from it by the little brook;-no matter to little Effie, off came her shoes and socks, and wading through the shallow stream, in another instant she was on the soft grass, and picking the little white buds, Counting them exultingly; "Ten, twelve," said she, "why, with what I have already, I am sure of the shilling.

"Now I may think of what I mean to buy: I should have liked a doll best, but Dame Brown has often said that a work-box would be very useful to me; and with the shilling, and the money I saved last harvest time, I could just buy one. Let me see,―ves,- —or a basket, perhaps." And still thinking what her purchase should be, little Effie sat down, and began tying up her violets with the long grass that grew by the stream-" Poor Robin," said she," I am sorry for him, I know he is so very anxious for the shilling, and I am sure I shall gain it." Talking to herself in this way, little Effie by degrees began to feel sleepy, and in a few moments she laid her head on the soft moss, like a pillow, at the root of an old tree, and sank into a happy slumber.

Now, I must tell you, that little Effie was the most amiable little lassie in the village; every one loved her, she was so obliging and good natured. The good schoolmistress, Dame Brown, hoped in her heart that Effie would be the possessor of the promised shilling, for she knew the child would spend it properly,

Effie was waked by a rustling noise near her, and when she opened her eyes, she saw her little friend and playmate, curley-headed Robin, scrambling up the bank, evidently in search of the very violets she had safely in her own basket.

Effie felt sorry, for she knew how vexed Robin would be; still she could not help being glad that she had possession of them.

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She did not speak; but in a moment he saw her, and the violets; and he knew directly that she had plucked his long watched treasures. "Effie! oh Effie! you have taken them all, my violets, that I have watched for the last week!" Your violets," said Effie, "they were never yours; and if it comes to that, Robin, I have been in the lane every morning this fortnight.' Oh! of course, they are yours, now,' said Robin," and my disappointment is of no consequenceyou get everything, and you are always Dame Brown's favourite."

"Oh! Robin, do not say that; you know very well she treats us all fairly; I dare say there are more violets further up the lane; come, I will help you to search." “No, thank you," said Robin, sulkily; "I shall not look for any more." -He sat down on the bank, and was silent.

Effie stood by him, smelling her violets, and in deep thought; then she sat down and laid her little sunburnt cheek on his shoulder. Well, Robin, if I get the shilling, I will give you half;—there now;-give me a kiss for that promise."

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Half will not do," said Robin, shaking her off.

Oh, you covetous boy! and you are ungrateful too. I shall go and leave you, now.'

Robin's face turned very red, and in a minute, large tears rolled slowly down his cheek. “Effie," he said, sobbing, "you know how ill poor Grandmother is, and how much she wants a little tea; well I meant with that shilling.”—He

could not go on, but Effie knew what he intended, and in her heart began a great struggle. Shall I give him up my violets; thought she; but again the work-box came into her mind, and she could not make the full sacrifice. "Well, I offered you half," said she, "and you could not expect more. If you will not take that, you are unkind."

Robin did not answer, but walked slowly away, and Effie turned towards the village. She paused at the stile, over which she had bounded so cheerfully in the morning. She sat down, feeling no longer full of hope and anxiety for the shilling.

Turning her head, she saw Robin go back to the spot they had been sitting on, and as he leant against the old mossy trunk of the tree, she knew he was weeping, for she saw him put his little handkerchief to his eyes very often. Effie could not bear to see this, for Robin had been her favourite little friend; he it was who brought to her the first wild strawberries, and who helped her to glean in the hot sun; and always, on Sundays, gave her his prettiest flower : -and she could not see him unhappy now.

She retraced her steps, quickly, for fear her intention should weaken, and was soon at his side; she stooped down and kissed his cheek,

"Well! why do you tease me, Effie? leave me alone." She did not answer, but put her violets into his hands. "No Effie! dear, kind Effie, you are too good to me; and I have been so cross !-No, I cannot take them."

"But you must and shall, Robin. Think of your poor grandmother, and all the good you will do to her; and I,why I do not want anything. So, Robin, go now, quickly,

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and show your violets to Dame Brown, and the shilling will be yours, -come along, lazy boy," and in a tone half laughing, and half scolding, little Effie coaxed her playmate to the very door of the school.

Already the children were going in with their flowers, and the old Dame, with her spectacles on, was counting each child's collection, as it was put into her hand.

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Here is Effie. Come, Effie," shouted many little voices; 66 we know you will have the most, you have been so long away; and there is Robin, too.".

Dame Brown held out her hand for Effie's violets, and was surprised when Effie said, "I am very sorry, but mine are so few that it is useless showing them; but Robin has his hands full" Robin presented his quantity, in silence. Of all the good Dame had received, his were the most in number and the finest, and therefore into his little hand the shilling was put.

Effie had begun a good work, and, like a little angel, she persevered in completing it. Robin's heart was not so light and gay on this occasion, as her own;-this she perceived, and as soon as they could leave the school with propriety, she led him to the grocer's shop, and had the pleasure of seeing the shilling spent in little comforts for Robin's poor old Grandmother.

Dame Brown asked no questions, then,- perhaps she guessed the truth; be that as it may, she soon heard the whole from her old neighbour, Robin's Grandmother; for the grateful boy had told her all that Effie had done, and that the dear girl had given up her own pleasure to procure happiness for others.

A few days afterwards, Effie found a small parcel on the table, in her own little room, with this direction, 'For the generous girl;" and on opening it, there was a little Tonbridge-ware box, with thimble, scissors, and cottons, and printed on the lid," From an old friend." Guess her joy and delight; she flew to Robin, but he knew nothing of it, and then to the good old Dame.

The old lady put down the book she was reading, and examined the box very minutely, as if she knew no more about it than Robin did; but a smile on her kind face, told all that Effie wished to know; so she threw her arms round her, exclaiming, "Oh, thank you, thank you, I will keep it for your sake; and I will be good,-so good, and so careful, so tidy, so every thing."-Here Dame Brown interrupted her, Do not quite smother me. Effie child, with your kisses. You deserve it, my dear little lass, therefore say no more about it, but remember always, 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.' The white violets are more interesting to me than they ever were."

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