A RIDDLE.

REBECCA MORE.

I'm found in the woods and hills,
I'm merry the whole day long;
I laugh though I have no lips;
I sing, none know my song.
I run, though I have no feet,
By running I help men work;
I stop not to rest nor eat,

I was never known to shirk.
I'm loved by the birds and bees,

The flowers, the weeds and grass,
And am welcomed by shrubs and trees,
Near which I happen to pass.

I will do what I can for the world,
And, be sure, I will do it well.
Now please get your "thinking-caps,"
And try my name to tell.

-From The "Favorite."

Sing, "Awake,' Said the Sunshine," Eleanor Smith No. I Song Book.

"" Awake," call the streamlets,

"We've lain here so still,

And now we must all

Go to work with a will. '

THE BROOK.

When the brook wakes from its long winter nap what does it do or say to waken up others? Can it talk or sing? What sound does it sing or make? Did you ever hear a brook bubble? Make the sound of the letter b, that is what it says. Does it run, or stand still like the pond and the water in our ditches? Where does it come from? Does it have any work to do? What can a brook do? (Gives drink to the plants,

flowers, birds and other animals. Gives animals a place to bathe. Gives fishes and other animals a home. Makes rivers which bring water to cities so that it may be carried to every house for the use of the people. It turns water wheels, which runs the machinery of mills. It floats boats, ships, logs and rafts from place to place. It helps the farmer to irrigate (explain) his fields so that by means of ditches he can change worthless land into good soil that will give grain for food.) What do we call a large brook? A large stream?

A VISIT TO THE BROOK.

Sometime during May take a second May walk, this time to the brook, pond or river. Let those who wish provide themselves with pails, cans or jars to bring home some of the little inhabitants of the brook. Some of these may be placed in the aquarium, others in glass jars, where they may be observed. Bring, also, a few water plants for the aquarium, and water cress, the iris, flags, lilies, rushes and cat-tails to illustrate plant life in the water. Take up the little brook and pond inhabitants and give a lesson each, to the fish, crayfish, turtle, snake, frog, toad, eel, water rat, beaver, water-birds and plants.

Which

How many of these live entirely in the water? ones partly in the water? Which ones lay eggs in the water? Hatch in the water? Where do the others hide their eggs? What fowls sometimes lay eggs in the pond? (Goose, duck.) What other animals can swim? How do all these animals breathe? How many of them have scales? How many are covered with fur? Feathers? Shell? Skin? Which among them sleep all winter? Where? Where? What becomes of the others? What does the brook give these animals to eat? What does. the brook give us to eat? What plants live in the water? what use are the rushes that grow along the river banks?

Of

The willow trees? (Baskets are made of the grasses, rushes, and willow twigs. Tell them of the baskets the Indian women make; how they stain or color them with berries. Ask pupils to bring baskets of different kinds and shapes, and draw them.)

DRAWING.

Draw and paint the brook. Draw and paint the animals that live in or frequent the brook. Cut these from paper. Draw and cut the birds that swim. Draw and paint waterlilies, cat-tails, or other plants found growing in the water. Draw baskets made of rushes and willow twigs.

SEAT WORK.

Seat work in connection with lesson on the brook.

What sound does the brook make as it bubbles over the stones? (b) What words can you think of that contain this sound? What words in your reading lesson begin with this sound? Drill on families of words ending with b. Have pupils build them with tickets or write without assistance. Practice making capital B's. Make lists of words beginning with bl and br.

LITERATURE.

"Water Babies," Kingsley.

"The Story of a Water Baby," School Education, April, '97.
"Aqua, the Water-Baby," Story Hour, Kate D. Wiggin.
"Stony and Rocky," Child's World.

"Neptune."

"The Brook and the Water-Wheel."

SONGS.

"The Brook," Eleanor Smith No. II.

"Rippling Little River," Eleanor Smith No. II.

"The Boat Ride," Eleanor Smith No. II.

"The Brook," March Plan Book.

In order to manage your aquarium properly you will require a few simple tools. A little hand-net that can be bought for a few cents, or made for even less out of a bit of wire, and a small piece of mosquito netting, is useful for catching the fish or shells without putting your hands into the water. A pair of wooden forceps, like a glove stretcher, will be found most convenient for nipping off bits of the decaying plants, or for catching objects that may have accidentally fallen into the water. Glass tubes of various sizes are also useful. If you want to catch any small object in the water with the tube, place the tube in the water with your finger over the Until your finger is removed the tube will

hole in the top.