negan to wish she was a kitten, as I told you.

Her mamma thought she would teach her a lesson, so she said, "Well, Mary, you may be a kitten for a week if you will finish this work first." "Be a kitten," said Mary, laughing, "how can I be a kitten ?"

Why, I mean you may act just like one-play all the time, and not sew, and we will call you kitty."

"O! 'ma, I wish you would, it would be so nice and funny, but do let it be more than a week; a week is not half long enough."

"Well, my dear, be a kitten a week, and then if you like it, I will let you be one longer."

"You are very good," said Mary, and soon she finished her work and went to play. First she rolled her ball and marbles about the room, then she played in the garden, and chased the butterflies, until she quite forgot that it was tea time.

When she went in, she found her little sister Emily had gone to bed, and she had to go to Betsy, the maid, to get her supper as all kitties did.

MORE ABOUT LITTLE MARY WHO WISHED TO BE A KITTEN

The next day little Mary played as much as ever. At noon some ladies called, of whom she was very fond.

She heard them ask for her, and wished to see them, but she could hardly keep from laughing, as she heard her little sister tell them, Mary is a kitty this week, and mamma can not let her come into the parlor.

That night Mary went to bed so tired, she could hardly rest. She began to think whether kittens were

always so tired, and why it was that her mamma did not hear her say her prayers, as she did Emily.

Then it came to her mind that kittens and such things have no souls and could not go to heaven when they died, and she almost wished she had not been one.

The next morning was very bright and sunny, and when Mary awoke and came down stairs, she found her sister almost ready to go to the Sab bath school.

She watched her eagerly for some time, and listened to the beautiful chime of the church bells, then she thought of her beloved teacher and class, and could hold out no longer.

Bursting into tears, she threw her arms around her mother's neck, and besought her that she might go, saying, she did not wish to be, or do any thing that would keep her from the Sabbath school.

The lesson was a very good one,

for Mary became a diligent, little girl, and she would tell you now that she feels very grateful to God for giving her a kind mother, that can direct her what to do.

And every little girl and boy ought to thank him for giving them souls, that they may increase in knowledge and happiness, and then dwell with God; and that he has not made them like brutes, that can frolic for a few years, and then die and nothing more be known of them.

OW LITTLE GEORGE PLAYED AT FOX AND GEESE WITH MASTER MORRIS AT SCHOOL.

Father. Well, George, will you tell me what you have been doing at school to-day?

George. Why, father, I have read and spelled, and recited a long lesson in grammar, and written two copies, and then played with Master Morris on the slate, at fox and geese.

F. Indeed, my son! I am glad to hear you have been at work, but I wonder your teacher allows you to play at fox and geese.

Geo. O, he does not allow it, he does not know it.

F. So, then, you do it slyly, I suppose.

Geo. Slyly, father! why, it was after we had finished our work, and was there any harm in it then?

F. Yes, George, school is intended for study, that you may acquire knowledge. Had you nothing to learn for to-morrow? And do you think your teacher would have been pleased to see you thus at play on your slates?

Geo. O, no, sir, but he did not know it, for Morris held a book over