THE MOUNTAIN AND THE SQUIRREL.

The mountain and the squirrel

Had a quarrel,

Bun

And the former called the latter "Little Prig." Bun replied:

"You are doubtless very big,

But all sorts of things and weather

Must be taken in together

To make up a year,

And a sphere;

And I think it no disgrace

To occupy my place.

"If I am not so large as you,

You are not so small as I,
And not half so spry:

I'll not deny you make

A very pretty squirrel track.

Talents differ; all is well and wisely put;

If I cannot carry forests on my back,

Neither can you crack a nut."

-RALPH WALDO EMERSON.

GRANDMA'S DISOBEDIENCE.

"Oh, dear," sighed little Edith Baker from the window, where she had been standing, pressing her cheek against the cool pane, while she gazed sadly into the muddy street below, where the people were hurrying home from work, eager to escape the down pouring rain.

"Oh, dear!"

The second exclamation caused grandma to look up from her knitting at the woe-begone face of Edith.

"Come here, dear," she said, putting aside her knitting, "and tell me what troubles you.'

"Oh, nothing," Edith replied, with another long-drawn sigh. 'Only it's raining, and mamma will not let me wear my new dress to the party."

"Come here, dear," again said grandma kindly, "and I will tell you of a rain storm when I was a little girl just about your age.'

Edith's listlessness vanished and she was soon at her grandmother's knee. "Oh! tell me were you out in the storm?" said Edith.

"Yes, dear; when I was about your age, my grandmother brought me a beautiful calico dress, all covered with pink roses and little green leaves. It was very pretty, but of course, would not be considered so now, and could not be compared with the old dress your mamma wishes you to wear to the party, although you think it is not nice enough.

"When I was a little girl I never had a silk dress, nor ever dreamed of owning one. Fashions have changed since then.

"It is perfectly right for young folks to want pretty things if their parents can afford to buy them.

"The calico dress was to be my best dress that summer and I thought a great deal of it, especially when my mother bought me a new straw hat, trimmed with pink roses and ribbon to match my dress. It was all made and laid away, and yet no opportunity had come for me to wear it. There was no Sunday school near for me to go to, and I seldom went anywhere except to school.

"Two weeks had passed and I had not worn my pretty dress; I began to think of nothing else night and day. If I could only wear the dress and hat to school my playmates could then see it. I asked my mother, but she said 'no,' each time.

"I rebelled, and thought my mother very unkind. The next day being Monday I determined to put on my new dress and hat and sneak out of the house for school while I knew my mother would be busy with the washing in the kitchen.

"At last the morning dawned, although it was far from bright. I did not notice the heavy clouds that every now and then hid the sun, so anxious was I to steal away unnoticed. I arrayed myself in my new clothes, and went to the mirror. How grand I looked! I tucked my school dress in one corner of the closet and started off without kissing my mother good-bye. She called to me from the kitchen to carry an umbrella, but I ran fast that I might not hear her.

""Carry an umbrella,' thought I, 'indeed not with my finery.' I did not wish to obey, so ran on. I reached school safely and tried to enjoy the many admiring glances directed toward me, but all the time I was secretly afraid some of my schoolmates would find out how I happened to wear them to school.

"All went well until just before school was dismissed. Then great black angry clouds swept over the sky totally hiding the blue, swiftly followed by a downpour of rain.

One by one the children started for home under cover of big umbrellas, while those who had none did not care, for their clothing was of the sensible sort that the rain could not ruin.

"The teacher had gone and it was fast growing dark. I grew afraid to remain in the schoolhouse, and gladly shared the offered shelter of an umbrella belonging to a little girl who lived on the way to our house. We hurried along, but as fast as we hurried the rain came faster.

"In five minutes I was drenched to the skin. The strong wind turned the old umbrella inside out, and soon tiny rivers were running from my fine hat down on my cheeks and neck.

"When we reached my friend's house her mother kindly insisted on my coming in to dry my clothing and wait until the storm had ceased.

"In my hurry I had not noticed my dress, but the lady's exclamations alarmed me, and I began to examine. My pretty dress was like a rainbow of many colors, all mixed and run together. Where the pink flowers had been there were only ugly spots of color.

"My hat hung limp and shapeless, the pretty ribbon all stained and ruined. My heart sank within me. What a sorry looking object I was.

"How was I to return home in such a plight? There was no alternative, especially as the rain had ceased, and so homeward I plodded, dreading to reach the end of my journey.