Cai)

I will lock you both in, so that she can’t get out.’
Their footsteps descend, but they scarcely had gone
Ere Silverlocks rouses, and feigns a good yawn;
Then looks at Miss Bruin, and says, ‘Oh, my dear,
What a beautiful mansion you’ve got, love, up here!’
Then Miss Bruin approached, just to give her a hug,
But Silverlocks’ shoulders arose with a shrug :

‘Oh, do not come near me! I’m thinner than weasels,
And you would be certain to sicken with measles.
Oh, save your dear parents and drive me away ;

I shall never be happy, I’m sure, from this day,

For I often have heard all our folks at home talk

Of the danger of eating off measly pork.

fé.nd should any ill from my visit betide,

I should never forgive myself—not till I died ;

And should you now eat me, I plainly can see,

In the state I am in, I must sure disagree.’

‘And have you got measles?’ the little bear said ;
‘And you have been lying so long in my bed!

Oh, how shall I ’scape it? Oh, what shall I do?
And my parents, alas! they may p’rhaps catch it too!’
Then Silverlocks sprang with a bound from the bed,
The coverlet tore into many a shred,

Made a rope from the window, and swiftly down slid,
And scampered for home like a one-year-old kid.

 

The Weakly Chicken.

USH-A-BYE, chicky, the worst out of ten,
Thy daddy’s a bantam, thy ma’s a black hen ;
Your brothers are crowing, and think they can sing ;
Your aunt lays an egg for our baked rice-pudding.