over several times, a beautiful creature with a star on her forehead appeared in the circle. She waved her hand thrice.

As she did so, the mad sport ceased, and every Elf, with one quick motion of his tiny hand, restored the tail to each of the sheep. Bo-peep watched Puck closely, and saw him put the bell-wether's tail in a hole in an old tree, just as the owl had said.

Shortly after, every Fairy and Elf had gone; and when she started up from the couch, she saw nothing but her lost sheep, all of them being asleep in the moonbeams. Bo-peep thought she had been dreaming, when, looking up, she saw the owl flapping its wings, as if anxious that she should

perform what it had asked of her. Bo-peep went up to the tree where Puck had left the tail, and lo! there it was. The owl flapped its wings with great glee as it saw the tail in Bo-peep's hands.

Then it flew down to her feet, when Bo-peep, waving the tail three times over its head, up started the most charming lady and the sweetest Princess she had ever seen!

The Princess promised that, as Bo-peep had delivered her from the power. of the wicked old woman, she would have a beautiful cottage built for her, and that she would continue to be her friend for the remainder of her life; for those who do good should always be rewarded.

222

LITTLE BO-PEEP, THE SHEPHERDESS.

Bo-peep found all her sheep, and, except the stupid bellwether, each had its tail behind it. They all followed her home in the most obedient manner, and never after strayed into the woods without the consent of their mistress: they found it much more comfortable to stay at home and sleep in the nice warm shed that had been made for them, than to run away without leave, and so find themselves in a strange place, where no one cared for them. They never forgot the lesson the Fairies had taught them, that it was wrong to annoy so kind and good a mistress as Little Bo-peep.

OLD SULTAN.

A FARMER had a dog named Sultan, who had grown

old and lost his teeth, so that he could not lay hold. One day the farmer said, "I shall shoot that dog in the morning, he is no longer of any use!" But his wife said,

"He has served us many years, and been so useful, I think we might spare him a crust." "Indeed," replied the man, "he has not a tooth in his mouth, and what do thieves care for him? He might just as well go."

To

Sultan was lying near, in the sun, and felt melancholy when he heard the farmer's words. He had one kind friend, a wolf: to him he went in the evening, and complained of the fate awaiting him. Listen, comrade, and be of good courage; I have thought of something to help you. morrow, your master and mistress go hay-making, taking their infant with them. While at work they generally leave the child under a hedge; lie down by it to watch it, and I will come out of the wood and run away with it; you will rush after me to rescue it, I will let it fall, and you can carry it back to the farmer, who, believing that you have saved the child's life, will be too grateful to harm you; you will be in great favour, and want for nothing." The proposal pleased the dog, and as it was supposed, so it fell out. The farmer cried out when he saw the wolf running through the field with his child; but when old Sultan recovered and brought it back, his joy was great: he stroked the old dog, and said not a hair should be hurt, but that he should be welcome to all that he wanted to the end of his days.

From this time old Sultan had nothing to wish for; he