As he spoke, Walter rolled up his pants, and then kicking off his boots, he waded into the brook and led Charlie ashore. The little fellow spluttered and shivered, but said nothing. The water had cooled his courage, and for the present, his ugliness had all subsided. They led him back to Glen Morris as quickly as possible, to get a change of clothes.

This mishap broke up their plan of dining and spending the afternoon with Carrie Sherwood. Thus the selfishness of the two cousins, again robbed both themselves and their friends of a promised pleasure. As for poor little Jessie, she drew down her face and looked very sad, as she put her quilt into the basket, when the bell rung for dinner. Sighing deeply she said half-aloud,

“Conquered again. It is no use. The little wizard is my master, and I won’t try to resist him any more. What’s the use of trying?”

“Tut, tut, tut! No use in trying, eh? Who says so?”

Jessie looked up, and her eyes met the pleasant smile of Uncle Morris, who had entered the room, in his usual quiet way, unobserved by the dispirited girl. She gave him back no answering smile, but drooping her head, stood silently before him. Seeing her sadness and knowing the cause, Uncle Morris said:

“Jessie, will you please be a school-ma’am for a moment, and let me recite my lesson to you?”

Jessie smiled a faint smile, but said nothing.

“Well, silence gives consent, I suppose. So I will recite my lesson. It is a fable and runs thus:

“Two robin redbreasts built their nests Within a hollow tree; The hen sat quietly at home, The male sang merrily; And all the little robins said, ‘Wee, wee, wee, wee, wee, wee.’
One day—the sun was warm and bright, And shining in the sky— Cock Robin said, ‘My little dears, ‘Tis time you learn to fly;’ And all the little young ones said, ‘I’ll try, I’ll try, I’ll try.’
“I know a child, and who she is I’ll tell you by and by, When mamma says, ‘Do this’ or ‘that,’ She says, ‘What for?’ and ‘Why?’ She’d be a better child by far, If she would say, ‘I’ll try.’”

When Uncle Morris paused, tears stood in Jessie’s eyes, and a bright smile played round her lips. Putting her hand into his, she said: