pushed

wife

pulled

husband

prayer

midday
midnight pursue

Christian and Hopeful get away.

There they lay all day in wretch'ed'ness as before. When night was come, and when Mistress Diffidence and her husband, the Giant, had got to bed they began to renew their talk of the prisoners. And the old Giant wondered that he could neither by his blows nor counsel bring them to an end.

With that his wife replied, "I fear," said she, "that they live in hope that some one will come to relieve them; or that they have pick-locks about them by means of which they hope to escape.

"And sayest thou so my dear?" said the Giant; "I will therefore search them in the morning." Well, about mid-night they began to pray, and continued in prayer till almost break of day.

Now a little before it was day, Good Christian like one half crazed, broke out into this strange speech: "What a fool," quoth he, "am I thus to lie in a filthy dungeon, when I may as well walk at liberty! I have a key in my bosom called Promise; that will I am sure open any lock in Doubting Castle. Then said Hopeful, "That's good news, good brother. Pluck it out of thy bosom and try?

Then Christian pulled it out of his bosom, and began to try at the dungeon door. And the bolt, as he turned the key, gave way with ease, so the door flew open. Then Christian and Hopeful both came out. They went to the outward door that leads into the Castle yard, and with his key

Christian opened that door also. After that they went to the iron gate to make their escape with speed, but that gate, as it opened, made such a creaking that it waked Giant Despair. But he, hastily rising to pursue his prisoners, felt his limbs to fail, for his fit took him again, so that he could by no means go after them. Then they went on and came to the King's high way again, and so were safe.*

WALTER AND HIS DOG.
There was a little boy,

And he had a piece of bread,
And he put his little cap

On his head, head, head.
Upon his hobby-horse
Then he went to take a ride,
With his pretty Spaniel Flash
By his side, side, side.

Little Walter was his name,
And he said to little Flash,
"Let us gallop round the house,
With a dash, dash, dash."

So he laid down his bread
In a snug little place,
And away Walter went
For a race, race, race.
But Flash had a plan,
In his little roguish head,
Of taking to himself

Walter's bread, bread, bread.

So he watched for a moment
When Walter did not look,
And his nice piece of bread
Slily took, took, took.

* Bunyan.

When Walter saw the rogue,
He cried "Oh! naughty Flash;"
And he showed his little whip
With a lash, lash, lash.

But Flash looked so good-natured,
With his tail curled up behind,
That his aunty said to Walter,
"Never mind, mind, mind.
"Flash is nothing but a puppy,
So, Walter, do not worry,
If he knew that he'd done wrong,
He'd be sorry, sorry, sorry.
"And don't be angry, Walter,
That Flash has had a treat;
Here's another piece of bread
You may eat, eat, eat.”
So Walter ate his bread,
And then to Flash he cried,
"Come you saucy little dog,
Let us ride, ride, ride."

When I was a very little boy, I had a nice little dog, and his name was Towser. He was a shaggy little fellow, of a sandy color, and O, how funny he was, you can't think!

He would always come and waken me in the morning, aye, and get me up too! For he would seize the blankets in his teeth, and tug and tug, till they were all on the floor. Then of course I had to get up.

Towser was always frisking about, and running about and barking in the fields. Then he would

Mrs. Follen.

run after a stick or a stone, and never come back without it, no! not if he had to search all day.

He could run like a hare, swim like a duck, leap a fence at a bound, and chase away robbers and dogs ever so much bigger than himself. No! I dont think I have seen any dog at all so good as Towser.

Then he was so kind to me. I remember once when I had done some thing naughty. The little Smiths and Browns were coming that day to play with me; but, when they came, sisters had them all to themselves. Because I was shut up in my

room for being a bad boy.

O dear! I never was so wretched all my life. I heard the children romping in the garden and Towser barking, and enjoying him self very well without me. Who would have thought it? Don't you think it was very selfish of Towser?

Well, it seems they had all been allowed to eat the pears from a certain tree. They were very nice juicy pears, and of course I wanted one very much. But, O dear, there I must stay till tea time for being a naughty boy!

I counted the minutes, one, two, three, till I was quite tired, and then I wondered whether they would keep one or two pears for me. At last I heard a pitter, patter, pitter, patter step coming up the stair. I knew it was Towser, and I thought I would peep out and see him. So I opened the door, and in popped the good dog with two fine pears in his teeth. He held them by the stalk, so I could eat them very well. And I think I never enjoyed anything so much as those two pears. Thank you, good Towser!

BILLY RABBIT AND MARY.

BILLY RABBIT was a little rabbit which a boy caught in the woods. The boy gave it to a little girl of the name of Mary.

She was very kind to the little prisoner. She gave him plenty of good things to eat, and tried her best to make him happy; but all in vain.

After many attempts, at last Billy Rabbit made his escape, and instantly vanish'd in the woods.

Mary cried all day very bitterly, and they searched for her pet every where. But they could not find him. In the course of the evening, the following letter, sealed with a sharp thorn, was received by the weeping Mary.

BILLY RABBIT TO MARY.

You thought, my dear Mary, you had Billy fast, But I tried very hard, and escaped you at last; The chance was so tempting, I thought I would grab it

It was not very naughty, I'm sure, in a rabbit.
O let not your kind heart be angry with me;
But think what a joy it is to be free,

To see the green woods, to feel the fresh air,
To skip and to play, and to run every where.
The food that you gave me was pleasant and sweet,
But I'd rather be free, though with nothing to eat.
O how glad they all were to see me come back,
While every one wanted to give me a smack.
Dick knocked over Brownie, and jumped over Bun,
And the neighbours came in to witness the fun.
My father said some thing, but could not be heard;
My mother looked at me, but spoke not a word;
And while she was looking, her eyes became pink,
And she shed a few tears, I verily think.