g stretched out under a towel.

[Illustration: DOLLY'S ATTACK OF THE MEASLES. _Page 94._]

"'Take it off and look, Ethel,' said Alan; and when she did so, she
started back in horror, for there I lay, with my face and throat all
covered with bright red round spots. 'She has got the measles, Ethel,'
said Alan, going off into roars of mischievous laughter.

"Poor Ethel shrieked and rushed away, sobbing as if her heart would
break, till there was such a commotion that Papa came in to see what was
the matter. He was very angry indeed with Alan, and told him how cruel
it was to frighten a younger child, and a girl too, in this manner; and
Alan's explanation that it was only to punish Ethel for teasing little
Harold did not make matters better.

"'You have no authority to punish any of your brothers and sisters,'
said Mr. Johnson; 'and you have only reduced yourself to the level of
Ethel's childish naughtiness by playing a trick very unworthy of you,
and that might have led to worse results. Frightening any one is the
most cruel sport that exists, and one of the most dangerous. When you
fell out of the boat at Barmouth three months ago, Alan, you would have
thought it very cruel of me to keep you holding on to the side of the
boat, just to laugh at your fright at being so nearly drowned!'

"'But Ethel's fright was so silly and unreasonable,' muttered Alan.

"'So are most alarms, Alan, but they cause the same suffering, and are
sometimes as hurtful in their consequences. Don't let me ever hear of
any thing of the kind again. You are, I know, very fond of all your
brothers and sisters, and would not give them any pain willingly. Now
remember, my boy, in future, that a pain of the mind, such as this
fright, is infinitely worse than a severe blow, and it is not manly to
hurt the weaker ones in any way.'

"Alan was really sorry for the end of his freak, and he kissed Ethel,
and remembered the lesson I have no doubt. But the silly little girl
never liked me again, although Nurse washed me white, in her careful
way, scrubbing off all the red paint with which Alan had so profusely
embellished me. And after a while I had so completely fallen into
oblivion, that I was undisturbed, till one evening, some years after,
when Ethel was fifteen, and had forgotten all about my early
disfigurement, I was fetched out to amuse little Florry Spenser, who
drank tea there, and she cuddled me up so tight, and was so loath to
part with me, that