And going into the room at the back of the shop, she drew a rocking-chair near the cheerful blaze of the bright fire and sat down, still clasping the little Marionette in her arms. At first she rocked to and fro silently, and with a thoughtful expression. Presently she gave a sudden jerk to the rocking-chair, and sung in a shrill sweet voice, and with some energy-- "Lulla_by_, little dolly, lulla_by_, lulla_by_, Your poor nose is broken, your eyes are awry, But I'll love you and kiss you, so you must just try Not to cry, little dolly,--lulla_by_, lulla_by_." "Lullaby," she said more gently, and kissed her fondly. Then she began afresh, but more softly and soothingly-- "Lulla_by_, little dolly, lulla_by_, lulla_by_, You know you are ugly and rather a guy, But my arms are around you, so why should you sigh? Just you sleep, little dolly,--lulla_by_, lulla_by_." "Lullaby," she whispered, and kissed her again very tenderly. "This is not poetry, only rhyme, and not very flattering rhyme either," murmured the little Marionette. "But if it is not poetry it is love.... And it brings comfort to my sore heart, which the reasoning, and the doctoring, and the jesting could not do...." She whispered something more, but very weakly. Her power of talking to a Mortal had all but left her, and the child had to put her head quite close to the little lady so as to be able to catch what she said. "Let me always stay with you," the little Marionette just managed to whisper. "Always, dear," said her little friend. And then the little lady fell asleep quite happily. That at least was what the little girl thought. And if _she_ thought so _we_ might as well think the same. * * * * * "You want me to give you that little Marionette?" said the owner of the toy-shop to the little girl that same evening. "Very well, Molly, you shall have her." "Oh, thank you, Auntie!" replied her little niece with much gratitude. "There is not very much to thank me for," remarked her aunt. "She is not worth anything now. I can't imagine," she added, "how it is that she has got so knocked about." Now the little girl had no need to imagine it, for she knew. But she kept her knowledge to herself, fearing that if she told her Aunt what had happened she would be laughed at as a fanciful child. But we should not have laughed at her,--should we? There would have been no fancy at out the matter for us. For _we_ know that the Toy World is a very real World indeed! * * * * * Altemus' New Illustrated YOUNG PEOPLE'S LIBRARY A new series of choice literature for children, selected from the best and most popular works. Handsomely printed on fine paper from large type, with numerous colored illustrations and black and white engravings, by the most famous artists, making the handsomest and most attractive series of juvenile classics before the public.