beautiful eggs, and the little soft, downy, yellow-breasted thing sitting week after week, and no little ones came; and then again and again the same. And I couldn't help it, you know; but it allus hurt me, and made me have a good cry; for it made me think of three times when, after begging very hard, 'Arry's mother had let me see a tiny, soft little babe, so delicate and beautiful, with its little hands and lovely pink nails; so pale, and still; there were the little blue veins in the white forehead, and the dimples in the cheeks, while the head was covered with soft golden hair; and the eyes--ah! the eyes were allus the same, closed--closed, and they never looked in mine; while when I put my cheek up against it 'twas allus the same too--cold, cold, cold. Three times; and I shall never have two little lips say "Mother" to me. 'Arry used to say it was just as well, for poor people like us was best without 'em; but it did seem so hard for the little, tiny, soft things never to look upon the daylight, though it was only in a garret up a court.