"Shall we take Bunch home to her?" asked Nancy, sighing at the thought
of parting with her treasure-trove.

"It would be real kind. Miss."

She was glad she had offered, when she saw poor Matty's face beam at the
sight of her only playmate.




A QUEER SNAKE.

BY MARY E.Q. BRUSH.


It was the Dalton children's first year in Florida. They enjoyed the
sunshine, the balmy air and fragrant flowers very much. There was only
one thing to mar their pleasure and that was their dread of snakes.

Tilly, the little colored girl who used to play with them sometimes, had
big stories to tell.

"Dar's rattlers in de pine woods, hidin' on de sunny sides of stumps:
and dar's a pow'ful sight o' moccasins down amonst de water-hyacinths
near de bayou. Youse bettah look out, honey, or dey'll cotch youalls,
shuah!"

Mabel, Tom, Hetty and Charlie talked the matter over very seriously,
almost solemnly.