THE LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA v "% From the Library of GERTRUDE WEIL 1879-1971 .~^- J s UNIVERSITY OF N.C. AT CHAPEL HILL 00022094635 \ \ \ [ 5^ jfS 1 The wise old mouse crept softly through tlie pantry. He was look- ing to see how many crumbs there were. Besides, there might be an apple pie on the shelf. A water barrel stood in the corner. A stream from the spring came bubbling through a pipe. It fell into the tank with a tinkle that pleased the mouse. It made him think of chestnuts dropping from the tree. He peeped behind the barrel to see if a nut had tumbled there. Just then, in ran Buzz, the cat. "Oho! " purred Buzz, as. he leaped into the middle of the floor; "I shall have that nice dinner at last." " You think you are handsome, don't you?" squeaked the mouse from behind the tank. Buzz was crouched right in the way to his hole. The stupid cat purred with pride. " Yeaow ! yeaow ! " he said. He knew he was a beauty. "There's a cat in this barrel," tittered the wise old mouse, "that's twice as pretty. Buzz was vexed. He forgot about his dinner. He wanted to see that cat. He leaped upon the edge of the barrel. "Te-he-he!" scmeaked the mouse. " What a lovely cat ! " purred Buzz. " I would like to make his fur fly." Poor, foolish Buzz ! He did not know it was his own face he saw in the water. "That cat can eat you up," chirped the mouse. ^"^feLI"^ ' - — * " » BVZZ GOES FISHING. Buzz lost his temper. He screamed with anger, and sprang at the image in the water. Splash ! " Me-on-w, ye-ou-w ! " went the cat. " Qne-cpie-cpie ! " laughed the wise old mouse, as he scampered tc- his hole. Aunt Patty heard the noise. She came running in, and fished the poor cat out. Buzz had no dinner that day. In the kitten school, after this, this line was set in the writing «=^ books : — ^-^^mw^ < />■ HERO GEORGIE But poor Georgie fell in the snow with a cry of pain. The sleigh had struck him, and hurt him cruelly. He tried not to cry, hut sobs broke from his lips. Elky tried to lift him out of the snow, and the tears streamed out of his eyes. $ Georgie had to stay in bed a whole week. Elky came to see him every day, and you may fancy how fond he was of Georgie. Somebody asked. " Why did Georgie risk his life to save Elky ? " When Georgie heard of it he said he was glad he did it. It was bad enough for Elky to be deaf and dumb without being lame, too. And really, now, little boys like Georgie make the heroes of the world. The happiest people are those who take pains to help others, and save them from suffering. KHAM. i r TOE JOURNEY TO GRANDPA' i Whirr — it — rr, Rattle the wheels ! The horses scamper Across the fields ; And in a low cabin Door there stands A group of children Who wave their hands. ir~5:^ ••--/-':. V J-T3-S.. -4- J J »1 Hoo — oo — oo ! Is it still far ? Ah, no, the bell rings, Here we are ! "Why, dear, dear grandpa, Is that yon ? " " Yes, how do yon do, child ? How do you do ? ' MRS. CLARA DOTY BATES >-^'r~ .mi ^y-%^ ^-^ -^- ^ffil y#? ;U *Ms Ji' III ??; j\5*. /O ses: ~3SS r^>- P^J Ovek on the park there is S ¥§^ " *f> a Httle pig; '•--5--^ Ife. He can play a fiddle, he can dance a ^ v iigj | /I J He can tell his letters, and spell his l^jy^A'l name out, too. Now, isn't that enough for a little pig- to do ? EMMA L. DOWn ^ ^ THE BEST DOG. Bert and Tommy had been reading stories about intelligent dogs. Then they began to talk and guess which would be the best sort to have. They could not agree, so they thought they would ask their grandfather's opinion. They ran to him, both asking the same ques- tion, '• Which is the best kind of a dog, grandpa?" He put his newspaper down and took his glasses off, and answered slowly, " That kind that will he true to a master and stand by him no matter what happens." Then he said, "I have read and heard of many dogs doing wonderful things, but I never really knew but one that would make the hero of a story. He was a homely yellow cur that nobody would have paid a cent for." " Oh, do tell us about him ! " said Bert and Tommy together. THE BEST DOG. So their grandfather folded his paper and went on talking slowly : " Once I was travelling on a road through a country full of lulls and hollows. It was a snowy day in winter, with a high wind. I was hurrying along to get out of the storm, when a little dog jumped up in front of me, barking with all his might. " I tried to drive him off, but he howled and hung on to my coat in such a way that I began to think he was* begging me to help him. So I stopped, and then he ran back a few steps and stood waiting for me to come. " I followed him, and looking over the bank by the road-side I saw a man partly buried in the snow. I went to him and found that he had slipped on the ice and fallen down into a deep gully, where he lay with a sprained ankle. " I helped him up, but he could hardly move, for he was old and feeble and benumbed with the cold. In a short time I saw a boy in a wagon driving in our direction. I shouted to him, and when he saw what had happened he said he knew the old man and wovdd take him home. " We lifted him into the wagon and made him as comfortable as we could. " The little dog had stood near looking very serious and anxious till he saw that his master was in a safe place. Then he went wild with joy, frisking around and licking my hands to thank me. Then he scampered off after the wagon as fast as he could go. Now, I call that the right kind of a dog." ' So do I, grandpa," said Bert ; and, " So do I," echoed Tommy. M. E. N. HATHEWAY- UNCLE PHIL'S STORY. " He almost always did what I told him, but this time he did not. I began scolding him, and he ran towards home. )-\ <, K w " Then I was very angry. I picked up a stone and threw it at him as hard as I could." o ^ >¥ UNCLE PHIL'S STORY "Tell us a story, Uncle Phil," said Rob and Archie, running to him. " What about ? " said Uncle Phil, as Rob climbed on his right knee and Archie on his left. '• Oh, about something that happened to you," said Rob. " Something when you were a little boy," added Archie. '"Once when I was a little boy," said Uncle Phil, "I asked my mother to let Roy and myself go and play by the river." "Was Roy your brother ?" asked Rob. " No ; but he was very fond of playing with me. My mother said yes ; so we went and had a good deal of sport. " After a while I took a shingle for a boat, and sailed it along the bank. At last it began to get into deep water, where I couldn't reach it with a stick. Then I told Roy to go and bring it to me. ^ *^ 7f— a; UNCLE PHIL'S STORY. « Uncle Phil ! " said Archie. " Just then Roy turned his head, and it struck him right over his eye." " Uncle Phil ! " cried Rob. " Yes, it made him stagger. He gave a little cry and lay down on the ground. " But I was still angry with him. I did" not go to him, but waded into the water for my boat. " But it was deeper than I thought. Before I knew it I was in a strong current. I screamed as it carried me down stream ; but 110 men were near to help me. " But, as I went down under the deep waters, something took hold of me and draswd me towards shore. And when I was safe on the bank I saw that it was Roy.. He had saved my life." '• Good fellow ! Was he your cousin ? " asked Rob. " No," replied Uncle Phil. " What did you say to him ? " asked Archie. '•I put my -arms around the dear fellow's neck and cried, and asked him to forgive me." " What did he say ? " asked Rob. '•' He said ' Bow, wow, wow ! ' " Why, who was Roy, anyway ? " asked Archie, in great astonish- ment. '"He was my dog," said Uncle Phil, — "the best dog I ever saw. 1 have never been unkind to a dog or to any other animal since, and 1 hope you never will be." SYDNEY UAYKE. ** tr %* -Ink ■£_ ^ ERE comes the doctor ! Hark, the bell has rung ! Let me feel your pulse. Put out your little tongue. Bring a silver tea -spoon, with orange marmalade. Sprinkle in this powder. There the dose is made. Take it like a hero. Do not even stop to cry. You think you cannot take it ? Now, just suppose you try. Well done, my little Trojan ! You took it like a man. If you never say you can't, you will always find you can. ANNA H. WAYNE. r=l jEpxlto 00, " I tell you, neighbor, I shall be obliged to move, 1 really shall ! Mr. Crab's goings-on are too much for me. I shall give: him a month's v s, • notice this very day!" "•What is the matter ? " " Why, mat- ter enoush, I should Y o u k n o w I had already V had this lodging for some time, when old M a d a m Whelkdied. She was a quiet old lady, and never mov- ed about much, and Ave suited each other perfectly. She inside the shell, and I outside, we were both con- tented. ' Miss Actinia,' she used to say (she was very dignified, and never called me • Anemone,' though I really like :t better than the scientific name), ' Miss Actinia, nobody need ask for a quieter lodger than you are.' And I always re- plied. ' Madam Whelk, the lodger that could give trouble to such a «-%?- i^k^ A PRETTY PIECE OF BUSINESS. andlady as you, ma'am, must have little- self-respect or good breeding.' Ah, well ! those were peaceful, pleasant days. Then the good old lady died, and one day, while I was lamenting her loss, here comes this fine Mr. Crab, scuttling about and making a great noise, and evidently thinking a deal of himself. ' Shell to let, I see,' he says, poking one of his great claws into the house. ' Have you any prospect of a tenant, ma'am ? ' (This was to me, if you please, as bold as a squid!) — 'No, sir,' said I. c The owner of the house is lately dead, and left no orders about letting it.' — -Oh. ah!' says he. -Then I'll occupy it for the present, I think. — just to take care of it, you understand. It's very bad for a shell to stand empty — very bad, indeed,' and in he scuttles, and there he stays, and has stayed ever since ; and since that day, Mrs. Cowrie, I have scarcely known an hour's peace. What with scuttling in and out, and scratching and kick- ing and going through antics that you cannot imagine, ma'am, without seeing them, I am so shaken and knocked about, that I don't know whether I am on my base cr my feelers. It actually prevents me from getting a meal sometimes. Only yesterday, a nice shrimp was on the point of settling down on my crown, and I was keeping as still as a sponge, when — clash ! rattlety-bang ! Mr. Crab came scuttling into the house, shaking me so violently that the shrimp took fright instantly and made off. So I lost my dinner ; and something of the kind happens nearly every day. Remonstrate with him ? My dear, I have remonstrated with him again and again ; but one might just as well remonstrate with a torpedo. 'I disturb you?' he says. k Dear me ! Really now ! Why don't you move, ma'am, if that is the case ? The whole sea is before you ! ' and then he rubs his odious claws together, and makes more noise than ever. Now, Mrs. Cowrie, I have decided that I must go; and in choosing a new lodging, 1 shall certainly not choose a shell again,: but shall find a, good, steady place on some rock. No one cai be fonder of society than I am. ma'am ; hut there are all kind of society in the sea, and I, for one, draw the line at crabs. LAURA E. RICH. 1 ■> ^j ^ BABY'S FIRST PARTY. She enters with a modest air, My little debutante, so fair, So full of childish graces. 'Tis Heaven's blue within her eyes, Which look up with a shy surprise Tu meet the unknown faces. Of lovers brave, and true, and bold She has her share, as I've been told, All seeking for her favor. "■ ^-U^iiuwra ^ BABY'S FIRST PARTY. She brings all true hearts to her feet, My little maid, so fair, so sweet — Heaven from all evils save her! The white lids droop and shade her eyes Like fleecy clouds o'er summer skies. A sob that from her heart is — What grief to one so young can come ? She only murmurs, " Take me home, I think I don't like parties." MAlir OGDEN. — 3H&— Toot ! toot ! screamed the engine. Din" ! dons; ! ranee the hell, and away the cars started. Papa, mamma, and the twins, Bessie and Jessie, were going to grandpa's to spend Thanksgiving. " Going to eat the old turkey- gobbler," Jessie and Bessie said. Grandpa and grandma lived on a farm way off in the country. Last summer when the twins were there, the old gobbler would chase them whenever he got a chance. So grandpa had told them that if they came at Thanksgiving time they might eat him. When they reached Pleasantville, there was grandpa in his big sleigh to meet them. After he had kissed them a dozen times, and had tucked them under the great fur robe, one on each side of him, he said. — " So you have come to grandpa's for Thanksgiving ; don't they have it in the city ? " " Oh, yes, grandpa ! " they both exclaimed together, " but they don't have gobblers ; we have come to eat him ; don't you -<&— 'member ?" f ^V^y^^rt ^. ?^%^ L JS THAT SLY OLD GOBBLER. " Yes, yes, I remember ! " replied grandpa ; " but I guess some other little foxes have picked his bones before this. When I went for him this morning he was not to be found." " Oh, dear ! " sighed Bessie and Jessie, looking ready to cry, " shan't we have any turkey, grandpa ? " I "Well, I reckon }'ou won't starve. You just take a look into grandma's pantry when you get there, and see what you think about it." Sure enough, when they sat down to the Thanksgiving dinner, there were roast turkey and chicken-pie, besides a lot of goodies. They had just began to taste of them, when from out in the yard came a familiar noise. " Hark ! " said grandma. ^^C?»i^ THAT SLY OLD GOBBLER. " Well, I declare ! " cried grandpa, as they all rushed to the window. What do you suppose they saw strutting around as proudly as a king ? That old turkey-gobbler ! i± " So," laughed grandpa, "you have saved your neck this time; but wait a bit, Bessie and Jessie shall eat you yet." Two days before Christmas the expressman brought a big package directed to Bessie and Jessie, and the first thing they found in it was the old gobbler all ready to be roasted. STELLA T. JOHNSON. Hit Jjoy. *m Boo-hoo, boo-hoo-oo ! They didn't tell true ! They said it was round, The water and ground Of the world, And it whirled Like a wheel or a ball ; And the folks didn't fall From the bottom at all ! And they said they could stop, Work and play, Night and day, Just the same as on top ; So I thought I would try, And I climbed up here high To the top of this ball — Boo-hoo, boo-hoo-oo ! And I'm sure I shall slide Off over the side, If it turns any more, And fall, bans- ! to the floor. So come, somebody, do ; And come quickly, please, too ! kind sir, don't you see I'm as scared as can be ? Take me quick, or I'll fall — Take me down where 'tis flat — For the world Is not whirled. They didn't tell true ! And I know I shall fall, For I slip At each tip, And the wprld is no ball, Oh. I'm sure of that ! — Oh — thank — you - Boo-hoo-oo ! They didn't tell true ! C. S. P. <3> > ' ^ X JtfRS <2o Sate Jk% K ES? 3 \iM mm cM >#s*^ kl Johnnie went one day smelt-fishing with his Uncle "Bob. He had never seen fish caught in winter, and was slow to believe it. because he liked to think the fishes were asleep all winter under the ice. As far as Johnnie could see, up and down the river, there were small houses, not nearly as large as his grandma's kitchen, built on the ice. Some of them stood alone ; others were in groups, making quite a little village. They seemed to be made of boards. A if i%x £ ^ ^ ,r*~i X \ -V ^r &^j i*> w % SMELTING ON THE ICE. few were painted, and had one window and a chimney, but the most of them were without paint. Uncle Bob said they were not homes, but shelters for the fishermen during; storms or severe cold. It seemed to Johnnie that the ice was full of holes, and dozens of men were busy with their short lines and poles, drawing up the fish. Uncle Bob and many of the others used what they called the "double gear; " that is, a wire bent in the form of a bow, with a smelt-hook attached to each end. The bow was fastened by a line to a short rod or pole. With one of these rods in each hand, when the smelting was good, the angler could often catch four fishes at once. Johnnie did the very first time he drew up his lines, and he was so excited that his Uncle Bob had to come and take his fish off the hooks for him. He put them in the small basket he had brought, and dropped his lines a second time. To his great delight he drew up four more. Leaving hooks and basket, Johnnie ran to tell the good news to Uncle Bob. " You should have brought your basket, Johnnie," his uncle said. " I saw an eagle just now, over there among the trees. They are so hungry for fish at this season of the year that sometimes they are bold enough to steal those we have caught, when they have a good chance. Yes, there he is now ! Run, Johnnie ! " Johnnie ran, and Uncle Bob ran and shouted, but the eagle got to the spot first, picked up the basket in his claws, and went sailing with Johnnie's eight fishes up into the air. LIZZIE MAY SHERWOOD. jr-^i# WILLIE'S SANTA CLAUS. On"e Christmas eve Willie McAllister got very sleepy toward bed- time ; but be told bis mother that he did not want to go to bed until he had seen her hang up bis stockings for Santa Glaus to fill. J-r^r*^ )» WILLIE'S SANTA GLAUS. " Very well, Willie, we will fix them now," she said. She drov?j two nails under the mantel-piece in the nursery and hung Willie's little stocking's on them. But, mamma," said Willie, " Santa Claus can't get out- through the register, and he must come down the chimney ! " " Never mind, Willie," laughed his mother, " I am very sure Santa will find a way to get in." But Willie was not satisfied, and after his mother had gone down- stairs he got out of bed. He seated himself upon the broad sill of the nursery window, so that Santa Claus would see him, and not forget to come in and put somethiug in his s^ckinjgji. t NINE LITTLE SPARRO WS. Very soon Willie's little eyes closed, and when his mother came np to bed she found him perched . upon the window fast asleep, and carried him back to bed. The next morning Willie's stockings were full of good things; and, besides, there was a brand-new sled, a pair of skates, and other useful toys on the floor under them. When Willie saw them he clapped his hands and was very happy indeed. Then he looked very wise and said to his mother : — " Mamma, I don't believe Santa Clans would have come in if he hadn't seen me at the window. I think all little children that live in register houses ought to let him know it." G. KETTLEWEEL. / ¥ "v. •**«£ >&m v 4 T\ NINE LITTLE SPARROWS. Nine wee coats of dun and gray, Nine small birds that, come what may, Such dear little saints, so sober, so sad, Surely tbey could not, no, never, be bad ! "%- C2=M NINE LITTLE SPARRO WS. Quaint little Quakers all, steady and trim, Withdrawn from the world of folly and sin. With pure thoughts of love and a heavenly mind, With peace and good-will to all the bird-kind. EEimiiffi^iiji^. But- look asain now, and oh, what is this ? A dissolving view gone was that picture of bliss. Those sad little birds of a moment ago, Those solemn wee saints that were all in a row, Are all ens;a°;ed now in a terrible fitrht With bill and with claw and with no thought of right, And nine shrill cries rend the still, still air, And nine little birds " don't care what is fair." Thejr prove, now, alas ! they're birds of a feather. These nine little birds that flocked there together, Are nine small sparrows of lowest degree — They were making believe they were good ; ah, me ! ■v- IRENE E. JEROME, %* Syver is a little Norwegian boy. His parents are very poor. His home is a rude sod house away up in Dakota. There are no trees, little or big, for miles around. How could he get a Christmas-tree ? Well, one day when his father came from the town, he brought Syver a bare branch from one of the trees by the river-side. To make it look green the mother wound it all over with green tissue-paper, and then tied on dried grasses here and there, so that it looked quite pretty. But what could be found to put on the tree ? Syver's good mother had been saving for it all summer. The red paper that comes around soap she cut into rings and strung on the boughs. Some little tin tags from plug tobacco were strung together and looped on. Primes and raisins were wrapped in tinsel paper and hung here and there. But the one thing which looked like an ordinary child's Christ- mas-tree was a candy bear which the little fellow gazed upon in perfect bliss. The whole thing cost maybe ten cents, but Syver was as /happy as if it cost ten dollars. amelia a. frost. ^fe^^ THE LITTLE KING'S KIXGDOM. Lsr the hush of the Christmas niffht he looks » Out ou the world from his lied of straw ; The wise men have knelt with their offering's meet, And laid them clown at his dimpled feet ; h ,-. THE LITTLE KING'S KINGDOM. The angels have trembled and trilled their song, All mystic and holy it swelled along ; But now in the silence the little King looks Where the night-shadows quiver and wave in awe. Beyond the night-shadows and on and on, Past broad, sparkling streams, o'er the fathomless deep, Through fair smiling valleys where wild blossoms blow, And over the realm of the wonderful snow, From his raano-er of straw looks the little Kino- ; Not a whisper the glorious tidings to ring Beyond the night-shadows and on and on Through the kingdoms that laugh and the kingdoms that weep. His mother bends over and kisses his brow And turns her brave eyes to the all-seeing blue. The kings of the earth have a crown and a throne, The little King's curls are his crown alone ; But through the night-shadows and on and on He sees his own kingdom in darkness and dawn. His mother bends over and kisses his brow, And the little King smiles in her face so true. Oh, where may the little King's kingdom be ? Others are ruling with might and with strife, In garments of purple, in glitter of gold, In the flash of the sword and the banner unrolled, Through the night-shadows and on and on, In the glint of the moon in the streak of the dawn. Oh, where may the little King's kingdom be ? 'Tis the kingdom of love and the little King's life. LOUISE K. BAKER. CHRISTMAS IN THE FAR NORTH. ^ The preparations for Christmas dinner were nearly made. The plummy mince-pies, the frosted cakes, the tarts, pickles, jellies, king turkey on his platter, stuffed to bursting, and puddings rich with raisins and spices, all ready to be cooked next day, filled the pantry with such delicious odors as to make little Tom's mouth water when he peeped in to take a last look. Mamma was very tired, and Aunt Kitty undertook the task of help- ing Patty, Flossie and Maud and Tommy and Ned hang up their stockings and take care of baby Bob. They were all up at last in a solemn row. While Bobby was going to sleep, they gathered about the glowing fire to talk. " Do you suppose the children 'way up in the North where there isn't any sun these days " — began Patty. " An' it snows all the time, an' the Bory Alice puts out all the stars, an' the dogs drag 'em on sleds," Tom hastened to add, to let Aunt Kitty see that he remembered what she had read to them the night before. "Drag the stars on sleds ! " shouted Patty in derision. " He meant the children, dear," interposed Aunt Kitty, to nip a small riot in the bud. " Go on, Patty." "Well," continued Patty, with a severe eye on Tom, "do you s'pose the children there have as nice times on Christmas as we do ?" "I guess so, in their way," said Aunt Kitty. "I've read that at their Christmas the people all gather in the very biggest snow hut in the village. Then the priest prays for all the fat reindeer and seals they can eat through the whole year, and for their skins to make warm trousers and boots. " The girls and boys dress just alike, you know I told you, only the skirts of the girls' jackets are longer than those of the boys'. Odd-looking things they must be, too." "I should think so!" sniffed Patty, smoothing down the soft rufHes of her white frock. " Then they have a great feast — their Christmas dinner. But instead of turkey, they would have reindeer and seal boiled in a / ^? ^ ^ »*. >i < — rV vl great stone kettle, and for plum-pudding, a big piece of rich, yellow reindeer tallow to nib- ble." " Humph ! " grunted Tom in disgust. "After that," continued Aunt ffc Kitty laughing, " they all rush K f out of the hut and stand in ^g^- a circle about a big stone pot filled with snow water, each chew- ->C ing a bit of tallow, and wishing; for nice JF presents to be given him. Then one in the circle dips a stone cup into the pot, takes a sip of snow water, and passes it along to the next one. " Last of all the presents, which have been brought along, are thrown at each other, and the air is full of trousers, boots, bits of tal- *^low, bone hair rings and fintier rinsjs and mittens, wbile the' bright Aurora, dances, and the sharp, crisp air rings with cries of ' Pe-e- uke ! Pe-e-uke ! which means Q-o-od — good ! ' ' CHRISTINE STEPHENS a> ^r^^^f**^ SMe- ^^^T A FRIEND IX NEED. A noRSE and a goat were lately grazing together in a field in England. They belonged to the same master, and had grown to be fast and true friends to one another. The field was open to the road and bordered onlj- by a low hedge-row, and it sometimes bappened that a lot of cruel, idle boys from the town close by saw fit to amuse themselves by throwing stones at the poor, little, harmless scoat, while some more cruel than the rest tried to hit it with a stick. The horse they did not dare to attack ; but although they left him in peace, whenever he saw his friend thus ill-treated, he left off grazing, and however far off he might be, came racing and gallop- ing across the field to drive away its enemies. But, alas ! they always came back ; and when this had gone on several times, the horse lost patience, and evidently made up his mind to give them a lesson that they would nut forget in a. hurry. So the very next time the } r oung ruffians appeared and began teazing the poor goat as before, he galloped up to the rescue, and suddenly seizing with his teeth one of the lads by the collar of his coat, flung him bodily over the hedge into the road beyond. What a hero he must have been to the ccoat ever since ! mrs. a. jr. goodhart. A — * ^^y^^^r^ j WHAT CAME IN A BAG. TOOK little Lucy in my lap yester- day afternoon, and this is the story she told me, and I know it is true : — " My papa brought me here to grandma's house," said she, " be- cause my mamma was dead, and papa said I must come. I didn't want to come, and I didn't want my mamma to be dead. ' ; When we got to the station, grandpa was there to meet us. I thought he would be horrid. You know some old people are horrid ; but grandpa isn't. He had a stove-pipe hat on, and that made him look very nice. " I did not know where we were soma;, but we rode to this house and stopped. I liked the house, because there was a yard around it, and there were red roses climbing up to the windows. •• I never saw my grandma before, but she looked as nice as grandpa. She is very old, though. — ninety-five, I think. [This was a mistake of forty years or so.] But she is the best woman, and grandpa is the best man, and I like to live here. Only I could not help ciying when papa went off and left me ; yes, I cried as much as half an hour. " Well, after that I had the toothache. It was the backest tooth in my head, and it ached and ached. Grandpa said I must go to the dentist. I did not like to. I was afraid ; but he said, — r^&$4£. o ii^i-%**- ^^v^^^x ^ *VN^ WHAT CAME IN A BAG. "'Now, you go with me, Lucy, and I will write and tell your papa you are a brave girl.' " So I took hold of grandpa's hand, and went with him, for I wanted to be a brave girl. * " The thing the dentist pulled with was as sharp as the point of the head of a pin ; but when the tooth came out it never ached any more. " And then grandpa wrote a letter to papa, and papa was so pleased. He said he would send me a present in a bag, and it ^^ *fov», would conic that da}' to tlie post-office, and we mast go right off and tret it. '• There, yon can't guess vi Hat it was ! No, you never can gness ! How 1 laughed and how we all laughed ! It was in a great strong; bag. There, you turn your head around so. Do you see that little beau-ti-ful doggie sitting in the window, with a blue ribbon on his neck ? Well, that's my doggie ! His name is Tiny, and he can 1 .-: in that bag. Yes, he did ! He never died at all. He breathed all the time iust the same, and when we took him out of the bag he was as alive as could and wanted some bread and milk. <8> aB3^ C'7? vjxccsrzi^caacaaa WHAT CAME IN A BAG. " Wasn't it funny ? Grandpa said, •' Now, Lucy, are you glad you were a brave girl ? ' And I told him I was glad, and papa was so good, and I was willing to go to the dentist again, for it didn't hurt much . '■' But grandpa said I need not go again ; he said it was no use to pull out my teeth when they didn't ache. " And besides, I don't want any more dogs, you know ! What do I want of more dogs when I have Tiny ? " Tiny, come here ! He licks my hand and tickles me so I have to laugh. Did j'ou ever see anything so dear and sweet and nice ? Isn't he beau-ti-ful? He's all mine, too. And does he look as if he came in a bag ? " SOPHIE MAY. ■zx xr x <$l My master took Alexis, Buttercup, and The Twins to a place they call the circus, to-day. Of course I went too. It was a funny place. We Avent in a hole, where a man took the tickets. It was a hole in a great big cloth wall. My master said it was a tent, and that the hole was the door. A funny door, I thought. When we went in, the man said, " Be careful, don't let the elephant eat that pug dog ! " He meant me. My master laughed, and so did the twins ; but they are little things and don't know better. Inside, my master let me down out of his arms, and Butter- cup held the string to my collar. There was sawdust on the ground, and I found a singer cake in it, and ate it. There were all sorts of animals in the cages. Some cats and dogs, with lots of hair around their throats. My master said they were timers and lions, but I thought they looked like cats and dogs. Then we saw a big something with a pump-handle to its nose. It would lift the pump-handle, and Alexis and Buttercup put cake in one end, where there was a hole. My master said the big thing was an elephant, and the pump- handle his trunk. I always thought trunks were square boxes. When I heard it was an elephant I got behind The Twins, because I was afraid it would eat me. The man at the hole said it would. After we got through looking at the elephant, we all went into another tent. I was so tired I went to sleep, and only awoke when the dogs came into the middle of the tent. My, how those dogs did behave ! My master said they were trained to do tricks. Alexis said he would teach me. I don't want to know, for I am afraid it would make me very tired to do all the things those dogs did. But to-night I am going to try and stand on my head as one of the dogs did. I wonder if pug clogs can stand on their heads ? e I'D OvxnJs 9. J \ ^y ^^ " They were trained to do tricks." SCAMP GOES TO THE CIRCUS Is jMfc* n h -sf — $m. m -*,. u : :n 5 AFTER CHRISTMAS. The tree that had served in the parlor, The pride of the girls and the boys. Festooned all over with pop-corn, And hun«' with candies and toys. With its gifts taken oft' from the branches, AY as being removed the next day, While every child in the household Was watching its journey away. Then Lilian said to the others, As they met by the door of the hall, " Let us carry it down to the garden, And stand it up there by the wall ; And then we can play when Ave want to That Christmas is coining again." " Oh, yes, let us do so ! " said Lucy ; " All right ! " echoed Charley and Ben. I With chorus of shouting and laughter, The tree to the garden they drew, And placing it straight in a corner, They festooned the pop-corn anew. A telephone must have been near them That understood what they had planned, For the news of what they were doing- Spread quickly abroad in the land. And soon from the west came a sparrow, And another soon came from the east. While flocks from the northward and southward Arrived to claim shares of the feast; ■ <■ j) [j t; . v- 3 4^ ep 1 era "■''J <£ ** BT AFTER CHRISTMAS And chickadees came from the thickets In sprightliest holiday mood, With pigeons from neighboring farmyards,' And how they all chattered and cooed ! 3P %r* ■s&aa ^w? AFTER CHRISTMAS. u, < x- ^0¥ '• Oh, now for some fun ! " said the children, Delighted their coming to see ; •• We'll fix up a lot of nice presents And hang for them round on the tree ! " Then packing their bundles of titbits, With merriest clamor of words. They played Christmas over and over. In ways that just suited the birds. M. E. N. HATHEWAY 1 Mabel Ross was visiting her grandma one summer. On a rainy day, when she could not go out, grandma and she went up in the attic to get some rags for a rug. While grandma was making selections from the old garments, Mabel was prying curiously into all corners, as children delight to do. Presently she exclaimed, " grandma ! what is that tall box with a door and holes in the top?" " That is an old shower-bath," said grandma. " What is it for ? " asked Mabel. "Well," replied grandma, "'when I was a small child, my nurse used to stand me in there and turn the water slowly on through the holes in the top, and that was my shower-bath." '• Oh, how nice," said Mabel'; " may I take one some day? " Grandma said "Yes;" but the next day Mabel's father came to take her home. When telling her playmates about the nice times she had at grandma's, she always ended by regretting that she couldn't take the shower-bath. SHOWER-BATH. One day she was out in the yard, and saw the water-cart go by, sprinkling the streets. " Oh, " she thought, " if I was only under there, it would be 'most like a shower-bath." She knew that when the sprinkler came back the driver would stop at the brook across the way to refill. Obeying an impulse, Mabel ran to the stable and got her brother's tip- cart, which she could just manage to sit in. "While the driver was refilling his tank, unobserved by him, she tied the tip-cart securely in the desired position under the sprinkler. Forgetful of her nice clean dress and pretty hat, she seated herself therein. When the driver started his cart, her " shower-bath " began. At first she liked it ; but as the full force of the water was her clothes were wet through. People stopped along the street to smile at this strange sight, and the little girl became aware that she was an object of merriment. She felt ashamed, and seeing her brother Tom among some boys on the sidewalk, cried out to him to come and get his tip- cart. " That's two words for yourself and one for the cart," said Tom. As the driver halted just then, lie untied his cart, and, at Mabel's request, dragged her home in it as fast as he could. A very " dripping-wet " girl stood in the back entry making an explanation of her appearance to her mother, with downcast eyes, a little later. Mamma was a little vexed, but forgave her, after a slight reproof, in memory of the shower-bath she was to have taken at grandma's. VIRGINIA C. IIOLLIS. ^4-r*^V U Jack was going to a party ! He was dressed in a rich velvet suit, of the very finest quality. No grand frilled shirt could have been whiter or prettier than his. For a neck-tie he wore a bow of ribbon of a most becoming shade of blue. His collar was handsome enough for a prince. Was Jack, then, a petted little boy ? No ; he was only a spoiled dog ! He had been invited to a real party, though. His invitation came in a pink envelope, and was written in the very latest style. A queer old lady had sent out cards for a dogs' " At home." Fifty pets — terriers, pugs, and poodles — were invited. When the time came, the proud fellow was taken in a carriage to the lady's house. He sat alone on the back seat, and felt very important riding thus at his ease through the streets. When he got there it was a little late, so he was sent right into the dining-room. There he found all the dogs airing their best company manners. They sat in chairs around a table, which was spread with a fine damask cloth, and adorned with lovely flowers The guests had white napkins tied round their necks, and their food was served upon costly china.. Yet — would any one believe it ! ^-y>L< > V, W A QUEER PARTY. though they thought they were very polite, they all licked their plates, and put their noses into their bowls of milk. When Jack entered they bowed gravely to him, and some of them bow-wowed. He was soon good friends with them all. After the feast he made a fine speech, which met with much applause, that is, with much wagging of tails and many yelps of delight. Later they romped in the halls. Then they all had paper hats and bonnets put on, and they looked very funny bobbing about. In a large, vacant room at the rear of the house several live rats were let loose, so that the terriers might have the sport of catching them. When it grew dark all the clogs said good-by, as well as they knew how. They had a splendid time, but I think it would have been a ereat deal nicer if the lady had given a pretty party to good children. Perhaps some little folk will think so too. This is a true story. MARY C. CROWLEY. ■ • I! ^ U&m 1 " Good-day to yon, bright little brook ! I've listened for your song. And thought you'd never sing again, So still you slept out on the plain. In all the sleet and snow and rain. The weary winter long." ^J Crl \ y '-S* i\ V \f " Good-day to you, glad little child ! Under the ice and snow I've sung all to myself, my dear, A song as happy, sweet, and clear As this is, tho' you could not hear One whisper from below." ^ GEORGE COOPER. f saMRas^, of sight, he would jump on like a miller. The cook scolded, and shook hie rolling- pin at him. But in a twinkling Jack was up the mast. There he would sit in safe- ty, grin and chat- ter, and shake his head and paws to mimic poor old Cato, while the sailors roared. Jack went where he pleased about the ship, but his own cor- ner was a large Jack Horxer was a little monkey who lived on ship-board. He wore a sailor's jacket of scarlet flannel, and a cap to match, and was very proud of his costume. He looked like a dwarf old man, for he was brown and wrinkled, and his black eyes peeped out beneath shaggy eyebrows and crinkly gray hair. Sometimes when the cook was out the Hour-barrel and powder his head NW*H3&ft^*ig v^ pt JACK HORNER. dry-goods box, turned on one side, and well supplied with clean straw for his bed. This was left to his own care, and Jack was a tidy lit- tle creature. He had watched the steward about his work till he mew just what to do. Every morning he shook up the straw with his tiny forepaws, and made his bed to suit himself. He would stand off a little way and look at it, shake it again, and pat it down. Then he % would run broom, and out his cabin, his face and basin, as the a nd d r i e d towel. w as very herring and eggs. They given him But he was not as honest as he was tidy, and would sometimes snatch a herring or an egg, if no one were near, and run off to his state-room to eat it. One morn- ing he burned his fingers with an egg, and for a long time after- wards would not take one even when offered him. Twice a week there was sago-pudding with cinnamon on it for dinner, and Jack was always on hand for his share. He would take his saucer in one paw, his spoon in the other, and eat as the sailors did. Sometimes there were raisins in his pudding, and then Jack was pleased. He would pull one out with his finger and thumb, hold it up, and chatter about it in great glee. *?; y\ 1 JACK HORNER. At Christmas the sailors filled a stocking for him with nuts and apples and lumps of sugar, and he had mince-pie and plum-pudding. ^ And you see in the picture how this little Jack Horner looked, sitting in a corner with his scarlet cap and jacket on, eating his Christmas pie. % £& JACK HORNER AND TABBY. " What can be in pussy's paws to make them hurt so?" he said to himself. " I mean to find out. I believe she has pins in them." He leaped upon her. And the first Madame Tabby knew, as she was taking a quiet walk on deck, Jack picked her up in his arms, and began to look for the pins. ' k Sure enough, here they are ! " he chat- tered, Avith a grin of delight. " I'll pull them out." He tried, but the pins wouldn't come. He pulled harder, and puss was provoked. " Mew, mew ! " she cried ; " I'll teach you to pull my paws ! " And she spit and scratched and bit him till he was glad to let her go. Every time he passed her that day she growled and spit ; but they were soon good friends again. Only Jack Horner remembered to pull out plums when he had n chance but pussy's pins MRS. MARY JOHNSON TWO LITTLE FINGERS AND TWO LITTLE BIRDS. On two pink finger-tips two bits of paper see ; The two pink finger-tips dance on mother's knee. (One dimpled hand now quickly raise, one finger tightly close. Another finger open out ; one bit of paper shows.) v^^s/jgr- ■x^> i -^r \ A SERIOUS RUNAWAY. On two pink finger-tips one bit of paper see ; The two pink finger-tips dance on mother's knee. (The other hand now quickly raise, one finger tightly close, Another finger open out; no bit of paper shows.) Though both have gone they need not stay, They can come back the selfsame way ; Stick fast the papers so they'll cling. And while they dance this song you'll sing : Two little blackbirds sitting on a hill. One named Jack and the other named Jill. Flj - away Jack ! fly away Jill ! Come back Jack ! come back ' Jill ! JULIA P. BALLARD. A SERIOUS RUNAWAY. 7 .# ^W? % 0" r^m ^k. I could A SERIO US R UNA WA Y. stopped before the door of an inn. It was about as large as a big sofa, and had a canvas cover like those vehicles we used to call gypsy wagons. Harnessed before it were two shaggy yellow dot see several children's heads peeping out, and hear a baby crying under the cover. I laughed at the strange company, and went on to the foot of a hill, where I sat down to sketch. Presently the noise of wheels on the stone attracted my attention, and I looked up to see the family carriage coming furi- ously toward me. A man far away was shouting at the dogs, who had evidently run away. I was not sur- prised to see first one child and then anoth- er roll out on the ground. ^ Just before they got to me the whole thing was overturned. In my anxiety to save the baby, I made the discovery that there were still four boys and a grandfather, inside ! Do you wonder that the little dogs wanted to prevent any one else getting in ? s. M. H. G. J^T^f* ^o^ ^y S A LARGE-SIZED VALENTINE. A gkeat man}' valentines were being planned and purchased by the small boys of Bobby Le Page's neighborhood. After much anxious thought, Bobby decided to buy only one, and that a very pretty one, since it was to be sent to his own mother. '• For you see," he argued with himself, >; every one else is sure to get plenty without mine. Mamma has nobody but me to think of her, since it seems as if papa is never coming back." Having acted upon his decision by buying a very gorgeous valen- tine, the poor little boy felt almost sure that it would give his sad young mother as much pleasure as it gave him. Yet he doubted it a little too. One day he asked her. in what he thought a very sly way, if she expected any valentines : and she answered with a burst of tears, — • No, dear ; I've given up expecting my Valentine." + V : **> *■ * 3 % LARGE-SIZED VALENTINE. Then, knowing she meant his father; whose name was Valentine, and who had never been even heard of since he sailed away on his own ship more than a year before, Bobby felt very much discour- aged about his effort to cheer her. Just for a little while he wished he had divided his money in valentines for the boys and girls. Rut Avhen the old saint's day came round, his spirits rose again, and he was very full of glee while he slipped that big square envelope under the front door. "t ^ ^M -A -^■sU^ 7 MR. RAT AND MISS PUSSYCAT. It was after dark when he put it there, and he intended to pull the bell wire from the inside just as soon as his mamma gave him the chance. But it did seem that evening as if mamma would never give him the chance. He waited and waited, and was just beginning to despair, when ding went that bell wire without a single touch from Bobby. " Can that be the postman ? " said mamma. '' Or the new milk-boy," said Bobby, opening the door as ho spoke, and then standing still and staring, for it wasn't either the postman or the milk-boy. It was a big man with loving brown eyes just like Bobby's, and an eager, tender smile upon his lips, screamed Bobby. " Valentine, my Valentine ! " sobbed mamma. In another moment they were both in his arms. In the joy of having this large- sized Valentine with them again safe and sound, even Bobby forgot all about that smaller one, which had cost him twenty-five cents of good American money. HESTEK VICKEKY BROWN. V i ; MR. RAT AND MISS PUSSYCAT. Bright, bright, in the moonlight night, Glistened the eyes of Pussycat White. own, down, like a sly old clown, th peaked nose, came Mr. Rat Brown eet, sweet were the grains of wheat The naughty thief was coming to eat. *■ < X I n «*. MR. RAT AND MISS PUSSYCAT. Spring, spring, as if a wing Had grown upon the furry thing. Howl, howl, and groan and growl, She startled all the barnyard fowl. Bite, bite, in vain you light, Miss Pussycat, your foot is tight. 4& •? Lap, lap, close by the trap, He grins and eats, that sly old chap. Glare, glare, she tore her hair. And spent a night of wild despair. Bright, bright, the stars that night Twinkled and laughed at Pussycat White. CLARA G- DOLLTVER. r-^ ■n- FLOSSY'S LEAR CF.US and Daisy lived iu the country. Their papa had a beautiful house with grounds and stables, kennels and aviaries, and they had many pets. Among these was one in especial, — a large and handsome setter, called Dan. He was a splendid hunter, and a gentle house-dog. While their papa could take him on long tramps for quail and partridge. Rufus and Daisy could lay their hands on his shaggy back, and feel sure that he would not hurt them. One day Rufus amused himself by teasing Daisy's favorite cat, a lovely soft, white snowball, called Flossy. Two great tears gathered in Daisy's eyes. Rufus, who loved her very dearly, irade up his mind that he would stop teasing Flossy. But just then Dan appeared on the scene, and Rufus could not resist calling out, " Seek him ! seek him ! " Before the words were said, Dan had dashed after Flossy right into the geranium beds. FLOSS Y'S LEAP. The two great tears stood still on Daisy's cheeks, and Rufus was indeed frightened at the mischief he had caused. But Flossy turned to meet her pursuer, and with one quick leap landed on his back. Then Rufus and Daisy burst into a hearty laugh, for Dan rushed wildly around the garden, trying in vain to get rid of his unwelcome burden. Flossy had fastened her claws firmly into his shaggy back, smb- nKlili ilUn -f Z3l ffiJW ,': : -: : ~'Av:-v ; : i K One Friday night Johnny had a pres- ent of a p air of He was so delighted that he lept with them under his pillow. He woke in the morning feeling as rich as a king. Everything was happening just light, for it was a holiday. The pond below the garden was frozen hard, and the weather was pleasant. His mother was going off to town to stay till night with Aunt Sarah. His father was to take her there and then return home. Before they started papa strapped on the new skates and left ^ %z -&m HOW JOHNNY LEARNED TO SKATE. Johnny on the little pond, saying, " There, that's a safe place for you. Now learn as fast as yon can.'' fe> ^ So Johnny skated and skated. He fell down a great many times during the forenoon, but still he was very happy. His small sister Jeannette came out to slide, and his grown-up sister Lucy watched them from the window. Lucy was the housekeeper now that the mother was away. By and by somebody brought a note from their father. He was detained by business and should not be back till night. When Johnny heard this he told Jeannette that he should stay on the ice all day. If he took his skates off he knew he could not put them on again. At noon Lucy tried to get him to come to dinner, but he refused to leave the pond. " Papa told me to learn to skate as fast as I could, and I'm bound to do it," he said. %>r r r4v^^v MOLLIE'S LITTLE LESSOX. " Oh, how the sun shines ! " said Mollie, as she got out of bed on a spring morning. '• I know the little wild-flowers are peeping up in the grove. I know just where the darling little anemones and the bluebells grow. And there are violets, too. Oh, dear ! I don't want to go to school." Mollie finished dressing, and looked over towards the grove. " I don't believe I'm very well. I wonder if I don't look pale." She went to the glass, and was sorry to see how rosy her round cheeks were. '• But I don't feel very well, anyway." She put on a doleful face, and kept it so until she sat down to breakfast. It was hard work not to smile when her little kitty ran frolicking over the floor after a marble. " What is the matter, Mollie ? " asked her mamma. " I don't feel very well, mamma. I think I'd better not go to school to-day. I need a little fresh air." Mollie looked more doleful than ever, as she passed up her plate for some beefsteak and pancakes. '• If you are not well, my dear, yuu can only eat oatmeal," said mamma. Mollie did not like oatmeal ; but she thought of the anemones and made the best of it. '" I think you had better lie down," said mamma, leading Mollie upstairs. " And you will be more comfortable with your clothes of£/J And before Mollie had time to think, there she was in bed that beautiful morning ! '• Can't I have my picture-books or my paint-box ? " she asked. " No, dear, not till you get well." Oh, what a long morning it was ! The sun shone, and the birds sang, and Mollie wished with all her heart that she was on the pleasant way to her pleasant school. iF?^ $ MOLLIE'S LITTLE LESSON. When dinner-time came mamma brought her some toast, though she was hungry for roast mutton. " Can't Hetty and Tom come into my room?" she asked, when they returned from school. "No ; you must be kept quiet," said mamma. How she hated the quiet. She thought she would never again want a rest. As she had a great deal of time, she began to think that she had tried very hard to feel sick, but it was not quite true that she had been. She told mamma so when she came to hear her prayers. " Whenever you are tempted to tell what is not true, dear, think of this long day in bed," said mamma, kissing her. As mamma went downstairs, she smiled to herself, saying, — " I think my dear little girlie has learned a lesson." SYDNEY DAYRE. HOW ARTHUR WAS LOST. " Here, Hattie," said Mrs. Brown, as she was going out one after- noon, " I am going to the store, and you must amuse little brother until I come back. You may have your playthings on the piazza, but be sure that he does not go down the steps. I won't stay very long." Hattie was a faithful little sister, and had often taken care of her * X L -ir* i ^^^^^^^i .^ ^ V^M \ 'i\W&^s=hi4 'W0^ « ^£$* f ^ RK.; \ ><-\ 7, £ v HOW ARTHUR WAS LOST. ^ brother. As he was three years old, his mamma felt that she could leave home for a few minutes with perfect safety. She was away, however, longer than she expected. When she returned, she found Hattie sitting on the steps, crying as if her heart would break. ^ UL /A. m M)- m& •■MA ##Q n* yn ~e£* ffi§B §k -, :■■;■!- W 3 iVH. Wtw " mamma ! mamma ! Arthur is lost ! I have looked for him everywhere, and I cannot find him." •■ I told you to keep him on the piazza," said mamma. " I did keep him there, but he would not play with the blocks, and I went in to get the tin soldiers for him. He came into the hall with me, and I shut the door ; but he opened it, for when I came out the door was open and he was gone. I ran down the street and called him, and nobody has seen him ; " and Hattie sobbed again. Mrs. Brown asked some of her neighbors to help her in the search for Arthur, and in a short time the boys and girls were running in all directions. The police were notified, and despatches were sent to all the stations, but nothing had been seen or heard of him. Mrs. Brown returned at the end of an hour, hoping that Arthur might have found his way back in the mean time. She began to cry, too, when Hattie said, " mamma, we shall never see him again ! " Mrs. Brown went upstairs, and sitting on the bed said half aloud, — " My Arthur, my poor little baby ! " " What you want, mamma dear?" said a voice close beside her; and there on the bed, just awaking from a nap, was the lost child. He felt sleepy, and when he came in with Hattie he had climbed upstairs. Throwing himself on the bed, he dropped asleep as soon as his head touched the pdlow, and no one thought of looking in the house for him. M. A. HALEY. PAXSY. Would you know what German children Call this flower dear and sweet ? " Little Step-mother," they name her, And they tell her tale complete. Here's the foremost middle petal ; That's the step-mother herself. And her daughters two beside her Just like her each pretty elf. See, behind, two other petals, On which different hues are shown. These are the step-daughters, always In the background, and alone. So, to German children, Pansy Tells her story o'er and o'er ; And they listen, and they sing it In a little song once more. But I love our own name better, For it sounds more heartsomely. Sweetest Pansy, dearest Pansy, She shall always be to me. S.J t£4t KIWI-KIWI Wouldn't a bird look funny if it didn't have any wings ? " said Puss. She and Johnny were sitting on the porch watching some robins. The robins were hunting worms in the grass near the porch. " A bird wouldn't be a bird if it did not have wings," cried Johnny. " Oh, yes it would," said Uncle Fred. Their uncle was sitting in a large chair near, reading his paper. He had heard what they said. " I can tell vou about a bird that has neither wings nor tail," went on Uncle Fred. " Uncle Fred, you never really saw a bird like that ! " cried Puss. " Indeed I did," replied her uncle. " I saw such a one when I was in New Zealand. It is called the kiwi-kiwi, or apteiyx, and is a very Cjueer bird indeed. It would make you laugh to see one." " It makes me laugh to hear about it," said Johnny. " How large is it ? " asked Puss. "About as large as a full-grown hen," said Uncle Fred. "Its feathers are very soft and pretty. The New Zealanders use them to trim their dresses. " The skin with the featbers on it is used to make the mantle of a chief. No person of a lower order is allowed to wear one. "The kiwi has a very long beak. When it is resting it puts its beak down on the ground. Then it looks like a ball on three legs. " The bird is a fast runner, and the natives pursue him at night with spears and torches. "** 5 ^3C y 'C **£ f ■ *-& " It does not move about much in the daytime. It is a night bird. It lives on worms, and uses its long bill to dig them out of the ground." " And don't it really have any wings or tail ? " asked Johnny. He could not quite believe a bird could live without wings or tail. " No," said Uncle Fred, " hardly a sign of either." "My!" but it's a queer bird," said Johnny; and Puss thought so too. FRANK HOLTON. It was almost dark. George and arl, two little cousins, were hungry. Carl's mamma had given them each a but- tered biscuit, but they went into the kitchen to see if they could find something else. " Let's put some mince-meat on our biscuits," whispered Carl. " All right," whispered George ; " where is it ? " " In a little wooden bucket. Don't you know what mince-meat comes in ? " ' Oh, yes ! I remember now. But whereabouts is it ? " " I think it's on the safe," whispered Carl, allowing George to ex- plore, as he was the tallest. " Let's light the lamp," said George, rubbing his ankle where he had hit it on a box. " Oh, no ! " said Carl ; " mamma don't allow me to light lamps, 4f «v=Js^ T^RFin^ We must mind our ^Ta^ rni— J^»^*fc-^^^*i»%; MISTAKEN. and she could see the light through the cracks, mammas.'" " I don't know where your mamma keeps her old mince-meat any- how," growled George, as he fumbled among the things on the safe, standing on the top of a chair-back. " My mam- ma keeps her things in order so I can find 'em in the dark if I want to. Hello ! here it is. Give me a knife, quick ! My ! it makes my mouth water just to dig the knife in ! " " Now, George, I want some on my biscuit." " Hush. ! I haven't. tasted it yet, and I'm company. Don't your mamma teach you any manners ? " " Well, anyway, give me some before you get down," pleaded Carl, almost crying. " Wait till a fellow gets one taste, can't you?'' and George stuffed his mouth full. Then what a fuss there was ! Down he jumped from the ciiair, dropping bucket and knife, and spitting and wiping his mouth. " What's the matter ? " asked Carl, forgetting to whisper. " Matter ! " screamed George. " Why couldn't you tell a fellow V That's dirt in that bucket ! " % V 'i S0% W^m<^ MISTAKEN. "I believe it is," admitted Carl. ' : Mamma planted some syllabubs -no, lily bulbs — in one of those buckets." " Husb ! Run, Carl, here she comes ! " But after all, Carl's mamma didn't scold or punish the children much. She just said, " When you want anything you ought to ask r it, and 1 will give it to you — anything except mince-meat." M. 15. ANDERSON. -^■€^7 STRANGE HOUSES. A TRUE STORY. When Florrie was eight years old, and her sister Katy six, their father built them a large playhouse in the yard. It had four rooms, furnished very nicely, and the little girls were much pleased with it. They called themselves Mrs. Dale and Mrs. White, and for a long time they played in their new home every day with their dolls. But one morning when their mother went out to call them to go on an errand for her, she could not find them. They were not in their playhouse, and their dolls were all lying in a heap under a lilac bush. Their mother looked for them at the spring-house, in the orchard, and down by the brook ; but did not find them. As she came past the stable, however, on her way to the house, she heard their voices. She went in, and there were the two little girls, each on the back of a horse. HV S^**^ r"^ % T**** * " mamma ! " said Florrie, " we are having such a nice time ! Jerry's stall is my house, and Tom's is Katy's, and we visit each other." The horses were very quiet, and did not seem to mind having the little girls crawl over them ; but you may be sure their mother took them down very quickly from their strange houses. FLORENCE B. HALLOWELL. fe $ A TRUE STORY. ADGE and Edith were each making a present for their Aunt Kate's birthday. When Trotty saw them sewing she felt like working, too, and asked Aunt Florrie if she couldn't make a pincushion for Aunt Kate. "I'll sew it all myself," she said. " Very well," answered her aunt, laughing a little as she looked at Trotty's fat little fingers, which never yet had used a needle except to string buttons. Aunt Florrie had a large box of silk, satin, and velvet pieces which she had collected for a crazy-cpiilt, and she let Trotty choose from them the colors she liked best. Then she cut the pieces into twelve small squares, threaded a needle, and told Trotty to go to work. Trotty sat down on the floor, and laid the pieces on her lap in four rows, just the size she wanted the top of the cushion to be. Then she began to sew, taking very deep stitches. It was hard work for the fat little fingers to draw the needle through, and the thread would have come out with every stitch if it had not been tied in. *& JBfau (8^ *> ^jtv >• f- *0*5 .( l f * " '' ' I " r --*- TROTTY' S SEWING. But at last Trotty said the pieces were all sewed, and she hoped Aunt Kate would like the cushion, for it was such hard work to make it. " Hand it to me," said Aunt Florrie. " and let me see how you have done it." But Trotty found she could not take the work from her lap. " Aunt Florrie ! " she cried, " it's stuck to me ; it's all sewed down ! " And sure enough, when Aunt Florrie looked she found that Trotty had sewed the pincushion-cover tight to her clothes. Every stitch had gone through to her white-flannel skirt. " Now, what can we do ? " asked Trotty. " I can't go 'round with a pincushion-cover sewed to me." I "We'll have to cut the stitches," said her aunt. " Then all my nice sewing; will be wasted," said Trotty ; but when she saw there was no help for it, she let the scissors be used. " Now you can sew the pieces together again," said Aunt Florrie. But Trotty could not be per- suaded to work any more. Aunt Kate received the tidy and the needle-book on her birthday, but nothing; more was ever heard of Trot's pincushion ; and the twelve little squares found a place at last in the bottom of the family rag-bag. FLORENCE B. HALLOWELL. x A MAY-TIME JINGLE. - -9^3^ \££ ■5 £i ' Rock-a-by baby On the tree top, When the wind blows The cradle will rock, When the bough breaks The cradle will fall, Down will come baby, Cradle, and all.' Now, do consent And ask the rent, My husband true, I beg of you." IRENE E. JEROME. C^ m ,«, /t>/^ ^'^ sne m 3? :' ^ w w //} fps= Had she been able to send yon her card bearing her full address, it would have read in this way : — Miss Diana Oats > Chi aquapin Hollow, Che rokee Co., N.C. And yet where she lived she was never called anything but Mammy Dinah ; because, though she was only eleven years old, she was the t T3& 4 f*&&%£?- fa ^ MAMMY DINAH. only mother her sisters and brother had known for two years. Their father was at work on the new railroad that was being built through, the mountains, and could only come home on Sundays, so that i± -&£'£ '-g£~ •'/* ■-'-; ^0Wm»W Mammy Dinah had no one to help her look after her little family through the week, and she had lately added to it by taking home a little baby whose mother had died. Neither Mammy Dinah nor her children had ever seen a locomo- tive or a railroad car ; indeed, there were very few people in Chin- quapin Hollow who had ever seen them, or who had seen a steamboat, THE ANTS AND THE LIZARD or a bodv of water larger than the rivers that flowed through the mountains. When, therefore. Baby Callie's father stopped on his way to the store one morning, and told them he would take them, when he returned, to see the first train of cars come into a settle- ment five miles away, there was great rejoicing. I doubt if any little princes and princesses ever looked more eagerly for the wonderful coach-and-four than Mammy Dinah and her children looked for the funny little two-wheeled wagon drawn by a slow old ox. that was to take them to see such wonderful things. They all clapped their hands when they saw it, and ran to get in. sitting on the hard bottom, and joggling and jouncing as the slow old ox pulled them up and down hill, and over the rocks and into the ruts. Do you think they enjoyed it ? Yes, far more than many a little girl or boy who sits in a soft- cushioned carriage with a coachman in brass buttons to drive and a footman to open the carriage door and stand in readiness to execute orders. Such a good time as they had ! Indeed, when they got home that night and had only cold corn bread for their supper, they really believed no one ever had a better time than Mammy Dinah and her children had that day. ANNIE WESTON WHITNEY. ft if t ■■ , i mr» THE AXTS AND THE LIZARD. ^F^_OLO found a porter apple beneath the tree. It I / was like a ball of gold. Lolo picked it up. Uncle Will had told the children they might have all the apples they found beneath the tree that afternoon. Just then up ran little Judith. "Oh, I want that apple!" she cried. '•' Do give it to me, Lolo ! " " No, I want it myself! " answered Lolo, and he pretended to bite the apple. I ?-<& * ^^y^^±-^k J THE ANTS AND THE LIZA It Judith ran to him, and tried to snatch the fruit away. This made Lolo angry, and he struck at his little sister. > waspB* Then the two children began to scold each other. It was sad to see them in such a naughty temper. This is what Uncle Will thought, who was watching the little scene. He came up to the children, who stopped quarrelling, for they \ were ashamed. Uncle Will held out his hand for the apple, which Lolo gave him. He then took a knife from his pocket and began to peel the fruit. " Listen, youngsters," he said. * Once on a time I was standing in the doorway of my log cabin, THE ANTS AND THE LIZARD. in the California mountains. A fly lit upon my hand and bit it sharply. " I killed the fly, and threw him down upon the ground. A little red ant seized him, and began dragging him away. " Suddenly, another ant, of another swarm, ran up and seized the m WWm^- 1 ^^ > ,/ fly also. The two began to quarrel. They pulled the fly back and forth in such a lively manner that he seemed as if alive. " All at once something flashed across the ground like a streak of, gray light. The fly and the two ants disappeared. Where do you think they went ? V X t THE ANTS AND THE LIZARD. " A gray lizard peeped slyly out from beneath a log. He darted out his tongue and his eyes twinkled ; he could tell you what had become of the fly and the two ants. He had them in his stomach. If the ants had not quarrelled and shaken up the fly, the lizard would not have noticed them. uS'- [ ' " Now, children." continued Uncle Will, " I am the lizard and you are the two quarrelsome ants. Do you understand ? " While talking, Uncle Will sliced and ate the apple. Lolo and Judith watched him. with faint hopes, till the last slice was gone. '•Next time we will go shares fairly," cried Lolo laughing. " So we will," echoed Judith. J) ^51 ■> TM ,-£. 1«\ gAfg UGUni ^-^j«^B •=& f*f?&*2.. 'fp The largest bird that lives anywhere on the earth is the ostrich. A full-grown male stands from five to six feet high, — as tall as a man. Africa is the home of ostriches ; but there are now ostrich farms in California, where they are raised for their beautiful plumes. In their native deserts, flocks of fifty or more feed in spots where plants and grass grow. They are graceful in shape, with small heads, long and slender necks, and very long legs. These legs are so strong that they carry the body, Avhen walking, in a light and airy way, so ,<8> m &/ urn S4% *^S£^' -^^=r» «S). &&$% xaxx. J? A ^ OSTRICHES AND THEIR FEATHERS. that a person watching their motions almost forgets how large and heavy they are. An ostrich can run as swiftly as a railway engine. The wings, too small to enable the bird to fly, are spread in the race ; then it is like a ship going by the power of steam and of sails. Even a leopard or lion dreads the kick of an ostrich. When hunted, it has often killed a dog or a man with one blow. The ostrich of the desert could not find even sticks for nest-build- ing. It does not try ; it hollows out a place in the sand, and there the female lays her eggs. When sitting, she can leave her nest, and the sun will keep the eggs warm. At night the male bird broods, to defend the nest from prowling is bolder and stronger for he ackals and tiger-cats. An ostrich egg weighs about three pounds, and what it contains is equal to two dozen hens' eggs. The Arabs and Africans are fond of them for food. They set an egg on one end over a fire when they have broken a hole in the other end of the shell. Through this hole they stir the egg with a stick while it is cooking. When ripe, the handsome plumes are shed. On the ostrich farms these are pulled from the wings when they begin to loosen, which is three times a year. In all countries they bring a good price, and are much valued for ornament. Even queens wear ostrich plumes with their diamonds and other costly gems. LAVINIA S. GOODWIN. fe-*- &i V*» TP MR. MONKEY. Oh, fun, fun, fun ! Is there anything half so funny in this world as a monkey ? Just listen a moment, and I will tell you of one that I saw the other day. Think what a proud monkey he must have been, dressed in a fine suit of clothes ! Then to have every one look out of the window when he rung that little bell, while he sat up on the corner of t h e hand - organ. And how the children laugh- ed to see him! After he h a d called every one within hearing to look at him, he made a little bow and took off his hat very politely. Then he put down the bell, and his master gave him cymbals, which he banged together in a very lively way. How delighted all were to see that Mr. Monkey was a student ! It was so ' very queer to see the lit- tle scholar wearing those spectacles which the hand-organ man put on Jr ^K ■'■ J # his nose : how well he held the tiny book, no matter if it was wrong- side np ! Mr. Monkey would have made a good farm- er, we all said, when we saw him churn. The way that handle flew up and down would have made milk into butter very shortly, if there had been any milk there. Next came the fiddle, a nice little one, just the right size for a monkev to play. The hand-organ sound- ed very slowly while the little monkey played his fiddle. For fear that his master woidd feel badly because he was so far behind. Mr. Monkey put away his instrument, and bowed very low to the people, taking off his hat to thank them for the many pennies showered upon him. A. HAY. L^ THE TEMPERANCE CHURCH-GOER. Oh ! oh ! what is that awful noise ? You must not call that awful ; it is a solo by Mr. Fritz. If Mr. Fritz is but a dog, he would feel very badly to know that people on the street made such remarks about his singing. He and his little master Fred are playing church. The services always commence with a solo. When Fred asks Mr. Fritz if he wants to go to church, up into the chair jumps this wise dog. He places his white paws, much resembling a gentleman's gloved hands, on the back of the chair in front of him. He waits patiently, looking intently at the book which Fred has placed on his motionless paws, until he hears his little master strike the notes of the organ. Then raising his head he sings the sweetest song that ever came from the throat of a clog. Fred thinks it is the finest music that ever was made, but his grandmother, who is sometimes persuaded to attend these services, a does not fully appreciate fit dog-music,' and prefers long prayers. ■ ■■ J* .- ^m Y: ?^r THE TEMPERANCE CHURCH-GOER. To please grandma's taste, the music is hushed, and Fred is heard to say, " Now, Fritz, say your prayers." Solemnly clown to the floor Fritz descends. He sits soberly up on his hind paws, placing his nose upon his white feet, and silently prays, until he V ) ]\ stg^g^is* hears the word " Amen," uttered solemnly r his grave young master. Then he bounds into the air in a Avay that would surprise any dignified church members. Besides being a re- ligious clog, Fritz is interested ha politics. When asked if he would rather drink a drop of liquor, or die, down on the floor he drops as though he were really dead. If a bit of meat is placed near his nose he pretends not to want it any more than a really dead clog would. He remains perfectly motionless until Fred asks him if he wants to vote for prohibition. Then with a leap \\ and a loud bark his bow-wow-wow seems to say, " Yes, yes, yes, I am a Prohibitionist." A. S. COX. •A^^t ">"fl r P7>A// r l bszoa^j^zz sy^#§wi '■■?:£$ They've erected a stand in my garden And give a grand concert each night, With fireflies to hold up the candles, And the moon for a calcium light. Monsieur Grasshopper, he is the leader, In emerald the fellow is drest ; All fiercely are waxed his moustaches, And he jabbers in French to the rest, There is poor, old, fat Mr. Locust, Who plays the bass-viol with a will ; And little black fiddler, Sir Cricket, With an elbow that never keeps still. Then comes a large family of sisters, Who sins; a most wonderful song About a young lady named Katy, Who didn't, or did, something wrong. Herr Bull Frog, the wonderful cornetist ; His sister, who sings L - tra la la!" And my nightingale caged in the window, — Oh, she is the company's star. 5ZZT323|^ THE GRASSHOPPER BAND. She trills the most exquisite solos, While Cockchafer beats on his drum And a chorus of ninety mosquitoes Fills up every pause with a hum. Sing on, my sweet, feathered Patti Play on, my brave insect band ! Whilst I on my pillow am drifting Away into fairy dreamland. NELLIE M. GARABRANT PERCY'S FIRST BOOTS. ^^l^j^^-^c NE evening when Percy's father came home from the city, he brought him a pair of new boots, the first he ever had. The tops were red, and the leather beautiful and shiny. Percy was so proud of them that he put them close by the bed, where he could see them the first thing when he opened his eyes in the morning. Not long after, he went to the lake with his mother and father to spend a few weeks there, and live in a tent. He liked to sail in a boat and fish, but better than all this he liked his boots. One afternoon, his mother left him alone for a short time while she took a nap, Percy promising to be very good, and not go near the water. In a tree near the tent, a bird had built a nest, on a limb just over the water. Percy watched the mother-bird flying back and forth, and wondered what was in the nest. " I wish I could see into that nest," he said to himself ; and for- getting what he had promised his mother, he began to climb the tree. The mother-bird, a saucy Jenny Wren, told him not to come any nearer, by chattering and scolding, and bobbing her little tail up and down in the air. But Percy was not to be stopped by a saucy Jenny Wren. He kept on climbing. Now he could see into the nest. There were four downy little wrens in it. He put out his hand to touch them, when Mrs. Wren pecked him on the cheek, and he fell down into the water below. How cold it was ! And his new boots were full of water. Percy took them off, and to dry them covered them with the ashes left from cooking dinner. j- ^S^i. »jMV».. ~wk PERCY'S FIRST BOOTS. When mamma came back from her nap, she said : •' Why, Percy, how wet you are ! And where are your new boots ?" '.£-■• ': ,;»■■•. Percy hung his head, but mamma looked so gravely at him. thai he told her all about it. She hastened to take the boots from the hot ashes ; but it was tou late. The beautiful boots were burned to a cinder. I -<& ~rfe— $3 ^3r TY/fi NEST TN THE GBASi " Then please, mamma, don't let Jenny Wren know, 'cause she'll be so glad,"' said Percy, with a sob. LOUISE THRUSH BROOKS. Up [r«>m. iht d°^- r w*d c ^j ] L) Under the r^d i &j-d j |y \x/llire, I lie, rii uh£!2tj) br°^i °n the, Upknd j l°pe ^-oAnd 'lb/ hr°\^i) bakblirc^te/. ;\.j-lir \il{t, b^kr^h U1II14 ruJJ'il, i -th4-l°acli °f tfr4pmi°n; Ij^hl. c^£]£pjn °f biu4 niili4 cJV^n cVi fis^ii ^t l°rn"i,S jW^v •• \ Gjui^r °f li[4 "ft Ui£ t4T.el{ s r wc *$$■. j ca |ar°miy4 °f lifd, M m_/ fy,l U=£20l * * /- $> =3 ^^^^ «& *# -^ ^ rqgTTR ^H ^r ST^_ _ ■■-'■"l':i^ ■ --y-^l-V \ THE WIND. He slams the door too soon by half. And pinches my fingers with just a laugh. And tosses my hat in the red pear-tree ; He's a rough old fellow, and he teases me. He tumbles my hair and blows dust in my face, Then snatches my hat and dares me to race ; And when I have run till my cheeks are like lire, He hangs that old hat on a telephone wire. But we're pretty good friends, the wind and I ; Nobody but him can make my kite fly. And he never gets tired of pulling away At the string, as long as I want to play. He catches the sail of my gay " Anna Belle." And sends her across the pond right well ; He shakes all the nuts for us down from the trees, And waves our fort flag with his best little breeze. 1 m A TRUE STORY. Oke pleasant afternoon Julia and Caro- gggs^. line came to play with their Et^"' J C*"^.. little friend, Nancy. "' Let ns play a game ^ ' .. ■ 'V^-,1 °^ hide-and-seek," said Julia, after they had oK'-.X. ^ \, visited the pigs and ^ . ^ M't ^ chickens; so away ^pBai» ,s*' \ ^'' V ,-.■": they ran to the barn. Just below the mow of sweet- smelling hay stood a covered barrel. ^^^^nc: &<$£> X r ^ w m^- NANCY'S LEAP. "Who dares jump from the hay to the barrel?" cried Caroline. " I," said Nancy, eagerly, and she began to clamber up the ladder to the hay-mow. But at the top round she stopped. At the dinner- table that day father had said, " Nancy, I do not want you to jump on the hay." " But he did not say I must not jump from the hay to the barrel," said the little girl to her troubled con- science. " Nancy is afraid," called Julia from below. "Wait and see," returned Nancy, bravely, as she stepped from the ladder to the hay. " One to begin," shouted Caroline to Julia ; but before they could say any more, Nancy gave a bold jump. The barrel-cover was old '^fw and weak, and broke, letting Nancy fall into the barrel. DAFFODIL AND TIGER LILY. '•Oh, oh!" cried the two little girls, and "Oh, oh!" echoed Nancy, as she landed, bruised and bleeding, in a confused little heap in the bottom of the barrel. Then they all screamed in con- cert, and out came mother to see what could be the matter. Nancy was indeed hurt. A sharp nail had made a cruel wound in her leg, and kind Dr. Gray had to be called to stop the bleeding. It was a forlorn little girl that whispered to mother that night, And she was not for a long " I will never be disobedient again." HARRIETTE T. FECK. Daffodilly Was so silly, Fell in love with Tiger Lily. Green and yellow, Foolish fellow, Vowed he'd wed her, willy-nilly. ^^^ "Not at all, sir! You're too small, sir, Your society would pall, sir Half my height, sir, Tis not right, sir, You should think of me at all. sir.' '• I will grow, ma'am, Even so,, ma'am. You will wonder at my ligger ; Like a rocket From its socket, I will shoot up big and bigger. it H* * V : *** % ^ DAFFODIL AND TIGER LILY. " In the garden, By the yard in Pride and joy I'll be arising; All who view me Bowing to me, For my beauty most surprising So he got up, And he shot up. Oh! the foolish Daffodilly! Broke his head then, And lay dead then, At the feet of Tiger Lily. i^^iji- ) LAURA E. RICHARDS ^ y^f^X^ BESSIE'S TRAMP. Great flakes of snow were falling' soft- ly to the ground. Bessie stood watching them from the window. She was alone in the kitch- en. Mamma had gone upstairs to make the beds, and the pretty rag doll lay neglected on the floor. Suddenly Bessie heard a sound at the back door. " That's papa," she thought. But no ! when she opened the door, there stood a lame old man. shivering with the cold. He was a funny old man. He wore a hood and a Ions; cloak and a pair of green spectacles. Bessie was surprised but not frightened. "Come in, if you please," she said sweet- ly. The old man walked in and sat down by the fire. Bessie sat down opposite him on her little stool the old man to speak, but he did not. % i *■ :* fcSSs <;»] Finally she said. "Please, sir. are you a tramp?" The old man smiled. " Yes," he said, " I've tramped 'way from the village this morning." " Oh," cried Bessie, " then you are tired ! Are you hungry too ? " "A little," said the tramp. Bessie's heart was filled with pity. She went to the pantry and brought out bread, doughnuts, meat, and a piece of pie. '• Please eat some breakfast," she said solemnly. The old man's eyes twinkled. He sat down at the table. Bessie iv-> .*Jtt' BESSIE'S TRAMP. £ to "> V looked on in surprise. " He is so hungry, poor, poor man!" she .said .softly. Presently mamma's step was heard. She opened the door and stood still. " Why. Bessie ! " she exclaimed. Bessie ran- to her. saying, " Please, mamma, he is very poor, and was cold and hungry." The old turned — f " ■ ' *» ' ■ r \** T Bessie looked very sober. She didn't think it was quite right to kiss a tramp. '■'Won't you kiss me, too ? " asked the tramp. Bessie shook her head. Mamma laughed. So did the old man. '■'Well, will you now, Bessie?" and the lame old man stood up verv straight, threw off his cloak and hood, and took off his green spectacles. —L- r^^w* ~i ^ > i I 'Ck fc, ■ '» f " Grandpa, grandpa ! " cried Bessie, running right into the old man's arms. She kissed him ever so many more times than mamma did. She was surprised, but was very happy to find that the old tramp was really her own dear grandpa. DORA LESLIE. IB, w J'.^-i ■ilk LARKSPUR. Larry Larkspur, Larry Larkspur, Wears a cap of purple gay. Trim and handy little dandy. Straight and smirk he stands alway. Larry Larkspur, Larry Larkspur, Saw the Poppy blooming fair ; Loved her for her scarlet satin, Loved her fur her fringed hair. LARKSPUR. Sent a message by the night-wind, " Wilt thou wed me, lady gay ? For the heart of Larry Larkspur Beats and burns for thee alway !te When the morning 'gan to brighten, Eager glanced he o'er the bed. All the Poppy's leaves had fallen ! Bare and green her ugly head. Sore amazed stood Larry Larkspur, And his heart with grief was big. " Woe is me. she was so lovely ! Could one guess she wore a wig ? ' J LAURA E. RICHARDS. M '^^r^^T umpKiivl ii>- \ 5H ^L. It was the biggest, roundest, yellowest pumpkin you ever saw. Uncle Jack called to Dollykins to come and look at it. " There, that will make enough pies for the little old woman that lived in a shoe and all her children, on Thanksgiving day." Dollykins laughed ; for although she did not belong to the little old woman, she knew she Avould have a piece of pie. The pumpkin was laid on the cellar shelf not far from the wall where Mrs. Mouse had built herself a snuo- house. There was a large family of them, and Mrs. Mouse called them to her and told them that it was quite time to find homes for themselves. " There is Whiskers, now," said his mother ; "he is old enough to climb the pantry wall and take a sip of cream. And here is Long Tail, who yesterday took a piece of cheese from the trap by himself. Clear out, all of 3 _ ou ! " Off scampered the little mice. Now Whiskers had seen Uncle Jack put the pumpkin on the shelf, and he thought what a fine home it would make. Once inside he would always have plenty to eat, and would never have to go scrambling through the cellar in search of a dinner as the others did. "No, no!" cried Mrs. Mouse when she heard of it; "you will be sure to be caught in your own trap." But Whiskers only laughed ; what did an old mouse like his mother know ! So he gnawed a hole in the pumpkin, and ate and ate until his sides grew so fat he could hardly move. \« ^&* i V •«^H THE GREEDY MOUSE IN A IT ME KIN. "You'll come to harm/' sighed Mrs. Mouse, shaking her head; but Whiskers laughed again. His brothers and sisters had to work hard for their living ; and Whiskers, with his head stuck out of his pumpkin-house, made sport of them, and would not give them even a taste of the sweet, yellow meat. The day before Thanksgiving, Uncle Jack carried the pumpkin upstairs and laid it on the table. Whiskers, as usual, had eaten so much that he was sound asleep and did not know it. Grandma, with a sharp knife, cut into the pumpkin, when out rolled Whiskers. '•Oh," cried grandma, "a horrid mouse! Kill it quick!" And poor Whiskers was thrown into the water-pail to meet a cruel death. - I told him so," said his mother; "but children will never take advice from their parents." LOUISE THRUSH BROOKS. m % A THE CHINAMAN'S CHASE A Chinaman gay, one fine sunny day, Sat down to his rice and his tea ; Along came two mice, so sleek and so nice ; He cried, " For my feast they shall be." (For Chinese, 'tis said, altho' they eat bread, Will dine upon mice to this day.) So what a wild chase ! all over the place Confusion held riotous sway. His shoes made of wood, and all things he could, Chang threw at the scamp- ering prize. His once braided queue now streamed in full view, And fierce were his long, slanting eyes. v '\f ™1 mm- THE CHINAMAN'S CHASE. A. cat from the wall, unnoticed by all, Looks down with a countenance meek. *y-, "You think you will ^'fff[ win, foolish Chang-Sin," She surely would say, could she speak. A/Sfc. The mice skipped and ran. o'er table and pan, The Chinaman close at their heels ; When suddenly fell a heathenish yell, — The mice gave the direst of squeals. The cat, with a spring, had entered the ring, And snatched up the prize for her own ; While Chang, very blue, rebraiding his queue. Went back to his rice, with a groan. MRS. C. O. HARRINGTON. v-^j^r-^ Q55^ jgHIS \ »A\-. One summer morning Helen and Berta went out under the cherry-tree, to watch Mrs. Redbreast up in her nest. They listened, and thought they could hear a little " Peep, peep." Running into the house they called Uncle Burr. He climbed the tree, and found four little featherless birdies, with four little wide- open mouths, calling for their breakfasts. He only stayed in the tree a moment, for Mr. and Mrs. Red- breast came flying back with food for their babies. Helen and Berta watched the nest every day, and it was not W'^Yt* U^ \ i I Ifffl ■§1 ■ lHJi/isKt'lf. ~~-**^** , ^y^& > jpY A SNOW-WHITE ROBIN. long before they could see four little bald heads peering over the side of the nest. In a few more days they saw them sitting on the side of the nest, while Mr. and Mrs. Redbreast were trying to coax them to fly, but they were too timid to start out. Soon Helen came running into the house calling : — " Oh, mamma, mamma, some- thing is tlie matter with one of our baby robins, he is all over flour ! " Sure enough, when mamma went to look there were three brown birdies and one white one. They could not account for it for some days. Uncle Burr fixed a sieve, and caught the little white fellow ; and sure enough it was a real robin. He was soon at home in a nice brass cage, happy and contented. He grew very tame, and Avas allowed to fly around the room. He would eat dainties from the little girls lingers, as they always fed him regularly, and never frightened him. He grew very fast, and before winter had his full plumage ; and a strange one it was for a robin redbreast. He was pure white all over, except his plump little breast, which had just the lightest shade of salmon on the tips of the fea/thers. His bright little eyes were pink like those of white mice. He sang the same notes as his darker brothers and sisters, and seemed to enjoy himself just as much. He was certainly surer of having plenty to eat and of not getting hurt, than he would have been out-doors. he road 1hat leods to Ljaplanc) , ^is dear and distant home , he little traveller took when first T^e started out to P^ome V nBiLy. -Doth His journey t led him , gg™! And through Cologne's sweet air". _And all across Qjlk^T^iver' _ __A B pleasant stream and fair" e passed Ihe Sandwich Island And Turkey on his way , (sAnd tarried at the liable -lands OJhere Qhina plisteninp lay y many Tails he Travelled ; Around Cape "Tear' he pressed ; r y\nd then to uapland hurried on , e/tfld poused owbile to rest . H9|et from this happy harbor i^^ Cohere, T%ace and Concord flow |o othef lands — not Chili now — ^is tireless feet would po J3|Ly. 1 littte T\ock Qnd And Rheims he voyages'® on 3) , - ',«**% And foundings Cope Tar'eweTl at lost Tfom mortal sioht is gone . ' .- 1 nd though in some fur* country _^~Re travels still mayhap,, (©he lands where now his journey lies gyVe not upon the map ' =j A BOY AND A BOAT. NCE there was a fat boy. He lived by a river. His name was Tommy. Tied to the bank of the river was a boat. He said to himself, " I am going down to that boat, see if I don't. Perhaps I will have a sail in it." One morning he slipped slyly out of the house, not saying a word to his kind mother, I am sorry to say. He was small, he was round. He did not wish his mother to see him, and he ran down the hill. If he had lain down, I think he might have rolled to the bottom, this round, fat boy. He Avore a bright plaid frock. It was red and black. He may have thought he looked very fine. Nobody doing wrong looks well. '• Oh, good ! " he said, at the bank of the river. " Here is the boat. I — I — " What did he say he would do, think you ? Stop here, and look at the boat. It is not safe to keep looking at anything we ought not to have. It is better to run from it. •' I'll just step into the boat, put one foot in," said Tommy ; and in went one fat foot. It is not safe, though, to give one leg to a wrong course. Take } T our two legs, or let them take you, and run away from what tempts you. Bawl, bawl, bawl ! Somebody up on the bank was shouting to somebody else. Was it Judge Smith, the great man of the village, calling to Tommy ? Down into the boat dropped Tommy. And then — we will find out what comes from looking too long and from giving one foot to a wrong course. '• Where's Tommy ? " said Mrs. Parlin, his mother, about ten that morning. Nobody knew. She tried to find him upstairs ; he was not there. "He is in the garden," she said. No; guess again, Mrs. Parlin. u!s-p- V \ * #-*** A BOY AND A BOAT. " He is in the barn," she said. No ; guess again. She stopped guess- ing, put on her bonnet, and flew down the hill. " Tommy in here ? " she asked at the post-office, the hotel, and the one store at the bridge over the river. " Then — then he is in the river ! Oh, Tommy ! " she shrieked. She ran down to the water, saw the boat, and chanced to look in. What was it she saw under a bench ? A strip of green baize hung down -& 7F I 'lF K A BOY AND A BOAT. from the bench, and peeping out at one corner of this curtain was a bit of red and black plaid. Mrs. Parlin lifted the curtain, and tucked away, under the bench, was Tommy fast asleep. When he gave two legs to the boat, he crawled down there under the bench lest some one might see him. Then he went down still farther into a deep slumber. Ah, that bit of cloth told about Tommy ! When we do wrong, ^can we always hide it from .nan, and do we ever hide it from God I N\ ill not something tell of us ? A very sheepish Tommy went up the hill. 1 can tell you. J l REV. EDWARD A. HAND. X- - ' * ■ » 5F >M THE WIND. There is a queer old fairy, who lives where no one knows, For none can see him coming, or tell where 'tis he goes. Down from his mountain fortress he rushes through the land, Leaving a track behind him as made by arinied band. But on the mighty ocean he rolls the booming wave, And sends the shipwrecked sailor down to a lonely grave. But. oh, not always wildly, not always full of wrath, Conies this old fairy, bringing destruction in his path. Sometimes all softly, gently, on velvet wing he goes, To kiss the cheek of girlhood, or dally with the rose. Sometimes in madcap frolic he joins the boys at play, And far, far up to cloudland he bears their kites away. Who is this queer old fairy, now tell me, children all, Sometimes so big and angry, sometimes so soft and small ; it ^— ^ £l *r Vi Q *c ^K -8*t88 rxxxx. FRTTZ. H, Fritzie, Fritzie, how sorry I am that you should ever have learned to hold a pipe in your mouth ! But then 3*011 are only a clog, and mamma would say that dogs do not know any better. " But suppose you should really learn to smoke and use tobacco, and no one should teach you better, do you know what would happen ? Why, you would soon get to be nervous and fidgety, and bark at every one who comes to see mamma and me. Perhaps some day you would bite Jennie Pierce when she comes over here ; then what should I do ? " Now, if you were a boy, I could make you understand just how bad it is, even to hold a pipe in your mouth. Since you are a dog, I suppose you cannot understand one word I say. " I heard mamma tell Georgie last week that boys often learn to smoke by at first making believe do it, just as you are doing now. After a time they are not satisfied with an empty pipe, but want something in it to make real smoke. So if they have a few pennies they buy tobacco, and begin the terrible habit of smoking that is so hard to leave off. " And then she said, - Georgie Barlow, if I ever know of your even pretending to smoke I shall punish you.' And I can tell you, Mr. Fritzie Dog, if I catch you with a pipe in your mouth again I'll punish you. If it makes boys better to be punished, perhaps it will dogs. At any rate, I shall not play with you one bit to-day." While Alice Barlow had been away for a visit some naughty boys had taught her pet dog Fritz to pick up and hold a pipe in his mouth. The first morning she was at home he seemed to think he must show her what he had learned. This is why Alice talked to her little dog so severely. 4 The next day. when she was at the Kindergarten, these same naughty boys coaxed Fritz out of the yard and tried to teach him to FRITZ. ■' ."-'J'lW 'v.-.- — :r-\' .-. ■' ' .", '■■ .('■- ^k^=^^t^^i v^^fv FRITZ. Alice felt very sorry ; but mamma said she thought the sickness and medicine would cure him of ever touching tobacco again. Sure enough it did Now, if any one ever shows Fritz a pipe he growls and barks, as much as to say. " Take it away. I'll have nothing to do with pipes or tobacco if I am nothing but a dog." MARY LOUISA BUTLER, ^KV^ J- li Now, little children, listen well To the wondrous story I shall tell, That happened once upon a time Before hells rang the Christinas chime. Ever so many years ago, In pleasant lands where fell no snow. And winter winds blew soft and warm, A beautiful baby boy was born. His father Joseph and other men Had brought their wives to Bethlehem To pay the money Csesar said Was owed him by each Jewish head. So many people came that clay There was not room for all to stay, And Joseph was glad to find a bed For Mary in the stable-shed. Outside, upon the rocky hill. Sat grave old shepherds watching still Their flocks of sheep, that crouched around With bleatings soft upon the ground. $ ! ■{ » TZfE BIRTH OF THE CHRIST-CHILD. The tall deep sky was black as jet, And the silver moon about to set. When sparkling with a radiance bright The Star of the East shone on the night, And an angel fair with shining wing Cried, " Tidings of great joy we bring ! For unto you this da}' is born A Saviour, Christ, the Lord." Forlorn And sore afraid, the shepherds heard The angel tell his glorious word ; "While heavenly music from the sky Was lifted up to God on high, Of " Glory, glory to God, and peace On earth, good-will towards men." It ceased And the trembling shepherds rose and went To see the gift that God had sent To earth of his dear Son. There lay The Babe upon the fragrant hay. • His fine and silky chestnut hair Waved round a face so wondrous fair, It beamed with rapturous glory bright, And filled the clingy place with light. His baby eyes so calm and sweet Gazed on the wise men at his feet, Who, guided by the glowing star, Had come from distant lands afar I f WHAT SANTA CLAUS BROUGHT TO EDITH. To see the Virgin Mary mild And offer worship to the Child. They brought rich gifts of myrrh and gold, Sweet frankincense and spices old. And ever since upon the earth We celebrate our Saviour's birth. Who came as a blessed Babe that day, To live for us and teach the way To heaven, filled with mansions fair, And robes and crowns for us to wear, If we will only love each other, And choose him for our Elder Brother. GRACE W. HAIGHT. 'WHAT SANTA CLAUS BROUGHT TO EDITH. Little two-year-old Edith had dolls without number, and of every kind you could imagine. Yet just as Christmas was coming on, she thought she should like just one more. " But what kind of one do you want, darling ? " her mamma asked. You have big ones and little ones, and black ones and white ones ; I don't know of any new sort." It was a dull December day. the day before Christmas, but very ._long and dreary in spite of that. Edith, tired of play, was sitting in Ti fcfrit- # — te ^*%^f0^^P^ fe* iM WHAT SANTA GLAUS BROUGHT TO EDITH. X '< L Y xvyrz.ntii--'tf her little rocker before the fire, when mamma's question set her (ft. thinking-. I am pretty sure myself that just then dolls were unsatisfactory tilings. After looking gravely at the half-dozen that surrounded her, she said, — " Couldn't 'ou get me a doll that would love me ? I love these dollies, but they don't love me back. I play with them, and they don't play with me. I want a doll that can do things." " That would be a very wonderful sort of doll," mamma replied. j^-lfc. j * Tr^w?; v v^