The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-12-09

told me my poor Fffine, and IL was sao
news for him to carry this lovely morn
ing" and shaking his head, the cure
turned and walked slowly away
"a little bird. indeed" repeated hve-
va,rs-old F1fine to herself contempiuous-
10 wrhat is what they tell babies. know
better. A little bird only means some
hodv' told Besides, there are no nests
ON that side OF the house Who could II
he? Mimi. tell me, don't be stupid now.
Who do you think 1t wasY and as Mimi
made no reply. Fifine shook her, which
drew forth plaintive squeak anu
struggle to get out Of her mistress arms.
This made Fifne still more angry. she
e,,ne Mimi down, the poor GATOR
worm will turn--glowered up at her, with
a rather ugly look in her green eyes,
and skunk of.
81 have it," exclaimed Fiiue. "You
nasty. mean, spiteful cat. 1t was you
who told. I remember you were on the
window and then / didn't see you
any more. till l found you out mere Ia
the garden coming back from your visit
next door. no doubt. All, you may pre-
teod IL wasn't you. You can't speak, but
Won can tell things all the same, and
Monsieur lie cure is clever enough to I'M
derstand Why, he has often told me
he can understand what his old dog Pla-
ton says by the way he ways his tall.
You, too were the only person VINO saw
me hit Madeleine. Mean cat, but | shall
punish you" and off dashed the indig-
nant Fifine in pursuit OF Mimi
The summer day passed quickly
Sweet-tempered Madeleine soon forgot
the offense she was only too ready to
forgive, and in merry play with some lit
tie friends. the troubles of the morning
were quickly out of mind Tired with
fun and excitement, Fifine fell asleep the
moment her head touched the pillow. She
had slept several hours when she sudden
ly woke. 1t was quite dark--the very
middle Of the summer night-at first not
a sound broke the silence. Then family,
but distinctly. came through the half
opened window a low piteous wai1-agafn
and again. Ffine sat up to listen
There was no sound from the larger room
next door, where Madeleine slept be-
side the nurse. No one was awake but
Fifine, and again, and again came that
pitiful new. Yes, IL was a NEW, and
up jumped Fifine at last.
The cure had set up late that evening.
reading, his window open to the pleasant
night-air He closed his book at last,
and was turning to put out the lamp.
when a little sound made him look
around. There, at the low window, stood
a little white-robed. bare-footed figure,
SODDlH- bitterly.
"Oh, sir, oh, sir, come and let Mimi
out. / shut her into the Toulouse, be-
cause / thought she had told you about
my hitting Madeleine. and / can't get
her out. and she will die of hunger-my
poor Mimi-since yesterday morning she
has had nothing TO eat, and nobody Is
awake but you. 1 have come all alone
in the dark. / forgot all about her." and
the sobs redoubled.
In five minutes the kind cure had man.
aged to open the door which the garden
err had locked, and Mimi was safe in FL
fines arms.
"And suppose II was not Mimi who told
me?' said the good old man as he car
ried the little girl home again.
81 was naughty, but I didn't mean TO
leave Mimi all day You said 1T was
little bird, sir, but I know that Is only
baby-talk."
Eyes. my child. and I am sorry I did
not tell you who IL really was. 1t was
your dear mamma, my Fifine. who ever
heard your fit of temper and asked me to
speak to you seriously. VIII this be
lesson to you? See what angry temper
leads to-hurting your sister and nearly
killing your poor cat"
Forgive me, / will try to be better;
indeed | will" sobbed Fiflne.
and ask God to help you, my dear
little girl" said the kind cure. as he
babe her good-night.-Mr Wordsworth.