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+The Project Gutenberg EBook of Cinderella; or, The Little Glass Slipper
+and Other Stories, by Anonymous
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
+
+
+Title: Cinderella; or, The Little Glass Slipper and Other Stories
+
+Author: Anonymous
+
+Posting Date: September 26, 2008 [EBook #1599]
+Last Updated: October 8, 2016
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: UTF-8
+
+*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK CINDERELLA AND OTHERS ***
+
+
+
+
+Produced by Dianne Bean
+
+
+
+
+
+CINDERELLA OR, THE LITTLE GLASS SLIPPER AND OTHER STORIES
+
+By Anonymous Authors
+
+
+
+     Cinderella; or, The Little Glass Slipper
+     Fanny’s Telephone Order
+     The Raindrops’ New Dresses
+     Sir Gobble
+     What is It?
+     John’s Bright Idea
+     A Sad Thanksgiving Party
+     Guy and the Bee
+     Mean Boy
+     Naughty Pumpkin’s Fate
+     Something About Fires
+     The lee-King’s Reign.
+     Malmo, the Wounded Rat
+     Mama’s Happy Christmas
+     Cured of Carelessness
+     A Visit from a Prince
+     Stringing Cranberries
+     Christmas in California
+     A Troublesome Call
+     Bertie’s Corn-Popper
+     Fire! Fire! Fire!
+     The Dolls and the Other Dolls
+     Why Did Mamma Change Her Mind?
+     Clara’s Funeral.
+     The Chickadee-Dee.
+     The Children’s Party
+     Brave Tomasso
+     Tommy Frost Sees a Bear
+     Myself
+     Two Strange Sights
+     A Cat’s Instincts
+     Diliah’s New Year’s Presents
+     Night Flowers
+     The First Snow Storm
+     Fred’s Stolen Ride
+     A Valentine Party
+     The Venturesome Rat
+     The Bear’s Feast
+     Babie’s Curls.
+     The Red Apples
+     Bubbles
+     A Horse Who Wore Snow Shoes
+     The Angry Bobolink
+     How Hiram Spent His Shrimp Money
+     The Ant’s House
+     The Foolish Pug
+     The Silhouette Party
+     The Snow Birds
+     A Kind Heart
+     Towser Talks
+     Just as She Pleased
+
+
+
+
+CINDERELLA; OR THE LITTLE GLASS SLIPPER.
+
+Once there was a gentleman who married for his second wife the proudest
+and most haughty woman that was ever seen. She had by a former husband
+two daughters of her own humor, who were, indeed, exactly like her in
+all things. He had likewise, by another wife, a young daughter, but of
+unparalleled goodness and sweetness of temper, which she took from her
+mother, who was the best creature in the world.
+
+No sooner were the ceremonies of the wedding over but the mother-in-law
+began to show herself in her true colors. She could not bear the good
+qualities of this pretty girl, and the less because they made her own
+daughters appear the more odious. She employed her in meanest work of
+the house: she scoured the dishes, tables, etc., and scrubbed madam’s
+chamber and those of misses, her daughters; she lay up in a sorry
+garret, upon a wretched straw bed, while her sisters lay in fine rooms,
+with floors all inlaid, upon beds of the very newest fashion, and where
+they had looking-glasses so large that they might see themselves at
+their full length from head to foot.
+
+The poor girl bore all patiently and dared not tell her father, who
+would have rattled her off; for his wife governed him entirely. When she
+had done her work she used to go into the chimney-corner and sit down
+among cinders and ashes, which made her commonly be called a cinder
+maid; but the youngest, who was not so rude and uncivil as the eldest,
+called her Cinderella. However, Cinderella, notwithstanding her mean
+apparel, was a hundred times handsomer than her sisters, though they
+were always dressed very richly.
+
+It happened that the King’s son gave a ball and invited all persons, of
+fashion to it. Our young misses were also invited, for they cut a very
+grand figure among the quality. They were mightily delighted at this
+invitation, and wonderfully busy in choosing out such gowns, petticoats,
+and head-clothes as might become them. This was a new trouble to
+Cinderella, for it was she who ironed her sisters’ linen and plaited
+their ruffles. They talked all day long of nothing but how they should
+be dressed.
+
+“For my part,” said the eldest, “I will wear my red velvet suit with
+French trimming.”
+
+“And I,” said the youngest, “shall have my usual petticoat; but then,
+to make amends for that, I will put on my gold-flowered manteau and my
+diamond stomacher, which is far from being the most ordinary one in the
+world.”
+
+They sent for the best tire-woman they could get to make up their
+head-dresses and adjust their double pinners, and they had their red
+brushes and patches from Mademoiselle de la Poche.
+
+Cinderella was likewise called up to them to be consulted in all these
+matters, for she had excellent notions and advised them always for the
+best, nay, and offered her services to dress their heads, which they
+were very willing she should do. As she was doing this they said to her:
+
+“Cinderella, would you not be glad to go to the ball?”
+
+“Alas!” said she, “you only jeer me. It is not for such as I am to go
+thither.”
+
+“Thou art in the right of it,” replied they. “It would make the people
+laugh to see a cinder wench at a ball.”
+
+Any one but Cinderella would have dressed their heads awry, but she was
+very good and dressed them perfectly well. They were almost two days
+without eating, so much they were transported with joy. They broke above
+a dozen of laces in trying to be laced up close, that they might have a
+fine, slender shape, and they were continually at their looking-glass.
+At last the happy day came. They went to Court, and Cinderella followed
+them with her eyes as long as she could, and when she had lost sight of
+them she fell a-crying.
+
+Her Godmother, who saw her all in tears, asked her what was the matter.
+
+“I wish I could--I wish I could--”
+
+She was not able to speak the rest being interrupted by her tears and
+sobbing.
+
+This Godmother of hers, who was a fairy, said to her: “Thou wishest thou
+could’st go to the ball. Is it not so?”
+
+“Y--es,” cried Cinderella, with a great sigh.
+
+“Well,” said her Godmother, “be but a good girl, and I will contrive
+that thou shalt go.” Then she took her into her chamber and said to her:
+“Run into the garden and bring me a pumpkin.”
+
+Cinderella went immediately to gather the finest she could get and
+brought it to her Godmother, not being able to imagine how this pumpkin
+could make her go to the ball. Her Godmother scooped out all the inside
+of it, having left nothing but the rind; which done, she struck it with
+her wand, and the pumpkin was instantly turned into a fine coach, gilded
+all over with gold.
+
+She then went to look into her mousetrap, where she found six mice all
+alive, and ordered Cinderella to lift up a little the trapdoor, when,
+giving each mouse as it went out a little tap with her wand, the mouse
+was that moment turned into a fine horse, which altogether made a very
+fine set of six horses of a beautiful mouse-colored dapple-gray. Being
+at a loss for a coachman, Cinderella said:
+
+“I will go and see if there is never a rat in the rattrap--we may make a
+coachman of him.”
+
+“Thou art in the right,” replied her Godmother. “Go and look.”
+
+Cinderella brought the trap to her, and in it there were three huge
+rats. The fairy made choice of one of the three which had the largest
+beard, and having touched him with her wand he was turned into a fat,
+jolly coachman, who had the smartest whiskers eyes ever beheld. After
+that she said to her:
+
+“Go again into the garden, and you will find six lizards behind the
+watering-pot. Bring them to me.”
+
+She had no sooner done so but her Godmother turned them into six
+footmen, who skipped up immediately behind the coach, with their liveries
+all bedaubed with gold and silver, and clung as close behind each other
+as if they had done nothing else their whole lives. The fairy then said
+to Cinderella:
+
+“Well, you see here an equipage fit to go to the ball with. Are you not
+pleased with it?”
+
+“Oh! yes,” cried she; “but must I go thither as I am, in these dirty
+rags?”
+
+Her Godmother only just touched her with her wand, and at the same
+instant her clothes were turned into cloth-of-gold and silver, all beset
+with jewels. Ah! who can describe a robe made by the fairies? It was
+white as snow, and as dazzling; round the hem hung a fringe of diamonds,
+sparkling like dewdrops in the sunshine. The lace about the throat and
+arms could only have been spun by fairy spiders. Surely it was a dream!
+Cinderella put her daintily gloved hand to her throat, and softly
+touched the pearls that encircled her neck.
+
+“Come, child,” said the Godmother, “or you will be late.”
+
+As Cinderella moved, the firelight shone upon her dainty shoes.
+
+“They are of diamonds,” she said.
+
+“No,” answered her Godmother, smiling; “they are better than that--they
+are of glass, made by the fairies. And now, child, go, and enjoy
+yourself to your heart’s content.”
+
+But her Godmother, above all things, commanded her not to stay till
+after midnight, telling her at the same time that if she stayed one
+moment longer the coach would be a pumpkin again, her horses mice, her
+coachman a rat, her footmen lizards, and her clothes become just as they
+were before.
+
+She promised her Godmother she would not fail of leaving the ball before
+midnight, and then away she drives, scarce able to contain herself for
+joy. The King’s son, who was told that a great Princess, whom nobody
+knew, was come, ran out to receive her. He gave her his hand as she
+alighted out of the coach; and led her into the hall among all the
+company. There was immediately a profound silence, they left off
+dancing, and the violins ceased to play, so attentive was every one to
+contemplate the singular beauties of the unknown newcomer. Nothing was
+then heard but a confused noise of “Ha! how handsome she is! Ha! how
+handsome she is!”
+
+The King himself, old as he was, could not help watching her and telling
+the Queen softly that it was a long time since he had seen so beautiful
+and lovely a creature.
+
+All the ladies were busied in considering her clothes and headdress,
+that they might have some made next day after the same pattern, provided
+they could meet with such fine materials and as able hands to make them.
+
+The King’s son conducted her to the most honorable seat and afterward
+took her out to dance with him. She danced so very gracefully that they
+all more and more admired her. A fine collation was served up, whereof
+the young Prince ate not a morsel, so intently was he busied in gazing
+on her.
+
+She went and sat down by her sisters, showing them a thousand
+civilities, giving them part of the oranges and citrons which the Prince
+had presented her with, which very much surprised them, for they did not
+know her. While Cinderella was thus amusing her sisters, she heard the
+clock strike eleven and three-quarters, whereupon she immediately made a
+courtesy to the company and hastened away as fast as she could.
+
+Being got home, she ran to seek out her Godmother, and after having
+thanked her she said she could not but heartily wish she might go next
+day to the ball, because the King’s son had desired her.
+
+As she was eagerly telling her Godmother what had passed at the ball her
+two sisters knocked at the door, which Cinderella ran and opened.
+
+“How long you have stayed!” cried she, gaping, rubbing her eyes, and
+stretching herself as if she had been just waked out of her sleep. She
+had not, however, had any manner of inclination to sleep since they went
+from home.
+
+“If thou hadst been at the ball,” said one of her sisters, “thou
+would’st not have been tired with it. There came thither the finest
+Princess, the most beautiful ever was seen with mortal eyes. She showed
+us a thousand civilities and gave us oranges and citrons.”
+
+Cinderella seemed very indifferent in the matter. Indeed, she asked them
+the name of that Princess, but they told her they did not know it, and
+that the King’s son was very uneasy on her account, and would give all
+the world to know who she was. At this Cinderella, smiling, replied:
+
+“She must, then, be very beautiful indeed. How happy you have been!
+Could not I see her? Ah! dear Miss Charlotte, do lend me your yellow
+suit of clothes which you wear every day.”
+
+“Ay, to be sure,” cried Miss Charlotte; “lend my clothes to such it
+dirty cinder maid as thou art! I should be a fool.”
+
+Cinderella expected well such answer and was very glad of the refusal,
+for she would have been sadly put to it if her sister had lent her what
+she asked for jestingly.
+
+The next day the two sisters were at the ball, and so was Cinderella,
+but dressed more magnificently than before. The King’s son was always by
+her, and never ceased his compliments and kind speeches to her, to whom
+all this was so far from being tiresome that she quite forgot what her
+Godmother had recommended to her, so that she at last counted the clock
+striking twelve when she took it to be no more than eleven. She then
+rose up and fled as nimble as a deer. The Prince followed, but could
+not overtake her. She left behind one of her glass slippers, which the
+Prince took up most carefully. She got home, but quite out of breath,
+and in her old clothes, having nothing left her of all her finery but
+one of the little slippers, fellow to that she dropped. The guards at
+the palace gate were asked if they had not seen a Princess go out.
+
+They said they had seen nobody go out but a young girl, very meanly
+dressed, and who had more of the air of a poor country girl than a
+gentlewoman.
+
+When the two sisters returned from the ball Cinderella asked them if
+they had been well diverted and if the beautiful Princess had been
+there.
+
+They told her yes, but that she hurried away immediately when the clock
+struck twelve, and with so much haste that she dropped one of her little
+glass slippers, the prettiest in the world, which the King’s son had
+taken up; that he had done nothing but look at her all the time at
+the ball, and that most certainly he was very much in love with the
+beautiful person who owned the glass slipper.
+
+What they said was very true, for a few days after the King’s son caused
+it to be proclaimed, by sound of trumpet, that he would marry her whose
+foot this slipper would just fit. They whom he employed began to try it
+upon the Princesses, then the Duchesses and all the Court, but in vain.
+It was brought to the two sisters, who did all they possibly could to
+thrust their feet into the slipper, but they could not effect it.
+
+On the following morning there was a great noise of trumpets and drums,
+and a procession passed through the town, at the head of which rode the
+King’s son. Behind him came a herald, bearing a velvet cushion, upon
+which rested a little glass slipper. The herald blew a blast upon the
+trumpet, and then read a proclamation saying that the King’s son would
+wed any lady in the land who could fit the slipper upon her foot, if she
+could produce another to match it.
+
+Of course, the sisters tried to squeeze their feet into the slipper, but
+it was of no use--they were much too large. Then Cinderella shyly begged
+that she might try. How the sisters laughed with scorn when the Prince
+knelt to fit the slipper on the cinder maid’s foot; but what was their
+surprise when it slipped on with the greatest ease, and the next moment
+Cinderella produced the other from her pocket! Once more she stood
+in the slippers, and once more the sisters saw before them the lovely
+Princess who was to be the Prince’s bride. For at the touch of the magic
+shoes the little gray frock disappeared forever, and in place of it she
+wore the beautiful robe the fairy Godmother had given to her.
+
+The sisters hung their heads with sorrow and vexation; but kind little
+Cinderella put her arms round their necks, kissed them, and forgave them
+for all their unkindness, so that they could not help but love her.
+
+The Prince could not bear to part from his little love again, so he
+carried her back to the palace in his grand coach, and they were married
+that very day. Cinderella’s stepsisters were present at the feast, but
+in the place of honor sat the fairy Godmother.
+
+So the poor little cinder maid married the Prince, and in time they came
+to be King and Queen, and lived happily ever after.
+
+
+
+
+FANNY’S TELEPHONE ORDER.
+
+Little Fanny Desmond was a dear child, and, like a good many other
+little children, she liked to do whatever she saw the grown people do.
+
+She would listen with great interest when she saw her mother use the
+telephone. She was especially surprised when her mother ordered things,
+and later in the day they would be brought to the house.
+
+“I wish I had a telephone of my own,” she said to her papa. “Mama just
+puts her mouth up to that funny thing, and gets whatever she asks for.
+Yesterday she asked somebody to send us ice-cream for dinner, and sure
+enough, it came.”
+
+Papa laughed. “It does seem a very convenient thing,” he said. “I will
+try to arrange one for you.” So papa took a horn which had been put away
+in a closet and hung it up where Fanny could talk into it. “There, that
+shall be your own private telephone,” he said.
+
+“Now, shall I get whatever I ask for?” said Fanny.
+
+“Not if you ask for impossible things,” replied her papa.
+
+“But what are impossible things?” asked Fanny.
+
+“Well,” laughed papa, “I think if you should ask for the moon you would
+not get it.”
+
+“But I don’t want the moon,” said Fanny.
+
+“Ask for something before I go down-town,” said papa.
+
+Fanny thought a moment, and then spoke up quite distinctly:
+
+“Please send me some peppermints, and some new shoes for my doll, and
+a bunch of pansies for my mama, and a new bicycle for my papa,
+and--and--that’s all this time. Good-bye.”
+
+“That’s a very good order,” said her papa, “but kiss me good-bye, for I
+must be off.”
+
+About half an hour later the front door-bell rang. Very soon the
+maid appeared with a package directed to Miss Fanny Desmond. In great
+excitement, Fanny opened it. It was a box of peppermints. The child’s
+delight was great, but when, in another half hour, there came a bundle
+which proved to be a new pair of shoes for her doll, she was too happy
+for words. But that surprise was hardly over when another package was
+brought her. She opened it in great excitement, and behold there was a
+bunch of beautiful pansies.
+
+“They are for you, mama,” she cried, “and now everything has come but
+papa’s new bicycle.”
+
+Just then she looked out of the window, and there was her papa coming up
+the drive on a fine new wheel. She rushed down to meet him, exclaiming,
+as she threw herself into his arms:
+
+“Oh, papa, papa, I did get everything; my telephone is beautiful, and
+the man at the other end is just lovely!”
+
+“Ah,” said papa, “I am delighted he is so satisfactory.”
+
+
+
+
+THE RAINDROPS’ NEW DRESSES.
+
+     “We’re so tired of these gray dresses!”
+      Cried the little drops of rain,
+     As they came down helter-skelter
+     From the Nimbus cloud fast train.
+
+     And they bobbed against each other
+     In a spiteful sort of way,
+     Just like children when bad temper
+     Gets the upper hand some day.
+
+     Then the Sun peeped out a minute.
+     “Dears, be good and do not fight,
+     I have ordered you new dresses,
+     Dainty robes of purest white.”
+
+     Ah! then all the tiny raindrops
+     Hummed a merry glad refrain,
+     And the old folks cried: “How pleasant
+     Is the music of the rain!”
+
+     Just at even, when the children
+     Had been safely tucked in bed,
+     There was such a rush and bustle
+     In the dark clouds overhead!
+
+     Then those raindrops hurried earthward,
+     At the North Wind’s call, you know,
+     And the wee folks, in the morning,
+     Laughed to see the flakes of snow.
+
+
+
+
+SIR GOBBLE.
+
+Bessie Curtis was in a great deal of trouble. She was spending a year in
+the country while her father and mother were in Europe. It was not that
+which was troubling her. She liked the country, she loved her uncle and
+aunt with whom she lived, and she heard every week from her father
+and mother. But something disturbed her. As the summer passed, and the
+autumn came, she had moments when she looked very sober. What was the
+reason?
+
+I will tell you.
+
+Early in the spring her uncle had given her a young turkey.
+
+“There, Bessie,” he had said, “that is one of the prettiest turkeys I
+have ever seen. I will give him into your care, and on Thanksgiving Day
+we will have him on the dinner-table.”
+
+For some time Bessie fed the turkey every day without feeling
+particularly fond of him. Very soon, however, he began to know her; he
+not only ran to meet her when she brought him his corn and meal, but
+he would follow her about just the way Mary’s little lamb followed HER
+about.
+
+Her uncle often called after her: “And everywhere that Bessie goes, the
+turkey’s sure to go.”
+
+Yes, round the garden, up and down the avenue, and even into the house
+itself the turkey followed Bessie.
+
+Then why was she so sad?
+
+Alas! she remembered her uncle’s words when he gave her the turkey, “On
+Thanksgiving Day we will have him on the table.”
+
+Thanksgiving Day would be here in a week.
+
+Now, if Bessie had been like some little girls, she would have told her
+trouble to her uncle. But she never mentioned it to any one, although
+she cried herself to sleep several nights before Thanksgiving Day.
+
+At last the day came, and Bessie, instead of going out to the fowlyard
+as usual, kept in the house all the morning. She was afraid that, if she
+went, she would not find her beloved friend. Dinner-time came, and,
+with a heavy heart, she seated herself at the table. Her uncle and
+aunt noticed her sober face, and thought that she missed her father and
+mother.
+
+“Come, come,” said her uncle, “we must cheer up; no sad looks on
+Thanksgiving Day. Maria, BRING IN THE TURKEY.”
+
+Poor Bessie! she could not look up as the door opened, and something
+was brought in on a big platter. But, as the platter was placed on the
+table, she saw that it did indeed hold her turkey, but he was alive and
+well.
+
+She looked so astonished that suddenly her uncle understood all her past
+troubles.
+
+“Why, Bessie,” he said, “did you think I would kill your pet? No,
+indeed, but I told you he should be on the table Thanksgiving Day, so
+here he is.”
+
+Then Bessie’s uncle struck the turkey gently with his carving-knife, the
+way the queen strikes a man with a sword when she makes him a knight.
+
+“Behold!” said Bessie’s uncle, “I dub you ‘Sir Gobble;’ you shall never
+be killed, but die a natural death, and never be parted from Bessie.”
+
+
+
+
+WHAT IS IT?
+
+     What is that ugly thing I see
+     Which follows, follows, follows me,
+     Which ever way I turn or go?
+     What is that thing? I want to know.
+
+     If I but turn to left or right
+     It does the same with all its might;
+     It looks so ugly and so black
+     When o’er my shoulder I look back.
+
+     Sometimes it runs ahead of me,
+     Sometimes quite short it seems to be,
+     And then again it’s very tall;
+     I don’t know what it is at all.
+
+     I’ll climb into my little bed,
+     And on my pillow lay my bead,
+     For when I’m there I never see
+     That thing in front or back of me.
+
+
+
+
+JOHN’S BRIGHT IDEA.
+
+Mrs. Meredith was a most kind and thoughtful woman. She spent a great
+deal of time visiting the poor. One morning she told her children about
+a family which she had visited the day before. There was a man sick in
+bed, his wife who took care of him, and could not go out to work, and
+their little boy. The little boy--his name was Bernard--had interested
+her very much.
+
+“I wish you could see him,” she said to her own children, John, Harry,
+and Clara, “he is such a help to his mother. He wants very much to earn
+some money, but I don’t see what he can do.”
+
+After their mother had left the room, the children sat thinking about
+little Bernard.
+
+“I wish we could help him to earn money,” said little Clara.
+
+“So do I,” said Harry.
+
+For some moments John said nothing, but, suddenly, he sprang to his feet
+and cried:
+
+“I have an idea!”
+
+The other children also jumped up all attention. When John had an idea,
+it was sure to be a good one.
+
+“I tell you what we can do,” said John. “You know that big box of corn
+Uncle Sam sent us for popping? Well, we can pop it, and put it into
+paper bags, and Bernard can take it round to the houses and sell.”
+
+When Mrs. Meredith heard of John’s idea, she, too, thought it a good
+one.
+
+Very soon the children were busy popping the corn, while their mother
+went out to buy the paper bags. When she came back, she brought Bernard
+with her.
+
+In a short time, he started out on his new business, and, much sooner
+than could be expected, returned with an empty basket.
+
+Tucked into one of his mittens were ten nickels. He had never earned so
+much money before in his life. When he found that it was all to be his,
+he was so delighted he could hardly speak, but his bright smiling face
+spoke for him. After he had run home to take the money to his mother,
+John said:
+
+“We have corn enough left to send Bernard out ever so many times. May we
+do it again?”
+
+“Yes,” said Mrs. Meredith, “you may send him every Saturday morning, if
+you will pop the corn for him yourselves. John, will you agree to take
+charge of the work?”
+
+“Indeed I will,” replied John, and he kept his word. For many weeks,
+every Saturday morning, no matter what plan was on foot, no matter how
+good the coasting or skating, he saw that the corn was all popped, the
+paper bags filled, and arranged in the basket when Bernard arrived.
+
+People began to watch for the “little pop-corn boy,” and every week he
+had at least fifty cents to take home, and often more. And all this was
+because of John’s bright idea, and the way he carried it out.
+
+
+
+
+A SAD THANKSGIVING PARTY.
+
+     Four hungry-looking animals
+     All seated in a row;
+     Why does not some one speak to them?
+     That’s what I want to know.
+
+     They all of them were bidden to
+     A fine Thanksgiving feast,
+     And now, it seems to me, their host
+     Might welcome them, at least.
+
+     ‘Twas Master Pug invited them,
+     Why does he not appear?
+     ‘Tis plain they think his absence looks
+     Extremely rude and queer.
+
+     Alas! poor Pug’s in trouble sore,
+     The host he cannot play;
+     No feast for self or friends has he
+     On this Thanksgiving Day.
+
+     He saw a turkey, large and fat,
+     Upon the kitchen shelf.
+     “That’s just the very thing I want,”
+      Said he unto himself.
+
+     He caught the turkey, but the cook
+     Caught him with firmer grasp,
+     And shook him till he could not bark
+     But only choke and gasp.
+
+     Meanwhile, those hungry animals,
+     Who’d waited there in vain,
+     Declared they never would be guest
+     Of Mr. Pug again.
+
+
+
+
+GUY AND THE BEE
+
+     One day a jolly bumble-bee,
+     In coat of black and yellow,
+     Got caught inside a window-pane;
+     The silly little  fellow.
+
+     He buzzed and buzzed against the glass,
+     To Guy’s great enjoyment,
+     Who thought to watch this funny thing
+     Was just the best employment.
+
+     But soon to touch those gauzy wings,
+     Became Guy’s great desire,
+     Although mama had told him that
+     A bee could sting like fire.
+
+     But Guy, silly as the bee,
+     Paid no heed to mama,
+     He touched the bee, then gave a howl
+     Which could be heard afar.
+
+     Mama a soothing poultice mixed,
+     And on his finger laid.
+     “Another time you’ll be more wise,”
+      Was everything she said.
+
+
+
+
+A MEAN BOY.
+
+Harry Burton woke one night and heard a strange noise in his closet. He
+got out of bed, crossed the floor in his bare feet, and carefully opened
+the closet door. The noise stopped, instantly.
+
+“Ah!” said Harry, “I knew it was mice made that noise. How I wish I
+could catch them.”
+
+The next morning he told his mother about the noises he had heard.
+
+“I will get you a mouse-trap,” she said.
+
+“I don’t want the kind that kills the mice, I only want to catch them
+and tame them,” said Harry.
+
+His mother laughed and told him when he had tamed his mice he must keep
+them well out of her way.
+
+The trap was set, the mice were caught, and sure enough, in a short time
+were so tame they would eat from Harry’s hand. He made a little house
+for them, and kept in it his bedroom. Whenever he went out, he always
+shut the door carefully.
+
+Now it happened that among Harry’s acquaintances, there was one very
+disagreeable boy. His name was Dick Taft. Harry did not play with him
+very often, for he was so ugly it was hard to get along with him.
+
+Dick never liked to be beaten at any game, and sometimes made it very
+uncomfortable for the one who got ahead of him.
+
+One day Harry happened to beat him at one of their school games. Dick
+called after him when it was over, “I’ll pay you for this, see if I
+don’t.”
+
+Harry only laughed as he walked away going in the opposite direction
+from his own house.
+
+When he was out of sight, Dick ran to Harry’s house, made some excuse to
+go up in his bedroom, and let in the big cat, who was eagerly watching
+outside.
+
+When Harry came home, the mouse house was open, and not one of his pets
+was to be seen. The poor fellow was almost heart-broken. He asked every
+one in the house who had left his door open. The maid told him she
+thought it must have been that boy he sent up to his room.
+
+She described the boy, and Harry knew in a moment that it was Dick Taft.
+
+“So that is the way he paid me for beating him at a game,” cried Harry.
+“Well, never again, so long as I live, will I play with a boy who is
+mean enough to do such a trick as that.”
+
+And he kept his word.
+
+
+
+
+A NAUGHTY PUMPKIN’S FATE.
+
+      A queer little pumpkin, a jolly fat fellow,
+      Stood close to his mother so rotund and yellow.
+      “What a stupid old place! how I long to aspire,”
+       Cried he, “I was destined for something much higher.”
+
+      “My son,” said the mother, “pray do be content,
+      There’s great satisfaction in life that’s well spent!”
+       But he shrugged up his shoulders, this pumpkin, ‘t is true,
+      And acted just like some bad children will do.
+
+      With a shout and a whoop, in the garden they ran,
+      Tom and Ned, for they’d thought of the loveliest plan
+      To astonish their friends from the city, you see,
+      With a fine Jack-o’-lantern--“Ah, this one suits me!”
+
+      Neddie seized the bad pumpkin, and dug out his brains,
+      Till he felt so light-headed and brimful of pains;
+      Then two eyes, a long nose, and a mouth big and wide,
+      They cut in a minute, and laid him aside
+
+      Until night, when they hung him upon a stout limb,
+      With a candle inside; how his poor head did swim,
+      As they twisted him this way, then twirled him round that,
+      Till at last, with a crash, he fell on the ground flat,
+
+      A wreck of the once jolly, fat little fellow,
+      Who stood by his mother so rotund and yellow.
+      Just then a lean cow, who was passing that way,
+      Ate him up, just to finish HER “Thanksgiving Day.”
+
+
+
+
+SOMETHING ABOUT FIRES.
+
+It was a cold day. Fred was tired of reading, tired of looking out of
+the window, and so he poked the fire for a change.
+
+“I suppose there are a good many different sorts of fires,” he said to
+his mamma, as he laid down the poker.
+
+“Yes, indeed,” she answered. “It is very interesting to know how people
+keep warm in all parts of the world, especially where fuel is scarce and
+dear. In Iceland, for example, fires are often made of fish-bones! Think
+of that. In Holland and other countries a kind of turf called peat is
+dug up in great quantities and used for fuel. And in France a coarse
+yellow and brown sea-weed, which is found in Finistere, is carefully
+dried and piled up for winter use. A false log, resembling wood, but
+made of some composition which does not consume, is often used in that
+country. It absorbs and throws out the heat, and adds to the looks of
+the hearth and to the comfort of the room.
+
+“The French have also a movable stove, which can be wheeled from room to
+room, or even carried up or down stairs while full of burning coke. In
+Russia the poorer people use a large porcelain stove, flat on top like
+a great table, with a small fire inside which gives out a gentle,
+summer-like warmth. It often serves as a bed for the whole family, who
+sleep on top of it.
+
+“There are, besides gas-stoves, oil-stoves, various methods of obtaining
+warmth by heated air and steam, and, doubtless, other devices that I
+never heard of.
+
+“In some countries, however, no fires are needed. In looking at pictures
+of tropical towns you will at once notice the absence of chimneys.”
+
+Fred looked admiringly at his mamma as she paused.
+
+“There never was such a little mother,” he said; “you can think of
+something to say about everything.”
+
+His mamma was pleased at this pleasant compliment.
+
+“Oh!” she replied, laughing, “I could go on and tell you more about
+bonfires, beacon-fires, signals, drift-wood fires, and gypsy-tea fires;
+but I have told you enough for to-day.”
+
+
+
+
+THE ICE-KING’S REIGN.
+
+     The sun had gone down with promises sweet,
+     When, keen from the north, the wind
+     Came blustering along on its coursers fleet,
+     And left frozen tracks behind.
+
+     Maude stood at the window; the moon shimmered down
+     On whirling leaves, stiff and dead,
+     All piteously driven; she turned with a frown,
+     And soft to herself she said:--
+
+     “The old tyrant Winter leaves nothing to prize,
+     Leaves nothing that’s bright or fair;
+     He has stolen the blue from the bending skies,
+     The warmth from the earth and air.
+
+     “The summer’s dear blossoms are withered and dead;
+     My garden is brown and bare;
+     The chipper of birds in the nest overhead
+     Is hushed, for no birdlings are here.
+
+     “The woodlands no longer are shady and sweet,
+     Dry leafage encumbers the ground;
+     The pathways, once verdant and soft to my feet,
+     In fetters of ice are bound.
+
+     “The pride of the barn-yard sits humped with the cold,
+     One frozen foot under his wing;
+     And the sheep huddle closely, for warmth, in their fold;
+     The ice tyrant reigns as king.”
+
+     She turns from this picture of ruin and death,
+     And seeks the broad casement again;
+     And, lo! from the dews of her wasted breath
+     Great forests have grown on the pane.
+
+     Such beautiful trees! such ferns! and such flowers!
+     Such rivers and mountains bold!
+     Such charming cascades! she gazes for hours,
+     And worships the ice king cold.
+
+
+
+
+MALMO, THE WOUNDED RAT.
+
+A poor man saw, by the roadside, a large white rat. It seemed to be
+dead. Moving it gently he found it was alive, but had a broken leg. He
+took it up and carried it to his lonely home. He bound up the bruised
+leg, fed the poor creature, and soon it was quite well.
+
+Sam Tills trained the rat to gentle ways, and taught it many little
+tricks. Malmo was the only company Sam had. He worked in a cotton mill,
+and took Malmo with him. He rode in his master’s coat-pocket. It looked
+droll to see his white head peeping out.
+
+Sundays both went to dine with Sam’s sister. Malmo’s funny ways made
+everybody laugh. When Sam said, “Malmo, go sit in my hat,” he went at
+once. He curled himself up in it, and nodded off to sleep.
+
+When his master said, “Malmo, we’re going now; slip in,” the droll pet
+jumped from the hat, ran up to his pocket-nest, said good-by in his
+own fashion, and was ready to start. Evenings, when Sam was reading or
+singing from his mother’s hymn-book, Malmo had a nap on his master’s
+head. When it was time to go to bed Sam stroked Malmo’s soft fur. The
+rat rubbed himself against his master’s hand. It was their good-night to
+each other. Then Malmo crept into his basket, and the candle was blown
+out. Soon both were fast asleep.
+
+
+
+
+MAMA’S HAPPY CHRISTMAS.
+
+It had seemed to the little Wendell children that they would have a
+very sad Christmas. Mama had been very ill, and papa had been so anxious
+about mama that he could not think of anything else.
+
+When Christmas Day came, however, mama was so much better that she could
+lie on the lounge. The children all brought their stockings into her
+room to open them.
+
+“You children all seem as happy as if you had had your usual Christmas
+tree,” said mama, as they sat around her.
+
+“Why, I NEVER had such a happy Christmas before,” said sweet little
+Agnes. “And it’s just because you are well again.”
+
+“Now I think you must all run out for the rest of the day,” said the
+nurse, “because your mama wants to see you all again this evening.”
+
+“I wish we could get up something expressly for mama’s amusement,” said
+Agnes, when they had gone into the nursery.
+
+“How would you like to have some tableaux in here?” asked their French
+governess, Miss Marcelle.
+
+“Oh, yes,” they all cried, “it would be fun, mama loves tableaux.”
+
+So all day long they were busy arranging five tableaux for the evening.
+The tableaux were to be in the room which had folding-doors opening into
+Mrs. Wendell’s sitting-room.
+
+At the proper time Miss Marcelle stepped outside the folding-doors and
+made a pretty little speech. She said that some young ladies and a young
+gentleman had asked permission to show some tableaux to Mrs. Wendell
+if she would like to see them. Mrs. Wendell replied that she would be
+charmed.
+
+Then mademoiselle announced the tableaux; opening the doors wide for
+each one. This is a list of the tableaux: First, The Sleeping Beauty;
+second, Little Red Riding Hood third, The Fairy Queen; fourth, Old
+Mother Hubbard; fifth, The Lord High Admiral.
+
+Miss Marcelle had arranged everything so nicely, and Celeste, the French
+maid, helped so much with the dressing, that the pictures all went off
+without a single mistake.
+
+Mama was delighted. She said she must kiss those dear young ladies, and
+that delightful young man who had given her such a charming surprise.
+
+So all the children came in rosy and smiling.
+
+“Why, didn’t you know us?” asked the little Lord Admiral.
+
+“I know this,” said mama, “I am like Agnes. I NEVER had such a happy
+Christmas before.”
+
+
+
+
+CURED OF CARELESSNESS.
+
+Mrs. Bertram sat reading a book one morning, or trying to. It was not
+easy to do so, for her little boy, Roger, was out in the hall playing
+with his drum. Suddenly the drumming ceased, and in a moment Roger
+rushed into the room crying as if his heart would break.
+
+“I’ve burst it. I’ve burst it,” he sobbed.
+
+“Your drum,” asked his mother. “How did you do that?”
+
+“I was beating it with the poker and the tongs and--”
+
+“With the poker and tongs!” exclaimed his mother. “Why, where were your
+drum-sticks?”
+
+Then Roger stopped crying, and hung his head with shame.
+
+“Where are your drum-sticks?” asked his mother, again.
+
+“I--I--don’t know,” sobbed Roger.
+
+“Have you lost those, too?” said Mrs. Bertram. She needed no words for
+answer. Roger’s manner was quite enough. “You know, dear, what I said
+would happen the next time you lost anything.”
+
+“Yes,” said Roger, “I you said I must give away all my toys to some
+little boys who would take care of them.”
+
+“Yes,” said his mother. “I see you remember. I shall send them all
+to-night to the Children’s Hospital.”
+
+“But, mama,” said Roger, “if I don’t have any toys to take care of, how
+can I learn to take care of them?”
+
+Mrs. Bertram had to turn away so that Roger should not see her smile.
+
+“I shall have to think of some other way to teach you to be careful. Now
+go and bring me all your toys.”
+
+Roger went out of the room to do as his mother said. When he had gone,
+Mrs. Bertram sat thinking until he came back.
+
+“I have decided that I want you to dust the library every morning.”
+
+Roger looked astonished. “Boys don’t dust,” he said.
+
+“Sometimes,” said his mother, smilingly. “Your Uncle Fred had to dust
+his own room when he was at West Point. Now if you dust the library
+every morning for two months faithfully, and do not break a single
+ornament, I shall know you have grown careful in one way, and that may
+help you to be careful in another.”
+
+The next morning Roger began his work. At first he disliked it very
+much, but after a while he grew very particular. It was not pleasant to
+be without any toys, and he determined to earn them.
+
+The day when his trial of two months would be up, would be Christmas
+Day. He did not know if his presents this year would be toys or useful
+things. All his mother had said about his work was, “My dear, you are
+improving.”
+
+Christmas night came, and with it a beautiful tree. Imagine Roger’s
+delight when he saw on and about it new skates, a new sled, a new violin
+and a new drum.
+
+And up in the highest branches, in letters of gold, these words: “For
+the boy who has proved he can be careful when he tries.”
+
+
+
+
+A VISIT FROM A PRINCE.
+
+Harry was playing with his letter blocks one afternoon, when a prince
+came to visit him.
+
+Harry knew the prince very well, indeed. As soon as the prince came into
+the room Harry said:
+
+“Hullo, old fellow, is that you?”
+
+Was not that a very strange way to greet a prince?
+
+And wasn’t it stranger yet for Harry to say next:
+
+“Come, sit up, old boy, and give us your--”
+
+Was it hand Harry was going to say? No, indeed, it was paw. “Sit up, old
+boy, and give us your paw.”
+
+Prince was a beautiful dog, as black as a coal. Indeed, his real name,
+his whole name, was Edward, the Black Prince. Now you must ask somebody
+to tell you about the man who was called the “Black Prince,” the man for
+whom Harry’s dog was named.
+
+When Harry asked Prince to give his paw, the dog did not do it as
+quickly as he ought to have done.
+
+Did Harry beat him for that? No, indeed. Did he say, “Never mind,
+Prince, you need not obey me if you do not want to?” No, indeed, again.
+
+He sat up himself, and then he made Prince sit up on his hind legs. Then
+he ordered Prince to give his paw. Prince did so. Then Harry made him
+do it again, then again and again and again, until the dog seemed to
+understand that he must learn to obey when he was spoken to.
+
+After Prince appeared to have learned that lesson quite perfectly, Harry
+taught him something new.
+
+He taught him to stand on his hind legs and hold a pipe in his mouth.
+
+This he soon did so well that Harry clapped his hands and cried,
+“Good, good, you smoke as well as his royal highness, the Black Prince,
+himself.”
+
+Which remark showed that Harry had not yet begun to study history. If
+he had, he would have known that in the country where the Black Prince
+lived, tobacco was never heard of until many, many, MANY years after his
+death.
+
+
+
+
+STRINGING CRANBERRIES.
+
+Arthur Bancroft was feeling very cross one morning in December. He had
+a bad cold, and his mother did not think it would be wise for him to go
+out-of-doors. That was why he was cross. The skating was finer than it
+had been that season; every other boy he knew was enjoying it.
+
+He walked about the house with a very sulky face; would take no notice
+of books or games, and seemed determined to be miserable.
+
+He was standing looking out of the window when his sister Laura
+came into the room. Laura carried in her hand a basket filled with
+cranberries.
+
+She put the basket on the table, took a needle from her mother’s needle
+book, threaded it with a long, stout thread, and began stringing the
+berries.
+
+Laura was a dear little thing! She was always busy. No one ever heard
+her say, “I wish I had something to do.” And she was generally doing
+something for some one else.
+
+She made a sweet little picture as she sat bending over the basket of
+crimson cranberries. Some such idea may have come into Arthur’s mind
+as he turned and looked at her. As he watched her silently for some
+moments, the cross expression on his face became a little less cross.
+
+“What are you doing?” he asked.
+
+“Stringing cranberries for the Mullins’ Christmas tree,” answered Laura.
+“Don’t you want to help me?”
+
+“It’s girls’ work,” replied Arthur.
+
+“Isn’t a boy smart enough to do a girl’s work?” asked Laura.
+
+“Of course, he’s SMART enough. I don’t mean that! Perhaps he doesn’t
+want to.”
+
+“Oh,” said Laura, “I wish you did want to.”
+
+“Why?” asked Arthur.
+
+“I promised to string all these for the Mullins’ Christmas tree,” replied
+Laura. “The market-man brought them so late, I have not much time now.”
+
+“Thread another needle,” said Arthur.
+
+In a few moments he was working as busily as Laura, herself. As Arthur
+finished his last long string, he tied the ends together and threw it
+around Laura’s neck. When she bent her head a little, it reached the
+floor.
+
+“There,” said he, “that proves that a boy can do a girl’s work.”
+
+“Yes,” said Laura, “when”--then she stopped and smiled.
+
+“When what?” asked Arthur.
+
+“When he has a girl to show him how,” laughed Laura, as she danced out
+of the room with the cranberry strings.
+
+
+
+
+CHRISTMAS IN CALIFORNIA.
+
+     “To think that this is Christmas Day!”
+      Said Harold to his aunt,
+     “I know it really is, and yet,
+     Believe it--well, I can’t!
+     I’ve had a tree, my stocking, too,
+     This morning full I found,
+     But how can I believe it
+     With no snow upon the ground?
+
+     Look at the sea so bright and blue,
+     And feel the soft, warm air,
+     And there are roses all in bloom,
+     And lilies, I declare!
+     I think that California
+     Is lovely, but it’s queer,
+     How different Christmas is at home
+     From what it is out here.”
+
+     “Ah, Harold!” gently said his aunt,
+     “No matter where you go,
+     In country strewn with flowers like this,
+     Or clad in ice and snow,
+     The birthday of the Christ-child is
+     The same in every place,
+     And happy greetings in His name,
+     Bring smiles to every face.”
+
+
+
+
+A TROUBLESOME CALL.
+
+     We were going, on Saturday, ever so far,--
+     My mamma and I,--to the Dollies’ Bazaar,
+     Where fifty wax dollies,--the loveliest show,
+     Went walking about when they wound ‘em, you know.
+
+     You wouldn’t believe half the things they could do:
+     Why, one said “Good morning,” as plainly as you.
+     One played the piano, and one, dressed in lace,
+     Walked up to a mirror and powdered her face.
+
+     Well, when we were ready we stepped in the hall,
+     And there was a lady a-coming to call.
+     She said she just chanced to be passing that way,
+     And she really had only a minute to stay.
+
+     We waited and waited, and hoped she would go,
+     Till I saw it was almost the time for the show,
+     For I heard the clocks striking all over the town,
+     And I knew that the dollies would all be run down.
+
+     And so I just said, “I should s’pose, Mrs. Black,
+     Your little girl wonders why don’t you come back.”
+      That’s all that I spoke, every ‘dentical word;
+     But she said, “Little girls should be seen and not heard.”
+
+     I guess that’s a proverb, so maybe ‘tis true;
+     But, if people won’t see, what can little girls do?
+     My mamma looked queer, but that ended the call,
+     And we went to the Dollies’ Bazaar, after all.
+
+
+
+
+BERTIE’S CORN-POPPER
+
+Bertie had the desire of his heart,--a corn-popper! He had wanted it for
+a long time,--three weeks, at least. Mamma brought it when she came home
+from the city, and gave it to him for his very own. A bushel of corn,
+ready popped, would not have been half so good. There was all the
+delight of popping in store for the long winter evenings.
+
+Bertie could hardly wait to eat his supper before he tried his
+corn-popper. It proved to be a very good one. He popped corn that
+evening, and the next, and the next. He fed all the family, gave some
+to all his playmates, and carried a bag of pop-corn to school for his
+teacher.
+
+Trip, the shaggy, little, yellow dog, came in for a share, and Mintie
+too. Who or what was Mintie?
+
+Mintie was a bantam biddy, very small, white as snow, and very pretty.
+She had been left an orphan chick, and for a while kept in the house,
+near the kitchen fire. She had been Bertie’s especial charge, and he fed
+and tended her faithfully.
+
+As she grew older she would rove about with the larger hens, but was
+very tame, and always liked the house. She would come in very often.
+When Bertie happened to pop corn in the daytime she was pretty apt to be
+around, and pick up the kernels he threw to her.
+
+One night he left his corn-popper on the kitchen table. It was open, and
+two or three small kernels were still in it.
+
+Early next morning, long before Bertie was dressed, Mintie came into the
+kitchen. She flew up on the table, and helped herself to the corn in the
+popper. The girl was busy getting breakfast, and did not mind much about
+her. Presently she went down cellar, and Mintie had the room to herself.
+
+When Bertie came down to breakfast there was a white egg in the
+corn-popper! It was so small that it looked almost like a bird’s; but it
+was Mintie’s first egg.
+
+Bertie clapped his hands; he was very much pleased.
+
+“Mamma! mamma!” he shouted. “See this pretty egg! Mintie put it into my
+popper, and must have meant to give it to me.”
+
+And mamma said, “Very likely she did.”
+
+
+
+
+FIRE! FIRE!! FIRE!!!
+
+Where is it? Where is it? Why, it is in the water! Isn’t that funny? But
+you see it isn’t a real fire, but only a fire-fish. [*] Sweet creature,
+isn’t he? Suppose you were a little, innocent mermaid, swimming alone
+for the first time; how would you feel if you were to meet this fellow
+darting towards you with his great red mouth open? Why, you would scream
+with fright, and swim to your mother as fast as you could, and catch
+hold of her tail for protection. At least, that is what I should do if I
+were a mermaid. But Mrs. Mermaid won’t tell you that the fire-fish will
+not hurt you unless you hurt him first, in which case he will prick you
+dreadfully with his long, sharp spines.
+
+     * Project Gutenberg ed. note: The picture is of a fish also
+     known as a scorpionfish.
+
+
+I never see his picture without thinking of a red Indian in his warpaint
+and feathers. Perhaps--who knows?-perhaps when Indians are greedy, and
+eat too much fish, they may turn into fire-fish, and have to swim about
+forever under water, and never see a green forest again. If you are an
+Indian I advise you to be careful, my dear.
+
+Nobody knows why this fish has such enormous, wing-like fins. Wise men
+used to think that he could raise himself out of the water with them,
+like the flying-fish; but it is now proved that he cannot, and there
+seems to be no reason why a set of plain, small fins would not serve him
+just as well for swimming. He prefers warm water to cold; so he lives
+in the tropical seas, swimming about the coasts of India, Africa, and
+Australia. The natives of Ceylon call him Gini-maha, and they think he
+is very good to eat. They take great care in catching him, for they are
+very much afraid of him, thinking that his sharp spines are poisoned,
+and can inflict a deadly wound. But in this they are too hard upon the
+fellow. He can prick them deeply and painfully, and he will if they
+meddle with him; but he is a perfectly respectable fish, and would not
+think of such a cowardly thing as poisoning anybody.
+
+
+
+
+THE DOLLS AND THE OTHER DOLLS.
+
+“Mamma,” little Nellie asked, “is it right to give away things that have
+been given to you?”
+
+Her mamma replied that it might be quite right sometimes; and she said,
+“But I should feel sorry if I had made a little friend a present she did
+not value, and so was glad to part with it.”
+
+“O mamma!” said Nellie, “you know how I value my dollies, every one,
+that my dear aunts and cousins sent me because I was sick. Now I am well
+again. To-morrow is New-Year’s. Some sick little girls in the hospital
+want dollies. Could I, if I knew which one to choose, keep only one
+for myself, and send the whole five of them for those poor children who
+haven’t any?”
+
+Her mamma liked the plan. She gave Nellie a box, and Nellie began
+kissing her babies, and laying them, one after another, in the box.
+
+There were two of nearly the same size, that were very dear to this
+little mother. She called them twins. They wore white frocks and blue
+kid boots. They had real blonde hair and their eyes would open and shut.
+
+These lovely twins Nellie held in her arms a long time before she could
+decide which to part with. When she did place one in the box, to be her
+own no more, a tear was on the doll’s cheek. I do not think the drop
+came from dolly’s eye.
+
+A few days after the dolls were given Nellie’s mamma let her invite
+three little girls to play with her. Each girl brought her Christmas or
+her New-Year’s doll; and the three dolls, with Nellie’s, looked sweetly
+sitting together in a row.
+
+By and by Nellie’s mamma came to her room, which she had given to the
+party for its use that afternoon. She told the children she would give
+them a little supper of cakes and pears and grapes, and it would be
+ready as soon as Biddy could bring the ice-cream from down street.
+
+The smiling child-visitors gathered around the kind lady, saying, “We
+thank you, and we love you ever so much.”
+
+Nellie said softly, “Mamma dear, I wouldn’t take my dollies back if I
+could. I love to think they amuse the sick children. But I do wish that
+for just a minute we had as many at this party.”
+
+Her mamma turned to her dressing-case. It stood low enough for the
+smallest child to look into the mirror at the back easily. Moving off
+the toilet cushions and cologne-bottles, the lady put the four dolls in
+front of the looking-glass. Their reflection in the glass showed four
+more.
+
+“Six, seven, eight,” cried the girls, delighted. “And all are
+twins--four pairs of twins!”
+
+After supper they made, the twins sit, and stand, and dance, bow and
+shake hands, before the looking-glass. So they played till dusk, when
+the other little girls’ mammas sent to take them home, after kissing
+Nellie good-night.
+
+
+
+
+WHY DID MAMMA CHANGE HER MIND?
+
+Mamma Miller told Fay and Lonnie that they might have a party, so they
+tried to get ready for it. But the party was very different to what they
+expected. It always happens so about everything, if we pay no regard to
+one another’s wishes.
+
+Mrs. Miller said they might invite ten children.
+
+“You write to five little girls, Fay,” said she, “and Lonnie will write
+to the five little boys.”
+
+So they went into the library. Lonnie sat down in papa’s big chair,
+while Fay climbed up on one arm, close beside him, and they tried to
+think whom they would like to come to their party.
+
+“Make out your list first,” said Lonnie. Fay did, and her brother agreed
+to all the girls. But as soon as Lonnie commenced writing his names, Fay
+began to find fault.
+
+“I don’t like boys, anyway,” said Fay, “only you, Lonnie. Let’s have all
+girls at our party.”
+
+“But it won’t be my party,” said Lonnie, “if you have all girls.”
+
+“I don’t care, all those are horrid,” pointing to his paper.
+
+“You say that because you don’t like boys.” And then he told his sister
+that every little fellow whose name he had written was just as good as
+gold. And so they were just as good as Lonnie Miller, and he was one of
+the best boys that ever lived, so everybody said.
+
+“I sha’n’t play with him if he comes,” Fay kept saying to every name
+Lonnie wrote.
+
+“You can have your party,” said Lonnie, getting up out of the easy-chair
+and sitting down in a smaller one, “you and your girls. I’m going to
+learn some new pieces,” taking up his little silver blower.
+
+“I don’t like boys,” Fay kept saying, jumping down off the arm of the
+chair, and aiming a blow at the spot where her brother had sat with the
+rustic stick their sister Lucia had brought home May Day.
+
+Lucia was passing the door just then, so she thought she would see what
+all the noise was about.
+
+“I’d better call you to lunch,” said she, and there they were just
+through breakfast.
+
+Mamma herself came hurrying in at sound of the bell. When they told her
+about the invitations, she said, “I shall not let you have any party at
+all, now.”
+
+“What makes you change your mind?” said Fay.
+
+“Mamma will give her little girl just one week to find out why she has
+changed her mind,” said Mrs. Miller.
+
+And for all Fay’s coaxing, she could not be persuaded to stay a minute
+longer.
+
+
+
+
+CLARA’S “FUNERAL.”
+
+Clara was the most unfortunate of dollies. She had had the mumps and
+whooping cough; and no sooner did she recover from the scarlet fever
+than she contracted pneumonia and nearly died. One morning Blanche was
+applying hot bandages to relieve bronchitis, and before night Clara had
+the small-pox.
+
+The next day mamma stopped at the nursery door.
+
+“Good morning, little nurse,” she said; “how is poor Clara this
+morning?”
+
+“She’s DEADED,” said Blanche, with a long face.
+
+“Dreadful! What did she die of, small-pox? It seems to me that that was
+what she was suffering from last evening.”
+
+“No’m’” said Blanche, “‘twasn’t small-pox. She DID have that bad; but I
+think she DIED of measles. The SUNERAL (Blanche could not say ‘funeral’)
+is to be at twelve sharp. Will you come, mamma?”
+
+“I’m so sorry, darling, but I must go to lunch with Mrs. Mathews at one.
+But Jack will go.”
+
+The “suneral” took place at noon, and Blanche and Daisy, Jack and old
+Hector followed poor Clara in Benny’s wagon to the grave yard at the
+bottom of the orchard. It was rather a jolly “suneral,” for they had
+“refreshments” under the trees afterward.
+
+In the afternoon, as mamma, came up the orchard path, she was surprised
+to see a doll’s foot and leg sticking straight up out of the ground.
+
+“Why did you leave her foot out in this way?” asked mamma.
+
+“Well,” said Blanche, “I thought perhaps she could get to Heaven
+easier.”
+
+
+
+
+THE CHICKADEE-DEE.
+
+     Little darling of the snow,
+     Careless how the winds may blow,
+     Happy as a bird can be,
+     Singing, oh, so cheerily,
+     Chickadee-dee! Chickadee-dee!
+
+     When the skies are cold and gray,
+     When he trills his happiest lay,
+     Through the clouds he seems to see
+     Hidden things to you and me.
+     Chickadee-dee! chickadee-dee!
+
+     Very likely little birds
+     Have their thoughts too deep for word,
+     But we know, and all agree,
+     That the world would dreary be
+     Without birds, dear chickadee!
+
+
+
+
+THE CHILDREN’S PARTY.
+
+     What a merry, merry rout!
+     See the wee ones dance about!
+     Dickie’s leading off the ball;
+     There,--he almost had a fall.
+
+     Who’s his partner in the whirls,
+     --Rosiest of all the girls?
+     But a doll--a DOLL you say;
+     Dancing in that sprightly way?
+
+     Well I never! Oh, see there,
+     See--just see those horses tear!
+     Meg and Madge will sure be thrown.
+     What a vicious looking roan!
+
+     Not a real live horse you say,
+     Prancing in that frightful way?
+     Well, I never! Toys to-day
+     Surely seem more “real” than “play.”
+
+
+
+
+BRAVE TOMASSO.
+
+There were once two very beautiful cats named Tomasso and Lilia. It
+would be very hard indeed to say which was more beautiful than the
+other, Tomasso the husband, or Lilia his wife.
+
+They were about the same size, although, perhaps, Tomasso was a little
+the stouter of the two. There could be no question that at times the
+expression of his face was decidedly more fierce than that of his gentle
+wife.
+
+The fur of each of them was as white as the driven snow, and as soft,
+and fine, and glossy as the most perfect silk gloss.
+
+Add to these natural charms the fact that they always kept themselves
+beautifully clean, and always wore round their necks cravats made of the
+richest satin ribbon, and I am sure you will agree with me in thinking
+that they were cats of very high degree.
+
+Their neighbors considered them extremely proud and haughty. They never
+were known to play with any of the cats in their street. To be with each
+other was all they asked. Sometimes these neighbors took a great deal of
+pains to get a glimpse of Tomasso and Lilia as, paw in paw, they danced
+a minuet together.
+
+Even the most grumpy grimalkin declared it was a beautiful sight. There
+was no doubt the young couple was very graceful and their manners were
+perfect. Then he said that cats brought up as Tomasso and his wife had
+always lived, OUGHT to be amiable and beautiful. He understood that
+a jar of Orange County cream was ordered for them every day. Then he
+muttered something which sounded very much as if he thought Tomasso
+would be not over courageous in a moment of danger. “Alone, white tail
+is all very fine,” said he, “but mark my word, at a sudden fright it
+would turn into a white feather. I should pity his wife if she had no
+one but him to protect her.”
+
+Now it happened that that very afternoon Tomasso’s courage was put to
+the test. As he and Lilia were taking a quiet walk, suddenly a huge dog
+rushed out at them. In an instant Tomasso placed himself across Lilia’s
+trembling body. She had fallen to the ground in terror. The great dog
+made a jump at Tomasso, but was met with such a snarl, and then such a
+blow from a set of sharp claws that he ran away howling.
+
+That night the news of Tomasso’s bravery spread through the whole
+neighborhood. But he was very quiet and modest. His proud wife was much
+disturbed at a bad scratch Tomasso had received in the struggle. They
+both examined it carefully with the aid of a hand-glass.
+
+“I hope it will not leave a scar,” said Lilia, “but if it does it will
+only be a proof of the noble courage of my brave Tomasso.”
+
+
+
+
+TOMMY FROST SEES A BEAR.
+
+Tommy Frost was making his first visit in the country. He was enjoying
+it very much. He liked to ramble about in the woods close by the house
+of his aunt, Mrs. Drew. Tommy had never even seen any birds before this,
+but pigeons and sparrows. That is, any birds out of cages. He had lived
+all his short life in the centre of a great city. He wanted very much to
+see a wild animal. He had heard Mr. Drew and some of his friends talking
+about “bear tracks” in the woods. Mr. Drew said they must go off some
+day and hunt for that bear.
+
+Now Tommy had no idea what a bear was like. He wished very much that he
+might see one. Every day he said to himself, “If I could only find the
+one the big men were talking about I’d feel proud.” One day as he was
+strolling about, he suddenly saw something moving in one of the trees.
+He stopped, and looked up excitedly, then he rushed for the house
+screaming at the top of his voice, “Aunt Maria! Aunt Maria! come quick,
+I’ve seen it, it’s in the woods.”
+
+“What is in the woods?” asked Mrs. Drew.
+
+“The bear!” cried Tommy.
+
+“The bear?” repeated Mrs. Drew, hardly understanding.
+
+Then she drew a long breath and turned very white as she stood a moment
+shielding her eyes from the sun, looking in the direction in which Tommy
+pointed. Then she ran back into the house, and came out in a moment,
+bringing with her a huge horn. It was a megaphone. She was trembling so
+she could scarcely lift it, but she managed to raise it to her mouth and
+call through it. “John! Murray! come! come this instant! The bear is in
+the woods back of the house.”
+
+In a few moments her husband and brother came running from the field
+where they were at work.
+
+They stopped for no questions, but rushed into the house for their guns.
+But as they came out Mr. Drew asked, “Who saw it? When, where?”
+
+“I did,” said Tommy, not a bit frightened, but feeling very excited and
+proud. “I did, back there in a tree.”
+
+“In a tree?” cried Mrs. Drew’s brother, stopping in his quick run for
+the woods.
+
+“Yes,” said Tommy, “it was a bear, but it looked,--it LOOKED just like
+my picture of a wiggle-tail.”
+
+“Oh,” cried Mrs. Drew, as she sank on the door-step, “the child has seen
+a gray squirrel!”
+
+
+
+
+MYSELF.
+
+     One little head so smooth and round,
+     With soft hair covered, golden or brown,
+     One little forehead smooth and white,
+     Two little eye-brows dark or light.
+     Two little eyes that we see through.
+     See us looking, now, at you?
+     Two little cheeks so plump and round,
+     Where the red rose of health is found.
+     Two little ears where sound comes in;
+     One little nose and mouth and chin.
+     Rows of little teeth all in white;
+     Ready for use when lunch is in sight.
+     One little tongue kind words to say--
+     Bright little smiles which round them play.
+     One little head where all are seen.
+     One little neck which stands between
+     Head and shoulders to hold them fast.
+     Now are we ready to find, at last,
+     One little body with arms and hands
+     Two legs and two feet on which it stands.
+
+
+
+
+TWO STRANGE SIGHTS.
+
+     “Oh come into the dining-room!”
+      Cries Fred, “come, grandma, dear.
+     For something very strange indeed
+     Is going on in here!”
+      And sure enough, when grandma comes,
+     Perhaps at first with fright,
+     She stands quite still, astonished at
+     An unexpected sight.
+
+     For there upon the woollen rug,
+     A jug between her feet,
+     Sits Freddy’s little sister Bess
+     Absorbed in pleasures sweet.
+     Her finger in the syrup now
+     Behold she slyly dips,
+     And carries it with great delight
+     To her own rosy lips.
+
+     “You little witch!” cries grandmama,
+     “You’re like the naughty rat
+     I found within the cellar once,
+     Who on a barrel sat,
+     Filled with molasses, which he reached
+     By dipping in the hole
+     His great long tail from which he licked
+     The sweets he thus had stole.
+
+     “The rat was shot, but grandma’s babe,
+     Well, till she’s learned to know
+     Such tricks are wrong, why we of course
+     Must naught but patience show.”
+      Then grandma took her little pet,
+     And washed her sticky face,
+     Then put that tempting syrup-jug
+     Up in a safer place.
+
+
+
+
+A CAT’S INSTINCTS.
+
+“Take that! and that! and that!” These words came from an angry little
+girl. She was leaning over a big gray puss which she was holding down
+with one hand, while with the other she struck him a sharp blow every
+time she said “THAT.”
+
+It is a wonder puss did not bite her, for he was so strong he could have
+done so. He was a very gentle cat. “Gentle?” I hear some one ask. Then
+why did he deserve such a whipping as the little girl was giving him?
+
+That is a question we must try to have answered. For my part I do not
+believe he deserved it at all. Let us see what happened next. Just as
+the little girl struck the last blow her Aunt Margaret came into the
+room. Aunt Margaret stopped in the doorway, astonished.
+
+“Why Flora,” she said, as puss darted out of the room, “what are you
+beating Griffin for?”
+
+“What do you think he was doing?” cried Flora, her cheeks still flushed
+with anger. “He was on the table just ready to spring at this beautiful
+bird in my new hat. If I had not come he would have torn it to pieces.”
+
+“But he knew no better,” said Aunt Margaret, “it is perfectly natural for
+a cat to spring at a bird. Yes, and for him to kill it too, if he has
+not been trained to do otherwise.”
+
+“But it would have made me feel dreadfully to have this beautiful bird
+torn to bits. I really love it. Besides, it was killed long ago.”
+
+“Yes,” said Aunt Margaret, “killed that you might wear it on a hat.”
+
+There was something in Aunt Margaret’s voice which made Flora and the
+little girls who were visiting her stand very still and look up.
+
+“You say,” continued Aunt Margaret very gently, “you say you love your
+beautiful bird. That you would feel dreadfully if it were torn to bits.
+How do you think its bird-mother felt when it was torn from her nest,
+and she never saw it again?”
+
+“Oh,” said Flora, “I never thought of that before. I’m afraid,--I’m
+afraid I’m more to blame than the cat.”
+
+
+
+
+DINAH’S NEW YEAR’S PRESENT.
+
+Dinah Morris is a colored girl. She lives in the South. By South we mean
+in the southern part of the United States.
+
+Dinah is one of the most good-natured children that ever lived, but she
+is very, very lazy. There is nothing she likes, or used to like, so much
+as to curl up in some warm corner in the sun and do nothing.
+
+Dinah’s mother wished very much that her child should learn to read,
+but the lady who tried to teach her soon gave it up. “It is no use,” she
+said, “Dinah will not learn. She is not a stupid child, but she is too
+lazy for anything.”
+
+It happened, soon after this, that a young man from Massachusetts came
+to the house where Dinah lived. He brought with him something no one
+else in the neighborhood had ever seen before--a pair of roller-skates.
+
+When Dinah saw the young man going rapidly up and down the piazza on
+his skates she was so astonished she hardly knew what to think. She ran
+after him like a cat, her black eyes shining as they had never shone
+before.
+
+One day the young man allowed her to try on the skates. The child was
+too happy for words. Of course she fell down, and sprawled about the
+floor, but did not mind at all.
+
+“Look here, Dinah,” said the young man, “I understand that my aunt has
+been trying to teach you to read.”
+
+Dinah answered that she certainly had.
+
+“Why didn’t you learn?” asked the young man. “You need not trouble to
+answer,” said he, “it was just because you are too lazy. Now, if, on the
+first of January, you can read, I tell you what I will do. I will send
+you as good a pair of roller-skates as I can buy in Boston.”
+
+How Dinah’s eyes snapped. For a moment she said nothing, then exclaimed
+decidedly, “I’ll have those skates, sure.”
+
+And she did. When she bent her mind on her work she could always do it
+well, no matter what it was.
+
+The lady who had before this found her such a difficult child to
+teach, now had no trouble. If Dinah showed the least sign of her former
+laziness the word SKATES! was enough to make her bend her mind on her
+lesson instantly.
+
+On New Year’s morning she received a box marked in large printed
+letters:
+
+     MISS DINAH MORRIS,
+     Care of Mrs. Lawrence Delaney,
+     NEW ORLEANS, LA.
+
+     If she can read what is on the outside of
+     this box she can have what is inside.
+
+And as Dinah read every word plainly and quickly, of course she had for
+her very own the fine roller-skates the box held. And now sitting curled
+up in the sun, doing nothing, is not the thing she likes to do best.
+
+
+
+
+NIGHT FLOWERS.
+
+There are some flowers that never see the sun. One of the most curious
+is the “evening primrose.” About six o’clock it suddenly bursts open,
+with a popping sound, and at six next morning closes.
+
+If you watch that pretty flower, and listen, you can hear this strange
+performance.
+
+This is why it does so. The little calyx holds the petals in such a way
+that the moment it turns back they are let loose. At once it bursts out
+into full flower, with this funny noise, like a pop-gun.
+
+So the “night-blooming cereus” blossom in the night, only for an hour,
+giving out its sweet fragrance, and then dies. Just think of never
+seeing the sun at all!
+
+In a far Eastern country there is a kind of jasmine called the
+“sorrowful tree.” It droops as if sick in the daytime, and at night
+grows fresh and bright. It opens its lovely flowers with a very pleasant
+odor till morning, and then wilts and looks wretched again.
+
+
+
+
+THE FIRST SNOW-STORM.
+
+Away off on a warm sunny island, little Harry Hall was born. Flowers
+bloomed all the year round. The sun shone most of the time, although now
+and then there were thunder-showers.
+
+Many wonderful plants grew wild, while on the shore shells and seaweed
+and queer little fishes were often to be found.
+
+When Harry was six years old his parents took a journey to New York.
+
+It seemed very odd to the little boy to live in a place where there were
+so many people, and such great houses. After a while the weather grew
+cold, and he had to wear thick woollen clothing. The house in which they
+lived was heated by a furnace; but one day they had a fire of logs on
+the hearth. Harry enjoyed it very much, and thought the bright blaze so
+pretty.
+
+The sky was gray and cloudy one afternoon, and Harry had been standing
+by the window watching the street cars. Suddenly the air grew thick, and
+he could scarcely see the houses opposite. Something white and feathery
+fell slowly down and rested on the window ledge. Then it disappeared.
+But more and more of the little flakes came, until there was quite a
+ridge outside of the window.
+
+Harry opened the sash gently, fearing it might fly away. He was
+surprised when he touched it to find it so cold. He took some up in his
+hand, but in a moment it was only a drop of water.
+
+By that time the street and the men’s hats and coats were quite white.
+Harry was puzzled to find a name for the beautiful white substance, so
+he ran to his mamma and asked her about it.
+
+She told him it was snow, and because the air was so warm on the
+beautiful island where he was born they never had any.
+
+The next morning he saw the little children of the neighborhood playing
+in it; but before noon the sun was so bright and warm the snow had all
+melted away.
+
+When the second snow-storm came Harry’s papa brought home a beautiful
+sleigh, and gave his little boy great pleasure by drawing him up and
+down the street.
+
+Harry soon learned to go out by himself, and made many friends;
+especially of the little girls, as he was very generous with his sleigh.
+
+But he has never forgotten his surprise when he saw the first
+snow-storm.
+
+
+
+
+FRED’S STOLEN RIDE.
+
+One day little Fred’s mother, who had been sick a long time, told him
+she was going out with a friend to take a drive. Fred wanted to go, too,
+but his mother said there would not be room in the buggy. Fred felt very
+cross and unhappy, and sat down on the front steps, ready to cry as soon
+as he should see his mother go away.
+
+A buggy came to the gate, and the gentleman who was driving went into
+the house. Fred ran out and climbed into the buggy to sit there until
+his mother came out.
+
+In looking around he saw there was a wide space under the seat, in which
+a boy might hide. He crawled in, thinking he would take a ride, and his
+mother would not know it.
+
+He waited a long time, but no one came, and at last he grew tired and
+fell asleep.
+
+He was waked by feeling a big jolt, as a wheel of the buggy struck a
+stone; but he kept still. After what seemed to him a long time the
+buggy stopped and he heard some one taking the horse from the shafts. He
+waited until all was quiet, and then crawled out from his hiding-place.
+
+He found it was almost dark, and everything about him was strange. He
+was very much frightened, but he jumped down and went to a farm-house
+close by. A woman he had never seen before came to the door. When he
+told her where he lived she said he was fifteen miles from home, and he
+found that he had taken his stolen ride in the buggy of a man who had
+called to see his father on business.
+
+It was too late for Fred to go home that night, and he had to stay at
+the farmer’s house until the next day. Then he was taken home, and I am
+very sure he never tried to steal another ride.
+
+
+
+
+A VALENTINE PARTY.
+
+The children had a valentine party, the very nicest party,--they all
+declared, that they had ever been to in their lives. All the cousins in
+the neighborhood--and there were a lot of them--were there.
+
+What fun they had opening their valentines, which a “really” postman
+brought with his gray uniform and his whistle and his great leather
+pack.
+
+“Dear me,” he said, pretending to groan, as he handed the missives, “if
+you had a party every day here I think I should be completely worn out!”
+ But his eyes twinkled merrily.
+
+Such shouts and exclamations as the valentines were opened and read!
+And such fun looking at everybody else’s. Here are two, Bessie’s and
+Fred’s:--
+
+     I’m for the boy
+     Who can stand on his head,
+     And who NEVER likes
+     To go to bed.
+     If there’s more than one of them,--
+     I’m for FRED!
+
+     I bring a kiss
+     From far away;
+     It’s travelled many
+     Miles to-day.
+
+     Take it, my dear,
+     And send one back
+     To your old, loving
+     Uncle Jack.
+
+Don’t you think that the children OUGHT to have had a good time if all
+received as dear little valentines as these?
+
+
+
+
+THE VENTURESOME RAT.
+
+He was a fine young rat and lived with his father and mother, and
+brothers and sisters in a farm-cellar.
+
+Now this young rat was not of a very quiet disposition. In fact he was
+quite gay, and thought the life in the farm-cellar was very dull and
+stupid and longed to see more of the world.
+
+He sat near his father and mother one day when they were entertaining a
+caller, a stranger who seemed to have travelled all over the world, and
+told in a very interesting manner of the many wonderful things he had
+seen. “Why,” said the caller, “how you can be contented to live as you
+do I cannot imagine, and to bring up your children in such ignorance
+fills me with surprise. They would learn more in one night prowling
+through the big house to which this farm belongs than they will learn
+here for the rest of their lives.”
+
+After this caller had taken his leave, the young rat decided that he
+would venture forth himself. He would that very night visit the big
+house and see what was to be seen there. He pretended to cuddle down on
+his own bed, and go sound asleep. He was really watching his parents
+out of the corners of his wicked eyes, and as soon as they were sound
+asleep, off he started. He found his way to the house much more easily
+than he had expected; in short, almost before he could believe it, he
+was in a fine great pantry. A pantry whose shelves were covered with
+such good things to eat as he had never seen. Rich cake, pies, cookies,
+and cheese such as he had heard the caller describe. The first nibble
+fairly melted in his mouth.
+
+After he had eaten his fill he began looking about the pantry for other
+means of amusement. Suddenly he saw a curious thing; it seemed to be a
+little house or hut made of wire. Inside the hut was a piece of cheese.
+“I really think I have eaten enough,” said the young rat, “but if that
+cheese is so fine that it is kept in a house by itself it must be very
+fine indeed.” With these words he crawled into the hole in the side
+of the hut and ate the cheese, but when, later, he tried to get out he
+could not to save his life.
+
+Hours and hours he remained there until the night passed, and the day
+came. Indeed he had fallen into a little nap when he was awakened by a
+loud cry. Some one was shouting, “we’ve caught the rascal at last, now
+we’ll drown him.”
+
+The poor little fellow knew they were wrong; he could not be the rascal
+they meant, for this was the first time he had ever been in the house.
+At that moment a boy’s voice was heard to say. “Let me see him. No, you
+shall not drown him. I will tame him if I can.”
+
+And so it came about that the young rat did see a good deal of the
+world, but how? THROUGH THE BARS OF A CAGE.
+
+
+
+
+THE BEARS’ FEAST.
+
+A man had come to town with two tame bears. They were very clever bears,
+and could climb posts and trees, dance and turn summersets and do a
+great many other tricks besides.
+
+One day the man was taken ill and had to stay in the house all day. He
+thought the bears were locked up in the barn. But the bears decided
+they would go for a walk by themselves. They managed to get away without
+being seen and started in the direction of the schoolhouse.
+
+The children were at recess when they suddenly saw the bears. They were
+frightened and ran screaming into the school-house.
+
+The bears were very tame and kind and wanted to make friends with the
+children, so they followed them.
+
+The children jumped on the desks screaming and crying and the teachers
+were frightened too.
+
+When the bears saw that they could not make friends or play they began
+quietly walking about the school-room.
+
+Finally they came to the dressing-room where all the dinner-pails and
+baskets were hanging.
+
+Smelling the food, they managed to knock some of the baskets down and
+then such a feast as they had!
+
+They sat on their haunches and ate sandwiches and fruit and drank milk
+out of the bottles just as the children would do. When they had eaten
+enough they quietly left the school-house and trotted down the road
+toward home.
+
+After the bears were gone the children became calm again and returned to
+their lessons.
+
+The man and the bears disappeared the next day and were never seen
+again.
+
+
+
+
+PATTY-SAYINGS.
+
+“I’ve been reading Bible stories,” Patty said, “and I believe That
+Adam’s name MEANT ‘Morning,’ Because his wife was ‘Eve.’”
+
+
+
+
+BABIE’S CURLS.
+
+     Little Bessie Boothby
+     Had a little sister Sue:
+     And a baby brother,
+     Whom she thought the world of, too.
+
+     Only one thing troubled
+     These dear little girls;
+     ‘Though baby Tom was pretty,
+     He hadn’t any curls.
+
+     They found a box of vaseline
+     And rubbed it on his head;
+     But even then no hair would grow:
+     It made his head quite red.
+
+     Bessie once was brushing
+     Dollie’s golden hair,
+     When off it fell, alas! and left
+     Poor dollie’s head quite bare.
+
+     Little Sue was frightened,
+     But to comfort, Bessie said,
+     “Susie dear, do listen,
+     ‘Tis just like babie’s head.
+
+     “Let’s put the wig on baby Tom,
+     And then he’ll have some curls;
+     I would not even be surprised
+     If he looked just like us girls.”
+
+     When Mamma saw her baby boy
+     With all this growth of hair,
+     She laughed until she nearly cried,
+     At the naughty little pair.
+
+
+
+
+THE RED APPLES.
+
+One windy day in March Kitty Miller was on her way to school, when she
+spied in a store window, a great pile of lovely red apples.
+
+“Oh,” she said, “how lovely! if Mamma could only have one!”
+
+Kittie’s mother was very poor. She had been a dress-maker ever since
+Mr. Miller died, and had worked so hard to earn a living for herself and
+Kitty that she had become sick. She was obliged to lie in bed all day,
+and when Kitty was away at school, the house was very lonesome to the
+invalid.
+
+When Kitty reached the school that day her thoughts were full of her
+sick mother and the lovely apples.
+
+She was usually a good scholar, but to-day she made so many blunders
+that the teacher looked at her in surprise. The little girl could
+only sit at her desk, with her book before her, and dream of those red
+apples. When school was dismissed, Kitty started slowly homeward. She
+had gone only a short distance when she saw a gentleman in front of her
+drop his purse. Running quickly forward she picked it up. It felt quite
+heavy in Kittie’s little hand.
+
+“There must be a good deal of money in it,” thought Kitty. “How I wish
+I could keep it. Then I could buy Mamma a red apple and so many other
+things she needs.”
+
+But she knew this would not be right, so she hurried after the
+gentleman. Touching him on the arm, she said, “Please, Sir, you dropped
+your purse.”
+
+“Thank you, dear,” said the gentleman taking the purse.
+
+Then noticing how poorly dressed she was, he said, “Why did you not keep
+the purse, my child?”
+
+“Because that would be stealing,” replied Kitty. “But,” she continued
+honestly, “before I thought I must give it back to you, I did wish I
+could keep it, for then I could buy Mamma a red apple.”
+
+The gentleman smiled kindly and said, “You are a good little girl to
+return my purse. I would like to give you a little present and then you
+can buy a red apple.”
+
+He handed her a silver dollar and then bade her good-by.
+
+Kitty was so surprised that she started hastily for home, forgetting all
+about the red apples until she stood in front of the store.
+
+The store-keeper happened to look out and saw the same little girl who
+stood looking so longingly in at his window in the morning. He quickly
+picked out the biggest, roundest, reddest apple he could find and taking
+it out to Kitty said, “Would you like this, my dear?”
+
+She took the apple, looking so pleased and thanking him so prettily,
+that the good man thought of it for many a day. When Kitty reached home
+with her treasures she found her mother fast asleep. So she put the
+apple and silver piece on a plate where her mother could see them when
+she awoke.
+
+When Mrs. Miller was told the wonderful story, she kissed her little
+daughter and said, “You see, dear, it always pays to be honest and
+truthful.”
+
+
+
+
+BUBBLES.
+
+“Now, Tommie, what will you do while I write letters this morning?”
+
+“Blow soap bubbles, Mamma, please,” and Tommie jumped up and down,
+clapping his hands for pleasure.
+
+“Well, run and get me your pipe and bowl and I will mix you some suds.”
+
+The soap-suds were soon ready, and Tommie took his favorite position on
+the broad window-sill with the bowl in his lap.
+
+Mamma, writing in the next room, could hear the Oh’s and squeals of
+delight, as the bubbles grew larger and rounder.
+
+“Why is Tommie in all the bubbles?” asked the little boy at last.
+
+“Because,” said Mamma, “the bubbles are like a mirror, and when my little
+boy is near enough to look at them, he will be reflected in them, just
+the same as when he looks in Mamma’s long mirror.”
+
+“But the mirror doesn’t break like the bubbles,” said Tommie. “Where do
+they go when they break, Mamma?”
+
+“They evaporate, dear; that is a big word for my little boy. Spell
+it after Mamma and then perhaps you will remember. E-v-a-p-o-r-a-t-e
+evaporate.”
+
+“What does evaporate mean,” asked Tommie bringing out the long word with
+a jerk.
+
+“Do you remember, dear,” answered Mamma, “that early in the morning when
+the grass is all wet with dew, my little boy cannot run in it without
+his rubbers? But before long it is all dry and then my little boy takes
+off his rubbers and does not get his feet wet. The sun and the air
+absorb or suck up the water and carry it off to their homes. Now, the
+bubbles are made of a little water and a little air. The water is on the
+end of the pipe, and Tommie blows the air into the pipe, and the bubble
+grows big and round. When it breaks, the air sucks up the water, which
+was the outside of the bubble, and the air which was inside mixes with
+the air in the room.”
+
+“Now do you suppose you can tell Papa all about it, when he comes home
+to dinner?” asked Mamma.
+
+“Of course I can,” said Tommie, proudly. “Haven’t you just told me all
+about it?”
+
+
+
+
+A HORSE WHO WORE SNOW SHOES.
+
+Mr. Brown had to go to his camp at Pine Tree Valley, which is in the
+midst of the mountains in California.
+
+His men were cutting down the giant trees, and piling them in readiness
+for the Spring freshet, or floods of the river, when the snows melted.
+Then they would slide them down the mountain sides to the little
+villages below.
+
+There was a great deal of snow on the mountains, and Mr. Brown knew it
+would be hard work climbing to the camp, but Lady Gray was strong, and
+used to it.
+
+Lady Gray was Mr. Brown’s pet horse, and carried him everywhere. She was
+always happy when her master was in the saddle.
+
+But to-day the snow was very deep and soon Mr. Brown had to get off,
+throw away the saddle, and lead her. They had to stop very often, and
+lean against the trees and rocks for support, while they rested and
+regained their breath.
+
+In places the snow was so deep and soft, that they sank above their
+knees. Late in the afternoon they reached the camp nearly exhausted, and
+it was several days before they were able to return.
+
+The snow was still deep and Mr. Brown knew he must go back on
+snow-shoes, but he was afraid Lady Gray would have to be left behind.
+
+Finally one of the men suggested making her some snow-shoes. They cut
+four round pieces of board, twelve inches across, and fastened them on
+with rope. Lady Gray seemed to understand what they were for and tried
+very hard to walk in them.
+
+She was very awkward at first and could hardly stand up, but by
+practicing a little every day she was soon able to manage nicely.
+
+So Mr. Brown and Lady Gray both returned on snow-shoes, and how every
+one did laugh when they saw them.
+
+But Lady Gray never could have done it if she had not tried.
+
+
+
+
+THE ANGRY BOBOLINK.
+
+     Pretty little bobolink
+     In your satin coat,
+     Trimmed with white across the neck
+     Black about the throat,
+     Why so angry do you seem?
+     Why so fierce your mien?
+     That you’re scolding somebody
+     Plainly can be seen.
+
+     “Don’t you know,” says bobolink,
+     As he shakes his head,
+     That my nest is hidden in
+     This soft grassy bed?
+     Somebody has come too near,
+     And I wish to say
+     There is no admittance here
+     Pass the other way.
+
+     “If my gentle little wife
+     Sits so calm above,
+     It’s because she knows I’ll guard
+     This dear nest we love.”
+      Fear not, pretty bobolink,
+     Sing your joyous song,
+     Never will I trouble you,
+     Sing, the whole day long.
+
+
+
+
+HOW HIRAM SPENT HIS SHRIMP MONEY.
+
+“I wish my mother had a ring like those the ladies wear at the hotel,”
+ said Hiram Green to himself one day. “There isn’t one of those ladies as
+pretty as my mother; she ought to wear rings too.”
+
+Hiram was the son of a fisherman, but the fisherman had died when Hiram
+was a little boy. Hiram’s mother took in sewing and fancy work to earn
+money to support herself and her son. He helped her what he could out of
+school hours, and in vacation. He had two uncles who wad taught him how
+to catch shrimps. With the money he earned by selling them he could buy
+things for his own use or pleasure. He had a bank almost full of what he
+called his “shrimp-money.” He did not mean to count his money until the
+bank was full.
+
+Now Hiram loved his mother more than anything else in the world.
+Whenever he dreamed of being rich some time, as boys often do, it was
+not for himself he wanted the money, but that his dear little mother
+might drive in a carriage, drawn by a pair of horses with clanking
+chains.
+
+The sight of the flashing gems on the hands of some of the summer
+visitors at the fishing village in which he lived had added a new
+article to the list of beautiful things his mother was some day to
+own. He had heard that just one single diamond was sometimes worth five
+hundred dollars or more. This had discouraged him very much. But one
+day happening to pass a shop in the neighboring town he saw a number of
+rings displayed in the window. Diamond rings which flashed and sparkled,
+it seemed to him, just as those worn by the ladies in the hotels. He
+stopped fascinated, ana pressed his face against the glass eagerly to
+see if any prices were marked upon them. Imagine his surprise when he
+saw upon the largest one a tag marked $4.75. He looked again to see
+if he had not made a mistake. Perhaps it was $475.00. But no, he knew
+enough about figures to see that he was right the first time.
+
+Home he went as fast as he could get there, and ran up into his bedroom.
+Then, for the first time since he had begun to save his “shrimp-money”
+ he opened his bank and counted its contents. “Three dollars and
+twenty-two cents!” he cried, “almost enough. I was going to buy
+something for myself this time, but I’ll have that ring before another
+week.”
+
+Hiram worked early and late for the next few days. He caught more
+shrimps than he had ever caught in the same length of time, and sold
+them readily.
+
+“I think there must be something you are wanting, very much, my boy,”
+ said his mother.
+
+“Yes, there is,” replied Hiram.
+
+At the end of the week he had the sum he desired. Hurrying to the shop
+where he had seen the ring, before going inside he gave one hasty,
+almost frightened look into the window. Could it be gone! No, there it
+was flashing and sparkling as before.
+
+That evening, he placed it on his mother’s finger. She looked at it in
+surprise. “It is yours, mother,” he cried, proudly, “your very own, I
+bought it with my shrimp money. I was determined my mother should have a
+ring as handsome as those ladies wear.”
+
+“My dear boy,” said his mother, while something as bright as the shining
+stone flashed in her eyes, “Not one of those ladies can value their
+rings as I shall value mine.”
+
+Years afterwards Hiram learned that what he had bought for a diamond was
+only a bit of glass.
+
+“Did you know it then, mother?” he asked.
+
+His mother nodded. “And you never told me.”
+
+“It was brighter to me than any real diamond,” she said, “the brightness
+I saw flash in it was the unselfish love of my boy.”
+
+
+
+
+THE ANT’S HOUSE.
+
+“What a curious picture that is at the head of this story.” That is what
+I think I hear some of the “Little Ones” say. “What does it mean?” some
+one asks. It looks like a procession of ants. That is just what it is.
+A procession of ants all marching off to find a new home. Some one has
+destroyed their old one. Let us hope no one did it on purpose.
+
+The ants are very busy and very nice little creatures. If their houses
+are stepped upon, or injured so as to be useless the ants immediately go
+to work to repair damages. They do not sit down and fuss about it first,
+but I have no doubt they let each other know what they think. And how
+do you suppose they do this? By touching each other with their tiny
+feelers.
+
+After they have talked in this way, and decided what is to be done some
+of them take the eggs from the ruins and carry them to a safe place.
+Look carefully at the pictures, and you will see that almost every ant
+is carrying an egg. They know that if they lose the eggs all the young
+ants inside the eggs will be lost too.
+
+While ants do not seem to have a very keen sense of hearing, their sense
+of smell is very strong. And where do you think it lies? In the same
+little feelers with which they talk to each other. The first ant’s
+house seen in the round picture has been cut in two to show you how
+wonderfully these little creatures can build.
+
+It was made by the ants that live in tropical countries. The house at
+the back of the picture has not been disturbed. Does it not look as if
+an architect had planned it? Ask some of the older people in your family
+to tell you something more about ants. There is much more of interest in
+regard to them than I have space to write you.
+
+
+
+
+THE FOOLISH PUG.
+
+     A pompous pug once thought that he
+     A dashing swell would try to be,
+     And on his neighbors one and all,
+     Sat out to make a stylish call.
+
+     He wore a glass upon one eye,
+     And on his head a silk hat high;
+     A wide, stiff collar around his throat,
+     And last an English overcoat.
+
+     So fine and splendid was his air
+     The very birds stood still to stare,
+     As walking on his two hind feet
+     He sauntered boldly down the street.
+
+     But oh, alas! it comes to all
+     To learn that pride must have a fall,
+     And e’er the corner he had turned
+     Poor pug that bitter lesson learned.
+
+     A saucy maid with one great whack,
+     Brought down her broom upon his back,
+     And as he raised a frightened wail
+     Another soused him from her pail.
+
+     Poor pug! that night he sat and thought
+     Of all the trouble he had brought
+     Upon himself, because that he
+     A foolish dude had tried to be.
+
+
+
+
+THE SILHOUETTE PARTY
+
+“Children,” said Grandpa, one afternoon, “I am going to build a bonfire
+this evening, to burn up this rubbish, so you may have a silhouette
+party.”
+
+“Why, what is a silhouette party?” asked Lucy, opening her eyes very
+wide.
+
+“I know,” said Ralph, “it is funny black pictures on something white.”
+
+“That’s right,” laughed Grandpa. “Now you fly round and write your
+friends and Grandma and I will get everything ready.”
+
+When the young people arrived at half past seven, they found a blazing
+fire, and in front of it was stretched a sheet between two large apple
+trees.
+
+Quite a distance in front of the sheet were some seats, where Grandpa
+told some of the children to sit, while the others took part in the
+pictures.
+
+He then disappeared with them in a tent close by where Grandma was
+waiting to dress them in their different costumes. Shouts of laughter
+came from the tent as the children put on their odd dresses; indeed
+there was so much fun that it took quite some time.
+
+When all was ready Grandpa came out and addressing the children who were
+waiting said, “These are to be Mother Goose pictures, which you will
+all know. You must guess whom they represent and the one who guesses
+correctly the largest number will receive a prize.”
+
+He threw a large pine knot on the fire, which burned up brightly, and
+there the children saw a shadow on the sheet, a little bent figure with
+a broom over its shoulder.
+
+“The old woman who swept the cob-webs out of the sky,” cried some one.
+
+Following this, came a figure with a long cloak and tall peaked hat,
+leading a dog.
+
+“Old Mother Hubbard,” guessed another.
+
+Then came a boy and a girl carrying a pail.
+
+“Jack and Jill,” chorused the children.
+
+After this a girl with a shepherd’s crook.
+
+“Little Bo-peep,” again was guessed.
+
+“Now,” said Grandpa, “it is time the others had their turn at acting.”
+
+So the exchange being made, the pictures continued.
+
+“Jack Horner,” “Little Miss Muffet,” “Old King Cole,” and “Mary, who had
+a little lamb,” followed in quick succession.
+
+Then Grandpa announced that the pictures were over.
+
+“As we cannot decide who has guessed the largest number of pictures,”
+ said he, “I will give you each a prize.” And he passed them each a card.
+
+It proved to be a picture of Ralph and Lucy cut from black paper and
+pasted on a white card.
+
+“These,” said Grandpa, “are silhouette pictures too. Will you always
+know what a silhouette picture is now?”
+
+“Oh yes,” said the children.
+
+
+
+
+THE SNOW BIRDS.
+
+It had snowed very hard. Ralph and Edward, who were visiting Grandma in
+the country, had to stay in the house all day.
+
+When they went to bed it was still snowing, and every time they woke up
+during the night, they could hear the wind sighing and whistling around
+the house, and through he branches of the old pine tres.
+
+But the next morning the sun was shining brightly. Such a glorious day!
+How the branches of the pine trees did sparkle.
+
+“It looks as if they had been sprinkled with gold dust and diamonds,”
+ exclaimed Ralph.
+
+“Oh Grandma! Please do hurry breakfast. We are going out to build a
+fort,” cried the boys, bursting into the dining-room.
+
+Grandma smiled and told them to eat a good breakfast, for building a
+fort was hard work.
+
+They were soon out in the snow, and what a splendid time they did have.
+
+The fort did not grow very fast, for they had to stop so often to
+snow-ball each other.
+
+When Grandma called them in to dinner they wondered where the time had
+gone since breakfast.
+
+After dinner, Ralph was looking out of the window, when he spied two
+little birds cuddled up on a branch of a pine-tree.
+
+“Oh, Edward! come here,” he called. “See those poor little birds. They
+look half frozen and so hungry.”
+
+“Poor little things,” replied Edward. “Doesn’t it make you feel mean to
+think what a jolly time we had this morning out of the snow which has
+covered up the places where they get their food?”
+
+“Let us get some food from Grandma and throw it out to them,” said
+Ralph. “Perhaps they will find it.”
+
+The little birds were soon chirpping and flying about merrily and Ralph
+said it sounded as if they kept saying, “thank you.”
+
+Will not other little children be as kind as Ralph and Edward?
+
+
+
+
+A KIND HEART.
+
+The day Ethel Brown was seven years old she had a tea party.
+
+Mrs. Brown had sent tiny cards of invitation to all the little girls on
+the street to come and bring their dolls. She also sent one to Nellie
+Day, her washer-woman’s little girl, at Ethel’s special request.
+
+“She is a nice little girl,” said Ethel, “and doesn’t ever go anywhere
+like me. May I have her at my party?”
+
+“That is right, little daughter,” said Mrs. Brown. “Always be kind to
+those who have less pleasure than yourself. Of course she may come to
+your party.”
+
+They all arrived at four o’clock and looked very pretty in their white
+dresses and bright ribbons, and the dolls looked nearly as pretty as the
+little girls themselves.
+
+Ethel noticed that Nellie Day did not have a doll with her. “So,” thought
+she, “I will ask her to pour the tea and then she won’t feel bad because
+she hasn’t one.”
+
+The little girls talked and played games and Ethel’s grown up sister
+played on the piano and then they sang.
+
+“Now,” said Mrs. Brown, coming into the room, “if you will choose
+partners, Florence will play for you and you can march out to tea.”
+
+During the confusion Ethel said to her mamma, “I shall ask Nellie to
+pour the tea because she has not any doll.”
+
+“Very well, dear,” answered Mrs. Brown.
+
+But when they turned to find her, she was not with the others.
+
+“Where can she be?” exclaimed Ethel.
+
+And then began the search. Tea was delayed and they hunted the house
+over for her. Finally Mrs. Brown went out on a side porch seldom used,
+and there she found the little girl.
+
+The child had brought a cushion to sit on, and clasped tightly in her
+arms were three of Ethel’s dolls. Mrs. Brown persuaded her to come in
+with the promise that she might keep the dolls.
+
+So Ethel rang the bell, and they all marched in to tea again, with
+Nellie Day leading the line, holding her three dollies.
+
+“Mamma,” said Ethel, as the little girls were going home, “may I give
+Nellie Day the dolls? I have so many and she has not one.”
+
+“Yes indeed,” replied Mrs. Brown, as she kissed her little daughter. “I am
+sure it will make her very happy.”
+
+And Nellie Day went home that night, the happiest little girl in the
+town.
+
+
+
+
+TOWSER TALKS.
+
+I am not a big dog and I don’t know very much, but I know more than I
+used to. The reason why I know more than I used to is because I asked
+Carlo some questions once. I asked him what made him so gaunt and thin
+and why he had such an enquiring expression on his face and such a hump
+on the top of his head. He didn’t answer right away, and--I noticed the
+enquiring expression vanished. He looked quite decided. Then something
+happened,--I don’t know exactly what, but Mary, the cook, told the
+butler that it made her dizzy just to look on. And then Carlo said:--
+
+“One reason why I am gaunt and thin is because I am not a little
+up-start of a pug,--of no earthly use under Heaven, and nothing to do
+but waddle around and accumulate fat.
+
+“The reason I have an enquiring expression on my face is because I am
+ever on the outlook to anticipate my master’s will and do his slightest
+bidding.
+
+“As for the hump on the top of my head, that is a mark given by the
+Creator only to dogs that have intellect. Pray that yours may grow!”
+
+That is all he said, but it was enough for one day and has furnished me
+food for thought ever since.
+
+
+
+
+JUST AS SHE PLEASED.
+
+“Now, children, I am tired of you; I am going down stairs for the rest
+of the morning,” and Polly started to leave the nursery.
+
+“Put your dolls away before you go,” said Nurse, “I don’t want them left
+in the middle of the floor.”
+
+“I won’t. I did not put them there.” Polly tossed her head and ran
+quickly out of the room.
+
+Nurse had baby in her lap and could not run after her.
+
+The little girl went to the kitchen, but cook was cross and said she
+would not have Polly bothering her.
+
+Then she went to the library hoping to find her Uncle Edward, but he was
+not there.
+
+She wandered from room to room and could find nothing to amuse her.
+
+She wanted to go back into the nursery, but she had told a lie when she
+said she had not put the dolls on the floor, and she was afraid to.
+
+She felt lonesome and a few tears ran down her face.
+
+At that moment Uncle Edward entered the room, and, seeing the doleful
+little face, took her in his arms, tossing her into the air.
+
+As he did so, he knocked over a vase which fell to the floor, broken.
+
+“Oh! see what you have done,” cried Polly.
+
+“I don’t care. I shall say I didn’t do it,” replied Uncle Edward.
+
+“Oh! But that would be a lie,” said Polly.
+
+“Well, who put the dolls on the nursery floor?”
+
+“Nurse must have told you. But I am sorry,” and Polly began to cry
+again.
+
+“There, there!” said Uncle Edward. “We will go up and tell Nurse we are
+sorry.”
+
+They went up to the nursery but Nurse and baby had gone and the dolls
+were still on the floor.
+
+Polly wanted to play circus and Uncle Edward made believe he was the
+elephant and gave the dollies a ride. He kicked so once that black Diana
+fell off and broke her neck.
+
+After a while Nurse came in with baby and interrupted the frolic.
+
+When Polly told her she was sorry because she had told a lie, Nursie
+said she would forgive her and Polly promised not to do so again.
+
+
+
+
+THE WORKING TOOLS OF INSECTS.
+
+I wonder if you know that the smallest insects you see about you have
+tools given them to do their work with. There is a little fly called
+a saw-fly, because it has a saw to work with. It is really a very much
+nicer saw than you could make, if you were ever so old.
+
+The fly uses it to make places where the eggs will be safe. What is more
+strange, it has a sort of homemade glue which fastens them where they
+are laid.
+
+Some insects have cutting instruments that work just as your scissors
+do. The poppy-bee is one of them, whose work is wonderful. This bee has
+a boring tool, too. Its nest is usually made in old wood. This borer
+cleans out the nest ready for use. When all is ready the insect cuts out
+pieces of leaves to line the nest and to make the cells. These linings
+are out in the shape of the cells. You, would be surprised to see the
+care taken to have every piece of just the right size, so that it will
+fit. When they are fitted, the pieces are nicely fastened together and
+put into the nest.
+
+
+
+
+
+End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Cinderella; or, The Little Glass
+Slipper and Other Stories, by Anonymous
+
+*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK CINDERELLA AND OTHERS ***
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@@ -0,0 +1,4070 @@
+<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
+
+<!DOCTYPE html
+   PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN"
+   "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd" >
+
+<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" lang="en">
+  <head>
+    <title>
+      Cinderella, or the Little Glass Slipper, and Other Stories, by Anonymous
+      Authors
+    </title>
+    <style type="text/css" xml:space="preserve">
+
+    body { margin:5%; background:#faebd0; text-align:justify}
+    P { text-indent: 1em; margin-top: .25em; margin-bottom: .25em; }
+    H1,H2,H3,H4,H5,H6 { text-align: center; margin-left: 15%; margin-right: 15%; }
+    hr  { width: 50%; text-align: center;}
+    .foot { margin-left: 20%; margin-right: 20%; text-align: justify; text-indent: -3em; font-size: 90%; }
+    blockquote {font-size: 97%; font-style: italic; margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%;}
+    .mynote    {background-color: #DDE; color: #000; padding: .5em; margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 95%;}
+    .toc       { margin-left: 10%; margin-bottom: .75em;}
+    .toc2      { margin-left: 20%;}
+    div.fig    { display:block; margin:0 auto; text-align:center; }
+    div.middle { margin-left: 20%; margin-right: 20%; text-align: justify; }
+    .figleft   {float: left; margin-left: 0%; margin-right: 1%;}
+    .figright  {float: right; margin-right: 0%; margin-left: 1%;}
+    .pagenum   {display:inline; font-size: 70%; font-style:normal;
+               margin: 0; padding: 0; position: absolute; right: 1%;
+               text-align: right;}
+    pre        { font-style: italic; font-size: 90%; margin-left: 10%;}
+
+</style>
+  </head>
+  <body>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+
+The Project Gutenberg EBook of Cinderella; or, The Little Glass Slipper
+and Other Stories, by Anonymous
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
+
+
+Title: Cinderella; or, The Little Glass Slipper and Other Stories
+
+Author: Anonymous
+
+Release Date: September 26, 2008 [EBook #1599]
+Last Updated: October 8, 2016
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: UTF-8
+
+*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK CINDERELLA AND OTHERS ***
+
+
+
+
+Produced by Dianne Bean, and David Widger
+
+
+
+
+
+</pre>
+    <p>
+      <br /><br />
+    </p>
+    <h1>
+      CINDERELLA <br /> OR, THE LITTLE GLASS SLIPPER<br /> AND OTHER STORIES
+    </h1>
+    <p>
+      <br />
+    </p>
+    <h2>
+      By Anonymous Authors
+    </h2>
+    <p>
+      <br /> <br />
+    </p>
+    <hr />
+    <p>
+      <br /> <br />
+    </p>
+    <blockquote>
+      <p class="toc">
+        <big><b>CONTENTS</b></big>
+      </p>
+      <p>
+        <br />
+      </p>
+      <p class="toc">
+        <a href="#link2H_4_0001"> CINDERELLA; OR THE LITTLE GLASS SLIPPER. </a>
+      </p>
+      <p class="toc">
+        <a href="#link2H_4_0002"> FANNY&rsquo;S TELEPHONE ORDER. </a>
+      </p>
+      <p class="toc">
+        <a href="#link2H_4_0003"> THE RAINDROPS&rsquo; NEW DRESSES. </a>
+      </p>
+      <p class="toc">
+        <a href="#link2H_4_0004"> SIR GOBBLE. </a>
+      </p>
+      <p class="toc">
+        <a href="#link2H_4_0005"> WHAT IS IT? </a>
+      </p>
+      <p class="toc">
+        <a href="#link2H_4_0006"> JOHN&rsquo;S BRIGHT IDEA. </a>
+      </p>
+      <p class="toc">
+        <a href="#link2H_4_0007"> A SAD THANKSGIVING PARTY. </a>
+      </p>
+      <p class="toc">
+        <a href="#link2H_4_0008"> GUY AND THE BEE </a>
+      </p>
+      <p class="toc">
+        <a href="#link2H_4_0009"> A MEAN BOY. </a>
+      </p>
+      <p class="toc">
+        <a href="#link2H_4_0010"> A NAUGHTY PUMPKIN&rsquo;S FATE. </a>
+      </p>
+      <p class="toc">
+        <a href="#link2H_4_0011"> SOMETHING ABOUT FIRES. </a>
+      </p>
+      <p class="toc">
+        <a href="#link2H_4_0012"> THE ICE-KING&rsquo;S REIGN. </a>
+      </p>
+      <p class="toc">
+        <a href="#link2H_4_0013"> MALMO, THE WOUNDED RAT. </a>
+      </p>
+      <p class="toc">
+        <a href="#link2H_4_0014"> MAMA&rsquo;S HAPPY CHRISTMAS. </a>
+      </p>
+      <p class="toc">
+        <a href="#link2H_4_0015"> CURED OF CARELESSNESS. </a>
+      </p>
+      <p class="toc">
+        <a href="#link2H_4_0016"> A VISIT FROM A PRINCE. </a>
+      </p>
+      <p class="toc">
+        <a href="#link2H_4_0017"> STRINGING CRANBERRIES. </a>
+      </p>
+      <p class="toc">
+        <a href="#link2H_4_0018"> CHRISTMAS IN CALIFORNIA. </a>
+      </p>
+      <p class="toc">
+        <a href="#link2H_4_0019"> A TROUBLESOME CALL. </a>
+      </p>
+      <p class="toc">
+        <a href="#link2H_4_0020"> BERTIE&rsquo;S CORN-POPPER </a>
+      </p>
+      <p class="toc">
+        <a href="#link2H_4_0021"> FIRE! FIRE!! FIRE!!! </a>
+      </p>
+      <p class="toc">
+        <a href="#link2H_4_0022"> THE DOLLS AND THE OTHER DOLLS. </a>
+      </p>
+      <p class="toc">
+        <a href="#link2H_4_0023"> WHY DID MAMMA CHANGE HER MIND? </a>
+      </p>
+      <p class="toc">
+        <a href="#link2H_4_0024"> CLARA&rsquo;S &ldquo;FUNERAL.&rdquo; </a>
+      </p>
+      <p class="toc">
+        <a href="#link2H_4_0025"> THE CHICKADEE-DEE. </a>
+      </p>
+      <p class="toc">
+        <a href="#link2H_4_0026"> THE CHILDREN&rsquo;S PARTY. </a>
+      </p>
+      <p class="toc">
+        <a href="#link2H_4_0027"> BRAVE TOMASSO. </a>
+      </p>
+      <p class="toc">
+        <a href="#link2H_4_0028"> TOMMY FROST SEES A BEAR. </a>
+      </p>
+      <p class="toc">
+        <a href="#link2H_4_0029"> MYSELF. </a>
+      </p>
+      <p class="toc">
+        <a href="#link2H_4_0030"> TWO STRANGE SIGHTS. </a>
+      </p>
+      <p class="toc">
+        <a href="#link2H_4_0031"> A CAT&rsquo;S INSTINCTS. </a>
+      </p>
+      <p class="toc">
+        <a href="#link2H_4_0032"> DINAH&rsquo;S NEW YEAR&rsquo;S PRESENT. </a>
+      </p>
+      <p class="toc">
+        <a href="#link2H_4_0033"> NIGHT FLOWERS. </a>
+      </p>
+      <p class="toc">
+        <a href="#link2H_4_0034"> THE FIRST SNOW-STORM. </a>
+      </p>
+      <p class="toc">
+        <a href="#link2H_4_0035"> FRED&rsquo;S STOLEN RIDE. </a>
+      </p>
+      <p class="toc">
+        <a href="#link2H_4_0036"> A VALENTINE PARTY. </a>
+      </p>
+      <p class="toc">
+        <a href="#link2H_4_0037"> THE VENTURESOME RAT. </a>
+      </p>
+      <p class="toc">
+        <a href="#link2H_4_0038"> THE BEARS&rsquo; FEAST. </a>
+      </p>
+      <p class="toc">
+        <a href="#link2H_4_0039"> PATTY-SAYINGS. </a>
+      </p>
+      <p class="toc">
+        <a href="#link2H_4_0040"> BABIE&rsquo;S CURLS. </a>
+      </p>
+      <p class="toc">
+        <a href="#link2H_4_0041"> THE RED APPLES. </a>
+      </p>
+      <p class="toc">
+        <a href="#link2H_4_0042"> BUBBLES. </a>
+      </p>
+      <p class="toc">
+        <a href="#link2H_4_0043"> A HORSE WHO WORE SNOW SHOES. </a>
+      </p>
+      <p class="toc">
+        <a href="#link2H_4_0044"> THE ANGRY BOBOLINK. </a>
+      </p>
+      <p class="toc">
+        <a href="#link2H_4_0045"> HOW HIRAM SPENT HIS SHRIMP MONEY. </a>
+      </p>
+      <p class="toc">
+        <a href="#link2H_4_0046"> THE ANT&rsquo;S HOUSE. </a>
+      </p>
+      <p class="toc">
+        <a href="#link2H_4_0047"> THE FOOLISH PUG. </a>
+      </p>
+      <p class="toc">
+        <a href="#link2H_4_0048"> THE SILHOUETTE PARTY </a>
+      </p>
+      <p class="toc">
+        <a href="#link2H_4_0049"> THE SNOW BIRDS. </a>
+      </p>
+      <p class="toc">
+        <a href="#link2H_4_0050"> A KIND HEART. </a>
+      </p>
+      <p class="toc">
+        <a href="#link2H_4_0051"> TOWSER TALKS. </a>
+      </p>
+      <p class="toc">
+        <a href="#link2H_4_0052"> JUST AS SHE PLEASED. </a>
+      </p>
+      <p class="toc">
+        <a href="#link2H_4_0053"> THE WORKING TOOLS OF INSECTS. </a>
+      </p>
+      <p>
+        <br />
+      </p>
+    </blockquote>
+    <p>
+      <br /> <br />
+    </p>
+    <hr />
+    <p>
+      <br /> <br /> <a name="link2H_4_0001" id="link2H_4_0001">
+      <!--  H2 anchor --> </a>
+    </p>
+    <h2>
+      CINDERELLA; OR THE LITTLE GLASS SLIPPER.
+    </h2>
+    <p>
+      Once there was a gentleman who married for his second wife the proudest
+      and most haughty woman that was ever seen. She had by a former husband two
+      daughters of her own humor, who were, indeed, exactly like her in all
+      things. He had likewise, by another wife, a young daughter, but of
+      unparalleled goodness and sweetness of temper, which she took from her
+      mother, who was the best creature in the world.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      No sooner were the ceremonies of the wedding over but the mother-in-law
+      began to show herself in her true colors. She could not bear the good
+      qualities of this pretty girl, and the less because they made her own
+      daughters appear the more odious. She employed her in meanest work of the
+      house: she scoured the dishes, tables, etc., and scrubbed madam&rsquo;s chamber
+      and those of misses, her daughters; she lay up in a sorry garret, upon a
+      wretched straw bed, while her sisters lay in fine rooms, with floors all
+      inlaid, upon beds of the very newest fashion, and where they had
+      looking-glasses so large that they might see themselves at their full
+      length from head to foot.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      The poor girl bore all patiently and dared not tell her father, who would
+      have rattled her off; for his wife governed him entirely. When she had
+      done her work she used to go into the chimney-corner and sit down among
+      cinders and ashes, which made her commonly be called a cinder maid; but
+      the youngest, who was not so rude and uncivil as the eldest, called her
+      Cinderella. However, Cinderella, notwithstanding her mean apparel, was a
+      hundred times handsomer than her sisters, though they were always dressed
+      very richly.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      It happened that the King&rsquo;s son gave a ball and invited all persons, of
+      fashion to it. Our young misses were also invited, for they cut a very
+      grand figure among the quality. They were mightily delighted at this
+      invitation, and wonderfully busy in choosing out such gowns, petticoats,
+      and head-clothes as might become them. This was a new trouble to
+      Cinderella, for it was she who ironed her sisters&rsquo; linen and plaited their
+      ruffles. They talked all day long of nothing but how they should be
+      dressed.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;For my part,&rdquo; said the eldest, &ldquo;I will wear my red velvet suit with
+      French trimming.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;And I,&rdquo; said the youngest, &ldquo;shall have my usual petticoat; but then, to
+      make amends for that, I will put on my gold-flowered manteau and my
+      diamond stomacher, which is far from being the most ordinary one in the
+      world.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      They sent for the best tire-woman they could get to make up their
+      head-dresses and adjust their double pinners, and they had their red
+      brushes and patches from Mademoiselle de la Poche.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Cinderella was likewise called up to them to be consulted in all these
+      matters, for she had excellent notions and advised them always for the
+      best, nay, and offered her services to dress their heads, which they were
+      very willing she should do. As she was doing this they said to her:
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Cinderella, would you not be glad to go to the ball?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Alas!&rdquo; said she, &ldquo;you only jeer me. It is not for such as I am to go
+      thither.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Thou art in the right of it,&rdquo; replied they. &ldquo;It would make the people
+      laugh to see a cinder wench at a ball.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Any one but Cinderella would have dressed their heads awry, but she was
+      very good and dressed them perfectly well. They were almost two days
+      without eating, so much they were transported with joy. They broke above a
+      dozen of laces in trying to be laced up close, that they might have a
+      fine, slender shape, and they were continually at their looking-glass. At
+      last the happy day came. They went to Court, and Cinderella followed them
+      with her eyes as long as she could, and when she had lost sight of them
+      she fell a-crying.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Her Godmother, who saw her all in tears, asked her what was the matter.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;I wish I could&mdash;I wish I could&mdash;&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      She was not able to speak the rest being interrupted by her tears and
+      sobbing.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      This Godmother of hers, who was a fairy, said to her: &ldquo;Thou wishest thou
+      could&rsquo;st go to the ball. Is it not so?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Y&mdash;es,&rdquo; cried Cinderella, with a great sigh.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Well,&rdquo; said her Godmother, &ldquo;be but a good girl, and I will contrive that
+      thou shalt go.&rdquo; Then she took her into her chamber and said to her: &ldquo;Run
+      into the garden and bring me a pumpkin.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Cinderella went immediately to gather the finest she could get and brought
+      it to her Godmother, not being able to imagine how this pumpkin could make
+      her go to the ball. Her Godmother scooped out all the inside of it, having
+      left nothing but the rind; which done, she struck it with her wand, and
+      the pumpkin was instantly turned into a fine coach, gilded all over with
+      gold.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      She then went to look into her mousetrap, where she found six mice all
+      alive, and ordered Cinderella to lift up a little the trapdoor, when,
+      giving each mouse as it went out a little tap with her wand, the mouse was
+      that moment turned into a fine horse, which altogether made a very fine
+      set of six horses of a beautiful mouse-colored dapple-gray. Being at a
+      loss for a coachman, Cinderella said:
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;I will go and see if there is never a rat in the rattrap&mdash;we may
+      make a coachman of him.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Thou art in the right,&rdquo; replied her Godmother. &ldquo;Go and look.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Cinderella brought the trap to her, and in it there were three huge rats.
+      The fairy made choice of one of the three which had the largest beard, and
+      having touched him with her wand he was turned into a fat, jolly coachman,
+      who had the smartest whiskers eyes ever beheld. After that she said to
+      her:
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Go again into the garden, and you will find six lizards behind the
+      watering-pot. Bring them to me.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      She had no sooner done so but her Godmother turned them into six footmen,
+      who skipped up immediately behind the coach, with their liveries all
+      bedaubed with gold and silver, and clung as close behind each other as if
+      they had done nothing else their whole lives. The fairy then said to
+      Cinderella:
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Well, you see here an equipage fit to go to the ball with. Are you not
+      pleased with it?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Oh! yes,&rdquo; cried she; &ldquo;but must I go thither as I am, in these dirty
+      rags?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Her Godmother only just touched her with her wand, and at the same instant
+      her clothes were turned into cloth-of-gold and silver, all beset with
+      jewels. Ah! who can describe a robe made by the fairies? It was white as
+      snow, and as dazzling; round the hem hung a fringe of diamonds, sparkling
+      like dewdrops in the sunshine. The lace about the throat and arms could
+      only have been spun by fairy spiders. Surely it was a dream! Cinderella
+      put her daintily gloved hand to her throat, and softly touched the pearls
+      that encircled her neck.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Come, child,&rdquo; said the Godmother, &ldquo;or you will be late.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      As Cinderella moved, the firelight shone upon her dainty shoes.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;They are of diamonds,&rdquo; she said.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;No,&rdquo; answered her Godmother, smiling; &ldquo;they are better than that&mdash;they
+      are of glass, made by the fairies. And now, child, go, and enjoy yourself
+      to your heart&rsquo;s content.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      But her Godmother, above all things, commanded her not to stay till after
+      midnight, telling her at the same time that if she stayed one moment
+      longer the coach would be a pumpkin again, her horses mice, her coachman a
+      rat, her footmen lizards, and her clothes become just as they were before.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      She promised her Godmother she would not fail of leaving the ball before
+      midnight, and then away she drives, scarce able to contain herself for
+      joy. The King&rsquo;s son, who was told that a great Princess, whom nobody knew,
+      was come, ran out to receive her. He gave her his hand as she alighted out
+      of the coach; and led her into the hall among all the company. There was
+      immediately a profound silence, they left off dancing, and the violins
+      ceased to play, so attentive was every one to contemplate the singular
+      beauties of the unknown newcomer. Nothing was then heard but a confused
+      noise of &ldquo;Ha! how handsome she is! Ha! how handsome she is!&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      The King himself, old as he was, could not help watching her and telling
+      the Queen softly that it was a long time since he had seen so beautiful
+      and lovely a creature.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      All the ladies were busied in considering her clothes and headdress, that
+      they might have some made next day after the same pattern, provided they
+      could meet with such fine materials and as able hands to make them.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      The King&rsquo;s son conducted her to the most honorable seat and afterward took
+      her out to dance with him. She danced so very gracefully that they all
+      more and more admired her. A fine collation was served up, whereof the
+      young Prince ate not a morsel, so intently was he busied in gazing on her.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      She went and sat down by her sisters, showing them a thousand civilities,
+      giving them part of the oranges and citrons which the Prince had presented
+      her with, which very much surprised them, for they did not know her. While
+      Cinderella was thus amusing her sisters, she heard the clock strike eleven
+      and three-quarters, whereupon she immediately made a courtesy to the
+      company and hastened away as fast as she could.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Being got home, she ran to seek out her Godmother, and after having
+      thanked her she said she could not but heartily wish she might go next day
+      to the ball, because the King&rsquo;s son had desired her.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      As she was eagerly telling her Godmother what had passed at the ball her
+      two sisters knocked at the door, which Cinderella ran and opened.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;How long you have stayed!&rdquo; cried she, gaping, rubbing her eyes, and
+      stretching herself as if she had been just waked out of her sleep. She had
+      not, however, had any manner of inclination to sleep since they went from
+      home.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;If thou hadst been at the ball,&rdquo; said one of her sisters, &ldquo;thou would&rsquo;st
+      not have been tired with it. There came thither the finest Princess, the
+      most beautiful ever was seen with mortal eyes. She showed us a thousand
+      civilities and gave us oranges and citrons.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Cinderella seemed very indifferent in the matter. Indeed, she asked them
+      the name of that Princess, but they told her they did not know it, and
+      that the King&rsquo;s son was very uneasy on her account, and would give all the
+      world to know who she was. At this Cinderella, smiling, replied:
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;She must, then, be very beautiful indeed. How happy you have been! Could
+      not I see her? Ah! dear Miss Charlotte, do lend me your yellow suit of
+      clothes which you wear every day.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Ay, to be sure,&rdquo; cried Miss Charlotte; &ldquo;lend my clothes to such it dirty
+      cinder maid as thou art! I should be a fool.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Cinderella expected well such answer and was very glad of the refusal, for
+      she would have been sadly put to it if her sister had lent her what she
+      asked for jestingly.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      The next day the two sisters were at the ball, and so was Cinderella, but
+      dressed more magnificently than before. The King&rsquo;s son was always by her,
+      and never ceased his compliments and kind speeches to her, to whom all
+      this was so far from being tiresome that she quite forgot what her
+      Godmother had recommended to her, so that she at last counted the clock
+      striking twelve when she took it to be no more than eleven. She then rose
+      up and fled as nimble as a deer. The Prince followed, but could not
+      overtake her. She left behind one of her glass slippers, which the Prince
+      took up most carefully. She got home, but quite out of breath, and in her
+      old clothes, having nothing left her of all her finery but one of the
+      little slippers, fellow to that she dropped. The guards at the palace gate
+      were asked if they had not seen a Princess go out.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      They said they had seen nobody go out but a young girl, very meanly
+      dressed, and who had more of the air of a poor country girl than a
+      gentlewoman.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      When the two sisters returned from the ball Cinderella asked them if they
+      had been well diverted and if the beautiful Princess had been there.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      They told her yes, but that she hurried away immediately when the clock
+      struck twelve, and with so much haste that she dropped one of her little
+      glass slippers, the prettiest in the world, which the King&rsquo;s son had taken
+      up; that he had done nothing but look at her all the time at the ball, and
+      that most certainly he was very much in love with the beautiful person who
+      owned the glass slipper.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      What they said was very true, for a few days after the King&rsquo;s son caused
+      it to be proclaimed, by sound of trumpet, that he would marry her whose
+      foot this slipper would just fit. They whom he employed began to try it
+      upon the Princesses, then the Duchesses and all the Court, but in vain. It
+      was brought to the two sisters, who did all they possibly could to thrust
+      their feet into the slipper, but they could not effect it.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      On the following morning there was a great noise of trumpets and drums,
+      and a procession passed through the town, at the head of which rode the
+      King&rsquo;s son. Behind him came a herald, bearing a velvet cushion, upon which
+      rested a little glass slipper. The herald blew a blast upon the trumpet,
+      and then read a proclamation saying that the King&rsquo;s son would wed any lady
+      in the land who could fit the slipper upon her foot, if she could produce
+      another to match it.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Of course, the sisters tried to squeeze their feet into the slipper, but
+      it was of no use&mdash;they were much too large. Then Cinderella shyly
+      begged that she might try. How the sisters laughed with scorn when the
+      Prince knelt to fit the slipper on the cinder maid&rsquo;s foot; but what was
+      their surprise when it slipped on with the greatest ease, and the next
+      moment Cinderella produced the other from her pocket! Once more she stood
+      in the slippers, and once more the sisters saw before them the lovely
+      Princess who was to be the Prince&rsquo;s bride. For at the touch of the magic
+      shoes the little gray frock disappeared forever, and in place of it she
+      wore the beautiful robe the fairy Godmother had given to her.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      The sisters hung their heads with sorrow and vexation; but kind little
+      Cinderella put her arms round their necks, kissed them, and forgave them
+      for all their unkindness, so that they could not help but love her.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      The Prince could not bear to part from his little love again, so he
+      carried her back to the palace in his grand coach, and they were married
+      that very day. Cinderella&rsquo;s stepsisters were present at the feast, but in
+      the place of honor sat the fairy Godmother.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      So the poor little cinder maid married the Prince, and in time they came
+      to be King and Queen, and lived happily ever after.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      <a name="link2H_4_0002" id="link2H_4_0002">
+      <!--  H2 anchor --> </a>
+    </p>
+    <div style="height: 4em;">
+      <br /><br /><br /><br />
+    </div>
+    <h2>
+      FANNY&rsquo;S TELEPHONE ORDER.
+    </h2>
+    <p>
+      Little Fanny Desmond was a dear child, and, like a good many other little
+      children, she liked to do whatever she saw the grown people do.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      She would listen with great interest when she saw her mother use the
+      telephone. She was especially surprised when her mother ordered things,
+      and later in the day they would be brought to the house.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;I wish I had a telephone of my own,&rdquo; she said to her papa. &ldquo;Mama just
+      puts her mouth up to that funny thing, and gets whatever she asks for.
+      Yesterday she asked somebody to send us ice-cream for dinner, and sure
+      enough, it came.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Papa laughed. &ldquo;It does seem a very convenient thing,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;I will try
+      to arrange one for you.&rdquo; So papa took a horn which had been put away in a
+      closet and hung it up where Fanny could talk into it. &ldquo;There, that shall
+      be your own private telephone,&rdquo; he said.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Now, shall I get whatever I ask for?&rdquo; said Fanny.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Not if you ask for impossible things,&rdquo; replied her papa.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;But what are impossible things?&rdquo; asked Fanny.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Well,&rdquo; laughed papa, &ldquo;I think if you should ask for the moon you would
+      not get it.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;But I don&rsquo;t want the moon,&rdquo; said Fanny.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Ask for something before I go down-town,&rdquo; said papa.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Fanny thought a moment, and then spoke up quite distinctly:
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Please send me some peppermints, and some new shoes for my doll, and a
+      bunch of pansies for my mama, and a new bicycle for my papa, and&mdash;and&mdash;that&rsquo;s
+      all this time. Good-bye.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;That&rsquo;s a very good order,&rdquo; said her papa, &ldquo;but kiss me good-bye, for I
+      must be off.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      About half an hour later the front door-bell rang. Very soon the maid
+      appeared with a package directed to Miss Fanny Desmond. In great
+      excitement, Fanny opened it. It was a box of peppermints. The child&rsquo;s
+      delight was great, but when, in another half hour, there came a bundle
+      which proved to be a new pair of shoes for her doll, she was too happy for
+      words. But that surprise was hardly over when another package was brought
+      her. She opened it in great excitement, and behold there was a bunch of
+      beautiful pansies.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;They are for you, mama,&rdquo; she cried, &ldquo;and now everything has come but
+      papa&rsquo;s new bicycle.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Just then she looked out of the window, and there was her papa coming up
+      the drive on a fine new wheel. She rushed down to meet him, exclaiming, as
+      she threw herself into his arms:
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Oh, papa, papa, I did get everything; my telephone is beautiful, and the
+      man at the other end is just lovely!&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Ah,&rdquo; said papa, &ldquo;I am delighted he is so satisfactory.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      <a name="link2H_4_0003" id="link2H_4_0003">
+      <!--  H2 anchor --> </a>
+    </p>
+    <div style="height: 4em;">
+      <br /><br /><br /><br />
+    </div>
+    <h2>
+      THE RAINDROPS&rsquo; NEW DRESSES.
+    </h2>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+     &ldquo;We&rsquo;re so tired of these gray dresses!&rdquo;
+      Cried the little drops of rain,
+     As they came down helter-skelter
+     From the Nimbus cloud fast train.
+
+     And they bobbed against each other
+     In a spiteful sort of way,
+     Just like children when bad temper
+     Gets the upper hand some day.
+
+     Then the Sun peeped out a minute.
+     &ldquo;Dears, be good and do not fight,
+     I have ordered you new dresses,
+     Dainty robes of purest white.&rdquo;
+ 
+     Ah! then all the tiny raindrops
+     Hummed a merry glad refrain,
+     And the old folks cried: &ldquo;How pleasant
+     Is the music of the rain!&rdquo;
+ 
+     Just at even, when the children
+     Had been safely tucked in bed,
+     There was such a rush and bustle
+     In the dark clouds overhead!
+
+     Then those raindrops hurried earthward,
+     At the North Wind&rsquo;s call, you know,
+     And the wee folks, in the morning,
+     Laughed to see the flakes of snow.
+</pre>
+    <p>
+      <a name="link2H_4_0004" id="link2H_4_0004">
+      <!--  H2 anchor --> </a>
+    </p>
+    <div style="height: 4em;">
+      <br /><br /><br /><br />
+    </div>
+    <h2>
+      SIR GOBBLE.
+    </h2>
+    <p>
+      Bessie Curtis was in a great deal of trouble. She was spending a year in
+      the country while her father and mother were in Europe. It was not that
+      which was troubling her. She liked the country, she loved her uncle and
+      aunt with whom she lived, and she heard every week from her father and
+      mother. But something disturbed her. As the summer passed, and the autumn
+      came, she had moments when she looked very sober. What was the reason?
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      I will tell you.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Early in the spring her uncle had given her a young turkey.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;There, Bessie,&rdquo; he had said, &ldquo;that is one of the prettiest turkeys I have
+      ever seen. I will give him into your care, and on Thanksgiving Day we will
+      have him on the dinner-table.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      For some time Bessie fed the turkey every day without feeling particularly
+      fond of him. Very soon, however, he began to know her; he not only ran to
+      meet her when she brought him his corn and meal, but he would follow her
+      about just the way Mary&rsquo;s little lamb followed HER about.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Her uncle often called after her: &ldquo;And everywhere that Bessie goes, the
+      turkey&rsquo;s sure to go.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Yes, round the garden, up and down the avenue, and even into the house
+      itself the turkey followed Bessie.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Then why was she so sad?
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Alas! she remembered her uncle&rsquo;s words when he gave her the turkey, &ldquo;On
+      Thanksgiving Day we will have him on the table.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Thanksgiving Day would be here in a week.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Now, if Bessie had been like some little girls, she would have told her
+      trouble to her uncle. But she never mentioned it to any one, although she
+      cried herself to sleep several nights before Thanksgiving Day.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      At last the day came, and Bessie, instead of going out to the fowlyard as
+      usual, kept in the house all the morning. She was afraid that, if she
+      went, she would not find her beloved friend. Dinner-time came, and, with a
+      heavy heart, she seated herself at the table. Her uncle and aunt noticed
+      her sober face, and thought that she missed her father and mother.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Come, come,&rdquo; said her uncle, &ldquo;we must cheer up; no sad looks on
+      Thanksgiving Day. Maria, BRING IN THE TURKEY.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Poor Bessie! she could not look up as the door opened, and something was
+      brought in on a big platter. But, as the platter was placed on the table,
+      she saw that it did indeed hold her turkey, but he was alive and well.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      She looked so astonished that suddenly her uncle understood all her past
+      troubles.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Why, Bessie,&rdquo; he said, &ldquo;did you think I would kill your pet? No, indeed,
+      but I told you he should be on the table Thanksgiving Day, so here he is.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Then Bessie&rsquo;s uncle struck the turkey gently with his carving-knife, the
+      way the queen strikes a man with a sword when she makes him a knight.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Behold!&rdquo; said Bessie&rsquo;s uncle, &ldquo;I dub you &lsquo;Sir Gobble;&rsquo; you shall never be
+      killed, but die a natural death, and never be parted from Bessie.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      <a name="link2H_4_0005" id="link2H_4_0005">
+      <!--  H2 anchor --> </a>
+    </p>
+    <div style="height: 4em;">
+      <br /><br /><br /><br />
+    </div>
+    <h2>
+      WHAT IS IT?
+    </h2>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+     What is that ugly thing I see
+     Which follows, follows, follows me,
+     Which ever way I turn or go?
+     What is that thing? I want to know.
+
+     If I but turn to left or right
+     It does the same with all its might;
+     It looks so ugly and so black
+     When o&rsquo;er my shoulder I look back.
+
+     Sometimes it runs ahead of me,
+     Sometimes quite short it seems to be,
+     And then again it&rsquo;s very tall;
+     I don&rsquo;t know what it is at all.
+
+     I&rsquo;ll climb into my little bed,
+     And on my pillow lay my bead,
+     For when I&rsquo;m there I never see
+     That thing in front or back of me.
+</pre>
+    <p>
+      <a name="link2H_4_0006" id="link2H_4_0006">
+      <!--  H2 anchor --> </a>
+    </p>
+    <div style="height: 4em;">
+      <br /><br /><br /><br />
+    </div>
+    <h2>
+      JOHN&rsquo;S BRIGHT IDEA.
+    </h2>
+    <p>
+      Mrs. Meredith was a most kind and thoughtful woman. She spent a great deal
+      of time visiting the poor. One morning she told her children about a
+      family which she had visited the day before. There was a man sick in bed,
+      his wife who took care of him, and could not go out to work, and their
+      little boy. The little boy&mdash;his name was Bernard&mdash;had interested
+      her very much.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;I wish you could see him,&rdquo; she said to her own children, John, Harry, and
+      Clara, &ldquo;he is such a help to his mother. He wants very much to earn some
+      money, but I don&rsquo;t see what he can do.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      After their mother had left the room, the children sat thinking about
+      little Bernard.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;I wish we could help him to earn money,&rdquo; said little Clara.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;So do I,&rdquo; said Harry.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      For some moments John said nothing, but, suddenly, he sprang to his feet
+      and cried:
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;I have an idea!&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      The other children also jumped up all attention. When John had an idea, it
+      was sure to be a good one.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;I tell you what we can do,&rdquo; said John. &ldquo;You know that big box of corn
+      Uncle Sam sent us for popping? Well, we can pop it, and put it into paper
+      bags, and Bernard can take it round to the houses and sell.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      When Mrs. Meredith heard of John&rsquo;s idea, she, too, thought it a good one.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Very soon the children were busy popping the corn, while their mother went
+      out to buy the paper bags. When she came back, she brought Bernard with
+      her.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      In a short time, he started out on his new business, and, much sooner than
+      could be expected, returned with an empty basket.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Tucked into one of his mittens were ten nickels. He had never earned so
+      much money before in his life. When he found that it was all to be his, he
+      was so delighted he could hardly speak, but his bright smiling face spoke
+      for him. After he had run home to take the money to his mother, John said:
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;We have corn enough left to send Bernard out ever so many times. May we
+      do it again?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Yes,&rdquo; said Mrs. Meredith, &ldquo;you may send him every Saturday morning, if
+      you will pop the corn for him yourselves. John, will you agree to take
+      charge of the work?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Indeed I will,&rdquo; replied John, and he kept his word. For many weeks, every
+      Saturday morning, no matter what plan was on foot, no matter how good the
+      coasting or skating, he saw that the corn was all popped, the paper bags
+      filled, and arranged in the basket when Bernard arrived.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      People began to watch for the &ldquo;little pop-corn boy,&rdquo; and every week he had
+      at least fifty cents to take home, and often more. And all this was
+      because of John&rsquo;s bright idea, and the way he carried it out.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      <a name="link2H_4_0007" id="link2H_4_0007">
+      <!--  H2 anchor --> </a>
+    </p>
+    <div style="height: 4em;">
+      <br /><br /><br /><br />
+    </div>
+    <h2>
+      A SAD THANKSGIVING PARTY.
+    </h2>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+     Four hungry-looking animals
+     All seated in a row;
+     Why does not some one speak to them?
+     That&rsquo;s what I want to know.
+
+     They all of them were bidden to
+     A fine Thanksgiving feast,
+     And now, it seems to me, their host
+     Might welcome them, at least.
+
+     &lsquo;Twas Master Pug invited them,
+     Why does he not appear?
+     &lsquo;Tis plain they think his absence looks
+     Extremely rude and queer.
+
+     Alas! poor Pug&rsquo;s in trouble sore,
+     The host he cannot play;
+     No feast for self or friends has he
+     On this Thanksgiving Day.
+
+     He saw a turkey, large and fat,
+     Upon the kitchen shelf.
+     &ldquo;That&rsquo;s just the very thing I want,&rdquo;
+      Said he unto himself.
+
+     He caught the turkey, but the cook
+     Caught him with firmer grasp,
+     And shook him till he could not bark
+     But only choke and gasp.
+
+     Meanwhile, those hungry animals,
+     Who&rsquo;d waited there in vain,
+     Declared they never would be guest
+     Of Mr. Pug again.
+</pre>
+    <p>
+      <a name="link2H_4_0008" id="link2H_4_0008">
+      <!--  H2 anchor --> </a>
+    </p>
+    <div style="height: 4em;">
+      <br /><br /><br /><br />
+    </div>
+    <h2>
+      GUY AND THE BEE
+    </h2>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+     One day a jolly bumble-bee,
+     In coat of black and yellow,
+     Got caught inside a window-pane;
+     The silly little  fellow.
+
+     He buzzed and buzzed against the glass,
+     To Guy&rsquo;s great enjoyment,
+     Who thought to watch this funny thing
+     Was just the best employment.
+
+     But soon to touch those gauzy wings,
+     Became Guy&rsquo;s great desire,
+     Although mama had told him that
+     A bee could sting like fire.
+
+     But Guy, silly as the bee,
+     Paid no heed to mama,
+     He touched the bee, then gave a howl
+     Which could be heard afar.
+
+     Mama a soothing poultice mixed,
+     And on his finger laid.
+     &ldquo;Another time you&rsquo;ll be more wise,&rdquo;
+      Was everything she said.
+</pre>
+    <p>
+      <a name="link2H_4_0009" id="link2H_4_0009">
+      <!--  H2 anchor --> </a>
+    </p>
+    <div style="height: 4em;">
+      <br /><br /><br /><br />
+    </div>
+    <h2>
+      A MEAN BOY.
+    </h2>
+    <p>
+      Harry Burton woke one night and heard a strange noise in his closet. He
+      got out of bed, crossed the floor in his bare feet, and carefully opened
+      the closet door. The noise stopped, instantly.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Ah!&rdquo; said Harry, &ldquo;I knew it was mice made that noise. How I wish I could
+      catch them.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      The next morning he told his mother about the noises he had heard.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;I will get you a mouse-trap,&rdquo; she said.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;I don&rsquo;t want the kind that kills the mice, I only want to catch them and
+      tame them,&rdquo; said Harry.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      His mother laughed and told him when he had tamed his mice he must keep
+      them well out of her way.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      The trap was set, the mice were caught, and sure enough, in a short time
+      were so tame they would eat from Harry&rsquo;s hand. He made a little house for
+      them, and kept in it his bedroom. Whenever he went out, he always shut the
+      door carefully.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Now it happened that among Harry&rsquo;s acquaintances, there was one very
+      disagreeable boy. His name was Dick Taft. Harry did not play with him very
+      often, for he was so ugly it was hard to get along with him.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Dick never liked to be beaten at any game, and sometimes made it very
+      uncomfortable for the one who got ahead of him.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      One day Harry happened to beat him at one of their school games. Dick
+      called after him when it was over, &ldquo;I&rsquo;ll pay you for this, see if I
+      don&rsquo;t.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Harry only laughed as he walked away going in the opposite direction from
+      his own house.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      When he was out of sight, Dick ran to Harry&rsquo;s house, made some excuse to
+      go up in his bedroom, and let in the big cat, who was eagerly watching
+      outside.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      When Harry came home, the mouse house was open, and not one of his pets
+      was to be seen. The poor fellow was almost heart-broken. He asked every
+      one in the house who had left his door open. The maid told him she thought
+      it must have been that boy he sent up to his room.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      She described the boy, and Harry knew in a moment that it was Dick Taft.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;So that is the way he paid me for beating him at a game,&rdquo; cried Harry.
+      &ldquo;Well, never again, so long as I live, will I play with a boy who is mean
+      enough to do such a trick as that.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      And he kept his word.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      <a name="link2H_4_0010" id="link2H_4_0010">
+      <!--  H2 anchor --> </a>
+    </p>
+    <div style="height: 4em;">
+      <br /><br /><br /><br />
+    </div>
+    <h2>
+      A NAUGHTY PUMPKIN&rsquo;S FATE.
+    </h2>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+      A queer little pumpkin, a jolly fat fellow,
+      Stood close to his mother so rotund and yellow.
+      &ldquo;What a stupid old place! how I long to aspire,&rdquo;
+       Cried he, &ldquo;I was destined for something much higher.&rdquo;
+ 
+      &ldquo;My son,&rdquo; said the mother, &ldquo;pray do be content,
+      There&rsquo;s great satisfaction in life that&rsquo;s well spent!&rdquo;
+       But he shrugged up his shoulders, this pumpkin, &lsquo;t is true,
+      And acted just like some bad children will do.
+
+      With a shout and a whoop, in the garden they ran,
+      Tom and Ned, for they&rsquo;d thought of the loveliest plan
+      To astonish their friends from the city, you see,
+      With a fine Jack-o&rsquo;-lantern&mdash;&ldquo;Ah, this one suits me!&rdquo;
+ 
+      Neddie seized the bad pumpkin, and dug out his brains,
+      Till he felt so light-headed and brimful of pains;
+      Then two eyes, a long nose, and a mouth big and wide,
+      They cut in a minute, and laid him aside
+
+      Until night, when they hung him upon a stout limb,
+      With a candle inside; how his poor head did swim,
+      As they twisted him this way, then twirled him round that,
+      Till at last, with a crash, he fell on the ground flat,
+
+      A wreck of the once jolly, fat little fellow,
+      Who stood by his mother so rotund and yellow.
+      Just then a lean cow, who was passing that way,
+      Ate him up, just to finish HER &ldquo;Thanksgiving Day.&rdquo;
+ </pre>
+    <p>
+      <a name="link2H_4_0011" id="link2H_4_0011">
+      <!--  H2 anchor --> </a>
+    </p>
+    <div style="height: 4em;">
+      <br /><br /><br /><br />
+    </div>
+    <h2>
+      SOMETHING ABOUT FIRES.
+    </h2>
+    <p>
+      It was a cold day. Fred was tired of reading, tired of looking out of the
+      window, and so he poked the fire for a change.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;I suppose there are a good many different sorts of fires,&rdquo; he said to his
+      mamma, as he laid down the poker.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Yes, indeed,&rdquo; she answered. &ldquo;It is very interesting to know how people
+      keep warm in all parts of the world, especially where fuel is scarce and
+      dear. In Iceland, for example, fires are often made of fish-bones! Think
+      of that. In Holland and other countries a kind of turf called peat is dug
+      up in great quantities and used for fuel. And in France a coarse yellow
+      and brown sea-weed, which is found in Finistere, is carefully dried and
+      piled up for winter use. A false log, resembling wood, but made of some
+      composition which does not consume, is often used in that country. It
+      absorbs and throws out the heat, and adds to the looks of the hearth and
+      to the comfort of the room.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;The French have also a movable stove, which can be wheeled from room to
+      room, or even carried up or down stairs while full of burning coke. In
+      Russia the poorer people use a large porcelain stove, flat on top like a
+      great table, with a small fire inside which gives out a gentle,
+      summer-like warmth. It often serves as a bed for the whole family, who
+      sleep on top of it.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;There are, besides gas-stoves, oil-stoves, various methods of obtaining
+      warmth by heated air and steam, and, doubtless, other devices that I never
+      heard of.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;In some countries, however, no fires are needed. In looking at pictures
+      of tropical towns you will at once notice the absence of chimneys.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Fred looked admiringly at his mamma as she paused.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;There never was such a little mother,&rdquo; he said; &ldquo;you can think of
+      something to say about everything.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      His mamma was pleased at this pleasant compliment.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Oh!&rdquo; she replied, laughing, &ldquo;I could go on and tell you more about
+      bonfires, beacon-fires, signals, drift-wood fires, and gypsy-tea fires;
+      but I have told you enough for to-day.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      <a name="link2H_4_0012" id="link2H_4_0012">
+      <!--  H2 anchor --> </a>
+    </p>
+    <div style="height: 4em;">
+      <br /><br /><br /><br />
+    </div>
+    <h2>
+      THE ICE-KING&rsquo;S REIGN.
+    </h2>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+     The sun had gone down with promises sweet,
+     When, keen from the north, the wind
+     Came blustering along on its coursers fleet,
+     And left frozen tracks behind.
+
+     Maude stood at the window; the moon shimmered down
+     On whirling leaves, stiff and dead,
+     All piteously driven; she turned with a frown,
+     And soft to herself she said:&mdash;
+
+     &ldquo;The old tyrant Winter leaves nothing to prize,
+     Leaves nothing that&rsquo;s bright or fair;
+     He has stolen the blue from the bending skies,
+     The warmth from the earth and air.
+
+     &ldquo;The summer&rsquo;s dear blossoms are withered and dead;
+     My garden is brown and bare;
+     The chipper of birds in the nest overhead
+     Is hushed, for no birdlings are here.
+
+     &ldquo;The woodlands no longer are shady and sweet,
+     Dry leafage encumbers the ground;
+     The pathways, once verdant and soft to my feet,
+     In fetters of ice are bound.
+
+     &ldquo;The pride of the barn-yard sits humped with the cold,
+     One frozen foot under his wing;
+     And the sheep huddle closely, for warmth, in their fold;
+     The ice tyrant reigns as king.&rdquo;
+ 
+     She turns from this picture of ruin and death,
+     And seeks the broad casement again;
+     And, lo! from the dews of her wasted breath
+     Great forests have grown on the pane.
+
+     Such beautiful trees! such ferns! and such flowers!
+     Such rivers and mountains bold!
+     Such charming cascades! she gazes for hours,
+     And worships the ice king cold.
+</pre>
+    <p>
+      <a name="link2H_4_0013" id="link2H_4_0013">
+      <!--  H2 anchor --> </a>
+    </p>
+    <div style="height: 4em;">
+      <br /><br /><br /><br />
+    </div>
+    <h2>
+      MALMO, THE WOUNDED RAT.
+    </h2>
+    <p>
+      A poor man saw, by the roadside, a large white rat. It seemed to be dead.
+      Moving it gently he found it was alive, but had a broken leg. He took it
+      up and carried it to his lonely home. He bound up the bruised leg, fed the
+      poor creature, and soon it was quite well.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Sam Tills trained the rat to gentle ways, and taught it many little
+      tricks. Malmo was the only company Sam had. He worked in a cotton mill,
+      and took Malmo with him. He rode in his master&rsquo;s coat-pocket. It looked
+      droll to see his white head peeping out.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Sundays both went to dine with Sam&rsquo;s sister. Malmo&rsquo;s funny ways made
+      everybody laugh. When Sam said, &ldquo;Malmo, go sit in my hat,&rdquo; he went at
+      once. He curled himself up in it, and nodded off to sleep.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      When his master said, &ldquo;Malmo, we&rsquo;re going now; slip in,&rdquo; the droll pet
+      jumped from the hat, ran up to his pocket-nest, said good-by in his own
+      fashion, and was ready to start. Evenings, when Sam was reading or singing
+      from his mother&rsquo;s hymn-book, Malmo had a nap on his master&rsquo;s head. When it
+      was time to go to bed Sam stroked Malmo&rsquo;s soft fur. The rat rubbed himself
+      against his master&rsquo;s hand. It was their good-night to each other. Then
+      Malmo crept into his basket, and the candle was blown out. Soon both were
+      fast asleep.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      <a name="link2H_4_0014" id="link2H_4_0014">
+      <!--  H2 anchor --> </a>
+    </p>
+    <div style="height: 4em;">
+      <br /><br /><br /><br />
+    </div>
+    <h2>
+      MAMA&rsquo;S HAPPY CHRISTMAS.
+    </h2>
+    <p>
+      It had seemed to the little Wendell children that they would have a very
+      sad Christmas. Mama had been very ill, and papa had been so anxious about
+      mama that he could not think of anything else.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      When Christmas Day came, however, mama was so much better that she could
+      lie on the lounge. The children all brought their stockings into her room
+      to open them.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;You children all seem as happy as if you had had your usual Christmas
+      tree,&rdquo; said mama, as they sat around her.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Why, I NEVER had such a happy Christmas before,&rdquo; said sweet little Agnes.
+      &ldquo;And it&rsquo;s just because you are well again.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Now I think you must all run out for the rest of the day,&rdquo; said the
+      nurse, &ldquo;because your mama wants to see you all again this evening.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;I wish we could get up something expressly for mama&rsquo;s amusement,&rdquo; said
+      Agnes, when they had gone into the nursery.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;How would you like to have some tableaux in here?&rdquo; asked their French
+      governess, Miss Marcelle.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Oh, yes,&rdquo; they all cried, &ldquo;it would be fun, mama loves tableaux.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      So all day long they were busy arranging five tableaux for the evening.
+      The tableaux were to be in the room which had folding-doors opening into
+      Mrs. Wendell&rsquo;s sitting-room.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      At the proper time Miss Marcelle stepped outside the folding-doors and
+      made a pretty little speech. She said that some young ladies and a young
+      gentleman had asked permission to show some tableaux to Mrs. Wendell if
+      she would like to see them. Mrs. Wendell replied that she would be
+      charmed.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Then mademoiselle announced the tableaux; opening the doors wide for each
+      one. This is a list of the tableaux: First, The Sleeping Beauty; second,
+      Little Red Riding Hood third, The Fairy Queen; fourth, Old Mother Hubbard;
+      fifth, The Lord High Admiral.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Miss Marcelle had arranged everything so nicely, and Celeste, the French
+      maid, helped so much with the dressing, that the pictures all went off
+      without a single mistake.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Mama was delighted. She said she must kiss those dear young ladies, and
+      that delightful young man who had given her such a charming surprise.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      So all the children came in rosy and smiling.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Why, didn&rsquo;t you know us?&rdquo; asked the little Lord Admiral.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;I know this,&rdquo; said mama, &ldquo;I am like Agnes. I NEVER had such a happy
+      Christmas before.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      <a name="link2H_4_0015" id="link2H_4_0015">
+      <!--  H2 anchor --> </a>
+    </p>
+    <div style="height: 4em;">
+      <br /><br /><br /><br />
+    </div>
+    <h2>
+      CURED OF CARELESSNESS.
+    </h2>
+    <p>
+      Mrs. Bertram sat reading a book one morning, or trying to. It was not easy
+      to do so, for her little boy, Roger, was out in the hall playing with his
+      drum. Suddenly the drumming ceased, and in a moment Roger rushed into the
+      room crying as if his heart would break.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;I&rsquo;ve burst it. I&rsquo;ve burst it,&rdquo; he sobbed.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Your drum,&rdquo; asked his mother. &ldquo;How did you do that?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;I was beating it with the poker and the tongs and&mdash;&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;With the poker and tongs!&rdquo; exclaimed his mother. &ldquo;Why, where were your
+      drum-sticks?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Then Roger stopped crying, and hung his head with shame.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Where are your drum-sticks?&rdquo; asked his mother, again.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;I&mdash;I&mdash;don&rsquo;t know,&rdquo; sobbed Roger.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Have you lost those, too?&rdquo; said Mrs. Bertram. She needed no words for
+      answer. Roger&rsquo;s manner was quite enough. &ldquo;You know, dear, what I said
+      would happen the next time you lost anything.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Yes,&rdquo; said Roger, &ldquo;I you said I must give away all my toys to some little
+      boys who would take care of them.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Yes,&rdquo; said his mother. &ldquo;I see you remember. I shall send them all
+      to-night to the Children&rsquo;s Hospital.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;But, mama,&rdquo; said Roger, &ldquo;if I don&rsquo;t have any toys to take care of, how
+      can I learn to take care of them?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Mrs. Bertram had to turn away so that Roger should not see her smile.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;I shall have to think of some other way to teach you to be careful. Now
+      go and bring me all your toys.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Roger went out of the room to do as his mother said. When he had gone,
+      Mrs. Bertram sat thinking until he came back.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;I have decided that I want you to dust the library every morning.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Roger looked astonished. &ldquo;Boys don&rsquo;t dust,&rdquo; he said.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Sometimes,&rdquo; said his mother, smilingly. &ldquo;Your Uncle Fred had to dust his
+      own room when he was at West Point. Now if you dust the library every
+      morning for two months faithfully, and do not break a single ornament, I
+      shall know you have grown careful in one way, and that may help you to be
+      careful in another.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      The next morning Roger began his work. At first he disliked it very much,
+      but after a while he grew very particular. It was not pleasant to be
+      without any toys, and he determined to earn them.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      The day when his trial of two months would be up, would be Christmas Day.
+      He did not know if his presents this year would be toys or useful things.
+      All his mother had said about his work was, &ldquo;My dear, you are improving.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Christmas night came, and with it a beautiful tree. Imagine Roger&rsquo;s
+      delight when he saw on and about it new skates, a new sled, a new violin
+      and a new drum.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      And up in the highest branches, in letters of gold, these words: &ldquo;For the
+      boy who has proved he can be careful when he tries.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      <a name="link2H_4_0016" id="link2H_4_0016">
+      <!--  H2 anchor --> </a>
+    </p>
+    <div style="height: 4em;">
+      <br /><br /><br /><br />
+    </div>
+    <h2>
+      A VISIT FROM A PRINCE.
+    </h2>
+    <p>
+      Harry was playing with his letter blocks one afternoon, when a prince came
+      to visit him.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Harry knew the prince very well, indeed. As soon as the prince came into
+      the room Harry said:
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Hullo, old fellow, is that you?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Was not that a very strange way to greet a prince?
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      And wasn&rsquo;t it stranger yet for Harry to say next:
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Come, sit up, old boy, and give us your&mdash;&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Was it hand Harry was going to say? No, indeed, it was paw. &ldquo;Sit up, old
+      boy, and give us your paw.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Prince was a beautiful dog, as black as a coal. Indeed, his real name, his
+      whole name, was Edward, the Black Prince. Now you must ask somebody to
+      tell you about the man who was called the &ldquo;Black Prince,&rdquo; the man for whom
+      Harry&rsquo;s dog was named.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      When Harry asked Prince to give his paw, the dog did not do it as quickly
+      as he ought to have done.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Did Harry beat him for that? No, indeed. Did he say, &ldquo;Never mind, Prince,
+      you need not obey me if you do not want to?&rdquo; No, indeed, again.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      He sat up himself, and then he made Prince sit up on his hind legs. Then
+      he ordered Prince to give his paw. Prince did so. Then Harry made him do
+      it again, then again and again and again, until the dog seemed to
+      understand that he must learn to obey when he was spoken to.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      After Prince appeared to have learned that lesson quite perfectly, Harry
+      taught him something new.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      He taught him to stand on his hind legs and hold a pipe in his mouth.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      This he soon did so well that Harry clapped his hands and cried, &ldquo;Good,
+      good, you smoke as well as his royal highness, the Black Prince, himself.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Which remark showed that Harry had not yet begun to study history. If he
+      had, he would have known that in the country where the Black Prince lived,
+      tobacco was never heard of until many, many, MANY years after his death.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      <a name="link2H_4_0017" id="link2H_4_0017">
+      <!--  H2 anchor --> </a>
+    </p>
+    <div style="height: 4em;">
+      <br /><br /><br /><br />
+    </div>
+    <h2>
+      STRINGING CRANBERRIES.
+    </h2>
+    <p>
+      Arthur Bancroft was feeling very cross one morning in December. He had a
+      bad cold, and his mother did not think it would be wise for him to go
+      out-of-doors. That was why he was cross. The skating was finer than it had
+      been that season; every other boy he knew was enjoying it.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      He walked about the house with a very sulky face; would take no notice of
+      books or games, and seemed determined to be miserable.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      He was standing looking out of the window when his sister Laura came into
+      the room. Laura carried in her hand a basket filled with cranberries.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      She put the basket on the table, took a needle from her mother&rsquo;s needle
+      book, threaded it with a long, stout thread, and began stringing the
+      berries.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Laura was a dear little thing! She was always busy. No one ever heard her
+      say, &ldquo;I wish I had something to do.&rdquo; And she was generally doing something
+      for some one else.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      She made a sweet little picture as she sat bending over the basket of
+      crimson cranberries. Some such idea may have come into Arthur&rsquo;s mind as he
+      turned and looked at her. As he watched her silently for some moments, the
+      cross expression on his face became a little less cross.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;What are you doing?&rdquo; he asked.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Stringing cranberries for the Mullins&rsquo; Christmas tree,&rdquo; answered Laura.
+      &ldquo;Don&rsquo;t you want to help me?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;It&rsquo;s girls&rsquo; work,&rdquo; replied Arthur.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Isn&rsquo;t a boy smart enough to do a girl&rsquo;s work?&rdquo; asked Laura.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Of course, he&rsquo;s SMART enough. I don&rsquo;t mean that! Perhaps he doesn&rsquo;t want
+      to.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Oh,&rdquo; said Laura, &ldquo;I wish you did want to.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Why?&rdquo; asked Arthur.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;I promised to string all these for the Mullins&rsquo; Christmas tree,&rdquo; replied
+      Laura. &ldquo;The market-man brought them so late, I have not much time now.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Thread another needle,&rdquo; said Arthur.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      In a few moments he was working as busily as Laura, herself. As Arthur
+      finished his last long string, he tied the ends together and threw it
+      around Laura&rsquo;s neck. When she bent her head a little, it reached the
+      floor.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;There,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;that proves that a boy can do a girl&rsquo;s work.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Yes,&rdquo; said Laura, &ldquo;when&rdquo;&mdash;then she stopped and smiled.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;When what?&rdquo; asked Arthur.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;When he has a girl to show him how,&rdquo; laughed Laura, as she danced out of
+      the room with the cranberry strings.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      <a name="link2H_4_0018" id="link2H_4_0018">
+      <!--  H2 anchor --> </a>
+    </p>
+    <div style="height: 4em;">
+      <br /><br /><br /><br />
+    </div>
+    <h2>
+      CHRISTMAS IN CALIFORNIA.
+    </h2>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+     &ldquo;To think that this is Christmas Day!&rdquo;
+      Said Harold to his aunt,
+     &ldquo;I know it really is, and yet,
+     Believe it&mdash;well, I can&rsquo;t!
+     I&rsquo;ve had a tree, my stocking, too,
+     This morning full I found,
+     But how can I believe it
+     With no snow upon the ground?
+
+     Look at the sea so bright and blue,
+     And feel the soft, warm air,
+     And there are roses all in bloom,
+     And lilies, I declare!
+     I think that California
+     Is lovely, but it&rsquo;s queer,
+     How different Christmas is at home
+     From what it is out here.&rdquo;
+ 
+     &ldquo;Ah, Harold!&rdquo; gently said his aunt,
+     &ldquo;No matter where you go,
+     In country strewn with flowers like this,
+     Or clad in ice and snow,
+     The birthday of the Christ-child is
+     The same in every place,
+     And happy greetings in His name,
+     Bring smiles to every face.&rdquo;
+ </pre>
+    <p>
+      <a name="link2H_4_0019" id="link2H_4_0019">
+      <!--  H2 anchor --> </a>
+    </p>
+    <div style="height: 4em;">
+      <br /><br /><br /><br />
+    </div>
+    <h2>
+      A TROUBLESOME CALL.
+    </h2>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+     We were going, on Saturday, ever so far,&mdash;
+     My mamma and I,&mdash;to the Dollies&rsquo; Bazaar,
+     Where fifty wax dollies,&mdash;the loveliest show,
+     Went walking about when they wound &lsquo;em, you know.
+
+     You wouldn&rsquo;t believe half the things they could do:
+     Why, one said &ldquo;Good morning,&rdquo; as plainly as you.
+     One played the piano, and one, dressed in lace,
+     Walked up to a mirror and powdered her face.
+
+     Well, when we were ready we stepped in the hall,
+     And there was a lady a-coming to call.
+     She said she just chanced to be passing that way,
+     And she really had only a minute to stay.
+
+     We waited and waited, and hoped she would go,
+     Till I saw it was almost the time for the show,
+     For I heard the clocks striking all over the town,
+     And I knew that the dollies would all be run down.
+
+     And so I just said, &ldquo;I should s&rsquo;pose, Mrs. Black,
+     Your little girl wonders why don&rsquo;t you come back.&rdquo;
+      That&rsquo;s all that I spoke, every &lsquo;dentical word;
+     But she said, &ldquo;Little girls should be seen and not heard.&rdquo;
+ 
+     I guess that&rsquo;s a proverb, so maybe &lsquo;tis true;
+     But, if people won&rsquo;t see, what can little girls do?
+     My mamma looked queer, but that ended the call,
+     And we went to the Dollies&rsquo; Bazaar, after all.
+</pre>
+    <p>
+      <a name="link2H_4_0020" id="link2H_4_0020">
+      <!--  H2 anchor --> </a>
+    </p>
+    <div style="height: 4em;">
+      <br /><br /><br /><br />
+    </div>
+    <h2>
+      BERTIE&rsquo;S CORN-POPPER
+    </h2>
+    <p>
+      Bertie had the desire of his heart,&mdash;a corn-popper! He had wanted it
+      for a long time,&mdash;three weeks, at least. Mamma brought it when she
+      came home from the city, and gave it to him for his very own. A bushel of
+      corn, ready popped, would not have been half so good. There was all the
+      delight of popping in store for the long winter evenings.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Bertie could hardly wait to eat his supper before he tried his
+      corn-popper. It proved to be a very good one. He popped corn that evening,
+      and the next, and the next. He fed all the family, gave some to all his
+      playmates, and carried a bag of pop-corn to school for his teacher.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Trip, the shaggy, little, yellow dog, came in for a share, and Mintie too.
+      Who or what was Mintie?
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Mintie was a bantam biddy, very small, white as snow, and very pretty. She
+      had been left an orphan chick, and for a while kept in the house, near the
+      kitchen fire. She had been Bertie&rsquo;s especial charge, and he fed and tended
+      her faithfully.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      As she grew older she would rove about with the larger hens, but was very
+      tame, and always liked the house. She would come in very often. When
+      Bertie happened to pop corn in the daytime she was pretty apt to be
+      around, and pick up the kernels he threw to her.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      One night he left his corn-popper on the kitchen table. It was open, and
+      two or three small kernels were still in it.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Early next morning, long before Bertie was dressed, Mintie came into the
+      kitchen. She flew up on the table, and helped herself to the corn in the
+      popper. The girl was busy getting breakfast, and did not mind much about
+      her. Presently she went down cellar, and Mintie had the room to herself.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      When Bertie came down to breakfast there was a white egg in the
+      corn-popper! It was so small that it looked almost like a bird&rsquo;s; but it
+      was Mintie&rsquo;s first egg.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Bertie clapped his hands; he was very much pleased.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Mamma! mamma!&rdquo; he shouted. &ldquo;See this pretty egg! Mintie put it into my
+      popper, and must have meant to give it to me.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      And mamma said, &ldquo;Very likely she did.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      <a name="link2H_4_0021" id="link2H_4_0021">
+      <!--  H2 anchor --> </a>
+    </p>
+    <div style="height: 4em;">
+      <br /><br /><br /><br />
+    </div>
+    <h2>
+      FIRE! FIRE!! FIRE!!!
+    </h2>
+    <p>
+      Where is it? Where is it? Why, it is in the water! Isn&rsquo;t that funny? But
+      you see it isn&rsquo;t a real fire, but only a fire-fish. [*] Sweet creature,
+      isn&rsquo;t he? Suppose you were a little, innocent mermaid, swimming alone for
+      the first time; how would you feel if you were to meet this fellow darting
+      towards you with his great red mouth open? Why, you would scream with
+      fright, and swim to your mother as fast as you could, and catch hold of
+      her tail for protection. At least, that is what I should do if I were a
+      mermaid. But Mrs. Mermaid won&rsquo;t tell you that the fire-fish will not hurt
+      you unless you hurt him first, in which case he will prick you dreadfully
+      with his long, sharp spines.
+    </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+     * Project Gutenberg ed. note: The picture is of a fish also
+     known as a scorpionfish.
+</pre>
+    <p>
+      I never see his picture without thinking of a red Indian in his warpaint
+      and feathers. Perhaps&mdash;who knows?-perhaps when Indians are greedy,
+      and eat too much fish, they may turn into fire-fish, and have to swim
+      about forever under water, and never see a green forest again. If you are
+      an Indian I advise you to be careful, my dear.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Nobody knows why this fish has such enormous, wing-like fins. Wise men
+      used to think that he could raise himself out of the water with them, like
+      the flying-fish; but it is now proved that he cannot, and there seems to
+      be no reason why a set of plain, small fins would not serve him just as
+      well for swimming. He prefers warm water to cold; so he lives in the
+      tropical seas, swimming about the coasts of India, Africa, and Australia.
+      The natives of Ceylon call him Gini-maha, and they think he is very good
+      to eat. They take great care in catching him, for they are very much
+      afraid of him, thinking that his sharp spines are poisoned, and can
+      inflict a deadly wound. But in this they are too hard upon the fellow. He
+      can prick them deeply and painfully, and he will if they meddle with him;
+      but he is a perfectly respectable fish, and would not think of such a
+      cowardly thing as poisoning anybody.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      <a name="link2H_4_0022" id="link2H_4_0022">
+      <!--  H2 anchor --> </a>
+    </p>
+    <div style="height: 4em;">
+      <br /><br /><br /><br />
+    </div>
+    <h2>
+      THE DOLLS AND THE OTHER DOLLS.
+    </h2>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Mamma,&rdquo; little Nellie asked, &ldquo;is it right to give away things that have
+      been given to you?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Her mamma replied that it might be quite right sometimes; and she said,
+      &ldquo;But I should feel sorry if I had made a little friend a present she did
+      not value, and so was glad to part with it.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;O mamma!&rdquo; said Nellie, &ldquo;you know how I value my dollies, every one, that
+      my dear aunts and cousins sent me because I was sick. Now I am well again.
+      To-morrow is New-Year&rsquo;s. Some sick little girls in the hospital want
+      dollies. Could I, if I knew which one to choose, keep only one for myself,
+      and send the whole five of them for those poor children who haven&rsquo;t any?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Her mamma liked the plan. She gave Nellie a box, and Nellie began kissing
+      her babies, and laying them, one after another, in the box.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      There were two of nearly the same size, that were very dear to this little
+      mother. She called them twins. They wore white frocks and blue kid boots.
+      They had real blonde hair and their eyes would open and shut.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      These lovely twins Nellie held in her arms a long time before she could
+      decide which to part with. When she did place one in the box, to be her
+      own no more, a tear was on the doll&rsquo;s cheek. I do not think the drop came
+      from dolly&rsquo;s eye.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      A few days after the dolls were given Nellie&rsquo;s mamma let her invite three
+      little girls to play with her. Each girl brought her Christmas or her
+      New-Year&rsquo;s doll; and the three dolls, with Nellie&rsquo;s, looked sweetly
+      sitting together in a row.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      By and by Nellie&rsquo;s mamma came to her room, which she had given to the
+      party for its use that afternoon. She told the children she would give
+      them a little supper of cakes and pears and grapes, and it would be ready
+      as soon as Biddy could bring the ice-cream from down street.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      The smiling child-visitors gathered around the kind lady, saying, &ldquo;We
+      thank you, and we love you ever so much.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Nellie said softly, &ldquo;Mamma dear, I wouldn&rsquo;t take my dollies back if I
+      could. I love to think they amuse the sick children. But I do wish that
+      for just a minute we had as many at this party.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Her mamma turned to her dressing-case. It stood low enough for the
+      smallest child to look into the mirror at the back easily. Moving off the
+      toilet cushions and cologne-bottles, the lady put the four dolls in front
+      of the looking-glass. Their reflection in the glass showed four more.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Six, seven, eight,&rdquo; cried the girls, delighted. &ldquo;And all are twins&mdash;four
+      pairs of twins!&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      After supper they made, the twins sit, and stand, and dance, bow and shake
+      hands, before the looking-glass. So they played till dusk, when the other
+      little girls&rsquo; mammas sent to take them home, after kissing Nellie
+      good-night.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      <a name="link2H_4_0023" id="link2H_4_0023">
+      <!--  H2 anchor --> </a>
+    </p>
+    <div style="height: 4em;">
+      <br /><br /><br /><br />
+    </div>
+    <h2>
+      WHY DID MAMMA CHANGE HER MIND?
+    </h2>
+    <p>
+      Mamma Miller told Fay and Lonnie that they might have a party, so they
+      tried to get ready for it. But the party was very different to what they
+      expected. It always happens so about everything, if we pay no regard to
+      one another&rsquo;s wishes.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Mrs. Miller said they might invite ten children.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;You write to five little girls, Fay,&rdquo; said she, &ldquo;and Lonnie will write to
+      the five little boys.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      So they went into the library. Lonnie sat down in papa&rsquo;s big chair, while
+      Fay climbed up on one arm, close beside him, and they tried to think whom
+      they would like to come to their party.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Make out your list first,&rdquo; said Lonnie. Fay did, and her brother agreed
+      to all the girls. But as soon as Lonnie commenced writing his names, Fay
+      began to find fault.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;I don&rsquo;t like boys, anyway,&rdquo; said Fay, &ldquo;only you, Lonnie. Let&rsquo;s have all
+      girls at our party.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;But it won&rsquo;t be my party,&rdquo; said Lonnie, &ldquo;if you have all girls.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;I don&rsquo;t care, all those are horrid,&rdquo; pointing to his paper.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;You say that because you don&rsquo;t like boys.&rdquo; And then he told his sister
+      that every little fellow whose name he had written was just as good as
+      gold. And so they were just as good as Lonnie Miller, and he was one of
+      the best boys that ever lived, so everybody said.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;I sha&rsquo;n&rsquo;t play with him if he comes,&rdquo; Fay kept saying to every name
+      Lonnie wrote.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;You can have your party,&rdquo; said Lonnie, getting up out of the easy-chair
+      and sitting down in a smaller one, &ldquo;you and your girls. I&rsquo;m going to learn
+      some new pieces,&rdquo; taking up his little silver blower.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;I don&rsquo;t like boys,&rdquo; Fay kept saying, jumping down off the arm of the
+      chair, and aiming a blow at the spot where her brother had sat with the
+      rustic stick their sister Lucia had brought home May Day.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Lucia was passing the door just then, so she thought she would see what
+      all the noise was about.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;I&rsquo;d better call you to lunch,&rdquo; said she, and there they were just through
+      breakfast.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Mamma herself came hurrying in at sound of the bell. When they told her
+      about the invitations, she said, &ldquo;I shall not let you have any party at
+      all, now.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;What makes you change your mind?&rdquo; said Fay.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Mamma will give her little girl just one week to find out why she has
+      changed her mind,&rdquo; said Mrs. Miller.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      And for all Fay&rsquo;s coaxing, she could not be persuaded to stay a minute
+      longer.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      <a name="link2H_4_0024" id="link2H_4_0024">
+      <!--  H2 anchor --> </a>
+    </p>
+    <div style="height: 4em;">
+      <br /><br /><br /><br />
+    </div>
+    <h2>
+      CLARA&rsquo;S &ldquo;FUNERAL.&rdquo;
+     </h2>
+    <p>
+      Clara was the most unfortunate of dollies. She had had the mumps and
+      whooping cough; and no sooner did she recover from the scarlet fever than
+      she contracted pneumonia and nearly died. One morning Blanche was applying
+      hot bandages to relieve bronchitis, and before night Clara had the
+      small-pox.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      The next day mamma stopped at the nursery door.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Good morning, little nurse,&rdquo; she said; &ldquo;how is poor Clara this morning?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;She&rsquo;s DEADED,&rdquo; said Blanche, with a long face.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Dreadful! What did she die of, small-pox? It seems to me that that was
+      what she was suffering from last evening.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;No&rsquo;m&rsquo;&rdquo; said Blanche, &ldquo;&lsquo;twasn&rsquo;t small-pox. She DID have that bad; but I
+      think she DIED of measles. The SUNERAL (Blanche could not say &lsquo;funeral&rsquo;)
+      is to be at twelve sharp. Will you come, mamma?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;I&rsquo;m so sorry, darling, but I must go to lunch with Mrs. Mathews at one.
+      But Jack will go.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      The &ldquo;suneral&rdquo; took place at noon, and Blanche and Daisy, Jack and old
+      Hector followed poor Clara in Benny&rsquo;s wagon to the grave yard at the
+      bottom of the orchard. It was rather a jolly &ldquo;suneral,&rdquo; for they had
+      &ldquo;refreshments&rdquo; under the trees afterward.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      In the afternoon, as mamma, came up the orchard path, she was surprised to
+      see a doll&rsquo;s foot and leg sticking straight up out of the ground.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Why did you leave her foot out in this way?&rdquo; asked mamma.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Well,&rdquo; said Blanche, &ldquo;I thought perhaps she could get to Heaven easier.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      <a name="link2H_4_0025" id="link2H_4_0025">
+      <!--  H2 anchor --> </a>
+    </p>
+    <div style="height: 4em;">
+      <br /><br /><br /><br />
+    </div>
+    <h2>
+      THE CHICKADEE-DEE.
+    </h2>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+     Little darling of the snow,
+     Careless how the winds may blow,
+     Happy as a bird can be,
+     Singing, oh, so cheerily,
+     Chickadee-dee! Chickadee-dee!
+
+     When the skies are cold and gray,
+     When he trills his happiest lay,
+     Through the clouds he seems to see
+     Hidden things to you and me.
+     Chickadee-dee! chickadee-dee!
+
+     Very likely little birds
+     Have their thoughts too deep for word,
+     But we know, and all agree,
+     That the world would dreary be
+     Without birds, dear chickadee!
+</pre>
+    <p>
+      <a name="link2H_4_0026" id="link2H_4_0026">
+      <!--  H2 anchor --> </a>
+    </p>
+    <div style="height: 4em;">
+      <br /><br /><br /><br />
+    </div>
+    <h2>
+      THE CHILDREN&rsquo;S PARTY.
+    </h2>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+     What a merry, merry rout!
+     See the wee ones dance about!
+     Dickie&rsquo;s leading off the ball;
+     There,&mdash;he almost had a fall.
+
+     Who&rsquo;s his partner in the whirls,
+     &mdash;Rosiest of all the girls?
+     But a doll&mdash;a DOLL you say;
+     Dancing in that sprightly way?
+
+     Well I never! Oh, see there,
+     See&mdash;just see those horses tear!
+     Meg and Madge will sure be thrown.
+     What a vicious looking roan!
+
+     Not a real live horse you say,
+     Prancing in that frightful way?
+     Well, I never! Toys to-day
+     Surely seem more &ldquo;real&rdquo; than &ldquo;play.&rdquo;
+ </pre>
+    <p>
+      <a name="link2H_4_0027" id="link2H_4_0027">
+      <!--  H2 anchor --> </a>
+    </p>
+    <div style="height: 4em;">
+      <br /><br /><br /><br />
+    </div>
+    <h2>
+      BRAVE TOMASSO.
+    </h2>
+    <p>
+      There were once two very beautiful cats named Tomasso and Lilia. It would
+      be very hard indeed to say which was more beautiful than the other,
+      Tomasso the husband, or Lilia his wife.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      They were about the same size, although, perhaps, Tomasso was a little the
+      stouter of the two. There could be no question that at times the
+      expression of his face was decidedly more fierce than that of his gentle
+      wife.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      The fur of each of them was as white as the driven snow, and as soft, and
+      fine, and glossy as the most perfect silk gloss.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Add to these natural charms the fact that they always kept themselves
+      beautifully clean, and always wore round their necks cravats made of the
+      richest satin ribbon, and I am sure you will agree with me in thinking
+      that they were cats of very high degree.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Their neighbors considered them extremely proud and haughty. They never
+      were known to play with any of the cats in their street. To be with each
+      other was all they asked. Sometimes these neighbors took a great deal of
+      pains to get a glimpse of Tomasso and Lilia as, paw in paw, they danced a
+      minuet together.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Even the most grumpy grimalkin declared it was a beautiful sight. There
+      was no doubt the young couple was very graceful and their manners were
+      perfect. Then he said that cats brought up as Tomasso and his wife had
+      always lived, OUGHT to be amiable and beautiful. He understood that a jar
+      of Orange County cream was ordered for them every day. Then he muttered
+      something which sounded very much as if he thought Tomasso would be not
+      over courageous in a moment of danger. &ldquo;Alone, white tail is all very
+      fine,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;but mark my word, at a sudden fright it would turn into a
+      white feather. I should pity his wife if she had no one but him to protect
+      her.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Now it happened that that very afternoon Tomasso&rsquo;s courage was put to the
+      test. As he and Lilia were taking a quiet walk, suddenly a huge dog rushed
+      out at them. In an instant Tomasso placed himself across Lilia&rsquo;s trembling
+      body. She had fallen to the ground in terror. The great dog made a jump at
+      Tomasso, but was met with such a snarl, and then such a blow from a set of
+      sharp claws that he ran away howling.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      That night the news of Tomasso&rsquo;s bravery spread through the whole
+      neighborhood. But he was very quiet and modest. His proud wife was much
+      disturbed at a bad scratch Tomasso had received in the struggle. They both
+      examined it carefully with the aid of a hand-glass.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;I hope it will not leave a scar,&rdquo; said Lilia, &ldquo;but if it does it will
+      only be a proof of the noble courage of my brave Tomasso.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      <a name="link2H_4_0028" id="link2H_4_0028">
+      <!--  H2 anchor --> </a>
+    </p>
+    <div style="height: 4em;">
+      <br /><br /><br /><br />
+    </div>
+    <h2>
+      TOMMY FROST SEES A BEAR.
+    </h2>
+    <p>
+      Tommy Frost was making his first visit in the country. He was enjoying it
+      very much. He liked to ramble about in the woods close by the house of his
+      aunt, Mrs. Drew. Tommy had never even seen any birds before this, but
+      pigeons and sparrows. That is, any birds out of cages. He had lived all
+      his short life in the centre of a great city. He wanted very much to see a
+      wild animal. He had heard Mr. Drew and some of his friends talking about
+      &ldquo;bear tracks&rdquo; in the woods. Mr. Drew said they must go off some day and
+      hunt for that bear.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Now Tommy had no idea what a bear was like. He wished very much that he
+      might see one. Every day he said to himself, &ldquo;If I could only find the one
+      the big men were talking about I&rsquo;d feel proud.&rdquo; One day as he was
+      strolling about, he suddenly saw something moving in one of the trees. He
+      stopped, and looked up excitedly, then he rushed for the house screaming
+      at the top of his voice, &ldquo;Aunt Maria! Aunt Maria! come quick, I&rsquo;ve seen
+      it, it&rsquo;s in the woods.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;What is in the woods?&rdquo; asked Mrs. Drew.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;The bear!&rdquo; cried Tommy.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;The bear?&rdquo; repeated Mrs. Drew, hardly understanding.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Then she drew a long breath and turned very white as she stood a moment
+      shielding her eyes from the sun, looking in the direction in which Tommy
+      pointed. Then she ran back into the house, and came out in a moment,
+      bringing with her a huge horn. It was a megaphone. She was trembling so
+      she could scarcely lift it, but she managed to raise it to her mouth and
+      call through it. &ldquo;John! Murray! come! come this instant! The bear is in
+      the woods back of the house.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      In a few moments her husband and brother came running from the field where
+      they were at work.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      They stopped for no questions, but rushed into the house for their guns.
+      But as they came out Mr. Drew asked, &ldquo;Who saw it? When, where?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;I did,&rdquo; said Tommy, not a bit frightened, but feeling very excited and
+      proud. &ldquo;I did, back there in a tree.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;In a tree?&rdquo; cried Mrs. Drew&rsquo;s brother, stopping in his quick run for the
+      woods.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Yes,&rdquo; said Tommy, &ldquo;it was a bear, but it looked,&mdash;it LOOKED just
+      like my picture of a wiggle-tail.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Oh,&rdquo; cried Mrs. Drew, as she sank on the door-step, &ldquo;the child has seen a
+      gray squirrel!&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      <a name="link2H_4_0029" id="link2H_4_0029">
+      <!--  H2 anchor --> </a>
+    </p>
+    <div style="height: 4em;">
+      <br /><br /><br /><br />
+    </div>
+    <h2>
+      MYSELF.
+    </h2>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+     One little head so smooth and round,
+     With soft hair covered, golden or brown,
+     One little forehead smooth and white,
+     Two little eye-brows dark or light.
+     Two little eyes that we see through.
+     See us looking, now, at you?
+     Two little cheeks so plump and round,
+     Where the red rose of health is found.
+     Two little ears where sound comes in;
+     One little nose and mouth and chin.
+     Rows of little teeth all in white;
+     Ready for use when lunch is in sight.
+     One little tongue kind words to say&mdash;
+     Bright little smiles which round them play.
+     One little head where all are seen.
+     One little neck which stands between
+     Head and shoulders to hold them fast.
+     Now are we ready to find, at last,
+     One little body with arms and hands
+     Two legs and two feet on which it stands.
+</pre>
+    <p>
+      <a name="link2H_4_0030" id="link2H_4_0030">
+      <!--  H2 anchor --> </a>
+    </p>
+    <div style="height: 4em;">
+      <br /><br /><br /><br />
+    </div>
+    <h2>
+      TWO STRANGE SIGHTS.
+    </h2>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+     &ldquo;Oh come into the dining-room!&rdquo;
+      Cries Fred, &ldquo;come, grandma, dear.
+     For something very strange indeed
+     Is going on in here!&rdquo;
+      And sure enough, when grandma comes,
+     Perhaps at first with fright,
+     She stands quite still, astonished at
+     An unexpected sight.
+
+     For there upon the woollen rug,
+     A jug between her feet,
+     Sits Freddy&rsquo;s little sister Bess
+     Absorbed in pleasures sweet.
+     Her finger in the syrup now
+     Behold she slyly dips,
+     And carries it with great delight
+     To her own rosy lips.
+
+     &ldquo;You little witch!&rdquo; cries grandmama,
+     &ldquo;You&rsquo;re like the naughty rat
+     I found within the cellar once,
+     Who on a barrel sat,
+     Filled with molasses, which he reached
+     By dipping in the hole
+     His great long tail from which he licked
+     The sweets he thus had stole.
+
+     &ldquo;The rat was shot, but grandma&rsquo;s babe,
+     Well, till she&rsquo;s learned to know
+     Such tricks are wrong, why we of course
+     Must naught but patience show.&rdquo;
+      Then grandma took her little pet,
+     And washed her sticky face,
+     Then put that tempting syrup-jug
+     Up in a safer place.
+</pre>
+    <p>
+      <a name="link2H_4_0031" id="link2H_4_0031">
+      <!--  H2 anchor --> </a>
+    </p>
+    <div style="height: 4em;">
+      <br /><br /><br /><br />
+    </div>
+    <h2>
+      A CAT&rsquo;S INSTINCTS.
+    </h2>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Take that! and that! and that!&rdquo; These words came from an angry little
+      girl. She was leaning over a big gray puss which she was holding down with
+      one hand, while with the other she struck him a sharp blow every time she
+      said &ldquo;THAT.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      It is a wonder puss did not bite her, for he was so strong he could have
+      done so. He was a very gentle cat. &ldquo;Gentle?&rdquo; I hear some one ask. Then why
+      did he deserve such a whipping as the little girl was giving him?
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      That is a question we must try to have answered. For my part I do not
+      believe he deserved it at all. Let us see what happened next. Just as the
+      little girl struck the last blow her Aunt Margaret came into the room.
+      Aunt Margaret stopped in the doorway, astonished.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Why Flora,&rdquo; she said, as puss darted out of the room, &ldquo;what are you
+      beating Griffin for?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;What do you think he was doing?&rdquo; cried Flora, her cheeks still flushed
+      with anger. &ldquo;He was on the table just ready to spring at this beautiful
+      bird in my new hat. If I had not come he would have torn it to pieces.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;But he knew no better,&rdquo; said Aunt Margaret, &ldquo;it is perfectly natural for
+      a cat to spring at a bird. Yes, and for him to kill it too, if he has not
+      been trained to do otherwise.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;But it would have made me feel dreadfully to have this beautiful bird
+      torn to bits. I really love it. Besides, it was killed long ago.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Yes,&rdquo; said Aunt Margaret, &ldquo;killed that you might wear it on a hat.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      There was something in Aunt Margaret&rsquo;s voice which made Flora and the
+      little girls who were visiting her stand very still and look up.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;You say,&rdquo; continued Aunt Margaret very gently, &ldquo;you say you love your
+      beautiful bird. That you would feel dreadfully if it were torn to bits.
+      How do you think its bird-mother felt when it was torn from her nest, and
+      she never saw it again?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Oh,&rdquo; said Flora, &ldquo;I never thought of that before. I&rsquo;m afraid,&mdash;I&rsquo;m
+      afraid I&rsquo;m more to blame than the cat.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      <a name="link2H_4_0032" id="link2H_4_0032">
+      <!--  H2 anchor --> </a>
+    </p>
+    <div style="height: 4em;">
+      <br /><br /><br /><br />
+    </div>
+    <h2>
+      DINAH&rsquo;S NEW YEAR&rsquo;S PRESENT.
+    </h2>
+    <p>
+      Dinah Morris is a colored girl. She lives in the South. By South we mean
+      in the southern part of the United States.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Dinah is one of the most good-natured children that ever lived, but she is
+      very, very lazy. There is nothing she likes, or used to like, so much as
+      to curl up in some warm corner in the sun and do nothing.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Dinah&rsquo;s mother wished very much that her child should learn to read, but
+      the lady who tried to teach her soon gave it up. &ldquo;It is no use,&rdquo; she said,
+      &ldquo;Dinah will not learn. She is not a stupid child, but she is too lazy for
+      anything.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      It happened, soon after this, that a young man from Massachusetts came to
+      the house where Dinah lived. He brought with him something no one else in
+      the neighborhood had ever seen before&mdash;a pair of roller-skates.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      When Dinah saw the young man going rapidly up and down the piazza on his
+      skates she was so astonished she hardly knew what to think. She ran after
+      him like a cat, her black eyes shining as they had never shone before.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      One day the young man allowed her to try on the skates. The child was too
+      happy for words. Of course she fell down, and sprawled about the floor,
+      but did not mind at all.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Look here, Dinah,&rdquo; said the young man, &ldquo;I understand that my aunt has
+      been trying to teach you to read.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Dinah answered that she certainly had.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Why didn&rsquo;t you learn?&rdquo; asked the young man. &ldquo;You need not trouble to
+      answer,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;it was just because you are too lazy. Now, if, on the
+      first of January, you can read, I tell you what I will do. I will send you
+      as good a pair of roller-skates as I can buy in Boston.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      How Dinah&rsquo;s eyes snapped. For a moment she said nothing, then exclaimed
+      decidedly, &ldquo;I&rsquo;ll have those skates, sure.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      And she did. When she bent her mind on her work she could always do it
+      well, no matter what it was.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      The lady who had before this found her such a difficult child to teach,
+      now had no trouble. If Dinah showed the least sign of her former laziness
+      the word SKATES! was enough to make her bend her mind on her lesson
+      instantly.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      On New Year&rsquo;s morning she received a box marked in large printed letters:
+    </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+     MISS DINAH MORRIS,
+     Care of Mrs. Lawrence Delaney,
+     NEW ORLEANS, LA.
+
+     If she can read what is on the outside of
+     this box she can have what is inside.
+</pre>
+    <p>
+      And as Dinah read every word plainly and quickly, of course she had for
+      her very own the fine roller-skates the box held. And now sitting curled
+      up in the sun, doing nothing, is not the thing she likes to do best.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      <a name="link2H_4_0033" id="link2H_4_0033">
+      <!--  H2 anchor --> </a>
+    </p>
+    <div style="height: 4em;">
+      <br /><br /><br /><br />
+    </div>
+    <h2>
+      NIGHT FLOWERS.
+    </h2>
+    <p>
+      There are some flowers that never see the sun. One of the most curious is
+      the &ldquo;evening primrose.&rdquo; About six o&rsquo;clock it suddenly bursts open, with a
+      popping sound, and at six next morning closes.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      If you watch that pretty flower, and listen, you can hear this strange
+      performance.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      This is why it does so. The little calyx holds the petals in such a way
+      that the moment it turns back they are let loose. At once it bursts out
+      into full flower, with this funny noise, like a pop-gun.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      So the &ldquo;night-blooming cereus&rdquo; blossom in the night, only for an hour,
+      giving out its sweet fragrance, and then dies. Just think of never seeing
+      the sun at all!
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      In a far Eastern country there is a kind of jasmine called the &ldquo;sorrowful
+      tree.&rdquo; It droops as if sick in the daytime, and at night grows fresh and
+      bright. It opens its lovely flowers with a very pleasant odor till
+      morning, and then wilts and looks wretched again.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      <a name="link2H_4_0034" id="link2H_4_0034">
+      <!--  H2 anchor --> </a>
+    </p>
+    <div style="height: 4em;">
+      <br /><br /><br /><br />
+    </div>
+    <h2>
+      THE FIRST SNOW-STORM.
+    </h2>
+    <p>
+      Away off on a warm sunny island, little Harry Hall was born. Flowers
+      bloomed all the year round. The sun shone most of the time, although now
+      and then there were thunder-showers.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Many wonderful plants grew wild, while on the shore shells and seaweed and
+      queer little fishes were often to be found.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      When Harry was six years old his parents took a journey to New York.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      It seemed very odd to the little boy to live in a place where there were
+      so many people, and such great houses. After a while the weather grew
+      cold, and he had to wear thick woollen clothing. The house in which they
+      lived was heated by a furnace; but one day they had a fire of logs on the
+      hearth. Harry enjoyed it very much, and thought the bright blaze so
+      pretty.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      The sky was gray and cloudy one afternoon, and Harry had been standing by
+      the window watching the street cars. Suddenly the air grew thick, and he
+      could scarcely see the houses opposite. Something white and feathery fell
+      slowly down and rested on the window ledge. Then it disappeared. But more
+      and more of the little flakes came, until there was quite a ridge outside
+      of the window.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Harry opened the sash gently, fearing it might fly away. He was surprised
+      when he touched it to find it so cold. He took some up in his hand, but in
+      a moment it was only a drop of water.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      By that time the street and the men&rsquo;s hats and coats were quite white.
+      Harry was puzzled to find a name for the beautiful white substance, so he
+      ran to his mamma and asked her about it.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      She told him it was snow, and because the air was so warm on the beautiful
+      island where he was born they never had any.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      The next morning he saw the little children of the neighborhood playing in
+      it; but before noon the sun was so bright and warm the snow had all melted
+      away.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      When the second snow-storm came Harry&rsquo;s papa brought home a beautiful
+      sleigh, and gave his little boy great pleasure by drawing him up and down
+      the street.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Harry soon learned to go out by himself, and made many friends; especially
+      of the little girls, as he was very generous with his sleigh.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      But he has never forgotten his surprise when he saw the first snow-storm.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      <a name="link2H_4_0035" id="link2H_4_0035">
+      <!--  H2 anchor --> </a>
+    </p>
+    <div style="height: 4em;">
+      <br /><br /><br /><br />
+    </div>
+    <h2>
+      FRED&rsquo;S STOLEN RIDE.
+    </h2>
+    <p>
+      One day little Fred&rsquo;s mother, who had been sick a long time, told him she
+      was going out with a friend to take a drive. Fred wanted to go, too, but
+      his mother said there would not be room in the buggy. Fred felt very cross
+      and unhappy, and sat down on the front steps, ready to cry as soon as he
+      should see his mother go away.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      A buggy came to the gate, and the gentleman who was driving went into the
+      house. Fred ran out and climbed into the buggy to sit there until his
+      mother came out.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      In looking around he saw there was a wide space under the seat, in which a
+      boy might hide. He crawled in, thinking he would take a ride, and his
+      mother would not know it.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      He waited a long time, but no one came, and at last he grew tired and fell
+      asleep.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      He was waked by feeling a big jolt, as a wheel of the buggy struck a
+      stone; but he kept still. After what seemed to him a long time the buggy
+      stopped and he heard some one taking the horse from the shafts. He waited
+      until all was quiet, and then crawled out from his hiding-place.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      He found it was almost dark, and everything about him was strange. He was
+      very much frightened, but he jumped down and went to a farm-house close
+      by. A woman he had never seen before came to the door. When he told her
+      where he lived she said he was fifteen miles from home, and he found that
+      he had taken his stolen ride in the buggy of a man who had called to see
+      his father on business.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      It was too late for Fred to go home that night, and he had to stay at the
+      farmer&rsquo;s house until the next day. Then he was taken home, and I am very
+      sure he never tried to steal another ride.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      <a name="link2H_4_0036" id="link2H_4_0036">
+      <!--  H2 anchor --> </a>
+    </p>
+    <div style="height: 4em;">
+      <br /><br /><br /><br />
+    </div>
+    <h2>
+      A VALENTINE PARTY.
+    </h2>
+    <p>
+      The children had a valentine party, the very nicest party,&mdash;they all
+      declared, that they had ever been to in their lives. All the cousins in
+      the neighborhood&mdash;and there were a lot of them&mdash;were there.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      What fun they had opening their valentines, which a &ldquo;really&rdquo; postman
+      brought with his gray uniform and his whistle and his great leather pack.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Dear me,&rdquo; he said, pretending to groan, as he handed the missives, &ldquo;if
+      you had a party every day here I think I should be completely worn out!&rdquo;
+       But his eyes twinkled merrily.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Such shouts and exclamations as the valentines were opened and read! And
+      such fun looking at everybody else&rsquo;s. Here are two, Bessie&rsquo;s and Fred&rsquo;s:&mdash;
+    </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+     I&rsquo;m for the boy
+     Who can stand on his head,
+     And who NEVER likes
+     To go to bed.
+     If there&rsquo;s more than one of them,&mdash;
+     I&rsquo;m for FRED!
+
+     I bring a kiss
+     From far away;
+     It&rsquo;s travelled many
+     Miles to-day.
+
+     Take it, my dear,
+     And send one back
+     To your old, loving
+     Uncle Jack.
+</pre>
+    <p>
+      Don&rsquo;t you think that the children OUGHT to have had a good time if all
+      received as dear little valentines as these?
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      <a name="link2H_4_0037" id="link2H_4_0037">
+      <!--  H2 anchor --> </a>
+    </p>
+    <div style="height: 4em;">
+      <br /><br /><br /><br />
+    </div>
+    <h2>
+      THE VENTURESOME RAT.
+    </h2>
+    <p>
+      He was a fine young rat and lived with his father and mother, and brothers
+      and sisters in a farm-cellar.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Now this young rat was not of a very quiet disposition. In fact he was
+      quite gay, and thought the life in the farm-cellar was very dull and
+      stupid and longed to see more of the world.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      He sat near his father and mother one day when they were entertaining a
+      caller, a stranger who seemed to have travelled all over the world, and
+      told in a very interesting manner of the many wonderful things he had
+      seen. &ldquo;Why,&rdquo; said the caller, &ldquo;how you can be contented to live as you do
+      I cannot imagine, and to bring up your children in such ignorance fills me
+      with surprise. They would learn more in one night prowling through the big
+      house to which this farm belongs than they will learn here for the rest of
+      their lives.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      After this caller had taken his leave, the young rat decided that he would
+      venture forth himself. He would that very night visit the big house and
+      see what was to be seen there. He pretended to cuddle down on his own bed,
+      and go sound asleep. He was really watching his parents out of the corners
+      of his wicked eyes, and as soon as they were sound asleep, off he started.
+      He found his way to the house much more easily than he had expected; in
+      short, almost before he could believe it, he was in a fine great pantry. A
+      pantry whose shelves were covered with such good things to eat as he had
+      never seen. Rich cake, pies, cookies, and cheese such as he had heard the
+      caller describe. The first nibble fairly melted in his mouth.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      After he had eaten his fill he began looking about the pantry for other
+      means of amusement. Suddenly he saw a curious thing; it seemed to be a
+      little house or hut made of wire. Inside the hut was a piece of cheese. &ldquo;I
+      really think I have eaten enough,&rdquo; said the young rat, &ldquo;but if that cheese
+      is so fine that it is kept in a house by itself it must be very fine
+      indeed.&rdquo; With these words he crawled into the hole in the side of the hut
+      and ate the cheese, but when, later, he tried to get out he could not to
+      save his life.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Hours and hours he remained there until the night passed, and the day
+      came. Indeed he had fallen into a little nap when he was awakened by a
+      loud cry. Some one was shouting, &ldquo;we&rsquo;ve caught the rascal at last, now
+      we&rsquo;ll drown him.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      The poor little fellow knew they were wrong; he could not be the rascal
+      they meant, for this was the first time he had ever been in the house. At
+      that moment a boy&rsquo;s voice was heard to say. &ldquo;Let me see him. No, you shall
+      not drown him. I will tame him if I can.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      And so it came about that the young rat did see a good deal of the world,
+      but how? THROUGH THE BARS OF A CAGE.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      <a name="link2H_4_0038" id="link2H_4_0038">
+      <!--  H2 anchor --> </a>
+    </p>
+    <div style="height: 4em;">
+      <br /><br /><br /><br />
+    </div>
+    <h2>
+      THE BEARS&rsquo; FEAST.
+    </h2>
+    <p>
+      A man had come to town with two tame bears. They were very clever bears,
+      and could climb posts and trees, dance and turn summersets and do a great
+      many other tricks besides.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      One day the man was taken ill and had to stay in the house all day. He
+      thought the bears were locked up in the barn. But the bears decided they
+      would go for a walk by themselves. They managed to get away without being
+      seen and started in the direction of the schoolhouse.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      The children were at recess when they suddenly saw the bears. They were
+      frightened and ran screaming into the school-house.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      The bears were very tame and kind and wanted to make friends with the
+      children, so they followed them.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      The children jumped on the desks screaming and crying and the teachers
+      were frightened too.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      When the bears saw that they could not make friends or play they began
+      quietly walking about the school-room.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Finally they came to the dressing-room where all the dinner-pails and
+      baskets were hanging.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Smelling the food, they managed to knock some of the baskets down and then
+      such a feast as they had!
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      They sat on their haunches and ate sandwiches and fruit and drank milk out
+      of the bottles just as the children would do. When they had eaten enough
+      they quietly left the school-house and trotted down the road toward home.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      After the bears were gone the children became calm again and returned to
+      their lessons.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      The man and the bears disappeared the next day and were never seen again.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      <a name="link2H_4_0039" id="link2H_4_0039">
+      <!--  H2 anchor --> </a>
+    </p>
+    <div style="height: 4em;">
+      <br /><br /><br /><br />
+    </div>
+    <h2>
+      PATTY-SAYINGS.
+    </h2>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;I&rsquo;ve been reading Bible stories,&rdquo; Patty said, &ldquo;and I believe That Adam&rsquo;s
+      name MEANT &lsquo;Morning,&rsquo; Because his wife was &lsquo;Eve.&rsquo;&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      <a name="link2H_4_0040" id="link2H_4_0040">
+      <!--  H2 anchor --> </a>
+    </p>
+    <div style="height: 4em;">
+      <br /><br /><br /><br />
+    </div>
+    <h2>
+      BABIE&rsquo;S CURLS.
+    </h2>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+     Little Bessie Boothby
+     Had a little sister Sue:
+     And a baby brother,
+     Whom she thought the world of, too.
+
+     Only one thing troubled
+     These dear little girls;
+     &lsquo;Though baby Tom was pretty,
+     He hadn&rsquo;t any curls.
+
+     They found a box of vaseline
+     And rubbed it on his head;
+     But even then no hair would grow:
+     It made his head quite red.
+
+     Bessie once was brushing
+     Dollie&rsquo;s golden hair,
+     When off it fell, alas! and left
+     Poor dollie&rsquo;s head quite bare.
+
+     Little Sue was frightened,
+     But to comfort, Bessie said,
+     &ldquo;Susie dear, do listen,
+     &lsquo;Tis just like babie&rsquo;s head.
+
+     &ldquo;Let&rsquo;s put the wig on baby Tom,
+     And then he&rsquo;ll have some curls;
+     I would not even be surprised
+     If he looked just like us girls.&rdquo;
+ 
+     When Mamma saw her baby boy
+     With all this growth of hair,
+     She laughed until she nearly cried,
+     At the naughty little pair.
+</pre>
+    <p>
+      <a name="link2H_4_0041" id="link2H_4_0041">
+      <!--  H2 anchor --> </a>
+    </p>
+    <div style="height: 4em;">
+      <br /><br /><br /><br />
+    </div>
+    <h2>
+      THE RED APPLES.
+    </h2>
+    <p>
+      One windy day in March Kitty Miller was on her way to school, when she
+      spied in a store window, a great pile of lovely red apples.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Oh,&rdquo; she said, &ldquo;how lovely! if Mamma could only have one!&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Kittie&rsquo;s mother was very poor. She had been a dress-maker ever since Mr.
+      Miller died, and had worked so hard to earn a living for herself and Kitty
+      that she had become sick. She was obliged to lie in bed all day, and when
+      Kitty was away at school, the house was very lonesome to the invalid.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      When Kitty reached the school that day her thoughts were full of her sick
+      mother and the lovely apples.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      She was usually a good scholar, but to-day she made so many blunders that
+      the teacher looked at her in surprise. The little girl could only sit at
+      her desk, with her book before her, and dream of those red apples. When
+      school was dismissed, Kitty started slowly homeward. She had gone only a
+      short distance when she saw a gentleman in front of her drop his purse.
+      Running quickly forward she picked it up. It felt quite heavy in Kittie&rsquo;s
+      little hand.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;There must be a good deal of money in it,&rdquo; thought Kitty. &ldquo;How I wish I
+      could keep it. Then I could buy Mamma a red apple and so many other things
+      she needs.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      But she knew this would not be right, so she hurried after the gentleman.
+      Touching him on the arm, she said, &ldquo;Please, Sir, you dropped your purse.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Thank you, dear,&rdquo; said the gentleman taking the purse.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Then noticing how poorly dressed she was, he said, &ldquo;Why did you not keep
+      the purse, my child?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Because that would be stealing,&rdquo; replied Kitty. &ldquo;But,&rdquo; she continued
+      honestly, &ldquo;before I thought I must give it back to you, I did wish I could
+      keep it, for then I could buy Mamma a red apple.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      The gentleman smiled kindly and said, &ldquo;You are a good little girl to
+      return my purse. I would like to give you a little present and then you
+      can buy a red apple.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      He handed her a silver dollar and then bade her good-by.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Kitty was so surprised that she started hastily for home, forgetting all
+      about the red apples until she stood in front of the store.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      The store-keeper happened to look out and saw the same little girl who
+      stood looking so longingly in at his window in the morning. He quickly
+      picked out the biggest, roundest, reddest apple he could find and taking
+      it out to Kitty said, &ldquo;Would you like this, my dear?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      She took the apple, looking so pleased and thanking him so prettily, that
+      the good man thought of it for many a day. When Kitty reached home with
+      her treasures she found her mother fast asleep. So she put the apple and
+      silver piece on a plate where her mother could see them when she awoke.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      When Mrs. Miller was told the wonderful story, she kissed her little
+      daughter and said, &ldquo;You see, dear, it always pays to be honest and
+      truthful.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      <a name="link2H_4_0042" id="link2H_4_0042">
+      <!--  H2 anchor --> </a>
+    </p>
+    <div style="height: 4em;">
+      <br /><br /><br /><br />
+    </div>
+    <h2>
+      BUBBLES.
+    </h2>
+    <h3>
+      &ldquo;Now, Tommie, what will you do while I write letters this morning?&rdquo;
+     </h3>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Blow soap bubbles, Mamma, please,&rdquo; and Tommie jumped up and down,
+      clapping his hands for pleasure.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Well, run and get me your pipe and bowl and I will mix you some suds.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      The soap-suds were soon ready, and Tommie took his favorite position on
+      the broad window-sill with the bowl in his lap.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Mamma, writing in the next room, could hear the Oh&rsquo;s and squeals of
+      delight, as the bubbles grew larger and rounder.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Why is Tommie in all the bubbles?&rdquo; asked the little boy at last.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Because,&rdquo; said Mamma, &ldquo;the bubbles are like a mirror, and when my little
+      boy is near enough to look at them, he will be reflected in them, just the
+      same as when he looks in Mamma&rsquo;s long mirror.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;But the mirror doesn&rsquo;t break like the bubbles,&rdquo; said Tommie. &ldquo;Where do
+      they go when they break, Mamma?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;They evaporate, dear; that is a big word for my little boy. Spell it
+      after Mamma and then perhaps you will remember. E-v-a-p-o-r-a-t-e
+      evaporate.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;What does evaporate mean,&rdquo; asked Tommie bringing out the long word with a
+      jerk.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Do you remember, dear,&rdquo; answered Mamma, &ldquo;that early in the morning when
+      the grass is all wet with dew, my little boy cannot run in it without his
+      rubbers? But before long it is all dry and then my little boy takes off
+      his rubbers and does not get his feet wet. The sun and the air absorb or
+      suck up the water and carry it off to their homes. Now, the bubbles are
+      made of a little water and a little air. The water is on the end of the
+      pipe, and Tommie blows the air into the pipe, and the bubble grows big and
+      round. When it breaks, the air sucks up the water, which was the outside
+      of the bubble, and the air which was inside mixes with the air in the
+      room.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Now do you suppose you can tell Papa all about it, when he comes home to
+      dinner?&rdquo; asked Mamma.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Of course I can,&rdquo; said Tommie, proudly. &ldquo;Haven&rsquo;t you just told me all
+      about it?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      <a name="link2H_4_0043" id="link2H_4_0043">
+      <!--  H2 anchor --> </a>
+    </p>
+    <div style="height: 4em;">
+      <br /><br /><br /><br />
+    </div>
+    <h2>
+      A HORSE WHO WORE SNOW SHOES.
+    </h2>
+    <p>
+      Mr. Brown had to go to his camp at Pine Tree Valley, which is in the midst
+      of the mountains in California.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      His men were cutting down the giant trees, and piling them in readiness
+      for the Spring freshet, or floods of the river, when the snows melted.
+      Then they would slide them down the mountain sides to the little villages
+      below.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      There was a great deal of snow on the mountains, and Mr. Brown knew it
+      would be hard work climbing to the camp, but Lady Gray was strong, and
+      used to it.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Lady Gray was Mr. Brown&rsquo;s pet horse, and carried him everywhere. She was
+      always happy when her master was in the saddle.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      But to-day the snow was very deep and soon Mr. Brown had to get off, throw
+      away the saddle, and lead her. They had to stop very often, and lean
+      against the trees and rocks for support, while they rested and regained
+      their breath.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      In places the snow was so deep and soft, that they sank above their knees.
+      Late in the afternoon they reached the camp nearly exhausted, and it was
+      several days before they were able to return.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      The snow was still deep and Mr. Brown knew he must go back on snow-shoes,
+      but he was afraid Lady Gray would have to be left behind.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Finally one of the men suggested making her some snow-shoes. They cut four
+      round pieces of board, twelve inches across, and fastened them on with
+      rope. Lady Gray seemed to understand what they were for and tried very
+      hard to walk in them.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      She was very awkward at first and could hardly stand up, but by practicing
+      a little every day she was soon able to manage nicely.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      So Mr. Brown and Lady Gray both returned on snow-shoes, and how every one
+      did laugh when they saw them.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      But Lady Gray never could have done it if she had not tried.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      <a name="link2H_4_0044" id="link2H_4_0044">
+      <!--  H2 anchor --> </a>
+    </p>
+    <div style="height: 4em;">
+      <br /><br /><br /><br />
+    </div>
+    <h2>
+      THE ANGRY BOBOLINK.
+    </h2>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+     Pretty little bobolink
+     In your satin coat,
+     Trimmed with white across the neck
+     Black about the throat,
+     Why so angry do you seem?
+     Why so fierce your mien?
+     That you&rsquo;re scolding somebody
+     Plainly can be seen.
+
+     &ldquo;Don&rsquo;t you know,&rdquo; says bobolink,
+     As he shakes his head,
+     That my nest is hidden in
+     This soft grassy bed?
+     Somebody has come too near,
+     And I wish to say
+     There is no admittance here
+     Pass the other way.
+
+     &ldquo;If my gentle little wife
+     Sits so calm above,
+     It&rsquo;s because she knows I&rsquo;ll guard
+     This dear nest we love.&rdquo;
+      Fear not, pretty bobolink,
+     Sing your joyous song,
+     Never will I trouble you,
+     Sing, the whole day long.
+</pre>
+    <p>
+      <a name="link2H_4_0045" id="link2H_4_0045">
+      <!--  H2 anchor --> </a>
+    </p>
+    <div style="height: 4em;">
+      <br /><br /><br /><br />
+    </div>
+    <h2>
+      HOW HIRAM SPENT HIS SHRIMP MONEY.
+    </h2>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;I wish my mother had a ring like those the ladies wear at the hotel,&rdquo;
+       said Hiram Green to himself one day. &ldquo;There isn&rsquo;t one of those ladies as
+      pretty as my mother; she ought to wear rings too.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Hiram was the son of a fisherman, but the fisherman had died when Hiram
+      was a little boy. Hiram&rsquo;s mother took in sewing and fancy work to earn
+      money to support herself and her son. He helped her what he could out of
+      school hours, and in vacation. He had two uncles who wad taught him how to
+      catch shrimps. With the money he earned by selling them he could buy
+      things for his own use or pleasure. He had a bank almost full of what he
+      called his &ldquo;shrimp-money.&rdquo; He did not mean to count his money until the
+      bank was full.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Now Hiram loved his mother more than anything else in the world. Whenever
+      he dreamed of being rich some time, as boys often do, it was not for
+      himself he wanted the money, but that his dear little mother might drive
+      in a carriage, drawn by a pair of horses with clanking chains.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      The sight of the flashing gems on the hands of some of the summer visitors
+      at the fishing village in which he lived had added a new article to the
+      list of beautiful things his mother was some day to own. He had heard that
+      just one single diamond was sometimes worth five hundred dollars or more.
+      This had discouraged him very much. But one day happening to pass a shop
+      in the neighboring town he saw a number of rings displayed in the window.
+      Diamond rings which flashed and sparkled, it seemed to him, just as those
+      worn by the ladies in the hotels. He stopped fascinated, ana pressed his
+      face against the glass eagerly to see if any prices were marked upon them.
+      Imagine his surprise when he saw upon the largest one a tag marked $4.75.
+      He looked again to see if he had not made a mistake. Perhaps it was
+      $475.00. But no, he knew enough about figures to see that he was right the
+      first time.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Home he went as fast as he could get there, and ran up into his bedroom.
+      Then, for the first time since he had begun to save his &ldquo;shrimp-money&rdquo; he
+      opened his bank and counted its contents. &ldquo;Three dollars and twenty-two
+      cents!&rdquo; he cried, &ldquo;almost enough. I was going to buy something for myself
+      this time, but I&rsquo;ll have that ring before another week.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Hiram worked early and late for the next few days. He caught more shrimps
+      than he had ever caught in the same length of time, and sold them readily.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;I think there must be something you are wanting, very much, my boy,&rdquo; said
+      his mother.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Yes, there is,&rdquo; replied Hiram.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      At the end of the week he had the sum he desired. Hurrying to the shop
+      where he had seen the ring, before going inside he gave one hasty, almost
+      frightened look into the window. Could it be gone! No, there it was
+      flashing and sparkling as before.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      That evening, he placed it on his mother&rsquo;s finger. She looked at it in
+      surprise. &ldquo;It is yours, mother,&rdquo; he cried, proudly, &ldquo;your very own, I
+      bought it with my shrimp money. I was determined my mother should have a
+      ring as handsome as those ladies wear.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;My dear boy,&rdquo; said his mother, while something as bright as the shining
+      stone flashed in her eyes, &ldquo;Not one of those ladies can value their rings
+      as I shall value mine.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Years afterwards Hiram learned that what he had bought for a diamond was
+      only a bit of glass.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Did you know it then, mother?&rdquo; he asked.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      His mother nodded. &ldquo;And you never told me.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;It was brighter to me than any real diamond,&rdquo; she said, &ldquo;the brightness I
+      saw flash in it was the unselfish love of my boy.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      <a name="link2H_4_0046" id="link2H_4_0046">
+      <!--  H2 anchor --> </a>
+    </p>
+    <div style="height: 4em;">
+      <br /><br /><br /><br />
+    </div>
+    <h2>
+      THE ANT&rsquo;S HOUSE.
+    </h2>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;What a curious picture that is at the head of this story.&rdquo; That is what I
+      think I hear some of the &ldquo;Little Ones&rdquo; say. &ldquo;What does it mean?&rdquo; some one
+      asks. It looks like a procession of ants. That is just what it is. A
+      procession of ants all marching off to find a new home. Some one has
+      destroyed their old one. Let us hope no one did it on purpose.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      The ants are very busy and very nice little creatures. If their houses are
+      stepped upon, or injured so as to be useless the ants immediately go to
+      work to repair damages. They do not sit down and fuss about it first, but
+      I have no doubt they let each other know what they think. And how do you
+      suppose they do this? By touching each other with their tiny feelers.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      After they have talked in this way, and decided what is to be done some of
+      them take the eggs from the ruins and carry them to a safe place. Look
+      carefully at the pictures, and you will see that almost every ant is
+      carrying an egg. They know that if they lose the eggs all the young ants
+      inside the eggs will be lost too.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      While ants do not seem to have a very keen sense of hearing, their sense
+      of smell is very strong. And where do you think it lies? In the same
+      little feelers with which they talk to each other. The first ant&rsquo;s house
+      seen in the round picture has been cut in two to show you how wonderfully
+      these little creatures can build.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      It was made by the ants that live in tropical countries. The house at the
+      back of the picture has not been disturbed. Does it not look as if an
+      architect had planned it? Ask some of the older people in your family to
+      tell you something more about ants. There is much more of interest in
+      regard to them than I have space to write you.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      <a name="link2H_4_0047" id="link2H_4_0047">
+      <!--  H2 anchor --> </a>
+    </p>
+    <div style="height: 4em;">
+      <br /><br /><br /><br />
+    </div>
+    <h2>
+      THE FOOLISH PUG.
+    </h2>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+     A pompous pug once thought that he
+     A dashing swell would try to be,
+     And on his neighbors one and all,
+     Sat out to make a stylish call.
+
+     He wore a glass upon one eye,
+     And on his head a silk hat high;
+     A wide, stiff collar around his throat,
+     And last an English overcoat.
+
+     So fine and splendid was his air
+     The very birds stood still to stare,
+     As walking on his two hind feet
+     He sauntered boldly down the street.
+
+     But oh, alas! it comes to all
+     To learn that pride must have a fall,
+     And e&rsquo;er the corner he had turned
+     Poor pug that bitter lesson learned.
+
+     A saucy maid with one great whack,
+     Brought down her broom upon his back,
+     And as he raised a frightened wail
+     Another soused him from her pail.
+
+     Poor pug! that night he sat and thought
+     Of all the trouble he had brought
+     Upon himself, because that he
+     A foolish dude had tried to be.
+</pre>
+    <p>
+      <a name="link2H_4_0048" id="link2H_4_0048">
+      <!--  H2 anchor --> </a>
+    </p>
+    <div style="height: 4em;">
+      <br /><br /><br /><br />
+    </div>
+    <h2>
+      THE SILHOUETTE PARTY
+    </h2>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Children,&rdquo; said Grandpa, one afternoon, &ldquo;I am going to build a bonfire
+      this evening, to burn up this rubbish, so you may have a silhouette
+      party.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Why, what is a silhouette party?&rdquo; asked Lucy, opening her eyes very wide.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;I know,&rdquo; said Ralph, &ldquo;it is funny black pictures on something white.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;That&rsquo;s right,&rdquo; laughed Grandpa. &ldquo;Now you fly round and write your friends
+      and Grandma and I will get everything ready.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      When the young people arrived at half past seven, they found a blazing
+      fire, and in front of it was stretched a sheet between two large apple
+      trees.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Quite a distance in front of the sheet were some seats, where Grandpa told
+      some of the children to sit, while the others took part in the pictures.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      He then disappeared with them in a tent close by where Grandma was waiting
+      to dress them in their different costumes. Shouts of laughter came from
+      the tent as the children put on their odd dresses; indeed there was so
+      much fun that it took quite some time.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      When all was ready Grandpa came out and addressing the children who were
+      waiting said, &ldquo;These are to be Mother Goose pictures, which you will all
+      know. You must guess whom they represent and the one who guesses correctly
+      the largest number will receive a prize.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      He threw a large pine knot on the fire, which burned up brightly, and
+      there the children saw a shadow on the sheet, a little bent figure with a
+      broom over its shoulder.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;The old woman who swept the cob-webs out of the sky,&rdquo; cried some one.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Following this, came a figure with a long cloak and tall peaked hat,
+      leading a dog.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Old Mother Hubbard,&rdquo; guessed another.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Then came a boy and a girl carrying a pail.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Jack and Jill,&rdquo; chorused the children.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      After this a girl with a shepherd&rsquo;s crook.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Little Bo-peep,&rdquo; again was guessed.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Now,&rdquo; said Grandpa, &ldquo;it is time the others had their turn at acting.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      So the exchange being made, the pictures continued.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Jack Horner,&rdquo; &ldquo;Little Miss Muffet,&rdquo; &ldquo;Old King Cole,&rdquo; and &ldquo;Mary, who had a
+      little lamb,&rdquo; followed in quick succession.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Then Grandpa announced that the pictures were over.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;As we cannot decide who has guessed the largest number of pictures,&rdquo; said
+      he, &ldquo;I will give you each a prize.&rdquo; And he passed them each a card.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      It proved to be a picture of Ralph and Lucy cut from black paper and
+      pasted on a white card.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;These,&rdquo; said Grandpa, &ldquo;are silhouette pictures too. Will you always know
+      what a silhouette picture is now?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Oh yes,&rdquo; said the children.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      <a name="link2H_4_0049" id="link2H_4_0049">
+      <!--  H2 anchor --> </a>
+    </p>
+    <div style="height: 4em;">
+      <br /><br /><br /><br />
+    </div>
+    <h2>
+      THE SNOW BIRDS.
+    </h2>
+    <p>
+      It had snowed very hard. Ralph and Edward, who were visiting Grandma in
+      the country, had to stay in the house all day.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      When they went to bed it was still snowing, and every time they woke up
+      during the night, they could hear the wind sighing and whistling around
+      the house, and through he branches of the old pine tres.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      But the next morning the sun was shining brightly. Such a glorious day!
+      How the branches of the pine trees did sparkle.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;It looks as if they had been sprinkled with gold dust and diamonds,&rdquo;
+       exclaimed Ralph.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Oh Grandma! Please do hurry breakfast. We are going out to build a fort,&rdquo;
+       cried the boys, bursting into the dining-room.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Grandma smiled and told them to eat a good breakfast, for building a fort
+      was hard work.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      They were soon out in the snow, and what a splendid time they did have.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      The fort did not grow very fast, for they had to stop so often to
+      snow-ball each other.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      When Grandma called them in to dinner they wondered where the time had
+      gone since breakfast.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      After dinner, Ralph was looking out of the window, when he spied two
+      little birds cuddled up on a branch of a pine-tree.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Oh, Edward! come here,&rdquo; he called. &ldquo;See those poor little birds. They
+      look half frozen and so hungry.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Poor little things,&rdquo; replied Edward. &ldquo;Doesn&rsquo;t it make you feel mean to
+      think what a jolly time we had this morning out of the snow which has
+      covered up the places where they get their food?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Let us get some food from Grandma and throw it out to them,&rdquo; said Ralph.
+      &ldquo;Perhaps they will find it.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      The little birds were soon chirpping and flying about merrily and Ralph
+      said it sounded as if they kept saying, &ldquo;thank you.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Will not other little children be as kind as Ralph and Edward?
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      <a name="link2H_4_0050" id="link2H_4_0050">
+      <!--  H2 anchor --> </a>
+    </p>
+    <div style="height: 4em;">
+      <br /><br /><br /><br />
+    </div>
+    <h2>
+      A KIND HEART.
+    </h2>
+    <h3>
+      The day Ethel Brown was seven years old she had a tea party.
+    </h3>
+    <p>
+      Mrs. Brown had sent tiny cards of invitation to all the little girls on
+      the street to come and bring their dolls. She also sent one to Nellie Day,
+      her washer-woman&rsquo;s little girl, at Ethel&rsquo;s special request.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;She is a nice little girl,&rdquo; said Ethel, &ldquo;and doesn&rsquo;t ever go anywhere
+      like me. May I have her at my party?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;That is right, little daughter,&rdquo; said Mrs. Brown. &ldquo;Always be kind to
+      those who have less pleasure than yourself. Of course she may come to your
+      party.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      They all arrived at four o&rsquo;clock and looked very pretty in their white
+      dresses and bright ribbons, and the dolls looked nearly as pretty as the
+      little girls themselves.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Ethel noticed that Nellie Day did not have a doll with her. &ldquo;So,&rdquo; thought
+      she, &ldquo;I will ask her to pour the tea and then she won&rsquo;t feel bad because
+      she hasn&rsquo;t one.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      The little girls talked and played games and Ethel&rsquo;s grown up sister
+      played on the piano and then they sang.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Now,&rdquo; said Mrs. Brown, coming into the room, &ldquo;if you will choose
+      partners, Florence will play for you and you can march out to tea.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      During the confusion Ethel said to her mamma, &ldquo;I shall ask Nellie to pour
+      the tea because she has not any doll.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Very well, dear,&rdquo; answered Mrs. Brown.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      But when they turned to find her, she was not with the others.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Where can she be?&rdquo; exclaimed Ethel.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      And then began the search. Tea was delayed and they hunted the house over
+      for her. Finally Mrs. Brown went out on a side porch seldom used, and
+      there she found the little girl.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      The child had brought a cushion to sit on, and clasped tightly in her arms
+      were three of Ethel&rsquo;s dolls. Mrs. Brown persuaded her to come in with the
+      promise that she might keep the dolls.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      So Ethel rang the bell, and they all marched in to tea again, with Nellie
+      Day leading the line, holding her three dollies.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Mamma,&rdquo; said Ethel, as the little girls were going home, &ldquo;may I give
+      Nellie Day the dolls? I have so many and she has not one.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Yes indeed,&rdquo; replied Mrs. Brown, as she kissed her little daughter. &ldquo;I am
+      sure it will make her very happy.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      And Nellie Day went home that night, the happiest little girl in the town.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      <a name="link2H_4_0051" id="link2H_4_0051">
+      <!--  H2 anchor --> </a>
+    </p>
+    <div style="height: 4em;">
+      <br /><br /><br /><br />
+    </div>
+    <h2>
+      TOWSER TALKS.
+    </h2>
+    <p>
+      I am not a big dog and I don&rsquo;t know very much, but I know more than I used
+      to. The reason why I know more than I used to is because I asked Carlo
+      some questions once. I asked him what made him so gaunt and thin and why
+      he had such an enquiring expression on his face and such a hump on the top
+      of his head. He didn&rsquo;t answer right away, and&mdash;I noticed the
+      enquiring expression vanished. He looked quite decided. Then something
+      happened,&mdash;I don&rsquo;t know exactly what, but Mary, the cook, told the
+      butler that it made her dizzy just to look on. And then Carlo said:&mdash;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;One reason why I am gaunt and thin is because I am not a little up-start
+      of a pug,&mdash;of no earthly use under Heaven, and nothing to do but
+      waddle around and accumulate fat.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;The reason I have an enquiring expression on my face is because I am ever
+      on the outlook to anticipate my master&rsquo;s will and do his slightest
+      bidding.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;As for the hump on the top of my head, that is a mark given by the
+      Creator only to dogs that have intellect. Pray that yours may grow!&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      That is all he said, but it was enough for one day and has furnished me
+      food for thought ever since.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      <a name="link2H_4_0052" id="link2H_4_0052">
+      <!--  H2 anchor --> </a>
+    </p>
+    <div style="height: 4em;">
+      <br /><br /><br /><br />
+    </div>
+    <h2>
+      JUST AS SHE PLEASED.
+    </h2>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Now, children, I am tired of you; I am going down stairs for the rest of
+      the morning,&rdquo; and Polly started to leave the nursery.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Put your dolls away before you go,&rdquo; said Nurse, &ldquo;I don&rsquo;t want them left
+      in the middle of the floor.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;I won&rsquo;t. I did not put them there.&rdquo; Polly tossed her head and ran quickly
+      out of the room.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Nurse had baby in her lap and could not run after her.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      The little girl went to the kitchen, but cook was cross and said she would
+      not have Polly bothering her.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Then she went to the library hoping to find her Uncle Edward, but he was
+      not there.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      She wandered from room to room and could find nothing to amuse her.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      She wanted to go back into the nursery, but she had told a lie when she
+      said she had not put the dolls on the floor, and she was afraid to.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      She felt lonesome and a few tears ran down her face.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      At that moment Uncle Edward entered the room, and, seeing the doleful
+      little face, took her in his arms, tossing her into the air.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      As he did so, he knocked over a vase which fell to the floor, broken.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Oh! see what you have done,&rdquo; cried Polly.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;I don&rsquo;t care. I shall say I didn&rsquo;t do it,&rdquo; replied Uncle Edward.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Oh! But that would be a lie,&rdquo; said Polly.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Well, who put the dolls on the nursery floor?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Nurse must have told you. But I am sorry,&rdquo; and Polly began to cry again.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;There, there!&rdquo; said Uncle Edward. &ldquo;We will go up and tell Nurse we are
+      sorry.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      They went up to the nursery but Nurse and baby had gone and the dolls were
+      still on the floor.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Polly wanted to play circus and Uncle Edward made believe he was the
+      elephant and gave the dollies a ride. He kicked so once that black Diana
+      fell off and broke her neck.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      After a while Nurse came in with baby and interrupted the frolic.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      When Polly told her she was sorry because she had told a lie, Nursie said
+      she would forgive her and Polly promised not to do so again.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      <a name="link2H_4_0053" id="link2H_4_0053">
+      <!--  H2 anchor --> </a>
+    </p>
+    <div style="height: 4em;">
+      <br /><br /><br /><br />
+    </div>
+    <h2>
+      THE WORKING TOOLS OF INSECTS.
+    </h2>
+    <p>
+      I wonder if you know that the smallest insects you see about you have
+      tools given them to do their work with. There is a little fly called a
+      saw-fly, because it has a saw to work with. It is really a very much nicer
+      saw than you could make, if you were ever so old.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      The fly uses it to make places where the eggs will be safe. What is more
+      strange, it has a sort of homemade glue which fastens them where they are
+      laid.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Some insects have cutting instruments that work just as your scissors do.
+      The poppy-bee is one of them, whose work is wonderful. This bee has a
+      boring tool, too. Its nest is usually made in old wood. This borer cleans
+      out the nest ready for use. When all is ready the insect cuts out pieces
+      of leaves to line the nest and to make the cells. These linings are out in
+      the shape of the cells. You, would be surprised to see the care taken to
+      have every piece of just the right size, so that it will fit. When they
+      are fitted, the pieces are nicely fastened together and put into the nest.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      <br /><br />
+    </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+
+
+
+
+
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+Slipper and Other Stories, by Anonymous
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+</html>
diff --git a/1599.txt b/1599.txt
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..dab1bdb
--- /dev/null
+++ b/1599.txt
@@ -0,0 +1,3139 @@
+The Project Gutenberg EBook of Cinderella; or, The Little Glass Slipper
+and Other Stories, by Anonymous
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
+
+
+Title: Cinderella; or, The Little Glass Slipper and Other Stories
+
+Author: Anonymous
+
+Posting Date: September 26, 2008 [EBook #1599]
+Release Date: January, 1999
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ASCII
+
+*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK CINDERELLA AND OTHERS ***
+
+
+
+
+Produced by Dianne Bean
+
+
+
+
+
+CINDERELLA OR, THE LITTLE GLASS SLIPPER AND OTHER STORIES
+
+By Anonymous Authors
+
+
+
+     Cinderella; or, The Little Glass Slipper
+     Fanny's Telephone Order
+     The Raindrops' New Dresses
+     Sir Gobble
+     What is It?
+     John's Bright Idea
+     A Sad Thanksgiving Party
+     Guy and the Bee
+     Mean Boy
+     Naughty Pumpkin's Fate
+     Something About Fires
+     The lee-King's Reign.
+     Malmo, the Wounded Rat
+     Mama's Happy Christmas
+     Cured of Carelessness
+     A Visit from a Prince
+     Stringing Cranberries
+     Christmas in California
+     A Troublesome Call
+     Bertie's Corn-Popper
+     Fire! Fire! Fire!
+     The Dolls and the Other Dolls
+     Why Did Mamma Change Her Mind?
+     Clara's Funeral.
+     The Chickadee-Dee.
+     The Children's Party
+     Brave Tomasso
+     Tommy Frost Sees a Bear
+     Myself
+     Two Strange Sights
+     A Cat's Instincts
+     Diliah's New Year's Presents
+     Night Flowers
+     The First Snow Storm
+     Fred's Stolen Ride
+     A Valentine Party
+     The Venturesome Rat
+     The Bear's Feast
+     Babie's Curls.
+     The Red Apples
+     Bubbles
+     A Horse Who Wore Snow Shoes
+     The Angry Bobolink
+     How Hiram Spent His Shrimp Money
+     The Ant's House
+     The Foolish Pug
+     The Silhouette Party
+     The Snow Birds
+     A Kind Heart
+     Towser Talks
+     Just as She Pleased
+
+
+
+
+CINDERELLA; OR THE LITTLE GLASS SLIPPER.
+
+Once there was a gentleman who married for his second wife the proudest
+and most haughty woman that was ever seen. She had by a former husband
+two daughters of her own humor, who were, indeed, exactly like her in
+all things. He had likewise, by another wife, a young daughter, but of
+unparalleled goodness and sweetness of temper, which she took from her
+mother, who was the best creature in the world.
+
+No sooner were the ceremonies of the wedding over but the mother-in-law
+began to show herself in her true colors. She could not bear the good
+qualities of this pretty girl, and the less because they made her own
+daughters appear the more odious. She employed her in meanest work of
+the house: she scoured the dishes, tables, etc., and scrubbed madam's
+chamber and those of misses, her daughters; she lay up in a sorry
+garret, upon a wretched straw bed, while her sisters lay in fine rooms,
+with floors all inlaid, upon beds of the very newest fashion, and where
+they had looking-glasses so large that they might see themselves at
+their full length from head to foot.
+
+The poor girl bore all patiently and dared not tell her father, who
+would have rattled her off; for his wife governed him entirely. When she
+had done her work she used to go into the chimney-corner and sit down
+among cinders and ashes, which made her commonly be called a cinder
+maid; but the youngest, who was not so rude and uncivil as the eldest,
+called her Cinderella. However, Cinderella, notwithstanding her mean
+apparel, was a hundred times handsomer than her sisters, though they
+were always dressed very richly.
+
+It happened that the King's son gave a ball and invited all persons, of
+fashion to it. Our young misses were also invited, for they cut a very
+grand figure among the quality. They were mightily delighted at this
+invitation, and wonderfully busy in choosing out such gowns, petticoats,
+and head-clothes as might become them. This was a new trouble to
+Cinderella, for it was she who ironed her sisters' linen and plaited
+their ruffles. They talked all day long of nothing but how they should
+be dressed.
+
+"For my part," said the eldest, "I will wear my red velvet suit with
+French trimming."
+
+"And I," said the youngest, "shall have my usual petticoat; but then,
+to make amends for that, I will put on my gold-flowered manteau and my
+diamond stomacher, which is far from being the most ordinary one in the
+world."
+
+They sent for the best tire-woman they could get to make up their
+head-dresses and adjust their double pinners, and they had their red
+brushes and patches from Mademoiselle de la Poche.
+
+Cinderella was likewise called up to them to be consulted in all these
+matters, for she had excellent notions and advised them always for the
+best, nay, and offered her services to dress their heads, which they
+were very willing she should do. As she was doing this they said to her:
+
+"Cinderella, would you not be glad to go to the ball?"
+
+"Alas!" said she, "you only jeer me. It is not for such as I am to go
+thither."
+
+"Thou art in the right of it," replied they. "It would make the people
+laugh to see a cinder wench at a ball."
+
+Any one but Cinderella would have dressed their heads awry, but she was
+very good and dressed them perfectly well. They were almost two days
+without eating, so much they were transported with joy. They broke above
+a dozen of laces in trying to be laced up close, that they might have a
+fine, slender shape, and they were continually at their looking-glass.
+At last the happy day came. They went to Court, and Cinderella followed
+them with her eyes as long as she could, and when she had lost sight of
+them she fell a-crying.
+
+Her Godmother, who saw her all in tears, asked her what was the matter.
+
+"I wish I could--I wish I could--"
+
+She was not able to speak the rest being interrupted by her tears and
+sobbing.
+
+This Godmother of hers, who was a fairy, said to her: "Thou wishest thou
+could'st go to the ball. Is it not so?"
+
+"Y--es," cried Cinderella, with a great sigh.
+
+"Well," said her Godmother, "be but a good girl, and I will contrive
+that thou shalt go." Then she took her into her chamber and said to her:
+"Run into the garden and bring me a pumpkin."
+
+Cinderella went immediately to gather the finest she could get and
+brought it to her Godmother, not being able to imagine how this pumpkin
+could make her go to the ball. Her Godmother scooped out all the inside
+of it, having left nothing but the rind; which done, she struck it with
+her wand, and the pumpkin was instantly turned into a fine coach, gilded
+all over with gold.
+
+She then went to look into her mousetrap, where she found six mice all
+alive, and ordered Cinderella to lift up a little the trapdoor, when,
+giving each mouse as it went out a little tap with her wand, the mouse
+was that moment turned into a fine horse, which altogether made a very
+fine set of six horses of a beautiful mouse-colored dapple-gray. Being
+at a loss for a coachman, Cinderella said:
+
+"I will go and see if there is never a rat in the rattrap--we may make a
+coachman of him."
+
+"Thou art in the right," replied her Godmother. "Go and look."
+
+Cinderella brought the trap to her, and in it there were three huge
+rats. The fairy made choice of one of the three which had the largest
+beard, and having touched him with her wand he was turned into a fat,
+jolly coachman, who had the smartest whiskers eyes ever beheld. After
+that she said to her:
+
+"Go again into the garden, and you will find six lizards behind the
+watering-pot. Bring them to me."
+
+She had no sooner done so but her Godmother turned them into six
+footmen, who skipped up immediately behind the coach, with their liveries
+all bedaubed with gold and silver, and clung as close behind each other
+as if they had done nothing else their whole lives. The fairy then said
+to Cinderella:
+
+"Well, you see here an equipage fit to go to the ball with. Are you not
+pleased with it?"
+
+"Oh! yes," cried she; "but must I go thither as I am, in these dirty
+rags?"
+
+Her Godmother only just touched her with her wand, and at the same
+instant her clothes were turned into cloth-of-gold and silver, all beset
+with jewels. Ah! who can describe a robe made by the fairies? It was
+white as snow, and as dazzling; round the hem hung a fringe of diamonds,
+sparkling like dewdrops in the sunshine. The lace about the throat and
+arms could only have been spun by fairy spiders. Surely it was a dream!
+Cinderella put her daintily gloved hand to her throat, and softly
+touched the pearls that encircled her neck.
+
+"Come, child," said the Godmother, "or you will be late."
+
+As Cinderella moved, the firelight shone upon her dainty shoes.
+
+"They are of diamonds," she said.
+
+"No," answered her Godmother, smiling; "they are better than that--they
+are of glass, made by the fairies. And now, child, go, and enjoy
+yourself to your heart's content."
+
+But her Godmother, above all things, commanded her not to stay till
+after midnight, telling her at the same time that if she stayed one
+moment longer the coach would be a pumpkin again, her horses mice, her
+coachman a rat, her footmen lizards, and her clothes become just as they
+were before.
+
+She promised her Godmother she would not fail of leaving the ball before
+midnight, and then away she drives, scarce able to contain herself for
+joy. The King's son, who was told that a great Princess, whom nobody
+knew, was come, ran out to receive her. He gave her his hand as she
+alighted out of the coach; and led her into the hall among all the
+company. There was immediately a profound silence, they left off
+dancing, and the violins ceased to play, so attentive was every one to
+contemplate the singular beauties of the unknown newcomer. Nothing was
+then heard but a confused noise of "Ha! how handsome she is! Ha! how
+handsome she is!"
+
+The King himself, old as he was, could not help watching her and telling
+the Queen softly that it was a long time since he had seen so beautiful
+and lovely a creature.
+
+All the ladies were busied in considering her clothes and headdress,
+that they might have some made next day after the same pattern, provided
+they could meet with such fine materials and as able hands to make them.
+
+The King's son conducted her to the most honorable seat and afterward
+took her out to dance with him. She danced so very gracefully that they
+all more and more admired her. A fine collation was served up, whereof
+the young Prince ate not a morsel, so intently was he busied in gazing
+on her.
+
+She went and sat down by her sisters, showing them a thousand
+civilities, giving them part of the oranges and citrons which the Prince
+had presented her with, which very much surprised them, for they did not
+know her. While Cinderella was thus amusing her sisters, she heard the
+clock strike eleven and three-quarters, whereupon she immediately made a
+courtesy to the company and hastened away as fast as she could.
+
+Being got home, she ran to seek out her Godmother, and after having
+thanked her she said she could not but heartily wish she might go next
+day to the ball, because the King's son had desired her.
+
+As she was eagerly telling her Godmother what had passed at the ball her
+two sisters knocked at the door, which Cinderella ran and opened.
+
+"How long you have stayed!" cried she, gaping, rubbing her eyes, and
+stretching herself as if she had been just waked out of her sleep. She
+had not, however, had any manner of inclination to sleep since they went
+from home.
+
+"If thou hadst been at the ball," said one of her sisters, "thou
+would'st not have been tired with it. There came thither the finest
+Princess, the most beautiful ever was seen with mortal eyes. She showed
+us a thousand civilities and gave us oranges and citrons."
+
+Cinderella seemed very indifferent in the matter. Indeed, she asked them
+the name of that Princess, but they told her they did not know it, and
+that the King's son was very uneasy on her account, and would give all
+the world to know who she was. At this Cinderella, smiling, replied:
+
+"She must, then, be very beautiful indeed. How happy you have been!
+Could not I see her? Ah! dear Miss Charlotte, do lend me your yellow
+suit of clothes which you wear every day."
+
+"Ay, to be sure," cried Miss Charlotte; "lend my clothes to such it
+dirty cinder maid as thou art! I should be a fool."
+
+Cinderella expected well such answer and was very glad of the refusal,
+for she would have been sadly put to it if her sister had lent her what
+she asked for jestingly.
+
+The next day the two sisters were at the ball, and so was Cinderella,
+but dressed more magnificently than before. The King's son was always by
+her, and never ceased his compliments and kind speeches to her, to whom
+all this was so far from being tiresome that she quite forgot what her
+Godmother had recommended to her, so that she at last counted the clock
+striking twelve when she took it to be no more than eleven. She then
+rose up and fled as nimble as a deer. The Prince followed, but could
+not overtake her. She left behind one of her glass slippers, which the
+Prince took up most carefully. She got home, but quite out of breath,
+and in her old clothes, having nothing left her of all her finery but
+one of the little slippers, fellow to that she dropped. The guards at
+the palace gate were asked if they had not seen a Princess go out.
+
+They said they had seen nobody go out but a young girl, very meanly
+dressed, and who had more of the air of a poor country girl than a
+gentlewoman.
+
+When the two sisters returned from the ball Cinderella asked them if
+they had been well diverted and if the beautiful Princess had been
+there.
+
+They told her yes, but that she hurried away immediately when the clock
+struck twelve, and with so much haste that she dropped one of her little
+glass slippers, the prettiest in the world, which the King's son had
+taken up; that he had done nothing but look at her all the time at
+the ball, and that most certainly he was very much in love with the
+beautiful person who owned the glass slipper.
+
+What they said was very true, for a few days after the King's son caused
+it to be proclaimed, by sound of trumpet, that he would marry her whose
+foot this slipper would just fit. They whom he employed began to try it
+upon the Princesses, then the Duchesses and all the Court, but in vain.
+It was brought to the two sisters, who did all they possibly could to
+thrust their feet into the slipper, but they could not effect it.
+
+On the following morning there was a great noise of trumpets and drums,
+and a procession passed through the town, at the head of which rode the
+King's son. Behind him came a herald, bearing a velvet cushion, upon
+which rested a little glass slipper. The herald blew a blast upon the
+trumpet, and then read a proclamation saying that the King's son would
+wed any lady in the land who could fit the slipper upon her foot, if she
+could produce another to match it.
+
+Of course, the sisters tried to squeeze their feet into the slipper, but
+it was of no use--they were much too large. Then Cinderella shyly begged
+that she might try. How the sisters laughed with scorn when the Prince
+knelt to fit the slipper on the cinder maid's foot; but what was their
+surprise when it slipped on with the greatest ease, and the next moment
+Cinderella produced the other from her pocket! Once more she stood
+in the slippers, and once more the sisters saw before them the lovely
+Princess who was to be the Prince's bride. For at the touch of the magic
+shoes the little gray frock disappeared forever, and in place of it she
+wore the beautiful robe the fairy Godmother had given to her.
+
+The sisters hung their heads with sorrow and vexation; but kind little
+Cinderella put her arms round their necks, kissed them, and forgave them
+for all their unkindness, so that they could not help but love her.
+
+The Prince could not bear to part from his little love again, so he
+carried her back to the palace in his grand coach, and they were married
+that very day. Cinderella's stepsisters were present at the feast, but
+in the place of honor sat the fairy Godmother.
+
+So the poor little cinder maid married the Prince, and in time they came
+to be King and Queen, and lived happily ever after.
+
+
+
+
+FANNY'S TELEPHONE ORDER.
+
+Little Fanny Desmond was a dear child, and, like a good many other
+little children, she liked to do whatever she saw the grown people do.
+
+She would listen with great interest when she saw her mother use the
+telephone. She was especially surprised when her mother ordered things,
+and later in the day they would be brought to the house.
+
+"I wish I had a telephone of my own," she said to her papa. "Mama just
+puts her mouth up to that funny thing, and gets whatever she asks for.
+Yesterday she asked somebody to send us ice-cream for dinner, and sure
+enough, it came."
+
+Papa laughed. "It does seem a very convenient thing," he said. "I will
+try to arrange one for you." So papa took a horn which had been put away
+in a closet and hung it up where Fanny could talk into it. "There, that
+shall be your own private telephone," he said.
+
+"Now, shall I get whatever I ask for?" said Fanny.
+
+"Not if you ask for impossible things," replied her papa.
+
+"But what are impossible things?" asked Fanny.
+
+"Well," laughed papa, "I think if you should ask for the moon you would
+not get it."
+
+"But I don't want the moon," said Fanny.
+
+"Ask for something before I go down-town," said papa.
+
+Fanny thought a moment, and then spoke up quite distinctly:
+
+"Please send me some peppermints, and some new shoes for my doll, and
+a bunch of pansies for my mama, and a new bicycle for my papa,
+and--and--that's all this time. Good-bye."
+
+"That's a very good order," said her papa, "but kiss me good-bye, for I
+must be off."
+
+About half an hour later the front door-bell rang. Very soon the
+maid appeared with a package directed to Miss Fanny Desmond. In great
+excitement, Fanny opened it. It was a box of peppermints. The child's
+delight was great, but when, in another half hour, there came a bundle
+which proved to be a new pair of shoes for her doll, she was too happy
+for words. But that surprise was hardly over when another package was
+brought her. She opened it in great excitement, and behold there was a
+bunch of beautiful pansies.
+
+"They are for you, mama," she cried, "and now everything has come but
+papa's new bicycle."
+
+Just then she looked out of the window, and there was her papa coming up
+the drive on a fine new wheel. She rushed down to meet him, exclaiming,
+as she threw herself into his arms:
+
+"Oh, papa, papa, I did get everything; my telephone is beautiful, and
+the man at the other end is just lovely!"
+
+"Ah," said papa, "I am delighted he is so satisfactory."
+
+
+
+
+THE RAINDROPS' NEW DRESSES.
+
+     "We're so tired of these gray dresses!"
+     Cried the little drops of rain,
+     As they came down helter-skelter
+     From the Nimbus cloud fast train.
+
+     And they bobbed against each other
+     In a spiteful sort of way,
+     Just like children when bad temper
+     Gets the upper hand some day.
+
+     Then the Sun peeped out a minute.
+     "Dears, be good and do not fight,
+     I have ordered you new dresses,
+     Dainty robes of purest white."
+
+     Ah! then all the tiny raindrops
+     Hummed a merry glad refrain,
+     And the old folks cried: "How pleasant
+     Is the music of the rain!"
+
+     Just at even, when the children
+     Had been safely tucked in bed,
+     There was such a rush and bustle
+     In the dark clouds overhead!
+
+     Then those raindrops hurried earthward,
+     At the North Wind's call, you know,
+     And the wee folks, in the morning,
+     Laughed to see the flakes of snow.
+
+
+
+
+SIR GOBBLE.
+
+Bessie Curtis was in a great deal of trouble. She was spending a year in
+the country while her father and mother were in Europe. It was not that
+which was troubling her. She liked the country, she loved her uncle and
+aunt with whom she lived, and she heard every week from her father
+and mother. But something disturbed her. As the summer passed, and the
+autumn came, she had moments when she looked very sober. What was the
+reason?
+
+I will tell you.
+
+Early in the spring her uncle had given her a young turkey.
+
+"There, Bessie," he had said, "that is one of the prettiest turkeys I
+have ever seen. I will give him into your care, and on Thanksgiving Day
+we will have him on the dinner-table."
+
+For some time Bessie fed the turkey every day without feeling
+particularly fond of him. Very soon, however, he began to know her; he
+not only ran to meet her when she brought him his corn and meal, but
+he would follow her about just the way Mary's little lamb followed HER
+about.
+
+Her uncle often called after her: "And everywhere that Bessie goes, the
+turkey's sure to go."
+
+Yes, round the garden, up and down the avenue, and even into the house
+itself the turkey followed Bessie.
+
+Then why was she so sad?
+
+Alas! she remembered her uncle's words when he gave her the turkey, "On
+Thanksgiving Day we will have him on the table."
+
+Thanksgiving Day would be here in a week.
+
+Now, if Bessie had been like some little girls, she would have told her
+trouble to her uncle. But she never mentioned it to any one, although
+she cried herself to sleep several nights before Thanksgiving Day.
+
+At last the day came, and Bessie, instead of going out to the fowlyard
+as usual, kept in the house all the morning. She was afraid that, if she
+went, she would not find her beloved friend. Dinner-time came, and,
+with a heavy heart, she seated herself at the table. Her uncle and
+aunt noticed her sober face, and thought that she missed her father and
+mother.
+
+"Come, come," said her uncle, "we must cheer up; no sad looks on
+Thanksgiving Day. Maria, BRING IN THE TURKEY."
+
+Poor Bessie! she could not look up as the door opened, and something
+was brought in on a big platter. But, as the platter was placed on the
+table, she saw that it did indeed hold her turkey, but he was alive and
+well.
+
+She looked so astonished that suddenly her uncle understood all her past
+troubles.
+
+"Why, Bessie," he said, "did you think I would kill your pet? No,
+indeed, but I told you he should be on the table Thanksgiving Day, so
+here he is."
+
+Then Bessie's uncle struck the turkey gently with his carving-knife, the
+way the queen strikes a man with a sword when she makes him a knight.
+
+"Behold!" said Bessie's uncle, "I dub you 'Sir Gobble;' you shall never
+be killed, but die a natural death, and never be parted from Bessie."
+
+
+
+
+WHAT IS IT?
+
+     What is that ugly thing I see
+     Which follows, follows, follows me,
+     Which ever way I turn or go?
+     What is that thing? I want to know.
+
+     If I but turn to left or right
+     It does the same with all its might;
+     It looks so ugly and so black
+     When o'er my shoulder I look back.
+
+     Sometimes it runs ahead of me,
+     Sometimes quite short it seems to be,
+     And then again it's very tall;
+     I don't know what it is at all.
+
+     I'll climb into my little bed,
+     And on my pillow lay my bead,
+     For when I'm there I never see
+     That thing in front or back of me.
+
+
+
+
+JOHN'S BRIGHT IDEA.
+
+Mrs. Meredith was a most kind and thoughtful woman. She spent a great
+deal of time visiting the poor. One morning she told her children about
+a family which she had visited the day before. There was a man sick in
+bed, his wife who took care of him, and could not go out to work, and
+their little boy. The little boy--his name was Bernard--had interested
+her very much.
+
+"I wish you could see him," she said to her own children, John, Harry,
+and Clara, "he is such a help to his mother. He wants very much to earn
+some money, but I don't see what he can do."
+
+After their mother had left the room, the children sat thinking about
+little Bernard.
+
+"I wish we could help him to earn money," said little Clara.
+
+"So do I," said Harry.
+
+For some moments John said nothing, but, suddenly, he sprang to his feet
+and cried:
+
+"I have an idea!"
+
+The other children also jumped up all attention. When John had an idea,
+it was sure to be a good one.
+
+"I tell you what we can do," said John. "You know that big box of corn
+Uncle Sam sent us for popping? Well, we can pop it, and put it into
+paper bags, and Bernard can take it round to the houses and sell."
+
+When Mrs. Meredith heard of John's idea, she, too, thought it a good
+one.
+
+Very soon the children were busy popping the corn, while their mother
+went out to buy the paper bags. When she came back, she brought Bernard
+with her.
+
+In a short time, he started out on his new business, and, much sooner
+than could be expected, returned with an empty basket.
+
+Tucked into one of his mittens were ten nickels. He had never earned so
+much money before in his life. When he found that it was all to be his,
+he was so delighted he could hardly speak, but his bright smiling face
+spoke for him. After he had run home to take the money to his mother,
+John said:
+
+"We have corn enough left to send Bernard out ever so many times. May we
+do it again?"
+
+"Yes," said Mrs. Meredith, "you may send him every Saturday morning, if
+you will pop the corn for him yourselves. John, will you agree to take
+charge of the work?"
+
+"Indeed I will," replied John, and he kept his word. For many weeks,
+every Saturday morning, no matter what plan was on foot, no matter how
+good the coasting or skating, he saw that the corn was all popped, the
+paper bags filled, and arranged in the basket when Bernard arrived.
+
+People began to watch for the "little pop-corn boy," and every week he
+had at least fifty cents to take home, and often more. And all this was
+because of John's bright idea, and the way he carried it out.
+
+
+
+
+A SAD THANKSGIVING PARTY.
+
+     Four hungry-looking animals
+     All seated in a row;
+     Why does not some one speak to them?
+     That's what I want to know.
+
+     They all of them were bidden to
+     A fine Thanksgiving feast,
+     And now, it seems to me, their host
+     Might welcome them, at least.
+
+     'Twas Master Pug invited them,
+     Why does he not appear?
+     'Tis plain they think his absence looks
+     Extremely rude and queer.
+
+     Alas! poor Pug's in trouble sore,
+     The host he cannot play;
+     No feast for self or friends has he
+     On this Thanksgiving Day.
+
+     He saw a turkey, large and fat,
+     Upon the kitchen shelf.
+     "That's just the very thing I want,"
+     Said he unto himself.
+
+     He caught the turkey, but the cook
+     Caught him with firmer grasp,
+     And shook him till he could not bark
+     But only choke and gasp.
+
+     Meanwhile, those hungry animals,
+     Who'd waited there in vain,
+     Declared they never would be guest
+     Of Mr. Pug again.
+
+
+
+
+GUY AND THE BEE
+
+     One day a jolly bumble-bee,
+     In coat of black and yellow,
+     Got caught inside a window-pane;
+     The silly little  fellow.
+
+     He buzzed and buzzed against the glass,
+     To Guy's great enjoyment,
+     Who thought to watch this funny thing
+     Was just the best employment.
+
+     But soon to touch those gauzy wings,
+     Became Guy's great desire,
+     Although mama had told him that
+     A bee could sting like fire.
+
+     But Guy, silly as the bee,
+     Paid no heed to mama,
+     He touched the bee, then gave a howl
+     Which could be heard afar.
+
+     Mama a soothing poultice mixed,
+     And on his finger laid.
+     "Another time you'll be more wise,"
+     Was everything she said.
+
+
+
+
+A MEAN BOY.
+
+Harry Burton woke one night and heard a strange noise in his closet. He
+got out of bed, crossed the floor in his bare feet, and carefully opened
+the closet door. The noise stopped, instantly.
+
+"Ah!" said Harry, "I knew it was mice made that noise. How I wish I
+could catch them."
+
+The next morning he told his mother about the noises he had heard.
+
+"I will get you a mouse-trap," she said.
+
+"I don't want the kind that kills the mice, I only want to catch them
+and tame them," said Harry.
+
+His mother laughed and told him when he had tamed his mice he must keep
+them well out of her way.
+
+The trap was set, the mice were caught, and sure enough, in a short time
+were so tame they would eat from Harry's hand. He made a little house
+for them, and kept in it his bedroom. Whenever he went out, he always
+shut the door carefully.
+
+Now it happened that among Harry's acquaintances, there was one very
+disagreeable boy. His name was Dick Taft. Harry did not play with him
+very often, for he was so ugly it was hard to get along with him.
+
+Dick never liked to be beaten at any game, and sometimes made it very
+uncomfortable for the one who got ahead of him.
+
+One day Harry happened to beat him at one of their school games. Dick
+called after him when it was over, "I'll pay you for this, see if I
+don't."
+
+Harry only laughed as he walked away going in the opposite direction
+from his own house.
+
+When he was out of sight, Dick ran to Harry's house, made some excuse to
+go up in his bedroom, and let in the big cat, who was eagerly watching
+outside.
+
+When Harry came home, the mouse house was open, and not one of his pets
+was to be seen. The poor fellow was almost heart-broken. He asked every
+one in the house who had left his door open. The maid told him she
+thought it must have been that boy he sent up to his room.
+
+She described the boy, and Harry knew in a moment that it was Dick Taft.
+
+"So that is the way he paid me for beating him at a game," cried Harry.
+"Well, never again, so long as I live, will I play with a boy who is
+mean enough to do such a trick as that."
+
+And he kept his word.
+
+
+
+
+A NAUGHTY PUMPKIN'S FATE.
+
+      A queer little pumpkin, a jolly fat fellow,
+      Stood close to his mother so rotund and yellow.
+      "What a stupid old place! how I long to aspire,"
+      Cried he, "I was destined for something much higher."
+
+      "My son," said the mother, "pray do be content,
+      There's great satisfaction in life that's well spent!"
+      But he shrugged up his shoulders, this pumpkin, 't is true,
+      And acted just like some bad children will do.
+
+      With a shout and a whoop, in the garden they ran,
+      Tom and Ned, for they'd thought of the loveliest plan
+      To astonish their friends from the city, you see,
+      With a fine Jack-o'-lantern--"Ah, this one suits me!"
+
+      Neddie seized the bad pumpkin, and dug out his brains,
+      Till he felt so light-headed and brimful of pains;
+      Then two eyes, a long nose, and a mouth big and wide,
+      They cut in a minute, and laid him aside
+
+      Until night, when they hung him upon a stout limb,
+      With a candle inside; how his poor head did swim,
+      As they twisted him this way, then twirled him round that,
+      Till at last, with a crash, he fell on the ground flat,
+
+      A wreck of the once jolly, fat little fellow,
+      Who stood by his mother so rotund and yellow.
+      Just then a lean cow, who was passing that way,
+      Ate him up, just to finish HER "Thanksgiving Day."
+
+
+
+
+SOMETHING ABOUT FIRES.
+
+It was a cold day. Fred was tired of reading, tired of looking out of
+the window, and so he poked the fire for a change.
+
+"I suppose there are a good many different sorts of fires," he said to
+his mamma, as he laid down the poker.
+
+"Yes, indeed," she answered. "It is very interesting to know how people
+keep warm in all parts of the world, especially where fuel is scarce and
+dear. In Iceland, for example, fires are often made of fish-bones! Think
+of that. In Holland and other countries a kind of turf called peat is
+dug up in great quantities and used for fuel. And in France a coarse
+yellow and brown sea-weed, which is found in Finistere, is carefully
+dried and piled up for winter use. A false log, resembling wood, but
+made of some composition which does not consume, is often used in that
+country. It absorbs and throws out the heat, and adds to the looks of
+the hearth and to the comfort of the room.
+
+"The French have also a movable stove, which can be wheeled from room to
+room, or even carried up or down stairs while full of burning coke. In
+Russia the poorer people use a large porcelain stove, flat on top like
+a great table, with a small fire inside which gives out a gentle,
+summer-like warmth. It often serves as a bed for the whole family, who
+sleep on top of it.
+
+"There are, besides gas-stoves, oil-stoves, various methods of obtaining
+warmth by heated air and steam, and, doubtless, other devices that I
+never heard of.
+
+"In some countries, however, no fires are needed. In looking at pictures
+of tropical towns you will at once notice the absence of chimneys."
+
+Fred looked admiringly at his mamma as she paused.
+
+"There never was such a little mother," he said; "you can think of
+something to say about everything."
+
+His mamma was pleased at this pleasant compliment.
+
+"Oh!" she replied, laughing, "I could go on and tell you more about
+bonfires, beacon-fires, signals, drift-wood fires, and gypsy-tea fires;
+but I have told you enough for to-day."
+
+
+
+
+THE ICE-KING'S REIGN.
+
+     The sun had gone down with promises sweet,
+     When, keen from the north, the wind
+     Came blustering along on its coursers fleet,
+     And left frozen tracks behind.
+
+     Maude stood at the window; the moon shimmered down
+     On whirling leaves, stiff and dead,
+     All piteously driven; she turned with a frown,
+     And soft to herself she said:--
+
+     "The old tyrant Winter leaves nothing to prize,
+     Leaves nothing that's bright or fair;
+     He has stolen the blue from the bending skies,
+     The warmth from the earth and air.
+
+     "The summer's dear blossoms are withered and dead;
+     My garden is brown and bare;
+     The chipper of birds in the nest overhead
+     Is hushed, for no birdlings are here.
+
+     "The woodlands no longer are shady and sweet,
+     Dry leafage encumbers the ground;
+     The pathways, once verdant and soft to my feet,
+     In fetters of ice are bound.
+
+     "The pride of the barn-yard sits humped with the cold,
+     One frozen foot under his wing;
+     And the sheep huddle closely, for warmth, in their fold;
+     The ice tyrant reigns as king."
+
+     She turns from this picture of ruin and death,
+     And seeks the broad casement again;
+     And, lo! from the dews of her wasted breath
+     Great forests have grown on the pane.
+
+     Such beautiful trees! such ferns! and such flowers!
+     Such rivers and mountains bold!
+     Such charming cascades! she gazes for hours,
+     And worships the ice king cold.
+
+
+
+
+MALMO, THE WOUNDED RAT.
+
+A poor man saw, by the roadside, a large white rat. It seemed to be
+dead. Moving it gently he found it was alive, but had a broken leg. He
+took it up and carried it to his lonely home. He bound up the bruised
+leg, fed the poor creature, and soon it was quite well.
+
+Sam Tills trained the rat to gentle ways, and taught it many little
+tricks. Malmo was the only company Sam had. He worked in a cotton mill,
+and took Malmo with him. He rode in his master's coat-pocket. It looked
+droll to see his white head peeping out.
+
+Sundays both went to dine with Sam's sister. Malmo's funny ways made
+everybody laugh. When Sam said, "Malmo, go sit in my hat," he went at
+once. He curled himself up in it, and nodded off to sleep.
+
+When his master said, "Malmo, we're going now; slip in," the droll pet
+jumped from the hat, ran up to his pocket-nest, said good-by in his
+own fashion, and was ready to start. Evenings, when Sam was reading or
+singing from his mother's hymn-book, Malmo had a nap on his master's
+head. When it was time to go to bed Sam stroked Malmo's soft fur. The
+rat rubbed himself against his master's hand. It was their good-night to
+each other. Then Malmo crept into his basket, and the candle was blown
+out. Soon both were fast asleep.
+
+
+
+
+MAMA'S HAPPY CHRISTMAS.
+
+It had seemed to the little Wendell children that they would have a
+very sad Christmas. Mama had been very ill, and papa had been so anxious
+about mama that he could not think of anything else.
+
+When Christmas Day came, however, mama was so much better that she could
+lie on the lounge. The children all brought their stockings into her
+room to open them.
+
+"You children all seem as happy as if you had had your usual Christmas
+tree," said mama, as they sat around her.
+
+"Why, I NEVER had such a happy Christmas before," said sweet little
+Agnes. "And it's just because you are well again."
+
+"Now I think you must all run out for the rest of the day," said the
+nurse, "because your mama wants to see you all again this evening."
+
+"I wish we could get up something expressly for mama's amusement," said
+Agnes, when they had gone into the nursery.
+
+"How would you like to have some tableaux in here?" asked their French
+governess, Miss Marcelle.
+
+"Oh, yes," they all cried, "it would be fun, mama loves tableaux."
+
+So all day long they were busy arranging five tableaux for the evening.
+The tableaux were to be in the room which had folding-doors opening into
+Mrs. Wendell's sitting-room.
+
+At the proper time Miss Marcelle stepped outside the folding-doors and
+made a pretty little speech. She said that some young ladies and a young
+gentleman had asked permission to show some tableaux to Mrs. Wendell
+if she would like to see them. Mrs. Wendell replied that she would be
+charmed.
+
+Then mademoiselle announced the tableaux; opening the doors wide for
+each one. This is a list of the tableaux: First, The Sleeping Beauty;
+second, Little Red Riding Hood third, The Fairy Queen; fourth, Old
+Mother Hubbard; fifth, The Lord High Admiral.
+
+Miss Marcelle had arranged everything so nicely, and Celeste, the French
+maid, helped so much with the dressing, that the pictures all went off
+without a single mistake.
+
+Mama was delighted. She said she must kiss those dear young ladies, and
+that delightful young man who had given her such a charming surprise.
+
+So all the children came in rosy and smiling.
+
+"Why, didn't you know us?" asked the little Lord Admiral.
+
+"I know this," said mama, "I am like Agnes. I NEVER had such a happy
+Christmas before."
+
+
+
+
+CURED OF CARELESSNESS.
+
+Mrs. Bertram sat reading a book one morning, or trying to. It was not
+easy to do so, for her little boy, Roger, was out in the hall playing
+with his drum. Suddenly the drumming ceased, and in a moment Roger
+rushed into the room crying as if his heart would break.
+
+"I've burst it. I've burst it," he sobbed.
+
+"Your drum," asked his mother. "How did you do that?"
+
+"I was beating it with the poker and the tongs and--"
+
+"With the poker and tongs!" exclaimed his mother. "Why, where were your
+drum-sticks?"
+
+Then Roger stopped crying, and hung his head with shame.
+
+"Where are your drum-sticks?" asked his mother, again.
+
+"I--I--don't know," sobbed Roger.
+
+"Have you lost those, too?" said Mrs. Bertram. She needed no words for
+answer. Roger's manner was quite enough. "You know, dear, what I said
+would happen the next time you lost anything."
+
+"Yes," said Roger, "I you said I must give away all my toys to some
+little boys who would take care of them."
+
+"Yes," said his mother. "I see you remember. I shall send them all
+to-night to the Children's Hospital."
+
+"But, mama," said Roger, "if I don't have any toys to take care of, how
+can I learn to take care of them?"
+
+Mrs. Bertram had to turn away so that Roger should not see her smile.
+
+"I shall have to think of some other way to teach you to be careful. Now
+go and bring me all your toys."
+
+Roger went out of the room to do as his mother said. When he had gone,
+Mrs. Bertram sat thinking until he came back.
+
+"I have decided that I want you to dust the library every morning."
+
+Roger looked astonished. "Boys don't dust," he said.
+
+"Sometimes," said his mother, smilingly. "Your Uncle Fred had to dust
+his own room when he was at West Point. Now if you dust the library
+every morning for two months faithfully, and do not break a single
+ornament, I shall know you have grown careful in one way, and that may
+help you to be careful in another."
+
+The next morning Roger began his work. At first he disliked it very
+much, but after a while he grew very particular. It was not pleasant to
+be without any toys, and he determined to earn them.
+
+The day when his trial of two months would be up, would be Christmas
+Day. He did not know if his presents this year would be toys or useful
+things. All his mother had said about his work was, "My dear, you are
+improving."
+
+Christmas night came, and with it a beautiful tree. Imagine Roger's
+delight when he saw on and about it new skates, a new sled, a new violin
+and a new drum.
+
+And up in the highest branches, in letters of gold, these words: "For
+the boy who has proved he can be careful when he tries."
+
+
+
+
+A VISIT FROM A PRINCE.
+
+Harry was playing with his letter blocks one afternoon, when a prince
+came to visit him.
+
+Harry knew the prince very well, indeed. As soon as the prince came into
+the room Harry said:
+
+"Hullo, old fellow, is that you?"
+
+Was not that a very strange way to greet a prince?
+
+And wasn't it stranger yet for Harry to say next:
+
+"Come, sit up, old boy, and give us your--"
+
+Was it hand Harry was going to say? No, indeed, it was paw. "Sit up, old
+boy, and give us your paw."
+
+Prince was a beautiful dog, as black as a coal. Indeed, his real name,
+his whole name, was Edward, the Black Prince. Now you must ask somebody
+to tell you about the man who was called the "Black Prince," the man for
+whom Harry's dog was named.
+
+When Harry asked Prince to give his paw, the dog did not do it as
+quickly as he ought to have done.
+
+Did Harry beat him for that? No, indeed. Did he say, "Never mind,
+Prince, you need not obey me if you do not want to?" No, indeed, again.
+
+He sat up himself, and then he made Prince sit up on his hind legs. Then
+he ordered Prince to give his paw. Prince did so. Then Harry made him
+do it again, then again and again and again, until the dog seemed to
+understand that he must learn to obey when he was spoken to.
+
+After Prince appeared to have learned that lesson quite perfectly, Harry
+taught him something new.
+
+He taught him to stand on his hind legs and hold a pipe in his mouth.
+
+This he soon did so well that Harry clapped his hands and cried,
+"Good, good, you smoke as well as his royal highness, the Black Prince,
+himself."
+
+Which remark showed that Harry had not yet begun to study history. If
+he had, he would have known that in the country where the Black Prince
+lived, tobacco was never heard of until many, many, MANY years after his
+death.
+
+
+
+
+STRINGING CRANBERRIES.
+
+Arthur Bancroft was feeling very cross one morning in December. He had
+a bad cold, and his mother did not think it would be wise for him to go
+out-of-doors. That was why he was cross. The skating was finer than it
+had been that season; every other boy he knew was enjoying it.
+
+He walked about the house with a very sulky face; would take no notice
+of books or games, and seemed determined to be miserable.
+
+He was standing looking out of the window when his sister Laura
+came into the room. Laura carried in her hand a basket filled with
+cranberries.
+
+She put the basket on the table, took a needle from her mother's needle
+book, threaded it with a long, stout thread, and began stringing the
+berries.
+
+Laura was a dear little thing! She was always busy. No one ever heard
+her say, "I wish I had something to do." And she was generally doing
+something for some one else.
+
+She made a sweet little picture as she sat bending over the basket of
+crimson cranberries. Some such idea may have come into Arthur's mind
+as he turned and looked at her. As he watched her silently for some
+moments, the cross expression on his face became a little less cross.
+
+"What are you doing?" he asked.
+
+"Stringing cranberries for the Mullins' Christmas tree," answered Laura.
+"Don't you want to help me?"
+
+"It's girls' work," replied Arthur.
+
+"Isn't a boy smart enough to do a girl's work?" asked Laura.
+
+"Of course, he's SMART enough. I don't mean that! Perhaps he doesn't
+want to."
+
+"Oh," said Laura, "I wish you did want to."
+
+"Why?" asked Arthur.
+
+"I promised to string all these for the Mullins' Christmas tree," replied
+Laura. "The market-man brought them so late, I have not much time now."
+
+"Thread another needle," said Arthur.
+
+In a few moments he was working as busily as Laura, herself. As Arthur
+finished his last long string, he tied the ends together and threw it
+around Laura's neck. When she bent her head a little, it reached the
+floor.
+
+"There," said he, "that proves that a boy can do a girl's work."
+
+"Yes," said Laura, "when"--then she stopped and smiled.
+
+"When what?" asked Arthur.
+
+"When he has a girl to show him how," laughed Laura, as she danced out
+of the room with the cranberry strings.
+
+
+
+
+CHRISTMAS IN CALIFORNIA.
+
+     "To think that this is Christmas Day!"
+     Said Harold to his aunt,
+     "I know it really is, and yet,
+     Believe it--well, I can't!
+     I've had a tree, my stocking, too,
+     This morning full I found,
+     But how can I believe it
+     With no snow upon the ground?
+
+     Look at the sea so bright and blue,
+     And feel the soft, warm air,
+     And there are roses all in bloom,
+     And lilies, I declare!
+     I think that California
+     Is lovely, but it's queer,
+     How different Christmas is at home
+     From what it is out here."
+
+     "Ah, Harold!" gently said his aunt,
+     "No matter where you go,
+     In country strewn with flowers like this,
+     Or clad in ice and snow,
+     The birthday of the Christ-child is
+     The same in every place,
+     And happy greetings in His name,
+     Bring smiles to every face."
+
+
+
+
+A TROUBLESOME CALL.
+
+     We were going, on Saturday, ever so far,--
+     My mamma and I,--to the Dollies' Bazaar,
+     Where fifty wax dollies,--the loveliest show,
+     Went walking about when they wound 'em, you know.
+
+     You wouldn't believe half the things they could do:
+     Why, one said "Good morning," as plainly as you.
+     One played the piano, and one, dressed in lace,
+     Walked up to a mirror and powdered her face.
+
+     Well, when we were ready we stepped in the hall,
+     And there was a lady a-coming to call.
+     She said she just chanced to be passing that way,
+     And she really had only a minute to stay.
+
+     We waited and waited, and hoped she would go,
+     Till I saw it was almost the time for the show,
+     For I heard the clocks striking all over the town,
+     And I knew that the dollies would all be run down.
+
+     And so I just said, "I should s'pose, Mrs. Black,
+     Your little girl wonders why don't you come back."
+     That's all that I spoke, every 'dentical word;
+     But she said, "Little girls should be seen and not heard."
+
+     I guess that's a proverb, so maybe 'tis true;
+     But, if people won't see, what can little girls do?
+     My mamma looked queer, but that ended the call,
+     And we went to the Dollies' Bazaar, after all.
+
+
+
+
+BERTIE'S CORN-POPPER
+
+Bertie had the desire of his heart,--a corn-popper! He had wanted it for
+a long time,--three weeks, at least. Mamma brought it when she came home
+from the city, and gave it to him for his very own. A bushel of corn,
+ready popped, would not have been half so good. There was all the
+delight of popping in store for the long winter evenings.
+
+Bertie could hardly wait to eat his supper before he tried his
+corn-popper. It proved to be a very good one. He popped corn that
+evening, and the next, and the next. He fed all the family, gave some
+to all his playmates, and carried a bag of pop-corn to school for his
+teacher.
+
+Trip, the shaggy, little, yellow dog, came in for a share, and Mintie
+too. Who or what was Mintie?
+
+Mintie was a bantam biddy, very small, white as snow, and very pretty.
+She had been left an orphan chick, and for a while kept in the house,
+near the kitchen fire. She had been Bertie's especial charge, and he fed
+and tended her faithfully.
+
+As she grew older she would rove about with the larger hens, but was
+very tame, and always liked the house. She would come in very often.
+When Bertie happened to pop corn in the daytime she was pretty apt to be
+around, and pick up the kernels he threw to her.
+
+One night he left his corn-popper on the kitchen table. It was open, and
+two or three small kernels were still in it.
+
+Early next morning, long before Bertie was dressed, Mintie came into the
+kitchen. She flew up on the table, and helped herself to the corn in the
+popper. The girl was busy getting breakfast, and did not mind much about
+her. Presently she went down cellar, and Mintie had the room to herself.
+
+When Bertie came down to breakfast there was a white egg in the
+corn-popper! It was so small that it looked almost like a bird's; but it
+was Mintie's first egg.
+
+Bertie clapped his hands; he was very much pleased.
+
+"Mamma! mamma!" he shouted. "See this pretty egg! Mintie put it into my
+popper, and must have meant to give it to me."
+
+And mamma said, "Very likely she did."
+
+
+
+
+FIRE! FIRE!! FIRE!!!
+
+Where is it? Where is it? Why, it is in the water! Isn't that funny? But
+you see it isn't a real fire, but only a fire-fish. [*] Sweet creature,
+isn't he? Suppose you were a little, innocent mermaid, swimming alone
+for the first time; how would you feel if you were to meet this fellow
+darting towards you with his great red mouth open? Why, you would scream
+with fright, and swim to your mother as fast as you could, and catch
+hold of her tail for protection. At least, that is what I should do if I
+were a mermaid. But Mrs. Mermaid won't tell you that the fire-fish will
+not hurt you unless you hurt him first, in which case he will prick you
+dreadfully with his long, sharp spines.
+
+     * Project Gutenberg ed. note: The picture is of a fish also
+     known as a scorpionfish.
+
+
+I never see his picture without thinking of a red Indian in his warpaint
+and feathers. Perhaps--who knows?-perhaps when Indians are greedy, and
+eat too much fish, they may turn into fire-fish, and have to swim about
+forever under water, and never see a green forest again. If you are an
+Indian I advise you to be careful, my dear.
+
+Nobody knows why this fish has such enormous, wing-like fins. Wise men
+used to think that he could raise himself out of the water with them,
+like the flying-fish; but it is now proved that he cannot, and there
+seems to be no reason why a set of plain, small fins would not serve him
+just as well for swimming. He prefers warm water to cold; so he lives
+in the tropical seas, swimming about the coasts of India, Africa, and
+Australia. The natives of Ceylon call him Gini-maha, and they think he
+is very good to eat. They take great care in catching him, for they are
+very much afraid of him, thinking that his sharp spines are poisoned,
+and can inflict a deadly wound. But in this they are too hard upon the
+fellow. He can prick them deeply and painfully, and he will if they
+meddle with him; but he is a perfectly respectable fish, and would not
+think of such a cowardly thing as poisoning anybody.
+
+
+
+
+THE DOLLS AND THE OTHER DOLLS.
+
+"Mamma," little Nellie asked, "is it right to give away things that have
+been given to you?"
+
+Her mamma replied that it might be quite right sometimes; and she said,
+"But I should feel sorry if I had made a little friend a present she did
+not value, and so was glad to part with it."
+
+"O mamma!" said Nellie, "you know how I value my dollies, every one,
+that my dear aunts and cousins sent me because I was sick. Now I am well
+again. To-morrow is New-Year's. Some sick little girls in the hospital
+want dollies. Could I, if I knew which one to choose, keep only one
+for myself, and send the whole five of them for those poor children who
+haven't any?"
+
+Her mamma liked the plan. She gave Nellie a box, and Nellie began
+kissing her babies, and laying them, one after another, in the box.
+
+There were two of nearly the same size, that were very dear to this
+little mother. She called them twins. They wore white frocks and blue
+kid boots. They had real blonde hair and their eyes would open and shut.
+
+These lovely twins Nellie held in her arms a long time before she could
+decide which to part with. When she did place one in the box, to be her
+own no more, a tear was on the doll's cheek. I do not think the drop
+came from dolly's eye.
+
+A few days after the dolls were given Nellie's mamma let her invite
+three little girls to play with her. Each girl brought her Christmas or
+her New-Year's doll; and the three dolls, with Nellie's, looked sweetly
+sitting together in a row.
+
+By and by Nellie's mamma came to her room, which she had given to the
+party for its use that afternoon. She told the children she would give
+them a little supper of cakes and pears and grapes, and it would be
+ready as soon as Biddy could bring the ice-cream from down street.
+
+The smiling child-visitors gathered around the kind lady, saying, "We
+thank you, and we love you ever so much."
+
+Nellie said softly, "Mamma dear, I wouldn't take my dollies back if I
+could. I love to think they amuse the sick children. But I do wish that
+for just a minute we had as many at this party."
+
+Her mamma turned to her dressing-case. It stood low enough for the
+smallest child to look into the mirror at the back easily. Moving off
+the toilet cushions and cologne-bottles, the lady put the four dolls in
+front of the looking-glass. Their reflection in the glass showed four
+more.
+
+"Six, seven, eight," cried the girls, delighted. "And all are
+twins--four pairs of twins!"
+
+After supper they made, the twins sit, and stand, and dance, bow and
+shake hands, before the looking-glass. So they played till dusk, when
+the other little girls' mammas sent to take them home, after kissing
+Nellie good-night.
+
+
+
+
+WHY DID MAMMA CHANGE HER MIND?
+
+Mamma Miller told Fay and Lonnie that they might have a party, so they
+tried to get ready for it. But the party was very different to what they
+expected. It always happens so about everything, if we pay no regard to
+one another's wishes.
+
+Mrs. Miller said they might invite ten children.
+
+"You write to five little girls, Fay," said she, "and Lonnie will write
+to the five little boys."
+
+So they went into the library. Lonnie sat down in papa's big chair,
+while Fay climbed up on one arm, close beside him, and they tried to
+think whom they would like to come to their party.
+
+"Make out your list first," said Lonnie. Fay did, and her brother agreed
+to all the girls. But as soon as Lonnie commenced writing his names, Fay
+began to find fault.
+
+"I don't like boys, anyway," said Fay, "only you, Lonnie. Let's have all
+girls at our party."
+
+"But it won't be my party," said Lonnie, "if you have all girls."
+
+"I don't care, all those are horrid," pointing to his paper.
+
+"You say that because you don't like boys." And then he told his sister
+that every little fellow whose name he had written was just as good as
+gold. And so they were just as good as Lonnie Miller, and he was one of
+the best boys that ever lived, so everybody said.
+
+"I sha'n't play with him if he comes," Fay kept saying to every name
+Lonnie wrote.
+
+"You can have your party," said Lonnie, getting up out of the easy-chair
+and sitting down in a smaller one, "you and your girls. I'm going to
+learn some new pieces," taking up his little silver blower.
+
+"I don't like boys," Fay kept saying, jumping down off the arm of the
+chair, and aiming a blow at the spot where her brother had sat with the
+rustic stick their sister Lucia had brought home May Day.
+
+Lucia was passing the door just then, so she thought she would see what
+all the noise was about.
+
+"I'd better call you to lunch," said she, and there they were just
+through breakfast.
+
+Mamma herself came hurrying in at sound of the bell. When they told her
+about the invitations, she said, "I shall not let you have any party at
+all, now."
+
+"What makes you change your mind?" said Fay.
+
+"Mamma will give her little girl just one week to find out why she has
+changed her mind," said Mrs. Miller.
+
+And for all Fay's coaxing, she could not be persuaded to stay a minute
+longer.
+
+
+
+
+CLARA'S "FUNERAL."
+
+Clara was the most unfortunate of dollies. She had had the mumps and
+whooping cough; and no sooner did she recover from the scarlet fever
+than she contracted pneumonia and nearly died. One morning Blanche was
+applying hot bandages to relieve bronchitis, and before night Clara had
+the small-pox.
+
+The next day mamma stopped at the nursery door.
+
+"Good morning, little nurse," she said; "how is poor Clara this
+morning?"
+
+"She's DEADED," said Blanche, with a long face.
+
+"Dreadful! What did she die of, small-pox? It seems to me that that was
+what she was suffering from last evening."
+
+"No'm'" said Blanche, "'twasn't small-pox. She DID have that bad; but I
+think she DIED of measles. The SUNERAL (Blanche could not say 'funeral')
+is to be at twelve sharp. Will you come, mamma?"
+
+"I'm so sorry, darling, but I must go to lunch with Mrs. Mathews at one.
+But Jack will go."
+
+The "suneral" took place at noon, and Blanche and Daisy, Jack and old
+Hector followed poor Clara in Benny's wagon to the grave yard at the
+bottom of the orchard. It was rather a jolly "suneral," for they had
+"refreshments" under the trees afterward.
+
+In the afternoon, as mamma, came up the orchard path, she was surprised
+to see a doll's foot and leg sticking straight up out of the ground.
+
+"Why did you leave her foot out in this way?" asked mamma.
+
+"Well," said Blanche, "I thought perhaps she could get to Heaven
+easier."
+
+
+
+
+THE CHICKADEE-DEE.
+
+     Little darling of the snow,
+     Careless how the winds may blow,
+     Happy as a bird can be,
+     Singing, oh, so cheerily,
+     Chickadee-dee! Chickadee-dee!
+
+     When the skies are cold and gray,
+     When he trills his happiest lay,
+     Through the clouds he seems to see
+     Hidden things to you and me.
+     Chickadee-dee! chickadee-dee!
+
+     Very likely little birds
+     Have their thoughts too deep for word,
+     But we know, and all agree,
+     That the world would dreary be
+     Without birds, dear chickadee!
+
+
+
+
+THE CHILDREN'S PARTY.
+
+     What a merry, merry rout!
+     See the wee ones dance about!
+     Dickie's leading off the ball;
+     There,--he almost had a fall.
+
+     Who's his partner in the whirls,
+     --Rosiest of all the girls?
+     But a doll--a DOLL you say;
+     Dancing in that sprightly way?
+
+     Well I never! Oh, see there,
+     See--just see those horses tear!
+     Meg and Madge will sure be thrown.
+     What a vicious looking roan!
+
+     Not a real live horse you say,
+     Prancing in that frightful way?
+     Well, I never! Toys to-day
+     Surely seem more "real" than "play."
+
+
+
+
+BRAVE TOMASSO.
+
+There were once two very beautiful cats named Tomasso and Lilia. It
+would be very hard indeed to say which was more beautiful than the
+other, Tomasso the husband, or Lilia his wife.
+
+They were about the same size, although, perhaps, Tomasso was a little
+the stouter of the two. There could be no question that at times the
+expression of his face was decidedly more fierce than that of his gentle
+wife.
+
+The fur of each of them was as white as the driven snow, and as soft,
+and fine, and glossy as the most perfect silk gloss.
+
+Add to these natural charms the fact that they always kept themselves
+beautifully clean, and always wore round their necks cravats made of the
+richest satin ribbon, and I am sure you will agree with me in thinking
+that they were cats of very high degree.
+
+Their neighbors considered them extremely proud and haughty. They never
+were known to play with any of the cats in their street. To be with each
+other was all they asked. Sometimes these neighbors took a great deal of
+pains to get a glimpse of Tomasso and Lilia as, paw in paw, they danced
+a minuet together.
+
+Even the most grumpy grimalkin declared it was a beautiful sight. There
+was no doubt the young couple was very graceful and their manners were
+perfect. Then he said that cats brought up as Tomasso and his wife had
+always lived, OUGHT to be amiable and beautiful. He understood that
+a jar of Orange County cream was ordered for them every day. Then he
+muttered something which sounded very much as if he thought Tomasso
+would be not over courageous in a moment of danger. "Alone, white tail
+is all very fine," said he, "but mark my word, at a sudden fright it
+would turn into a white feather. I should pity his wife if she had no
+one but him to protect her."
+
+Now it happened that that very afternoon Tomasso's courage was put to
+the test. As he and Lilia were taking a quiet walk, suddenly a huge dog
+rushed out at them. In an instant Tomasso placed himself across Lilia's
+trembling body. She had fallen to the ground in terror. The great dog
+made a jump at Tomasso, but was met with such a snarl, and then such a
+blow from a set of sharp claws that he ran away howling.
+
+That night the news of Tomasso's bravery spread through the whole
+neighborhood. But he was very quiet and modest. His proud wife was much
+disturbed at a bad scratch Tomasso had received in the struggle. They
+both examined it carefully with the aid of a hand-glass.
+
+"I hope it will not leave a scar," said Lilia, "but if it does it will
+only be a proof of the noble courage of my brave Tomasso."
+
+
+
+
+TOMMY FROST SEES A BEAR.
+
+Tommy Frost was making his first visit in the country. He was enjoying
+it very much. He liked to ramble about in the woods close by the house
+of his aunt, Mrs. Drew. Tommy had never even seen any birds before this,
+but pigeons and sparrows. That is, any birds out of cages. He had lived
+all his short life in the centre of a great city. He wanted very much to
+see a wild animal. He had heard Mr. Drew and some of his friends talking
+about "bear tracks" in the woods. Mr. Drew said they must go off some
+day and hunt for that bear.
+
+Now Tommy had no idea what a bear was like. He wished very much that he
+might see one. Every day he said to himself, "If I could only find the
+one the big men were talking about I'd feel proud." One day as he was
+strolling about, he suddenly saw something moving in one of the trees.
+He stopped, and looked up excitedly, then he rushed for the house
+screaming at the top of his voice, "Aunt Maria! Aunt Maria! come quick,
+I've seen it, it's in the woods."
+
+"What is in the woods?" asked Mrs. Drew.
+
+"The bear!" cried Tommy.
+
+"The bear?" repeated Mrs. Drew, hardly understanding.
+
+Then she drew a long breath and turned very white as she stood a moment
+shielding her eyes from the sun, looking in the direction in which Tommy
+pointed. Then she ran back into the house, and came out in a moment,
+bringing with her a huge horn. It was a megaphone. She was trembling so
+she could scarcely lift it, but she managed to raise it to her mouth and
+call through it. "John! Murray! come! come this instant! The bear is in
+the woods back of the house."
+
+In a few moments her husband and brother came running from the field
+where they were at work.
+
+They stopped for no questions, but rushed into the house for their guns.
+But as they came out Mr. Drew asked, "Who saw it? When, where?"
+
+"I did," said Tommy, not a bit frightened, but feeling very excited and
+proud. "I did, back there in a tree."
+
+"In a tree?" cried Mrs. Drew's brother, stopping in his quick run for
+the woods.
+
+"Yes," said Tommy, "it was a bear, but it looked,--it LOOKED just like
+my picture of a wiggle-tail."
+
+"Oh," cried Mrs. Drew, as she sank on the door-step, "the child has seen
+a gray squirrel!"
+
+
+
+
+MYSELF.
+
+     One little head so smooth and round,
+     With soft hair covered, golden or brown,
+     One little forehead smooth and white,
+     Two little eye-brows dark or light.
+     Two little eyes that we see through.
+     See us looking, now, at you?
+     Two little cheeks so plump and round,
+     Where the red rose of health is found.
+     Two little ears where sound comes in;
+     One little nose and mouth and chin.
+     Rows of little teeth all in white;
+     Ready for use when lunch is in sight.
+     One little tongue kind words to say--
+     Bright little smiles which round them play.
+     One little head where all are seen.
+     One little neck which stands between
+     Head and shoulders to hold them fast.
+     Now are we ready to find, at last,
+     One little body with arms and hands
+     Two legs and two feet on which it stands.
+
+
+
+
+TWO STRANGE SIGHTS.
+
+     "Oh come into the dining-room!"
+     Cries Fred, "come, grandma, dear.
+     For something very strange indeed
+     Is going on in here!"
+     And sure enough, when grandma comes,
+     Perhaps at first with fright,
+     She stands quite still, astonished at
+     An unexpected sight.
+
+     For there upon the woollen rug,
+     A jug between her feet,
+     Sits Freddy's little sister Bess
+     Absorbed in pleasures sweet.
+     Her finger in the syrup now
+     Behold she slyly dips,
+     And carries it with great delight
+     To her own rosy lips.
+
+     "You little witch!" cries grandmama,
+     "You're like the naughty rat
+     I found within the cellar once,
+     Who on a barrel sat,
+     Filled with molasses, which he reached
+     By dipping in the hole
+     His great long tail from which he licked
+     The sweets he thus had stole.
+
+     "The rat was shot, but grandma's babe,
+     Well, till she's learned to know
+     Such tricks are wrong, why we of course
+     Must naught but patience show."
+     Then grandma took her little pet,
+     And washed her sticky face,
+     Then put that tempting syrup-jug
+     Up in a safer place.
+
+
+
+
+A CAT'S INSTINCTS.
+
+"Take that! and that! and that!" These words came from an angry little
+girl. She was leaning over a big gray puss which she was holding down
+with one hand, while with the other she struck him a sharp blow every
+time she said "THAT."
+
+It is a wonder puss did not bite her, for he was so strong he could have
+done so. He was a very gentle cat. "Gentle?" I hear some one ask. Then
+why did he deserve such a whipping as the little girl was giving him?
+
+That is a question we must try to have answered. For my part I do not
+believe he deserved it at all. Let us see what happened next. Just as
+the little girl struck the last blow her Aunt Margaret came into the
+room. Aunt Margaret stopped in the doorway, astonished.
+
+"Why Flora," she said, as puss darted out of the room, "what are you
+beating Griffin for?"
+
+"What do you think he was doing?" cried Flora, her cheeks still flushed
+with anger. "He was on the table just ready to spring at this beautiful
+bird in my new hat. If I had not come he would have torn it to pieces."
+
+"But he knew no better," said Aunt Margaret, "it is perfectly natural for
+a cat to spring at a bird. Yes, and for him to kill it too, if he has
+not been trained to do otherwise."
+
+"But it would have made me feel dreadfully to have this beautiful bird
+torn to bits. I really love it. Besides, it was killed long ago."
+
+"Yes," said Aunt Margaret, "killed that you might wear it on a hat."
+
+There was something in Aunt Margaret's voice which made Flora and the
+little girls who were visiting her stand very still and look up.
+
+"You say," continued Aunt Margaret very gently, "you say you love your
+beautiful bird. That you would feel dreadfully if it were torn to bits.
+How do you think its bird-mother felt when it was torn from her nest,
+and she never saw it again?"
+
+"Oh," said Flora, "I never thought of that before. I'm afraid,--I'm
+afraid I'm more to blame than the cat."
+
+
+
+
+DINAH'S NEW YEAR'S PRESENT.
+
+Dinah Morris is a colored girl. She lives in the South. By South we mean
+in the southern part of the United States.
+
+Dinah is one of the most good-natured children that ever lived, but she
+is very, very lazy. There is nothing she likes, or used to like, so much
+as to curl up in some warm corner in the sun and do nothing.
+
+Dinah's mother wished very much that her child should learn to read,
+but the lady who tried to teach her soon gave it up. "It is no use," she
+said, "Dinah will not learn. She is not a stupid child, but she is too
+lazy for anything."
+
+It happened, soon after this, that a young man from Massachusetts came
+to the house where Dinah lived. He brought with him something no one
+else in the neighborhood had ever seen before--a pair of roller-skates.
+
+When Dinah saw the young man going rapidly up and down the piazza on
+his skates she was so astonished she hardly knew what to think. She ran
+after him like a cat, her black eyes shining as they had never shone
+before.
+
+One day the young man allowed her to try on the skates. The child was
+too happy for words. Of course she fell down, and sprawled about the
+floor, but did not mind at all.
+
+"Look here, Dinah," said the young man, "I understand that my aunt has
+been trying to teach you to read."
+
+Dinah answered that she certainly had.
+
+"Why didn't you learn?" asked the young man. "You need not trouble to
+answer," said he, "it was just because you are too lazy. Now, if, on the
+first of January, you can read, I tell you what I will do. I will send
+you as good a pair of roller-skates as I can buy in Boston."
+
+How Dinah's eyes snapped. For a moment she said nothing, then exclaimed
+decidedly, "I'll have those skates, sure."
+
+And she did. When she bent her mind on her work she could always do it
+well, no matter what it was.
+
+The lady who had before this found her such a difficult child to
+teach, now had no trouble. If Dinah showed the least sign of her former
+laziness the word SKATES! was enough to make her bend her mind on her
+lesson instantly.
+
+On New Year's morning she received a box marked in large printed
+letters:
+
+     MISS DINAH MORRIS,
+     Care of Mrs. Lawrence Delaney,
+     NEW ORLEANS, LA.
+
+     If she can read what is on the outside of
+     this box she can have what is inside.
+
+And as Dinah read every word plainly and quickly, of course she had for
+her very own the fine roller-skates the box held. And now sitting curled
+up in the sun, doing nothing, is not the thing she likes to do best.
+
+
+
+
+NIGHT FLOWERS.
+
+There are some flowers that never see the sun. One of the most curious
+is the "evening primrose." About six o'clock it suddenly bursts open,
+with a popping sound, and at six next morning closes.
+
+If you watch that pretty flower, and listen, you can hear this strange
+performance.
+
+This is why it does so. The little calyx holds the petals in such a way
+that the moment it turns back they are let loose. At once it bursts out
+into full flower, with this funny noise, like a pop-gun.
+
+So the "night-blooming cereus" blossom in the night, only for an hour,
+giving out its sweet fragrance, and then dies. Just think of never
+seeing the sun at all!
+
+In a far Eastern country there is a kind of jasmine called the
+"sorrowful tree." It droops as if sick in the daytime, and at night
+grows fresh and bright. It opens its lovely flowers with a very pleasant
+odor till morning, and then wilts and looks wretched again.
+
+
+
+
+THE FIRST SNOW-STORM.
+
+Away off on a warm sunny island, little Harry Hall was born. Flowers
+bloomed all the year round. The sun shone most of the time, although now
+and then there were thunder-showers.
+
+Many wonderful plants grew wild, while on the shore shells and seaweed
+and queer little fishes were often to be found.
+
+When Harry was six years old his parents took a journey to New York.
+
+It seemed very odd to the little boy to live in a place where there were
+so many people, and such great houses. After a while the weather grew
+cold, and he had to wear thick woollen clothing. The house in which they
+lived was heated by a furnace; but one day they had a fire of logs on
+the hearth. Harry enjoyed it very much, and thought the bright blaze so
+pretty.
+
+The sky was gray and cloudy one afternoon, and Harry had been standing
+by the window watching the street cars. Suddenly the air grew thick, and
+he could scarcely see the houses opposite. Something white and feathery
+fell slowly down and rested on the window ledge. Then it disappeared.
+But more and more of the little flakes came, until there was quite a
+ridge outside of the window.
+
+Harry opened the sash gently, fearing it might fly away. He was
+surprised when he touched it to find it so cold. He took some up in his
+hand, but in a moment it was only a drop of water.
+
+By that time the street and the men's hats and coats were quite white.
+Harry was puzzled to find a name for the beautiful white substance, so
+he ran to his mamma and asked her about it.
+
+She told him it was snow, and because the air was so warm on the
+beautiful island where he was born they never had any.
+
+The next morning he saw the little children of the neighborhood playing
+in it; but before noon the sun was so bright and warm the snow had all
+melted away.
+
+When the second snow-storm came Harry's papa brought home a beautiful
+sleigh, and gave his little boy great pleasure by drawing him up and
+down the street.
+
+Harry soon learned to go out by himself, and made many friends;
+especially of the little girls, as he was very generous with his sleigh.
+
+But he has never forgotten his surprise when he saw the first
+snow-storm.
+
+
+
+
+FRED'S STOLEN RIDE.
+
+One day little Fred's mother, who had been sick a long time, told him
+she was going out with a friend to take a drive. Fred wanted to go, too,
+but his mother said there would not be room in the buggy. Fred felt very
+cross and unhappy, and sat down on the front steps, ready to cry as soon
+as he should see his mother go away.
+
+A buggy came to the gate, and the gentleman who was driving went into
+the house. Fred ran out and climbed into the buggy to sit there until
+his mother came out.
+
+In looking around he saw there was a wide space under the seat, in which
+a boy might hide. He crawled in, thinking he would take a ride, and his
+mother would not know it.
+
+He waited a long time, but no one came, and at last he grew tired and
+fell asleep.
+
+He was waked by feeling a big jolt, as a wheel of the buggy struck a
+stone; but he kept still. After what seemed to him a long time the
+buggy stopped and he heard some one taking the horse from the shafts. He
+waited until all was quiet, and then crawled out from his hiding-place.
+
+He found it was almost dark, and everything about him was strange. He
+was very much frightened, but he jumped down and went to a farm-house
+close by. A woman he had never seen before came to the door. When he
+told her where he lived she said he was fifteen miles from home, and he
+found that he had taken his stolen ride in the buggy of a man who had
+called to see his father on business.
+
+It was too late for Fred to go home that night, and he had to stay at
+the farmer's house until the next day. Then he was taken home, and I am
+very sure he never tried to steal another ride.
+
+
+
+
+A VALENTINE PARTY.
+
+The children had a valentine party, the very nicest party,--they all
+declared, that they had ever been to in their lives. All the cousins in
+the neighborhood--and there were a lot of them--were there.
+
+What fun they had opening their valentines, which a "really" postman
+brought with his gray uniform and his whistle and his great leather
+pack.
+
+"Dear me," he said, pretending to groan, as he handed the missives, "if
+you had a party every day here I think I should be completely worn out!"
+But his eyes twinkled merrily.
+
+Such shouts and exclamations as the valentines were opened and read!
+And such fun looking at everybody else's. Here are two, Bessie's and
+Fred's:--
+
+     I'm for the boy
+     Who can stand on his head,
+     And who NEVER likes
+     To go to bed.
+     If there's more than one of them,--
+     I'm for FRED!
+
+     I bring a kiss
+     From far away;
+     It's travelled many
+     Miles to-day.
+
+     Take it, my dear,
+     And send one back
+     To your old, loving
+     Uncle Jack.
+
+Don't you think that the children OUGHT to have had a good time if all
+received as dear little valentines as these?
+
+
+
+
+THE VENTURESOME RAT.
+
+He was a fine young rat and lived with his father and mother, and
+brothers and sisters in a farm-cellar.
+
+Now this young rat was not of a very quiet disposition. In fact he was
+quite gay, and thought the life in the farm-cellar was very dull and
+stupid and longed to see more of the world.
+
+He sat near his father and mother one day when they were entertaining a
+caller, a stranger who seemed to have travelled all over the world, and
+told in a very interesting manner of the many wonderful things he had
+seen. "Why," said the caller, "how you can be contented to live as you
+do I cannot imagine, and to bring up your children in such ignorance
+fills me with surprise. They would learn more in one night prowling
+through the big house to which this farm belongs than they will learn
+here for the rest of their lives."
+
+After this caller had taken his leave, the young rat decided that he
+would venture forth himself. He would that very night visit the big
+house and see what was to be seen there. He pretended to cuddle down on
+his own bed, and go sound asleep. He was really watching his parents
+out of the corners of his wicked eyes, and as soon as they were sound
+asleep, off he started. He found his way to the house much more easily
+than he had expected; in short, almost before he could believe it, he
+was in a fine great pantry. A pantry whose shelves were covered with
+such good things to eat as he had never seen. Rich cake, pies, cookies,
+and cheese such as he had heard the caller describe. The first nibble
+fairly melted in his mouth.
+
+After he had eaten his fill he began looking about the pantry for other
+means of amusement. Suddenly he saw a curious thing; it seemed to be a
+little house or hut made of wire. Inside the hut was a piece of cheese.
+"I really think I have eaten enough," said the young rat, "but if that
+cheese is so fine that it is kept in a house by itself it must be very
+fine indeed." With these words he crawled into the hole in the side
+of the hut and ate the cheese, but when, later, he tried to get out he
+could not to save his life.
+
+Hours and hours he remained there until the night passed, and the day
+came. Indeed he had fallen into a little nap when he was awakened by a
+loud cry. Some one was shouting, "we've caught the rascal at last, now
+we'll drown him."
+
+The poor little fellow knew they were wrong; he could not be the rascal
+they meant, for this was the first time he had ever been in the house.
+At that moment a boy's voice was heard to say. "Let me see him. No, you
+shall not drown him. I will tame him if I can."
+
+And so it came about that the young rat did see a good deal of the
+world, but how? THROUGH THE BARS OF A CAGE.
+
+
+
+
+THE BEARS' FEAST.
+
+A man had come to town with two tame bears. They were very clever bears,
+and could climb posts and trees, dance and turn summersets and do a
+great many other tricks besides.
+
+One day the man was taken ill and had to stay in the house all day. He
+thought the bears were locked up in the barn. But the bears decided
+they would go for a walk by themselves. They managed to get away without
+being seen and started in the direction of the schoolhouse.
+
+The children were at recess when they suddenly saw the bears. They were
+frightened and ran screaming into the school-house.
+
+The bears were very tame and kind and wanted to make friends with the
+children, so they followed them.
+
+The children jumped on the desks screaming and crying and the teachers
+were frightened too.
+
+When the bears saw that they could not make friends or play they began
+quietly walking about the school-room.
+
+Finally they came to the dressing-room where all the dinner-pails and
+baskets were hanging.
+
+Smelling the food, they managed to knock some of the baskets down and
+then such a feast as they had!
+
+They sat on their haunches and ate sandwiches and fruit and drank milk
+out of the bottles just as the children would do. When they had eaten
+enough they quietly left the school-house and trotted down the road
+toward home.
+
+After the bears were gone the children became calm again and returned to
+their lessons.
+
+The man and the bears disappeared the next day and were never seen
+again.
+
+
+
+
+PATTY-SAYINGS.
+
+"I've been reading Bible stories," Patty said, "and I believe That
+Adam's name MEANT 'Morning,' Because his wife was 'Eve.'"
+
+
+
+
+BABIE'S CURLS.
+
+     Little Bessie Boothby
+     Had a little sister Sue:
+     And a baby brother,
+     Whom she thought the world of, too.
+
+     Only one thing troubled
+     These dear little girls;
+     'Though baby Tom was pretty,
+     He hadn't any curls.
+
+     They found a box of vaseline
+     And rubbed it on his head;
+     But even then no hair would grow:
+     It made his head quite red.
+
+     Bessie once was brushing
+     Dollie's golden hair,
+     When off it fell, alas! and left
+     Poor dollie's head quite bare.
+
+     Little Sue was frightened,
+     But to comfort, Bessie said,
+     "Susie dear, do listen,
+     'Tis just like babie's head.
+
+     "Let's put the wig on baby Tom,
+     And then he'll have some curls;
+     I would not even be surprised
+     If he looked just like us girls."
+
+     When Mamma saw her baby boy
+     With all this growth of hair,
+     She laughed until she nearly cried,
+     At the naughty little pair.
+
+
+
+
+THE RED APPLES.
+
+One windy day in March Kitty Miller was on her way to school, when she
+spied in a store window, a great pile of lovely red apples.
+
+"Oh," she said, "how lovely! if Mamma could only have one!"
+
+Kittie's mother was very poor. She had been a dress-maker ever since
+Mr. Miller died, and had worked so hard to earn a living for herself and
+Kitty that she had become sick. She was obliged to lie in bed all day,
+and when Kitty was away at school, the house was very lonesome to the
+invalid.
+
+When Kitty reached the school that day her thoughts were full of her
+sick mother and the lovely apples.
+
+She was usually a good scholar, but to-day she made so many blunders
+that the teacher looked at her in surprise. The little girl could
+only sit at her desk, with her book before her, and dream of those red
+apples. When school was dismissed, Kitty started slowly homeward. She
+had gone only a short distance when she saw a gentleman in front of her
+drop his purse. Running quickly forward she picked it up. It felt quite
+heavy in Kittie's little hand.
+
+"There must be a good deal of money in it," thought Kitty. "How I wish
+I could keep it. Then I could buy Mamma a red apple and so many other
+things she needs."
+
+But she knew this would not be right, so she hurried after the
+gentleman. Touching him on the arm, she said, "Please, Sir, you dropped
+your purse."
+
+"Thank you, dear," said the gentleman taking the purse.
+
+Then noticing how poorly dressed she was, he said, "Why did you not keep
+the purse, my child?"
+
+"Because that would be stealing," replied Kitty. "But," she continued
+honestly, "before I thought I must give it back to you, I did wish I
+could keep it, for then I could buy Mamma a red apple."
+
+The gentleman smiled kindly and said, "You are a good little girl to
+return my purse. I would like to give you a little present and then you
+can buy a red apple."
+
+He handed her a silver dollar and then bade her good-by.
+
+Kitty was so surprised that she started hastily for home, forgetting all
+about the red apples until she stood in front of the store.
+
+The store-keeper happened to look out and saw the same little girl who
+stood looking so longingly in at his window in the morning. He quickly
+picked out the biggest, roundest, reddest apple he could find and taking
+it out to Kitty said, "Would you like this, my dear?"
+
+She took the apple, looking so pleased and thanking him so prettily,
+that the good man thought of it for many a day. When Kitty reached home
+with her treasures she found her mother fast asleep. So she put the
+apple and silver piece on a plate where her mother could see them when
+she awoke.
+
+When Mrs. Miller was told the wonderful story, she kissed her little
+daughter and said, "You see, dear, it always pays to be honest and
+truthful."
+
+
+
+
+BUBBLES.
+
+"Now, Tommie, what will you do while I write letters this morning?"
+
+"Blow soap bubbles, Mamma, please," and Tommie jumped up and down,
+clapping his hands for pleasure.
+
+"Well, run and get me your pipe and bowl and I will mix you some suds."
+
+The soap-suds were soon ready, and Tommie took his favorite position on
+the broad window-sill with the bowl in his lap.
+
+Mamma, writing in the next room, could hear the Oh's and squeals of
+delight, as the bubbles grew larger and rounder.
+
+"Why is Tommie in all the bubbles?" asked the little boy at last.
+
+"Because," said Mamma, "the bubbles are like a mirror, and when my little
+boy is near enough to look at them, he will be reflected in them, just
+the same as when he looks in Mamma's long mirror."
+
+"But the mirror doesn't break like the bubbles," said Tommie. "Where do
+they go when they break, Mamma?"
+
+"They evaporate, dear; that is a big word for my little boy. Spell
+it after Mamma and then perhaps you will remember. E-v-a-p-o-r-a-t-e
+evaporate."
+
+"What does evaporate mean," asked Tommie bringing out the long word with
+a jerk.
+
+"Do you remember, dear," answered Mamma, "that early in the morning when
+the grass is all wet with dew, my little boy cannot run in it without
+his rubbers? But before long it is all dry and then my little boy takes
+off his rubbers and does not get his feet wet. The sun and the air
+absorb or suck up the water and carry it off to their homes. Now, the
+bubbles are made of a little water and a little air. The water is on the
+end of the pipe, and Tommie blows the air into the pipe, and the bubble
+grows big and round. When it breaks, the air sucks up the water, which
+was the outside of the bubble, and the air which was inside mixes with
+the air in the room."
+
+"Now do you suppose you can tell Papa all about it, when he comes home
+to dinner?" asked Mamma.
+
+"Of course I can," said Tommie, proudly. "Haven't you just told me all
+about it?"
+
+
+
+
+A HORSE WHO WORE SNOW SHOES.
+
+Mr. Brown had to go to his camp at Pine Tree Valley, which is in the
+midst of the mountains in California.
+
+His men were cutting down the giant trees, and piling them in readiness
+for the Spring freshet, or floods of the river, when the snows melted.
+Then they would slide them down the mountain sides to the little
+villages below.
+
+There was a great deal of snow on the mountains, and Mr. Brown knew it
+would be hard work climbing to the camp, but Lady Gray was strong, and
+used to it.
+
+Lady Gray was Mr. Brown's pet horse, and carried him everywhere. She was
+always happy when her master was in the saddle.
+
+But to-day the snow was very deep and soon Mr. Brown had to get off,
+throw away the saddle, and lead her. They had to stop very often, and
+lean against the trees and rocks for support, while they rested and
+regained their breath.
+
+In places the snow was so deep and soft, that they sank above their
+knees. Late in the afternoon they reached the camp nearly exhausted, and
+it was several days before they were able to return.
+
+The snow was still deep and Mr. Brown knew he must go back on
+snow-shoes, but he was afraid Lady Gray would have to be left behind.
+
+Finally one of the men suggested making her some snow-shoes. They cut
+four round pieces of board, twelve inches across, and fastened them on
+with rope. Lady Gray seemed to understand what they were for and tried
+very hard to walk in them.
+
+She was very awkward at first and could hardly stand up, but by
+practicing a little every day she was soon able to manage nicely.
+
+So Mr. Brown and Lady Gray both returned on snow-shoes, and how every
+one did laugh when they saw them.
+
+But Lady Gray never could have done it if she had not tried.
+
+
+
+
+THE ANGRY BOBOLINK.
+
+     Pretty little bobolink
+     In your satin coat,
+     Trimmed with white across the neck
+     Black about the throat,
+     Why so angry do you seem?
+     Why so fierce your mien?
+     That you're scolding somebody
+     Plainly can be seen.
+
+     "Don't you know," says bobolink,
+     As he shakes his head,
+     That my nest is hidden in
+     This soft grassy bed?
+     Somebody has come too near,
+     And I wish to say
+     There is no admittance here
+     Pass the other way.
+
+     "If my gentle little wife
+     Sits so calm above,
+     It's because she knows I'll guard
+     This dear nest we love."
+     Fear not, pretty bobolink,
+     Sing your joyous song,
+     Never will I trouble you,
+     Sing, the whole day long.
+
+
+
+
+HOW HIRAM SPENT HIS SHRIMP MONEY.
+
+"I wish my mother had a ring like those the ladies wear at the hotel,"
+said Hiram Green to himself one day. "There isn't one of those ladies as
+pretty as my mother; she ought to wear rings too."
+
+Hiram was the son of a fisherman, but the fisherman had died when Hiram
+was a little boy. Hiram's mother took in sewing and fancy work to earn
+money to support herself and her son. He helped her what he could out of
+school hours, and in vacation. He had two uncles who wad taught him how
+to catch shrimps. With the money he earned by selling them he could buy
+things for his own use or pleasure. He had a bank almost full of what he
+called his "shrimp-money." He did not mean to count his money until the
+bank was full.
+
+Now Hiram loved his mother more than anything else in the world.
+Whenever he dreamed of being rich some time, as boys often do, it was
+not for himself he wanted the money, but that his dear little mother
+might drive in a carriage, drawn by a pair of horses with clanking
+chains.
+
+The sight of the flashing gems on the hands of some of the summer
+visitors at the fishing village in which he lived had added a new
+article to the list of beautiful things his mother was some day to
+own. He had heard that just one single diamond was sometimes worth five
+hundred dollars or more. This had discouraged him very much. But one
+day happening to pass a shop in the neighboring town he saw a number of
+rings displayed in the window. Diamond rings which flashed and sparkled,
+it seemed to him, just as those worn by the ladies in the hotels. He
+stopped fascinated, ana pressed his face against the glass eagerly to
+see if any prices were marked upon them. Imagine his surprise when he
+saw upon the largest one a tag marked $4.75. He looked again to see
+if he had not made a mistake. Perhaps it was $475.00. But no, he knew
+enough about figures to see that he was right the first time.
+
+Home he went as fast as he could get there, and ran up into his bedroom.
+Then, for the first time since he had begun to save his "shrimp-money"
+he opened his bank and counted its contents. "Three dollars and
+twenty-two cents!" he cried, "almost enough. I was going to buy
+something for myself this time, but I'll have that ring before another
+week."
+
+Hiram worked early and late for the next few days. He caught more
+shrimps than he had ever caught in the same length of time, and sold
+them readily.
+
+"I think there must be something you are wanting, very much, my boy,"
+said his mother.
+
+"Yes, there is," replied Hiram.
+
+At the end of the week he had the sum he desired. Hurrying to the shop
+where he had seen the ring, before going inside he gave one hasty,
+almost frightened look into the window. Could it be gone! No, there it
+was flashing and sparkling as before.
+
+That evening, he placed it on his mother's finger. She looked at it in
+surprise. "It is yours, mother," he cried, proudly, "your very own, I
+bought it with my shrimp money. I was determined my mother should have a
+ring as handsome as those ladies wear."
+
+"My dear boy," said his mother, while something as bright as the shining
+stone flashed in her eyes, "Not one of those ladies can value their
+rings as I shall value mine."
+
+Years afterwards Hiram learned that what he had bought for a diamond was
+only a bit of glass.
+
+"Did you know it then, mother?" he asked.
+
+His mother nodded. "And you never told me."
+
+"It was brighter to me than any real diamond," she said, "the brightness
+I saw flash in it was the unselfish love of my boy."
+
+
+
+
+THE ANT'S HOUSE.
+
+"What a curious picture that is at the head of this story." That is what
+I think I hear some of the "Little Ones" say. "What does it mean?" some
+one asks. It looks like a procession of ants. That is just what it is.
+A procession of ants all marching off to find a new home. Some one has
+destroyed their old one. Let us hope no one did it on purpose.
+
+The ants are very busy and very nice little creatures. If their houses
+are stepped upon, or injured so as to be useless the ants immediately go
+to work to repair damages. They do not sit down and fuss about it first,
+but I have no doubt they let each other know what they think. And how
+do you suppose they do this? By touching each other with their tiny
+feelers.
+
+After they have talked in this way, and decided what is to be done some
+of them take the eggs from the ruins and carry them to a safe place.
+Look carefully at the pictures, and you will see that almost every ant
+is carrying an egg. They know that if they lose the eggs all the young
+ants inside the eggs will be lost too.
+
+While ants do not seem to have a very keen sense of hearing, their sense
+of smell is very strong. And where do you think it lies? In the same
+little feelers with which they talk to each other. The first ant's
+house seen in the round picture has been cut in two to show you how
+wonderfully these little creatures can build.
+
+It was made by the ants that live in tropical countries. The house at
+the back of the picture has not been disturbed. Does it not look as if
+an architect had planned it? Ask some of the older people in your family
+to tell you something more about ants. There is much more of interest in
+regard to them than I have space to write you.
+
+
+
+
+THE FOOLISH PUG.
+
+     A pompous pug once thought that he
+     A dashing swell would try to be,
+     And on his neighbors one and all,
+     Sat out to make a stylish call.
+
+     He wore a glass upon one eye,
+     And on his head a silk hat high;
+     A wide, stiff collar around his throat,
+     And last an English overcoat.
+
+     So fine and splendid was his air
+     The very birds stood still to stare,
+     As walking on his two hind feet
+     He sauntered boldly down the street.
+
+     But oh, alas! it comes to all
+     To learn that pride must have a fall,
+     And e'er the corner he had turned
+     Poor pug that bitter lesson learned.
+
+     A saucy maid with one great whack,
+     Brought down her broom upon his back,
+     And as he raised a frightened wail
+     Another soused him from her pail.
+
+     Poor pug! that night he sat and thought
+     Of all the trouble he had brought
+     Upon himself, because that he
+     A foolish dude had tried to be.
+
+
+
+
+THE SILHOUETTE PARTY
+
+"Children," said Grandpa, one afternoon, "I am going to build a bonfire
+this evening, to burn up this rubbish, so you may have a silhouette
+party."
+
+"Why, what is a silhouette party?" asked Lucy, opening her eyes very
+wide.
+
+"I know," said Ralph, "it is funny black pictures on something white."
+
+"That's right," laughed Grandpa. "Now you fly round and write your
+friends and Grandma and I will get everything ready."
+
+When the young people arrived at half past seven, they found a blazing
+fire, and in front of it was stretched a sheet between two large apple
+trees.
+
+Quite a distance in front of the sheet were some seats, where Grandpa
+told some of the children to sit, while the others took part in the
+pictures.
+
+He then disappeared with them in a tent close by where Grandma was
+waiting to dress them in their different costumes. Shouts of laughter
+came from the tent as the children put on their odd dresses; indeed
+there was so much fun that it took quite some time.
+
+When all was ready Grandpa came out and addressing the children who were
+waiting said, "These are to be Mother Goose pictures, which you will
+all know. You must guess whom they represent and the one who guesses
+correctly the largest number will receive a prize."
+
+He threw a large pine knot on the fire, which burned up brightly, and
+there the children saw a shadow on the sheet, a little bent figure with
+a broom over its shoulder.
+
+"The old woman who swept the cob-webs out of the sky," cried some one.
+
+Following this, came a figure with a long cloak and tall peaked hat,
+leading a dog.
+
+"Old Mother Hubbard," guessed another.
+
+Then came a boy and a girl carrying a pail.
+
+"Jack and Jill," chorused the children.
+
+After this a girl with a shepherd's crook.
+
+"Little Bo-peep," again was guessed.
+
+"Now," said Grandpa, "it is time the others had their turn at acting."
+
+So the exchange being made, the pictures continued.
+
+"Jack Horner," "Little Miss Muffet," "Old King Cole," and "Mary, who had
+a little lamb," followed in quick succession.
+
+Then Grandpa announced that the pictures were over.
+
+"As we cannot decide who has guessed the largest number of pictures,"
+said he, "I will give you each a prize." And he passed them each a card.
+
+It proved to be a picture of Ralph and Lucy cut from black paper and
+pasted on a white card.
+
+"These," said Grandpa, "are silhouette pictures too. Will you always
+know what a silhouette picture is now?"
+
+"Oh yes," said the children.
+
+
+
+
+THE SNOW BIRDS.
+
+It had snowed very hard. Ralph and Edward, who were visiting Grandma in
+the country, had to stay in the house all day.
+
+When they went to bed it was still snowing, and every time they woke up
+during the night, they could hear the wind sighing and whistling around
+the house, and through he branches of the old pine tres.
+
+But the next morning the sun was shining brightly. Such a glorious day!
+How the branches of the pine trees did sparkle.
+
+"It looks as if they had been sprinkled with gold dust and diamonds,"
+exclaimed Ralph.
+
+"Oh Grandma! Please do hurry breakfast. We are going out to build a
+fort," cried the boys, bursting into the dining-room.
+
+Grandma smiled and told them to eat a good breakfast, for building a
+fort was hard work.
+
+They were soon out in the snow, and what a splendid time they did have.
+
+The fort did not grow very fast, for they had to stop so often to
+snow-ball each other.
+
+When Grandma called them in to dinner they wondered where the time had
+gone since breakfast.
+
+After dinner, Ralph was looking out of the window, when he spied two
+little birds cuddled up on a branch of a pine-tree.
+
+"Oh, Edward! come here," he called. "See those poor little birds. They
+look half frozen and so hungry."
+
+"Poor little things," replied Edward. "Doesn't it make you feel mean to
+think what a jolly time we had this morning out of the snow which has
+covered up the places where they get their food?"
+
+"Let us get some food from Grandma and throw it out to them," said
+Ralph. "Perhaps they will find it."
+
+The little birds were soon chirpping and flying about merrily and Ralph
+said it sounded as if they kept saying, "thank you."
+
+Will not other little children be as kind as Ralph and Edward?
+
+
+
+
+A KIND HEART.
+
+The day Ethel Brown was seven years old she had a tea party.
+
+Mrs. Brown had sent tiny cards of invitation to all the little girls on
+the street to come and bring their dolls. She also sent one to Nellie
+Day, her washer-woman's little girl, at Ethel's special request.
+
+"She is a nice little girl," said Ethel, "and doesn't ever go anywhere
+like me. May I have her at my party?"
+
+"That is right, little daughter," said Mrs. Brown. "Always be kind to
+those who have less pleasure than yourself. Of course she may come to
+your party."
+
+They all arrived at four o'clock and looked very pretty in their white
+dresses and bright ribbons, and the dolls looked nearly as pretty as the
+little girls themselves.
+
+Ethel noticed that Nellie Day did not have a doll with her. "So," thought
+she, "I will ask her to pour the tea and then she won't feel bad because
+she hasn't one."
+
+The little girls talked and played games and Ethel's grown up sister
+played on the piano and then they sang.
+
+"Now," said Mrs. Brown, coming into the room, "if you will choose
+partners, Florence will play for you and you can march out to tea."
+
+During the confusion Ethel said to her mamma, "I shall ask Nellie to
+pour the tea because she has not any doll."
+
+"Very well, dear," answered Mrs. Brown.
+
+But when they turned to find her, she was not with the others.
+
+"Where can she be?" exclaimed Ethel.
+
+And then began the search. Tea was delayed and they hunted the house
+over for her. Finally Mrs. Brown went out on a side porch seldom used,
+and there she found the little girl.
+
+The child had brought a cushion to sit on, and clasped tightly in her
+arms were three of Ethel's dolls. Mrs. Brown persuaded her to come in
+with the promise that she might keep the dolls.
+
+So Ethel rang the bell, and they all marched in to tea again, with
+Nellie Day leading the line, holding her three dollies.
+
+"Mamma," said Ethel, as the little girls were going home, "may I give
+Nellie Day the dolls? I have so many and she has not one."
+
+"Yes indeed," replied Mrs. Brown, as she kissed her little daughter. "I am
+sure it will make her very happy."
+
+And Nellie Day went home that night, the happiest little girl in the
+town.
+
+
+
+
+TOWSER TALKS.
+
+I am not a big dog and I don't know very much, but I know more than I
+used to. The reason why I know more than I used to is because I asked
+Carlo some questions once. I asked him what made him so gaunt and thin
+and why he had such an enquiring expression on his face and such a hump
+on the top of his head. He didn't answer right away, and--I noticed the
+enquiring expression vanished. He looked quite decided. Then something
+happened,--I don't know exactly what, but Mary, the cook, told the
+butler that it made her dizzy just to look on. And then Carlo said:--
+
+"One reason why I am gaunt and thin is because I am not a little
+up-start of a pug,--of no earthly use under Heaven, and nothing to do
+but waddle around and accumulate fat.
+
+"The reason I have an enquiring expression on my face is because I am
+ever on the outlook to anticipate my master's will and do his slightest
+bidding.
+
+"As for the hump on the top of my head, that is a mark given by the
+Creator only to dogs that have intellect. Pray that yours may grow!"
+
+That is all he said, but it was enough for one day and has furnished me
+food for thought ever since.
+
+
+
+
+JUST AS SHE PLEASED.
+
+"Now, children, I am tired of you; I am going down stairs for the rest
+of the morning," and Polly started to leave the nursery.
+
+"Put your dolls away before you go," said Nurse, "I don't want them left
+in the middle of the floor."
+
+"I won't. I did not put them there." Polly tossed her head and ran
+quickly out of the room.
+
+Nurse had baby in her lap and could not run after her.
+
+The little girl went to the kitchen, but cook was cross and said she
+would not have Polly bothering her.
+
+Then she went to the library hoping to find her Uncle Edward, but he was
+not there.
+
+She wandered from room to room and could find nothing to amuse her.
+
+She wanted to go back into the nursery, but she had told a lie when she
+said she had not put the dolls on the floor, and she was afraid to.
+
+She felt lonesome and a few tears ran down her face.
+
+At that moment Uncle Edward entered the room, and, seeing the doleful
+little face, took her in his arms, tossing her into the air.
+
+As he did so, he knocked over a vase which fell to the floor, broken.
+
+"Oh! see what you have done," cried Polly.
+
+"I don't care. I shall say I didn't do it," replied Uncle Edward.
+
+"Oh! But that would be a lie," said Polly.
+
+"Well, who put the dolls on the nursery floor?"
+
+"Nurse must have told you. But I am sorry," and Polly began to cry
+again.
+
+"There, there!" said Uncle Edward. "We will go up and tell Nurse we are
+sorry."
+
+They went up to the nursery but Nurse and baby had gone and the dolls
+were still on the floor.
+
+Polly wanted to play circus and Uncle Edward made believe he was the
+elephant and gave the dollies a ride. He kicked so once that black Diana
+fell off and broke her neck.
+
+After a while Nurse came in with baby and interrupted the frolic.
+
+When Polly told her she was sorry because she had told a lie, Nursie
+said she would forgive her and Polly promised not to do so again.
+
+
+
+
+THE WORKING TOOLS OF INSECTS.
+
+I wonder if you know that the smallest insects you see about you have
+tools given them to do their work with. There is a little fly called
+a saw-fly, because it has a saw to work with. It is really a very much
+nicer saw than you could make, if you were ever so old.
+
+The fly uses it to make places where the eggs will be safe. What is more
+strange, it has a sort of homemade glue which fastens them where they
+are laid.
+
+Some insects have cutting instruments that work just as your scissors
+do. The poppy-bee is one of them, whose work is wonderful. This bee has
+a boring tool, too. Its nest is usually made in old wood. This borer
+cleans out the nest ready for use. When all is ready the insect cuts out
+pieces of leaves to line the nest and to make the cells. These linings
+are out in the shape of the cells. You, would be surprised to see the
+care taken to have every piece of just the right size, so that it will
+fit. When they are fitted, the pieces are nicely fastened together and
+put into the nest.
+
+
+
+
+
+End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Cinderella; or, The Little Glass
+Slipper and Other Stories, by Anonymous
+
+*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK CINDERELLA AND OTHERS ***
+
+***** This file should be named 1599.txt or 1599.zip *****
+This and all associated files of various formats will be found in:
+        http://www.gutenberg.org/1/5/9/1599/
+
+Produced by Dianne Bean
+
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+will be renamed.
+
+Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no
+one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation
+(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without
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+
+
+CINDERELLA OR, THE LITTLE GLASS SLIPPER AND OTHER STORIES
+
+
+
+
+Cinderella; or, The Little Glass Slipper
+Fanny's Telephone Order
+The Raindrops' New Dresses 
+Sir Gobble
+What is It?
+John's Bright Idea
+A Sad Thanksgiving Party
+Guy and the Bee
+Mean Boy
+Naughty Pumpkin's Fate 
+Something About Fires
+The lee-King's Reign.
+Malmo, the Wounded Rat
+Mama's Happy Christmas
+Cured of Carelessness
+A Visit from a Prince
+Stringing Cranberries 
+Christmas in California
+A Troublesome Call
+Bertie's Corn-Popper
+Fire! Fire! Fire!
+The Dolls and the Other Dolls 
+Why Did Mamma Change Her Mind? 
+Clara's Funeral.
+The Chickadee-Dee. 
+The Children's Party
+Brave Tomasso
+Tommy Frost Sees a Bear
+Myself
+Two Strange Sights
+A Cat's Instincts
+Diliah's New Year's Presents
+Night Flowers
+The First Snow Storm 
+Fred's Stolen Ride 
+A Valentine Party
+The Venturesome Rat
+The Bear's Feast
+Babie's Curls.
+The Red Apples
+Bubbles
+A Horse Who Wore Snow Shoes
+The Angry Bobolink
+How Hiram Spent His Shrimp Money
+The Ant's House
+The Foolish Pug
+The Silhouette Party
+The Snow Birds
+A Kind Heart
+Towser Talks
+Just as She Pleased
+
+
+
+
+CINDERELLA; OR THE LITTLE GLASS SLIPPER.
+
+Once there was a gentleman who married for his second wife the
+proudest and most haughty woman that was ever seen. She had by a
+former husband two daughters of her own humor, who were, indeed,
+exactly like her in all things. He had likewise, by another wife,
+a young daughter, but of unparalleled goodness and sweetness of
+temper, which she took from her mother, who was the best creature
+in the world.
+
+No sooner were the ceremonies of the wedding over but the
+mother-in-law began to show herself in her true colors. She could
+not bear the good qualities of this pretty girl, and the less
+because they made her own daughters appear the more odious. She
+employed her in meanest work of the house: she scoured the
+dishes, tables, etc., and scrubbed madam's chamber and those of
+misses, her daughters; she lay up in a sorry garret, upon a
+wretched straw bed, while her sisters lay in fine rooms, with
+floors all inlaid,  upon beds of the very newest fashion, and
+where they  had  looking-glasses so large that they might see
+themselves at their full length from head to foot.
+
+The poor girl bore all patiently and dared not tell her father,
+who would have rattled her off; for his wife governed him
+entirely. When she had done her work she used to go into the
+chimney-corner and sit down among cinders and ashes, which made
+her commonly be called a cinder maid; but the youngest, who was
+not so rude and uncivil as the eldest, called her Cinderella.
+However, Cinderella, notwithstanding her mean apparel, was a
+hundred times handsomer than her sisters, though they were always
+dressed very richly.
+
+It happened that the King's son gave a ball and invited all
+persons, of fashion to it. Our young misses were also invited,
+for they cut a very grand figure among the quality. They were
+mightily delighted at this invitation, and wonderfully busy in
+choosing out such gowns, petticoats, and head-clothes as might
+become them. This was a new trouble to Cinderella, for it was she
+who ironed her sisters' linen and plaited their ruffles. They
+talked all day long of nothing but how they should be dressed.
+
+"For my part," said the eldest, "I will wear my red velvet suit
+with French trimming."
+
+"And I," said the youngest, "shall have my usual petticoat; but
+then, to make amends for that, I will put on my gold-flowered
+manteau and my diamond stomacher, which is far from being the
+most ordinary one in the world."
+
+They sent for the best tire-woman they could get to make up their
+headdresses and adjust their double pinners, and they had their
+red brushes and patches from Mademoiselle de la Poche.
+
+Cinderella was likewise called up to them to be consulted in all
+these matters, for she had excellent notions and advised them
+always for the best, nay, and offered her services to dress their
+heads, which they were very willing she should do. As she was
+doing this they said to her:
+
+"Cinderella, would you not be glad to go to the ball?"
+
+"Alas!" said she, "you only jeer me. It is not for such as I am
+to go thither."
+
+"Thou art in the right of it," replied they. "It would make the
+people laugh to see a cinder wench at a ball."
+
+Any one but Cinderella would have dressed their heads awry, but
+she was very good and dressed them perfectly well. They were
+almost two days without eating, so much they were transported
+with joy. They broke above a dozen of laces in trying to be laced
+up close, that they might have a fine, slender shape, and they
+were continually at their looking-glass. At last the happy day
+came. They went to Court, and Cinderella followed them with her
+eyes as long as she could, and when she had lost sight of them
+she fell a-crying.
+
+Her Godmother, who saw her all in tears, asked her what was the
+matter.
+
+"I wish I could--I wish I could--"
+
+She was not able to speak the rest being interrupted by her tears
+and sobbing.
+
+This Godmother of hers, who was a fairy, said to her: "Thou
+wishest thou could'st go to the ball. Is it not so?"
+
+"Y--es," cried Cinderella, with a great sigh.
+
+"Well," said her Godmother, "be but a good girl, and I will
+contrive that thou shalt go." Then she took her into her chamber
+and said to her: "Run into the garden and bring me a pumpkin."
+
+Cinderella went immediately to gather the finest she could get
+and brought it to her Godmother, not being able to imagine how
+this pumpkin could make her go to the ball. Her Godmother scooped
+out all the inside of it, having left nothing but the rind; which
+done, she struck it with her wand, and the pumpkin was instantly
+turned into a fine coach, gilded all over with gold.
+
+She then went to look into her mousetrap, where she found six
+mice all alive, and ordered Cinderella to lift up a little the
+trapdoor, when, giving each mouse as it went out a little tap
+with her wand, the mouse was that moment turned into a fine
+horse, which altogether made a very fine set of six horses of a
+beautiful mouse-colored dapple-gray. Being at a loss for a
+coachman, Cinderella said:
+
+"I will go and see if there is never a rat in the rattrap--we may
+make a coachman of him."
+
+"Thou art in the right," replied her Godmother. "Go and look."
+
+Cinderella brought the trap to her, and in it there were three
+huge rats. The fairy made choice of one of the three which had
+the largest beard, and having touched him with her wand he was
+turned into a fat, jolly coachman, who had the smartest whiskers
+eyes ever beheld. After that she said to her:
+
+"Go again into the garden, and you will find six lizards behind
+the watering-pot. Bring them to me."
+
+She had no sooner done so but her Godmother turned them into six
+footmen,who skipped up immediately behind the coach, with their
+liveries all bedaubed with gold and silver, and clung as close
+behind each other as if they had done nothing else their whole
+lives. The fairy then said to Cinderella:
+
+"Well, you see here an equipage fit to go to the ball with. Are
+you not pleased with it?"
+
+"Oh! yes," cried she; "but must I go thither as I am, in these
+dirty rags?"
+
+Her Godmother only just touched her with her wand, and at the
+same instant her clothes were turned into cloth-of-gold and
+silver, all beset with jewels. Ah! who can describe a robe made
+by the fairies? It was white as snow, and as dazzling; round the
+hem hung a fringe of diamonds, sparkling like dewdrops in the
+sunshine. The lace about the throat and arms could only have been
+spun by fairy spiders. Surely it was a dream! Cinderella put her
+daintily gloved hand to her throat, and softly touched the pearls
+that encircled her neck.
+
+"Come, child," said the Godmother, "or you will be late."
+
+As Cinderella moved, the firelight shone upon her dainty shoes.
+
+"They are of diamonds," she said.
+
+"No," answered her Godmother, smiling; "they are better than
+that--they are of glass, made by the fairies. And now, child, go,
+and enjoy yourself to your heart's content."
+
+But her Godmother, above all things, commanded her not to stay
+till after midnight, telling her at the same time that if she
+stayed one moment longer the coach would be a pumpkin again, her
+horses mice, her coachman a rat, her footmen lizards, and her
+clothes become just as they were before.
+
+She promised her Godmother she would not fail of leaving the ball
+before midnight, and then away she drives, scarce able to contain
+herself for joy. The King's son, who was told that a great
+Princess, whom nobody knew, was come, ran out to receive her. He
+gave her his hand as she alighted out of the coach; and led her
+into the hall among all the company. There was immediately
+a profound silence, they left off dancing, and the violins ceased
+to play, so attentive was every one to contemplate the singular
+beauties of the unknown newcomer. Nothing was then heard but a
+confused noise of "Ha! how handsome she is! Ha! how handsome she
+is!"
+
+The King himself, old as he was, could not help watching her and
+telling the Queen softly that it was a long time since he had
+seen so beautiful and lovely a creature.
+
+All the ladies were busied in considering her clothes and
+headdress, that they might have some made next day after the same
+pattern, provided they could meet with such fine materials and as
+able hands to make them.
+
+The King's son conducted her to the most honorable seat and
+afterward took her out to dance with him. She danced so very
+gracefully that they all more and more admired her. A fine
+collation was served up, whereof the young Prince ate not a
+morsel, so intently was he busied in gazing on her.
+
+She went and sat down by her sisters, showing them a thousand
+civilities, giving them part of the oranges and citrons which the
+Prince had presented her with, which very much surprised them,
+for they did not know her. While Cinderella was thus amusing her
+sisters, she heard the clock strike eleven and three-quarters,
+whereupon she immediately made a courtesy to the company and
+hastened away as fast as she could.
+
+Being got home, she ran to seek out her Godmother, and after
+having thanked her she said she could not but heartily wish she
+might go next day to the ball, because the King's son had desired
+her.
+
+As she was eagerly telling her Godmother what had passed at the
+ball her two sisters knocked at the door, which Cinderella ran
+and opened.
+
+"How long you have stayed!" cried she, gaping, rubbing her eyes,
+and stretching herself as if she had been just waked out of her
+sleep. She had not, however, had any manner of inclination to
+sleep since they went from home.
+
+"If thou hadst been at the ball,"  said one of her sisters, "thou
+would'st not have been tired with it. There came thither the
+finest Princess, the most beautiful ever was seen with mortal
+eyes. She showed us a thousand civilities and gave us oranges and
+citrons."
+
+Cinderella seemed very indifferent in the matter. Indeed, she
+asked them the name of that Princess, but they told her they did
+not know it, and that the King's son was very uneasy on her
+account, and would give all the world to know who she was. At
+this Cinderella, smiling, replied:
+
+"She must, then, be very beautiful indeed. How happy you have 
+been! Could not I see her? Ah! dear Miss Charlotte, do lend me
+your yellow suit of clothes which you wear every day."
+
+"Ay, to be sure," cried Miss Charlotte; "lend my clothes to such
+it dirty cinder maid as thou art! I should be a fool."
+
+Cinderella expected well such answer and was very glad of the
+refusal, for she would have been sadly put to it if her sister
+had lent her what she asked for jestingly.
+
+The next day the two sisters were at the ball, and so was
+Cinderella, but dressed more magnificently than before. The
+King's son was always by her, and never ceased his compliments
+and kind speeches to her, to whom all this was so far from being
+tiresome that she quite forgot what her Godmother had recommended
+to her, so that she at last counted the clock striking twelve
+when she took it to be no more than eleven. She then rose up and
+fled as nimble as a deer. The Prince followed, but could not
+overtake her. She left behind one of her glass slippers, which
+the Prince took up most carefully. She got home, but quite out of
+breath, and in her old clothes, having nothing left her of all
+her finery but one of the little slippers, fellow to that she
+dropped. The guards at the palace gate were asked if they had not
+seen a Prinecess go out.
+
+They said they had seen nobody go out but a young girl, very
+meanly dressed, and who had more of the air of a poor country
+girl than a gentlewoman.
+
+When the two sisters returned from the ball Cinderella asked them
+if they had been well diverted and if the beautiful Princess had
+been there.
+
+They told her yes, but that she hurried away immediately when the
+clock struck twelve, and with so much haste that she dropped one
+of her little glass slippers, the prettiest in the world, which
+the King's son had taken up; that he had done nothing but look at
+her all the time at the ball, and that most certainly he was very
+much in love with the beautiful person who owned the glass
+slipper.
+
+What they said was very true, for a few days after the King's son
+caused it to be proclaimed, by sound of trumpet, that he would
+marry her whose foot this slipper would just fit. They whom he
+employed began to try it upon the Princesses, then the Duchesses
+and all the Court, but in vain. It was brought to the two
+sisters, who did all they possibly could to thrust their feet
+into the slipper, but they could not effect it.
+
+On the following morning there was a great noise of trumpets and
+drums, and a procession passed through the town, at the head of
+which rode the King's son. Behind him came a herald, bearing a
+velvet cushion, upon which rested a little glass slipper. The
+herald blew a blast upon the trumpet, and then read a
+proclamation saying that the King's son would wed any lady in the
+land who could fit the slipper upon her foot, if she could
+produce another to match it.
+
+Of course, the sisters tried to squeeze their feet into the
+slipper, but it was of no use--they were much too large. Then
+Cinderella shyly begged that she might try. How the sisters
+laughed with scorn when the Prince knelt to fit the slipper on
+the cinder maid's foot; but what was their surprise when it
+slipped on with the greatest ease, and the next moment Cinderella
+produced the other from her pocket! Once more she stood in the
+slippers, and once more the sisters saw before them the lovely
+Princess who was to be the Prince's bride. For at the touch of
+the magic shoes the little gray frock disappeared forever, and in
+place of it she wore the beautiful robe the fairy Godmother had
+given to her.
+
+The sisters hung their heads with sorrow and vexation; but kind
+little Cinderella put her arms round their necks, kissed them,
+and forgave them for all their unkindness, so that they could not
+help but love her.
+
+The Prince could not bear to part from his little love again, so
+he carried her back to the palace in his grand coach, and they
+were married that very day. Cinderella's stepsisters were present
+at the feast, but in the place of honor sat the fairy Godmother.
+
+So the poor little cinder maid married the Prince, and in time
+they came to be King and Queen, and lived happily ever after.
+
+
+
+FANNY'S TELEPHONE ORDER.
+
+Little Fanny Desmond was a dear child, and, like a good many
+other little children, she liked to do whatever she saw the grown
+people do.
+
+She would listen with great interest when she saw her mother use
+the telephone. She was especially surprised when her mother
+ordered things, and later in the day they would be brought to the
+house.
+
+"I wish I had a telephone of my own," she said to her papa. "Mama
+just puts her mouth up to that funny thing, and gets whatever she
+asks for. Yesterday she asked somebody to send us ice-cream for
+dinner, and sure enough, it came."
+
+Papa laughed. "It does seem a very convenient thing," he said. "I
+will try to arrange one for you." So papa took a horn which had
+been put away in a closet and hung it up where Fanny could talk
+into it. "There, that shall be your own private telephone," he
+said.
+
+"Now, shall I get whatever I ask for?" said Fanny.
+
+"Not if you ask for impossible things," replied her papa.
+
+"But what are impossible things?" asked Fanny.
+
+"Well," laughed papa, "I think if you should ask for the moon you
+would not get it."
+
+"But I don't want the moon," said Fanny.
+
+"Ask for something before I go down-town," said papa.
+
+Fanny thought a moment, and then spoke up quite distinctly:
+
+"Please send me some peppermints, and some new shoes for my doll,
+and a bunch of pansies for my mama, and a new bicycle for my
+papa, and--and--that's all this time. Good-bye."
+
+"That's a very good order," said her papa, "but kiss me good-bye,
+for I must be off."
+
+About half an hour later the front door-bell rang. Very soon the
+maid appeared with a package directed to Miss Fanny Desmond. In
+great excitement, Fanny opened it. It was a box of peppermints.
+The child's delight was great, but when, in another half hour,
+there came a bundle which proved to be a new pair of shoes for
+her doll, she was too happy for words. But that surprise was
+hardly over when another package was brought her. She opened it
+in great excitement, and behold there was a bunch of beautiful
+pansies.
+
+"They are for you, mama," she cried, "and now everything has come
+but papa's new bicycle."
+
+Just then she looked out of the window, and there was her papa
+coming up the drive on a fine new wheel. She rushed down to meet
+him, exclaiming, as she threw herself into his arms:
+
+"Oh, papa, papa, I did get everything; my telephone is beautiful,
+and the man at the other end is just lovely!"
+
+"Ah," said papa, "I am delighted he is so satisfactory."
+
+
+
+THE RAINDROPS' NEW DRESSES.
+
+"We're so tired of these gray dresses!"
+Cried the little drops of rain,
+As they came down helter-skelter
+From the Nimbus cloud fast train.
+
+And they bobbed against each other
+In a spiteful sort of way,
+Just like children when bad temper
+Gets the upper hand some day.
+
+Then the Sun peeped out a minute.
+"Dears, be good and do not fight,
+I have ordered you new dresses,
+Dainty robes of purest white."
+
+Ah! then all the tiny raindrops
+Hummed a merry glad refrain,
+And the old folks cried: "How pleasant
+Is the music of the rain!"
+
+Just at even, when the children
+Had been safely tucked in bed,
+There was such a rush and bustle
+In the dark clouds overhead!
+
+Then those raindrops hurried earthward,
+At the North Wind's call, you know,
+And the wee folks, in the morning,
+Laughed to see the flakes of snow.
+
+
+
+SIR GOBBLE.
+
+Bessie Curtis was in a great deal of trouble. She was spending a
+year in the country while her father and mother were in Europe.
+It was not that which was troubling her. She liked the country,
+she loved her uncle and aunt with whom she lived, and she
+heard every week from her father and mother. But something
+disturbed her. As the summer passed, and the autumn came, she had
+moments when she looked very sober. What was the reason?
+
+I will tell you.
+
+Early in the spring her uncle had given her a young turkey.
+
+"There, Bessie," he had said, "that is one of the prettiest
+turkeys I have ever seen. I will give him into your care, and on
+Thanksgiving Day we will have him on the dinner-table."
+
+For some time Bessie fed the turkey every day without feeling
+particularly fond of him. Very soon, however, he began to know
+her; he not only ran to meet her when she brought him his corn
+and meal, but he would follow her about just the way Mary's
+little lamb followed HER about.
+
+Her uncle often called after her: "And everywhere that Bessie
+goes, the turkey's sure to go."
+
+Yes, round the garden, up and down the avenue, and even into the
+house itself the turkey followed Bessie.
+
+Then why was she so sad?
+
+Alas! she remembered her uncle's words when he gave her the
+turkey, "On Thanksgiving Day we will have him on the table."
+
+Thanksgiving Day would be here in a week.
+
+Now, if Bessie had been like some little girls, she would have
+told her trouble to her uncle. But she never mentioned it to any
+one, although she cried herself to sleep several nights before
+Thanksgiving Day.
+
+At last the day came, and Bessie, instead of going out to the
+fowlyard as usual, kept in the house all the morning. She was
+afraid that, if she went, she would not find her beloved friend.
+Dinner-time came, and, with a heavy heart, she seated herself at
+the table. Her uncle and aunt noticed her sober face, and thought
+that she missed her father and mother.
+
+"Come, come, said her uncle, "we must cheer up; no sad looks on
+Thanksgiving Day. Maria, BRING IN THE TURKEY."
+
+Poor Bessie! she could not look up as the door opened, and
+something was brought in on a big platter. But, as the platter
+was placed on the table, she saw that it did indeed hold her
+turkey, but he was alive and well.
+
+She looked so astonished that suddenly her uncle understood all
+her past troubles.
+
+"Why, Bessie," he said, "did you think I would kill your pet? No,
+indeed, but I told you he should be on the table Thanksgiving
+Day, so here he is."
+
+Then Bessie's uncle struck the turkey gently with his
+carving-knife, the way the queen strikes a man with a sword when
+she makes him a knight.
+
+"Behold!" said Bessie's uncle, "I dub you 'Sir Gobble;' you shall
+never be killed, but die a natural death, and never be parted
+from Bessie."
+
+
+
+WHAT IS IT?
+
+What is that ugly thing I see
+Which follows, follows, follows me,
+Which ever way I turn or go?
+What is that thing? I want to know.
+
+If I but turn to left or right
+It does the same with all its might;
+It looks so ugly and so black
+When o'er my shoulder I look back.
+
+Sometimes it runs ahead of me,
+Sometimes quite short it seems to be,
+And then again it's very tall;
+I don't know what it is at all.
+
+I'll climb into my little bed,
+And on my pillow lay my bead,
+For when I'm there I never see
+That thing in front or back of me.
+
+
+
+JOHN'S BRIGHT IDEA.
+
+Mrs. Meredith was a most kind and thoughtful woman. She spent a
+great deal of time visiting the poor. One morning she told her
+children about a family which she had visited the day before.
+There was a man sick in bed, his wife who took care of him, and
+could not go out to work, and their little boy. The little
+boy--his name was Bernard--had interested her very much.
+
+"I wish you could see him," she said to her own children, John,
+Harry, and Clara, "he is such a help to his mother. He wants very
+much to earn some money, but I don't see what he can do."
+
+After their mother had left the room, the children sat thinking
+about little Bernard.
+
+"I wish we could help him to earn money," said little Clara.
+
+"So do I, said Harry.
+
+For some moments John said nothing, but, suddenly, he sprang to
+his feet and cried:
+
+"I have an idea!"
+
+The other children also jumped up all attention. When John had an
+idea, it was sure to be a good one.
+
+"I tell you what we can do," said John. "You know that big box
+of corn Uncle Sam sent us for popping? Well, we can pop it, and
+put it into paper bags, and Bernard can take it round to the
+houses and sell."
+
+When Mrs. Meredith heard of John's idea, she, too, thought it a
+good one.
+
+Very soon the children were busy popping the corn, while their
+mother went out to buy the paper bags. When she came back, she
+brought Bernard with her.
+
+In a short time, he started out on his new business, and, much
+sooner than could be expected, returned with an empty basket.
+
+Tucked into one of his mittens were ten nickels. He had never
+earned so much money before in his life. When he found that it
+was all to be his, he was so delighted he could hardly speak, but
+his bright smiling face spoke for him. After he had run home to
+take the money to his mother, John said:
+
+"We have corn enough left to send Bernard out ever so many times.
+May we do it again?"
+
+"Yes, said Mrs. Meredith, "you may send him every Saturday
+morning, if you will pop the corn for him yourselves. John, will
+you agree to take charge of the work?"
+
+"Indeed I will," replied John, and he kept his word. For many
+weeks, every Saturday morning, no matter what plan was on foot,
+no matter how good the coasting or skating, he saw that the corn
+was all popped, the paper bags filled, and arranged in the basket
+when Bernard arrived.
+
+People began to watch for the "little pop-corn boy," and every
+week he had at least fifty cents to take home, and often more.
+And all this was because of John's bright idea, and the way he
+carried it out.
+
+
+
+A SAD THANKSGIVING PARTY.
+
+Four hungry-looking animals
+All seated in a row;
+Why does not some one speak to them?
+That's what I want to know.
+
+They all of them were bidden to
+A fine Thanksgiving feast,
+And now, it seems to me, their host
+Might welcome them, at least.
+
+'Twas Master Pug invited them,
+Why does he not appear?
+'Tis plain they think his absence looks
+Extremely rude and queer.
+
+Alas! poor Pug's in trouble sore,
+The host he cannot play;
+No feast for self or friends has he
+On this Thanksgiving Day.
+
+He saw a turkey, large and fat,
+Upon the kitchen shelf.
+"That's just the very thing I want,"
+Said he unto himself.
+
+He caught the turkey, but the cook
+Caught him with firmer grasp,
+And shook him till he could not bark
+But only choke and gasp.
+
+Meanwhile, those hungry animals,
+Who'd waited there in vain,
+Declared they never would be guest
+Of Mr. Pug again.
+
+
+
+GUY AND THE BEE
+
+One day a jolly bumble-bee,
+In coat of black and yellow,
+Got caught inside a window-pane;
+The silly little  fellow.
+
+He buzzed and buzzed against the glass,
+To Guy's great enjoyment,
+Who thought to watch this funny thing
+Was just the best employment.
+
+But soon to touch those gauzy wings,
+Became Guy's great desire,
+Although mama had told him that
+A bee could sting like fire.
+
+But Guy, silly as the bee,
+Paid no heed to mama,
+He touched the bee, then gave a howl
+Which could be heard afar.
+
+Mama a soothing poultice mixed,
+And on his finger laid.
+"Another time you'll be more wise,"
+Was everything she said.
+
+
+
+A MEAN BOY.
+
+Harry Burton woke one night and heard a strange noise in his
+closet. He got out of bed, crossed the floor in his bare feet,
+and carefully opened the closet door. The noise stopped,
+instantly.
+
+"Ah!" said Harry, "I knew it was mice made that noise. How I wish
+I could catch them."
+
+The next morning he told his mother about the noises he had
+heard.
+
+"I will get you a mouse-trap," she said.
+
+"I don't want the kind that kills the mice, I only want to catch
+them and tame them," said Harry.
+
+His mother laughed and told him when he had tamed his mice he
+must keep them well out of her way.
+
+The trap was set, the mice were caught, and sure enough, in a
+short time were so tame they would eat from Harry's hand. He made
+a little house for them, and kept in it his bedroom. Whenever he
+went out, he always shut the door carefully.
+
+Now it happened that among Harry's acquaintances, there was one
+very disagreeable boy. His name was Dick Taft. Harry did not play
+with him very often, for he was so ugly it was hard to get along
+with him.
+
+Dick never liked to be beaten at any game, and sometimes made it
+very uncomfortable for the one who got ahead of him.
+
+One day Harry happened to beat him at one of their school games.
+Dick called after him when it was over, "I'll pay you for this,
+see if I don't."
+
+Harry only laughed as he walked away going in the opposite
+direction from his own house.
+
+When he was out of sight, Dick ran to Harry's house, made some
+excuse to go up in his bedroom, and let in the big cat, who was
+eagerly watching outside.
+
+When Harry came home, the mouse house was open, and not one of
+his pets was to be seen. The poor fellow was almost heart-broken.
+He asked every one in the house who had left his door open. The
+maid told him she thought it must have been that boy he sent up
+to his room.
+
+She described the boy, and Harry knew in a moment that it was
+Dick Taft.
+
+"So that is the way he paid me for beating him at a game," cried
+Harry. "Well, never again, so long as I live, will I play with a
+boy who is mean enough to do such a trick as that."
+
+And he kept his word.
+
+
+
+A NAUGHTY PUMPKIN'S FATE.
+
+A queer little pumpkin, a jolly fat fellow,
+Stood close to his mother so rotund and yellow.
+"What a stupid old place! how I long to aspire,"
+Cried he, "I was destined for something much higher."
+
+"My son," said the mother, "pray do be content,
+There's great satisfaction in life that's well spent!"
+But he shrugged up his shoulders, this pumpkin, 't is true,
+And acted just like some bad children will do.
+
+With a shout and a whoop, in the garden they ran,
+Tom and Ned, for they'd thought of the loveliest plan
+To astonish their friends from the city, you see,
+With a fine Jack-o'-lantern--"Ah, this one suits me!"
+
+Neddie seized the bad pumpkin, and dug out his brains,
+Till he felt so light-headed and brimful of pains;
+Then two eyes, a long nose, and a mouth big and wide,
+They cut in a minute, and laid him aside
+
+Until night, when they hung him upon a stout limb,
+With a candle inside; how his poor head did swim,
+As they twisted him this way, then twirled him round that,
+Till at last, with a crash, he fell on the ground flat,
+
+A wreck of the once jolly, fat little fellow,
+Who stood by his mother so rotund and yellow.
+Just then a lean cow, who was passing that way,
+Ate him up, just to finish HER "Thanksgiving Day."
+
+
+
+SOMETHING ABOUT FIRES.
+
+It was a cold day. Fred was tired of reading, tired of looking
+out of the window, and so he poked the fire for a change.
+
+"I suppose there are a good many different sorts of fires," he
+said to his mamma, as he laid down the poker.
+
+"Yes, indeed," she answered. "It is very interesting to know how
+people keep warm in all parts of the world, especially where fuel
+is scarce and dear. In Iceland, for example, fires are often made
+of fish-bones! Think of that. In Holland and other countries a
+kind of turf called peat is dug up in great quantities and used
+for fuel. And in France a coarse yellow and brown sea-weed, which
+is found in Finistere, is carefully dried and piled up for winter
+use. A false log, resembling wood, but made of some composition
+which does not consume, is often used in that country. It absorbs
+and throws out the heat, and adds to the looks of the hearth and
+to the comfort of the room.
+
+"The French have also a movable stove, which can be wheeled from
+room to room, or even carried up or down stairs while full of
+burning coke. In Russia the poorer people use a large porcelain
+stove, flat on top like a great table, with a small fire inside
+which gives out a gentle, summer-like warmth. It often serves
+as a bed for the whole family, who sleep on top of it.
+
+"There are, besides gas-stoves, oil-stoves, various methods of
+obtaining warmth by heated air and steam, and, doubtless, other
+devices that I never heard of.
+
+"In some countries, however, no fires are needed. In looking at
+pictures of tropical towns you will at once notice the absence of
+chimneys."
+
+Fred looked admiringly at his mamma as she paused.
+
+"There never was such a little mother," he said; "you can think
+of something to say about everything."
+
+His mamma was pleased at this pleasant compliment.
+
+"Oh!" she replied, laughing, "I could go on and tell you more
+about bonfires, beacon-fires, signals, drift-wood fires, and
+gypsy-tea fires; but I have told you enough for to-day."
+
+
+
+THE ICE-KING'S REIGN.
+
+The sun had gone down with promises sweet,
+When, keen from the north, the wind
+Came blustering along on its coursers fleet,
+And left frozen tracks behind.
+
+Maude stood at the window; the moon shimmered down
+On whirling leaves, stiff and dead,
+All piteously driven; she turned with a frown,
+And soft to herself she said:--
+
+"The old tyrant Winter leaves nothing to prize,
+Leaves nothing that's bright or fair;
+He has stolen the blue from the bending skies,
+The warmth from the earth and air.
+
+"The summer's dear blossoms are withered and dead;
+My garden is brown and bare;
+The chipper of birds in the nest overhead
+Is hushed, for no birdlings are here.
+
+"The woodlands no longer are shady and sweet,
+Dry leafage encumbers the ground;
+The pathways, once verdant and soft to my feet,
+In fetters of ice are bound.
+
+"The pride of the barn-yard sits humped with the cold,
+One frozen foot under his wing;
+And the sheep huddle closely, for warmth, in their fold;
+The ice tyrant reigns as king."
+
+She turns from this picture of ruin and death,
+And seeks the broad casement again;
+And, lo! from the dews of her wasted breath
+Great forests have grown on the pane.
+
+Such beautiful trees! such ferns! and such flowers!
+Such rivers and mountains bold!
+Such charming cascades! she gazes for hours,
+And worships the ice king cold.
+
+
+
+MALMO, THE WOUNDED RAT.
+
+A poor man saw, by the roadside, a large white rat. It seemed
+to be dead. Moving it gently he found it was alive, but had a
+broken leg. He took it up and carried it to his lonely home. He
+bound up the bruised leg, fed the poor creature, and soon it was
+quite well.
+
+Sam Tills trained the rat to gentle ways, and taught it many
+little tricks. Malmo was the only company Sam had. He worked
+in a cotton mill, and took Malmo with him. He rode in his
+master's coat-pocket. It looked droll to see his white head
+peeping out.
+
+Sundays both went to dine with Sam's sister. Malmo's funny
+ways made everybody laugh. When Sam said, "Malmo, go sit in
+my hat," he went at once. He curled himself up in it, and nodded
+off to sleep.
+
+When his master said, "Malmo, we're going now; slip in," the
+droll pet jumped from the hat, ran up to his pocket-nest, said
+good-by in his own fashion, and was ready to start. Evenings,
+when Sam was reading or singing from his mother's hymn-book,
+Malmo had a nap on his master's head. When it was time to go
+to bed Sam stroked Malmo's soft fur. The rat rubbed himself
+against his master's hand. It was their good-night to each other.
+Then Malmo crept into his basket, and the candle was blown out.
+Soon both were fast asleep.
+
+
+
+MAMA'S HAPPY CHRISTMAS.
+
+It had seemed to the little Wendell children that they would have
+a very sad Christmas. Mama had been very ill, and papa had been
+so anxious about mama that he could not think of anything else.
+
+When Christmas Day came, however, mama was so much better that
+she could lie on the lounge. The children all brought their
+stockings into her room to open them.
+
+"You children all seem as happy as if you had had your usual
+Christmas tree," said mama, as they sat around her.
+
+"Why, I NEVER had such a happy Christmas before," said sweet
+little Agnes. "And it's just because you are well again."
+
+"Now I think you must all run out for the rest of the day," said
+the nurse, "because your mama wants to see you all again this
+evening."
+
+"I wish we could get up something expressly for mama's
+amusement," said Agnes, when they had gone into the nursery.
+
+"How would you like to have some tableaux in here?" asked their
+French governess, Miss Marcelle.
+
+"Oh, yes," they all cried, "it would be fun, mama loves
+tableaux."
+
+So all day long they were busy arranging five tableaux for the
+evening. The tableaux were to be in the room which had
+folding-doors opening into Mrs. Wendell's sitting-room.
+
+At the proper time Miss Marcelle stepped outside the
+folding-doors and made a pretty little speech. She said that some
+young ladies and a young gentleman had asked permission to show
+some tableaux to Mrs. Wendell if she would like to see them. Mrs.
+Wendell replied that she would be charmed.
+
+Then mademoiselle announced the tableaux; opening the doors wide
+for each one. This is a list of the tableaux: First, The Sleeping
+Beauty; second, Little Red Riding Hood third, The Fairy Queen;
+fourth, Old Mother Hubbard; fifth, The Lord High Admiral.
+
+Miss Marcelle had arranged everything so nicely, and Celeste,
+the French maid, helped so much with the dressing, that the
+pictures all went off without a single mistake.
+
+Mama was delighted. She said she must kiss those dear young
+ladies, and that delightful young man who had given her such a
+charming surprise.
+
+So all the children came in rosy and smiling.
+
+"Why, didn't you know us?" asked the little Lord Admiral.
+
+"I know this," said mama, "I am like Agnes. I NEVER had such a
+happy Christmas before."
+
+
+
+CURED OF CARELESSNESS.
+
+Mrs. Bertram sat reading a book one morning, or trying to. It was
+not easy to do so, for her little boy, Roger, was out in the hall
+playing with his drum. Suddenly the drumming ceased, and in a
+moment Roger rushed into the room crying as if his heart would
+break.
+
+"I've burst it. I've burst it," he sobbed.
+
+"Your drum asked his mother. "How did you do that?"
+
+"I was beating it with the poker and the tongs and--"
+
+"With the poker and tongs!" exclaimed his mother. "Why, where
+were your drum-sticks?"
+
+Then Roger stopped crying, and hung his head with shame.
+
+"Where are your drum-sticks?" asked his mother, again.
+
+"I--I--don't know," sobbed Roger.
+
+"Have you lost those, too?" said Mrs. Bertram. She needed no
+words for answer. Roger's manner was quite enough. "You know,
+dear, what I said would happen the next time you lost anything."
+
+"Yes," said Roger, "I you said I must give away all my toys to
+some little boys who would take care of them."
+
+"Yes," said his mother. "I see you remember. I shall send them
+all to-night to the Children's Hospital."
+
+"But, mama," said Roger, "if I don't have any toys to take care
+of, how can I learn to take care of them?"
+
+Mrs. Bertram had to turn away so that Roger should not see her
+smile.
+
+"I shall have to think of some other way to teach you to be
+careful. Now go and bring me all your toys."
+
+Roger went out of the room to do as his mother said. When he had
+gone, Mrs. Bertram sat thinking until he came back.
+
+"I have decided that I want you to dust the library every
+morning."
+
+Roger looked astonished. "Boys don't dust," he said.
+
+"Sometimes," said his mother, smilingly. "Your Uncle Fred had to
+dust his own room when he was at West Point. Now if you dust the
+library every morning for two months faithfully, and do not break
+a single ornament, I shall know you have grown careful in one
+way, and that may help you to be careful in another."
+
+The next morning Roger began his work. At first he disliked it
+very much, but after a while he grew very particular. It was not
+pleasant to be without any toys, and he determined to earn them.
+
+The day when his trial of two months would be up, would be
+Christmas Day. He did not know if his presents this year would be
+toys or useful things. All his mother had said about his work
+was, "My dear, you are improving."
+
+Christmas night came, and with it a beautiful tree. Imagine
+Roger's delight when he saw on and about it new skates, a new
+sled, a new violin and a new drum.
+
+And up in the highest branches, in letters of gold, these words:
+"For the boy who has proved he can be careful when he tries."
+
+
+
+A VISIT FROM A PRINCE.
+
+Harry was playing with his letter blocks one afternoon, when a
+prince came to visit him.
+
+Harry knew the prince very well, indeed. As soon as the prince
+came into the room Harry said:
+
+"Hullo, old fellow, is that you?"
+
+Was not that a very strange way to greet a prince?
+
+And wasn't it stranger yet for Harry to say next:
+
+@"Come, sit up, old boy, and give us your--"
+
+Was it hand Harry was going to say? No, indeed, it was paw. "Sit
+up, old boy, and give us your paw."
+
+Prince was a beautiful dog, as black as a coal. Indeed, his real
+name, his whole name, was Edward, the Black Prince. Now you must
+ask somebody to tell you about the man who was called the "Black
+Prince," the man for whom Harry's dog was named.
+
+When Harry asked Prince to give his paw, the dog did not do it as
+quickly as he ought to have done.
+
+Did Harry beat him for that? No, indeed. Did he say, "Never mind,
+Prince, you need not obey me if you do not want to?" No, indeed,
+again.
+
+He sat up himself, and then he made Prince sit up on his hind
+legs. Then he ordered Prince to give his paw. Prince did so. Then
+Harry made him do it again, then again and again and again, until
+the dog seemed to understand that he must learn to obey when he
+was spoken to.
+
+After Prince appeared to have learned that lesson quite
+perfectly, Harry taught him something new.
+
+He taught him to stand on his hind legs and hold a pipe in his
+mouth.
+
+This he soon did so well that Harry clapped his hands and cried,
+"Good, good, you smoke as well as his royal highness, the Black
+Prince, himself."
+
+Which remark showed that Harry had not yet begun to study
+history. If he had, he would have known that in the country where
+the Black Prince lived, tobacco was never heard of until many,
+many, MANY years after his death.
+
+
+
+STRINGING CRANBERRIES.
+
+Arthur Bancroft was feeling very cross one morning in December.
+He had a bad cold, and his mother did not think it would be wise
+for him to go out-of-doors. That was why he was cross. The
+skating was finer than it had been that season; every other boy
+he knew was enjoying it.
+
+He walked about the house with a very sulky face; would take no
+notice of books or games, and seemed determined to be miserable.
+
+He was standing looking out of the window when his sister Laura
+came into the room. Laura carried in her hand a basket filled
+with cranberries.
+
+She put the basket on the table, took a needle from her mother's
+needle book, threaded it with a long, stout thread, and began
+stringing the berries.
+
+Laura was a dear little thing! She was always busy. No one ever
+heard her say, "I wish I had something to do." And she was
+generally doing something for some one else.
+
+She made a sweet little picture as she sat bending over the
+basket of crimson cranberries. Some such idea may have come into
+Arthur's mind as he turned and looked at her. As he watched her
+silently for some moments, the cross expression on his face
+became a little less cross.
+
+"What are you doing?" he asked.
+
+"Stringing cranberries for the Mullins' Christmas tree," answered
+Laura. "Don't you want to help me?"
+
+"It's girls' work," replied Arthur.
+
+"Isn't a boy smart enouhg to do a girl's work?" asked Laura.
+
+"Of course, he's SMART enough. I don't mean that! Perhaps he
+doesn't want to."
+
+"Oh," said Laura, "I wish you did want to."
+
+"Why?" asked Arthur.
+
+"I promised to string all these for the Mullins' Christmas tree"
+replied Laura. "The market-man brought them so late, I have not
+much time now."
+
+"Thread another needle," said Arthur.
+
+In a few moments he was working as busily as Laura, herself.
+As Arthur finished his last long string, he tied the ends
+together and threw it around Laura's neck. When she bent her head
+a little, it reached the floor.
+
+"There," said he, "that proves that a boy can do a girl's work."
+
+"Yes," said Laura, "when"--then she stopped and smiled.
+
+"When what?" asked Arthur.
+
+"When he has a girl to show him how," laughed Laura, as she
+danced out of the room with the cranberry strings.
+
+
+
+CHRISTMAS IN CALIFORNIA.
+
+"To think that this is Christmas Day!"
+Said Harold to his aunt,
+"I know it really is, and yet,
+Believe it--well, I can't!
+I've had a tree, my stocking, too,
+This morning full I found,
+But how can I believe it
+With no snow upon the ground?
+
+Look at the sea so bright and blue,
+And feel the soft, warm air,
+And there are roses all in bloom,
+And lilies, I declare!
+I think that California
+Is lovely, but it's queer,
+How different Christmas is at home
+From what it is out here."
+
+"Ah, Harold!" gently said his aunt,
+"No matter where you go,
+In country strewn with flowers like this,
+Or clad in ice and snow,
+The birthday of the Christ-child is
+The same in every place,
+And happy greetings in His name,
+Bring smiles to every face."
+
+
+
+A TROUBLESOME CALL.
+
+We were going, on Saturday, ever so far,--
+My mamma and I,--to the Dollies' Bazaar,
+Where fifty wax dollies,--the loveliest show,
+Went walking about when they wound 'em, you know.
+
+You wouldn't believe half the things they could do:
+Why, one said "Good morning," as plainly as you.
+One played the piano, and one, dressed in lace,
+Walked up to a mirror and powdered her face.
+
+Well, when we were ready we stepped in the hall,
+And there was a lady a-coming to call.
+She said she just chanced to be passing that way,
+And she really had only a minute to stay.
+
+We waited and waited, and hoped she would go,
+Till I saw it was almost the time for the show,
+For I heard the clocks striking all over the town,
+And I knew that the dollies would all be run down.
+
+And so I just said, "I should s'pose, Mrs. Black,
+Your little girl wonders why don't you come back."
+That's all that I spoke, every 'dentical word;
+But she said, "Little girls should be seen and not heard."
+
+I guess that's a proverb, so maybe 'tis true;
+But, if people won't see, what can little girls do?
+My mamma looked queer, but that ended the call,
+And we went to the Dollies' Bazaar, after all.
+
+
+
+BERTIE'S CORN-POPPER
+
+Bertie had the desire of his heart,--a corn-popper! He had wanted
+it for a long time,--three weeks, at least. Mamma brought it when
+she came home from the city, and gave it to him for his very own.
+A bushel of corn, ready popped, would not have been half so good.
+There was all the delight of popping in store for the long winter
+evenings.
+
+Bertie could hardly wait to eat his supper before he tried his
+corn-popper. It proved to be a very good one. He popped corn that
+evening, and the next, and the next. He fed all the family, gave
+some to all his playmates, and carried a bag of pop-corn to
+school for his teacher.
+
+Trip, the shaggy, little, yellow dog, came in for a share, and
+Mintie too. Who or what was Mintie?
+
+Mintie was a bantam biddy, very small, white as snow, and very
+pretty. She had been left an orphan chick, and for a while kept
+in the house, near the kitchen fire. She had been Bertie's
+especial charge, and he fed and tended her faithfully.
+
+As she grew older she would rove about with the larger hens, but
+was very tame, and always liked the house. She would come in very
+often. When Bertie happened to pop corn in the daytime she was
+pretty apt to be around, and pick up the kernels he threw to her.
+
+One night he left his corn-popper on the kitchen table. It was
+open, and two or three small kernels were still in it.
+
+Early next morning, long before Bertie was dressed, Mintie came
+into the kitchen. She flew up on the table, and helped herself to
+the corn in the popper. The girl was busy getting breakfast, and
+did not mind much about her. Presently she went down cellar, and
+Mintie had the room to herself.
+
+When Bertie came down to breakfast there was a white egg in
+the corn-popper! It was so small that it looked almost like a
+bird's; but it was Mintie's first egg.
+
+Bertie clapped his hands; he was very much pleased.
+
+"Mamma! mamma!" he shouted. "See this pretty egg! Mintie put it
+into my popper, and must have meant to give it to me."
+
+And mamma said, "Very likely she did."
+
+
+
+FIRE! FIRE!! FIRE!!!
+
+Where is it? Where is it? Why, it is in the water! Isn't tbat
+funny? But you see it isn't a real fire, but only a fire-fish.*
+Sweet creature, isn't he? Suppose you were a little, innocent
+mermaid, swimming alone for the first time; how would you feel if
+you were to meet this fellow darting towards you with his great
+red mouth open? Why, you would scream with fright, and swim to
+your mother as fast as you could, and catch hold of her tail for
+protection. At least, that is what I should do if I were a
+mermaid. But Mrs. Mermaid won't tell you that the fire-fish will
+not hurt you unless you hurt him first, in which case he will
+prick you dreadfully with his long, sharp spines. 
+
+*Project Gutenberg ed. note: The picture is of a fish also known
+as a scorpionfish.
+
+
+I never see his picture without thinking of a red Indian in his
+warpaint and feathers. Perhaps--who knows?-perhaps when Indians
+are greedy, and eat too much fish, they may turn into fire-fish,
+and have to swim about forever under water, and never see a green
+forest again. If you are an Indian I advise you to be careful, my
+dear.
+
+Nobody knows why this fish has such enormous, wing-like fins.
+Wise men used to think that he could raise himself out of the
+water with them, like the flying-fish; but it is now proved that
+he cannot, and there seems to be no reason why a set of plain,
+small fins would not serve him just as well for swimming. He
+prefers warm water to cold; so he lives in the tropical seas,
+swimming about the coasts of India, Africa, and Australia. The
+natives of Ceylon call him Gini-maha, and they think he is very
+good to eat. They take great care in catching him, for they are
+very much afraid of him, thinking that his sharp spines are
+poisoned, and can inflict a deadly wound. But in this they are
+too hard upon the fellow. He can prick them deeply and painfully,
+and he will if they meddle with him; but he is a perfectly
+respectable fish, and would not think of such a cowardly thing
+as poisoning anybody.
+
+
+
+THE DOLLS AND THE OTHER DOLLS.
+
+"Mamma," little Nellie asked, "is it right to give away things
+that have been given to you?"
+
+Her mamma replied that it might be quite right sometimes; and she
+said, "But I should feel sorry if I had made a little friend a
+present she did not value, and so was glad to part with it."
+
+"O mamma!" said Nellie, "you know how I value my dollies, every
+one, that my dear aunts and cousins sent me because I was sick.
+Now I am well again. To-morrow is New-Year's. Some sick little
+girls in the hospital want dollies. Could I, if I knew which one
+to choose, keep only one for myself, and send the whole five of
+them for those poor children who haven't any?"
+
+Her mamma liked the plan. She gave Nellie a box, and Nellie began
+kissing her babies, and laying them, one after another, in the
+box.
+
+There were two of nearly the same size, that were very dear to
+this little mother. She called them twins. They wore white frocks
+and blue kid boots. They had real blonde hair and their eyes
+would open and shut.
+
+These lovely twins Nellie held in her arms a long time before she
+could decide which to part with. When she did place one in the
+box, to be her own no more, a tear was on the doll's cheek. I do
+not think the drop came from dolly's eye.
+
+A few days after the dolls were given Nellie's mamma let her
+invite three little girls to play with her. Each girl brought her
+Christmas or her New-Year's doll; and the three dolls, with
+Nellie's, looked sweetly sitting together in a row.
+
+By and by Nellie's mamma came to her room, which she had given
+to the party for its use that afternoon. She told the children
+she would give them a little supper of cakes and pears and
+grapes, and it would be ready as soon as Biddy could bring the
+ice-cream from down street.
+
+The smiling child-visitors gathered around the kind lady, saying,
+"We thank you, and we love you ever so much."
+
+Nellie said softly, "Mamma dear, I wouldn't take my dollies back
+if I could. I love to think they amuse the sick children. But I
+do wish that for just a minute we had as many at this party."
+
+Her mamma turned to her dressing-case. It stood low enough for
+the smallest child to look into the mirror at the back easily.
+Moving off the toilet cushions and cologne-bottles, the lady put
+the four dolls in front of the looking-glass. Their reflection in
+the glass showed four more.
+
+"Six, seven, eight," cried the girls, delighted. "And all are
+twins--four pairs of twins!"
+
+After supper they made, the twins sit, and stand, and dance, bow
+and shake hands, before the looking-glass. So they played till
+dusk, when the other little girls' mammas sent to take them home,
+after kissing Nellie good-night.
+
+
+
+WHY DID MAMMA CHANGE HER MIND?
+
+Mamma Miller told Fay and Lonnie that they might have a party,
+so they tried to get ready for it. But the party was very
+different to what they expected. It always happens so about
+everything, if we pay no regard to one another's wishes.
+
+Mrs. Miller said they might invite ten children.
+
+"You write to five little girls, Fay," said she, "and Lonnie will
+write to the five little boys."
+
+So they went into the library. Lonnie sat down in papa's big
+chair, while Fay climbed up on one arm, close beside him, and
+they tried to think whom they would like to come to their party.
+
+"Make out your list first," said Lonnie. Fay did, and her brother
+agreed to all the girls. But as soon as Lonnie commenced writing
+his names, Fay began to find fault.
+
+"I don't like boys, anyway," said Fay, "only you, Lonnie. Let's
+have all girls at our party."
+
+"But it won't be my party," said Lonnie, "if you have all girls."
+
+"I don't care, all those are horrid," pointing to his paper.
+
+"You say that because you don't like boys." And then he told his
+sister that every little fellow whose name he had written was
+just as good as gold. And so they were just as good as Lonnie
+Miller, and he was one of the best boys that ever lived, so
+everybody said.
+
+"I sha'n't play with him if he comes," Fay kept saying to every
+name Lonnie wrote.
+
+"You can have your party," said Lonnie, getting up out of the
+easy-chair and sitting down in a smaller one, "you and your
+girls. I'm going to learn some new pieces," taking up his little
+silver blower.
+
+"I don't like boys," Fay kept saying, jumping down off the arm of
+the chair, and aiming a blow at the spot where her brother had
+sat with the rustic stick their sister Lucia had brought home May
+Day.
+
+Lucia was passing the door just then, so she thought she would
+see what all the noise was about.
+
+"I'd better call you to lunch," said she, and there they were
+just through breakfast.
+
+Mamma herself came hurrying in at sound of the bell. When they
+told her about the invitations, she said, "I shall not let you
+have any party at all, now."
+
+"What makes you change your mind?" said Fay.
+
+"Mamma will give her little girl just one week to find out why
+she has changed her mind," said Mrs. Miller.
+
+And for all Fay's coaxing, she could not be persuaded to stay a
+minute longer.
+
+
+
+CLARA'S "FUNERAL."
+
+Clara was the most unfortunate of dollies. She had had the mumps
+and whooping cough; and no sooner did she recover from the
+scarlet fever than she contracted pneumonia and nearly died. One
+morning Blanche was applying hot bandages to relieve bronchitis,
+and before night Clara had the small-pox.
+
+The next day mamma stopped at the nursery door.
+
+"Good morning, little nurse," she said; "how is poor Clara this
+morning?"
+
+"She's DEADED," said Blanche, with a long face.
+
+"Dreadful! What did she die of, small-pox? It seems to me that
+that was what she was suffering from last evening."
+
+"No'm'" said Blanche, "'twasn't small-pox. She DID have that
+bad; but I think she DIED of measles. The SUNERAL (Blanche could
+not say 'funeral') is to be at twelve sharp. Will you come,
+mamma?"
+
+"I'm so sorry, darling, but I must go to lunch with Mrs. Mathews
+at one. But Jack will go."
+
+The "suneral" took place at noon, and Blanche and Daisy, Jack and
+old Hector followed poor Clara in Benny's wagon to the grave yard
+at the bottom of the orchard. It was rather a jolly "suneral,"
+for they had "refreshments" under the trees afterward.
+
+In the afternoon, as mamma, came up the orchard path, she was
+surprised to see a doll's foot and leg sticking straight up out
+of the ground.
+
+"Why did you leave her foot out in this way?" asked mamma.
+
+"Well," said Blanche, "I thought perhaps she could get to Heaven
+easier."
+
+
+
+THE CHICKADEE-DEE.
+
+Little darling of the snow,
+Careless how the winds may blow,
+Happy as a bird can be,
+Singing, oh, so cheerily,
+Chickadee-dee! Chickadee-dee!
+
+When the skies are cold and gray,
+When he trills his happiest lay,
+Through the clouds he seems to see
+Hidden things to you and me.
+Chickadee-dee! chickadee-dee!
+
+Very likely little birds
+Have their thoughts too deep for word,
+But we know, and all agree,
+That the world would dreary be
+Without birds, dear chickadee!
+
+
+
+THE CHILDREN'S PARTY.
+
+What a merry, merry rout!
+See the wee ones dance about!
+Dickie's leading off the ball;
+There,--he almost had a fall.
+
+Who's his partner in the whirls,
+--Rosiest of all the girls?
+But a doll--a DOLL you say;
+Dancing in that sprightly way?
+
+Well I never! Oh, see there,
+See--just see those horses tear!
+Meg and Madge will sure be thrown.
+What a vicious looking roan!
+
+Not a real live horse you say,
+Prancing in that frightful way?
+Well, I never! Toys to-day
+Surely seem more "real" than "play."
+
+
+
+BRAVE TOMASSO.
+
+There were once two very beautiful cats named Tomasso and Lilia.
+It would be very hard indeed to say which was more beautiful than
+the other, Tomasso the husband, or Lilia his wife.
+
+They were about the same size, although, perhaps, Tomasso was a
+little the stouter of the two. There could be no question that at
+times the expression of his face was decidedly more fierce than
+that of his gentle wife.
+
+The fur of each of them was as white as the driven snow, and as
+soft, and fine, and glossy as the most perfect silk gloss.
+
+Add to these natural charms the fact that they always kept
+themselves beautifully clean, and always wore round their necks
+cravats made of the richest satin ribbon, and I am sure you will
+agree with me in thinking that they were cats of very high
+degree.
+
+Their neighbors considered them extremely proud and haughty. They
+never were known to play with any of the cats in their street. To
+be with each other was all they asked. Sometimes these neighbors
+took a great deal of pains to get a glimpse of Tomasso and Lilia
+as, paw in paw, they danced a minuet together.
+
+Even the most grumpy grimalkin declared it was a beautiful sight.
+There was no doubt the young couple was very graceful and their
+manners were perfect. Then he said that cats brought up as
+Tomasso and his wife had always lived, OUGHT to be amiable and
+beautiful. He understood that a jar of Orange County cream was
+ordered for them every day. Then he muttered something which
+sounded very much as if he thought Tomasso would be not over
+courageous in a moment of danger. "Alone, white tail is all very
+fine," said he, "but mark my word, at a sudden fright it would
+turn into a white feather. I should pity his wife if she had no
+one but him to protect her."
+
+Now it happened that that very afternoon Tomasso's courage was
+put to the test. As he and Lilia were taking a quiet walk,
+suddenly a huge dog rushed out at them. In an instant Tomasso
+placed himself across Lilia's trembling body. She had fallen to
+the ground in terror. The great dog made a jump at Tomasso, but
+was met with such a snarl, and then such a blow from a set of
+sharp claws that he ran away howling.
+
+That night the news of Tomasso's bravery spread through the whole
+neighborhood. But he was very quiet and modest. His proud wife
+was much disturbed at a bad scratch Tomasso had received in the
+struggle. They both examined it carefully with the aid of a
+hand-glass.
+
+"I hope it will not leave a scar," said Lilia, "but if it does it
+will only be a proof of the noble courage of my brave Tomasso."
+
+
+
+TOMMY FROST SEES A BEAR.
+
+Tommy Frost was making his first visit in the country. He was
+enjoying it very much. He liked to ramble about in the woods
+close by the house of his aunt, Mrs. Drew. Tommy had never even
+seen any birds before this, but pigeons and sparrows. That is,
+any birds out of cages. He had lived all his short life in the
+centre of a great city. He wanted very much to see a wild animal.
+He had heard Mr. Drew and some of his friends talking about "bear
+tracks" in the woods. Mr. Drew said they must go off some day and
+hunt for that bear.
+
+Now Tommy had no idea what a bear was like. He wished very much
+that he might see one. Every day he said to himself, "If I could
+only find the one the big men were talking about I'd feel proud."
+One day as he was strolling about, he suddenly saw something
+moving in one of the trees. He stopped, and looked up excitedly,
+then he rushed for the house screaming at the top of his voice,
+"Aunt Maria! Aunt Maria! come quick, I've seen it, it's in the
+woods."
+
+"What is in the woods?" asked Mrs. Drew.
+
+"The bear!" cried Tommy.
+
+"The bear?" repeated Mrs. Drew, hardly understanding.
+
+Then she drew a long breath and turned very white as she stood a
+moment shielding her eyes from the sun, looking in the direction
+in which Tommy pointed. Then she ran back into the house, and
+came out in a moment, bringing with her a huge horn. It was a
+megaphone. She was trembling so she could scarcely lift it, but
+she managed to raise it to her mouth and call through it. "John!
+Murray! come! come this instant! The bear is in the woods back of
+the house."
+
+In a few moments her husband and brother came running from the
+field where they were at work.
+
+They stopped for no questions, but rushed into the house for
+their guns. But as they came out Mr. Drew asked, "Who saw it?
+When, where?"
+
+"I did, said Tommy, not a bit frightened, but feeling very
+excited and proud. "I did, back there in a tree."
+
+"In a tree?" cried Mrs. Drew's brother, stopping in his quick run
+for the woods.
+
+"Yes," said Tommy, "it was a bear, but it looked,--it LOOKED just
+like my picture of a wiggle-tail."
+
+"Oh," cried Mrs. Drew, as she sank on the door-step, "the child
+has seen a gray squirrel!"
+
+
+
+MYSELF.
+
+One little head so smooth and round,
+With soft hair covered, golden or brown,
+One little forehead smooth and white,
+Two little eye-brows dark or light.
+Two little eyes that we see through.
+See us looking, now, at you?
+Two little cheeks so plump and round,
+Where the red rose of health is found.
+Two little ears where sound comes in;
+One little nose and mouth and chin.
+Rows of little teeth all in white;
+Ready for use when lunch is in sight.
+One little tongue kind words to say--
+Bright little smiles which round them play.
+One little head where all are seen.
+One little neck which stands between
+Head and shoulders to hold them fast.
+Now are we ready to find, at last,
+One little body with arms and hands
+Two legs and two feet on which it stands.
+
+
+
+TWO STRANGE SIGHTS.
+
+"Oh come into the dining-room!"
+Cries Fred, "come, grandma, dear.
+For something very strange indeed
+Is going on in here!"
+And sure enough, when grandma comes,
+Perhaps at first with fright,
+She stands quite still, astonished at
+An unexpected sight.
+
+For there upon the woollen rug,
+A jug between her feet,
+Sits Freddy's little sister Bess
+Absorbed in pleasures sweet.
+Her finger in the syrup now
+Behold she slyly dips,
+And carries it with great delight
+To her own rosy lips.
+
+"You little witch!" cries grandmama,
+"You're like the naughty rat
+I found within the cellar once,
+Who on a barrel sat,
+Filled with molasses, which he reached
+By dipping in the hole
+His great long tail from which he licked
+The sweets he thus had stole.
+
+"The rat was shot, but grandma's babe,
+Well, till she's learned to know
+Such tricks are wrong, why we of course
+Must naught but patience show."
+Then grandma took her little pet,
+And washed her sticky face,
+Then put that tempting syrup-jug
+Up in a safer place.
+
+
+
+A CAT'S INSTINCTS.
+
+"Take that! and that! and that!" These words came from an angry
+little girl. She was leaning over a big gray puss which she was
+holding down with one hand, while with the other she struck him a
+sharp blow every time she said "THAT."
+
+It is a wonder puss did not bite her, for he was so strong he
+could have done so. He was a very gentle cat. "Gentle?" I hear
+some one ask. Then why did he deserve such a whipping as the
+little girl was giving him?
+
+That is a question we must try to have answered. For my part I do
+not believe he deserved it at all. Let us see what happened next.
+Just as the little girl struck the last blow her Aunt Margaret
+came into the room. Aunt Margaret stopped in the doorway,
+astonished.
+
+"Why Flora," she said, as puss darted out of the room, "what are
+you beating Griffin for?"
+
+"What do you think he was doing?" cried Flora, her cheeks still
+flushed with anger. "He was on the table just ready to spring at
+this beautiful bird in my new hat. If I had not come he would
+have torn it to pieces."
+
+"But he knew no better, said Aunt Margaret, "it is perfectly
+natural for a cat to spring at a bird. Yes, and for him to kill
+it too, if he has not been trained to do otherwise."
+
+"But it would have made me feel dreadfully to have this beautiful
+bird torn to bits. I really love it. Besides, it was killed long
+ago."
+
+"Yes," said Aunt Margaret, "killed that you might wear it on a
+hat."
+
+There was something in Aunt Margaret's voice which made Flora
+and the little girls who were visiting her stand very still and
+look up.
+
+"You say," continued Aunt Margaret very gently, "you say you love
+your beautiful bird. That you would feel dreadfully if it were
+torn to bits. How do you think its bird-mother felt when it was
+torn from her nest, and she never saw it again?"
+
+"Oh," said Flora, "I never thought of that before. I'm afraid,--
+I'm afraid I'm more to blame than the cat."
+
+
+
+DINAH'S NEW YEAR'S PRESENT.
+
+Dinah Morris is a colored girl. She lives in the South. By South
+we mean in the southern part of the United States.
+
+Dinah is one of the most good-natured children that ever lived,
+but she is very, very lazy. There is nothing she likes, or used
+to like, so much as to curl up in some warm corner in the sun and
+do nothing.
+
+Dinah's mother wished very much that her child should learn to
+read, but the lady who tried to teach her soon gave it up. "It is
+no use," she said, "Dinah will not learn. She is not a stupid
+child, but she is too lazy for anything."
+
+It happened, soon after this, that a young man from Massachusetts
+came to the house where Dinah lived. He brought with him
+something no one else in the neighborhood had ever seen before--a
+pair of roller-skates.
+
+When Dinah saw the young man going rapidly up and down the piazza
+on his skates she was so astonished she hardly knew what to
+think. She ran after him like a cat, her black eyes shining as
+they had never shone before.
+
+One day the young man allowed her to try on the skates. The child
+was too happy for words. Of course she fell down, and sprawled
+about the floor, but did not mind at all.
+
+"Look here, Dinah," said the young man, "I understand that my
+aunt has been trying to teach you to read."
+
+Dinah answered that she certainly had.
+
+"Why didn't you learn?" asked the young man. "You need not
+trouble to answer," said he, "it was just because you are too
+lazy. Now, if, on the first of January, you can read, I tell you
+what I will do. I will send you as good a pair of roller-skates
+as I can buy in Boston."
+
+How Dinah's eyes snapped. For a moment she said nothing, then
+exclaimed decidedly, "I'll have those skates, sure."
+
+And she did. When she bent her mind on her work she could always
+do it well, no matter what it was.
+
+The lady who had before this found her such a difficult child to
+teach, now had no trouble. If Dinah showed the least sign of her
+former laziness the word SKATES! was enough to make her bend her
+mind on her lesson instantly.
+
+On New Year's morning she received a box marked in large printed
+letters:
+
+MISS DINAH MORRIS,
+Care of Mrs. Lawrence Delaney,
+NEW ORLEANS, LA.
+
+If she can read what is on the outside of  
+this box she can have what is inside.
+
+And as Dinah read every word plainly and quickly, of course she
+had for her very own the fine roller-skates the box held. And now
+sitting curled up in the sun, doing nothing, is not the thing she
+likes to do best.
+
+
+
+NIGHT FLOWERS.
+
+There are some flowers that never see the sun. One of the most
+curious is the "evening primrose." About six o'clock it suddenly
+bursts open, with a popping sound, and at six next morning
+closes.
+
+If you watch that pretty flower, and listen, you can hear
+this strange performance.
+
+This is why it does so. The little calyx holds the petals in such
+a way that the moment it turns back they are let loose. At
+once it bursts out into full flower, with this funny noise, like
+a pop-gun.
+
+So the "night-blooming cereus" blossom in the night, only for an
+hour, giving out its sweet fragrance, and then dies. Just think
+of never seeing the sun at all!
+
+In a far Eastern country there is a kind of jasmine called the
+"sorrowful tree." It droops as if sick in the daytime, and at
+night grows fresh and bright. It opens its lovely flowers with a
+very pleasant odor till morning, and then wilts and looks
+wretched again.
+
+
+
+THE FIRST SNOW-STORM.
+
+Away off on a warm sunny island, little Harry Hall was born.
+Flowers bloomed all the year round. The sun shone most of
+the time, although now and then there were thunder-showers.
+
+Many wonderful plants grew wild, while on the shore shells
+and seaweed and queer little fishes were often to be found.
+
+When Harry was six years old his parents took a journey to
+New York.
+
+It seemed very odd to the little boy to live in a place where
+there were so many people, and such great houses. After a while
+the weather grew cold, and he had to wear thick woollen clothing.
+The house in which they lived was heated by a furnace; but one
+day they had a fire of logs on the hearth. Harry enjoyed it very
+much, and thought the bright blaze so pretty.
+
+The sky was gray and cloudy one afternoon, and Harry had
+been standing by the window watching the street cars. Suddenly
+the air grew thick, and he could scarcely see the houses
+opposite. Something white and feathery fell slowly down and
+rested on the window ledge. Then it disappeared. But more and
+more of the little flakes came, until there was quite a ridge
+outside of the window.
+
+Harry opened the sash gently, fearing it might fly away. He
+was surprised when he touched it to find it so cold. He took
+some up in his hand, but in a moment it was only a drop of water.
+
+By that time the street and the men's hats and coats were
+quite white. Harry was puzzled to find a name for the beautiful
+white substance, so he ran to his mamma and asked her about it.
+
+She told him it was snow, and because the air was so warm
+on the beautiful island where he was born they never had any.
+
+The next morning he saw the little children of the neighborhood
+playing in it; but before noon the sun was so bright and
+warm the snow had all melted away.
+
+When the second snow-storm came Harry's papa brought home a
+beautiful sleigh, and gave his little boy great pleasure by
+drawing him up and down the street.
+
+Harry soon learned to go out by himself, and made many friends;
+especially of the little girls, as he was very generous with his
+sleigh.
+
+But he has never forgotten his surprise when he saw the first
+snow-storm.
+
+
+
+FRED'S STOLEN RIDE.
+
+One day little Fred's motber, who bad been sick a long time, told
+him she was going out with a friend to take a drive. Fred wanted
+to go, too, but his mother said there would not be room in the
+buggy. Fred felt very cross and unhappy, and sat down on the
+front steps, ready to cry as soon as he should see his mother go
+away.
+
+A buggy came to the gate, and the gentleman who was driving went
+into the house. Fred ran out and climbed into the buggy to sit
+there until his mother came out.
+
+In looking around he saw there was a wide space under the seat,
+in which a boy might hide. He crawled in, thinking he would take
+a ride, and his mother would not know it.
+
+He waited a long time, but no one came, and at last he grew tired
+and fell asleep.
+
+He was waked by feeling a big jolt, as a wheel of the buggy
+struck a stone; but he kept still. After what seemed to him a
+long time the buggy stopped and he heard some one taking the
+horse from the shafts. He waited until all was quiet, and then
+crawled out from his hiding-place.
+
+He found it was almost dark, and everything about him was
+strange. He was very much frightened, but he jumped down and went
+to a farm-house close by. A woman he had never seen before came
+to the door. When he told her where he lived she said he was
+fifteen miles from home, and he found that he had taken his
+stolen ride in the buggy of a man who had called to see his
+father on business.
+
+It was too late for Fred to go home that night, and he had to
+stay at the farmer's house until the next day. Then he was taken
+home, and I am very sure he never tried to steal another ride.
+
+
+
+A VALENTINE PARTY.
+
+The children had a valentine party, the very nicest party,--they
+all declared, that they had ever been to in their lives. All the
+cousins in the neighborhood--and there were a lot of them--were
+there.
+
+What fun they had opening their valentines, which a "really"
+postman brought with his gray uniform and his whistle and his
+great leather pack.
+
+"Dear me," he said, pretending to groan, as he handed the
+missives, "if you had a party every day here I think I should
+be completey worn out!" But his eyes twinkled merrily.
+
+Such shouts and exclamations as the valentines were opened and
+read! And such fun looking at everybody else's. Here are two,
+Bessie's and Fred's:--
+
+I'm for the boy
+Who can stand on his head,
+And who NEVER likes
+To go to bed.
+If there's more than one of them,--
+I'm for FRED!
+
+I bring a kiss
+From far away;
+It's travelled many
+Miles to-day.
+
+Take it, my dear,
+And send one back
+To your old, loving
+Uncle Jack.
+
+Don't you think that the children OUGHT to have had a good time
+if all received as dear little valentines as these?
+
+
+
+THE VENTURESOME RAT.
+
+He was a fine young rat and lived with his father and mother,
+and brothers and sisters in a farm-cellar.
+
+Now this young rat was not of a very quiet disposition. In fact
+he was quite gay, and thought the life in the farm-cellar was
+very dull and stupid and longed to see more of the world.
+
+He sat near his father and mother one day when they were
+entertaining a caller, a stranger who seemed to have travelled
+all over the world, and told in a very interesting manner of the
+many wonderful things he had seen. "Why," said the caller, "how
+you can be contented to live as you do I cannot imagine, and to
+bring up your children in such ignorance fills me with surprise.
+They would learn more in one night prowling through the big house
+to which this farm belongs than they will learn here for the rest
+of their lives."
+
+After this caller had taken his leave, the young rat decided that
+he would venture forth himself. He would that very night visit
+the big house and see what was to be seen there. He pretended to
+cuddle down on his own bed, and go sound asleep. He was really
+watching his parents out of the corners of his wicked eyes, and
+as soon as they were sound asleep, off he started. He found his
+way to the house much more easily than he had expected; in short,
+almost before he could believe it, he was in a fine great pantry.
+A pantry whose shelves were covered with such good things to eat
+as he had never seen. Rich cake, pies, cookies, and cheese such
+as he had heard the caller describe. The first nibble fairly
+melted in his mouth.
+
+After he had eaten his fill he began looking about the pantry for
+other means of amusement. Suddenly he saw a curious thing; it
+seemed to be a little house or hut made of wire. Inside the hut
+was a piece of cheese. "I really think I have eaten enough," said
+the young rat, "but if that cheese is so fine that it is kept in
+a house by itself it must be very fine indeed." With these words
+he- crawled into the hole in the side of the hut and ate the
+cheese, but when, later, he tried to get out he could not to save
+his life.
+
+Hours and hours he remained there until the night passed, and the
+day came. Indeed he had fallen into a little nap when he was
+awakened by a loud cry. Some one was shouting, "we've caught the
+rascal at last, now we'll drown him."
+
+The poor little fellow knew they were wrong; he could not be the
+rascal they meant, for this was the first time he had ever been
+in the house. At that moment a boy's voice was heard to say. "Let
+me see him. No, you shall not drown him. I will tame him if I
+can."
+
+And so it came about that the young rat did see a good deal of
+the world, but how? THROUGH THE BARS OF A CAGE.
+
+
+
+THE BEARS' FEAST.
+
+A man had come to town with two tame bears. They were very clever
+bears, and could climb posts and trees, dance and turn summersets
+and do a great many other tricks besides.
+
+One day the man was taken ill and had to stay in the house all
+day. He thought the bears were locked up in the barn. But the
+bears decided they would go for a walk by themselves. They
+managed to get away without being seen and started in the
+direction of the schoolhouse.
+
+The children were at recess when they suddenly saw the bears.
+They were frightened and ran screaming into the school-house.
+
+The bears were very tame and kind and wanted to make friends with
+the children, so they followed them.
+
+The children jumped on the desks screaming and crying and the
+teachers were frightened too.
+
+When the bears saw that they could not make friends or play they
+began quietly walking about the school-room.
+
+Finally they came to the dressing-room where all the dinner-pails
+and baskets were hanging.
+
+Smelling the food, they managed to knock some of the baskets down
+and then such a feast as they had!
+
+They sat on their haunches and ate sandwiches and fruit and
+drank milk out of the bottles just as the children would do.
+When they had eaten enough they quietly left the school-house and
+trotted down the road toward home.
+
+After the bears were gone the children became calm again and
+returned to their lessons.
+
+The man and the bears disappeared the next day and were never
+seen again.
+
+
+
+PATTY-SAYINGS.
+
+"I've been reading Bible stories,"
+Patty said, "and I believe
+That Adam's name MEANT "Morning,'
+Because his wife was 'Eve.'"
+
+
+
+BABIE'S CURLS.
+
+Little Bessie Boothby
+Had a little sister Sue:
+And a baby brother,
+Whom she thought the world of, too.
+
+Only one thing troubled
+These dear little girls;
+'Though baby Tom was pretty,
+He hadn't any curls.
+
+They found a box of vaseline
+And rubbed it on his head;
+But even then no hair would grow:
+It made his head quite red.
+
+Bessie once was brushing
+Dollie's golden hair,
+When off it fell, alas! and left
+Poor dollie's head quite bare.
+
+Little Sue was frightened,
+But to comfort, Bessie said,
+"Susie dear, do listen,
+'Tis just like babie's head.
+
+"Let's put the wig on baby Tom,
+And then he'll have some curls;
+I would not even be surprised
+If he looked just like us girls."
+
+When Mamma saw her baby boy
+With all this growth of hair,
+She laughed until she nearly cried,
+At the naughty little pair.
+
+
+
+THE RED APPLES.
+
+One windy day in March Kitty Miller was on her way to school,
+when she spied in a store window, a great pile of lovely red
+apples.
+
+"Oh", she said, "how lovely! if Mamma could only have one!"
+
+Kittie's mother was very poor. She had been a dress-maker ever
+since Mr. Miller died, and had worked so hard to earn a living
+for herself and Kitty that she had become sick. She was obliged
+to lie in bed all day, and when Kitty was away at school, the
+house was very lonesome to the invalid.
+
+When Kitty reached the school that day her thoughts were full of
+her sick mother and the lovely apples.
+
+She was usually a good scholar, but to-day she made so many
+blunders that the teacher looked at her in surprise. The little
+girl could only sit at her desk, with her book before her, and
+dream of those red apples. When school was dismissed, Kitty
+started slowly homeward. She had gone only a short distance when
+she saw a gentleman in front of her drop his purse. Running
+quickly forward she picked it up. It felt quite heavy in Kittie's
+little hand.
+
+"There must be a good deal of money in it," thought Kitty. "How
+I wish I could keep it. Then I could buy Mamma a red apple and so
+many other things she needs."
+
+But she knew this would not be right, so she hurried after the
+gentleman. Touching him on the arm, she said, "Please, Sir, you
+dropped your purse."
+
+"Thank you, dear," said the gentleman taking the purse.
+
+Then noticing how poorly dressed she was, he said, "Why did you
+not keep the purse, my child?"
+
+"Because that would be stealing," replied Kitty. "But," she
+continued honestly, "before I thought I must give it back to
+you, I did wish I could keep it, for then I could buy Mamma a
+red apple."
+
+The gentleman smiled kindly and said, "You are a good little
+girl to return my purse. I would like to give you a little
+present and then you can buy a red apple."
+
+He handed her a silver dollar and then bade her good-by.
+
+Kitty was so surprised that she started hastily for home,
+forgetting all about the red apples until she stood in front of
+the store.
+
+The store-keeper happened to look out and saw the same little
+girl who stood looking so longingly in at his window in the
+morning. He quickly picked out the biggest, roundest, reddest
+apple he could find and taking it out to Kitty said, "Would you
+like this, my dear?"
+
+She took the apple, looking so pleased and thanking him so
+prettily, that the good man thought of it for many a day. When
+Kitty reached home with her treasures she found her mother
+fast asleep. So she put the apple and silver piece on a plate
+where her mother could see them when she awoke.
+
+When Mrs. Miller was told the wonderful story, she kissed her
+little daughter and said, "You see, dear, it always pays to be
+honest and truthful."
+
+
+
+BUBBLES.
+
+"Now, Tommie, what will you do while I write letters this
+morning?"
+
+"Blow soap bubbles, Mamma, please," and Tommie jumped up and
+down, clapping his hands for pleasure.
+
+"Well, run and get me your pipe and bowl and I will mix you some
+suds."
+
+The soap-suds were soon ready, and Tommie took his favorite
+position on the broad window-sill with the bowl in his lap.
+
+Mamma, writing in the next room, could hear the Oh's and squeals
+of delight, as the bubbles grew larger and rounder.
+
+"Why is Tommie in all the bubbles?" asked the little boy at last.
+
+"Because, said Mamma, "the bubbles are like a mirror, and when
+my little boy is near enough to look at them, he will be
+reflected in them, just the same as when he looks in Mamma's long
+mirror."
+
+"But the mirror doesn't break like the bubbles," said Tommie.
+"Where do they go when they break, Mamma?"
+
+"They evaporate, dear; that is a big word for my little boy.
+Spell it after Mamma and then perhaps you will remember.
+E-v-a-p-o-r-a-t-e evaporate."
+
+"What does evaporate mean," asked Tommie bringing out the long
+word with a jerk.
+
+"Do you remember, dear," answered Mamma, "that early in the
+morning when the grass is all wet with dew, my little boy cannot
+run in it without his rubbers? But before long it is all dry and
+then my little boy takes off his rubbers and does not get his
+feet wet. The sun and the air absorb or suck up the water and
+carry it off to their homes. Now, the bubbles are made of a
+little water and a little air. The water is on the end of the
+pipe, and Tommie blows the air into the pipe, and the bubble
+grows big and round. When it breaks, the air sucks up the water,
+which was the outside of the bubble, and the air which was inside
+mixes with the air in the room."
+
+"Now do you suppose you can tell Papa all about it, when he comes
+home to dinner?" asked Mamma.
+
+"Of course I can," said Tommie, proudly. "Haven't you just told
+me all about it?"
+
+
+
+A HORSE WHO WORE SNOW SHOES.
+
+Mr. Brown had to go to his camp at Pine Tree Valley, which is in
+the midst of the mountains in California.
+
+His men were cutting down the giant trees, and piling them in
+readiness for the Spring freshet, or floods of the river, when
+the snows melted. Then they would slide them down the mountain
+sides to the little villages below.
+
+There was a great deal of snow on the mountains, and Mr. Brown
+knew it would be hard work climbing to the camp, but Lady Gray
+was strong, and used to it.
+
+Lady Gray was Mr. Brown's pet horse, and carried him everywhere.
+She was always happy when her master was in the saddle.
+
+But to-day the snow was very deep and soon Mr. Brown had to get
+off, throw away the saddle, and lead her. They had to stop very
+often, and lean against the trees and rocks for support, while
+they rested and regained their breath.
+
+In places the snow was so deep and soft, that they sank above
+their knees. Late in the afternoon they reached the camp nearly
+exhausted, and it was several days before they were able to
+return.
+
+The snow was still deep and Mr. Brown knew he must go back on
+snow-shoes, but he was afraid Lady Gray would have to be left
+behind.
+
+Finally one of the men suggested making her some snow-shoes.
+They cut four round pieces of board, twelve inches across, and
+fastened them on with rope. Lady Gray seemed to understand what
+they were for and tried very hard to walk in them.
+
+She was very awkward at first and could hardly stand up, but by
+practicing a little every day she was soon able to manage nicely.
+
+So Mr. Brown and Lady Gray both returned on snow-shoes, and how
+every one did laugh when they saw them.
+
+But Lady Gray never could have done it if she had not tried.
+
+
+
+THE ANGRY BOBOLINK.
+
+Pretty little bobolink
+In your satin coat,
+Trimmed with white across the neck
+Black about the throat,
+Why so angry do you seem?
+Why so fierce your mien?
+That you're scolding somebody
+Plainly can be seen.
+
+"Don't you know," says bobolink,
+As he shakes his head,
+That my nest is hidden in
+This soft grassy bed?
+Somebody has come too near,
+And I wish to say
+There is no admittance here
+Pass the other way.
+
+"If my gentle little wife
+Sits so calm above,
+It's because she knows I'll guard
+This dear nest we love."
+Fear not, pretty bobolink,
+Sing your joyous song,
+Never will I trouble you,
+Sing, the whole day long.
+
+
+
+HOW HIRAM SPENT HIS SHRIMP MONEY.
+
+"I wish my mother had a ring like those the ladies wear at the
+hotel," said Hiram Green to himself one day. "There isn't one of
+those ladies as pretty as my mother; she ought to wear rings
+too."
+
+Hiram was the son of a fisherman, but the fisherman had died when
+Hiram was a little boy. Hiram's mother took in sewing and fancy
+work to earn money to support herself and her son. He helped her
+what he could out of school hours, and in vacation. He had two
+uncles who wad taught him how to catch shrimps. With the money he
+earned by selling them he could buy things for his own use or
+pleasure. He had a bank almost full of what he called his
+"shrimp-money." He did not mean to count his money until the bank
+was full.
+
+Now Hiram loved his mother more than anything else in the world.
+Whenever he dreamed of being rich some time, as boys often do, it
+was not for himself he wanted the money, but that his dear little
+mother might drive in a carriage, drawn by a pair of horses with
+clanking chains.
+
+The sight of the flashing gems on the hands of some of the summer
+visitors at the fishing village in which he lived had added a new
+article to the list of beautiful things his mother was some day
+to own. He had heard that just one single diamond was sometimes
+worth five hundred dollars or more. This had discouraged him very
+much. But one day happening to pass a shop in the neighboring
+town he saw a number of rings displayed in the window. Diamond
+rings which flashed and sparkled, it seemed to him, just as those
+worn by the ladies in the hotels. He stopped fascinated, ana
+pressed his face against the glass eagerly to see if any prices
+were marked upon them. Imagine his surprise when he saw upon the
+largest one a tag marked $4.75. He looked again to see if he had
+not made a mistake. Perhaps it was $475.00. But no, he knew
+enough about figures to see that he was right the first time.
+
+Home he went as fast as he could get there, and ran up into his
+bedroom. Then, for the first time since he had begun to save his
+"shrimp-money" he opened his bank and counted its contents.
+"Three dollars and twenty-two cents!" he cried, "almost enough. I
+was going to buy something for myself this time, but I'll have
+that ring before another week."
+
+Hiram worked early and late for the next few days. He caught more
+shrimps than he had ever caught in the same length of time, and
+sold them readily.
+
+"I think there must be something you are wanting, very much, my
+boy," said his mother.
+
+"Yes, there is," replied Hiram.
+
+At the end of the week he had the sum he desired. Hurrying to the
+shop where he had seen the ring, before going inside he gave one
+hasty, almost frightened look into the window. Could it be gone!
+No, there it was flashing and sparkling as before.
+
+That evening, he placed it on his mother's finger. She looked at
+it in surprise. "It is yours, mother," he cried, proudly, "your
+very own, I bought it with my shrimp money. I was determined my
+mother should have a ring as handsome as those ladies wear."
+
+"My dear boy," said his mother, while something as bright as the
+shining stone flashed in her eyes, "Not one of those ladies can
+value their rings as I shall value mine."
+
+Years afterwards Hiram learned that what he had bought for a
+diamond was only a bit of glass.
+
+"Did you know it then, mother?" he asked.
+
+His mother nodded. "And you never told me."
+
+"It was brighter to me than any real diamond," she said, "the
+brightness I saw flash in it was the unselfish love of my boy."
+
+
+
+THE ANT'S HOUSE.
+
+"What a curious picture that is at the head of this story." That
+is what I think I hear some of the "Little Ones" say. "What does
+it mean?" some one asks. It looks like a procession of ants. That
+is just what it is. A procession of ants all marching off to find
+a new home. Some one has destroyed their old one. Let us hope no
+one did it on purpose.
+
+The ants are very busy and very nice little creatures. If their
+houses are stepped upon, or injured so as to be useless the ants
+immediately go to work to repair damages. They do not sit down
+and fuss about it first, but I have no doubt they let each other
+know what they think. And how do you suppose they do this? By
+touching each other with their tiny feelers.
+
+After they have talked in this way, and decided what is to be
+done some of them take the eggs from the ruins and carry them to
+a safe place. Look carefully at the pictures, and you will see
+that almost every ant is carrying an egg. They know that if they
+lose the eggs all the young ants inside the eggs will be lost
+too.
+
+While ants do not seem to have a very keen sense of hearing,
+their sense of smell is very strong. And where do you think it
+lies ? In the same little feelers with which they talk to each
+other. The first ant's house seen in the round picture has been
+cut in two to show you how wonderfully these little creatures can
+build.
+
+It was made by the ants that live in tropical countries. The
+house at the back of the picture has not been disturbed. Does
+it not look as if an architect had planned it? Ask some of the
+older people in your family to tell you something more about
+ants. There is much more of interest in regard to them than I
+have space to write you.
+
+
+
+THE FOOLISH PUG.
+
+A pompous pug once thought that he
+A dashing swell would try to be,
+And on his neighbors one and all,
+Sat out to make a stylish call.
+
+He wore a glass upon one eye,
+And on his head a silk hat high;
+A wide, stiff collar around his throat,
+And last an English overcoat.
+
+So fine and splendid was his air
+The very birds stood still to stare,
+As walking on his two hind feet
+He sauntered boldly down the street.
+
+But oh, alas! it comes to all
+To learn that pride must have a fall,
+And e'er the corner he had turned
+Poor pug that bitter lesson learned.
+
+A saucy maid with one great whack,
+Brought down her broom upon his back,
+And as he raised a frightened wail
+Another soused him from her pail.
+
+Poor pug! that night he sat and thought
+Of all the trouble he had brought
+Upon himself, because that he
+A foolish dude had tried to be.
+
+
+
+THE SILHOUETTE PARTY
+
+"Children," said Grandpa, one afternoon, "I am going to build a
+bonfire this evening, to burn up this rubbish, so you may have a
+silhouette party."
+
+"Why, what is a silhouette party?" asked Lucy, opening her eyes
+very wide.
+
+"I know," said Ralph, "it is funny black pictures on something
+white."
+
+"That's right," laughed Grandpa. "Now you fly round and write
+your friends and Grandma and I will get everything ready."
+
+When the young people arrived at half past seven, they found a
+blazing fire, and in front of it was stretched a sheet between
+two large apple trees.
+
+Quite a distance in front of the sheet were some seats, where
+Grandpa told some of the children to sit, while the others took
+part in the pictures.
+
+He then disappeared with them in a tent close by where Grandma
+was waiting to dress them in their different costumes. Shouts of
+laughter came from the tent as the children put on their odd
+dresses; indeed there was so much fun that it took quite some
+time.
+
+When all was ready Grandpa came out and addressing the children
+who were waiting said, "These are to be Mother Goose pictures,
+which you will all know. You must guess whom they represent
+and the one who guesses correctly the largest number will receive
+a prize."
+
+He threw a large pine knot on the fire, which burned up brightly,
+and there the children saw a shadow on the sheet, a little bent
+figure with a broom over its shoulder.
+
+"The old woman who swept the cob-webs out of the sky," cried some
+one.
+
+Following this, came a figure with a long cloak and tall peaked
+hat, leading a dog.
+
+"Old Mother Hubbard," guessed another.
+
+Then came a boy and a girl carrying a pail.
+
+"Jack and Jill," chorused the children.
+
+After this a girl with a shepherd's crook.
+
+"Little Bo-peep," again was guessed.
+
+"Now," said Grandpa, "it is time the others had their turn at
+acting."
+
+So the exchange being made, the pictures continued.
+
+"Jack Horner," "Little Miss Muffet," "Old King Cole," and "Mary,
+who had a little lamb," followed in quick succeission.
+
+Then Grandpa announced that the pictures were over.
+
+"As we cannot decide who has guessed the largest number of
+pictures," said he, "I will give you each a prize. And he passed
+them each a card.
+
+It proved to be a picture of Ralph and Lucy cut from black paper
+and pasted on a white card.
+
+"These," said Grandpa, "are silhouette pictures too. Will you
+always know what a silhouette picture is now?"
+
+"Oh yes," said the children.
+
+
+
+THE SNOW BIRDS.
+
+It had snowed very hard. Ralph and Edward, who were visiting
+Grandma in the country, had to stay in the house all day.
+
+When they went to bed it was still snowing, and every time they
+woke up during the night, they could hear the wind sighing and
+whistling around the house, and through he branches of the old
+pine tres.
+
+But the next morning the sun was shining brightly. Such a
+glorious day! How the branches of the pine trees did sparkle.
+
+"It looks as if they had been sprinkled with gold dust and
+diamonds," exclaimed Ralph.
+
+"Oh Grandma! Please do hurry breakfast. We are going out to
+build a fort," cried the boys, bursting into the dining-room.
+
+Grandma smiled and told them to eat a good breakfast, for
+building a fort was hard work.
+
+They were soon out in the snow, and what a splendid time they
+did have.
+
+The fort did not grow very fast, for they had to stop so often to
+snow-ball each other.
+
+When Grandma called them in to dinner they wondered where the
+time had gone since breakfast.
+
+After dinner, Ralph was looking out of the window, when he spied
+two little birds cuddled up on a branch of a pine-tree.
+
+"Oh, Edward! come here," he called. "See those poor little
+birds. They look half frozen and so hungry."
+
+"Poor little things," replied Edward. "Doesn't it make you feel
+mean to think what a jolly time we had this morning out of the
+snow which has covered up the places where they get their food?"
+
+"Let us get some food from Grandma and throw it out to them,"
+said Ralph. "Perhaps they will find it."
+
+The little birds were soon chirpping and flying about merrily and
+Ralph said it sounded as if they kept saying, "thank you."
+
+Will not other little children be as kind as Ralph and Edward?
+
+
+
+A KIND HEART.
+
+The day Ethel Brown was seven years old she had a tea party.
+
+Mrs. Brown had sent tiny cards of invitation to all the little
+girls on the street to come and bring their dolls. She also sent
+one to Nellie Day, her washer-woman's little girl, at Ethel's
+special request.
+
+"She is a nice little girl," said Ethel, "and doesn't ever go
+anywhere like me. May I have her at my party?"
+
+"That is right, little daughter," said Mrs. Brown. "Always be
+kind to those who have less pleasure than yourself. Of course she
+may come to your party."
+
+They all arrived at four o'clock and looked very pretty in their
+white dresses and bright ribbons, and the dolls looked nearly as
+pretty as the little girls themselves.
+
+Ethel noticed that Nellie Day did not have a doll with her. "So,
+thought she, "I will ask her to pour the tea and then she won't
+feel bad because she hasn't one."
+
+The little girls talked and played games and Ethel's grown up
+sister played on the piano and then they sang.
+
+"Now," said Mrs. Brown, coming into the room, "if you will choose
+partners, Florence will play for you and you can march out to
+tea."
+
+During the confusion Ethel said to her mamma, "I shall ask Nellie
+to pour the tea because she has not any doll."
+
+"Very well, dear," answered Mrs. Brown.
+
+But when they turned to find her, she was not with the others.
+
+"Where can she be?" exclaimed Ethel.
+
+And then began the search. Tea was delayed and they hunted the
+house over for her. Finally Mrs. Brown went out on a side porch
+seldom used, and there she found the little girl.
+
+The child had brought a cushion to sit on, and clasped tightly in
+her arms were three of Ethel's dolls. Mrs. Brown persuaded her
+to come in with the promise that she might keep the dolls.
+
+So Ethel rang the bell, and they all marched in to tea again,
+with Nellie Day leading the line, holding her three dollies.
+
+"Mamma," said Ethel, as the little girls were going home, "may I
+give Nellie Day the dolls? I have so many and she has not one."
+
+"Yes indeed replied Mrs. Brown, as she kissed her little
+daughter. "I am sure it will make her very happy."
+
+And Nellie Day went home that night, the happiest little girl in
+the town.
+
+
+
+TOWSER TALKS.
+
+I am not a big dog and I don't know very much, but I know more
+than I used to. The reason why I know more than I used to is
+because I asked Carlo some questions once. I asked him what made
+him so gaunt and thin and why he had such an enquiring expression
+on his face and such a hump on the top of his head. He didn't
+answer right away, and--I noticed the enquiring expression
+vanished. He looked quite decided. Then something happened,--I
+don't know exactly what, but Mary, the cook, told the butler that
+it made her dizzy just to look on. And then Carlo said:--
+
+"One reason why I am gaunt and thin is because I am not a little
+up-start of a pug,--of no earthly use under Heaven, and nothing
+to do but waddle around and accumulate fat.
+
+"The reason I have an enquiring expression on my face is because
+I am ever on the outlook to anticipate my master's will and do
+his slightest bidding.
+
+"As for the hump on the top of my head, that is a mark given by
+the Creator only to dogs that have intellect. Pray that yours may
+grow!"
+
+That is all he said, but it was enough for one day and has
+furnished me food for thought ever since.
+
+
+
+JUST AS SHE PLEASED.
+
+"Now, children, I am tired of you; I am going down stairs for the
+rest of the morning," and Polly started to leave the nursery.
+
+"Put your dolls away before you go," said Nurse, "I don't want
+them left in the middle of the floor."
+
+"I won't. I did not put them there." Polly tossed her head and
+ran quickly out of the room.
+
+Nurse had baby in her lap and could not run after her.
+
+The little girl went to the kitchen, but cook was cross and said
+she would not have Polly bothering her.
+
+Then she went to the library hoping to find her Uncle Edward, but
+he was not there.
+
+She wandered from room to room and could find nothing to amuse
+her.
+
+She wanted to go back into the nursery, but she had told a lie
+when she said she had not put the dolls on the floor, and she was
+afraid to.
+
+She felt lonesome and a few tears ran down her face.
+
+At that moment Uncle Edward entered the room, and, seeing the
+doleful little face, took her in his arms, tossing her into the
+air.
+
+As he did so, he knocked over a vase which fell to the floor,
+broken.
+
+"Oh! see what you have done," cried Polly.
+
+"I don't care. I sball say I didn't do it," replied Uncle Edward.
+
+"Oh! But that would be a lie," said Polly.
+
+"Well, who put the dolls on the nursery floor?"
+
+"Nurse must have told you. But I am sorry," and Polly began to
+cry again.
+
+"There, there!" said Uncle Edward. "We will go up and tell Nurse
+we are sorry."
+
+They went up to the nursery but Nurse and baby had gone and the
+dolls were still on the floor.
+
+Polly wanted to play circus and Uncle Edward made believe he was
+the elephant and gave the dollies a ride. He kicked so once that
+black Diana fell off and broke her neck.
+
+After a while Nurse came in with baby and interrupted the frolic.
+
+When Polly told her she was sorry because she had told a lie,
+Nursie said she would forgive her and Polly promised not to do
+so again.
+
+
+
+THE WORKING TOOLS OF INSECTS.
+
+I wonder if you know that the smallest insects you see about you
+have tools given them to do their work with. There is a little
+fly called a saw-fly, because it has a saw to work with. It is
+really a very much nicer saw than you could make, if you were
+ever so old.
+
+The fly uses it to make places where the eggs will be safe. What
+is more strange, it has a sort of homemade glue which fastens
+them where they are laid.
+
+Some insects have cutting instruments that work just as your
+scissors do. The poppy-bee is one of them, whose work is
+wonderful. This bee has a boring tool, too. Its nest is usually
+made in old wood. This borer cleans out the nest ready for use.
+When all is ready the insect cuts out pieces of leaves to line
+the nest and to make the cells. These linings are out in the
+shape of the cells. You, would be surprised to see the care taken
+to have every piece of just the right size, so that it will fit.
+When they are. fitted, the pieces are nicely fastened together
+and put into the nest.
+
+
+
+
+
+End of the Project Gutenberg etext of Cinderella.
+
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