So we all went to the pond, and Johnny put in his boat.  It sailed right out among the ducks, and they were much afraid of it, and swam away as fast as they could, saying, “Quack, quack, quack!”

Johnny went to the other side of the pond to get his boat, which had sailed across, and he had just got back when we heard grandma calling, “Children, come in to supper.”  After supper, mamma read us a story from “The Nursery,” and then tucked us snugly in bed, and we went to sleep to dream of cookies, and hunting eggs.

S.H.P.

EMMA AND ETTA.

[Illustration:  Emma and Etta]

Emma and Etta are sisters.  They have a doll whose name is Clara.

They are very fond of Clara, and it would be hard to tell which of the two Clara likes best.  It is not often that one doll has two such mothers.

In the picture you may see Emma dressing the doll.  She has curled the sweet little thing’s hair, and Etta has a nice, clean gown all ready for her to put on.

It is to be hoped that this doll with two mothers will not be too much petted.  It would be a pity if she should become a spoiled child.

A.B.C.

[Illustration:  Child and Doll]

BROWNIE’S ADVENTURE.

[Illustration:  Brownie’s Adventure]

Grace and Willie named him Brownie, because all his brothers and sisters were white, and he was such a funny little brown puff-ball of a chicken.

Mrs. Speckle (that was his mother) was just as proud of him as she could be; but foolish Brownie thought her too strict.  She would never consent to let one of the downy things out of her sight for a moment, and told them fearful stories of hawks and weasels, to say nothing of bad boys and big dogs.

But Brownie kept thinking that some day, when he was a little older and stronger, he would leave the yard, and see whether there were really such dangers in the fields and woods as his mother said there was.

After a while the pretty brown feathers all dropped out, one after another, until Brownie looked more like a chicken which had been plucked than any thing else.  Grace could not keep from laughing at the sight of him; and it was very droll when he popped up on a log, and tried a weak, quavering crow.

To be sure, Mrs. Speckle did not keep a looking-glass, and I suppose poor Brownie had no idea how very absurd he looked.  To tell the truth, he thought he was almost grown up, and began to watch for a chance to begin his journey to see the world.  He had not the least doubt that he would see something fine, if he could only get out of the sight of his mother, who was so very strict, and had such foolish notions, as he thought.

So, one day, as Mrs. Speckle was having a friendly chat with Dame Top-Knot, he took the chance to creep slyly under the fence, and was off all alone.