illage in Perthshire that twins arrived in a family, and
next day one of the little misses of the house was out on the street
playing, when a neighbouring lady came up to where she was, and, "So
you've got two little babies at home, Bizzie," she remarked. "Yes,"
responded the little one, very solemnly; "and do you know, my father was
away at Edinburgh when the doctor brought them. But it was a good thing
my mother was in; for if she hadna, there would have been naebody in the
house but me, and I wadna have kent what to do wi' them." They tell this
delightful story of the little daughter of Professor Van Dyke, of the
Philadelphia University:--

"Papa, where were you born?"

"In Boston, my dear."

"Where was mamma born?"

"In San Francisco."

"And where was I born?"

"In Philadelphia."

"Well, pap, isn't it funny how we three people got together?"

And that now recalls another which Mrs. Keeley, the actress, tells of a
tradesman's little boy who was often taken to stay with his grandmother
and grandfather--the latter a very feeble old man, bald and toothless.
This little fellow was told that his father and mother had "bought" a
nice new baby brother for him. The little man was much interested by the
news, and was taken to see the new arrival. He looked at it with
astonishment for a few seconds, then remarked--"Why, he's got no hair,
father!" This was at once admitted. "And he's got no teeth," observed
the boy again, touching another fact which could not be denied. Then a
long and thoughtful pause ensued, after which the little critic (who had
probably been comparing the baby with his grandfather), observed
confidentially--"I'll tell you what, father; if they called him a new
baby, they've taken you in--he's an old 'un!" You cannot easily get
round children. And it is almost impossible to suppress them. As
touching this fact an excellent story is told of our present King and
his sister, the late Empress of Germany, when they were boy and girl.
Lord----, who had a deformed foot, was invited to Osborne; and before
his arrival the Queen and Prince Albert debated whether it would be
better to warn the Prince of Wales and the Princess Royal of his
physical calamity, so as to avoid embarrassing remarks, or to leave the
matter to their own good feeling. The latter course was adopted. Lord
---- duly arrived. The foot elicited no remark from the Royal children,
and the visit passed off with perfect success. But next day t