s he kept a vigilant watch, and attacked every one that dared to
venture near the premises.

He even won the good-will of papa, by keeping rigidly aloof from the
corn-field; but grandma was still fearful lest he might do some damage
to the garden.

She was very careful of her early vegetables, and the garden-spot was
paled in, to keep the chickens and rabbits from making depredations on
the early lettuce, peas and cabbages.

But no fence would keep Jack out. Like the wind, he went "wherever he
listeth."

Much to our relief, however, he did not offer to molest the vegetables,
but did good service in picking up the insects and cut-worms, which are
usually such a pest about a garden.

When he fell to devouring the squash-bugs, which were sapping the life
of the "Boston Marrows," grandma's last prejudice was overcome, and she
declared that Jack was worth his weight in gold.

After that, she never went to the garden without calling Jack, who would
give an answering "caw!" and hop gravely after her, or perch on her
shoulder with all the confidence of a privileged favorite.

As long as he lived, Jack continued to grow in the good opinion of the
household. But, alas! he could not live forever.

One day he sat drooping on his perch, and refused to be enticed away
from it. He even declined the plump crickets Fred offered him in hopes
of tempting his appetite.

The next morning he was found dead under his perch. He was mourned
sincerely by the whole family, from grandma down, and we buried him with
great ceremony under his favorite post-oak.

Tom sodded his grave, Josie planted a "mourning bride" over it, and Fred
put up a shingle for a headstone, with this verse on it, which we all
thought very beautiful:

"Handy-spandy, Jack-a-Dandy
Loves plum-cake and sugar candy."

[_This Story began in No. 15._]

THE

YOUNG GAME-WARDEN

BY HARRY CASTLEMON.

CHAPTER XXXI--[CONTINUED].

Silas was so completely wrapped up in his own affairs that the boys got
close to him before he was aware of their presence, and it is the
greatest wonder in the world that he did not shoot one of them in his
excitement.

He was really alarmed; but when he had taken a good look at the
newcomers, in order to make sure of their identity, he laid his gun
across the chair, pushed up his sleeves, and shook both his fists at
Dan.

"So you thought you would fool your poor o