"I've got a story which will amuse you, children," he said. "I was

riding past Welby's farm this morning, and Welby was quite full of a

present his sailor son has sent him. It is a monkey--the funniest little

fellow possible. He arrived, dressed in a red jacket and cap, and was

soon as friendly as possible with them all, he says. But the queerest

thing is this. Last week Tom Welby took the monkey a walk in the woods

and gave him some blackberries. Mr. Monkey seemed to like them very

much, and the next morning be disappeared, to the Welbys' consternation.

They were sure he was stolen or lost. But late in the afternoon he came

home again in a very good humour. And the next morning off he went

again, to come home just like the day before. They couldn't make it out,

but Tom was determined to find out, so he watched Mr. Monkey, and where

do you think he was? In the woods gathering blackberrries on his own

account, 'like a Christian,' said old Welby, and enjoying himself

thoroughly. And now he goes off every morning regularly, and comes home

when the afternoon gets chilly. It's really most amusing, isn't it?"

[Illustration]

The children looked at each other, but for a moment none of them spoke.

Then at last Nora burst out.

"Uncle, we saw him this morning. But--we were very silly--"

"We thought he was a wood-spirit--a--a--I can't remember the name,"

said Cecil.

"I wanted to shoot him," said Hilary.

At this there was a shout of laughter all round the table. The children

hesitated, then they looked at each other again, and burst out laughing

too.

"Why didn't you tell us?" asked big sister Mabel.

"We thought you'd laugh at us," they said.

"And after all we _have_ laughed at you, but I don't think you're any

the worse," said Mabel smiling, as she kissed their little flushed

faces.

[Illustration]

RICHARD CLAY AND SONS, LIMITED, LONDON AND BUNGAY.

* * * * *

PUBLICATIONS OF THE

SOCIETY FOR PROMOTING CHRISTIAN KNOWLEDGE

Books by Mrs. Molesworth.

=A CHARGE FULFILLED.= With Three Page Woodcuts.

Crown 8vo. Cloth boards, _2s. 6d._

=LETTICE.= With Three Page Woodcuts. Crown 8vo. Cloth

boards, _2s._

=THE ABBEY BY THE SEA=, and another Story. With

One Page Woodcut. Post 8vo. Ornamental paper boards, _1s._

=THE LITTLE OLD PORTRAIT.= With several Illustrations

printed in colours. Post 8vo. Cloth boards, _1s. 6d._

=THE CHILD'S PICTORIAL=

A Monthly Coloured Magazine

_Price 2d._

Yearly Volume, containing 12 Numbers, paper boards, 2s.; cloth

boards, _2s. 6d._

This Magazine is intended for children of the ages between four and eight

years; but it will be found interesting, it is hoped, to those beyond that

age. The matter is made as interesting and edifying as possible, and the

coloured illustrations are artistic and attractive.

The services of the best known writers for Children have been enlisted

for this Magazine, as the names of the chief contributors will show, viz.,

Mrs. MOLESWORTH, Mrs. MACQUOID, Mrs. SITWELL, Rev. J. G.

WOOD, Mr. F. S. POTTER, &c.

The Illustrations are furnished by W. J. MORGAN, Esq., HARRISON

WEIR, Esq., and other known artists.

PUBLICATIONS

BY THE

LATE MRS. EWING.

=SNAPDRAGONS; a Tale of Christmas Eve=; and =OLD FATHER CHRISTMAS=.

With Illustrations by GORDON BROWNE. Small 4to, paper boards, _1s._

=THE PEACE EGG, AND A CHRISTMAS MUMMING PLAY.= With

Illustrations by GORDON BROWNE. Small 4to, paper boards, _1s._

=MARY'S MEADOW, and Letters from a Little Garden.= Illustrated by

GORDON BROWNE. Small 4to, paper boards, _1s._

=LOB LIE-BY-THE-FIRE=; or, =The Luck of Lingborough=. With Illustrations

by the late R. CALDECOTT. Small 4to, paper boards, _1s._

=POEMS FOR CHILD LIFE AND COUNTRY LIFE.= Six Books printed in

Colours from Designs by R. ANDRE. Paper boards, each _1s._

=STORY OF A SHORT LIFE (THE).= With Illustrations by GORDON BROWNE.

Small 4to, paper boards, _1s._

=DADDY DARWIN'S DOVECOT=: a Country Tale. With numerous Illustrations

by the late R. CALDECOTT. Small 4to, paper boards, _1s._

=DANDELION CLOCKS and other Tales.= With Illustrations by GORDON

BROWNE, and other artists. Small 4to, paper boards, _1s._

=JACKANAPES.= With Seventeen Illustrations by the late RANDOLPH CALDECOTT.

Small 4to, paper boards, _1s._

=BROTHERS OF PITY, and other Tales of Beasts and Men.= Crown 8vo,

with numerous Illustrations, cloth boards, _2s. 6d._

=OLD-FASHIONED FAIRY TALES.= Foolscap 4to, with numerous Woodcuts,

ornamental paper boards, _3s. 6d._

=VERSE BOOKS FOR CHILDREN.= Printed in Colours from Designs by R.

ANDRE. Small 4to, ornamental paper boards, each _1s._

VERSE BOOKS IN VOLUMES.

Coloured Illustrations by ANDRE.

=A SOLDIER'S CHILDREN, and Five other Tales.= Sm. 4to, paper boards, 3s.

=BLUE BELLS ON THE LEA, and Ten other Tales.= Sm. 4to, paper boards, 3s.

=MOTHER'S BIRTHDAY REVIEW, and Seven other Tales.= Small 4to

paper boards, _3s._

=JULIANA HORATIA EWING AND HER BOOKS.= By HORATIA K. F. GATTY. With a

Portrait by GEORGE REID, R.S.A. Illustrated by facsimiles from Mrs.

EWING'S sketches, and a cover designed by the late RANDOLPH

CALDECOTT. Small 4to, paper boards, _1s._

Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge.

LONDON: NORTHUMBERLAND AVENUE, W.C.; 43 QUEEN VICTORIA STREET, E.C.

BRIGHTON: 135 NORTH STREET.

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