09 The Fireside

One winter night, Mrs.Lord and her two little girls sat by a bright fire in their pleasant home.The girls were sewing, and their mother was busy at her knitting.

At last, Katie finished her work, and, looking up, said, “Mother, I think the fire is brighter than usual.How I love to hear it crackle!”

“And I was about to say,” cried Mary, “that this is a better light than we had last night.”

“My dears,” said their mother, “it must be that you feel happier than usual to-night.Perhaps that is the reason why you think the fire better, and the light brighter.”

“But, mother,” said Mary, “I do not see why we are happier now than we were then; for last night cousin Jane was here, and we played ‘Puss in the corner' and ‘Blind man'until we all were tired.”

“I know! I know why!” said Katie.“It is because we have all been doing something useful to-night.We feel happy because we have been busy.”

“You are right, my dear,” said their mother.“I am glad you have both learned that there may be something more pleasant than play, and, at the same time, more instructive.”