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The Battle of Blenheim.

BEWARE OF THAT TRAP, BOYS!

L

ET me tell you a tale of a little gray mouse

That had left his snug nest at the top of the house,

To cut capers and play on the old kitchen floor,

Where he danced with delight for ten minutes or more.

But at last little mousey, while rolling a ball,
Caught sight of a box standing close to the wall;
Such a snug little box, with its half open door,
And its windows of wire behind and before.

So he looked and he longed for that morsel of cheese
Which he saw on the floor-he could get it with ease;
And then he'd go home to his nest (so he thought
Silly mouse!) He went in-the door shut-he was caught!

You are in, little mousey, but how to get out
Is a question you never need trouble about;

You may peep through the bars, and tremble, and wait,
Till the trap is unsprung and you meet with your fate.

Oh, my boy, you may laugh at the poor little mouse !
But my tale has a moral-keep far from the house
Where temptation assails you, and riotous brawl!
The public-house bar is the trap by the wall.

-Children's Friend.

THE BATTLE OF BLENHEIM.

SOUTHEY.

-T was a summer evening,

IT

Old Kaspar's work was done;

And he before the cottage door
Was sitting in the sun,

And by him sported on the green
His little grandchild Wilhelmine.

She saw her brother Peterkin

Roll something large and round,
That he beside the rivulet,

In playing there, had found;
He came to ask what he had found,
That was so large, and smooth, and round.

The Battle of Blenheim.

Old Kaspar took it from the boy,
Who stood expectant by;

And then the old man shook his head,
And with a natural sigh,

""Tis some poor fellow's skull," said he,
"Who fell in the great victory.

"I find them in the garden, for There's many here about, And often when I go to plough,

The ploughshare turns them out; For many thousand men," said he, "Were slain in the great victory."

"Now tell us what 'twas all about,"
Young Peterkin he cries,
And little Wilhelmine looks up
With wonder-waiting eyes;
"Now tell us all about the war,
And what they kill'd each other for."

"It was the English," Kaspar cried,
That put the French to rout;
But what they kill'd each other for,
I could not well make out.
But everybody said," quoth he,
"That 'twas a famous victory.

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My father lived at Blenheim then,
Yon little stream hard by;

They burnt his dwelling to the ground,
And he was forced to fly:

So with his wife and child he fled,

Nor had he where to rest his head.

"With fire and sword the country round Was wasted far and wide,

And many a childing mother then,

And new-born infant, died.

But things like that, you know, must be

At every famous victory.

They say it was a shocking sight,

After the field was won,

For many thousand bodies here

Lay rotting in the sun;

But things like that, you know, must be
After a famous victory.

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"Not for Fifty Million."

"Great praise the Duke of Marlboro' won,
And our good Prince Eugene."-
"Why, 'twas a very wicked thing!
Said little Wilhelmine.

"Nay-nay-my little girl," quoth he,
"It was a famous victory.

"And everybody praised the Duke
Who such a fight did win."-

"But what good came of it at last?"
Quoth little Peterkin,-

Why that I cannot tell," said he,

"But 'twas a famous victory."

"NOT FOR FIFTY MILLION !"

FROM "LITTLE MADIE."

WISH to speak to you," said Mr. Royal. So John came slowly up to the desk, with the look of a culprit on his face, for he had just protested, with great vehemence, that he would'nt play with little sister Maidie "any more," that he wouldn't.

"I want to know how much you will take for your share in Maidie?"

John looked up, surprised.

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I don't know what you mean," he said.

'Why," explained his father, "since you have done playing with Maidie, I would like to buy your share in her-or your right to her. Now you may set your own price. How much shall I give you for her?"

"How much money, do you mean, papa?

66 Yes."

"I guess I'll sell her for fifty dollars," said John, after a few moments' reflection. "Yes, I will-fifty dollars."

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'Very well, that is quite reasonable," said Mr. Royal. "Now you must remember that as I am going to buy all your right

"Not for Fifty Million."

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to Maidie, you have nothing more to do with her. You must not kiss her, nor speak to her, nor play with her any more. She is your mamma's little girl and mine, not yours at all. It is a bargain, is it, John ?

"Can't I kiss her good night, when we go to bed?"

"No."

"Can't we go out doors together?" John's voice began to sound a little unsteady. "You know our garden, papa ?"

"You will have to make another, somewhere else. I will find you a place. You must not work in the same garden any more."

"I will have to lead her to school, papa: she will get lost if I don't, just as sure as anything."

"I will attend to that, John. You will have to go to school by yourself. Is the bargain made?"

"Y-e-s, sir, I suppose so." And John cast a doubtful look at Maidie, who stood close by, with her doll in her arms, and tears on her long eyelashes.

"Very well," said Mr. Royal. "When you want the money you can ask for it. You may go now."

"I know what I mean to buy," thought John, running to the other end of the room and sitting down on the broad cushioned window-seat. "I will buy a pony and a saddle, and a gold watch, and lots of other things that I've been a-wanting ever since I was a little boy."

The idea of these splendid acquisitions was so pleasant that he wanted to share it with some one; so he cried out:

"Oh, Maidie, you come here, and I'll tell you what I am going to buy with my fifty dollars."

"Stop, stop," cried papa; "have you forgotten so soon that you have no right to Maidie ? She doesn't belong to you

at all."

A cloud came over John's face, and he sat very still for a long time, thinking, and by-and-by two or three tears fell. Maidie and he had played together ever since he could remember-such a long, long time! and she was the only little sister he had in the world; a real tease, sometimes, to be

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"Not for Fifty Million."

sure, but then how could he get along without her? He looked slyly out from behind the window-curtains, to see what she was doing.

How pretty she looked, sitting in a high chair beside her father, with a book of coloured pictures open before her and her sunny curls falling over her rosy cheeks and white neck! Was'nt she better than a sail-boat, or a gold watch, or even a pony? "Yes, indeed, a thousand million times!' thought John, "and yet I've gone and sold her for fifty dollars, and I almost know that papa won't take it back, 'cause it was a regular bargain. Oh, dear, dear!"

Here the tears began to flow faster and faster, and presently a choking little sob attracted Mr. Royal's attention. Then another and another, and then John jumped down from the window seat, and running up to the desk, hid his face on his father's arm, and burst into such a passion of tears that Maidie was frightened and began to cry too.

"Why, what is the matter, my son ?" asked Mr. Royal, kindly.

"I-I-I-don't wa-want to-to-sell my right to Maidie," answered John, as well as he could for weeping.

for fifty dollars?" asked papa.

"Why-not

"Oh no," said John, " no, indeed, not for fifty million. Will you let me have her back again, please, dear papa? and I don't believe I'll ever be so naughty and cross again as long as I live."

"Very well," said Mr. Royal, smiling. "Since you wish it so much, I will give up my part of the bargain, and you may have your little sister back again; but I hope you will think, another time when you are tempted to speak to her as you did to-day, how you would feel not to have Maidie at all."

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"I guess I shall," said John, giving her a good hug and kiss. "I love you, Maidie."

"So do I you," said Maidie, returning the caress. let's go out in our garden, John."

"Now

So away they ran, hand in hand, as merry as the birds that were singing up among the boughs of the old butternut tree.