THE NURSERY _A Monthly Magazine_ FOR YOUNGEST READERS. VOLUME XXI. --No. 4. BOSTON: JOHN L. SHOREY, No. 36 BROMFIELD STREET, 1877. Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1877, by JOHN L. SHOREY, In the Office of the Librarian of Congress at Washington. FRANKLIN PRESS: RAND, AVERY, AND COMPANY, 117 FRANKLIN STREET, BOSTON. [Illustration: Contents] IN PROSE. "Why did Elfrida go to Sleep?" 97 The Prairie-Dog 100 Strut 101 Third Lesson in Astronomy 103 The Robbery 104 The Little Recruit 107 One good turn deserves another 109 A Letter from Texas 110 Drawing-Lesson 113 A Story of a Seal 114 Fun in Winter 117 Old Whitey 118 Why do they all Love Freddy? 122 My Rabbits 125 The Council of Buzzards 127 IN VERSE. The Caterpillars 102 Puss and her Three Kittens 106 Fred and Ned 120 How the Morning comes 124 A Mother Goose Melody (_with music_) 128 [Illustration] [Illustration: "WHY DID ELFRIDA GO TO SLEEP?" VOL. XXI. --NO. 4. ] "WHY DID ELFRIDA GO TO SLEEP?" [Illustration: T]HAT was the question, "Why did Elfrida go to sleep?"She had been sent to the grocer's in the village; and the grocer's wasonly half a mile off from Brook Cottage, where she lived with her auntand five cousins. She had been sent to buy a pound of sugar, half apound of coffee, and five small rolls of bread. Usually she would go to the shop and return in less than half an hour. Now a whole hour went by, and no Elfrida was to be seen. What could bethe matter? Had she run a thorn into her foot, and been lamed? Had shestopped to talk with the children on their way home from school? Had shebeen run over by a fast horse? "Let us go and find her, " cried James, the eldest of the three boys. "Let us all go!" echoed Susan, his youngest sister. "Shall Sport go withus?" asked Emma. "By all means!" said James. "Here, Sport, Sport! Whereare you, old fellow?" A big black-and-white Newfoundlander soon rushedfrisking in, wagging his tail, and seeming ready to eat up every one ofthe children, just to show them how fond he was of them all. Then the children all set out for Mr. Spicer's shop. There they learnedthat no Elfrida had been seen in the shop that afternoon. "Where can shebe?" cried James, a little anxious. "Sport, where is Elfrida?" Sport stopped his nonsense of playing with a stick, and began to lookserious. Then he made a bee-line for the nearest turning on the right, on the way home. This was an old lane, on which some old gardens backed, and which led, by a little longer way, to Brook Cottage. By the time the children had arrived at the head of the lane, Sport wasseen galloping back in a state of great excitement. "Bow-wow!"--"Oh, youhave found her, have you, old fellow?"--"Bow-wow!"--"Well and good! Youare a jolly old Sport!" On the step of the gate of an old garden sat Elfrida, fast asleep, withher empty basket in her lap. Emma proposed to tickle her nose with astraw. "No! I will pull that thick braid of hair, " said Susan. "No! letme whisper in her ear, " said James. But, before anybody did any thing, Sport settled the question by putting his paws up on her shoulders, andcrying, "Bow-wow!" Elfrida started, and looked around as if in a dream. "What does it mean?How long have I been here?" cried she. "Why did you go to sleep?" askedthe two girls. "Yes, why, why, did you go to sleep?" echoed all theboys. "Oh, that's my secret, " said Elfrida. "Now who can catch me in myrun to Mr. Spicer's?" So off she started, followed by Sport and all thechildren. "Now tell us why did you go to sleep?" said the children, as they wereall on their way home, after she had made her purchases. "Will youpromise not to tell anybody, if I tell you?" asked Elfrida. "We promise, we promise!" cried all the children. "Now, then, why did you go tosleep?"--"Hush! I went to sleep because--because--because I was sleepy, "said Elfrida. ARTHUR SELWYN. [Illustration] THE PRAIRIE-DOG MY friend John lives in Colorado, not far from Denver; and he writes me, that he and his sister, not long ago, walked out to see someprairie-dogs. The prairie-dog is about the size of a full-grown squirrel, and of alike color. It makes a hole for itself in the ground. This hole is inthe shape of a tunnel, and as large round as a man's hat. [Illustration] Now, this little dog is so gentle, that he lets the owl and therattlesnake come and live with him, if they like. All three are oftenfound dwelling together. For my part, I should not much like suchneighbors. The prairie-dogs live on the roots of grass. Scattered all around theentrance to their homes, you may see remnants of the dry roots whichthey have got for food. They are quick in their movements, and quiteplayful. Johnny writes me, that, when some of these little dogs saw him and hissister approaching, they sat down on their hind-legs, and began barking. Then they dropped into their holes backwards. As Johnny did not care towake up any of the other lodgers, he and his sister went home, wellcontent with their first sight of a prairie-dog. AUNT ALICE. [Illustration] STRUT STRUT was the name of a hen that lived on Father Nunn's farm, nine milesfrom Norwalk, Ohio. She was very vain; that is, she had a very good opinion of herself. Shealways would strut when walking. Indeed, it was hard for her to pick upgrains of corn as other chickens did. I think she never saw her feet inher life: certainly she never looked where she stepped. Worse than all this, when she saw any person in the yard, instead ofdodging away, as a modest hen should, she would strut right up to such aperson, and look saucily in his face, as though asking, "Who are you?Where are you going? What for?" At last, however, Strut received a severe rebuke for her evil ways. Cousin William Bird, who is soon to be a doctor, was visiting at FatherNunn's. Having occasion to climb the ladder to the barn-loft, he sawStrut on the farther side. He knew that she would come straight to him;and he also knew that she would not look where she stepped. So he heldstill to see what would happen; for exactly between them was an openingin the floor for throwing down hay. Sure enough, Strut started for Cousin William, and, stepping off theedge of the hole, fell fluttering, cackling, and frightened, to thefloor beneath. She was humbled by her fall; for she never strutted again, but walkedand ate afterwards like other chickens. UNCLE JOE. THE CATERPILLARS EIGHT great cabbages growing in the ground; Crowds of little caterpillars crawling all around; Caterpillars squirmed about, and wriggled in the sun; Said, "These cabbages look sweet: suppose we taste of one!" Down flew a hungry bird, coming from the wood, Saw the caterpillars there, and said, "Won't those taste good!" Up crept pussy-cat, hunting round for mice, Saw the bird, and smacked her lips, and said, "Won't he taste nice!" Dog saw pussy creeping there, and he began to run, Said, "Now I will frighten puss, and then there will be fun!" So doggy barked; and pussy hid; and birdie flew away; And caterpillars lived to eat a cabbage up that day. FLETA F. [Illustration] THIRD LESSON IN ASTRONOMY I HAVE told you about the sun and the stars. Can you think of any thingelse in the sky that you would like to know a little about? Of course, Ido not mean the dark clouds, but something bright and pretty, that allchildren love to look at. I think you must have guessed that I mean the moon, --the beautiful moon. Now, I want you to make another guess: Is the moon bright because it ismade of fire, like the sun; or because the sun shines on it, as it doeson Venus and Jupiter? If any of you think it is made of fire, you must try to warm your littletoes and fingers in the moonlight, as you do in the sunshine, and youwill find out for yourselves that it is not a great fire, like the sun, and that you cannot get warm in the light of it. And now you will guess at once, that, if it is not fire itself, it mustshine from the sun's fire; and that is right. The moon itself is coldand dark. It is the light of the sun that makes it look bright to us. Wemight call it the sun's looking-glass, in which we see his image orreflection. But we cannot at all times see the whole of it. When we do, we call it afull moon, and, when we see only the edge of it, we say it is a newmoon. The moon itself does not change its shape. It is always round, like an orange--a dark round ball, which we should never see at all, ifthe sun did not light it up for us; and it is only a part of the time wecan see the side which is lighted up. Which do you suppose is the larger, --the moon, or the stars? Now I knowyou will say the moon, because it looks so much larger; but you mustremember that the stars are so far away, we can hardly see them at all, and the moon is our own moon, and much nearer to us than our own sun. We can see more of it than we can see of the stars; but it is a verysmall thing indeed, compared with one of them. It would take about fiftymoons to make one such earth as we live on, and it would take moreearths than you can count to make one star or sun. M. E. R. THE ROBBERY. I MUST tell you of something that happened one day last summer, when Iwas at the Zoölogical Garden in Philadelphia. Among the persons standing around the cage where the monkeys were kept, was an old lady who had on a pair of gold-rimmed spectacles. All atonce, a big brown monkey stretched out his paw between the bars, snatched the spectacles, and scampered away, chattering and grinningwith delight. Of course, the poor lady was in distress. The keeper came to the rescue, and, by driving the monkey about the cage with a long pole, forced himat last to drop the spectacles. But one of the glasses had come out ofit; and this the thief still held in his mouth, and refused to give up. [Illustration] The keeper followed him sharply with the pole. Away he went, swingingfrom one rope to another, screaming and scolding all the time, until thekeeper was so tired, that I feared he would have to let the monkey keepthe glass. But this the keeper said would never do; for he knew, that, if he let the monkey carry the day, he never could control him again. So the keeper still plied his pole. The monkey dodged it as well as hecould, until the blows came so thick and fast, that he could bear themno longer, when he opened his mouth, and let the glass drop. Now comes the funniest part of the story. The glass fell quite near thebars, just where the old lady was standing; and a gentleman took herparasol, which had a hooked handle, to draw it within reach. But he putthe parasol in a little too far, and it slipped out of his hand. Instantly a large yellow monkey wrapped his long tail around it, andstarted off. Imagine the feelings of the poor old lady--first robbed ofher spectacles, and then of her parasol! But her property was all recovered at last; the robbers were bothpunished; and she went on her way in peace. MRS. E. S. R. PUSS AND HER THREE KITTENS. OUR old cat has kittens three; What do you think their names should be? One is a tabby with emerald eyes, And a tail that's long and slender; But into a temper she quickly flies, If you ever by chance offend her. I think we shall call her this-- I think we shall call her that; Now, don't you fancy "Pepper-pot" A nice name for a cat? One is black, with a frill of white, And her feet are all white fur, too; If you stroke her, she carries her tail upright, And quickly begins to purr, too. I think we shall call her this-- I think we shall call her that; Now, don't you fancy "Sootikin" A nice name for a cat? One is a tortoise-shell, yellow and black, With a lot of white about him: If you tease him, at once he sets up his back: He's a quarrelsome Tom, ne'er doubt him! I think we shall call him this-- I think we shall call him that; Now, don't you fancy "Scratchaway" A nice name for a cat? Our old cat has kittens three, And I fancy these their names will be: "Pepper-pot, " "Sootikin, " "Scratchaway, "--there! Were there ever kittens with these to compare? And we call the old mother--now, what do you think? "Tabitha Longclaws Tiddleywink. " THOMAS HOOD. THE LITTLE RECRUIT. THERE had been an insurrection in Dolldom. _Insurrection_ is a big word:what does it mean, I wonder? I will tell you: it means an uprising, arebellion. If a number of persons should refuse to obey the law, andrise up in arms to resist it, they would be guilty of an insurrection. [Illustration] Now, it happened (according to Tommy's story) that all the dolls in thehouse, headed by a naughty male doll of African descent, and known as"Dandy Jim, " rose in insurrection against their lawful queen, Lucy theFirst, whose brother, Duke Tommy, was commander-in-chief of herMajesty's forces. The rebels were well fortified in one corner of the play-room. They hadmounted several cannon on alphabet-blocks; and a whole company of tinsoldiers defended the outworks. Besides this, a china dog and a woodenelephant had been enlisted as allies, and stood bravely in front. General Tommy felt a weight of responsibility upon his shoulders, and, like a prudent soldier, he resolved not to go into battle until his armywas large enough to make victory certain. So he enlisted Queen Lucy theFirst as a recruit. Queen Lucy looked very grand in her paper cocked hat, with a feather atthe top. She carried a gun; and General Tommy taught her how to fire itoff. When all were ready for the onset, he blew a trumpet. The army marched in excellent order along the entry, into the play-room;and not a soldier drew back as they came within sight of the enemy. "Halt!" cried General Tommy. The army halted. The traitor, "Dandy Jim, "stood pointing his sword, and the dolls all kept still. One long blast of the trumpet, and then the brave General Tommy criedout, "Now, soldiers, on, on to victory!" On they went. The tin soldiers were soon swept down. The dog and theelephant were handsomely beaten; and, rushing into the fort, GeneralTommy seized the traitor, "Dandy Jim, " by the throat, and said, "Now, sir, your doom is a dungeon!" The dolls all fell on their knees, and thus was the great insurrectionin Dolldom put down without bloodshed, and the authority of Queen Lucythe First fully restored. Of course, there was great rejoicing; and, when the reporter left, General Tommy was preparing for a grandillumination. EMILY CARTER. [Illustration] ONE GOOD TURN DESERVES ANOTHER. ON a fine summer day, a dove, that was perched upon the branch of atree, saw a bee fall into a stream that was flowing past. The poor beetried to get out of the water, but could not. The dove, seeing that the bee was struggling for her life, dropped aleaf close beside her, so that she might climb on to it, and saveherself. This the bee at once did, and very glad she was to find herselfsafe once more. Not long after this, a sportsman, who was roaming through the woods forgame, saw the dove flying about, and lifted his gun to shoot her. But, just as he was taking aim, something happened, that checked him in theact. The bee, whose life had been saved by the dove, was going about fromflower to flower in search of honey, when she saw the sportsman takingaim at the good dove that had befriended her in her time of need. "Thatdove once saved my life, and now I will save hers, " thought the bee toherself. With that she flew at the sportsman, and stung him on the lip. The poorfellow dropped his gun with a loud cry of pain, which so startled thedove, that she flew away; and the man did not have another chance toshoot her. "Surely one good turn deserves another, " thought the bee, asshe turned merrily to her work. LEONORA. A LETTER FROM TEXAS. _Dear Children_, --I am writing this letter at my office-desk in SanAntonio, Texas, a long way off from some of you who will read it. I amthe big brother of a lot of little ones, and they call me "Doc. " We take "The Nursery, " and the little folks think it is splendid. Assoon as it comes, mamma reads the stories, and shows them the pictures. They crowd around her to listen: some of them sit down on chairs likelittle ladies; some sit on the floor like beggars; and some--I am sorryto say--lie flat down on the carpet, like--certainly not like ladies andgentlemen. What do you think, children, of boys and girls who lie on the floor, andkick up their heels in the air? _You_ would not do so, would you? [Illustration] Now listen! I want to tell you something about our cat. When we firstgot her, she was a tiny kitten, and we fed her on milk in a saucer. Youought to have seen her lap it up with her little tongue! Don't you thinkit is a pretty sight to see a kitten drinking milk? I do. But our catisn't a kitten any longer, but a great, big, grown cat. Well, the other night she got locked up in the schoolroom. You know MissAnna and Miss Emma teach a big school in our house, and Willie, Pressley, Eddie, May, and Emily go to it. Sadie, "Little Lalla, " andbaby are too young for school yet. These are my little brothers' andsisters' names. There are eight of them mentioned here. See if you cancount them. As soon as Emily found out that Kitty was locked up, she ran to MissEliza and mamma, and asked them to let her out; but they said, "No, " forthey knew that, if she got out of the schoolroom, she would surely runinto the dining-room, and drink up the baby's milk. So she had to staythere all night. Early next morning, Miss Eliza went into the schoolroom to let Kittyout; and what do you think she saw? There was Kitty, fast asleep inWillie's little wagon, and four little kittens lying by her side, fastasleep too. When Miss Eliza went back to the nursery, and told the children what shehad seen, Eddie, May, Emily, Sadie, and even "Little Lalla" set up a bigshout, and, bursting out of the nursery, ran shouting and laughing tothe little wagon in the schoolroom, where, sure enough, there they were, four little ones. Three were gray and white, and one gray and black. Kitty looked so pleased and so happy! You ought to have seen her. Wasn'tthat a nice surprise? May chose the one that looked most like Kitty: Emily and Sadie eachchose one of the gray-and-white ones, and Eddie took the gray-and-blackfellow. To-day is Emily's birthday. She is seven years old, and may have alittle party. If she _does_, how I would like to have you all here toplay with her! However, at some future time I may write, and tell youall about it. But it is time for me to run home, and get some dinner: so good-by. "DOC. " [Illustration] [Illustration: DRAWING-LESSON BY HARRISON WEIR. VOL. XXI. --NO. 4. ] A STORY OF A SEAL. "THE seal is an amphibious quadruped. " "Oh, come now, Aunt Emily, do not puzzle us with your hard names, " criesJohnny. "But, Johnny, a lad seven years old ought to know that _amphibious_means 'capable of living on land or water;' and that _quadruped_ means'having four feet. '" "Oh, now I understand, " said Johnny. "But does the seal have feet?" "It has a sort of feet; but they are so wrapped up in the skin, thatthey are not of much use on land, except to help it to creep, after afashion. So the seal passes most of its time in the sea, coming on shoreonly to bask and sleep in the sun, or to suckle its young ones. It iscovered with a close thick fur and is a very good swimmer. " "But let us have the story, " said Jane. "The story is this: once a fisherman, after harpooning an old seal, found one of its young ones on the sand, and took it home. Here itbecame the playmate of the children, whom it seemed to love very much. They named it Blue-eyes. It would play with them from morning tillnight, would lick their hands, and call them with a gentle little cry, not unlike the human voice in its tone. "It would look at them tenderly with its large blue eyes, shaded by longblack lashes. It was very fond of music. It would follow its master tofish, swimming around the boat, and taking a great many fish, which itwould give up without even biting them. No dog could have been morefaithful, or more quick to learn what was wanted. "But the fisherman's half-sister was a silly old woman. She had come tohelp nurse his wife, who was ill. This half-sister took it into her headthat the poor seal would bring bad luck to the family. She told herbrother that he must get rid of it. [Illustration] "Weary of her teasing, he at last took the poor seal, rowed with it outinto the open sea, and there, more than seven miles from the shore, threw it into the water, and then hurried home as fast as sails wouldcarry him. "But, when he entered his cottage, the first thing he saw was thefaithful seal lying close beside the cradle of one of his children. Assoon as it saw its master, it showed great joy, and tried to caresshim. But he took the seal and gave it away to a sailor, who was going ona long voyage. Two weeks afterward, as the fisherman came back from hisboat, he saw the seal at play with the children. "'If you do not kill that seal, I will kill it myself, ' said the oldaunt. The children began to cry. 'No, no, you shall not kill it!' criedHans with flashing eyes. 'You shall kill me first, ' cried little Jane. 'You have no right to kill it, ' cried Mary, the eldest girl. "'Am I to be ruled by these children?' said the silly aunt, turning toher brother. "'The seal shall live, ' said he: 'the children shall have their way. Your notion that the poor seal brings bad luck is a very silly notion. You ought to be ashamed of it. ' "'Hurrah!' cried Hans. 'Blue-eyes, the vote is taken: you are to live, and all this nonsense about your bringing bad luck is blown away. ' "The seal began to flop about as if in great joy. "'I shall leave the house at once, ' said the silly aunt. "'Do as you please, ' said the fisherman. "And so it turned out, that the only ill luck brought to the family bythe seal was the departure of the cross and silly old aunt. And, if thetruth were known, this was found to be a very good thing for all. Thefisherman prospered, the mother of the children got well at once; andall were happier than ever before, including Blue-eyes, who now was thejolliest seal that ever played with children. " EMILY CARTER. [Illustration] [Illustration] FUN IN WINTER. THE ground was white with snow. The sky looked black as though anotherstorm were coming. The day was very cold; but the tough boys and girlsdid not mind the cold weather. They were out to have some fun. Their rubber boots, and thick coats and mittens, kept them dry and warm. One of the boys, though, had come out bare-headed. He was the boy whonever _could_ find his cap when he wanted it. His name was Tom. "Now look here, Tom, " said his brother Sam, a sturdy little chap, whowas always trying to keep Tom in order; "this won't do. You go into thehouse and get your cap. Go quick, or you'll get this snowball right inyour face. " "Fire away!" said Tom, dancing around, and putting up his arm to keepoff the snowball. "I'm going to have a hand in this game, " said Joe, aiming a snowball atSam. "Look out for yourself, old fellow. " "Clear the track!" cried Bill and Ned, rolling a huge snowball down thehill. Mrs. O'Sullivan, who was just going up the back-steps to ask for coldvictuals, looked around to see what was going on; while Charles had hisown fun in dragging his little sister up the hill on her sled. All this time, a little boy named Jim, who had been having a privatecoast in the field near the house, was peeping over the fence, andwishing he were old enough to play with the other boys. He didn'tventure to join them, for he was bashful, and rather timid: but he sawall that took place, and he will remember all about it when he sees thispicture. UNCLE SAM. OLD WHITEY. I AM a great boy six years old, and I take "The Nursery. " Some of thestories I spell out myself; but the most of them mamma reads aloud to mylittle brother Albert and me. Last summer, we all went to visit an uncle who lives on a large farm. Wehad just the best kind of a time. There was a big dog, named Rover, thatwould play with us for hours. He would run after and bring back a ballor stick, or any thing that we would throw for him. He would "speak, ""roll over, " "sit up and read, " and do lots of funny tricks. Then there was a white horse twenty-five years old, and just as sleekand fat as a colt. Old Whitey has lived on the farm ever since he was alittle colt. Old as he is, he is still able to do a great deal of work. [Illustration] One day Uncle Wash was ploughing, and he put me on the back of OldWhitey. Well, I liked that very much, and began to cluck, and jerk thereins, to make him go along; when in an instant, without any warning, hepricked up his ears, kicked up his heels, and ran away, leaving theplough behind. I can't tell you how scared I was. I held on as long as I could; but itwas of no use. The old horse ran through swamps and bogs, and droppedme, head first, in the mud and dirt. I was hurt on my head and side, butI would not cry because I was too big for that. When the men got to me, I was hunting for my hat. After getting rid of his load, the runaway coolly walked up to the barn, and stood looking as mild as a lamb. I didn't have any faith in OldWhitey after that, though his master said he never knew him to do such athing before. NELSON. WOODSTOCK, VT. FRED AND NED. [Illustration] "OH, this is weather for play, for play! And I will not go to school to-day, " Said Master Frederic Philip Fay. So he hung his satchel upon a tree: And over the hills to the pond went he, To frolic, and see what he could see. He met a boy on the way to school, And said, "Ned Foster, you're a fool To study and plod because it's the rule. " Quoth Ned, "You'll find that _he's_ the fool Who, for his pleasure, shirks his school: Sun, moon, and stars, all go by rule. " Then Ned passed cheerily on his way, And not another word did say To Master Frederic Philip Fay. Fred sat him down on a rock near by, And cast a look on the bright blue sky, And then at the sun, that was mounting high. "Yes, truly, the sun has no time for play: He has to go in a certain way, " Said Master Frederic Philip Fay. "Oh! what would become of us all, suppose The sun, some morn, should say, as he rose, 'A truant I'll be to-day--here goes!' "Then off should whirl in a mad career, And leave it all night and winter here, -- No blue in the sky, no flower to cheer? "Yes, there is a duty for every one, For Master Fay, as well as the sun: A law must be minded, a task must be done. " Up started Frederic Philip Fay: He took from the tree his satchel away, And ran off to school without delay. IDA FAY. [Illustration] WHY DO THEY ALL LOVE FREDDY? "BUT do they all love Freddy, mamma?" "I think there is no doubt of it, Freddy. The cat loves you; for shewill let you pull her about, and never try to scratch you. " "Yes; and I think old Towser loves me. He lets me get on his back: henever bites me. " "I would like to catch him at it--biting my little Freddy! He knows toomuch for that; and, besides, he loves you. " "But does the old cow love me, mamma?" "Why, didn't she let you play with her calf, and never try to hook you?The old cow loves Freddy, and will give him all the fresh milk hewants. " "The hens love me because I feed them. " "Yes, the hens love you; and, more than that, the little sparrows loveyou; for they follow you, and hop about your feet, as if they wanted tosay, 'Good-morning, Freddy! We all love you, Freddy. '" "But I will tell you one beast that does not love me, mamma. The old sowdoes not love me. " "Don't you believe it, little boy! The old sow loves you just as well asTowser does; just as well as the cow does; just as well as old Scamper, the horse, loves you. " "I should like to be sure that the sow loves me. " "Come with me, and I will put you on her back; and, if she does not likeit, it will be a sign that she does not love you; but, if she does likeit, it will be a sign that she loves my little Freddy just as much asthe others do. " So mamma took Freddy, and placed him on the back of the old sow. The oldsow gave a look over her ears, saw it was Freddy, and then uttered acontented grunt, as much as to say, "All right! Freddy, you are adarling, and I love you. " [Illustration] "Did I not tell you that the old sow loved you, like the rest?" "Yes, mamma; but why, why, do they love me? Tell me that. " Mamma snatched Freddy up in her arms, took him into the house, and thensaid, "I think they must love you, Freddy, because you love them. Lovewins love, you know. The person who says that no one loves him shouldask himself the question, 'But do I love any one?'" IDA FAY. HOW THE MORNING COMES. CHEERY, cheery, Out of the dreary Dark there glows A tint of yellow, a purple gleam, A shine of silver, a brazen beam, A flush of rose; The darkness, meanwhile, flying, gone: Thus does the morning dawn. Creeping, creeping, Daintily peeping, Hastes the light Through the window to see where lies The little girl with the sleepy eyes; Glistens bright With very joy to find the place Where lies her dreaming face. Drowsy, drowsy, A little frowzy Gold-locked head Turns on its pillow, yawns, and winks; Lifts from its pillow, peeps, and blinks; Turns in bed; Then with a slow, reluctant shake, Is almost wide awake. MRS. CLARA DOTY BATES. [Illustration] MY RABBITS. ONE day Cousin John asked me if I would like two nice rabbits. I said Iwould like them very much. So he gave them to me, and I had a pen madefor them. One I called Pink, and the other White. They were very tame, and soongot to know their names. I took them out and let them run about the yardevery fine day. Once Pink ran away, and I thought he was lost. I had a long chase afterhim through the bushes; but I caught him at last and brought him home. My brother George kept a lot of chickens in the yard, and while I fed mypet rabbits, he would feed his chickens. HATTIE. [Illustration] THE COUNCIL OF BUZZARDS. THE buzzard is a large black bird, nearly as large as a turkey. He neverkills that he may eat, but devours the refuse in the city streets, andthe dead animals on the prairies and swamps of the Southern States. Itis against the law to shoot buzzards; for they are the health officersof the South. Here, in beautiful, sunny Louisiana, I seldom look out doors withoutseeing one or more buzzards slowly circling around in the air in questof food. Before they begin to eat, they arrange themselves in a solemnrow, as if holding a council, and "caw" in a very wise manner. Then oneflies down, and then another, and another; and as they eat, they seem tocomment on their repast. At last nothing is left of it but the barebones to bleach in the sun. They will eat an ox in a day. AUNT ANN. LA TECHE, LA. [Illustration] A MOTHER GOOSE MELODY. Music by ANNIE MOORE. [Illustration: Music] Three little dogs were basking in the cinders, And three little cats were playing in the windows, Three little mice popp'd out of a hole, And a piece of cheese they stole, they stole! The three little cats jump'd up in a trice, And crack'd the bones of the three little mice, The three little mice. * * * * * Transcriber's Notes: The January edition of the Nursery had a table of contents for the firstsix issues of the year. This table was divided to cover each specificissue. A title page copied from the January edition was also used forthis number.