It was late when Mr. Allis came in; and upon examining the foot he said the
thorn would have to be cut out in the morning. In vain a soothing poultice
was applied to the wound. Annie scarcely closed her eyes all night. Worse
than that: she kept her mother awake, although she tried hard to be patient
and bear the pain as well as she could. In the morning her father sharpened
his penknife and cut out the thorn. Of course he was very careful, but it
did hurt sadly. It was many days before the poor foot got well; and I think
Annie Allis will remember her mother's "_reasons_" for refusing to go
without her shoes _for many a day_.


* * * * *



SUSIE'S TEMPTATION.


No sooner had Annie and Susie made acquaintance with some of the children
in the neighbourhood than they began to make frequent visits at Mr. Allis's
house. Both father and mother thought it desirable that the little girls
should associate with other children; but they dreaded the effect of so
much society and so many new influences on the hearts of the little girls.
More than this: there were some among those that visited them frequently,
who seemed to be almost any thing but desirable companions for the
children. Once or twice Mrs. Allis had observed something in the manners
and conversation of Jane Smith which led her to suspect that she was a bad
girl. Accordingly, she told Annie and Susie that she wished they would, as
much as possible, avoid her society. Notwithstanding all she could say,