Year: 1875

full that she fairly broke her heart
yearning for it. All the toys IN the
world were nothing to that round gol-
den thing that shimmered and shone so
and she begged everybody to get it for
her. First her papa, because he was su
tall that if he went out on the roof he
could nearly reach it. But he declared
the thing could not be done, and advis-
ed her to be contented with doll, a big
one with blue eyes that opened and
shut, and real yellow hair-a doll
instead of the moon. But he did not
understand she could not make him
see that it was the moon she wanted,
not a doll.


Then she went to her mother. Best
and dearest mother, who would do any
thing for her. She was kind. She said
she remembered wanting the moon her
self; but no one ever got it for her. 1t
was a beautiful moon. If one had it
one could go about lighting up the
places where one went. so beautifully
but as it was, it shOne very prettily,
Could she not not look at it, admire it.
he content, and have instead ever so
many pieces of blue and pink and vel
low silk, and a needle, and make some
patch work or bonnets for her doll.
Mamma was kind, but she did not
quite understand either. oh, no.


Then there was her big brother, who
grinned and teased her; and big sister
who begged her not to cry, gave her a
great sweet sugar plum. The moon
was not to he had, they said: but she
knew better.


That night when she went to bed she
asked the nurse, old Dinah, whether it
was true that she could never. never,
never reach the moon and Dinah con
sidered, under the red and yellow tur-
ban, like a small eOnflagration, and,
after considering, she said:


"Well, honey, reckon yOu can't reach
de moon. no ways-speck dat's impOs-
sible /; but | tell ye what, when dat var
moon gets ready it will come down to
you. Yes, chile, de moon will come
down to you when it gets ready. So.
go to sleep and don't bother me no
more"


The little girl was happy, and said
her prayers and went to sleep on her
little white pillow, thinking of the hap
py time when the moon should come
down to her.


Late in the night, after every one
was sleeping, she awoke. The moon
had gone behind the house, and she





"What if it has come down." she
said, and she got up and went to the
window, patteriDg softly over the floor
in her little bare feet, So that she awOke
no one.


Outside of the window lay a little
pond, and there on its breast was the
reflection of the moon she could not
see. The beautiful yellow moon.


1T has come down to me-" she said.
"The moon has come down its own
self :" and she danced for joy. Then.
knowing a way out of the house, she
crept down stairs. not even waiting for
her shoes, and out into the cold, still
garden, where all the flowers blOemed
and the grass was wet with dew. She
went down the path, and opened the
gate and ran down to the pond. Far out
in its very center the moon that had
come down to her floated on its back.


"COme here,n said she but the moon
did not come.


Don't you hear me r she cried.
The moon made no answer.


There was nothing for it but to wade
out and bring it IN. She tucked her
little night gown up and started.


The moon smiled at her. She waded
in. Her feet were wet now her little
knee bat she almost touched the moon.
She took one step more; it was on
water. AS she went down she caught
at the golden simmer with her little
white hands.


"Moon, have got yOun she cried
and then her head was under water.


Somebody in the house heard her
scream. and came out a terrible
fright. Papa, big and strong, walked
into the water and brought the little
girl out. She was choking with mouth
fuls of dirty water. She was all over
mud and mire. Oh, her pure white
gown, the little baby, maiden dress,
how dirty it wasl The tiny feet were
as black as Dinah's, and in the small
dimpled hand were clasped two or three
long pieces of very rank, Ill-smelling
water-weeds, and she was nearly dead,
what she said:


''The moon came down to me. and I
went to get it and then she pulled me
down and drowned me, and dirtied me,
the nasty, wicked moon"


MOral-All the strong minded little
girls that wantthe moon, beware. You
cannot reach her, and if she does come
down you'll have tn wade through dirty
water to get her. Your feet and white
garments will be sOiled, and you must
touch evil weeds, and perhaps you will
be less lucky than our little gIrl for no
one NAV come to your rescue. and you
may be quite drowned. not only parti-
tally so, by that wicked, treacherOus
moon, for which youpine and speechify.


Bessie anil the kittens-Oh cats and
kittens, what an interesting family
Did you never see a body knitting
before, old pussf Why do you stare
at me so with your sly cat-eyesf This
stocking is not for you, you gOOd-for-
nothing, unless you can pay for it in
money. You must go barefoot all
winter.


Kittens, drop my ball of yarn, il you
please. Are you learning how To catch
micef You begin by chasing a ball of
yarn. do youf Well, it is good prac-
tice for you.


Play on and you. old cat, stare on.
if you will. I've heard it said, the cat
may look at the king, yes, or the queen,
either: there's no law against it. Only
behave yourselves; and when kneel
down to stroke yOur warm, soft fur, do
not spit and scratch, as some bad eats
do.


"Brvhting all IL cdn.-The day had
been dark and gloomy, when suddenly,
toward night, the clouds broke, and
the suns rays streamed through, she'd
N