GRANNIE.

He was a very small boy, and she was an old, old lady,
but they were the greatest friends. He loved her very dearly,
and he always called her “Grannie,” though she wasn’t
really his grandmother; she was only an old lady who lived
next door to his mother. One day his mother was ill, and
the small boy was sent next door to have supper and stay
all night with Grannie. He had never been away from his
mother before, and when his father told him he was to -
sleep away from her he began to cry; but Grannie kissed
him, and then he felt better. When supper-time came he
helped Grannie to lay the table, and then when he had said
his grace, standing by her side, he climbed on to her knee
to eat his supper... After supper Grannie told him a won-
derful story, and he liked: it very much. Next morning,
when his father came to tell him that his mother — .
better, and to fetch him home, a strange thing happened.
This same boy who had cried because he had to spend
the night with Grannie suddenly discovered that he did not
want to leave her, and began to cry once more. Can you

wonder that Grannie and his father laughed at him?