human
Can you write me a poem about nuthatch, caddie and tree in the style of Francis Thompson?
assistant
Sure, here's a poem about nuthatch, caddie and tree in the style of Francis Thompson:
  The nuthatch, too, among the birds, is a great planter. After
I met a tearful little lass;
She sobbed so hard I could not pass,
I wondered so thereat;
"Oh, dry your tears, my pretty child,
Pray tell me why you grieve so wild."
"A mouse ate up your cat!" I cried,
To think she'd fib quite horrified;
"Why, how can you say that?"
Her tears afresh began to run,
She sobbed the words out, one by one:
"If you won't go out I will put you out!"
Tippy soon grew to know what the engines were for, and when the
Once in a while Tippy would be very naughty, and would have to be
Tommy and Bessie, Bert, and even little Caddie, think there is no
"There'll be lots of little chickens now; and ducklings, too!"
But they never dreamed of the funny sight they really saw that
"O papa, come! come and see!"
Little two-year-old Caddie was as much excited as the rest; she
"Take my hand, papa! Little piggies shall not bite you!"
"Little piggies," indeed! Little foxes they were; and nine of the
The manager of the farm said that something had been killing his
lambs, and he had been on the watch to find out the rascal.
Mr. Nash said he did not want to kill them, because they were so
The frosts in the door-yard maple
Had lighted a fine red blaze,
And one of the golden twilights
That come September days:
The neighborhood lads had gathered
To play their usual plays.
Frankie was good at planning,
And seeing the glowing tree,
"Let's have a fire department
And play 'tis a house!" said he.
"Oh, yes, a hook and ladder,"
Cried all; "what fun 'twill be!"
So they put the hose on the hydrant.
Searched everywhere about
Until they found a ladder,
And then, with yell and shout
Of "fire" and clang of "ding-dong,"
They rushed to put it out.
The hosemen pulled their jackets
Hastily from their backs;
One climbed the tree like a squirrel,
With a ball-bat for an axe
And he hewed at the beautiful branches
With frantic hacks and whacks.
Some one turned on the water,
And the boy in the foremost place
Got the full force from the nozzle
Square in his little face;
And he cried for half a minute
With the funniest grimace.
The stream flew this way, that way,
And up to the tree's bright top,
And back came the water splashing
With reckless slosh and slop,
And with it showers of red leaves
And twigs began to drop.
This small boys' Hook and Ladder
Was a very good company,
And they squirted till the sidewalk
Was like a mimic sea;
But they didn't put out the fire
In the old red maple-tree.
"Never fear for me," cried Joe, riding away in great glee.
When Harry was six years old his grandfather sent him a very nice
school-yard.
If I could choose a wedding gift,
I'd climb for you the rainbow stairs
And bring a star to bless
This day of happiness.
As I came down, a bird I'd lift
From off his nest, that his sweet airs
And songs might you delight
From rosy morn till night.
But rainbow stairs are hard to mount,
The birds hide in the trees' green shade,
And so I bring, dear friend, to you
The flowers wet with dew.
Take them, and then take me; please count
My eyes your stars; the little maid
Who offers flowers, your bird,
Whose heart with love is stirred.
May child love and the birds together
Make all your life like summer weather;
May flowers blossom in your sight,
And golden stars bring peace at night.
"Well met, my little man!
Now tell me, if you can,
The very nicest way
To spend this long, dull day."
"Well, sir, my mother says,
Of all the pretty ways
To make a dark day bright
The best is just do right!"
"Shake hands, Prince!"
Black as a coal, and curly, too.
Is the dog I introduce to you.
He gives at once his right-hand paw,
None a softer one ever saw.
Up he rises on his hind legs,
Flies both little fore-feet, and begs,
Not for money, nor food, nor clothes,
But merely to show how much he knows.
You'd think from that first growling note,
He'd a bumble-bee inside his throat;
'Tis not a bee, but only a bark;
For answer, shrill and eager, hark!
"Roll over, Prince!"
He'll do all other things you ask;
But this is a task, a dreadful task.
He hates the dust on his silky hide
And in the fringe of his ears beside.
"Roll over, I say!"
Such a struggle as he goes through;
He wants to do it, and don't want to!
He rubs one black ear on the floor,
Rubs a little, and nothing more.
Do you call that minding? Yet, I find
Yours is a common way to mind:
Willing to do what you like to best,
And only half-way doing the rest.
Little Fred went to spend his long vacation with his grandpa and
A very pretty path came in at one end of the pasture. Fred often
little afraid, and kept very near Alice. But he forgot everything
"You dear old Mother Nature, I am writing you a letter,
To let you know you ought to fix up things a little better.
The best of us will make mistakes--I thought perhaps if I
Should tell you how you might improve, you would be glad to try.
"I think you have forgotten, ma'am, that little girls and boys
To have such things all growing in a lovely garden bed?
"And then I should have planted (if it only had been me)
Some vines with little pickles, and a great big cooky tree;
And trees, besides, with gum-drops and caramels and things;
And lemonade should bubble up in all the little springs.
"I'd like to have the coasting and the skating in July,
When old Jack Frost would never get a single chance to try
To nip our cheeks and noses; and the Christmas trees should stand
"Ah! what a world it would have been! How could you, madam, make
Such lots of bread and butter to so very little cake?
I'd have it just the other way, and every one would see
How very, very, very, very nice my way would be.
"But, as I cannot do it, will you think of what I say?
And please, ma'am, _do_ begin and alter things this very day.
And one thing more--on Saturdays don't send us any rain.
Good-by. If I should think of something else, I'll write again."
Out in the woods we went to-day:
Charlie and I, and good old Tray,
Out in the greenwood to romp and play.
To-day, you know, is the first of May;
And we meant to be so jolly and gay:
And celebrate in so merry a way
That we could never forget this holiday.
So first we chose the loveliest queen,
The dearest and sweetest that ever was seen;
For mamma herself was Her Highness Serene,
And we crowned her with rosebuds and evergreen.
Then we kneeled around and vowed to obey
All the laws she made, not only to-day,
But all the year through. Then she waved a spray
Of lilac bloom, and bade us all be gay.
Oh the games we played, and the races we run!
The bars we leaped, and the prizes we won!
Oh the shouting, the singing, the laughter and fun,--
It were hard to tell who was the happiest one!
Then, rosy and tired, we gathered around
Our beautiful queen on the mossy ground;
The hungriest group in the land, I'll be bound.
As the sandwiches, cookies, and tarts went round.
When the sun was low and shadows were gray,
Down from her throne stepped our fair Queen of May,
And through the green fields led homeward our way,
While we gave her sweet thanks for this beautiful day.
"Tell me a story about a bear,
A great big bear who lived in a wood
And ate little children." "O, my dear,
The bears I know of were playful and good,
And lived in houses or parks or a pen,
And never ate children, or boys, or men.
"There was one snow white, a mother bear,--
With two little babies cunning and queer;
Who rolled and climbed and stood on their heads,
And fell over, as boys often do, I fear.
They hugged their mother, and talked in their way,
And kept still when they'd nothing to do or say."
"No, I mean a real bear out in the woods,
Who growls and chases you, makes you run,
Half scared to death,--and a little boy lost
Out in the woods and the night coming on;
And the terrible bear with his great fierce eyes,
And no one to hear the little child's cries!
"He runs and runs,"--and then Bertie smiles,
His climax reached,--"I was only in fun;
The bear didn't kill him, because, you see,
There was just behind a man with a gun,
And he shot! Bang! Down came the old bear;
'Twas his own little boy and he saved him--there!"
"O, I am so glad!" and I give him a kiss;
Then silent we sit for a moment or two.
"That's a boy's story; yours, you know,
For nice little girls very well will do.
But boys, you remember, grow up to be men,
And can fight the bears to their very den."
Every animal has an instrument of defence. Some have claws, some
hoofs, some spurs and beaks, some powerful teeth and stings.
The porcupine has something queerer than all these. Its body is
clever, good-natured dog. Willie can do anything with him, and he
pleads with his large, misty eyes.
It was very unkind for Willie to do so, don't you think it was? I
But the care even of a king for a prince could not keep away all
sorrowful sights. His watchful eyes sometimes saw suffering that
filled his heart with pity.
friends, to become poor and a wanderer, that he might help the
Ned jumped about for joy, until George said,--
This was settled, and at dinner mamma was told of the plan.
The boys went to bed early that night, but had hardly settled
Next morning they told their tale at the breakfast-table.
"Yes; but, papa, Melissa killed it; we only struck at it."
Roy had fished in the ditch by the side of the road a great many
times; but he had only a bent pin for a fish-hook, and a piece of
Uncle James caught a great many trout in the brook.
Mary laughed at Roy a good deal. She told his uncle James, at
"I know a new bear-story,"
I said to the little folks,
Who surely as the twilight falls,
Begin to tease and coax.
"And did they live in the forest,
In a den all deep and dark?
And were there three?"--"Yes, three," I said,
"But they lived in the park.
"Let's see! Old Jack, the grizzly,
With great white claws, was there;
And a mother bear with thick brown coat,
And Betty, the little bear!
"And Silver-Locks went strolling
One day, in that pretty wood,
With Ninny, the nurse, and all at once
They came where the bears' house stood.
"And without so much as knocking
To see who was at home,
She cried out in a happy voice,
'Old Grizzly, here I come!'
"And thereupon old Grizzly
Began to gaze about;
And the mother bear sniffed at the bars,
And the baby bear peeped out.
"And they thought she must be a fairy,
Though, instead of a golden wand,
She carried a five-cent paper bag
Of peanuts in her hand.
"Old Grizzly his red mouth opened
As though they tasted good;
And the brown bear opened her red mouth
To catch one when she could;
"And Betty, the greedy baby,
Followed the big bears' style,
And held her little fire-red mouth,
Wide open all the while.
"And Silver-Locks laughed delighted,
And thought it wondrous fun,
And fed them peanuts from the bag
Till she hadn't another one.
"And is that all?" sighed Gold-Locks.
"Pshaw, is that all?" cried Ted.
"No--one thing more! 'Tis quite, quite time
That little folks were in bed!"
Now so high,
Now so low;
Soon, soon,
We'll reach the moon;
Hear us sing,
See us swing,
Up in the old oak-tree.
To and fro,
Like the birds,
High and low;
See us fly
To the sky;
Hear us sing,
On the wing,
Up in the old oak-tree.
While she is building it she sits, or stands, on another and more
whiteness long, for the water-weeds and the leaves that cover the
carefully she will bring up her children, so that they will be a
"Why, what is the matter, my love?" asks Mr. Grebe, in amazement.
"Some creatures have been here," answers little madam,
Out here papa finds her,
Lifts her tenderly,
Carries her safe home again,--
Never once wakes she.
When the breakfast all is o'er
Polly opes her eyes.
"Surely, mamma, I did dream,"
Says she in surprise,
"That I went out to the Park,
Where the birdies sing."
Mamma smiles; how can she chide
The winsome little thing!
This way and that way, one, two, three.
Come if you want a dance to see;
With his chubby hands on his dress so blue,
See what a baby boy can do.
One foot up and one foot down;
See him try to smile and frown;
He would look better, I do declare,
With some more teeth and a little more hair.
One, two, three, chick-a-dee-dee!
This I take the fact to be,
That there never was, on sea nor shore,
Such a queer little dance as this before!
When little Sam was six years old, he began to go to school. His
teacher gave him a merit card whenever he was good all day. But
"I wish I had something to put into my boat," thought Sam.
He looked around and saw Hattie's doll under a tree. Hattie had
"I will give Miss Dolly a sail," thought Sam.
He put the doll in the boat, and pushed it out on the water.
A dear little maid, with sun-bonnet red
Tied carefully over her little brown head,
With two little bare feet, so active and brown,
Has started to travel to Strawberry town.
"And pray where is that?" Oh dear! don't you know?
It's out in the field where the strawberries grow;
Where papa, and Henry, and Sue, in the sun,
Pick the sweet, big, red berries so fast, one by one.
"It's a very great ways," says the dear little maid,
"To Strawberry town, and I'm so afraid."
And so as companions, to keep her from harm,
She takes two fat kittens, one under each arm.
She trudges along with brown eyes opened wide,
The kittens hugged sociably up to each side;
With ears sticking up and tails hanging down,
She carries them bravely to Strawberry town.
I am glad I am not a cross dog now. I feel better when I am good.
"Come, Freddie, time you were in bed long ago," said mamma.
"I'm tired and sleepy," sobbed the boy.
"Why don't you go to sleep then?" asked Fred.
"Humph! I guess you haven't been here long, or you'd know."
"No, I've just come; I think it's nice."
"Yes," added Fred; "but why can't you go to sleep?"
Night came at last. Big lamps were hung on the trees and made the
screamed aloud.
"I think you are dreaming, Fred," replied mamma.
"I was, but I am awake now."
 Small purple flower; grows by the wayside in the South.
In a land where summer lingers,
Far from Northern rains and snows,
Where, like loving, clasping fingers,
Twines the jasmine with the rose,
There I found a little maiden:
Oh! her eyes were black as night,
And her tiny hands were laden
Down with blossoms pearly white.
Sought she all along the wayside,
'Mong the ferns and waving palms,
Where the tiniest flower might hide
From her sweet protecting arms.
"What fresh treasure are you seeking?"
Asked I of the little one,
For a myriad blooms were peeping
Through the mosses to the sun.
"Have you never heard, dear lady,
Of the sweetest flower that blooms,--
It is neither proud nor stately,
Like the lily and the rose;
"But it brightens every pathway,
Springing 'neath your careless tread.
Till the sun, with quickening ray,
Kisses soft its drooping head.
"Then its petals quick unclosing,
Freshly sweet with morning dew,--
It is left for our supposing
That the story must be true,--
"How it shyly waits the coming
Of the glorious King of Day,
And that hence the pretty naming
Of a Sun-Kiss, so they say?"
"The currants and raspberries are ripe. I'll see if Mrs. Anderson
"Oh, I do want to take such long breaths!" said Lina, "I wish my
mamma could see it too."
In winter, when it freezes,
In winter, when it snows,
The road to school seems long and drear,
O'er which the school-boy goes.
But when the pleasant summer comes,
With birds and fruit and flowers,
The road to school, how short it is!
And short the sunny hours!
But to the boy who loves to learn,
And wisdom strives to gain,
The road to school is always short,
In sunshine, snow, or rain.
He would take her thimble and wax, and hide them too.
At last Billy acted so badly, that Mrs. Brown told Sammy that she
afterwards in the cellar.
The fire had been burning a few minutes, when Mrs. Brown heard a
Sammy saw that his mother was very much in earnest.
So he sold Billy to a pedler who came along the next day.
The pedler gave him fifty cents for Billy.
What Bessie liked best of all were the nice donkey rides every
children were not. Bessie liked a donkey named Kate best of all.
"Why not, Bessie?" said Mr. Lee.
Bessie kissed her father and was soon fast asleep. She dreamed of
oranges and gave them to Fred.
oranges, but Fred looked the other way.
Cheeks just like a posy;
Eyes that twinkle with delight,--
Could there be a fairer sight?
Little feet that dance in glee;
Voices singing merrily.
Won't you stop a little while?
At my question you will smile:
"Rosy I have never seen,--
Tell me, is she some fair queen?
Have your lily hands now crowned her,
While you formed a ring around her?
"Why 'draw buckets of water
For my lady's daughter'?
Has she spoiled her pretty dress?
Ah! to wash her face, I guess!
Very hard 'tis to unravel
What is meant, dears, by 'green gravel.'
Then, you say, 'How barley grows
You, nor I, nor nobody knows;'
Oats, peas, beans, too, you include:
If the question be not rude,
Darlings, tell why this is done."
"Ha! ha!" laugh they; "it's such fun!"
It rose, feebly at first, then soared away over the tops of the
houses.
John and Lincoln have a fleet of ten boats. They made these boats
These cushions lifted up, and underneath were kept books, dishes,
Once when he went on a voyage a little kitten went too. She was
everybody's pet and a very friendly kitty. She was afraid of Gil,
scratched so, that Gil could not get hold of her.
I've got a brand-new parasol
(Of pink silk trimmed with lace),
But auntie says 'twill never keep
The shine out of _my_ face.
Why not, I wonder: if it's held
Just in the proper place,
Why won't it keep the sunshine out
Of anybody's face?
She says thick clouds would hardly do
(Much less pink silk and lace)
To keep the merry sunshine out
Of such a dimpled face.
But mamma says, "Go take your walk,
And never mind aunt Grace."
I 'spect I'll have to let the sun
Keep shining in my face!
They were coming home when Livingstone saw a great lion. He was
He heard the men shout. He turned and saw the lion all ready to
spring.
(A lion crouches to spring, like a cat.)
He did not do anything next. He stood with his great paw on
He always begins his queer cry about an hour before sunrise.
When he is angry he raises the crest on his head.
So at last Jocko had a good time, and forgot about the woods.
But Gretchen had put in a cork. The sugar would not pour out.
It was very funny then to see what trouble Jocko was in. He would
This went on for several days. Everybody came in to see little
Gretchen's monkey and his sugar bottle.
But one day the cook let a jar of olives fall. It broke, and the
Little Gretchen had to give him away at last because he broke
everything he could lay his roguish paws upon.
The petrels are sooty black. Their feet are partly webbed.
The sailors call the stormy petrel "Mother Carey's chickens."
The name of Bobby's ship was _The Jefferson_. Once when the
But this pretty pair of chaffinches found a new place in which to
Little boys and girls believe that all mosquitoes sting and bite.
The bobolink laughs in the meadow;
The wild waves laugh on the sea;
They sparkle and glance, they dimple and dance,
And are merry as waves can be.
The green leaves laugh on the trees;
The fields laugh out with their flowers;
In the sunbeam's glance, they glow and they dance.
And laugh to their falling showers.
The man laughs up in the moon;
The stars too laugh in the sky;
They sparkle and glance, they twinkle and dance.
Then why, then, pray, shouldn't I?
Oh, I laugh at morn and at night,
I laugh through the livelong day.
I laugh and I prance, I skip and I dance.
So happy am I and so gay.
One day when they were about a quarter grown, Annie found
"O papa! mend her leg just as you did my arm!" she said.
Fluffy-dumpty got well very fast. But when she was about three
"What a narrow 'scape you had, Fluffy-dumpty!" said one duck.
"What a fine boy Sam is!" said a third duck.
"He's almost too good for a boy," said a fourth.
But it all sounded as if they only said "quack-quack!"
There was Bertie just coming round the corner! He looked quite
Do you think Bertie ever forgot Vick again?
Do you ever forget to care for your pets?
They love dearly to play in grandma's attic. There are queer old
bonnets and gowns and cocked hats hanging on the walls.
When Blanche gets on her great-great-grandma Cushing's cap and
spectacles and long mits, she makes a very charming little Mother
One rainy day they had been playing Mother Hubbard.
chamber, and down the back stairs; through the kitchen and the
dining-room, and burst into grandma's room all out of breath.
"What _is_ the matter, children?" asked grandma.
"Oh, there's a wolf in the attic," they both cried out.
"Nonsense! we don't have wolves in Massachusetts," said grandma.
"Well," said Dorothy, "something scratched dreadfully."
So grandma went up to the attic to see about it. "Where was the
noise?" she asked.
The cousins never know when to expect him. He comes in without
So sleepy and demure is my wee Gracie,
So long and sober grows the little facie,
So silent are the red, red lips so sweet,
So quiet are the little hands and feet,
I know, yes, well I know
My Gracie wants to go
Into the soft, white nest where every night
My birdie folds her wings till morning light.
And now beside my knee the pretty lisper
Her evening prayer with folded hands must whisper,
While baby sister sleeps on mother's breast,
Lulled with our voices low to dreamy rest.
Then in her nightie white,
My restless sunbeam bright
Is hidden from her shoulders to her feet,
And tucked away in slumber soft and sweet.
A merry, white-robed figure at my side,
A laughing face, with blue eyes opened wide.
Red lips that kiss me in the early dawn
And tell me fast enough that night is gone.
Ripe and ready for play,
In the early morning gray,
Restless again are the small hands and feet,
Silent no longer, little lips so sweet.
Where is the sunbeam like my Gracie's eyes?
Blue as the blue of summer's bluest skies!
What sweeter wakening could be mine than this
The soft "Good morning!" of my daughter's kiss?
And thus each hour of day
Girl Gracie claims for play
Till comes the "Sand-man" with the twilight hour
And play has vanished 'neath his mystic power.
He is a bright bird, too. He can learn to talk, and he is full of
They had taken off their shoes and stockings, and were going in
bathing.
"Do look at them!" said mamma. "Perfect little Arabs!"
"But think of their clothes!" said mamma.
"Come on, then!" said Farmer Gray.
"That's so!" said the boys. Then they thanked him heartily.
"Yes, I would," said Charley, "and I should like to live with you
Just then the school bell rang. The boys all shouted, "Good-by!
good-by!" as Farmer Gray drove off.
Ah Kee is the funniest little fellow alive.
He can stand as straight as any boy I ever saw.
But the straighter he stands, the more you laugh.
He thinks he is very tall. He is about three feet tall.
He thinks he is a little gentleman, because he can drink out of a
But Ah Kee oftener behaves like a rogue than like a gentleman.
There is always a look of mischief in his bright black eyes.
His mistress never allows him to go into the parlor by himself.
She knows he would sit on the brackets with the little statues.
No, Ah Kee, with his roguish tastes, is not to be trusted in the
parlor by himself.
Then, when she wants a quiet hour, she will slip the blue ribbon
through the collar ring, and tie Ah Kee to the door knob.
My bird and cat,
Good friends are they:
Just think of that!
Gray winks and blinks.
Is what he thinks.
So on the wall,
This sunny weather,
Chirping, purring,
They play together.
They flew that day on and on; over the green fields bright with
"But we must put on our waterproofs," they said.
Do birds wear waterproofs? Oh, yes! But they do not carry them in
waterproofs, they flew on and on again, through the rain.
They did not stay together that day. Part of them flew to the
northeast. By and by these came in sight of a big gilded dome.
"I know where we are," said one old robin. "That is Boston State
With bounding step and merry laugh
My little girl--five and a half--
Held in her hand a picture-card:
"See! mamma, see! I've tried so hard;
Look and see what the letters spell;
'Tis a reward for doing well.
I have been good a whole long week;
Not once, mamma, did teacher speak,
Or say from recess I must stay,
Because in school I'd tried to play.
Last week, you know, my card I lost
For giving Charlie's book a 'tost,'
And speaking out aloud in school;
I did not know 'twas 'gainst the rule.
Then teacher said, 'Edith come here.'
I went right to her, mamma dear,
And 'cause I hop-skipped down the aisle,
The scholars all began to smile.
That week I was so very good,
'Most got a card, and think I should
If I'd not hop-skipped down the aisle,
And made the other scholars smile.
But if I get one once in four,
School keeps so long, I'll get lots more."
Four little mice lived all alone
Where cats had been so long unknown;
They ate and slept without a fear
That any danger could be near.
One sunny day with brush and broom
They cleaned their pantry, swept their room,
Then made themselves as neat and fine
As if invited out to dine.
And then not knowing what to do,
They looked their cedar closet through
And found their gray coats growing thin:
So sat them down some yarn to spin,
A cat looked in with hungry eyes--
"Shall I come in and cut your thread?"
"Oh, thank you, no!" they trembling said.
"Bow-wow-wow!" was the first thing Winny heard that morning. She
"Bring me Grandma Snowhair's cap, Finnette," Winny would say. And
parks.
The deer hears quickly, and his scent is very keen too. When the
When the horns are growing they look as if they were covered with
Seen me? Of course you have seen me before.
I can't count the times I have been at your door.
Where do I live? Why, everywhere, here!
My name? Well, I own it is rather queer;
Some call me "good fellow," or "Fido," or "Tray,"
But I come just the same, whatever they say.
Am I ever lonesome? How can I be
When acquaintances everywhere whistle to me?
Hungry? That's something I've never yet known,
For friendly hands toss me sweet bits or a bone.
Cold? Oh, never! for doors everywhere
Are opened to shelter my silky brown hair,
For _I_ am everybody's dog!
And what do I give for this treatment so kind?
I drive home the lost cattle and sheep that I find;
With the children and babies I tenderly play,
And faithfully keep them from going astray.
And many an ill-natured tramp I have sent
Away from the game on which he was bent.
I can carry a basket or pail just the same
As a boy, and better than some I could name.
I bark in the night when danger is near,
And if I'm in the house no sleeper need fear.
What! be your own dog? Do you think 'twould be fair
To stay here with you when they all need my care?
No; I'll come every day for a minute or two
But now I must go for I've so much to do;
For _I_ am everybody's dog!
"I want a picnic," wailed Susie, "and I can't have it."
He led the way to the library. He took down a huge set of maps, a
"Hurrah," said Tom. "Tiger hunts, elephant rides, jungles, snake
charmers, jolly old idols, and the Parsee merchants."
They called the great balm-of-Gilead-tree in the lane "Grandpa's
After the blossoms wither the seeds come. These seeds are covered
It took a great many bits of wool to fill the bag. But Clara was
helped the sick soldiers to get well again.
Down by the seashore Miss Lollipop sat,
Dropping the little white shells in her hat;
"See!" cried the darling, and shouted with glee,
"These pretty things were all waiting for me;
Waiting for me!"
Creeping and curving across the gray sand,
The wavelets came dancing to kiss the fair land,
Wooing with murmurs the flower-gemmed lea;
"Ah," cried Miss Pops, "they are whispering to me,
Whispering to me!"
Darting and flashing the gay sunbeams flew
Down from a heaven of midsummer blue,
Smiling and dimpling all over the sea;
"There," cried Miss Pops, "they are laughing at me,
Laughing at me!"
In the green meadows the tall grass stood fair,
Waving and tossing in sweet summer air,
Dipping and bending around her white knee;
"Look," cried Miss Pops, "it is bowing to me,
Bowing to me!"
Over the hills the sweet flower bells rang,
High in the tree tops the little birds sang.
--Tipsy-top bobolinks bent on a spree;
"Hark!" cried Miss Pops. "They are singing to me,
Singing to me!"
Deep in the roses the bumblebees flew,
Sipping their rations of honey and dew,
"Now," cried Miss Pops, "they are shining for me,
Shining for me!"
Sweet little Happy Heart! Pure little soul!
Earth would be robbed of its darkness and dole
If with the faith of thy heart I could see
How much of God's world is fashioned for me!
So, as I said, Mr. Allen put up a board with these words on
"Tommy," she said, "you shouldn't have stood and looked at those
Clapp's big heifer," grandma said.
possible."
One old bear was sitting in a tree, with his arms folded.
"There! what do you think of that?" asked Harry.
"Does he eat the thistle?" asked Ralph.
"Does the butterfly squeeze them that way?" asked Ralph.
"No; he has no thumb and finger," said papa.
"How can he get the honey, then?" Ralph asked.
"He finds it with his long sucker, which reaches to the bottom of
So he walked slowly towards the butterfly, holding out the little
Bright the sun! gay the flowers!
Gently falls the rain!
O the jolly, the blithesome hours,
Summer is come again!
Eggs in my nest, snails to eat,
A whole round world for my home,
I sing, I sing, so sweet, so sweet!
Summer again is come!
"You thought I would like to write letters because I am old like
"I think I would like to be a school-boy, but I wouldn't either.
"But that is what the school-boys did that day I went.
throats since, and I wear a scarf in the house.
"Your cousin Tom."
All at once Rose caught Lily's dress in her teeth. They were just
dragged her back again.
Wouldn't you pat her big head too, and call her "good old Rose?"
Then, when you opened the door, a sharp little voice would say
Where did aunt Patty get so many pets? They were given to her.
"Do your pets ever quarrel?" I asked aunt Patty once.
"Never," said aunt Patty. "Pansy and Pickwick, and the birds and
Methusaleh is the turtle.
"Then I shall catch them," said Tommy.
"The old gander won't let you," said Nurse.
"Pooh! who's afraid?" said Tommy very bravely.
"I am," sobbed Tommy. "And I want that old gander shut up in the
barn. He isn't good for anything."
"Oh, yes, he is," said Nurse, "he takes care of the goslings."
Tommy used to play this hole was his "well." Tommy saw the gander
And Tommy screamed too. "O Nurse, Nurse, that gander is good for
something. He lifted a gosling right out of my well. I saw him!"
tumbled behind the sofa where papa caught him.
looked at the bat. How he panted!
"But he bites," said Grace. "Doesn't he, papa?"
"I don't think he would bite," said papa. "He's a good deal more
frightened than you were."
"What made him fly into the window then?" asked Grace.
For a Vampire bat may find him; and if he does, he will bite the
Now Baby's asleep, mamma can sew--
Baby's asleep and Tommy can tell
Of the cat that was drown'd in the great big well.
"She had the weest, _teentiest_ toes,
And the leastest speck of a blackish nose,
With great, great eyes"--"Coo, coo! coo, coo!"
Baby's awake--and listening too!
Hurrah for old winter, he's coming at last!
The snow flakes are falling so thick and so fast!
My skates I have mended, and painted my sled;
Now, boys, you will soon see this chap go ahead!
I've jolly thick mittens, a brand-new fur cap;
Now, what does it matter if I get a rap?
I've got such a secret! We've built us a fort!
But you must tell no one, 'twould spoil all our sport.
Jack, Clement, and Robbie, are garrison men,
And we can defend it against any ten.
We've made heaps of snowballs, each one round and hard,
They're hid away safe in the old schoolhouse yard.
Pell-mell through the snow rush the merry boy crowd;
While the bare woodlands echo the hearty and loud
They boiled molasses in a kettle over a fire in the big kitchen
"And I think, Moses," she said, "your hair is banged beautiful."
What do you think I did with all my beautiful Christmas cards?
I had saved ever and ever so many, and Easter and New Year's, and
thought I was sick!
seemed so delighted that I gave her a beauty, with red and white
Then they all waved their cards and cried "Merry Christmas! merry
"What made it make b'lieve dead?" asked Kitty.
Kitty named him "The Tramp," and he lived in the bay window with
chickadee, and a lucky bird he was to have it just then.
"That is the way to have birds in winter!" said Kitty.
against the windows and begged to be let out.
"I love all the birds," said Kitty, "but the Tramp is my very own
Matty Ellis had a new hat. It was a pretty white hat with a long,
feathers enough for the market, so ostriches are now raised like
turkeys and hens. This business is called "ostrich farming." The
"I don't think he meant to kill it," said the grandpa.
together.
"That's so. So do I," rejoined a fierce scrap of a dog. He wore a
character. But I don't think he killed the goose."
So his bad master had to pay for both the beer and the glass.
Wise old horse, he was not afraid to give his opinion of beer.
The spring winds blow!
They take the kites that the boys have made,
And carry them off high into the air;
They snatch the little girls' hats away,
And toss and tangle their flowing hair.
The summer winds blow!
They dance and play with the garden flowers,
And bend the grasses and yellow grain;
They rock the bird in her hanging nest,
And dash the rain on the window-pane.
The autumn winds blow!
They frighten the bees and blossoms away,
And whirl the dry leaves over the ground;
They shake the branches of all the trees,
And scatter ripe nuts and apples around.
The winter winds blow!
They fill the hollows with drifts of snow,
And sweep on the hills a pathway clear;
They hurry the children along to school,
And whistle a song for the happy New Year.
I drive Betty to pasture every day. John goes with me to shut the
I take good care of Betty. When any one comes near her, I say,
"Bow-wow" very sharply.
Among the duties which this poor boy had to perform was that of
dreaming.
search for a stick to chastise his enemy. The ram understood his
intention, for he turned upon Bobby as if to finish the poor boy.
The poet sings that "his heart dances with the daffodils." Lily's
There'll be some all round to-morrow or next week."
Lily looked at the child and then at the dandelion. "I suppose it
"Oh, well, keep it, you stingy girl!"
Where is the honey-bee?
Where has the swallow flown?
Only the chickadee
Chirrups his song alone.
Where is the bobolink,
Bubbling with merriment?
What was the road, think,
The gadding fire-fly went?
Whither flew the little wings
Grown in green forest aisles?
Where are the pretty things
That blossomed miles on miles?
If we would always listen to the cries of animals in distress, we
having furnished, in all ages, a brilliant example of virtue
rather as being those of a distinguished guest, or foreign _prima
Two little rabbits out in the sun;
One gathered food, the other had none.
"Time enough yet," his constant refrain;
"Summer is still just on the wane."
Listen, my child, while I tell you his fate:
He roused him at last, but he roused him too late.
Down fell the snow from a pitiless cloud,
And gave little rabbit a spotless white shroud.
Two little boys in a school-room were placed;
One always perfect, the other disgraced.
"Time enough yet for my learning," he said;
"I will climb by-and-by, from the foot to the head."
Listen, my darling--their locks are turned gray;
One, as a governor, sitteth to-day.
The other, a pauper, looks out at the door
Of the alms-house, and idles his days as of yore.
Two kinds of people we meet every day;
One is at work, the other at play,
Living uncared for, dying unknown.--
The busiest hive hath ever a drone.
Tell me, my child, if the rabbits have taught,
The lesson I longed to impart in your thought.
Answer me this, and my story is done,
Which of the two will you be, little one?
wedding cake, which some folks called a "cheese." Every one in
They took the little London girl, from out the city street,
The look of wonder fixed itself, within her violet eyes.
The breezes ran to welcome her; they kissed her on each cheek,
And tried in every way they could, their ecstacy to speak,
Inviting her to romp with them, and tumbling up her curls,
Expecting she would laugh or scold, like other little girls.
But she didn't--no she didn't; for this crippled little child
Had lived within a dingy court, where sunshine never smiled;
And for weary, weary days and months, the little one had lain
Confined within a narrow room, and on a couch of pain.
The out-door world was strange to her--the broad expanse of sky,
And shake and tremble as if she were frightened near to death.
Oh, like some horrid monster, of which the child had dreamed,
With nodding head, and waving arms, the angry creature seemed;
It threatened her, it mocked at her, with gestures and grimace
That made her shrink with terror, from its serpent-like embrace.
And said, "Oh, what a foolish little girl you are, to be
So nervous and so terrified, at nothing but a tree!"
They made her go up close to it, and put her arms around
The trunk, and see how firmly it was fastened in the ground;
They told her all about the roots, that clung down deeper yet,
And spoke of other curious things, she never would forget.
Oh, I have heard of many, very many girls and boys
Who have to do without the sight, of pretty books and toys--
Who have never seen the ocean; but the saddest thought to me
Is that any where there lives a child, who never saw a tree.
Knock! Knock! Knock! I've been before this block
More than half an hour, I should say;
I am standing in the sun, while Miss Lucy lingers on,
Talking of the fashions of the day.
It is a trick you know, she taught me long ago,
But now I am in earnest, not in play;
And the world is very wide, to a horse that isn't tied,
I've a mind to go and ask the price of hay.
There's a nail in my shoe that needs fixing too,
And I want a drink more than I can say;
How I could run, with my dandy harness on!
But it's such a mean thing to run away.
Rap! Tap! Tap! That's enough to break a nap--
There she comes, and is laughing at the way
I brought her to the door, when she wouldn't come before,
That's a trick worth playing any day.
It was recess at the school-house at the cross roads, and three
"I'd be glad to have them come to our house, they have such nice
clothes," said Lena, the youngest and most mischievous.
"Oh, can't we come?" said the other two, almost in a breath.
"Is she older than we?" asked Carrie.
"No, but she's lived all her life in the city, and feels above
everybody. She and her brother and her mother will just take
"It's too bad," said Carrie.
summer.
Then she sat down upon a bank by the roadside under an old tree.
"But oh, that girl that's coming has so much better times than I.
She looked down the road upon which the slanting red light of the
laughed too.
Mrs. Gimson was a most kindly disposed person, and endeavored, in
Lucindy, observant and sullen, kept herself informed of all their
characteristics.
This was a solace to Lucindy, as all the happenings at the school
Carrie took a race to school, very much elated at the prospect of
They were not kept long in suspense, and when she appeared what a
"Have your boarders gone for their ride?" asked Carrie.
"Sure enough. How was the girl dressed, Lu?"
lovely, wide collar."
"Don't you like her better than her mother?" asked Lena.
"Yes, Mrs. Randolph has an elegant blue satin pin-cushion, with
incredulously at Lucindy, as she said:
interest--the wardrobe of the boarders.
prettiest dresses and show you. It wont take me a minute."
They dragged considerably upon the dusty path, but this was not
"Let's put them on!" said Carrie, "and see how we would look in
"We'll look sweetly stylish," said Freda.
After a good time enjoyed in this way, the fun lost its point and
"What on the face of the earth will I ever do with this thing?"
Just then she heard her aunt calling her, and she knew that some
unlooked-for occasion had brought them home before evening.
"Oh, Lucindy, you should have locked the door!"
patrons. Desirable boarders would avoid her house in future.
Just as soon as Lucindy could be spared, she ran down to the tree
successfully, as the event proved.
"What do you mean?" asked Barry, not fully understanding the boy.
"That ere tree, don't yer see?" and the boy pointed to the girls'
"Is it there now?" asked Barry.
"I do'no, I seed it there this mornin'."
The night came darkly down;
The birdies' mother said,
You ought to be asleep!
'Tis time my little ones were safe in bed!"
So, sheltered by her wings in downy nest,
The weary little birdlings took their rest.
The night came darkly down;
The baby's mother said,
You musn't frolic so!
You should have been asleep an hour ago!"
And, nestling closer to its mother's breast,
The merry prattler sank to quiet rest.
Then in the cradle soft
'Twas laid with tenderest care.
Sleep till the morning light!"
Whispered the mother as she breathed a prayer.
Night settled down; the gates of day were barred
And only loving angels were on guard.
It stands in the corner of Grandma's room;
From the ceiling it reaches the floor;
"Tick-tock," it keeps saying the whole day long,
"Tick-tock," and nothing more.
Grandma says the clock is old, like herself;
But dear Grandma is wrinkled and gray,
While the face of the clock is smooth as my hand,
And painted with flowers so gay!
Backwards and forwards, this way and that,
You can see the big pendulum rock:
"Tick-tock," it keeps saying the whole day long,
"Tick-tock, tick-tock, tick-tock!"
The clock never sleeps, and its hands never rest
As they slowly go moving around;
And it strikes the hours with a ding, ding, ding,
Ding, ding, and a whirring sound.
I wonder if this is the same old clock
That the mousie ran up in the night,
And played hide-and-seek till the clock struck one,
And then ran down in a fright.
Backwards and forwards, this way and that,
You can see the big pendulum rock;
"Tick-tock," it keeps saying the whole day long,
"Tick-tock, tick-tock, tick-tock!"
O softly falling flakes of snow
That fill the wintry air,--
A thickening cloud on every side,
Each flake a wonder rare.
"Are they from trees in Silver Land?"
My child is asking me.
He claps his hands, he laughs, he begs,
"One leaf from silver tree."
Such questions as he asks in vain
About the leaf-like snow!
He might as well talk of the tides
That strangely come and go.
"Who plants those fairy trees?" he asks,
"With tops that reach so high?"
Oh, answer, Garden of Delight,
All in the cloudy sky!
"Who shakes those trees and sends their leaves
On field and wood and town?
Is it the Gardener living there,
Or winds that blow them down?"
O child, look up and see yourself,
The clouds are Silver Land.
Who made those flakes, He scatters them;
They fall at His command.
They fall, they melt, they come again.
And His the gardener's hand
That gently shakes the silver trees
Which grow in Silver Land.
application to his studies, has astonished the world with his
telephone, phonograph and other inventions.
flowing, has washed out the soil, and owing to the peculiar
composition of the ground has washed it away unevenly, and these
You can well imagine Albert's surprise and delight when he first
entered the studio and saw the work of the master. How the great
approximately near accomplishing our undertaking.
A tinker, with a cart and a poor, ill-fed beast harnessed to it,
He said no more then; but Lily's words stuck to him, and his poor
Oh, it is fun! Oh, it is fun!
To dress ourselves up, as Grandma has done.
See how we go! See how we go!
Forward and back, heel and toe.
Lighter than down, our feet come down
Mind all your steps, and hold out your gown;
Faster than that, whatever may hap,
Cherry red waist and blue speckled cap.
Don't go to sleep, while the music goes on;
Faster than that! Faster than that!
Hold up your head, and flourish your hat!
How she trips it along, that bright little maid,
With her dainty blue skirt and spotted brocade;
And that one in yellow, who wears the red rose
How she keeps her mouth shut and turns out her toes.
How they do spin! when they truly begin;
Each dancer as airy and bright as a doll;
While the music complete, keeps time to their feet,
With its fiddle-dee-diddle and tol-de-rol-ol!
Oh, it is fun! Oh, it is fun!
To dance, when every duty is done;
Forward and back, or all in a ring,
A quick little dance is a very gay thing.
Joey was a country boy,
Father's help and mother's joy;
In the morning he rose early,--
That's what made his hair so curly;
Early went to bed at night,--
That's what made his eyes so bright;
Ruddy as a red-cheeked apple;
Playful as his pony, Dapple;
Even the nature of the rose
Wasn't quite as sweet as Joe's.
Charley was a city boy,
Father's pet and mother's joy;
Always lay in bed till late;
That's what made his hair so straight,
Late he sat up every night,--
That's what made his cheeks so white;
Always had whate'er he wanted,
He but asked, and mother granted;
Cakes and comfits made him snarly,
Sweets but soured this poor Charley.
Charley, dressed quite like a beau,
Went, one day, to visit Joe.
"Come," said Joey, "let's go walking;
As we wander, we'll be talking;
And, besides, there's something growing
In the garden, worth your knowing."
"Ha!" said Charley, "I'm your guest;
Therefore I must have the best.
All the _inner_ part I choose,
And the _outer_ you can use."
Joey gave a little laugh;
"Let's," said he, "go half and half."
"No, you don't!" was Charley's answer,
"I look out for number one, sir."
But when they arrived, behold,
On the tree a peach of gold,
All without, fair, ripe and yellow,
Fragrant, juicy, tempting, mellow,
And, within, a gnarly stone.
"There," said Joey, "that's your own;
As you choose, by right of guest,
Keep your choice--I'll eat the rest."
Charley looked as black as thunder,
Scarce could keep his temper under.
"'Twas too bad, I think," said Joe;
"Through the cornfield let us go,
Something there, perhaps we'll see
That will suit you to a T."
"Yes," said Charles, with accent nipping,
"Twice you will not catch me tripping;
Since I lost the fruit before,
You now owe me ten times more.
Now the _outer_ part I choose,
And the _inner_ you can use."
Joey gave another laugh;
"Better call it half and half."
"No, indeed!" was Charley's answer,
"I look out for number one, sir!
Well I know what I'm about,--
For you, what's in; for me what's out!"
On they went, and on a slope
Lay a luscious cantaloupe,
Rich and rare, with all the rays
From the August suns that blaze;
Quite _within_ its sweets you find,
And _without_ the rugged rind.
Charley gazed in blank despair,
Deeply vexed and shamed his air.
"Well," said Joey, "since you would
Choose the bad and leave the good;
Since you claimed the outer part,
And disdained the juicy heart,--
Yours the rind, and mine the rest;
But as you're my friend and guest,
Charley, man, cheer up and laugh,
And we'll share it half and half;
Looking out for number one
Doesn't always bring the fun."
Woodcroft to be sold!--like a knell of doom the words fell on our
"Now, Marmo, out with all the trouble and let us share it," said
We urged her to lie down and rest, and, following Cal's beckoning
"Girls, my brain is not usually fertile, but a thought has been
growing--we are all well educated, but teaching is out of the
"But," faltered Lou, "the mortgage."
exquisite creations came out of that chaos. I had visited the
little mother's sad eyes began to brighten, and Cal would say:
"God bless my daughters," would be the reply.
Readers, you will be glad to know that the girls' work continued
successful, and that the "crusty old creditor" turned out a good
friend, from sheer admiration of their pluck and courage.
bright flower, so that no one could pick it with safety.
congratulating themselves over something immensely satisfactory.
We communicated that fact to them, but it didn't seem to make any
We listened quietly to their sarcastic remarks, knowing they were
Next morning the August haze lay soft on the landscape, but in a
Our brothers did not intend to be unkind, but they had the common
"All right," said Fred, "can I go with you? I'll go and get my
butterfly net, and we can go over to Fern Hollow mill, the
"This is certainly the fairies' dining hall," said Lib.
We were in such haste to put our scheme into operation, that we
Lib raised her hand in warning for us to keep still, and we crept
turned pale, caught hold of my hand and Dora's, and ran quite a
dilapidated.
"Oh, Lib, I'm going to run for it," said I.
"I'll go and order him out, be the consequences what they may.
"I want Mrs. Snobley!" sobbed Dora.
"_References exchanged._"
"_I'll scrape the mud off me boots, if ye'll let me
Lib called, "Come here, Mollie, it's a trick of those boys."
Merryvale was not dull after that, I can assure you.
"But, Bessie, this is _just splendid_, and it came to me all of a
"I believe there is something in it, Katie," answered the eldest
sister.
"I knew you would," cried Katie, joyously, "and may I try it?"
housekeeper she was; Robbie did about as he pleased and was well
It was hard for them to pay the rent, to get food and the many
trying to be merry ladies and gentlemen.
"What lovely leaves!" cried a young lady, "these of mine seem all
hastened toward the little merchant.
"What a pretty girl," said the young man with her.
"How much are these?" inquired the lady.
"Whatever you please, Miss," she faintly murmured.
"Don't want any, little one," said the young man pleasantly, "the
But their stopping had attracted many more, and a dozen bought of
"What's your name, child?" he asked.
"Katie Wilson, sir," replied the little girl, faintly.
"Um! um! Come along Helen," said he, hastily, and hurried away.
happiness.
Together they counted the money--three dollars and eighty-five
cents--just think of it!
If ever there was a happy, excited little girl, it was Katie that
She was brave, and true, and unselfish, and her reward was great.
fellow was wild as a colt and ran here and there until it was all
"What are you doing here any how?" he inquired.
"Um! so you're lost, are you?"
"No, sir, I guess not only--only we don't know the way."
"We live in the old Mill cottage, and my name's Katie Wilson, and
Robbie, and talk about the kind gentleman who had found them and
The Wilsons are comfortable and happy now. Bessie is Mrs. Philip
You will not mind, if I sit me down
And watch you spin, in your velvet gown?
You need not fear,
You can trust me here.
I think I can learn to spin, if I
Could watch you work. Will you let me try?
You spin and weave, but I cannot see
Just how 'tis done, and it puzzles me.
For you have no loom
In your little room.
No silken skein, no spinning-wheel,
No bobbin and no winding reel.
Please tell me what you use instead?
And where do you hide your shining thread,
As soft as silk
And as white as milk?
I think, Mrs. Spider, it must be
A secret, or you would answer me.
Said Fred, "Why can we not take the bird home and care for it?"
Many a long hard-working day
Life brings us! And many an hour of play;
But they never come now together,
Playing at work, and working in play,
As they came to us children among the hay,
In the breath of the warm June weather.
Oft, with our little rakes at play,
Making believe at making hay.
With grave and steadfast endeavor;
Caught by an arm, and out of sight
Hurled and hidden, and buried light
In laughter and hay forever.
Now pass the hours of work and play
With a step more slow, and the summer's day
Grows short, and more cold the weather.
Calm is our work now, quiet our play,
We take them apart as best we may,
For they come no more together!
immersing it in a bowl of water.
"Poor Ben! Poor Ben!" said Polly. "'On Linden when the sun was
right, and that God does every thing for the best."
"Thank you, mamma. Good night, and pleasant dreams."
"Good night, dear."
"What kept you?" said Ben, in a sleepy tone.
"Good night," said Ben, not sorry to be dismissed.
"But, Mabel," began Mrs. Ross--
Mabel went to school that day with a happy heart.
"Can you tell me if this is Mrs. Ross's?"
Mabel's heart gave a great bound.
"That is mamma's name, mine is Mabel."
"Lead me to her," he said, hoarsely.
Mabel quickly ran before him into the house exclaiming:
"Oh, mamma! I think it is Uncle Ben."
By the simplest chance he had stopped at Fairmount. Shortly after
sagacity and intelligence, that he was known through all the
something unusual; generally his runs were finished in one or two
returned home in great amazement, and told the story of Woggy's
wonderful doings. Florence was all excitement and sympathy in a
"May I go with you, Auntie?"
Threading his way carefully through the tall grass and nodding
"Aunt Millie, what _are_ you doing?" as he caught sight of a
photograph of himself, and a large copy on the easel.
"Never mind, pet! I was a bit vexed, that you had discovered my
"Is it a _secret_?" in an awed tone; "well, I'll _keep_ it."
"Do you think you really can, Jo?"
"Well, I'll trust you."
arrival, we were out--Willie, my brother, Elsie, our little
I wish I could tell you of the grand time we had that summer. We
formed the acquaintance of several little neighbor children, who
strawberries and armsful of golden-eyed daisies, and taking our
provided. Just before breaking up, we all joined in playing our
Every little grape, dear, that clings unto the vine,
Expects some day to ripen its little drops of wine.
Every little girl, I think, expects in time to be
Exactly like her own mamma--as sweet and good as she.
Every little boy who has a pocket of his own,
Expects to be the biggest man the world has ever known.
Every little lambkin, too, that frisks upon the green,
Expects to be the finest sheep that ever yet was seen.
Every little baby colt expects to be a horse;
Every little puppy hopes to be a dog, of course.
Every little kitten pet, so tender and so nice,
Expects to be a grown-up cat and live on rats and mice.
Every little fluffy chick, in downy yellow dressed,
Expects some day to crow and strut or cackle at his best.
Every little baby bird that peeps from out its nest,
Expects some day to cross the sky from glowing east to west.
Now every hope I've mentioned here will bring its sure event,
Provided nothing happens, dear, to hinder or prevent.
Sophie climbed the garden trellis,
Plucked the finest grapes in view;
How they shone with red and amber,
As the sun came glinting through.
She was taking painting lessons,
And she paused and gazed at them;
"Oh," she said, "a pretty picture,
Grapes and green leaves on a stem.
"I will leave them here, unbroken,
Close beside the garden walk;
Look!" she said, to Cousin Mary,
"Just anear this broken stalk."
Off they went through pleasant pathways;
Staying longer than they knew,
By a russet, leaf-strewn border,
With its asters, pink and blue.
Then their friendly gossip over,
Homeward as they turned to go;
"Oh, the grapes!" said Sophie, quickly,
"We must go for those, you know."
When they reached the precious cluster,
Five bold sparrows pertly stood,
Pecking at the grapes beside them,
Chattering in a wanton mood.
"Look! Oh, look!" said cousin Mary,
"Sparrows at your luscious store!"
"Shoo!" said Sophie, "was there ever
Such a piece of work before?"
Pilfering sparrows, you have taught me,
By this loss, a lesson true;
When a bunch of grapes I gather,
Just to keep them safe from you.
third--a very difficult one--he had not performed. I said to
him,--"Shall I help you?"
"No, sir! I can and will do it, if you give me time."
I said: "I will give you all the time you wish."
"Well, Simon, have you worked that example?"
"Certainly, you shall have all the time you desire."
My young friends, let your motto ever be,--"If I can, I will."
This ancient and splendid pile is a fitting residence for the
sovereigns of England. It impresses one with the idea of supreme
grandeur and formidable strength, but it has reached its present
The castle stands upon a hill on the bank of the river Thames,
evidences of royal expenditure, of watchful care and tasteful
ornamentation.
paintings.
The Queen's presence chamber contains the rarest furniture and
hangings, with an array of artistic works by the most celebrated
masters.
In the Queen's bed-chamber is the State bed, said to have cost
An elegant saloon is called the "Room of Beauties," and contains
fourteen portraits of ladies who were "most fair" in the court of
The audience chamber contains the throne and is enriched with
historical paintings of events in the reign of Henry III. Another
Among the sad episodes in the illustrated history of English
Upon receiving the news of his brother's death, Richard clothed
From one high-handed act of usurpation to another, assisted by
Upon gaining the entire custody of the royal lad, he sent a large
The Governor of the Tower was, it seems, a man of at least human
horrible an act.
ceremonies, has the custody of the regalia.
Most of our young readers will be surprised to hear that the
About seventy years ago she was a little girl, the daughter of a
"Why, Jamie, where is your garden?"
Mamma shook her head. "But that will not dig ground, nor make the
Hurrah! Hurrah! only two days more to vacation, and then!----
At last the great day dawned--dawned upon three of the most
grotesque-looking specimens of boyhood, arrayed in the oldest and
boulder.
Boys, I wish you could have seen them that night, in their little
boughs--untied the tent flaps to let in air, and slept a happy,
dreamless sleep.
having a royal time, and that camping was the only life to lead.
The boys felt a trifle uneasy, but answered him politely.
The boys looked at each other.
The two answered with a hungry look.
spent.
They had, in the main, a jolly time, but the ending was not as
"Oh, beautiful wild duck, it pains me to see,
You flying aloft in that gone sort of way,
Sweet one, fare you well. I could shed many tears,
But my deepest emotions I never betray.
"I've always admired you, wonderful bird,
By the light of the sun and the rays of the moon;
I tell you 'tis more than a fox can endure,
To know that you take your departure so soon.
"I snatched a few feathers, in memory of you;
I desired a whole wing, but you baffled my plan;
Oh, what a memento to hang in my den!
And in very hot weather to use as a fan.
"Descend, O, thou beautiful creature, to earth!
There's nothing I would not perform for your sake;
If once in awhile I could see you down here,
I'd never get tired of the shores of this lake!"
"Cheer up, Mr. Fox," said the duck, flying higher,
"The parting of such friends is sometimes a boon;
When they get far away, and have time to reflect,
They see that it came not a moment too soon.
"You wanted a wild wing to fan yourself with;
You see if I granted that favor to you,
'Twould have left me but one, which is hardly enough,
As I find it convenient, just now, to have two."
Then she faded away, a dark speck on the sky.
"That's a very shrewd bird," said the fox in dismay!
"I shall have to look round for my dinner, again,
And I fancy it will not be wild duck to-day."
"I think, Bridget," she said, "that we might venture to bring the
"Oh! may I help?" asked little Charley, "I'll be very careful."
impending reproach, he forestalled it by exclaiming:
Charley didn't care just then to discuss disobedient boys, so he
turned at once to the subject of the pot.
"Made of clay," he exclaimed, "well, I'd like to see a man make a
"Will it come into shape if you just throw it?" said Charley.
Upon the table was another little table, round and low, and upon
"Where's the handle?" asked Charley.
Bread-pans and washing-pans are made in exactly the same way as
The kiln was round, with a big doorway, called a wicket.
"Fancy using such dirty stuff!" said Mary.
"How do you know when they are cooked enough?" asked Charley.
"This is called the crown," said Mr. Sands.
It was a flat surface, with four holes which showed the red heat
below, and looked like little volcanoes in a good temper.
"Do you see those iron rods hanging like walking-sticks in the
"What is done next?" asked Charley.
Take your breakfast, little birdie,--
Cracker-crumbs, and seeds so yellow,
Bits of sponge-cake, sweet and mellow;
Come quite near me;
Do not fear me.
I can hear your happy twitter,
Although winter winds are bitter;
Take your breakfast, little birdie.
Come! Oh, come and tell me birdie!
All night long the snow was falling;
Long ago, I heard you calling;
Tell me, dearie,
Are you weary?
Can you sleep, when winds are blowing?
Frosts are biting, clouds are snowing?
Come! Oh, come and tell me, birdie!
Take your food, and trust me, birdie;
Daily food the Father giveth;
Bread to every thing that liveth.
Come quite near me;
Do not fear me.
Come each day, and bring your fellow,
For your bread, so sweet and mellow;
Take your food, and trust me, birdie.
afternoon, hot, for it is July, and a haze is over the mountains,
warriors pour forth; not in confusion, but in a compact, unbroken
If they want to change their abode, the slaves must make the new
This race of warriors is none other than the slave-keeping ant,
conquerors, soon become ants, and live the rest of their lives in
pulling away for the wreck; and I can fancy how the poor fellows
Adam and Eve are my two pet doves,
They live in a cot in the maple tree,
They coo and coo as other doves do,
And I know they are fond of me.
Eve is a dear little milk-white dove,
Her eyes and feet are of coral red.
She wears a quill of gray in her wing,
And a small white cap on her head.
Adam is bold, and he struts about,
In coat and vest of chocolate brown;
Eve is as sweet as a dove can be,
And Adam will sometimes frown.
Adam and Eve are my two fond doves,
Their cottage stands in the maple tree,
They coo and coo, as other doves do,
And often take lunch with me.
Up where the bees and the butterflies are,
Their flights 'mong the blossoms that shine near and far.
Song of the blue-bird and bobolink's call,
Up in this beautiful world are they all!
Clinging, clinging,
In this green shadow, the clematis swings.
Bringing, bringing,
Hints of strange odors, and dim woodland things.
Flinging, flinging,
The snow-ball, its white, pretty blossoms on me,
Springing, springing,
The damask rose climbs to the lattice to see!
Backward my hair is floating and swaying,
Here o'er the garden-walk softly I sing;
Far more delightful, than wearily straying,
Is it to dream here, while gently I swing.
No school! And the beautiful summer days coming so early in the
immediately.
But we had on our very prettiest dresses in the evening, for the
dainty, genteel, and good-mannered for an hour, that it impressed
But the little ones, like Gracie and her friends, really couldn't
decided to wade round in it. It was a comical sight to see us
"What's the matter, Milly," we cried. "Are you hurt? What did you
"A whale!" said Susie Champney.
We all rushed again to the edge of the rocks to look at him, with
"Well, we'll take that tad home on a pole, any way," said Nannie
"Oh, Flossie! you have been dreadfully taken in," said Regy.
caused me to scream every time, and sent tremors all over me.
"What-cher goin' to do with him?" inquired Willie.
"I shall study his habitudes, and improve my knowledge of the
crustacea," said I, giving him a sentence directly out of my
text-book. "I shall look at him every day."
permanent disposal of him.
That evening our parlor manners were somewhat less decorous and
elegant, owing to the fact that Reginald and Willie had been
industriously circulating the episode of the morning, with such
It was a long time before we heard the last of it, however.
Down by the lake they trotted,
All the summer day;
Max and Beppo never plotted
Yet, to run away.
Two little donkey pets, Oh, I loved them so!
When I was in Switzerland, just a year ago.
How they liked bananas!
And our apples sweet;
They had lovely manners,
Every thing they'd eat.
Then, I'd rub their furry ears, and they'd shake their bells,
While old driver Raspar, funny stories tells.
Max turns round and winks so pretty,
Little, sharp round eyes;
Beppo sings a jolly ditty,
Quite to our surprise.
Then we mount, and off we go, up and down the mall,
Never do they careless trip, never make a fall.
Once, a princess royal
Wanted little Max;
How to part those friends so loyal,
Her little brain she racks.
She would give her gold and silver, in a little purse,
Then throw in for measure good, her scolding English nurse!
Then she cried, and chattered
All her pretty French,
And her little feet she pattered,
On the rustic bench.
"My papa is king," she said, "and I'd have you know,
I shall have the donkey, and to prison shall you go."
How their tiny feet would scamper,
Up the valley blue,
Carrying each his generous hamper,
And his rider, too.
Sure of foot, they'd clamber round the mountain spur
Where the foot-sore tourist scarcely dared to stir.
In this bright, sunshiny weather,
I remember with a sigh,
We no more can play together,
Never dearer friends exist, in this world below,
Than I made in Switzerland, just a year ago.
As I walked in my garden to-day,
I saw a family sweet.
Many wee faces looked up,
From their cool and shady retreat.
Some had blue eyes and golden curls,
Some dark eyes and raven locks,
Some were dressed in velvets so rare,
And some wore quaint, gay frocks.
I asked these babies so dear,
To come and live ever with me!
Then laughing so gaily they said;
"We are _Pansies_, don't you see?"
"Come, little bird, I have waited some time,
Light on my hand, and I'll give you a dime.
I have a cage that will keep you warm,
Free from danger, and safe from storm."
"No, little lady, we cannot do that,
Not for a dime, nor a brand new hat.
We are so happy, and wild, and free,
"Fly, pretty bird, fly down, and take
Just a crumb of my Christmas cake;
Santa Claus brought it to me, you know,
Over the snow. Over the snow."
"Yes, we know of your home, so rare,
And stockings hung in the fire-light there;
We peeped through the window-blinds to see.
Chee-dee-dee! Chee-dee-dee!
"We were on the button-ball tree,
Closer than we were thought to be;
Soon you may have us in to tea,
Adalina Patti was a doll of most trying disposition. You wouldn't
distinctly when she first arrived, at Christmas.
Oh, dear! How many dreadful things she looked like. There was a
tobacconist's sign that represented a fairy queen, with butterfly
carpet to her mother.
At that moment in bounced Rob, who, immediately taking in the
He was to be repressed immediately. Sirena looked at her mother.
"He wants to be funny, Sirena," said her mother, soothingly.
My little love, with soft, brown eyes,
Looks shyly back at me,
Beneath the drooping apple bough,
She thinks I do not see.
I cannot choose, I laugh with her,
I catch her merry glee;
Or stay you near, or go you far,
Oh, little love, how sweet you are!
A hue, like light within a rose,
Is dimpling on her cheek,
It wins a grace, it deepens now
With every airy freak;
A love-light in the rose like this,
Ah, you may vainly seek;
It shines for me, no shadows mar,
Oh, little love, how fair you are!
My heart clings to her pretty words,
They will not be forgot;
My happy brain will not discern,
If they be wise or not.
To ever be so charmed, so blessed,
Ah, this were happy lot.
My own, shine ever like a star
Upon my life, so true you are.
The first witness to tell all the bad she knew about Hal was his
"The more shame for him," said one of the lawyers.
They don't know much, these little girls,
I'll tell you why 'tis so,
They played away their time at school,
And let their lessons go.
One took a slate to cipher,
And all went very well,
Until she came to four times eight,
And that she could not tell.
The other would make pictures
In her copy book at school,
Of boys and girls and donkeys
Which was against the rule.
But nothing good could come of it,
And this is what befell;
She tried to write to papa,
And found she could not spell.
The teacher said, "Of all sad things,
I would not be a dunce,
But would learn to write and cipher,
And begin the work at once."
A great astronomer was, once in his early days, working hard at
disheartened with his difficulties. "Go on, sir, go on," was the
This short sentence seemed to give the student fresh courage.
Following out these simple words he applied himself with renewed
One day she was sitting out under the blossoming trees on the old
sounded a piping little voice:
"Clara, Tousin Clara! has oo dot my Animal book?" and a small,
"Tell me more; what tind of a city did oo live in?"
After telling about the orange groves and vineyards, the lovely
Three meadow birds went out in great glee,
All in the sunshiny weather;
Down by the pond, with the reeds waving free,
Where the ducks were all standing together.
"Good day Mrs. Duck," said the three meadow birds,
"From all the news we can gather,
You're a very good friend, of very few words."
Then one flew away with a feather.
"Quack!" said the duck, "That feather is mine,
I see through your ways altogether;
You want our feathers, your own nests to line,
All in the bright summer weather."
"What shall we use?" said the three meadow birds,
"There's no good in moss or in heather."
"We don't care a straw," said the old blue drake,
"If you line all your nests with sole leather."
"Quack! Quack! Quack! You must think we are slack!
You talk too polite altogether;
We've had quite enough of your high-flown stuff,
And we know, you are birds of a feather."
reading. What a sly cat was that to find a way to make his master
dreaming; always thinking and imagining some fancied injury from
either father or mother.
Presently Archie sat down in the shade, on the balustrades of the
Ben Huntly, the boat-builder, was a good-hearted fellow, and was
Archie is a young man now, and has outgrown his gloomy, brooding
O dear little birdie, how nice it must be
To be able to fly
Far away to the sky,
Or to sit on the toss-away top of a tree.
I wish you would lend me your wings for a day.
I have two little feet
That can run on the street,
One step at a time, but I can't fly away.
I would fly to the woods if I only had wings;
Over house-top and tree,
Like a bird or a bee,
And sit by the side of the thrush while she sings.
I would count the blue eggs in her snug little nest;
I would stay all day long,
To hear her sweet song,
And bring home a feather of gold from her breast.
The baby held it in his hand,
An acorn green and small,
He toyed with it, he tossed it high,
And then he let it fall!
He sought for it, and sorely wept,
Or did his mother know
(Though sweet she kissed and clasped her boy)
What loss had grieved him so.
Then he was borne to other lands,
And there he grew to man,
And wrought his best, and did his most,
And lived as heroes can.
But in old age it came to pass
He trod his native shore,
Yet did not know the pleasant fields
Where he had played before.
Beneath a spreading oak he sat,
A wearied man and old,
And said,--"I feel a strange content
My inmost heart enfold.
"As if some sweet old secret wish
Was secretly fulfilled,
As if I traced the plan of life
Which God Himself has willed!
"Oh, bonnie tree which shelters me,
Where summer sunbeams glow,
I've surely seen thee in my dreams!--
Why do I love thee so?"
concern them."
sample of such.
When she spoke of having been left "comfortable" by her deceased
"comfortable" means free from care, both as regards to-day and
"And you keep every thing else to yourself," muttered one who had
successful gardening, not too far to prevent little feet from
telling!"
injunction, however:
"Mind you never come here asking for flowers any more."
"You can sew so beautifully," she said. "You would be a great
acquisition to our little gathering."
Mrs. Crook answered civilly, that she could not undertake to go
depression:
At length every one gave up trying to enlist her services, or to
Twilight dews are gath'ring,
The bright day's done;
Upon thy downy couch
Rest, little one.
Each tiny bird's hieing
Home to its nest;
Each flower-head's nodding
Upon its breast.
Be still now, little heart,
Until the morrow
Brings again its share
Of joy and sorrow.
May angels round thy couch
Be ever nigh,
And over thy slumbers chant
Their lullaby.
It was a queer name for a little girl, and it was not her real
name--that was Lizzie--but everybody called her "But Then."
If Willie complained that it was a miserable, rainy day, and they
"Yes; _but then_, it is a real nice day to fix our scrapbooks."
When Kate fretted because they had so far to walk to school, her
little sister reminded her,--
barking, and seeming to enjoy the fun as much as any of them.
"What is that? It looks like a great bundle of clothes."
questioned her, though her face was pale with pain.
"Why, you needn't," began Bob; but the girl shook her head.
--The following is an Arabic proverb taken from the mouth of an
"You little chicks, tho' you peck at my dress,
I will not get angry at that;
I know you would gobble me up if you could,
As quick as a worm or a gnat."
"Say, little snail, you had better go on,
They may try the same trick upon you."
"No, no," said the snail, with his hard coat of mail,
"I don't care a rush if they do.
"Little girl, there's no harm to cause me alarm,
I'll sit here and watch them a spell,
But as soon as they pounce, I'll cheat them at once,
By getting right into my shell."
"But listen, wise snail, the old hen in the coop
Has her eye very closely on you;
And if she gets out, it may put you about,
Now mind, what I tell you is true."
"But dear little girl, she is fast in her house;
No, no, she can't touch me, no, no.
But if that respectable fowl should get out,
Oho!" said the snail. "Oho!"
Think it no excuse, boys,
Merging into men,
That you do a wrong act
"Only now and then."
Better to be careful
As you go along,
If you would be manly,
Capable and strong.
Many a wretched sot, boys,
That one daily meets
Drinking from the beer-kegs,
Living in the streets,
Or at best, in quarters
Worse than any pen,
Once was dressed in broadcloth
Drinking now and then.
When you have a habit
That is wrong, you know,
Knock it off at once, lads,
With a sudden blow.
Think it no excuse, boys,
Merging into men,
That you do a wrong act
"Only now and then."
characters are sculptured or grouped, by the gorgeousness of the
wood-painting, and hardly feel the pin-prick of the evil that is
insinuated. But it stings and poisons.
"Why do you roam about so, Nell? Why don't you settle down to
something?" her mother asked, one bright, spring day.
"Why don't you find some kind of work to do?"
"That is just the trouble. There's nothing that needs to be done;
A few weeks more and the hot summer came on, and Nell missed the
little Dutch girl on the corner. It really worried her that the
"You don't mean that you live here all alone?" asked Nell.
"But your father and mother?"
"And your father?"
lovie?" cuddling her up close.
A new world was opening up to Nell.
"Excuse me, but don't you have any pleasure trips, or birthday
parties, or Christmas?"
"And are you always happy as you seem--really happy?"
Nell did some hard thinking on her way home, and being a sensible
She was her mother's darling, and a very good little girl in most
chairs, mamma would call her and say:
It did not take many such punishments before Nelly began to think
There's going to be a concert
Out in the apple trees;
When the air is warm and balmy,
And the floating summer breeze
Waft down the pale pink blossoms
Upon the soft green grass:--
A lovely place to sit and dream,
For each little lad and lass!
The concert will open early
When the sun lights up the skies:--
You'll miss the opening anthem
If you let those sleepy eyes
Stay closed, and do not hasten
Out 'neath the orchard trees,
Where the pink and snowy shower
Is caught in the morning breeze.
The robins will swing in the branches,
And carol, and whistle and sing.
The thrush, who is coming to-morrow,
Will a charming solo bring.
The wrens will warble in chorus,
Rare music, so touching and sweet;
The orioles sent for their tickets,
And will surely give us a treat.
The concert will open at sun-rise,
All the June-time sweet and fair;
There'll be a grand full chorus,
For _all_ the birds will be there.
The concert is free to the children,
And is held in the apple trees,
And the birds will sing in a chorus,
"O come to our concert--please!"
Only a boy with his noise and fun,
The veriest mystery under the sun;
As brimful of mischief and wit and glee,
As ever a human frame can be,
And as hard to manage as--what! ah me!
'Tis hard to tell,
Yet we love him well.
Only a boy with his fearful tread,
Who cannot be driven, must be led!
Who troubles the neighbors' dogs and cats,
And tears more clothes and spoils more hats,
Loses more kites and tops and bats
Than would stock a store
For a week or more.
Only a boy with his wild, strange ways,
With his idle hours or his busy days,
With his queer remarks and his odd replies,
Sometimes foolish and sometimes wise,
Often brilliant for one of his size,
As a meteor hurled
From the planet world.
Only a boy, who may be a man
If nature goes on with her first great plan--
If intemperance or some fatal snare,
Conspires not to rob us of this our heir,
Our blessing, our trouble, our rest, our care,
Our torment, our joy!
"Only a boy!"
There is a class of workers in India who have always held to
"He was meek," said one boy.
"Brave," said another.
"Learned," added a third boy.
"A gentleman!" asked the examiner. "How do you make that out?"
Ding-dong! ding-dong!
The bells are ringing for bed, Johnnie--
The bells are ringing for bed.
I see them swing,
I hear them ring,
And I see you nod your head.
The bells are ringing for bed, Johnnie--
They are ringing soft and slow;
And while they ring,
And while they swing,
It's off to bed we'll go.
certain that he did not owe it. Some years later Mr. Appleton
As the children approached the cottage, they saw their father
heart-broken sobs, told her story. The mother cried and wrung her
interested.
The father reached for his little treasure, and hugged him to his
attached, and on the broad door-step sat the prettiest little
A bright little urchin out west,
Thought going to school was a pest.
He said, "I don't care,
I just won't stay there,
I'll have a good time like the rest."
He said, "I'll run off at recess,
They'll never once miss me, I guess;
A fellow can't stop
When he's got a new top.
There'll just be one good scholar less."
Now the "rest" was a crowd of rough boys,
Who with rudeness and mischief and noise,
Made one afraid
To go where they played,
But their riotous play he enjoys.
So away from his lessons he ran,
This promising western young man.
They pushed him down flat,
Tore the rim off his hat,
Said, "There's nothing so healthy as tan."
And they did what was very much worse;
They stole his new knife and his purse.
They gave him a shake,
And they called him a "cake;"
Said, "Next time, bub, come with your nurse."
Near sundown this urchin was found
Fast asleep on some very hard ground;
He looked tired and grieved;
He'd been so deceived,
And quite ready for home, I'll be bound.
The primary teacher, Miss Small,
When she heard his sad fate, forgave all,
"My teacher's a daisy!
I'm through being lazy."
He said, "School's not bad after all."
One day a bushman sighted a fine deer, and incautiously separated
Some agents of a business firm in Holland, who negotiate for the
escapes and critical situations that crowded upon their path.
presence. He had slain his prey--the pretty creature lay near the
The fearful encounter began! Many of the natives were killed. One
festivities.
frames. He tramps about and lashes his tail against the bars and
"I think, little goslings, you'd better not go.
You're young, and the water is chilly, you know;
But when you get strong,
You can sail right along--
Go back in the sunshine, or walk in a row."
"No, no! we will go," said those bold little things,
Except one little dear, close to mother's warm wings.
Out went all the rest,
On the water with zest;
They said, "We will venture, whatever it brings."
Their mother looked out, so kind and so true,
Adown where the rushes and lily-pads grew;
They looked very gay,
As they paddled away,
With their bright, yellow backs, on the water so blue.
"Come back!" cried their mother, "come back to the land!
I fear for my dear ones some evil is planned."
But they ventured beyond
The shore of the pond,
And laughed at her warnings, and spurned her command.
Farewell, to the goslings! their troubles are o'er;
They were pelted with stones, by boys on the shore.
Afar from the bank,
They struggled and sank,
Down deep in the water, to come up no more.
Oh, see what it cost them, to have their own way;
Their punishment came without stint or delay;
But the sweet one that stayed,
And its mother obeyed,
Lived long, and was happy for many a day.
This plant readily discriminates between animal and other matter;
become entangled in them.
entrance, is studded with minute honey glands, and is called the
attractive surface; a little farther down the inside, very minute
extremity of the hairs; but in struggling to free itself, it
The clock is Swiss,
And a curious thing it is,
Set like a flower against the wall,
With a face of walnut brown
Twelve white eyes always staring out,
And long weights hanging down.
But there is more
At the top is a little close-shut door.
And when 'tis time for the hour-stroke,
And at the half-stroke too,
It opens wide of its own accord,
What do you see?
Why, with a trip and a courtesy,
As if to say,--"Good day, good day,"
Out steps a tiny bird!
And though no soul were near to hear
He'd pipe that same blithe word.
Through all the night,
Through dawn's pale flush, and noon's full light,
And even at twilight, when the dusk
Hides all the room from view,
Out of his little cabinet
Though but a toy,
Yet might the giddiest girl or boy
Learn three most pleasant truths from it:
How patiently to wait,
How to give greeting graciously,
And never to be too late.
'Tis sweet to hear,
Though oft repeated, a word of cheer;
So this little comrade on the wall,
This bird that never flew,
Is an hourly comfort, with his call,
"Cuckoo, cuckoo, cuckoo!"
So these two were all alone in the world, but they did not feel
lonely, for each one was all the world to the other.
The people among whom these orphans lived were rough, but
farmer, and they drove off.
"Maggie aint here," said Mrs. Baker, who was busy cleaning up the
The great sail lay in a heap before him; he walked around it, and
But Maggie cried, and said he hurt her.
Sitting down to tea;
All in a row,
Ranged on the table,
Two down below.
Dressed all in silk,
Waiting for the sugar,
Waiting for the milk.
If you would thrive,
Breakfast at nine o'clock,
Take tea at five.
cross-roads, I think."
Then Fannie would turn round, and his comical appearance, sitting
Down from the sky, one winter day,
The snow-flakes tumbled and whirled in play.
White as a lily,
Light as a feather,
Some so chilly
Were clinging together.
Falling so softly on things below,
Covering all with beautiful snow.
Drifting about with the winds at play,
Hiding in hollows along the way,
White as a lily,
Light as a feather,
Coming so stilly
In cold winter weather.
Touching so lightly the snow-bird's wing,
Silently covering every thing.
Every flake is a falling star,
Gently falling, who knows how far?
White as a lily,
Light as a feather,
Hosts so stilly
Are falling together.
Every star that comes fluttering down,
Falls, I know, from the Frost King's crown.
Jocko was hardly more than a baby monkey, but he was so full of
"They're just like boys," said George Bliss one day, as he stood
The ivy, climbing upward on the tower,
In vigorous life its shapely tendrils weaves,
But, resting on the summit, forms a bower,
And sleeps, a tangled mass of shapeless leaves.
So we, while striving, climb the upward way,
And shape by enterprise our inner lives;
But when, on some low rest we idly stay,
Our purpose, losing point no longer strives.
The voices did not waken the baby even when Percy made May give a
mother are doing in that strange, far-off country?
A handsome, fat, old goose
Out a-walking with her gosling.
And she said,--"Now what's the use,
Of letting that old waddler have
Such a pretty thing as that?
I'll run right out and get it;
I'll go without my hat."
Out she ran upon the dusty path,
On the grass, all wet with dew,
And the old goose turned round quickly,
She wished an interview.
And Kitty said,--"Oh, open your mouth
As much as ever you please;
I'm going to take your gosling,
Because I love to tease
Such a cranky, impudent squawker as you."
And she laughed right out, and stooped
To take the toddling little thing,
When down upon her swooped,
The angry goose with hisses fierce,
And wildly flapping wing,
And gave her a nip that was no joke!
On the heel of her red stocking!
Miss Kitty screamed, but tightly held
The little yellow ball,
And you know she'd not the shadow of right
To that goose's gosling at all.
Then its mother made a terrible snap
At Kitty's pretty blue dress!
And that thoughtless, mischievous little girl,
Was pretty well frightened I guess.
For she jumped and screamed, danced round like a top,
And the goose's eyes flashed red;
And she struck her wings in Kitty's eyes,
And on her little brown head!
She dropped the gosling, and ran for home,
Screaming, and crying,--"Boo! hoo!"
And learned a lesson she never forgot,
And it's as wholesome for me and for you,
That it's best to be kind to our barnyard friends,
And let them have their fun too.
Dash goes out with us when we take a walk, and I'm sure he knew
yesterday when we went out without leave, because we wanted to go
She laughed a little, but presently she looked quite grave, and
said,--"I'm very glad to find you have told me the whole truth,
Phil and I had a splendid Maying after that. We made wreaths for
But the best of all is that mother says she can always trust us,
because we told the truth at once; and Phil and I think we would
"Once a gentle, snow-white birdie,
Came and built its nest,
In a spot you'd never dream of,--
In a baby's breast.
Then how happy, gentle, loving,
Grew the baby, Grace;
All the smiles and all the dimples
Brightened in her face.
But a black and ugly raven
Came one morn that way;
Came and drove the gentle birdie.
From its nest away.
Ah! how frowning and unlovely
Was our Gracie then.
Until evening brought the white dove
To its nest again.
Children, this was Gracie's raven,
This her gentle dove,--
In heart a naughty _temper_
Drove away the _love_."
The nurse caught his hand, and said, coaxingly:
"Harry mustn't touch. It will bite Harry."
Harry screamed savagely, and began to kick and pound the nurse.
"Let him have it, I say."
The mother awoke again.
"Mary!" she cried, "let him have it."
Two little mice went out one day
Among the scented clover;
They wandered up and down the lane,
They roamed the meadow over.
"Oh, deary me!" said Mrs. Mouse,
"I wish I had a little house!"
Said Mr. Mouse,--"I know a place
Where nice sweet grass is growing;
Where corn-flowers blue, and buttercups
And poppies red, are blowing."
"Oh, deary me!" said Mrs. Mouse,
"We'll build us there a house."
So, of some sweet and tender grass
They built their house together;
And had a happy time, through all
The pleasant summer weather.
"Oh, deary me!" said Mrs. Mouse,
"Who ever had so nice a house?"
Johnny had a garden plot,
And set it all in order,
But let it run to grass and weeds,
Which covered bed and border.
Two stalking sun-flowers reared their heads,
So firmly were they rooted,
And Johnny, as he looked at them,
Was any thing but suited.
Two children small, looked up and said,
Oh, Mister, beg your pardon!
Or, if you will not answer that,
Say, sonny, where's your garden?
"What d'ye call those two large flowers?
An' what'll ye take, an' sell em?
You'd better put a ladder up,
So folks our size can smell 'em.
"We heard old Mrs. Grubber say,
'That spot ye needn't covet;
He'd better turn it into hay,
Or make a grass-plot of it.'"
But Johnny never answered back,
But went and dug it over,
And soon again, his sprouting seeds,
He plainly could discover.
He said, "I'll have a garden yet.
And make a little money;
I never liked those Podger twins,--
They try to be so funny."
Billy, boy! Billy, boy!
He was his mother's joy,
But he couldn't shoot an arrow worth a cent;
And a rabbit almost laughed
As she watched the flying shaft,
And the place upon the target where it went.
The rabbit passing by,
So very soft and sly,
Took Billy for a hunter gaily dressed;
But when she came anear,
She said, "'Tis very clear
It's safe enough to stay and take a rest."
Said the rabbit, "Billy, boy,
You never will annoy
Anybody, by your shooting at a mark;
With an arrow and a bow,
I just would like to show,
I can reach the bull's-eye nearer in the dark."
Just then an arrow flew,
That pierced it thro' and thro'
Which made Miss Bunny start, and jump, sky high!
She cried, "Oh, dear! Oh, dear!
It's safer in the rear;"
And scampered off and never said,--"Good-bye."
You see the reason why,
'Tis always best to try,
Tho' others laugh and slander all the same;
For be it late or soon,
They'll always change their tune,
When they see your arrow doesn't miss its aim.
"_He's_ had a good catch," says Al.
fishing once and I caught two fish."
"Our lesson is fish, and in every dish
We would like to meet our teacher's wish.
But many men have many minds,
There are many fishes of many kinds;
So we only learn to boil and bake,
To broil and fry, and make a fish-cake.
And trust this knowledge will carry us through
When other fishes we have to 'do.'"
Edith is a little orphan girl who lives with her grandmother and
"I mixed the bread last Friday night and made some biscuit in the
"'Now you place it in the bread bowl,
A smooth and nice dough ball,
Last, a towel and a cover,
And at night that's all.
But when morning calls the sleeper
From her little bed,
She can make our breakfast biscuit
From that batch of bread.'"
"Jeanie did some catching before she was five years old, and you
"No, indeed! Good cooking has to be learned," I said, "and this
"Oh, mamma's going to tell us a story about when she was a girl,"
footstools.
You boys know that I had always lived in a big house in the city,
"A fish! Annie, do you know how to cook fish?" I said.
"No, ma'am. Only it's fried they mostly has 'em."
I was pretty tired, so I lay down for a little nap, and had just
sprinkle a little pepper on it, she went to the closet for her
pepper-box, and when she came back, the pan was empty!
"The cat stole it, Annie," I said.