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Little Red Riding Hood.

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head to foot at last she muttered in a whisper,

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Granny, what large teeth you have!"

"The better to eat you up!" And, saying this, the wolf sprang out of the bed. Little Red Riding Hood screamed as loudly as ever she could, when in rushed her father and some other fagot-makers who, seeing the wolf, killed him at once, and released Little Red Riding Hood. These were the fagot-makers she had met in the wood. They, thinking she was not quite safe with a wolf, went and told her father, and they all followed her to her grandmother's house, and thus saved her life

After this Little Red Riding Hood never loitered or talked to strangers on any of her errands.

Grumble and Cheery.

GRUMBLE and Cheery kept a large mill between them. Cheery was the merriest man alive, and was a great favourite. Grumble was always finding fault with everything and every person. One bright morning they started off to market to buy a pony. On the road they found three fat little men in a difficulty, out of which Cheery helped them, but Grumble would not in any way assist them. These three men promised Cheery that the pony he would buy at market should have the speed of the wind, that he would never tire under any work or weight, and that after three years' service he would run away with all the bad luck of the house. And so it turned out, the pony was everything the little men had promised and for three years all went on well with the mill; Cheery married, and was as merry as ever, while Grumble got worse in temper because he had now nothing to find fault with. At the end of he third year it happened that Grumble went down to the stable where the pony was, and when he had unlocked the door out rushed the three little men whom he had met when going to market, who pinched, and poked, and kicked him without mercy. They then tied him on the back of the pony, and, telling him that he was the bad luck of the house, bade the pony scamper round and round the world, and not to stop till he was told,

rence.

The Eagle's Verdict.

IT happened once upon a time that a Lion stood godfather to the daughter of a very old king. At his death the princess, who was named Blanchflor, was adopted by the king of a neighbouring country. This king had a daughter of his own, named FloThe two maidens were very pretty, and many princes sought their hands in marriage, but they had pledged themselves away: Florence to a bold Knight, and Blanchflor to a poor Scholar. Now, one of the disappointed princes was named Prince Peter; and one moonlight night as Lady Florence and the Knight were walking on the garden terrace, they saw Prince Peter lurking about; and so great was the anger of the Knight that he laid hold of him and cuffed him soundly. The old king was in great doubt whether at his death he should leave his kingdom to the Scholar or the Knight; he asked the advice of his councillors, who could not agree to any decision. So Lady Blanchflor sent a messenger to her godfather the Lion to beg his interference. The Lion determined to ask the advice of his sage and aged brother the Eagle, who decided in favour of the Scholar. Lady Florence was in great distress, but the Lady Blanchflor prayed the old king to grant that the Knight and the Scholar might reign together, the one to protect, and the other to make laws for the kingdom,

Little Goody Two-Shoes.

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THERE was once a little girl who was called Goody Two-Shoes. This was not her real name. No, her father's name was Meanwell. He was a large farmer at one time, but, through the wickedness of some persons, he lost all his property, and he was quite ruined. This so affected his health, that it shortened his days; and his wife did not long survive him, leaving Margery and her little brother to the wide world. These two little orphans were very fond of each other. They were both very ragged, and Tommy had two shoes, but Margery had but one. Their relations took no notice of them, for they were ashamed to own such a poor ragged girl as Margery, and such a dirty curlypated boy as Tommy.

Mr. Smith was a very worthy clergyman, who lived in the parish where little Margery and Tommy were born; and having a relation come to see him, who was a charitable, good man, he sent for these children to him. The gentleman ordered little Margery a new pair of shoes, gave Mr. Smith some money to buy her clothes, and said he would take Tommy and make him a sailor.

The parting between these two little children was very affecting. They both cried, and kissed each other a hundred times. At last Tommy wiped off her tears with the end of his jacket, and bid her cry no more, for that he would come to her again when he returned from sea.

Nothing could have supported little Margery under the affliction she was in for the loss of her brother, but the pleasure she took in the two shoes which the gentleman had ordered for her. She ran to Mrs. Smith as soon as they were put on, and stroking down her ragged apron, cried out, "Two Shoes, Ma'am! see Two Shoes!" And so she behaved to all the people she met, and by that means obtained the name of Little Goody Two-Shoes.

Little Margery saw how good and how wise Mr. Smith was, and concluded that this was owing to his great learning, therefore she wanted of all things to learn to read. For this purpose, she used to meet the little boys and girls as they came from school, borrow their books, and sit down and read till they returned. By this means she soon was able to read herself, and to teach other children to read also. After some time she gained her livelihood by going round to the houses of the farmers in the neighbourhood and teaching their children to read. Some years passed in this way,

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Some days after she had met with the raven, as she was walking in the fields, she saw some naughty boys who had taken a pigeon and tied a string to its legs, in order to let it fly and draw it back again when they pleased; this bird she also bought.

The neighbours knowing that Mrs. Two-Shoes was very good, as, to be sure, nobody was better, made her a present of a skylark. She thought the lark might be of use to her and her pupils, and tell them when it was time to get up.

Some time after this a poor lamb had lost its dam, and the farmer being about to kill it, she bought it of him, and brought him home with her to play with the children, and teach them when to go to bed. This lamb she called Will, and a pretty fellow he was.

Soon after this, a present was made to Mrs. Margery of a little dog, whom she called Jumper.

It was about this time that Mrs. Margery received a letter, which caused her to jump for joy, for she knew it was from her brother Tommy. He had written from India to tell her he was quite well, that he was getting some money, and that as soon as he had sufficient he meant to return to England to see his sister.

After this Margery conducted herself so wisely that a gentleman, Sir Charles Jones, conceived such a high opinion of her that he offered her a large sum of money to take care of his family and the education of his daughter, which, however, she declined; but this gentleman sending for her afterwards, when he was very ill, she went, and behaved so prudently and so tenderly to him and his daughter, that he would not permit her to leave

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Little Goody Two-Shoes.

his house, but soon after made her proposals of marriage.

All things being settled, and the day fixed, the neighbours came in crowds to see the wedding; for they were all glad that one who had been such a good little girl, and was become such a virtuous and good woman, was going to be made a lady. But just as the clergyman had opened his book, a gentleman richly dressed ran into the church, and cried, "Stop! stop!" This was no other than Tommy Meanwell, Margery's brother, who was just come from sea, where he had made a large

fortune, and hearing of his sister's intended wedding, had rode post to see that a proper settlement was made on her, which he thought she was now entitled to, as he himself was both able and willing to give her an ample fortune.

Sir Charles and Lady Jones lived happily for many years. She was always doing good; she was a mother to the poor, a physician to the sick, and a friend to all who were in distress. Her life was the greatest blessing, and her death the greatest calamity, that ever was felt in the neighbourhood.

The Princess Rosetta.

Tom Hickathrift.

THE Princess Rosetta declared that she would not marry any one but the King of the Peacocks, and her brothers, who were very fond of her, went in search of that king. Having reached his land, they showed to him their sister's portrait: he said that if the princess was as fair as the portrait he would marry her, but if she was not he would put the brothers to death. The brothers wrote to Rosetta to come to them. While in the ship the nurse persuaded the captain to throw overboard Rosetta, her dog, and bed; the nurse then dressed her daughter in one of the princess's richest gowns, and took her to the King of the Peacocks. But the daughter was as ugly as a baboon, and the king was so angry that he gave orders that the princes should be imprisoned. In the meantime the bed on which Rosetta had been cast into the sea had not sunk, but had floated her to the land of the King of the Peacocks. An old fisherman took her to his cottage. The next day her dog went in search of food, and having stolen some meat from the king's kitchen, Rosetta, as the owner of the dog, was brought as a prisoner before the king. The old fisherman told the king her story, when he immediately restored the princes to liberty, and married the princess.

IN the reign of William the Conqueror there lived in the Isle of Ely, in Cambridgeshire, a brave stout man named Tom Hickathrift, who for his valiant services was appointed by the king Governor of the Isle of Thanet. Now Tom had in his early days a friend who was called Harry Nonsuch, a tinker, and him he invited to visit him in his government. After a few days' pleasure, Tom told him they must go in search of some bears and lions in the island. After they had travelled four or five hours, it was their fortune to meet with all the wild beasts together, being in number fourteen; six of which were bears, the other eight young lions. When these creatures had set their eyes on them they ran furiously, as if they would have devoured them at a mouthful; but Tom with his club so belaboured their heads, that they were all destroyed, except one young lion who tried to escape; but the tinker being too venturous, ran hastily after him, and gave him a blow. The beast turned upon him, and seized him with such violence by the throat, that it ended his life. Tom's joy was now mingled with sorrow, for though he had cleared the island of these ferocious beasts, his grief was intolerable for the loss of his friend.

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