204 Red-Boots.

Now the boots had been taught never to
answer rudely so they said simply :

“Yes, Stockings, you are a prettier color than
we.’ This answer was so kind and polite, that
the stockings were ashamed, and ever after, were
very friendly. In a few days the stockings were
washed, and when they were sent upstairs again,
they were so changed, that the boots scarcely
knew them. They were now much lighter, and
they were streaked too, a light and dark red.

‘Oh, dear,” they sighed, ‘“‘ we were carelessly
washed, and the color ran.”

‘Where ?”’ said the boots.

““ Away.”

‘And why didn’t you run after it?”

“We could n't.”

NVI? ©

‘Boots, you ask too many questions.”

‘Perhaps I do, but you must remember that I
have ¢wo tongues.”

“That is true, I had forgotten,” said the stock-
ings.

Several weeks passed, and the boots and stock-