"Any bar of iron," replied his father, "is called a _rail_, and may be used either upright or lying on the ground, or in any way in which it is wanted; but it is more commonly called an iron bar when it is not used as a railing. The iron bars which fasten the window shutters are not called rails." The train now slackened its pace, as it was near the station, where they were to stop for passengers. This station was a very pretty looking building in which several persons were waiting the arrival of the train; as soon as it stopt, many passengers hurried out, and many others got in. "I think it is like playing at puss in the corner," said Willy. "Yes," replied his mother, "and sometimes a passenger is too late, and then he is really puss in the corner, for the train sets off without him, and he loses his place." THE SPOILED CHILD. Willy and his parents had had no one in their carriage but an old lady, who wore a very old-fashioned black bonnet; but now the door was opened, and there came in a lady with a pretty looking little girl, and immediately afterwards the ting-a-ring bell gave the signal of departure. "Here we are off again," cried Willy, "whiz, whiz, whiz: and look at the pretty curling smoke, oh no, the steam I mean, which is going all the way with us. Well, I think a railroad is very funny after all, though it does frighten you a little sometimes." Willy now looked at the little girl, and thought she would make a nice little companion for him; but though he tried all he could to get acquainted with her, she would not say a word. He asked her what her name was, but her Mamma was obliged to answer for her that it was Harriet; then how old she was, still she was dumb; and her mother said five last birthday. At last Willy thought of another way of getting the better of her shyness. A school-fellow of his had given him a very pretty ball as a keepsake just before he set out on his journey; this ball was in his pocket, and he took it partly out, so as to tempt the little girl to look at it, and wish to see more. She wondered what that pretty looking red and yellow round thing could be; it could not be an orange, because it was half red, and it could not be an apple; so then she smiled, as much as to say, Show me the whole of it. Willy, seeing she was pleased, took the ball quite out of his pocket, and asked her to catch it. She immediately held out a pretty little apron she wore to catch it, and then she threw it back again, and so they got quite well acquainted, and went on playing at ball for some time, till unfortunately Harriet, who was a little awkward in taking aim, threw the ball so that it fell into the old lady's lap; this made her grumble at troublesome children, and throwing the ball back to them, she declared that if it came in her way again she would throw it out of the window. The children took more care, but their spirits rose as the game