ard their mothers say, when they
wish to have anything saved for another occasion, "My friends, you see
your dinner before you; I hope you will consider yourselves at home
and not spare." This is always thought to be a sufficient excuse for
not bringing anything of another sort to table.

When the meat was nearly done with, Mrs. Random made the above remark
to her visitors, who declared that nothing more was requisite. She
then bid the servant put the cheese on the table.

"What, mother," said Richard, "is there nothing else?"

"No, my love," said his mother; "I am sure you want nothing more."

"Why, yes, mother. Where are the tarts and custards you put into the
closet?"

"Surely you dream?" said his mother.

"No, I don't indeed," replied Dicky. "You put them away directly the
gentlemen said they would stay to dine, and observed what a deal of
trouble visitors do give."

Any one will easily believe that this made Mrs. Random look very
confused. She hardly knew what to reply, but she turned it off in the
best manner she could, and said:

"It is you, Richard, who trouble me more than the visits of my
friends. I am happy to see them always, but on some days more than
others. To-day, you know, we have been preparing for _your_ company,
and therefore the reserve I have kept would not have been made but on
your account. The pastry was intended for _your_ visitors, and not
your father's. However, if you are such a child that you cannot wait
till night, they shall be brought to table now; but, remember, I will
not order any more to be made, and you shall provide for your
playmates out of the money put by to purchase the magic-lantern and
the books."

Richard looked quite down when he heard this sentence, and more so
when he saw the pastry placed on the table.

Dear me, how soon had the tarts and custards disappeared, if one of
each had been served round to the company! But the gentlemen were too
polite even to taste them, and father and mother declined eating any.
Richard's sister said she could very well wait till supper; hence they
were all saved. But Dicky was afterwards very severely taken to task
for speaking out of time, when he was not spoken to.

When evening came, and the little visitors were assembled, Richard,
who had seen some of the sports at a country fair, would show his
dexterity to amuse his young party. He took up the poker, and,
supposing it to be a pole, performed some imitations. But, unable l