“She wrote a letter to her father and mother, telling them where she was, tied it under the pigeon’s wing, and set him free.  He flapped his wings joyfully and flew out of the window high up in the air.  Round and round he circled, until in his own way he learned that the west was to the right of him, the east to the left, the north was back of him, and the south straight ahead.  Then he started off like an arrow shot from a bow, for home was there in the south.

“The little princess was more homesick than ever, left all alone.

“Meantime the pigeon flew very swiftly, sometimes as fast as a train can go.  No one can tell you how he knew the way, but he flew straight back through the woods, and after a while reached the pigeon house just outside the palace gate.  Some of the servants who saw him fly in with the note, caught him and carried him to the king.  The king and queen read the letter with great joy when they saw it had been written by their little daughter, and all the people in the palace were happy to know that the princess was safe and well.

“The pigeon flew back to the pigeon house.  ‘Coo, coo, coo,’ he said to all the other pigeons, ‘home is the best place in the world.’

“The king ordered the fastest horses in the land, and he and the queen rode off at once to find their little daughter.  One day she saw them coming.  She clapped her hands with joy and ran to meet them.  The king and queen were as happy as she, and after they had greeted her, and bade the prince good-by, they all three rode away home.  The princess sat in front of her father on his horse, because he could not bear to have her out of his arms.  After travelling back through the forest they reached the palace at last.

“‘Home is the best place in the world,’ said the happy little princess.

“‘Home is the best place in the world,’ cooed the happy little pigeon.”

Johnnie Jones lay back in Mother’s arms.  “I think so too,” he said, “I like Grandma’s house and Auntie’s house, but home is best of all.”

* * * * *

Johnnie Jones and the Squirrel

“Come,” said Mother, “leave your toys now, and bathe your face and hands, for it is time to go down town to buy your winter coat.”

“Oh!  Mother, I don’t want to go down town,” answered Johnnie Jones, “because I think Sammy Smith is coming over to play with my new engine this afternoon.”

“But what will you do when the weather grows cold and you have no warm coat to wear?  I shall be too busy to go with you to-morrow.”

“It’s so warm to-day, Mother, I don’t think it will grow cold very soon, and anyway, I don’t want to go down town.”

Mother answered:  “I know it will be cold soon, perhaps to-morrow, for the wind is beginning to blow from the north.  Come as soon as you can, I have much to do and can’t wait for you very long.”