Now the bare black bushes
All look soft and white,
Every twig is laden,--
What a pretty sight!

ANONYMOUS

LITTLE GOODY TWO SHOES

All the world must know that Two Shoes was not her real name. No; her
father's name was Meanwell, and he was for many years a well-to-do
farmer.

While Margery (for that was her real name) was yet a little girl her
father became very poor. He was so poor that at last he and Margery's
mother and Margery and her little brother were all turned out of doors.
They did not have a roof to cover their heads.

Margery's father felt so unhappy that at last he died, and only a few
days later Margery's mother died, too. Poor little Margery and her
brother were left alone in the wide world.

Their sorrow would have made you pity them, but it would have done your
heart good to see how fond they were of each other. They always went
about hand in hand, and when you saw one you were sure to see the other.

[Illustration]

Look at them in the picture.

They were both very ragged, and though Tommy had two shoes, Margery had
but one. They had nothing, poor little things, to live upon but what
kind people gave to them. Each night they lay on the hay in just such a
barn as you see here.

[Illustration]

LITTLE GOODY TWO SHOES--II

Mr. Smith was a very good man who lived in the town where little Margery
and Tommy were born. Although he was a poor man, he took the children
home to live with him.

"They shall not want for food nor for a bed to sleep in while I live,"
he said.

Mr. Smith had a friend who was a very wealthy man. When he heard the
story about Margery and Tommy, this man gave Mr. Smith some money to buy
little Margery a new pair of shoes and Tommy a new suit of clothes. Can
you see Tommy in the picture wearing his new clothes?

[Illustration]

The gentleman who had given the money for Margery's new shoes and
Tommy's new clothes wished to take Tommy with him to London to make a
sailor of him.

When the time came for Tommy to go, both children began to cry. They
kissed each other a hundred times. At last Tommy wiped away Margery's
tears and said:

"Don't cry, little sister, for I will come home to you again and bring
you beautiful clothes and much money."

That night Margery went to bed weeping for her dear little brother. It
was the first time they had ever been parted.

The next morning the shoemaker came in with Margery's new shoes. She pu