f the neighbours.

'Whatever is that dog of the Seftons' barking at?' one woman inquired of
her husband; and Mr. Curtis, who was a shoemaker, and worked at home,
stopped a moment to listen.

'I don't like the sound,' he said, presently. 'It's as though there was
something the matter, and Mrs. Sefton is out, for I saw her go past the
window.'

'Perhaps it would be best for you to go and see,' his wife said, and
though he could ill spare the time, kind-hearted Mr. Curtis put down the
boot which he was mending, and ran down the lane till he reached the
garden wall.

Then he soon saw what was the matter. There was Jess with her paws on
Carrie's frock, while Carrie was lying quite white and still.

The shoemaker carried the poor child to his own cottage, while his wife
went to look for Mrs. Sefton.

Carrie proved to be badly hurt; she had to lie in bed a good while, and
you may be sure that her mother and Lottie, and all her friends, were
very grieved and anxious about her.

But every one praised good, faithful Jess, who had brought help to her
little mistress; and when Lottie came back, and Carrie got quite well,
as I am glad to say she did at last, Jess was a greater pet than ever.

A GENTLE DONKEY.

(_Continued from page 391._)

III.

'You know, Mollie,' said Mrs. Raeburn to her sister-in-law next morning
as she looked through the letters, which had just come in, 'I cannot
believe that Tim is so wicked as you and Mary both say. I ran out to the
stables before breakfast, and the dear, sweet thing rubbed his nose
against my sleeve, and then tried to find my pocket. He evidently
expected sugar, for he looked up at me as much as to say, "Now then,
where's that sugar?" You see, dear,' (here she lowered her voice to a
whisper and looked cautiously round) 'although Mary is a splendid maid
for the nursery, she may be no good as a "whip," and so I have made up
my mind to go in the cart myself this morning. Luckily, Cook has made
some soup for poor old Mrs. Woods, and I shall get Mary to drive me
there when she takes Harry out.'

'What does Simmons think of this new treasure?' asked Aunt Mollie.

'Oh! Simmons is ridiculous. He agrees with Mary, and says that yesterday
it took three men to hold him while he was being harnessed. I never
heard anything so absurd! I thought that we might go round to the
stables about eleven and see for ourselves. Why!'--looking at her
watch--'it is almost eleven now. Come along