There were tears in Hal's eyes, but the Judge had no pity on him, and he called in some of the strongest cats to take him. Oh! what a long, hard way it was; over fences, under houses, and through the barns. It was hard work for Hal to keep up with them, but they made him. What a time he had after he got to Cat town. All of the cats gathered around him, and howled at him, and scratched his face and hands, and made him wish he was any place but there. At last when he was set free, he never could have found his way home, if pretty little Dolly Varden had not forgiven him, and shown him the way back. Hal was never known after that to throw a stone at a cat, or to treat one badly in any way. TWO LITTLE GIRLS. They don't know much, these little girls, I'll tell you why 'tis so, They played away their time at school, And let their lessons go. One took a slate to cipher, And all went very well, Until she came to four times eight, And that she could not tell. The other would make pictures In her copy book at school, Of boys and girls and donkeys Which was against the rule. But nothing good could come of it, And this is what befell; She tried to write to papa, And found she could not spell. The teacher said, "Of all sad things, I would not be a dunce, But would learn to write and cipher, And begin the work at once." [Illustration: {A BOY WITH A BOOK LOOKS OVER THE CITY.}] HELPFUL WORDS. A great astronomer was, once in his early days, working hard at mathematics, and the difficulties he met with, made him ready to give up the study in despair. After listlessly looking out of the window, he turned over the leaves of his book, when the lining at the back attracted his attention. Looking at it closely, he found it was part of a letter written to a young man, apparently, like himself, disheartened with his difficulties. "Go on, sir, go on," was the counsel; "the difficulties you meet will disappear as you advance." This short sentence seemed to give the student fresh courage. Following out these simple words he applied himself with renewed energy to his studies, and ultimately became one of the most learned men of his day. D. FALSE SHAME. Do not be ashamed, my lad, if you have a patch on your elbow. It is no mark of disgrace. It speaks well for your industrious mother. For our part, we would rather see a dozen patches on your clothes than to have you do a bad or mean action, or to hear a profane or vulgar word proceed from your lips. No good boy will shun you or think less of you because you do not dress as well as he does, and if any one laugh at your appearance, never mind it. Go right on doing your duty. [Illustration: {FIVE DEER.}] CLARA AND THE ANIMAL BOOK.