did not wake till the morning.

[Illustration: LITTLE CHARLES SEEING A CHRISTMAS PANTOMIME.]

As soon as he was dressed, he ran down stairs to breakfast, with a
smiling face. "Here is the day come at last!" he said, "I am so glad
mamma, I wish it was night; I am seven years old to-day."

"Yes, my dear," said his mamma, "and I wish you many happy returns of
the day."

"Thank you, mamma, but I have a great favour to ask you."

"What is it? Charles."

"I am afraid you will not do it."

"If it is any thing very unreasonable, perhaps I shall not," said his
mamma; "but if it is not very unreasonable, I think, as it is your
birth-day, I may venture to promise that I will do it."

"Then this is it," said Charles; "Peter has never been to the play in
his life, and he said yesterday, he should like to go with me; so I wish
you would take him with us; he would be so pleased."

"Well then, we will take him with us," said Mrs. Barker; "and I am glad
to find that you think of other people's pleasure, as well as your own;
it shows that you are not selfish."

A message was then sent to Peter's uncle, who readily gave his consent,