Suddenly Joan jumped up.

"Oh!" cried she, "there's a bird, a big bird. Dear So-so, can you see him? I can't because of the sun. What a queer noise he makes! 'Crake! Crake!' Oh! I can see him now. He is not flying, he is running, and he has gone into the corn! I would catch him and put him in a cage."

"I'll catch him," said So-so, and he put up

his tail and started off.

"No, no!" cried Joan.

"You are not to go. You must stay and take care of the house, and bark if any one comes."

"You could scream and that would do just as well," replied So-so, with his tail still up.

66

No, it wouldn't," cried little Joan.

"Yes, it would," reiterated So-so.

Whilst they were bickering, an old woman came up to the door; she had a brown face, and black hair, and a very old red cloak.

"Good evening, my little dear," said she. "Are you all at home this fine evening?"

"Only three of us," said Joan, — "I, and my

doll, and So-so. Mother has gone to the town on business, and we are taking care of the house; but So-so wants to go after the bird we saw run into the corn."

"Was it a pretty bird, my little dear?" asked the old woman.

"It was a very curious one," said Joan, "and I should like to go after it myself; but we can't leave the house."

"Dear, dear! Is there no neighbor who would sit on the doorstep for you, and keep the house till you just slip down to the field after the curious bird?" said the old woman.

"Old

"I'm afraid not," said little Joan. Martha, our neighbor, is now bedridden. Of course, if she had been able to mind the house, instead of us, it would have done just as well."

"I have some distance to go this evening," said the old woman, "but I do not object to a few minutes' rest; and sooner than that you should lose the bird, I will sit on the doorstep to oblige you while you run down to the cornfield."

"But can you bark if any one comes?" asked Joan. "For if you can't, So-so must stay with you."

“I can call you and the dog if I see any one coming, and that will do just as well," said the old woman.

"So it will," replied little Joan; and off she ran to the cornfield, where, for that matter, So-so had run before her, and was bounding and barking and springing among the wheat stalks.

They did not catch the bird, though they stayed longer than they had intended, and though So-so seemed to know more about hunting than was supposed.

"I dare say mother has come home," said little Joan, as they went back up the field path. "I hope she won't think we ought to have stayed in the house."

"It was well taken care of," said So-so, "and that must do just as well."

When they reached the house, the widow had not come home.

But the old woman had gone, and she had

taken the quilted petticoat and the duffle cloak, and the plum cake from the top shelf, away with her; and no more was ever heard of any of the lot.

"For the future, my child," said the widow, "I hope you will always do just as you are told, whatever So-so may say."

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And she

'I will, mother," said little Joan. did. But the house dog sat and blinked. dared not speak; he was in disgrace.

He

I do not feel quite sure about So-so. Wild dogs often amend their ways far on this side of the gallows; and the faithful sometimes fall; but when any one begins by being only So-so, he is very apt to be So-so to the end. So-sos so seldom change for the better.

But this one was very soft and nice, and he got no cake that tea time. On the whole, we hope that he lived to be a good dog ever after.

WHEN the golden day is done,
Through the closing portal,
Child and garden, flower and sun,
Vanish all things mortal.

THE KING AND HIS THREE SONS

THERE was a Moorish king who had three sons. When he had arrived at a good old age, the leading men of his kingdom waited upon him, praying to be informed which of his sons he would please to name as his successor. The king replied that in one month he would give them an answer.

After eight or ten days the king said to his eldest son, "I shall ride out to-morrow, and I wish you to accompany me."

The son waited upon the king as desired, but not so early as the time appointed. When he arrived, the king said he wished to dress, and requested him to bring him his garments. His son went to the lord of the bedchamber, and requested him to take the king his garments. The attendant inquired what suit it was he wished for; and the son returned to ask his father, who replied, "My state robe." The young man told the attendant to bring the state robe.

Now for every article of the king's attire it was necessary to go backward and forward, carrying