and she generally gives a holiday on that day. There used to be a party, too, but as it comes only four weeks before our holidays that has been altered, and they give a large party at the breaking-up.'

Just then there was a ring at the streetdoor, and the sound of a voice which both Kate and Emily seemed to know well, for they ran out into the hall on hearing it.

"Oh, Kate, I have run so fast I'm out of breath, I wanted to catch you before you got home,' gasped Fanny Howard. ́ ́I want you and Emily to come and spend to-morrow with me. Mother is going to take me into town to see some sights; the Polytechnic and one or two bazaars, and I don't know what else, and she told me I might ask you if your mother would allow you to come too.'

So Kate and Emily took their friend into the parlour, where she could make the request herself.

Mrs. Villiers hesitated for a minute; she did not like to refuse her children a pleasure which she saw by their sparkling eyes and bright faces they would so much enjoy; but she did not care for them to go out very much while they were so young, wishing rather to see them content with quiet pleasures at home than to be like Fanny Howard, always wishing to see everything where elder people went.

Well, for once you may have them, Fanny,' she said. 'It is very kind of your mother to think of my little girls, and you must thank her for me. If it is a fine day and nothing prevents they shall come to you soon after breakfast.'

So Fanny ran off as quickly as she had run there, and Kate and Emily went back to the parlour to thank their mother for the leave she had given.

"You said "if nothing prevents," mother,' said Emily. Nothing can, surely, before to-morrow.'

got their books and sat down to prepare their lessons for the day after the holiday, but both of them were thinking how unlikely it was that anything could happen in so short a time to keep them at home.

Next morning came. There was nothing amiss with the weather, for it was a fine, bright autumn day. Kate and Emily, who slept in a little room together, had been out of bed more times than I could count before it was the hour for rising, to make quite sure that the mist of the early morning would clear away and end in sunshine, not rain.

At last it was seven o'clock; there were sounds of little feet pattering about in the room overhead, and little voices rising shrill and high, some talking, some singing, some crying now and then-but all together and so Kate and Emily began dressing, and their tongues went as fast as the little tongues upstairs, though their tones were lower, as they chattered about the day's pleasure which was before them.

All of a sudden the sounds upstairs were broken by a loud scream-a scream which could only be caused by some accident, and which brought every one up to find what was the matter. It was Jeanie, a little girl of three, who had fallen against the sharp edge of a chest of drawers, cutting her forehead so badly that the blood streamed down her face. The blow had stunned the poor child, and she looked so white that Mrs. Villiers was frightened and sent off to the doctor in haste.

Nurse

All the house was in confusion. kept the other children away, while Mrs. Villiers sat with Jeanie on her lap, looking worried and anxious. Meantime it was getting late, Kate and Emily were to be at Mrs. Howard's at nine o'clock, and this accident had upset all the regular habits of the house so that they had not had breakfast.

Kate was all impatience; she went into the nursery and got her breakfast there, and ran off to get ready, calling Emily to do the same. But Emily lingered on by the side of her mother, who in her fright had forgotten all about the promised treat for her elder children; Emily felt as if she could not go before the doctor had come and

Jeanie was better, not lying there looking so white in mother's arms.

'Are you going, Kate?' she said, as she went outside the door in answer to an impatient call from her sister.

'Going? Of course I am going. Why not?' asked Kate.

'Mother said "if nothing prevents," said Emily, timidly.

Well, nothing does prevent,' replied the elder girl. You don't suppose because Jeanie tumbles down and cuts her head I am to lose my pleasure!'

'I thought we might be of scme use at home, Kate.'

'I shall go, Emily; if you are silly enough to stay at home it does not matter to me. Only you may not have the chance of going again.'

I think will stay with mother,' said Emily. I should be thinking of Jeanie all day, and I couldn't enjoy myself. You will come in before you go, İ suppose?' she added, as she turned to leave the

room.

'No, I shall be ready in a minute, and I have no time to lose. I should only disturb mother, so you can say good-bye for me, and tell her I hope Jeanie will be well when I come back.'

That was what Kate said; what she felt was a dislike to go in, all dressed for her day of pleasure, and to see her mother so sad and anxious with Emily by her side; it would be a troublesome thought all day.

When Emily returned to her mother the doctor had come, and in the bustle of his entrance and strapping up the cut properly, which he said was a very bad one, nobody thought of anything but poor little Jeanie. But after a few hours she was better; able to play quietly with Emily, who amused her so well. By-and-bye Mrs. Villiers remembered all about the holiday and the expected treat.

"Why, this is the holiday, and you were to have gone with Fanny sight-seeing! Poor children! I forgot all about it through Jeanie's accident. I am so sorry for you; but I will ask for a holiday, and give you a treat myself to make up for the disappointment. But where is Kate?

Emily looked confused.

'Kate went; she told me to say good-bye for her; she did not like to interrrpt you, mother.'

For a moment Mrs. Villiers looked puzzled-then both sorry and displeased. Knowing well her children's disposition and Kate's natural selfishness, she could guess the whole story without asking any more questions.

"You have been a great help and comfort to me, dear child,' she said, drawing Emily to her side and kissing her. shall not forget your kindness and unselfishness in so quietly giving up your own pleasure; nor will God forget it, for He has said that all these little acts of goodness which we do for others we really do for Him, and He will bless you for it. And then, I am sure you will also have the reward of feeling that you have done right, so that after all it will not have been an unhappy holiday.'

Towards night Kate came home, looking tired and far from happy. Though she would not own it, her conscience had been ill at ease all the day, and had hindered the enjoyment she had expected. Then she found her mother was displeased at her leaving home without seeing her, so, altogether, she was uncomfortable and cross, and when the two sisters were together in their room at bed-time she would tell Emily nothing of where she had been or what she had seen; she only said that 'she was glad there was no holiday for a long time-lessons were best after all.'

Next day at school their young companions asked Kate and Emily where they had been, and how they had amused themselves, and they wondered that Kate, who had been sight-seeing, should seem so dull, whilst Emily, who said she had only stayed at home,' was so cheerful and bright.

6

Of course they did not know the whole tale which you know now, or they would have seen which was the happiest holiday' -the one spent in selfish pleasure, or the one which had been passed in making happiness for another with so much patience and love.

The Black Lamb.