MABEL AND BEN.

“TI am a grand princess,” said Mabel, ‘‘a very grand ~
princess, and I sit in state on my throne.” But unfor-
tunately at that moment the princess’s throne decided -that
he was tired of lying down, so up he jumped, and the very
grand princess was tumbled on to the rug. “ Now, Ben,”
said Mabel, picking herself up, and patting the big dog,
“now, Ben, don’t you think that is too bad of you? I was
pretending that I was a grand princess, and that you were
my throne. Lie down, there's a good doggie!” But though
Ben wagged his tail, and licked his little mistress’s hands, ~
he would not lie down until he had walked all round the
room, and sniffed at the dolls sitting in a row, and the
flowers and the cushions and everything else. At last,
however, Mabel coaxed him to lie down once more on the ~
rug, and to let her sit on his back. ‘I ama grand princess,”
said Mabel, “and I sit in state on my throne.” There was
a knock at the door, Ben pricked up his ears; a footstep
in the hall, Ben got up from the rug slowly and carefully.
Mabel smiled. ‘“ My throne is a magic one,” she said to the

dolls, as she disappeared through the doorway on Ben’s back.