off my charge. The city
needs a deal of watching, my dear. Bless me! it's striking eight. Your
watch is seven minutes slow by the Old South. Good-night, good-night!'

And as I opened the window, the great bird soared away like a flash of
light through the storm, leaving me so astonished at the whole
performance that I haven't got over it yet.

_TILLY'S CHRISTMAS._

'I'm so glad to-morrow is Christmas, because I'm going to have lots of
presents.'

'So am I glad, though I don't expect any presents but a pair of
mittens.'

'And so am I; but I shan't have any presents at all.'

As the three little girls trudged home from school they said these
things, and as Tilly spoke, both the others looked at her with pity and
some surprise, for she spoke cheerfully, and they wondered how she could
be happy when she was so poor she could have no presents on Christmas.

'Don't you wish you could find a purse full of money right here in the
path?' said Kate, the child who was going to have 'lots of presents.'

'Oh, don't I, if I could keep it honestly!' and Tilly's eyes shone at
the very thought.

'What would you buy?' asked Bessy, rubbing her cold hands, and longing
for her mittens.

'I'd buy a pair of large, warm blankets, a load of wood, a shawl for
mother, and a pair of shoes for me; and if there was enough left, I'd
give Bessy a new hat, and then she needn't wear Ben's old felt one,'
answered Tilly.

The girls laughed at that; but Bessy pulled the funny hat over her ears,
and said she was much obliged but she'd rather have candy.

'Let's look, and maybe we _can_ find a purse. People are always going
about with money at Christmas time, and some one may lose it here,' said
Kate.

So, as they went along the snowy road, they looked about them, half in
earnest, half in fun. Suddenly Tilly sprang forward, exclaiming,--

'I see it! I've found it!'

The others followed, but all stopped disappointed; for it wasn't a
purse, it was only a little bird. It lay upon the snow with its wings
spread and feebly fluttering, as if too weak to fly. Its little feet
were benumbed with cold; its once bright eyes were dull with pain, and
instead of a blithe song, it could only utter a faint chirp, now and
then, as if crying for help.

'Nothing but a stupid old robin; how provoking!' cried Kate, sitting
down to rest.

'I shan't touch it. I found one once, and took care of it, and the
ungrateful thing flew away the minute it was