Chapter I: KNOW a house so full of noise,

You'd think a regiment of boys,
From early morn till close of day,
Were busy with their romping play.
And yet, I'm ready to declare,
There is but one small youngster there,--
A little golden-headed chap,
Who used to think his mother's lap
The nicest place that e'er could be,
Until he grew so big that he
Was most a man, and learned what fun
It is to shout and jump and run.
This restless, noisy little elf
Has learned, alas! to think himself
Too old in mother's arms to sleep;
Yet his blue eyes he cannot keep
From hiding 'neath their lids so white;
And, climbing to the sofa's height,
He snuggles down, forgets his play,
And into Dreamland sails away;
And then it is that mamma knows
Why the whole house so silent grows.

MARY D. BRINE.

MILLY AND JIP.

THIS is a little English girl. Her name is Mildred; but she is usually called Milly. She has always lived in a fine old house, with lovely grounds about it, not far from London. But now she is going, with her father and mother, to India.

She thinks it will be very nice to be travelling so far away with them; but she is sorry to leave her kind grandmother, and all her aunts and cousins. She could not help crying when she said good-by to them.

"I cannot go without my Jip," she said to her mother the day before leaving.

"Oh, no, darling!" said her mother. "I wouldn't think of leaving the little dog behind. He will be a fine play-fellow for you on board the ship."

So she has Jip cuddled close in her arms, you see. It is late in November, and the weather is cold. But Milly has plenty of warm fur wraps to protect her and her pet too.

She will soon be far away from cold weather, and when she reaches India, she will laugh at the thought of ever being bundled up in all that fur.

JANE OLIVER.

LAWN-TENNIS.

JOHN sits on a three-legged stool. What is he doing? We can't tell, for we can't see through him: so we must guess. I guess he is watching a game of lawn-tennis.

I think I see one of the players that John has his eye on. It is a bright little girl. Her name is Julia. Look at her. She is having fine fun. John hopes that her side will win. And so do I. Let us all give three cheers for her.