ight and
wrong, her _Foster-mother_ got ready to go on a journey.

"You have my leave," she said, "to go all over the house, except those
rooms which I shew you;" and when she had said that, away she went.

But the _Lassie_ could not forbear just to open one of the doors a
little bit, when--POP! out flew a Star.

When her _Foster-mother_ came back, she was very vexed to find
that the star had flown out, and she got very angry with her
_Foster-daughter_, and threatened to send her away; but the child
cried and begged so hard that she got leave to stay.

Now, after a while, the _Foster-mother_ had to go on another journey;
and, before she went, she forbade the _Lassie_ to go into those two
rooms into which she had never been. She promised to beware; but when
she was left alone, she began to think and to wonder what there could
be in the second room, and at last she could not help setting the door
a little ajar, just to peep in, when--POP! out flew the Moon.

[Illustration: She could not help setting the door a little ajar, just to
peep in, when--Pop! out flew the Moon.]

When her _Foster-mother_ came home and found the moon let out, she was
very downcast, and said to the _Lassie_ she must go away, she could
not stay with her any longer. But the _Lassie_ wept so bitterly, and
prayed so heartily for forgiveness, that this time, too, she got leave
to stay.

Some time after, the _Foster-mother_ had to go away again, and she
charged the Lassie, who by this time was half grown up, most earnestly
that she mustn't try to go into, or to peep into, the third room. But
when her _Foster-mother_ had been gone some time, and the _Lassie_ was
weary of walking about alone, all at once she thought, "Dear me, what
fun it would be just to peep a little into that third room." Then she
thought she mustn't do it for her _Foster-mother's_ sake; but when the
bad thought came the second time she could hold out no longer; come
what might, she must and would look into the room; so she just opened
the door a tiny bit, when--POP! out flew the Sun.

But when her _Foster-mother_ came back and saw that the sun had flown
away, she was cut to the heart, and said, "Now, there was no help for
it, the _Lassie_ must and should go away; she couldn't hear of her
staying any longer." Now the _Lassie_ cried her eyes out, and begged
and prayed so prettily; but it was all no good.

"Nay! but I must punish you!" said her _Foster-mother_; "but you may
have