ew old and feeble, he gradually got out of the way of doing
such services, and spent his time mostly in sleeping, or in jogging
about, without care.

One day his mistress had told her husband, as he went to his business in
the morning, to send around the carriage at ten o'clock. This he forgot
to do; and when the hour came, and there was no carriage, the lady knew
it would be necessary to remind her husband of his promise.

But she had no one to send with a message. At last she chanced to
remember that Ponto used to go on such errands, and, writing a note, she
called him to her, and said,--

"Here, Ponto, take this note to your master."

Ponto took the note carefully in his mouth, but did not seem to know
what he was expected to do with it.

"Go, Ponto," she said; "take the note to your master."

He trotted on a little way, paused, turned and hesitated, and then
trotted a little farther. This he repeated several times, and at last,
started off at a good gait.

But wise old Ponto! Did he, after so much pondering, take the note to
his master? Not a bit of it! He went straight to the butcher's, and
presented the billet, wagging his tail at the same time, as much as to
say, "Here's an order for my dinner!"

The butcher, understanding the situation, rolled up a nice piece of meat
in a paper, gave it to Ponto, and then himself delivered the note to the
gentleman.

Ponto stalked home as proud as a king, laid the package at his
mistress's feet, and waited, with a delighted, expressive wag, for her
approval.

Of course she gave him all the meat, patted his faithful old head, and
called him "good Ponto."

The carriage came in good time; and Ponto does not know to this day but
what he did exactly as he was told.

C. D. B.

THE BUTTERFLY AND THE GRASSHOPPER.

"PRETTY Butterfly, stay!
Come down here and play,"
A Grasshopper said,
As he lifted his head.
"Oh, no! and oh, no!
Daddy Grasshopper, go!
Once you weren't so polite,
But said, 'Out of my sight,
You base, ugly fright!'"
"Oh, no! and oh, no!
I never said so,"
The Grasshopper cried:
"I'd sooner have died
Than been half so rude.
You misunderstood."
"Oh, no! I did not;
'Twas near to this spot:
The offence, while I liv