princess and a
Maltese prince.

However, the ladies knew that there was something uncommon about their
cats, and they sometimes suspected the truth themselves, but they
thought it must be a fancy.

Dorothy left her cushion and went away, and that was the last time she
ever saw the Persian princess. As she went out the door the princess
pressed close to her. The ladies thought she mewed, but in reality she
was talking.

"Good-bye, Dorothy," said she, "I hope you will live happily ever after.
And as for my brother and I, we really enjoy ourselves; we are seeing
the country and improving our minds, and we love the ladies. If one of
them should drive him out with the broom, he will become a prince again,
and we shall leave; but I do not know that it is desirable. A cat has a
more peaceful life than a prince. Good-bye, dear Dorothy."

The princess was going closer to embrace Dorothy, but the ladies became
alarmed; they thought that their beautiful cat was going to steal out of
the house. So they called, and a maid with a white cap ran and caught
the Persian princess, and carried her back to the drawing-room. The
ladies thought she mewed as she was being carried in, but in reality she
was calling back merrily, "Good-bye, and live happily ever after, dear
Dorothy!"

WHERE THE CHRISTMAS-TREE GREW

It was afternoon recess at No. 4 District School, in Warner. There was a
heavy snow-storm; so every one was in the warm school-room, except a few
adventurous spirits who were tumbling about in the snow-drifts out in
the yard, getting their clothes wet and preparing themselves for
chidings at home. Their shrill cries and shouts of laughter floated into
the school-room, but the small group near the stove did not heed them at
all. There were five or six little girls and one boy. The girls, with
the exception of Jenny Brown, were trim and sweet in their winter
dresses and neat school-aprons; they perched on the desks and the arms
of the settee with careless grace, like birds. Some of them had their
arms linked. The one boy lounged against the blackboard. His dark,
straight-profiled face was all aglow as he talked. His big brown eyes
gazed now soberly and impressively at Jenny, then gave a gay dance in
the direction of the other girls.

"Yes, it does--_honest_!" said he.

The other girls nudged one another softly; but Jenny Brown stood with
her innocent, solemn eyes fixed upon Earl Munroe's face, drinking in
every word.