[Illustration] "'They are gone for good,' said my grandma, 'for I saw the child playing on the sand-bank before I went away.'--'And she has been on the hay-mow,' chimed in my brothers.--'And all over the pine-grove with me,' said Alice.--'And down to the grist and saw mill with me,' observed father. "I mourned greatly over my loss; for my beads were precious, and I prized them more highly than any thing else I possessed. A few nights after my loss, mother, who had gone up to bed with us as usual, said very gravely, 'Susan, I have found your beads; and where do you think they were?' "I could not tell, of course. 'They were in the porcupine-box,' continued mother; 'and now how came they there?' I told her all about it. My little sin had found me out. "'Your necklace was a silent witness,' said my mother. I wanted to ask what a 'silent witness' was, but was too much ashamed. The next day I was sent to the store for more raisins and citron. Alice went with me. "As we left the store, I heard Mr. Dallas, the merchant, say to his clerk, 'Mrs. Chapin is a good customer. She bought two pounds of raisins and a pound of citron only last week, and to-day as much more. I guess they are expecting company. Shouldn't at all wonder if John's folks were coming.' "My uncle John did come, and brought his pretty new wife, aunt Dorothy. Mother made lovely frosted pound-cake with plums in it, and mince-pies filled with fruit; but what I remember best of all is that she made for me a little plain cake, and left out all the raisins and currants." "I think it was real mean for your mother to do so," said Fred, excited, and almost tearful. "I think it was just right," I added. "It taught me a lesson I never forgot." Since telling this story to my boys, I have observed that the lump-sugar that I keep in the blue china punch-bowl lasts much longer than it has for months before. And this is the moral of my story, I suppose. SARAH THAXTER THAYER. [Illustration] [Illustration] HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS. HIS Royal Highness is out of town. The blinds are closed, and the shades are down, And silence reigns in the house where he Was wont to frolic with merry glee. Lonely and drear as a desert-place Is the home that misses his merry face; And even the skies appear to frown When His Royal Highness is out of town. His Royal Highness will give command As if he fancied he owned the land, And all his vassals his laws fulfil As if delighted to do his will. So sweet and winning his royal sway His slightest wishes they all obey; With smiling faces on errands go When His Royal Highness says thus or so.