One can't stay with a circus and travel up high mountains and cross rivers and visit castles and dungeons, so Little Sir Cat said good-by to the kind circus people and little Tom Thumb, who was making so much money exhibiting himself that he wanted to remain with them until he had made a million dollars.

So once more Little Sir Cat was traveling alone. Well, on he tramped till by-and-by he came to a village, and as he walked down the main street

_Little Johnny Curlytop Sat in his father's shop.

In his thumb he held a plum And a lollypop._

But when he saw Little Sir Cat, he almost dropped his candy, for he had never seen a cat with boots and spurs riding on a pony. But Little Sir Cat only grinned and said: "Pick up your candy, Johnny Curlytop, for candy doesn't grow on trees, and you are a lucky boy to have a lollypop."

[Ill.u.s.tration: LITTLE SIR CAT MEETS TOM, THE PIPER'S SON]

Well, just then, all of a sudden, a boy ran down the street with a little pig under his arm.

"_Tom, Tom, the Piper's Son, Stole a pig and away he run,_"

screamed a green poll parrot from her cage.

"Why, it's Piggie Porker," cried Little Sir Cat, "the little pig I helped through the fence. O, please let him go. It's Piggie Porker."

"Piggie what?" asked Tom, scratching his head.

"I want to go home to mother," squealed Piggie, and this so surprised Tom that he dropped Piggie, who, quick as a wink, darted between his legs and ran away. And, would you believe it? Little Sir Cat jumped on his back, and off they went down the street to the country. Pretty soon Piggie stopped to rest, and Little Sir Cat jumped down to the ground.

"How did you ever get caught?" he asked.

"I disobeyed mother," answered Piggie when able to speak, for he was all out of breath with running, you see. "I squeezed through the fence and ran out to the road, and then that bad boy caught me. Oh, dear, oh, dear!"

Poor little Piggie's pink nose was very red and his cheeks wet with tears. "Don't cry," said Little Sir Cat kindly, "you can't be far from home." And then together they ran across the meadow to the wood to look for the path that led to Piggie's cabin. And pretty soon Piggie found it, so off he scampered.

"I hope mother won't scold me for being away so long--I hope she won't."

In the distance he could see the stout figure of his mother standing in the cabin door. At the sight of her Piggie began to cry, he was so glad to be home again.

And his mother never punished him after all, but just hugged him until he squeaked, "Oh, mother, you're squeezing the breath out of me!"

_But just the same, dear children, Remember to obey, For you might be unlucky And lose your homeward way._

A NEW YEAR'S PRAYER

G.o.d grant that I the new year through May strive with heart and soul to do Those things which are most good and true.

G.o.d grant that I each morning start My duties with a cheerful heart, And faithfully perform my part.

To wear a smile all through the day, To banish thoughts unkind away; And when my bedtime comes, to pray.

To say my prayers with folded hands As night comes softly o'er the lands, To Him, who always understands.

And when the bells on New Year's dawn Proclaim the bright New Year is born, And I awake on New Year's morn,

I pray Him whisper, low and sweet, To help me guide my wayward feet, Lest I forget my prayer to meet.

THE OLD WOMAN UNDER THE HILL

[Ill.u.s.tration]

There was an old woman Lived under the hill, And if she's not married She's living there still.

The First Christmas

Listen, dear littlest children, and you shall hear about the very first Christmas Day.

In a country across the sea, far away from here, shepherds were watching their flocks one night. The sheep were resting on the gra.s.s, the little lambs were fast asleep beside their mothers, but the kind shepherds were not asleep. They were watching that no harm should happen to the sheep.

Perhaps they were looking up at the stars and the beautiful moon above them, when suddenly there appeared a wonderful light in the sky, brighter than the moon or stars, as if the sky had opened and they saw the glory within.

And while they stood there, looking up, wondering what was the cause of that strange light, a beautiful, shining angel came near to them and said:

"Fear not. I bring you good tidings which shall be to all people. This day is born a Saviour, and ye shall find the babe lying in a manger."

Suddenly a mult.i.tude of the heavenly host joined the angel in singing praises to G.o.d.

"_Glory to G.o.d in the highest, and on earth Peace, good will toward men._"

When the angels had gone back to heaven the shepherds said they would go to Bethlehem and see this Saviour of whom the angels sang. They went, and found Him, a little baby, in a stable, with no cradle to lie in; only a manger for His bed. That little baby was Jesus, who when He grew up said:

"Let the little children come unto me, and forbid them not, for of such is the kingdom of heaven." His birthday was the first Christmas Day, and ever since that time we keep that day as a joyful and happy one.

[Ill.u.s.tration]

PLANTING A p.u.s.s.y

Charlie was a little rogue, and Charlie's papa was a big rogue; and two rogues together get into all sorts of mischief.

Charlie wanted a kitten, and one day when he was teasing papa said carelessly:

"Plant old black Nig. I wouldn't wonder if she came up sort of kittenish!"