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Then the little girl thanked her new friend for telling her so much about his interesting pets, and promised to come and see him as often as she could.

"Oh, father!" cried Edith, as they walked homeward, "I am almost glad that the naughty little bee stung me this morning for now I shall have something amusing to tell Tommy."

HELEN KELLER.

My pupil's interest was not confined to bees, as may be seen from the following sketch: --

A FAIRY STORY.

SOUTH BOSTON, April 18, 1890.

YESTERDAY I had such a beautiful surprise! You cannot imagine what it was, so I will tell you. It was a lovely little fairy, with large and beautifully colored wings. No, it was not a bird. The wings were not made of feathers, but of soft velvet, and there were four of them. The body was round and slender, and there were three pairs of funny little red legs growing from it; and, funniest of all, two delicate antennæ, which look like horns, stood straight up on its head, and the little creature kept moving them about in a very restless way.

Now, can you guess the name of my fairy? Yes, it was a moth; but it had two other names besides. The long one, which the wise men gave it, is Polyphemus, and I call her Beauty. Where do you suppose Beauty came from? Why, she came from a tiny country called Cocoonland. Perhaps you wonder where Cocoonland is? It is not put down on the maps; but if you come to see me, I will show it to you. Cocoonland is a very still place; and quiet was just what Beauty needed while she was a pupa. She slept long and peacefully, because she knew that dear Mother Nature wished her to sleep until her body had undergone a wonderful change. Beauty did not know what she would look like when she awoke, but she was content to wait.

When the warm sun stole into Cocoonland, Beauty awoke, and began to move about a little. Then how great was her surprise when she discovered that Mother Nature had given her four beautiful wings! "Why," said she, "I cannot use these beautiful wings in this small place. There must be another world somewhere. I will try and see if I cannot find it. There is nobody here to admire me, and I am too charming to stay in this sleepy place." And right away she began searching for an opening, which would lead her to the brighter world; but she could not find one, so she went to work, and made one large enough to draw herself through. And where do you think she landed? I must tell you, for I am sure you could not guess. She landed on my bureau, -- very tired, and much troubled by the bright sunshine. She did not expect to find quite such a bright world, and it was very difficult for her to get around in so much light. Poor Beauty was made very happy when I found her, and took her in my warm hand, for she was so lonely and sad without friends. She was delighted when I admired her beautiful wings, and in the evening she was quite content in her new home; and when the gas was lighted she began to lay some pretty little eggs in my hand.

SUNDAY MORNING, APRIL 20. Beauty has not eaten anything since she came to live with us until today. This morning I put her on a bunch of Mayflowers, and just as soon as she touched them, she began to sip the honey.

MONDAY MORNING, APRIL 21. Beauty is growing stronger. Last night she used her wings for the first time. We left her in the back parlor when we went to bed, and this morning I found her in the front parlor, under the mantlepiece, where the Mayflowers are. Her wings are very brittle now, and not nearly so pretty as they were at first. She has not laid any eggs since Saturday.

TUESDAY, APRIL 22. Oh, how lovely! A beautiful yellow butterfly has come to stay with Beauty. The little cousins are as happy as happy can be, on a bunch of fresh Mayflowers.

In the next essay Helen weaves fancy and fact charmingly together.

JACKY AND MAYO.

I KNOW a little boy who has a fine large dog named Mayo. The boy's name is Jacky. Papa calls him Baby Jack. Jacky was four years old his last birthday. His mamma thinks he is the prettiest baby in all the land; and you would think so too, if you knew him. He has big, brown eyes, and hair the color of the sun, and soft, rosy cheeks. When people meet Jacky and his mother walking in the park, they say: "See that beautiful little fellow! I wonder who he is!" When papa comes home at night he takes Jacky in his arms, and puts back the tangled golden curls from his smooth forehead, and kisses him many times, saying: "What has Baby Jack been doing today ?"

Do you think there ever was another baby quite as beautiful as this one I am telling you about?

Mayo is an Irish setter, very proud of his curly red coat and silken ears. Jacky and Mayo are the best of friends. They play together all the day long. It is fun to watch them while they frolic. Jacky tries to ride Mayo; but Mayo does not like that, so he turns over in the middle of the road, and Jacky gets his clean white dress all soiled and much rumpled. Both the boy and the dog think that the greatest fun of all. Sometimes Jacky puts his chubby arms around Mayo's neck, and says: "Oh, what a good doggie you are! I love you as hard as I can!" Mayo wags his tail and licks Jacky's hands, as if to say: "I love you, too, little playmate!" When the sun goes down in the west, and the stars begin their twinkling, Jacky and his faithful companion have their supper and go to bed. And now I must leave the sweet child and his kind friend, for I cannot follow them into dreamland yet.