CONSOLATION. ------------------ WHEN Molly came home from the party to-night— The party was out at nine— There were traces of tears in her bright blue eyes, That looked mournfully up to mine. For some one had said, she whispered to me, With her face on my shoulder hid, Some one had said (there were sobs in her voice) That they didn’t like something she did. So I took my little girl up on my knee— I am old and exceedingly wise— And I said, “My dear, now listen to me; Just listen and dry your eyes. “This world is a difficult world, indeed, And people are hard to suit, And the man who plays on the violin Is a bore to the man with the flute. “And I myself have often thought How very much better ’twould be, If every one of the folks that I know Would only agree with me. “But, since they will not, the very best way To make this world look bright Is never to mind what the people say, But to do what you think is right.” ------------------------------------ [Illustration: “The party was out at nine.”] ------------------------------------ CHILDREN’S SAYINGS. ------------------ BESSIE stood watching the sky one day as the sun went behind a cloud. “The sun has gone to call on the moon. Why, there he is again,” she exclaimed, as he reappeared almost at once; “I suppose she wasn’t at home.” When little Ada, aged three, had been told the story of Lot’s wife being turned into a pillar of salt she asked her mother, anxiously, “Is all salt made of ladies?” Later, when six years old, she was called one Sunday, “Come, Ada, and learn your catechism;” whereupon she answered roguishly, “If it’s for me, it ought to be a kittychism!” Cyril was seven years old. He loved his mother very dearly, and had been separated from her sometimes, as she had to go to India. Once when she came to wish him “good-night” he was under the bed-clothes. He came out with a flushed little face, and said, as he hugged her tight: “Mummie, do you know what I was doing? I was asking God to love you as much as I do. He couldn’t love you more.” [Illustration] ------------------------------------ [Illustration] ------------------------------------ THE ROBIN’S EGG. ------------------ WHAT was ever so dainty of hue? Who can tell, is it green, is it blue? Look, little girl, At this beautiful pearl Hid in the nest of the robin!