Ghe Wross Rox.

T was arainy day and all the children had to stayin the house. Ned
had planned to go fishing, and Johnny wanted to set up a wind-mill he
had made. Susie wanted to gather her flower-seeds, and Pet was
anxious to hunt for her white kitten in the barns. So all were disap-
pointed, and, before the night, had become cross and peevish and

snappish. Mamma called all to her, and talked very gravely. They were
quiet for a while after it. In half an hour Ned brought a small box and showed
his mother. He had cut a little hole in the top, just large enough to let a cent
through, and under it were the words “cross box.”

“Look, mamma,” he said, “supposing whenever any of us speak cross we
make ourselves pay a cent fora fine? Susie and Johnny and Pet are so cross,
it would be a good thing. We'll try whocan keep out of the box the longest.”

Mamma laughed, and said it might be a very good plan if they all aes
to it; but if they did agree they must do as they promised.

“Tll agree,” said Susie, “I’m not going to be cross any more.”

“And I,” said Johnny.

“And I,” added Pet.

“What shall we do with all the money?” asked Susie.

“We'll buy a magic lantern,” replied Ned.

“No, we'll buy a whole lot of candy,” said Johnny.

“No,” added Susie, ‘“we’ll send it for a bed in thechildren’s hospital.”

“T tell you,” said Ned, angrily, “if you don’t do asI want to, I’ll pitch the
box out of the window.”

“Where's your penny, Ned?” asked mamma.

Ned looked very foolish, but brought the first penny and dropped it into
the box.

Mamma thought the box really did some good. The children learned to
watch against getting angry, and little lips would be shut tight to keep the ugly
words from coming through. When school began, they were so busy that the ~
box was forgotten. Weeks later mamma was putting a closet in order on Sat-
urday.

“Here's the cross box,” she said. |

_ “I’m going to see how much money there is,’ cried Ned “Seventeen cents.
That’s enough to buy lemons and nuts, and play peanut stand. Let’s do it.”

“Oh,” said Susie, ‘there goes poor littlelame Jimmy. I think it would be

hice to give it to him.”