hat he was glad too; and he went to the bed where
Frankie was lying, and putting up his fore paws, began to lick the
little fellow's hand.

When Sally took up the wet clothes to carry them to the wash, there were
the marks of Ponto's teeth, where he had fastened them firmly through
the dress, cambric and flannel skirts.

CHAPTER III.

FRANKIE IN TRIAL.

I HAVE told you so much about Frankie, I suppose you will want to know
whether he was always a good boy. Did he never show a naughty temper?
Was he never unkind to his brother Willie? or to his little nurse
Margie? Did he never tell a lie? never take what was not his own? I am
sorry to say that he did some of these things, and no doubt would have
done a great many more, but that he had a kind mamma and papa to teach
him.

One of the greatest blessings which God can give a little boy or a
little girl, is a good Christian mother. I hope, my dear young friend,
if God has been so kind as to give you such a mother, that you will
thank him every day of your life.

When you wake up in the morning and repeat your little hymn, thanking
God for letting you see another day, with the pleasant sun and
sweet-smelling flowers, don't forget to thank him, too, for giving you a
dear mamma to love you and watch over you.

And then, when you are tired with play, and lie down at night to rest
your head upon the soft pillow, don't go to sleep without thanking him
for preserving her who has prepared you nice food, made you warm
clothes, and tried to lead your little feet in the path of right.

I think whatever faults little Frankie had, he dearly loved his mother.
Ever so many times in a day he would run to her side, sometimes right in
the midst of his play, and say, "I want to kiss oo. I love oo."

When he meddled with her work-basket, or did other troublesome things,
and she spoke sharply, "Frankie, don't do so," he would turn in a moment
and ask, with a quivering lip, "Am I your darling now, mamma?"

Once in a while Frankie would get up in the morning, and instead of the
bright smile he generally wore, his face looked cross. Nurse used to say
he got out of bed the wrong way. When this was the case, nothing seemed
to go right with him. At breakfast he pushed away his plate, and would
not let Margie fasten on his bib, and seemed very unhappy. This was not
because he was sick, but because he was out of humor, and needed to be
brought right again.

His mamma was very much