was really good enough for a poor deformed rag-baby, with a head shaped
like a stove-pipe.

Susy was delighted to find how well a little patience served her in
amusing "the children." Next, she went to give Dandy his morning bath.
Mrs. Parlin still thought it a dangerous practice, but had not seen Mrs.
Mason, to question her about it, and Susy was too obstinate in her
opinion to listen to her mother.

"I must do it," said Susy; "it has been ever so long since Dandy was
bathed, and I shouldn't take any comfort riding, mamma, if I didn't
leave him clean."

Susy plunged the trembling canary into his little bathing-bowl, in some
haste. He struggled as usual, and begged, with his weak, piping voice,
to be spared such an infliction. But Susy was resolute.

"It'll do you good, Ducky Daddles; we mustn't have any lazy, dirty
birdies in this house."

Ducky Daddies rolled up his little eyes, and gasped for breath.

"O, look, mother!" cried Susy, laughing; "how funny Dandy acts! Do you
suppose it's to make me laugh? O, is he fainting away?"

"Fainting away! My dear child, he is dying!"

This was the sad truth. Mrs. Parlin fanned him, hoping to call back the
lingering breath. But it was too late. One or two more throbs, and his
frightened little heart had ceased to beat; his frail life had gone out