After a Shadow, and other stories

En excerpt from the oper:
“ARTY! Arty!” called Mrs. Mayflower, from the window, one bright June morning. “Arty, darling! What is the child after? Just look at him, Mr. Mayflower!”
I leaned from the window, in pleasant excitement, to see what new and wonderful performance had been attempted by my little prodigy, my first born, my year-old bud of beauty, the folded leaves in whose bosom were just beginning to loosen themselves, and send out upon the air sweet intimations of an abounding fragrance. He had escaped from his nurse, and was running off in the clear sunshine, the slant rays of which threw a long shadow before him.