" wonderful journey up air," thought the bottle; " new way of sailing, and here, , no fear of striking against anything "

Thousands of people gazed balloon, old maid who was garden saw it also; for she stood open window garret, hung the cage containing the linnet, who then had no water-glass, but was obliged contented with an old cup window-sill stood myrtle in pot, and this pushed little on one side, fall out; old maid was leaning window, that she might see And she did see distinctly the aeronaut balloon, and how he let down the rabbit parachute, and then drank health of all the spectators wine bottle After doing this, he hurled it high air How little she thought very same bottle which her friend had thrown aloft in her honor, happy day of rejoicing, green wood, in her youthful days The bottle had no time , when raised so suddenly; and before aware, it reached the highest point it had ever attained in its life Steeples and roofs lay far, far beneath it, people looked as tiny as possible Then it began to descend much more rapidly rabbit had done, made somersaults air, and felt itself quite young and unfettered, although half full of wine But last long What journey ! All the people the bottle; sun shone upon it The balloon was already far away, and the bottle was far away also; fell upon roof, and broke in pieces But the pieces had got such an impetus , that stop themselves They went jumping and rolling about, till at last they fell court-yard, and were broken into still smaller pieces; only the neck bottle managed whole, and broken off as clean it cut with diamond

" make capital bird's glass," said cellar-men; but had either bird or cage, and not expected provide one just because they had found bottle neck that used as glass But the old maid who lived garret had bird, and it really useful to her; so the bottle neck was provided with cork, and taken her; and, as it often happens in life, the part that uppermost was now turned downwards, and filled with fresh water Then they hung it cage little bird, who sang and twittered more merrily than ever

"Ah, good reason to sing," said the bottle neck, looked upon as something very remarkable, because it in balloon; nothing further was known history As it hung there bird's-cage, it could hear the noise and murmur people street below, conversation old maid room within An old friend had just come to visit her, talked, not bottle neck, but myrtle window

"No, not spend dollar for your daughter's bridal bouquet," said the old maid; " beautiful little bunch for nosegay, full of blossoms Do how splendidly the tree has grown ? raised from only little sprig of myrtle that me day after my betrothal, and my own bridal bouquet when year had passed: but that day never came; the eyes were closed which were my light and joy through life depths sea my beloved sleeps sweetly; the myrtle has become an old tree, and still older woman sprig me faded, spray, and planted it earth; and now, as , it has become large tree, and bunch blossoms shall at last appear at wedding festival, bouquet of your daughter "

There were tears eyes old maid, as she spoke beloved of her youth, and betrothal wood Many thoughts came into her mind; but the thought never came, that quite close to her, very window, was remembrance olden times,- the neck bottle which had, as it were shouted for joy cork flew out with bang betrothal day But the bottle neck recognize the old maid; he listening to what she had related, perhaps because thinking about her

THE END