"That is where it should be, and Ben is a true knight, winning the prize that he may give it to his lady, while he is content with the victory," said Miss Celia, laughingly, to Teacher, as the children ran off to join in the riotous games which soon made the orchard ring. "He learned that at the circus 'tunnyments,' as he calls them. He is a nice boy, and I am much interested in him; for he has the two things that do most toward making a man, patience and courage," answered Teacher, smiling also as she watched the young knight play leap-frog, and the honored lady tearing about in a game of tag. "Bab is a nice child, too," said Miss Celia; "she is as quick as a flash to catch an idea and carry it out, though very often the ideas are wild ones. She could have won just now, I fancy, if she had tried, but took the notion into her head that it was nobler to let Ben win, and so atone for the trouble she gave him in losing the dog. I saw a very sweet look on her face just now, and am sure that Ben will never know why he beat." "She does such things at school sometimes, and I can't bear to spoil her little atonements, though they are not always needed or very wise," answered Teacher. "Not long ago I found that she had been giving her lunch day after day to a poor child who seldom had any, and when I asked her why, she said, with tears, 'I used to laugh at Abby, because she had only crusty, dry bread, and so she wouldn't bring any. I _ought_ to give her mine and be hungry, it was so mean to make fun of her poorness.'" "Did you stop the sacrifice?" "No; I let Bab 'go halves,' and added an extra bit to my own lunch, so I could make my contribution likewise." "Come and tell me about Abby's folks, I want to make friends with our poor people, for soon I shall have a right to help them;" and, putting her arm in Teacher's, Miss Celia led her away for a quiet chat in the porch, making her guest's visit a happy holiday by confiding several plans and asking advice in the friendliest way. (_To be continued._) [Illustration] "HAPPY FIELDS OF SUMMER." BY LUCY LARCOM. [Illustration] Happy fields of summer, all your airy grasses Whispering and bowing when the west wind passes,-- Happy lark and nestling, hid beneath the mowing, Root sweet music in you, to the white clouds growing! Happy fields of summer, softly billowed over With the feathery red-top and the rosy clover,-- Happy little children seek your shady places, Lark-songs in their bosoms, sunshine on their faces! Happy little children, skies are bright above you, Trees bend down to kiss you, breeze and blossom love you; And we bless you, playing in the field-paths mazy, Swinging with the harebell, dancing with the daisy! Happy fields of summer, touched with deeper beauty As your tall grain ripens, tell the children duty Is as sweet as pleasure;--tell them both are blended In the best life-story, well begun and ended! THE DIGGER-WASPS AT HOME. BY E. A. E.