ross that nobody could live with her. She scolded her
children till they went away, and she scolded her bird till it flew
away, and she scolded her cat till it ran away. So there she lived all
alone, with only the fire-spirit to keep her company. Now her
fire-spirit was very good natured, and had borne very patiently with his
mistress' ill-temper. One day, however, she came in looking and feeling
particularly savage. She sat down before the fire and took up the poker.
'Ugh!' she said. 'What a miserable attempt at a fire! why don't you
burn, you stupid, sulky thing?' and she gave it a vicious poke.

[Illustration]

"How can I burn," said the fire, "when you don't give me anything to
burn with? nobody can make a good blaze with only two sticks, and these
two are as cross as you are, which is saying a great deal."

"You _shall_ burn!" cried the old hag, "whether you want to or not!" and
she began to poke and poke most unmercifully.

"Take care!" said the fire-spirit. "I can't stand much more of this. I
am growing black in the face."

"_I'll_ teach you to answer me!" cried the woman, poking away harder
than ever. But suddenly she gave a shriek, and dropped the poker. A puff
of smoke came out of the fire-place. A shower of cinders and sparks fell
all over her, filling her eyes and nose and mouth; a rushing sound, like
a gust of wind, followed, and the house-door was shut with a violent
bang. Then all was silent. And when the old hag had wiped the cinders
out of her eyes, she saw only a black cold hearth, with two cross sticks
lying on it, and scowling at each other. The fire-spirit was gone; and
what was more, he never came back, and the old woman had nothing to keep
her warm, except her own temper.

"And now, chickens," said Uncle Jack, "run away and study your lessons,
for this is our working-time, you know, and holidays are over."

"Oh dear!" said Brighteyes, "I wish we might have _one_ more story,
Uncle Jack!"

"No! no!" said Uncle Jack. "There will be plenty of time for stories
to-day, for you will not be able to go out of doors. Trot, now, for I
have work to do as well as you."

Nibble and Brighteyes left the room slowly, and made their way to the
school-room.

"I say, Brighteyes!" said Nibble, "suppose we play we are somebody else,
and then perhaps we shall like studying better."

"What _do_ you mean, Nibble?" asked Brighteyes.

"Why," said Nibble, "I have a geography lesson to study, and you know I
det