THE BLACK DOG." 23

trying to persuade the refractory young lady to
allow it to be put on.
 Heyday! heyday! said Nurse Bevan, coming
in ; what's the matter here, Martha? Has the
black dog jumped on somebody's back ?" Martha
laughed, and said it looked something like it.
Whereupon Mrs. Bevan walked quietly over to
where Bertha was sitting, and said very firmly,
"Little girls must do just as they are told in my
house, else they cannot stay here."
 "But I want to stay and feed Snow and the
chickens," pleaded Bertha, her lip quivering.
 "You will have plenty opportunities to do
that, dear; but if the hen and chicks are to inter-
fere with what is your duty, then we must take
them away altogether."
 This threat was quite sufficient. Berthajumped
up and allowed Martha to tie on her bonnet, and
walked down after Mrs. Bevan, who seemed to be
very much offended with her. "If you please,
nurse, I will be good if you will just kiss me,'
said poor Bertha, looking up with her eyes glisten-
ing with tears. "It's Satan gets a hold of me,
and makes me naughty; but I promised mamma
to fight him when he wants me to do my own
way, and not yours."