T.S.A. 207
Sliding Down Hill F.C.W. 211
A Garden Overrun with Weeds T.S.A. 217
Disappointment Sometimes a Blessing F.C.W. 221
The Old Man at the Cottage Door T.S.A. 232
Story of a Stolen Pen F.C.W. 234

WREATHS.
WHAT SHALL WE BUILD?

Four children were playing on the sea-shore. They had gathered bright
pebbles and beautiful shells, and written their names in the pure, white
sand; but at last, tired of their sport, they were about going home, when
one of them, as they came to a pile of stones, cried out:

"Oh! let us build a fort; and we will call that ship away out there, an
enemy's vessel, and make believe we are firing great cannon balls into
her!"

"Yes, yes! let us build a fort," responded Edward, the other lad.

And the two boys--for two were boys and two girls--ran off to the pile of
stones, and began removing them to a place near the water.

"Come, Anna and Jane," said they, "come and help us."

"Oh, no. Don't let us build a fort," said Jane.

[Illustration: WHAT SHALL WE BUILD?]

"Yes; we will build a fort," returned the boys. "What else can we build?
You wouldn't put a house down here upon the water's edge?"

"No; but I'll tell you what we can build, and it will be a great deal
better than a fort."

"Well; what can we build?"

"A light-house," said the girls; "and that will be just as much in place on
the edge of the sea as a fort. We can call the ship yonder a vessel lost in
the darkness, and we will hang out a light and direct her in the true way.
Won't that be much better than to call her an enemy, and build a fort to
destroy her? See how beautifully she sits upon and glides over the smooth
water! Her sails are like the open wings of a bird, and they bear her
gracefully along. Would it not be cruel to shoot great balls into her
sides, tear her sails to pieces, and kill the men who are on board of her?
Oh! I am sure it would make us all happier to save her when in darkness and
danger. No, no; let us not build a fort, but a light-house; for it is
better to save than to destroy."

The girls spoke with tenderness and enthusiasm, and their words reached the
better feelings of their companions.

"Oh, yes," said they; "we will build a light-house, and