The chain was originally a part of a harness, but the harness had become worn out, and Albert had brought in the chain and given it to the baby.

The baby liked these play-things very much indeed,--both the pebbles and the chain.

When he was well, and neither hungry nor sleepy, he was never tired of playing with them,--trying to bite them, and jingling them together.
"Now," said Mary Erskine to the children, as they were sitting at the table, at the close of the breakfast, and after Thomas had gone away, "you may go out and play for an hour while I finish my morning work, and put the baby to sleep, and then I want you to come in and have a school." "Who shall be the teacher ?" said Mary Bell.
"You shall be _one_," said Mary Erskine.
"Are you going to have two teachers ?" asked Mary Bell.

"If you do, then we can't have any scholars;--for the baby is not old enough to go to school." "I know it," said Mary Erskine, "but we can have three scholars without him." "Who shall they be ?" asked Mary Bell.
"You and I, and Bella," answered Mary Erskine.

"I will tell you what my plan is.