offered his
tongue like a red pocket-handkerchief, and so made her laugh the drops
away, while Bab set the rest off by saying, gloomily:

"I mean to play with all the mad dogs I can find; then folks will think
_I'm_ smart and give _me_ nice things."

"Poor old Bab, I'll forgive you now, and lend you my half whenever you
want it," said Ben, feeling at peace now with all mankind, including
girls who tagged.

"Come and show him to Celia," begged Thorny, eager to fight his battles
over again.

"Better wash him up first; he's a sight to see, poor thing," suggested
Mrs. Moss, as she ran in, suddenly remembering her muffins.

"It will take a lot of washings to get that brown stuff off. See, his
pretty pink skin is all stained with it. We'll bleach him out, and his
curls will grow, and he'll be as good as ever--all but--"

Ben could not finish, and a general wail went up for the departed
tassel that would never wave proudly in the breeze again.

"I'll buy him a new one. Now form the procession and let us go in
style," said Thorny, cheerily, as he swung Betty to his shoulder and
marched away whistling "Hail! the conquering hero comes," while Ben and
his Bow-wow followed arm-in-arm, and Bab brought up the rear, banging
on a milk-pan with the egg-beater.

(_To be continued_.)

THE YANKEE BOYS THAT DIDN'T NUMBER TEN.

BY W. M. BICKNELL.

[Illustration]

'Tis morning, and no boy is seen
In all the street, with play and fun.
Ah! there comes Sam along the lane,
With searching eyes, and he is one.

[Illustration]

The road to school is lone for him;
What could a single fellow do?
But Ben appears just there away,
And he with book and slate makes two.

[Illustration]

Yet not enough for jolly sport;
It's plain more lads there ought to be.
Why, there is Tom, 'most out of breath!
And now, together, they are three.

[Illustration]

Then on they run and skip and frisk,
With eager looks that seek for more;
Dan trips along with joyous shout,--
Now reckon, and you'll find them four.

[Illustration]

They spring and hurry o'er the ground,
All brave to wade or swim or dive.
"Mother, there go the boys," cries Ed;
No sooner said than there were five.

[Illustration]

"Not half school-time," they all declare;
"No clock can cheat us with its tricks!
Upon the hill there's waiting Frank!"
Though short and small, yet he made six.

[Illustration]

O'er he