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Sit down! said the Angel.
But father sent me on an errand! said the child.
Sit Down! said the Angel; and he took the child by her shoulders and set her down.
Now sit still! he said, and he began patiently to wind up the skein. It was wofully tangled, and knotted about the childs hands and feet; it was a wonder she could move at all; but at last it was all clear, and the Angel handed her the ball.
I thank you so very much! said the child. I was not naughty, was I?
Not naughty, only foolish; but that does just as much harm sometimes.
But I was doing right things! said the child.
But you were doing them in the wrong way! said the Angel. It is good to do an errand, and it is good to go to school, but when you have a skein to wind you must sit still.
A SONG FOR HAL
FOR YOU AND ME
Indeed! said the man. I hardly see how that can be. Perhaps you will explain.
I will! said the Angel. To begin with, the work is slovenly.
I was born heedless, said the man. It is a family failing which I have always regretted.
It is ill put together, too; said the Angel. The parts do not fit.
I never had any eye for proportion, said the man; I admit it is unfortunate.
The whole thing is a botch, said the Angel. You have put neither brains nor heart into it, and the result is ridiculous failure. What do you propose to do about it?
I credited you with more comprehension, said the man. My faults, such as they are, were born with me. I am sorry that you do not approve of me, but this is the way I was made; do you see?
I see! said the Angel. He put out a strong white hand, and taking the man by the collar, tumbled him neck and crop into the ditch.
What is the meaning of this? cried the man, as he scrambled out breathless and dripping. I never saw such behavior. Do you see what you have done? you have ruined my clothes, and nearly drowned me beside.
Oh yes! said the Angel: this is the way I was made.
THE BURNING HOUSE
From the direction, that must be our neighbour Williams house, said one. Ought we not to warn him of the danger?
I see only a little flame, said another; perchance it may go out of itself, and no harm done.
I should be loth to carry ill news, said a third; it is always a painful thing to do.
William is not a man who welcomes interference, said a fourth. I should not like to be the one to intrude upon his privacy; probably he knows about the fire, and is managing it in his own way.
While they were talking, the house burned up.
THE NAUGHTY COMET
In a distant corner of the court-yard lay an old comet, with his tail comfortably curled up around him. He was too old to go out, so he enjoyed himself at home in a quiet way. Beside him stood a very young comet, with a very short tail. He was quivering with excitement, and occasionally cast sharp impatient glances at the Comet Master.
Will he never call me? he exclaimed, but in an undertone, so that only
his companion could hear. He knows I am dying to go out, and for that very reason he pays no attention to me. I dare not leave my place, for you know what he is.
Ah! said the old comet, slowly, if you had been out as often as I have, you would not be in such a hurry. Hot, tiresome work, I call it. And what does it all amount to?