at, first one and
then the other, till the cats saw but little would be left for them, and
they cried: "Hold, hold! Give us our shares and we will be satisfied."

"If you are satisfied, justice is not," replied Judge Jacko. "I must
make this division equal," and he kept on nibbling at the cheese.

"Give us what is left!" cried one of the cats, jumping up quickly, and
earnestly looking the judge in the face.

"What is left belongs to me," replied the judge. "I must be paid for my
services in this difficult case."

He then devoured the last piece, and said:--

"Justice is satisfied, and the court is dismissed."

The hungry cats went back to the barn wiser than when they came.

They had learned that ill-gotten gains are unprofitable, and that they
should never employ the dishonest to adjust their difficulties. They
also learned another lesson:--

"The scales of the law are seldom poised till little or nothing remains
in either."

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PICTURES IN THE FIRE.

Have you noticed, little children,
When the fire is burning low,
As the embers flash and darken,
How the pictures come and go?
Strange the shapes, and strange the fancies,
As beyond the bars you gaze,
Bringing back some olden mem'ries,
Thoughts of half-forgotten days!

There's the Church across the meadows,
Shadow'd by the spreading yew;
There's the quaintly-carven pulpit,
And the olden oaken pew.
Changed the scene, and on the ocean
Sails a ship amid the spray;
'Tis the one you watch'd departing,
When some lov'd-one went away!

Yes! and there are faces plenty,
Faces dear, both old and young
And they cause you to remember
Words their lips oft said or sung.
Fancy even brings the voices,
Tho' they may be far away;
Only pictures, only fancies,
Yes! but very sweet are they!

Little Children, let me tell you
Tis yourselves who shape the scene!
In your minds a memory lingers,
And it peeps the bars between!
If you doubt me, choose a subject,
Any one you may desire,
And you will, by dint of looking,
Find its picture in the fire!

E. Oxenford.

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HASTY CHARLIE.

Charlie never could wait. It was no use telling him "more haste less
speed," "slow and sure," or anything of that kind. You might as well
talk to the winds. He scrambled up in the morni