hey were
going to strike one another, they saw a beautiful bluebird, with a
lovely crest upon its head, fly down into the yard and pick up a large
worm.

He was just going to fly off with it, when another bird, just like
himself, dived down and tried to take the worm from the one that had
first found it.

Before the two brothers could say a word, the birds were flying at each
other, and tearing off their beautiful crests and coats.

Harry and John stood watching them, and quite forgot that they had a
fight on hand of their own.

Just as the naughty bird that was trying to rob his brother bluebird had
seized the worm, and was about to fly away with it, there was a sudden
rush and flash, and Pussy Cat ran under the house with the wicked little
robber tight between her teeth.

Then the other bird, trembling with fear, flew up into a tree to rest.

"Oh, John!" cried Harry, "just think if that had been you and me, and a
lion had come and carried one of us off, and ate us up!"

"Only--only it would not have been you, Harry. He would have carried me
off, because it was I began the quarrel. Cook gave you the cake, and I
wanted to take it from you, just like the robber bluebird did. Let us
kiss and be friends, Harry."

"Yes, and you can have half of my cake, John."

"And I hope my little boys will never do so again," said mamma, who had
been watching, and heard all.

And years afterward, when John and Harry were away from their mamma and
home, they often reminded each other of the lesson they had learned from
the fate of the robber bluebird.

[Illustration]

DREAMING.

"He is dreaming. Guess of what, now."
"Well, I guess that in his hand
Is a marble--such a beauty!
And he dreams of wonder-land.

"Dreams a dream of giants rolling
Giant marbles--oh, such fun!
See, he smiles, for he has seen one
Bigger, brighter, than the sun."

CHAMPION.

BY MRS. L. G. MORSE.

Hetty had five brothers and sisters, and Champion, the dog, felt that he
had too much to do. There were plenty of people in the cottage at Lenox,
where they lived in summer, to take care of the children, but there is a
certain sort of responsibility which dogs of good, sound character are
not willing to intrust to anybody. The baby was always with his mother
or nurse, and Champion found it easy to take care of the other little
ones, for they were not allowed to venture outside of the garden gate,
and if that