[ANNIE BROWNE.]
Little Annie Browne was an only child, that is, she had no little brothers or sisters; so you may be sure her parents loved this little girl very much indeed, and were always endeavouring to make her happy. Now I wonder if the dear little boy or girl, who is reading this, can guess the means that Annie's Father and Mother took to make her happy.
Did they give her plenty of candy? No. Did they buy new play-things for her every day? No. Did they take her very often to the Museum or the Zoological Gardens? No; this was not the way. I will tell you what they did; and I will tell you what Annie did for one whole day when she was about five years old, and that will give you a very good idea of the way they took to make her good, for then she was sure to be happy.
Well, one day Annie woke up very early in the morning, and, sitting up in her little bed, which was close by the side of her Mamma's, she first rubbed her eyes, and then she looked all round the room, and saw a narrow streak of bright light on the wall. It was made by the sun shining through a crack in the shutter. She began to sing softly this little song, that she had learned in school,—
"What is it shines so very bright,
That quick dispels the dusky night?—
It is the sun—the sun;
Shedding around its cheerful light,
It is the sun—the sun."
Presently she looked round again, and saw her Mamma sleeping. She said, in her soft little voice, "Mamma, Mamma! good morning, dear Mamma!"
But her Mamma did not wake up. Then she crept over her to where her Papa was sleeping, and said,—
"Papa, Papa! good morning, dear Papa!"
But her Papa was too fast asleep to hear her. So she gave her Papa a little kiss on the end of his nose, and laid gently down between them.