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THE TWO WHITE DOVES.

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his dog were able to do', was to drive the furious animal from the mangled corpse.

My little boys', who may read this story', observe the fate of Hugh. And remember, that he who is cruel to others must expect that he himself will also ⚫ meet with a cruel fate.

LESSON XV.

THE TWO WHITE DOVES.

"SEE, Alfred'," said Mary', "how our doves love each other. I'm sure I would not change them for all the playthings in the world-would you?"

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No, indeed I would'nt`, and I'm glad to hear you say so, for I was almost afraid to tell you how somebody wanted to buy them this morning," said Alfred.

"I don't see how you could think that I should be willing to sell them. Besides, mother would not want us to do so, even if we were tired of them`, for I really believe that she loves them as well as we do. Just see how pretty Julia* looks now she is eating these crumbs.

"Little dears', how much better off we are, than that girl is', who wanted to buy them."

"What was the matter with her' ?"

"Don't you remember that Mrs. Jones was here last Friday, and was telling mother about a lady who had just come here with a little girl who is sick'—and how she said there never was such a patient little angel as that Ellen'?"

"Oh yes, I remember," said Mary. "She said she could not live through another winter."

"Well, this morning I was out here with the doves,

The name for one of the doves.

when I heard a carriage coming down the road'; so I went to see what it was, with Julia on one hand', and Bobby on the other. Somebody in the carriage saw them, and asked me to come nearer'; as soon as they stopped, I climbed up so that they might see better. And there in one corner lay a little girl', oh, so pale and thin! I knew it must be Ellen Morton* as soon as I saw her. She opened her eyes and said, "Oh, mammat! what pretty doves! Do buy them for me.' Her mother offered me money for them; but oh Mary', I could'nt sell them, and so they drove away.

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No', we'll never sell them to any body; but Alfred'," said Mary`, "can't we give them to that poor little girl' ?"

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Why, I don't know-to be sure, if I was so sick, I should love dearly to have two such darling birds as ours are'; let us ask mother."

Their mother thought best, however, to let them decide for themselves; and at last they concluded to set off, and ask to see Ellen, and find out how sick she was, and if she really wanted the birds. But as they came within sight of the house where Ellen lived, they began to feel how hard it would be to part from their little favorites.

"Let us try not to be selfish, Alfred'," said Mary; "I dare say we shall be happier after all is over. Dear little doves! Don't you remember that sad day when our poor father died, how we came and sat on our door steps with our doves, and how they seemed to know that we were unhappy, and to try to make us feel

* Pronounced More-ton.

+ This word is sometimes vulgarly pronounced with the accent on the first syllable, and with the last syllable short. It ought to have the first syllable unaccented, and the last long, like a in father. So papa should have the last syllable long, and the first unaccented. Pap-pa as though there were two p's, with the accent on the first, is very vulgar.

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better'? Dear little doves!" said Mary, trying to check the tears which were springing to her eyes.

"I say," cried Alfred, "we won't give them away, if it makes you feel so. Let us go right home and tell mother that we can't let Ellen have them."

"No, no, Alfred," said Mary', "I am just as willing as ever to give them to her. Only I can't help crying when I think we shall never see them again. Come, let us make haste and try to forget them.'

When the children reached the house where Ellen lived, they stopped at the door to place some roses, which Mary had gathered, over the top of the cage, that it might look as pretty as possible. As soon as the servant saw what they had brought, she led them into a little parlor, and bid them wait while she called Mrs. Morton. She returned in a few minutes to say, that they might go up into Ellen's room if they liked. So they followed her till they came to the door of the chamber, where she left them. Little Ellen was sitting in a large arm-chair, and resting her head on a pillow, so that she did not notice their entrance, until her mother's voice aroused her. As she raised her head, Mary almost started', for she had never seen so pale a face.

"Ah? these are the white doves I saw the other day," said Ellen.

"Yes" said Mary," and we have brought them for you. We hope they will help to amuse you a great many days, for they are very tame and will soon learn to come when you call them." Then Mary opened the door and called, "Julia! Julia!" when one of the doves instantly flew from the cage to her hand.

"What a pretty name it has, and how tame too; pray let me have it on my hand," said Ellen', while the bright color rose to her cheeks. But the little thin

white hand which she held out, could not bear the weight of the bird.

"I am not so weak every day," said she'; "perhaps to-morrow I shall be better. But I don't like to take away your birds. You will miss them sadly." "Oh no," said Mary'; "we pity you very much, because your are sick, and we are glad that we have any thing to give you.'

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As Mary looked at the poor little girl, she thought to herself, "If I loved my doves a thousand times more than I now do, you should have them for yours, you loved them."

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Thank you, thank you, Mary'," said Ellen'; "you"

and your brother shall have as many of my playthings as you want see, here are all sorts of books-take all of them I shall never read them again."

Alfred and Mary looked at the pretty books, and remembered the old Bible and tattered spelling book at home'; but they did not know that it would be proper for them to take any thing in return for the doves', so neither of them offered to take the gift.

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Perhaps you would like to come some other time for them'," said Ellen'; "I will have some laid aside for you, and mamma, I dare say, will send with them something for your mother."

As the children prepared to go, Mrs. Morton took some money from her purse, and held it out to Mary. "This is to pay for the doves," said she.

"Oh no, ma'am," cried Alfred and Mary in a breath'; "we never thought of being paid for them' -mother did not expect us to be paid' ;" and they hurried down stairs before Mrs. Morton had time to reply. As soon as they reached home, they ran to tell their mother about their visit. "Oh, mother'," said Mary', "I shall never be sorry that we have given her our doves. Dear little girl! you can't think how sick

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she looks. And Alfred says we can forget all about our pets if we try."

A few days after this, a great basket, filled with books, playthings, &c., came to Alfred and Mary from Ellen. At the bottom of the basket was just such a nice, warm shawl, as Mary had long desired for her mother. And every time the little girl was able to ride out, she was sure to bring some present for Alfred and Mary.

But as the cold winter came on, poor Ellen grew thinner and weaker, and the two children missed the sight of her carriage coming slowly down the road.

They went to the house to inquire about her, and the servant told them that she was now too weak to sit up at all`; " but," added the girl, "it would do your heart good to see what a comfort her white doves are to her. They are such knowing little things, and will cuddle down close to her on the bed whenever she calls them."

"Now Alfred'," said Mary', "we are paid a hundred times for the doves, in knowing this. How glad I am that we had any thing for poor Ellen!"

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A few days after this, as Alfred and Mary were sitting on the door step, they saw some one coming towards them, with something in her hand which looked like their old bird cage. Why! there is Mrs. Morton's servant bringing back our doves! What can that be for? Let us run to ask her," cried Mary. they approached the girl, they saw that her eyes were red as if she had been crying. "Here are your little white doves," said she`; poor Ellen will never see them again. But it will comfort you to know that, after she found she was going to die, she remembered you both and begged her mamma, to send home the doves, and tell you that she had spent many happy hours with them. She said, too, that she hoped

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