.13.

THE CHICKEN'S MISTAKE.

A little chick one day

Asked leave to go on the water,
Where she saw a duck with her brood at play,
Swimming and splashing about her.

Indeed she began to peep and cry
When her mother wouldn't let her;
"If the ducks can swim there, why can't I?
Are they any bigger or better?"

Then the old hen answered: "Listen to me,
And hush your foolish talking;

Just look at your feet and you will see
They were only made for walking."

But chicky wistfully eyed the brook,
And didn't half believe her,

For she seemed to say, by a knowing look,
Such stories couldn't deceive her.

And as her mother was scratching the ground,

She muttered, lower and lower,

"I know I can go there and not be drowned, And so, I think, I'll show her."

Then she made a plunge where the stream was deep, And saw, too late, her blunder,

For she had hardly time to peep;

When her foolish head went under.

And now I hope her fate will show
The child my story reading,

That those who are older sometimes know

What you will do well in heeding;

That each content in his place should dwell,
And envy not his brother;

For any part that is acted well,

Is just as good as another.

For we all have our proper sphere below,
And this is a truth worth knowing:

You will come to grief if you try to go
Where you never were made for going.

Phabe Cary.

*14*

CHOOSING A BUILDING SPOT.

"Chirp! chipper! twitter! trill!" All on a morn of May,

Lord and Lady Robin were out,

So brave in their scarlet and gray,
Fain to spy what spot might be best
For building their palace, that we call a nest.

"Chirp! chipper! twitter! trill!"

66

Here, Oh, here let it be!

White blossoms, and red, red fruit

Will come to the cherry tree." "There, Oh, there in yon Maple high; Near, so near to the bright blue sky!"

"Chirp! chipper! twitter! trill!” Loud and fast and long;

Sweetest wrangle ever heard,

For it was all in song.

And the spot Lord and Lady Robin liked best

You will know by and by when you see the nest.

2

Emily A. Braddock.

*15*

THE MOUNTAIN AND THE SQUIRREL.

The Mountain and the Squirrel

Had a quarrel

And the former called the latter "Little Prig."
Bun replied:

"You are doubtless very big;

But all sorts of things and weather

Must be taken in together

To make up a year,

And a sphere;

And I think it no disgrace
To occupy my place.
If I'm not so large as you
You're not so small as I,
And not half so spry;

I'll not deny you make

A very pretty squirrel track,

Talents differ; all is well and wisely put;

If I cannot carry forests on my back,

Neither can you crack a nut."

*16*

Ralph Waldo Emerson.

AUTUMN SONG OF A LITTLE GIRL.

The Autumn has filled me with wonder to-day,

The wind seems so sad while the trees look so gay;

The sky is so blue while the fields are so brown;

While bright leaves and brown leaves drift all through the

town ;

I wish I could tell why the world changes so;—

But I am a little girl,—I cannot know!

The sun rises late, and then down goes so soon

I think it is evening before it is noon !

19

Of the birds and the flowers hardly one can be found Though the little brown sparrows stay all the year round;I wish I could tell you where all the birds go;

But I am a little girl,-I cannot know!

Oh, Autumn! why banish such bright things as they?
Pray turn the world gently,—don't scare them away!
And now they are gone, will you bring them again?
If they come in the Spring,-I may not be here then ;-
Why go they so swiftly,-then come back so slow?
Oh, I'm but a little girl,-I cannot know!

There was once a pretty chicken;
But his friends were very few,

For he thought that there was nothing
In the world but what he knew.
So he always in the farm-yard
Had a very forward way,
Telling all the hens and turkeys
What they ought to do and say.
"Mrs. Goose," he said, "I wonder
That your goslings you should let
Go out paddling in the water;
It will kill them to get wet."

"And I wish, my old Aunt Dorking,"
He began to her one day,

"That you wouldn't sit all summer
In your nest upon the hay;

Won't you come out to the meadow
Where the grass with seeds is filled?"
"If I should," said Mrs. Dorking,

H. C. B.

"Then my eggs would get all chilled."
"No they won't," replied the chicken;
"And no matter if they do.

Eggs are really good for nothing;
What's an egg to me or you?"

"What's an egg ?" said Mrs. Dorking,

"Can it be you do not know
You yourself were in an eggshell
Just one little month ago?

And if kind wings had not warmed you,
You would not be out to-day,

Telling hens, and geese, and turkeys
What they ought to do and say!
To be very wise, and show it,
Is a pleasant thing, no doubt;

But when young folks talk to old folks,
They should know what they're about."

* 18 *

SUPPOSE.

Suppose, my little lady,

Your doll should break her head;
Could you make it whole by crying
Till your eyes and nose were red?
And wouldn't it be pleasanter
To treat it as a joke,

And say you're glad 'twas dolly's,
And not your head that broke?

Suppose you're dressed for walking,
And the rain comes pouring down;
Will it clear off any sooner

Because you scold and frown?
And wouldn't it be nicer

For you to smile than pout,

And so make sunshine in the house
When there is none without?

Anonymous