can be
brought together again. I am most agreeable when made at will, am
generally an ugly piece of domestic furniture, but need a strong hand to
keep up proper discipline.

Treat us kindly, we would probably always be amenable. I don't care how
you treat me, provided you don't break me. There is nothing breakable
about me, though you can bring me to an end at any moment. Of course I
cost money, ordinarily a few pennies. There is a fixed tariff for our
employment; contracts must be drawn up; yet I can be made as expensive
as one chooses. Sometimes I am undertaken in the cause of science. I am
generally in the kitchen, and we certainly need a kitchen and me to
provide for our many and daily wants.

* * * * *

=The Monkey and the Hawk.=--There lives in the south of France a man of
wealth whose chateau, or country place of residence, has around it very
tall trees. The cook of the chateau has a monkey--a pert fellow, who
knows ever so many tricks. The monkey often helps the cook to pluck the
feathers from fowls. One day the cook gave the monkey two partridges to
pluck; and the monkey, seating himself in an open window, went to work.
He had picked the feathers from one of the partridges, and placed it on
the outer ledge of the window with a satisfied grunt, when, lo! all at
once a hawk flew down from one of the tall trees near by, and bore off
the plucked bird. Master Monkey was very angry. He shook his fist at the
hawk, which took a seat on one of the limbs not far off, and began to
eat the partridge with great relish. The owner of the chateau saw the
sport, for he was sitting in a grape arbor, and crept up to watch the
end of it. The monkey picked the other partridge, laid it on the ledge
in the same place, and hid behind the window-screen on the inside.

The hawk was caught in this trap, for when it flew down after the
partridge, out reached the monkey, and caught the thief. In a moment the
hawk's neck was wrung, and the monkey soon had the hawk plucked.

Taking the two birds to the cook, the monkey handed them to him, as if
to say, "Here are your two partridges, master." The cook thought that
one of the birds looked queer, but he served them on the table. The
owner of the house shook his head when he saw the dish, and telling the
cook of the trick, laughed heartily.

* * * * *

=How the Pigeons Help the Doctor.=--A celebrated English physician has
foun