"Your own, Carl," said a voice, close to his ear.

Carl turned, and saw that an old man was walking beside him, with a book in his hand. Carl peeped over the old man's shoulder, and tried to read what was written in the book, but he could not make out much, for the letters were very curiously shaped.

"Trying to peep into my book, I see," said the old

man.

Oh, indeed I beg your pardon !" said Carl.

“No offence, no offence, I assure you," answered the other; "sit down by me, and you shall read as much as you like."

Carl's pigs were busy picking up chestnuts just then, so Carl sat down by the old man, and looked into his book.

"It is curious, but not interesting," said Carl, for it was only a list of names.

"Do you see nothing that interests you?" asked his companion.

"I see one thing," said Carl; "one of the names is written in gilt letters; what is that for?"

That name is the name of a king," answered the old man, shutting his book.

And what is a king, pray?" asked Carl. "I have never seen one, though I have been a swineherd these three years, and walked about a good deal."

You may see one this evening, however," answered the old man, "for the people of yonder city to which. you are going, expect to find a king to-day; they have been looking out for one a long time. The throne is

standing ready in the market-place, the crown rests before it on a crimson cushion, and all the people are waiting to bow down. They quite think the king will come to-day, and this time, I believe, they will not be disappointed."

"I will walk on then," said Carl, "for certainly I should like to see him." So Carl walked on after his pigs, and left the old man sitting there.

2. CARL GIVES HELP ON THE ROAD.

PRESENTLY Carl overtook a thin, miserable-looking Donkey, who was trying, in vain, to drag after him a

cartload of wood.

"Good Master Carl," said the Donkey, "will you not take pity on an unfortunate creature, and help me on with this load a little way? I am so tired, I shall never reach my master's cabin."

Never despair, my good friend," said Carl to the Donkey, as he placed himself behind the cart, and began to push it vigorously along. But this was very hard

work, and Carl was not fond of hard work, so by and by he said to the Donkey, "That will do now, I think; you can go your way and I will mine." go

"But I can't go my way," said the Donkey, standing stock-still, and beginning to bray.

"Now, I really think you are a little unreasonable," said Carl to the Donkey. "Look what a long distance I have pushed your cart for you, and I positively must run after my pigs now, for they are quite on before me."

But the Donkey went on braying; there is no doubt he was very unreasonable.

"But that does not signify," said Carl to himself, "he can't help being an ass, and I dare say he is very tired; so Carl went on pushing the Donkey's cart for him, until they came to his master's cabin.

"Thank you, thank you, good Master Carl," said the Donkey, with tears in his eyes.

"Good-bye," said Carl, as he ran after his pigs. They had found a bed of acorns, and were making a capital dinner. So I think I may as well eat mine,” said Carl, as he sat down, and pulled his bread and cheese out of his pocket.

"Master Carl," said a little voice at his elbow, and Carl saw a wee Rabbit sitting beside him.

"Now little Rabbit," said Carl, "I do hope you're not going to say 'Carl, give me some bread and cheese,' for indeed I am very hungry, and there's not nearly enough for us both."

"Then I must go without my dinner," remarked the little Rabbit.

"That's altogether ridiculous," answered Carl; "don't you see how many dandelions there are all about under the trees?"

"But it's so unwholesome living entirely on green food," said the Rabbit; "it gives me the heart-burn, I assure you, and I'm particularly ordered to eat bread and cheese."

'Very well, then," answered Carl, "you shall eat bread and cheese," and he fed the little Rabbit out of his hand, and only kept a very little piece for himself.

"I am so much obliged to you," said the Rabbit, when she got up to go away.

"Well, I really think you ought to be," answered Carl, "for I am very hungry yet." But the pigs were moving again, and Carl walked after them.

prè-sent-ly, very soon, before long.

mis-er-a-ble, wretched, very poor and weak.

un-fòr-tu-nate, not fortunate, in
bad luck.

de-spair', give up hope.
un-rea'-son-a-ble (-rézn-), beyond
reason, more than what most
people would think right
and just.
pòs-it-ive-ly, really, certainly.

re-mārk, state, say.
rid-ic-ul-ous, absurd, so droll or
stupid as to make one laugh.
dan-de-li-on, "tooth-of-lion," a
common plant with yellow
flower and deeply notched
leaves, which look as if set
round with teeth.
un-whole'-some (un-hól-sum), un-
healthy, bad for health.
en-tire-ly, wholly, altogether.
par-tic-ul-ar-ly, specially.

3. CARL HELPS AGAIN, AND LOSES HIS PIGS.

It was a delicious afternoon, just the day when it is worth while to be a swineherd, for the sake of walking in a wood. The sunbeams danced upon the leaves of the beech-trees, and glistened on their white smooth trunks. The lightest possible summer winds ran up and down amongst the blades of grass, now and then resting upon a flower. White and coloured butterflies flew heedlessly about, carrying the messages of buttercups to the stumps of old trees, instead of to the handsome poppies and dandelions, for whom they were certainly meant. The birds were not singing; only a little rustling amongst the leaves, a lazy hum from the gnats and dragon-flies, and now and then a grasshopper's chirp, were heard; these were the only sounds-except the grunting of Carl's pigs-I had almost forgotten that. On they went, through the wood, grunting, and Carl after them. But suddenly Carl stopped, he saw some one sitting under a tree it was a Beggar, all in rags, looking so miserable, it would have made your heart ache to look at him.

Carl went up to the Beggar, and said, "I am very sorry for you, can I do anything?"

"God bless you, my dear little master!" answered the Beggar. "Look how sore my feet are, from walking so long upon the stony ground without shoes or stockings."

'You shall have mine," said Carl, sitting down, and pulling off his shoes and stockings directly.