d have to, in some
way, cure her little daughter of such slovenly habits or else she
would grow up to be a very careless, untidy woman, and the mother was
wise enough to know that it is more easy to correct such matters when
children are young than when they grow older.

She did not want to punish Nelly severely, and so, whenever Little
Scatter had gotten all her toys over the floor, tables, sofa and
chairs, mamma would call her and say:

"Now, Nelly, every thing you have is lying about, it is time for my
Little Scatter to get gathered in close;" and then Miss Nelly would
have to go close to the wall and be shut in by a chair and stand there
until mamma's watch said half an hour had passed. This was very hard
on a little girl that loved to run around so much as Nelly did, and
though she knew she deserved all the punishment, yet she used to beg
very hard and promise, but she always had to stay the full time; then
she would come out, get her mamma's kiss and forgiveness, pick up her
toys and be happy.

It did not take many such punishments before Nelly began to think
before she acted so carelessly, and in a short time she was almost as
neat about such matters as she was sweet and good in every thing else.
If ever there were a few of her things lying about, mamma had only to
call her 'Little Scatter,' to make her remember, and so hard did she
try to correct herself of this bad habit that in a few months she and
those about her almost forgot that she had ever been known by such an
untidy name.

WHAT CHICKY THINKS.

Seems to me I must be growing big very fast. I don't believe I could
get back into that little house if I should try. I don't want to go
back, either. I had to work too hard to get out the first time. There
was no door, so I had to break the house all in pieces with my little
beak. I couldn't stand up, you know, when I was inside. I got very
tired sitting on my little legs. I wonder how I knew enough to break
open my little house? Nobody ever told me that it was prettier in the
garden than in my house. 'Tis rather cold out here. I never was cold
before; seems to me some little chick has carried off a part of my
house. If I see him, with it, I'll tell him he's a thief. Oh, dear,
dear! something is scratching my back. May be it's the little thief! I
wish I could look and see who it is.

[Illustration: {A JUST-HATCHED CHICK.}]

STOP-A-WHILE.

There is growing in Africa a thorn called "Stop