GEORGE COOPER.

[This piece may be given by a little girl, the whole class joining in the

refrain.]

There was a wee chicken, just out of the shell-
Chickery, chickery, chick

Along with her mother this chicken did dwell—

Chickery, chickery, chick!

That good lady told her, by night or by day,
That far from her home she must never more stray;
The daughter then promised that she would obey-
Chickery, chickery, chick!

2

One morn, when the mother was out of her sight-
Chickery chickery, chick!

This daughter went out with the greatest delight-
Chickery, chickery, chick!

She wandered along till she came to a brook,
Quite proud at her face in the water to look:
But there sat a frog in a green, mossy nook-
Chickery, chickery, chick!

"Oh, you're such a beauty!" the froggie then said—
Chickery, chickery, chick!

This flattered her so that it quite turned her head—
Chickery, chickery, chick!

"You're queen of the birds, and should wear a gold crown,'
Said sly little froggie, "pray, on me don't frown!"
She dropped in the brook, and sank down, derry down-

Chickery, chickery, chick!

WHAT?

KATE PUTNAM OSGOOD.

[Deliver in a questioning manner.
er.]
What was it that Charlie saw to-day,
Down in the pool where the cattle lie?
A shoal of the spotted trout at play
Or a sheeny dragon fly?

The fly and the fish were there, indeed;
But as for the puzzle-guess again!
It was neither a shell, nor flower, nor reed,
Nor the nest of a last year's wren.

Some willows droop to the brooklet's bed:
Who knows but a bee had fallen down?
Or a spider, swung from his broken thread,
Was learning the way to drown?

You have not read me the riddle yet,

Not even the wing of a wounded bee,
Nor the web of a spider, torn and wet,
Did Charlie this morning see.

Now answer, you who have grown so wise

What could the wonderful sight have been?
Why, the dimpled face and great blue eyes
Of the rogue who was looking in!

LADY MOON.

LORD HOUGHTON.

[Deliver in a questioning manner the first and third lines of 1st, 2d and 4th verses, and in an answering manner the second and fourth lines of 1st, 2d and 4th verses.]

"Lady Moon, Lady Moon, where are you roving?"
"Over the sea."

"Lady Moon, Lady Moon, whom are you loving?"
"All that love me."

"Are you not tired with rolling, and never
Resting to sleep?

Why look so pale and so sad, as forever
Wishing to weep?"

"Ask me not this, little child, if you love me;
You are too bold;

I must obey my dear father above me.
And do as I'm told."

"Lady Moon, Lady Moon, where are you roving ?"
"Over the sea."

"Lady Moon, Lady Moon, whom are you loving ?"
"All that love me."

STOP, STOP, PRETTY WATER!

MRS. FOLLEN.

[Speak in a lively and quick manner.]

"Stop, stop, pretty water!"
Said Mary, one day,
To a frolicsome brook
That was running away.

"You run on so fast!
I wish you would stay;
My boat and my flowers
You will carry away.

But I will run after;

Mother says that I may;
For I would know where
You are running away."

So Mary ran on;

But I have heard say

That she never could find
Where the brook ran away.

WISHING.

WILLIAM ALLINGHAM.

[To be recited in a thoughtful, though animated manner.]

Ring-ting! I wish I were a primrose,

A bright yellow primrose, blowing in the spring!
The stooping boughs above me,
The wandering bee to love me,

The fern and moss to creep across,

And the elm tree for our king!

Nay-stay! I wish I were an elm tree,
A great, lofty elm tree, with green leaves gay!
The winds would set them dancing,
The sun and moonshine glance in,
The birds would house among the boughs,
And sweetly sing.

O, no! I wish I were a robin-

A robin or a little wren, everywhere to go:
Through forest, field or garden,
And ask no leave or pardon

Till winter comes with icy thumbs
To ruffle up our wing!

Well, tell! Where should I fly to,

Where go to sleep in the dark wood or dell?
Before a day was over,

Home would come the rover,

For mother's kiss! sweeter this

Than any other thing.

WHO TO CHOOSE COMPANIONS,

ANON.

[Change the voice, if possible, in order to imitate the two supposed to be in conversation.]

"By your leave, sir," said a water rat to the kingfisher, "this is my house." And he sat in the doorway to prevent the kingfisher from entering.

"Nay, but I want to come in," said the kingfisher, "I have paid you my visits before, and why not now? Think how handsome I am, and how much my family is sought after."

"You have been in before, sir; but to tell you the truth, that's the very reason I prefer to keep you out now, notwithstanding your fine clothes and your fine family. You have an awkward habit of eating fish and leaving the bones at my door. Now, I don't want anything laid to me that I don't deserve, and as I don't catch and eat fish I won't. have the credit of it. I consider no company worth having that takes away my character!"