ustration]

He met there a somewhat discouraged old cow,
That had blown thither too, though she failed to see how;
And he smiled and said, "Make yourself easy, my friend--
Only keep your mind quiet, and things'll soon mend!"
And he laughed "He-he!" and he laughed "Ho-ho!
The wind is just playing, old cow, you know!"

[Illustration]

As he scampered off home, what above should he see
But the roof of a shed, that had lodged in a tree;
So he laughed and he laughed, till his sides they did ache,
For he said, "This is better nor wedding nor wake!"
And he roared "Ho-ho!" and he roared "He-he!"
For he was as tickled as tickled could be.

[Illustration]

"That boy," say the terrified folks of the town,
"He would laugh just the same if the sky tumbled down!"
"Indeed, an' I would," fancied Mike, with a grin,
"For I might get a piece with a lot of stars in!"
And he chuckled "He-he!" and he chuckled "Ho-ho!"
The very idea delighted him so!

[Illustration]

His father complained to the priest, "Now, I say,
Mike never stops laughing, by night or by day!"
"Let him laugh," spoke the priest; "he will change by and by,
And 't is better to laugh than to grumble or cry!
It's the way with the lad; let him laugh, if he like;
And be glad you've a son that's as merry as Mike!"

AN AGREEABLE GUEST.

BY SUSAN A. BROWN.

The longest visit that we read of in modern days was one which Dr. Isaac
Watts made at Lord Abney's in the Isle of Wight. He went to spend a
fortnight, but they made him so happy that he remained a beloved and
honored guest for _forty years_.

Few of us would care to make so long a visit as that, but it might be
worth the while for us all to try and learn the secret of making
ourselves agreeable and welcome guests. To have "a nice time" when one
is visiting is delightful, but to leave behind us a pleasant impression
is worth a great deal more.

An agreeable guest is a title which any one may be proud to deserve. A
great many people, with the best intentions and the kindest hearts,
never receive it, simply because they have never considered the subject,
and really do not know how to make their stay in another person's home a
pleasure instead of an inconvenience. If you are one of these
thoughtless ones, you may be sure that, although your friends are glad
to see you happy, and may enjoy your visit on that acc