"I'll teach you that. Betty doesn't know much about sums. But she spells splendidly, and is always at the head of her class. Teacher is real proud of her, 'cause she never misses, and spells hard, fussy words, like _chi-rog-ra-phy_ and _bron-chi-tis_ as easy as anything." Bab quite beamed with sisterly pride, and Betty smoothed down her apron with modest satisfaction, for Bab seldom praised her, and she liked it very much. "I never went to school, so that's the reason I aint smart. I can write, though, better'n some of the boys up at school. I saw lots of names on the shed door. See here now," and scrambling down, Ben pulled out a cherished bit of chalk and flourished off ten letters of the alphabet, one on each of the dark stone slabs that paved the walk. "Those are beautiful! I can't make such curly ones. Who taught you to do it?" asked Bab, as she and Betty walked up and down admiring them. "Horse blankets," answered Ben, soberly. "What!" cried both girls, stopping to stare. "Our horses all had their names on their blankets, and I used to copy 'em. The wagons had signs, and I learned to read that way after father taught me my letters off the red and yellow posters. First word I knew was lion, 'cause I was always goin' to see old Jubal in his cage. Father was real proud when I read it right off. I can draw one, too." Ben proceeded to depict an animal intended to represent his lost friend; but Jubal would not have recognized his portrait, since it looked much more like Sancho than the king of the forest. The children admired it immensely, however, and Ben gave them a lesson in natural history which was so interesting that it kept them busy and happy till bedtime; for the boy described what he had seen in such lively language, and illustrated in such a droll way, it was no wonder they were charmed. (_To be continued._) MUSIC ON ALL FOURS. BY JOSEPHINE POLLARD. A Pussy-cat and a Black-and-Tan Were shut in a room together, And, after a season of quiet, began To talk of the change in the weather, And new spring fashions, and after that They had a sort of musical chat. Said Puss: "To me it is quite absurd-- But tastes and opinions vary; And some have declared that no beast or bird Can sing like the small canary,-- Who, if it be true as I've heard it told, Is really worth more than its weight in gold!" Said the Black-and-Tan, with a pensive smile: "I've wanted to call attention To this bit of scandal for quite a while, And, if not amiss, to mention That my daily allowance of bark and w(h)ine Has greatly improved this voice of mine." "It has," said Puss, with a comic grin; "The words of truth you have spoken; A name for ourselves we must strive to win At once, now the ice is broken; For one or two doses of catnip tea Have had a wondrous effect on me!