LESSON XXIII.

un hap'py prom'ised heed'less be came' grow'ing

care'less harsh'ly leav'ing eas'i ly ef fects'

an noy' ma'am blame worse torn

hard'ly nic'est spend hab'it e'vil

[Illustration: Mother and daughter sitting under a tree.]

THE TORN DOLL.

1. Mary Armstrong was a pretty little girl, but she was heedless about
some things.

2. Her way of leaving her books and playthings just where she had used
them last, gave her mother much trouble in picking them up and putting
them in their proper places.

3. She had often told Mary the evil effects of being so careless. Her
books became spoiled, and her toys broken.

4. But worse than this was the growing habit of carelessness, which would
be of great harm to her all her life. It would make her unhappy, and would
annoy her friends.

5. One day Mary and her mother went out into their pleasant yard, to spend
an hour in the open air. Mrs. Armstrong took her work with her.