Year: 1877

hC Ohiiulcu udu Dttu uuNlHS per
feet carnival in the nursery. Without
really meaning to be mischievous, they
had managed to do great many wrong
things. 1t had been a day when the
nurse Nora, with all her good nature
had been fairly at her wits end, and
had declared 1.-THE witches was in thin
childrenl" Lofty, in her laudable desire
to help mamma had pulled large ink
bottle upon her own curly pate, satu-
rating hair and clothes. While mamma
and Nora were busily removing the.
marks of this dreadful catastrophe,
Mabel, being fired with zeal by the sight
of so much soap and water, and being
also by nature tidy little housewife,
removed all the dolls furniture from
her big playhouse, and scrubbed the
floors from garret to kitchen with papa's
nice new toothbrush, using the hard
soap with an unsparing hand. Harry,
coming in later in the day, had added
a liberal contribution to the days dis
ssters, by shooting hole through the
glass door of the bookcase with his pop
gun, and overturning the fower-stand
as he backed out of the room in his dis
may. Altogether both the mistress and
the nursemaid had great feeling of
relief and rest, when the last good
nights were family echoed from the
three small beds in the chamber beyond
the nursery.


Nora had carefully turned down the
gaslight, SO that Dick should not chirp
and disturb the little trio of trouble
some comforts" had disposed a small
toweErack full of aprons airing, at
safe distance from the CRATE, and had
gone down to sit in the kitchen with
Bridget. Mamma had smoothed her
sweet face into its usual serene ex-
preston, and was reading the evening
papers with papa, and fora while every
thing was safe and quiet.


Now, when Mrs. West had bought
Dick of the bird fancier two years ago,
the man had repeated over and over
agaip, ''Splendid singer he is, ma'am;
waz7lhted to sing by daylight or gas
light" Mrs. West did not think much
of this at the time, but she soon
found that the lively little fellow would
hop and chirp all night if he saw the
least spark of light. Often when one
OF the children was sick at night, Dick
would have to be hung in another room
such singing would he keep upl


On this occasion, Dick was deep in
dreams, with his bright eyes closed and
his saucy head snugly tucked under
his wing. when in the midst of his
slumbers he was suddenly walked by
light. Instantly he was on two legs in
stead Of one, and in few seconds was
chirping in very lively tone. Think
ing that a nocturnal lunch would taste
good, he hoped down to the seed box,
and was busily engaged in eating.
Brighter and brighter cleaned the
light, and presently it attracted our
wise little bird, so that he flew into his
ring and began soft little song. But
the light that pleased little Dick was
far more dazzling tkan the ordinary
gaslight, for live coal had snapped
from the midst Of the glowing fire, and
In moment the aprons began TO blazel
One Of them falling off, lay on Mabel's
little heap of clothes, and these were
soon on fire; the chair close by con-
tanned Lotty's clothes, and just beyond
that, through the open door, was the
foot of Harry's white bed. The three
precious lives were stepped In a sound
childish slnmber, while the hearts round
which the little lives were entwined,
were breathing calmly and unconscious
ly in papa's and mammals b0soms
Could nothing save them? Had they
prayed in vain to God to watch over
them that night and keep them from
harmY Would He look down from
Heaven and see them pesishg


No; God did not bring this great sor-
row upon our friends; He told little
Dick to sing, louder and yet louder.


The children, tired out with their
play, slept on, and did not hear the
friendly voice; but Mrs. West, down
stairs, started, and held her breath to
listen. why don't you go on, my
dearr" said her husband. "Harkl
George" said she; II think hear Dick
singing!" "Well, what if he is sing
ing?' "Why he never sings unless
there is a light" Probably Norah is
up there for some reason. What little
woman you are to be so easily startled
about the children!" So on went the
reading, while upstairs the fire had got
possession of Harry's bed-clothes, and
the smoke began to be very thick. Lit
tie Dick seemed to think something
was wrong, but sang on brayely, and at
last Mrs. West, being afraid he would
wake the children, told her husband to
wait until she had been up to see into
the matter, promised TO be with him
again in moment, and ran up stairs.


Opening the door where her treasures
were she was blinded and choked by a
sudden smoke. Beyond, in the adioin-
ing room, she could still hear little Dick.
She Joined her voice to his, and Mr..
West came flying up stairs, soon fol-