ever, to prevent this misfortune, Henry did the very worst
thing he possibly could; he began to run and cry, "Mag! Mag!" with a
raised voice, whilst the bird, as if resolved to torment him, hopped
forward across the other field, perched herself on the stile, and, as
he drew near, flew right down from thence into the lane.

When Emily came up, there was poor Henry sitting across the stile in
the greatest possible trouble, being more than half tempted to break
bounds, and yet feeling that he ought not to do it. And there was Mag,
walking up and down, pecking and picking, and wagging her tail; and
now and then looking with one cunning eye towards her little master,
as much as to say, "Why don't you come after me? Here I am."

It is often by very small things that the strength of our resolutions
to be good is tested.

Henry was hardly tried, yet strength was given him to resist the
temptation; and by Emily's persuasion he was induced to wait a little
before he ventured to go down into the lane. And Mag seemed as well
content to wait, or rather more so than he was.

The children were in hopes that some one might come by who would help
them in their distress. And they had not waited a minute before they
could see two children just coming in sight, at the very farthest point
where the lane was visible from the stile.

These children were--a very ragged boy, without shoes, stockings, or
hat, about nine or ten years of age, and a little girl, worse clothed,
if possible, than himself, for her petticoat was all in fringes,
showing her little legs above the ankle; they both looked miserably
thin. Mag waited saucily till these had come nearly opposite the stile,
and then only stepped aside; whilst Henry, calling to the boy, told him
his trouble, pointing out the bird to him, and asking his help.

The boy looked towards the bird, and then, turning cheerfully to Henry,
he said:

"Never fear, master, but I'll catch her for you;" and, dropping the
hand of the little girl, he pulled off his ragged jacket, and crept
towards Maggy.

Cunning as the creature was, she did not understand that she had a
deeper hand to deal with than that of her young master. She therefore
let the boy come as near to her as she had let Henry do many times
during the chase, and in this way she gave him the opportunity he was
seeking of throwing his jacket over her, and seizing her as she lay
under it.

"He has her!" cried Emily and Henry at once, and t