this and the opposite 1 together, 3 chain, 1 long on long, 3 chain till the last long, crochet this and the opposite stitch together, 3 chain, crochet the next long and the opposite one together, 3 chain, 1 long on long, 3 chain till the last long, crochet this and the opposite stitch together, then hold the work double together in the hand, make 3 chain and crochet all the long stitches on both sides exactly opposite to each other together taking care to make 3 chain between each De stitch, fasten off the Wool by making 2 or 3 chain and drawing it tightly. Then take the other 2 stars and unite them exactly the same.

Then to unite the 4 stars together, take the 2nd point from the Violet Wool of both stars, which will now be in 2 pieces instead of 4, and work as directed for the 2 stars, and on the opposite side do the same, this will leave a circle in the centre which must be filled up thus, take the Green and Violet Wool and work a star up to the 9th row, the same as the Scarlet stars, arranging the colors as follows,-1st, 2 rows of Green, then alternate Violet and Green, the outside row will be Violet, keep the work on the wrong side, lay it on a table having the centre star also on the wrong side, take a point of this and the point of the Violet oval in the Scarlet stars, insert the Hook through the centre loop of the 5 chain in the centre star and crochet them together, tie the Wool in a firm knot 2 or 3 times, then on the 6th Green long stitch, do the same with the next point, and continue till all the points are secured, then work 4 half stars thus, working them forwards and back.

1st Row. With Green Wool, make a chain of 12 stitches, and work under the chain 1 long, 3 chain, then 12 long making 3 chain between each 3rd long stitch, then 3 chain, 1 long.

2nd Row.-Turn back, 3 chain, (these 3 chains are equivalent to 1 long, 1 long under the 3 chain, 3 chain, 2 more long under the same,* 3 chain, 2 long under the 3 chain, 3 chain, 2 more long under the same, repeat from,* 3 times more.

3rd Row. Turn back, 3 chain, 1 long under the 3 chain, 3 chain, 2 more long under the same,* 3 chain, 1 long under next 3 chain, 3 chain, 2 long under 3 chain, 3 chain, 2 more long under the same, repeat from,* 3 times more.

4th Row.-Violet Wool, turn back, 3 chain, 1 long under the 3 chain, 4 chain, 2 more long under the same,* 3 chain, De under the 3 chain, 5 chain, De under the 3 chain, 3 chain, 2 long under the 3 chain, 4 chain, 2 more long under the same, repeat from,* 3 times more.

5th Row.-Turn back, 3 chain, 1 long under the 4 chain, 4 chain, 2 more long under the same,* 3 chain, De under the 3 chain, 5 chain, De under the 5 chain, 5 chain, De under the 3 chain, 3 chain, 2 long under the 4 chain, 4 chain, 2 more long under the same repeat from,* 3 times more.

6th Row.-Turn back, 3 chain, 1 long under the 4 chain, 5 chain, 2 more long under the same,* 5 chain, De under the 5 chain, 5 chain, De under the 5 chain, 5 chain, 2 long under the 4 chain, 5 chain, 2 more long under the same, repeat from,* 3 times more.

7th Row.-Turn back, 3 chain, 1 long under the 5 chain, 5 chain, 2 more long under the same,* 3 chain, De under 5 chain, 5 chain, De under 5 chain, 5 chain, De under 5 chain, 3 chain, 2 long under the 4 chain, 5 chain, 2 more long under the same, repeat from, 3 times more.

*

8th Row.-Turn back, 3 chain, 1 long under the 5 chain, 2 more long under the same,* 3 chain, De under the 3 chain, 5 chain, De under the 5 chain, 5 chain, De under the 5 chain, 5 chain, De under the 3 chain, 3 chain, 2 long under the 5 chain, 5 chain, 2 more long under the same, repeat from,* 3 times

more.

Fasten each half star with Green Wool into the 4 sides of the Cushion, exactly the same as directed for centre star.

To fill up the Angles.

Commence at the Green point that is joined to the 2nd point of the half circles, with Violet Wool, make 1 long, 3 chain under every 3 chain of the Green row, till the 3 chain before the 2 long Green stitches, De under the 3 chain, 5 chain, De under the centre of the 5 chain, 5 chain, De under the 3 chain, then continue 3 chain, 1 long under every 3 chain of the Green till the next point, where work as before, then continue till the next point, which will be where the circle is joined, when after the long stitch which will come between the Green long stitches, De into the Violet point without making any chain, turn back, 3 chain, De on 2nd long stitch, 3 chain, 1 long under the 2nd 3 chain, work 3 chain, 1 long, under every 3 chain till the 3 chain between the Violet long stitches and De stitch, then make 3 chain, De under this 3 chain, 5 chain, De under centre of 5, 5 chain, De under centre of 5, 5 chain, De under 3 chain, 3 chain, then 1 long, 3 chain as before, continue working over the point the same as the last, till the last 3 long stitches, when make 3 chain, De on 2nd long stitch, 3 chain, De on last long stitch, De into the point of the half circle, turn back, 3 chain, 1 long under every 3 chain till the long stitch before the 3 chain and De stitch at the next point, 3 chain, De under the 3 chain, 5 chain, De under the 5 chain, 5 chain, De under the 5 chain, 5 chain, De under the 5 chain, 3 chain, De under the 3 chain, 3 chain, 1 long under every 3 chain, working over the point the same as the last, till the last 3 chain of last row, then 3 chain, 1 long into every space of the half circle fasten off by working a De stitch into the 2 points. Then work the other 3 sides precisely the same. The size and shape will now be 23 inches square with the 4 corners cut off. Cut the Calico to contain the Feathers (of which 3lb will be sufficient) the same size and shape, also Green Velvet or Satin for lining

the former is most useful, then damp the front very much and lay it between linen to press, and

*

Commence the Back.

With Violet Wool, make a chain of 25 inches long, turn back, work 1 long, 3 chain, 1 long into every 3rd loop till the end, turn back, make 6 chain,* 1 long under every 3 chain, 3 chain, repeat from, always commencing each row with 6 chain till there are 7 rows of Violet, then on each side work 7 rows of Green, then on each side the Green work 7 rows of shaded Scarlet, then on each side the Scarlet work 7 rows of Green, then 7 rows of Violet, let this be well damped and pressed.

Then for the Border.

With Green Wool, De under the 3 chain, 7 chain, repeat round the Cushion excepting at the points, then into the 2 chains of 5 that come directly over the Green stitches, De twice making 7 chain between each De stitch. With Drab Cotton, work De under the 7 chain, 5 chain, repeat, at the 7 chain, De twice under it making 5 chain between each. With the lightest Scarlet but one, begin at the 5 chain at the point, 2 long under the 5 chain, 3 chain, 2 more long under the same, 1 chain, De under next 5, 1 chain, repeat.

With Cotton, De on De, 5 chain, De under the 3 chain, 5 chain, repeat.

With lightest Scarlet, De under the 5 chain, 7 chain, begin so that the 7 chain comes over the 3 chain of the last Scarlet row, De under the 5 chain, 3 chain, repeat.

Same color, De under the 3 chain, 3 chain, 5 long under the 7 chain, 3 chain, repeat. Damp and press it again. Begin making up, by stitching the Velvet square, then turn it, cut off the corners, slightly tack the back to the Velvet turning the corners inside the Velvet, then with Green Silk sew it securely round,

then put on the Front and sew it with Violet Silk at the last Violet row but one; this Cushion will not require Cord; finish with Scarlet or Green shaded Tassels.

THE CHILD'S WELCOME TO THE BIRDS.

BIRDS are coming, coming
Yellow, brown and grey:
Whistling, chirping, humming
All the sunny day!

And there comes the swallow-the child of the sun;

See how his wings beat as the light floodeth on!

He will build 'neath our thatch, in the warm, mossy eaves,

And has gone off to gather his cradle of leaves.

Birds are winging, winging,
Linnet, starling, lark:
All their glad songs singing

From dawning until dark!

And hark to the cuckoo ! the blithe voice of Spring,
That wakens the flowers with the fan of his wing;
Up, up to the fields! now the blackbird on spray
Of the ruddiest maythorn is singing away.

Birds are flying, flying

Here, there, everywhere!
Calling and replying

Through the merry air:

And there winds the throstle that wakes with the light,
And sings in the summer-time all through the night,
Though homely the russet that colors his coat,
The gold-jerkin'd finches may envy that throat.

Birds are singing, singing

O'er brook and bank and brier,
All their wild notes flinging

Higher still, and higher!

And yet I shall miss one old friend in the snow,
Who stayed with us when those gay fellows would go,
Though the nightingale's plaint in our woods may be heard,
I shall miss the home-chirp of my red-bosom❜d bird.

F. C.