3. The wind was blowing, the snow was flying, and many a child was crying with the cold; for it was bitter cold that night.

4. But this was not what made Johnny Briggs wish he were a kitten; Johnny was sitting by a warm, blazing fire.

5. He was not a little poor boy, that had no friends nor home. O, no. Johnny Briggs had a good home and the kindest of friends, and you may be sure his mother looked up in surprise when she heard him say: "I wish I were a kitten."

6. "What would you like to be a kitten for?" said she; and her bright needles kept click-clacking as the red yarn in her hand was fast growing into a nice warm stocking for Johnny's little foot.

7. "Kittens don't have to go to school, nor get lessons, nor go to bed at seven, nor get up at six, nor-nor--"

8. "Nor say their prayers," said Mrs. Briggs, trying to help him out.

9. This struck Johnny as being quite ludicrous, and he burst out into a loud laugh, which made the kitten open her large eyes, and sit right up.

10. And there she sat, looking him straight

in the face, as if she was wondering what strange idea had got into Johnny's head.

11. "Nor be kissed by father and mother, nor have Christmas presents of new sleds, new books, and new balls; nor have nice warm stockings and new boots to wear.

12. "O, yes, it would be so delightful to be a kitten, for then you would not have to take nice sleigh-rides, nor ride your pony, nor be tucked up warm in your little bed and go to sleep with mother's good-night kiss on your cheek.

13. "But you could sit and sleep by the fire from morning till night, and from night till morning, on the hard floor. Why, it would be so delightful to be a kitten!

14. "Then you would not have to read the Bible, nor go to Sunday-school, nor go to heaven, either. O, it would be so very delightful!

15. “O, mother!" cried Johnny, “I did not think of all that!" Just then the kitten jumped into his lap.

16. "I suppose," Miss Kitty, said Johnny, you would like to swop places with me, and be ma's little boy. But you can't. You can not be any thing but a kitten, or at most a big cat; while I can be a man

QUESTIONS ON LESSON VII.-What was Johnny Briggs's wish? What made him wish so? Do you think his reasons were good ones? What additional reasons did his mother give him? Did Johnny change his mind?

What does" bitter cold" mean? In what sense can yarn be said to be "growing into a nice warm stocking"? What does "grow" mean? What do "struck" and "burst" mean in the ninth paragraph, and "good-night kiss" in the twelfth? What kind of a word is "good-night"? Compounded of what words? What is the mark between them called, and why is it put there? Is there any other compound word in the Lesson? Can you think of one that is not in the Lesson ?

1. Three little children had a dog by the name of Carlo. One night, as soon as they came home from school, they said, "Let us harness Carlo to the wagon.

2. So off they ran to the garden, where Carlo was; but James, who was at work in the garden, told them it would not be right.

3. "Why?" said William; "Carlo has been doing nothing all day but sleep and lie in the shade. You would call me lazy if I should do so."

4. "Yes, so I should; but Carlo, you know, watches the house all night so as to let us know if any body comes to do us harm; he does not sleep in the night."

5. All the children saw that James was right, and they went off to find some other play.

6. "I think," said hit upon a good plan.

William, "that I have We will play we have a dog harnessed to the wagon."

7. "Charles, you may get on your hands and knees, and take this string in your mouth. I will tie it to the little

draw."

wagon, and you shall

8. "That will be so nice! And Nancy shall ride in the wagon," said Charles.

9. "Yes, and I will drive.

When you have

drawn her a little while, I will draw her, and you may drive."

10. In this way they played an hour, and thought it good sport, almost as good as to have Carlo draw the wagon.

11. And now what do you think had happened? William had hardly got up from playing dog," when Nancy exclaimed, "O William! look at your trowsers!"

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12. Sure enough it was a sad sight. He had worn a large hole in each knee. "What shall we do?" said they; "what will mother say to this?"

13. "It is a sad thing, said William, "but the sooner we go and tell her our fault, the better." And they all went away and told their mother just what had happened.