NELLIE and Dottie

Both hear mamma say, "Pray from the drawing-room Keep away.

Don't take your toys there, Lest some one should call ; Run out in the garden

With rope, bat, and ball." The garden is lovely,

This bright summer day; But Nellie and Dottie

Too soon come away.
Into the drawing-room
Dottie comes skipping,
With her new rope

All the furniture flipping :
Down goes the tall vase,
So golden and gay,
Smashed all to pieces.

"What will mamma say? Cries Nell, with her hands raised,

"Oh, Dottie, let's run ; They'll think it was pussy, Who did it in fun." Dot answers, through big tears, "But, Nell, don't you see,

Though nobody watched us,

God knows it was me? Mamma always says,

That, whatever we do, The harm's not so great,

If we dare to be true. So I'll go up and tell her It caught in my rope; Perhaps she won't scold muchAt least, so I'll hope." "That's right!" cries her mother, Who stands by the door. "I would rather ten vases

Were smashed on the floor, Than my children should once break

The bright words of truth, The dearest possession

Of age or of youth.

The vase can be mended,
And scarce show a crack;
But a falsehood once spoken,
Will never come back."
However much grieved for
By young folks or old,
An untruth once uttered
For ever is told.

C. L. M.