just taking my little Aldabella out for an airing.
Poor child! She has been kept in the house so long by the bad weather,
that she has lost all her color.

_Mr. Jones._--Be careful, and don't let her catch the whooping-cough.

_Mrs. Smith._--O sir! you alarm me. Is it much about?

_Mr. Jones._--Yes, ma'am: so is the measles. I know two gentlemen who
were kept away from their base-ball last Saturday afternoon by the
measles.

_Mrs. Smith._--What an affliction! Is that horse of yours safe? Does he
ever kick?

_Mr. Jones._--I never knew him to kick in my life; but, as you see, he
is a little restive: he may step on your toes.

_Mrs. Smith._--Oh, pray hold him in, Mr. Jones! Don't let him be so gay.

_Mr. Jones._--Madam, my horse seems to be of the opinion that we have
talked long enough: so I will wish you a very good-morning.

_Mrs. Smith._--Good-morning, Mr. Jones. Pray don't run over any little
boys in the street.

_Mr. Jones._--Little boys must not come in my way. Good-by, Mrs. Smith!
Good-by, Miss Aldabella!

JAMIE'S LETTER TO A LITTLE UNCLE.

_My dear little Uncle_,--You see I have not forgotten that long ago you
wrote me a letter. My mamma told me to-night that she would answer it
for me, because something happened yesterday that I want you to know.

You remember it was May-day. Mamma said, "Jamie, you are too little a
boy to go out in the fields and woods Maying." That made me feel badly,
because the sun was shining so brightly, and the grass looked so green,
that I was sure there were plenty of flowers hidden away in the fields.

So I thought, "What can a little boy do? I am so little, I can't walk. I
am so little, I can't talk much. I can creep, but when I get to a nice
bit on the floor and put it into my mouth, mamma jumps, and takes it
away, and says, 'No, no, baby!' What can I do? what can I do to please
everybody?"

At last I thought of something. I was sitting in mamma's lap, when, all
at once, she called out, "Aunt Fanny, come here and put your thimble in
the baby's mouth. I'm sure that's a tooth." And, sure enough, one little
tooth had just peeped out. Then everybody said, "Baby has a tooth!" I
didn't tell them that I went Maying all by myself, and found that little
tooth; but I tell you as a secret, little uncle.

Dear little uncle, I am growing very big. Next summer I can run on the
beach with you, and dig in the sand.

Now you must kiss my grandmamma for me; give her a kiss o