'An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief,

'A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.'

'Now, I do hope that you will try, my dear child, with God's help, to conquer this fault,' continued Mrs. Ellis. I will give you a little prayer to use every morning and evening, asking God to give you grace to overcome it. You will find it difficult at first, Milly, but you must be very watchful, and try to persevere, and I hope that as you grow up, you will quite cure yourself of it.'

Milly cried bitterly, and assured her mamma that if she would only let her stay at home, she would really try to overcome it; but Mrs. Ellis was firm, and told Milly that the best way of showing that she was sorry was to take her punishment cheerfully, and to try and improve at school.

The next day Mrs. Ellis took Milly to the school, which was a large one, and Miss Archer, who was the mistress, was very strict. She had been told of Milly's particular failing, and asked to keep a careful watch over her.

There we must leave Milly, hoping that she may learn to overcome her besetting fault, and grow up to be a good and honourable woman.

THE DISH OF CHERRIES.

SAY, Ella! I'm tired of this, what shall we do?' said Bertie Dymond to his little twin sister, as he threw down his fishing-rod, with which he had been trying for half an hour to catch a trout, and laid himself down on the grass.

'Look at my daisies, haven't I got a lot?' said Ella, bringing over her little basket to show to her brother.

But come now and sit by me, I'm sure you've got enough daisies,' said Bertie, as he took hold of Ella's dress, and pulled her down by his side.

'I am going to make a daisy-chain for baby,' said Ella, and she turned out the daisies on the grass.

'But I want to play, or do something,' said Bertie, 'can't you think of anything?'

'Shall we play at bat and ball?' asked Ella. 'I've lost my ball,' answered Bertie. Shall we play at hide-and-seek, then?' asked Ella.

But there are no nice places to hide,' replied Bertie in a doleful voice, and besides, there are only two of us, and two can't play properly.'

'Oh yes, we can. We will have some fun together, so come along,' said Ella, brightly, as she jumped up.

'I say, you are a jolly old girl,' said Bertie, who thought that 'I say' sounded manly.

'Why, Bertie, there are lots of places where we can hide. Shall I hide first, as you do not seem to know of a place?' asked Ella.

'All right!' answered Bertie, so away ran little Ella to hide, and when she was quite ready for Bertie to look for her, she called 'coo-coo,' and then Bertie ran about trying to find her.

'Where can she be?' he said to himself, when he had been hunting for some time, and thought he had looked everywhere, for he had been into the greenhouse, and into the stable, in the yard, behind the trees, and among the bushes, in every place that he could think of, but no Ella could he

find. Just as he was wondering where she could be, he heard her merry laugh behind him, as she pulled his coat and ran to a tree which they had settled should be 'home.'

Where ever did you go, Ella? I couldn't find you anywhere,' said Bertie, when he had caught

her up.

'Ah! you would like to know, I daresay,' said Ella laughing, but I shall not tell you, because my place will do for another time.

Now it is your turn to hide, so I hope that you will find a good place.'

I'll try,' answered Bertie, as he ran away to hide.

This time Ella had a good hunt for her brother, but she found him at last in the stable.

'I say, Ella,' said Bertie as soon as they stopped running, 'I'm hot, aren't you?'

'Yes I am, rather,' answered Ella.

'Do you know I saw such a splendid dish of cherries inside the kitchen window, when I passed just now,' said Bertie, 'and they looked tempting. Do come and look at them, Ella.'

'What is the good of looking at them, when we can't have them?' asked Ella, 'I think they

must be for tea to-night, as I heard mamma say this morning that some one was coming to tea.'

'How jolly!' said Bertie, 'but do just come and look at them, they do look so delicious.'

'I'll come if you like, but I don't see the good,' answered Ella.

'And I don't see the harm,' said Bertie; so they ran off together just to look at the cherries, but when they were standing close to the window, which was partly open, Bertie said, 'I say, Ella, I don't see that it would be any harm just to taste one each, to refresh us, as it is so hot; do you think so?'

'Oh, Bertie, I should not like to take any,' answered Ella.

'Nonsense, Ella, only one,' said Bertie.

'Well, only one, then,' replied Ella.

'Isn't it nice, just?' said Bertie, when he had tasted one. You must make a wish, you know, Ella, because it is the first cherry that you have tasted this year.'

'But I don't know what to wish,' said Ella.

'Oh dear, fancy not knowing what to wish!' exclaimed Bertie, 'why, I wish thousands of