  I am only five years old; but I have a great deal of trouble. Papa pulls my ears, and calls me a sad rogue; brother Tom asks me every night what new mischief I have been up to today; and poor mamma sighs, and says I am the most troublesome child she ever saw. But dear good grandma looks up from her knitting, and smiles as she says, "Tut, tut, daughter! Our Amy isn't any worse than a little girl I knew some thirty years ago." "O grandma!" cried I one day, "do please tell me about her; for I like to hear about naughty little girls. What was her name, grandma?" Grandma looked over her spectacles at mamma and smiled, and mamma nodded and smiled back. Then grandma said, "I think I will tell you of one of little Clara's capers; but mind, you are not to go and do the same thing the first chance you get." This is the story as grandmother told it,— "Little Clara lived on a farm away out in the country. She was the youngest of seven children, and a great pet, of course. But Clara's little "One day Clara's mother had occasion to go to the store, which was three miles away. Clara wanted to go too. Her mother feared she would be in the way, and looked doubtful; but big brother Ben said, 'Let her go, mother. She'll be good, I know.' "'Yes; let her go,' said Susan, who was trying to net a bead purse, and keep Clara's fingers out of her box of beads at the same time. Did she behave herself? "'Do let her go!' said Roger. 'I want to rig my ship this afternoon; and a fellow can't do much with her around.' "So it was decided that Clara should go; and it was the work of but a few moments to polish up the chubby face and hands, and brush the curly hair. The pink dress, red shoes, and white sun-bonnet, were put on as quickly as possible, and Clara was ready. "'Now, do try to behave yourself, child,' said Susan, as Ben lifted the little girl into the wagon. "'Of course I will,' replied Clara, pouting her red lips. "'But did she behave herself?' you ask. Ah! I will tell you. "When they reached the store, Mr. Dale, the storekeeper, came out "Clara's mother had a good many things to buy, and very soon forgot all about her little daughter; but when Ben came in, half an hour later, his first question was, 'Where's Clara, mother?' "Sure enough, where was Clara? Her seat was empty. She had disappeared. 'Clara, Clara!' called both her mother and Ben; but there was no answer. "'She's in some mischief,' said Ben; and, as quick as thought, he rushed into the back part of the store, followed by his mother and Mr. Dale. What a sight met their eyes! There stood Clara, in the centre of the room, stepping back slowly, as a pool of molasses, streaming steadily from a hogshead in the corner, crept towards the toes of her little red shoes. Ben caught up Clara as quick as a flash, and——" "No, grandma," interrupted mamma, "it was Mr. Dale who did that, while Ben made haste to turn the faucet to prevent further mischief." "Why, mamma," said I, "how do you know? Were you there?" "I heard about it," said she; and she and grandma both smiled. "The little girl was just my age, and I knew her very well." "And your names were both Clara," said I. "How queer!" And mamma and grandma must have thought it queer, too; for they both laughed heartily. F. A. B. Nut Divider AUNT MATILDA
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