Anna lifted her tearful eyes to her father's face, and her lip curled and quivered. But she could not answer his question. Mr. Warren took the grieving child in his arms, and as he drew her to his bosom, said to Willy, who was the oldest-- "What has made you so late, dear?" "Miss Roberts kept us in," sobbed Willy. "Kept you in!" returned Mr. Warren, in surprise. "How came that?" "Because we laughed," answered the child, still sobbing and weeping. "What made you laugh?" "One of the boys made funny faces." "And did you laugh too, dear?" asked the father of Anna. "Yes, papa. But I couldn't help it. And Miss Roberts scolded so, and said she was going to whip us." "And was that all you did?" "Yes, indeed, papa," said Willy. "I'll see Miss Roberts about it," fell angrily from the lips of Mr. Warren. "It's the last time you appear in her school. A cruel-minded woman!" And then the father soothed his grieving little ones with affectionate words and caresses. "Dear little angels!" said Mr. Warren to his wife, shortly afterwards, "that any one could have the heart to punish them for a sudden outburst of joyous feelings! And Anna in particular, a mere babe as she is, I can't get over it. To think of her being kept in for a long half hour, under punishment, after all the other children had gone home. It was cruel. Miss Roberts shall hear from me on the subject." "I don't know, dear, that I would say any thing about it," remarked the mother, who was less excited about the matter, "I don't think she meant to be severe. She, doubtless, forgot that they were so very young." "She'd no business to forget it. I've no idea of my children being used after this fashion. The boy that made them laugh should have been kept in, if any punishment had to be inflicted. But it's the way with cruel-minded people. The weakest are always chosen as objects of their dislike." "I am sure you take this little matter too much to heart," urged the mother. "Miss Roberts must have order in her school, and even the youngest must conform to this order. I do not think the punishment so severe. She had to do something to make them remember their fault, and restrain their feelings in future; and she could hardly have done less. It is not too young for them to learn obedience in any position where they are introduced." But the over fond and tender father could see no reason for the punishment his little ones had received; and would not consent to let them go again to the school of Miss Roberts. To him they were earth's most precious things. They were tender flowers; and he was troubled if ever the winds blew roughly upon them. Seven years have passed. Let us visit the home of Mr. Warren and look at him among his children. No; we will not enter this pleasant house--he moved away long ago. Can this be the home of Mr. Warren! Yes. Small, poor, and comfortless as it is! Ah! there have been sad changes.