THE SHEPHERD BOY.

1. One beautiful spring morning a merryhearted shepherd boy was watching his flock in a beautiful valley, and was singing and dancing about for very joy.

2. The prince of the land was hunting in that neighbourhood, and seeing him, called him nearer, and said,

3. "What makes you so very happy, my dear little one?"

4. The boy did not know the prince, and replied,

5. "Why shouldn't I be happy? Our king is not richer than I am!"

6. "How so?" asked the prince; "let me hear about your riches."

7. "The sun in the clear blue sky shines for me as for the prince," said the youth, "and mountain and valley grow green, and bloom as sweetly for me as for him.

8. "I would not part with my two hands for all the money, nor sell my two eyes for all the jewels in the royal treasury. Besides, I have everything I really need.

9. "I have enough to eat every day, and good warm clothes to wear, and get money

enough every year for my labour and pains to meet all my wants. Can you say the prince really has more?"

10. The kind prince smiled, made himself known, and said,

11. "You are right, my good boy. Keep fast hold of your cheerful spirit."

12. Contentment makes one as happy and rich as the greatest king.

1. In some parts of the earth, where it is very cold, men build their houses of snow. In some very hot countries, men live in tents which they move from place to place.

2. There are few birds as large as the swan. Swans swim on large ponds and smooth lakes and rivers, and they look very proud as they glide along.

3. Rain comes from the clouds, and makes the trees and plants grow. The ducks are glad when the rain comes, but the little birds hide away in the trees.

THE QUARRELSOME CATS.

1. Once upon a time a few friendly cats met together to play. Whilst they were playing, from a hole in the corner of the room out sprang a mouse. All the cats were startled, and off they ran to catch it.

2. At the sight of the cats the poor mouse ran off towards the fireplace, hoping to find a hole by which to escape back to its home. Over the fender it jumped, and under the grate it darted; but lo! it found no hole, and was now a prisoner at the mercy of the cats.

3. But fortunately for the mouse the cats began to quarrel as to whose the mouse should be. They all wanted it, and none would give it up to another.

4. One said, "I am the oldest, and I ought to have it."

5. Another said, "But I'm the cat of this house; so it's mine, and I will have it."

6. "No, indeed, you sha'n't," said a third; "you've only just had your supper, and I've had nothing to eat to-day; it's only fair that I should have it."

7. "I am the strongest," said the fourth, "and by right it belongs to me."

8. "You the strongest ?" exclaimed the cat which had had nothing to eat, "we'll see who's the strongest ;" and he darted his paw at him, saying as he did it, "touch me or the mouse if you dare."

9. Whereupon the cat of the house said, "That's too bad to hit your seniors."

10. "Mind your own business, Mr. Cat of the House," said the hungry cat, giving him a sharp claw on the head.

11. "I'll not see my friend clawed by a cat like you," struck in the one that had spoken first; and then they all went to clawing and scratching and biting one another, until one after another they ran away, torn and bleeding, leaving the hungry cat alone master of the ground.

12. "There, I said I'd have it," and turning round towards the fireplace the triumphant cat looked for the mouse. But lo! the mouse was not there. Whilst they had been quarrelling whose he should be, the little thief had run away, and was now all safe at home again.

13. Now, vexed and miserable, the cat limped away to his own house, and licked his wounds. And so ended the cat party. They had not merely lost the mouse; they had done