But we were mistaken; soon came that same clattering noise again. We removed the top of the stove and peeped in; nothing was to be seen in the darkness. We then made bold to open the door and poke about; but with no better result. After listening, we decided that the creature was between the lining and outside. But how were we to get at it? Annie came in from the kitchen armed with a poker. We took out the damper and poked out all the soot and ashes. We brought to the front--what do you think? Why, a little bird, a chimney swallow, chirping and fluttering, poor thing, with fright. One wing seemed to droop a little; so we took it up and put it in a box. If we supposed it was going to stay there we were much mistaken. Soon the bird began to recover, and with a little hop was upon the edge of the box cocking its head and looking with its big, bright eyes all about, as if on the alert for any new danger. A tree was the best and safest place, and Hervin carried it out and set it gently down. It rose, feebly at first, then soared away over the tops of the houses. Wasn't that a queer place to find a birdie? You are glad it got out, for that very night we had to have a fire. MRS. W. S. AMSDEN. [Illustration: {TWO CHERUBS.}] THE JOHN AND LINCOLN FLEET. John and Lincoln have a fleet of ten boats. They made these boats themselves. They are made out of flat chips. They are whittled round at one end and pointed at the other. Each boat has a mast and a sail. Sometimes they tie these boats together, and call them the _John and Lincoln_ fleet; they call each other "Captain John" and "Captain Lincoln." They have a big boat called the _Mary_; aunt Mary gave it to them. The _Mary_ is their flagship. [Illustration: CAPTAIN JOHN AND THE MARY.] One day the fleet were all out when a storm came. The wind blew, the rain fell, and the waves were big. Six of the little boats were wrecked on a rock. But the _Mary_ only plunged a little. It was great fun. What, a storm at sea great fun! Yes, because John and Lincoln made the storm themselves. They made the wind with the bellows; they poured the big raindrops from the watering-pot; and they made the high waves by dragging shingles through the water. THE YACHT STARLIGHT. The _Starlight_ was in Gloucester harbor for three days, and Rob and Phyllis went on board with mamma one day, to lunch with Arthur and Helen and their mamma. They had never been on a yacht before. They were surprised to find it so pretty. It was finished in beautiful mahogany with a great deal of brass-work, the latter brightly shining, too, for the housekeeping on a yacht is always first-rate. The ceiling of the cabin was of blue satin, and so were the curtains, which hung before the funny little windows, and at the doors. On each side of the cabin was a long seat covered with blue satin cushions.