And Jip seems to know what Lucy says; for he answers by another loving look, "Yes, Lucy, I will take care of you. Nobody shall harm you while I am here. I will be your watch-dog. But don't forget to pet me as well as your doll. I like to be petted." Then Lucy pats him, and says, "Good little Jip, I will never forget you!" That makes him happy; and so they are both happy together. UNCLE CHARLES. [Illustration] [Illustration] A MERRY GO-ROUND. WHAT a merry go-round! Not a ghost of a sound As the snowflakes dance and spin: Won't the wind play the flute, Now the birds are all mute, And the crickets have stopped their din? The brook would be glad To tinkle like mad, If the snowflakes would only wait Till the season is June, And its voice is in tune For their service, early and late. Then the brown bee would hum, And the frogs beat the drum, And robin would lead the band: Such a merry go-round, To such a sweet sound, Was ne'er known in snowflake-land. MARY N. PRESCOTT. THE SAVOYARD. THIS boy, as you may see by his looks, is not one of our American boys. He is a native of Savoy, and is dressed in the costume of the peasants of that country. Savoy is in the eastern part of France, just south of the Lake of Geneva. You will easily find it on the map. It is a fertile country, but there are many poor people there who live chiefly upon chestnuts and potatoes. Though fond of their birthplace, many of them leave it during the winters, and go to Italy, Spain, and other parts of France in search of work. Carl, the boy in the picture, is one of this class. His parents are too poor to support him, and he is sent out to seek his own living; but he is not a beggar. He earns something by raising guinea-pigs, which he sells to boys and girls for pets. He carries them, as you see, in a box slung from his neck. But they are so tame that he takes them out and lets them run up on his shoulders. [Illustration] The guinea-pig, when full-grown, is not much bigger than a large rat. In shape it is a good deal like a fat pig. When hungry it grunts like a pig. In color it is white, spotted with orange and black. It is a native of Brazil. [Illustration] Guinea-pigs serve very well for pets. Some children are very fond of them. But old folks like me prefer pets of another sort. UNCLE SAM. A BEAR'S STORY. I WAS born in the wild woods of Michigan, and my home was in a large hollow tree which stood near the Muskegon River. There I lived with my mother and sister.