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I Se a WAITING FOR FATHER. Pictures and Stories FOR GRAVE AND GAY. BY C.D. DM. AUTHOR OF ‘‘MERRY MOMENTS,” ETC. ILLUSTRATED BY W. RAINEY, R.I., A. F. MUCKLEY, - M. I. DICKSEE, G. BROWNE, ETC. London : Z a S.W. PARTRIDGE &Co., 4 ® 8&9, PATERNOSTER Row. § (i Wartinc ror FaTtHER .. : “ A SIsTER TO BE PRoup oF!’ A Tarpy CONFESSION . ; 3 Tue Naucuty Dosccigs . : 5 FoorPRINTS ON THE SANDS : A Frienp INDEED . : 5 Cissy AND THE FLOWER . : _ Minniz’s TEMPER . : Granny’s SKEIN. : 5 : A Wuuire HyacinTH : : : A Prep AT SOME CHINESE PROVINCES A CLEVER Younc CoupPLe : : A Story oF HanpDEL . 2 TomM AND THE TIGER g A : In THE ORCHARD . : . : Freppie’s FAuLT . i ‘ PAGE IO 12 14 16 18 22 24 28 30° 32 34 39 6 Contents. PAGE A Happy Party . 4 ‘ : : : : : : : 5 . 40 A Livery PEt } : ss ‘ : : i ; : : ! . 42 Bap Company . : : : ¢ ‘ : : : : ; ; s BoA A TrresomeE: Lesson Z : : : 3 : ; 5 3 4 - 46 Cat-anp-poG LIFE . 5 : : i : iN : : i 4 . 48 Wuat Frank anp Lity Learnt, rate d : : s : Z . 50 Nora’s TEA-PARTY . - : : : : j _ : ; : : Wea52 A SnowpBaLL BarrLe . : 4 : ; } 4 : ; : : ise54: Tue MessacE oF THE Birps : : : : : : : : : : oeSS How Joun CHINAMAN CATCHES HIS Fisu. : eae ete : : ; _ . 60 Daisy’s PRAYER ; : é : : ; : : : : ; : EO 2 Winnie's Lesson 64 “Cockle PETER” . : : : ‘ : ; : : ; : : - 66 CHRISTMAS IN THE HospITAL . : i s : : : i : : . 68 A Stirrinc. TIME 70 7 WAITING FOR FATHER. (See Frontispiece.) ep >S it time for father to come home yet, mother ee ee dean? If little May had asked that fi, question once, she had asked it twenty times since dinner ; and it was not to be wondered at that Mrs. Wilson began to get a wee bit tired of hearing it so often. At last, seeing that her small daughter was too excited to settle to anything indoors, Mrs. Wilson said, after looking at the clock, ‘Father will soon be home now, dearie. Come to the gate with mother, and we will wait for him.” May ran for her hat; and then, clasping dolly in her arm, and holding fast to mother’s hand, she stood; as you may see her in our picture, waiting for father. Would you like to know why May was so specially anxious on that particular day for fathers return? You shall hear, then. It was her birthday. In the trim little parlour of the cottage home a grand tea was laid, with a wonderful cake of mother’s making in the middle of the table. Naturally, mother and May could not think of sitting down to that meal without father. So there they stood, watching and waiting for the father who was all the world to them. At last May gave a shout. Here he comes! And off she flew, even dropping dolly in her excitement, never stopping until she rushed, breathless and happy, into father’s outstretched arms. Was the party a success? ‘That, surely, is a question that needs no answer! 8 “A SISTER TO BE PROUD OF!” HEN Harry Matthews discovered that it was. _ a frosty morning, he was nearly wild with delight. ‘ Here’s a treat, Nell!” he said briskly to his sister, who was crouching over the fire. “ There'll be skating on the squire’s pond to-day. I say, Nell,’ he went on, “ don’t you wish you could skate?” “Of course I do, but I can't; so what’s the use of wishing?” said Nell gloomily.. ‘I’ve never even once had on the skates Uncle John gave me a year ago.” Harry was silent for a minute. Then he said, “Look here, Nell—I’ll teach you to skate!” “Oh, will you?” cried Nellie delightedly ; “ really, Harry?” “Why, yes!” said Harry, surprised, and, if it must be confessed, a little bit ashamed to notice how his sister's face brightened. For he did not devote to her nearly as much of his time as he might and ought to have done. After breakfast they started out, and on arriving at the pond found a crowd of skaters already enjoying themselves. Amongst them was Tom Morris, a school-friend of Harry's; and he good-naturedly offered to help Nellie. The two boys took the greatest pains with their pupil, and by dinner-time she could really manage fairly well. ‘She is a pupil to be proud of,” said Harry, who now found for the first time that Nellie was a far nicer playmate than many of his school-boy friends. That first skating lesson was the beginning of a better understanding between Nellie and her brother; and it was not long before Harry was heard to say—and to a boy, too |— “T tell you, Tom Morris, my Nell is a sister to be proud of!” And Tom agreed ! LEARNING TO SKATE, Io A TARDY CONFESSION. HE apples were gone. That was clear. But how, and where, and when had they gone? That was a puzzle; and Farmer Harty, being a poor hand at conundrums was inclined to give it up. He stood be- neath the stripped apple-tree in the orchard, and scratched his head in a perplexed sort of way. Suddenly an idea occurred to him, which, however, was evidently not to his taste. “No!” he said, “I don’t believe they'd do it. Rascals they may be, but thieves mever/” and he brought his big stick down with a thump that made his sleepy old dog get up in a hurry. ‘“ But I'll see! I'll see!” Then he walked over to the school-house, where a short conversation with the master resulted in every boy being asked two plain questions, to which two unvarying replies were given until it came to Sid Mason’s turn. ‘“ Now, Sid,” said the master, “did you steal the apples?” ‘No, sir!” “Do you know who did?” “Yes, sir!” Every boy in the school held his breath. ‘Who was it?” “I cannot tell you, sir!” The boys gasped. ‘Then you must bear the punishment,” said the master grimly, reaching for his cane. But just as the first stroke was about to be given somebody shrieked, ‘“‘ Don't, sir! I did it!” And out from his place came big Willie Thompson. Willie was indeed the culprit. He received the punish- ment he deserved, and a severe lecture into the bargain. Let us hope both did him good. As for Sid, the boys made a hero of him. But whether he was right in acting as he did is an open question. What is your opinion, little reader ? SRCERERE O86) “(pIpD YOU STEAL THE APPLES P?’” I2 THE NAUGHTY DOGGIES: : pous little doggies once did live Together, and quite gay were they; For they had nothing else to do But eat, and drink, and play all day. Two of these doggies lived on milk, And two on biscuits, crisp and dry; And when their dinner did appear, Then brightly gleamed each doggie’s eye! But one day, when their master came, And brought to them their simple fare, The doggies who on biscuits fed Began to fight about their share. Now, surely that was very sad, For pups who fight about their food, Unless they mend their naughty ways, Will never grow up wise and good! . Hi THE PUPS’ DINNER-TIME. 14 FOOTPRINTS ON THE SANDS. Pe Qo J rs ART af , a are; * ELL, auntie, I don’t see that it matters one bit. If Cecil and I like to play by ourselves, why shouldn't we? It’s perfectly sorrid of that Gracie Gladman to come poking her nose into oe all our fun as she does. We don’t want her, ge “QO and we won’t have her, so there!” “Come here, Ethel,” said Auntie Meg. Ethel obeyed unwillingly. ‘Suppose you were to go back to the shore where you played this morning, do you think you could find on the sand any of the prints of your shoes?” ‘“ Why, auntie, what a funny question! Of course not! The tide has washed them away hours ago! Besides, what has that to do with Gracie Gladman?” “Just this, my hasty little maiden ; there are other sands than those of the sea—sands over which no tidal waters ever roll. Sands of time they _ are, and the footprints we make on them will remain to tell how we have walked, till the great sea of eternity washes -them away. When poor Gracie, who has felt so unhappy since her little sister died, came and asked to join your play, and you coldly turned away, what kind of footprints did you leave behind? Oh, my bairnies, none of us can afford to make such accusing footmarks. Go to Gracie in the morning, and say you are sorry. Will you?” From the folds of auntie’s dress two muffled voices whispered “Yes”; and then, after kissing each bowed head, auntie sent the children to bed. : The next day Cecil and Ethel wandered again on the sands. Presently they met Gracie, who readily forgave them, and in a little while they were the best of friends. “CECIL AND ETHEL WANDERED ON THE SANDS.” 16 A FRIEND INDEED. er orn \| HERE was no doubt about it—little Maggie was hel, desperately ill; and her brother Jack, as he knelt Sy beside her bed, felt as though his heart would break. For they were all the world to each other, these two. Their father had died long ago, and their mother, alas! was mother to them only in name. Suddenly Maggie opened her eyes. “Jack,” she said, “if I had a dolly, I think I could get better.” A dolly! How could Jack get her that? She might almost as well. have asked him for the moon! Not for the world would he tell her so, however. He kissed the little wan face, and without a word left the room and the house. Walking - dejectedly along a squalid street, he came to a building brightly lighted. Scarcely knowing why, he looked in. A school prize distribution was in progress, and Jack gazed wistfully at the books and toys many of the children were holding. Presently a lady noticed him, and spoke to him. Jack never quite knew how it happened, but before long he found himself telling her all about Maggie and her desire for a dolly. The end of it was that the lady went home with Jack ; and that same evening, when Maggie said good-night to him, a beautiful doll—her very own—was clasped tight in her tiny arms. Nor was that all; the kind-hearted lady cared for Maggie till she got well again; she found work for Jack; and she persuaded the children’s mother, with God’s help, to give up her evil ways. Was she not a friend indeed ? IT Se UT ———— = ‘6A BEAUTIFUL DOLL IN HER ARMS.” 18 ne CISSY AND THE FLOWER. ¢(- DON'T believe it!” said little Cissie Barlow. “~ “Oh!” shouted her Cousin Alec; and ‘ * Cassie /” shrieked her Cousin Flo. “I dont care,” Said | Cissie loftily; and then she repeated, in a very ISA determined manner, “I don’t believe it! Do you mean to tell me,” she went on scornfully, ‘ that a stupid flower in a pot has the sense to turn itself towards the sun, and grow towards the light? Do you expect me to believe that? The girls at school told me that when I visited my cousins in the country they would be sure to tell me some strange tales; but I’m not as simple as you seem to think, even if I do come from London!” And with that Miss Cissie tossed her head and stamped her foot defiantly. : Alec and Flo looked at each other. ‘‘ Well,” said Alec at length, “I don’t think it is very polite of you, Miss Cissie, to talk like that, and doubt our word; but we will see if we can find the gardener, and ask him to tell you about it. Perhaps you will believe him.” They set off at once, and found John busy weeding. However, when he had heard all they had to say, he good- naturedly got up from his work, and bidding the children follow him, led the way to the greenhouse, where he showed Cissie all the plants, and explained their habits in such an interesting manner, that the little girl quite forgot the argument that had led to this unexpected treat. But John didn’t forget! When they had seen nearly everything in the greenhouse, he took Cissie’s hand. ‘Now come this way, missie, please,” he said; and he led her to a corner of IN THE GREENHOUSE. 21 the greenhouse where two or three plants were standing, with their stems bent and twisted in a very peculiar manner. ‘‘Oh,” said Cissie, ‘ how funny they look!” “ Yes, my dear,” said John; “I don’t know how it happened, but these plants were put aside in an unsuitable place, and forgotten. Like everything else in nature, however, they tried to make the best of their surroundings, and you see the result. Those curious, unshapely twists have been caused by their efforts to turn towards the light.” : “There now!” said Flo triumphantly, from the other end of the greenhouse; “do you believe it now, Miss Doubtful ?” Cissie hung her head, and said nothing. There was a twinkle of amusement in Gardener John’s eye as he glanced at the little girl; but it presently gave place to a serious look, and he said slowly—he was a strange man in some ways was John—‘“ Don’t you think, Missie, the flowers teach us a lesson in this matter? It seems to me that when they try so hard to turn towards their sun, they are bidding us look ever to owrv Sun—even the Sun of Righteousness—that we may walk ever in the light of all goodness and all truth. Don’t you think so, Missie?” But Cissie answered never a word; and with bowed head she walked thoughtfully away. Off ond Away. B 22 MINNIE’S TEMPER. a Yue day had been very unsatisfactory. That AS was the disappointing conclusion arrived at Ke by Jessie Mortimer when she reviewed the events of the past few hours. It was Jessie’s birthday, and a party had been arranged in : honour of the event. Among the guests was a girl cousin of Jessie’s—Minnie Palmer by name; and she it was who had spoiled everything. “I can’t think what was the matter with Minnie,” said Jessie, as she sat alone in the summer-house. “I wonder why she was so dis- agreeable 2” As if in answer to her question, at that moment Minnie appeared. ‘ Jessie,” she said, in a shame-faced way, ‘I want to speak to you.” “Well,” said Jessie, not very graciously, “what is it?” “I know I was perfectly hateful this after- noon,’ said Minnie humbly, “and I want to say how sorry Iam. It was all through something that put me out before I left home. I don’t expect you to forgive me, but I felt so miserable that I was obliged to come and tell you I am sorry, and to bring you the book I had got for your birthday. Mother says my wretched temper will spoil all my life unless I conquer it, and—Jessie But here Jessie put her arms round Minnie’s neck. ‘ Poor Minnie,” she said, “I am sorry too. Let us try to forget to-day ; and perhaps when my next birthday comes that horrid temper will be quite done with.” The “next birthday” is getting near now, and Jessie and Minnie are very busy preparing for a party that promises to be a great success. At any rate, Winnie's temper won't spoil it ! “SJESSIE, I WANT TO SPEAK TO YOU.’” 24 GRANNY’S SKEIN. ql was a warm, bright Saturday in June— just the right kind of day for cricket, thought Will, as he hurried over his morning work about the house, so as to be able to get to the field in good time @,, for the match in which he was to take part < R{UNTIE Grace was on a visit to the home of | her little nephew and niece, and the young ' folks were consequently having a very happy time. It ae to auntie, however, that perhaps the children were thinking rather too much of their own happiness, so one mornirig she announced her intention of going to visit a little sick friend, and she asked Lily and Frank to go with her. They looked rather glum over it at first; but when auntie told them how ill her little friend was, and how poor, with no mother to love her, and scarcely any friends to care for her, tears came into their eyes; and they not only agreed to go, but Lily offered to take one of her very best dollies as a present for the invalid, while Frank lamented that he had nothing the poor sick girlie would care for. So after breakfast the small party started. To the children’s astonishment their auntie took them to the railway station, and thence by train some ten miles to the little town of Wilton, where there was a children’s hospital. It was there, where auntie was evidently well known, that they found the sick child. Her joy at seeing auntie was quite touching; and her delight, when Lily gave her the doll, somehow made that young lady inclined to cry. The children could not be parted until auntie promised they should meet again; and, indeed, that was only the first of many visits to Wilton Hospital, where Lily and Frank unconsciously learnt the valuable lesson that our highest pleasure comes, not from seeking our own enjoyment, but in trying to make others happy. END.” “A LITTLE SICK FRI 52 NORA’S TEA-PARTY. happened in this way. Nora had a very special friend named Ada Morrison. Like most little girls, Ada was fond of parties; and two or three times every year her mother allowed her to invite some of her playmates home to tea. On the occasion of the last tea-party, Nora had been one of the guests; and she was so impressed with Ada’s hospitality that she made up her mind to ask her mother to let her give a party too. This she did; and as mother was quite willing, Nora, in great glee, set about preparing for the important event. Alas! however, as a poet of renown has told us, “ The best-laid schemes o’ mice and men” (and little girls, too, for that matter!) “gang aft a-gley”; and it happened that only a week before the date of the party, when nothing remained to be done but to send out the invitations, Nora’s little brother was taken ill. The doctor said he must be kept absolutely quiet, and so the party had to be given up. Nora was greatly distressed, of course—but more on ‘her brother's account than because of her own disappointment. She told her mother as cheerfully as she could that they must just put off the party till Willie was better; and on the day when the great feast was to have taken place, she consoled herself by giving a strictly private party to her dollies—the only guests who could be relied upon not to disturb Willie! A few weeks later the proper party was given; and Nora had, so she said, ‘‘a splendid time.” Don’t you think she deserved it ? NORA’S TEA-PARTY. o4 A SNOWBALL BATTLE. TVG: E shall have snow before morning, and plenty vA oh of it,” said old Mr. Gayton, the weather- Ke VAM, prophet of Stoneleigh—and he shook his gay head dolefully. For he was a martyr to f rheumatism; and frost, or snow, or wet meant for him many painful twinges. Harry Fowler overheard the old man’s remark, and went dancing down the street in an ecstasy of delight. Turning a corner sharply, he came into violent collision with Will Coleman, and upset that young gentleman very literally. ‘Snow to-morrow, my boy!” exclaimed: Harry, helping Will to his feet, and never troubling to apologise for having knocked him over. ‘Snow to-morrow—old Mr. Gayton says so”; and thereupon the boys gave vent to their feelings | in a whoop that would not have disgraced a Red Indian | on the war-path. For they knew nothing of rheumatism ; and frost and snow meant for them the merriest, wildest | fun imaginable. “Tt’s bound to come, you know,” said Harry, as soon as he recovered his breath—‘the snow, I mean!—old Mr. Gayton is always right about that—and I’ve got a plan. To-morrow morning you and I will start early for school, and stand by the wall at the corner of Dr. Mason’s house. Jim Harris and the twin Butlers are sure to pass that way, and you and I will give them such a pelting as they have never had yet.” “That’s all very fine,” said Will, “but they will be three to two, and we might get the pelting!” “Um!” said Harry, “I hadn't thought of that! But” A BATTLE IN THE SNOW. oY Pll tell you what,” as a bright idea struck him; “T’ll get my sister to come with us; she is almost as good as a boy—any way, she’s worth three ordinary girls. How will that do >?” ‘“That’s better,” said Will; “but, I say, it will be rather a sell if the snow doesn’t come after all, won't it ?” “Oh, go home, Froggy!” said Harry, laughing, “and stop croaking; and mind you meet Sis and me in the morning. Good-bye!” And the two boys went their ways. The next morning proved old Mr. Gayton to have been a true prophet, for the snow was lying inches deep. Harry and his sister were up betimes; and half-past eight found them waiting with Will at Dr. Mason’s corner. The “enemy” presently approached, as Harry had expected ; and though Jim’s terrier sounded an alarm, and so spoilt a little of the suddenness of the attack, boys, and girl, and dog were soon engaged in a battle royal; and what with shouts, and laughs, and barks, and flying snowballs, things were pretty lively at that corner for the next few minutes. Unfortunately it had to be a drawn battle, for there was not time to finish it; but the boys and Sis had had fine fun, to say nothing of Tiny; and as the snow promised to last for some days, they were not unwilling that the friendly contest should be decided on some future occasion. As to how the battle was resumed, and who were victors in the end, we have no space to tell; but we can say that the six snowballers were as good friends after their battle as before, and that really is the main thing in such matters, isn’t it? Off and Away. 58 THE MESSAGE OF THE BIRDS. E are merry little birdies, Just as happy as can be, y Bathing in the shady brooklet, ~ Hiding in the leafy tree. Cheery are our tuneful notes, Cosy are our robes of feathers, Snug and warm our winter coats. There is One above, in Heaven, Who regards our feeblest cry ; Even to the little birdies Is His mercy ever nigh. And for children too He careth— Girls and boys His love may share Evermore He watches o’er them, And He waits to hear their prayer. S Ss “TITTLE BIRDIES.” | 60 HOW JOHN CHINAMAN CATCHES HIS -BISH. E is, in some ways, a very clever fellow, is John Chinaman, as you will no doubt agree when you have heard how he catches his fish. Of course, he knows our way of fishing, and he does sometimes provide a dinner for himself and his family by means of rod and line. But he has another and a very singular “iN method of catching fish, in which he makes use “JOHN cHINAMAN.” Of the bird known as the cormorant, which is an admirable swimmer and a good diver, and chases fish with equal perseverance and success. A well-known traveller tells us that he once saw a number of fishermen capturing large quantities of fish by means of these birds. This is how it was done. One of the fishermen, standing at the head of the boat, took charge of the birds. The boat was rowed into mid-stream, and, at a given signal, the half-dozen or more cormorants stationed on the craft dived into the water to search for fish: To prevent the birds from swallowing the fish, each had a band or ring made of bamboo round its neck. They swam with their prey to the boat, and the fishermen at once extracted the fishes from their throats and deposited them in a creel. When fatigued, the cormorants rested for a little while on the vessels, resuming their task whenever the fishermen gave the signal. Some- times the Chinese use a kind of raft, sometimes a broad ‘boat; and at night they often suspend fires from the head of their vessels. And that is how John Chinaman, with the help of the cormorant, catches his fish! ee A CHINESE FISHING PARTY. 62 DAISY’S PRAYER. ¥ T was the evening before the village picnic—an ¥ annual event to which every one looked forward with pleasure ; and as Daisy knelt beside her little bed, she added this request to her usual prayer: “Please, God, let it be a fine day to-morrow for the picnic.” Imagine, then, her grief and dis- appointment when she woke next morning and saw a steady drizzle of rain falling from a leaden sky! Daisy’s face quickly became as cloudy as the prospect before her, and big tears rolled over her cheeks, keeping company with the raindrops that trickled down the window-pane. Just when things were at their very worst with poor Daisy, her father came into the room. ‘‘ What! crying, little woman!” he said. ‘‘ Come, come, this will never do! We can’t have wet, weather indoors as well as out! Cheer up, Daisy, and get dressed as soon as you can. I want you to come with me and see whether we can arrange a “tea for the boys and girls in the schoolroom, as we cannot have our picnic.” ‘‘Oh, Daddy, how nice!” cried Daisy. The tears were soon dried; and directly after breakfast father and daughter set out. They had not gone far when they met Farmer Johnson, who stopped fora chat. ‘“ What — a blessed rain, sir!” said the farmer. ‘I’ve done nothing but thank God ever since I opened my eyes this morning. The land was fair parched for want of it.” The tea in the schoolroom quite made up, so the children said, for the loss of the picnic; and Daisy prayed at bedtime that God would forgive her for having thought Him unkind. “God is zevery unkind,” she said earnestly—and she was right. ” “DAISY KNELT BESIDE HER LITTLE BED. 64 WINNIE’S LESSON. Ee ALINNIE MAITLAND thought she had never << enjoyed a game so much. You see, it was \. a lovely day, for one thing, and then Hetty : Winstone and May Jackson were such F delightful girls; and the shrubbery was 4" such a splendid place for play! - After a while the girls, feeling tired, sat Ire, down to rest. ‘Suddenly Winnie cried’ out, «Where's Roy?” and looked to right and left for the little three-year-old brother, whom she had been entrusted to take to the shrubbery for an airing. The little fellow was nowhere to be seen. Winnie began to cry. ‘ Oh, what shall I do?” she wailed, wringing her hands. ‘I’ve lost him!” The three girls searched eagerly in the shrubbery, but all to no purpose; and at length Winnie was obliged to go home. Bursting in at the kitchen door, she nearly overturned Mary, the servant, who was scrubbing the floor. “Oh, Mary!” she gasped, “have you seen him?—has he come home?” ’‘‘ Why—who—what’s the matter?” said Mary, bewildered. ‘Why, Roy! I’ve lost him! Oh, what shall I do2” 4“ But my dear,’ said’ Mary, “Roy 1s. upstairs, asleep. Mrs. Baker found him wandering in the road, and brought him home.” ‘ Oh!” said Winnie blankly. Winnie’s mother said very little to her careless daughter, who was not allowed to have charge of the baby again for many weeks—a terribly hard punishment! You may be sure that when, some months later, Roy went out with Winnie once more, there was no fear whatever that he woul be lost. Winnie fad learnt her lesson. mi “| an / ' | UE | ili ii iT Trae h A x \ « (yaVE YOU SEEN HIM ?—HAS HE COME HOME ??” 66 “COCKLE PETER.” fe was what the village boys called him, because his name was Peter, and because he spent most of his spare time gathering cockles. Peter didn’t mind his = strange name in the least, for he made a good deal of money by his cockles. But why, you may ask, did Peter = want to make money? Well, because, in the first place, he wanted to help his widowed mother, who had a hard struggle to keep her six children and _ herself supplied with the necessaries of life. Peter liked a game as well as any boy; but he was too manly, and loving, and brave to care for play while his mother worked for him. So, whenever he could, he went off with his bag, and rake, and pail for the toothsome fish, which was always in demand. Peter's other reason for wanting to make money was in order that he might get on in the world. He knew that in order to do that he must learn, and to learn he must have books, and to have books he must have money. And why did Peter want to get on in the world? Chiefly, again, for his mother’s sake. He was a regular mother’s boy; and he had long ago made up his mind that, God helping him, he would some day try and show his gratitude for all his mother’s love. Did he do it? Yes, and is doing it still. Nobody dreams of calling him “Cockle Peter” now. He is one of the cleverest engineers in the country; and all the wealth, and fame, and honour that are his to-day he lays at the feet of a dear, gentle, old lady, who proudly calls him “ My boy—my son Peter.” ‘(WITH HIS BAG, AND RAKE, AND PAIL.” 68 GERISEMAS COINS EE HOSP Al: HRISTMAS was drawing near, and there was great excitement in the wards of Beverton Children’s Hospital. For some days there had been mysterious whisperings amongst the little patients ; and the knowing smiles of the nurses, as they lovingly tended their young charges, told plainly enough that something unusual was in the air. Nobody found out exactly what that “something” was, however, until Christmas Eve; and then, into the middle of the largest ward, where all the children who could be moved were gathered, there was brought an immense Christmas- tree. Oh, how the children did enjoy it! They were very quiet—many of them were too ill to make much noise; but their pleasure was none the less on that account. The tree was brightly lighted with coloured candles, and there was a gift on it for every child in the hospital. A delightful old Father Christmas, who turned out afterwards to be one of the kind-hearted doctors, made a little speech, and then unfastened the gifts, which his own small daughter carried to those of the children who were too weak to walk to the tree themselves. When every child in the ward had been made happy with a gift, and all had been taken back to their cosy beds, there still remained one gift on the tree, and that was intended for a little girl whose illness was of such a kind that the good doctor feared the excitement of the evening might have harmed her. Poor little maiden! Though she was very brave, she could not help feeling a little bit unhappy about NEWS OF A TREAT IN STORE, it; but the doctor knew just how’she felt, and at bed-time he went himself with his daughter to see this poor invalid, and promised her that a month or two later, when he hoped she would be quite better, she should go to his little daughter's birthday party, as she had been obliged to miss the Christmas-tree. Was not that kind of him ? 7O A STIRRING TIME. mw AL HAMMOND was particularly happy. He was home for the Christmas holidays ; and of that fact everybody in the house was fully aware, from his father, a grave clergy- man who loved peace and quietness, right down to the venerable household cat, who was well-nigh worried out of her wits with all his noise:and commotion. He had only been home three days; but in that short time he had managed to get through a surprising amount of mischief. On the first day of his holiday, he and the doctor’s son, Matt Wilson, had gone to the Valley Woods for holly. Both boys knew they were trespassing, for the woods were the private property of the squire, who, for a certain special reason, had caused notices to be posted on various trees near the road, stating that the woods were dangerous, and that trespassers would be prosecuted. The reason was simply that some time previously shafts had been sunk in many parts of the wood, where it had been supposed coal might be found. The operations, however, had not been successful, and the ‘work was abandoned. Railings had been placed round the shafts, but in course of time they had broken away; and the squire, hearing that one or two people had had narrow escapes through nearly tumbling into the old overgrown holes, had forbidden any one to go into the wood. The boys knew this well enough; but they went all the same—and came to grief. Boy-like, they tried to find one of the shafts—and they found — it sooner than they expected, for Hal tumbled over the edge, and had he not managed to hold on to some rank grass till oN ate WAAR, A STIR AT THE CHRISTMAS PUDDING. 72 Matt rescued him, he would certainly have been killed. The boys left the wood with never a thought for their holly, glad to escape without broken bones ; and for the rest of the day they were tolerably quiet. But the next morning they were as full of life and as ready for mischief as ever; and it was perhaps excusable that their mothers should have whispered, in the course of a chat at tea-time, that they would be thankful to have their young hopefuls safe at school again. The day following was wet, and Hal was told he must stay indoors. The prospect was an alarming one for every- body, until his grown-up sister Grace thought of the happy notion of taking him into the kitchen, where she was busy ‘ cooking for the festive season. Hal was delighted, and really managed to help a little, though he complained that stoning raisins was rather a “messy job.” But his crowning joy was the stirring of the Christmas pudding. “Isn't this jolly >?” he exclaimed, as he toiled away with a wooden spoon in the thick, fruity mixture. ‘I think, on the whole, I'm having, a real, stirring time of it—don’t you Gracie?” on And Gracie agreed. 25.4 ey EA We, . = AY y AY. DY vy 5 a Wi pe Wray. i ran © ( mA Gy yi) FA oe (2 BAS al Ge Hh 7; df ‘ Pe Z NCAG Tuy VE 27 0) 7, Is? SS Ws | 4, ai fe ya ie a) i 7 = » ee Printed by Hazell, Watson, & Viney, Ld., London and Aylesbury. ‘ es ee oe ee, ene ee ee a hs = atts oe The leading Doctors ' and Analysts, and the Medical Press, testify to , tts purity & superiority, Can be safely and beneficially taken as-an . article of daily diet at Of all times and all Seasons. nC Sm Se : Absolutely Pure, therefore Best. SE Tg yr sermon trey arent emg pte am pay pry ADBURY’S COCOA is closely allied to milk in the large C proportion of flesh-forming and strength-sustaining elements that it contains. It is prepared on the principle of excluding the fatty, indigestible matter with which Cocoa abounds—supplying a refined, thin infusion of absolutely pure Cocoa, exhilarating and refreshing, for Breakfast, Luncheon, Tea, or Supper—giving staying power, and imparting new life and vigour to growing Children, and those of delicate constitutions. é “a EVV EPP eg Pp Oe i “‘Cadbury’s Cocoa has in a remarkable degree those natural elements of - joao which give the system endurance and hardihood, building up muscle : “and bodily vigour with a steady action which renders it a most acceptable and : : “reliable beverage.” —Healih. s Re x aa a z eh pe sate Se, maa eee MATELL, WATEON & WinRY; icy Rte G&G KIRBY ST., BATTON GARDEN,