reled, for their mother was always near to warn them against all angry words,-and it was a pretty sight to see the little Helen, throw down her skipping rope or ball, when Fred grew tired of listening to his mother's stories, and try to amuse him by bringing him bright flowers, or reading to him from some of the books she kept in the little bookcase her father had given her for a birthday present.

Fred often thought and said, that he never could be happy away from his kind parents, and little sister; but when he was about ten years old, his Aunt Clara, went away some fifty miles into the country to visit her sister, and took Fred for company on the journey. It made him feel so much like a man to go on this first trip, that he quite forgot that he was to leave all his dear friends behind, till the time came to bid them good bye. Then, I am afraid, the tears filled his eyes, and there was a big lump in his throat that made him feel as if he was choking—but in a little while he got over this, and enjoyed the swift ride in the cars very much indeed.

Fred's uncle lived upon a farm, just out of the village of Monticello. It was nearly dark when the travelers reached the place, but Fred had time, after supper, to run about a little, and see what the place. was like. He found a famous great tree on the green before the door, and thought he would ask his uncle, the next day, if he might have a swing put up there. Then there was a meeting-house a little way off, and a few cottages, and close beside the road,

and only a little distance from the great tree, was a small brook, with an arched stone bridge over it, that pleased him very much. As he walked down that way, a man came up, leading two of the farm horses-one white, and the other black. He let go of the bridles, and waited for them to drink. Fred began to talk with him, and soon found out that his name was Mike, and that the black horse, was named "Dolly," while the white one answered to the name of "Snowball." Mike put him on old Dolly's back, and he rode up to the house in high glee, just as his aunt was coming to the door to call him to bed.

The next morning Fred was up early, eager to take a long walk, with his kind aunt, who knew all

the beautiful places on the farm. She led him down a long and narrow lane, till they came suddenly upon an old windmill, that was a new and strange sight to the boy. They stood upon a little bank just beyond the mill, looking down at the brook beyond, and at a little boat that was gliding along there, like a living thing. Fred clapped his hands and exclaimed :

"Oh, Auntie, we must have a sail before I go back!"

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6.

"Yes," said his kind aunt, we will have one the day after to-morrow, if the day is fair. Mike shall take us out to Still Pond, where the white lilies grow, and if you pick some for Helen, they can be kept pretty fresh till we see her. Now look at the mill, Fred."

Fred looked. The miller had opened the door, and was standing on the steps, and up over the roof, the sails were going slowly round, like long arms stretched out in the air. Fred wanted a ride on one of them, but his aunt laughed so heartily at the idea, that he gave it up a moment after, and was quite willing to exchange it, for one with Mike, who now came jolting by, with a high wagon and old Snowball, and stopped to take them in.

Fred thought that was one of the happiest weeks he had ever spent. He had a nice swing and a ride now and then on old Dolly-and then for playmates, he had a funny little black and white puppy named Jip, and all the hens, and chickens, and

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geese, and turkeys on the farm. And then, the day before he went away, he had such a famous sail with his aunt, and Mike, in his uncle's boat. They went a long way out on the pond, and filled the bottom of the boat with the whitest and sweetest lilies he had ever seen. His aunt wrapped them up carefully in wet paper the next morning, and after Fred had said good-bye to every body and every thing on the farm, they were whirled away again in the rattling cars, towards home.

They got there just in time for tea, and Fred cried for joy when he felt his mother's arms around him, and Helen's kiss upon his cheek. The little girl was delighted with the fragrant lilies, and Fred had so much to tell her of the wonderful things he had seen, that his tongue ran faster than a race horse. Mrs. Danforth has promised both her children a visit to the old farm-house during the next summer, if they are good and kind to each other, and Master Fred is making great calculations about the "fun" he will have then, with Helen to keep him company.

AN Irish piper, who now and then indulged in a glass too much, was accosted by a gentleman with, "Pat, what makes your face so red?" Please your honor," said Pat, "I always blush when I spake to a gintleman.

"GOOD night, dear mamma !" a little girl said,
"I'm going to sleep in my trundle bed;
Good night dear papa, little brother and siss!"
And to each one the innocent gave a sweet kiss
"Good night little darling," her fond mother said—
"But remember, before you lie down in your bed,
With a heart full of love, and a tone soft and mild,
To breathe a short prayer to Heaven, dear child."
"Oh, yes, dear mother!" said the child, with a nod,
"I love, oh! I love to say good night to God!"

Kneeling down, "My Father in Heaven," she said
"I thank thee for giving me this nice little bed ;
For though mamma told me she brought it for me,
She says that everything good comes from Thee;
I thank Thee for keeping me safe through the day.;
I thank Thee for teaching me, too, how to pray;"