In a moment Mrs. Randolph and Mrs. Gimson were at the gate, but the boy had disappeared. "Go down, Barry, and see if what he says is true," said his mother. He ran off, and returning after a little time, brought the overskirt, rolled up in a soiled bundle, as the rain had soaked it and the decayed wood had stained it. "Yes, I think it must have been those tramps," said Mrs. Randolph. "They hid it there, expecting to come for the rest of it the next day. They'll be disappointed. I'll be gone." The boy was Carrie Hess's brother, and the ruse had worked; entirely turning off all suspicion from Lucindy. Mrs. Gimson lost her summer boarders and Lucindy returned to school. This unprincipled girl, however, learned the hard lesson, in her after life, that ingratitude to benefactors, and unfaithfulness to trust, meet a sure retribution, even if they appear to succeed. [Illustration: A MIDNIGHT ATTACK.] [Illustration: {AS NIGHT CAME DARKLY DOWN--BIRDS; A WOMAN AND CHILD; TREES.}] [Illustration: {A CHERUB AND BIRDS.}] AS NIGHT CAME DARKLY DOWN. The night came darkly down; The birdies' mother said, "Peep! peep! You ought to be asleep! 'Tis time my little ones were safe in bed!" So, sheltered by her wings in downy nest, The weary little birdlings took their rest. The night came darkly down; The baby's mother said, "Bye-low! You musn't frolic so! You should have been asleep an hour ago!" And, nestling closer to its mother's breast, The merry prattler sank to quiet rest. Then in the cradle soft 'Twas laid with tenderest care. "Good-night! Sleep till the morning light!" Whispered the mother as she breathed a prayer. Night settled down; the gates of day were barred And only loving angels were on guard. JOSEPHINE POLLARD. GRANDMOTHER'S CLOCK. It stands in the corner of Grandma's room; From the ceiling it reaches the floor; "Tick-tock," it keeps saying the whole day long, "Tick-tock," and nothing more. Grandma says the clock is old, like herself; But dear Grandma is wrinkled and gray, While the face of the clock is smooth as my hand, And painted with flowers so gay! Backwards and forwards, this way and that, You can see the big pendulum rock: "Tick-tock," it keeps saying the whole day long, "Tick-tock, tick-tock, tick-tock!" The clock never sleeps, and its hands never rest As they slowly go moving around; And it strikes the hours with a ding, ding, ding, Ding, ding, and a whirring sound. I wonder if this is the same old clock That the mousie ran up in the night, And played hide-and-seek till the clock struck one, And then ran down in a fright.