Various

“ I am a very old sparrow, but not so old that I cannot still relish a cherry, a grape, or a nice fat worm. I am about to write a short history of my life, for the instruction of my children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. ”

“ The cow hears her, and walks slowly along to the barn.
The cow stands quite still while the maid is milking her. But is not the maid seated on the wrong side of the cow? My cow would kick the pail over if I should milk her in that way.
W. O. C.
[144]
NAMING THE KITTEN.
"What shall be the kitten's name?" asked Rachel of her younger sister, who stood holding up her apron, and begging to take the little pet.
"It is my kitten," pleaded Alice; "and I ought to have it."
"The old cat evidently thinks it is her kitten. Hark! Hear her mew! 'Mine, mine, mine,' she seems to say." ”

“ Their master takes a rope a few feet long, and ties one end around Pinny's neck, and the other around Tip's. Then, when the word is given, they set off and gallop up the road abreast, like two ponies. When their master whistles, they turn round, and come back.
Sometimes they are harnessed to a little wagon; and the children take turns in having a ride. The dogs seem to enjoy it as much as the children. They are impatient to start; but they wait for each other to be harnessed: they are not in quite such a hurry as the dog in the following picture. ”

“ I will tell you why the cow is called Mabel's cow.
Her family live in a wild but beautiful part of New Hampshire, where it is very cold in winter, and pretty warm in summer. There are only two small houses within a mile of her father's. He keeps cows, and makes nice butter from the cream. ”

“ Sometimes we say to him, "Now, Pinny, play sick." Then he lies down, droops his head, and puts on a woe-begone look. We run around him, saying, "Poor Pinny!" and he all the while seems to enjoy the joke. As soon as we say, "Up Pinny, all well," he jumps up, shakes himself, and gives a knowing look, which seems to say, "Didn't I do that well?"
When we tell him to play beggar, he sits up on his haunches, raises his fore-paws, and whines dolefully.
When we hear a noise, and say, "See if anybody's coming, Pinny!" he goes to the door, and listens: if any one is coming, he barks loudly ”

“ I fancy some of my little friends will exclaim. Well, then, a symbol is merely a sign, or mark, by which one knows a thing. When you see an umbrella in a man's hand, it is a symbol, or sign, that he expects a shower. ”

“ She would now let no one touch her but Mabel: so Mr. Brittan finally said that the cow should be Mabel's cow, and that all the butter which the cow yielded should be hers. But Mabel is a generous girl; and so she shares the money she earns. Her mother, her sister Emily, and her brothers Oliver and Frank, all get a part of it.
Mabel has given the cow a name; and the cow will come to her when she calls her by name. The name is a very pretty one for a cow, I think. ”

“ Prince is always making acquaintances. He has several places in the neighborhood where he makes himself at home. He is always welcome, and he knows it: so he comes and goes as he pleases. Even when his master ties him, he cannot be kept from visiting his friends.
It was for a long time a wonder to us how he got untied; but we kept watch one day, and found that Tip, with his paws and mouth, loosened the knot, so that Prince could slip his head out; and then the two dogs scampered off in great glee. Prince, or Pinny, as we call him, plays some funny tricks. ”

“ There were two beautiful birds in a large cage, taking their morning bath. They would jump down into their little bath-tub, dip their heads in the water, and then plunge in all over; then they would perch on the side of the tub, shake the bright drops from their feathers, and seem to be enjoying themselves as much as Birdie herself does when mamma puts her into her bath-tub. [149]
Then there were some squirrels in a cage that went round and round ”

“ I wonder where my master is, that he doesn't hear me. Perhaps he is asleep. I am very hungry for my dinner; and I should like to get into the house, and lie down in my corner by the kitchen-fire.
I can push open the garden-gate with my nose; but this door won't move a bit when I put my paws on it. I wonder why dogs can't open doors as well as gates. I am going to bark again. Bow-wow-wow! There! Didn't you hear a footstep? Yes: there comes some one to let me in.
H. B.
BABY IN HER HIGH CHAIR.
Here I am all ready: here's my little plate
Wants some 'tato on it: papa, you'll be late. ”

“ Thank you, papa, thank you, for pushing Bessie up.
Helen Barron Bostwick.
[142]
THE BRINDLED COW.
The cow is in the pasture, feeding. The pasture has been wet with the rain, and the grass is fresh and sweet. The rain makes the grass grow.
The sun is hot, and the cow has lain down under a shady tree. She is chewing her cud. It is nice and cool in the shade.
But the flies bite her, and plague her. She tries to scare them off; but they come again. Then she gets up, and rubs her nose against the tree.
[143]
Now she is standing in the water. ”