OUR YOUNG FOLKSAT HOME AND ABROAD. 

[Illustration: {A BOY AND TWO GIRLS. }]

W. B. CONKEY COMPANYLONDON--NEW YORK--CHICAGO. 

 OUR YOUNG FOLKS AT ... HOME AND ABROAD:

 _Illustrated Sketches and Poems for Young People. _

 BY

 ANNIE D. BELL, CLARA J. DENTON, AMANDA M. DOUGLAS, FRANK H. SELDEN, CHAS. T. JEROME, LAURA E. RICHARDS, MRS. L. A. CURTIS, OLIVER OPTIC, ETC. 

 _ORIGINAL ILLUSTRATIONS. _

 BY F. S. CHURCH, E. H. GARRETT, A. S. COX, CULMER BARNES, PARKER HAYDEN, H. MOSER, H. PRUETT SHARE, MISS L. B. HUMPHREY, ETC. , ETC. 

 EDITED BY DAPHNE DALE. 

 LONDON--NEW YORK--CHICAGO: W. B. CONKEY COMPANY, PUBLISHERS. 

 COPYRIGHT 1894, W. B. CONKEY COMPANY. 

[Illustration: ANIMAL LIFE FROM EVERY ZONE. ]

 THE KITTENS' STEPMOTHER HOW SOME SEEDS ARE PLANTED OLD SCORES REPAID, OR TRAGEDY REVERSED TIPPY, THE FIREMEN'S DOG NINE LITTLE FOXES WHAT AILED THE BELL THE HOOK AND LADDER LITTLE JOE'S RIDE GYPSY AND HIS TRICKS A LITTLE GIRL'S WEDDING GIFT DO RIGHT DOG PRINCE WHERE THE PRETTY PATH LED A LETTER TO MOTHER NATURE OUR MAY-DAY AT THE SOUTH BERTIE'S STORY AND MINE THE PORCUPINE'S QUILLS LOVE YOUR ENEMIES THE MERCIFUL PRINCE THE OPOSSUM IN THE HEN-HOUSE HOW ROY WENT A FISHING A BEAR-STORY HEAR US SING, SEE US SWING, UP IN THE OLD OAK TREE SAILOR BABIES PRETTY POLLY PRIMROSE LOOK AT THE BABY AN UNLUCKY SAIL TO STRAWBERRY TOWN FLOSSIE AND HER SHOE-BOAT NELLIE'S LUNCH DIME AND THE BABY WIDE-AWAKE LAND LULU'S FIRST THANKSGIVING THE SUN-KISS THE COUNTRY WEEK THE ROAD TO SCHOOL WHAT SAMMY'S MONKEY DID BESSIE IN THE MOUNTAINS PAULINE'S STRANGE PETS "GO HALVES!" LITTLE GAMES WHAT WE FOUND IN OUR STOVE THE JOHN AND LINCOLN FLEET THE YACHT STARLIGHT THE NEW PARASOL THE MAN WHO WAS SHAKEN BY A LION THE LAUGHING JACKASS THE TRICK THEY PLAYED ON JOCKO SOME OTHER THINGS BOBBY SAW AT SEA THE MOSQUITO THE LAUGHING GIRL ANNIE'S DUCKS VICK IN TROUBLE IN GRANDMA'S ATTIC LITTLE GIRL GRACIE A MAGPIE AND HER NEST AT THE BEACH FARMER GRAY AND HIS APPLES AH KEE DICK AND GRAY THE RETURN OF THE BIRDS FIRST REWARD OF MERIT FOUR LITTLE MICE FINNETTE ABOUT THE DEER EVERYBODY'S DOG A BIRD'S NEST A RAINY DAY THE STORY OF A CANE MISS LOLLIPOP'S FANCIES TOMMY'S TEMPTATION A BEAR STORY ANNA'S BIRTHDAY GIFT RALPH AND THE BUTTERFLIES A POEM TOM'S LETTER JANEY'S PRESENT GOOD OLD ROSE AUNT PATTY'S PETS TOMMY AND THE GANDER A NIGHT VISITOR THE NIGHT MONKEY BABY'S NAP HURRAH! HURRAH! MOSES GOES TO A CANDY PARTY FAN'S CARDS:--A CHRISTMAS HINT KITTY'S TRAMP THREE ROYAL CHILDREN AN OSTRICH PLUME WHO KILLED THE GOOSE? A TEMPERANCE HORSE HOW THE WIND BLOWS DIME AND BETTY SAVED FROM FREEZING TO DEATH LILY'S GARDEN WHERE? A GOAT IN TROUBLE A NEGRO MELODIST TIME ENOUGH THE MOUSE WEDDING SHE HAD NEVER SEEN A TREE A FUNNY HORSE MRS. GIMSON'S SUMMER BOARDERS AS NIGHT CAME DARKLY DOWN GRANDMOTHER'S CLOCK A STUFFED JUMBO THE TREES IN SILVER LAND SMALL BEGINNINGS GARDEN OF THE GODS YOUNG ARTIST A CHANCE WORD A LITTLE DANCE LOOKING OUT FOR NUMBER ONE WOODCROFT IN THE WOODS AUTUMN LEAVES, AND WHAT KATIE DID THE SPINNING LESSON FOSTER PARENTS HAYMAKING WINDOW GARDENING "CHEER UP. " WAIF'S ROMANCE "MAY I GO WITH YOU?" A SUMMER AT WILLOW-SPRING GREAT EXPECTATIONS "WHERE'S SOPHIE?" "IF I CAN, I WILL. " WINDSOR CASTLE THE LITTLE PRINCES THE TOWER OF LONDON MARY AND HER LAMB JAMIE'S GARDEN CAMP TRIO THE SENTIMENTAL FOX EARTHEN VESSELS BIRDIE'S BREAKFAST A BATTLE GRACE DARLING, THE HEROINE ADAM AND EVE SWINGING SONG HOW THE DAYS WENT AT SEA-GULL BEACH MAX AND BEPPO PANSIES "COME, LITTLE BIRD!" SIRENA'S TROUBLE LADY VIOLET ON TRIAL TWO LITTLE GIRLS HELPFUL WORDS FALSE SHAME CLARA AND THE ANIMAL BOOK AN ANECDOTE THE UNSOCIABLE DUCKS PUTTING OUT THE CANDLE SULKY ARCHIE A WISH FOR WINGS CONSEQUENCES: A PARABLE COMFORTABLE MRS. CROOK AN EVENING SONG "BUT THEN. " AN ANECDOTE WHAT THE SNAIL SAID ONLY NOW AND THEN A SERPENT AMONG THE BOOKS "LITTLE MOTHER. " LITTLE SCATTER WHAT CHICKY THINKS STOP-A-WHILE THE BIRDS' CONCERT ONLY A BOY BIRD NEEDLEWORK HE WAS A GENTLEMAN TIME FOR BED THE VALUE OF A GOOD NAME DINGFORD'S BABY A BED-TIME STORY THE LESSON AFTER RECESS THE LION AT THE "ZOO" DISOBEYING MOTHER PLANTS THAT EAT THE CUCKOO CLOCK DAVY'S GIRL EARLY TEA BONEY CATCHING SNOW FLAKES A MISCHIEVOUS MONKEY THE AFRICAN SLAVE BOY CLIMBING LITTLE ELSIE KITTY STRIKER MAYING GRACIE'S TEMPER AN ANECDOTE THE SWEET-GRASS HOUSE JOHNNY'S GARDEN BOY BILLY AND THE RABBIT A FISH STORY

Our Young Folks at Home and Abroad. 

[Illustration: THREE ORPHANS, ONE MOURNER. ]

THE KITTENS' STEPMOTHER. 

There are two little girls living nearly a hundred rods apart, Mamieand Fannie. Each had a nice pet cat. 

Mamie's cat had three little kittens. When they were about three weeksold their poor mother was killed by a useless dog. For two days Mamiefed her kittens with a spoon, and did all she could to comfort them;but they would cry for their mother. 

Fannie's cat had only one kitten, and it died at once. Then Mamie tookher three motherless kittens down to Fannie's cat to see if she wouldadopt them. She took them at once, and made a great fuss over them. Then she was allowed to raise them. 

When Mamie thought her kittens were old enough she took all three ofthem home again. But their stepmother would neither eat nor drink. Shecried and looked for the kittens. At last Fannie carried her cat up toMamie's house to see the kittens. Then mother and kittens were allhappy again, and played together as if they had never been separated. 

When the girls saw how much the cat and kittens were attached to eachother they concluded to take Fannie's cat home again with only two ofthe kittens; in a short time bring back one of them, and later thelast one. In this way they thought they could separate them withoutany trouble. 

Fannie's cat was not pleased with this plan. She began to look for andcall the third kitten. The next morning, when Mamie went to feed herone kitten, she could not find it anywhere about the barn or woodshed. She went down to Fannie's house, and there she found her kitten. Sometime in the night Fannie's cat went to Mamie's house, found thekitten, and carried it home. Since that time the girls have not triedto part the cat and kittens, and they are a happy family. 

 MAMIE A. AND FANNIE H. 

[Illustration: {KITTEN IN A BASKET. }]

[Illustration: {A COUNTRY SCENE. }]

HOW SOME SEEDS ARE PLANTED. 

Many noble oak-trees are planted by the little squirrel. Running upthe branches, this little animal strips off the acorns, and buriesthem in the ground for food in the cold weather; and when he goes tohunt them up he does not find all of them. Those he leaves behindoften grow up into great and beautiful trees. 

The nuthatch, too, among the birds, is a great planter. Aftertwisting off a cluster of beech-nuts this queer little bird carriesthem to some favorite tree, and pegs them into the crevices of thebark in a curious way. How, we cannot tell. After a while they fall tothe ground, and there grow into large trees. 

[Illustration: {TREES ON THE BANK OF A STREAM. }]

Some larger animals are good seed-planters, and have sometimes coveredbarren countries with trees. It is very singular that animals andbirds can do so much farm-work, isn't it?

 MRS. G. HALL. 

[Illustration: {A CAT CATCHES A MOUSE. }]

OLD SCORES REPAID, OR TRAGEDY REVERSED. 

 I met a tearful little lass; She sobbed so hard I could not pass, I wondered so thereat; "Oh, dry your tears, my pretty child, Pray tell me why you grieve so wild. " "A--mouse--ate--up--my--cat!"

[Illustration: {A MOUSE LOOKS AT A CANDY CAT. }]

[Illustration: {A MOUSE EATING A CANDY CAT. }]

 "A mouse ate up your cat!" I cried, To think she'd fib quite horrified; "Why, how can you say that?" Her tears afresh began to run, She sobbed the words out, one by one: "It--was--a--candy--cat!"

 S. ISADORE MINER. 

[Illustration: {THREE MICE AROUND A TRAP. }]

TIPPY, THE FIREMEN'S DOG. 

[Illustration: {TIPPY LYING DOWN. }]

Tippy was a little, black dog, and he lived at the engine-house, wherethe great engines, which put out the fires, were kept. 

[Illustration: {TIPPY BARKING. }]

He was a poor, miserable, little dog, without a home until the firementook pity on him and gave him one. 

Dick was one of the horses that helped to pull the engine. He was verylarge and black, with a white spot on his forehead. He and Tippy werefine friends. 

When it was cold the little dog would curl close down by Dick's back, and sleep all night, as warm as could be. 

One day, when it was Dick's dinner-time, and he was very hungry, Tippykept running into his stall and barking and biting at his heels. 

Dick did not like it, and he wanted his dinner so much that it madehim cross. So he put down his head, took Tippy by the back of theneck, and lifted him over the side of the low stall, as much as tosay:--

"If you won't go out I will put you out!"

[Illustration: {TIPPY CARRYING A BUCKET. }]

Tippy soon grew to know what the engines were for, and when thefire-bells rang, and the great horses came from their stalls ready tobe harnessed to the engine, he would bark and jump up and down, andbeg to go too. 

[Illustration: TIPPY, THE FIREMEN'S DOG. ]

One day he hid under the driver's seat, and the firemen did not seehim, so he went to the fire. 

After that, the instant an alarm sounded, Tippy would spring on theengine. As it dashed down the street, the bells ringing, the firemenshouting, he would bark to let the people along the way know he wasgoing to help put out the fire. 

Every day the firemen would give Tippy a basket, and a penny to buy abone with. He would take the basket in his mouth, and trot across thestreet to the butcher's for the bone. The butcher would take the pennyout, and put a bone in its place, and Tippy would run home to eat hisbreakfast. 

Once in a while Tippy would be very naughty, and would have to bepunished. Then the firemen would make him sit on a chair for a longwhile, until he would promise, by a bark which meant, "Yes, " that hewould be good. 

 LOUISE THRUSH BROOKS. 

[Illustration: {TIPPY SITTING ON A CHAIR. }]

[Illustration: {A FOX AND SOME CUBS. }]

NINE LITTLE FOXES. 

Tommy and Bessie, Bert, and even little Caddie, think there is notreat like a visit to Covill Farm. 

They all jumped for joy when, one bright afternoon in early summer, their papa said:--

"I am going out past the Covill Farm, and if any little folks want togo along they may stop there while I do my errands. "

How soon they were all ready! How busy all the little tongues were, talking over what they would see and do!

"There'll be lots of little chickens now; and ducklings, too!"

"Yes; and we'll see the dear little lambs, and the little calfeys!"

"And maybe we can go down to the boat-house, and have a row on thelake!"

But they never dreamed of the funny sight they really saw thatafternoon. Papa set them all down at the gate, and drove on, promisingto come back for them in an hour. 

When he came back he tied his horse, and set out to find the littlefolks. But in a few moments they saw him, and came rushing across theyard, all talking at once:--

"O papa, come! come and see!"

"Oh, so funny!"

Little two-year-old Caddie was as much excited as the rest; shecried:--

[Illustration: {NINE FOX CUBS. }]

"Take my hand, papa! Little piggies shall not bite you!"

"Little piggies, " indeed! Little foxes they were; and nine of thecunning creatures. Only think!

The manager of the farm said that something had been killing hislambs, and he had been on the watch to find out the rascal. 

One day, when he was out with his gun, he saw something moving nearan old woodchuck hole; at least, there had been woodchucks there theyear before. 

He went nearer, expecting to see a woodchuck again; but there werethese little foxes playing around. The woodchucks must have burrowedout, and an old fox taken possession of their hole for a den. 

Mr. Nash lay down on the ground to count the funny little things, andwatch them tumbling over each other. Then he tried to stop up theentrance to their den with his coat, so that he could catch them. Buta tree root lay across the hole in such a way that there was a placeleft big enough for the little foxes to get in; and in they went. 

Then Mr. Nash went and called a man to help him. They took spades anddug into the hole until they found them. 

They carried them up to the farm-yard, and put them into a pen. Theywere of a tawny color; and when the children saw them they were aboutas large as cats, and as full of play as any kittens. 

Mr. Nash said he did not want to kill them, because they were socunning. But it was a good thing that he caught them. Just think howmany chickens, and ducks, and geese, and lambs those nine foxes mighthave killed, if they had grown up in their den!

 MRS. D. P. SANFORD. 

[Illustration: {A FOX CUB SITTING ON A TABLE. }]

[Illustration: {BIRDS AROUND THE BELL. }]

WHAT AILED THE BELL. 

It was the first day of school after a vacation. The children wereplaying in the yards. The teachers sat at their desks waiting for thebell to strike to call the children to the different rooms. The handsof the different clocks pointed to a quarter before nine. 

The bell was a sort of gong, fastened to the outside of the building, and the master of the school could ring it by touching a knob in thewall near his desk. It was now time to call the children into school. The master pulled the bell and waited. Still the merry shouts could beheard in the school-yards. Very strange! The children were so engagedin play that they could not hear the bell, he thought. Then he pulledit more vigorously. Still the shouts and laughter continued. 

The master raised his window, clapped his hands, and pointed to thebell. 

[Illustration: {THE MASTER LOOKS OUT OF THE WINDOW. }]

The children rushed into line like little soldiers, and waited for thesecond signal. The teacher pulled and pulled, but there was no sound. Then he sent a boy to tell each line to file in, and he sent anotherboy for a carpenter to find out if the bell-cord was broken. 

[Illustration: {A BOY CLEARS THE EMPTY NEST AWAY FROM THE BELL. }]

What do you think the carpenter found? A little sparrow had built itsnest inside the bell, and prevented the hammer striking against thebell. The teacher told the children what the trouble was, and asked ifthe nest should be taken out. There was a loud chorus of "No, sir. "

Every day the four hundred children would gather in the yard and lookup at the nest. When the little birds were able to fly to the trees inthe yard, and no longer needed a nest, one of the boys climbed on aladder and cleared away the straw and hay so that the sound of thebell might call the children from play. 

 M. A. HALEY. 

[Illustration: {BOYS AT PLAY. }]

THE HOOK AND LADDER. 

 The frosts in the door-yard maple Had lighted a fine red blaze, And one of the golden twilights That come September days: The neighborhood lads had gathered To play their usual plays. 

[Illustration: {A BOY UP A TREE. }]

 Frankie was good at planning, And seeing the glowing tree, "Let's have a fire department And play 'tis a house!" said he. "Oh, yes, a hook and ladder, " Cried all; "what fun 'twill be!"

 So they put the hose on the hydrant. Searched everywhere about Until they found a ladder, And then, with yell and shout Of "fire" and clang of "ding-dong, " They rushed to put it out. 

 The hosemen pulled their jackets Hastily from their backs; One climbed the tree like a squirrel, With a ball-bat for an axe And he hewed at the beautiful branches With frantic hacks and whacks. 

 Some one turned on the water, And the boy in the foremost place Got the full force from the nozzle Square in his little face; And he cried for half a minute With the funniest grimace. 

[Illustration: {ONE BOY IS SOAKED BY ANOTHER BOY WITH A HOSE. }]

 The stream flew this way, that way, And up to the tree's bright top, And back came the water splashing With reckless slosh and slop, And with it showers of red leaves And twigs began to drop. 

 This small boys' Hook and Ladder Was a very good company, And they squirted till the sidewalk Was like a mimic sea; But they didn't put out the fire In the old red maple-tree. 

 MRS. CLARA DOTY BATES. 

[Illustration: {JOE, HIS UNCLE AND THE HORSE. }]

LITTLE JOE'S RIDE. 

"Good Billy! nice Billy!" said little Joe, as he patted the nose ofthe old black horse. "Say, Uncle John, can't I ride him to water?"

"I am afraid you cannot hang on to him, " replied his uncle. "Did youever ride a horse?"

"No, uncle; but I am sure I can, " answered Joe. "Please let me try. I'll take hold of his mane with both hands, and hang on as hard asever I can. "

"Well, you may try it. There is the trough, against that fence, theother side of the barn. Look out that old Billy does not give you aducking. "

"Never fear for me, " cried Joe, riding away in great glee. 

He was a little city boy, and had come out to the farm to make hisuncle a visit. He thought it great fun to take a ride on horseback. 

It did not take him long to find the trough, for old Billy knew theway right well. Then, how it happened, Joe never could tell: Billy puthis head down quite suddenly, and right over it slid the little boywith a great splash, head first into the water. 

Of course he was not hurt. He caught hold of the fence and came out, dripping from head to foot. 

[Illustration: {JOE IN THE WATER TROUGH. }]

Old Billy looked on rather surprised, but got his drink. He let Joelead him back to the barn, and how Uncle John did laugh at him. Joelaughed too, as he went off to get on some dry clothes. Though he tooka good many rides after that, he never forgot his first one on oldBilly's back. 

 MRS. M. E. SANDFORD. 

[Illustration: {GYPSY PULLING A SMALL TWO WHEELED CART. }]

GYPSY AND HIS TRICKS. 

When Harry was six years old his grandfather sent him a very nicepresent from the farm. You cannot guess what it was, so I will tellyou. 

[Illustration: {GYPSY STANDING ON HIS HEAD. }]

A goat, with a harness and cart, for Harry to drive him. Harry namedhim Gypsy, because he was so black. 

Gypsy and Harry had a great many good times together. He would drawHarry to school and then wait very patiently under the shade of a treeuntil school was out. All the school-children were very fond of himand would bring him sweet apples and cake. 

[Illustration: {GYPSY BOWING. }]

The teacher was fond of Gypsy, too, and would often bring sugar tohim; but she never let Gypsy have it until he had performed one of thetricks the boys had taught him. He must either stand on his head, bow, or dance. Gypsy could do all these. 

One day Gypsy did something very funny. It was a very hot day, andHarry thought he would unharness him and let him roam around theschool-yard. 

What do you think Gypsy did? He walked into the school-house, straightup to the teacher, and stood on his head. He was begging for sugar. 

[Illustration: {GYPSY STANDING ON HIS HIND LEGS. }]

The teacher laughed with the scholars, and said, "Gypsy, you havelearned your lesson well; now I'll excuse you, and let you go out toplay. " And then she drove him out. 

One of the boys begged leave to give Gypsy an apple, and the teachersaid he might. Gypsy took the apple in his mouth and made a littlebow. 

The scholars laughed so long that the teacher had to close the doorfor fear Gypsy would do some other funny thing. 

 KATY KYLE. 

[Illustration: {TWO LITTLE GIRLS. }]

A LITTLE GIRL'S WEDDING GIFT. 

 If I could choose a wedding gift, I'd climb for you the rainbow stairs And bring a star to bless This day of happiness. 

 As I came down, a bird I'd lift From off his nest, that his sweet airs And songs might you delight From rosy morn till night. 

 But rainbow stairs are hard to mount, The birds hide in the trees' green shade, And so I bring, dear friend, to you The flowers wet with dew. 

[Illustration: {TWO LITTLE GIRLS. }]

 Take them, and then take me; please count My eyes your stars; the little maid Who offers flowers, your bird, Whose heart with love is stirred. 

[Illustration: {A LITTLE GIRL IN A PATCH OF FLOWERS. }]

 May child love and the birds together Make all your life like summer weather; May flowers blossom in your sight, And golden stars bring peace at night. 

 MRS. E. ANNETTE HILLS. 

DO RIGHT. 

 "Well met, my little man! Now tell me, if you can, The very nicest way To spend this long, dull day. "

 "Well, sir, my mother says, Of all the pretty ways To make a dark day bright The best is just do right!"

 M. J. T. 

DOG PRINCE. 

 "Shake hands, Prince!" Black as a coal, and curly, too. Is the dog I introduce to you. He gives at once his right-hand paw, None a softer one ever saw. 

[Illustration: {PRINCE SHAKING HANDS WITH A LITTLE BOY. }]

 "Beg, Prince!" Up he rises on his hind legs, Flies both little fore-feet, and begs, Not for money, nor food, nor clothes, But merely to show how much he knows. 

 "Speak, Prince!" You'd think from that first growling note, He'd a bumble-bee inside his throat; 'Tis not a bee, but only a bark; For answer, shrill and eager, hark!

[Illustration: {PRINCE BEGGING. }]

 "Roll over, Prince!" He'll do all other things you ask; But this is a task, a dreadful task. He hates the dust on his silky hide And in the fringe of his ears beside. 

 "Roll over, I say!" Such a struggle as he goes through; He wants to do it, and don't want to! He rubs one black ear on the floor, Rubs a little, and nothing more. 

 "Ah, Prince! Ah, Prince!" Do you call that minding? Yet, I find Yours is a common way to mind: Willing to do what you like to best, And only half-way doing the rest. 

 MRS. CLARA DOTY BATES. 

[Illustration: {THE CHILDREN BY THE LILY POND. }]

WHERE THE PRETTY PATH LED. 

Little Fred went to spend his long vacation with his grandpa andgrandma in the country. Fred's grandpa had an old white horse namedBetsy. He had owned her ever since mamma was a little girl, and Fredand Betsy soon became great friends. 

Every day grandma would give Fred two biscuits, two apples and twolumps of sugar in a little basket and he would take them over to thepasture. Betsy soon learned to expect him, and waited for him at thebars. She knew that half of what was in the basket was meant for her. 

A very pretty path came in at one end of the pasture. Fred oftenwondered where it went, but he never dared to go in very far alone. One day his two cousins, Alice and Frank, came to make grandma alittle visit. Grandma told Fred he must show them all over the farm. The next morning, after he had taken them out to lunch with Betsy, hethought it would be a good chance to go down the little path. Aliceand Frank said they would like to go very much. Fred was still alittle afraid, and kept very near Alice. But he forgot everythingelse, when, at the end of the path, they came upon a lovely littlepond. It was all covered with great white lilies and their green pads. 

They wanted to get some lilies to take home. They tried to reach themfrom the bank, but lilies have a provoking way of growing just out ofreach. Then they tried to hook them in with sticks, but got only threeor four, without stems. Then they looked for a board to use as a raft. 

At last Frank said they must wade for them. He and Fred took off theirshoes and stockings, pulled up their trousers, and went in. Fred useda long stick to feel the way before him, so as not to get into watertoo deep. 

This time they were successful, and got just as many lilies as theirhands would hold. 

Grandma was delighted with them; she said she had not had any liliesfrom that old pond since grandpa used to bring them to her years andyears before. 

 MRS. F. T. MERRILL. 

A LETTER TO MOTHER NATURE. 

[Illustration: {A LITTLE GIRL WRITING A LETTER. }]

 "You dear old Mother Nature, I am writing you a letter, To let you know you ought to fix up things a little better. The best of us will make mistakes--I thought perhaps if I Should tell you how you might improve, you would be glad to try. 

 "I think you have forgotten, ma'am, that little girls and boys Are fond of dolls, and tops, and sleds, and balls, and other toys; Why didn't you--I wonder, now!--just take it in your head To have such things all growing in a lovely garden bed?

[Illustration: {DRINKING FROM A LEMONADE SPRING. }]

 "And then I should have planted (if it only had been me) Some vines with little pickles, and a great big cooky tree; And trees, besides, with gum-drops and caramels and things; And lemonade should bubble up in all the little springs. 

 "I'd like to have the coasting and the skating in July, When old Jack Frost would never get a single chance to try To nip our cheeks and noses; and the Christmas trees should stand By dozens, loaded!--in the woods!--now, wouldn't that be grand?

[Illustration: {PICKING UNUSUAL PLANTS. }]

 "Ah! what a world it would have been! How could you, madam, make Such lots of bread and butter to so very little cake? I'd have it just the other way, and every one would see How very, very, very, very nice my way would be. 

 "But, as I cannot do it, will you think of what I say? And please, ma'am, _do_ begin and alter things this very day. And one thing more--on Saturdays don't send us any rain. Good-by. If I should think of something else, I'll write again. "

 SYDNEY DAYRE. 

[Illustration: {A BOY PLAYING A PIPE TO A DOG. }]

[Illustration: {A BOY AND A GIRL. }]

OUR MAY-DAY AT THE SOUTH. 

 Out in the woods we went to-day: Mamma and Nannie, Freddie and May, Charlie and I, and good old Tray, Out in the greenwood to romp and play. 

 To-day, you know, is the first of May; And we meant to be so jolly and gay: And celebrate in so merry a way That we could never forget this holiday. 

 So first we chose the loveliest queen, The dearest and sweetest that ever was seen; For mamma herself was Her Highness Serene, And we crowned her with rosebuds and evergreen. 

 Then we kneeled around and vowed to obey All the laws she made, not only to-day, But all the year through. Then she waved a spray Of lilac bloom, and bade us all be gay. 

 Oh the games we played, and the races we run! The bars we leaped, and the prizes we won! Oh the shouting, the singing, the laughter and fun, -- It were hard to tell who was the happiest one!

 Then, rosy and tired, we gathered around Our beautiful queen on the mossy ground; The hungriest group in the land, I'll be bound. As the sandwiches, cookies, and tarts went round. 

[Illustration: {ENJOYING GAMES AND A PICNIC. }]

 When the sun was low and shadows were gray, Down from her throne stepped our fair Queen of May, And through the green fields led homeward our way, While we gave her sweet thanks for this beautiful day. 

 L. A. B. C. 

[Illustration: {SHIPS NEAR A LIGHT-HOUSE. }]

BERTIE'S STORY AND MINE. 

 "Tell me a story about a bear, A great big bear who lived in a wood And ate little children. " "O, my dear, The bears I know of were playful and good, And lived in houses or parks or a pen, And never ate children, or boys, or men. 

 "There was one snow white, a mother bear, -- With two little babies cunning and queer; Who rolled and climbed and stood on their heads, And fell over, as boys often do, I fear. They hugged their mother, and talked in their way, And kept still when they'd nothing to do or say. "

 "No, I mean a real bear out in the woods, Who growls and chases you, makes you run, Half scared to death, --and a little boy lost Out in the woods and the night coming on; And the terrible bear with his great fierce eyes, And no one to hear the little child's cries!

 "He runs and runs, "--and then Bertie smiles, His climax reached, --"I was only in fun; The bear didn't kill him, because, you see, There was just behind a man with a gun, And he shot! Bang! Down came the old bear; 'Twas his own little boy and he saved him--there!"

[Illustration: {BERTIE AND THE BEAR. }]

 "O, I am so glad!" and I give him a kiss; Then silent we sit for a moment or two. "That's a boy's story; yours, you know, For nice little girls very well will do. But boys, you remember, grow up to be men, And can fight the bears to their very den. "

 AMANDA M. DOUGLAS. 

THE PORCUPINE'S QUILLS. 

Every animal has an instrument of defence. Some have claws, somehoofs, some spurs and beaks, some powerful teeth and stings. 

[Illustration: {A PORCUPINE FENDS OFF A DOG. }]

The porcupine has something queerer than all these. Its body iscovered all over with two sets of quills. One set is long, slender, and curved; the other, short and straight, very stout, and with sharppoints. 

Whenever the porcupine is chased by any animal, and finds he cannotget out of the way, he just stops and bristles up all his quills. Thenhe backs quickly upon the animal, so that the short, sharp quills maystick into the body. If any happen to be a little loose, they stick sofast in the flesh, like an arrow, that they often make a very badwound. Remember this whenever you come in the way of the porcupine. 

 MRS. G. HALL. 

LOVE YOUR ENEMIES. 

I was watching Willie and Grouse at play on the lawn a few days since. I saw in the poor dumb brute a spirit that is too seldom found in man. 

[Illustration: {WILLIE POURS WATER OVER GROUSE. }]

Grouse is an old bird-dog, --a setter. He was bought before Willie cameto be his little master. He has soft, brown hair, and is a veryclever, good-natured dog. Willie can do anything with him, and henever gets angry; but when Willie hurts him he only looks up andpleads with his large, misty eyes. 

They had been playing a long while. Grouse got tired and lay down onthe grass. Pretty soon I saw Willie get some water in a basin. Iwondered what he was going to do with it. Then he walked close up toGrouse, who lay on the lawn, and threw the water all over him. 

It was very unkind for Willie to do so, don't you think it was? Icalled Willie to me, and told him it was too bad for him to plaguesuch a good old dog. I told him he was a very naughty boy to do so. 

Willie said he supposed it was wrong to plague Grouse, but he didn'tmean to hurt him much. 

So Willie went back to where Grouse lay in the sun drying himself. Hepatted the poor dog on the head, and asked him if he would forgive himfor his unkindness. 

Then Grouse, as if he knew what was said, licked Willie's hand. Helooked up forgivingly into his face with his dewy eyes, as much as tosay, "I am one who can love his enemies. "

 FRANK. H. SELDEN. 

THE MERCIFUL PRINCE. 

More than two thousand years ago, in a far-off country, a prince wasborn. While he was yet a child every care was taken that he should bemade happy, and sights of sorrow were carefully kept from him. He wasof a very kind, loving, and tender disposition. 

But the care even of a king for a prince could not keep away allsorrowful sights. His watchful eyes sometimes saw suffering thatfilled his heart with pity. 

As he was playing with his cousin in the palace ground, a flock ofwild swans flew over their heads. His cousin drew his bow and woundedone. It fell at his feet. The prince with pity drew the arrow from thewounded bird, nursed it, and saved its life. 

While his child life was one of tenderness and mercy, the years passedby and he became a man. His heart was still filled with pity for everysuffering creature. He went from the palace, from home and dearfriends, to become poor and a wanderer, that he might help thesuffering. It is beautifully told that in his wanderings he came upona flock of sheep driven along the dusty highway. There was one poorwounded, bleeding lamb, which he took tenderly in his arms andcarried. And so through life his pity and his help were given to theweak, whether men or beasts. From his tender and beautiful life, mencame to worship him after his death. 

[Illustration: {THE PRINCE HELPS A WOUNDED SWAN. }]

The prince was Prince Gautama, of India, who is worshipped as Buddha. Is not his loving and merciful life, from a little child to an oldman, a beautiful example to us?

 CHARLES T. JEROME

THE OPOSSUM IN THE HEN-HOUSE. 

"O George, the circus is coming! the handbills are all up, and suchpictures of horses and lions and tigers, and everything!"

Ned jumped about for joy, until George said, --

"But how are you going, Ned? We have no money, and papa said he couldnot give us any more this month, if he gave us a gun. "

"The new gun, --so he did, " said Ned, sadly. "But the circus takes solittle; they would let us in at half price. "

"I will tell you, " exclaimed George; "let us sell our white Leghornsto mamma. She wants them, I know, and the money we get for them willtake us both to the circus. "

This was settled, and at dinner mamma was told of the plan. 

"Put them up in the hen-house to-night, " she said, "and to-morrow Iwill look at them and we will fix the price. "

The boys went to bed early that night, but had hardly settledthemselves to sleep when Melissa, the little servant-girl, rushed inwith a light in her hand. 

"O, git up, boys, git up! Sompen's in de hen-house, killin' all defowls. "

They jumped up and huddled on their clothes as fast as they could, then ran after Melissa, who held the light while they armed themselveswith sticks. 

There was a great stir, sure enough, in the hen-house, --fowls werecackling and screaming with fright, and a curious snapping sound camefrom one corner. When the light fell here they saw a rough, hairylittle animal, with small bright eyes like a pig, and a long smoothtail. But, worst of all, one of the beautiful white Leghorns laybefore it, all mangled and bleeding. The horrid creature was tearingits soft body, and would hardly stop eating when the children attackedhim. 

At last Melissa caught up a stick, and killed the little beast with aquick blow. She held it up in triumph by its long tail. It lookedvery much like a little pig, and had five fingers, like toes, on eachfoot. 

"'Tis a 'possum, " said Melissa, "and very good to eat. I's right glad_I_ kill it, cos now 'tis mine. "

[Illustration: {MELISSA AND THE BOYS WITH THE DEAD OPOSSUM. }]

"You are welcome to it, " said Ned, half crying. "What shall we do nowour pretty Leghorn rooster is dead? We can't go to the circus. "

Next morning they told their tale at the breakfast-table. 

"Never mind, " said their father; "I think you may go, after all, as Iowe you something for killing the opossum. He would have destroyed therest of the fowls. "

"Yes; but, papa, Melissa killed it; we only struck at it. "

"Well, I think I must treat the whole party, as all did their best. Wewill set a trap to-day for the next opossum that may come to see us. "

The boys and Melissa went to the circus, and enjoyed all they saw, andMelissa had a fine opossum stew into the bargain. 

 PINK HUNTER. VIRGINIA. 

HOW ROY WENT A FISHING. 

Roy had fished in the ditch by the side of the road a great manytimes; but he had only a bent pin for a fish-hook, and a piece oftwine for a line. He never caught any fish there. 

When he was six years old his uncle James gave him a real fish-hookand a line, and after a good deal of coaxing his mother said that hemight go down the cow-path to the brook and fish for trout. 

Uncle James caught a great many trout in the brook. 

Alice wanted to go with Roy; and Roy, who is very kind to his sister, asked his mother to let her go. 

Alice carried the basket, --a pretty large one. Mary, the cook, toldthem to be sure and get it full of fish, so that she could fry themfor dinner. 

How proud and happy they were! Their mother could see them from thewindow all the time. 

When they reached the brook Alice sat down on a rock. Roy put a wormon the hook, and dropped the end of the line into the stream. But itwas a long time before he got a bite. At last he thought he felt anibble. 

"I've got one, Ally!" he shouted. "O, such a big fellow! You will haveto come and help me pull him out!"

They tugged away on the line, and then they both fell over backwards. 

[Illustration: {ROY CATCHES SOMETHING UNEXPECTED AND UPSETS ALICE. }]

"There he is!" cried Roy. But when they got up and looked, it was nota trout at all. It was only a piece of a black root that broke off andgave them a tumble. 

Roy tried again, and after a good while he felt another nibble. Hejerked the line out so quickly that the hook caught in the back ofAlice's dress. It pricked her shoulder so that she had half a mind tocry. 

Roy could not get the hook out of her dress, and they went home fortheir mother to help them. 

Mary laughed at Roy a good deal. She told his uncle James, atdinner-time, that Roy caught the biggest trout she ever saw, and hehad to come home for his mother to get it off the hook. 

 L. A. B. C. 

[Illustration: {PORTRAIT OF A CHILD, SURROUNDED BY FLOWERS. }]

A BEAR-STORY. 

 "I know a new bear-story, " I said to the little folks, Who surely as the twilight falls, Begin to tease and coax. 

[Illustration: {A BEAR AT THE ZOO. }]

 "And did they live in the forest, In a den all deep and dark? And were there three?"--"Yes, three, " I said, "But they lived in the park. 

 "Let's see! Old Jack, the grizzly, With great white claws, was there; And a mother bear with thick brown coat, And Betty, the little bear!

 "And Silver-Locks went strolling One day, in that pretty wood, With Ninny, the nurse, and all at once They came where the bears' house stood. 

 "And without so much as knocking To see who was at home, She cried out in a happy voice, 'Old Grizzly, here I come!'

 "And thereupon old Grizzly Began to gaze about; And the mother bear sniffed at the bars, And the baby bear peeped out. 

 "And they thought she must be a fairy, Though, instead of a golden wand, She carried a five-cent paper bag Of peanuts in her hand. 

 "Old Grizzly his red mouth opened As though they tasted good; And the brown bear opened her red mouth To catch one when she could;

 "And Betty, the greedy baby, Followed the big bears' style, And held her little fire-red mouth, Wide open all the while. 

 "And Silver-Locks laughed delighted, And thought it wondrous fun, And fed them peanuts from the bag Till she hadn't another one. 

 "And is that all?" sighed Gold-Locks. "Pshaw, is that all?" cried Ted. "No--one thing more! 'Tis quite, quite time That little folks were in bed!"

 CLARA DOTY BATES. 

[Illustration: {A BOY AND A GIRL ON A SWING. }]

HEAR US SING SEE US SWING UP IN THE OLD OAK TREE. 

 O--oh! O--oh! Here we go, Now so high, Now so low; Soon, soon, We'll reach the moon; Hear us sing, See us swing, Up in the old oak-tree. 

 O--oh! O--oh! To and fro, Like the birds, High and low; See us fly To the sky; Hear us sing, On the wing, Up in the old oak-tree. 

 L. A. B. C. 

[Illustration: {TWO BOATS NEAR THE SHORE. }]

SAILOR BABIES. 

[Illustration: {A PAIR OF BIRDS. }]

Birds, and birds, and birds! Have you any idea how many kinds of birdsthere are? I am very sorry you could not count them all. And suchqueer fellows many of them are! There are butcher-birds andtailor-birds, soldier-birds--the penguins, you know, who stand on thesea-shore like companies of soldiers, "heads up, eyes front, arms(meaning wings) at the sides"--and sailor-birds. It is about one ofthe sailor-birds and his babies that I am going to tell you now. Sheis called the Little Grebe, or sometimes, by her intimate friends, theDabchick. She is a pretty little bird, about nine inches long, withbrown head and back, and grayish-white breast. She and her husband areboth extremely fond of the water. "We are first cousins to theDivers!" they sometimes say proudly. "The Divers are never happy awayfrom the water, and neither are we. It is very vulgar to live on landall the time. One might almost as well have four legs, and be acreature at once!" (The Divers are a very proud family, and speak ofall quadrupeds as "creatures. ") Mr. And Mrs. Grebe have verycuriously webbed feet, looking more like a horse-chestnut leaf withthree lobes than anything else. They are excellent swimmers anddivers; indeed, in diving, the Great Northern Diver himself is not soquick and alert. If anything frightens them, pop! they are under thewater in the shaking of a feather; and you may sometimes see them in apond, popping up and down like little absurd Jacks-in-the-box. As theythink the land so very vulgar, of course they do not want to bring uptheir children on it. 

[Illustration: {BIRDS ON THE RIVER. }]

Oh, dear, no! They find a pleasant, quiet stream, or pond, where thereare plenty of reeds and rushes growing in the water, and where thereis no danger of their being disturbed by "creatures. " Then they go towork and make a raft, a regular raft, of strong stems of water-plants, reeds, and arrow-heads, plaited and woven together with great care andskill. It is light enough to float, and yet strong enough to bear theweight of the mother-bird. 

While she is building it she sits, or stands, on another and moreroughly built raft, which is not meant to hold together long. Mr. Grebe helps her, pulling up the water-plants and cutting off the stemsthe right length; and so this little couple work away till theraft-nest is quite ready. Then Mrs. Grebe takes her place on it, andproceeds to lay and hatch her eggs. There are five or six eggs, andthey are white when she lays them; but they do not keep theirwhiteness long, for the water-weeds and the leaves that cover theraft soon decay, and stain the pretty white eggs, so that they aremuddy brown by the time they are hatched. Well, there little MadameGrebe sits, brooding contentedly over her eggs, and thinking howcarefully she will bring up her children, so that they will be acredit to the family of the Divers. Mr. Grebe paddles, and dives andpops up and down about the nest, and brings her all sorts of goodthings to eat, --worms for dinner, minnows for supper, and forbreakfast the most delicate and appetizing of flies and beetles. Oneday, when he brings his wife's dinner (a fine stickle-back), he findsher in a state of great excitement. 

"My dear, " she says, "I am going to move. I cannot endure this placeanother hour. I only waited to tell you about it. "

"Why, what is the matter, my love?" asks Mr. Grebe, in amazement. 

"Some creatures have been here, " answers little madam, indignantly, --"huge, ugly monsters, with horns; cows, I believe theyare called. They have torn up the reeds, and muddied the water; and, if you will believe it, Dabchick, one of them nearly walked right overme; then I flew in his face, and gave him a good fright, I can tellyou. But the whole thing has upset me very much, and I am determinedto leave the place. "

"Very well, my love, " says the dutiful Dabchick. "Whatever you say isalways right!"

Accordingly, when she has finished her dinner, Mrs. Grebe puts onefoot into the water, and paddles her raft away as skilfully as if shewere an Indian in a birch canoe. She steers it round the corners, andpaddles on and on, till she finds another quiet nook, where there isno sign of any "creatures. " Then she draws in her paddle-foot, andbroods quietly again, while Mr. Grebe, who has followed her, goes toexplore the new surroundings, and see what he can pick up for supper. 

After a time the muddy brown eggs crack open one by one, and out comethe young Dabchicks, pretty, little, fuzzy brown balls. They shakethemselves, and look at each other, and say how-d'-ye-do to theirmother and father; and then, without any more delay, pop! they go intothe water. "Hurrah!" says one. "I can swim!"

PRETTY POLLY PRIMROSE. 

 Out here papa finds her, Lifts her tenderly, Carries her safe home again, -- Never once wakes she. 

[Illustration: {POLLY ASLEEP UNDER A TREE. }]

 When the breakfast all is o'er Polly opes her eyes. "Surely, mamma, I did dream, " Says she in surprise, "That I went out to the Park, Where the birdies sing. " Mamma smiles; how can she chide The winsome little thing!

 AMANDA M. DOUGLAS. 

[Illustration: {A PAIR OF BIRDS. }]

LOOK AT THE BABY. 

 This way and that way, one, two, three. Come if you want a dance to see; With his chubby hands on his dress so blue, See what a baby boy can do. 

 One foot up and one foot down; See him try to smile and frown; He would look better, I do declare, With some more teeth and a little more hair. 

 One, two, three, chick-a-dee-dee! This I take the fact to be, That there never was, on sea nor shore, Such a queer little dance as this before!

AN UNLUCKY SAIL. 

When little Sam was six years old, he began to go to school. Histeacher gave him a merit card whenever he was good all day. Butsometimes he whispered, or made a noise in school, and then he did notget one. 

"I will give you a penny whenever you bring home a card, " said Sam'sfather. 

After that Sam was very good, and brought home a card almost everyday. He saved up his pennies, and when he was seven years old, hebought a pretty toy boat. 

Sam's sister Hattie went with him to the duck-pond to see him sail theboat. But soon she grew tired, and went back to the house. 

"I wish I had something to put into my boat, " thought Sam. 

He looked around and saw Hattie's doll under a tree. Hattie hadforgotten it when she went to the house. It was a pretty wax doll, with long flaxen hair, and blue eyes that would open and shut. It wasdressed in pink silk, and had a little straw hat with a pink feather. 

[Illustration: {SAM AND HIS SAILING BOAT, AND WHAT HAPPENED TO MISSDOLLY. }]

"I will give Miss Dolly a sail, " thought Sam. 

He put the doll in the boat, and pushed it out on the water. 

"Hattie, Hattie!" he cried, "come and see your doll taking a sail. "

Just as he spoke an old duck swam against the boat, and gave it sucha push that Miss Dolly fell off into the water. Before Sam could reachher with a long stick she sank to the bottom of the pond. 

Hattie cried until she had no tears left to shed, and Sam felt likecrying, too. He knew he ought not to have taken his sister's doll. 

He went on saving his pennies just as he had done before he bought theboat. And when he opened his tin bank on his next birthday he foundthat he had nearly three dollars. What do you think he bought? I amafraid you would never guess, so I will tell you. He bought a new dollfor Hattie, and it was even prettier than the one he had drowned inthe duck-pond. 

 FLORENCE B. HALLOWELL. 

[Illustration: {HATTIE AND SAM AFTER THE SINKING. }]

TO STRAWBERRY TOWN. 

 A dear little maid, with sun-bonnet red Tied carefully over her little brown head, With two little bare feet, so active and brown, Has started to travel to Strawberry town. 

 "And pray where is that?" Oh dear! don't you know? It's out in the field where the strawberries grow; Where papa, and Henry, and Sue, in the sun, Pick the sweet, big, red berries so fast, one by one. 

[Illustration: {THE MAID AND HER KITTENS. }]

 "It's a very great ways, " says the dear little maid, "To Strawberry town, and I'm so afraid. " And so as companions, to keep her from harm, She takes two fat kittens, one under each arm. 

 She trudges along with brown eyes opened wide, The kittens hugged sociably up to each side; With ears sticking up and tails hanging down, She carries them bravely to Strawberry town. 

 MARY A. ALLEN, M. D. 

[Illustration: {FLOSSIE AND HER SHOE-BOAT. }]

FLOSSIE AND HER SHOE-BOAT. 

Flossie took to the sea very early. She did not like to be bathed, butshe was very fond of playing in the water. 

One day, when she was at her bath, her mother's back was turned, andlittle Miss Flossie turned her slipper into a boat and set it afloatin her little bath-tub. Then she pushed it about and made believe itwas sailing. By and by it got full of water and sank, crew and all. This made her cry, and that made her mother look round. Flossie'sshoe-boat was taken from her, and then she cried more. Her mother knewbest, and was very firm. Miss Flossie had to give up being a sailor, and put on her pink dress and go downstairs. 

 R. W. L. 

NELLIE'S LUNCH. 

Little Nellie lived in California. Her papa was going on a visit tohis old home in Maine, but Nellie was to stay at home with her mamma. Just before her father left, her mother took his great-coat, brushedit, and said, "I have put some handkerchiefs in this pocket, and inthe other one is a nice lunch of cake and fruit. "

The father and mother were so busy that they took no notice of Nellie. But she had heard what mamma said. Her first thought was that she mustput something in papa's pocket, too. 

[Illustration: {NELLIE MAKES LUNCH FOR HER FATHER. }]

Her mother had been changing Nellie's clothes, and a soiled littlestocking lay on the floor. The child had a small cake of maple sugarin her hand that she was eating. She took up the stocking and crammedthe sugar down into the toe. She then rolled it up tight and tucked itdown in one corner of her papa's pocket. No one saw her do it. Thefirst that was known of what she had done was one day after her papahad reached his old home. He was searching his pocket for somethingwhen he felt the little stocking. He took it out, and when he saw whatit was, what a good laugh he had! And how it made him think of hislittle Nellie, who was so far away!

Nellie's papa showed me the little stocking and the cake of sugar. Hesaid he would save them until Nellie was older, and she could then seewhat a nice lunch she had put up for her papa. 

 NELLIE BURNS. 

[Illustration: {A PORTRAIT OF DIME. }]

DIME AND THE BABY. 

Bow-wow! Here I am again! I told you before that my name is Dime; butthe baby calls me "Bow-wow. " Do you know why? It is because I alwayssay "Bow-wow. " It is all the word I know how to say. 

Do you know our baby? She has big black eyes, and her mouth looks likea pink rosebud. She is a sweet little girl. I love her dearly. I didnot like her when she first came. That was a long time ago. My masterwas very fond of her. That made me feel cross. I used to bark at babyand show all my teeth. After that they did not let me come near her. Idid not see the baby for a long time. I did not care for that. 

My master did not seem to like me then. When he saw me, he said, "Goaway, Dime! Go away, bad dog! You are not good to the baby. " So I wasnot happy. I made up my mind to bite that baby. 

It was a long time before I got a chance to bite her; but one day Ifound her alone. She was in her little crib. I put my paws on hercrib. 

But I did not bite her, after all. Shall I tell you why? She was toopretty to bite. So I kissed the baby, and I have loved her ever since. 

[Illustration: {DIME LOOKS AT THE SLEEPING BABY. }]

Now, my master likes me again. He pats my head and says, "Good olddog! Good Dime! You love the baby, don't you?"

I am glad I am not a cross dog now. I feel better when I am good. Don't you?

 S. E. SPRAGUE. 

WIDE-AWAKE LAND. 

"Come, Freddie, time you were in bed long ago, " said mamma. 

"Don't want to go!" cried Fred. "I wish I never had to go to bed!"

But in a few moments Fred was snugly tucked away. Everything grew dim, and Fred's eyes began to close. Very soon he heard a little voice fromsomewhere, and started up. 

Perched on his knee was the queerest little man he had ever seen. Inone hand he held a long pin, and this he often thrust at Fred. 

"What are you doing that for?" asked Fred. "To keep you awake, " saidthe little dwarf. "You are in Wide-Awake Land, and no one goes tosleep here. "

[Illustration: {FREDDIE IS WIDE AWAKE. }]

Fred sat up in bed and looked about. Was it really Wide-Awake Land?Needn't he ever go to bed again? "O, I am glad!" he said. 

There were many other boys and girls in this queer land, and most ofthem looked very unhappy. 

"What is the matter?" asked Fred of a little boy who was crying hard. 

"I'm tired and sleepy, " sobbed the boy. 

"Why don't you go to sleep then?" asked Fred. 

"Humph! I guess you haven't been here long, or you'd know. "

"No, I've just come; I think it's nice. "

"Wait till you get sleepy, " said the boy. "I used to think Wide-AwakeLand would be nice. I believe Sleepy Land would be nicer now. "

[Illustration: {FREDDIE AND THE OTHER LITTLE BOYS. }]

"Yes, " added Fred; "but why can't you go to sleep?"

"Because the little men that you see everywhere carry pins. They prickus when we try to sleep. O, I wish I hadn't come!" And the boy beganto cry again. Fred thought he was very silly, and ran off to find someother new-comer. 

Night came at last. Big lamps were hung on the trees and made theplace as light as day. The little men were flying about to keep thesleepy ones awake. 

Fred got sleepy at last, and began to nod. A little man thrust a bigpin into him. "You must keep awake, " he said. Fred tried hard, but hiseyes would shut, and then would come the wicked pin. At last hescreamed aloud. 

"Why, Fred! what is the trouble?" and he looked up. There was mamma. 

"I don't like Wide-Awake Land, " cried Fred. "I will go to sleep whenyou want me to after this. "

"I think you are dreaming, Fred, " replied mamma. 

"I was, but I am awake now. "

"Well, dear, you are in Sleepy Land now. So good night, and pleasantdreams. "

 ELIZA M. SHERMAN. 

[Illustration: {A LITTLE GIRL WEARING A HAT. }]

LULU'S FIRST THANKSGIVING. 

Lulu was six years old last spring. She came to make a visit at hergrandfather's, and stayed until after Thanksgiving. 

Lulu had lived away down in Cuba ever since she was a year old. Hercousins had written to her what a good time they had on ThanksgivingDay; so she was very anxious to be at her grandfather's at that time. They do not have a Thanksgiving Day down in Cuba. That is how Lulu didnot have one until she was six years old. 

[Illustration: {THE FAMILY AT TABLE WAITING FOR THE TURKEY TO BECARVED. }]

She could hardly wait for the day to come. Such a grand time as theydid have! Lulu did not know she had so many cousins until they came tospend the day at her grandfather's. It did not take them long to getacquainted. Before time for dinner they felt as if they had alwaysknown each other. 

The dinner was the grand event of the day. Lulu had never seen so longa table except at a hotel, nor some of the vegetables and kinds ofpie. 

[Illustration: {PLAYING BLIND-MAN'S-BUFF. }]

Lulu had never tasted turkey before. Her grandmother would not haveone cooked until then, so she could say that she had eaten her firstpiece of turkey on Thanksgiving Day. 

After dinner they played all kinds of games. All the uncles and auntsand grown-up cousins played blind-man's-buff with them. 

THE SUN-KISS. [1]

 [1] Small purple flower; grows by the wayside in the South. 

 In a land where summer lingers, Far from Northern rains and snows, Where, like loving, clasping fingers, Twines the jasmine with the rose, [Illustration: {A LITTLE GIRL WITH A BUNCH OF FLOWERS. }]

 There I found a little maiden: Oh! her eyes were black as night, And her tiny hands were laden Down with blossoms pearly white. 

 Sought she all along the wayside, 'Mong the ferns and waving palms, Where the tiniest flower might hide From her sweet protecting arms. 

 "What fresh treasure are you seeking?" Asked I of the little one, For a myriad blooms were peeping Through the mosses to the sun. 

 "Have you never heard, dear lady, Of the sweetest flower that blooms, -- It is neither proud nor stately, Like the lily and the rose;

 "But it brightens every pathway, Springing 'neath your careless tread. Till the sun, with quickening ray, Kisses soft its drooping head. 

 "Then its petals quick unclosing, Freshly sweet with morning dew, -- It is left for our supposing That the story must be true, --

 "How it shyly waits the coming Of the glorious King of Day, And that hence the pretty naming Of a Sun-Kiss, so they say?"

 ELIZABETH A. DAVIS. 

[Illustration: {A DRAGONFLY AND LEAVES. }]

[Illustration: {TWO CALVES. }]

THE COUNTRY WEEK. 

Mrs. Brown read a little article in the newspaper one evening, about"Country week for poor children. "

"Husband, " said she, "I have an idea. We have such a good farm, and somany nice things, suppose we take some boarders this summer, who can'tafford to pay anything. "

When she told him what she meant, Mr. Brown thought it a very goodidea, indeed. 

"The currants and raspberries are ripe. I'll see if Mrs. Andersonknows of some nice children, who will have to stay in the hot streetsof the city all summer. We will ask them to come here. "

Of course, Mrs. Anderson knew of some nice children. She belonged to amission-school, and knew dozens of them. So, the next Wednesday, whenMr. Brown drove down to the station, there she was, and two littleones with her, Lina and Carl Schmidt. Carl was almost a baby, and wentto sleep as soon as they were in the carriage; but Lina held herbreath with delight as she rode to the farm. She was half afraid, too, and held on very tightly if old Billy went faster than a walk. As Mr. Brown watched the bright little face he began to think his wife's ideawas a splendid one. 

"Well, little one, " said Mrs. Brown to Lina, when they reached thehouse, "what do you think of the country?"

"Oh, I do want to take such long breaths!" said Lina, "I wish mymamma could see it too. "

"The first thing for these small folks, " added Mrs. Brown, "is some ofBrindle's nice milk. "

[Illustration: {THE FAMILY WATCH THE COW BEING MILKED. }]

Carl waked up long enough to drink some, and say, "Dood, dood. " Thenhe grew sleepy again, and Mrs. Brown laid him on a shawl upon thegrass, under the trees. The hens gathered around him, looked at eachother and clucked, as much as to say, "What kind of a queer creatureis this?" Young Mr. Bantie was about to peck him to find out, whenthey heard a little voice calling "Biddy, Biddy, Biddy!" from thebarn. Off they went, half flying and half running. 

Mrs. Brown had given Lina a tin pail, with corn in it to scatter tothe hens. They came from all directions, and got around her so closelythat she was afraid to stir. She had taken out one handful of thecorn, but was afraid to throw it. Then the greedy hens began to peckher hand, and try to get it out of the pail. She began to cry so loudthat every one ran out of the house to see what was the matter. It wasfunny enough to see her, standing in the middle of that greedy crowdof hens, with her eyes shut very tightly, and her mouth very wideopen. 

When Carl waked up, he wanted some more milk. Mrs. Brown said, "We'llgo down and see Brindle milked, and you shall have it nice and warm. "Lina had seen pictures of cows, but never a live one. She had no ideathey were so big. Mrs. Brown asked her if she would like to milk; butshe thought she would rather stand at a little distance. As for Carl, he shut up his eyes, and tried to get out of sight of the creature. However, he liked the warm milk very much. 

Lina spent most of the next day in the garden. She helped pick thepeas and beans, and stem the currants. She went with Mr. Brown to findthe eggs, and held Billy's halter while he drank at the trough. Everyday was full of pleasure, and Mr. And Mrs. Brown had just as good atime as the children. At the end of the week they couldn't bear to letthem go; so it came about that the children's week, for Lina and Carl, lasted all summer. 

 J. A. M. 

[Illustration: {A SPRIG OF BERRIES. }]

THE ROAD TO SCHOOL. 

[FROM THE GERMAN. ]

 In winter, when it freezes, In winter, when it snows, The road to school seems long and drear, O'er which the school-boy goes. 

[Illustration: {WALKING THROUGH FALLING SNOW. }]

 But when the pleasant summer comes, With birds and fruit and flowers, The road to school, how short it is! And short the sunny hours!

[Illustration: {WALKING UNDER SHADY TREES. }]

 But to the boy who loves to learn, And wisdom strives to gain, The road to school is always short, In sunshine, snow, or rain. 

 L. A. B. C. 

WHAT SAMMY'S MONKEY DID. 

Sammy Brown had a monkey. He bought him of an organ-player. He namedhim Billy. 

[Illustration: {SAMMY AND BILLY. }]

Sammy's mother did not know what a naughty monkey he was. If she had, she would not have given Sammy the money to buy him. 

Sammy thought he was very cunning. All the boys at school thought sotoo. They all wanted one just like him. Sammy had him out everySaturday afternoon. He was dressed in a gay little uniform. He wouldplay on a drum. He was fond of mischief; and when no one was watchinghim he would do some very queer things. He would take the spools fromMrs. Brown's work-basket. He would carry them away and hide them. 

He would take her thimble and wax, and hide them too. 

Sometimes he would bring them back again. Sometimes Mrs. Brown wouldhave to find them herself. This gave her a good deal of trouble. 

At last Billy acted so badly, that Mrs. Brown told Sammy that shecould not have him in the house any longer. One morning Mrs. Brownwent away to spend the day. 

She thought the monkey was fastened out of the house. But he got inthrough a window. When Mrs. Brown came home she did think of Billy. She opened the door of her pantry. She saw a dreadful sight. She knewat once that Billy had been there. He had moved the dishes all about, from one shelf to another. He had poured milk and sugar over thefloor. He had emptied bottles of medicine into clean dishes. He hadbroken up a whole loaf of cake and scattered it around. He had eatenout the middle of a pie, and turned it over in the plate. Mrs. Browncould not find her spoons and forks anywhere. But she found themafterwards in the cellar. 

Now Mrs. Brown had to go right to work and clean her pantry. After shehad put that in order, she made a fire in the stove. All this timeBilly was not seen anywhere. 

[Illustration: {BILLY POURING MILK ON THE FLOOR. }]

The fire had been burning a few minutes, when Mrs. Brown heard aterrible scratching in the oven, and out jumped Billy as spry as ever. 

He ran out of doors. He was not seen again until the next morning. 

Then Mrs. Brown told Sammy that the monkey had made so much work forher, that she could not have him any longer. 

Sammy saw that his mother was very much in earnest. 

So he sold Billy to a pedler who came along the next day. 

The pedler gave him fifty cents for Billy. 

Sammy was sorry to let him go, but he wanted to please his mother. 

 M. M. H. 

[Illustration: {AN OWL. }]

[Illustration: {A COTTAGE, BIRDS AND BUTTERFLIES. }]

BESSIE IN THE MOUNTAINS. 

Bessie Lee was six years old when she went to the mountains of NorthCarolina with her father. 

What Bessie liked best of all were the nice donkey rides everymorning. The poor donkeys didn't get much rest, for the little folkskept them busy all day. Bessie was kind to them, but some of thechildren were not. Bessie liked a donkey named Kate best of all. 

[Illustration: {KATE IS UNHAPPY AT BEING RIDDEN. }]

One day Bessie's father put her in the saddle, and Kate kicked up. When Bessie was lifted off, and the saddle removed, a great bleedingsore was found on the poor donkey's back. 

Bessie felt very sorry for poor Kate, and said, "Papa, I don't want toride to-day, but please do not send Kate back to the stables. "

"Why not, Bessie?" said Mr. Lee. 

"O, papa, the man will let her to some of the rough boys, and theywill hurt her back. "

Mr. Lee was pleased to see his little daughter's kindness to the poordumb donkey; but he wished to know if Bessie would deny herself forKate. 

"Well, Bessie, " said her father, "if you have any money, give it tothe man when he comes for the donkey. Tell him you wish to keep Kateall day. "

"I have the money you gave me for ice-cream, " said Bessie. "Will thatpay the man?"

It was enough, and was given to the man. Bessie kept the donkey allday. She led Kate to the greenest places in the yard, and let her eatthe grass. She divided her apples with Kate, and carried her a littlepail of water. 

[Illustration: {BESSIE FEEDS AN APPLE TO KATE. }]

At night Bessie told her father she had been happy all day. He madeher still happier by telling her she could keep Kate every day whileshe was in the mountains. 

Bessie kissed her father and was soon fast asleep. She dreamed ofriding in a little carriage drawn by six white donkeys. 

 AUNT NELL. 

[Illustration: {A SPRAY OF FLOWERS. }]

PAULINE'S STRANGE PETS. 

Pauline had no little brothers or sisters, and no little playmates. Her father's home was away out in the country, far away from anyneighbors. Being so much alone, Pauline thought of all sorts of queerways to amuse herself. One day she invited her papa and mamma to godown to see her "Nursery, " as she called it. It was a little, squarepiece of ground, enclosed by a neat low fence, made of narrow slats, placed close together. All kinds of flowers were planted around it. Besides, there were some little, flat buildings all along one side. 

[Illustration: {TOADS. }]

[Illustration: PAULINE'S STRANGE PETS. ]

What do you think they saw there? Toads of all sorts and sizes, fromthe wee baby toads to the great big grandfathers. Then such astrange array of garments!--for they were all dressed. Pauline hadmade for her pets all kinds of clothes. There they were, hoppingaround, some in bright calico dresses, and some in the funniest redflannel pants and coats you ever saw. 

[Illustration: {TOADS IN COSTUME. }]

Day after day Pauline went to her "Nursery" to feed and play with herstrange little pets. But one morning she ran down as usual, afterbreakfast, to find all of the toad family had disappeared. The fencethat enclosed her "Nursery" was completely broken down. Not a singletoad was left of the funny creatures who had lived there. 

Pauline felt very sorry to lose them. She told her mamma she was surethey would all die of shame when they found other toads did not wearany clothes at all. 

 H. C. LARNED. 

[Illustration: {LARGE MUSHROOMS. }]

"GO HALVES!"

Little Fred Mason's father took him to an exhibition of wild animals. 

After they had looked at the elephants, lions, tigers and bears, theywent to see the monkeys. On the way, Mr. Mason bought two largeoranges and gave them to Fred. 

There were six cages of small animals. One of them was for the "happyfamily. " Fred thought the creatures in it must be called the "happyfamily" because the dogs, cats and monkeys were all the time teasingand plaguing one another. One monkey had a rat in his lap. He tendedit as a mother does her baby. The monkey was happy, but Mr. Mason didnot think the rat liked it very well. 

Fred put one orange in his side pocket. He could not wait until he gothome to eat the other. As he walked along among the cages he seemed tocare more for the fruit than for the animals. He sucked the orangewith all his might till he came to a cage with three monkeys in it. 

One of them looked very sober and solemn. One opened his mouth andseemed to be laughing. All of them looked at Fred and held out theirhands. 

They could not talk; if they could they would have said, "Go halves!"

The orange was nice and sweet; Fred did not wish to "go halves. " Heturned away, for he did not like to be asked for that which he was notwilling to give. The monkeys put their hands out for some of theoranges, but Fred looked the other way. 

Fred should have looked at the monkeys, for the one nearest to him putout his long arm and snatched the orange from his hand. Fred tried toget it again. While he was doing so, the solemn monkey reached downand took the orange from his pocket. Fred did not think how near hewas to the cage. 

Fred began to cry. The laughing monkey had no orange. He was afraid ofthe solemn monkey, but he chased the one that had stolen the orangeFred was eating all over the cage. He got it at last. 

Fred's father bought two more oranges for him, and he did not go nearthe cages again. 

 MARY BLOOM. 

[Illustration: "GO HALVES!"]

[Illustration: {CHILDREN PLAY RING-AROUND-A-ROSY. }]

LITTLE GAMES. 

 "Ring--a--round--a--rosy!" Cheeks just like a posy; Eyes that twinkle with delight, -- Could there be a fairer sight? Little feet that dance in glee; Voices singing merrily. Won't you stop a little while? At my question you will smile: "Rosy I have never seen, -- Tell me, is she some fair queen? Have your lily hands now crowned her, While you formed a ring around her?

 "Why 'draw buckets of water For my lady's daughter'? Has she spoiled her pretty dress? Ah! to wash her face, I guess! Very hard 'tis to unravel What is meant, dears, by 'green gravel. ' Then, you say, 'How barley grows You, nor I, nor nobody knows;' Oats, peas, beans, too, you include: If the question be not rude, Darlings, tell why this is done. " "Ha! ha!" laugh they; "it's such fun!"

 GEORGE COOPER. 

WHAT WE FOUND IN OUR STOVE. 

Something very strange happened at our house the other day. In ourcold country we keep a stove in our sitting-room all summer. Sometimeswe have to build a fire, even in July and August. 

One afternoon I was surprised to hear a great scratching in the room. After looking about a little, I found it came from the stove. Scratch, scratch, scratch, as if some creature was trying hard to get out. Icalled my boy of eight years. For a few moments all was still, and weconcluded the poor thing had got out as it had come in. 

But we were mistaken; soon came that same clattering noise again. Weremoved the top of the stove and peeped in; nothing was to be seen inthe darkness. We then made bold to open the door and poke about; butwith no better result. After listening, we decided that the creaturewas between the lining and outside. 

But how were we to get at it? Annie came in from the kitchen armedwith a poker. We took out the damper and poked out all the soot andashes. We brought to the front--what do you think? Why, a little bird, a chimney swallow, chirping and fluttering, poor thing, with fright. 

One wing seemed to droop a little; so we took it up and put it in abox. If we supposed it was going to stay there we were much mistaken. Soon the bird began to recover, and with a little hop was upon theedge of the box cocking its head and looking with its big, bright eyesall about, as if on the alert for any new danger. 

A tree was the best and safest place, and Hervin carried it out andset it gently down. 

It rose, feebly at first, then soared away over the tops of thehouses. 

Wasn't that a queer place to find a birdie? You are glad it got out, for that very night we had to have a fire. 

 MRS. W. S. AMSDEN. 

[Illustration: {TWO CHERUBS. }]

THE JOHN AND LINCOLN FLEET. 

John and Lincoln have a fleet of ten boats. They made these boatsthemselves. They are made out of flat chips. They are whittled roundat one end and pointed at the other. Each boat has a mast and a sail. 

Sometimes they tie these boats together, and call them the _John andLincoln_ fleet; they call each other "Captain John" and "CaptainLincoln. " They have a big boat called the _Mary_; aunt Mary gave it tothem. The _Mary_ is their flagship. 

[Illustration: CAPTAIN JOHN AND THE MARY. ]

One day the fleet were all out when a storm came. The wind blew, therain fell, and the waves were big. Six of the little boats werewrecked on a rock. But the _Mary_ only plunged a little. It was greatfun. What, a storm at sea great fun! Yes, because John and Lincolnmade the storm themselves. They made the wind with the bellows; theypoured the big raindrops from the watering-pot; and they made the highwaves by dragging shingles through the water. 

THE YACHT STARLIGHT. 

The _Starlight_ was in Gloucester harbor for three days, and Rob andPhyllis went on board with mamma one day, to lunch with Arthur andHelen and their mamma. They had never been on a yacht before. Theywere surprised to find it so pretty. It was finished in beautifulmahogany with a great deal of brass-work, the latter brightly shining, too, for the housekeeping on a yacht is always first-rate. 

The ceiling of the cabin was of blue satin, and so were the curtains, which hung before the funny little windows, and at the doors. On eachside of the cabin was a long seat covered with blue satin cushions. 

These cushions lifted up, and underneath were kept books, dishes, clothes, in fact, all sorts of things. Every bit of room on a vesselis always precious, there can be so little of it, anyway. Helen showedPhyllis her sleeping room. It was a mite of a place, about half as bigas the bed Phyllis slept in at home. The walls were lined with bluesatin and the bed was covered with blue satin, and it was a real bluesatin nest for a little girl, instead of for a bird. 

Then they went on deck to watch the sailors, who were running up anddown the rigging. Arthur has been on his father's yacht so much, forhis father owns the _Starlight_, that he can run up and down theratlines almost as fast as the sailors can. The ratlines are the ropeladders you see in the picture. There was on board a big Newfoundlanddog named Gil. Arthur's aunt Lou told them a story about Gil. 

[Illustration: THE YACHT STARLIGHT. ]

THE STORY OF THE DOG ON THE YACHT STARLIGHT. 

[Illustration: {THREE DOGS. }]

Now Gil once belonged to an officer in our Navy and he sometimes wentto sea with his master. 

Once when he went on a voyage a little kitten went too. She waseverybody's pet and a very friendly kitty. She was afraid of Gil, though, and would never let him come near her, but would make such aloud spitting and growling at him, when he tried to play with her, that poor Gil had to go away and play by himself. 

One day kitty fell overboard and Gil saw her and plunged into the seato save her. Kitty thought it was bad enough to fall into the water, but to see Gil come jumping after her was too much, and she was readyto die with fright. 

When he opened his great mouth to take her and hold her above water, she felt sure that her last moment had come, and she fought andscratched so, that Gil could not get hold of her. 

The officers stood watching Gil and pussy. Poor little mistaken pussywas getting very tired and would soon sink if she did not let good oldGil save her. 

Suddenly Gil dove down out of sight and then rose again just underkitty, so that she stood on his back. Puss was so glad to feelsomething solid under her little tired legs, that she clung to it withall her nails. Then Gil swam slowly to meet the boat which had beensent to pick him up. 

[Illustration: THE YOUNG ARTIST. ]

THE NEW PARASOL. 

[Illustration: {A LITTLE GIRL. }]

 I've got a brand-new parasol (Of pink silk trimmed with lace), But auntie says 'twill never keep The shine out of _my_ face. 

 Why not, I wonder: if it's held Just in the proper place, Why won't it keep the sunshine out Of anybody's face?

 She says thick clouds would hardly do (Much less pink silk and lace) To keep the merry sunshine out Of such a dimpled face. 

 But mamma says, "Go take your walk, And never mind aunt Grace. " I 'spect I'll have to let the sun Keep shining in my face!

THE MAN WHO WAS SHAKEN BY A LION. 

He was David Livingstone. He was a missionary, and a great travellertoo. 

He lived almost all his life in Africa. In some parts of Africa thereare lions. Once he was staying at a certain village. Every night thelions broke into the yards and carried off a cow or two. So a party ofnatives went out to hunt for them. 

[Illustration: A LION. ]

Livingstone was with them. They saw some lions, and tried to surroundthem in a circle. But the lions got away. 

They were coming home when Livingstone saw a great lion. He wassitting on a rock not far away. He fired at him, but did not hit him. He stopped to load his gun again. 

He heard the men shout. He turned and saw the lion all ready tospring. 

(A lion crouches to spring, like a cat. )

The lion sprang upon Livingstone, and seized his shoulder with hisgreat teeth. He shook him just as a cat shakes a mouse. 

Was Livingstone frightened? He was frightened when the lion seizedhim. But after he shook him he wasn't a bit afraid. 

He said the lion shook the fear all out of him. He felt as if he wasin a pleasant dream. He only wondered what the lion would do next. 

He did not do anything next. He stood with his great paw onLivingstone's head till another man fired at him. Then he sprang onthat man and bit him. 

Then he sprang on a third man and bit him. And then--he rolled over, dead! So Livingstone escaped. 

Livingstone afterwards visited England. The little English childrenused to ask him to tell them the story of how the lion shook him. 

The lion belongs to the cat family. Does not the lion in the picturelook like a big handsome cat?

THE LAUGHING JACKASS. 

He always begins his queer cry about an hour before sunrise. 

Then he is heard again just at noon, and again at sunset. So he hasanother name. He is called the "Bushman's clock. "

In Australia there are great tracts of land where few white peoplelive. These tracts of land are called "The Bush;" and the settlers onthese lands are called Bushmen. 

[Illustration: LAUGHING JACKASSES. ]

The laughing jackass is a very sociable bird. He likes to watch theBushman at his work. He watches him as he pitches his tent, and buildshis fire and cooks his supper. He is a kingfisher. 

Kingfishers generally live near the water. But this great brown fisherlives in the woods. He eats crabs and insects. He relishes lizardsvery much, and there are plenty of lizards in Australia. 

[Illustration: HE LISTENS TO THE CRY OF THE LAUGHING JACKASS. ]

He hates snakes. A great many snakes are found in Australia, and manyof them are very poisonous. 

The laughing jackass is not a bit afraid of them. He kills them withhis long, sharp bill. 

When he is angry he raises the crest on his head. 

His color is a fine chestnut brown mixed with white. His wings areslightly blue. 

The mother-bird lays her eggs in a hole in a gum-tree. She does notbuild a nest. She lays her eggs on the rotten wood at the bottom ofthe hole. Her eggs are a lovely pearl white. 

Here is one of the black men who live in Australia. He is listening tothe cry of the laughing jackass. 

THE TRICK THEY PLAYED ON JOCKO. 

Jocko was homesick. Jocko was a forest creature. He was born to treadthe ground, and climb trees, and eat sweet wild fruits. 

Jocko liked to leap from tree to tree, and run about over miles ofwoodland. Now he found himself in a cage. He called and cried, butnone of his little brown playmates answered. 

He could see only blue waves, and the ropes and masts and sails of theship. He was tossed up and down. His cage swung from side to side. Themotion made him sick--seasick. 

After many days, he saw the land again. But it was not forest land. Itwas brown land--city land. No moss, no vines, no dewy green grass, noflowers! All stone and brick! His cage was carried into a hoteldining-room where people came and sat down and talked in German, andate things that Jocko knew were not good to eat--bread and pies andcheese and sauerkraut and meat. Oh, how Jocko wanted a fresh sweetcocoanut!

But by and by Jocko was not so homesick. The cook was kind to him, andgave him sweet bits to eat. The visitors took him up and petted him. The little girl who lived at the hotel made him a nice bed in thelittle crib she used to sleep in. 

So at last Jocko had a good time, and forgot about the woods. 

But one day little Gretchen played a trick on him to see what he woulddo. She knew he was fond of white lump sugar. So she filled a bottlewith lumps of sugar. Then she gave it to Jocko. 

Jocko was wild with delight when he saw the sugar. He jumped up in achair and lifted the bottle to his mouth. 

But Gretchen had put in a cork. The sugar would not pour out. 

It was very funny then to see what trouble Jocko was in. He wouldtilt the bottle up and try to drink the sugar out of the neck. Then hewould try to shake it out at the bottom. Then he would sit still andlook at the lumps. Then he would try to bite through the glass. Thenhe would jump down and run away. Then he would come back and catch thebottle again and roll the lumps about, and chatter and scold as heheard them rattle. 

This went on for several days. Everybody came in to see littleGretchen's monkey and his sugar bottle. 

[Illustration: GRETCHEN. ]

But one day the cook let a jar of olives fall. It broke, and theolives rolled out on the floor. Jocko gave a little scream of joy. Like a flash, up he sprang to a high cupboard with his sugar bottle, and gave it a mighty fling. Down it came--crash!

Out the lumps rolled over the floor. Down sprang Jocko. He shoutedwith delight. He had a sweet feast. 

Oh, how he munched and crunched and chattered! And now, what do youthink happened?

He would seize every bottle and can and pitcher that was left withinreach. Up he would run to the top of some high cupboard or shelf anddash it to the floor! Such mischief as he made!

Little Gretchen had to give him away at last because he brokeeverything he could lay his roguish paws upon. 

SOME OTHER THINGS BOBBY SAW AT SEA. 

He saw the stormy petrels. They flew about the ship almost every day. They liked to eat the scraps the cook threw overboard. 

[Illustration: THE STORMY PETREL. ]

The petrels are sooty black. Their feet are partly webbed. 

They sit and float upon the water. They run about over the water. Instormy weather they fly through the dashing foam. 

Bobby's mamma told him many things about the stormy petrel. She toldhim how the stormy petrel flies far, far away from land. His home ison the sea. He can fly all day long and not be tired. 

The stormy petrel hardly ever goes on land except to lay her eggs. Hernest is in a hole in some high cliff by the sea. She hatches onelittle bird. It looks like a ball of fluff. The nest smells very oily. 

The stormy petrel is very oily, like all sea birds. He is so full ofoil that the people of the Faroe Islands sometimes use him for a lamp. They take a dead petrel and run a wick through him. Then they set himon end and light the wick and he gives a very good light indeed!

The sailors call the stormy petrel "Mother Carey's chickens. "

The name of Bobby's ship was _The Jefferson_. Once when the_Jefferson_ was in an English port, Bobby saw something very pretty. It was a bird's nest. It was built in the rigging of a ship. 

This ship had been lying in port a good while. The nest was built ina block where some of the cordage runs. It was built by a pair ofchaffinches. 

Now the chaffinch is not a sea bird; it is a land bird. It builds itsnest in trees and hedges. It builds a cosey little nest out of mossand wool and hair. It is deep and round like a cup. 

But this pretty pair of chaffinches found a new place in which tobuild their nest. It was even more airy than the top of a tree. See itin the picture! Day by day Bobby watched them as they flew busily toand fro. Many other people watched them too. 

[Illustration: THE CHAFFINCHES' NEST. ]

The chaffinch is a cheerful little bird. In the countries where helives, he is heard merrily whistling in the spring time. There he sitssinging to his mate who is keeping her eggs warm. Happy little fellow!

THE MOSQUITO. 

Little boys and girls believe that all mosquitoes sting and bite. 

But they do not. The male mosquito never does. He wears a plume on hishead, and does nothing but dance in the sunshine. 

It is the female mosquito that sings around our heads at night andkeeps us awake. It is she who bites us. Look at her head. This is theway it looks under a microscope. Do you wonder that her bite hurts?

[Illustration: MOSQUITO'S HEAD UNDER A MICROSCOPE. ]

She lays her eggs in a very queer way. First she finds a puddle or apool of warmish water. Then she fastens herself to some stick, orsliver, or stem, or floating leaf, by her first two rows of legs. Thenshe lays about three hundred tiny eggs. 

The eggs cling together in the shape of a boat or canoe, and floatupon the water. In about three days they hatch. Then the warm water isfull of "wigglers. "

By and by these wigglers have wings. The outside skin bursts open. They lift their heads and shoulders out of the water. Then off theyfly--a whole swarm of singing, stinging mosquitoes. 

We are all glad when the cold weather comes and the mosquito goes. 

I suppose you think if you lived in a cold country, you would not betroubled by mosquitoes. 

But in Lapland, a very cold country, the mosquitoes come in crowds andclouds. Sometimes they are so thick they hide people in the road likea fog. What do you think of that?

THE LAUGHING GIRL. 

 The bobolink laughs in the meadow; The wild waves laugh on the sea; They sparkle and glance, they dimple and dance, And are merry as waves can be. 

 The green leaves laugh on the trees; The fields laugh out with their flowers; In the sunbeam's glance, they glow and they dance. And laugh to their falling showers. 

 The man laughs up in the moon; The stars too laugh in the sky; They sparkle and glance, they twinkle and dance. Then why, then, pray, shouldn't I?

 Oh, I laugh at morn and at night, I laugh through the livelong day. I laugh and I prance, I skip and I dance. So happy am I and so gay. 

[Illustration: THE LAUGHING GIRL. ]

[Illustration: "CLUCK-CLUCK-CLUCK! QUAW-AW-AWK! CR-R-R-R!" SAID THEHEN MOTHER. ]

ANNIE'S DUCKS. 

There were seven ducklings. The very first thing they did was to goand tumble into a bucket of water. 

"Cluck-cluck-cluck! quaw-aw-awk! cr-r-r!" said the hen-mother. She wasso frightened she made just such a noise as she does when she sees ahawk. 

She thought they would all drown. But they didn't. They swam and doveand shook the water from their little wings. 

One day when they were about a quarter grown, Annie foundFluffy-dumpty lying on the ground; she was quacking faintly. Her legwas broken! Annie ran to papa. 

"O papa! mend her leg just as you did my arm!" she said. 

Papa is a doctor; and when Annie was a _very_ little girl she brokeher arm and papa mended it. So he did up Fluffy-dumpty's leg with asplinter, and then wound a bandage round it. Annie took care of her. Mary used to help Annie feed her with a spoon. 

Fluffy-dumpty got well very fast. But when she was about threequarters grown, she met with another accident. She fell down a steepcellar way. 

"Quack-quack! Take me out! Oh, take me out!" cried poor Fluffy-dumpty. The other six ducks crowded around and looked down at her. 

"We can't! we can't!" they cried. "We haven't got any hands. Call aboy, do!" So Annie called Sam, who took her out. 

How thankful Fluffy-dumpty was! She smoothed down her ruffled feathersand said, "Quack-quack, " softly. The other ducks all talked at once. 

"What a narrow 'scape you had, Fluffy-dumpty!" said one duck. 

"How did you happen to fall into that horrid place?" asked another. 

"What a fine boy Sam is!" said a third duck. 

"He's almost too good for a boy, " said a fourth. 

But it all sounded as if they only said "quack-quack!"

Every day of their lives these ducks got into the garden, and ate thelettuce and strawberries and cabbage. So the gardener put a board overthe hole under the gate. 

"Never mind, " said big Broad-bill, "we know more ways than one. " Thenthe seven started off in a line, and marched round the garden tillthey came to another hole, and in they went. The gardener was veryangry. 

VICK IN TROUBLE. 

Bertie had gone off and left Vick. He was so eager to see the soldiersparade that he forgot all about him. This had never happened before. 

When Uncle Ned gave Vick to Bertie mamma said: "Now, Bertie, you musttake the care of Vick. If a boy has a dog he must learn to care forhim. You must see that Vick is fed. You must bathe and comb him everyday; and you must give him plenty of exercise. "

But as I said, Bertie had forgotten Vick that day. Vick did not knowwhat to make of it. His heart was almost broken. 

"This is too bad!" he howled. "Here am I shut up with two saucepansand a dummy. No water to drink--no bone to gnaw--no little master toplay with--wow-ow-ow-ow!"

What a dismal howl it was! Mamma heard him; she was in the kitchenmaking sponge cake. She could not leave it for a moment. But as soonas it was baked she let Vick out. 

There was Bertie just coming round the corner! He looked quiteashamed. Yes, he had thought of Vick at last. He had come home forhim. 

Did Vick forgive him? Doggies always forgive. They have loving andgenerous hearts. He scrambled all over Bertie and licked his hands andhis face and off they went to see the soldiers--a very happy pair. 

Do you think Bertie ever forgot Vick again?

Do you ever forget to care for your pets?

[Illustration: IT WAS FUN TO SEE THEM EAT. ]

IN GRANDMA'S ATTIC. 

Every summer grandma Cushing has two visitors. Their names are BlancheCushing and Dorothy Cushing. 

Blanche lives in Iowa. She has blue eyes and yellow hair and is sevenyears old. Dorothy lives in New York City. She has brown eyes andbrown hair and is eight years old. 

They love dearly to play in grandma's attic. There are queer oldbonnets and gowns and cocked hats hanging on the walls. 

There are trunks full of caps and spectacles and old snuffers and noend of queer things. 

I cannot begin to tell you everything the cousins play. But there isone thing they like to play ever so much. 

[Illustration: PLAYING IN GRANDMA'S ATTIC. ]

They like to dress up in the queer old clothes and play Cinderella, and Mother Hubbard, and Red Riding Hood. 

When Blanche gets on her great-great-grandma Cushing's cap andspectacles and long mits, she makes a very charming little MotherHubbard. 

[Illustration: A VERY CHARMING MOTHER HUBBARD. ]

They sit in the big old chairs and tell stories. Dorothy likes to hearabout the wolves. There are wolves where Blanche lives. 

"Yes, one day when I was a very, _very_ little girl, " said Blanche, "ahorrid big wolf came up to the window and looked in. I was sitting inmamma's lap, and he put his paws on the window and just looked at ushorrid!

"And then another time, mamma, you know, was going out to meet papa, and she saw a big wolf on the ground, and she thought it was dead, andshe was going right up, and it wasn't dead a bit. It just got up andrunned off to the woods, and mamma was awful scared and runned awaytoo. "

When Blanche tells the wolf stories they play "scared. " It is fun toplay "scared. " They shriek and run and hide. 

One rainy day they had been playing Mother Hubbard. 

"Now, " said Blanche, "I will tell a b-eautiful wolf story. It willmake us awful scared. See if it doesn't!"

So she climbed up into a big chair and began. But right in the middleof the story they heard something go scratch, scratch, very loudly. 

"Oh, what is that, Dotty?" whispered Blanche, clutching Dorothy's arm. 

Scratch, scratch, it went again, and then there was a great rattling. 

"Oh, it's a wolf!" cried Dotty; and down the attic stairs they flewpell-mell; through the kitchen chamber and the great unfinishedchamber, and down the back stairs; through the kitchen and thedining-room, and burst into grandma's room all out of breath. 

"What _is_ the matter, children?" asked grandma. 

"Oh, there's a wolf in the attic, " they both cried out. 

"Nonsense! we don't have wolves in Massachusetts, " said grandma. 

"Well, " said Dorothy, "something scratched dreadfully. "

So grandma went up to the attic to see about it. "Where was thenoise?" she asked. 

[Illustration: BRIGHT-EYES AT HOME. ]

They pointed to the dark place behind the big chimneys. Grandma wentup and opened a door and out walked--a wolf! no; Towser, the old cat!Blanche and Dorothy sometimes have another visitor in the attic. It isa big rat. He lives in the barn. He has a road underground to thehouse cellar. Then he comes up to the attic through the wall. 

The cousins never know when to expect him. He comes in withoutknocking. The first thing they know there he is looking at them withbright eyes. 

They have named him Bright-eyes. They feed him with cake and cheese. He is very tame. Grandma says she never heard of such a thing asfeeding a rat. She says Bright-eyes eats her hens' eggs. He stealsthem out of the nests. 

LITTLE GIRL GRACIE. 

BEDTIME. 

 So sleepy and demure is my wee Gracie, So long and sober grows the little facie, So silent are the red, red lips so sweet, So quiet are the little hands and feet, I know, yes, well I know My Gracie wants to go Into the soft, white nest where every night My birdie folds her wings till morning light. 

 And now beside my knee the pretty lisper Her evening prayer with folded hands must whisper, While baby sister sleeps on mother's breast, Lulled with our voices low to dreamy rest. Then in her nightie white, My restless sunbeam bright Is hidden from her shoulders to her feet, And tucked away in slumber soft and sweet. 

MORNING. 

 A merry, white-robed figure at my side, A laughing face, with blue eyes opened wide. Red lips that kiss me in the early dawn And tell me fast enough that night is gone. Ripe and ready for play, In the early morning gray, Restless again are the small hands and feet, Silent no longer, little lips so sweet. 

 Where is the sunbeam like my Gracie's eyes? Blue as the blue of summer's bluest skies! What sweeter wakening could be mine than this The soft "Good morning!" of my daughter's kiss? And thus each hour of day Girl Gracie claims for play Till comes the "Sand-man" with the twilight hour And play has vanished 'neath his mystic power. 

A MAGPIE AND HER NEST. 

The magpie is a very handsome bird. He knows he is handsome, too. Hehas a fine broad tail. There is a band of purple near the end of eachfeather, and the end is green and purple. 

He walks about with this handsome tail perked in the air. He does notdrag it in the dirt, not he!

He is a bright bird, too. He can learn to talk, and he is full ofpretty and naughty tricks. He is a--thief! He steals eggs from otherbirds' nests. He strikes his bill through the egg and walks off withit. And he does a worse thing than that. He steals the young birds andeats them. 

[Illustration: MAGPIE AND NEST. ]

But the Magpie is very careful to build her nest so nobody shall stealher eggs. In the first place she always builds on a high tree. Shechooses a tree that has a long smooth trunk, that the boys cannotclimb easily. How do you suppose she knows about mischievous boys? Shemust make a study of boys. 

She builds her nest of dry sticks and mud. She carpets it with wooland fine roots. (Birds can always find plenty of wool sticking on thebushes in sheep pastures. There is vegetable wool too, like the woolon the growing ferns. ) Then she makes a roof of sticks; she leavesopen a small round door at the side. So you see it is not easy forboys or birds to steal her eggs. 

Magpies like bright glittering things like silver spoons and rings. They often steal them and hide them in their nests. 

This Magpie is a European bird. There is a beautiful red Magpie thatlives in China. 

[Illustration: MARY AND ANNIE FEED FLUFFY-DUMPTY. {FROM "ANNIE'S DUCKS. "}]

AT THE BEACH. 

The Park children went to the beach last summer. It was a small beach;not at all like Nantasket Beach. 

There were not many folks there. There was a young woman--a very queeryoung woman indeed, Sam thought. She used to go out on the beach andsit in a camp chair and read!

"Pshaw! who wants to read with a whole ocean to look at?" said Sam. 

[Illustration: THE YOUNG WOMAN. ]

Such cunning little slippers as she wore! and her ruffles and hat! Oh, my! She used to draw pictures sometimes, but Sam didn't know that. 

"Halloo! there she is again!" shouted Sam one day. She was drawing apicture of them that moment, but they did not know it. They were allsliding down the sand cliff. 

They had taken off their shoes and stockings, and were going inbathing. 

"Whoo-oop! hurrah! here we come! clear the track!" What a noise theydid make, to be sure!

But it did not disturb anybody. Nobody heard it but the young womanand some cows in the pasture near by. 

How warm and soft the sand was! It was as good as coasting in winter. It was better!

[Illustration: THE PICTURE THE YOUNG WOMAN DREW. ]

Down they went into the water like so many ducks. They can all diveand swim almost as well as ducks. Papa and mamma were off shore, taking a sail together. They saw the slide down hill, and the plungeinto the water. They saw the brown and yellow heads bobbing about. 

"Do look at them!" said mamma. "Perfect little Arabs!"

"Do 'em good, " said papa. "Little Molly never had such rosy cheeks inall her life. "

"But think of their clothes!" said mamma. 

FARMER GRAY AND HIS APPLES. 

Farmer Gray had a load of apples to sell one day. But nobody wantedthem. People offered him such a small sum of money for them, he saidhe would rather give them away. 

So he started for home with his load of apples. He drove down Summerstreet, past the schoolhouse. The boys were having their recess. 

Now Farmer Gray loved children. So when he saw these boys he thought, "Here's just the market for my apples. "

He stopped his horse and called out, "Do any of you boys know what todo with apples?"

Then there _was_ a shout! "O yes, sir, we guess we do!" said all theboys. 

"Come on, then!" said Farmer Gray. 

[Illustration: HE KNOWS WHAT TO DO WITH FARMER GRAY'S APPLES. ]

The boys crowded around the wagon, and the farmer tossed the apples tothem. 

"It is well for you, boys, that I found no market for my apples thismorning, " he said. 

"That's so!" said the boys. Then they thanked him heartily. 

Charlie Read said, "You are the funniest man I ever saw to stop andgive us the apples. "

"You would like to see another just like me to-morrow, wouldn't you?"said Farmer Gray. 

"Yes, I would, " said Charley, "and I should like to live with youtoo. "

Just then the school bell rang. The boys all shouted, "Good-by!good-by!" as Farmer Gray drove off. 

"I'm glad enough I didn't sell those apples this morning, " thoughtFarmer Gray. 

AH KEE. 

Ah Kee is the funniest little fellow alive. 

He can stand as straight as any boy I ever saw. 

But the straighter he stands, the more you laugh. 

He thinks he is very tall. He is about three feet tall. 

He thinks he is a little gentleman, because he can drink out of acoffee-cup and not spill a drop. 

But Ah Kee oftener behaves like a rogue than like a gentleman. 

There is always a look of mischief in his bright black eyes. 

His mistress never allows him to go into the parlor by himself. 

She knows he would sit on the brackets with the little statues. 

She knows he would like to swing to and fro on the curtain tassels. 

She knows he would like to jerk the bell-pull, and bring Rose up fromthe kitchen. 

She knows he would like to take the Sevres vases and walk up and downthe room with them in his arms. 

No, Ah Kee, with his roguish tastes, is not to be trusted in theparlor by himself. 

But he sometimes comes in when she is there. Sometimes when she isreading she hears a soft sound like this, "_lsp-s-s-s!_"

She jumps up, looks all around. Under the table, or in a corner shesees a soft, round, feathery ball of fur--and one little paw raised, all claws and motion. 

[Illustration: AH KEE'S GREAT ACCOMPLISHMENT. ]

Ah, that is Ah Kee, and Ah Kee means mischief. Perhaps he will springinto his mistress' lap. Perhaps he will leap up on the piano. Youcannot be sure what he will decide to do. 

Yes, Ah Kee is a monkey, a gay little spider monkey, with a long tailthat he likes to carry over his head in the shape of the letter S. 

Ah Kee's mistress has made up her mind to do one thing. She will buyAh Kee a silver collar with a ring. She will buy Ah Kee a broad blueribbon. 

Then, when she wants a quiet hour, she will slip the blue ribbonthrough the collar ring, and tie Ah Kee to the door knob. 

[Illustration: {DICK AND GRAY. }]

 Dick and Gray, My bird and cat, Good friends are they: Just think of that! Dick pecks Gray's paw; Gray winks and blinks. "I'll not harm Dick, " Is what he thinks. So on the wall, This sunny weather, Chirping, purring, They play together. 

THE RETURN OF THE BIRDS. 

Down in the South Land, one morning in March, there was a great stiramong the birds. "Spring has come in the far North, " they said. "JackFrost is going, the ice is melting, and now we'll go home-home!"

Bluebirds, and robins, and bobolinks, how glad they were! They got upvery early that morning, even for birds. They bathed in a tiny pond, and preened their feathers. They ate their breakfast and then theystarted, straight through the air, for the North. 

Do you wonder how they knew the way? How does a bird know which way isnorth and which way is south? There is a "Careful Gardener" who tellsthe flowers when to bloom, and he tells the birds which way to fly. 

They flew that day on and on; over the green fields bright withflowers; over the trees covered with green leaves. By and by, theycame where the grass was not yet green; where there was snow in thehollows; where there was ice in the brooks. But they didn't mind thecold, for they wore their very thickest feather coats. 

[Illustration: ON THROUGH THE AIR. ]

That night they nestled down together, and slept in a big pine-tree. They found some dried berries on the bushes, for breakfast andsupper. It was very dark in the morning; it rained. But they did notmind that; they liked it. They knew the rain would melt the snow, andmake the grass and flowers grow. 

"But we must put on our waterproofs, " they said. 

Do birds wear waterproofs? Oh, yes! But they do not carry them intrunks. When a bird wants to take a journey, he just flies off. Hedoes not have to pack a trunk. He has a tiny bag of oil under the tipof his wings. This is his waterproof. 

With his bill he takes out the oil and spreads it over his feathers. 

The raindrops cannot go through this oil waterproof, but they rollquickly off to the ground. After they had all put on theirwaterproofs, they flew on and on again, through the rain. 

[Illustration: THE LITTLE COUNTRY CHILDREN. ]

They did not stay together that day. Part of them flew to thenortheast. By and by these came in sight of a big gilded dome. 

"I know where we are, " said one old robin. "That is Boston StateHouse, and right down there is our old nest!" and down they flew intothe Public Gardens. The Boston little men and women can see them thereany day, busy about their nests, and merry as birds can be. 

Part of the birds flew to the northwest, to the hills and woods andfields. They built their nests in the trees and on the ground. Theybuilt them in barns and in chimneys. They hid them in the grass and inthe reeds by the brooks; and the little country children know where tofind them. 

[Illustration: A NEST. ]

FIRST REWARD OF MERIT. 

 With bounding step and merry laugh My little girl--five and a half-- Held in her hand a picture-card: "See! mamma, see! I've tried so hard; Look and see what the letters spell; 'Tis a reward for doing well. I have been good a whole long week; Not once, mamma, did teacher speak, Or say from recess I must stay, Because in school I'd tried to play. Last week, you know, my card I lost For giving Charlie's book a 'tost, ' And speaking out aloud in school; I did not know 'twas 'gainst the rule. Then teacher said, 'Edith come here. ' I went right to her, mamma dear, And 'cause I hop-skipped down the aisle, The scholars all began to smile. That week I was so very good, 'Most got a card, and think I should If I'd not hop-skipped down the aisle, And made the other scholars smile. But if I get one once in four, School keeps so long, I'll get lots more. "

[Illustration: EDITH AT HOME. ]

[Illustration: SUCH MISCHIEF AS HE MADE. {FROM "THE TRICK THEY PLAYED ON JOCKO. "}]

FOUR LITTLE MICE. 

 Four little mice lived all alone Where cats had been so long unknown; They ate and slept without a fear That any danger could be near. One sunny day with brush and broom They cleaned their pantry, swept their room, Then made themselves as neat and fine As if invited out to dine. And then not knowing what to do, They looked their cedar closet through And found their gray coats growing thin: So sat them down some yarn to spin, Soon, through a chink to their surprise, A cat looked in with hungry eyes-- "Shall I come in and cut your thread?" "Oh, thank you, no!" they trembling said. 

[Illustration: {A CAT LOOKS INTO THE MOUSE HOUSE. }]

FINNETTE. 

"Bow-wow-wow!" was the first thing Winny heard that morning. Sheopened her eyes and there stood Finnette. Aunt Bertha had brought heras a birthday gift for Winny from Paris. 

Finnette was full of pretty tricks. She could stand on her hind legsand dance. She could sing. 

"Now, Finnette, " Winny's mamma would say, "I will play and you shallsing. "

[Illustration: WINNY. ]

So Finnette would stand on her hind legs and sing such a droll littletune. It sounded like "I love--I love--I love--do you?" Finnettealways helped Winny to put her dolls to bed. It was wonderful to seeher. 

"Bring me Grandma Snowhair's cap, Finnette, " Winny would say. AndFinnette would trot off and fetch it. She knew the doll's clothes justas well as Winny did. 

"Now, Finnette, I will have Glorianna's nightgown, " said Winny again, and Finnette would bring it. 

When Winny got her dolls in bed, she always sang them to sleep, andthen Finnette would sing too. "I love--I love--I love--do you?"

Mamma used to like to peep in and see them. Winny always put her dollsto bed at five o'clock. Finnette always knew when the clock struckfive, and off she would run to find Winny. 

But one day she couldn't find her. She searched through the house andgarden, but Winny was not to be found. So Finnette lay down in thelibrary, and waited. Once she got up and trotted in and looked at thedolls. She barked softly, as though she would say, "Be patient; yourmamma will be here soon. "

But the little mamma did not come; so Finnette concluded to put thedolls to bed herself. She laid Grandma Snowhair on the floor and thenwith her teeth and paws she gently drew off her cap and gray silkdress. She put on her nightgown, but she could not button it. 

She undressed Glorianna, but she got her nightgown on upside down. Sheput her legs into the sleeves. She did not try to put on aunt Sukey'snightgown. She just wrapped her up in a blanket. 

She tumbled the four small dolls into their beds anyhow. How surprisedand pleased and amused Winny was when she came home! There were thedolls fast asleep, and their clothes all piled on a chair; and theresat Finnette watching them. She gave the happiest little "bow-wow, "when she saw Winny. She had not been able to eat or to sleep with thecare of all those dolls on her mind. Winny hugged and kissed her. 

[Illustration: THERE STOOD--FINNETTE!]

"You dear old darling Finnette, " she said. "How sweet you have been tomy children. You shall have a silver collar, for you are my bestfriend. " Then Bridget brought Finnette her supper of bread and milk. 

ABOUT THE DEER. 

"Look! look!" said Ernest, "see the deer! It has got out of the deerpark. I did not know deer could run like that!"

The frightened creature was running down Washington street. He dartedin and out among the horses and carriages, and people. He leaped overthe heads of the children. 

Ernest and his mother stopped to look; everybody stopped to look. Onand on he ran till he came to the river, then he leaped into the deepwater and was drowned. Was it not a pity? The pretty deer that Ernesthad fed so often on Boston Common! He almost cried when he thought ofit. 

How many of you have ever seen deer? In many of the United States theyare still found in the woods. They are kept in almost all publicparks. 

Deer are gentle creatures, and are easily tamed. But I think they arehappiest when they are free to roam the woods where they like. 

They eat the tender grass in the spring, and sometimes, if they livenear farms, they break into the corn and wheat fields. 

In the winter they eat the seed vessels of the wild rose, the hawthornbuds, the brambles and leaves. They like acorns, and, in the South, they eat the persimmons. The persimmon is a yellow plum. They feed inthe night. 

In hot summer days they like to wade into the ponds and rivers, andstand under water, all but their noses. 

The young deer are called fawns; they are pretty spotted creatures. The mother keeps them in a quiet place where she thinks the huntersand dogs cannot get them; for men often hunt the wild deer. It is agreat pity to kill them for sport, is it not?

[Illustration: HOW FLEET HE IS!]

The deer hears quickly, and his scent is very keen too. When thehunters are after him, how fleet he is! Sometimes he leaps into thewater and swims. Then the dogs lose the scent and cannot follow him. The male deer sheds his horns every year. 

When the horns are growing they look as if they were covered withvelvet. 

[Illustration: HAVE THEY NO LANGUAGE?]

[Illustration: {A DOG LYING DOWN. }]

EVERYBODY'S DOG. 

 Seen me? Of course you have seen me before. I can't count the times I have been at your door. Where do I live? Why, everywhere, here! My name? Well, I own it is rather queer; Some call me "good fellow, " or "Fido, " or "Tray, " But I come just the same, whatever they say. Am I ever lonesome? How can I be When acquaintances everywhere whistle to me? Hungry? That's something I've never yet known, For friendly hands toss me sweet bits or a bone. Cold? Oh, never! for doors everywhere Are opened to shelter my silky brown hair, For _I_ am everybody's dog!

 And what do I give for this treatment so kind? I drive home the lost cattle and sheep that I find; With the children and babies I tenderly play, And faithfully keep them from going astray. And many an ill-natured tramp I have sent Away from the game on which he was bent. I can carry a basket or pail just the same As a boy, and better than some I could name. I bark in the night when danger is near, And if I'm in the house no sleeper need fear. What! be your own dog? Do you think 'twould be fair To stay here with you when they all need my care? No; I'll come every day for a minute or two But now I must go for I've so much to do; For _I_ am everybody's dog!

A BIRD'S NEST. 

What a wonderful thing a bird's nest is! Even the simplest nests arevery wonderful. Some boys and girls collect birds' nests, and that isvery well, if you wait till the eggs are hatched, and the birds haveflown. 

The ground sparrow builds a lovely little nest; and what a curiousnest is that of the barn swallow. 

[Illustration: A WEAVER BIRD AND HER NEST. ]

How many of you have seen the nest of the Baltimore oriole? She hangsit upon the end of an elm branch, where it swings and dances in thewind. 

I have for you this time, the nest of an African bird. This littlebird belongs to the class called weavers. If you look at the nest, you will understand why this bird is called a weaver bird. 

See how skilfully the nest is woven out of twigs, and grasses, andfibrous roots. There are many kinds of weaver birds, and each kindbuilds a different nest. Sometime I shall show you another weaverbird's nest. 

A RAINY DAY. 

It was the day set for the picnic by the lake. Two little white gowns, and the boys' best coats, and the ribbons and the neck-ties, had beenjoyfully laid out the night before. 

But next morning it was not picnic weather. The sky was low and heavy. By nine o'clock there were thick, dense, black clouds. 

"I think we might go, " said Flossie, "even if it does rain. We go toschool, lots o' days, when it rains. "

Just then the big black raindrops fell upon the window-panes--"A greatpailful in every drop, " said Tom. 

"I want a picnic, " wailed Susie, "and I can't have it. "

"You shall have it, " said papa; "we will have an indoors picnic, suchas my papa used to give me on a rainy day. "

He led the way to the library. He took down a huge set of maps, agreat portfolio of engravings, and two or three heavy picture books. "We will visit India, " said he. 

"Hurrah, " said Tom. "Tiger hunts, elephant rides, jungles, snakecharmers, jolly old idols, and the Parsee merchants. "

Tom knew very well what it meant when papa gave his mind up to turningover picture books and talking as he turned. 

They did have a good time; and before three o'clock it cleared away, and though it was too late for the picnic they had planned, it was themost perfect picnic weather, and as papa wanted to trim up cedars onthe knoll by the lake, they all went down. Papa and mamma played withthem for a while like an older brother and sister. They harnessed thechildren in a "four-horse team, " and drove up and down until the"little colts" had had enough of fun and were glad to sit in the arborand watch papa trim trees. 

[Illustration: A PICNIC AFTER ALL. ]

THE STORY OF A CANE. 

Was it a shiny black cane with a gold head? No. I think you never sawa cane like this one. It was made out of a small balm-of-Gilead-tree. It belonged to John Reed. He taught school. He was eighteen years old. 

When vacation came, John walked home. It was forty miles, and a prettylong walk. But there were no railroads in those days, and John did notlike to ride in a stage-coach. 

He thought he could walk more easily with a cane to help him. So hemade this cane I am going to tell you about. 

When he got home he stuck this cane into the ground in the lane, andthen forgot all about it. But the cane was alive! When John stuck itinto the ground it began to drink up the water from the soil. 

Tiny green leaves sprouted out all over it. John saw it one day. Howsurprised he was! It grew all summer long. The next year the branchesbegan to grow; and year by year it grew larger and larger till it wasfifty years old. 

Then John Reed was sixty-eight years old; the little children calledhim "Grandpa Reed. "

[Illustration: GRANDPA REED. ]

They called the great balm-of-Gilead-tree in the lane "Grandpa'scane. " They used to like to put their arms about it and look up intothe branches. They thought it wonderful that a cane should grow intosuch a big tree. 

Then came the great Civil War. Your mamma or auntie can tell you aboutit. There were a great many wounded soldiers, and the people used tosend bandages and lint for their wounds. Do you know what lint is? Itis made of linen cloth. It is soft, like wool. 

Grandpa Reed had a little granddaughter Clara. Clara saw the women andgirls making lint, and she wanted to make lint too. But aunt Mary saidshe was not big enough to make lint. 

[Illustration: CLARA. ]

"But I will tell you, " said aunt Mary, "where you can find some nicelint;" and she took her out to the great balm-of-Gilead-tree in thelane. 

Now you have all seen the soft, white pussy-willows. Well, the pussiesare the willow flowers; and the balm-of-Gilead-tree has pussies too. But they are not soft and white; they are brown. They look like browncaterpillars. 

After the blossoms wither the seeds come. These seeds are coveredwith wool like that on the dandelion's ball. 

The wind blows this wool from off the trees, and there it was thatmorning. The ground was white with it. 

"There is the lint, " said aunt Mary, and she gave Clara a bag to putit in. 

It took a great many bits of wool to fill the bag. But Clara waspatient, and worked diligently, and when the bag was full, she wentwith aunt Mary to carry it to the soldiers' camp. 

Clara gave it to the surgeon. He said the balm-of-Gilead lint was muchbetter than the linen lint. So "Grandpa's cane" and little Clarahelped the sick soldiers to get well again. 

MISS LOLLIPOP'S FANCIES. 

 Down by the seashore Miss Lollipop sat, Dropping the little white shells in her hat; "See!" cried the darling, and shouted with glee, "These pretty things were all waiting for me; Waiting for me!"

 Creeping and curving across the gray sand, The wavelets came dancing to kiss the fair land, Wooing with murmurs the flower-gemmed lea; "Ah, " cried Miss Pops, "they are whispering to me, Whispering to me!"

 Darting and flashing the gay sunbeams flew Down from a heaven of midsummer blue, Smiling and dimpling all over the sea; "There, " cried Miss Pops, "they are laughing at me, Laughing at me!"

 In the green meadows the tall grass stood fair, Waving and tossing in sweet summer air, Dipping and bending around her white knee; "Look, " cried Miss Pops, "it is bowing to me, Bowing to me!"

[Illustration: HAPPY MISS LOLLIPOP. ]

 Over the hills the sweet flower bells rang, High in the tree tops the little birds sang. --Tipsy-top bobolinks bent on a spree; "Hark!" cried Miss Pops. "They are singing to me, Singing to me!"

 Deep in the roses the bumblebees flew, Sipping their rations of honey and dew, With jewel-necked humming-birds gorgeous to see; "Now, " cried Miss Pops, "they are shining for me, Shining for me!"

 Sweet little Happy Heart! Pure little soul! Earth would be robbed of its darkness and dole If with the faith of thy heart I could see How much of God's world is fashioned for me!

TOMMY'S TEMPTATION. 

Mr. Allen's early apples were almost ripe. They were uncommonly prettyapples--yellow, streaked with red. How tempting they looked! Ripeapples in August are always tempting. 

Mr. Allen knew that, so he had put up a sign to warn the boys off. Forboys were very apt to help themselves to ripe apples. Somehow theythink that taking a few apples is not stealing. 

So, as I said, Mr. Allen put up a board with these words onit--"Trespassers prosecuted. " That meant, if he caught any boy nearhis apple-tree, he would carry him off to a justice of the peace, forstealing. 

Early one morning Tommy Tilden was walking through the lane. He hadjust driven the cows to pasture and was coming home. He stopped andlooked at the apples. How good they did look, to be sure!

He searched on the ground to see if any had dropped into the lane. But he could not find one. Then he looked at the tree again. "I wish Ihad one, " he thought. 

Ah, Tommy, Tommy, the best thing for you to do is to run away as fastas you can!

But Tommy didn't do any such thing. He kept looking at the apples andwishing he had one. Then he thought, "I'll just climb up and look atthem. "

And now, of course, you can guess what happened. Tommy climbed up, andtried the apples with his thumb to see if they were ripe. Then hereached out to get a fine big one, and the branch broke, and over hewent, with the branch, and the sign, and a shower of apples, into Mr. Allen's garden. 

The dog ran out barking furiously, and Mr. Allen, who was just eatinghis breakfast, came out too, and little May Allen, to see what was thematter. 

How ashamed Tommy felt! "Trying to steal some of my apples, were you, eh?" said Mr. Allen, and Tommy could not answer a word. 

Little May Allen felt very sorry for him. "Can't you give him someapples, papa?" she said. 

"No, " said Mr. Allen; "if he had come and asked me I would have givenhim some gladly. But he ought to be ashamed to try to get them in thisway. But he can go. I sha'n't punish him. "

So Tommy picked up his hat and went home. He told his mother all aboutit. 

"Tommy, " she said, "you shouldn't have stood and looked at thoseapples, and wished for them, when they were not yours. It is alwaysbest to run away from temptation. "

A BEAR STORY. 

When mother was a young girl, she taught school in Illinois. Very fewpeople lived there at that time. The settlements were far apart. Theschoolhouse was built of rough logs, and the chinks were filled withclay and straw. Instead of glass windows, they had oiled paper to letin the light. 

One night mother staid late at the schoolhouse, to help the girls trimit with evergreens. It was almost dark when she started for home. Shewalked very fast, as she felt lonely. Her way lay through a thick, tall woods, and the path was narrow. 

All at once she saw a big animal in front of her. What was it? A calf?No; it was a big black bear. 

Was she afraid? Of course she was afraid. Shouldn't you be afraid ifyou met a big bear in the woods? She had an umbrella in her hand, andshe held the point close to the bear's nose, and opened and shut it asfast as she could. She called him all the bad names she could thinkof, and he walked off, growling. 

He was a brave bear, wasn't he, to be afraid of an umbrella? Motherhurried on, and just as she got to the edge of the woods, out he cameagain. Then she opened the umbrella at him again, and shouted as loudas she could, and away he went. 

Mother was so tired and frightened she almost fainted when she gothome. "I don't believe it was a bear; it must have been neighborClapp's big heifer, " grandma said. 

But just as she said it, they heard a loud squeal. They ran to thedoor, and there was the bear carrying off a pig. He had jumped intothe pen and got it. 

[Illustration: THE BEARS AT THE ZOÖLOGICAL GARDEN. ]

Aunt Stella seized the dinner horn and blew a loud blast. That wasthe way they used to call the settlers together when anything was thematter. There was a great rush for grandfather's house, and when themen heard about the bear they said. "We must kill him as soon aspossible. "

So they had a great hunt for him. They hunted all that night and thenext day. They found him, at last, sitting upon the stump of a hollowtree, and they killed him. 

What do you think they found in the hollow stump? Three little cubs. The hunters brought the cubs to grandfather's farm, and uncle Stephenkept one of them for a pet. 

My little daughter Anna often asks to hear the story of how the "Bearwanted to eat grandma. " Last summer I took Anna to the ZoölogicalGarden. There we saw a family of bears. 

One old bear was sitting in a tree, with his arms folded. 

"Why, how pleasant he looks, " said Anna. "I don't believe he would eatanybody. "

"No, I don't think he would, " I said. "He is tame, and he would ratherhave a sweet bun to eat than anything else. "

[Illustration: {A LIZARD ON A GRASSY BANK. }]

[Illustration: SHETLAND PONIES AT HOME. ]

ANNA'S BIRTHDAY GIFT. 

"Anna, Anna!" shouted Harry. "Come quick, do! O such a!"--But mammaclapped her hand right over his mouth, and he couldn't say anotherword. 

"Pat, pat, pat!" Anna heard a queer sound of feet on the veranda, andin at the open windows trotted just the dearest little Shetland ponyall saddled and bridled. Harry was leading it. A card hung from thesaddle, and on it was printed, "A birthday gift for my little Anna, from Grandpa. "

"There! what do you think of that?" asked Harry. 

"I think, " said Anna, as soon as she could speak, "that no little girlever had such a splendid, _splendid_ grandpa as mine!"

"Isn't he, though!" said Harry. "And now I'll get out Boy Blue andwe'll ride over and thank him. " Boy Blue is Harry's pony. 

Do you know where these lovely little Shetland ponies live when theyare at home? They live in the northern islands of Great Britain. 

RALPH AND THE BUTTERFLIES. 

Ralph was walking with papa in the fields, when he saw a red and blackbutterfly. It was on a thistle. 

[Illustration: {A BUTTERFLY. }]

"I will catch him, " said Ralph. So he walked slowly up to the thistleand put out his hand to catch the butterfly. But the butterfly spreadhis wings and flew up in the air. In a moment he came back and lightedon the thistle again. 

Ralph wanted to try to catch him again, but papa said, "The butterflyis eating his dinner. "

"Does he eat the thistle?" asked Ralph. 

"He eats the honey in the thistle, " said papa. "We will sit down and Iwill show you the honey. Each thistle head has a great many tinyflowers. See, like these!" and papa pulled some of them out. Then hetook one of the blossoms between his thumb and finger. He pressed theslender tube till Ralph saw a wee drop of honey at the end. Then Ralphwanted to do the same. So he pressed one after the other of the purpletubes and found a drop of honey in each. 

"Does the butterfly squeeze them that way?" asked Ralph. 

"No; he has no thumb and finger, " said papa. 

"How can he get the honey, then?" Ralph asked. 

"He finds it with his long sucker, which reaches to the bottom ofthese slender tubes. "

"I wish he would eat this honey, papa, now I have got it all ready forhim, " said Ralph. "I'll ask him. "

So he walked slowly towards the butterfly, holding out the littlepurple blossoms. 

"Here's some honey all squeezed, " he said softly; "don't you want it, Butterfly?"

But the butterfly opened and shut his pretty spotted wings and thenflew away. 

[Illustration: RALPH. ]

Ralph looked sorry. "Never mind, " said papa, "he isn't used to havinglittle boys wait upon him. He likes to get his dinner himself. "

[Illustration: {TWO BUTTERFLIES. }]

 Bright the sun! gay the flowers! Gently falls the rain! O the jolly, the blithesome hours, Summer is come again! Eggs in my nest, snails to eat, A whole round world for my home, I sing, I sing, so sweet, so sweet! Summer again is come!

[Illustration: A LITTLE BIRD SAT ON A TWIG. ]

TOM'S LETTER. 

This is the letter a little English boy wrote to his American cousinwhom he never had seen. He wrote it on his slate in "print letters, "and his sister Bess copied it on paper in "writing letters. "

The words were spelled wrong on the slate. He worked four evenings towrite it all. 

[Illustration: THE WAY TOM WROTE IT. ]

"DEAR COUSIN DICK:

"You thought I would like to write letters because I am old likeyou--ten years. But I am not a school-boy, like you. I am a home-boy. I think home-boys don't study regular, and learn truly likeschool-boys. Mother says she will tell your mother in her letter abouthow I have been sick always. 

"I think I would like to be a school-boy, but I wouldn't either. School-boys are mean. If the new boy is lame and shy, they think thatis big fun. _I_ do not see how the tricks can be any fun then. 

"If I was a school-boy I would not think it was fun to trip a lameboy up. I would not think it fun to see him splash down backward intoa pool, and when he soused under and wet his lame back ice-cold, Iwould not call, 'Cry-baby!'

"But that is what the school-boys did that day I went. 

"So I can't write handsome letters. Do you trick new boys the firstday they come to your school in America? I have had twelve sorethroats since, and I wear a scarf in the house. 

"I can knit, and I can mend, and I color pictures. But that is notlearning as school-boys learn. Girls are good to me, and there is aschool where they are all girls, but I think I would not like to go toit--would you? Write again. 

 "Your cousin Tom. "

[Illustration: {A LITTLE GIRL HELPS TOM AWAY FROM THE BULLIES. }]

[Illustration: LADY FLORENCE. --_From the painting by G. A. Storey, A. R. A. _]

[Illustration: HOW PLEASANT TO LIE ON THE LOUNGE. ]

JANEY'S PRESENT. 

Janey had been very sick. She had not left her room for a month. Butshe was much better. Why, she was really hungry this morning! And herecomes mamma with a nice breakfast! She looked at the pleasant roomwhile she ate her toast and drank her milk. 

"It isn't such an old, headachy place now, " she said. "But please openthe windows and let all the sickness out. " Then mamma put on the softred wrapper and knitted slippers that auntie had made for her to wearon this very day. How pleasant it was to lie on the lounge with herown dearest doll Belinda Button, tucked away under the afghan! Shecould see the children at play through the open window and hear theirmerry laughter. 

"Mamma, " she said, "I am so glad to be well. I want to make a present. May I give some things to Bobby's lame sister? Not Belinda: she knowshow sick I have been, and would not leave me. But I want to give hermy red leather ball, and white rabbit and the picture book cousinGeorge sent me. And mamma, will you buy a new dolly who has no mother, for Nellie?"

Was not that a kind thought of Janey's? and you may be sure Nellie hadthem. 

GOOD OLD ROSE. 

Rose is our old dog. Her hair is as curly as dandelion stems. Her tailwaves like a great feather duster. 

When we say "Good dog, " it thumps like grandpa's cane when he walksup-stairs. Now I will tell you why we call her "Good old Rose. "

One day papa sent Lily to the store. Lily is six years old. The storeis just beyond the railroad track. 

"Rose, take care of Lily!" said papa. Rose wagged her tail for "yes, sir!" and off they went. She trotted along by Lily's side. Lily feltvery grand to go to the store all alone. She didn't know that Rose wastaking care of her. 

All at once Rose caught Lily's dress in her teeth. They were justgoing to cross the track. 

"Let me go!" said Lily. But Rose pulled her back hard. Lily looked upand down the track. There was no train in sight. But Rose _heard_ itshake the ground. "You shall let me go!" cried Lily. "Bad Rose!" andshe jerked the dress, and tore it out of Rose's teeth, and ran. ThenRose jumped right at Lily and threw her down on the ground, anddragged her back again. 

Just that instant the train thundered round the curve. But Lily wassafe. How the men in the train cheered! how the ladies waved theirhandkerchiefs! Rose hadn't any handkerchief, but she waved her tail, and that is all a dog can do. 

Wouldn't you pat her big head too, and call her "good old Rose?"

[Illustration: GOOD OLD ROSE. ]

AUNT PATTY'S PETS. 

Aunt Patty lives in a little bit of a house. It has only two rooms. Insummer it is covered with vines--grapevines, morning glories andflowering beans. It is cosey as a bird's nest and it is brimful ofpets. 

[Illustration: PANSY AND PICKWICK PAY A VISIT TO THE BIRDS. ]

If you should call on aunt Patty, just as soon as you stepped intothe yard, out would fly Gypsy, barking furiously. But he would notbite you. O, no! He only barks to let aunt Patty know you are coming. 

Then, when you opened the door, a sharp little voice would say"Good-morning! walk in. " That is the gray parrot, Nick. As you walkedinto the kitchen, Pansy and Pickwick would come up to you and purr, and put up their heads to be rubbed. 

In one window you would see two canaries in a cage. In the other wouldbe a cage full of gay little African birds. 

If it were winter there would be a cage of big birds. But in summeraunt Patty keeps these big birds in the garden near the woodhouse. 

[Illustration: GYPSY. ]

Where did aunt Patty get so many pets? They were given to her. Everybody knows that she likes pets. A sailor cousin once brought hera turtle. It is quite big enough for you to ride on. This turtle livesin the cellar in the winter, and in the garden in the summer. 

Somebody sent her a small alligator once, but she did not keep it. Shelikes pretty pets. 

"Do your pets ever quarrel?" I asked aunt Patty once. 

"Never, " said aunt Patty. "Pansy and Pickwick, and the birds andGypsy, and Methusaleh are all good friends. "

Methusaleh is the turtle. 

TOMMY AND THE GANDER. 

Tommy sometimes visits his old nurse. Nurse lives in a tiny house andkeeps geese. Tommy is afraid of the geese. The gander hisses at himand Tommy does not like that. 

One day Nurse went into the goose-house and brought out ten littlegoslings. Tommy took one of them in his hands. How pretty they werewith their pink feet and fluffy white feathers!

"To-morrow, they will go out and eat the tender grass, " said Nurse. 

"Then I shall catch them, " said Tommy. 

"The old gander won't let you, " said Nurse. 

"Pooh! who's afraid?" said Tommy very bravely. 

So the next day Tommy tried to catch a gosling. Nurse had gone downcellar and the gander was in the goose-house. But the mother-goosehissed and the gander heard her and flew out of the goose-house afterTommy. 

Tommy ran, but the gander caught hold of his clothes and began to beatTommy's legs with his wings. The old goose screamed, and Tommy ran andscreamed, and the gander ran and screamed and whipped. What a noisethey made! and Nurse ran up from the cellar to see what the matterwas. 

Just as Tommy went up the steps the gander bit both his red stockings. Nurse picked Tommy up and shut the door so the gander could not getin. Then she kissed Tommy, and cuddled him, and laughed, and said, "Who's afraid?"

"I am, " sobbed Tommy. "And I want that old gander shut up in thebarn. He isn't good for anything. "

"Oh, yes, he is, " said Nurse, "he takes care of the goslings. "

The next day Tommy saw something very pretty. He was looking over thegate. He did not dare to go out for fear the gander would bite himagain. He heard a gosling cry "peep, peep. " The goose and gander heardit too, and ran and looked down into a deep hole. 

Tommy used to play this hole was his "well. " Tommy saw the ganderstretch his long neck down into the hole and lift out a littlegosling, and put it carefully on the grass. Then the mother goose wasso pleased that she screamed outright. 

[Illustration: TOMMY'S NURSE. ]

And Tommy screamed too. "O Nurse, Nurse, that gander is good forsomething. He lifted a gosling right out of my well. I saw him!"

[Illustration: TOMMY DOES NOT DARE TO GO OUT. ]

[Illustration: A VAMPIRE BAT. ]

A NIGHT VISITOR. 

We were all sitting in the parlor one evening last summer when in flewa creature through the open window. Bump--bump, he went against thewall and ceiling. 

"A bat! a bat!" shrieked aunt Mary, and ran behind the door. Mammajumped up into a chair and gathered her skirts about her, just asthough it were a mouse. Grace and Mabel ran out of the Room, whilepapa and Frank and Kate chased the bat. 

The poor little bat fluttered about, and almost fell into the kerosenelamp chimney. Then he got entangled in the window draperies. You knowa bat cannot see by a light any more than an owl can. He finallytumbled behind the sofa where papa caught him. 

Mamma then got down from the chair, aunt Mary came out from behind thedoor, Grace and Mabel ventured in, and we all gathered about andlooked at the bat. How he panted!

"Think of being afraid of such a little creature as that, " said Katescornfully. 

"But he bites, " said Grace. "Doesn't he, papa?"

"I don't think he would bite, " said papa. "He's a good deal morefrightened than you were. "

"What made him fly into the window then?" asked Grace. 

"He is out after insects, " replied papa. "He was dazzled by the lightfrom the window, and flew towards it, as all half-blind creatureswill. "

Our little bats, the bats that live in cool countries, do not harm anyone. But there is a big bat, called the Vampire bat, that will do agood deal of mischief, if he can get a chance. 

The Vampire bat lives in the tropics. It is very comfortable, sleepingout of doors, in the tropics. 

A traveller will oftentimes swing his hammock on a tree, and sleep init all night. But he must be careful, and not sleep too soundly. 

For a Vampire bat may find him; and if he does, he will bite thetraveller's toe and suck his blood; and when the traveller wakes inthe morning, he will feel weak and faint from loss of blood. 

A bat does not perch, and tuck his head under his wing, and sleep likea bird. He has some hooks on his wings, and he just hangs himself upby those, and that's the way he sleeps!

THE NIGHT MONKEY. 

Isn't this the very queerest creature you ever saw? He looks as thoughhe had a candle in each eye; and just look at his feet! His eyes areround, like the eyes of owls. Like the owl, this monkey can see wellonly in the night. 

These monkeys are called night monkeys. Most other monkeys have longforelegs, but this monkey's forelegs are short. 

He is very small; his body is six inches long, his tail is over nineinches. 

These little creatures sleep in the daytime, and go out in search offood, and to play in the night. They eat insects, lizards and crabs. 

[Illustration: THE NIGHT MONKEY. ]

They are greedy creatures. They leap at one bound on their prey. Theylive in warm countries. They make very nice pets. 

[Illustration: {BABY WAKING UP. }]

BABY'S NAP. 

 Now Baby's asleep, mamma can sew-- "Rock-a-by-baby--by-lo, by-lo!" Baby's asleep and Tommy can tell Of the cat that was drown'd in the great big well. 

 "She had the weest, _teentiest_ toes, And the leastest speck of a blackish nose, With great, great eyes"--"Coo, coo! coo, coo!" Baby's awake--and listening too!

HURRAH! HURRAH!

 Hurrah for old winter, he's coming at last! The snow flakes are falling so thick and so fast! Hurrah! Hurrah!

 My skates I have mended, and painted my sled; Now, boys, you will soon see this chap go ahead! Hurrah! Hurrah!

 I've jolly thick mittens, a brand-new fur cap; Now, what does it matter if I get a rap? Hurrah! Hurrah!

 I've got such a secret! We've built us a fort! But you must tell no one, 'twould spoil all our sport. Hurrah! Hurrah!

 Jack, Clement, and Robbie, are garrison men, And we can defend it against any ten. Hurrah! Hurrah!

 We've made heaps of snowballs, each one round and hard, They're hid away safe in the old schoolhouse yard. Hurrah! Hurrah!

 Pell-mell through the snow rush the merry boy crowd; While the bare woodlands echo the hearty and loud Hurrah! Hurrah!

[Illustration: SOMEWHERE IN LEAFY FORESTS THE WILD DEER ROAM ANDSLEEP. ]

MOSES GOES TO A CANDY PARTY. 

"No, I _won't_!" said Moses. He felt pretty cross, for he did hate tohave his hair cut. 

"Well, then, " said his grandma, "you can't go to the candy party. "

Moses thought a few moments, and then he jumped up and said, "Well, grandma, cut it, then. "

Now grandma wasn't much of a barber. She was apt to cut his hair so ithung in scallops. But this time she wanted to cut it very even, asMoses was going to a party. So she brought out an old wooden bowl thatjust fitted his head. 

[Illustration: MOSES HAS HIS HAIR CUT. ]

Then she cut his hair straight to the edge of the bowl, and when shetook the bowl off, there it was beautifully even, and banged rightdown over his forehead!

Then he put on the trousers and jacket grandma herself had made, andhis new shoes, and a blue bow where his collar met, and went off tothe party. It was Sally Poole's party and Sally was one of Moses'playmates. 

They boiled molasses in a kettle over a fire in the big kitchenfireplace; then they poured it into buttered pans and set them out inthe snow for the candy to cool. It was great fun pulling it, and whenMoses went home, Sally gave him two sticks and a big braided piece. 

"And I think, Moses, " she said, "your hair is banged beautiful. "

FAN'S CARDS:--A CHRISTMAS HINT. 

What do you think I did with all my beautiful Christmas cards?

I had saved ever and ever so many, and Easter and New Year's, andBirthday cards, and a lot of Valentines. I knew I would get more thisChristmas, so I thought I would give these away. 

Then I thought I would paste them in a scrapbook, or tack them up onthe wall instead. Then, I thought I would just keep them in a boxforever, and show them to my grandchildren; but, when aunt Nora toldme about the sick children at the hospital, then I thought I'd give mycards to them. I just made up my mind I would, and so I did. 

Aunt Nora took me to the hospital, and I wore my new red cloak andhat. I think I looked sweet, too. The hospital is pretty big, and wehad to go down a long hall and a long pair of stairs. I began to befrightened, 'cause suppose one of the doctors made a mistake andthought I was sick!

So I held aunt Nora's hand tight until we came to a big room wherethere were lots of beds and poor little sick boys and girls in them. Some more children were playing around, and they were sick too. One ofthem, a wee little mite, was eating bread and molasses, and her facewas all sticky. She wanted to kiss me. 

A pretty nurse in a white cap came up and spoke to us, and aunt Noratold her about my cards. She said I might give them round myself. 

So I went up to the first cot, and, oh dear! there was such a sicklittle girl in it. I asked her if she would like a card, and sheseemed so delighted that I gave her a beauty, with red and whitefringe. Then all the children said, "Gi'me one too, lady! Oh, lady!gi'me one!"

[Illustration: "I THINK I LOOKED SO SWEET. "]

Nobody ever called me "lady" before, but then I am most grown up now. One child there was just as old as I am; only he was a boy, and he hada big iron thing on his leg. When I gave him a card, he said, "Thankyou marm, and merry Christmas!"

Then they all waved their cards and cried "Merry Christmas! merryChristmas!" as I went out of the door. 

I hope I'll get ever so many cards this Christmas, so I can give themto the hospital children. It's such fun!

KITTY'S TRAMP. 

One cold day in January Kitty Blake had dined with grandma and was onher way home through the fields. Perhaps you wonder why Kitty shouldwalk in the fields when the snow was so deep. But there was a hardcrust on the snow and she could skip along over it without breakingthrough. It was great fun. 

Suddenly she stopped, for there in a slight hollow in the snow lay atiny bird. 

"Poor little birdie, it must have frozen to death, " said Kitty softly, and a tear stood in her eye, for she has a tender heart for all littlecreatures. Then she said "Oh!" and gave a start that sent the tearstumbling over her muff for just that instant, one of the bird's legstwitched and the tears would not stay back. 

"P'r'aps it's still alive, after all;" she thought, and she picked itup and tucked it into her muff. Her muff was lined with fur. 

She reached home quite breathless, and when she took out the bird andlaid it on mamma's lap, it gave one little "Peep!" stood on its legs, and then flew up into the ivy that ran all about the south bay window. 

"What made it make b'lieve dead?" asked Kitty. 

"It didn't make believe, " said mamma. "I think it was dizzy. Birdssometimes are dizzy. But if you had not found it, it would soon havefrozen to death. "

Kitty named him "The Tramp, " and he lived in the bay window withmamma's plants. This bay window was shut off from the rest of the roomby glass doors. It was a sunny and fragrant home for the littlechickadee, and a lucky bird he was to have it just then. 

For on the first day of February it began to snow and snowed threedays, and when it cleared there were piles and piles of snow. 

Great flocks of birds then came about the house searching for food. 

"We must feed them or they will die, " said mamma. "The snow is so deepthey cannot find food. "

So Kitty scattered meal and hemp seed on the snow and tied meaty boneson the lilac and rose bushes, and there wasn't a moment of the daywhen some blue jay, or snow bird, or chickadee, or robin, was notpicking up grain, or pecking at the bones. 

"That is the way to have birds in winter!" said Kitty. 

The Tramp did not seem to care a fig about his relations till one dayin March when a flock of chickadees flew past, and he flutteredagainst the windows and begged to be let out. 

[Illustration: THE TRAMP VISITS CHARLEY. ]

Mamma opened the window and off he flew! Kitty sighed and said, "Thatis the last of him, I suppose. " But it wasn't. 

One sunny May day Charley was sitting up in bed. Charley is Kitty'sbrother. He had been sick and the window was open so he could breathethe soft spring air. Suddenly a bird dropped upon the window sill andbegan to whistle "Chick-a-dee-dee-dee!" so blithely and cock his headat Charley. 

"It's the Tramp!" said Charley; and sure enough it was! After that hecame almost every day. If the window was shut they opened it for him. Charley used to hide hemp seed and sugar under the edge of the pillowsfor the Tramp to find. He always found it. Sometimes he would tiesugar up in a paper and the Tramp would peck at it until he got itout. 

[Illustration: THE TRAMP'S HOME. ]

He would perch on Charley's shoulder and eat seeds from his mouth. 

He wanted to build a nest in an old letter box nailed up against awall. Ever so many birds, blue birds, wrens and sparrows wanted tobuild in that box too. 

The Tramp was a brave little fellow and a good fighter; but he neverwould have driven the birds off, if Kitty hadn't helped him. 

"I love all the birds, " said Kitty, "but the Tramp is my very ownbird. "

So he and his mate built a nest and raised a family of birds in peace, and now Kitty and Charley call the old letter-box "The Tramp's Home. "

[Illustration: A PAIR OF HORSES. --_From Rosa Bonheur's painting, "TheHorse Fair. "_]

[Illustration: CHILDREN OF CHARLES I. --_From the sketch by Verspronck, in the Louvre. _]

THREE ROYAL CHILDREN. 

Here is a picture of a little prince and two little princesses wholived about two hundred years ago. They were the children of Charlesthe First, king of England. I suppose they were very much like theboys and girls of nowadays. They played and studied and had theirpets, just as children play and study now. 

[Illustration: READY FOR THANKSGIVING. ]

AN OSTRICH PLUME. 

Matty Ellis had a new hat. It was a pretty white hat with a long, curly white plume, and it was very becoming to her. 

"Yes, I like it, " she said to aunt Sarah. "But Nanny Rich has a hatwith two plumes. "

"And I can tell you somebody who wears half a dozen or more, " repliedaunt Sarah, "and that somebody is the ostrich himself. "

[Illustration: OSTRICH EGGS. ]

Aunt Sarah tells Matty a great many interesting things, and she toldher about ostriches. She told how they live in hot sandy countrieslike Africa. 

They are so tall and have such long legs they can run as fast as, orfaster than, a horse. 

[Illustration: A PAIR OF OSTRICHES AT HOME. ]

They have their nests in a hollow on the ground. The Hottentot likesostrich eggs to eat. One ostrich egg is as big as sixteen hen's eggs. So it makes a breakfast for a number of people. The Hottentot breaks ahole in the small end of the egg, stirs up the contents with a stick, and then sets it over the fire to cook. The shell is very thick andhard, and the heat of the fire will not break it. 

There is somebody else who likes ostrich eggs too, and that somebodyis a kind of fox. He comes when the ostrich is away and helps himself. Sometimes the ostrich comes home and finds him at it. 

Many other people like to wear ostrich plumes as well as Matty. Sothere is a large trade in them. The wild ostrich does not supplyfeathers enough for the market, so ostriches are now raised liketurkeys and hens. This business is called "ostrich farming. " Theostriches are kept in large yards, and the plumes are taken out everyyear. 

Aunt Sarah told all this to Matty. "And so, " said Matty, stroking thelong white plume, "this feather has ridden on the back of an ostrichin Africa; I wish it could tell me what it has seen. "

[Illustration: SOMEBODY ELSE WHO LIKES EGGS. ]

WHO KILLED THE GOOSE?

[Illustration: {A DOG WRAPPED IN A QUILT. }]

It was the very nicest, whitest goose of the whole flock, and there itwas--dead! Who had killed it? was the question. Everybody said it musthave been Bose; and why? Because Bose liked to tease the geese. Sometimes he jumped from behind a bush and frightened them. Sometimeswhen they were standing at their trough eating, he ran at them, justfor the fun of seeing them run. 

[Illustration: {A DOG IN A BASKET. }]

"I don't think he meant to kill it, " said the grandpa. 

"Very likely not, " said the father, "but I must teach him not to runat the geese. Come here, sir, " he said to Bose. 

[Illustration: {A DOG WITH A BLANKET WRAPPED AROUND HIM. }]

Bose felt very badly. He crawled slowly along. He couldn't say, "Ididn't do it; please don't whip me, " as a little boy or girl can. Hecould only look up to his master with soft, begging eyes. But littlePatsy was looking in at the door. Little Patsy loves Bose dearly; andof all the family Bose best loves Patsy. They are always playingtogether. 

[Illustration: {A DOG SITTING. }]

"Oh, please don't whip Bose, " cried Patsy. "I don't believe he did it. Nobody saw him do it, " and she begged so hard her father said he wouldonly tie Bose up. He would not whip him till he was sure he had killedthe goose. That night Patsy cried herself to sleep. It almost brokeher heart to think that on the morrow Bose might have to be whipped. Suddenly in the night she heard a queer, soft voice say, "I don'tbelieve he did it. I wouldn't kill a goose. " Patsy opened her eyes andfound herself in a room full of dogs. The voice came from a wee doggiewrapped in an eider down quilt. 

"Very good reason why; you couldn't, " barked another little fellow. Hehad a head that looked as if it were bald, and large soft ears, and hewas peeping out of a basket. 

[Illustration: PROSPECTIVE PUNISHMENT. ]

[Illustration: {A FLUFFY DOG. }]

"Raw goose, faugh!" said a dainty doggie, who had a blanket pinnedcarefully around him. "I like my poultry well picked and cooked. "

"That's so. So do I, " rejoined a fierce scrap of a dog. He wore acollar and little silver locket, and cocked his ears. 

"People are always saying dogs do things, " said a tousled terrier, whose hair had tumbled over his eyes, so he couldn't see a thing. "Thecat ate the cream the other day and cook said I did it. I hate cooks. "

[Illustration: {A DOG LYING DOWN. }]

A grave-looking dog opened his mouth and spoke. He must have been alawyer among dogs. Patsy thought he looked like Judge Drake. He spokeslowly. "If Bose had never chased the geese even in play, his masterwould never have suspected him. A great deal depends on a dog'scharacter. But I don't think he killed the goose. "

"I _know_ he didn't, " spoke up a big splendid dog. "Bose is a goodfellow!" Then all the dogs barked out, "Hear! hear!" so loudly thatPatsy awoke. The dogs had vanished; the morning sun was shining. Sheheard her father call, "Patsy, come and see the fox! We've trapped therogue. It was he that killed the goose!"

[Illustration: {A DOG LYING DOWN. }]

[Illustration: {THE BAKER AND FRIENDS OFFER BEER TO THE HORSE. }]

A TEMPERANCE HORSE. 

He belongs to a baker. His master went into a restaurant to deliversome pies. I was sitting at a window opposite. He stayed so long inthe place that I thought he had forgotten his faithful beast. 

After a while he came out carrying a great mug full of foaming beer. There were two other men with him. All their faces were red, and theywalked unsteadily, and they were laughing loud, and shouting. Then thebaker went up to his beautiful horse, and offered him the beer todrink. 

Do you suppose he took it? No, indeed! He gave it one sniff from hissmooth, brown nostrils. Then he turned his head away with a jerk sosudden that he knocked the glass, beer and all, upon the pavement. Helooked at his master as if to say, "Don't insult me again in that way, sir!"

So his bad master had to pay for both the beer and the glass. 

Wise old horse, he was not afraid to give his opinion of beer. 

 CLARA J. DENTON. 

[Illustration: {TWO CHILDREN FLYING KITES. }]

HOW THE WIND BLOWS. 

 High and low The spring winds blow! They take the kites that the boys have made, And carry them off high into the air; They snatch the little girls' hats away, And toss and tangle their flowing hair. 

 High and low The summer winds blow! They dance and play with the garden flowers, And bend the grasses and yellow grain; They rock the bird in her hanging nest, And dash the rain on the window-pane. 

[Illustration: {A GARDEN WITH BEEHIVES. }]

[Illustration: {HAYSTACKS IN A FIELD. }]

 High and low The autumn winds blow! They frighten the bees and blossoms away, And whirl the dry leaves over the ground; They shake the branches of all the trees, And scatter ripe nuts and apples around. 

 High and low The winter winds blow! They fill the hollows with drifts of snow, And sweep on the hills a pathway clear; They hurry the children along to school, And whistle a song for the happy New Year. 

 M. E. N. H. 

[Illustration: {CHILDREN IN A SNOWY FIELD. }]

DIME AND BETTY. 

Bow-wow! Who are you? I am only a little dog. My name is Dime. I amnot a cross dog. I have been a pet dog all my life. Shall I tell youwhat I can do? I can sit up and beg. I can shake hands. I can jumpover a stick, O yes; and I can run very fast. I can run as fast asPomp, the baker's dog; and Pomp is a big dog. 

[Illustration: {DIME AND POMP RACING EACH OTHER. }]

I like to run races with Pomp. He never bites a little dog. We like torun after birds. But we never catch any birds. They fly away when wecome near. I wonder how the birds fly. Pomp and I cannot fly. 

My master has a cow. Her name is Betty. She is a good cow. She givesnice, white milk. I do not care much for milk. I like a bone better. But old Tab, the cat, likes milk. I like to see Tab drink milk. Shelaps it up very fast. 

I drive Betty to pasture every day. John goes with me to shut thegate. John is the boy who milks the cow. I wish I could open and shutthat gate. Then John would not go to the pasture. I should like to goall alone. I think it would be fine. 

[Illustration: {DRIVING BETTY TO PASTURE. }]

I take good care of Betty. When any one comes near her, I say, "Bow-wow" very sharply. 

 S. E. SPRAGUE. 

[Illustration: {BOBBY AND THE RAM. }]

SAVED FROM FREEZING TO DEATH. 

When Bobby Smart was six years old, he was left to the care of hisUncle James, who lived in the country. His aunt took him to his futurehome, and at the depot he saw his uncle for the first time. 

Bobby was lonely and sad; his uncle often treated him with harshnessand even cruelty. The cold winter had come on early. Bobby was theonly boy about the farm, and he had to work very hard. His clothingwas unfit for the winter weather, and he often suffered from the cold. 

Among the duties which this poor boy had to perform was that oftending a flock of sheep. One afternoon, when there were signs of asnow-storm, he was sent to drive the flock to the barn. He started forthe field, but his clothes were so thin that he was benumbed by theintense cold. He sat down on a large rock to rest himself. He feltstrangely tired and cold. In a little while he began to feel drowsy. Then he thought it was so nice and comfortable that he would staythere awhile. In a very few moments he was asleep, and perhapsdreaming. 

Suddenly he was aroused by a tremendous blow which sent him spinningfrom his perch on the rock to the ground. Looking about him, he saw anold ram near by. The creature looked as though he had been doingmischief, and Bobby was no longer at a loss to know where the blowcame from; but he thought the attack was an accident, and in a shorttime he was again in the land of Nod. 

Again the ram very rudely tumbled him over into the snow. He was nowwide awake, and provoked at the attack of the beast. He began tosearch for a stick to chastise his enemy. The ram understood hisintention, for he turned upon Bobby as if to finish the poor boy. Bobby was forced to take to his heels, and ran towards home. 

The ram chased him, while the rest of the flock followed after theirleader. The inmates of the farm-house were surprised to see Bobbyrushing towards the house as fast as his little legs would allow him. His hair was streaming in the wind, and he was very much terrified. Close upon him was the old ram, kicking up his heels in his anger. Behind him could be seen a straggling line of sheep doing their bestto keep up. 

[Illustration: {THE RAM CHASES BOBBY. }]

Bobby won the race, however. His uncle came out in time to turn theflock into the barn. It was a long time before Bobby would venturenear the ram again. 

Bobby knows now that but for the efforts of that old ram in knockinghim from his seat on that bitterly cold day he would have been amongthe angels in a very short time. The sleepy feeling which overcame himwould have ended in death. 

Bobby declares that the ram knew all the time what ailed him, and thathe butted him from the rock on purpose. I cannot explain it, but doknow that "God moves in a mysterious way his wonders to perform. "

 MRS. F. GREENOUGH. 

LILY'S GARDEN. 

[Illustration: {A VASE OF DANDELIONS. }]

There was only a little piece of garden belonging to Lily's home inthe city. In the bright spring days she went out there, and watched tosee if any flowers came up. She felt happy when she found the firstblades of grass. 

The poet sings that "his heart dances with the daffodils. " Lily'sheart danced, one morning, when she found a dandelion among thegrasses in her yard, --a real yellow dandelion, with all its goldenpetals spread out. 

Just then, one of her playmates looked over the fence, and put out herhand. 

"Do give it to me, " she said. "I sha'n't like you a bit, if you don't:I shall think you are just as stingy--"

"But it's all I have, " said Lily; "I can't give it away. I can't. Waittill to-morrow, and there'll be some more out. They're growing. There'll be some all round to-morrow or next week. "

"To-morrow! I want it now, to-day, " said her friend, "to-day's betterthan to-morrow. "

Lily looked at the child and then at the dandelion. "I suppose itwould be mean to keep it, " she said, "but it is so lovely--_can't_ youwait?"

"Oh, well, keep it, you stingy girl!"

[Illustration: {THE LITTLE GIRL ASKS FOR THE DANDELION. }]

"Come and pick it yourself, then, " said Lily, with tears in her eyes. 

The next day, when Lily went into the yard, there were a dozen goldendandelions, like stars in the grass, and a little blue violet wasblooming all alone by itself. 

 MARY N. PRESCOTT. 

[Illustration: {A GIRL AND BOY WALK ALONG A ROAD. }]

WHERE?

 Where is the honey-bee? Where has the swallow flown? Only the chickadee Chirrups his song alone. 

 Where is the bobolink, Bubbling with merriment? What was the road, think, The gadding fire-fly went?

 Whither flew the little wings Grown in green forest aisles? Where are the pretty things That blossomed miles on miles?

 MARY N. PRESCOTT. 

[Illustration: {THE GOAT ON THE RAILROAD TRACK. }]

A GOAT IN TROUBLE. 

A few weeks ago, as I was crossing a railroad track just outside ofthe city, a little goat stepped before me. With a sad cry, she seemedto ask me to stop. I turned aside to pass on, but she kept brushingagainst me, until I finally decided to find out what she wanted. 

The goat had wandered from her usual browsing place. In crossing therailroad track she had caught her chain on a rail, and could not getaway. I stooped down and let her loose. Then she pressed against me asif to thank me, and bounded off quickly to her old pasture. 

If we would always listen to the cries of animals in distress, wemight do a great deal of good. Just after I had released the goat, atrain of cars came rushing along, and she would certainly have beenkilled if I had not attended to her. 

 L. B. P. 

[Illustration: {THE BIRD SINGING. }]

A NEGRO MELODIST. 

It has often been remarked that in the bird world the rule is for themales to have the brilliant plumage, with all the beautiful colors andfor the females to be the dowdy ones--a rule which would entail arevolution in fashions, startling and ludicrous, if it were to beintroduced for variety among our own kind. Again, gaily-dressed birdshave the least pleasing song--the screaming jay bearing an unfavorablecomparison with the thrush--and the modestly-attired nightingalehaving furnished, in all ages, a brilliant example of virtueunadorned. The nightingale, however, leaving before the climate hasbecome objectionable, we must praise its musical accomplishmentsrather as being those of a distinguished guest, or foreign _primadonna_, than of an indigenous artist. But we have another bird who_is_ always here, facing winter's blasts in addition to summer'sbloom, who in voice stands unrivaled; no competitor approaching anywhere near him for fluency, richness, and liquid melody of song--towit, the blackbird. 

This negro melodist seldom spares his lungs at all until winter is faradvanced into its New Year months; and even amid the bitter morningsof January, his rich, unfaltering notes can sometimes be heard. Hiscoat is a glossy black, always cleanly brushed, and in the case of onefamily, sometimes called the "Red-wing, " with a gorgeous scarlet lapelon either side. 

TIME ENOUGH. 

 Two little rabbits out in the sun; One gathered food, the other had none. "Time enough yet, " his constant refrain; "Summer is still just on the wane. "

 Listen, my child, while I tell you his fate: He roused him at last, but he roused him too late. Down fell the snow from a pitiless cloud, And gave little rabbit a spotless white shroud. 

 Two little boys in a school-room were placed; One always perfect, the other disgraced. "Time enough yet for my learning, " he said; "I will climb by-and-by, from the foot to the head. "

 Listen, my darling--their locks are turned gray; One, as a governor, sitteth to-day. The other, a pauper, looks out at the door Of the alms-house, and idles his days as of yore. 

 Two kinds of people we meet every day; One is at work, the other at play, Living uncared for, dying unknown. -- The busiest hive hath ever a drone. 

 Tell me, my child, if the rabbits have taught, The lesson I longed to impart in your thought. Answer me this, and my story is done, Which of the two will you be, little one?

THE MOUSE WEDDING. 

Dick Sly was the smartest mouse in Mousetown. He knew any kind of anew trap that was set to catch him, and he always warned the rest. Thehouses in Mousetown are called "holes, " you know. Next to the holewhere Dick lived with his parents was the hole where pretty Nan Sprylived. She could run faster than any mouse in Mousetown; even Dickcould not catch her, if she tried to run away from him. At last it wastold in Mousetown that Dick and Nan were to be married, and every bodysaid, "What a grand pair they'll make. " Judge Mouse, who married them, put on his best gold spectacles, and they were married on a bigwedding cake, which some folks called a "cheese. " Every one inMousetown had a bit of it, and declared it to be the best wedding cakethey had ever eaten. 

SHE HAD NEVER SEEN A TREE. 

 They took the little London girl, from out the city street, To where the grass was growing green, the birds were singing sweet; And every thing along the road, so filled her with surprise, The look of wonder fixed itself, within her violet eyes. 

 The breezes ran to welcome her; they kissed her on each cheek, And tried in every way they could, their ecstacy to speak, Inviting her to romp with them, and tumbling up her curls, Expecting she would laugh or scold, like other little girls. 

 But she didn't--no she didn't; for this crippled little child Had lived within a dingy court, where sunshine never smiled; And for weary, weary days and months, the little one had lain Confined within a narrow room, and on a couch of pain. 

 The out-door world was strange to her--the broad expanse of sky, The soft, green grass, the pretty flowers, the stream that trickled by; But all at once she saw a sight, that made her hold her breath, And shake and tremble as if she were frightened near to death. 

 Oh, like some horrid monster, of which the child had dreamed, With nodding head, and waving arms, the angry creature seemed; It threatened her, it mocked at her, with gestures and grimace That made her shrink with terror, from its serpent-like embrace. 

 They kissed the trembling little one; they held her in their arms, And tried in every way they could to quiet her alarms, And said, "Oh, what a foolish little girl you are, to be So nervous and so terrified, at nothing but a tree!"

 They made her go up close to it, and put her arms around The trunk, and see how firmly it was fastened in the ground; They told her all about the roots, that clung down deeper yet, And spoke of other curious things, she never would forget. 

 Oh, I have heard of many, very many girls and boys Who have to do without the sight, of pretty books and toys-- Who have never seen the ocean; but the saddest thought to me Is that any where there lives a child, who never saw a tree. 

A FUNNY HORSE. 

 Knock! Knock! Knock! I've been before this block More than half an hour, I should say; I am standing in the sun, while Miss Lucy lingers on, Talking of the fashions of the day. 

 It is a trick you know, she taught me long ago, But now I am in earnest, not in play; And the world is very wide, to a horse that isn't tied, I've a mind to go and ask the price of hay. 

 There's a nail in my shoe that needs fixing too, And I want a drink more than I can say; How I could run, with my dandy harness on! But it's such a mean thing to run away. 

 Rap! Tap! Tap! That's enough to break a nap-- There she comes, and is laughing at the way I brought her to the door, when she wouldn't come before, That's a trick worth playing any day. 

MRS. GIMSON'S SUMMER BOARDERS. 

It was recess at the school-house at the cross roads, and threecountry girls gathered round a companion, whose unhappy face showedthat something had gone wrong. 

"Is this your last day at school, Lucindy?" asked Carrie Hess, a girlof fifteen, and the eldest of the three sisters. 

"Yes, this is my last day, thanks to the summer boarders. I can't bearto think of them. I hate them!"

"Will you have to work harder than you do now?" asked Freda, who wasnext younger to Carrie. 

"I don't mind the work so much as I do their impudent airs, and theirstuck-up ways. I wont be ordered around, and if Auntie thinks I'mgoing to be a black slave, she'll find she's mistaken. "

Lucindy's face flushed, and she appeared to be greatly in earnest. 

"I'd be glad to have them come to our house, they have such niceclothes, " said Lena, the youngest and most mischievous. 

"Yes, it's very nice, I must say, to go around in old duds, and have agirl that's not a whit better in any way than you, only she's been toa city school and has a rich father, turn up her nose at you, andperhaps make fun of you, with her white dresses and her silk dresses, and her gaiter boots. "

"Can't we come to your house any more? Can't we come to play?" askedCarrie. 

"Oh, can't we come?" said the other two, almost in a breath. 

"No, Auntie told me this morning, that I must tell you and the rest ofthe girls, that it wouldn't be convenient to have you come, as youhave done; you are not stylish enough for Miss Hattie Randolph toassociate with, I suppose. "

The girls looked really disappointed. Lucindy was a great favorite, and a leader, fearless and successful in all escapades that requiredoriginality and coolness, and her company would be sorely missed. Heraunt had indulged her in all the dress and amusement she could afford, and her companions had always been welcome to visit at the house, butnow there was a necessity for her services, and play could not beindulged in so often for the rest of the summer, as the householdneeded the avails, if not the presence of summer boarders. 

"Is she older than we?" asked Carrie. 

"No, but she's lived all her life in the city, and feels aboveeverybody. She and her brother and her mother will just takepossession of our piazza and door-yard, and our swing; and I can washdishes, and sit on the back door-step, and never see a girl from onemonth's end to another. " Here Lucindy burst out crying. 

"It's too bad, " said Carrie. 

The little Lena, ever fertile in invention, crept near, and puttingher arms around Lucindy's neck, whispered:

"We'll come to see you on the sly, and we can go down in the fieldsand have fun, when your Auntie goes out for an afternoon. "

"I wish you would, " said Lucindy. "And I'll bring down some cake andpickles, and some honey, and we'll have a pic-nic in spite of Mrs. Randolph!"

This was a solution of the unhappy problem, and it seemed to throw aray of sunlight slantwise into the gloomy picture of the comingsummer. 

The progress of the afternoon at the school-house was not marked byany unusual occurrence, and at the close, the little company ofschoolmates proceeded together, until they came to the road leading toLucindy's home. Here they parted, with many professions of everlastingfriendship; Lucindy, walking backwards, watched her companions untilthe turn in the road hid them from view. 

Then she sat down upon a bank by the roadside under an old tree. Throwing her slate and books down on the grass, she snatched a fewdaisies that grew near, and thought of many things of a disquietingnature, pulling the flowers to pieces. 

"I feel mad enough to run away!" she thought. "I could earn my livingeasy enough in the city, and not have to work so hard either. MissHunter can't teach me any thing more. I've learned all she knows. It'sjust too bad not to be able to get more education. I'll just take myown way, if Auntie crowds me too much. I don't care if she don't likeit. If my father and mother were alive, she wouldn't be my boss. I canget on in another place with what I know about a good many things. 

"But oh, that girl that's coming has so much better times than I. Those lovely city schools! no one can help learning there, they takesuch pains with you. "

She looked down the road upon which the slanting red light of thedeclining sun was shining, and there she saw a cloud of dust. Thisroad was not a great thoroughfare, and she knew that was the stage, and it probably would bring the undesired summer guests. 

She shrank visibly back into the shadow of the tree as it came on, andsmoothed out her faded calico dress and pulled her sun-bonnet fartherover her face. 

The coach came rolling past, and a girl in the back seat directed theattention of a fashionably-dressed lady to herself, she thought, andlaughed as though immensely pleased, at the same time pointing at her. A little boy, who sat in the front seat with the driver, and who wasplaying upon a harmonica, stopped, and looking in her direction, laughed too. 

"It's my outlandish sun-bonnet they're making fun of, " she thought. "Isuppose this is the beginning of it. "

[Illustration: SHE SAT DOWN ON A BANK BY THE ROADSIDE UNDER AN OLDTREE. ]

Now this ungentle girl was mistaken in her surmise, as she was aboutmany things that caused her unhappiness. What the people in the stagewere really interested and amused with were a couple of lambs in thefield back of Lucindy, and their playful gyrations were a novel sightto them, and they had come for the very purpose of being pleased withcountry sights and experiences. Lucindy felt sure these were thesummer boarders, and, taking a short cut across the fields, arrived ather aunt's just as the guests were alighting. 

Lucindy stood at the back corner of the house, and heard the sprightlytalk of Mrs. Randolph and the merry laugh of the daughter, as her auntbade them welcome, and she knew they were being conducted to the upperrooms that had been prepared with such thoughtful reference to theircomfort. 

Her aunt came down very soon, and seeing Lucindy, bade her wash herhands and smooth her hair, and put on a white apron, and prepare toget ready the tea. This duty Lucindy had always done, and a littlecuriosity, mingled with her other feelings, came to her, as to how theboarders would like her aunt's puffy biscuit, and if the cold custardand raspberry jam wouldn't be to their taste. If coffee and fricasseedchicken would not be just the thing after an all-day ride, andremarked to herself: "If they don't like such fare, let them go wherethey'll get better. "

The tea passed off with great good feeling; the new people making amost favorable impression upon her aunt, and impressing Lucindy withthe discovery that polite manners were a recommend to strangers, forher aunt made gratified remarks from time to time as she came into thekitchen. Lucindy would not wait upon the table the first evening, aconvenient head-ache being the excuse. 

Mrs. Gimson was a most kindly disposed person, and endeavored, inevery way, to make the time pass pleasantly to her guests; but all shecould say in their favor did nothing toward disposing the mind of herniece to regard them with any toleration. She performed the householdduties that fell to her with a stolid indifference, or with an openlyexpressed reluctance, and her aunt bore all kindly, explaining andsmoothing away what she could, promising Lucindy that she should havea nice present of money when the guests departed. 

Hattie Randolph had not taken any notice of her, never really havingseen her, for Lucindy had positively refused to wait upon the table;and had kept herself in the back-ground, thus making her life at homemore of a discipline than was necessary. She envied Hattie's gracefulways and refined conversation; and her apparel was a revelation, notof beauty, but of another source of jealous envy to the country girl, for in putting the guests' rooms in order, she examined, critically, the pretty things in the wardrobe. 

The city people found so much to interest them in the beauties of thesurrounding neighborhood, that they were out nearly all the time, andwhen the evening came, Mrs. Randolph, with her son and daughter, madea pleasant addition to Mrs. Gimson's parlors, with their gracefultalk, and numberless resources of entertainment. 

Lucindy, observant and sullen, kept herself informed of all theirmovements, and was continually having the blush brought to her cheekand the bitterness of comparison to her heart, as she noted the widedifference there was between herself and them. It never once occurredto this foolish girl, that this difference was growing more and moreevery day, by the fostering of pride and an ignorant stubbornness, which prevented her, utterly, from ever cultivating their enviedcharacteristics. 

It was a long time since she had seen any of her playmates from theschool, but by an ingenious contrivance, that had been thought out byLucindy, a tin box had been inserted into an old tree in a fencecorner, about midway between her home and the school-house, and inthis they deposited their notes to each other. 

[Illustration: MISS HATTIE RANDOLPH. ]

This was a solace to Lucindy, as all the happenings at the schoolcould be reported, and many a mis-spelled, soiled missive found itsway to the eager hands of the absent one. Not less interesting was thenews as to the doings of the boarders. Nothing, however trivial, thathappened not to accord with Lucindy's notions was overlooked in hersetting forth of grievances, and she found ready sympathizers in theHess girls. Carrie Hess stood under the old tree, one lovely morning, overstaying her time in doing so, as the warning bell had rung at theschool-house, reading a note she had taken from the tree post-office. Among other things, it communicated the welcome news, that herself andsisters might come to the pretty knoll behind the house thatafternoon, and that Lucindy would take the occasion to make a holidayfor herself, as her aunt was going, after dinner, to look up freshbutter and eggs, and would be gone until near tea time. 

Mrs. Randolph had hired a team, and with her family would be gone thesame length of time, for a ride. 

Carrie took a race to school, very much elated at the prospect ofenjoying Lucindy's company once more. Recess came, and after eatingtheir very generous lunch, they prepared to quietly put a considerabledistance between themselves and the precincts over which Miss Hunter'sauthority extended. They were "skipping, " as they termed it, and astheir parents would not know of it, they reveled in the forbiddenfreedom. They proceeded over fences and across stubble fields, andsoon reached the coveted meeting-place. A wide-spreading tree, with awreath of apples upon it, just turning to a ruddy hue, was almostcompletely surrounded at its trunk with hazel bushes, but on one sidethey did not grow; this was away from the house, and toward the wheatfield. It was a natural bower, and into this they crept to await thecoming of Lucindy. 

They were not kept long in suspense, and when she appeared what ahugging and kissing were gone through with!

"Have your boarders gone for their ride?" asked Carrie. 

"Yes, and I thought they'd never get off. Old Mrs. Randolph fusses so, you'd think she was going to a party every time she goes to ride. Iwonder who she expects to see on a country road?"

"Sure enough. How was the girl dressed, Lu?"

"Oh, she had on a light check silk, and a lovely brown jockey, trimmedwith pink satin ribbon rosettes and long ends at the back, and alovely, wide collar. "

"Don't you like her better than her mother?" asked Lena. 

"Well, she doesn't put on as many airs as her mother, and she's acted, two or three times, as if she were going to speak to me, but I managednot to let her. I don't want her acquaintance. I don't want any of hercoming down to me!"

"I suppose they have nice things, that they've brought with them, intheir rooms, " said Carrie. 

"Yes, Mrs. Randolph has an elegant blue satin pin-cushion, withmorning-glories and apple-blossoms painted on it, and a dressing-casewith white ivory combs and brushes, and they do your hair up lovely, for I fixed mine in her room yesterday with them. " This caused muchmerriment. 

Lucindy proceeded to take from her pocket a pack of children's cards, illuminated with gaily-dressed ladies and gentlemen, and queer-lookingfigures of all kinds. These caused a sensation; they lookedincredulously at Lucindy, as she said:

"These are the things that make them laugh evenings. If we knew how toplay them, we could have some of their kind of fun. "

They passed them to one another and examined them. They threw themaside presently, and returned to the subject of never-failinginterest--the wardrobe of the boarders. 

Carrie and Lena intimated more than once, that if they could only seesomething that city people really considered elegant, they would besatisfied, and forever indebted to Lucindy for the sight. 

[Illustration: GRETCHEN TRAILING THE BEAUTIFUL MULL OVERSKIRT ON THEGROUND. ]

"Oh, dear, if that will please you so much, " said Lucindy, entirelywilling to gratify them, "I'll go and get one of Mrs. Randolph'sprettiest dresses and show you. It wont take me a minute. "

"Oh, do, Lucindy! we're just crazy to see it! She'll never know it, "said Carrie, with eagerness. 

Lucindy had no scruples whatever in procuring so coveted a pleasurefor her dear friends. She ran back to the house and up into Mrs. Randolph's room. She fumbled over the dresses, and thinking it was aswell to take out two or three, that they might feast their eyes upon avariety, she piled two silk dresses and an India mull upon her arm, and hurried out. 

They dragged considerably upon the dusty path, but this was notnoticed, and the wild delight of the girls, when they really had themin their hands, amply repaid Lucindy for any risk, she thought. 

They fingered them over, the bead embroideries and lace trimmings, andexamined the fashion of each with untiring interest. 

"Let's put them on!" said Carrie, "and see how we would look inthem. "

"We'll look sweetly stylish, " said Freda. 

"Oh, do let us, Lucindy! Mrs. Randolph wont be back until evening. It'll be such fun!" insisted Carrie. 

"All right, let us; I don't care how much fun we have with them, themore the better, " returned Lucindy. No sooner said than done; overtheir clothing they stretched the dresses, and jerked and settled theminto the proper set. Shouts of laughter greeted every ridiculous poseand awkward stumble, and certainly nothing could be more provocativeof merriment than their appearance. They trailed the dresses over thestubble in mock dignity; they improvised a dance, and went through allthe grotesque changes they could invent. Their comments and jokes weremost spicy and personal, and in all Lucindy led. 

After a good time enjoyed in this way, the fun lost its point andnovelty, and they threw the dresses in a heap on the grass, and satand chatted over the gossip connected with the school at the crossroads. The afternoon was wearing on, and Lucindy thought it time toproduce her good things, and taking up the dresses, ran along to thehouse. 

In getting through the bars she dropped the mull overskirt and did notperceive her loss. Gretchen saw it, and running after, brought itback. Lucindy hung the dresses up in their places, certainly notimproved by the airing they had had; but chancing to look out of anupper window, she was horrified to see down the road the identicalteam that Mrs. Randolph had hired, and as true as the world, they werecoming home!

She rushed down, and abandoning the lunch, ran as fast as she could tothe field, and as she approached, this was the sight that met hergaze:

Gretchen was strutting about with a dock leaf held over her head for aparasol, and trailing the beautiful mull overskirt on the ground, endeavoring to realize the feelings of a fine lady in a trailed dress. 

"Gretchen! Gretchen!" screamed Lucindy, as loudly as she dared. "Hideit! hide it! Mrs. Randolph has come home!"

Carrie jumped, and lifting Gretchen from it, secured the skirt, andLucindy grasped it and rolled it in a small ball and hid it in thehazel bushes. Then they held a hurried consultation, and decided itwas best for Lucindy to go back immediately; but, as it was nowimpossible to restore the skirt to its place in the wardrobe, theyurged her to put it in some unfrequented spot, until a favorableopportunity came to get it back. Lucindy now feared her aunt wouldarrive without warning, and, although loth to part without the longanticipated treat, they walked quickly down the path by the fencetoward the road. 

"What on the face of the earth will I ever do with this thing?"whispered Lucindy, for the first time betraying fear. "I can't get itback to-night, that's as plain as the nose on your face. Oh, grief!she may inquire after it as soon as I go in! It'll be just like myluck for her to want to wear it to-night. Maybe she expects some oneto spend the evening with them, and that's what brought them back soearly. Let me see--Auntie will find it if I put it anywhere about thehouse or barn; I must not be found out in this, because if I am, Auntie wont give me the present she promised. I'll tell you, Carrie, you take it and put it down the hole in the tree, under the tin box. No one has ever found out that place; it will be safe there until I gofor it to-morrow. "

This was immediately decided upon, and the girls went sulkily home. The skirt was forced down into the tree, and the tin box placed ontop, and they trudged slowly homeward. 

As Lucindy approached the house, she began to see more and more theserious dilemma in which she was placed, and her face hardened visiblyas she thought. 

"I'll deny the whole thing if I'm cornered; perhaps Mrs. Randolph willlive through the disappointment of not wearing her dress for once. Ihave to live all the time without such dresses. "

Just then she heard her aunt calling her, and she knew that someunlooked-for occasion had brought them home before evening. 

"Lucindy, we must hurry up the tea; the folks are going to spend theevening at Judge Brander's. The team is waiting to take them there. Mrs. Randolph saw me in the village, and told me. "

Lucindy did not answer, but went in and about her duties as usual. Presently Mrs. Randolph called for Mrs. Gimson to come up stairs, asshe wished to speak to her. Lucindy felt that now the discovery hadbeen made, and strengthening her purpose, to deny all, worked on, quietly waiting for developments. 

In a few moments, her aunt came down in great excitement, and told herthat someone had been in the house, while they were away, and hadstolen Mrs. Randolph's elegant India mull overskirt, and had almostruined her other dresses, as the trimmings were broken and destroyed, and some of them were gone entirely. 

"It must have been when I went for water; I noticed that there weretwo tramps going down the road, a man and woman. "

"Oh, Lucindy, you should have locked the door!"

"Why, aunt, I never lock the doors when I go after water. I supposeyou'll put the blame of it on me!" Here Lucindy began to cry. "I thinkyou are a very strange woman to leave no one but a girl alone in ahouse, with such valuable things; it's a wonder the robbers didn'tkill me; my coming in frightened them away. I've no doubt they thoughtit was the hired man, " Lucindy continued to cry. 

Mrs. Gimson never suspected her niece of such systematic deception. The well was a short distance from the house, and that accounted forthe fact that nothing else was missing, as they had not had time, andalso that the other dresses had been rudely dragged to get them down. 

She believed Lucindy's story. Mrs. Randolph could not account for theplight in which she found her clothing, and bewailed her loss, asbeing particularly annoying at this juncture. 

Nothing more was said, and, after taking tea, they started for theJudge's, leaving Mrs. Gimson in a greatly perturbed state of mind. Sheknew that this unfortunate thing would get abroad and discouragepatrons. Desirable boarders would avoid her house in future. 

Lucindy, never uttering a comforting word to her aunt, went up to herroom with an air of injured innocence that hurt her aunt quite as muchas any thing she had undergone. During the early part of the evening aviolent thunder storm came up, and Mrs. Randolph did not return. Thenext morning it still rained, and there was no excuse for Lucindy'sgoing out, and the dress could not be secured. Mrs. Randolph returnedat noon, and informed Mrs. Gimson that she had been invited to visit, for the rest of the summer, at Judge Brander's, and would leave Mrs. Gimson's the next day. 

Just as soon as Lucindy could be spared, she ran down to the treepost-office, put a note into the tin box, and returned. This, CarrieHess got as soon as recess came, and the scheme worked outsuccessfully, as the event proved. 

Barry, Hattie's brother, was standing by the shrubbery gate, when alittle barefoot boy sidled up, and attracted his attention by hiscurious behavior--he finally spoke:

"I say, them Hitalyans stuffed yer mother's clothes inter a tree downhere; I found it this mornin'. "

"What do you mean?" asked Barry, not fully understanding the boy. 

"That ere tree, don't yer see?" and the boy pointed to the girls'post-office, that stood out dimly down the road. 

"Is it there now?" asked Barry. 

"I do'no, I seed it there this mornin'. "

[Illustration: A LITTLE BAREFOOT BOY SIDLED UP AND ATTRACTED HISATTENTION. ]

"Wait till I go and tell my mother, " said Barry, and he ran into thehouse. 

In a moment Mrs. Randolph and Mrs. Gimson were at the gate, but theboy had disappeared. "Go down, Barry, and see if what he says istrue, " said his mother. He ran off, and returning after a little time, brought the overskirt, rolled up in a soiled bundle, as the rain hadsoaked it and the decayed wood had stained it. 

"Yes, I think it must have been those tramps, " said Mrs. Randolph. "They hid it there, expecting to come for the rest of it the next day. They'll be disappointed. I'll be gone. "

The boy was Carrie Hess's brother, and the ruse had worked; entirelyturning off all suspicion from Lucindy. 

Mrs. Gimson lost her summer boarders and Lucindy returned to school. This unprincipled girl, however, learned the hard lesson, in her afterlife, that ingratitude to benefactors, and unfaithfulness to trust, meet a sure retribution, even if they appear to succeed. 

[Illustration: A MIDNIGHT ATTACK. ]

[Illustration: {AS NIGHT CAME DARKLY DOWN--BIRDS; A WOMAN AND CHILD; TREES. }]

[Illustration: {A CHERUB AND BIRDS. }]

AS NIGHT CAME DARKLY DOWN. 

 The night came darkly down; The birdies' mother said, "Peep! peep! You ought to be asleep! 'Tis time my little ones were safe in bed!" So, sheltered by her wings in downy nest, The weary little birdlings took their rest. 

 The night came darkly down; The baby's mother said, "Bye-low! You musn't frolic so! You should have been asleep an hour ago!" And, nestling closer to its mother's breast, The merry prattler sank to quiet rest. 

 Then in the cradle soft 'Twas laid with tenderest care. "Good-night! Sleep till the morning light!" Whispered the mother as she breathed a prayer. Night settled down; the gates of day were barred And only loving angels were on guard. 

 JOSEPHINE POLLARD. 

GRANDMOTHER'S CLOCK. 

 It stands in the corner of Grandma's room; From the ceiling it reaches the floor; "Tick-tock, " it keeps saying the whole day long, "Tick-tock, " and nothing more. 

 Grandma says the clock is old, like herself; But dear Grandma is wrinkled and gray, While the face of the clock is smooth as my hand, And painted with flowers so gay!

 Backwards and forwards, this way and that, You can see the big pendulum rock: "Tick-tock, " it keeps saying the whole day long, "Tick-tock, tick-tock, tick-tock!"

 The clock never sleeps, and its hands never rest As they slowly go moving around; And it strikes the hours with a ding, ding, ding, Ding, ding, and a whirring sound. 

 I wonder if this is the same old clock That the mousie ran up in the night, And played hide-and-seek till the clock struck one, And then ran down in a fright. 

 Backwards and forwards, this way and that, You can see the big pendulum rock; "Tick-tock, " it keeps saying the whole day long, "Tick-tock, tick-tock, tick-tock!"

 NELLIE M. GARABRANT. 

[Illustration: {A SPRAY OF LEAVES AND FLOWERS. }]

[Illustration: {A LITTLE GIRL AND A WOMAN BY A GRANDFATHER CLOCK. }]

A STUFFED JUMBO. 

Yesterday, Alice met the stuffed Jumbo, her former mate. She walkedslowly up to him, and then stood for a few moments, evidentlysurveying him with wonder. Then she swung her trunk so as to reachJumbo's mouth. She also touched his trunk in a cautious manner, andthen turning her back upon him, gave vent to a groan that made theroof of the garden tremble. William Newman, the elephant trainer, Frank Hyatt, the superintendent, and "Toddy" Hamilton, talked to herin their usual winning way, and she again faced Jumbo. She fondled histrunk, looked straight into his eyes, and again she groaned, and thenwalked away as though disgusted with the old partner of her joys andsorrows. She went back to her quarters and continued to mourn. Herkeeper, Scott, was appealed to by the spectators. He was asked whetherhe believed that she recognized Jumbo, and he replied in allseriousness, "Of course she did. She told me so. " At another time hesaid, "I can understand elephant talk, and Alice told me sherecognized Jumbo. " Scott seemed very much affected by the meeting. Hewas Jumbo's old keeper. --_Humane Journal. _

[Illustration: JUMBO MAKING HIMSELF USEFUL. ]

[Illustration: SCENE AT AN ELEPHANT MARKET. ]

[Illustration: {FLORAL PATTERN. }]

THE TREES IN SILVER LAND. 

 O softly falling flakes of snow That fill the wintry air, -- A thickening cloud on every side, Each flake a wonder rare. 

[Illustration: {A WOMAN AND CHILD LOOK OUT OF A WINDOW. }]

 "Are they from trees in Silver Land?" My child is asking me. He claps his hands, he laughs, he begs, "One leaf from silver tree. "

 Such questions as he asks in vain About the leaf-like snow! He might as well talk of the tides That strangely come and go. 

 "Who plants those fairy trees?" he asks, "With tops that reach so high?" Oh, answer, Garden of Delight, All in the cloudy sky!

 "Who shakes those trees and sends their leaves On field and wood and town? Is it the Gardener living there, Or winds that blow them down?"

 O child, look up and see yourself, The clouds are Silver Land. Who made those flakes, He scatters them; They fall at His command. 

 They fall, they melt, they come again. And His the gardener's hand That gently shakes the silver trees Which grow in Silver Land. 

 REV. EDWARD A. RAND. 

[Illustration: LINCOLN'S EARLY HOME. ]

SMALL BEGINNINGS. 

Did you ever think of how lowly was the start in life of many of ourgreat men? Read the pages of history and you will find that fullyseven out of ten of the great men were really poor. Bonaparte used tobe a book agent, Gould was a surveyor, Franklin was a printer, Garfield worked on the tow path, Lincoln was a rail splitter, Grantwas a tanner, Poe was always in financial distress; Crome, the greatartist, used to pull hair from his cat's tail to make his brushes;Astor came to New York with nothing as the foundation of his fortunes. The list is almost endless. 

To us, there is much encouragement in these facts. By looking into thelives of such men we find the secret of success. Lincoln was a poorIllinois farmer, with no visionary dreams of his great future. He waspoor and unlearned. Of the poverty he was not ashamed; of his lack oflearning he was by no means satisfied. He resolved to gain knowledge. He studied, studied hard, and at a time in his life when other menfelt they had passed the age of schooling. Of his work, we find healways tried to give an honest day's labor; his motto was to do welleverything he put his hands to. It was this trait of character thatattracted the attention of his neighbors, and this it was that firststarted him on the road to great success. 

[Illustration: GRANT'S HOUSE, NEAR ST. LOUIS. ]

Look at the early days of Grant. There was no indication of unusualbrightness in him. At West Point, where he was sent to militaryschool, he did not stand at the head of his classes. He only seemed anearnest worker, with plenty of determination. Later, when he lived onhis little Illinois farm, there was nothing about him that pointed himout as the future great general. It was only when the great civil warbroke out that he had an opportunity to show the kind of a man he was. His only thought was to accomplish the task assigned him, be it everso difficult. This naturally found him in the line of promotion, andstep by step he climbed higher, earning by hard work every step hegained, until he reached the highest office in the land. 

Take Edison, the inventor. He was only a tramp telegrapher, but he wasnot satisfied with being anything but the best, and many are thestories of speed he attained in sending or receiving messages. He wasinquisitive--wanted to know more of the mysteries of the electricitythat carried his messages. He began experimenting, and by closeapplication to his studies, has astonished the world with histelephone, phonograph and other inventions. 

Now, these great men are not merely the products of chance. Not atall. Study each of them and you will find they were workers, gainingby just such struggles as you and I can make. We may not reach suchdistinction as these have reached, but rest assured there is just asgreat a demand now as ever for good, earnest men, and earnest, successful men grow from painstaking boys. The boy who, as clerk inthe counting-house, watches after the interests of his employers, willbe the coming merchant; the young man on the farm who slights not thework assigned him, will own a farm of his own. 

Let this lesson make an impression. The road to success may be rugged, but it is not so steep but that enough steps, if in the rightdirection, be they ever so short, will in time carry you a long waytoward the top. 

[Illustration: {A MOUNTAINOUS LANDSCAPE. }]

GARDEN OF THE GODS. 

This, one of the grandest of American natural sceneries, is locatedalong the Colorado River. The river, in its years and years offlowing, has washed out the soil, and owing to the peculiarcomposition of the ground has washed it away unevenly, and thesestanding peaks are so numerous and so fantastic in form, that thislocation has been called the Garden of the Gods. It is most impressiveand inspiring grandeur. A trip will well repay a journey from the mostremote parts of our country to see this view, only a little of whichis in the engraving. 

[Illustration: A STRANGE STUDIO. ]

YOUNG ARTIST. 

Albert, the blacksmith's son, will be an artist some day. While otherboys are playing ball or skating, or other amusements, Albert is usinghis time making pictures. He seems to delight in it, and even whenquite a small boy, many were the scoldings he received from hisparents for a too free use of his chalk and pencil, leaving his rudedrawings on wall and fences; and in school his troubles were onlyincreased, for his books always contained pictures, sometimes ofhorses, or dogs, or of his friends. This habit did not correspond withhis teachers' ideas of tidiness, and punishment followed punishment. It did not help matters, though, and his drawing continued. In time hebecame quite apt and could make pictures that very closely resembledthe objects he drew. His companions called him the "artist, " and theywould have him make pictures of them. Some of his methods were oddenough. To make an outline of a boy's face he would tack a piece ofpaper on the side of a door in his father's shop, and by placing theboy between the paper and a lighted lamp, would trace with pencil theoutline of the shadow as it fell on the paper. Soon he tried paintingwith paint and brush. At first his efforts were crude, and to anyoneless determined and enthusiastic, discouraging. Not so to Albert. Heworked along day after day, and in time could paint well enough toattract some notice in his little village. 

About this time a great artist from the city, spending the summer inthis part of the country, heard of Albert, and by accident met him. Quick to perceive the natural talent of the boy, and being generouslyinclined, he offered to take him to his city home and give himtraining in his studio. The parents, though loth to be separated fromtheir son, saw here an opportunity to educate him in his favoritestudy, and so accepted the offer. 

You can well imagine Albert's surprise and delight when he firstentered the studio and saw the work of the master. How the greatpaintings filled him with wonder. He proved an apt student, a trueartist, and year after year worked with patience and determination, and became a noted painter. 

He often thinks of his early days--of the pictures he made in the oldblacksmith shop. He thinks, too, of the years spent since then inattaining prominence in his calling, but no regrets come to him. 

The true story of how one boy succeeded can be of use to others. Itonly takes this same perseverance and pluck to succeed in any othercalling. Had he complained because he could not paint like the master, and not been contented to study on during these years, he could notnow lay claim to his present success and eminence as an artist. Letothers, in reading this, see in it an object, and may it bring to themnew resolve to succeed in the life work they have started on. 

Life is what we make it, and not a matter of chance. By marking out afuture success we expect to accomplish, --by sticking closely to thisone idea, and bending every energy to attain it, we can comeapproximately near accomplishing our undertaking. 

[Illustration: {ORNAMENTAL PATTERN. }]

A CHANCE WORD. 

Ralph and Lily had one game of which they never tired, and that was"horses. " It was really a convenient game, for it could be played onwet or fine days, in the nursery or on the road. Perhaps it was bestfun on the road, "like real horses;" but I am not sure, for it wasvery delightful to sit on the nursery table, with the box of bricksfor a coachman's seat, and from that elevated position to drive thespirited four horses represented by the four chairs, to which thereins would be fastened. 

One day--a fine day--the two children were playing at their usual gameon the turnpike road, and waiting for nurse, who had gone into acottage near by to speak to the washerwoman. Nurse was a long time, and Ralph, who was horse, was quite out of breath with his long troton the hard road. Lily touched him up with the whip, but all to noavail--he could run no more. 

"I've no breath left, " said the poor horse, sinking down exhausted ona heap of stones. 

Lily put down the whip and patted his head to encourage him. "Soh!soh!" she said, in as good an imitation as she could manage of the waythe groom spoke to their father's horse; "you are quite done, I see. You must rest, and have a handful of oats, " and she dived into herpocket and produced a bit of biscuit, which the horse ate with greatsatisfaction, and soon professed himself ready to go on again. "Ah!"said Lily, sagely, "I knew you'd be all right soon; there's nothinglike food and kindness for horses when they're tired. "

A tinker, with a cart and a poor, ill-fed beast harnessed to it, happened to be passing, and heard the little girl's words. He staredafter her, for she seemed very small to speak so wisely, and thetinker did not, of course, know that she was only repeating what shehad heard her father say. 

"Well, I'm dazed!" exclaimed the tinker, looking after the children;"wherever did little Missy learn that?"

He said no more then; but Lily's words stuck to him, and his poorhorse had reason to bless Lily for them, for from that day forward hegot, not only more food, but more kindness and fewer blows and so hebecame a better horse, and the tinker the better man in consequence. 

A LITTLE DANCE. 

 Oh, it is fun! Oh, it is fun! To dress ourselves up, as Grandma has done. See how we go! See how we go! Forward and back, heel and toe. 

 Lighter than down, our feet come down Mind all your steps, and hold out your gown; Faster than that, whatever may hap, Cherry red waist and blue speckled cap. 

 Hi! Master John! Ho! Master John! Don't go to sleep, while the music goes on; Faster than that! Faster than that! Hold up your head, and flourish your hat!

 How she trips it along, that bright little maid, With her dainty blue skirt and spotted brocade; And that one in yellow, who wears the red rose How she keeps her mouth shut and turns out her toes. 

 How they do spin! when they truly begin; Each dancer as airy and bright as a doll; While the music complete, keeps time to their feet, With its fiddle-dee-diddle and tol-de-rol-ol!

 Oh, it is fun! Oh, it is fun! To dance, when every duty is done; Forward and back, or all in a ring, A quick little dance is a very gay thing. 

[Illustration: {A PORTRAIT OF JOE; JOE AND CHARLEY BY A TREE. }]

LOOKING OUT FOR NUMBER ONE. 

OLIVE A. WADSWORTH. 

 Joey was a country boy, Father's help and mother's joy; In the morning he rose early, -- That's what made his hair so curly; Early went to bed at night, -- That's what made his eyes so bright; Ruddy as a red-cheeked apple; Playful as his pony, Dapple; Even the nature of the rose Wasn't quite as sweet as Joe's. 

 Charley was a city boy, Father's pet and mother's joy; Always lay in bed till late; That's what made his hair so straight, Late he sat up every night, -- That's what made his cheeks so white; Always had whate'er he wanted, He but asked, and mother granted; Cakes and comfits made him snarly, Sweets but soured this poor Charley. 

 Charley, dressed quite like a beau, Went, one day, to visit Joe. "Come, " said Joey, "let's go walking; As we wander, we'll be talking; And, besides, there's something growing In the garden, worth your knowing. " "Ha!" said Charley, "I'm your guest; Therefore I must have the best. All the _inner_ part I choose, And the _outer_ you can use. "

 Joey gave a little laugh; "Let's, " said he, "go half and half. " "No, you don't!" was Charley's answer, "I look out for number one, sir. " But when they arrived, behold, On the tree a peach of gold, All without, fair, ripe and yellow, Fragrant, juicy, tempting, mellow, And, within, a gnarly stone. "There, " said Joey, "that's your own; As you choose, by right of guest, Keep your choice--I'll eat the rest. "

[Illustration: {A PORTRAIT OF CHARLEY. }]

 Charley looked as black as thunder, Scarce could keep his temper under. "'Twas too bad, I think, " said Joe; "Through the cornfield let us go, Something there, perhaps we'll see That will suit you to a T. " "Yes, " said Charles, with accent nipping, "Twice you will not catch me tripping; Since I lost the fruit before, You now owe me ten times more. Now the _outer_ part I choose, And the _inner_ you can use. "

 Joey gave another laugh; "Better call it half and half. " "No, indeed!" was Charley's answer, "I look out for number one, sir! Well I know what I'm about, -- For you, what's in; for me what's out!" On they went, and on a slope Lay a luscious cantaloupe, Rich and rare, with all the rays From the August suns that blaze; Quite _within_ its sweets you find, And _without_ the rugged rind. 

 Charley gazed in blank despair, Deeply vexed and shamed his air. "Well, " said Joey, "since you would Choose the bad and leave the good; Since you claimed the outer part, And disdained the juicy heart, -- Yours the rind, and mine the rest; But as you're my friend and guest, Charley, man, cheer up and laugh, And we'll share it half and half; Looking out for number one Doesn't always bring the fun. "

[Illustration: {AT WORK IN THE STUDIO. }]

WOODCROFT. 

Woodcroft to be sold!--like a knell of doom the words fell on ourears--it could not be! Our dear old home, the only one we children hadever known, to be taken from us. We sat in the bright littlesitting-room, blankly looking at one another, in dumb astonishment. Louise, who was always the thoughtful one, soon roused herself fromthe stupor which seemed to have come upon us all, and going over tothe lounge, began comforting--as best she could, poor child--ourgentle little mother, upon whom this blow had fallen most heavily. Presently she sat up, and in trembling tones told us, as we clusteredat her knee, the particulars of our misfortune. 

There were three of us--Louise, Cal and I, who rejoiced in the quaintcognomen of Pen, named for a rich, eccentric, old aunt, who had neverleft me any money because she never died. 

"Now, Marmo, out with all the trouble and let us share it, " saidmatter-of-fact Cal. And then she told how, after papa's sudden death ayear before, she had discovered a mortgage to be on the place, small, but now due and no money to meet it; the creditor was pressing, andthe home to be sold. We felt sad, but cheered her up, and talked overways and means as never before. 

"Even though he consents to renew it, where would the yearly interestmoney come from, " she wailed. 

We urged her to lie down and rest, and, following Cal's beckoningfinger, tip-toed out of the room. 

"Now, girls, " said she, "_something's_ got to be done, and _we've_ gotto do it. "

[Illustration: "A TRIBUTE TO YOUR GENIUS, LOU, " SAID I. "LIKE THEFAMOUS ARTIST OF OLD, WHO PAINTED CHERRIES SO NATURALLY, THE BIRDSFLEW DOWN AND PECKED AT THE CANVAS. "]

One thing after another was proposed and rejected; we knew, if thehome were sold, after the demands were met, there would be but a merepittance left for four females to live on. Finally I broke in:

"Girls, my brain is not usually fertile, but a thought has beengrowing--we are all well educated, but teaching is out of thequestion, the supply is greater than the demand, but Lou, here, isskilled with pencil and brush, and Cal has a genius for contrivance;now why could you not paint and decorate some of the dainty triflesyou often make as gifts, and _sell_ them. _I_ always did have a notionfor cookery, which I shall proceed to put in practice, dismissing theservants. " Having delivered this little speech, I paused, breathless. 

Cal clapped her hands, and Lou's brown eyes glowed. "Pen, you littleduck, " and Cal pounced on me in an excess of joy. 

"But, " faltered Lou, "the mortgage. "

"I thought of that too--our lady-like Louise shall go to that crustyold creditor, and beg him to _renew_ it, and with what you girls earnand what we save from the rent of the farm land (for we must liveeconomically) we will pay him the interest promptly. " I will add, thatshe did that very thing, and completely won over the hard-heartedfellow with her sweet, earnest manner. 

So to work we went, and the sitting-room was converted into a studio, littered with papers, books, gay ribbons and glue-pots. But someexquisite creations came out of that chaos. I had visited theaforesaid Aunt Pen the previous winter, in New York city, and at theAmerican Specialty House had been enchanted with the many novel andbeautiful pieces of decorated work. All would be entirely new in_this_ part of the world, and our idea was, to take orders from thenear towns for their Holiday trade. It was now only May and we wouldhave plenty of time. Cal, who, with her brusque, honest ways, determined face, and curly, short hair, was our man of business, tooksamples of our work in to the various towns, receiving large orders inalmost every instance. 

Happy and busy as bees we worked, and began to feel quite important, as the pile grew high, of white boxes, filled with delicate satinsouvenirs for wedding and birthdays, Christmas tokens of lovelydesign, little poems with dainty painted covers, blotters and thoughtbooks, beautifully decorated, all of which found ready sale. Thelittle mother's sad eyes began to brighten, and Cal would say:

"Marmo, we can take care of you almost as good as sons, can't we?"

"God bless my daughters, " would be the reply. 

Louise had established her studio under the old apple-tree one warmJune day, and, running out to call her to lunch, I found she had gonedown in the garden, but I saw the cutest, prettiest sight! I beckonedher to come softly. There, on her sketch-book, opened against thetree, and on which was a half-finished painting of birds, hoppedaround two brown sparrows, peeping and twittering as contentedly aspossible. It was too cunning! as though they had recognized theirportraits and felt at home. 

"A tribute to your genius, Lou, " said I. "Like the famous artist ofold, who painted cherries so naturally, the birds flew down and peckedat the canvas. "

"I fear I shall have to dispel the illusion, dear. I guess they weremore eager to pick up some cake crumbs I left than to admire my work. "

Readers, you will be glad to know that the girls' work continuedsuccessful, and that the "crusty old creditor" turned out a goodfriend, from sheer admiration of their pluck and courage. 

[Illustration: {TWO LITTLE BIRDS. }]

[Illustration: {CLIMBING ROSES. }]

IN THE WOODS. 

Merryvale was not a very lively place for any one except a couple ofyoung colts, and as many calves, jumping around after their mothers. 

The bees seemed to be making a good deal of fun for themselves, ifstinging us children amused them, and buzzing into every pretty, bright flower, so that no one could pick it with safety. 

The crows, too, collected in great gossiping parties, in the pines, over on the shore of the pond, and they always seemed to becongratulating themselves over something immensely satisfactory. 

But we children, especially the girls, found it very dull after we hadseen the few sights of the farm. The boys were trying to hunt andfish; but Lib and I talked that over, and we came to the conclusion, after much laughing and many caustic remarks, that the only amusementwe had was, laughing at their failures. 

We communicated that fact to them, but it didn't seem to make anydifference; off they went on the same fruitless hunt, and left us todo what we might, to make ourselves happy. 

The next day, Lib and Dora and I told them we would go into the woodswith them and see what the charm was. Lib was the eldest of us three, and had read a great deal, and she said:

"May be we shall find the robbers' cave, and if we say, 'Open Sesame, 'the great stone doors will slowly swing open, and we can go in wherethe chains of flashing gems and the heaps of golden coin are. "

"I think you'll get into places where you can't get out; 'open sesame'will never lift you out of a marsh hole, " said William Pitt Gaylord, our eldest brother. 

"Mollie, you can find somebody to have a talking match with, for thereare lots of chipmunks over in the grove, " remarked Hugh. 

"I've seen snakes in that very woods, too, and if you'd holler, Lib, at that end of the pond, as you do at this end of the tea-table, youwouldn't catch any fish, " said William. This caused an uproariouslaugh on the part of the boys. 

We listened quietly to their sarcastic remarks, knowing they wereprompted by an unreasonable desire to monopolize the delights of thewoods to themselves. 

William Pitt remarked that "Girls had no business to meddle with boys'sports, and they'd come to grief if they did; you'd see!"

Next morning the August haze lay soft on the landscape, but in ashort time it went off, and Father, learning that we girls were goingto spend a part of the day in the woods, quietly told the boys thatthey must escort us to the pleasantest place, and not wander very faroff. They pouted considerably, and had a talk at the corner of thebarn; they then came back, smiling, and apparently good-natured. 

[Illustration: {WALKING THROUGH THE FIELDS. }]

Our brothers did not intend to be unkind, but they had the commonfailing of humanity--selfishness. But Lib matched them in a dozen wayswith her good-humored retaliations; and many a tilt she had withWilliam Pitt since we had arrived at the farm. In the city she wasabreast of him in all his studies; and I noticed that Lib could getout her Latin, and write a composition much faster than he, and oftenhe had been obliged to come to her for aid. It nettled Lib not to beable to hunt and fish. We two younger ones modeled after her; she wasthe leader, and when she said we would go with the boys, we went. 

"Hello Fred, " said Hugh, as a neighboring boy, a city boarder, camethrough the gate, attired in base-ball cap and knickerbockers, "wecan't go to Duck Inlet to-day. Father says the girls must have a goodtime, too, and that we must devote one day to them, at least. "

"All right, " said Fred, "can I go with you? I'll go and get mybutterfly net, and we can go over to Fern Hollow mill, thewinter-greens and berries are as thick there! Gracious! you can get aquart pail full in no time. The mill-wheel is a beautiful sight, " saidFred, turning to Lib, "and you can sketch it, Miss Gaylord. "

Lib looked upon Fred with a little more toleration, after he had said"Miss Gaylord, " and went and ordered an additional ration to be putinto the lunch basket. We were glad to have Fred along with us, for hewas very funny, and made jokes on every thing. 

Lib would allow no one to carry the lunch basket but herself, as sheremarked, "It is safer with me. "

We started, and were tempted to loiter at all the little nooks on theleaf-shadowed road, and investigate the haunts of the curious dwellersin the rocks and bushes, and especially were we interested in theducks on Fern Hollow creek. Dora insisted upon feeding them a piece ofbread. "Calamity, " the dog, was along, of course, and as he belongedto William Pitt, who called him "Clam, " he was always in that boy'scompany. It was, "Love me, love my dog, " with William; and as he was aprofessional of some kind, he was greatly prized by the boys. 

We reached the woods and the old mill early; I think I never was in amore delightful place. Every thing seemed to grow here. Winter-greens, with their crimson berries, shining in the moss, andblueberries, where the sun came; tall, white flowers that grew inclusters in the shade, sent their perfume all about. Back of the mill, on some sandy ledges, grew pennyroyal and spearmint; raspberries andblackberries grew everywhere. 

[Illustration: {A STREAM RUNNING THROUGH FIELDS. }]

The boys went off to gather a quantity for lunch, and Lib and Dora andI hunted for a pleasant place to set out our dainties. We found it. Anatural bower, between four trees; one being a giant of a pine, rightat the doorway. The wild grape-vine and the woodbine had inclosed thespace so completely, that Lib, who had thoughtfully brought along ascissors to cut off stubborn plants, could make two windows in thegreen wall; one looking into the woods, the other off at the distantpond. The grass was fine in here, and the sunbeams dropped down inlittle round spots, on the pine needles that covered the floor. 

"This is certainly the fairies' dining hall, " said Lib. 

"I'll tell you what, " said I, "this is not far from home, and we canbring things, and have a little parlor here. I can make a couple ofcurtains out of that figured scrim, for windows, and that old squarerug in the carriage-house will do for the floor. You can bring yourrocking-chair, Lib, and Dora can bring her tea-set. "

"I'll bring our Christmas and Easter cards, and we can fasten them allabout, on the walls, " said Lib, who had fallen in immediately with theplan. 

"I'll bring Mrs. Snobley, and all her children, and the dining table, "said Dora. 

She had reference to her large doll, and a whole dozen of little ones, that were always brought forward in any play that Dora had taken afancy to. 

We were in such haste to put our scheme into operation, that wedispatched the lunch in short order, and told the boys of our plan. They thought it was capital. Any thing that would release them, afterthey had eaten all that was to be had, would, of course, be receivedwith acclamation. They acknowledged the same, in a very neat speech, which Lib said, "did very good for Hugh. "

She fell in immediately with our fun, and helped us to a number ofnice things, to furnish our greenwood bower. We worked tremendouslythat afternoon, and after Betty had washed the dinner dishes, shehelped us. Before sun-down every thing was complete. The boys, who hadtaken themselves a mile away, to hunt, came round to visit us on theirway home. They agreed that it was just perfect, and inquired if wehadn't put in an elevator, to reach the second story, with numerousother inquiries, intended to be funny; and then asked where we keptour cranberry tarts. 

"We're not going to allow any boys in this play-house after to-day, "said I; "your feet are muddy, and you're so big, you fill it all up. "

Our visitor, Fred, looked at his feet, and blushed. "Not after to-day?How are you going to keep any one out?" inquired William Pitt. 

"We will draw this portiere across the doorway, and no _gentleman_would think of entering, " said Lib. 

"No, they wouldn't, sure enough, " said Hugh. "How are you going toprevent our looking in the windows?"

"Only rude boys would look in windows, " said Fred, "and I don't knowof any hereabouts. "

They laughed at this, and Lib laughed too, and made the sly remark, that "Hunting on the duck-pond transformed some people mighty soon. "

Fred said he'd try to be on his good behavior if we'd let him make aformal call on us the next afternoon. We consented to this; then theyall said they'd call. 

The next day we busied ourselves in preparing a spread of good thingsfor our reception, and Betty took it over, and on returning, saidevery thing was just as we had left it. We dressed ourselves up in ourbest, to receive the gentlemen, a little time after dinner. The woodswere never so lovely, we thought, and to add to our personal charms, we made wreaths and garlands of ferns and wild-flowers to adorn ourpersons and hats. 

I had sauntered along considerably in advance, and as I approached thebower I was not a little surprised to see from a distance that thedoor-curtain was drawn half open. I stopped to listen, but there wasno sound, only a wild bird piping its three little notes, down by themill. I cautiously went up, and peeped into the little window, andthere stood a man on the rug! He seemed to be looking about. I think Inever was so frightened. I ran back, and whispered to the rest thedreadful state of things. They looked horror-stricken. Lib changedcolor, but just stood still. Then she said, --"There's plenty of helpover at the mill. "

"Oh, let us go no nearer, but get home as fast as we can, " I said. 

Lib raised her hand in warning for us to keep still, and we creptalong, softly, behind the bower; and when we had gotten so far, we allturned around and ran for dear life into the woods again. 

"This is nonsense, " said Lib. "You were mistaken, Mollie, I'm sure. "

I said I'd go back with her, and she could see for herself. We creptto the back of the bower, and Lib leaned over and looked in. Libturned pale, caught hold of my hand and Dora's, and ran quite adistance toward the mill. Then she stopped, and said, as true as shewas alive, there was a man in there; he stood with a large stickresting on his shoulder, upon which was slung a bundle, tied up in ared handkerchief, his clothing was ragged, and his hat was verydilapidated. 

"Oh, Lib, I'm going to run for it, " said I. 

"Wait a minute, " said she. "I don't hear any noise. Let's think; if wedidn't have to go right in front of the door, we could get to themill. "

All this time we were edging ourselves as far away from the dangerousprecincts as we conveniently could. She stood again, perfectly still. "I won't go another step, " she said. That moment's reflect hadre-instated her courage. "He don't come out; I should say that wasmaking an informal call when the ladies were out. He's abeautiful-looking specimen anyway, " said Lib, with fine irony; and asshe said this, she frowned, and put her head back. 

No sound was heard, and no demonstrations from the interloper weremade. The sight of the mill-wagon, going slowly down the road, gave usheart, and Lib said:

"I'll go and order him out, be the consequences what they may. Mollie, you're good at screaming, you can bring the miller here if wehave to get help. "

"Don't! Don't! I would rather he stole all our things; let him havethe tarts and the cocoanut cake, and the jam, and the pickles, and thecheese, and the sandwiches! Let him have them in welcome! I'm going tofly home!"

"I want Mrs. Snobley!" sobbed Dora. 

Lib never said another word. She walked up to the entrance, and pulledaside the curtain, and there stood the semblance of a man. In hisextended hand was a card, on which was very badly printed:

 "_I'm a poor b'y, --I want a home. _"

 "_References exchanged. _"

 "_I'll scrape the mud off me boots, if ye'll let me in. _"

Lib called, "Come here, Mollie, it's a trick of those boys. "

We went in, and there we found the interloper to be a scarecrow from aneighboring field, ingeniously arranged so as to appear very human. 

At that moment, a loud laugh above our heads betrayed the presence ofthe boys in the trees, who clambered down with hilarious expedition, and fairly rolled themselves upon the ground with delight. They hadseen all our perturbation; had heard my cowardly cries andexpressions; Lib's looking in the window, and her fearful hesitationand scamper behind the fairy bower! The best thing to do was to laugh, and that we did right heartily; we girls, were internally thankfulthat the intruder was only a scarecrow after all. 

We ordered the boys take their silly joke out, and to come in likegentlemen, and make a formal call, and probably they would be invitedto take some refreshments. 

This news caused them to work with great alacrity. They were dressedup too; Fred having chosen to wear his school uniform, with a gorgeouscrimson sash and his sword. 

We were never so delighted with any thing as with that afternoon'sadventure. For hours we chatted and laughed, and ate our refreshments, until the western light began to take on a ruddy hue, and we closedour little bower and proceeded homeward. 

What was our surprise, when we reached there, to find that three youngfriends from the city with their servant had come to visit us. Merryvale was not dull after that, I can assure you. 

[Illustration: THE NEW SERVANT AT MERRYVALE. ]

AUTUMN LEAVES, AND WHAT KATIE DID. 

ALEX DUKE BAILIE. 

"Oh, Bessie! I've such an idea, _such_ a good one, and _so_ sure, youcan't think how it came either, if you guessed and tried for a week!"

"Child, you are always having ideas, but they amount to nothing; youhave enough to do at home, without continually fretting your headabout what you cannot carry out. "

"But, Bessie, this is _just splendid_, and it came to me all of asudden, and I'm sure as sure can be that it is a real _good_ idea. Nowwont you listen!"

"I suppose I must, if I want any peace; but I'm very tired, so if itis like your latest--to catch fish and sell them in the town, or tohave your curls cut off and let some city hair-dresser pay you forthem--there will be no use to tell it to me. "

"Tain't neither, Bessie dear, it's a real clever idea, and I know youwont say 'no' to it. I was looking over some of the old picture papersthis morning, and I found a funny picture of a gentleman that had gonefishing with, oh! the greatest lot of lines, and a fine rod, and abasket swung at his back, and he looked ever so nice; but he hadn'tcaught any thing and he was ashamed to go back to the city with anempty basket; and then there was another picture where he was buying agreat string of fish from a bare-footed little country boy, that hadcaught them all, and had only a rough old pole and an old line on it. "

"So it _is_ the fishing idea, again, " said Bessie, "but the presentvariation does not improve on the last. "

"No, it just ain't the fishing idea any more; it's this: you know allthe excursion parties that come up here, are coming all the time now;well, the ladies all gather autumn leaves, lots and lots, handsful andhandsful of them. But they get tired of carrying so many after awhile, and by the time they get ready to go back to the cars, theirleaves are thrown away, and they are empty-handed. Now just listen! IfI go to work and pick out the _very_ prettiest leaves and do them upin the _very_ sweetest bunches, and tie them so they are easy tocarry, and meet them when they are starting to go home, I'm _sure_they will buy them, just like the gentleman did the fish from thatboy. Now, ain't that a _real good_ idea?"

"I believe there is something in it, Katie, " answered the eldestsister. 

"I knew you would, " cried Katie, joyously, "and may I try it?"

"If you will be very careful and not talk too much to the people youknow nothing of, I have no objections; it can do no harm, at allevents, " and poor, tired Bessie sighed as she looked at her brightyoung sister and thought of the time when she too was young and fullof hope and gay spirits. 

There was quite a family of these Wilsons in the little house at thefoot of the mountains, in Pennsylvania. The widowed mother, sickly andalmost blind; Bessie, a young lady, the eldest daughter, agedtwenty-three, who taught a very large school for very small pay; thenKatie not quite twelve, and Robbie, the baby, the pet, the boy, whowas only five. 

Three years before, their father had been living, and they had enjoyedall that wealth could bring them. Suddenly he sickened and died, andthen came the dreadful knowledge that he left nothing for his family;he was deeply in debt to his partner, with whom he had worked a largecoal-mine, and this Mr. Moore was what all people called a "hard man, "he was old and crabbed, and always wanted and would have every centcoming to him. Bessie was to have been married to his son, Philip, butwhen poverty came to her, the old man refused to let Philip see hermore, and the girl was too proud to go into a family where she wasnot wanted, and, beside, she had her poor mother, who had given upand failed fast after her misfortunes, she had her to look after. SoBessie taught school; Katie attended to the little home into whichthey had moved from the great house on the hill, a noble littlehousekeeper she was; Robbie did about as he pleased and was wellcontent with life, except when neat Katie would seize him and wash hisface with plenty of soap in his eyes, and comb his tangled curls witha comb that "allus pulled, " as he cried. 

It was hard for them to pay the rent, to get food and the manydelicacies Mrs. Wilson had always been used to, and now needed morethan ever. Bessie's small wages from her school were taken, everycent, for these, and Katie was continually bothering her young headwith "ideas" as to how _she_ could make money to help them all. Theautumn leaves were the latest, and it really did seem as though therewere something in it. 

The next day was Saturday, Bessie was free from school duties, and soher little sister had more time at her disposal. Friday evening sheand Robbie gathered a great quantity of bright-colored leaves; thenext morning, bright and early, they were out again; the little backporch was filled with them. 

With her own natural good taste, aided by Bessie's more cultivatedjudgment, they made up many neat, beautiful bunches of thosebright-colored droppings from the forest trees. These she placed in alarge but pretty basket that once had been sent, filled with rarefruit, to Bessie, from Philip, and the older girl sighed when she gaveit to her sister. 

Then Katie started, leaving Robbie behind crying; and with a tremblingheart and a big lump in her throat, but bravely as a little soldier, she made her way to the path by which the excursion parties would haveto return to the cars. Soon they began to come along, all tired, trying to be merry ladies and gentlemen. 

Katie stood with her basket on her arm. She did not know how prettyshe looked, with her brown curls floating out from beneath her bigsun-bonnet, her pure white apron, her dark dress which Bessie had madefrom one of her own, with delicate bits of lace at the wrists, abright bit of ribbon about her throat and a plain little breast-pinclasping it. Her big black eyes looked longingly at the passers-by, her red lips tried, many times, to utter some words that would helpher sell her wares, but she could not speak, she could only up herhand and _look_ her wants. 

"What lovely leaves!" cried a young lady, "these of mine seem allfaded by the carrying, and I'm tired of the great load anyhow, " andshe threw away a great lot tied round with her handkerchief, andhastened toward the little merchant. 

"What a pretty girl, " said the young man with her. 

"How much are these?" inquired the lady. 

Bessie had not thought of what she would ask for her bunches, and now, between pleasure and fright, she could not think of any price to putupon them. 

"Whatever you please, Miss, " she faintly murmured. 

"How lovely they are, " said the lady, and taking three bunches, shegave two to the young man with her, telling him: "Harry, you mustcarry these, and pay the child, " the third one she kept in her ownhand. 

The gentleman put his hand in his pocket, drew it out, and droppedinto Katie's basket a silver dollar. 

The tears almost blinded the little girl--tears of joy over her firstsuccess--she could hardly see what the coin was, but when she pickedit up she managed to stammer that she "had no change. "

"Don't want any, little one, " said the young man pleasantly, "thesight of you is worth all the money and more. " Then the couple hurriedaway. 

But their stopping had attracted many more, and a dozen bought ofKatie, and, though few were as generous as her first customers, shesoon disposed of most of her stock at ten cents a bunch, having gainedcourage to fix and state her price. Quite a number gave her more thanthat sum, and she began to feel a very rich little girl, indeed. 

More than half her stock was sold, when an old gentleman and a younglady came along. The lady, as usual, was the first to admire thebright bunches, she took two, the old gentleman giving Katie fiftycents and telling her that "was right. " He seemed a cross old man, butstill spoke pleasantly. 

"What's your name, child?" he asked. 

"Katie Wilson, sir, " replied the little girl, faintly. 

"Um! um! Come along Helen, " said he, hastily, and hurried away. 

These were the last of the excursion parties, except an elderly ladyhaving in charge a dozen children, all dressed alike; little ones froma soldiers' orphan school, for whom some kind person had provided aday's pleasure. They were tired and worn out with romping, and draggedalong slowly; they looked at Katie's bright face and longingly at thepretty leaves in her basket. The girl's heart was touched; timidly sheheld out a bunch to a little boy who half stopped in front of her, hetook it eagerly; in a moment the others were about her. By goodfortune, she had enough to give on to each and an extra bunch to thelady. 

With the thanks of these poor children in her heart, an empty basketand a happy jingle in her pocket she ran nearly all the way home, burst in on Bessie, put her arms about her neck and sobbed forhappiness. 

When the elder sister at last succeeded in calming her, she told thewhole story of her afternoon's work. 

Together they counted the money--three dollars and eighty-fivecents--just think of it!

If ever there was a happy, excited little girl, it was Katie thatnight. She could not sleep or eat. When she _had to_ go to bed, shelay awake long, long hours, thinking how _she_ would buy back the bighouse, how mother should have doctors and every thing she needed, howBessie should stop teaching and have a horse and little carriage, andpretty dresses, and a piano, like she used to, and how Robbie shouldgo to school and college and grow up to be a great man and finally bePresident. She never thought of herself, except that _she_ was to doall this, and when she fell asleep she dreamed the whole thing overagain, and that it had turned out just as she planned. 

All through the excursion season Katie sold her leaves, and though shenever made as much as on the first day, yet when people stopped comingshe had over one hundred dollars in Bessie's hands, all made byherself, all made by being up early and attending to her householdduties and working hard so as to have her bunches ready by the timethat visitors were returning to the train. 

She was brave, and true, and unselfish, and her reward was great. 

It was one chill November evening, toward Thanksgiving day, that sheand Robbie had wandered out among the mountain paths; the littlefellow was wild as a colt and ran here and there until it was allKatie could do to keep track of him. Finally she caught him; both weretired out, and when she looked around, to her great terror, she couldnot make out just where they were. They wandered along and at lastcame to a road, but she did not know which way to go. Robbie was crossand sleepy; she could not carry the heavy boy, and he _would_ laydown; at last she let him rest. He dropped by a fallen log and in amoment was asleep. She covered him with a little cloth cape she wore, and sat down beside him; her eyes were heavy, she nodded, and verysoon was as sound as he. 

Along the road came a thin, old, but active man; he stepped out firmlyand aided his steps with a stout cane. It was after dusk of theevening. He spied something in the gloom, on the other side of theroad, something unusual; he crossed over; it was a little girl leaningagainst a big, fallen tree and a small boy stretched on the groundbeside it; both were fast asleep. He touched the girl's shoulder; shesprang up. "Oh!" she gasped, "don't hurt Robbie! We weren't doing anyharm, indeed we weren't. "

"What are you doing here any how?" he inquired. 

"It was Robbie, no, it was me, he was so sleepy and so was I, and wewere just resting until we could start and try to find home again. "

"Um! so you're lost, are you?"

"No, sir, I guess not only--only we don't know the way. "

"Well, I should say that's pretty near being lost. Where do you live?What's your name?"

"We live in the old Mill cottage, and my name's Katie Wilson, andRobbie's is Robert T. Wilson. "

"Um! um! Yes; well, I know where you live; come along, I'll put youright. Come! wake up here, young man!" and he gently poked Robbie withhis cane. But Robbie was sleepy and cross, and cried and kicked, andit was all Katie could do to get him on his feet and moving. Then asthey went slowly on, she holding her brother's hand, her own in thatof the stranger, he asked her: "Weren't you frightened to be out allalone?"

"Why, no, sir, " she answered. "I was frightened for mother and Bessiebeing worried, but not for us; I just said my prayers and coveredRobbie, and then I fell asleep and didn't know any thing until youwoke me up. "

"Um! said your prayers, did you!" and the old man stopped and lookedat her. 

"See here, Katie!" he said, in a very gentle voice, "say your prayersfor me, I'd like to hear them. "

The child looked at him in astonishment and trouble. Could it be thatthe gentleman could not say his prayers for himself, that he did notpray himself! "Oh, sir!" she said, with choking voice and tears in hereyes, "I can't say them to you, only to Bessie or mother: It's justGod bless mother, and Bessie and Robbie and me, and take care of us inthe night and day, and--and that's all, sir. "

"Well, never mind now, little Katie, come along, we must get Robbiehome to the mother and Bessie soon, or they'll think the bears haveeaten you both, " and the old man's voice was still more gentle, and hehurried as fast as the little ones could go. He knew the roads well, and in half an hour they were on a path that the children were wellacquainted with, and near home. 

There was a cry of joy, and Bessie sprang upon the little ones at abend in the road and gathered them in her arms, and kissed and scoldedand petted them, all at the same time. 

The old gentleman hurried away as soon as he saw they were safe; buthe did not go far; he stepped back in the dark and heard Katie tellthe tale of adventure and take all the blame herself, and excuseRobbie, and talk about the kind gentleman who had found them andbrought them home, and wonder where he had gone so quickly before shehad time to thank him. He followed them at a distance; he saw thementer their home, and he watched outside until the lamp was lighted inthe little sitting-room; then he came near the window and looked in;he watched while the sick, half-blind mother cried over her children;he saw pale, sweet-faced Bessie comforting all; he stood there anhour without noticing the cold and wind that grew about him. He sawbrave, hard-working Bessie, and true Katie, and the little boy, andthe mother of all, kneel at their chairs, and he thought he could hearthe prayers of thanks that came from the hearts of all and the lips ofthe older sister, and he felt drops upon his cheek, not rain, buttears--tears. It had been many years since his eyes had been wet withtears, but they were there and they softened the heart of "hard oldman" Moore, and he turned away at last with a strange resolution inhis mind. 

Three days after he was in the sitting-room of that cottage; with himwas his son Philip, by Philip's side was Bessie, looking ever so muchyounger and prettier, and _so_, _so_ happy, and standing by the sideof "hard old man" Moore was little Katie, wondering to see such an oldman wipe the tears from his eyes, wondering at the way in which heheld one arm close around her, and wondering still more why he shouldkeep saying, all the time, "You did it, little Katie, you did it all. "

The Wilsons are comfortable and happy now. Bessie is Mrs. PhilipMoore; the mother has doctors and luxuries; Robbie is at school andlearning fast; Katie, _our_ Katie, is learning fast also, but she isstill the same Katie as of old; she did not have to sell bunches ofleaves another season; but there are always great bouquets of thebeauties in the house, and old Mr. Moore, "hard" no longer, calls hernothing but his little "Autumn leaf. "

[Illustration: {BIRDS ON A TWIG. }]

THE SPINNING LESSON. 

MRS. S. J. BRIGHAM. 

 You will not mind, if I sit me down And watch you spin, in your velvet gown? You need not fear, You can trust me here. I think I can learn to spin, if I Could watch you work. Will you let me try?

 You spin and weave, but I cannot see Just how 'tis done, and it puzzles me. For you have no loom In your little room. No silken skein, no spinning-wheel, No bobbin and no winding reel. 

 Please tell me what you use instead? And where do you hide your shining thread, As soft as silk And as white as milk? I think, Mrs. Spider, it must be A secret, or you would answer me. 

[Illustration: TREED. ]

[Illustration: FOSTER PARENTS. ]

FOSTER PARENTS. 

Strolling down back of the barn, and seeing a fluttering of wings nearthe ground, Fred and John discovered, upon coming closer, that a poorlittle bird had fallen from its nest in the bough of a tree that stoodnear them. The bird was young, too young to fly, and seemed more deadthan alive from the fall. The boys took the bird, fondly caressed it, stroked its feathers, and were glad to see that it showed signs oflife and that it was only stunned by the fall it had received. Theboys were kind-hearted, they were boys full of life, the first-most ina race, in climbing a hill they among the first who stood on its top. Yet in all their sports they were never cruel. So with the bird, theyonly thought of how to care for it. The tree was too tall to climbwith safety, and then they were forbidden to climb this tree becauseJohn had once ventured to the first of its branches and by someaccident, such as will happen to boys, he lost his hold and tumbled tothe ground and he still remembered the days of pain it caused. 

Said Fred, "Why can we not take the bird home and care for it?"

So, with this suggestion, they brought it to the house and placed itin a small basket. The basket was one they used to carry their dinnersto school in, and, of course, this could not be used to keep it in allthe time. John said, "It will be best to make a cage for it. We can, with our knives, soon whittle out sticks for bars and with the saw andsome boards make a cage. " They labored on this for two days, and then, with Uncle Ben's help, for he could drive nails better than they, thecage was completed. Some cotton was shaped into a nest and the birdwas placed in it and the cage was its home. 

They fed it on berries and crumbs and it grew rapidly. It soon learnedto perch on one of the boy's fingers and pick its food from his hand. When it had eaten enough it would fly to his shoulder and seem quitecontented. In due time it became full grown, and though it seemed toknow and appreciate the attention given it by the boys, yet it seemedto long for more freedom than the little cage afforded. The boysnoticed this, and with sad hearts concluded it would be cruel to keepit confined and so gave it its freedom. For some time it lingeredaround the house, in branches of the trees, but finally it flew awayto the woods. 

HAYMAKING. 

 Many a long hard-working day Life brings us! And many an hour of play; But they never come now together, Playing at work, and working in play, As they came to us children among the hay, In the breath of the warm June weather. 

 Oft, with our little rakes at play, Making believe at making hay. With grave and steadfast endeavor; Caught by an arm, and out of sight Hurled and hidden, and buried light In laughter and hay forever. 

 Now pass the hours of work and play With a step more slow, and the summer's day Grows short, and more cold the weather. Calm is our work now, quiet our play, We take them apart as best we may, For they come no more together!

 DORA GREENWELL. 

[Illustration: {A COLLECTION OF LEAFY PLANTS. }]

WINDOW GARDENING. 

Many a home, now dark and cheerless, might be made bright and cheeryby a few plants in the window, or bunches of ferns and bright autumnleaves, fastened on the wall, or on the pictures. 

Homes cannot be made too bright and home-like for the husband and thechildren; and these little things cost little or nothing, and add muchto the general appearance. 

A novel and pretty window ornament can be made in this way: Take awhite sponge of large size, and sow it full of rice, oats and wheat. Then place it, for a week or ten days, in a shallow dish, in which alittle water is constantly kept, and as the sponge will absorb themoisture, the seeds will begin to sprout before many days. When thishas fairly taken place, the sponge may be suspended by means of cordsfrom a hook in the top of the window where a little sun will enter. Itwill thus become a mass of green, and can be kept wet by merelyimmersing it in a bowl of water. 

"CHEER UP. "

BY ANNA ELIZABETH C. KELLY. 

"Oh, it is too bad; too bad! that mother should be so troubled for thewant of a little money, " said Mabel. 

"Cheer up! Cheer up!" rang out a voice close at hand, "pretty Poll;cheer up!" and a bright green parrot with a yellow breast began tobeat against the bars of his cage as if he would like to get out. 

"That is a good omen, Polly, " said Mabel, as she rose and opened thedoor of the cage, "but it is not Poll who ought to 'cheer up' but I, you pretty bird. " Poll hopped out and perched upon her finger andlooked so knowingly at her, that it almost broke down the resolutionshe had formed. Mabel was accustomed to take Poll out and talk to her, and brother Ben, who was an amateur photographer, had taken a pictureof the pretty pair, so Polly was already immortalized. 

"Poor Ben! Poor Ben!" said Polly. "'On Linden when the sun waslow'--ha! ha! ha! ha! ha! Poor Ben! Poor Ben!" laughed and shoutedPolly. 

"Poor Ben, indeed!" said Mabel, "though the Ben you first heard aboutwas another Ben, and used to break down with his recitation and belaughed at. I wonder where he is now, and whether he is dead, my bravesoldier uncle! If he were alive, and should come back, what would hethink to find another Polly just like the one he left behind, who hadlearned some of the things his Polly used to say. Mamma says yourpredecessor died of old age, Polly; I wonder if that will be yourdestiny. I shall never know; for I am going to sell you to the lady upat the hotel, who saw you hanging outside, and wanted you for herlittle girl. She said she would give me five dollars, and when Irefused she offered me ten. I could not let you go, Polly, but now I_must_. I must say 'good-bye' to you now, Polly, for I shall nevertake you out of the cage again. "

"Cheer up! cheer up!" sang Polly, as Mabel put her back, and closingthe cage, left the room. 

The boys were leaving the sitting-room when she went down stairs, andas Ben passed her, she said, "Do not go to bed till I come up again. Iwant to speak to you. Wait in my room. "

Mrs. Ross was getting ready to go up to her room when Mabel entered. 

"Are you going up, mamma?" said she, "I will not keep you long; but Iwant to tell you, that I think I know a way for you to get some money. I wish to keep it a secret for the present; but I think I can safelypromise you some. The last thing before I came down, Polly called, 'cheer up, cheer up, ' and it is a good omen; so I say the same to you, mamma. "

"You are a good girl, Mabel, but I am afraid you are too sanguine. Howcan you hope to succeed where I have failed?"

"You will believe me when you see the money, shall you not, mamma?"

"There would not be much merit in that, dear, but I will _trust_ you, and whatever happens I will believe you did what you thought wasright, and that God does every thing for the best. "

"Thank you, mamma. Good night, and pleasant dreams. "

"Good night, dear. "

Mabel went softly up stairs. "Ben, " said she, when she reached herroom, but Ben had fallen asleep, and she had to shake him up. 

"What kept you?" said Ben, in a sleepy tone. 

"Why, I was not long, Ben. Do you now the name of that little girl whotook such a fancy to Polly?"

"Yes, " said Ben. "It is Eva Granby. What do you want to know for?"

"I shall tell you sometime, you are too sleepy to talk to-night, so Ishall let you go. Good night, Ben. "

"Good night, " said Ben, not sorry to be dismissed. 

Mabel lay awake some time. She was sorry to part with her parrot, butafter all it was only a bird. Mamma and Ben and Walt and dear littleJoe should not suffer that she might keep it. 

She could hear the music, from the great hotel on the hill, borne onthe breeze, and that, with the happy frame of mind produced by theapproval of her conscience, soon had the effect of sending her into asound sleep, from which she awoke in the morning, refreshed and quitehappy. She went about her accustomed duties with a light heart andsinging like a lark. Mrs. Ross wondered, to hear her; what could bethe source of her high spirits. 

She was on the alert for a chance to put her plan into execution, andwhen she found her mother occupied over the details of the breakfasttable, she went up to her room, and covering the parrot's cage andherself with a light water-proof cloak, which the chill of of the Maymorning seemed to warrant; she went out of the house and through theback gate, and took the road to the hotel. 

Mrs. Granby had just risen, and was delighted that Mabel had come toterms after all, as her little daughter had been longing for theparrot continually. Mabel told her story and Mrs. Granby was deeplyaffected. She promptly agreed to Mabel's condition, to sell her thebird back again, if she could get together ten dollars of her own toredeem it, and gave Mabel her address in New York. 

Mabel was at home again just as the boys were getting their breakfast, and wondering what had become of her. She said she had been taking awalk for her health and refused to gratify them further. 

Soon they were through and went out, and when she saw little Joe inthe swing, and Ben and Walt sitting on the bench of Walt's making, under the apple-tree, and knew by their gestures they were discussingPerry's colt--she drew from her pocket the crisp, bright, ten-dollarbill, and laid it beside her mother's plate. Her mother's fervent"Thank God, " amply rewarded her for the loss of the parrot. 

"But, Mabel, " began Mrs. Ross--

"Now, mamma, " interrupted Mabel, "you know you promised to trust me. You will soon know all about it. "

Mabel went to school that day with a happy heart. 

That evening a portly, middle-aged gentleman stood at the gate, and asshe looked up, he said:

"Can you tell me if this is Mrs. Ross's?"

"Yes, sir, " said Mabel, wondering who he could be. As she turned andfaced him, he caught his breath quickly, and exclaimed:

"Alice!"

Mabel's heart gave a great bound. 

"That is mamma's name, mine is Mabel. "

"Lead me to her, " he said, hoarsely. 

Mabel quickly ran before him into the house exclaiming:

"Oh, mamma! I think it is Uncle Ben. "

Mrs. Ross would have fallen had she not been caught by the strong armsof the stalwart brother whom she had not seen for twenty years. Andthen it all came out. Mabel's secret was a secret no longer. 

Captain Ben Grayson, old soldier, and retired ranch owner, had comeback after twenty years of life in the west to hunt for his sister, his only known relative, whom he had last seen when she was a girllike Mabel. He had been told a Miss Grayson had died from the ravagesof an epidemic that swept through the school she had been placed at;and so, when the war ended, he went out west instead of returning toNew York as he should have done but for that false report. But he hadlately heard, from an old school-friend, he had come across, that shewas living, had married, and become a widow, and that was all theinformation he could get. 

By the simplest chance he had stopped at Fairmount. Shortly afterrising that morning, he was startled by a parrot hung outside thewindow of the room next to his, calling out, --"Cheer up! cheer up!"and shortly after, --"'On Linden when the sun was low, ' ha! ha! ha! ha!ha! Poor Ben!"

"Well, " said Uncle Ben, "you can imagine the effect. I knew my parrotcould not be living yet; but I thought to myself, _that_ parrot musthave learned from my old one or from you, Alice, and I hastened tomake the acquaintance of my next-door neighbor, and so _I have foundyou_. "

And Mabel bought her parrot back again, which was now doubly dear, asit had been the means of finding Uncle Ben. And quiet brother Ben wasmade happy by an artist's outfit, and had the satisfaction of doingMabel and the parrot in colors, as he had long ago done them with thecamera. 

When the last gift had been given, the boys, with one accord, threw uptheir hats and cried, --"Hurrah, for Uncle Ben!"

As for Mrs. Ross, her measure of happiness was full; she had her longlost brother Ben. 

WAIF'S ROMANCE. 

Several years ago the beautiful Shenandoah valley in West Virginia wasthe scene of a great freshet. The river overflowed its banks, and theusually placid stream became a mighty torrent, rushing along withfrightful velocity, carrying away houses, barns and cattle. Buildingswere washed from their foundations by the resistless current, and sentwhirling down the stream with the terrified occupants clinging to theroofs. They had not had timely warning, and many perished, while wholeflocks of sheep, and hundreds of cows, horses and oxen were drowned. The writer visited the valley several years afterward, and could seearticles of clothing and even furniture still lodged in the branchesof trees, they had been caught and lodged by the receding waters, twenty feet from the ground. 

During this visit a most interesting story was told of a poor littlekitten who lost home and friends, and was carried by the surging floodfar away to find a new home and a genuine lover. It is a true romanceof the flood, and it has never been told in print so far. For allgentle lovers of animals, this beautiful romance of Woggy and Waif isgiven to the world. 

In this beautiful valley there lived a lovely family, consisting offather, mother and two children. Edwin was a tall and manly lad ofsixteen, and Florence was one year younger. They were children ofrefined and cultivated parents, and the members of this little homecircle displayed such charming affection and thoughtfulness in theirintercourse with each other, that it was beautiful to behold. Edwinwas passionately fond of out-of-door sports, and Florence had deeplove for all that was beautiful and interesting in nature. She lovedanimals, birds and flowers, and it was her delight to ramble with herbrother through the woods, gathering the modest wild flowers, or thedelicate maiden hair ferns. She took great delight in pets of allkinds, and had numerous rabbits, birds and squirrels that her brotherhad trapped; she made them all love her; even the tiniest bird oranimal can appreciate tenderness and kindness; and Florence's purelittle heart was overflowing with love and kindness toward all God'sdumb creatures. 

The constant companion of the brother and sister in their rambles wasa very frolicsome and handsome dog, which was so remarkable forsagacity and intelligence, that he was known through all thecountryside; he was devoted to his young mistress, and, though he wasnot a very large animal; he had enough of the Shepherd's breed in himto make him very fierce and courageous in her defense whenever sheseemed to need it. 

At the time of the great freshet, a homeless family, whose house hadbeen swept away by the flood, had been harbored at Florence's home. Her time and mind was fully occupied by her additional home duties, which to her gentle nature, were labors of love, even if theoverflowed valley had prevented her accustomed excursions; but not sowith Woggy, he had no duties to keep him, and no wet ground or body ofwater could keep him from taking his usual runs about the country. Forseveral days after the great flood, he was noticed to leave the houseregularly in the morning and not return until evening. This wassomething unusual; generally his runs were finished in one or twohours; but when he was observed one day to take in his mouth the bestpart of his breakfast and trot off with it, Edwin's curiosity wasexcited, and he resolved to unravel the mystery of Woggy's regularabsences; he followed his tracks over the wet ground for nearly twomiles, until he came to a good sized pond left by the receding watersin a hollow near the river. The first thing that attracted hisattention was a partially submerged fir tree near the center of theford, and lodged against it was a chicken coop. Were there chickens init, do you ask? No; if there had been when the angry waves picked itup there were none now, but instead, the sweetest little _kitten_ youever saw; and crouched down on the trunk of the tree, with hisaristocratic paws resting on the end of the coop, was the mysteriousWoggy, gravely contemplating the kitten, as it minced at the food thegenerous dog had brought it. How proud Edwin felt of Woggy as helooked and understood the scene. How Woggy, in his solitary rambles, must have discovered the forlorn kitten, who had been suddenly tornfrom her home, far up the valley perhaps, and borne, half drowned andthoroughly frightened, on the rushing torrent, until her box, in whichthe rising waters had found her taking her afternoon nap, had lodgedagainst the tree. Edwin wanted to rescue her, and take her home. Thiswas his first impulse, but how? The pond was wide and deep, and he hadno boat, nor any other means of reaching her; so he decided to waituntil the water got lower, until he could devise some plan. Hereturned home in great amazement, and told the story of Woggy'swonderful doings. Florence was all excitement and sympathy in amoment, and wanted to go at once but could not. But what a delicioushugging and petting Woggy got when he returned home that night. WhenEdwin found them, the kitten was snuggled up as close to her bruteprotector as the slats would allow; she would put her tongue throughand lick his paws, which process seemed to give him the liveliestsatisfaction. Edwin whistled to him to come home with him, but he onlywagged his bushy tail and looked at his frail charge as much as tosay, "I can't go just now. " Just think of the idea of protectionentering the head of a dog! but it did. Some animals seem almost toreason. We all know a perfect horror of water all cats have, they willnot go into water voluntarily. This poor little thing, surrounded bywater, must have died of starvation had not kind-hearted Woggy foundand cared for her. 

The next day, Edwin, provided with a long board and other means ofrescuing the distressed stranger, started for the pond. Just as heleft the house, with Florence calling out from the porch some partinginjunctions of carefulness, what was their astonishment to see Woggycoming along the road with the kitten in his mouth; the sagacious doghad evidently thought that his keepless little charge needed more carethan he could give her, and brought her unharmed to his mistress. Whenhe had deposited the kitten at her feet, he looked up in her eyes asthough he wanted to tell her something, and he really looked as if hecould almost talk. When Florence took up the pretty thing sheexclaimed, "You poor little waif! Where did you come from?" The littlewaif could not tell, but looked as if she wanted to. She was purewhite in color, with a water-stained ribbon and tiny silver bellaround her neck. Edwin said she should be called Waif, and Waif shewas ever after called in that house. 

"MAY I GO WITH YOU?"

"May I go with you, Auntie?"

"No, Jo, I do not wish for any company this morning; here's a kiss, and you may feed my poodle if you like. " So saying, Aunt Millie, whowas spending her vacation at the farm, tied on her garden hat, andsallied forth for a walk, leaving behind her a very disappointedlittle swain, for Jo generally accompanied her in her rambles, and heand Aunt Millie were sworn allies. Lately she had run off severaltimes without him, and he certainly felt quite disconsolate to-day. But he could not doubt her love and goodness, so he whistled away hisblues. 

[Illustration: {PORTRAIT OF A CHILD. }]

Jo was only five years old, and it is no wonder he soon forgot hisgrievances. About lunch-time he thought he would go down in themeadow, to see if the first strawberries were ripening, as he intendedthem for mamma's birthday. 

Threading his way carefully through the tall grass and noddingdaisies, he suddenly came upon the queerest looking "machine"--as hecalled it--in front of which sat Auntie. 

"Why, Jo!"

"Aunt Millie, what _are_ you doing?" as he caught sight of aphotograph of himself, and a large copy on the easel. 

"I am crayoning--and" (this last a trifle averse) "I _had_ intended itas a surprise for mamma, to-morrow. "

The big blue eyes raised to hers had a suspicion of tears in them--shebent down quickly and gathered the little fellow in her arms. 

"Never mind, pet! I was a bit vexed, that you had discovered mysecret. "

"Is it a _secret_?" in an awed tone; "well, I'll _keep_ it. "

"Do you think you really can, Jo?"

"Yes, " he said; "and _you_ can keep my strawberries, " forgetting hehad told her a dozen times before. 

"Well, I'll trust you. "

Would you believe it, the child _did_ keep his word, although burningmany times to tell; and he succeeded in surprising Aunt Millie, asmuch as he did mamma. 

A SUMMER AT WILLOW-SPRING. 

The trunks were strapped on the back of the carriage; we children, with Nurse, were bundled inside; the door shut--the driver snapped hiswhip--and without any time for last good-byes, we were whirled away tothe station. How excited and glad we were, for Papa and Mamma were tofollow us next day, and we left the city far behind to spend the wholebeautiful summer at Willow-spring. The very first day after ourarrival, we were out--Willie, my brother, Elsie, our littlefour-year-old sister, and myself--scouring the premises, and I guessthere were not a nook or corner we had not visited by night. It was alovely place, with broad shady walks through which we raced, or Williedrove us as two spirited young colts, for like most boys he was rathermasterful. 

I wish I could tell you of the grand time we had that summer. Weformed the acquaintance of several little neighbor children, whoproved pleasant playmates, and together we would wander through thecool leafy woods, or roam the sunny meadows gathering sweet wildstrawberries and armsful of golden-eyed daisies, and taking ourtreasures home, would have a little treat on the shady veranda, andgarland ourselves with long daisy chains, making believe we werewoodland fairies. Once in a while the rabbits from the near wood ranacross the garden path, timid and shy little creatures at first--theygrew quite tame from our feeding--and Elsie dearly loved her bunnies, as she called them. 

Rapidly the days flew by, and the time for our departure was at hand. We felt sorry to leave, but Mamma, to console us in part, planned alittle out-door feast for the day before our going, to which ourlittle friends were all invited, and a happy, merry band of childrenplayed out under the trees, and ate the goodies so generouslyprovided. Just before breaking up, we all joined in playing ourfavorite game of "snap the whip, " and with screams and laughter, oneafter another of the weakest ones rolled over in the soft grass. Thelast night at Willow-spring wound up with a grand frolic, in which alltook part. 

GREAT EXPECTATIONS. 

 Every little grape, dear, that clings unto the vine, Expects some day to ripen its little drops of wine. Every little girl, I think, expects in time to be Exactly like her own mamma--as sweet and good as she. Every little boy who has a pocket of his own, Expects to be the biggest man the world has ever known. Every little lambkin, too, that frisks upon the green, Expects to be the finest sheep that ever yet was seen. Every little baby colt expects to be a horse; Every little puppy hopes to be a dog, of course. Every little kitten pet, so tender and so nice, Expects to be a grown-up cat and live on rats and mice. Every little fluffy chick, in downy yellow dressed, Expects some day to crow and strut or cackle at his best. Every little baby bird that peeps from out its nest, Expects some day to cross the sky from glowing east to west. Now every hope I've mentioned here will bring its sure event, Provided nothing happens, dear, to hinder or prevent. 

"WHERE'S SOPHIE?"

 Sophie climbed the garden trellis, Plucked the finest grapes in view; How they shone with red and amber, As the sun came glinting through. 

 She was taking painting lessons, And she paused and gazed at them; "Oh, " she said, "a pretty picture, Grapes and green leaves on a stem. 

 "I will leave them here, unbroken, Close beside the garden walk; Look!" she said, to Cousin Mary, "Just anear this broken stalk. "

 Off they went through pleasant pathways; Staying longer than they knew, By a russet, leaf-strewn border, With its asters, pink and blue. 

 Then their friendly gossip over, Homeward as they turned to go; "Oh, the grapes!" said Sophie, quickly, "We must go for those, you know. "

 When they reached the precious cluster, Five bold sparrows pertly stood, Pecking at the grapes beside them, Chattering in a wanton mood. 

 "Look! Oh, look!" said cousin Mary, "Sparrows at your luscious store!" "Shoo!" said Sophie, "was there ever Such a piece of work before?"

 Pilfering sparrows, you have taught me, By this loss, a lesson true; When a bunch of grapes I gather, Just to keep them safe from you. 

"IF I CAN, I WILL. "

I knew a boy who was preparing to enter the junior class of the NewYork University. He was studying trigonometry, and I gave him threeexamples for his next lesson. The following day he came into my roomto demonstrate his problems. Two of them he understood; but thethird--a very difficult one--he had not performed. I said tohim, --"Shall I help you?"

"No, sir! I can and will do it, if you give me time. "

I said: "I will give you all the time you wish. "

The next day he came into my room to recite another lesson in the samestudy. 

"Well, Simon, have you worked that example?"

"No, sir, " he answered; "but I can and will do it, if you will give mea little more time. "

"Certainly, you shall have all the time you desire. "

I always like those boys who are determined to do their own work, forthey make our best scholars, and men too. The third morning you shouldhave seen Simon enter my room. I knew he had it, for his whole facetold the story of his success. Yes, he had it, notwithstanding it hadcost him many hours of severest mental labor. Not only had he solvedthe problem, but, what was of infinitely greater importance to him, hehad begun to develop mathematical powers which, under the inspirationof "I can and I will, " he has continued to cultivate, until to-day heis professor of mathematics in one of our largest colleges, and one ofthe ablest mathematicians of his years in our country. 

My young friends, let your motto ever be, --"If I can, I will. "

WINDSOR CASTLE. 

This ancient and splendid pile is a fitting residence for thesovereigns of England. It impresses one with the idea of supremegrandeur and formidable strength, but it has reached its presentmagnificence by constant embellishments and additions by successivesovereigns. 

It owes its origin to William the Conqueror, that bold and progressiveNorman, who created here a fortified hunting seat, where he and hisbrave barons could enjoy themselves after the "hunting of the deer" inthe wild glades of Windsor forest. 

The castle stands upon a hill on the bank of the river Thames, twenty-three miles from London, with which it is connected by railway. It is surrounded on all sides, except to the east, by a noble terraceabove two thousand five hundred feet in extent, faced by a strongrampart of hewn stone, and having, at intervals, easy slopes leadingdown to the park. 

The terrace is a most delightful walk, commanding charming views ofthe extensive domain and the surrounding country. Everywhere areevidences of royal expenditure, of watchful care and tastefulornamentation. 

The park abounds in woodland scenery of exquisite beauty, and it doesseem as if the "English sunshine" was nowhere more satisfying orrefreshing than in these delightful avenues. The deer roam at will, and streamlets trickle and English violets and other wild flowersblossom, the praises of whose delicate perfumes and beauties have beensung by Wordsworth and Keats. 

There is a stately walk, three miles long, bordered by double rows oftrees, which leads from the lodge to these delightful precincts, andat the entrance stretch away in gorgeous array, the Queen's gardens, in which very beautiful and rare productions of floral culture find acongenial home. 

The castle consists of two courts, having a large, round tower betweenthem, and covers more than twelve acres of land, being defended bybatteries and towers. The upper court is a spacious quadrangle, havinga round tower on the west, the private apartments of the sovereigns onthe south and east, the State apartments and St. George's Hall and thechapel royal on the north. 

The royal apartments are reached by an imposing vestibule. The firstroom, the Queen's guard chamber, contains a grand array of warlikeimplements, and glittering weapons, and its walls are rich inpaintings. 

The Queen's presence chamber contains the rarest furniture andhangings, with an array of artistic works by the most celebratedmasters. 

The ball-room is hung with tapestry, representing the twelve months ofthe year, and upon its ceiling is pictured Charles II, giving freedomto England. There is here an immense table of solid silver. 

In the Queen's bed-chamber is the State bed, said to have cost$70, 000, designed for Queen Charlotte. The Queen's dressing-room, hungwith British tapestry, contains the closet in which is deposited thebanner of France. The same closet contains the tea-equipage of QueenAnne. 

An elegant saloon is called the "Room of Beauties, " and containsfourteen portraits of ladies who were "most fair" in the court ofCharles II. Their lovely faces and rich apparel, quaint and oddlyfashioned, make the most delightful and instructive study. 

The audience chamber contains the throne and is enriched withhistorical paintings of events in the reign of Henry III. Anotherguard chamber contains an immense collection of warlike instruments, fancifully arranged, and also the flag sent by the Duke of Wellingtonin commemoration of the battle of Waterloo. 

St. George's Hall, which is one hundred and eight feet long, is setapart for the illustrious "Order of the Garter. " It is superblydecorated with allegorical paintings. The chapel is a fine specimen ofthe florid Gothic. The roof is elliptical and is composed of stone;the whole ceiling is ornamented with emblazoned arms of manysovereigns and knights of the Garter. The stalls of the sovereigns andknights exhibit a profusion of rare carving. The chapel is the burialplace of many royal and illustrious persons; Edward IV, Henry IV, Henry VIII and Charles I having been interred here. 

THE LITTLE PRINCES. 

Among the sad episodes in the illustrated history of Englishsovereigns, not one is more pathetic or impressive than the story ofthe two little Princes, sons of Edward IV. This King had an ambitiousand unscrupulous brother, called Richard, Duke of Gloucester. 

At the time of the King's death, this man was at the head of an armyin Scotland, which was entirely devoted to him, and he felt strong andequal to undertaking any bold and unlawful measure to obtain thecrown, which rightfully belonged to Edward's son, the young Prince ofWales. 

Upon receiving the news of his brother's death, Richard clothedhimself and his large retinue in deep mourning and proceeded in greathaste to London, taking the oath of loyalty on the way, and makingmany protestations of interest and affection for the fatherless boys. 

The young Prince of Wales received him with many expressions of regardand respectful consideration, as befitted a paternal uncle, and placedundoubted faith in his suggestions; the Duke thus found it an easymatter to direct his movements, and the selection of his counselorsand servants. Two of these, who were favorite and loyal friends, hecaused to be seized on a frivolous accusation, and they were taken toa distant castle as prisoners. Other measures were taken to isolatehim, and in a few days the young King was completely in the hands ofthe terrible Duke of Gloucester. 

From one high-handed act of usurpation to another, assisted byunprincipled, ambitious men, he proceeded, evidently aiming to securethe crown for his own head. 

Under pretense of placing the Prince in greater safety, and removinghim from persons who might influence him, to the detriment of thepeace and welfare of the kingdom, he was conducted, in great state, tothe Tower; his uncle assuming the office of Lord Protector of theKing. 

Upon gaining the entire custody of the royal lad, he sent a largenumber of dignitaries to the royal mother, to persuade her to allowthe other little boy to be taken to the Tower to keep his brothercompany. The Prince was allowed to proceed thither, and Richard, nowhaving them both at his mercy, determined upon their death. 

The Governor of the Tower was, it seems, a man of at least humanfeelings, and when he was ordered by Richard, "In some wise to put thechildren to death, " utterly refused to perform so dangerous andhorrible an act. 

Richard then sent for the keys of the Tower, to keep in his possessiontwenty-four hours, and gave them, and the command of the Tower forthat time, to Sir James Tyrrel, his master of horse. 

This man procured two assassins, who proceeded, at dead of night, tothe chamber of the sleeping Princes. They lay in each other's arms, asthough they had fallen asleep comforting one another; and theassassins, falling upon them with their ruffian strength, smotheredthem with the bed-clothes, "Keeping the feather pillows hard upontheir mouths. "

When the deed was done, Tyrrel stepped into the chamber, to take ahasty view of the dead bodies, which were then, by his orders, buriedat the stair-foot, under a heap of stones. 

Richard, Duke of Gloucester, had no further obstacle in assuming thepurple, and was crowned King of England with all pomp and ceremony, and known to unenviable fame as Richard III. 

This account has come down to us with all the authority of historicalverity, and subsequent evidences of its accuracy have been discovered. The age was characterized by inhumanity of the most barbarous kind, and this crime was in keeping with it. 

The English people in this nineteenth century rejoice in a sovereignwho is noble in the highest sense; beloved by her subjects, achievingfor herself the universal plaudit of a "most humane and graciouslady. "

THE TOWER OF LONDON. 

This ancient edifice is situated on the north bank of the Thames, atthe extremity of the city of London. 

The antiquity of the building has been a subject of much inquiry, butthe present fortress is believed to have been built by William theConqueror, and garrisoned with Normans to secure the allegiance of hissubjects; although it appears that the Romans had a fort on this spot, if a dim tradition can be credited. The building is governed by the"Constable of the Tower, " who, at coronations and other Stateceremonies, has the custody of the regalia. 

The principal entrance is on the west, and consists of two gates, atwhich are stationed guards. The keys are kept, during the day, at thewarder's hall, but deposited every night at the Governor's house. Cannon are placed at intervals around the great wall, and commandevery avenue leading to Tower Hill. 

On the south side is an arch, called "Traitors' Gate, " through whichState prisoners were formerly brought from the river. Near theTraitors' Gate is the "Bloody Tower, " in which it is supposed the twoyoung Princes, Edward V and his brother, were smothered by order ofRichard III. 

In the south-west angle of the inclosure were the royal apartments, for the Tower was a palace for nearly five hundred years, and onlyceased to be so on the accession of Elizabeth. 

The principal buildings within the walls are the church, the whitetower, the ordnance office, the jewel office, the horse armory. Thechurch is called "St. Peter in Vincules, " and is remarkable as thedepository of the headless bodies of numerous illustrious personageswho suffered either in the Tower or on the hill. Among these were AnnaBoleyn, Thomas Cromwell, Catharine Howard, the Duke of Somerset andthe Duke of Monmouth. 

The jewel office is a strong, stone room, in which are kept the crownjewels, regalia, such as the golden orb, the golden sceptre with thedove, St. Edward's staff, State salt-cellar, sword of mercy, goldenspurs, the golden eagle and golden spoons, also the silver font usedat the baptism of the royal family, the State crown worn by herMajesty in Parliament. A large collection of ancient plate is alsokept here. 

The horse armory is a brick building east of the white tower, adornedwith suits of armor of almost every description; but the most strikingare the effigies of the English kings on horseback, armed cap-a-pie. The line of mounted celebrities commences with William the Conquerorand ends with George II. Several of the cuirasses and helmets taken atWaterloo are kept here. In the armory are also shown a representationof Queen Elizabeth in armor; the axe which severed the head of AnnaBoleyn, as well as that of the Earl of Essex; the invincible bannertaken from the Spanish Armada, and the wooden cannon used by HenryVIII at the siege of Boulogne. 

The Beauchamp Tower is noted for the illustrious personages formerlyconfined within its walls. 

MARY AND HER LAMB. 

This is the title of one of the most familiar poems in the Englishlanguage, but few people know its history. 

Most of our young readers will be surprised to hear that thewell-known nursery song of "Mary had a Little Lamb" is a true story, and that "Mary" is still living, says an exchange. 

About seventy years ago she was a little girl, the daughter of afarmer in Worcester county, Mass. She was very fond of going with herfather to the fields to see the sheep, and one day they found a babylamb, which was thought to be dead. 

Kind-hearted little Mary, however, lifted it up in her arms, and as itseemed to breathe she carried it home, made it a warm bed near thestove, and nursed it tenderly. Great was her delight when, after weeksof careful feeding and watching, her little patient began to grow welland strong, and soon after it was able to run about. It knew its youngmistress perfectly, always came at her call, and was happy only whenat her side. 

One day it followed her to the village school, and not knowing whatelse to do with it, she put it under her desk and covered it with hershawl. 

There it stayed until Mary was called up to the teacher's desk to sayher lesson, and then the lamb walked quietly after her, and the otherchildren burst out laughing. So the teacher had to shut the littlegirl's pet in the woodshed until school was out. Soon after this, ayoung student, named John Rollstone, wrote a little poem about Maryand her lamb and presented it to her. The lamb grew to be a sheep andlived for many years, and when at last it died Mary grieved so muchfor it that her mother took some of its wool, which was as "white assnow, " and knitted a pair of stockings for her, to wear in remembranceof her darling. 

Some years after the lamb's death, Mrs. Sarah Hall, a celebrated womanwho wrote books, composed some verses about Mary's lamb and added themto those written by John Rollstone, making the complete poem as weknow it. Mary took such good care of the stockings made of her lamb'sfleece that when she was a grown-up woman she gave one of them to achurch fair in Boston. 

As soon as it became known that the stocking was made from the fleeceof "Mary's little lamb, " every one wanted a piece of it; so thestocking was raveled out, and the yarn cut into small pieces. Eachpiece was tied to a card on which "Mary" wrote her full name, andthese cards sold so well that they brought the large sum of $140 inthe Old South Church. --_Our Sunday Afternoon. _

JAMIE'S GARDEN. 

"I shall have the nicest kind of a garden, " said Jamie, one morning. "I'm going to make it in that pretty little spot just over the bank. Imean to have some flowers in pots and some in beds just like thegardener; and then you can have fresh ones every day, mamma. I'm goingright over there now. "

Jamie started off bravely with his spade on his shoulder; but when, after an hour, mamma went to see how he was getting on, she found himlying on the grass, with the ground untouched. 

"Why, Jamie, where is your garden?"

"I was just lying here, and thinking how nice it will look when it isall done, " said Jamie. 

Mamma shook her head. "But that will not dig ground, nor make theflowers grow, little boy. No good deed was ever done by only lyingstill and thinking about it. "

CAMP TRIO. 

A. DE G. H. 

Hurrah! Hurrah! only two days more to vacation, and then!----

If the crowning whistle, and energetic _bang_ with which the strappedbooks came down, were any indication of what was coming after the"then!" it must be something unusual. And so it was--for Ned, Tom andCon, who were the greatest of chums, as well as the noisiest, merriestboys in Curryville Academy--were to go into camp for the next twoweeks, by way of spending part of their vacation. They could hardlywait for school to close, and over the pages of Greenleaf danced, those last two days, unknown quantities of fishing tackle, tents, andthe regular regalia of a camping out-fit. They talked of it by day anddreamed of it by night. 

At last the great day dawned--dawned upon three of the mostgrotesque-looking specimens of boyhood, arrayed in the oldest andworst fitting clothes they could find; for, as they said, in the mostexpressive boy language--"We are in for a rattlin' good time, anddon't want to be togged out. " They and their effects were taken bywagon over to the Lake Shore, about four miles distant, to establishtheir camp under the shadow of old Rumble Sides, a lofty crag orboulder. 

Boys, I wish you could have seen them that night, in their littlewoodland home; really, it was quite attractive. They worked likebeavers all day--cutting away the brush, driving stakes to tie downthe little white tent, digging a trench all around in case of rain, and building a fire-place of stone, with a tall, forked stick on whichto hang the kettle. A long board, under the shady trees, served astable. 

Too tired to make a fire that night, they ate a cold lunch, and threwthemselves on their bed--which was a blanket thrown over pineboughs--untied the tent flaps to let in air, and slept a happy, dreamless sleep. 

The next morning, early, they were up, and, after taking a cold plungein the lake, built a brisk fire, boiled coffee, and roasted potatoesfor breakfast. They then bailed out the punt, which was their onlysailing craft, and put off for an all-day's fishing excursion. Severaldays, with fine weather, passed, and the boys declared they werehaving a royal time, and that camping was the only life to lead. 

They had much difficulty to settle upon a name, but finally decidedthat "Camp Trio" was most appropriate. 

One night they were suddenly awakened by a deep, roaring sound; thewind blew fiercely, it rained hard, but the noise was not of thunder, it seemed almost human; nearer and nearer it came! The three lads satup in the semi-darkness, and peered at each other with scared faces. 

"It's Old Rumble broke loose and coming down on us, " said Con, in aghostly whisper. "Hush!" and the trio clutched in a cold shiver, as acrackling of twigs was heard outside, a heavy tread, a long, low moan, a horrible silence. 

"It was the Leviathan, I guess, " said Tom, with a ghastly attempt atsmiling, as the early morning light stole through the flaps. At lengththey moved their stiffened limbs and peeped out. Oh, how it did pour!No fire, no fishing, no any thing to-day. Pretty soon a shout fromNed, who had been cautiously prowling around to find the cause oftheir late fright. 

"Oh, boys, it's too rich! Why, it was Potter's old cow, down here lastnight, bawling for her calf that was after our towels, as usual--lookhere!" and he held up three or four dingy, chewed-looking articles, which had hung on a tree to dry, and might have been towels once. Theboys broke into a hearty laugh at their own expense. The day was verylong and dull, and the next, stories and jokes fell flat, coldvictuals didn't relish, they began to feel quite blue. The third dayFarmer Potter appeared upon the scene. 

"What on airth ye doin' here; trespassin' on other folks' grounds?Mebby ye don't know it's agin the law!"

The boys felt a trifle uneasy, but answered him politely. 

"Hevin' _fun_, be ye! Wall, I'll vow, settin' in the wet, eatin' coldrations, haint _my_ idee of _fun_. " And away he stalked. 

The boys looked at each other. 

"I say, fellers, " said Con, "a piece of pie and a hunk of fresh bread_wouldn't_ go bad--eh?"

The two answered with a hungry look. 

"But let's tough it out over Sunday, or they'll all laugh at us. " Andso they did; but it was the longest, dreariest Sabbath they everspent. 

"I'd rather learn ten chapters in Chronicles, " Tom affirmed, "than putin another such a Sunday. "

They had, in the main, a jolly time, but the ending was not asbrilliant as they had looked for. They never regretted going, but thenext year took a larger party, and went for a shorter time. 

THE SENTIMENTAL FOX. 

 "Oh, beautiful wild duck, it pains me to see, You flying aloft in that gone sort of way, Sweet one, fare you well. I could shed many tears, But my deepest emotions I never betray. 

 "I've always admired you, wonderful bird, By the light of the sun and the rays of the moon; I tell you 'tis more than a fox can endure, To know that you take your departure so soon. 

 "I snatched a few feathers, in memory of you; I desired a whole wing, but you baffled my plan; Oh, what a memento to hang in my den! And in very hot weather to use as a fan. 

 "Descend, O, thou beautiful creature, to earth! There's nothing I would not perform for your sake; If once in awhile I could see you down here, I'd never get tired of the shores of this lake!"

 "Cheer up, Mr. Fox, " said the duck, flying higher, "The parting of such friends is sometimes a boon; When they get far away, and have time to reflect, They see that it came not a moment too soon. 

 "You wanted a wild wing to fan yourself with; You see if I granted that favor to you, 'Twould have left me but one, which is hardly enough, As I find it convenient, just now, to have two. "

 Then she faded away, a dark speck on the sky. "That's a very shrewd bird, " said the fox in dismay! "I shall have to look round for my dinner, again, And I fancy it will not be wild duck to-day. "

EARTHEN VESSELS. 

Spring time had come, with its blossoms and birds; and Mrs. Rossiterthrew up the sash of the east window, and pushed open the blinds, anddrew a long deep breath of morning air, and morning sunshine. 

"I think, Bridget, " she said, "that we might venture to bring thehouse-plants out-doors to-day. There can hardly be another frost, thisyear. "

"Oh! may I help?" asked little Charley, "I'll be very careful. "

"On that condition, that you be very careful, you may bring the littleones, " answered his mother. 

The work progressed safely and rapidly for awhile. Geraniums, roses, fuchsias, heliotropes, and so following, came forth in profusion, manyin bloom, and were placed in rows along the garden borders, ready tobe transferred to the beds, for the summer. At last the little oneswere all brought by Charley, and only larger ones remained. 

"I'll carry just this one big one, " he said to himself: "I'm strongerthan mother thinks I am. " But the pot full of earth, was heavier thanCharley had thought it, and before he reached the place to set it downit had grown very heavy indeed; and, glad to get it out of his achingarms as quickly as possible, he placed it on the curb so suddenly, that with a loud crash it parted in the middle and lay in pieces athis feet. Glancing quickly at his mother and seeing in her faceimpending reproach, he forestalled it by exclaiming:

"Well, that pot broke itself very easily. What's it made of, any how?"

The mother couldn't help but smile at this attempted shifting of theblame to the pot, but she answered, in a moment, gravely:

"The pot, Charley, was made of clay; the same weak material from whichlittle boys are made; who, when they forget to obey their mothers, areas likely to meet disaster as the earthen pot. "

Charley didn't care just then to discuss disobedient boys, so heturned at once to the subject of the pot. 

"Made of clay, " he exclaimed, "well, I'd like to see a man make athing like that of clay. "

"And so would I, " said sister Mary, who, from an upper window, hadlistened to the conversation. 

"And so you shall, if I have no further reminders of this sort, thatmy children are made of the same unreliable material. "

That afternoon, the three, started for the pottery works. Mr. Sands, the proprietor, kindly received them, and fully explained all hisprocesses. First he pointed out what seemed to Charley a heap of dryhard common dirt; taking a little piece of this he dipped it into abasin of water and then squeezing and pressing it in his hand it soonbecame soft, and plastic, so that it could be wrought to any shape. Hethen led the party to another room where a young man was engaged inthus softening large masses. He would first crumble the hard earthinto fine pieces; then wet and pack it together into a "loaf, " soCharley called it, and then raising it over his head throw it againwith all his might upon the table before him until it became soft andsmooth through all its bulk. This, Mr. Sands said, was called "wedgingthe clay, " and that it was now ready for "throwing" into shape. 

"Will it come into shape if you just throw it?" said Charley. 

Mr. Sands laughed heartily at this, and answered, "come and see;" andtaking up one of the softened "loaves, " to use Charley's word forthem, he led the way to the next room. The young man who had been"wedging" now followed and placed himself at a large wheel which wasconnected by a strap or belt with a table at which Mr. Sands seatedhimself. 

[Illustration: HOW POTS AND PANS ARE MADE. ]

Upon the table was another little table, round and low, and uponthis Mr. Sands placed his "loaf. " Then the young man began to turn thewheel and the loaf began to spin round very rapidly. Mr. Sands nextpressed his finger right through the middle of the clay, so farmingthe hole which we always see at the bottom of flower-pots. Then, as itspun round, he worked the clay gradually upwards and sloped itoutwards, using both hands, and holding the edges with his fingers andthumbs. 

Before Charley could express his surprise, the little roll of clay waschanged into a flower-pot. With a square iron tool called a _rib_ itwas smoothed outside, and then the pot was lifted on a board. Oneafter another followed till a long row was ready and they were carriedoff to be dried. 

"How do you know when to leave off stretching it?" asked Mary of thepotter. 

He laughed, and pointed to a small iron gauge on the table. As soon asthe pot reached this he knew he must leave off stretching it out. Thisiron is of course put higher or lower according to the size required. 

"Now I'll make you a pitcher, missie, " said the good-natured man, andwith the same kind of clay, just rounding it a bit and giving acunning little pinch to form the spout, he made quite a pretty jug. 

"Where's the handle?" asked Charley. 

"Oh, that can't go on yet, sir! We must wait till the jug is dry, forwe could not press it tight enough to make it stick. "

Bread-pans and washing-pans are made in exactly the same way asflower-pots, being moulded by the hand into different forms. When thepots and pans leave the potter's wheel they are taken, as we saw, todry, and great care is required to keep them at a certain heat, for ifthe frost gets to them now they crack and are useless. 

"Here's a comical little pot!" exclaimed Charley, holding up a weeone. 

"We call them _long Toms_, " said Mr. Sands. "They are mostly used bynursery-gardeners, because they take so little room. "

"How long do they take to dry?" asked Mary, looking longingly at herlittle jug. 

"About a day; so we will leave your jug with the others, and go to thekiln to see how they will be burnt to-morrow. "

The kiln was round, with a big doorway, called a wicket. 

The pots and pans are put inside, great care being taken that theyshould not touch each other, or they would stick like loaves of bread. Pans are first glazed with a mixture of blue or red lead. The fire isburning below, and there are holes to allow the flames to pass upwardsamongst the pottery. When the kiln is full the wicket is bricked upand daubed over with road-mud. 

"Fancy using such dirty stuff!" said Mary. 

"The manure in it makes it stick, just as hair does in mortar. Claywould crack with the heat. So you see, dear, there's nothing so dirtyor so common that it may not be of some use in the world. "

"How do you know when they are cooked enough?" asked Charley. 

"I'll show you, " said Mr. Sands, and he immediately led us to a smalldoor, which opened some way up the kiln. 

"This is called the crown, " said Mr. Sands. 

It was a flat surface, with four holes which showed the red heatbelow, and looked like little volcanoes in a good temper. 

"Do you see those iron rods hanging like walking-sticks in thefurnace?" asked our guide. "Well, those are called _trials_, and atthe end of each is a lump of clay and glaze. If the glaze is burntenough we suppose that the whole batch is done, but we sometimes makea mistake and spoil a lot. "

"What is done next?" asked Charley. 

"If they are properly burnt, they are allowed to cool gradually, andare then ready for sale. "

By this time all were pretty well tired, and so they said good morningto Mr. Sands and went home. 

"Mother, " said Charley, as they sat down to dinner, "I shall ask howit's done oftener than ever, now, for I like going over factories. What's to be the next one, I wonder. "

"Bread, " exclaimed Mary, as she cut a big slice for herself. "Shall itbe bread, mother?"

"Yes, if you like, but I propose we go to see the flour made first. Sothe next place we explore will be a flour-mill. "

 E. M. W. 

BIRDIE'S BREAKFAST. 

MRS. S. J. BRIGHAM. 

 Take your breakfast, little birdie, -- Cracker-crumbs, and seeds so yellow, Bits of sponge-cake, sweet and mellow; Come quite near me; Do not fear me. I can hear your happy twitter, Although winter winds are bitter; Take your breakfast, little birdie. 

 Come! Oh, come and tell me birdie! All night long the snow was falling; Long ago, I heard you calling; Tell me, dearie, Are you weary? Can you sleep, when winds are blowing? Frosts are biting, clouds are snowing? Come! Oh, come and tell me, birdie!

 Take your food, and trust me, birdie; Daily food the Father giveth; Bread to every thing that liveth. Come quite near me; Do not fear me. Come each day, and bring your fellow, For your bread, so sweet and mellow; Take your food, and trust me, birdie. 

A BATTLE. 

Do you like accounts of battles? Here is one for you. I shall have totell of a well-disciplined army, and some hard fighting, as well as ofa victory. 

The scene is a quiet country district, with fields and hedge-rows, notlooking a bit like war and bloodshed, and the time is a summerafternoon, hot, for it is July, and a haze is over the mountains, which rise a little way behind, as silent witnesses of the fray. Thesun begins to decline, and as the air grows cooler the army has ordersto start. There is a short delay of preparations, and then thewarriors pour forth; not in confusion, but in a compact, unbrokencolumn, each keeping to the ranks in perfect order, and neverdiverging from them. At first the army follows the high road, but erelong it passes through an opening in the hedge, and crosses the fieldon the other side. Still the soldiers march on, never hindered, neverstraggling out of place. It must have been a clever commander-in-chiefto have trained them into such admirable obedience. 

Presently a fortress rises before them--_that_ is the object of theirexpedition; rather, it is something within the citadel that they aresent to get, and have it they _will_. Not without a struggle, though, for the enemy is on guard, and when he sees the hostile armyapproaching, he sallies out to battle. He has no idea of surrenderingwithout a fight for it. 

The invaders gather up their forces and charge bravely up the hill, and in an instant, hand to hand, or something very like it, the foesare locked together in desperate conflict. Neither have they any guns, but they carry sharp weapons with them, and soon the field is strewnwith the dead and dying. 

The fight thickens--the issue is doubtful, but not long--the defendersare routed, and the assailants press forward to the citadel. Mostskillful are they, for with neither cannon nor battering-rams theyspeedily make a breach in the walls, and in they rush, pouring throughthe street and lanes of the devoted city. Yet they do not destroyit--they do not kill the inhabitants--they do not even stay within thewalls so hardly won. In a very short space of time they return as theycame, save that each bears a portion of the spoil for which they came. They form in order once again, they march in line, they regain theirown quarters, but each one carrying--would you believe it?--a _youngslave_. 

[Illustration: {ANTS HEADING OUT ON AN EXPEDITION. }]

Yes, the army did not care to conquer the strange city; the expeditionwas organized solely and entirely that they might steal the young andbring them up in their own colony as slaves. For, through the longinfluence of evil habits, the race to which these warriors belong havelost their natural powers, and so have now to be waited on, fed, andaltogether taken care of by its slaves. With food before them theywould starve unless the slaves put it into their mouths. 

If they want to change their abode, the slaves must make the newhabitation ready, and then carry their masters on their backs to reachit. If the children have to be taken care of, the slaves must be thenurses. In fact, _fighting_ is the one single thing they _can_ do, andthat, as we have seen, they do well. As the supply of slaves isnecessary to their existence, every now and then they have to go andhelp themselves in the way we have just seen them do; and though theidea of slavery is abhorrent to every mind, we must allow that theyare brave soldiers, and under excellent discipline. 

Now, can you tell me who the soldiers are? Go back to your historystories and think. Some old Roman race, perhaps, or the earlyinhabitants of Britain, when people knew no better? Or some tribe ofsavages in America, or the South Sea islands at the present time? Nay, you must guess again, or shall I tell you? Yes, you give it up. Well, then, it is a people "not strong;" small and insignificant, yet wise, for this is what the Bible says, "Go to the ANT, consider her ways andbe wise. "--Prov. Vi:10. 

This race of warriors is none other than the slave-keeping ant, (_Polyergus rufescens_). I do not think you would meet with it in ourwoods, but in Switzerland and other countries it is common. Huber, whowrote so much about bees and ants, first witnessed an attack nearGeneva. I should tell you that the young which they carry off are thelarva or young grubs, which, transferred to the nests of theconquerors, soon become ants, and live the rest of their lives inserving them, and waiting on them, as slaves or servants would theirmasters. 

How extraordinary! Do they pine for their own kind? Are they happy intheir bondage? We do not know, but as far as we can judge they rendera willing and cheerful service, forgetting themselves in what they dofor others. Then, of course, they are happy; we need not repeat thequestion; we are only lost in wonder at this strange and interestingpage in Nature's book. 

 M. K. M. 

GRACE DARLING, THE HEROINE. 

I presume most of you have heard of Grace Darling, the brave girl wholived with her father and mother at Longstone light-house. On the 6thof September, 1838, there was a terrible storm, and W. Darling, knowing well that there would be many wrecks, and much sorrow on thesea that dark, tempestuous night, waited for daybreak; and when atlast it came, he went to look out. About a mile away he saw a ship ingreat distress, but the storm was so awful he had hardly courage toventure through it for their relief. His daughter Grace, who waswatching the wreck through a glass, could no longer bear to see thepoor fellows clinging to the piece of wreck which remained on therocks where it had been broken, and make no effort to help them. Sheknew they must be lost. So she implored her father to launch thelife-boat and let her go with him to the rescue. He consented, andfather and daughter, she taking the oars while he steered, wentpulling away for the wreck; and I can fancy how the poor fellowswatched the life-boat like a speck on the waters, counting each minuteas it neared them, then fearing, as it seemed to be almost lost amidthe mountains of hissing and boiling waves, lest it should never cometo them at all. But at last they are alongside; the sufferers hesitatenot a moment, but jump for the life-boat, and so nine precious liveswere saved from a watery grave. 

Every one sang the praises of brave Grace Darling. A sum of $3, 500 waspresented to her as a testimonial, and she was invited to dine withthe Duke of Northumberland. She died at the early age of twenty-seven, of consumption. 

Now, my readers cannot all be Grace Darling, but they can come to thehelp of the perishing; those that are weary and ready to die. They canall do something, by working, by little efforts of self-denial, and bypraying for those who are in danger of being lost; and then one daythey will hear those wonderful words, "Inasmuch as ye have done itunto the least of these, ye have done it unto me. " A testimonial worthhaving indeed!

ADAM AND EVE. 

 Adam and Eve are my two pet doves, They live in a cot in the maple tree, They coo and coo as other doves do, And I know they are fond of me. 

 Eve is a dear little milk-white dove, Her eyes and feet are of coral red. She wears a quill of gray in her wing, And a small white cap on her head. 

 Adam is bold, and he struts about, In coat and vest of chocolate brown; Eve is as sweet as a dove can be, And Adam will sometimes frown. 

 Adam and Eve are my two fond doves, Their cottage stands in the maple tree, They coo and coo, as other doves do, And often take lunch with me. 

 MRS. S. J. BRIGHAM. 

SWINGING SONG. 

 Swinging! Swinging! Up where the bees and the butterflies are, Winging! Winging! Their flights 'mong the blossoms that shine near and far. 

 Ringing, Ringing, Song of the blue-bird and bobolink's call, Singing, Singing, Up in this beautiful world are they all!

 Clinging, clinging, In this green shadow, the clematis swings. Bringing, bringing, Hints of strange odors, and dim woodland things. 

 Flinging, flinging, The snow-ball, its white, pretty blossoms on me, Springing, springing, The damask rose climbs to the lattice to see!

 Backward my hair is floating and swaying, Here o'er the garden-walk softly I sing; Far more delightful, than wearily straying, Is it to dream here, while gently I swing. 

[Illustration: {CHILDREN AT THE BEACH. }]

HOW THE DAYS WENT AT SEA-GULL BEACH. 

No school! And the beautiful summer days coming so early in themorning, that none of us children ever could get awake to see the sunrise, and staying so long that we grew quite tired of being happy; andsome of us, Gracie and Jimmie in particular, were so little, that theycouldn't stay awake through the whole of it, and went off into a napevery day after dinner. 

But this was in the city, and when we arrived at the beach we didn'tget tired or cross the whole day long. There were many children at thehotel, and when we came, with our dolls and toy boats, ourfishing-tackle and spades, and pails, we made a host of friendsimmediately. 

Reginald and Willie, our older brothers, did not always go with Gracieand Jimmie and me, but made the acquaintance of the men that went outto sea to fish for the great hotels; and they went oftentimes withthem, and we used to enjoy seeing the little boats launched; theyalmost stood on end when they went over the breakers, making us screamwith excitement and delight. And as the little fleet grew less andless, and at last disappeared, we girls thought it was a grand thingto have such brave brothers. 

I was the elder girl, being ten, and Gracie seven. Our Gracie was alovely little sister; she had large blue eyes, and wavy brown hair, and was very gentle and obedient, and people called her "Pet, " almostas soon as they became acquainted with her. 

Mother had blue flannel suits made for us, and dressed in these, withsailor hats that had little tapping ribbons at the sides, we scurriedalong the beach, climbed the rocks, or waded out into the salt water. 

But we had on our very prettiest dresses in the evening, for thechildren were allowed to have the grand parlor, and dance to the musicof the band until nine o'clock. This was a privilege we older onestalked of continually, and looked forward to all day. We were sodainty, genteel, and good-mannered for an hour, that it impressedeven ourselves; and boys and girls became models of gentleness andpolite behavior, and the effect of those delightful evenings has givengrowth and direction to many graces in our character. 

[Illustration: DANCE TO THE MUSIC OF THE BAND. ]

But the little ones, like Gracie and her friends, really couldn'tstand the excitement, and rolled around in odd corners on the floor, or sought the grateful obscurity behind the sofas, to indulge in naps, long before nine o'clock. I found Gracie, in her pink silk dress andviolet slippers, lying curled up under the table, with her head on theback of Bosin, the great Newfoundland dog that had stolen into theparlor against rules. 

Nelson Faber was a little boy, not much older than Gracie, and theyseemed to enjoy each other's society very much. He too oftentimessuccumbed to sleepiness when we wanted him to do his sailor dance; butwhen the morning came, they were as rosy-cheeked and bright-eyed asever, and trotted along the pleasant walks with their hoops and pails, inseparable friends. It was fortunate for Gracie, too, that hepreferred to play with her, rather than to go off with the boys, forone day after a boisterous night, the sea came up higher on the beachthan we had ever before seen it; and unsuspecting Gracie was caught bya wave and thrown down, and as it retired it seemed to drag her alongwith it; we older ones lost our presence of mind entirely, andscreamed and cried, and did nothing, but that heroic little fellow raninto the boiling surf and caught her dress, and with the dog'sassistance, dragged her to a safe place. She said he was, "Very niceand dood. "

One day, some of my girl companions proposed to visit the rocks thatlay at the mouth of Green river, just where it gently met the ocean. Right there, no end of sea-weed and shells, and things thrown up bythe ocean, could be found; and there were such curious rocks, withnooks and basins, where the water stayed in tiny pools, and there wewent fishing, and brought lunch, setting it out on the most convenientflat rock we could find. I tell you, cold chicken, pickles, cheese, and sponge cake, with milk, tasted as they never did before or since, to our party of hungry children. We climbed and fell, and laughed, andchatted, with the salt breeze lifting our hair, and fanning our brownfaces, and going out far on the point, we came upon a little shininglake, surrounded by rocks, upon which we could sit, and dabble ourfeet in the water. It was no place more than a foot deep, and wedecided to wade round in it. It was a comical sight to see usnavigating ourselves in procession through that water, but it was avery questionable joke, when Milly Sayre jumped and screamed, and ranlike a frantic creature from the pool, and up the rocks. 

"What's the matter, Milly, " we cried. "Are you hurt? What did yousee?" we breathlessly shouted. 

"Oh! oh!" was all she could gasp, pointing to a place she had justleft. We all scrambled out instantly, and peered over the rocks intothe water. 

[Illustration: INSEPARABLE FRIENDS. ]

What should we see but a little creature, grotesque and hideous, thatmade its way round in the water, with astounding celerity, throwingout legs or claws, or whatever they were, from every point of itscircumference. Its body was flat and was a green color above and pinkunder, and to add to its alarming appearance, it looked at us with twoblack eyes, in a very sinister and uncanny manner. We looked at eachother with blanched faces and speechless horror, and then kept a sharplookout, lest it might take it into its head (we couldn't tell if ithad any head, for the place where the eyes were, did not seemdifferent from any other part of its body, ) take it into its "internalconsciousness, " to crawl out on to the rocks and chase us. It gotthrough the water in a distracting manner, which was really quiteamusing after a few moments, and from being horribly frightened, webecame interested when we found it did not attempt the offensive. Wegave it some lunch and called it "Jack Deadeye, " and for the wholeafternoon he was the center of attraction. 

"Let us take him back with us, " I proposed. "We can get him into apail, and then we can have him in some pool nearer home, and see whathe'll turn into. I don't believe but what he'll be something else in afew days. "

My knowledge of natural history had always been lamentably meager, andmore than once I had brought the laugh upon myself by my ignorance. SoI forbore to predict what would be his ultimate form of beauty. 

"A whale!" said Susie Champney. 

"Oh, dear, no; whales don't have legs and claws, " said Estella Bascom. "It's a tadpole. "

"You're mistaken there, " said Mamie Fitz Hugh; "tadpoles are just thelittle jokers that do have tails. I've seen hundreds of them, and thiscreature has no tail. "

We all rushed again to the edge of the rocks to look at him, withadded wonder. 

"Well, we'll take that tad home on a pole, any way, " said NannieWhite, who was the cutest girl to say things in the whole crowd. Sheimmediately ran off to secure a piece of drift that was tumbling abouton the wet sand. But how to get him into a pail was the next problem. A committee of the whole was called. I thought we could obstruct hispath by putting the mouth of the pail in front of him, and then whenhe sailed into it, we could instantly pull him out. This was decidedupon; but how to get it down to him without falling in? A bright ideastruck me. I whipped off my flannel sash, and running it through thehandle, dashed it into the water; but that proceeding only frightenedhim--we must move more cautiously. We worked for an hour and had himin twice, but were so excited both times that he escaped. 

First time, Totty Rainsford shouted, "We've got him!" and immediatelyrolled off the rocks, head first, into the water. We were all soscared, with the water splashing, and she screaming at the top of hervoice, "Save me! Save me!" that Jack got away. She scrambled outpretty lively, and when we got him in again, we were all seized withanother fit of laughing at Totty, who, in her moist predicament, wasjumping round to dry herself, because she didn't want to go home, thathe crawled out as leisurely as possible. But we secured him at last, safe in the pail; and to prevent his crawling out, I clapped my sailorhat over the top of it, and the elastic kept it down tight. We put thepole through the handle and Estella and myself took hold of the ends, and we came near losing him every few minutes, owing to theinequalities of the ground. The pail would slide down to either end, as the pole inclined, and Estella would drop it and scream when shesaw the pail traveling noiselessly toward her, and if it hadn't beenfor my happy thought of putting the hat over him, he'd have got awayto his "happy hunting grounds, " or rather, waters, in short order. 

We arrived at the hotel at last, with Jack all safe, and the rest ofthe girls went to dress for dinner, and left me to find the boys, tohelp me deposit him in a secure place, for we were sure we should verygreatly astonish the boarders and achieve renown as having discovereda new species of marine beast. 

The boys were in a perfect ecstacy of curiosity to see what the girlshad caught. When I carefully took off the hat, I found the water hadall leaked out, and his monstership lay kicking and crawling at thebottom. 

"Ho! ho! ho!" shouted Willie, "is that what-cher call a curiosity?"

"Oh, Flossie! you have been dreadfully taken in, " said Regy. 

"Oh, no, " I said, "it's this wonderful animal that's been 'taken in, 'and he's going to be kept in, too. "

I began to feel, though, that there was a great laugh somewhere in thefuture, and that it was coming at our expense. 

"Why, Flossie! it's nothing but a baby crab, " said Regy. "I can get apeck of them in an hour, over in the river. "

I felt greatly chagrined, and blushed with mortification. The boyskept bursting out laughing every few minutes, asking such questionsas:

[Illustration: HOW MANY GIRLS DID IT TAKE TO LAND HIM?]

"How many girls did it take to land him?" "Was he gamey, Flossie?""Did ye bait him with a clam-shell, or an old boot? they'll snap atany thing. "

"Oh! I'd given away my dinner to have been there!" and then Regy wouldstir him up with a stick, and turn him on his back, all of whichcaused me to scream every time, and sent tremors all over me. 

"What-cher goin' to do with him?" inquired Willie. 

"I shall study his habitudes, and improve my knowledge of thecrustacea, " said I, giving him a sentence directly out of mytext-book. "I shall look at him every day. "

"Yes, and he'll look at you every night. I have read a book that toldabout a traveler that offended a crab once, and he informed the othercrabs, and they all made for him at night, and twenty thousand of themcame that night and crept under his tent, and sat there and looked athim. And there he was in the middle of them, and you know their eyesare fastened in their heads by a string, and they can throw them outof their heads and draw them back again; and, at a signal, they allthrew their eyes at him. He was so horrified that night, that he gotinsane and had to be sent to a lunatic asylum. "

"I've heard your stories before, Regy, and I simply don't credit them. We girls are going to hunt up a pond to put him in, where we can pethim, and educate him. "

"You'd best hunt up a frying pan to put him in; he's capital eatingfor breakfast, well browned, with hard-boiled eggs and parsley roundhim, " said Reginald. 

I told him if he couldn't do any better than to lie there and make anexhibition of his bad taste and ignorance, he'd better get up and workoff the fit. I insisted upon his helping me to fill the pail with saltwater, and hang him upon the rocks until we could make a future, permanent disposal of him. 

[Illustration: "WHERE WE CAN PET AND EDUCATE HIM. "]

That evening our parlor manners were somewhat less decorous andelegant, owing to the fact that Reginald and Willie had beenindustriously circulating the episode of the morning, with suchadditions as they thought would add point and piquancy, among the restof the boys, and there was no end of innuendo and witticism indulgedin, that caused the young gentlemen to retire in groups and laugh; andwe could hear such remarks as, "Dick, there was a whale hooked on thiscoast this afternoon, did you know it?" Or, "I think Jack Deadeye isthe most comical character in Pinafore, he's so crabbed. "

The girls of our party stood it as they best could; and in the morningwe stole out to look at our prize, after the boys had gone off, butthe tide had swept Jack and the pail out to sea. 

It was a long time before we heard the last of it, however. 

[Illustration: {A SMALL SAILING BOAT. }]

MAX AND BEPPO. 

 Down by the lake they trotted, All the summer day; Max and Beppo never plotted Yet, to run away. Two little donkey pets, Oh, I loved them so! When I was in Switzerland, just a year ago. 

 How they liked bananas! And our apples sweet; They had lovely manners, Every thing they'd eat. Then, I'd rub their furry ears, and they'd shake their bells, While old driver Raspar, funny stories tells. 

 Max turns round and winks so pretty, Little, sharp round eyes; Beppo sings a jolly ditty, Quite to our surprise. Then we mount, and off we go, up and down the mall, Never do they careless trip, never make a fall. 

 Once, a princess royal Wanted little Max; How to part those friends so loyal, Her little brain she racks. She would give her gold and silver, in a little purse, Then throw in for measure good, her scolding English nurse!

 Then she cried, and chattered All her pretty French, And her little feet she pattered, On the rustic bench. "My papa is king, " she said, "and I'd have you know, I shall have the donkey, and to prison shall you go. "

 How their tiny feet would scamper, Up the valley blue, Carrying each his generous hamper, And his rider, too. Sure of foot, they'd clamber round the mountain spur Where the foot-sore tourist scarcely dared to stir. 

 In this bright, sunshiny weather, I remember with a sigh, We no more can play together, Beppo, Max and I. Never dearer friends exist, in this world below, Than I made in Switzerland, just a year ago. 

[Illustration: {PANSIES. }]

PANSIES. 

 As I walked in my garden to-day, I saw a family sweet. Many wee faces looked up, From their cool and shady retreat. Some had blue eyes and golden curls, Some dark eyes and raven locks, Some were dressed in velvets so rare, And some wore quaint, gay frocks. I asked these babies so dear, To come and live ever with me! Then laughing so gaily they said; "We are _Pansies_, don't you see?"

 MRS. L. L. SLOANAKER. 

"COME, LITTLE BIRD!"

 "Come, little bird, I have waited some time, Light on my hand, and I'll give you a dime. I have a cage that will keep you warm, Free from danger, and safe from storm. "

 "No, little lady, we cannot do that, Not for a dime, nor a brand new hat. We are so happy, and wild, and free, Chee-dee-dee! Chee-dee-dee!"

 "Fly, pretty bird, fly down, and take Just a crumb of my Christmas cake; Santa Claus brought it to me, you know, Over the snow. Over the snow. "

 "Yes, we know of your home, so rare, And stockings hung in the fire-light there; We peeped through the window-blinds to see. Chee-dee-dee! Chee-dee-dee!

 "We were on the button-ball tree, Closer than we were thought to be; Soon you may have us in to tea, Chee-dee-dee! Chee-dee-dee!"

SIRENA'S TROUBLE. 

Adalina Patti was a doll of most trying disposition. You wouldn'ttell, when she woke up, what distracting thing she'd do first. I'veknown her, when seated at the breakfast table, in her high chair, nextto Sirena, her little mamma, I have known her to jerk suddenlyforward, and plunge her face right into a plate of buttered cakes andsyrup. 

This necessitated the removing of her from the table and a good dealof cleansing and re-dressing on the part of Bidelia, the hired girl. 

She had movable eyes; they were very lovely, but, if you'll believeit, she'd screw them round, just to be contrary, so that she'd lookcross-eyed for hours together. No sweet persuasion or threat ofpunishment could induce her to look like a doll in her right mind. 

This was not quite so bad though, as the outlandish noises she madewhen she didn't want to say "mamma, " which she could do verydistinctly when she first arrived, at Christmas. 

But a crisis in her petulant obstinacy came, when she wouldn't sitstill to have her hair combed, and it looked like a "hurrah's nest, "her brother Bob said. All her naughtiness came right out then. Sherolled one eye entirely up in her head, and left it there, and staredso wild with the other, that Sirena gave her a pretty lively shake, but she only dropped that eye and rolled up the other. 

This made her little mamma pause and meditate. She got provoked as shelooked at her, and then she gave her a double shake; then that baddoll rolled up both her eyes, and nothing could induce her to get themdown again. 

Oh, dear! How many dreadful things she looked like. There was avicious parrot in the park that made its eyes look just like Adalina'sdid, just before it stuck its head through the bars of its cage tobite people. And there was a stone lady, that was named "Ceres, " onone of the paths in the same park, and she kept her eyes rolled up allthe time, greatly to the terror of Sirena and Bidelia, who had to passher in coming home in the twilight. And down street there was atobacconist's sign that represented a fairy queen, with butterflywings, taking a pinch of snuff, and the weather had taken all thepaint off her eyes and she looked simply hideous; and Sirena graspedBidelia very tight, till they got round the corner. Now here was herlovely French doll looking like them and cutting up worse. She'd go tomamma with this trouble as she did with all others. 

She put her doll down with her face against the carpet, and takinghold of her pink kid arm, dragged her, not very gently, over thecarpet to her mother. 

At that moment in bounced Rob, who, immediately taking in thesituation of affairs, exclaimed, --"Oh, don't be so cruel to Adalina!Is she just horrid? You know, Rena, that's what you are, sometimes, yourself. What's the matter any way? What makes you look so glum?"

"This doll is acting dreadful; just look at her eyes!" said Sirena. 

"You can't tell any thing by any one's eyes, yours look like the 4thof July, now, and you're a delightful little girl, everybody says; youdon't whack things round, and scream, when the flowers bloom in thespring. "

He was to be repressed immediately. Sirena looked at her mother. 

"He wants to be funny, Sirena, " said her mother, soothingly. 

"Then he isn't funny; he's never funny, " said Sirena, drawing herselfup with dignity. 

"Totty Belmont says you're the teasenest, hatefulest boy she knows! Sothere, " remarked Sirena. 

"Oh, ho! I don't wonder the doll is scared. Why don't you treat thatpretty creature with some consideration? Dragging her over the carpet, and spoiling her pretty dress! Now you'll see, just as soon as shecomes to me, because I'm good-looking and nice, she'll put her eyesdown and smile at me as lovely as ever. "

He took the doll and jumped it up and down in the air, dancing aboutand singing, "Tra-la. "

As sure as the world! Down came the eyes, and Adalina was her charmingself again. 

"Now you see, " said Rob, "if you want people to be good to you andlove you, you must not be rude and ill-natured yourself. This doll isFrench, and particular, and she just won't look at cross little girls;so there!"

"I think, " said her mamma, "that Sirena will not get so angry with herdoll again. She looks as if she were ashamed of it now. Howeverdisagreeable we may think people are, it's best to watch ourselves, lest in finding fault with them, we fall into the same errors. "

[Illustration: SIRENA. ]

LADY VIOLET. 

 My little love, with soft, brown eyes, Looks shyly back at me, Beneath the drooping apple bough, She thinks I do not see. I cannot choose, I laugh with her, I catch her merry glee; Or stay you near, or go you far, Oh, little love, how sweet you are!

 A hue, like light within a rose, Is dimpling on her cheek, It wins a grace, it deepens now With every airy freak; A love-light in the rose like this, Ah, you may vainly seek; It shines for me, no shadows mar, Oh, little love, how fair you are!

 My heart clings to her pretty words, They will not be forgot; My happy brain will not discern, If they be wise or not. To ever be so charmed, so blessed, Ah, this were happy lot. My own, shine ever like a star Upon my life, so true you are. 

[Illustration: PAPA'S PETS. ]

ON TRIAL. 

Little Hal Keys was pretty sure to throw a stone at every pussy cat hesaw, and so all the cats around used to have a great deal to say abouthim as they sat together on the back fences, or when they had a partyin the big barn. At last the cats determined to do something about it, and so they said: "We will have him up for trial before Judge ThomasWhite. " He was the wisest and oldest of all the cats in town, and worespectacles that made him look even wiser than he was. Eleven of themost learned cats said they would be lawyers, and get other cats to bewitnesses, to tell what Hal had done, and try to get him punished. Oneof the eleven said: "For the sake of Hal's mother, who has always beenkind to me from the time I was a little kitten, I will be his lawyer, and try to get his punishment made as light as I can. "

[Illustration: DOLLY VARDEN ACCUSING JACK WITH CRUELTY. ]

Twelve cats had to be found who could say that they were not quitesure that Hal was such a bad boy as he seemed to be. They werestay-at-home cats, who did not know what was going on outside of thecomfortable houses where they lived. These twelve cats were to be thejury, and it was their duty to hear all that the lawyers and thewitnesses had to say about Hal's doings, and then to tell whether ornot they thought he ought to be punished. 

At last the day of the trial came; Judge Thomas White sat down in hisbig chair and took his pen; the lawyers took their places; the twelvejury cats were brought in, and put in a high box, so they could notjump out and run away. Hal was brought in and put in the prisoner'sbox, as they call it; and Christopher Gray, his mother's old cat, tookhis place beside Hal. Three cats, called "reporters, " came in withpockets full of paper and pencils, to write down all that is said; toprint in the newspapers, for all cats in the world to read. 

The first witness to tell all the bad she knew about Hal was hissister Alice's little Dolly Varden. How saucy she looked, with theblue ribbon tied around her neck, as she sat on the witness standtelling how Hal chased her from cellar to garret; and stepped on hertail; and gave her saucer of milk to the dog Jack whenever he got achance. "Cruel, cruel boy, " said Dolly Varden, "he teases his sisteralmost as much as he teases me. "

Hal trembled from head to foot when he heard what Dolly Varden said, for he knew it all was true, and he was much afraid that a very hardpunishment would be given to him. Then the old black cat, on whom Halhad thrown a dipper of hot water, was called to the witness stand. Poor old thing! the hot water had taken the fur off his back. Thencame another cat, limping up to the witness stand, whose leg had beenbroken by a stone which Hal had thrown. There were so many witnessesthat it would make my story too long to tell about them all. All thatChristopher Gray could say in Hal's favor was: "He has a good mother. "

"The more shame for him, " said one of the lawyers. 

When the jury had heard all that was to be said, they went out of theroom together; in five minutes they came back; all agreed that Halshould be punished. Then Judge Thomas White, in his most solemn tone, said: "Albert Keys, you are found guilty of great cruelty to good catseverywhere. I must, therefore, pronounce sentence upon you. You mustgo with us to Cat town for two days and one night. "

There were tears in Hal's eyes, but the Judge had no pity on him, andhe called in some of the strongest cats to take him. Oh! what a long, hard way it was; over fences, under houses, and through the barns. Itwas hard work for Hal to keep up with them, but they made him. What atime he had after he got to Cat town. All of the cats gathered aroundhim, and howled at him, and scratched his face and hands, and made himwish he was any place but there. At last when he was set free, henever could have found his way home, if pretty little Dolly Varden hadnot forgiven him, and shown him the way back. 

Hal was never known after that to throw a stone at a cat, or to treatone badly in any way. 

TWO LITTLE GIRLS. 

 They don't know much, these little girls, I'll tell you why 'tis so, They played away their time at school, And let their lessons go. 

 One took a slate to cipher, And all went very well, Until she came to four times eight, And that she could not tell. 

 The other would make pictures In her copy book at school, Of boys and girls and donkeys Which was against the rule. 

 But nothing good could come of it, And this is what befell; She tried to write to papa, And found she could not spell. 

 The teacher said, "Of all sad things, I would not be a dunce, But would learn to write and cipher, And begin the work at once. "

[Illustration: {A BOY WITH A BOOK LOOKS OVER THE CITY. }]

HELPFUL WORDS. 

A great astronomer was, once in his early days, working hard atmathematics, and the difficulties he met with, made him ready to giveup the study in despair. After listlessly looking out of the window, he turned over the leaves of his book, when the lining at the backattracted his attention. Looking at it closely, he found it was partof a letter written to a young man, apparently, like himself, disheartened with his difficulties. "Go on, sir, go on, " was thecounsel; "the difficulties you meet will disappear as you advance. "

This short sentence seemed to give the student fresh courage. Following out these simple words he applied himself with renewedenergy to his studies, and ultimately became one of the most learnedmen of his day. 

 D. 

FALSE SHAME. 

Do not be ashamed, my lad, if you have a patch on your elbow. It is nomark of disgrace. It speaks well for your industrious mother. For ourpart, we would rather see a dozen patches on your clothes than to haveyou do a bad or mean action, or to hear a profane or vulgar wordproceed from your lips. No good boy will shun you or think less of youbecause you do not dress as well as he does, and if any one laugh atyour appearance, never mind it. Go right on doing your duty. 

[Illustration: {FIVE DEER. }]

CLARA AND THE ANIMAL BOOK. 

Clara was a little western girl. She had lived in San Francisco untilshe was nine years old, when her dear mamma and papa brought her eastto live with Aunt Mary and Cousin Charlie, and they were growing veryfond of her indeed, for she was so sweet and kind and always obedient. 

One day she was sitting out under the blossoming trees on the oldWorden seat, her book lying, unread, in her lap, and her eyes having adreamy, far-away look in them, when, from the balcony overhead, sounded a piping little voice:

"Clara, Tousin Clara! has oo dot my Animal book?" and a small, rosy-cheeked boy came running to her, rubbing his sleepy, dark eyes. 

"Why, Charlie, have you finished your nap so soon? yes here is yourAnimal book, and what shall I read about?"

"Oh, about the deers, wiz their dreat big horns, and--and--_every_sin, " and he nestled close, satisfied he would hear all he wished. Soshe read a short sketch of the deer, its haunts and habits, when heinterrupted:

"Has oo ever _seen_ a deer--a real _live_ one?" and his black eyesopened wide. 

"Oh, yes; and when we were coming east, across the plains, wheneverthe train drew near a wooded stream, often the screaming whistle wouldstartle a herd of deer from their covert, and they would rush upthrough the trees, antlers erect, and sleek brown bodies quiveringwith alarm, and followed by the soft-eyed, gentle fawn. It was quite apretty picture. "

"Tell me more; what tind of a city did oo live in?"

[Illustration: CLARA AND THE ANIMAL BOOK. ]

"A very beautiful city, Charlie. You should see our noble bay, withthe great ships riding at anchor; our fine parks and statelybuildings. Then if you should go down in Market street, where most ofthe business is done, you would see some funny sights. All kinds ofpeople are there--Ranchmen, Indians, Spaniards, English, Americans andlots of queer little Chinamen, and they have small, dark shops full ofcurious things, and besides spread their wares on the walk. "

After telling about the orange groves and vineyards, the lovelyflowers, especially the fuchsia, which winds its branches like a vineover the porches, often reaching the upper story of a house, Charliethought it must be a wonderful country, and expressed his intention of_living_ in California when he became a man. 

In a Chinese village during a time of drought a missionary saw a rowof idols put in the hottest and dustiest part of the road. He inquiredthe reason and the natives answered: "We prayed our gods to send usrain, and they wont, so we've put them out to see how they like theheat and dryness. "

THE UNSOCIABLE DUCKS. 

 Three meadow birds went out in great glee, All in the sunshiny weather; Down by the pond, with the reeds waving free, Where the ducks were all standing together. 

 "Good day Mrs. Duck, " said the three meadow birds, "From all the news we can gather, You're a very good friend, of very few words. " Then one flew away with a feather. 

 "Quack!" said the duck, "That feather is mine, I see through your ways altogether; You want our feathers, your own nests to line, All in the bright summer weather. "

 "What shall we use?" said the three meadow birds, "There's no good in moss or in heather. " "We don't care a straw, " said the old blue drake, "If you line all your nests with sole leather. "

 "Quack! Quack! Quack! You must think we are slack! You talk too polite altogether; We've had quite enough of your high-flown stuff, And we know, you are birds of a feather. "

[Illustration: {DICKENS AND HIS CAT. }]

PUTTING OUT THE CANDLE. 

Charles Dickens, for that is the name of the gentleman you see sittingby the table, wrote many books and stories. Some of his stories areabout little children for grown folks to read, and others are for thechildren themselves. Mr. Dickens had a pet cat, that was always in hislibrary. Strange to say, it had no name. That was no matter, becausethe cat could not hear. He was deaf. But he liked very much to bepetted, and plainly showed sometimes that he was not pleased to havehis master do any thing else. One evening, when Mr. Dickens wassitting at the table reading, his candle suddenly went out. He did notknow why it should have done so, but he got up and lighted it. In afew moments it began to get dark again, and he looked up quickly atthe candle, and saw puss just raising his paw to put it out. "What didhe do?" He gave the cat a loving little pat and went on with hisreading. What a sly cat was that to find a way to make his masternotice him. 

SULKY ARCHIE. 

BY C. MANNERS SMITH. 

"It must be nice to be a sailor, and I wish I was one. Every thinggoes wrong and mother is always scolding me, and father is never donegrowling; I am getting tired of it. "

The speaker was a little, round-cheeked lad, of about nine years ofage. He was standing, with a tall, fair-haired girl, evidently hissister, on the edge of the river Wyncombe. He was not a lively boy. Hewas one of those thoughtful, gloomy little boys who are alwaysdreaming; always thinking and imagining some fancied injury fromeither father or mother. 

[Illustration: "NOBODY CARES. "]

Archie Phillips was the little boy's name, and he and his sister hadgot a holiday and were watching a party of older children from theWynne High School, who had come down to the river to spend theafternoon. There was Algernon Wright with a large model yacht, andWillie Schofield, the Mayor's son, with a new silver-mounted fishingrod. They were all as happy and full of frolic as all boys in thespring-time of life ought to be. Little Archie was, however, of amorose temperament, and did not share in any of the amusements. 

The village of Wynne is a fishing village, and is approached from thesea by a beautiful cove on the Cornish coast. The town is built on theslopes of the hills reaching down to the water's edge, and the riverWynne empties itself into the sea near by. 

It is, indeed, a pleasant place. At the time of this story all theboys of Wynne, young and old, were crazy after maritime pursuits andsports. They spent the bulk of their holiday time either in sailingabout the bay, or in fishing, bathing, or holding model yacht races inthe cove. 

"Why don't I have a yacht in the place of a silly ball? Why don't Ihave boys to play with instead of Lucy and Gyp? What do girls or dogsknow about a top or a cat hunt? I'm disgusted! I'll go for a sailor!I'll run away; there!"

The girl took no notice of this discourse. It was no new thing for herto hear grumbling from her brother, and she was accustomed to bear itwithout murmur or dissent. Presently she ran away, along the riverbank, with her doll, to a shady place, where she knew the sun was notstrong, and where some rushes overhung the path. There she could puther doll to sleep. It was no use asking Archie to join her. He was tooold and too much of a man to enter into any such stupidity. 

Presently Archie sat down in the shade, on the balustrades of thechurchyard and watched the glee of the High-Schoolboys with a sulkyenvy. 

It was a glorious summer afternoon. The sky overhead was one vast, inverted field of blue, without a single speck of cloud. The hot sunwas beating down almost perpendicularly, and the rays penetrated theleaves, shedding a lattice-work pattern on the ground. 

"I know Ben Huntly, the boat-builder, will tell me how to go to sea. He has been a sailor himself, and I know he will tell me all about it. Nobody cares; well, mother might, perhaps, a bit, but then, I don'tknow. "

Then he paused in his musings and thought of all the injustice done tohim by his mother. He thought, like all gloomy, wretched little boys, of all that was ill. He didn't for one moment remember, how, that verymorning, the self-same, unjust mother, after packing up his littlelunch-basket, had put her arms round his neck, and a littlered-cheeked apple in his pocket, and told him to keep away from theriver. Oh, no, he seemed to have quite forgotten all that. 

Then the sun went behind a cloud and Archie felt the cool wind, whichblew from the cove, on his cheek, so he jumped down from his musingplace and sped away as fast as his legs would carry him toward thehouse of the boat-builder. He ran across the green, down the grassyslopes and across a stretch of shingly beach, to the cottage of hisfriend. 

Ben Huntly, the boat-builder, was a good-hearted fellow, and wasextremely fond of all the children of the village. He had that methodpossessed by few people of searching into the heart of a child andarguing with him in a manner suitable for a child's understanding. 

Archie had often sought Ben's counsel when things seemed to go wrong, and it was seldom that the boat-builder had failed to convince theboy, even to his satisfaction, that he was wrong. 

It was an off day for the boat-builder. He was sitting, smoking hispipe, in the cottage porch, and reading a well-thumbed copy of "Gray'sMaster Mariner. " He welcomed Archie with a secret delight, for heknew, by his little friend's face, that he was brooding over somefancied injury, and it gave the boat-builder pleasure to talk hislittle friend out of his troubles. 

"Well, Archie, what's new in the wind, " said Ben, as he greeted theboy with a grasp of the hand. "It seems almost an age since I saw you, my boy. "

Little Archie sat down on a large stone bench in the porch, and toldBen his story. His mother had been vexed with him that morning. Shehad asked him to call at the rectory with a message for Doctor Hart, and he wanted to cut grass at the time, and objected. His mother didnot scold him, oh, no, Ben, she sent Carrie, who willingly took themessage, and his father had called him a name. Then, again, he had notoys like other boys. Some had a pony; he couldn't have one. Hisfather always answered his request for a pony with the reply that hecouldn't afford one just then and he would see about it some day. IfBen would only tell him how to go to sea he would certainly run awaythe next day. 

[Illustration: "AND DISCUSSED LITTLE ARCHIE'S PURPOSED FLIGHT. "]

Now, Ben knew the character of little Archie better, perhaps, than hisown mother did; so, when he had given the little boy a draught of coolmilk from the cottage kitchen, Ben lit his pipe afresh, and took downan old telescope, a relic of his sea-faring days, from the wall. Theyoung man and the boy then strolled across a low, level tract of sand, to a grassy hillock, formed by the current of the Wyncombe. Here theysat down in the fast waning twilight, and discussed little Archie'spurposed flight. 

"Yes, Archie, " said Ben, "a sailor's life is well enough, if you don'tmind hard beds and harder words. If you can eat salty meat and mouldybread it's a fine life, Archie. There is no life I'd like better ifthey'd give you fresher water and not quite so many cruel blows. But, if you've made up your mind, Archie, and think you can go to bednights in a rolling, tossing sea, with the wind howling and the rainpouring, and your mother thousands of miles away, looking at yourlittle empty bed, I should think very seriously about it. " Archielooked thoughtful, as the gloom deepened on his face, and silence fellon the pair for a time. 

[Illustration: ARCHIE THINKING OF BEN'S STORY. ]

Suddenly Ben spied a French frigate looming against the darkening skyand showed it to Archie through the telescope. He explained all theparts of the ship and dwelt long in his answers to the lad'squestions. He told little Archie how, early one stormy morning, he hadbeen awakened from his bed in the cottage by the sound of guns away atsea, how he had descended to the beach with a lot of the villagers, tofind the waves beating mercilessly over a great broken ship. He toldhow they had all stood, in the leaden morning, stricken with dread atthe sight of the disaster they were all powerless to prevent; leaninghard against the wind, their breath and vision often failing as thesleet and spray rushed at them from the great mountain of foaming seawhich kept breaking on the rocks in the cove. He told farther, how, before all their eyes, the vessel had given one great heave backwardsand sank beneath the waves forever; how they could faintly hear theheart-rending screams of women and children above the storm as thegreat waste of waters covered the struggling vessel. He told Archiethat, on the following evening, while he was mending a boat down thebay, he came across something lying amongst a mass of sea-weed, and onturning it over had found it to be the dead body of a sailor--a fair, curly-headed youth. 

"He was clad, " said Ben, "in a pair of linen trowsers and a sea shirt, and the weeds and sand were all tangled in his hair. I raised him upfrom the beach and a small bundle fell out of his bosom. I laid him inmy boat and went for Doctor Hart. It was the talk of the village fordays. Dr. Hart found the bundle to contain a packet of letters writtenin a feeble hand and signed by the dead sailor's mother. They wereloving letters of expected joy at her boy's return. "

Ben would have gone on with the story, but he was attracted by theappearance of Archie. The little lad was sitting, with his pale faceturned up to Ben, and with two great tears, as large as horse beans, in the corners of his eyes. On meeting Ben's gaze he broke downthoroughly and burst into a flood of tears, throwing his arms roundthe honest boat-builder's neck, sobbing on his breast. 

"Oh, Ben, I don't want to leave mother; I am a wicked boy. If she wereto die, Ben, what should I do? Do you think she is alive now, Ben? Idon't want to go away, Ben. "

The boat-builder soothed the little lad and smiled at the success ofhis purpose to divert the boy's mind. 

It was now nearly night, and time for Archie to go home, so Ben tookhim on his shoulders and carried him to Mr. Archer's house, where thefamily were all waiting supper for the little boy. 

Archie ran to his mother as soon as he got in and kissed her over andover again. He told her his little story, making the good woman'sheart overflow with love for her little son. 

Ben stayed to supper with the family that night, and all was brightand happy as the merry party sat round the board laughing and jokingto their heart's content. 

 * * * * *

Archie is a young man now, and has outgrown his gloomy, broodingdisposition. He is a clerk in the office of a rich corn merchant inOxbridge, the nearest market to Wynne, and shows every tendency tobecome a successful and respected business man. 

Occasionally, when things do not happen to his satisfaction, and hefeels the old spirit of discontent rising, he checks it by reflectingon his early unhappiness. If his mother or father are harsh or angrywith him, or if Mr. Gayton, his employer, speaks quickly or loudly tohim, he stifles any tendency to sulk and become angry by thinking ofBen Huntly and the story of the wreck. 

A WISH FOR WINGS. 

 O dear little birdie, how nice it must be To be able to fly Far away to the sky, Or to sit on the toss-away top of a tree. 

 I wish you would lend me your wings for a day. I have two little feet That can run on the street, One step at a time, but I can't fly away. 

 I would fly to the woods if I only had wings; Over house-top and tree, Like a bird or a bee, And sit by the side of the thrush while she sings. 

 I would count the blue eggs in her snug little nest; I would stay all day long, To hear her sweet song, And bring home a feather of gold from her breast. 

 MRS. S. J. BRIGHAM. 

CONSEQUENCES: A PARABLE. 

 The baby held it in his hand, An acorn green and small, He toyed with it, he tossed it high, And then he let it fall!

 He sought for it, and sorely wept, Or did his mother know (Though sweet she kissed and clasped her boy) What loss had grieved him so. 

 Then he was borne to other lands, And there he grew to man, And wrought his best, and did his most, And lived as heroes can. 

 But in old age it came to pass He trod his native shore, Yet did not know the pleasant fields Where he had played before. 

 Beneath a spreading oak he sat, A wearied man and old, And said, --"I feel a strange content My inmost heart enfold. 

 "As if some sweet old secret wish Was secretly fulfilled, As if I traced the plan of life Which God Himself has willed!

 "Oh, bonnie tree which shelters me, Where summer sunbeams glow, I've surely seen thee in my dreams!-- Why do I love thee so?"

 ISABELLA FYVIE MAYO. 

[Illustration: MATCHES. ]

COMFORTABLE MRS. CROOK. 

BY RUTH LAMB. 

If Mrs. Jemima Crook happened to be in a very good temper, when takinga cup of tea with some old acquaintance, she would sometimes allude toher private affairs in these words: "I don't deny it; Crook has leftme comfortable. " This was not much to tell, for Mrs. Crook was notgiven to confidences, and a frequent remark of hers was: "I know myown business, and that is enough for me. I don't see that I have anycall to fill other people's minds and mouths with what does notconcern them. "

Seeing, however, that Mrs. Crook's own mind and heart were entirelyfilled by Mrs. Crook herself, it was, perhaps, as well that she shouldnot occupy too much of the attention and affection of her neighbors. 

It is a poor, narrow heart, and a small mind, that find self enough tofill them; but these sorts are not unknown, and Mrs. Crook was asample of such. 

When she spoke of having been left "comfortable" by her deceasedpartner, there was a look of triumph and satisfaction on her face, anda "No-thanks-to-any-of-you" kind of tone in her voice, that must havejarred on the ear of a listener. 

No one ever saw a tear in Mrs. Crook's eye, or heard an expression ofregret for the loss of "Crook" himself. He had been dead and out ofsight and mind almost these ten years past. He was merely rememberedas having done his duty in leaving his widow "comfortable. " Peoplewere left to speculate as they chose about the amount represented bythe expression. It would not have been good for the man or woman whohad ventured to ask a direct question on the subject, but everybodyagreed that Mrs. Crook must have something handsome. Surely"comfortable" means free from care, both as regards to-day andto-morrow: not only enough, but a little more, or else anxiety mightstep in and spoil comfort. If Mrs. Crook had more than enough, shetook care not to give of her abundance. Neither man, woman nor childwas ever the better for the surplus, if such there were. One of herfavorite expressions was, "I don't care for much neighboring; I preferkeeping myself to myself. "

"And you keep every thing else to yourself, " muttered one who hadvainly tried to enlist her sympathy for another who was in sicknessand trouble. 

Mrs. Crook had a pretty garden, well-stocked with flowers, accordingto the season. She was fond of working in it, and might be seen theredaily, with her sun-bonnet on, snipping, tying and tending her plants. 

Children do so love flowers, and, thank God, those who live in countryplaces have grand gardens to roam in, free to all, and planted by Hisown loving hand. But in town it is different, and Mrs. Crook livedjust outside one; far enough away from its smoke to allow ofsuccessful gardening, not too far to prevent little feet fromwandering thither from narrow courts and alleys, to breathe a purerair, and gaze, with longing eyes, at the fair blossoms. It alwaysirritated Mrs. Crook to see these dirty, unkempt little creaturesclustering around her gate, or peeping through her hedge. 

"What do you want here?" she would ask, sharply. "Get away with you, or I will send for a policeman. You are peeping about to see if youcan pick up something; I know you are. Be off, without any moretelling!"

The light of pleasure called into the young eyes by the sight of theflowers would fade away, and the hopeful look leave the dirty faces, as Mrs. Crook's harsh words fell on the children's ears. But as theyturned away with unwilling, lingering steps, heads would be stretched, and a wistful, longing gaze cast upon the coveted flowers, until theywere quite lost to sight. 

There was a tradition amongst the youngsters that a very small childhad once called, through the bars of the gate: "P'ease, Missis, dogive me a f'ower. " Also that something in the baby voice had so farmoved Mrs. Jemima Crook, that she had stooped to select one or two ofthe least faded roses among all those just snipped from the bushes, and given them to the daring little blue eyes outside, with thisinjunction, however:

"Mind you never come here asking for flowers any more. "

This report was long current among the inhabitants of a city court, but it needs confirmation. 

Mrs. Crook objected to borrowers also, and perhaps she was not so muchto be blamed for that. Most of us who possess bookshelves, and oncedelighted in seeing them well filled, look sorrowfully at gaps made byborrowers who have failed to return our treasures. But domesticemergencies occur even in the best regulated families, and neighborlyhelp may be imperatively required. It may be a matter of Christianduty and privilege too, to lend both our goods and our personal aid. Mrs. Crook did not think so. Lending formed no part of her creed. Ifother people believed in it, and liked their household goods to travelup and down the neighborhood, that was their look-out, not hers. 

"I never borrow, so why should I lend?" asked Mrs. Crook. "Besides, Iam particular about my things. My pans are kept as bright and clean asnew ones, and if my servant put them on the shelves, as some people'sservants replace theirs after using, she would not be here long. No, thank you. When I begin to borrow, I will begin to lend, but not untilthen. "

Mrs. Crook's sentiments were so well known that, even in a case ofsickness, when a few spoonfuls of mustard were needed for immediateuse in poultices, the messenger on the way to borrow it, passed herdoor rather than risk a refusal, whereby more time might be lost thanby going farther in the first instance. 

Many were the invitations Mrs. Crook received to take part in the workof different societies. One lady asked her to join the Dorcas meeting. 

"You can sew so beautifully, " she said. "You would be a greatacquisition to our little gathering. "

The compliment touched a tender point. Mrs. Crook was proud of herneedlework, but to dedicate such skill in sewing to makingunder-clothing for the poorest of the poor: The idea was monstrous!

Mrs. Crook answered civilly, that she could not undertake to gobackwards and forwards to a room half a mile off. It would be a wasteof time. Besides, though it was probably not the case in thatparticular meeting, she had heard that there was often a great deal ofgossip going on at such places. The visitor was determined not to beoffended, and she replied, gently, that there was no chance of gossip, for, after a certain time had been given to the actual business of themeeting, such as planning, cutting out, and apportioning work, one ofthe ladies read, whilst the rest sewed. "But, " she added, "if you arewilling to help us a little, and object to joining the meeting at theroom, perhaps you would let me bring you something to be made at home. There is always work for every willing hand. "

Then Mrs. Crook drew herself up and said she did not feel inclined totake in sewing. She had her own to do, and did it without requiringassistance, and she thought it was better to teach the lower classesto depend upon themselves than to go about pampering poor people andencouraging idleness, as many persons were so fond of doingnow-a-days. No doubt they thought they were doing good, but, for herpart, she believed that in many cases they did harm. 

The visitor could have told tales of worn-out toilers, laboring almostnight and day to win bread for their children, but unable to findeither material for a garment or time to make it. She could havepleaded for the widow and the orphan, if there had seemed any feelingsto touch, any heart to stir. But Mrs. Crook's hard words and looksrepelled her, and she went her way, after a mere "Good-morning. I amsorry you cannot see your way to help us. "

No chance of widows weeping for the loss of Mrs. Crook, or telling ofher almsdeeds and good works, or showing the coats and garments madefor them by her active fingers!

It was the same when some adventurous collector called upon Mrs. Crookto solicit a subscription. She had always something to say against theobject for which money was asked. If it were for the sufferers by anaccident in a coal mine or for the unemployed at a time of tradedepression:

"Why don't they insure their lives like their betters? Why don't theysave something, when they are getting good wages? I am not going toencourage the thriftless, or help those who might help themselves, ifthey would think beforehand. "

At length every one gave up trying to enlist her services, or toobtain contributions from her, for the support of any good cause. AndMrs. Crook bestowed all her thoughts, her affections, her time and hermeans, on the only person she thought worthy of them all--namely Mrs. Crook herself. 

AN EVENING SONG. 

BY COUSIN ANNIE. 

 Twilight dews are gath'ring, The bright day's done; Upon thy downy couch Rest, little one. 

 Each tiny bird's hieing Home to its nest; Each flower-head's nodding Upon its breast. 

 Be still now, little heart, Until the morrow Brings again its share Of joy and sorrow. 

 May angels round thy couch Be ever nigh, And over thy slumbers chant Their lullaby. 

[Illustration: {A LITTLE GIRL IN THOUGHTFUL POSE. }]

"BUT THEN. "

It was a queer name for a little girl, and it was not her realname--that was Lizzie--but everybody called her "But Then. "

"My real name is prettier, _but then_, I like the other pretty well, "she said, nodding her short, brown curls merrily. And that sentenceshows just how she came by her name. 

If Willie complained that it was a miserable, rainy day, and theycouldn't play out of doors, Lizzie assented brightly, --

"Yes; _but then_, it is a real nice day to fix our scrapbooks. "

When Kate fretted because they had so far to walk to school, herlittle sister reminded her, --

"_But then, it's all the way through the woods, you know_, and that'sever so much nicer than walking on pavements in a town. "

When even patient Aunt Barbara pined a little because the rooms in thenew house were so few and small compared with their old home, a rosyface was quietly lifted to hers with the suggestion, --

"_But then_, little rooms are the best to cuddle all up together in, don't you think, Auntie?"

"Better call her 'Little But Then, ' and have done with it, " declaredBob, half-vexed, half-laughing. "No matter how bad any thing is, sheis always ready with her 'but then, ' and some kind of consolation onthe end of it. "

And so, though no one really intended it, the new name began. Therewere a good many things that the children missed in their new home. Money could have bought them even there; but if the money had not gonefirst, their father would scarcely have thought it necessary to leavehis old home. They had done what was best under the circumstances;still the boys felt rather inclined to grumble about it one wintermorning when they were starting off to the village on an errand. 

"Just look at all the snow going to waste, without our having a chanceto enjoy it, " said Will; "and the ice too--all because we couldn'tbring our sleds with us when we moved. "

"_But then_, you might make one yourself, you know. It wouldn't bequite so pretty, but it would be just as good, " suggested Little ButThen. 

"Exactly what I mean to do as soon as I get money enough to buy two orthree boards; but I haven't even that yet, and the winter is nearlyhalf gone. "

"If we only had a sled to-day, Sis could ride, and we could go on theriver, " said Bob. "It's just as near that way, and we could gofaster. "

"It is a pity, " admitted the little girl. "_But then_, I've thought ofsomething--that old chair in the shed! If we turned it down, its backwould be almost like runners, and so--"

"Hurrah! that's the very thing!" interrupted the boys; and the oldchair was dragged out in a twinkling, and carried down to the river. Then away went the merry party, laughing and shouting, on the smoothroad between the snowy hills, while Gyp followed, frisking andbarking, and seeming to enjoy the fun as much as any of them. 

"Now we'll draw our sled up here, close under the bank, where nobodywill see it, and leave it while we go up to the store, " said Bob, whenthey had reached the village. 

Their errand was soon done, and the children ready to return; but asthey set forth Will pointed to a dark spot a little way out on theice. 

"What is that? It looks like a great bundle of clothes. "

It was a bundle that moved and moaned as they drew near, and proved tobe a girl, a little bigger than Lizzie. She looked up when theyquestioned her, though her face was pale with pain. 

"I slipped and fell on the ice, " she explained, "and I'm afraid I'vebroken my leg, for it is all twisted under me, and I can't move it orget up. I live in the village. That's my father's carpenter shop whereyou see the sign. I could see it all the time, and yet I was afraidI'd freeze here before any one saw me. Oh dear! it doesn't seem as ifI could lie here while you go for my father. "

"Why, you needn't, " began Bob; but the girl shook her head. 

"I can't walk a step, and you two are not strong enough to carry meall the way. You'd let me fall, or you'd have to keep stopping torest; and putting me down and taking me up again would almost killme. "

"Oh, but we'll only lift you into the chair, just as carefully as wecan, then we can carry you easy enough, " said Will. 

And in that way the poor girl was borne safely home; and the childrenlingered long enough to bring the surgeon and hear his verdict that"Young bones don't mind much being broken, and she will soon be aboutagain, as well as ever. "

[Illustration: "BUT THEN, IT'S ALL THE WAY THROUGH THE WOODS, YOUKNOW. "]

"But I don't see how you happened to have a chair so handy, " said herfather to the boys. And when they explained that they were using itfor a sled, he said, with a significant nod of his head, --"Your sled, was it? Well, I shall be surprised if my shop does not turn you out abetter sled than that, just by way of thanks for your kindness. "

"_But then_, wasn't it good that it was only the old chair that wehad to-day?" asked Little But Then, as she told the story to AuntBarbara at home. "Oh Auntie, I had the nicest kind of a time!"

"I believe you had, " answered Aunt Barbara, smiling; "for a brave, sunny spirit, that never frets over what it has not, but always makesthe best of what it has where it is, is sure to have a good time. Itdoes not need to wait for it to come--it has a factory for making it. "

[Illustration: {A LITTLE GIRL AND BOY. }]

--The following is an Arabic proverb taken from the mouth of anOriental: "Men are four. 1. He who knows not, and knows not he knowsnot. He is a fool; shun him. 2. He who knows not, and knows he knowsnot. He is simple; teach him. 3. He who knows, and knows not he knows. He is asleep; wake him. 4. He who knows, and knows he knows. He iswise; follow him. "

WHAT THE SNAIL SAID. 

 "You little chicks, tho' you peck at my dress, I will not get angry at that; I know you would gobble me up if you could, As quick as a worm or a gnat. "

 "Say, little snail, you had better go on, They may try the same trick upon you. " "No, no, " said the snail, with his hard coat of mail, "I don't care a rush if they do. 

 "Little girl, there's no harm to cause me alarm, I'll sit here and watch them a spell, But as soon as they pounce, I'll cheat them at once, By getting right into my shell. "

 "But listen, wise snail, the old hen in the coop Has her eye very closely on you; And if she gets out, it may put you about, Now mind, what I tell you is true. "

 "But dear little girl, she is fast in her house; No, no, she can't touch me, no, no. But if that respectable fowl should get out, Oho!" said the snail. "Oho!"

ONLY NOW AND THEN. 

 Think it no excuse, boys, Merging into men, That you do a wrong act "Only now and then. " Better to be careful As you go along, If you would be manly, Capable and strong. 

 Many a wretched sot, boys, That one daily meets Drinking from the beer-kegs, Living in the streets, Or at best, in quarters Worse than any pen, Once was dressed in broadcloth Drinking now and then. 

 When you have a habit That is wrong, you know, Knock it off at once, lads, With a sudden blow. Think it no excuse, boys, Merging into men, That you do a wrong act "Only now and then. "

A SERPENT AMONG THE BOOKS. 

One day, a gentleman in India went into his library and took down abook from the shelves. As he did so, he felt a slight pain in hisfinger, like the prick of a pin. He thought that a pin had been stuck, by some careless person, in the cover of the book. But soon his fingerbegan to swell, then his arm, and then his whole body, and in a fewdays he died. It was not a pin among the books, but a small and deadlyserpent. 

There are many serpents among the books now-a-days; they nestle in thefoliage of some of our most fascinating literature; they coil aroundthe flowers whose perfume intoxicates the senses. People read and arecharmed by the plot of the story, and the skill with which thecharacters are sculptured or grouped, by the gorgeousness of thewood-painting, and hardly feel the pin-prick of the evil that isinsinuated. But it stings and poisons. 

Let us watch against the serpents and read only that which is healthy, instructive and profitable. 

[Illustration: GOOD NIGHT. ]

"LITTLE MOTHER. "

BY JULIA HUNT MOREHOUSE. 

It was Judge Bellow's big, fine house, that stood on the corner by thepark. Every body knew that, but every body did _not_ know that the onelittle girl who lived in that house was restless and unhappy and oftencross. 

"Why do you roam about so, Nell? Why don't you settle down tosomething?" her mother asked, one bright, spring day. 

"Oh, I am sick of everything. I have read all my books, and I hate mypiano. The croquet isn't up, and there is nobody to play with me, ifit was. "

"Why don't you find some kind of work to do?"

"That is just the trouble. There's nothing that needs to be done;servants for every thing; and what does crocheting amount to, andplastering some little daubs of paint on some plush! Why, I believethat little Dutch girl that sells things out of her big basket, on ourcorner, every morning, is a good deal happier than I am. I mean to askher sometime what makes her so. "

 * * * * *

A few weeks more and the hot summer came on, and Nell missed thelittle Dutch girl on the corner. It really worried her that thebright, womanly face did not come any more, but she supposed she hadmoved to a better stand or perhaps left the city. 

One morning Nell took a walk with her teacher; a long walk, for theyfound themselves outside the city, where there were open holds andevery house had green grass and trees close around it. 

"What a little, _little_ house! That one with the woodbine all overit--and I do believe--yes, it really _is_ my little Dutch girlscrubbing the steps, " and away she bounded and was soon beside thelittle worker. 

"Oh! I'm so glad to find you again! Why don't you come to our cornerany more?"

"Baby's been sick a long, good time, " explained Lena, wiping her handson her apron. "Won't you ladies please to walk in, if you please, ma'am?"

It was a queer little figure that showed them into the cool, cleanroom; short and broad and dumpy. Her shoes were coarse, her dress offaded black, with a white kerchief at the neck, so like an old woman. Her face too, was short and broad; her nose was _very_ short and hereyes very narrow. So you see she was not pretty, but her face was alllove and sunshine. She sat down on a low stool and took up the baby insuch a dear, motherly way, smoothing its hair and dress and kissing itsoftly. 

"You don't mean that you live here all alone?" asked Nell. 

"Oh, no; there is Hans and baby and me, and there is old Mrs. Price inthe other part. "

"But your father and mother?"

"Mother died a year ago. Oh, she was one such good mother, but babycame in her place. Baby looks like mother, and now I have to be herlittle mother, you see, " and she set the little dumpling out upon herknee, with such pride and tenderness. 

"And your father?"

The little Dutch girl dropped her head and answered very low, "Fatherhas been gone a long time. They say he is shut up somewhere. He don'tcome home any more. "

"Oh, how very dreadful! I don't see where you get money to buy thingswith. "

"Hans is fifteen and works in a shop. He gets some money, and he willget a good deal, by-and-by. The rest _I_ get from the flowers. You seeI raise them myself, mostly. "

"But do you get enough for clothes and playthings, and do you alwayshave enough to eat?" persisted Nell. 

"_I_ don't have any clothes, I make over mother's. We have Kitty forplaythings. Enough to eat? _Baby_ always has enough, don't she, lovie?" cuddling her up close. 

A new world was opening up to Nell. 

"Excuse me, but don't you have any pleasure trips, or birthdayparties, or Christmas?"

"No; I don't just know what those things are, but we have nice beefand apples for dinner on Christmas. "

"And are you always happy as you seem--really happy?"

The "little mother" opened her eyes wide in wonder. "Why, _of course_. What else should we be? Mother always told us it was wicked to becross, and that we must not fret much, even over her going away toheaven. "

Nell did some hard thinking on her way home, and being a sensiblelittle girl, she made up her mind that one way to be happy is to be_busy_, and not only busy, but useful, and she set about the new wayin earnest. 

She learned that it is possible to be unselfish and happy _any where_;she in her wealthy home, and the "little mother" in her one room, withher baby and her flowers. 

LITTLE SCATTER. 

MRS. JEANE A. WARD. 

She was her mother's darling, and a very good little girl in mostthings. With her yellow hair, big blue eyes and rosy cheeks; in thepretty blue dress and red sash; nice little slippers on her plumpfeet, she made the whole house lively and bright, and sometimes shemade plenty of work for every one in it, too, for she was a terribleNelly to scatter playthings. The dolly would be on the chair, her tornpicture-books over the floor, her ball kicking about everywhere, andher blocks any where. 

What could mother do with such a girl? When she would talk to her, Nelly would promise not to do so any more, and would pick up the dollyand the pictures, and the ball and the blocks, and her other toys, andtake them to her own corner play-house and fix them all in order, andbe real good for a little while. 

But the 'real good' would last only a little while and then out allwould come again, and Little Scatter would have them around just asbefore. 

That is the way she came to be given that name, and she was old enoughto know she well deserved it, and to be ashamed of it; yet she couldnot break off the bad habit. 

She had a kind, good mother, who saw that she would have to, in someway, cure her little daughter of such slovenly habits or else shewould grow up to be a very careless, untidy woman, and the mother waswise enough to know that it is more easy to correct such matters whenchildren are young than when they grow older. 

She did not want to punish Nelly severely, and so, whenever LittleScatter had gotten all her toys over the floor, tables, sofa andchairs, mamma would call her and say:

"Now, Nelly, every thing you have is lying about, it is time for myLittle Scatter to get gathered in close;" and then Miss Nelly wouldhave to go close to the wall and be shut in by a chair and stand thereuntil mamma's watch said half an hour had passed. This was very hardon a little girl that loved to run around so much as Nelly did, andthough she knew she deserved all the punishment, yet she used to begvery hard and promise, but she always had to stay the full time; thenshe would come out, get her mamma's kiss and forgiveness, pick up hertoys and be happy. 

It did not take many such punishments before Nelly began to thinkbefore she acted so carelessly, and in a short time she was almost asneat about such matters as she was sweet and good in every thing else. If ever there were a few of her things lying about, mamma had only tocall her 'Little Scatter, ' to make her remember, and so hard did shetry to correct herself of this bad habit that in a few months she andthose about her almost forgot that she had ever been known by such anuntidy name. 

WHAT CHICKY THINKS. 

Seems to me I must be growing big very fast. I don't believe I couldget back into that little house if I should try. I don't want to goback, either. I had to work too hard to get out the first time. Therewas no door, so I had to break the house all in pieces with my littlebeak. I couldn't stand up, you know, when I was inside. I got verytired sitting on my little legs. I wonder how I knew enough to breakopen my little house? Nobody ever told me that it was prettier in thegarden than in my house. 'Tis rather cold out here. I never was coldbefore; seems to me some little chick has carried off a part of myhouse. If I see him, with it, I'll tell him he's a thief. Oh, dear, dear! something is scratching my back. May be it's the little thief! Iwish I could look and see who it is. 

[Illustration: {A JUST-HATCHED CHICK. }]

STOP-A-WHILE. 

There is growing in Africa a thorn called "Stop-a-while. " If a persononce gets caught in it, it is with difficulty he escapes with hisclothes on his back, and without being greatly torn, for every attemptto loosen one part of his dress only hooks more firmly another part. The man who gets caught by this thorn is in a pitiable plight ere hegets loose. You would not like--would you, boys? to be caught in thisthorn. And yet many, I fear, are being caught in a worse thorn than"Stop-a-while. " Where do you spend your evenings? At home, I do hope, studying your lessons, and attending to mother's words; for if youhave formed a habit of spending them on the streets with bad boys, youare caught in a thorn far worse. 

[Illustration: {BIRDS PERCHING ON PLANTS. }]

THE BIRDS' CONCERT. 

MRS. L. L. SLOANAKER. 

 There's going to be a concert Out in the apple trees; When the air is warm and balmy, And the floating summer breeze Waft down the pale pink blossoms Upon the soft green grass:-- A lovely place to sit and dream, For each little lad and lass!

 The concert will open early When the sun lights up the skies:-- You'll miss the opening anthem If you let those sleepy eyes Stay closed, and do not hasten Out 'neath the orchard trees, Where the pink and snowy shower Is caught in the morning breeze. 

 The robins will swing in the branches, And carol, and whistle and sing. The thrush, who is coming to-morrow, Will a charming solo bring. The wrens will warble in chorus, Rare music, so touching and sweet; The orioles sent for their tickets, And will surely give us a treat. 

 The concert will open at sun-rise, All the June-time sweet and fair; There'll be a grand full chorus, For _all_ the birds will be there. The concert is free to the children, And is held in the apple trees, And the birds will sing in a chorus, "O come to our concert--please!"

ONLY A BOY. 

 Only a boy with his noise and fun, The veriest mystery under the sun; As brimful of mischief and wit and glee, As ever a human frame can be, And as hard to manage as--what! ah me! 'Tis hard to tell, Yet we love him well. 

 Only a boy with his fearful tread, Who cannot be driven, must be led! Who troubles the neighbors' dogs and cats, And tears more clothes and spoils more hats, Loses more kites and tops and bats Than would stock a store For a week or more. 

 Only a boy with his wild, strange ways, With his idle hours or his busy days, With his queer remarks and his odd replies, Sometimes foolish and sometimes wise, Often brilliant for one of his size, As a meteor hurled From the planet world. 

 Only a boy, who may be a man If nature goes on with her first great plan-- If intemperance or some fatal snare, Conspires not to rob us of this our heir, Our blessing, our trouble, our rest, our care, Our torment, our joy! "Only a boy!"

BIRD NEEDLEWORK. 

MAY R. BALDWIN. 

There is a class of workers in India who have always held toneedlework, useful and ornamental, through the changes of the longyears, and have never had the help of machines. 

These workers are "Tailor Birds. " Specimens of their handiwork haveexcited the admiration of many travelers in the country where they arefound. 

Their needlework is seen in the construction of their nests, whichvary in size and appearance. 

The beak of the bird answers for a needle; and for thread--and this isthe wonderful thing about sewing--they use the silken spiders' webs. These threads are made secure by fastening them with silken buttons, made by twisting the ends. Think of that! spiders' webs for thread!How marvelous would the work of the fair ladies all over the landseem, if the door screens and the window hangings and the dresses andthe laces were decorated with designs worked with spider's web thread!

Sometimes, it is true, these birds use the silk from cocoons for theirwork; and even such common material as bits of thread and wool areused. One traveler states that he has seen a bird watch a nativetailor as he sewed under a covered veranda; and, when he had left hiswork for a while, the watchful bird flew to the place, gathered someof the threads quickly, and then flew away with his unlawful prize touse it in sewing together leaves for his nest. 

Imagine one of these bird homes. Could any thing be more fairy-like?The leaves are joined, of course, to the tree by their own naturalfastenings. But who taught the first bird home-maker how to bring theleaves together? And who gave the first lessons in sewing? And how didit come to choose its delicate spider web thread and twist it intostrength, and fasten it with silken buttons?

The great art leader, John Ruskin, who has written so many books toteach people that all beautiful things have their use, and that thingsthat are not truthful can never be beautiful, would say, I think, thatthe workmanship upon the tailor bird's nest exactly fitted his idea ofthe "true and the beautiful, " because there is no ornament which hasnot its use. The silk buttons are not placed there for show; theyfasten the silken lacing. 

We could not say as much for many a fine lady's dress, where dozens ofbuttons that fasten nothing are seen. 

HE WAS A GENTLEMAN. 

Some amusing stories are told of the wit and wisdom of London schoolchildren. A class of boys in a Board School was being examined orallyin Scripture. The history of Moses had been for some time a specialstudy, and one of the examiners asked, --"What would you say of thegeneral character of Moses?"

"He was meek, " said one boy. 

"Brave, " said another. 

"Learned, " added a third boy. 

"Please, sir, " piped forth a pale-faced, neatly dressed lad; "he was agentleman!"

"A gentleman!" asked the examiner. "How do you make that out?"

The boy promptly replied, in the same thin, nervous voice, --"Please, sir, when the daughters of Jethro went to the well to draw water, theshepherds came and drove them away; and Moses helped the daughters ofJethro, and said to the shepherds, --'Ladies first, please, gentlemen. '"

TIME FOR BED. 

 Ding-dong! ding-dong! The bells are ringing for bed, Johnnie-- The bells are ringing for bed. I see them swing, I hear them ring, And I see you nod your head. 

 The bells are ringing for bed, Johnnie-- They are ringing soft and slow; And while they ring, And while they swing, It's off to bed we'll go. 

THE VALUE OF A GOOD NAME. 

Samuel Appleton, a distinguished Boston merchant, was once sued for anote, found among the papers of a deceased merchant tailor, and signedwith his name. The handwriting was exactly like his own, but hedeclared it to be a forgery, albeit his own brother said he could notpositively say it was not Mr. Appleton's writing, though he believedit could not be genuine. The Judge was against Mr. Appleton, but thejury found a verdict in his favor, because they were confident thatnothing could induce him to dispute the payment of a note unlesscertain that he did not owe it. Some years later Mr. Appletondiscovered proof that the actual signer of the note was a ship-masterof the same name, who had been dead many years. Thus, the finding ofthe jury was justified. It was based on his good reputation and itillustrates the truth of the proverb, which says: "A good name israther to be chosen than great riches. " The root of Mr. Appleton'sgood name was his good conduct. He was honest and honorable in allthings. 

DINGFORD'S BABY. 

That little brother of Hetty Dingford was the funniest baby on thecoast; and there were a good many of them, right around the rivermouth. 

Flora thought so too, or rather she looked upon him in the light of apuppy, as she had just raised a small family herself, and the baby hadassociated so much with the little dogs, that she thought she ownedhim too. She seemed to regard him as her especial charge, and used torush between him and cattle on the roads, and bark away strollers fromthe door-yard; but she seemed to love it most on the beach. 

Whenever she thought of it, she would leave the other children, inwhose charge the baby had been placed, and rush up to the little one, and lick its face all over, and bark with a very funny sound. The babywould pick up a handful of gravel and throw it at the dog, but itnever hit him, and then they would both laugh together. 

One afternoon, Tony Dingford said he was going a crabbing, and thenHetty and Polly and Janey and the baby all wanted to go and see himoff. Janey took a lovely little boat, that had been made for her byher uncle, and Polly took her spade and pail to dig for shells. Hettytook the baby, and she had to carry him every step of the way, and shewas only eight years old; he was a year and a half old and couldn'twalk very steady, but he could creep. Oh, how he could get over theground! He could go sidewise and backwards, like a crab, Tony said. Hethought he could talk, too, and such a lot of curious sounds as heused to make. He looked very odd, winking his eyes and sticking histongue between his four little teeth, and he was up to all sorts oftricks. 

After awhile they came to the beach, right opposite the light-house--amost delightful spot, and Hetty proceeded to deposit the baby on theground, when he came to the conclusion that he didn't want to be putthere, and he caught hold of her curly locks and held on for dearlife, and screamed like a sea-gull. 

This made Hetty cry out, but nothing could induce that baby to let go, until a pail with some shells changed the current of his thoughts. Hetty jumped away, and ran with the children, a few steps, to seeTony's boat. 

He threw in his basket and crabbing net and then, getting in himself, he pulled out into the bay. The children wandered along, watching Tonyas he grew a lessening speck out in the sunshine. It was such fun tojump on the stones, over the water; the shells looked more beautifulhere, because they were wet. 

They staid longer than they thought, and on going back, they found thepail and the shells, but no baby! They called, they looked about, butthe baby was gone! Every one of them cried bitter tears; they searchedbehind rocks and under bushes; his little pink, spotted cap could notbe seen, but the marks of his hands and feet showed plainly in thesand, and they led down to the water!

"Oh, baby, " said Hetty in her agony, "you may pull out all my hair ifyou like--where are you?"

"Oo may whack my boat all to pieces, baby--come back to Janey!" saidher sister. No sound answered, and the gulls sailed over them, and theblue waters lapped the stones. The tide was rising, as it was past themiddle of the afternoon. Nothing was to be done, but to carry thedreadful news to mother. 

As the children approached the cottage, they saw their fatherreturning with the dog, Flora, and as the father caught sight of themhe saw that something had happened. Hetty approached, and, withheart-broken sobs, told her story. The mother cried and wrung herhands. 

"Husband, he's drowned! he's drowned!" she cried. The father brushedhis hand roughly across his eyes, for the tears would come; and thedog staring from one to the other, looked painfully alert andinterested. 

"I'll go to the beach and search all night; maybe he'll be washed upat the bend, " he said. 

"Father, " said the weeping wife, "maybe he has not been drowned; oh, let us hope he has not! Let us take Flora; perhaps she will find thebaby. "

The father looked at the dog, which seemed to understand every word, and went into the house and picked up a little Indian moccasin thatthe child had worn, and calling Flora, gave it to her. She looked atit, smelled of it, and throwing her nose into the air, rushed towardthe beach. 

The short, sharp barks of the dog guided them to the different spotsto which the child had crept. But he was not found. The dog boundedaway again, this time in the direction of some holes that had beenworn in the face of the rocks by the tides. The water was fast comingup to them, and they would be entirely filled before the tide turned. The despairing mother was about returning with her children when thefather caught a distant sound, a joyful barking that Flora always madewhen she had been successful in a hunt. He bounded over the rocks thatwere bathed in the red light of the setting sun. He found Florabarking and wagging her tail, at the mouth of the first little cavern;he stooped and looked in, and there on the white sand lay the baby, asleep. Its little cap was gone, and it dress torn and soiled withseaweed. 

The father reached for his little treasure, and hugged him to hisheart. The baby laughed, and made most frantic efforts to talk, andimmediately twisted both hands tight in his father's hair. This wasthe baby's way, you know, when he wanted to be carried. You would havecried for joy, to have seen the baby's mother when she snatched himfrom his father and covered him with kisses, and the little girlsclinging to their mother, trying to get a look at him. 

They went home very happy, to find Tony with his basket full of crabs, and when he heard the story, he said, --"Flora shall have a new brasscollar, if I have to earn it for her. " There was one little girl thatlearned a serious lesson. Hetty says, --"I never will neglect my dutyagain. "

A BED-TIME STORY. 

Mamma dear, tell us a pretty story; tell us of what you and papa sawwhen you were traveling; and my sturdy Harold, and his wee babysister, tired with their play, sank at my feet at the close of thelong summer day. Kissing the hot up-turned faces, and lifting thelittle one to my lap, I began an oft repeated simple tale of how papaand I, while in Switzerland, drove, one evening, from the villagewhere we were stopping, way out in the country, over green woodenbridges and sparkling streams, past dazzling white villas, throughshady lanes bordered by high, thorny hedges; where it was so lifelessand still, the sound of our shaggy pony's hoofs could hardly be heard. 

[Illustration: {A LITTLE GIRL SITTING ON THE DOORSTEP. }]

Coming to a low, brown, thatched cottage, the door stood open, and wedrove slowly; inside could be seen the table, spread with its frugalrepast of oaten cakes and milk; a high, old-fashioned dresser, withits curious jugs of blue delf; a distaff, with the flax stillattached, and on the broad door-step sat the prettiest littleblue-eyed maiden, wearing a quaint white cap over her yellow locks, astriped kirtle and black waist over a snowy blouse. Like a picture shesat, eating her oat-cake, while tame gray and white doves circledabout her or lit on the stones, hoping to get a crumb. Farther on, westopped at a more pretentious house, called a Swiss chalet, to buy adrink of goat's milk. Here they were quite well-to-do gardeners; andwhile the peasant wife was gone for the milk, the little daughter, whowas rather sweetly dressed, and was very bright and talkative, showedus, with much pride, the heap of garden produce her father was to taketo market, early the next morning. A pretty sight it was too--thegreat wooden table, loaded with the fresh greens and reds of thevegetables, and at one end, guarded by a tall pewter flagon, polishedtill it glowed like silver; an old oaken cabinet on the wall, bearingglittering decanters and brass candle sticks; the chattering littlemaiden, and over all, the golden rays of fading sun-light stealingthrough the deep tiny-paned windows. We--ah, my darlings are asleep. 

[Illustration: {A LITTLE GIRL SHOWING OFF GARDEN PRODUCE. }]

[Illustration: {A LITTLE BOY ASLEEP ON THE GROUND. }]

THE LESSON AFTER RECESS. 

 A bright little urchin out west, Thought going to school was a pest. He said, "I don't care, I just won't stay there, I'll have a good time like the rest. "

 He said, "I'll run off at recess, They'll never once miss me, I guess; A fellow can't stop When he's got a new top. There'll just be one good scholar less. "

 Now the "rest" was a crowd of rough boys, Who with rudeness and mischief and noise, Made one afraid To go where they played, But their riotous play he enjoys. 

 So away from his lessons he ran, This promising western young man. They pushed him down flat, Tore the rim off his hat, Said, "There's nothing so healthy as tan. "

 And they did what was very much worse; They stole his new knife and his purse. They gave him a shake, And they called him a "cake;" Said, "Next time, bub, come with your nurse. "

 Near sundown this urchin was found Fast asleep on some very hard ground; He looked tired and grieved; He'd been so deceived, And quite ready for home, I'll be bound. 

 The primary teacher, Miss Small, When she heard his sad fate, forgave all, "My teacher's a daisy! I'm through being lazy. " He said, "School's not bad after all. "

THE LION AT THE "ZOO. "

In the jungles, where the sun is so fierce at noonday that the blacknatives, themselves, cannot endure it, but hide in huts and cavernsand in the shadows of rocks, dwelt this lion. 

He did not mind heat, or storm, or the tireless hunters. He was braverand stronger than any other creature in that tropical wilderness, andhis very appearance and the sound of his terrible roar had sent many aband of hunters flying back to their safe retreats. 

He prowled about the fountains at night, and woe to any belated nativeor domestic animal that happened to be near; he would leap upon them, and kill them with one blow of his huge paw. 

One day a bushman sighted a fine deer, and incautiously separatedhimself from his companions; the ardor of the pursuit led him into thepathless wilderness, and farther and farther from help, if he shouldneed any. 

Pausing a moment, he looked about him; he could not believe his eyes!He saw, not forty rods from him, this creature, regarding him! intenseexcitement flashing from his eyes, his tail swaying from side to side, and striking the ground with a heavy thud. 

The bushman fled in wild terror, and with a bound the lion began thechase. No match, indeed, could any one man hope to be for such anenemy--no outrunning this fleet patrol of the forest; roaring andfoaming he came up with the doomed hunter and struck him down andkilled him. 

The roaring over his success was something too terrible to hear. Theother creatures of the forest fled to their dens and coverts, and theparty of hunters, dimly locating the lion's whereabouts, betookthemselves to other grounds, not caring to encounter so formidable afoe. Little did they suspect the fate of their comrade, and they neverknew of it until, a long time afterward, they found the remains of hishunting gear. The beast had torn him to pieces and devoured him. 

The devastations of this scourge of the wilderness became so great intime, that he depopulated whole villages, and the superstitiousnatives, believing him to be a demon, became so stricken with fearthat they would not attempt to hunt him, and thus rid the forest ofhim. 

Some agents of a business firm in Holland, who negotiate for thepurchase of these ferocious wild animals for menageries, secured, bypromises of great help and large reward, a band of intrepid nativehunters, to procure, if it were within the range of possibility, thisfamed lion, alive. 

[Illustration: A BEAUTIFUL DEER. ]

White men joined in the hunt. Brave Englishmen and fearless Americansattached themselves to the party, and many were the hair-breadthescapes and critical situations that crowded upon their path. 

On reaching the lion's neighborhood, they took counsel as to the bestway of coming upon him, not knowing just where his lair might be; butsoon they were guided to him by a distant roaring. The advance hunterscaught their first glimpse of him before he was aware of theirpresence. He had slain his prey--the pretty creature lay near thejungle lake, the sword grass and the poisonous marsh flowersflaunting their lush growth all about. The animal's smooth coat wasbrown and glossy, and its black hoofs shone bright in the sunshine. The lion repeated the same expressions of gratified savagery he hadindulged in when he had devoured the native. He strode about, lashinghis tail and roaring. 

[Illustration: HE WAS FINALLY CAGED. ]

The fearful encounter began! Many of the natives were killed. Oneyoung English nobleman was thought to have received his death wound, when they came to close quarters. The creature was overcome by numbersand heroic bravery at last. He was maimed, disabled and secured, inthe deft and expeditious way they have learned in dealing with theseanimals. He was finally caged, and the rejoicings of the natives knewno bounds; the exploit was celebrated with feasting, dancing and wildobservances, the women and the children joining in the uncouthfestivities. 

He was removed by his foreign purchasers, and eventually secured by aCity Park Commission, and was liberated to walk about a spacious cage, to delight the thousands who visit the menagerie, that affords so muchinstructive amusement. He usually lies down in one corner, andalthough he has lost much of his magnificent appearance, he is stillworthy to be called the "Forest King. "

If you happen to be in his section when he gets hungry and calls forhis dinner, you will be greatly astonished, if not frightened, at thesound of his voice. It is like nothing else in nature. It vibrates tothe roof of the vast structure, and the windows rattle in theirframes. He tramps about and lashes his tail against the bars andstamps his feet, and his keeper hurries to throw him his ration of rawmeat. When he is satisfied, he lies down and purrs as good-naturedlyas a pussy cat, and looks you in the eyes with an unwinking stare. 

You and I most earnestly hope that he may never contrive to escape. 

[Illustration: {A KITTEN ASLEEP IN A SLIPPER. }]

DISOBEYING MOTHER. 

 "I think, little goslings, you'd better not go. You're young, and the water is chilly, you know; But when you get strong, You can sail right along-- Go back in the sunshine, or walk in a row. "

 "No, no! we will go, " said those bold little things, Except one little dear, close to mother's warm wings. Out went all the rest, On the water with zest; They said, "We will venture, whatever it brings. "

 Their mother looked out, so kind and so true, Adown where the rushes and lily-pads grew; They looked very gay, As they paddled away, With their bright, yellow backs, on the water so blue. 

 "Come back!" cried their mother, "come back to the land! I fear for my dear ones some evil is planned. " But they ventured beyond The shore of the pond, And laughed at her warnings, and spurned her command. 

 Farewell, to the goslings! their troubles are o'er; They were pelted with stones, by boys on the shore. Afar from the bank, They struggled and sank, Down deep in the water, to come up no more. 

 Oh, see what it cost them, to have their own way; Their punishment came without stint or delay; But the sweet one that stayed, And its mother obeyed, Lived long, and was happy for many a day. 

[Illustration: PLAYING BARBER. ]

PLANTS THAT EAT. 

These plants are so constructed as to attract insects, capture them invarious ways, and feed upon them. Perhaps the best known of the groupis _Venus' Fly-Trap_. The leaves vary from one to six inches long, andat the extremities are placed two blades, or claspers. On the innerwalls of these claspers are placed six irritable hairs; the slightesttouch from an insect on any one of which is sufficient to bring thetwo blades together with such rapidity as to preclude any possibilityof the fly escaping. 

[Illustration: LEAVES OF THE FLY-TRAP OPENED AND CLOSED. ]

This plant readily discriminates between animal and other matter;thus, if a small stone or piece of wood be dropped into the trap, itwill instantly close, but as soon as it has found out its mistake--andit only takes a few minutes--it begins to unfold its trap, and thepiece of wood or stone falls out. On the other hand, should a piece ofbeef or a bluebottle fly be placed in it, it will remain firmly closeduntil all the matter is absorbed through the leaf. It will then unfolditself, and is ready for another meal. 

[Illustration: AUSTRALIAN PITCHER PLANT. ]

Another species is called the _Vegetable Whiskey Shop_, as it capturesits victims by intoxication. The entire shop is shaped after themanner of a house, with the entrance projecting a little over the rim. Half-way round the brim of the cavity there are an immense number ofhoney glands, which the influence of the sun brings into activeoperation. This sweet acts as a lure to passing insects, and they aresure to alight on the outside edge and tap the nectar. 

They, however, remain there but a brief period, as there is somethingmore substantial inside the cavity in the shape of an intoxicatingliquid, which is distilled by the plant. The way down to this beverageis straight, as the entrance is paved with innumerable fine hairs, allpointing to the bottom, and should the fly walk crooked its feetbecome entangled in them. 

[Illustration: AMERICAN SIDE-SADDLE FLOWER. ]

When the fly has had its first sip, it does not stop and fly rightout, as it could do, but it indulges until it comes staggering up andreaches that portion where the hairs begin; here its progress outwardis stopped, owing to the points of the hairs being placed against it. The fly is now in a pitiable plight; it attempts to use its wings, butin doing so only hasten its destruction. It inevitably gets immersedin the liquid, and dies drunk. 

_Australian Pitcher Plant_ is a beautiful little object. Its pitchersare at the bottom of the principal stem of the plant. 

One species distils an intoxicant of its own; but owing to its smallorifice, it excludes the majority of insects, and admits but a selectfew. The individual pitchers somewhat resemble an inverted parrot'sbill, with a narrow leaf-like expansion running along the top. Thecolor is light green, beautifully shaded with crimson. The inside ofthe pitcher is divided into three parts: The first, nearest theentrance, is studded with minute honey glands, and is called theattractive surface; a little farther down the inside, very minutehairs are situated with their extremities all pointing to the otherchamber. This is the conducting surface. 

[Illustration: THE PITCHER PLANT OF MADAGASCAR. ]

Lastly, the small hairs give place to the longer ones, amid which areplaced secreting pores, which give forth the intoxicating nectar. Thisis termed the detentive surface. When the pitcher has caught asufficient number of insects, the nectar gives place to a substancewhich enables the plant more readily to digest its food. 

Another variety is the _Mosquito Catcher_. It grows about one foothigh, and the leaves, after reaching a certain height, divide intolong, narrow spathes, covered with hairs, each coated with a brightgummy substance. This, during sunshine, gives to the plant a mostmagnificent appearance. If a plant be placed in a room wheremosquitoes abound, all the troublesome pests will in a brief period bein its steady embrace. 

It is most interesting to watch the method by which it secures itsprey. Immediately the fly alights on the leaf, it may be that onlyone of its six legs stick to the sweet, viscid substance at theextremity of the hairs; but in struggling to free itself, itinvariably touches with its legs or wings the contiguous hairs, and isimmediately fixed. 

These little hairs meantime are not idle; they slowly but surely curlround and draw their victim into the very center of the leaf, thusbringing it into contact with the very short hairs, which are placedthere in order to facilitate the process of sucking the life-bloodfrom the body. 

THE CUCKOO CLOCK. 

 The clock is Swiss, And a curious thing it is, Set like a flower against the wall, With a face of walnut brown Twelve white eyes always staring out, And long weights hanging down. 

 But there is more At the top is a little close-shut door. And when 'tis time for the hour-stroke, And at the half-stroke too, It opens wide of its own accord, And, hark, --"Cuckoo, cuckoo!"

 What do you see? Why, with a trip and a courtesy, As if to say, --"Good day, good day, " Out steps a tiny bird! And though no soul were near to hear He'd pipe that same blithe word. 

 Through all the night, Through dawn's pale flush, and noon's full light, And even at twilight, when the dusk Hides all the room from view, Out of his little cabinet He calls, --"Cuckoo, cuckoo!"

 Though but a toy, Yet might the giddiest girl or boy Learn three most pleasant truths from it: How patiently to wait, How to give greeting graciously, And never to be too late. 

 'Tis sweet to hear, Though oft repeated, a word of cheer; So this little comrade on the wall, This bird that never flew, Is an hourly comfort, with his call, "Cuckoo, cuckoo, cuckoo!"

 MRS. CLARA DOTY BATES. 

DAVY'S GIRL. 

ALEX. DUKE BAILIE. 

She was only five years old, hardly that, but a stout, healthy littlecreature, full of love and fun, but often hard to manage. 

Maggie was her name, but she would call herself nothing but "Davy'sgirl. "

Davy, her brother, a brave, good boy, about fifteen years of age, wasall she had to cling to, and she was his only treasure. They wereorphans; their father had been drowned, with many other poorfishermen, when Maggie was a wee baby, and the mother, soon after, died, from worry and hard work. 

So these two were all alone in the world, but they did not feellonely, for each one was all the world to the other. 

They lived with an old fisherman and his wife, on the shores of theocean, in New Jersey; and in the inlets and about outside, Davy usedto go with the men, in the boats, and help them fish; sometimes hewould work in-shore, for the truck farmers; sometimes help to gatherthe salt hay from the marshes. He would work hard at any thing so asto make money to keep his little sister comfortable and to give herall it was well for her to have. 

In winter he would tramp through cold and snow and storms, severalmiles, to the little town where the school was, and so, every year, hegained a few weeks of instruction. 

The people among whom these orphans lived were rough, butkind-hearted, and Davy always had enough work to enable him to earnmoney sufficient to keep Maggie and himself in the simple way in whichevery body about them lived. 

Whenever he had an idle half-day, or even a few hours, he would takethe little girl and his books, and go down to the shore, and gettinginto one of the boats always to be found drawn up on the sand, hewould study hard to learn, for he was anxious to get on in the world, not only for his own, but his sister's sake, and Maggie would take oneof the books, and open it, and run her little fat finger over thepage, and move her lips, and make believe that she, too, was studyingher lessons and she would keep still as a little mouse, until, after afew minutes of nodding, her eyes would close, then her head would dropon Davy's knee, and she would be off--sound asleep, until it was timefor him to go. 

It happened, one afternoon, as Davy, with Maggie, was going to theboat, which was his favorite place of study, a farmer drove along andasked him if he could not go and help with some work. 

They were very near home yet, and when Davy said, "Maggie, will yourun right home?" she answered, "'Es;" so the brother saw her start offtowards the house, which was in sight, then jumped in beside thefarmer, and they drove off. 

It was several hours before the boy returned. He went directly home, and as soon as he entered, called, "Maggie!"

"Maggie aint here, " said Mrs. Baker, who was busy cleaning up thefloor, "she hasn't been here since you took her out with you. "

If ever there was a frightened boy, it was Davy, then. He knew howcareless his little sister was, and how she loved to go down andsplash in the water, and play around the deep pools. He could look, from the door, all along the beach and out on the sea, and there wasno sign of his little girl. Mrs. Baker was frightened, too, when hetold her all. They ran to the few houses about, and while some of thechildren had seen Maggie, it was hours before; since then she haddisappeared entirely. 

It was a terrible blow to the poor boy, and he blamed himself as hethought that perhaps his dear little sister was dead under the greatwaves, or her body was being washed away far beyond his reach. He ranup and down, everywhere calling her name as loudly as he could, butno answer came. 

Almost blind, with the tears in his eyes, he stood still for a momentto think, when he caught sight of a little paper book. He knew it atonce; he had made it for Maggie so that she would not soil or tear hisown. In a moment he was running as fast as his feet would carry him tothe boat on the sand, a considerable distance off; quickly he reachedit, and climbed up the side. No Maggie yet. 

The great sail lay in a heap before him; he walked around it, andthere, all curled up, fast asleep, was his runaway girl. 

How his heart did jump for joy as he picked her up, and kissed andpetted her. 

But Maggie cried, and said he hurt her. 

Then he found that in climbing into the boat to "study her lessons, "she had sprained her ankle, and she had been very miserable all byherself, and cried and called for him until she fell asleep. 

The books, all but one, were lying on the other side of the boat, onthe sand. Davy never minded them, precious as they were to him, buttaking his little sister on his strong back, he carried her home, herarms about his neck and her cheek close to his; and Maggie had to stayin the house, with her foot bandaged, for a week. But Davy neverforgot that fright nor left her to herself again until she was mucholder; and the little girl never thought of disobeying his ordersafter that. They had both learned a hard lesson. 

EARLY TEA. 

[Illustration: {A CAT PUSHES A PRAM CONTAINING ANOTHER CAT. }]

 Five little pussies Sitting down to tea; Pretty little pussies, Happy as can be!

 Three little pussies, All in a row, Ranged on the table, Two down below. 

 Five little pussies, Dressed all in silk, Waiting for the sugar, Waiting for the milk. 

 Dear little pussies, If you would thrive, Breakfast at nine o'clock, Take tea at five. 

BONEY. 

Boney was not a thin cat by any means, as his name would suggest. Hewas very stout for his age; this could be explained by the fact thathe had always looked out for number one, and had managed to secure agreat many nice things to eat in the course of his short life. 

His coat, which was striped, gray and black, had an infinite number ofshades in it and was so beautiful, that more than one lady wanted tobuy him. 

Boney was not his whole name. A lovely romance could be written, I'veno doubt, out of the adventures of this cat, before Fannie found him, one cold morning, in the summer-house. He was covered with dust andleaves, and moaning piteously. Fannie said, --"Pussy, pussy, " to him;and he tried to get up and come to her, but he couldn't make anyprogress, and John Henry came up at that moment, and taking up the catby the back of the neck, looked at it critically, and said, --"That catain't a-going to die--he'll come out all right in a few days; he'sbeen pelted with stones by those children that live at thecross-roads, I think. "

Fannie followed her brother into the house with the cat, and he gaveit some warm milk, and Fannie covered it up, snug, by the kitchenstove. 

It was surprising how soon that pussy got well; and John Henry choseto call him Boneset. The name took in the household, and though Fanniecalled him "Boney, " Boneset was his real name. John Henry bought him acollar, and Fannie would tie a beautiful scarlet ribbon on this, andaway they'd go together, down the road to the village post-office. He'd look very sharply at the meadow-birds flitting over the stonefences, and the yellow butterflies on the tall mullen stalks, as if hewould say, --"I'll get you any of those you'd like to have, my dearmistress. "

But Fannie would say, "Don't think of it, Boney; I would like to havethem, but it would be wicked to catch them you know. " Pussy did notwant to give up the sport of hunting them, however, and Fannie wouldhave to take him right up, and carry him until they had passed them. 

He had such lovely coaxing ways; he knew to a minute when it was lunchtime, and he had his in the kitchen, but he would steal up into thedining-room, and pass round softly to Fannie's place, and pop up intoher lap--or, if she were standing up, he'd get upon the table and rubhis furry cheek against her shoulder, and shut one eye. 

Then Fannie would turn round, and his comical appearance, sittingthere with his little pink tongue sticking out between his lips, wouldmake Fannie just jump up and down with laughing. 

Of course, he wanted some of Fannie's lunch, and he always got it, andthis was the way he managed to get so fat and sleek. 

One unfortunate time, Fannie was very sick; the room was darkened, andthe doctor came. All the pets were not allowed to come near the room. 

It was, oh, so lonesome for Boney. No one petted him like his littlemistress, and they didn't put up with his tricks, or laugh at hisfunny pranks. 

The time went by heavily enough, he had not had on any of his ribbons, and he would go and stay away from home for days together, and when hecame home just before dark, he had a wild look, as if he had been inrough company. 

On a lovely morning in June, Fannie was carried down stairs, to sit inthe bay window, in the sunshine, and the ivy hung down its fresh, green leaves. 

Boney saw her the first thing. His delight knew no bounds; he rubbedhis back against her chair, turned his head around in her robe as itlay on the carpet, and jumped into her lap! And Fannie smoothed hisback with her little thin hand. 

After a time he went away, and nobody thought any thing about him, till dinner-time, when, what should they see coming up the piazzasteps, but Boney, with a bobolink in his mouth! He walked right up toFannie, and laid it down at her feet, and looked up at his littlemistress, with such a satisfied, happy expression on his face, as ifhe would say, --"There, that's the best I could do, and you are welcometo it. "

Fannie understood his good intentions, and laughed heartily, and thatwas the beginning of her recovery. 

Pretty soon, she was able to go out again, and she and Boney had thebest of times that summer. 

CATCHING SNOW FLAKES. 

BY MRS. S. J. BRIGHAM. 

 Down from the sky, one winter day, The snow-flakes tumbled and whirled in play. White as a lily, Light as a feather, Some so chilly Were clinging together. Falling so softly on things below, Covering all with beautiful snow. 

 Drifting about with the winds at play, Hiding in hollows along the way, White as a lily, Light as a feather, Coming so stilly In cold winter weather. Touching so lightly the snow-bird's wing, Silently covering every thing. 

 Every flake is a falling star, Gently falling, who knows how far? White as a lily, Light as a feather, Hosts so stilly Are falling together. Every star that comes fluttering down, Falls, I know, from the Frost King's crown. 

A MISCHIEVOUS MONKEY. 

Jocko was hardly more than a baby monkey, but he was so full ofmischief that he often made his mother very sad. Jocko's father usedto get angry with him; sometimes he used to give Jocko a goodspanking; only he hadn't a slipper as the father of little boys have!Jocko's father and mother used to try to teach him that it was verybad manners to snatch any thing from the visitors who came up to thecage. That was a very hard lesson for Jocko to learn. One day hesnatched a pair of spectacles from an old lady, who was looking intothe cage and laughing; the old lady screamed with fright. Jocko triedto put the spectacles on himself; but the keeper made him give themup. When the old lady got her glasses again, she didn't care to lookat the monkeys any more. 

Another day Jocko was taken very sick; he laid down in one corner ofthe cage, and could not be made to move. His mother thought he wasgoing to die, and she was quite sure that some of his monkey cousinshad hurt him. "Not so, " chattered Jocko's father, "I found some piecesof gloves among the hay; I think the bad fellow has snatched them fromsomebody, and partly eaten them. "

"Dear, dear, " chattered mother monkey, "I think you are right. " Whenshe turned Jocko over, he was so afraid of being punished, that hepretended to be fast asleep; but he heard all that his father andmother had said, and knew that they guessed right. 

"They're just like boys, " said George Bliss one day, as he stoodlooking at the monkeys in Central park. George is a boy, and he oughtto know. But there is a great difference after all. Boys can learn, better than monkeys, not to get into mischief, and bother theirparents, and other people who come where they are. Some boys do notbehave better than monkeys. 

[Illustration: A MISCHIEVOUS MONKEY. ]

THE AFRICAN SLAVE BOY. 

There are few who have not heard or read of the great traveler, SirSamuel Baker, who found his way into the heart of Africa, and whosebrave wife accompanied him in all his perilous journeys. The natives, when they found how kind he was, and how interested in trying to helpthem, called him the Great White Man. 

One day, after traveling a long distance, Sir Samuel and Lady Bakerwere sitting, in the cool of the evening, in front of their tent, enjoying a cup of tea in their English fashion, when a little blackboy suddenly ran into the courtyard, and throwing himself at LadyBaker's feet raised his hands toward her, and gazed imploringly intoher face. 

The English lady thought that the little lad was hungry, and hastenedto offer him food; but he refused to eat, and began, with sobs andtears, to tell his tale. He was not hungry, but he wanted to stay withthe white lady and be her slave. 

In broken accents he related how cruelly he had been treated by themaster, who stole him from his parents when he was quite a little boy;how he made him earn money for him, and beat him because he was toosmall to undertake the tasks which were set him. He told how he andsome other boys had crept out of the slave-hut at night and foundtheir way to English Mission House, because they had heard of thewhite people, who were kind to the blacks. 

Then little Saat, for that was his name, made Lady Baker understandhow much he loved the white people, and how he wished to be her littleslave. She told him kindly that she needed no slave-boy, and that hemust go back to his rightful master. But little Saat said, "No, he hadno master;" and explained that the Missionaries had taught him a greatdeal, and then sent him, with some other lads, to Egypt, to help inthe Mission work. 

Unfortunately, his companions had soon forgotten the good things theyhad been taught, and behaved so badly that the Missionaries in Egyptrefused to keep them, and turned them out, to find their way back asbest they might to their own people; but Saat had no people of hisown, and he never rested until he succeeded in finding the Great WhiteMan of whom he had heard so much. 

Lady Baker's kind heart was touched. She determined to keep the littleblack boy and train him to be her own attendant. He accompanied thetravelers upon their wonderful journey to the Source of the Nile, andhis attachment to his mistress was very touching. 

CLIMBING. 

The ivy, while climbing, preserves its pointed leaf, but when it hasreached the top of its support it spreads out into a bushy head andproduces only rounded and unshapely leaves. 

 The ivy, climbing upward on the tower, In vigorous life its shapely tendrils weaves, But, resting on the summit, forms a bower, And sleeps, a tangled mass of shapeless leaves. 

 So we, while striving, climb the upward way, And shape by enterprise our inner lives; But when, on some low rest we idly stay, Our purpose, losing point no longer strives. 

 ELLIOT STOCK. 

[Illustration: LEARNING TO KNIT. ]

[Illustration: TUG OF WAR. ]

LITTLE ELSIE. 

FAITH LATIMER. 

"I don't thee ath a Chineth baby lookth any differenth from any otherfolkth baby, do you, Perthy?"

"That's what I am trying to find out, " said Percy, whom his littlesister May called her "big brother;" for only that morning she hadsaid to her mother, --"I will athk Perthy, he ith tho big, he muth knowevery thing. "

Percy was as full of wonder as little May over the baby sleeper. Hewanted to see the back of her head, but it was resting on the softpillow, and the eyes were tightly closed. May stood at the foot of thebed longing, and yet afraid, to pull up the cover, and look at thelittle feet. "Do you thpect she wearth pink thatin thlipperth likethothe in the glath cathe?" she said. 

The voices did not waken the baby even when Percy made May give alittle scream as he pulled her braided hair, and carried off theribbon, saying, --"You've got a Chinese pig-tail anyway. " Did you eversee a big brother do any thing like that? Then Percy went out andslammed the door, and left little May thinking very hard, and the babyasleep, after all that noise. What was May thinking about? She hadheard mamma talk a great deal about China, and had seen queer picturesof people with bald heads and a long braid of hair hanging downbehind, and in the cabinet in the sitting-room was a pair of tiny pinksatin slippers, so small that her little hand could just go into oneof them. Then she had a Chinese doll with almost a bald head, and thequeerest shaped eyes; and that was why she and Percy wanted this babyto wake up that they might see what she looked like. That very morningwhile the children were visiting their grandmother, a carriage came totheir house, bringing a little baby and its mother; and by the timethey got home, the child was in May's crib, fast asleep, and the twomothers were talking together as they had not done for years before. Baby Elsie was not easily wakened, for she never had a very quietplace to sleep in. She was quite used to strange noises on shipboard, creaking ropes and escaping steam, loud voices giving orders tosailors, sometimes roaring waters and stormy winds. She had been manynights in a railroad sleeping-car, and she was not disturbed by therush of wheels, or the whistling of the locomotive. Before that, shelived part of her little life on a boat in a narrow river, and a fewmonths in a crowded, noisy house. Does it seem as if she had beenquite a traveler? She had just come all the way from China--a land onthe other side of the round world--and that was the reason that Maycalled her a Chinese baby. Percy and May had never seen Elsie'smother, although she was their own aunt, for she and her husband hadbeen more than ten years missionaries in China, and had come on avisit to America. Don't you think the two mothers, dear sisters, whohad been so long and so far apart, had a great deal to say to eachother? Do you expect they wanted Elsie to sleep quite as much as hercousins wanted her to wake? She was a good child, but she knew how tocry, and after a few days Percy said, --"She's not so much after all, she can't talk and tell us anything, and when she cries, she boo-hoo'sjust as you do, May. "

In a week, two more Chinese travelers came; the baby's father, andanother cousin, Knox, a boy nine years old. Did you ever fire off awhole pack of Chinese fire-crackers at a time? That was almost the waythat questions were asked by the two boys, back and forth, so quickand fast that there was hardly time to answer each one. The boy fromShanghai found as many things strange to him as the New York boy wouldhave seen in China. Percy, and May, although she could not understandhalf she heard, were full of wonder as Knox told of living on a boatin the river, of so many boats around them, where people lived crowdedtogether as closely as houses could be on land. He told of the cities, of narrow, crooked streets, all the way under awnings, to be shieldedfrom the hot sun; of riding many miles in a wheel-barrow, with aChinaman to push it along the road. They all laughed when Percy saidthey called their cousin Elsie "a Chinese baby;" and the grown folkshelped to tell about the black-eyed babies over there, wrapped up inwadded comforts and placed standing, a great, round roll, in a tallbasket, instead of a cradle. Percy thought the best thing he heard wasof a boy in a royal family. He had to be well taught, for he must be awise scholar in Chinese learning, but no one dared to touch or hurthim; so a poor boy of low rank was hired and kept in the house to takeall the whippings for him; and whenever the young prince deservedcorrection, the bamboo rod was well laid on the poor boy's back. Whatwould you think of such a plan? Elsie's father and mother were goingback to China, but they were not willing that Knox should grow upthere; he must go to some good school and stay in this country. Evenlittle Elsie they dared not trust out of their sight among theChinese. 

And so for the love of the dear Master, who said, --"Go and teach allnations, " they were willing to leave father and mother, and home, loving sister and friends, even their own young children, for Hissake. 

Don't you believe our heavenly Father will watch over Knox and Elsie, and make them grow up wise and true; ready to go back to the landwhere they were born, to carry on the good work their father andmother are doing in that strange, far-off country?

Do you know of any ways in which children at home can help such workin China, or in other far-off foreign lands?

KITTY STRIKER. 

 Little Kitty Striker saw A handsome, fat, old goose Out a-walking with her gosling. And she said, --"Now what's the use, Of letting that old waddler have Such a pretty thing as that? I'll run right out and get it; I'll go without my hat. " Out she ran upon the dusty path, On the grass, all wet with dew, And the old goose turned round quickly, She wished an interview. And Kitty said, --"Oh, open your mouth As much as ever you please; I'm going to take your gosling, Because I love to tease Such a cranky, impudent squawker as you. " And she laughed right out, and stooped To take the toddling little thing, When down upon her swooped, The angry goose with hisses fierce, And wildly flapping wing, And gave her a nip that was no joke! On the heel of her red stocking! Miss Kitty screamed, but tightly held The little yellow ball, And you know she'd not the shadow of right To that goose's gosling at all. Then its mother made a terrible snap At Kitty's pretty blue dress! And that thoughtless, mischievous little girl, Was pretty well frightened I guess. For she jumped and screamed, danced round like a top, And the goose's eyes flashed red; And she struck her wings in Kitty's eyes, And on her little brown head! She dropped the gosling, and ran for home, Screaming, and crying, --"Boo! hoo!" And learned a lesson she never forgot, And it's as wholesome for me and for you, That it's best to be kind to our barnyard friends, And let them have their fun too. 

MAYING. 

Phil says he thinks it is a great pity when the May isn't out tillJune, because you can't go Maying if there isn't any May, and it's sostupid to go Maying in June. Phil is eleven months and fourteen daysyounger than I am, and his birthday is on the fourteenth of Februaryand mine is on the first of March; so for fourteen days we are thesame age, and when it's Leap Year we are the same age for fifteendays. 

I don't understand _why_ it should be a day more some years and notothers, but mother says we shall learn about it by-and-by. Phil sayshe will like learning all that, but I don't think I shall, because Ilike playing better. 

Phil and I have a little dog of our own, and he belongs between us. His name is Dash. He came from the Home for Lost Dogs, and we didn'tknow his name, so Phil and I sat on the grass, and we called him byevery name we could think of, until Phil thought of Dash, and whenDash heard that name he jumped up, and ran to Phil, and licked hisface. We don't know what kind of dog he is, and father called him a'terrier spaniel;' but he laughed as he said it, and so we're notquite sure that he wasn't in fun. But it doesn't matter what kind ofdog Dash is, because we are all fond of him, and if you're fond of anyone if doesn't matter what they're like, or if they have a prettyname. 

Dash goes out with us when we take a walk, and I'm sure he knewyesterday when we went out without leave, because we wanted to goMaying. There's a beautiful hedge full of May blossoms down the laneand across the meadow, and we _did_ want some May very badly. So Philand I went without asking mother, and Dash went with us. 

We found the place quite easily, and had pulled down several boughs ofit, when we heard a gruff voice calling to us, and the farmer came up, asking what we were doing to _his_ hedge. 

I said, "Please, we didn't know it was yours, and we want some Mayvery much, because to-morrow's the first of June, you know, and Philsays we can't go Maying then. "

The farmer didn't say any thing until he caught sight of Dash, andthen he called out, angrily, --"If that dog gets among my chickens, Ishall have him shot!"

We were so frightened at that, that we ran away; and Dash ran too, asif he understood what the farmer said. We didn't stop for any Mayblossoms though we had picked them, and we did want them so, becauseof its being the thirty-first of May. 

Phil said the farmer was calling after us, but we only ran the faster, for fear he should shoot Dash. When we got home, mother met us in theporch, and asked where we had been; then we told her all about thefarmer, and how we wanted to go Maying while we could. 

She laughed a little, but presently she looked quite grave, andsaid, --"I'm very glad to find you have told me the whole truth, because if you had not I should still have known it. Farmer Grey hasbeen here, and he told me about your having gone across his meadowthat he is keeping for hay. He has brought you all the May you leftbehind, and he says you may have some more if you want it, only youmust not walk through the long grass, but go round the meadow by thelittle side-path. He said he was afraid he had frightened you, and hewas sorry. "

Phil and I had a splendid Maying after that. We made wreaths forourselves, and one for Dash, only we couldn't get him to wear his, which was a pity. 

But the best of all is that mother says she can always trust us, because we told the truth at once; and Phil and I think we wouldrather never go Maying any more (though we like it so much) than nottell her every thing. I'm sure it's a very good plan, and we mean todo it _always_, even when we're quite grown up. Mother laughs at that, and says, --"You will have your secrets then;" but Phil and I don'tthink we shall, because it couldn't be a really nice secret if wemightn't tell mother. 

 I. T. 

GRACIE'S TEMPER. 

 "Once a gentle, snow-white birdie, Came and built its nest, In a spot you'd never dream of, -- In a baby's breast. 

 Then how happy, gentle, loving, Grew the baby, Grace; All the smiles and all the dimples Brightened in her face. 

 But a black and ugly raven Came one morn that way; Came and drove the gentle birdie. From its nest away. 

 Ah! how frowning and unlovely Was our Gracie then. Until evening brought the white dove To its nest again. 

 Children, this was Gracie's raven, This her gentle dove, -- In heart a naughty _temper_ Drove away the _love_. "

[Illustration: {A BEE. }]

Among the passengers on board a river-steamer recently was a woman, accompanied by a bright-looking nurse-girl, and a self-willed boy, about three years old. 

The boy aroused the indignation of the passengers by his continuedshrieks and kicks and screams, and his viciousness toward the patientnurse. He tore her bonnet, scratched her hands, without a word ofremonstrance from the mother. 

Whenever the nurse showed any firmness, the mother would chide hersharply, and say, --"Let him have it, Mary. Let him alone. "

Finally the mother composed herself for a nap; and about the time theboy had slapped the nurse for the fiftieth time, a bee came sailing inand flew on the window of the nurse's seat. The boy at once tried tocatch it. 

The nurse caught his hand, and said, coaxingly:

"Harry mustn't touch. It will bite Harry. "

Harry screamed savagely, and began to kick and pound the nurse. 

The mother, without opening her eyes or lifting her head, cried out, sharply:

"Why will you tease that child so, Mary? Let him have what he wants atonce. "

"But, ma'am, it's a--"

"Let him have it, I say. "

Thus encouraged, Harry clutched at the bee and caught it. The yellthat followed brought tears of joy to the passengers. 

The mother awoke again. 

"Mary!" she cried, "let him have it. "

Mary turned in her seat, and said, confusedly:--"He's got it, ma'am. "

THE SWEET-GRASS HOUSE. 

MRS. S. J. BRIGHAM. 

 Two little mice went out one day Among the scented clover; They wandered up and down the lane, They roamed the meadow over. "Oh, deary me!" said Mrs. Mouse, "I wish I had a little house!"

 Said Mr. Mouse, --"I know a place Where nice sweet grass is growing; Where corn-flowers blue, and buttercups And poppies red, are blowing. " "Oh, deary me!" said Mrs. Mouse, "We'll build us there a house. "

 So, of some sweet and tender grass They built their house together; And had a happy time, through all The pleasant summer weather. "Oh, deary me!" said Mrs. Mouse, "Who ever had so nice a house?"

JOHNNY'S GARDEN. 

 Johnny had a garden plot, And set it all in order, But let it run to grass and weeds, Which covered bed and border. 

 Two stalking sun-flowers reared their heads, So firmly were they rooted, And Johnny, as he looked at them, Was any thing but suited. 

 Two children small, looked up and said, Oh, Mister, beg your pardon! Or, if you will not answer that, Say, sonny, where's your garden?

 "What d'ye call those two large flowers? An' what'll ye take, an' sell em? You'd better put a ladder up, So folks our size can smell 'em. 

 "We heard old Mrs. Grubber say, 'That spot ye needn't covet; He'd better turn it into hay, Or make a grass-plot of it. '"

 But Johnny never answered back, But went and dug it over, And soon again, his sprouting seeds, He plainly could discover. 

 He said, "I'll have a garden yet. And make a little money; I never liked those Podger twins, -- They try to be so funny. "

BOY BILLY AND THE RABBIT. 

 Billy, boy! Billy, boy! He was his mother's joy, But he couldn't shoot an arrow worth a cent; And a rabbit almost laughed As she watched the flying shaft, And the place upon the target where it went. 

 The rabbit passing by, So very soft and sly, Took Billy for a hunter gaily dressed; But when she came anear, She said, "'Tis very clear It's safe enough to stay and take a rest. "

 Said the rabbit, "Billy, boy, You never will annoy Anybody, by your shooting at a mark; With an arrow and a bow, I just would like to show, I can reach the bull's-eye nearer in the dark. "

 Just then an arrow flew, That pierced it thro' and thro' Which made Miss Bunny start, and jump, sky high! She cried, "Oh, dear! Oh, dear! It's safer in the rear;" And scampered off and never said, --"Good-bye. "

 You see the reason why, 'Tis always best to try, Tho' others laugh and slander all the same; For be it late or soon, They'll always change their tune, When they see your arrow doesn't miss its aim. 

A FISH STORY. 

HOPE LEDYARD. 

Six eager faces, all crowding around to "see the picture!" Four of thefaces belong to girls--Edith and Mamie, Birdie and Jeanie, while Aland Dick, who are pretty big boys, "over ten, " lean over the back ofthe chair. 

"_He's_ had a good catch, " says Al. 

"_He's_ not caught those, " says Dick, while the girls look first atthe picture and then at the boys. "I guess that fellow standing up inthe boat is his father. The men have caught the fish and the boy takesthem to sell. Why, a fish as big as one of those fellows could pull aboy right into the water, easy!"

"My brother Dick _knows_, " whispers Jeanie, proudly. "He took mefishing once and I caught two fish. "

The little girls look as if they could hardly believe this, so Jeaniepulls mamma's arm and asks, "Didn't I catch two fish last summer?"

"Indeed she did, " says Dick, before mamma has time to answer. "Shecaught two sun-fish. I never saw any one do it better. Mother fried'em for her dinner, too. "

"My sister goes to a cooking school and learns to bake fish, " saysEdith, "and she is teaching me at home. I know the verse about cookingfish. "

We all begged Edith to say the verse, so, after a little coaxing, sherepeated:

 "Our lesson is fish, and in every dish We would like to meet our teacher's wish. But many men have many minds, There are many fishes of many kinds; So we only learn to boil and bake, To broil and fry, and make a fish-cake. And trust this knowledge will carry us through When other fishes we have to 'do. '"

Edith is a little orphan girl who lives with her grandmother andsister Minnie. We are all so interested about the cooking class, thatshe tells us about how they learn to bake bread. 

"I mixed the bread last Friday night and made some biscuit in themorning, and if I hadn't forgotten the salt they would have beensplendid. I don't remember all the verses about bread, but one verseis:

 "'Now you place it in the bread bowl, A smooth and nice dough ball, Last, a towel and a cover, And at night that's all. But when morning calls the sleeper From her little bed, She can make our breakfast biscuit From that batch of bread. '"

"Well, it's girls' work to cook and boys' work to catch, " said Al, whowas getting tired of hearing verses. 

"Jeanie did some catching before she was five years old, and youforget how nicely papa cooked the breakfast when you were camping outlast summer. "

"I suppose his cooking, like Jeanie's fishing, was just an accident. "

"No, indeed! Good cooking has to be learned, " I said, "and thispicture makes me think of the first fish I had to cook, and what afoolish girl I had. "

"Oh, mamma's going to tell us a story about when she was a girl, "Jeanie exclaims. So all take seats--Jeanie on my lap, the boys on thetwo arms of my chair, and the three little sisters on chairs orfootstools. 

Not about when I was a girl, but about when I was a very young wife. 

You boys know that I had always lived in a big house in the city, where the servants did all the cooking and such work, while Ipracticed music or studied or visited my Sunday-school scholars. I wasjust as fond of them in those days as I am now. Well! Your papa tookme to a dear little house, far, far away, near Lake George. I had avery young girl to help me about the house, who did not know any thingabout cooking. I thought I knew a good deal, for I had learned to bakebread, and roast meat and make a cup of tea or coffee. I had just asmuch fun keeping house in that little cottage as Jeanie has playinghouse up stairs. But one day papa went off in a hurry and forgot toask me what I wanted for dinner. He was to bring a gentleman home thatday and I hoped he would send me a good dinner. 

About ten o'clock Annie, my little servant, came to me and said, "Oh, ma'am, the butcher's here with a beautiful fish the master has sentfor the meat. "

"A fish! Annie, do you know how to cook fish?" I said. 

"No, ma'am. Only it's fried they mostly has 'em. "

I went into the kitchen and there lay a beautiful trout--too pretty toeat, it seemed to me. Certainly too pretty to be spoiled by carelesscooking. So I took my receipt book and after reading carefully, Istuffed the pretty fish and laid him in a pan all ready for the oven, and told Annie to put it in at eleven o'clock. 

I was pretty tired, so I lay down for a little nap, and had justdropped asleep when Annie came into the room, wringing her hands andsaying, "Oh, ma'am! Oh, ma'am! What'll I do in the world?"

It seems that she had taken the fish out of the safe and put it, panand all, on the table, and then, remembering I had told her tosprinkle a little pepper on it, she went to the closet for herpepper-box, and when she came back, the pan was empty!

"The cat stole it, Annie, " I said. 

"Indade and she didn't. The innocent cratur was lyin' on my bed andthe door shut. "

I tried to quiet the girl; but I told her at last she could go homethat night, only she must dry her eyes and run to the butcher's for asteak, for the master would be home with a strange gentleman in halfan hour. We managed to get the steak cooked, and papa tried to laughAnnie out of the notion of a ghost stealing our beautiful fish, butthe girl would not smile and was afraid to be left alone in thekitchen. So after tea she packed up her things and was to take thestage to the depot; for Annie lived a long way off. 

Just before the stage came as I was standing at the gate, my eyes fullof tears at losing my nice little servant all on account of a fish, Isaw the lady who lived across the way open her gate and come towardour house. I saw the stage stop a few doors off as she came to ourgate and bowing to me said:

"Excuse me, we are strangers, but did you lose a fine trout to-day?"

She must have thought me mad, for I rushed into the house, and called:"Annie, Annie, I've found the fish! Now put your things back in thebureau, you silly girl. "

Then I went back and invited my neighbor in, telling her about Annie'sfright. 

"Why, it was our Nero--our great dog! I was away at my mother's or Iwould have brought it back, for I was sure it belonged to you. Neromust have slipped in, nabbed the fish, and brought it to our house. Helaid it on the kitchen floor, as if he had done a very good deed, mygirl tells me, and she, foolish thing, thought he had brought it frommy mother's, and cooked it. "

We had a hearty laugh at our stupid servants, and were great friendsfrom that day, and I never see a picture of fish for sale, but I thinkof my first trout, which I prepared for dinner with such care, butnever tasted. Annie never dared say "ghosts" after that, and livedwith us till Dick was three years old. But there is papa, and theselittle girls must have a piece of cake and run home. 

[Illustration: {A BOY AND GIRL ICE SKATING. }]

Transcriber's Note

The story SAILOR BABIES seems to end rather abruptly, and the poemfollowing, PRETTY POLLY PRIMROSE, seems to start in the middle. Another copy of the book was checked and found to be the same, with nosign of a missing page, so this is probably a printing error. 

The poem starting "Dick and Gray" was originally in the middle of thestory THE RETURN OF THE BIRDS; the poem has been moved before thatstory for readability. 

The second page of the story DIME AND BETTY, starting "I drive Bettyto pasture every day, " was obtained from a different copy of the book, which was identical in all aspects except the layout of the copyrightpage. 

The story THE TOWER OF LONDON consistently refers to Anne Boleyn asAnna Boleyn. This has been preserved as printed. 

Punctuation errors have been repaired. Inconsistent spelling andhyphenation has been preserved as printed across different pieces, butmade consistent within individual pieces, as follows:

 IN THE WOODS--Molly amended to Mollie--""You were mistaken, Mollie, I'm sure. ""

 HOW THE DAYS WENT AT SEA-GULL BEACH--Estelle amended to Estella--"We put the pole through the handle and Estella and myself took hold ... "

 DINGFORD'S BABY--Hettie amended to Hetty--"That little brother of Hetty Dingford was the funniest baby on the coast; ... "

The following amendments have also been made:

 THE LAUGHING JACKASS--rellishes amended to relishes--"He relishes lizards very much, and there are plenty ... "

 THE LAUGHING JACKASS--rotton amended to rotten--"She lays here egss on the rotten wood at the bottom of the hole. "

 TOMMY AND THE GANDER--then amended to them--"Tommy took one of them in his hands. "

 FAN'S CARDS--Chrisrmas amended to Christmas--"Then they all waved their cards and cried "Merry Christmas! ... ""

 WHO KILLED THE GOOSE?--alway amended to always--""People are always saying dogs do things, " ... "

 MRS. GIMSON'S SUMMER BOARDERS--fricaseed amended to fricasseed--"If coffee and fricasseed chicken would not be just the thing ... "

 MRS. GIMSON'S SUMMER BOARDERS--heir amended to their--"... With their graceful talk, and numberless resources of entertainment. "

 SMALL BEGINNINGS--close by amended to by close--"... And by close application to his studies, ... "

 AUTUMN LEAVES, AND WHAT KATIE DID--thown amended to thrown--"... Their leaves are thrown away, and they are empty-handed. "

 WAIF'S ROMANCE--presented amended to prevented--"... Even if the overflowed valley had prevented her accustomed excursions; ... "

 WAIF'S ROMANCE--receeding amended to receding--"... Until he came to a good sized pond left by the receding waters ... "

 WAIF'S ROMANCE--smuggled amended to snuggled--"... The kitten was snuggled up as close to her brute protector ... "

 TWO LITTLE GIRLS--befel amended to befell--"And this is what befell;"

 THE LION AT THE "ZOO"--purs amended to purrs--"... He lies down and purrs as good-naturedly as a pussy cat, ... "

A table of contents has been added for the convenience of the reader. 

Illustration captions in {curly brackets} have been added by thetranscriber for the convenience of the reader. 

The frontispiece illustration has been moved to follow the title page. Illustrations have been moved where necessary so that they are not inthe middle of a paragraph.