, Mrs. Dalton, you will beat us
all in tying, for you've got a fine assistant!"

"Why, I can thread all the needles," Ruth said, her eyes shining. And so
she did. Needle after needle was threaded with the white yarn, and it
really was surprising to see how much faster the ladies could work. It
wasn't long before all the surface of the comfortable was filled with
rows of neat, white tufts and was ready to be ripped from the frame and
have its edges finished with herringbone stitches.

And Ruth felt very happy, for though she was only seven years old, she
had helped in the making of the pretty comfortable for the dear
missionary lady away out in Dakota.

--_Written for Dew Drops by Mary E.Q. Brush_.

THE SANDMAN.

The Sandman comes at set of sun,
Just when the happy day is done,
And when the quiet night's begun.

You hear him softly, softly creep,
And if you turn around to peep
He throws the sand that makes you sleep!

But don't be frightened--he is kind:
His sand will never make you blind,
But only close your eyes, you'll find.

He's like a dear and gentle friend:
His pleasant task it is to send
Sweet dreams to follow playtime's end.

I've stayed up late, and tried to see
The Sandman passing close to me--
I've been as still as still could be.

But he is quicker than a wink!
He didn't give me time to think,
But made me yawn and stretch and blink.

He buried me so deep in sand
I dropped right into Slumberland--
Though _how_ I cannot understand!

--_Written for Dew Drops by Rose Ralph._

The Eastern Mail

By MAY G. MOOAR

For a long time Teddy had wanted a cart, and when his seventh birthday
came, there by the back door stood the "Eastern Mail" with a birthday
letter from grandpa on the seat:

"Dear Teddy," it said, "I know you've wanted a cart for a long time so I
hope you will like my birthday present. Have a good time with it, and
give somebody else a good time with it, too."

"Your loving,
"Grandpa."

Teddy played nearly all day with his new present, and for a week he
cared for very little else. One day he raced up the walk, dragging his
cart behind him, and dropped down on the piazza steps near where mother
was sitting.

"That's a dandy cart, mother," he exclaimed. "Jack Hoyt says it's the
best one on the street. It's awfully strong, and it can go just as