something dreadful has happened. There was a most frightful noise just now, and I'm afraid something must be the matter with the old Bell, for he has suddenly stopped speaking, and I can't get him to say another word."

Bobby flew up into the tower, and to his great grief discovered that the clapper of the old Bell had fallen down. He could never speak again.

"Ah! well," said Mrs. Jenny, when her husband, with tears in her eyes, told her the sad news. "He was rather a prosy old fellow after all. Next year, Bobby, we'll build our nest in a livelier neighbourhood."

in

O ungrateful volatile little Jenny! and it was your behalf that the old Bell breathed his last.

HERE was once a Princess who, although she had everything in life to make her happy-kind and good parents, talents, riches-was yet foolish enough to fancy herself the most

miserable creature in existence, and for what reason do you think? Because she had the misfortune to be very ugly. Her eyes were bright green and very small, her hair was the colour of dingy-looking straw, her nose turned up at least three inches towards the sky, and her mouth extended from ear to ear. Yes; she certainly was excessively plain, but it was very foolish to make herself so miserable on account of her looks, for the perpetual tears she shed, and the cross-expression they gave to her face, only

increased her ugliness. Besides which, had she only been happy and contented, she would have been as much loved as the greatest beauty in the land. The king and queen did not love her any the less because she had the misfortune to be ugly, and were continually telling her how wrong and foolish it was to be always grieving about her appearance, instead of being happy, contented, and grateful for the many blessings she enjoyed. The poor queen was constantly striving to give her pleasure, but it was of no use; the Princess Miranda refused to take any interest in life, refused to listen to her kind parents' advice; and So, instead of being any comfort or happiness to them, she was just the reverse, and I think they would have been much happier without any daughter at all than with such a one as she was. Now, this was a very sad state of things, but the Princess never seemed to think how wretched she

was making her poor father and mother; she only thought of herself, and hour after hour she would sit and cry, "O how ugly I am! Oh, I wish I had never been born!"

She was sitting one day in a secluded part of the beautiful gardens which surrounded the

palace, weeping and moaning about her ugliness, when suddenly her name was pronounced in a stern voice. Looking up she was startled to see a very cross-looking old woman standing a few yards off. She had a stick in her hand, and with it was pointing, with an angry air, to a pool of water which separated her from the Princess. This pool, you must know, was caused by all the tears Miranda had shed that day.

"What do you make such a nasty mess for?" cried the old woman crossly. I can't come near you without wetting my feet, and giving myself a dreadful cold, and I'm sure you're not worth that!"

She stopped for a moment, then waving her stick, called out: "Fish, Fish!" Immediately an enormous carp appeared, and began drinking up the water as fast as possible. When every drop had gone, he made a bow and disappeared. Then the old woman, still grunting and growling, came up close to the Princess, who, frightened out of her senses with what she had seen, and with the appearance of the old hag, jumped up and tried to run away.

"No, no," said her companion, catching hold

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of her arm; stay where you are." Then planting her stick firmly on the ground, and leaning on it, she peered into Miranda's face. "Hum, ha, h'm, hem;" she grunted, carefully examining each feature. "And so, young lady, you are very unhappy because you are not beautiful?"

"O yes," cried the Princess, finding her voice again; "I am very very miserable."

"You are very wicked you mean," cried the Fairy (for such she was). "I'm tired to death with hearing your complaints and grumblings, and am determined to put a stop to them."

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"O!" cried out the Princess, "what are you going to do with me? Please don't hurt me."

"Simpleton!" growled the old witch; "I am only going to grant you the wish of your heartyou know what that is ?”

"Oh, to be beautiful, to be beautiful!" exclaimed the Princess.

"You are quite sure?" asked the old woman. "Remember I can only grant one wish; are you quite sure you are asking for what will be best for your happiness? Would not a contented spirit, a cheerful temper, be better?"

"No, no," cried the foolish Princess.

"Give