e answered:

"I pick up kindlings for mamma and run errands for her. Is that what you
mean, Aunt Abbie?"

"It is a part of what I mean. You should be very kind and helpful to the
dear ones at home. But I was hoping you could find some way to help
someone outside of your own home. Of course, you are a little boy, but
you can do some small thing for an aged or helpless one."

"I don't know of anything now, auntie; but I'll keep on the watch to
see."

"That is right. We should be on the lookout to see what work there is
for as to do."

The next morning as Robbie was having a fine run with his dog Rover, he
saw Granny Dorn, who was lame, hobbling along to get her cow, which had
gone down the lane to eat grass.

[Illustration: Robbie was playing with Rover.]

"I could do that kind of work for granny," said Robbie, "but it's such a
pretty morning, and Rover does play so nice!" Then he walked along
slowly for a moment, until a bright thought came to him. "Why, I can run
with Rover after the cow, and come back slower, so as to be rested for
another run." Away he went until he overtook granny, and said:

"I'll get your cow every night and morning, if you wish. Just see how
fast I can go! But I'll be careful and not run the cow, 'cause my papa
says they will not give so much milk if you do."

"That is a good boy," said the old woman. "I'm going to bake some
seed-cakes, to-day, and I'll give you a couple."

"But I do not ask anything. I just wanted to help you a little. Auntie
Peyton told me to try to do something to help folks, 'cause that's
right."

When Robbie had driven granny's cow into the yard, he ran home and told
Aunt Abbie:

"It's 'most as good as just running with Rover; and getting the cow
helps granny, you know. Is that the kind of work you wanted me to do?"

"Yes, dear. I am sure you have made a very good beginning. You can see
if there is anything else for you to do. If one learns to keep his eyes
open, he will have a chance to help a good many people."

"I'm going to keep my eyes open, Aunt Abbie."

--_Written for Dew Drops by Rosalie Sill._

THE MAKING OF A BOOK.

Miss Fanny has a little niece who lives so far away
That she has never seen her, though she's six months old to-day.
To be an aunt, Miss Fanny said there was so much to learn
Of proper auntly methods she knew not where to turn.
She'd never been an aunt before, and knew not how to be,
And so she