Various

“ I shall not forget you, dear, for Oh! love is strong."
Peepy went home rather sad with her empty cage. But what was her joy the next day, to see Bella on the window-sill! She opened the window, Bella flew in, and they had a nice frolic. Then, when the dinner-bell rang, the little bird flew off. Peepy was happy to think it had not forgotten her. ”

“ The bull came up, and roared lustily when he found she had escaped, and was on the other side of the wall. But Lucy turned to him, and said, "Keep your temper, old fellow! This child's father taught her how to get over a stone-wall in double-quick time. You must learn to scale a wall yourself, if you hope to catch her." ”

“ Mamie is thirteen, but is more afraid to ride than Winnie, who is only seven. Mamie asks if boys always ride better than girls. I say, "No! Look at Winnie." Once we tied Duke to the swing; and then he got his nose pulled by getting the rope twisted round it. Sometimes we have a good frolic with him in the pasture. ”

“ One fine day last month, Edwin took his ship down to the Frog Pond on Boston Common, and set her afloat. On the opposite side of the pond he saw four boys sailing their boats, and a tall boy carrying a sloop, and followed by his small brother.
A sloop, you know, has but one mast. None of these boys had a ship with three masts, like "The Uncle George." Edwin felt a little proud when he saw his good ship catch the wind in her sails, and go plunging up and down over the pond. ”

“ After riding some time, they came to a ferry,—a place for crossing the Androscoggin River; and papa drove through a pleasant field down to the bank of the river. Here they saw a man cutting grass, and asked him about the ferry-boat. ”

“ We will give them a surprise
With our little cakes and pies.
All we make is good to eat;
For our hands are clean and sweet;
And we have such handy ways.
Our dear mother often says,
That she thinks, by all the looks,
We shall soon be famous cooks.
Emeroy Hayward.
THE TIDE COMING IN.
Julia and Rose were on a visit to their uncle, who lived near the seaside. They came from Ohio, and did not know about the ebb and flow of the tide of the ocean. They ran down on the sandy beach, and seated themselves on a rock.
Their cousin Rodney was not far off, engaged in fishing for perch. ”

“ So Maud was called in to get ready; and Hannah, the good white horse, was harnessed into the buggy.
The buggy had but one seat: so mamma found a nice box, and folded her shawl and put on it; and that made a good place for the little girl, between her father and mother; and they all started on their ride.
They went along a shady road near the river, and soon they saw some geese. Several of them were swimming in the water, and one or two were on the bank. One of these [109] had a sort of frame around its neck, and was standing on one leg.
Maud said, "Why, see that poor goose! It has only one leg ”

“ He never kicks us.
Mamie loves to feed Duke; but she wants Arthur to hold him carefully by the bridle while she does it. As for Winnie, she loves to gallop over the hills and far away. Sometimes she lets me ride behind her. Duke seems to love the bold Winnie, and will do whatever she tells him to.
Tilden.
[105]
NELLY'S KITTEN.
Nelly's kitten was the handsomest kitten that ever was. So her little mistress thought. Nelly made a great pet of her, and brought her up with great care; and, when she had become a well-grown cat, Nelly gave her the name of "Pussy Gray." ”

“ One day the clothes were hung out on the line to dry. The colt got in the yard, and tore the clothes all in pieces with his teeth. He ought to know better.
W. O. C.
[124]
PEEPY'S PET.
There was a little girl who was called Peepy; but why she was called so I do not know: perhaps it was because, when a baby, she used to peep from behind a curtain or a door, and cry, "Peep-O!"
She was a good little girl; but, when she was five years old, her mother had to go to Europe for her health, and Peepy was sent to board in the family of a farmer whose name was Miller. ”

“ Kittens do not scratch her.
For she is so gentle,
All the folks obey her;
Even little tom-tit comes
His respects to pay her.
From the German.
[116]
WALTER'S DISAPPOINTMENT.
"Here is the last white rose in my garden," said Laura to her brother Walter; "and you shall have it if you will be a good boy."
"I don't want a white rose," said Walter; "and, if I can't go with Jim Bacon and the other fellows on the pond, I'll not be a good boy: I'll make myself as disagreeable as I can." ”

“ And she ran to the poor bird, and took it up very gently.
"You let our bird alone!" one of the boys cried out. But Peepy still held it, and was ready to cry when she felt its little heart beating with fear.
"Do give it to me, please," said Peepy. "I will thank you for it very much." But the boys laughed at her, and told her roughly to let the bird alone. "We caught the bird, and the bird is ours," said one of them.
"Will you sell me the bird?" asked Peepy, taking her bright quarter of a dollar out of its bag, and offering it. [126]
"Ah! ”

“ He looks very ugly; but he will not hurt you.
The dog Prince sits and watches the little new chickens every day. I suppose he wonders what they are. He knows it is wrong to touch them, because I have told him so. ”