ead."

So he ran up stairs very fast, and went into his Father's dressing-room
and looked all round. Presently he saw the wig hanging on the nail.
"Oh!" said he to himself, "that is just the thing. It will come all over
the poor boy's ears, and keep them very warm indeed."

So this thoughtless little fellow climbed up on a chair, and pulled the
wig off the nail, and then went into the closet and got a pair of new
boots of his own; and running down as fast as he could, he pulled the
wig over the poor boy's ears, and helped him on with the boots. They
fitted exactly, for James and he were very nearly of the same size.

While he was doing this, Julia had dressed the little girl in a nice
warm frock of her own, and also made her a present of her school muff,
and the little beggar children went away, highly delighted with their
good fortune, and were out of sight long before any one had come into
the room to prevent all this mischief.

When their Father got up, he opened the door of his bed-room, which led
into the dressing-room, and began to dress himself. Presently he went to
the side of the room where he had hung up his wig the night before. The
nail was empty. There was no wig on it. He looked down on the carpet,
and on all the chairs, and in all the drawers, but there was no wig to
be found. He rang the bell, and said to the servant, "Do you know any
thing about my wig?"

But the servant said she had not been in the room. She did not know
where it was.

Now only see, what trouble these children had made for their kind
Father; and how ashamed and frightened they were, when they saw him come
into the basement room with his night-cap on, and their Mother with him,
looking very grave, for she was afraid that the children knew more about
the wig than any body else.

"James," said his Father, "do you know where my wig is?"

At first James was afraid to speak; but although these children were
heedless, and fond of doing mischief, they were not liars. So James came
close to his Father, and said, "Dear Papa, I will tell you the truth. I
am afraid I have been very naughty. I gave your wig to a poor boy who
had no hat, and I gave him my new boots too, for his shoes were full of
holes. I am very sorry, Papa. Please to punish me, and forgive Julia."

"Why, what has Julia been doing?" said her Mamma and Papa at the same
time.

"I gave the little girl my new frock, and my school muff," said Julia,
"she looked so cold. Her