"Well, Cousin Eleanor," said the child, "you know Topsy,
Graham's pony. Well, Topsy would run away, and a big, big man
came out to papa and said he would train Topsy. So he drove her
every day, and beat her, and beat her, till he was tired, but still
Topsy would run away. Then papa said he would not have the poor
pony whipped so much, and he took her out a piece of bread every
day, and he petted her and now Topsy is very gentle, and never
runs away."

"Tell about Tiger," said the girl.

"Well, Cousin Eleanor," said the child, "you know Tiger, our big
dog. He used to be a bad dog, and when Dr. Fairchild drove up to
the house he jumped up and bit at him. Dr. Fairchild used to speak
kindly to him, and throw out bits of meat, and now when he
comes, Tiger follows behind and wags his tail. Now, give me a
kiss."

The girl had to give her a kiss, right up there before every one, and
what a stamping the boys made. The larger girl blushed and
hurried back to her seat, with the child clinging to her hand.

There was one more story, about a brave Newfoundland dog, that
saved eight lives by swimming out to a wrecked sailing vessel, and
getting a rope by which the men came ashore, and then a lad got
up whom they all greeted with cheers, and cries of, "The Poet! the
Poet!" I didn't know what they meant, till Mrs. Wood whispered to
Miss Laura that he was a boy who made rhymes, and the children
had rather hear him. speak than any one else in the room.