"Did ye now, sonny? Well, there wuzn't any harm done, and I know ye didn't mean to."
"I did, I did," said Dan, sobbing violently from the long strain of excitement. "I didn't know Nanny was in the chaise, and I threw a stone at him."
"Well, well," said the Deacon, rubbing his stubbly chin, and looking curiously at Dan. "Beats all what freaks boys will take, but I know ye won't do it agin."
"I never will," said Dan, solemnly. "This has been the awfulest longest day that ever was in the world."
[ABOUT CROTCHETS AND QUAVERS.]
BY MRS. JOHN LILLIE.
I well remember the first morning I ever spent in a foreign Conservatory of Music. I arrived just as the Harmony Class had assembled. Beside me sat a slim little girl, with a very pretty pale face and a tired, anxious look. When we had all opened our books, she whispered to me, "May I look over you?"
The expression in her eyes was so piteous that it went to my heart to answer, "You may if you like, dear; only it won't help you. I don't know much of anything myself."
I never shall forget her look as she burst into a silent fit of crying, which for ten minutes stopped the lesson.