me apples in my hand, I went out, calling "Co-nan, co-nan!"
The sheep were afraid, and walked away, crying "Baa-a-ah;" and the
little lambs answered, "~Baa-a-ah.~"

[Illustration]

I followed slowly; and at last one sheep stood still. I went up close to
her, calling "Coosie, Carrie!" for I knew it must be one or the other.
She ate the apples out of my hand, and let me pat her head, and feel her
soft wool.

The next time I went out with apples, two sheep came to my call. They
looked exactly alike to me; but Mary told me which was Coosie, and which
was Carrie. After that, they did not wait to be called, but came
running up as soon as they saw me.

When the sheep were driven away into the meadow-lot again, I stood near
the gate to see them go. The old sheep walked along quietly; but the
lambs jumped and frisked about, and kicked up their heels in a very
funny way. The sheep called out "Baa-a-ah!" and the lambs answered,
"~Baa-a-ah!~" and sometimes it sounded like "~Maa-a-ah.~"

Coosie and Carrie ran up, and licked my hand as I said good-by. Now,
were they not dear little pets?

A. F. A.

[Illustration]

THE FOURTH OF JULY CAKE.

_Fred._--Oh! look here, Bessy and Maggy: come and see the splendid
Fourth of July cake that mother has made!

_Bessy._--You must not touch it, Fred: mother will be displeased if you
touch it.

_Fred._--I want to see if she has salted it well. Look at the currants
and the raisins!

_Bessy._--And how nicely it is sugared and frosted!

_Maggy._--Me see; me see!

_Fred._--There! Maggy has put her whole hand in. What will mother say?

_Bessy._--It will do no harm now for me to taste it.

_Fred._--Isn't it nice?

[Illustration]

_Maggy._--Me want plum.

_Bessy._--Maggy mustn't stick her hand in. She will spoil mamma's nice
cake.

_Maggy._--Me want taste. You and Fred taste.

_Fred._--Hark! I hear mother's step on the stairs. Now scatter, all
three! Lick your fingers clean, and run.

_Bessy._--I wish we hadn't touched the cake.

(_Enter_ MOTHER.)

_Mother._--What's this? Who has been at my cake,--my cake that I took so
much pains to make handsome?

_Bessy._--Fred wanted to see if it was properly salted.

_Mother._--Here's the mark of Maggy's hand! And here's a deep hole which
Fred's naughty finger must have made! And here, Bessy, are your marks.
I'm ashamed of you all. Meddling with my nice cake wit