room, and with a light heart and an expression on her face that no one had seen for many a day, took up the little workbox she had prepared for Alice.

Returning again to the sitting room with the box in her hand, she approached Alice and said;

"Here, my dear, is a little Christmas present I have for you. I sincerely wish it were something better. It will be useful, I know, and I hope it will please you."

"O how beautiful!" exclaimed Alice, as she caught sight of the curious carvings on the outside of the box. "And a workbox, too!" she continued, as she took it in her hands and lifted the cover; "is it really for me?"

"For no one else, I assure you," replied Mrs. Reed, as her face lighted up with joy, at seeing Alice so happy.

"O how can I ever thank you enough!" exclaimed Alice, as Alice, as she threw her arms around Mrs. Reed's neck and kissed her again and again.

Then taking a seat by Mrs. Reed, Alice began to examine the contents of the new

workbox, lifting out the articles one by one, and placing them in her lap.

She then admired the beautiful lining which Mrs. Reed had put in the box, asking her where she got such pretty pieces

of silk.

"That piece of silk at the top, Alice, is a bit of my wedding dress; and that on the sides, is a part of my wedding sash.

remind me of happy days, Alice.

Those

"I had plenty then: a good husband, a happy home, and never thought that I should come to poverty."

"What is this

this from?" asked Alice, touching the silk lining at the bottom of the box.

"O that was always in the box, Alice. It was there when my husband received it, and must be a piece of India silk.

"Is anything the matter with it?" continued Mrs. Reed, as she noticed Alice picking at one corner of it.

"O nothing is the matter," replied Alice; "it only seemed to me to be a little loose."

"Let me look," said Mrs. Reed. "I don't think it can be loose, or I should have seen it when I was lining the box."

"It is actually quite loose," said Alice, as she examined it further, and picked up one corner with with a pin; "and here is a little piece of paper underneath it."

"That is remarkable," said Mrs. Reed, as she put on her spectacles and drew up her chair a little closer to Alice.

"And there is some writing on it too," said Alice as she drew it from its hiding place and handed it to Mrs. Reed.

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"Why, it's my husband's writing!" exclaimed Mrs. Reed, as she closely examined the faded letters. What can it mean? I never saw it before. Read it, Alice; your eyes are younger than mine."

Alice read: "Look and ye shall find,' · and underneath this," continued Alice, "is a picture of a mantelpiece, and underneath that, it reads: 'A word to the wise is sufficient.""

Mrs. Reed again took the paper. Her hand trembled and and her face became a little pale.

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Alice," said she, "this is a picture of the old tile mantelpiece in the other room. There is some mystery about this. What can it mean?"

"Yes," said Alice, "the tiles in that mantel have quotations on them."

In an instant, Alice was on her feet and sprung into the other room, leaving Mrs. Reed in a state of wonderment.

Hastily examining the tiles in the mantel, Alice cried out: "O Mrs. Reed, do come! Here is a tile with exactly the same words on it!"

Mrs. Reed hurried into the room, and had scarcely passed the threshold, when the tile fell to the hearth and broke into a dozen pieces.

Directions for Reading.-Point out breathing places in the last paragraph.

Pronounce carefully the following words: fortunate, adjoining, clothes, hearth, sitting room, wedding dress.

Language Lesson.-Let pupils use other words to express the meaning of the following sentences.

Alice received a warm welcome.

Mrs. Reed stepped into the adjoining room with a light heart. Her face lighted up with joy.

Those things remind me of happy days.

"A word to the wise is sufficient."

Change the statements given above to questions.

Change the following exclamations to complete statements.

Do come!

Let me look!

Read it, Alice!

Model. See my pocketbook!" I wish you would look at my pocketbook.

"O what have I done! what have I

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done!" cried Alice. "O Mrs. Reed, I'm so sorry-I have broken the tile!"

"How did it happen, Alice? Was it

loose?"

"Why yes," replied Alice; "I put my hand on it, and thought it appeared to move a little. Having my scissors with me, I, through curiosity, ran the points in between that tile and the next one.”

6.

Never mind, child," child," said Mrs. Reed. kindly, seeing that Alice was feeling sad over the mishap; "perhaps the tile can be mended-let us see."

As they both stooped down to pick up