CHAPTER PAGE
I.Which deals with the opinions of a Cat, and the sorrows of a Charcoal-burner[1]
II.Which introduces the Reader to an Admirer of the Ancient Romans[19]
III.Which improves our acquaintance with the Grasshopper-man[36]
IV.Which leaves some at Home, and takes some to Church[50]
V.Which is both Social and Religious[68]
VI.Which attempts to show why the Skies fall[84]
VII.Which describes a pleasant Dinner Party, and an unpleasant Walk[95]
VIII.Which proves that even Philosophic Politicians may have to admit themselves in the wrong[115]
IX.Which is very short because, in some ways, it is rather sad[132]
X.Which ends the Story[143]

[ILLUSTRATIONS.]

'Remember my ears are so quick I can hear the grass grow'[Frontispiece]
'What will happen? please tell me'[10]
'Go to bed when you are told'[34]
'You all despise me'[66]
Going to Church[72]
Lost[110]
Waiting[120]
Found[138]
The Charcoal-burner visits Little Peter[150]

[CHAPTER I.
WHICH DEALS WITH THE OPINIONS OF A CAT, AND THE SORROWS OF A CHARCOAL BURNER.]

The pine forest is a wonderful place. The pine-trees stand in ranks like the soldiers of some vast army, side by side, mile after mile, in companies and regiments and battalions, all clothed in a sober uniform of green and grey. But they are unlike soldiers in this, that they are of all ages and sizes; some so small that the rabbits easily jump over them in their play, and some so tall and stately that the fall of them is like the falling of a high tower. And the pine-trees are put to many different uses. They are made into masts for the gallant ships that sail out and away to distant ports across the great ocean. Others are sawn into planks, and used for the building of sheds; for the rafters and flooring, and clap-boards and woodwork of our houses; for railway-sleepers, and scaffoldings, and hoardings. Others are polished and fashioned into articles of furniture. Turpentine comes from them, which the artist uses with his colours, and the doctor in his medicines; which is used, too, in the cleaning of stuffs and in a hundred different ways. While the pine-cones, and broken branches and waste wood, make bright crackling fires by which to warm ourselves on a winter's day.