192 CHILDREN'S BOOK FOR SABBATH HOURS.

 and rocking backwards and forwards, be-
 OUR PETS.
 gan to sing a lullaby.
 THINK I have just the right "What are you singing, Lily ?" said
 |:. kind of pets now," said mam- Phil, listening in vain to catch the words.
 'I ma, as she sat by the cheer- I singing 'dear lie ;' don't you know
 ful fire one chilly morning, it? Mamma always sings 'dear lie' to
" Here is my pet of all pets, baby Nan- her baby, and I sing it to my baby, too."
nie," and mother kissed the rose-leaf cheek Dear lie! what a funny song! What
of the little one on her lap. "And then does she mean, mother ? asked Phil.
here is pet Lily, sitting on the floor with I cannot guess, Phil, I am sure. What
Miss Dolly in her arms ; and the biggest is it, Lily? Dear lie?' I don't know.
of all my pets, Master Philip, is playing Oh, is it Hush my dear, lie still and
bo-peep with baby behind my chair." slumber?'"
At this remark the biggest pet of all "Yes, yes, mamma,'dear lie'till and
came forth from his retreat, and handed 'lumber,' sang on the sweet little girl.
baby the new ball which he had bought "What pets have you, Lily, besides
for her with his own pennies the day be- the pretty dolly ?" said mamma.
fore. Mother looked too young and fair "Oh, I have 'Lisbeth and Susie and
to have such a great, noble-looking pet Frank and Pinky and the boy and pus-
as Phil; but boys will grow fast, in spite sy's little gray kitty and baby dear."
of young and lovely mammas. "And which of all the pets do you
 "Can big folks be pets, mamma?" love the best, Lily?"
said Phil, as he laid his curly head against Oh, baby dear, and pussy's kitty, and
his mother's shoulder, and drew down the this dear dolly."
dear face for a loving kiss. "And if they As she leaned against her mother's
can, my big mamma shall be my pet of dress, the cheerful blaze lighting up the
all pets." pretty flaxen curls, she looked like the
 No, Phil, I am too large and too old pictures we often see of a child-angel.
for a pet," said the mother; you can Mother bent over the sweet, gentle little
love me all the same, as your dear, dear girl, and with one of her most loving
mother, my boy." smiles, said, "God bless you, my dar-
 Come, I will take the low chair, and ling "
you and Lily sit here beside me, and we "You have a long list of pets, Phil,"
will have a talk about our pets. You continued mamma; "now you tell me
have had a great many, and Lily, I am about them as far back as you can recol-
sure, the darling, -has a whole family lect, my dear."
of them, have n't you, darling-all the "Well, mamma, I have had a great
dollies?" many pets, now I stop to think about
 Little Lily hugged her doll in her arms, them. When I was a little, little boy, I