e did not like to think she had perhaps lost
half-a-crown, for she and Pet's father had not any half-crowns to spare.

"I will just go and see if possibly it is in my little leather bag that
I always take out with me," she said. And she rose as she spoke and left
the room.

Pet felt sure it was not in the little bag, for she had been standing by
when her mother emptied it.

"Poor mamma," she said softly. "I can't bear her to be troubled."

Then the colour rose into her face and her eyes sparkled.

"Charley," she whispered, "keep the little ones quiet for one minute,"
and off she flew.

She was back in _less_ than a minute, though she had found time to run
up to her room and take something out of a drawer where she kept her
treasures. Then she ran across to her mother's writing-table and slipped
this something under the account-books, lying open upon it.

And almost immediately mamma came back.

"No," she said sadly, "it was not in my bag. I fear I have lost it
somehow, for I am sure my accounts are right. I must just put it down as
lost."

But in another moment came a joyful cry.

"Pet," she exclaimed, "_would_ you believe I could be so stupid? Here it
is--the missing half-crown--slipped under my account book! I _am_ so
pleased to have found it. Now, children dear, mammy can come and play
with you with a light heart."

"I am so glad you are happy again, mamma darling," said Pet; and if her
mother noticed that her little girl's cheeks were rosier than usual, and
her eyes brighter, no doubt she only thought it was with the pleasure
of all playing together. For I don't think they had ever had a merrier
visit to the drawing-room.

[Illustration]

You have guessed the secret before this, I am sure? That little Pet had
fetched her own half-crown to play a loving trick with it. It was her
only half-crown, her only money, except one sixpenny-bit and two
pennies! But she gave it gladly, just saying to herself that it was a
very good thing Christmas-time was over and no birthdays very near at
hand.

And she kept her secret well. So well, that though a great many years
have passed since then, it was only a _very little while ago_ that her
mother heard, for the first time, the story of her child's loving
self-denial. The smile on mamma's face, and the knowledge that she had
brought it there were Pet's only reward.

[Illustration]

[Illustration]

A CATAPULT STORY.

"Oh, well, you can have a catapult