* IO *

MRS. JUNE'S PROSPECTUS.

Mrs. June is ready for school,
Presents her kind regard,
And for her measures and rule
Refers to the following
CARD

To parents and friends,
Mrs. June,

Of the firm of Summer and Sun,

Announces the opening of her school, Established in the year one.

An unlimited number received,
There is nothing at all to pay;
All that is asked is a merry heart,
And time enough to be gay

The Junior class will bring,
In lieu of all supplies,

Eight little fingers and two little thumbs
For the making of pretty sand pies.

The Senior class, a mouth

For strawberries and cream, A nose apiece for a rose apiece, And a tendency to dream.

The lectures are thus arranged:
Professor Cherry Tree
Will lecture to the climbing class,
Terms of instruction-free.

Professor the Forest Spring
Will take the class in drink,

And the class in titilation,
Sage Mr. Bobolink.

Young Mr. Ox Eye Daisy

Will demonstrate each day On botany, on native plants, And the properties of hay.

Miss Nature, the class in fun
(A charming class to teach);

And the swinging class and the bird's-nest class
Miss Hickory and Miss Beech.

And the sleepy class at night,

And the dinner class at noon,

And the fat, and laugh and roses class,
They fall to Mrs. June.

And she hopes her little friends
Will be punctual as the sun,

For the term, alas! is very short,
And she wants them every one.

Susan Coolidge

* II *

PUSSY'S CLASS.

"Now, children," said Puss, as she shook her head, "It is time your morning lesson was said." So her kittens drew near with footsteps slow, And sat down before her all in a row.

"Attention, class!" said the cat mamma,
"And tell me quick where your noses are!"
At this all the kittens sniffed the air,
As if it were filled with a perfume rare.

"Now, what do you say when you want a drink?" The kittens waited a moment to think,

And then the answer came clear and loud

You ought to have heard how those kittens meow'd!

"Very well. 'Tis the same with a sharper tone,
When you want a fish or a bit of bone.

Now what do you say when children are good?”
And the kittens purred as soft as they could.

"And what do you do when children are bad ?
When they tease and pull? Each kitty looked sad.
"Pooh!" said their mother, "That isn't enough;
You must use your claws when children are rough."

"And where are your claws? No, no, my dear,"
As she took up a paw, "See, they're hidden here."
Then all the kittens crowded about,

To see their sharp little claws brought out.

They felt quite sure they should never need
To use such a weapon-oh no, indeed!

But their wise mamma gave a pussy's "pshaw!"
And boxed their ears with her softest paw.

"Now sptsss as hard as you can," she said;
But every kitten hung down its head.
"Sptsss! I say," cried the mother cat;
But they said, "Oh mamma, we can't do that."

"Then go and play," said the fond mamma;
"What sweet little idiots kittens are!

Ah well! I was once the same, I suppose,"
And she looked very wise and rubbed her nose.

*12*

M. M. D

HUNTING EGGS.

"Who wants to hunt eggs?" shouted Charlie the bold; "Who wants to climb on the hay ?”

"Oh, I!" clamored Fannie and Will;

"And I, too," pleaded three-year-old May.

So they rushed to the barn, helter-skelter, and soon
Were driving about with a zest,

In the corners and rafters, the mangers and hay,
To see who could find the first nest.

"And who gets the most eggs shall beg Grandma to bake A cake we can share all around;

So Fannie suggested; and the boys cried "Hurrah!
We'll have every egg can be found!"

Nimble Charlie went clambering about like a cat,
And soon counted, one, two, three, four!
And then, with the pearly white eggs in his hat,
Slid carefully down to the floor.

"There's a nest!" Fannie cried, from far up on the mow, "Right here in the hay! one, two, three!"

And in her white apron she gathered them up,

As happy and glad as could be.

"Old Speckle's on mine!" shouted Will, but just then, With a cackle, away the hen flew.

"Dear me !" said poor Will, "I was sure I would beat, And here I have got only two!"

"Where's May ?" they all questioned; Oh, where has she gone?"

"Here! here I is. I's foun' a nes'! "

And her curly brown head from the manger popped out,
Just under the nose of Black Bess.

"Oh, sit still now, May, or horsie may bite!

But she counted, "one, two, three, four, five!" And they rushed to her rescue with laugh and with shout; "She's got the most, sure as you live!"

But there she was sitting in sweetest content;
And down in her snug little lap

Five soft little kitties lay rolled into balls,
Contentedly taking a nap.

Zion's Herald.

*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;