one of our neighbors, a young married lady, of

whom I was very fond. she kept us all waiting!

To think of the time
It's quite a duty, you

know, to help a party go off. Children may as well begin early to do their share. You should hear her chatter at home! Their garden is right under my windows.'

"It was really disobliging,' said Mrs. Wise, slowly, but as if it gave her pain to say it.

"So they all blamed me. I was the ill-bred child, and all the others, who had teased me so, of course, they were not a bit to blame. The great tears gathered in my eyes as the thought came, and then somebody else said, —

"Her mother always lets her have her own way.'

"My poor, dear mamma! so she must be blamed for my fault. I could bear no more. I slipped through the door, darted down the steps, and was half way home before I remembered that there was ice on the ground, and that I had on thin shoes. I don't know whether anybody scolded me or not. I had a good cry on the bed before the carriage came; and when aunt Abbie had puffed all the way up stairs,

she took me up, and began to undress me,

**That's a tyke! pretty lace all in a mash! I reckon you'se sorry for your goings on.'

"I said my prayers before I went to sleep. I asked God to forgive me, and I thought to myself that the next time I would do better."

"Is that all?" said Patty.

"No," said aunt Anna; "the saddest part is to come. The next time our little sociable met, it was a very stormy day. We went to Mrs. Van Loo's, on the hill. It was a grand house, and we were sure of a dainty supper, for Mrs. Van Loo would always have what she chose; but I dreaded it. There were two or three strangers in town-ladies from New York. I knew they would be there. Well, we danced till we were tired, and then there came the dull, stupid waiting for tea. This time the room was lighted quickly enough; for Mrs. Van Loo's servants always did as they were told; but there was only one little girl in the house, and she was a timid little creature, who did not know what to do.

"Now we want a story,' said Amy Wise, turning toward me with a pert look.

"Birds that can sing and won't sing must be made to sing,' shouted one of the older girls.

"It's no use asking Anna Maury,' said another, in a discontented tone.

"The last speaker was one of my own fairies; and as soon as she had spoken, I said, in a voice half choked with fear,

"I will try, if you will like to have me.' Nothing could ever have been harder, little Patty. I was a shy child, to whom it was a real torment to be looked at. Oh, she will!

she will!' shouted the children; and the fairies. all scrambled round me in a minute. I took a cushion and sat down on the floor; the older children stood or lounged behind my fairies; and I felt, although I did not see, that the ladies and gentlemen stood outside of all. At first there was a buzz all round me. Nobody stopped talking, and that gave me courage. But as I went on, my voice rose, and all the rest were hushed. I forgot those that stood by. I made my story as I went along, and very soon I thought of it more than of my listeners. I dare say I talked too long; but they were all silent; nobody checked or counselled me, and

dear mamma was at home, lying ill in her room. I know my cheeks grew very red; and when I stopped, I went away by myself, and hid. I don't remember that anybody praised me. Everything was still, until I got out of hearing. I believe my story was sad, and I think, when I lay down up stairs, I must have gone right to sleep. I did not go to supper, and nobody missed me. At last I was roused by hearing somebody say,

e

"How that child did go on-bold as a lion!' "Thankful she isn't mine,' said another voice, that of one of the strangers from New York. 'I should expect to see her on the stage.'

"I don't see that it's any worse than tableaux,' said a meek little woman.

"So

So presumptuous!' said the hostess. I dare say she meant it well enough; but a chit of that age to keep her elders standing all that while!' "Where is she?' asked somebody.

ee e

Making it up in my supper-room, I dare say,' said Mrs. Van Loo.

Patty, they were putting on their cloaks to go home, and even my little fairies had not cared to see whether I got any supper or not!"

Patty looked up at the Professor's wife with her heart beating fast in her very throat. She saw that the lady's eyes were full of tears. She ran to her, and threw her arms round her neck.

"Oh, aunt Anna!" she said, "don't cry, I love you dearly."

now.

But aunt Anna's head sank lower and lower, till she hid it in baby's bosom, and sobbed for a few moments, as if she were no older than Patty herself.

Patty did not know what to do. At last she said, "What did aunt Abbie say?"

"Not much," said aunt Anna, trying to recover herself. "As soon as I opened the hall door, she caught me up. 'Here's dis chile so sot up; nebber speak soft agin. Now, missy, you come to bed; dat's nuff for one night.""

"Oh, aunty!" said Patty, laughing in the midst of her tears.

"It is not strange that you laugh," said aunt Anna; "but, Patty, whenever I try to tell the story, the tears will come. It was so cruel of them all! But they did not know what they did, and I could never forget it. My mother