SSS i : | : LITTLE BLUE-EYES (#. 80) LITTLE BLUE-EYES AND OTHER STORIES BY - MAGGIE BROWNE AUTHOR OF “ WANTED—A KING,” ETC. NEW YORK CASSELL PUBLISHING COMPANY 104 & 106 FourtH AVENUE CopyRriGHT, 1893, BY CASSELL PUBLISHING COMPANY. All rights reserved, THE MERSHON COMPANY PRESS, RAHWAY, N. J. LITTLE BLUE-EYES. (See Frontispiece.) - Wuat do brown eyes say? Brown eyes say, ‘We're brown as a berry, We're always full of fun and merry.” That’s what brown eyes Say. What do black eyes say? Black eyes say, “We're never sad— Always bright and gay and glad.” That’s what black eyes say. What do grey eyes say? Grey eyes say, “ We're good and kind, Full of sympathy, you'll find.” That’s what grey eyes say. What do blue eyes say? Blue eyés say, ‘‘ We're soft and true, Clear and honest through and through.” That’s what blue eyes say. THE SKIPPER AND JANET. “JT wisH I could save a ship; I wish I could help sailors. — I wouldn't mind if I could only help one sailor,” said Janet, as she closed her book. She had been reading the story of a brave girl who rowed out to the help of some sailors in a sinking ship. ‘I wish I could do something,” said Janet again, as she walked down to the harbour, “Tl ask the Skipper about it.” Whenever Janet was in any trouble she always went to her friend the Skipper. The Skipper was an old blind sailor, who loved the sea so much that he liked to spend his time near it, even though he could not see it. Janet found him Sitting in his favourite place, and she sat down by him. “ Skipper,” ; she said, ‘I’ve been reading such a beautiful story. I will tell you all about it, and then you shall tell me how I can help a sailor.” The Skipper listened to ‘her story. Then he said slowly, -“T know a girl who helps a sailor ; she comes to see him every day, and she makes him forget all his troubles with her bright talk.” Janet -sighed. “I wish Z could do something,”-she said. “My girl’s mame is Janet,” said the Skipper. Then Janet smiled. THE SKIPPER AND JANET. NAUGHTY OLIVE. NursE said “No,” and Olive said nothing; but when Nurse left the room Olive hopped out of bed, and ran downstairs in her night-dress. “I’m so hungry, I must have a biscuit,” said naughty Olive, getting naughtier every minute. ‘There won’t be anybody in the morning- room.” But there was someone at the open window of the morning-room—a dark, untidy little girl, ‘‘ Buy a boot- lace, Missie; I’m so hungry!” said the little girl “So am I,” said Olive, “but I don’t want any boot-laces. I'll ask — Nurse”—then she stopped. “ I'm so hungry!” said the little girl again. Olive darted across the room, fetched the biscuit-tin, and emptied it into the little girl’s basket. . Away ran the little girl, and back to the Nursery ran Olive. Later in the morning Mamma found the empty biscuit-tin. “Olive,” she said, ““have you had any biscuits this morn-~ ing?” Olive shook her head. ‘Cook found the cupboard door open,” said Nurse. “I left it open; I gave all the biscuits away,” said Olive. ‘Miss Olive!” said Nurse. “Olivel” said Mamma. “I never knew such a naughty girl!” said Nurse. “Leave her to me,” said Mamma, NAUGHTY OLIVE, THE SHIPWRECK. Tury are still very fond of ‘ pretending,” but I don't think either of them will ever forget the day- when they pretended their boat was shipwrecked, and it really came - true. They always played by the lake-side, and they very often played in an old boat, which was usually fastened to the stump of a tree. Sometimes they pretended it was a fairy castle, sometimes it was a mancot-war: and they both thought it would be great fun when one of them proposed that they should pretend that the boat had struck on the rocks, and that they were shipwrecked. They were so busy pushing-the boat off the rocks that they did not notice, until it was too late, that the old -boat was. untied, and that they were pushing themselves away from the shore. As soon as they did find it. out, of course, they tried to get back again, but all the trying was. no good. One of them felt very frightened, and said so, and the other was frightened too, but he didn’t show it, “He tied a handkerchief to a broken oar, and waved it -in- the air Luckily a sailor saw the flag, and came to the rescue; but I don’t think either of them will ever forget that day. THE SHIPWRECK, THAT UNLUCKY GOOSE. “We will have a goose for dinner,” said Mrs. Galloway. “How jolly!” cried all the little Galloways. And. Mrs. Galloway put on her bonnet, and went out. to buy it. She picked out the finest and fattest goose in the shop, and told the master of the shop to send it home early. The master packed it in a basket with some other things, and gave it to the new boy. Dinner-time came, and all the little Galloways, with clean hands and faces, sat round the table. They were usually well-behaved children; but when the dish was placed on the table that day they could not help giving a loud “ Hurrah!” Mrs, Galloway shook her head. “I’m very sorry, children,” she said, “but the goose — has not come; I am afraid something has happened to it.” - Of course, the little Galloways were sorry, but they said, ‘Never mind; we'll have it to-morrow.” But they did not have that goose the next day. For Mrs. Galloway was right—something had happened to it. _You will find out what by looking at the picture. The dog that belonged to nobody had-a good dinner; but the new boy—well, there is a still newer boy at the shop now. THAT UNLUCKY GOOSE GOOD MORNING. ~ Goopd MORNING! We're awake, you see, As wide awake as we can be; And now we're waiting to be dressed, To see who can behave the best. We're sometimes naughty, Bell and I, When going to bed, we sometimes cry; But then, we wish it understood, When we get up we're always good. - When we awake we have such fun (We always wake before everyone). : We wake Papa, and Mother too, Until. they say, ‘‘ What sal/ we do?” We woke them up at half-past three— Their faces were a sight to see! And when we did the same at five They said, “I wonder we're alive!” GOOD MORNING. THE STORY OF THE OLD WELL. “Tuts is Agatha’s Well, young ladies. Would you like to know why it is so called? Well, long ago a very ‘old lady, called Agatha, lived in the cottage with her six cats, and because she had so many cats, and because she was old, everyone called her ‘Witch’ But Agatha did not mind; she kept to herself, and did not trouble anyone, until one hot day there was no water in-her well. She went from 3 one to another asking for water, but nobody would give her any. ‘You are a witch,’ each one said; ‘get your water somewhere else. So two days passed away. On the evening of. the third’ day, when Agatha went to her empty well, a small girl, with a jug of water in her hand, stood beside it. ‘Drink,’ she said, ‘you are thirsty, and I know you are not a witch.’ That evening it rained, and there was soon plenty of water in the well; ‘but old Agatha did not forget the little girl. When she died, it was found that she had left all her money, the cottage and the well, and the six cats to the little girl who had been kind to her. That little girl, young ladies, J am proud to say, was my great-grandmother, and Agatha’s Well is our well now.” ih i HH a THE STORY OF THE OLD WELL. HOW THREE LITTLE LONDONERS WENT TO SEA. : Ir was a beautiful day—the sky was blue, the sun was - shining, and there was only a gentle breeze blowing. “Tet us go,” said Bella. “I can row,” said Jack. Bob looked doubtful. ‘Let us ask Sailor Dan to take us,” he said; but Dick and Bella would not hear of it. ‘No, we will go by ourselves,” they said, “and Sailor Dan will be surprised how well we can manage a boat.” So they set off, three little Londoners, out on the big sea alone, Pooh!” cried Bella, “it is easier than rowing on, the | river.” Dick did not say anything; he was beginning to wish they had not come. By-and-by Bella and Bob began to wish the same thing. The waves were bigger, and Bella had lost one of the oars. “I think I'll lie down,” said Dick. ‘We shall be drowned!” cried Bella. “No, we shan’t,” said Bob, “there’s a boat, I will shout, and you must wave.” . They shouted and waved, and after a time the sailors heard and saw them. “TI believe I can see Dan,” cried Bob, as the boat came nearer. ‘ Well, he'll be surprised anyway,” said Bella) And he was, A. HOW THREE LITTLE LONDONERS WENT TO SE LETTY’S.: PICTURE: Letty was very fond of pictures, and in the Long Gallery at the Hall there were ever so many pictures, enough to satisfy any little girl. - There were. pictures of fields and flowers, castles and battles, soldiers and sailors, big people and little people, old men and’ women and . children— pictures of all. kinds. But there was one picture which Letty thought was prettier than them all. It was a picture of a dear old lady talking to two little girls. The old lady’s face was very sweet and lovable, and she looked as if she were the kind of old lady you would like to kiss, for you would feel sure that her cheeks would be as soft as velvet. The little girls were pretty too; they were both dressed in old-fashioned dresses, and one of them wore a queer cap. It certainly was a_ pretty picture, though perhaps you would not have admired it as much as Letty did. Would you like to know how it was that Letty was so fond of the picture, and why — she called it hers?. It was because there was in it a por- trait of her Mother. Yes, once upon a time, Letty’s own Mother had looked just like the girl with the queer cap. LETTY’S PICTURE. © HOW GLADYS PLAYED WITH THE CHILDREN. “WuatT untidy children!” said Gladys, staring at three children who were standing at a cottage door; ‘‘I shouldn’t, like to play with them, Nurse.” The three children stared back at Gladys. “Isn't she fine?” said the girl. ‘And isn't she stuck up?” said one of the boys. ‘But isn’t she pretty?” said the other. Nurse was not looking at the children; she was watching the black clouds, and ‘the drops of rain which were beginning to fall. The girl saw the rain, too, and ran across the road to Nurse and Gladys. ‘‘Won’t you come in to the cottage out of the rain?” she said. Gladys frowned, but Nurse said, “ Thank you,” and told Gladys to wait ‘in the cottage, which was very clean, whilst she fetched umbrellas. At first Gladys stood at the cottage door, and stared at the children, but gradually she went further in, and when one of the boys gave her a shell she smiled. When Nurse came_ back she found Gladys. with her cloak and hat off, playing happily with the three children. ‘“ They were so kind,” said Gladys, as she and Nurse went home. ‘She wasn’t stuck up,” said one of the boys. “Not a bit,” said the other. HOW GLADYS PLAYED WITH THE CHILDREN. a GATHERING FLOWERS. Ou! who will come gathering fowers with me? Away to the hills with the lark and the bee, In the bright early morning when day’s just begun, When the buds are all opening their eyes to the sun. See, the flowers now open and hold themselves up, As they scatter the dewdrops from each little cup; They shine and they sparkle in morning’s glad light, Refreshed by the rest and the dews of the night. : ~ Hark! the birds in the branches now rustle and stir, And the rabbits, aroused, shake the moss from their fur; - From his nest in the meadow the lark gaily springs, * And wakes all the world as he joyously sings. The fields are all yellow, the light of the sun Comes dancing along, brimming over with fun; The air seems to shake with the buzz of the bee— Oh! who will come gathering flowers with me? GATHERING FLOWERS. TALKING SECRETS. “OF course, it must be a secret,” said Ethel to her Mother, as they walked along together. “Of course,” said~ her Mother; ‘Mark must not know beforehand what his birthday present is to be.” And at the same moment Mark, walking behind Ethel, was saying to his Father, “We won't call it a secret, because only girls have, secrets ; but perhaps Ethel had better not hear anything about it until Saturday.” His Father smiled. ‘Very well,” he said. A few minutes later Father and Mother went into a shop, and Mark and. Ethel were left alone for ten minutes. They were both silent for two minutes; then Ethel said suddenly, “Mark, I’m glad our birthdays come on the same day. I couldn’t wait till Saturday to hear about my present if I didn't know that ~you were waiting too.’ Mark shook his head. “I don’t: like waiting,” he said. “T wish Saturday would come. Suppose we——”> and he whispered something in Ethel’s ear. _ Ethel smiled, and whispered back. Then there was more whispering. And by . the time Father and- Mother had finished shopping Ethel knew, and Mark knew, and there wasn’t any secret at all. iC / Hi om | TALKING SECRETS, MARGOT AND THE BEETLE. “COMING, coming, coming!” said Margot, as she knelt on the grass, and watched the big, beetle crawling up her pinafore. “Coming at last!” said Marie, giving the tree a good shake; “get out of the way, Margot.” Margot began to feel very uncomfortable. It was all very well for Marie to say, “Get out of the way,” but how could she get out of the way? The beetle was crawling, crawling, crawling! It would soon be on her neck, and she did not like to touch it with her fingers. She bore it as long as she could; then she said, ““Oh Marie, Marie, it’s come!” Marie gave the tree another shake, and cried “Bravo |” Then her fingers slipped, and she tumbled backwards on the top of her small sister. Fortunately, neither of them were hurt, and both were pleased; for, when Margot picked herself up, the beetle had disappeared;-and Marie saw Margot’s bonnet, which had — been caught in the tree, lying on the ground. Marie ran. to pick it up. “Were you talking about that?” said Margot. “Of course,” said Marie. . “Weren't you?” Margot shook her head. ‘Never mind,” she said. “We are both glad.” Wat ee TEAR So a * ot Re x. “MARGOT AND THE BEETLE. THE . BIRD'S SONG. HE was singing at the top of his voice, and it was a very beautiful voice, too. He was so full of his song. that he did not feel afraid of anything or anybody, and when he saw a tall lady and a little girl coming up the path he did not think of flying away; he only perched himself on a higher branch, and sang louder than ever. “Listen to the bird,” said the tall lady; “he is singing beautifully.” The little girl climbed to the top of the bank and listened. ‘‘I wonder what he is singing about? I wonder what he is” saying 2” she said. .‘ Perhaps he is thanking the sun for shining so*brightly,” said the tall lady.” “Perhaps he is talking to the flowers,” said the little girl. The bird finished his. song, and hopped down from the: branch into a bush.~ The tall lady stepped quietly up to the bush and peeped. Then she beckoned to the little girl, and the little girl climbed down from the bank, and peeped into the bush too, Then they both smiled, and as they walked quietly away the little girl said, “So that is why he was singing.” Can you guess what the tall lady and the little girl saw in the bush? i PSHE) ny iH i na : i | en \ THE BIRD'S SONG. THE BUSY WASHERWOMAN. Now, please hold down your head, sir, And mind you shut your eyes ; Until I say, “ Get up,” sir, Pray don’t attempt to rise. I’m really quite ashamed, sir; You're not fit to be seen; But if you do my bidding You'll very soon be clean. Now, splash! . There goes the water! - Now take the soap—that’s right! - Now rub your face to make it dry, Until it shines quite bright. Now you look more respectable .. Go and put on your shoe; And, pray, don’t bother me again, I’ve such a lot to-do! THE BUSY WASHERWOMAN, A PICNIC ON THE RIVER. “ DEAR JEANIE,—We are having a fine time, and enjoying ourselves ever so much. I do wish you were with us! We are quite a large party—five grown-ups and six young ones. The other day we young ones went off for a picnic up:the river. We took a,man with us to help with the sail, but Maurice and I did nearly all the work. The country is very pretty. In one place the hills come down close to the river, and as the girls wanted to pick flowers (girls always want to pick flowers, and it is such dull work), and Maurice and I wanted to explore, we pulled the boat into shore, and all landed. We had lunch on a rock, and then we boys went off for a climb. Somehow or other we managed to lose our way, and it was ever so late before we got back to the boat. Then, as we - pushed off from the shore, I managed to tumble into — the water, and got very wet, but we enjoyed it very - much all the same. I> can’t. go out to-day, as I have’ a bad cold, so I’m writing to you. I wish you were here to enjoy the fun. I hear the tea-bell ringing, so I must stop, Good-bye. I am, your loving cousin, DonaLp.” A PICNIC ON THE RIVER. THE ENGINE-DRIVER’S STORY. “Sucu a fright as I had to-day,” said the Engine-driver to his wife; “it makes me feel queer even now to think © of it. We were not far from Burfield, and we were three minutes behind time, all through—but there, I ought not to grumble at anything or anybody to-day. Well, as I was saying, we were behind time, and I told my mate we should have to run the next bit quickly. He said ‘All right,’ and away we went. Suddenly I saw something white on the line in front of us. At first I thought it -was a bundle of clothes; then it moved, and I knew it must be a child. I tried to stop the train, and called out to my mate, but we were going so quickly that it seemed impossible for us to stop in time. My mate shouted, and I shouted; then we heard an answering shout, and a man rushed across the line in front of the engine. What happened for a minute I don’t know. I seemed dazed; then I heard my mate saying, ‘It’s all right, old man, the child is safe and ‘sound.’ ~I only said, ‘That was a brave fellow,’ but I felt—well, it makes me feel queer even now to think about it.” THE ENGINE-DRIVER’S STORY. WHAT. ARE THEY SAYING? Look at this picture, and see if. you can guess what is happening, and what the two ladies and two gentlemen in it are saying to one another. Of course, the old lady. . in the big cap is the Grandmamma, and the pretty young lady in the large hat is the Mamma. The gentleman standing up. must be the Papa, and the gentleman lying down is, of course, the Baby. It is quite certain, too, that the Mamma and Papa are bringing the Baby to see his Grandmamma; but can you guess what they are talking about? — I expect the Grandmamma is saying,-‘‘ He is the most beautiful baby in the whole world!” That is what Grandmammas always say. I should not be a bit surprised, either, if the Papa and Mamma were saying exactly the same thing; and the Baby—well, babies talk in a language which ordinary people cannot understand, so the Baby may — be saying ever so many things, but he probably thinks © he is a beautiful baby.. Perhaps you will think that, as this Papa. and Mamma and Grandmamma lived many years ago, it is impossible to guess what they would be likely to say, but, somehow, I feel sure my guess is right, WHAT ARE THEY SAYING? BABY’S LANGUAGE. Bay says ‘“ Ah-h!” What does he mean ? - Why, the meaning’s quite plain, "Tis easily seen. He says “Oh, Molly! What have you there ? Dear sister Molly, ae Let me taste your pear.” Then Baby says, ‘“Oh-h!” Pray, what can it be? What can be the meaning? Why, can you not see? He says just as clearly As you can say this, “Thanks, dear sister Molly, I'll give you. a kiss.” S LANGUAGE, 2, BABY _ WAITING. THE smallest bridesmaid was beginning to feel very much excited. The Church was full of people, the organ was playing, and the bridesmaids were waiting in the porch. — Through the curtains the smallest bridesmaid could see two of her brothers and her little sister. She nodded ‘to them, and they smiled back. at her, and beckoned to “hep? “Shall I go in?” she said to one of the big bridesmaids. The bridesmaid shook her head. “ Everyone is here,” said the smallest bridesmaid to herself, and she counted the bridesmaids—one, two, three, four. Not one of them was missing. \ “ What are we waiting for?” she whispered. ‘The three big bridesmaids smiled, ‘Try and guess,” said one of them. The smallest bridesmaid took a rose out of her basket, and pretended to smell it. “I wish grown- up girls wouldn’t always laugh at little girls,” she said to herself Just then the Church door opened. “Look,” said ‘one of the bridesmaids, “there is the lady for whom we are ’ waiting.” The smallest bridesmaid and all the bridesmaids looked. It was the bride. “I'd forgotten her,” said the smallest bridesmaid ; and the big bridesmaids smiled again. | WAITING, THE RIDE. Ho, ho! Gaily they go, Riding along by the sea. Madge is the horse, And baby, of course, Is as happy as happy can be. The ride’s just begun, When the wind has some fun, | As he sweeps up over the hill. Madge loses her hat, But. she doesn’t mind that, : And away they go with a will | The crows fly by, “Caw, caw!” they cry. ee They've never seen such fun. The ships on the sea All laugh with glee, As they sail away to the sun. . THE RIDE, UNCLE DICK. RONALD ‘sat up in bed, and rubbed his eyes. Was it all a dream? Was Uncle Dick really better? Had he ever been ill? Ronald pinched himself to make sure that he was awake. The house seemed very quiet, and he could not hear any footsteps. ‘‘ Mother, may I get up?” he called softly. There was no answering call from the next room, and he sprang out of bed. Perhaps Uncle Dick was worse, and it was only a dream that he was so much better. Ronald crept along the passage to his Uncle’s room, pushed the door gently open, and peeped in. Some- body was sitting in the big arm-chair in front of the fire-® place. It was Uncle Dick! ‘Oh, I’m so glad!” cried Ronald, running into the room, and throwing his arms round his Uncle. “I’m so glad; I thought I’d dreamt it all, and that you were not better. You are better, aren't you?” Uncle Dick. smiled. “So you've waked up at last, young man,” he said. ‘Do you know what time it is? Of course, I’m better.” Ronald looked up at the clock, and laughed. ‘I was so tired last night,” he said. “It was kind of Mother to let me sleep!” UNCLE DICK. ANNA’S COMING HOME. You remember the story of the Apple-Pie—how B bit it, C cut it, D dealt it, and how ever so many people had something to do with it. Well, the story of Anna’s coming home was something like it. First of all, Anna wrote the letter to say she was coming, and everyone shouted “ Bravo!” Of course, Carrie wrote back to say,- “Come as soon as you can.” Then the Day came on ‘which Anna was to arrive, and Everybody was as busy as busy could be. - Fannie picked some flowers to put in her room; George made the gate look gay with the words, “Hurrah for Anna!” Small Ida spent all her time Jumping up and down; and Kenneth was so excited that he Laughed at nothing at all. Then when at last she really did come, Mamma and everyone ran to the door to meet, her. Never before, no Never, was there so much kissing. Of course, Papa had fetched her, but he had ‘6 wait Quietly for his turn, until the Rest had finished. So Sister Anna came home to Them all.. She was Un- doubtedly Very Welcome, and everyone was eXceedingly pleased, because, of course, they all loved her very dearly. ANNA’S COMING HOME. IN THE GARDEN. z THERE were two houses in the garden, a big house at the top of the garden, in which Janie and Janie’s Father and Mother lived, and a little one at the bottom of the garden, which belonged to Mrs. Rabbit and her son, Master Rabbit. Perhaps Janie would have told you that not only the little house, but the rabbits too, belonged to her; but Mrs. Rabbit did not think so. She often told Master Rabbit how she pitied poor Janie and her Father and Mother. ‘Their house,” she said to her son, “must be so cold and dreary; it is so big, it cannot be warm and cosy like ours.” And Master Rabbit, of course, agreed with her. One day Janie brought a small girl to see the rabbits. As she took Master Rabbit out of the’ house she said, “Isn't he pretty, and “isn't thig a comfortable rabbit-hutch ?” Mrs. Rabbit felt very contented and happy. Janie’s little visitor stroked Master Rabbit’s back, and pulled his ears. Then, as she. gave him a crisp lettuce-leaf, she said to~-Janie, “He is a dear little rabbit, but his house is a queer place.” Fortunately, Mrs. Rabbit did not hear her, and perhaps it was a good thing. IN THE GARDEN. DAISY, LILY, AND UNCLE JOHN. “Do you know who I am?” said the gentleman. Daisy opened her big eyes wide, and looked at him. “TI think,” she said, “you are someone in the big album upstairs.” “And I am sure you are someone in the big album,” said Lily, who was standing by Daisy’s side. “I think you are Uncle John,” said Daisy.: “I do hope you are, because I want to ask you about ever so many things,” The gentleman kissed her. “I am Uncle John,” he said; “so ask away. Only I feel that I could talk to you better if you sat on one knee and Lily on the other.” The two children ‘settled themselves comfortably, and then Daisy began, “You must have been a jolly boy! You 33 know the time when you knocked your ball over Jugt then Mamma came into the room. ‘Oh, Mamma, . said Daisy ; “we want to ask him about the -” Uncle John laughed, and Mamma went away. But a minute later Nurse’s voice was heard. Daisy and Lily said, ‘“ What a bother |” >fO away pall and the apple-pie, and but Uncle John promised to answer the questions when they came back, so they ran away cheerfully to Nurse. DAISY, LILY, AND UNCLE JOHN. THE LITTLE GIRL WHO DID NOT WANT TO GO TO BED. ONCE upon a time there was a little girl who did not want to go to bed when bedtime came. Her Grandmother talked. to her, but the little girl only pouted. Her Grandmother scolded her, but the little girl pretended that she did not mind a bit; and she was very naughty when her Grand- mother tried to undress her. At last her Grandmother said, “Very well, I cannot waste any more time; I will put baby to, bed, and then I must go.” The little girl smiled, and tried to feel very pleased. All the time her baby-brother was being undressed, she tried to-think how glad she was that she was not going to bed; but she had to keep saying, “I am glad,’ because she did not really feel at all glad. When her Grandmother left the room | the little girl began to think. Somehow or other, as soon as she began to think, she found out that she did want to go to bed very badly—so badly that she could not wait to be undressed, but had to undress herself. It was hard work, but she was in bed when her Grand- mother came back. And her Grandmother kissed her. ED. 1D NOT WANT TO GO TO B E GIRL WHO D THE LITTL THE TRAVELLERS. I am a weary traveller, This is my faithful steed; _ He’s made of wood, But he’s splendidly good— He really is, indeed. It does not cost much to feed him— He’s really no bother at all | And a piece of string a Is just the thing - To fiiake him come at your call. ; But in such dreadful weather | No horses can get on; And up on my arm He’s safe out of harm, And our journey will soon be done. THE TRAVELLERS. THE LAST LOAD. Tue last load was packed safely on the cart, and the girls and men were getting ready to go home, after their long day's work in the fields. “I am tired,” said Ruth, the Farmer’s daughter; “I don’t feel as if I could walk home.” Her sister nodded, and said, “We must walk”; but saucy Bell pointed to the top of the cart, the ladder leaning against it, and the men at the other end of the field. ‘“ What will Giles say?” said Mary. “Lie down, and he won’t know,” said saucy Bell. When the men came back to the cart, Giles took away the ladder, and went to the horse’s head to lead her home. “Where are the girls?” said the Farmer’s son. ‘Gone home, I expect,” said Giles. “This last load is a heavy one.” The Farmer’s son looked up at _the cart, smiled, and said, ‘“ Very heavy.” The girls sat up on the top of the load, enjoying their ride, too tired to talk, and Giles never discovered, until the farm was reached, that the last load was indeed heavy. Saucy Bell dropped him a courtesy, and Mary said, “Thank you for the ride, Giles.” So, of course, Giles had: to say, ‘ Quite welcome.” THE LAST LOAD. ELSIE’S PRETTY LADY. Erste had been ill, very ill; but Elsie was getting better. She was able to sit at the window every afternoon, and ~ watch the passers-by. There was one lady who went past Elsie’s window every day, and Elsie always looked out for her; she was such a pretty lady. One day the lady smiled at Elsie, but Elsie was so surprised that she did not smile back again, until the lady had disappeared. The next day happened to be Elsie’s birthday, and she — persuaded her Mother to get her dressed very early. “I should so like a birthday smile from my pretty lady, Mother,” said Elsie. That day, however, the lady was later than usual, and Elsie was beginning to feel uneasy, when she saw her coming up the street, with a basket of beautiful roses in her hand, “She looks prettier than ever,” thought Elsie.~ The lady passed. the window, but. she did not look in to see Elsie’s smile. Poor~-Elsie was very disappointed. Someone tapped at the door, and came round the screen beside Elsie’s chair, and_ said, “Would you like these flowers, little girl?” It was the pretty lady! I need not tell you. what Elsie said. — | a a NAA M | ELSIE'S PRETTY LADY. THE DAISY-CHAIN. THERE’S war among the daisies, For each one strives to gain A place of real honour In Milly’s daisy-chain. There’s fun among the blossoms; They dance upon the tree, They laugh to see the daisy-chain ? Till they grow pink with glee. The wind steals by and listens, And then he stops quite still; He’s come to see the daisy-chain, Away from: yonder hill. At last the chain is finished ! On all the dear old trees The blossoms shake with laughter ’ Away, then, goes the breeze! aa THE DAISY-CHAIN. THE DOCTOR'S VISIT. “MaBeL dear, come downstairs, I want you.” Mabel went. downstairs very slowly. Usually she hopped and skipped and jumped downstairs, but this morning she walked quite solemnly. She knew who was in the drawing-room, for she had peeped-over the banisters, and had heard Mary say, “The Doctor, ma’am,” as she showed a gentleman into the room, And Mabel did not want to see the Doctor—she did not like Doctors. ‘This is my little girl,” said her Mother, leading her up to a gentle- man. The gentleman placed one hand on Mabel’s head, and looked at her very kindly, but Mabel felt un- comfortable and unhappy. “He will ask me to put out my tongue directly,” she thought, and so she put it out without waiting to. be asked. To her ‘surprise, the gentleman and her Mother laughed. “It’s a fine tongue, but I don’t want to see it,” said the gentleman. ‘But you are the Doctor,” said Mabel. “And a Doctor must not look at a little girl unless she is ill,” said the gentle- man. “Very well, here is some medicine.” And_he pulled out of his pocket a little doll. Then Mabel began to laugh, THE DOCTOR'S VISIT. THE. STORY -OF.: GIPSY ..JAN; “Master Jim!” said Nurse, for the fourth time. But Jim never moved. He was. curled up in the corner-of the Nursery sofa, reading ‘The Story of Gipsy Jan.” He had not even. heard Nurse call him: he was quite lost in his book. The Gipsy, the hero of the story, after search- ing through towns and_ villages, after many and various adventures, had found at~last, in a wayside cottage, the lost child of the lady who had been so kind to his wife, and who had protected him in his trouble. “Master Jim!” said Nurse, tapping Jim gently on the shoulder, *‘however many more times am I to tell you?” Jim looked up from his book at last. ‘Nurse, wait a minute,” he said; ‘“‘I do want to know if the little girl remembers. the Gipsy, and if the people in the cottage let him take her away. Listen! ‘And the Gipsy knelt down by the child’s bed, and put his arms round fees -“ Missie,” said the cottager’s daughter, standing at the foot of the bed, “do you-—”’” Nurse took the book out of Jim’s. hand. “You are not to read any more to-night, Master Jim,” she said. “You must finish the story to-morrow.” THE STORY OF GIPSY JAN. LITTLE MISS SLOWCOACH. THE sun was so hot and the waves were dancing so prettily that little Miss Slowcoach thought the best thing - she could do would be to lie down and watch them. ‘“‘There’s plenty of time,” she said, as she put her basket on the pebbles, and sat down beside it. “ Plenty of time,” the waves seemed to answer, as they rolled lazily over, one on the top of the other. “Plenty of time,” said a big fat crab, ashe stretched out his claws. and helped himself to a small thin crab’s dinner. Little Miss Slow- coach began to feel sleepy. She stretched herself out on the beach, made a pillow of her basket, and watched the two crabs fighting. But very soon, long before the fight : was finished, little Miss Slowcoach had dropped off’ to sleep. The little waves rolled and rolled, and ‘splashed and splashed, until they reached little Miss Slowcoach’s toes. “ There’s plenty of time for her to get out of the way,” they said to one another. ‘Presently little Miss- Slowcoach awoke with a start. The afternoon had slipped away, and her basket was still empty. “And I thought there was plenty of time,” was all little Miss Slowcoach said. LITTLE MISS SLOWCOACH. A KIND VISITOR. LittLe Johnny Talbot, Climbing in a tree, Tumbled down and hurt himself— Very ill was-he. All throughout the summer Johnny couldn’t walk, Only lie upon his back, Read, and think, and talk. ~- Little Rosy Carter Came in every day, Brought a bunch of flowers, Often stopped to play. When the spring came back again— Oh, it seemed so long !— Little Johnny Talbot Was quite well and strong, A KIND VISITOR. HOW THE BLOSSOM WAS. PICKED. “It would make a beautiful wreath for Cousin Joan's birthday cake, and Mother said I might have three or four pieces,” said small Marjorie, looking up at the pretty blossom on the fruit tree, “only I can’t reach it, I wish I had wings, so that I could fly up to it.” And Marjorie sighed a very big sigh. She had made a little bunch of all the blossoms the wind had scattered on the ground, but there were not nearly enough for a wreath. “I wish scme ody would come to help. me!” said Marjorie; - and as sh said it she saw a white dress shining through the trees, and heard someone calling, ‘“ Marjorie! Marjorie!” It was Cousin Joan herself. “Now, what shall I do?” said Marjorie. She stood still thinking for a moment, then she smiled. ‘She can reach, and she will never guess,” she said to herself. So when Cousin Joan stood beneath the tree, Marjorie asked her to pick four pieces of blossom. ‘“Isn’t it a pity to pick fruit blossom?” asked Cousin Joan. “This is for something very im- portant,” said Marjorie. And Cousin Joan never guessed that the “something important” was her own birthday cake. KED. HOW THE BLOSSOM WAS PIC “THOSE BOYS!” “Ou dear, those boys!” sighed Nurse. ‘ They are always in mischief,” said Priscilla. “But: after all, Nurse, you must remember that they are only boys: perhaps they will grow wiser as they grow clder.” And Priscilla, who was feeling very grown-up in her new dress, walked out of the Nursery into her own room. She sat down on a chair in front of the looking-glass, and drew a letter out of her pocket. The house was very quiet, but the stairs were creaking queerly, as if someone were trying, to creep up them without making a noise. — Priscilla was too full of herself and her letter to notice it. She did not even hear her room door pushed gently open; and she was very much astonished when a voice behind her said, Darling Fannie, I have a new dress, and I think I look lovely ——” Of course, it was one of the boys. and the other was standing behind him, laughing. Priscilla jumped up to chase them; but her dress was caught, and there was a sound of-stitches giving way. ‘Oh dear, those boys!” sighed Priscilla. ‘‘ Perhaps they ~ will “grow wiser as they gtow older,” said a voice from the © Nursery. “THOSE BOYS!” “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.” Th = a rr a “WHEN THE BOUGH BREAKS.” IN MISCHIEF. “Now then, don’t laugh!” said the smaller of the two boys, as he knocked at the door. It was opened by a tidy little maid, who stared at the slate and roll of papers which the bigger boy carried, and asked the boys what they wanted. ‘I believe,” said the smaller boy, “that this house is to be let; and we wish to know if we can see it.” The bigger boy looked down at the slate, so that the maid should not see him laughing. “I suppose you want to tell your Mother about the house,” said the maid. “Well, no,” said the smaller boy solemnly; ‘“‘we wanted to see it for ourselves.” The bigger boy looked up at last. “May I ask what we shall have to pay for the house?” he said. The maid seemed puzzled. “And for bread-and-butter >” said the smaller boy. Then he turned to his brother, and whispered, “Look!”