A DOLEFUL STORY

T'S too bad! It is indeed!" said Rob. "No one has sent me a valentine! You girls have had a lot, and I haven't had one. It's mean, that's what I call it. I never get

anything!

"Nonsense!" said Ethel. "You have more things than any of us, but you're never satisfied. You're a discontented little grumbler, and that's the long and short of it."

Just then, as if to prove the truth of Ethel's words, a large box arrived, marked "A Valentine for Rob," and when it was opened it was found to contain a sword and its scabbard, a gun, a bayonet, a pouch, and a lot of other things. But even when he saw what a handsome present had been sent to him, Rob could not help sustaining the character which Ethel had given him.

"I suppose Uncle Archie has sent these, as he heard me saying I wanted a sword. But what's the use of a sword and a gun without a drum? Uncle knew I wanted a drum, so why couldn't he have sent me one. We can't play at soldiers without a drum. It's too bad, that it is!"

However, drum or no drum, Rob did proceed to play at soldiers, and that at once. Ethel was pressed into the service, and soon made three paper hats, with cockades in them-one for Rob, one for herself, and one for their dog Toby. Toby, by-thebye, was a very clever dog, and had been taught a lot of tricks, before he was given to Ethel. He

OF DISCONTENT.

would carry anything that was given to him, and would walk round the room on his hind legs as gravely as possible. So Toby was dressed up for the occasion, with a hat on his head, a gun on his shoulder, and a belt and pouch round his waist. Rob of course wore the sword, and was the officer in command: Ethel held the humble post of water-carrier to the regiment, and followed Rob; while Toby brought up the rear.

But it was all of no use; after marching round the room for a minute or two Rob had had enough of it, and with an air of disgust he flung his sword on the floor. "I told you so," he cried; "it's no fun without a drum. Uncle ought to have known we could do nothing without a drum. It's a shame, that it is!" and with that he left Ethel to her own devices, and threw himself on the rug before the fire.

II.

"It is a shame, that it is!" said a small voice in his ear. "I wouldn't stand it, if I were you!"

Rob looked round in surprise, and "saw a strange little figure, about the size of his hand, dressed all in red, and with what looked like a dunce's cap on his head.

"I wouldn't stand it, that I wouldn't!" the little figure continued.

"But I can't help it-not a bit. I have to stand it, and that's just the worst of it," said Rob.

"Oh, but you can help it, if you like," the stranger replied. "I know a land where you can always have all you want! and a little more than you want too," he added with a sort of mocking smile on his face.

"Yes, that's all very well," cried Rob, "but how am I to get there? It's too bad of you to tell me of such a place just to tantalise me! It's a shame, that it is!"

"But I'll take you there, if you like," the little man replied.

"Oh! very well: that's different," said Rob. "I'm ready; come along."

III.

It was certainly a beautiful country in which Rob found himself. The sun was shining brightly, the grass was of a vivid green hue, the flowers scented the air, and birds of wondrous plumage were singing sweetly.

"Well, and what do you call this place?" asked Rob of his companion.

"We call it Grumbledom," answered the little man, drily.

"And not a bad name, either," said Rob. "There's plenty to grumble at. Why, it's hot enough to bake you!"

"Oh, too hot, is it?" cried the little man, stamping his foot in his rage. "Well, we'll soon alter that!" And then he began to sing :

"Leave us, sun!

Go far away!

We have done

With you to-day!

Blow, winds, biow
With all your might!
Frost and snow,

Come into sight!"

The words themselves seemed to make Rob shiver, and in a minute or two he was shivering indeed. The sun disappeared, the grass and the flowers were hidden beneath a deep covering of snow, and a bitterly cold north-east wind was driving the sleet right in Rob's face. He couldn't see his way before him, and the little man seemed to have disappeared, so Rob sank down on the snow in despair, and, big boy as he was, began to mingle tears with his grumbling.

"Ha! ha!" laughed a familiar voice

"This is all very well," he said, "but there's no fun in walking about among the flowers and the birds. I want something to amuse me. I should like a donkey-ride. It's too bad that there are no donkeys here."

The little man said nothing, but whistled mysteriously, and Rob thought he must be dreaming, for there stood a donkey before him, saddled and bridled, and waiting to be ridden. Rob did not need his friend's invitation to mount, for in a second he was in the saddle, and away went the donkey at a wonderful pace. This was certainly an exceptional donkey, for it didn't want urging in

had had quite enough of play, and he began to wish that he were back at school again, with lessons to learn and play-fellows to tease, and, almost as the wish came into his mind, he found himself surrounded by a lot of boys, and he was standing before a master, who was putting to him various questions in history and geography.

The questions were all very easy, and this was quite enough for Rob. If they had been difficult, and he could not have answered them, he would have grumbled much more then did he complain when they were easy, and he could not well make a mistake. But strange to say, as soon as he

any way, and it flew over the ground at such a rate that it was as much as Rob could do to hold on, and he was bumped terribly. He tugged at the reins, but all in vain; he shouted, "Stop," at the top of his voice, but to no purpose; and then he did what was to be expected of him-he grumbled. And then his ride came to a sudden end, for the donkey stumbled and threw him violently over its head, and he fell heavily to the ground. And worse than all, as he lay there, he heard that mocking laugh again, and a repetition of the same song:

"This sudden fall

Will prove to all

A fact that's very true! From Grumbledom

To Tumbledom

Is but a yard or two!"

IV.

When Rob had recovered from his fall he

WALKED UP."

grumbled, a change came over the scene. Master Rob was caught tripping: an easy question was put to him; he made an absurd answer, and was dismissed ignominiously to the bottom of the class. And then, amid the jeers of the boys, he heard, for the third time, the thin piping little voice singing:

"From first to last

You've quickly passed, And all the reason know : From Grumbledom

To Stumbledom

Is but a yard or so!"

Rob burst out of the school-room, with tears in his eyes, and flung himself on the grass, in a very miserable frame of mind. "Everything goes wrong with me," he said aloud. "I never seem to do right."

"Never do right?" said a little girl, who had walked up close behind him, followed by her sister,