“Oh, sister, let us go back,” cried Mary. “I’m afraid of the gypsies.” So the children took hands and ran back towards the city. They no longer cared to gather flowers they passed, and the fluttering of a bird among the bushes almost made their hearts stand still, so afraid were they that it might be the gypsies trying to catch them.
At last they reached the town and after walking past many houses they saw that they must have taken the wrong street for everything looked so strange. They were very lonely, and tired, so they sat on the curbing to rest. The day was warm and little Ellen was soon fast asleep against her sister’s shoulder. Mary sat still thinking, wondering how they could find their way home, when who should come round a corner but a policeman.
Now, a policeman, Mary thought, was as bad if not worse than a gypsy, for policemen always locked people up. Suppose he should lock them up. Poor Mary was afraid to look up until she heard a cheery voice say: “Hello, little tots! better run home!” Then she looked into the smiling face and kind eyes of the policeman, and her fears all vanished. She told him they were lost, and to please not to lock them up this time, for they would never go so far from home again.
Well, the big man laughed and laughed and said: “All right! come on, let’s find mother.” He took the poor little sleepy Ellen up in his arms, and taking Mary by the hand started off. Mary told him they lived on Durby Street and that their father’s name was Benton. Soon things began to look familiar, and soon they reached the dear home. Mother was very anxious about them and had just sent word to the police for help in finding the children. They were all very grateful to the kind policeman for bringing them safely home, for they had learned that he is a very good friend indeed.
THREE LITTLE GOLDFISH
The only safety lies in doing as one is told by those who know what is best.
Once upon a time there were three little goldfish who lived in a cool pond. This little pond was divided from the lake by a lattice work. Every day the master came to feed the goldfish and caution them not to swim too near the bank and never go near the lattice work, but to stay at the bottom of the pond until he came.
Now, when the master was gone the little goldfish at the bottom of the pond talked together. They did not want to play down under the water so long.
The first little goldfish said, “I like the sunshine, and I like to hear the birds sing and I like to hear the winds blow. It looks lovely to me to swim near the shore and see the pebbles and the sand. I see no harm in it, and I am not going to stay down deep in the water. The master does not know.”