The little music-box rang out its tunes all this while. Presently it came to "Home, Sweet Home." 12. Cherry, standing at the window, hungry and homeless, joined with her voice. Why, she could not tell, for she was almost crying. The passers-by stopped to listen. Julian walked out to the door. What a voice the child had! so like that of a bird. 13. As the last note died away, he went up to her. "Who taught you to sing?" he asked. 14. "No one." 15. "Where do you live?" 16. "I have no home. I did live with Granny, but she is dead. She went round with an organ." 17. "Where are you going to-night?" 18. "I do not know." She glanced furtively down the street. 19. Julian looked in the window again, not at music-boxes this time, for he was thinking of this poor child, and the other little one at home. What if he were to take this child home with him? She could sing to Alice, and could save his mother many steps. It would cost something to take care of her, and they were poor; `but then his eight dollars would last awhile. 20. "Do you know any other songs?" he asked. 21. "O yes, ever so many. I would gladly sing them for you, you seem so kind." 22. "I have a little sick sister at home, who is very fond of music; would you like to go and sing to her?" 23. "O yes, very much!" 24. As they turned into a lonely by-street, Julian wanted to put his arm around her, to warm; but he did not have the courage. air must blow through her thin clothing! help keep her How the frosty One more corner and they were there. The light from the open door almost blinded Cherry, and the warmth of the room was very comforting! 25. "Mother, I have brought home a poor little girl, who has no friends, and I want Alice to hear her sing." 26. Alice raised from the pillow her head, fair and golden; and Cherry's was also fair and golden when she pulled off the old hood. You might almost fancy they looked alike, save that Alice's cheek was bright red, while Cherry's was blue with the cold. 27. Cherry, when warmed and fed, soon thawed into a charming sunniness. She sang many wonderful ballads, and made the room ring with the music of her voice, to the great enjoyment of Alice. She told them her story, and that of her own dear mother, who had first called her Cherry, while Mrs. Evans's tears fell silently on her work. 28. When both girls had been dismissed to bed, Julian told how he had been saving his money for the musicbox; "and now," said he, "I will give it all to you, to help take care of Cherry." 29. They kept little Cherry, who soon grew round and rosy, and seemed to deserve her name. She soon became so useful that they wondered how they had ever managed without her. She was always bright, ever singing like a bird, and full of tender love for Alice. 30. The sick child seemed so happy that they hardly realized that she was growing weaker and weaker day by day, until at last she lay in her mother's arms, waiting peacefully until the angel of Death came and took her to heaven. 31. This seemed harder to poor little Cherry than even her mother's death; and now that Alice was gone where other voices would sing to her day and night, no one needed her. O, if the world were not quite so wide and dreary! about Cherry? 32. "Mother," said Julian one night, "have you thought She will not be much trouble to us. Let us keep her. I do not feel as if I could ever part with her." 33. "Part with her!" said Mrs. Evans. "I do not know how I could have given up my own child, if God had not sent Cherry to take her place." 34. And so little Cherry found her mission. Growing up into womanhood, tenderly cared for, she never forgot the cold night in the street, when, homeless and friendless, she had sung because her heart was strangely moved, and she could not help it. The truth she had been taught at Sunday School, “God cares for us all," was realized. For-lorn'. wretched. Destitute; forsaken; Vague. Uncertain; doubtful. Res'tau-rant. An eating-house. Sa'vo-ry. Pleasing to the smell or taste. Dis-missed'. Sent away. Man'aged. Superintended or conducted affairs. Need'ed. Wanted; required. LXIII. -THE ANT AND THE CRICKET. A FABLE, IN VERSE. sil'ly cupboard (kub'burd) SILLY young cricket, accustomed to sing Through the warm, sunny months of gay summer and spring, Began to complain when he found that, at home, His cupboard was empty, and winter was come. Not a crumb to be found Not a leaf on a tree : "Oh ! what will become," says the cricket, "of me?" 2. At last, by starvation and famine made bold, All dripping with wet, and all trembling with cold, To see if, to keep him alive, he would grant And a mouthful of grain. He wished only to borrow; He'd repay it to-morrow; If not, he must die of starvation and sorrow. 3. Says the ant to the cricket, "I'm your servant and friend, But we ants never borrow, we ants never lend. But tell me, dear cricket, did you lay nothing by When the weather was warm?" Quoth the cricket, “Not I! My heart was so light That I sang day and night, "You sang, sir, you say? Go, then," says the ant, "and dance winter away." 4. Thus ending, he hastily lifted the wicket, And out of the door turned the poor little cricket. Some crickets have four legs, and some have but two. Mis'er-ly. Stingy; mean. Re-pay'. Pay back. Quoth. Said; replied. Wick'et. A small gate. Fa'ble. A fictitious story designed to enforce some moral precept. LXIV. THE SQUIRREL AND THE CHESTNUTS. 1. " “I H. S. WASHBURNE. PRAY you, good sir, do not molest me," Said a squirrel, from under an old chestnut-tree; "The winter is coming, and I must prepare, For food and for shelter when the ground is all bare. I have frolicked and played through the long summer's day, So, good sir, if you please, pray do not molest me, 2. "I have made me a store-house just under the wall, 3. And thus spake the squirrel, as quickly he sprung My dear little fellow, for you've something to do: For I for the winter days, too, must prepare." So fresh courage he took at these kind words from me, Store'-house. A building in which | Snug. Close; convenient. things are stored, or laid up for Pre-pare'. Get ready; make all future use. things ready. |