as wretched as she once was. In
this way she has already been the means of getting six poor children
into good homes, where they have a chance to learn how to live. She
remembers so well her sad childhood that she understands, even better
than you or I would, how to speak to and help these poor children when
they first begin to do better, and get so discouraged because their old
bad habits pull them down, and make it hard for them to do well. Biddy
goes to see them, and talks with them so kindly, and with so much
patience and love, that they are comforted and ready to try harder than
ever. When she tells them that she was once just as dirty and rough and
naughty as they have ever been, and they see how sweet and good she has
become, it fills them with courage and hope. You can very well suppose
that Biddy did not always find it an easy thing to help these children.
Perhaps you think that any little girl would jump at the chance of being
taken from the street and put in a good and pleasant home. Biddy thought
so, until she tried to help Katy Kegan. She was the second little girl
Biddy found for Mr. Kennedy. Biddy had known Katy Kegan all her life,
and liked her better than any other little girl when they used to be
living on the street. Yet when Biddy became better off, and tried to
make things just as nice for Katy, that little girl didn't see it as
Biddy did at all, and gave her more care and worry than all the other
five. I'll tell you something about this.

[TO BE CONTINUED.]

I AM THE LAD IN THE BLUE AND WHITE.

BY MARY A. BARR.

[Illustration]

I am the lad in the blue and white--
Sing hey! the merry sailor boy.
My head is steady, my eyes are bright,
My hand is ready, my step is light,
My brave little heart, all right, all right--
Sing ho! the merry sailor boy.

I am the lad in the blue and white--
Sing hey! the merry sailor boy.
I sit in the shrouds when the soft winds blow,
The light waves rock me to and fro;
I run up aloft or down below--
Sing ho! the ready sailor boy.

I am the lad in the blue and white--
Sing ho! the merry sailor boy.
When the skies are blue and the sea is calm,
The air is full of spice and balm,
And the shore is set with shadowy palm,
Oh, glad is the merry sailor boy!

"What will you do when the great winds blow?
What will you do, my sailor boy?"--
When great winds blow, and are icy cold,
Never