"I'm a very patient clock; Never moved by hope or fear,

Though I've stood for many a year; • Tick-tock tick-tock:

This is what it says.

"I'm a very active clock,
For I go while you're asleep,
Though you never take a peep;
'Tick-tock tick-tock:""
This is what it says.

"I'm a very truthful clock;
People say about the place,
Truth is written on my face;

Tick-tock tick-tock:'

This is what it says.

What a talkative old clock!

Let us see what it will do

When the pointer reaches two;

"DING DING! - tick-tock:

This is what it does.

* 21 *

THREE LITTLE CHICKS.

THREE little chicks so downy and neat
Went out in search of something to eat:

"Ter-wit, ter-weet!

Something to eat!"

And soon they picked up a straw of wheat.

Said one little chick, "That belongs to me!"

Said one other little chick, "We'll see, we'll see!' "Ter-wit, ter-weet!

It is nice and sweet,"

Said number three; "let us share the treat!"

They pulled and they tugged, the downy things, And oh, how they flapped their baby wings! "Ter-wit, ter-weet!

Something to eat!

Just please to let go of this bit of wheat!"

Fiercer and fiercer the battle grew,
Until the straw broke right in two.
And the little chicks

Were in a fix,

And sorry enough for their naughty tricks:

For a saucy crow has watched the fight,
And laughs," Haw, haw! it serves you right!"
So he snatches the prize

From before their eyes,

And over the hills and away he flies!

* 22 *

THE MOTHER-BIRD.

“PEEP, peep, peep!" says she;

"One, two, three,

one, two, three,

Little birds who wait for me.

"One is yellow, two are brown;

And their throats are soft with down:
On each head a scarlet crown.

"Mother-bird is flying fast;
Soon your hunger will be past;
Here is mother come at last."

66

Peep, peep, peep!" says she;
"Oh! can it be? oh! can it be?
No little ones here for me!"

In vain her cry, in vain her quest:
A thoughtless boy had robbed her nest;
She looks around with aching breast.

*23*

FANNIE BENEDICT

(In "The Nursery ").

IF EVER I SEE

If ever I see

On bush or tree

Young birds in their pretty nest,
I must not in play
Steal the birds away,

To grieve their mother's breast.

My mother, I know,

Would sorrow so,

Should I be stolen away:

So I'll speak to the birds

In my softest words,

Nor hurt them in my play.

And when they can fly
In the bright blue sky,
They'll warble a song to me;
And then, if I'm sad,

It will make me glad

To think they are happy and free.

* 24 *

KINDNESS TO ANIMALS.

I WOULD not hurt a living thing,

However weak and small;

The beasts that graze,' the birds that sing,

Our Father made them all:

Without his notice, I have read,
A sparrow cannot fall.

* 25 *

THE SNAIL.

THE Snail he lives in his hard round house,
In the orchard, under the tree:
Says he, "I have but a single room;
But it's large enough for me."

The Snail in his little house doth dwell

From week's end to week's end:

You're at home, Master Snail; that's all very well, But you never receive a friend.

1 graze, eat grass.

* 26 *

LITTLE STAR.

TWINKLE, twinkle, little star!
How I wonder what you are,
Up above the world so high,
Like a diamond in the sky!

When the glorious sun is set,
When the grass with dew is wet,
Then you show your little light,
Twinkle, twinkle, all the night.

In the dark blue sky you keep,
And often through my curtains peep;
For
you never shut
your eye
Till the sun is in the sky.

As your bright and tiny1 spark
Lights the traveller in the dark,
Though I know not what you are,
Twinkle, twinkle, little star!

* 27 *

GOD IS GOOD AND KIND.

How very kind is God to me!
Look where I may, his gifts I see;
The food I eat, the clothes I wear,

Are tokens of

my

Maker's care.

1 ti'ny, little.