“No, sir; this feast is not for you.  There is nothing here that you like to eat, you know; so you will wait upon these boys, if you please, who seem as if they would find plenty that they will like.”

Alfred at this began to cry again, and said he wanted to go to his mother; but his father did not mind his crying, and said he should not go to his mother again till he was quite a good boy.

“So now, sir, hand this bread to John, and now take a clean plate to Thomas, and now stand ready to carry this custard to William.  There now, wait till they have all done.”

It was of no use now to cry or scream; he was obliged to do it all.

When the boys had quite finished their supper they went home, and Alfred was led by his father into the house.  Before he went to bed, a cup of milk and water and a piece of brown bread were put before him, and his father said: 

“That is your supper, Alfred.”

Alfred began to cry again, and said he did not want such a supper as that.

“Very well,” said his father, “then go to bed without, and it shall be saved for your breakfast.”

Alfred cried and screamed louder than ever, so his father ordered the maid to put him to bed.  When he was in bed, he thought his mother would come and see him and bring him something nice, and he lay awake a long while; but she did not come, and he cried and cried till at last he fell asleep.

In the morning, when he awoke, he was so hungry he could hardly wait to be dressed, but asked for his breakfast every minute.  When he saw the maid bring in the brown bread again without any butter, and some milk and water, he was very near crying again; but he thought if he did he should perhaps lose his breakfast as he had lost his supper, so he checked his tears, and ate a hearty meal.

“Well,” said his father, who came into the room just as he was eating the last bit of bread, “I am glad to see the little boy who could not yesterday find anything good enough for him at a feast eating such simple fare as this so heartily.  Come, Alfred, now you may come to your dear mother.”

TWO LITTLE BOYS

By THOMAS DAY

I

THE GOOD-NATURED LITTLE BOY

A little boy went out one morning to walk to a village about five miles from the place where he lived, and carried with him in a basket the provision that was to serve him the whole day.  As he was walking along a poor little half-starved dog came up to him, wagging his tail and seeming to entreat him to take compassion on him.

The little boy at first took no notice of him, but at length, remarking how lean and famished the creature seemed to be, he said:  “This animal is certainly in very great necessity.  If I give him part of my provision I shall be obliged to go home hungry myself; however, as he seems to want it more than I do, he shall partake with me.”  Saying this, he gave the dog part of what he had in his basket, who ate as if he had not tasted victuals for a fortnight.