time, but mamma didn't know it," and
here the rosy lips began to tremble, and Lillie was silent.

"Would you _rather_ I should take it?"

"Yes," said Lillie.

"Well, then, I will. If I had got the two rings by mistake, I
should have given one to you right away! indeed I would,
Lillie."

[Illustration: Horse with tail like a water-spout]

"Would you?" answered Lillie, brightening wonderfully, "well, then,
I am glad I have given it to you," and the painful shadow passed
away from her face, and Willie was so impressed with this
interesting scene, that he forthwith brought out one of his
dearest treasures, a horse with a tail like a water-spout, drawn
for him by his father, which he had painted such a bright apple
green, that it set your very teeth on edge only to look at it,
and bestowed it then and there upon Lillie, with a hug and a
kiss, that was worth all the green horses, and brown ones too, in
the universe; and thus happiness was restored to the hearts of
these three lovely children, and Lillie got along like other
people, with only one wedding ring, and came to think it quite
enough; but that I believe is the general opinion, though I am
not absolutely certain.

And now, if you little folks cannot see by this story, the
good effects of setting a good example, and how great the
responsibility even little children incur in their relation to
each other, Aunt Fanny will have a heart-ache, and she will
be brought to wish, that instead of writing stories that do no
good, she had taken to growing pumpkins or hard-hearted
cabbages, _and that's all_.

JACK AND HIS FRIENDS.

Once upon a time, there was a little boy, named Jack. He lived
in a house with his papa and mamma, who were so fat that they
had to be very good-natured, because you know, it don't answer
at all for fat people to be cross, it makes them feel so very
uncomfortable. So it does everybody else, for the matter of
that! Who likes to see any one cross or angry, with a face
flaming with rage, and talking in so sharp a voice that it
sounds like a pack of fire-crackers, going off? Why, nobody.
So, suppose you and I try which can keep the brightest and
sweetest face all this next year. Will you? you dear little
thing!

Well, Jack had a pretty little brown dog, named Carlo, and a
nice little white cat, named Minnie; and Jack the boy, and
Carlo the dog, and Minnie the cat, were the best friends, and
had the greatest fun together, that ever a b