Did you ever see this little boy before? Look closely, and see if you remember him.

He is two years older than when you saw him last.

Then he wore frocks; but now, you see, he has on pants and a jacket.

He used to be called Jamie.

Since he was five

years old his papa has called him James.

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That is what they will call you when you go to school," said papa. "You must get used to it." James is a great boy for horses. When he was a baby-boy he began by calling a cane his horse.

Then he had fine sport for a long time with his four-horse team. You know what that was.

But Santa Claus- or some other kind friendset this great rocking-horse in the hall one night. Jamie found it there in the morning.

He had no use for his four horses after that.

"I have a horse now that can go," he said to his grandpa, when he went to wish him a “Merry Christmas."

Now grandpa was the real Santa Claus, but Jamie had not found it out yet.

"Tell me about this rocking-horse of yours," said grandpa.

"Oh, he's such a beauty! Papa says he's a bay. That tells his color. And he has a white mane and tail made of real hair. You must come over to-day and see him.

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And I can take off the saddle and bridle, if I like. The saddle is a beauty, and the reins are the same color.

"I never had anything so nice in all my life. Who do you think gave him to me, grandpa? I asked papa, and he said I must ask you if you

knew."

And grandpa said, "It must have been some one who loved you dearly."

Then, Betty, you must come and carry
This very foolish little Harry.

"The little birds are better taught;

They all go roosting when they ought.

And all the ducks and fowls, you know,
They went to bed an hour ago.

"The little beggar in the street,

Who wanders forth with naked feet,
And has not where to lay his head, -
Oh, he'd be glad to go to bed."

VIO'S LESSONS (continued from page 30).

The next lesson looked so easy that Vio wrote very fast; but when she showed her slate her mamma said, "Why, Vio, this will not do at all. been trying to make scallops like those on your red sack?"

Have you

"They do look like scallops wrong side up, don't they, mamma?" said Vio with a laugh. Let me try again and slant my lines."

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"Slant your lines, and make graceful, pretty turns, all of the same size."

Vio did her best, and soon had a nice piece of work. This is the copy that she wrote:·

rnm met m n n n r

He was small.

very sharp ears. ears.

A ROGUE.

But he had bright eyes and
People called him shy, but I

think he was very bold.

He had a gray coat that was as soft as velvet. He wore it every day, yet he always kept it clean; and it did not seem to wear out.

He was a nice little fellow. He did not mean to do wrong. But then he did not know just what he might do; and he had no one to tell him.

So one day he took a piece of cake without leave.

The cake was for Elsie. It was sent to her by a lady.

Elsie was not well when the cake came, and it was set on a shelf. And this little rogue came when she was asleep, and ate all he wished of it.

Elsie put the rest into the closet. But there was a little crack under the door. Next day there was a round hole there, and some one had eaten more of the cake.