back to his work one of
the happiest boys in London, I think, at that moment.

JANE OLIVER.

* * * * *

"IN A MINUTE."

If you asked Dora to do any thing, she would reply, "In a minute." It
was a bad habit she had. "Dora, please bring me a drink of water."--"In
a minute."--"Dora, go up stairs, and bring me down my comb."--"Yes,
mother, in a minute."--"Dora, come to your dinner."--"In a minute."

One day the bird was hopping about on the floor. Somebody went out,
leaving the door open, just as "somebody" is always doing. Dora's mother
said, "Dora, shut the door, or the cat will be after your bird."

"Yes, mother, in a minute," said Dora. "I just want to finish this line
in my drawing." But the cat did not wait till this was done. In he
popped, and with one dart he had the bird in his mouth.

Down went the slate on the floor, and away went cat, bird, and Dora.
There was a wild chase on the lawn. "In a minute" Dora came back
weeping, with the poor bird in her hand, but, oh! the life had all been
shaken out of him.

[Illustration: Dora and the bird.]

How Dora cried! Mamma was sorry for her, but said, "A great many things
may happen 'in a minute,' Dora. I hope the next time you are told to do
a thing, you will do it at once."

MARY ADDISON.

THE CHRISTMAS TREE

[Illustration: THE CHRISTMAS TREE]

Spring and Summer and russet Fall
Come and go with a varied cheer;
Each has something, and none has all,
Of the good things of the year.

Winter laughs, though the trees are bare,
With a kindly laugh that is good to see;
For of all the forest is none so rare
As his merry Christmas-tree.

It blooms with many a taper's flame;
And hidden under the leaves of green
Are fruits of every shape and name,
The funniest ever seen,--

[Illustration: Another Christmas Tree]

Book and bundle, and scarf, and shawl,
Picture and peanuts, skate and saw,
Candy and album, and bat and ball,
Hatchet, and doll, and taw,

Games and frames, and comical dames
With walnut faces wrinkled and old,
Fillets rare for the sunny hair,
And jewels of pearl and gold.

For the good St. Nicholas blest this tree,
And it blooms and bears for every one,
With a gift of love to you and me,
For beauty, or use, or fun.

Poorer than any the Child whose name
Has given a name to