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voices talking and laughing, she was quite happy; for nothing can give greater joy to a mother than to see her children good and happy.

When Julia's mother saw that her daughter had neither been sulky nor obstinate all day, nor quarrelled with any of the children, she began to hope that Julia had resolved never to be naughty again. "And then," said the good mother to herself, "I shall have none but good children."

As soon as tea was over, Julia's mother rose from the table and went out; and soon after Julia's father came in, and said, "Come, children, we will go into the back parlor, and see why mother does not come with the presents.'

"We must not go there, father," said Henry, "for mother has something there that we are not to see."

"O, yes," said the father, "now you may all see." All the children, except Julia, began to jump and run, and were trying to see who could be first at the door of the parlor. But their father told them that they must enter the room in an orderly manner, for there the presents were to be delivered.

As soon as the door of the parlor was opened, the children were so surprised at what they saw that they hardly knew where they were. Directly opposite to the door stood a large table, covered with a green cloth. In the middle of the table there was a green tree; on some of the branches of the tree there hung a great many little lamps, of different colors; some were yellow, and some blue.

On the other branches of the tree hung little

baskets, full of oranges, apples, biscuits, raisins, dried currants and cherries; but there was not any confectionery in the baskets, for Julia's mother never let her children eat confectionery, believing that it was quite unhealthy.

The table, on which the tree stood, was covered all over with toys and playthings of different sorts. There were little horses, and carts, and chaises, and tops for the boys; and there were dolls, and teathings, and bells, and balls, and other things for the girls.

All the children jumped about, and clapped their hands with joy; and they stood all round the table, looking at the pretty lamps that hung in the tree, and at the nice things in the little baskets, and at the playthings on the table; and then they looked at each other. And every one of those children was pleased to see how happy the others were; and, as they stood round the table, they said to each other, "O, what a fine horse!" "O, what a fine doll!" "O, what a parcel of nice things in the baskets!"

But not one of the children offered to touch or to take any thing; but waited till Mrs. Brown called each child to her, and gave to each one the plaything which she thought most proper.

Nearly all the playthings were given away, when Mrs. Brown said to her little daughter, "Come here, Julia, and see what is in that little basket." Julia lifted up a white napkin, which covered the basket, and there lay a beautiful wax doll, dressed

like a little lady, with a fine muslin frock on, and a bonnet trimmed with lace.

"Read what is written on the paper, which the doll holds in its hand," said her mother.

Julia then read, "This doll is to reward a good little girl, who is never sulky, nor idle, nor cross, but who always tries to be as good as she can."

She was going to lay the doll down; tears came in her eyes, and her face blushed with shame. Mrs. Brown was sorry to see her little girl feel so much pain, but she hoped Julia would be the better for it afterwards. She asked Julia for whom she thought the doll was intended.

"I think it is for my sister," said Julia.

"Then give it to her," said the mother.

Julia handed the doll to her sister, and thought if she had been as good a girl, she would have had just such a one. "But," said Julia to her sister, "you will let me sometimes play with your pretty I will take care not to break it."

doll;

"That I will," said Augusta; "you may play with it every day if you like."

"Now," said Mrs. Brown, "come and look once more into the basket; it is not yet empty."

Julia saw something else covered with a white napkin. She lifted up the napkin, and there lay just such another wax doll, dressed very prettily, but a little different from Augusta's. "Take the doll out, and read what is written on the paper, which it holds in its hand," said her mother.

Julia read, "This doll is for a little girl, who

knows she has been naughty, but who will try never to be so again." Julia hugged the doll close to her bosom, and, throwing herself into her mother's arms, said, "This doll is for me, dear mother. I am the little girl who has been naughty; but I will try and never be naughty again.".

Julia kept her word, and was hardly ever sulky afterwards.

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"THEY will not come to-night, I know they will not come," said Mary to her mother. "O, yes, they will, my dear," replied her mother; "it is not late yet."

Mary was expecting some little girls to come and play with her; and she was not so patient as a good little girl should be, when her mother is kind enough to invite her friends. A minute or two

1 Pron. mis-be-hav'yur. 2 kwŏr'reld. 8 jūl'ya. 4 wĭm'en. 5 bis'kits.

after, she said again, "Mother, I am sure they will not come. The sun has gone away from the last paving stone in the yard. I know they will not come."

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"If you are so fretful, I shall not invite your friends to come and see you again," said her mother. "I do not think that I am fretful," said Mary; "but I do wish they would come."

While Mary said this, she was dressing a large wax doll; and she had been in great trouble, for fear it would not be dressed before the little girls Her aunt Sarah had made a pretty robe of white muslin for the doll, and Mary wished very much to put it on.

came.

The robe was too short, and her mother told her she had better rip the wide hem very carefully, and make a narrower one. Julia began very well; but there was a knot in the thread, and she would not wait for her mother's advice. She took a pin, and pulled upon the knotty stitch, with all her strength. She tore the muslin badly, and then she began to cry and fret about it.

"If you had been slow and careful, you would not have spoiled that pretty robe," said her mother. "I wish my daughter would learn to be more patient."

Before Julia could find another gown for her doll, two of the little girls came. She was so impatient to see them, that she flung the doll down in her little brother's chair, and ran to take off their bonnets and shawls.

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