who all delight in her good-humour. They never tease, torment,
and try to put her out of temper, as some children do to those who are
younger than themselves, but they commend her goodness and strive to
improve her. When they tell her not to do anything, she obeys them at
once: for she sees that they are all gay, smiling, happy children,
because they do what is right. If she wants to have what is not proper
for her, she can bear to be denied, and skips away just as merry as
before. This little girl will become very clever, for her brothers and
sisters take pleasure in teaching her what they have been taught, and
she attends to their lessons, and improves by their advice. She knows
that they are all good, and she wishes to be like them.

It is a fine sight to see this Good Family all together: for among them
there are no sour looks or rude words, no murmurs, no complaints, or
quarrels. No: all is kindness, peace, and happiness.

Foolish Fears

Mary Charlotte had a silly habit of screaming when she saw a spider, an
earwig, a beetle, a moth, or any kind of insect; and the sound of a
mouse behind the wainscot of the room made her suppose she should die
with fright. The persons with whom she lived used to pity her for being
afraid, and that made her fond of the silly trick, so that she became
worse daily, and kept the house in a constant tumult and uproar: for she
would make as much noise about the approach of a poor insect not much
larger than the head of a pin, as if she had seen half a dozen hungry
wolves coming with open jaws to devour her.

Mary Charlotte was once asked by Mrs. Wilson, a very good lady, to go
with her into the country, and Mary was much pleased at the thought of
going to a house where there was a charming garden and plenty of nice
fruit. But the country is a sad place for people who encourage such
foolish fears, because one cannot walk in a garden or field without
seeing numbers of harmless insects.

Mrs. Wilson, with her coach full of guests, arrived at her country-house
just before dinner, and as soon as that meal was over, Mary begged leave
to go out into the shrubbery. It was a charming place, and Mary was
quite delighted with the clusters of roses and all the sweet-smelling
shrubs and flowers that seemed to perfume the air. But as she was
tripping along, behold on a sudden a frog hopped across the path. It was
out of sight in a moment, yet Mary could go no farther; she stood still
and