CHEERFUL WORK. 31

claimed Bessie; “I hardly dare to wish for
anything, so sure I am that you will get it for
me if I do.” | :

“ Why, the boat is going to be quite a nice
affair,” said Mixon, as he passed by it, in the —
back shed.

“Thank you, father,” replied Tom, with
sparkling eyes and a bright smile—“ thank
you, sir.”

The thanks were half for the paint and the
other half for the compliment, which quite
consoled him under the mortification he had
felt at his sister’s comparison.

- “T know what I shall call my boat,” said
Tom, as he sat whittling wooden pegs in the
evening.

“ Qall your boat!” exclaimed Bessie.

“The name I shall give her. But I won't
tell. It shall be painted on her stern.”

Precious little difference was there between
stem and stern !

“ T wish I could have a rudder to the boat,”
said Tom, “and you could sit at one end,

Bessie, and steer, while I rowed across to the