r to the foolish act; and I really blush to say that
Archie himself was not frank and brave enough to acknowledge his fault.
The fact is, he was afraid of his father, who was a stern and godly
man, and had small mercy for the sins of little folks. Both the Rector
and his wife reproved Meggie for her thoughtlessness, and the gentle
little girl shed some silent tears; but, after all, I think Archie, who
sat trying to gulp down his breakfast with a bold face, suffered the
most. All day long he was unusually kind to his cousin, and she soon
got over her sadness, and was as merry and loving as ever.

The next morning, when the nursery-maid came to awake Archie, she told
him that his cousin had been taken very ill in the night,--so ill that
they had had to send for the doctor, who feared that she might never
get well. She had taken a violent cold, some way, he said.

Archie hurried on his clothes, and ran down to the nursery. He found
his mother sitting by Meggie's little bed, looking very sad and
anxious. He stole up to his cousin, and taking her little hand, hot
with fever, bent down and kissed it, with a burst of bitter tears,
sobbing out, "O Meggie, forgive me, do, do forgive me!"

"Forgive you for what, Archie?" asked Mrs. Graham.

"For being cruel and cowardly, mamma. It was I who sent Meggie out
into the snow, bare-foot, and then was afraid to take my share of the
blame. I was so miserable all day. I came near owning it when you
kissed me good night, but papa looked so solemn, I _could n't_. I did
n't say my prayers; I felt too _mean_ to pray."

"God forgive you, my son!" said Mrs. Graham, somewhat sternly; but
little Meggie murmured, in a sweet, faint voice, "O Cousin Archie, why
did you tell? Maybe I would have died, and nobody but us would ever
have known anything about it."

Meggie did not die, however. She got well after a long illness,--quite
well. But this was the last of Archie's hoaxing.

BABIE ANNIE TO COUSIN J----.

ACKNOWLEDGING THE CHRISTMAS-GIFT OF A CHAIN.

You should have seen me, when papa
Brought me your gift, an hour ago;
I almost hopped out of my shoes,
And raised a mighty bantam crow!

I shook my hair about my eyes,
I flung my chubby arms about,
I hugged it, and an eager score
Of "pretty pretties" sputtered out.

I grasp it, gloat upon it now,--
My fingers glide from link to link;
I like its shine, I like its feel,
I like its go