the child, and that it was but fair he should be blinded, as he was caught and had absolutely prevented him from catching one of the others when they were close to him.  As Reuben himself thought it was manly to be blinded, and believed all he had to do was to run about with the handkerchief round his head, he was very anxious to do as Edward had done, and Mary, to whom he pleaded for permission so to do, blinded him herself, and as she tied the handkerchief round him she said, “Now, young gentlemen, don’t hurt the little fellow, pray be gentle with him, for he’s very young.”

Mary then took his hand, and leading him into the centre of the room she slightly directed him where to go.  It must be understood that Reuben knew no one in the room but Marten, Edward, and Mary, and as he did not know the rules of the game, the elder boys and girls, soon wearied of the little fellow running hither and thither, for they did not wish to hurt the child, and so they ceased for awhile their boisterous play; but, as might be expected, this would not last long, and Marten stepping forwards on the little one laying hold of some boy near him, said, “My brother does not know any one here by name, is it not enough that he has caught some one?  He does not know, I am sure, who his hand is upon, even if he were unblinded.”

“Oh! it is a boy,” replied Reuben.  “Me know it is a boy, and a large boy.  Yes, it is a large boy.”

“That is enough, is it not?” asked Marten, looking round, “surely that’s enough;” and he unbound Reuben, telling; the child he had done very well.

No one seemed inclined to dispute the point, for all saw the child was too young to play with them; and William Stewart, the boy caught, and who was desirous of being blindfolded, was quite pleased to have the handkerchief tied round his head, and now the play became more boisterous than ever, owing to the cessation before, and probably all would have gone on well if little Reuben, elated by his brother’s telling him he had done very well, had not chosen to join in the play, saying over and over again to any one who would listen to him, “Me knew it was a boy—­a large boy—­me knew it was a boy—­me said a large boy—­yes, me felt his coat—­me knew it was a large boy.”  This too might have passed, and the child might have repeated his story over and over again without much harm if he could have got a listener, or he even might have been content without one, if he had not fancied he understood the game as well as the oldest present, so he entered into it with all his little spirit, and intruded his small person where others could not go—­now here, now there, till excited and heated and confused by those around him flying in all directions, he was thrown down, and as he did not fall alone, the poor little fellow was rather severely hurt.  And now in that one moment of downfall was assembled all the troubles of the day,—­weary, excited, hurt, and overfed, he began to cry, and that so violently,