undred is 'yha,' which means 'heap'--that is, a heap of cowries.

'BILLIKINS.'

Billikins' father was a soldier, and Billikins' father had to go to war.

Billikins wondered why Mother looked so worn and sad, and why Daddy
hugged and kissed him very much, one night, as he was going to bed; and
why Father's face felt wet. The next morning, when he came to breakfast,
no Father was there--only Mother, with tear-swollen eyes, who tried to
smile at Billikins, and could not. He felt in his tender little heart
that something was wrong, and so he just climbed on Mother's lap, and
put both his arms round her neck. Mother pressed him tightly to her
heart.

'Oh, little Billikins!' she said. 'Father's little Billikins!'

'Where's Father?' asked Billikins.

Mother began to cry bitterly. 'Father has gone away for a long, long
time,' she said, as soon as she could speak.

'Has he gone to the war?' asked Billikins, in an awed voice.

'Yes, dear, to the war. It is very wrong of me to be so silly. I'm a
soldier's wife, and I ought not to grudge my husband to his country. And
remember, Billikins, _you_ are a soldier's son--always remember that.
You must never run away from a danger; you must face it. A soldier's son
must be a brave man.'

'I shall not forget, Mother,' said Billikins.

Mother set him gently on the ground, dried her eyes, and began to bustle
about.

'And a soldier's wife must be brave, too,' she said to herself.

For many, many weeks after that Billikins and his mother were very
anxious, though Billikins tried his best to be cheerful, and not let
Mother see that he felt sad. News came to them--sometimes, good news,
and then Mother brightened.

At last, one happy day, they heard that the war was over.

'Father will be home soon,' said Billikins, joyfully.

'Yes, dear, thank Heaven, very soon now,' said Mother, and kissed him
fervently.

As the time passed Mother grew more and more cheerful. The ship that was
bringing Father home would soon be due.

'Billikins, do you think you can stay here alone, dear, while I go out
and do a bit of shopping?' Mother asked one evening, and Billikins
answered, 'Yes, Mother; I will be good while you are gone.'

Mother put on her bonnet and cape, took a basket, and sallied forth.
Left alone, Billikins sat at the window, and gazed out at the busy
street. There was a great deal of noise going on overhead. The Jones
children, who lived in the 'flat' above, were always