“WHEN THE BOUGH BREAKS.”

“WHEN the bough breaks, then Curly will fall,” sang the
boy lying on the grass at the foot of the tree. ‘But the
bough won't break, Master Roger,” said the- boy up in
the tree, who was called “Curly” because of his curly
hair; and to prove that his words were true, he hung by ~
‘his hands from the branch of the old tree, and began to
swing himself backwards and forwards. “Now, Curly,
don’t be silly,” shouted Roger; “that branch is not strong
enough.to bear you, and if you fall, I shall -have ‘to pick —
up the pieces.” Curly gave a wild kick: “I shan’t fall;
and, anyhow, you are quite safe on that side of the tree,”.
he shouted. But at that very moment, with a loud crack
and crash, the branch snapped. Roger jumped up from the -
grass. ‘Drop, Curly, drop, and ll catch you,” he cried:
Curly dropped because he could not hold on any longer,

Roger caught him, and the boys rolled over together. They
lay still a moment, then they sat up. “Are you hurt?”
asked Curly. “Not a bit,” said Roger. “Are you?”
Curly shook his head. Then both boys got up, and as

they walked home, Roger never once said, “I told you so.”