Crack! went a gun. Then the hawk let go and Brownie went down, down to
the ground, where he lay for a long time as if he were dead.

When he opened his eyes it was almost dark. The sun had set, and he had
forgotten the way home. "I shall never see mamma again," he sobbed. "I
wish I had been good and not run away."

"Why, here's Brownie!" cried Grace's voice. "The hawk did not get him
after all. Come, Willie, and help me drive him to the hen-house."

"I hope, my dear, you will never be so very naughty again," said Mrs.
Speckle, as he crept under her wing.

MRS. B.P. SIBLEY.

[Illustration: Hen and Chicks]




A MISJUDGED FRIEND.


The gardener shut the garden gate,
And went to weed the onion-bed:
The growing plants stood tall and straight;
"But what is this?" surprised he said.
Some broken bricks, some stones and sticks,
And underneath them, crushed and dead,
A large brown toad! "James, Martin, Fred!"