"That is all very well, Lucy, but I fear if I trusted him to you always, he would be a very spoiled child."
Here a little voice was heard begging mamma to come and see how sorry her boy was.
Mrs. Allen let the little delinquent off with a mild reproof, and two hours in bed, which he needed as a rest after his wonderful exertions of the morning.
Little Amy begged Mamma to allow her to remain with Brother and offered to tell him a story, but he preferred having her recite a new piece she had just learned.
CORINNE'S MUSICALE.
By Margaret Sidney.
Inside of me says I am naughty,
But truly, I know I am not;
For if Brother Joe could see me
Right in this very spot,
He'd let me do just as I'm doing,
I'm very sure; that is, perhaps—
Oh, dear! however, do big folks
Hold this thing straight in their laps?
It slips, an' it slips an it slips,
You naughty old Banjo, oh, dear!
Is he coming? then what will he do
To find me sitting up here!
Ho, ho, 'twas a mouse—how silly
And frightened I've actually been;
For he'd say: "If you hold it quite still
You may take it, I'm willing, Corinne!"
I know, so now I'll begin it;
How does he go "tumty tum ting,"
And make such beautiful tunes,
Too lovely for anything?
I ain't a bit afraid they may hear,
The house people 'way off below—
Me playing in Brother Joe's room.
Still I'd better be careful, you know.
If they didn't say 'twas amusing.
I sh'd think 'twas stupid to play,
To tug at such tiresome strings
An' make them come over this way;
But it must be delightful, I'll pull
A very fine tune at first;
Now, "tumty-tum twang!"
It sounds as if something had burst!