232 CHILDREN'S BOOK FOR SABBATH HOURS.

 your work, and particularly to be careful
 THE CLUMSY SERVANT. about the delicate ornaments in my
 RASH! Smash! There it goes, rooms. This vase, as you say, cannot
 Oh dear Oh dear !-mistress' be replaced. It was the gift of my only
 real china vase all broken in brother upon my marriage day; he
 pieces. How did it happen ? brought the pair from China for that pur-
All the flowers and water on this pol- pose, and he died the same year, so they
ished floor! What can I do! What can seem almost sacred to me. They have
I do Janet Riley, with the big feather stood on this mantel-piece over forty
duster in one hand, leaned her head years"-and the madame paused a mo-
against the wall in great consternation, ment, as if looking back hastily over the
as she heard Madame Laporte's footsteps days so long ago. I cannot tell what
in the hall, and the patter of little Felty's to say to you now, Janet, I feel I must
soft paws. The door opened, and Felty, dismiss you ; and yet, when I think of
running ahead of his mistress, gazed at your excellent mother, and how happy
the wreck with a very wise, inquisitive she feels to have you in such a good
look, and the madame's pleasant face home, I cannot bear to send you away.
clouded over with something between Pick up the broken pieces carefully, and
sorrow and anger, when she saw the lay them on the shelf, preserve every
superb vase which had been in her pos- fragment; throw the flowers away, and
session since her marriage day, forty-eight polish the floor again, and in the mean-
years ago, all shattered in pieces. time I will think what is to be done."
 "There is nothing to say, madame," Janet did as her mistress bade her.
said Janet very humbly, "I did it, but Every fragment of the broken china was
how, I cannot tell. I fear I was watching picked up carefully, and the polished floor
the cart that came down the avenue, cleaned, but she was wondering all the
hoping to hear something from mother, while if she would be obliged to leave
and in turning round, I struck against the place where she had been so happy.
the vase, and there it lies. You had bet- It is too bad that I broke this beau-
ter send me away, and get a girl with a tiful vase," she said to herself. "I did
steadier hand than I have, and whose not mean to be so careless and clumsy;
mind is not always dwelling upon her and then I broke one of those best glasses
mother. Oh, madame, I'm so sorry! the other day, and the little inkstand in
You do not know how I grieve at my the library, and the toilet bottle on mad-
carelessness and your loss." ame's bureau. Well, it must be care-
 "And you do not know how it grieves lessness; and I guess madame will send
me to see this broken vase, Janet," said me off before everything is smashed. I
Madame Laporte. I have warned you know I should, if I were in her place;
many times about keeping your mind on there is her bell, I must answer it,"-