ROSE HAMILTON.

"Он, how happy I am! Just look here, mother. See this darling great dolly, that father has given me for a birthday present! Isn't she a beauty? What splendid black curls! And oh, see, mother, she can open and shut her eyes, just like you and me, and stretch out her arms! I never saw any thing so beautiful in all my life- did you, mother?"

Mrs. Hamilton smiled.

"It is indeed a handsome present, Rose, and father is very kind to get so beautiful a gift on his little girl's birthday. And what are you going to do

to pay him for it?" she continued, playfully, bending to impress a kiss on Rose's smiling lips.

"Oh, I am going to be so good all the year the whole year, mother. You see if I get angry once! How can I, when I have got this beautiful, beautiful dolly ? But, mother, did you know father was going to give it to me?" continued the little girl, looking up into her mother's face.

"Yes, Rose, we went out together yesterday morning to purchase it."

"And you knew it all day, and never breathed a word to me about it. Oh, I don't see how you could keep it secret so long!" and Rose skipped and danced about, holding her precious birthday gift close to her heart, and hugging it as though it were real flesh and blood, and could understand her feelings of love and gladness.

Presently she stopped, and laying her doll carefully on the sofa, she went to her mother's side. "Dear mother, I must thank you too as well as father. It was so good in you to get it when you knew it was just what I have been wanting so long. Father never would have thought of it himself. And now you'll see how good I shall be to pay for it. I feel as though I could never get vexed about any thing now. And I really think I never shall-don't you, mother?"

Mrs. Hamilton could not help smiling, but the next moment she looked thoughtful, and replied, somewhat sadly—

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"I am afraid it will take something more than your dolly to make you always careful to avoid getting vexed,' as you call it. My dear little daughter knows she needs help from a different source, to make her good and gentle."

"I know what you mean, mother," said Rose, her little face suddenly assuming a somewhat grave expression.

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But, dear mother, I think this may help me a little-not the dolly itselfbut the thought that you and father are so kind, and all that sort of thing, you know. Don't you think so, too?" "Yes, darling, it ought to have that effect, certainly, and if it does it will prove a useful present. But see, there is cousin Mary."

“Oh, I must show her my doll," cried Rose, and she bounded out of the room, to exhibit its charms to her little playmate, whose admiration was equalled only by her unselfish pleasure in witnessing Rose's unbounded delight. Mrs. Hamilton could hear their childish voices in the next room, as they discussed the important topics of dolly's name and

dress, the former being decided upon as Susy, and the latter calling out all their little stock of toilet phraseology-Rose growing fairly eloquent over flounces, and basques, and bright-bordered aprons. Poor child! she little dreamed how soon her pleasant plans were to be frustrated, and, alas, through her own wayward and ungoverned temper.

"What is your question for the week, Rose?" said Mrs. Hamilton to her daughter, the next Sabbath evening, as they sat together, enjoying their pleasant half hour's talk, before Rose's bed-time. Mr. Ellis, Rose's Sabbath school teacher, was in the habit of giving out a question to his class every week, an answer to which was expected from each scholar at the next session of the school.

"What is it to be a Christian?"" was Rose's reply.