Part 19 (1/2)

”Oh, mother! how? I can't sew nearly well enough to make anything for them.”

”No, I don't mean sewing. I will give you an old pillow-case, and you must fill it with very little bits of torn, not cut, paper, and when it is full I will cover it for you with a case of pretty print, and then it will make a soft pillow for old Mrs. Timms, or any one else you like to give it to. It will take both time and patience to tear the paper; and when it is finished it will be your own work, and you may give it away.”

”Yes, I see,” said Kathie. ”That will be my own work. I shall like that.”

”As you grow older you will have money and other things which you can give away, but even then you will find that your best gifts will be those you have spent time and love over; those two things are the possession of the poorest of us, and yet they are worth more than gold and silver. Now, Kathie, we must go and buy you a new hat, for you cannot walk home in this heat without one; and another time when you give away anything you must remember to be just before you are generous.”

Kathie thought Mother very kind not to be vexed about the hat; but Mother remembered what a little girl Kathie was, and she hardly expected her to be able to refuse, when a bold, st.u.r.dy woman asked for the hat off her head.

TRAVELLERS' TALES.

They say there is a country where the snow never falls, And sliding is a game they never knew: They never saw a lake Paved with ice that wouldn't break.

I would rather stay in England, wouldn't you?

They say there is a country where the sun never sets.

But goes on s.h.i.+ning all night through.

And you needn't go to bed, For there's always light oerhead.

That's a country I should like, wouldn't you?

They say there is a country where they all talk French.

I can't imagine what they ever do!

For who for all their chatter, Can understand such patter?

I should answer ”speak in English”

wouldn't you?

They say there is a country where the clergymen are black And the language sounds like ”choke-a-c.o.c.katoo.”

And the n.i.g.g.e.rs sit in rows With hardly any clothes I should like to go and look, wouldn't you?

They say there is a country where the women cannot walk, And everything is made of bam-boo And the people's eyes are wee, They live on rice and tea.

I should like to go and see them, wouldn't you?

They say there is a country where the elephants are wild, And never even heard of our Zoo.

And through the woods they roam Like gentlemen at home.

I should like to go and peep, wouldn't you?

F. W. HOME

THE PRIZE OF HONOR.

”I wonder if I could trust you children to go out alone this morning,”

said Mrs. Ferrars. ”I don't want to deprive nurse of her holiday, and I must see Cousin Lily: she is not so well to-day.”