see his sister, and week after week put off doing so, until it suddenly dawned upon him that Ralph's society might do his own little princess good. Sir John told his wife

are about, but which, nevertheless, Maggie looked at with eyes of the deepest veneration and curiosity, were being placed in the room; among these articles might have been seen some cricket-bats, a pair of boxing-gloves, a couple of racket-balls, and even a little miniature gun. The little gun was harmless enough in its way; it had

e white bed, and measuring the distance between her feet and the bright brass bars at the b

ready," she said. "How tall shou

an, he'll be sure to be somewhere between five feet and

wouldn't be father's visitor, and he's only about one head bigger than me. He's very manly, too; he likes cricket, and racket, and boxing, an

right on your chair, Maggie, like a little lady. Here is your hemming, love; I have turned d

njunctions always drew a deep fr

then. I know quite well; when I'm tired I'll sit in an easy-chair and eat lollipops, and when I'm not tired I'll ride

marks. Maggie would have liked her to argue with her and remonstrate; she would have preferred anything to the calm and perfect stillness o

the best off, very rich little only children

little girl being poor and having a great many brothers and sisters, has really much less to do with happiness than people think. Happiness is a very preciou

and I'm the mis'rable one, and Jim, the cripple in our village, is poor, and he hasn

ike to give up your dear father and

e. I don't think Jim, the cripple, has any father, but I couldn't do without mine, so he'd have to be a beggar and go about from place to place to get pennies for mother and me. We'd be darl

she was told to put on her out-door things, and

Ascot's face, and a certain brightening of her eyes, particularly when Maggie, in her usual impetuous f

e I shall like him greatly; he'll be a sort of co

sent on already. Of course he must be brave and manly, or father would have nothing to say to him. But as he's only three inches taller than me, I'm thinking

and now I'm going to tell you a secret. We are going at this very moment

d do you know the visitor? Have you

ve heard a great deal about him, it

ame, and easy to remember. I think Mr. Ralph is a very goo

st, and her merry blue eyes quite danced with fun and happiness. No wonder her mother thought her a most charming little gi

in from London puffed into the station, and Sir John Ascot was seen to jump out of a first-class smoking carriage, accompanied by a brown-faced, slender-looking boy, whose hand

exclaimed, "and my pigeons. Uncle John, will you please

a low, breathless voice, "is

ot your father's. Come up and let me introduce you. Ralph, my dear boy, how

n-faced boy. "How do you do, Aunt Beatrice

," proceeded Lady Ascot. "You a

asked Ralph, looking f

te birds in the cage?" answere

M MY OWN SEL

hope you've got a nice pigeon-cote at Tower Hill. Oh, my rabbits, my bunnie

ren had disappeared into a crowd of porters, passengers, and luggag

; and if I don't mistake, my pretty maid can hold her own with anybody

beautiful embroidered frock. The rabbit scratched and struggled, bu

e screamed. "Ralph couldn't, '

arate trap come for all the luggage? and if so, may I go home in it? I

"I have no doubt the dog-cart has turned up by now. Do you th

may hold the cage with the bunnies, if yo

, father," whispered little M

ken. There, hop into the carriage beside mother, and I'll get in the dog-cart to keep th