Or to cipher awhile each day Both Boys. We'll study arithmetic patiently, the Well pleased though we learn but Till patience and labor shall triumph And we shall stand first in the scho And nevermore hate L OTTIE. I just wish I was a bird. a bird? Lottie. Then I could have wings, and Clarrie. How it would look to se flying up in the air and among the trees Lottie. Yes, I really wish I were a b the trees, and wherever else I cho delightful it would be! And then t shining feathers! O Clarrie, now wo like to be a bird ? Clarrie. Indeed I would not, Lottie. Clarrie. Suppose, now, you were a bird, and some wicked boys should come along, and, seeing you, should say, "There's Lottie Sterling; let us stone her!" and then they should begin to pelt you with stones, and follow you from tree to tree; or suppose they should have a gun, and should shoot you, then how would you like to be a bird? Lottie. I would not like to be one of that kind of bird, but one of those pretty little birds that come down around our door, and hop about so lightly, and sing so sweetly in the rose-bushes and among the honeysuckles. That's the kind of bird I would like to be. Now, Clarrie, would n't you, honestly, like to be one too? Clarrie. O dear, no! nor would you, had you seen what I saw last Sunday morning. Lottie. What was it? You almost scare me. Clarrie. As I was looking out of the window, I saw just such a little bird as you say you would like to be hopping merrily around a bush growing by the door, and it sang so sweetly it charmed me. All at once an old black cat sprang upon it from behind the bush, and ran off with it in her mouth. Afterwards I found a few of its feathers, the cat had eaten the poor little bird. What if that bird had been Lottie Sterling? Lottie. Well, I would n't like to be eaten up by a cat. Clarrie. Neither would I, nor do I want to be stoned by wicked boys, or shot through the heart by cruel hunt ers. Lottie. But I would stay in the woods in the tops of the high trees. Clarrie. Then some gunners might kill you; and when it stormed you would have no home. If you had wings, you would not lie down in a soft bed, but would have to roost in trees through winds and storms. I would rather be the little girl I am, Clarrie Merton, with flapped your wings, would n't you? Lottie. Well, I think, after all, I wi But don't tell any one that I made su will you? for I fear they will laugh CHARACTERS. AN ACTING CHARADE. - EDWARD PORTER, a lad of PORTER, a girl of twelve years. JAMES WAL from the country. JOHNNIE PORTER, the sm the part. PAUL LEWIS, the showman. As nagerie as the size of the stage will allow. Scene, a parlor. Curtain rises, discovering EDWA ELLA studying a spelling-less EDW DWARD (looking up). What's the Ella. I don't know. Please don't I've got a horrid lesson. Edward. Well, tell a fellow where t Ella (passing a book). Here (spelling in a bi-tion, Exhibition. Edward (in a low tone). S-h (turnin Sho-show. Here it is! (Writes.) finished my lessons. Ella (closing her book), Jim is ! So have I. I wonder where (Enter JAMES.) James. O Ned! O Nell! Ella. What is it, cousin? James. Uncle says we may all go to the show i Edward. What show? James. Why, the great show of beasts. Ella. O, the menagerie! I've been often. James. Have you? Edward. So have I! Did you never see one, Jim? James. Never! There was one in Higginsville last summer, but it was five miles from our place, and it was a rainy day, and the old horse went dead lame, and father could n't spare another, because it was when they were hauling lumber for the new barn, so I could n't go. Ella. Did papa say we were to go to-day? James. If your lessons were all ready for Monday. Ella. So do I! James. Then we can go. Dinner's almost ready. But, Ned, are there real live lions and tigers? Edward. Of course they are real! Ella. What did you think they were ? James. Why, you know those we saw at the Museum were only stuffed. Ella. Well, these ain't stuffed. James. Ain't it fun? I never went to a show in my life. Edward. Don't call it a show, Jim. It sounds so countrified. Edward. A menagerie. Ella. I know. I have it in my spelling-lesson to-day. It is an Exhibition. SCENE II. - MAN. Scene same as before. Curtain rises, discoveri walking-dress. Ella. Where is Ned? James. Gone to uncle for the mone (Enter JOHNNIE, in a man's coat and hat, and effect is better if JOHNNIE is small enough Johnnie. I'm a man. Ella. O Johnnie, what a figure! (Enter EDWARD.) Edward. Are you all ready? young mischief! Nurse will be after Johnnie. Don't care for nurse! I Edward. O, you are? Well, that [JOHNNIE trips over the Ella. O, poor little fellow! (Kisses h Edward. Fie! a man, and cry! Johnnie (sobbing). I hurt my head. James. A man does n't cry if he d |