"
The child said, "Yes, at home, we are three--myself and my two
sisters, Jane and Alice; and mamma says we are pretty little children,
and that she is very fond of us."
To this the little larks replied, "Oh yes, mamma is very fond of us
too."
Then the child said, "Good lark, will you send home Tiny Bill to play
with me?" Before the lark could reply, Bright Eye said, "Yes, if you
will send little Alice to play with us in our nest."
The child said, "Oh, Alice will be so sorry to leave home, and come
away from mamma!"
Bright. Eye said, "Tiny Bill will be so sorry to leave our nest, and
go away from mamma!"
The child was abashed, and went home, saying, "_Ah, every one is fond
of home_!"
* * * * *
THE TWO GEMS
A despot in the East once said to his fawning courtiers, "He that goes
round my kingdom in the shortest possible time shall have one of these
two gems."
A courtier went round the King, and said, "Sire, may I have the prize?"
"How so?" said the King.
"Why, you are the kingdom, are you not?" said the courtier.
The despot was so well pleased with the courtier that he gave him both
the gems.
The other courtiers said, in a whisper, "_Flatterers prey upon fools_.
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