s thumb a
little, and thought he would put the knife and fork back. Back in their
case he did put them, clip went the little silver fastening, Pussy
arched her back and swelled her tail, for the dog belonging to the baker
had just come through the gate with his master. There was a rush and a
tussle, and the baker ran to Stevie; but something had gone splash! into
the fountain, and Stevie ran away crying. How everybody did _hunt_ for
that knife and fork, while Stevie sat very pale and quiet, holding one
fat thumb hidden by his hand.

Grandpa sat next to the high-chair. "Cheer up, little man: it will be
found."

And mother said, "Never mind, pet; it can't be really _lost_!"

Stevie's thumb hurt him, and he felt so miserable that he couldn't bear
his trouble "all alone by himself" any longer, so he sobbed out,
"'Tisn't lost! it is in the fountain! Wanted it all by myself!"

Mother took him on her lap till she had made out what had happened. Then
she tied up the poor cut thumb while grandpa went down to the fountain
and fished up the knife and fork. Stevie ate his dinner with a spoon,
for grandpa said he thought the knife and fork had better go away till
the poor thumb was well. The pretty case was quite, _quite_ spoiled. But
Stevie got his knife and fork back; and we noticed that we didn't have
to say, "Don't touch, Stevie!" nearly so often to him, and that he was
not nearly so eager to have things "all alone."

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THE WREN'S GIFT.

A little maid was sitting
Upon the wild-brook's edge.
A little Wren came flitting,
And chirrupped from the hedge.

Close up to her he hopped,
With eyes both bright and merry,
And in her lap he dropped
A golden shining berry.

"Eat it never fearing,"
Said the little Wren,
"It will give you hearing
Seldom given to men."

It made her tongue to tingle
When she bit it through,
And straightway all the dingle
Seemed full of words she knew.

She understood the words
The wild brook sang in straying,
And what the woodland birds
Among themselves were saying.

But sweeter than all singing
Of brook or birds above,
She heard the bluebells ringing
The chimes the fairies love.

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VERA'S CHRISTMAS GIFT.

It was Christmas Day, and very, very hot; for Christmas in South Africa
comes at mid-summer, whilst the winter, or rainy season, occurs t