portant questions; but what we wish to say just now is, that much of the joys of home,

the year round, may be found in little acts of kindness between children. A cheerful temper, and a kind way in an elder brother or

sister, will spread sunshine over a whole house.

Our picture shows such a scene. To be sure it is James's sled that needs mending; but all the children, old and young, are looking on, for James is glad to give them the use of it, and even to draw it up-hill for them to slide down on it. So it is in every thing in a happy house.

THE BROTHERS.

"Let us go into the parlors: they are a great deal larger," said Charles: "do, dear brother."

"I am afraid it would not be right," replied Henry: "we may break something. Mother said that we had better never play there."

But we will be so careful," said the lit

tle boy: "we can play circus so nice. want to go in the parlor."

I

Henry's father and mother had gone out to ride, so he could not ask leave to play in the parlor. He was almost sure it was wrong to go there, but he wanted to please his brother: so, promising himself to be very careful, he went down stairs into the parlors, with Charles on his back.

At first he went slowly round the two rooms; but Charles began to whip his horse, and cry "Get up, old boy: you are getting lazy. You shall be a race-horse: you shall be a Boston. Now go faster, faster: go round the room as fast as you can.

So round he went, faster and faster, shaking his head, and taking great jumps, with Charles holding on, laughing and screaming with delight, till alas!-sad to tell-his elbow brushed against a beautiful vase, which stood upon a little table, and knocked it off, and broke it into a hundred pieces.

Henry stopped short, and let Charles slide down from his back. He looked at the broken vase, and then at his brother; and Charles looked at Henry, and then at the pieces on the floor.

"It is all broken," said he. "It cannot be mended at all: can it, brother? "

'No, it is past mending," said Henry; "and the first thing we must do will be to tell mother."

แ

Oh, no!" said the little boy "I am afraid to tell her."

"We must never be afraid to tell the truth, dear Charley. I will set you a good example. You shall never learn to tell a lie from me."

In a few moments, the boys heard the wheels of the carriage. Henry went to the hall door, and opened it. He held Charles by the hand he had to hold him pretty tight, for Charles tried to get away. His

face was pale; he waited until his mother got out of the carriage, and came up the steps, and, taking hold of her hand, and looking up in her face, he said, in a firm voice, "Mother, I have broken your vase.

"And I too," said the little boy, "and it is broken all in pieces." Their mother kissed them both, and said, "My darlings, I would rather lose twenty vases, than have you tell a lie."

STORY ABOUT JANE AND LUCY.

Jane and Lucy were two sisters, whose parents were dead; and whose brother John had gone to sea. One fine summer morning, they went, as they often did, to the shore, to see the sun rise; and also to see if there were any ships coming in.

The sea was calm and still, and the sun