Part 3

"If you were only dressed in old clothes, and Pomp was poor instead of sleek and fat, you would do for a Mother Hubbard. I guess if your cupboard was almost bare, however, you'd share your last crust with Pomp; wouldn't you, sis?"

"Of course, Chester, when Pomp saved my life when I was a baby."

"Why, Ruby, you seem only a big baby to me now. Or else you are the real Mother Hubbard come to life again in a new style. Which is it--which shall I call you, my big baby or my little Mother Hubbard?"

"Mother Hubbard, for I ain't a baby."

"Mother Hubbard it shall be then. Remember this, Ruby, when I'm miles away. I hear the stage now. So give me a kiss before I go."

Ruby gave her brother many kisses, and then stood and waved her handkerchief till he was out of sight. And then she sat down and cried a little and talked a good deal to her old friend Pomp.

NEW EYES.

"ONLY see my dolly's eyes," said Dell to her twin sister Dora. "Wish we could get some new ones put it. Let's go and ask Mr. Thomas."

"Yes, we will. We'll go right off now." So Dora and Dell took their dolls and went over to see Mr. Thomas. His paints and brushes we all out of doors when pleasant. When a rainy day came they were under cover. But they were not in a shop then. They were under a great boat.

It was a pleasant day when Dora and Dell took their dolls to be mended. So they found Mr. Thomas sitting out of doors in his shirt sleeves. He was an old sailor. He liked to be where he could see the water all the time.

Mr. Thomas liked children, especially little girls, so he was very willing to mend their dolls.

"What color do you want the eyes?" asked Mr. Thomas, after fixing in some round beads.

"Blue," answered Dell.

"Mine blue, too," added Dora. "We always have everything just alike."

"There, now they can see just as well as ever."

"Thank you ever so much!" exclaimed both girls at once.

ROSE AND THE LITTLE BEGGAR.

ROSE was out in the garden with mamma. Rose ran here and there, gathering the prettiest flowers to make into a bouquet for her. Rose thought her mamma the loveliest and best mamma in the world. Nothing was too good for her.

"O Mamma!" she cried breathlessly, running up after a long absence, "there's a poor girl--outside the fence--over by the rustic chair. She looks as though she wanted--something. She won't speak--Oh! come and see here, mamma!"

"Poor child! Perhaps she is hungry," said mamma, rising quickly.

They found the child still looking wistfully through the fence. "Would you like something to eat?" asked mamma kindly.

The bareheaded and barefooted little girl looked up into the sweet face a moment, then said timidly, "Please, lady, give me some flowers."

"I'll give her mine," whispered Rose.

With a hurried, "Thanks, lady," she took the flowers and ran swiftly away before another question could be asked.

"I wish I knew where she lived," said Rose.

"I will inquire. We may be able to help her."

OLD CHARLIE RUNS.

SEE old Charlie run. Do you suppose he is afraid of the children or the constables? You see old Charlie gets into mischief sometimes when papa is away. He gets into the garden where there are a few young fruit trees. Old Charlie likes apples and pears. So papa told Neddie he must watch, and if old Charlie got into the garden he must drive him out.

One day old Charlie thought he wouldn't mind such a little boy. Then Neddie asked Bess and little Effie to help. Each took a cornstalk. How old Charlie ran when he saw them coming.

Out of the wild north-east The snow comes fly-ing; O-ver our chim-ney tops The wind goes sigh-ing.

Up, lag-gard birds, a-way, On swift wings go-ing, To where, on south-ern hills, A-far from win-ter's chills, Soft winds are blow-ing.

POLLY AND HER DEAD BIRD.

Some one gave lit-tle Pol-ly a bird. It sang all day long, and made the nurs-er-y ring with its mer-ry notes. Pol-ly was so fond of it, and al-ways fed it her-self. One day when the children had come in from a walk, they found the bird dead in its cage. A wick-ed cat had killed it. The chil-dren all cried a great deal; and they bur-ied it in a small white box in the garden, and plant-ed flow-ers o-ver the grave.

MOLL AND JANE'S PICNIC.

Moll and Jane had a pic-nic. They first begged the cook to give them some sand-wich-es and gin-ger-bread. Then Moll stole down stairs, and got an a-pron-ful of po-ta-toes, while Jane got some match-es. They were go-ing to roast their po-ta-toes; and this is the way they did it. They dug a shal-low hole, put them in, cov-ered them with dirt, and then built a fire a-bove them. They were ver-y good when they were cooked, I can tell you.

BELLE AND HER BROTHERS.

The same day that Moll and Jane had their pic-nic, Belle and her two small broth-ers had one. They did not have a fire: but their cook put up a much bet-ter lunch for them, and they took it to their fa-vor-ite spot, packed in a bas-ket on their don-key's back; and, while they ate their lunch, he nib-bled the soft grass. They had a good time, and were not sent to bed without sup-per, as Moll and Jane were, for mak-ing a fire when it was for-bid-den.

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