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You are used to being left alone a good part of the day now it's gleaning-time, and it won't feel any different this once.'

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Very well!' said the sick girl with a sigh, and she turned her face partly round to the wall. No, it won't feel any different this once, I don't suppose, and I can watch for your coming home.'

'I'll move these flower-pots in the window so that you can see better: like that. Ah!

I can sce Bob Taylor coming across the Green; he'll be here in a minute. Now, Bessie, I can put you a glass of water close by on this chair, so that you can get it for yourself if you are thirsty; and can I do anything more?'

'Only kiss me, Donald.'

That's easy done, Bessie. Now are you all right and tight, or do you want anything else?'

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No, nothing, thank you.'

Then good-bye, Bessie. I'll be home before you think; take care of yourself.'

With these words Donald gave the bedclothes a tug, and then a whack, with an intention, most likely, of making them more comfortable; and then, having again kissed his sister, he caught up his hat which was lying by and bounded out of the cottage-door.

O Donald, Donald! why did you go? Why, for a couple of hours' enjoyment, did you leave her to drag on the weary time, so long to her in her pain and sickness, so short to you in your strength and health? Once as he was hurrying across the Green to meet half-way his bright-eyed companion, a boy somewhere about his own age, his heart misgave him, and Donald was nearly turning his steps back to the sick room; but the sun shone so brightly, the birds sang so merrily, and Bob Taylor looked so happy with his basket slung on a hooked stick over his shoulder, that Donald forgot poor

Bessie's yearning eyes, and bounded joyously onwards over the grass.

It was a glorious afternoon, the very day for blackberrying, as Bob Taylor called it: You could almost see the berries ripen while you looked at them.' Though, for my part, I think Bob would have had to look a long time, if he waited for the berries to ripen before he gathered them.

'If there's one thing,' said Donald, as the two boys hurried along side by side, 'more superior than another, it is blackberry pudding.' 'Blackberry pie beats it. I shall get mother to make mine into a pie,' said Bob. And I,' said Donald, shall give all mine to Bessie; and if she likes pie better than pudding she can have it, or if she likes them raw she can have them. I'm getting mine on purpose for Bessie; she does like blackberries so much.'

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Oh, Donald! are you trying to deceive yourself with this thought? Or have you already forgotten that Bessie said she did not want the berries, but only wanted you?

'And now, Bob,' went on Donald, 'whereabouts is this precious nook of yours? Very much farther?'

'A good two miles and a half now.'

A tidy distance, isn't it, Bob?' said Donald, thinking of the time that Bessie would have to watch for his return.

"Nothing when you think of the blackberries,' answered Bob. I walked over yesterday morning before breakfast, and they were just beginning to turn colour, and they were big as marbles then. They will be just ripe now, and no one knows the nook but me.'

So the boys went on, sometimes beguiling the way by playing leap-frog on the soft turf, and at others trying their skill at jumping.

(Concluded in our next.)

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Published for the Proprieto s by W. WELLS GARNER, 2 Paternoster Buildings, Lonion.

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UP IN THE BELFRY.

WE

E love the grey old steeple,
Where we are free to dwell;

We love its oaken timbers,

And the weather-beaten bell; And the mighty wheels that circle.

Beside the belfry bars,

Where we roost till evening calls us Abroad, beneath the stars.

We love the hoary steeple,

Despite its noisy clock;
Despite the brawny ringers,

Who make the belfry rock.
Here in its gloom and shadow,
So kind to owlish eyes,
We wait till the sun is setting
And the stars are in the skies.

Laugh not at our grimaces,

Nor call us dull and odd, But come and watch us sailing

When the dew is on the sod,A white thing in the darkness,

That frightens foolish Will, As it flashes quickly by him

On wings so soft and still. And now, dear little children,

Who on our portrait gaze, Don't laugh at queer old people, Nor quiz ungainly ways;

Be blind to others' failings,

But all their virtues own,

And, when you climb our steeple,
Leave us poor owls alone.

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GROCER of the city of Smyrna had a son, who with the help of a little learning rose to the post of deputy to the mayor of that city, and as such visited the markets and inspected the weights and measures of all the retail dealers. One day, as this officer was going his rounds, the neighbours who knew enough of his father's character to suspect he might stand in need of the caution, advised him to shift his weights for fear of the worst ; but the old cheat, thinking that his son would never expose him to a public affront, laughed at their advice, and stood calmly at his shopdoor waiting for his coming. The deputy, however, knew the dishonesty and unfair dealing of his father, and resolved to make an example of him; so he stopped at his door, and said to him, "Good man, fetch your weights, that we may examine them.'i

Instead of obeying, the grocer would fain have put it off with a laugh, but he soon found that his son was serious, by hearing him order the officers to search his shop, and by seeing them bring out his weights and scales, which, after examination, were openly condemned and broken to pieces. He then hoped that his son would spare him all further punishment of his crime; but on the contrary, the deputy made it as severe as possible, for he sentenced him to a fine of fifty piastres, and to receive a bastinado of as many blows on the soles of his feet.

All this was executed upon the spot; after which the deputy, leaping from his horse, threw himself at his father's feet, and, with tears, addressed him thus:

Father, I have discharged my duty to

You

my God, my sovereign, my country, and my station; permit me now, by my respect and submission, to pay the debt I owe Justice is blind; it is the my parent. power of God on earth; it has no regard to father or son. God and our neighbours' rights are above the ties of nature. had offended against the laws of justice; you deserved this punishment; you would in the end have received it from some other; I am sorry it was your fate to receive it from me. My conscience would not suffer me to act otherwise. Behave better for the future, and instead of blaming, pity my being forced to so cruel a necessity.'

This done, the deputy mounted his horse and again continued his journey, amidst the praises of the whole city for so extraordinary a piece of justice. The Sultan, when he heard of it, advanced him to the post of mayor; from whence by degrees he rose to still higher honour.

HONOURING MOTHERS.

DURING a long and varied life I have

had much to do with children, more especially with boys. As a rule, I could predict the future career of a boy by noting his conduct towards his mother. Boys who were dutiful and affectionate toward their mothers have usually turned out well. Unkind and disobedient lads I have usually found to become bad men. There seems to be a Divine blessing resting upon loving and obedient children. It is, I am sorry to say, a very common thing for school lads to ridicule a boy who consults the wishes and obeys the counsels of his mother. It requires great moral courage to resist such. ridicule, but those boys are wise and brave who do so.

BLACKBERRYING;

OR, WHY DID HE LEAVE HER?
(Concluded from p. 327.)

N half-an-hour they reached
the harvest-ground of black-
berries, and for the first few
minutes the boys forgot all
about both pudding and pie,
and ate all they gathered;
but soon Bob began to fill
the basket. They gathered

all that were within their reach, and then one boy let the other stand on his back and gather the high ones. This was done by turns, as it was rather hard work, and Donald settled that Bob was a very heavy boy, while Bob could not help thinking that Donald was not a feather. Neither of them out of politeness, most likelymade any remark upon the subject, though both were glad when the high ones were gathered and they could sit down and rest.

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They must have sat upon the bank, resting, for some time, for when Donald suddenly thought of Bessie and looked up at the country timepiece, the sun, he saw that it had sunk down in the west, leaving only a crimson glow upon the sky and the hill-tops as traces of its glory. 'Bob, how late it is!'

'Getting fast on for six, I should think,' said Bob, glancing up over his head.

And there's Bessie waiting for me! Let's hurry home, Bob.'

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