a very polite lady of the olden
time.

The boys constantly forgot to call her "auntie," but remembered the
title of "great," and the precious old lady was just as well pleased to
have them call her "Great Patience."

When she bade them good-by, they both cried, though Fred was very
private about his tears; and both boys declared that the best visitors
they ever had were "Great Patience and her little red lion."

MAMMA.

[Illustration]

CROSSING THE BROOK.

Over the stepping-stones, one foot and then another;
And here we are safe on dry land, little brother.

[Illustration]

NELLIE'S LITTLE BROTHER.

When Nellie was quite young, she lost her dear mother; and two sad years
passed by for the little girl. She used to go and look at her mother's
portrait, and wonder whether she could see Nellie, though Nellie could
not see her.

But, at last, her father gave her a new mother, who was so kind and
good, that Nellie loved her very much; though she never could forget her
first dear mother. One happy day, Nellie learned that a little brother
had been born. How glad she was then!

Some weeks passed by before Nellie was allowed to take the little fellow
in her arms; but, when she was permitted to do this, it seemed to her
that she had never felt such delight before. When he would put up his
tiny hands, and feel of her face, she was ready to weep with joy.

But one night the nurse was ill; and there was nobody to take care of
the baby. Nellie begged so hard to be allowed to sit up and attend to
it, that she was at last permitted to do so. She passed two hours,
watching baby as he slept, and thinking of the nice times she would
have with him when he grew up.

At last he awoke; and then Nellie gave him some milk from the porringer,
and tried to rock him to sleep again. But the little fellow wanted a
frolic: so she had to take him in her arms, and walk about the room with
him.

She walked and walked till it got to be twelve o'clock; and then she
stood in the faint lamplight, before the portrait of her own mother, and
it seemed as if the sweet face were trying to speak to her.

But Nellie was so very sleepy, that she hardly knew what she was about.
She walked, like one in a dream,--from the bed to the cradle, and from
the cradle to the bed,--and all at once baby seemed quiet, and she was
walking no longer.

At last she started up, and found she had been lying on the bed. The
faint light of th