And I tucked my head under my wing), 'Deary me! What a sight for a plain little mother like me!" " MARY A. LATHBURY. THE HEN AND THE HONEY-BEE. A lazy hen, the story goes, Loquacious, pert, and self-conceited, And thus the busy insect greeted: "I've marked you well for many a day, "While I discreetly bide at home, Without the least regard for others. "While I lay eggs and hatch them out, And, sipping honey, stroll about, At best a good for nothing vagrant." "Nay," said the bee, "you do me wrong: "Come now with me and see my hive, SONG OF THE ROBIN. When the willows gleam along the brooks, I hear the robin in the lane But the snow is still Along the walls and on the hill. The days are cold, the nights forlorn, "Tut, tut. Cheerily, Cheer up, cheer up ; When spring hopes seem to wane, I hear the joyful strain A song at night, a song at morn, Hearing, "Cheerily, Masque of Poets. SIR ROBIN. Rollicking Robin is here again. What does he care for the April rain? Care for it? Glad of it. Does n't he know "Ha! ha! ha!" hear the jolly bird laugh. Gentleman Robin, he walks up and down, Chirping her heart out, he calls: "My dear You don't earn your living! Come here! Come here! Robin, Sir Robin, gay, red-vested knight, Well have you earned every morsel you find. "Aye! Ha! ha! ha!" whistles robin. "My dear, Let us all take our own choice of good cheer!" LUCY LARCOM. THE DEAR OLD ROBINS. There's a call upon the housetop, an answer from the plain, There's a warble in the sunshine, a twitter in the rain. There comes a nameless thrill, As sweet as odor to the rose, Or verdure to the hill; And all the joyous mornings My heart pours forth this strain : "God bless the dear old robins Who have come back again." For they bring a thought of summer, of dreamy, precious days, Of king-cups in the summer, making a golden haze; For fragrant blossoms where the bees With droning murmurs go; I dream of all the beauties Of summer's golden reign, And sing "God keep the robins : Who have come back again." ANON. ROBINS QUIT THE NEST. "Now, robins, my darlings, I think it is best," "The day is so fair and the sun is so bright, I think I can teach you to fly before night: And, when you have learned, you can go where you please, As high as the gable, yes! high as the trees. “Come, Dickey, hop out, and stand up here by me; "Now all spread your wings. Ah! but that is too high; Just see how I do it. Now, all again try! Ah! that is much better. Now try it once more. "Now flutter about, up and down, here and there: My dears, you'll be flying before 're aware. you Now carefully drop from the tree to the ground; There's nothing to fear, for there 's grass all around. "All starting but Robbie. 'Afraid you shall fall?' Go on don't be frightened: fly higher and higher." "I've waited one hour, right here on the tree: |