n Jenny Raynor gave the flowers to poor Biddy in the hospital so long
ago, she could not know that the little kindness would come back to her
a thousandfold through another little girl whom she had then never seen
at all.

Least of all would you imagine that an old broken-armed doll fished out
of an ash-can could be the means of doing so much good, and leading to
so much happiness in so many lives. For the good that began in these
little things goes on, and may reach into countless lives in time to
come. Nothing stops, and nothing stands quite apart by itself from other
things. You will find this out, and think of it more and more, as you
grow older. As for Biddy O'Dolan, she is quite a young woman now. Of
course she does not play with her doll any more. But she keeps it. No
money could buy it, with that little wooden arm on it which Charley
made. She calls it her first friend, and I think it was a very good
friend, don't you?

THE END.

[Illustration]

ALICE'S QUESTION.

Softly, gently upward
A strain from the organ floats,
And the children at play in the nursery
Listen awhile to the notes,

Stop, and are silent a moment--
They are almost tired of play,
And the shadows of evening are falling,
Making twilight out of the day.

Then down the broad old staircase
Comes the patter of little feet,
And in through the open doorway,
Drawn by the sounds so sweet.

Then close to the organ stealing,
With awe-struck eyes they gaze
At the player, and listen mutely
To the deep clear notes of praise.

Then drawing nearer and nearer,
Made bold by the twilight gray,
Little Alice looks up, and whispers,
"Did God teach you how to play?"

THE CARE OF PARROTS.

Parrots are among the most intelligent of household pets, and much
attention should be bestowed upon them. So large a bird suffers if kept
constantly confined in a cage, but a parrot is so destructive that it is
impossible to allow it the liberty of a house, as chairs, carpets, in
short, every article of furniture, will soon show the marks of its
strong beak. If there is a garden, the parrot should be given a daily
promenade during warm weather. It is a necessity to this bird to
exercise its beak, and if kept in a cage, it should often be given a
chip of wood to tear to pieces. A parrot will amuse itself for hours
biting a chip into small fragments. The cage and feed dishes should be
tho