a long smooth
tail. But, worst of all, one of the beautiful white Leghorns lay
before it, all mangled and bleeding. The horrid creature was tearing
its soft body, and would hardly stop eating when the children attacked
him.

At last Melissa caught up a stick, and killed the little beast with a
quick blow. She held it up in triumph by its long tail. It looked
very much like a little pig, and had five fingers, like toes, on each
foot.

"'Tis a 'possum," said Melissa, "and very good to eat. I's right glad
_I_ kill it, cos now 'tis mine."

[Illustration: {MELISSA AND THE BOYS WITH THE DEAD OPOSSUM.}]

"You are welcome to it," said Ned, half crying. "What shall we do now
our pretty Leghorn rooster is dead? We can't go to the circus."

Next morning they told their tale at the breakfast-table.

"Never mind," said their father; "I think you may go, after all, as I
owe you something for killing the opossum. He would have destroyed the
rest of the fowls."

"Yes; but, papa, Melissa killed it; we only struck at it."

"Well, I think I must treat the whole party, as all did their best. We
will set a trap to-day for the next opossum that may come to see us."

The boys and Melissa went to the circus, and enjoyed all they saw, and
Melissa had a fine opossum stew into the bargain.

PINK HUNTER.
VIRGINIA.

HOW ROY WENT A FISHING.

Roy had fished in the ditch by the side of the road a great many
times; but he had only a bent pin for a fish-hook, and a piece of
twine for a line. He never caught any fish there.

When he was six years old his uncle James gave him a real fish-hook
and a line, and after a good deal of coaxing his mother said that he
might go down the cow-path to the brook and fish for trout.

Uncle James caught a great many trout in the brook.

Alice wanted to go with Roy; and Roy, who is very kind to his sister,
asked his mother to let her go.

Alice carried the basket,--a pretty large one. Mary, the cook, told
them to be sure and get it full of fish, so that she could fry them
for dinner.

How proud and happy they were! Their mother could see them from the
window all the time.

When they reached the brook Alice sat down on a rock. Roy put a worm
on the hook, and dropped the end of the line into the stream. But it
was a long time before he got a bite. At last he thought he felt a
nibble.

"I've got one, Ally!" he shouted. "O, such a big fellow! You will have
to co