a mad career,
And leave it all night and winter here,--
No blue in the sky, no flower to cheer?

"Yes, there is a duty for every one,
For Master Fay, as well as the sun:
A law must be minded, a task must be done."

Up started Frederic Philip Fay:
He took from the tree his satchel away,
And ran off to school without delay.

IDA FAY.

[Illustration]

WHY DO THEY ALL LOVE FREDDY?

"BUT do they all love Freddy, mamma?"

"I think there is no doubt of it, Freddy. The cat loves you; for she
will let you pull her about, and never try to scratch you."

"Yes; and I think old Towser loves me. He lets me get on his back: he
never bites me."

"I would like to catch him at it--biting my little Freddy! He knows too
much for that; and, besides, he loves you."

"But does the old cow love me, mamma?"

"Why, didn't she let you play with her calf, and never try to hook you?
The old cow loves Freddy, and will give him all the fresh milk he
wants."

"The hens love me because I feed them."

"Yes, the hens love you; and, more than that, the little sparrows love
you; for they follow you, and hop about your feet, as if they wanted to
say, 'Good-morning, Freddy! We all love you, Freddy.'"

"But I will tell you one beast that does not love me, mamma. The old sow
does not love me."

"Don't you believe it, little boy! The old sow loves you just as well as
Towser does; just as well as the cow does; just as well as old Scamper,
the horse, loves you."

"I should like to be sure that the sow loves me."

"Come with me, and I will put you on her back; and, if she does not like
it, it will be a sign that she does not love you; but, if she does like
it, it will be a sign that she loves my little Freddy just as much as
the others do."

So mamma took Freddy, and placed him on the back of the old sow. The old
sow gave a look over her ears, saw it was Freddy, and then uttered a
contented grunt, as much as to say, "All right! Freddy, you are a
darling, and I love you."

[Illustration]

"Did I not tell you that the old sow loved you, like the rest?"

"Yes, mamma; but why, why, do they love me? Tell me that."

Mamma snatched Freddy up in her arms, took him into the house, and then
said, "I think they must love you, Freddy, because you love them. Love
wins love, you know. The person who says tha