LITTLE MISCHIEF
I
I shall tell you some stories about a little girl whose name was Bessie Allen. She was so fond of being busy, that she sometimes got into sad scrapes. So people called her Little Mischief.
One day she thought her papa's hat looked rough and rusty: so what did she do but wash it with a sponge wet in water. She thought she was making the hat look quite nice and shiny; but she nearly spoiled it.
Her father did not like it at all when he found what she had done. He loved his little girl; but he thought her much too meddlesome.
II
One day Bessie was at her aunt's house when the folks were away. But Carlo the dog was at home; and Bessie had her doll Cornelia to play with. At last she placed Cornelia up on the arm-chair with her arms over the back.
Then seeing near by an inkstand, and a bottle of gum with a brush in it, Bessie thought she would amuse herself by painting Carlo's face with ink. This was very silly, and Carlo seemed to think so; for he struggled, and tried to get away.
The brush tickled him; he did not like to taste of the ink: at last he broke away, and hid himself under the sofa.
III
Bessie had a piece of biscuit in her pocket. She took it out, and offered it to Carlo. It was so nice to get biscuit without having to stand on his hind-legs first, or jump a great height, or do something funny to earn it, that Carlo came out.
Then Bessie seized him, and tried once more to ink his face; but this time Carlo tore himself loose, and ran out of the room, knocking over the stool on which stood the inkstand, as he went.
In trying to stop him, Bessie soiled her nice white frock; and the ink streamed over the carpet. Here was mischief.
Next month I will tell you more stories about Bessie Allen.
SANTA CLAUS
Santa Claus came here last night
On his flight.
Down the chimney-top he flew:
He had lots of work to do,
Well he knew.
So he heaped the stockings high,
Said "Good-by."
Now, of toys he had no lack:
They were carried on his back,
In a sack.
What did little Flora find?—
Flora kind.
Why, a doll with golden hair,
Candies, and a tiny chair,
I declare!
What did bright-eyed Georgie get?—
Mamma's pet.
Can't you guess? A tiny gun;
But you see it's only one
Made for fun.
Here's what lazy Joseph found,
Looking round.
It was shocking!
In his stocking,
There was nothing, you must know,
But a big hole at the toe!
Lazy Joe!
George Cooper.
BECKY
A TRUE STORY
After I had finished reading "The Nursery" to my little Willy to-night, he said, "Please, mamma, now tell me the story about the cat you had when you were a little girl; then I will go to bed."
When I had told him the story, as I have told it a great many times before, he said, "Mamma, why don't you send that story to 'The Nursery,' so that some other little boy can hear it too?"
"Why, Willie!" said I: "do you think it is enough of a story to put in print?"
"Of course I do!" said he. "I like it; and I ought to know what little boys like. Now, promise me to send it; and then I will go to bed." So I promised.
And now that my little b