Her mamma, instead of looking up with her bright smile and ready consent, threw down her book impatiently, exclaiming, as she did so: "Oh dear, Nannie, must I leave my nice book just to mend that tear? It seems to me I never sit down to read, but you want me to do something for you." Nannie's eyes filled with tears, for she recognized her own words, and knew that mamma meant to rebuke her in this way. She raised her eyes to her mamma's face, as if asking for pardon, and as her mamma stretched out her arms, she sprang into them, sobbing her confession there. Nannie had learned a lesson, and one that she never forgot. FOOLISH CHILDREN. MRS. TOPKNOT is having trouble in her family to-night. Two weeks ago she was very happy when twelve soft, downy darlings gathered under her wings. She is not so happy now, because some of them have been naughty. It was just after dinner, when mamma Topknot was taking a nap, that they took it into their heads. Whitey began it. She was a proud little thing, all white, with not a black feather about her. She thought she was the prettiest and smartest of the whole brood. "Our feathers are all out now," Whitey said. "We're growing up. Let's take a little walk by ourselves." "That's so," said Blackey, "we'll do just that thing. Come on, right off, while mother's asleep; we'll get back before ever she wakes." "Won't it be fun?" whispered Speckle. "Come on, all of you, and don't make a bit of noise." "I'm not going to stir a single step," little Dove declared. "I'm going to stay close by my mother." Then every little chick looked up in astonishment, to think that gentle little Dovie would dare to speak her mind so plainly. "She's afraid!" said Spot. "She's afraid a big grasshopper will carry her off." "I am afraid to disobey my mother," Dovie chirped out sweetly. "She said we were never to go anywhere without her till she gave us leave." "Come on, right off, everybody who wants to go," said Blackey, marching off, calling out as he looked behind him: "I know where there are some big strawberries!" "I know where there's a great black dog," piped little Gray. "I'm not going." "Nor I," said Brownie. So away went the naughty nine chickens, and the three little good ones stayed at home. They had a splendid time, for Bobby brought his apron full of chickweed and threw it on the barn floor. They could get little bits of it, even with their small bills. [Illustration: MAMMA TOPKNOT AND HER FAMILY.] When mamma Topknot awoke, she looked about for her children. Only three to be found! Where could the others be? She looked all about and called, but they did not come. Supper time came, and still they had not arrived. "Cluck! Cluck! Cluck!" went mother Topknot about the barnyard, as if she would go wild. Where could they be? If she could only squeeze herself through the hole under the fence by which they got out, she would go in search of them.