t he had so much money that he could never
spend it all.

But, before he was fifty years of age, the whole of his large
possessions had melted away. Some of his stately houses had been burned
down; and the insurance-offices had failed. Some men he had trusted had
proved dishonest; and many schemes that he had entered upon had turned
out badly.

At the age of forty-six, Rudolf Reinhold took up the business of a
carpenter, which he had learned between the ages of fourteen and
eighteen. He soon became skilful, and turned his attention to building
houses in the city of Berlin. So successful was he, that in ten years he
was once more a rich man.

One of his daughters had become a dressmaker, and another a
music-teacher; and even when, at last, they were once more rich, they
always felt glad that their father had made them accomplish themselves
in useful pursuits, instead of leading lives of idleness and
self-indulgence.

UNCLE CHARLES.

[Illustration: THE LITTLE CARPENTER.]

LITTLE MISCHIEF.

X.

BESSIE'S mother had an aquarium. If you do not know what that is, I will
tell you. The Latin word _aqua_ means water; and the name _aquarium_ has
been given to a glass case holding water for fishes and for sea-plants.

[Illustration]

One day, when the pretty gold-fishes were not swimming about in a very
lively manner, Bessie thought it must be because they were cold. "Poor
things!" said she, "there is no fire in the room; and the water feels
quite chilly. It must be sad to swim about in cold water all day. What
can I do for them?"

XI.

Although there was no fire in the room, there was a jug of hot water on
the hearth, which Susan had left there a few minutes before.

"How fortunate!" thought Bessie. "Now I can give these poor little
fishes a nice hot bath. They will like it, I know. What a kind little
girl they will think me!"

[Illustration]

So she took the jug, mounted into the arm-chair, and poured the whole
jugful of water on the fish. It made them very lively; and Bessie put
down the jug, jumped off the chair, and got a stool to stand on to watch
the little things through the glass.

XII.

Soon the little fishes grew still; and then, one by one, they rose to
the surface, and turned over upon their backs. Bessie had never seen
them do that before; and she began to feel a little frightened. She
wished they would move their fins, and begin to