Learning to Play

Upon a tall piano stool
I have to sit and play
A stupid finger exercise

For half an hour a day.

They call it " playing," but to me
It's not a bit of fun.

I play when I am out of doors,
Where I can jump and run.

But Mother says the little birds
Who sing so nicely now,

Had first to learn, and practice too,
All sitting on a bough.

And maybe if I practice hard,
Like them, I too, some day,
Shall make the pretty music sound;
Then I shall call it "play."

Abbie Farwell Brown.

In Trust *

It's coming, boys,

It's almost here;

It's coming, girls,

The grand New Year!

* From "Rhymes and Jingles," copyright, 1874, 1904, by Chas.

Scribner's Sons.

A year to be glad in,
Not to be bad in;
A year to live in,
To gain and give in;
A year for trying,
And not for sighing;
A year for striving
And hearty thriving;
A bright new year.
Oh! hold it dear;

For God who sendeth

He only lendeth.

Mary Mapes Dodge.

PART II

LITTLE PRINCE AND PRINCESS

VI

THE PALACE BED-TIME

VI

THE PALACE BED-TIME

Watching Angels

Angels at the foot,

And Angels at the head,
And like a curly little lamb
My pretty babe in bed.

Christina G. Rossetti.

The Story of Baby's Blanket

Once a little Baby,

On a sunny day,

Out among the daisies

Took his happy way. Little lambs were frisking In the fields so green, While the fleecy mothers All at rest were seen.

For a while the Baby

Played and played and played; Then he sat and rested

In the pleasant shade.