Janice, tiptoeing quietly across the shop floor, listened with a rather wistful little smile upon her lips. Like a big bee Hopewell Drugg was humming the words of the song so popular forty years ago when sung by a certain silver-voiced singer: "'Rock-a-bye, baby, on the tree top, When the wind blows the cradle will rock. If the bough breaks the cradle will fall; Down will come cradle, baby and all! Then, it's rock-a-bye, rock-a-bye, mother is near; And it's rock-a-bye, rock-a-bye, nothing to fear. If the bough breaks the cradle will fall; Down will come cradle, baby and all!'" "Oh, Mr. Drugg!" murmured Janice, coming into the back room where the bespectacled storekeeper was playing. "That is so pretty! And the time and rhythm are just perfect, aren't they?" "How-do, Miss Janice?" he said, reddening almost boyishly. "Thank you." "Is Miss 'Rill inside?" Janice asked, for it was difficult to remember to call the storekeeper's wife by any name but that to which she had responded for so many years while she taught the Polktown ungraded school. "You'll find her there," said Hopewell with a gesture of his bow. "Go right in--do." Janice ran across the open porch and into the sitting room. The light-haired and pink-cheeked little woman, who sat sewing by the table, looked up with lips parted for a startled cry. The tiny garment with which she had been busily and so happily engaged was covered flutteringly by her apron while a faint flush dyed her cheeks. "Oh! is it you, Janice dear?" she said and in a relieved tone. "'Tis I, honey," cried the girl, running around back of her. She stooped and kissed the flushed cheek--oh! so tenderly--dropping into 'Rill's lap a little parcel. "What is it? For _me_?" queried the storekeeper's wife, twitching briskly at the knotted string of Janice's parcel. "You are always bringing me some gift, dear girl." "But--but this isn't exactly for you," Janice said with some hesitation. "No?" She unwrapped the tissue covering. Then: "Oh, Janice! how sweet!" She held up the little fleecy cap of Janice's own knitting before her eyes in which the tears trembled. "And bootees, too! You darling!" Janice sat down and they talked happily. Since 'Rill Scattergood and Hopewell Drugg had married, their life together--save for a few weeks--had been very happy. And now a greater and holier happiness was on the way to them. Sharing the secret was one of the sweetest experiences that had ever come into Janice Day's life. "I must put these away," 'Rill said, smiling. "Little Lottie will soon be home from school." "No, work away," Janice said, rising. "I promised Lottie a ride in my car. I'll meet her before she comes in. I suppose she is as inquisitive as a magpie?" "Just about," was the response. "The dear child!"