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Show Evelyn and Neverlyn. "Mr. Alexander," said Mamma one morning at breakfast, "are there any gypsies about?" "Gypsies? What makes you think so?" "Well," said mamma soberly, "I've heard stories about gypsies changing little children in their beds, and I think somebody has changed mine. I . put a dear, little daughter to bed last night. She. gave me twenty hugs and kisses, promised to be a good girl today, and let me put out the light without a word. But this morning the little girl who woke up in that crib was cross and disobedient: she hasn't kissed me once, and I don't believe she has even said her prayers." "O that is easily explained," said papa; "you put two little girls to bed in the same crib last night, and the wrong one woke up this morning." "Two little girls! exclaimed Evelyn, surprised out of her sulkiness. "Certainly. Didn't you know there were two little girls inside of you? They take turns in looking through your eyes, speaking through your mouth, using your hands and feet. The one who is good and sweet and merry and loving is our dear, little Evelyn; the other suppose we call her Neverlyn Never-lyn hates Evelyn, and would kill her if she could. But we hope Evelyn is going to drive her out some day, and have her crib, and her eyes and mouth, and her hands and feet all to herself." The idea of being two little girls seemed so funny that Evelyn could not help laughing. "Ah!" said mamma, "that's a good sign, for I had observed that Neverlyn never laughs.", Evelyn quickly forgot that second little girl when she got to school. Dear I me! it takes all a little girl's thoughts 1 to remember whether "e" or "i" comes first in "believe." and what part of speech "such" is. and how to dicide by five figures. But her day card had "excellent" written on it, and mamma looked pleased enough when she read i5"You must have left Neverlyn at home locked up," she said slowly. "If I thought she'd help me to say my lessons. I'd- take her along," laughed the little girl. "She never helps." said mamma, taking her head, "her business is to hTher'day went by with quick, silent stens: night took her place, and lighted light-ed up the star lamps, and Evelyn s bed time came a whole half hour earlier than usual because she was late inythe morning, and she barely had time to finishe her lessons before mamma whispered: whis-pered: ."Bedtime, deary, but don t let Neverlvn know it." This brought a smile to drive awaj the coming frown, and Evelyn followed mamma upstairs, singing over the. Mother Goose rhyme mamma had used in the morning: "Richard and Robin were two pretty men, They lay in bed till the clock struck ten, Then up jumped Robin and looked at the sky. Oho, Brother Richard, the sun's very high!" "Mamma," she said suddenly, leaving leav-ing the rhyme unfinished, "does everybody every-body go double!" "Yes, everybody," answered mamma, mam-ma, "as long as they live in this world. Everybody has an evil nature, a Neverlyn, Nev-erlyn, which wants us to be mean and disagreeable, and a better nature which wants us to do right. Evelyn listened soberly, and then mamma tucked her up in the soft, white bed. "Good night, mamma," she said, smiling to herself as the light went out, and the saucy stars peeped in at her. "Call me early in the morn-ir-g, so you won't wake Neverlyn." Sunday School Times. |