e sheep and lambs were set
at liberty. Such a bleating and baa-ing as there was! The sheep ran
round for the lambs, and the lambs for their mothers; and away they
skipped over the plains like children at play.

Frank had made himself so useful in catching the sheep, that his
grandfather gave him two sheep and two lambs as a reward, and put a new
mark on them for him. So Frank became a young sheep-owner, and, the next
year, had his own sheep to catch.

CARTWRIGHT.

[Illustration]

[Illustration]

EMMA'S CHOICE.

THREE young children, Emma, Charles, and Arthur Payson, had been left to
the care of their old grandfather, through the death of their parents.

Grandpa Payson was not rich: he was a day-laborer, and had to work hard
for the support of a family, which would have been large enough without
the addition of three hungry little ones.

But grandpa's heart was large enough to take them all in; and they
proved such good and lovable children, that he soon became very much
attached to them.

Little Emma was his especial favorite; and one December day he said to
her, "What shall I get you, darling, for a Christmas present? A nice
pair of shoes would be just the thing, I'm thinking."

"Oh, no, grandpa! Give me a book--a book with pictures in it: that will
be better than new shoes. By going barefoot, I can make my old shoes
last me a year longer."

Well, in the shop where Grandpa Payson bought a beautiful bound copy of
"The Nursery" for his darling, he happened to mention to the shopkeeper
the fact that Emma had preferred a new book to a new pair of shoes.

An old lady who stood near could not help hearing the conversation. That
evening, while Grandpa Payson, Emma, and the two boys, were gathered
around the table, feasting their eyes on the new book, there was a knock
at the door, and a package was left, directed to "Miss Emma Payson."

"Dear me! What can it be? I never had a package left for me before in
all my life," cried Emma.

She opened the package, and there found several pairs of shoes, and a
note, telling her to select two pairs that would fit her, and to send
the rest to the shopkeeper.

In the note the old lady wrote: "You must not only fill your head with
knowledge, but keep your feet warm, if you would preserve your health.
If your brothers will go to Mr. Lane's to-morrow, he will fit them both
to new shoes, a gift from me. A Merry Chri