The mother and the child left. And I who had heard these things, I thought of the sacred texts:-- "Blessed are the pure of heart, for they shall see God." "I thank Thee, Father, because Thou hast hidden these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them to the little ones." "Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings Thou hast perfected praise." CHRISTMAS GIFTS FOR THE BOYS. "Please suggest a suitable Christmas present for a boy of nine." The above, addressed to the _New York Sun_, elicited the following reply, which may be read with much profit by all parents of young hopefuls. If your nine-year-old has developed any mechanical taste, gratify it by a small kit of tools. The chests of cheap tools sold in the stores are not good for much. Select a few tools of good quality at a hardware store, and put a substantial work bench, such as carpenters use, in the play room. Never mind an occasional cut finger. Pet animals or birds, which may be found in great variety in the bird fanciers' stores, always delight the boys. But city boys do not always have room to keep them. An aquarium of moderate dimensions, stocked with half a dozen varieties of fish, turtles, snails, seaweed, etc., is a very useful and interesting present for any boy or girl. In the spring add a few pollywogs, and watch them in their evolution into frogs. You will be interested in the process yourself. What do you say to a microscope? If your boy lacks muscular development for his years, get him a set of apparatus for parlor gymnastics. He will have lots of fun and it will do him good. A bicycle isn't bad either. If he hasn't learned to skate yet it is time to start in. Get him a good pair of steel runners. Of course he has a sled? Perhaps he has all of the things we mention. If so, get the housemaid, or some other person whom he would not suspect, to ask him what he would like best for Christmas, and get that if it is within the bounds of reason. Throw in a book. There are plenty of them. Don't give him a toy pistol. ROBIN REDBREAST. All over Great Britain and Ireland the redbreast's nest is spared, while those of other birds are robbed without ceremony; and his life is equally sacred. No schoolboy who has ever killed a robin can forget the dire remorse and fear that followed the deed. And little wonder, for terrible are the punishments said to overtake those who persecute this little bird. Generally such a crime is believed to be expiated by the death of a friend. Sometimes the punishment is more trivial. In some parts of England it is believed that even the weasel and the wildcat will spare him.