[Illustration]




GREAT-AUNT PATIENCE AND HER LITTLE LION.


"What relation is she to me?" said black-eyed Fred, as he heard his
mother say that her Aunt Patience was coming to visit them.

"She is your _great_-aunt," said mamma; "and I want you and Bertie to be
very polite to her."

The little boys had heard their mamma say that Aunt Patience was "a lady
of the old school," and that she was afraid the children would trouble
her, as they were not quite so still as the little boys and girls used
to be forty or fifty years ago.

So Fred and Bertie stood somewhat in awe of this Great-Aunt Patience;
and when the dear old lady arrived, and papa and mamma went to the cars
to meet her, the two boys were watching rather timidly for the carriage,
at the parlor-windows.

As she came up the steps, leaning on papa's arm, little Bertie
exclaimed, "Oh, see, Freddie! she is not _great_ at all: she is as
little as a girl."

"Yes, and she laughs too," said Fred; "and her eyes are as blue as