ers
before they could get safe there. Kiss-in-the-ring was very popular too,
but the girl used to hold the boy by the ears as she kissed him, and
this was called pitcher-fashion."

"Our pitchers have not two handles," remarked Edith.

"No, but they had a handle on each side in those days. Then the Greeks
used to play a game like our follow-my-leader, called 'Commands,' and
all sorts of funny things were ordered to be done by those who took part
in it."

Just then the bell rang for me to go down to dinner.

"Oh, auntie, don't go yet!" cried both children; "we haven't heard half
enough."

"I will just tell you one thing more, and then I must go," I said.
"There was a very favourite game played hundreds of years ago in Asia,
called 'Kings and Subjects.' One day a little boy named Cyrus was
playing at it with the children of the village in which he lived. This
little boy was about ten years old, and had been adopted by a shepherd.
He was chosen king by the boys, and having appointed his ministers, he
set each of his companions to do certain work. One boy refused, and
Cyrus ordered him to be flogged. The boy was angry, and ran off to tell
his father, who was one of the chief men in the place. This man was very
indignant that his boy should be beaten by a common shepherd's son, and
went to King Astyages to complain. The king sent for Cyrus, and asked
him how he dared to treat the son of a great man in that way.

"Cyrus answered bravely that he had only done what was just; he had been
chosen king, and he ought to have been obeyed. Astyages was very much
surprised by this answer, and began to look more closely at the fearless
boy; then he saw that he was very like himself. He sent for the
shepherd, and after many questions, he found that this little Cyrus was
his own grandson who was supposed to be dead. So the sham king really
became the heir to the throne, and in time was a real king."

"Why, auntie, that's as good as a fairy tale!" said Edith.

"Better," I replied; "for it is true, and it teaches us that we ought
always to try to do right, even in our games, and then we shall never be
ashamed."

E. M. W.

THEIR ROAD TO FORTUNE.

THE STORY OF TWO BROTHERS.

_By the Author of "The Heir of Elmdale," &c. &c._

[Illustration: "AUNT AMY HAD STEPPED FORWARD" (_p. 95_).]

CHAPTER IV.--A TERRIBLE SURPRISE.

Mr. Gregory and Mr. Clair arrived at Riversdale early the next day, and
Mr. Gregory at once took