The next day Farmer Tomkyns told Ned that in consequence of his good behaviour since he had been in his service, he was going to raise his wages. "Now," said he to himself, "I shall very soon, I trust, be able to get grandmother a cloak with my own earnings." This thought, and the prospect of having another apricot tree, made him feel happy; and so he told his grandmother. "But, granny," added he, "do you know there is something that makes me feel happier still than the thought of the cloak or the apricot tree either; and that is poor Tom's good fortune, and"---- He stopped and hesitated. "What were you going to say, my dear?" inquired his grandmother. "And knowing that his good fortune is partly owing to me, I was going to have said, grandmother," answered Ned, blushing; "only it sounds like praising myself." "It is very natural that you should feel glad at this, my dear boy," rejoined his grandmother, smiling kindly; "for there is no pleasure so great as that we feel when conscious of having contributed to the welfare and happiness of a fellow-creature." R. CLAY, PRINTER, BREAD STREET HILL. End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Apricot Tree, by Unknown