[Illustration:  The Ill Natured Girl.]

The ill natured girl.

Here is a representation of an ill natured little girl.  See what an angry and unpleasant expression her countenance has assumed.  She is angry at her sister and is tearing up a note, sent to her sister by her grandmother.  I will tell you the story.  The grandmother of those three children, was on a visit to the house.  She had observed how violent and overbearing Susan was, and how properly her sister Annie behaved.  Annie was of a gentle, mild, and willing disposition.  If Susan’s brother should happen to take up her book, she would immediately scream out in a sharp tone, “let my book alone.”  If her brother should attempt to reply, she would snappishly retort, “I don’t care, you shall not meddle with it.”  Her conduct towards Annie was just the same, in fact, she more than once answered her grandmother in such a tart and abrupt manner, that her mother whipped her for it.

A few days after the grandmother had left, there was a package came for—­“Miss Annie.”  It proved to be a most beautiful writing desk, made of rosewood, inlaid with mother-of-pearl.  It was filled with fine paper, pens, wafers, sealing wax, and a nice seal.  It contained a note in these words:—­“This present is for a little girl who knows how to keep her temper.  From her affectionate grandmother.”  Susan was so angry that she snatched the paper and tore it into pieces.  The lesson will do her good.

[Illustration:  Lizzie’s Pet.]

Lizzie’s pet.

Lizzie is showing her grandfather her pet bird.  Her grandfather has the gout, and cannot walk.  He has to keep his foot resting on a stool, and all the amusement he has, is derived from Lizzie and her pet bird.  It is a Canary.  She has a nice blue ribbon fastened to its foot so that it cannot fly away.  It is eating a cherry from the hands of the old gentleman.  The Canary bird is the most charming of all singing birds.  They can be tamed and when so, are very playful and full of capers.  I will tell you some of their tricks.  Some years ago, there was an Italian gentleman exhibiting some funny birds in New York.  I went to see him and his birds.  One Canary jumped on the back of a crow and rode him around the room.  Another Canary bird stood on the barrel of a pistol, when his master discharged it, without stirring at the report.  The master then suspended a ring from the ceiling to within a few feet of the floor.  The ring was surrounded with pitch and on fire.  At his bidding, four or five of the birds would fly through the ring, without burning their feathers.  He harnessed one to a little wagon and made him draw it around the table.  I was highly amused, and determined to buy a nice Canary and learn it some tricks.

I am saving my pennies, and will soon have a pet like Lizzie’s.

[Illustration:  Back Cover]

***End of the project gutenberg EBOOK the girl’s Cabinet of instructive and Moral stories***