m, kindly.

"Building a house," replied the child, the smiles that the sudden
change in the mother's countenance had driven from her face, coming
back and lighting up her beautiful young brow. "See here what a
pretty house I have, uncle! And here is the fence, and these are
trees."

"So it is, a very pretty house," replied the uncle, while the mother
could scarcely repress her indignation at the outrage Mary had
committed upon the book-case.

The uncle glanced toward the table, upon which the work-basket
remained undisturbed. He then sat down, and said--"Come here, love."

Mary got up and ran quickly to him.

"You didn't touch mother's work-basket?" he said.

"No, sir," replied Mary.

"Why?"

Mary thought a moment, and then said--"You told me not to do it any
more."

"Why not?"

"Because if I take the cotton and scissors, mother can't make aprons
and frocks for Mary."

"And if you go into her work-basket, you disturb every thing and
make her a great deal of trouble. You won't do it any more?"

"No, sir." And the child shook her head earnestly.

"Didn't you know that it was also wrong to take the books out of the
book-case? It not only hurts the books, but throws the room and the
book-case into disorder."

"I wanted to build a house," said Mary.

"But books are to read, not to build houses with."

"Won't you ask papa to buy me a box of blocks, like Hetty Green's,
to build houses with?"

"I'll buy them for you myself the next time I go out," replied Uncle
William.

"Oh, will you?" And Mary clapped her hands joyfully together.

"But you must never disturb the books in the book-case any more."

"No, sir," replied the child, earnestly.

Mrs. Elder felt rebuked. To hide what was too plainly exhibited in
her countenance, she stooped to the floor and commenced taking up
the books and replacing them in the book-case.

"Now go up into my room, Mary, and wait there until I come. I want
to tell you something."

The child went singing up-stairs as happy as she could be.

"You see, Sarah, that kind words are more effective than harsh names
with children. Mary didn't touch your work-basket."

"But she went to the book-case, which was just as bad. Children must
be in some mischief."

"Not so bad, Sarah; for she had been made to comprehend why it was
wrong to go to your basket, but not so of the book-case."

"I'm sure I've scolded her about taking down the books fifty times,
and still, every chance