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see you; so do the little boys.' bright morning I heard them say, 'How pleasant it is! how good God is! be cheerful, be happy!'" Herbert and Arthur listened with interest. "Come," said Arthur, "I should like to know what they will say to us."

They hurried out; and little Bessie watched them through the gate and up the hill, as long as she could see their red tippets. Soon they came to the pine-grove.

"I don't hear any thing," said Herbert. The wind blew through the branches with a murmuring sound. "I hear something," replied Arthur; "but it is only, 'How cold it is! how cold it is!' Run along, or you will freeze."

On they went; the wind was piercing cold; their fingers ached. Arthur was ready to cry; and, indeed, when they reached their aunt's warm breakfast-room, the tears were beginning to start. But aunt Louisa was very kind: she warmed their fingers, gave them a biscuit to eat, and, better than all, spoke kind, comforting words to them. Then, with their pail of milk, and a cake for Bessie, the little boys started for home. The wind was now behind them, the sun had grown warmer, and their hearts were full of pleasant thoughts. They forgot the pine-trees till they were nearly opposite them. Then they listened,

and the trees seemed to say, "Happy little boys! how kind everybody is! Try to be good."

They were soon at home, and with bright faces sat down to warm their feet, and recount what they had seen and heard.

"And what did the pine-trees say?" asked

mamma.

"Oh! they didn't really talk," replied Arthur; "but it seemed as if they were almost crying when we went, and they were as merry as birds when we came home."

"Ah! you have found out the secret," said mamma. "The pine-trees seem to say just what is in our own hearts. They sighed and complained when you were going, feeling cold and sad; but, when you came home bright and happy, the wind through the branches spoke of sunshine and happiness. Try to keep the kind, loving thoughts in your hearts, little boys; then the pine-trees will always echo back gratitude and love."

THE KATY DIDS.

COME, listen to the Katy dids!

How busily they prate,
With voices harsh and quarrelsome,

Of that mysterious Kate!
They never seem to weary grow
Of calling on her name,

Although, by their loud tones, they seem The less to praise than blame.

All night their many-voiced dispute
The shadowy woods resound,
As if to make Kate's story known
To all the country round.

And sometimes one lone Katy did
Seems quarrelling with himself

The whole night long, from eve till morn;

A noisy little elf!

He says, "She didn't," and "She did,"

As fast as he can talk ;

And e'en more angry seems to be,

From having none to balk.

But what it was that Katy "did,"
At which they all repine,

Has puzzled much more learned heads
Than either yours or mine.

'Twas something great and good, perhaps;

I hope 'twas nothing bad;

For thus to hear her story told
Must make her very sad.

We'll trust she was a gentle child,
Who bore a spirit light;

Who "didn't" ever do the wrong,
And always "did" the right!

GUARDIAN ANGELS.

H. S. H.

BRIGHT, bright are the flowers
In the soft, spring hours,

As they sleep on the hill-side green;
And the bright stars are keeping
A watch o'er their sleeping,—
But angels guard children unseen.

S. W. L.

OUR MOTHER IN HEAVEN.

DEAR mother's gone to live in heaven;

And we are left alone,

To miss each hour the tender love
That we so long have known.

We try to play; but, oh! we feel
So very, very sad,

And lonely now, as if we could
Never again be glad.

We go to sleep at night, to dream
Her arms are round us twined,
And feel so sadly when we wake,
'Tis but a dream to find.

Our tiny baby darling knows
Nothing of what we've lost;
And little brothers soon forget

Her who has loved them most.

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