I RE i aes eae ae a a a ate a at ae 2g PERE sae He ae ha a ae aaa seas eae oe . | | ape HEE ! * oe * 5 * | ee 0 a ; ES a | oe Dra Gas, hy tll gv aS sce KER Y soseae ses ml sane _ SHRESSRSERG RHODA SHENAE ERE RRER ERASER EE TEES eae | RRR EEE J i er Se ck ee ; HEHE Se he Se eae SE ee EE RE EE a a sede tet Cae ee ck ete a ee ee KKK HE | Maka see Seg ikissh os e Hang f ficng (Onthe The Baldwin Library Uaieay RMB vv Copyright 1899 by PHEBE WESTCOTT HUMPHREYS. ah I: ‘ if SS SSS fg ti | Ni LU fp Ki A ik ‘ _——— = == = Lh 4 —————— pL = 8 ee Sees 7 me The Jumping Act. Next comes the wondrous jumping horse ‘ . Upon his back appears. - A spangled rider clinging fast, As high his courser rears, His feet are waving in the air, While o’er the plank he rides; . Held firmly by the pressing arms, That clasp his horse’s sides. As for the Clowns,—upon a ball One, swiftly rolling goes, The other balances with skill A feather on his nose, ae re at the Gand Cirens! ‘The first to appear g Bad curteey, or al tz, or " aracetully skip; ; While,the Clown in the corner is having some fun, - As heslides his mate down on the plank by the run. Most horses in their stalls are fed But this fine couple, head to hea Dine ata table neat instead, — To show that they are better bi ! eee A SS A\\ es At HA l Lge [AS , FD LN % iY i yf \ AC Sh | Xn i \ (J aN SS AE it CCEA TU CEQA CUEPEUNETAL AS 71 wn \ TN HUE Tc Ta bm ag rT Bare Back Drum Act. The fair Adele is here once more, .— - As bright and graceful as before. Upright upon her steed she comes— '- And now, with sound of pistol shots, ' We see her flying through the drums! Each time she lights upon her horse, Who ‘speeds upon his rapid course; ‘While playing in the central ring, — The Clowns, the weights together swing. £3 A Clown drives round With whitened face; The Pony takes -The Footman’s place, And trots behind . - With easy grace. | i } oF ry B N oN UA, AY U) ae Th AY RESY eS SA tI ee SR eo ews Cas ; \\ The Ringmaster with wary eye, And ready whip in hand, A watch upon the pony keeps, To make him goorstand; - While other Clowns, with sleight o’ hand, Throw knives and bottles round, Which tho’ they swiftly cut the air, Yet never touch the ground, These two sturdy horses are racing ‘you see! ‘And the driver of both holds Azela, as she — Rests one pretty foot on his muscular knee, _ 2 scatters Swe’ flow’rs. with innocent glee. Across their backs, w. mbs Two brave and graceful horseme he yo While caring naught for ups and downs Upon two ladders sport the Clowns. WN lea ‘ Lie, hy sian aX, St ge a SE : Double Comic Act. A Farmer and Irishman Queerly arrayed, Next jumped on the horses And funny tricks played Em Y) S They tumbled and swayed, 4) Fie As they speeded around— E goat eV ry They fell from the horses And rolled on the ground— While ore of the clowns A big turkey bestrode, And the other a hobby-horse Skillfully rode. Ser eS y fy Ke lel et, | CA SS hf f SII SLL TL. CEE A ; WA , Bare Back Banner Act. Here comes Miss Fannie clad in rich attire— Her pawing steed seems full of noble fire, _ Twice round the room with rapid stride and leap, The horse and rider, like a whirlwind, sweep. Quick as a flash the fearless lady springs _ Upon her feet, as though a maid with wings; And lightly springing o’er the banner wide, Regains her ateed upon the further side. Meanwhile the clowns with comical display, At Baby Elephant together play, Unsaddled and unbridled. too, Another horse now comes in views. A youth springs lightly to his back— They gallop \ round. the circus track ; Piya The graceful, daring rider bounds, Es And scarcely seems to touch his horse, ‘Yo see the Clowns a barrow make. ye They speed so swiftly round the course, While all the crowd with laughter shake f j \ ; : Bz : ae oy Wy, Sok } le ; ae ( din pin ST ie “ ) Wh wing, uty . ‘ Ei» wmé me NN AN WETEASNS Soho TAN Wh. * - \\y Wed: : ys ea) hay mee ne N : DEA USS ns ee : \ ‘ SSSSSSou mS ITT AE ee . SSS SN ae Sea.” : The: Chinese Juggler. s “You would not dream that thus arrayed, “You see the Clown in Masquerade ! But here once more the rogue is found, His baskets spinning aound and round, In Chinese dress, ‘upon a horse He swiftly rides around the course— Shakes his gay bells, and slippers too, Yet keeps thro’ all his his balance true! While near at hand like active cats, wo Clowns cut up like Acrobats, ‘cae ug, aks, - ~- Comes last with balls and rings, U\ Which, tho’ he sways-at every step, ¥ With wondrons ease he flings. He dances to the music too, kes the children stare kim Keep the rings and balls 0 balanced in the air! Wiilé both the Clowns gaze on the ground, As tho’ a mare’s-nest they had found. I Wonder. I wonder what all the stars are doing, Up in the sky so blue; I wonder if there are children in them _. Looking at me and you. . now is a man in the moon, I know, For many people have told me so. : - E saw a Star fall-down from Heaven— oa50 It seemed to fall on the grass; Weill go to-morrow and find the pieces, Shining like bits of glass. Or else, perhaps, while we sleep to-night, They'll all have turned into daisies white. ae: Little Pattie | Loonshing J . ZL. West to hols = Ny White 7 ruff ed Pe ; Oh hee: a i lt cap : pia, al. ae oN yy eo ~ SS s Oe Le te | Gleching soo eepIng SOON, Ursaned that she danced th. The Man aie | Sing a Song of Candle-Time. Sing a song of Candle-time! When the clock strikes eight Every merry boy and girl a Goes to bye-bye straight. ~ Sing a song of Candle-time! Brush the tangled hair! Then the little weary feet fe Climb the nursery stf | A Jolly Ride. Here we go round the Nursery floor, Round the table, and | past the door; Jiggetty jog, and joggetty gee—That’s the way for Marjy and me ee Cur horse can gallop and he can trot, And as for whipping ~ “he wants it not; : But he carries us up, and carries us down, All the day to EJ4n Town. —~ The Tale of a Drum. ' By F. Gray SEVERNE, The Captain drummed upon. his drum; Cried he, “ Now let We're ready for the battle fray— My army never runs away.” He marched them past, the rank and file; Each soldier wore a wooden smile; Then, “Halt,” cried Captain : Curlyhead ; “There's something wanting still,” he said. “Tm sure, to march away to fight Without a. cannon Cami moe mile me. The foe are frightened at its sound, A cannon somewhere must: be found,” the 1Ociiam conte: _ Well, there it stood, all by itself, . Just out of reach upon the shelf; _ Upon his fine new drum of wood, To reach ‘it _ down, ine Captain Stood - Alas, the gallant deed was _ rash, | For down he tumbled.with a crash; _ And, what. was really ‘Worse than all, The drum was broken in the fall! The Captain shook - his curly head: “The war must be eo he said cor in that nursery peace will reign Till someone mends the drum again! Summer Sweets. Daisies in the meadows grow, Roses in the hedgerows blow, Graceful grasses ev tywhere Waving in the scented air; © Singing birdies, buzzing bees, Beauty all around one sees; Oh, the summer's fair and sweet, Far from cities’ glare and heat. (. => =—S ‘5 SS AWN AAV am ee Lu coat tp 8 = SY = oe =~: a wae is he, ay yy es eee ard,and “Oh! dear Mr. Tommy,” said Bernard, “ don’t tease;” you, and But give me the biscuit you ve oa brought, th you ae The Horse and Cart. By F. G. 8. - After they'd looked at their Picture Book, At horse-and> cart they played— A capital coach for two they found = The nursery coal-box made ! - They blew the horn, and all went well . mt S Until they tried to start; Then Kit cried, “Oh! don’t want .to. go!” ae And that, of course, alarmed the horse, And quite upset the cart! $ Trained Dogs. , In every home where there are children and a pet dog, some one is sure to be very ambitious to give the dog special training. The older brother or sister will patiently go over and over the daily instructions and search for new tricks to “show off” the pet; while the very little folks will be equally interested and delighted with the “doggie” that will submit to being harnessed to the little » cart, and give baby a fine ride out-of-doors. Doggie a takes the greatest pleasure in his tricks of “fetch and carry” while romping with the little people—bounding away after baby’s rubber ball every time it is thrown for him, but very careful not to destroy — any of the playthings. | We are sure the little people eae take great delight in the dressed- -up dogs and the performing dogs as shown in these pages. The doggies seem so much like real people when they are dressed _ up. And how do we know that they do not think and dream and : plan their work and their play, and even talk to each other in dog language? Did you ever see a dog laugh? Just watch the home pet the next time he is romping and playing, and see how his eyes — shine and smile, even if he does not. laugh aloud. ; When we become acquainted with these dressed-up dogs we will be surprised to find how much like real people they are. We - can go with the grown-up dogs to market, and out riding, and calling and parading. We can enjoy the. games of the baby dogs, and the older doggies, so full of their fun while enjoying their S wheel-barrow rides and tight-rope walking, and all their other’ queer tricks. Notice how they try to amuse and help one another, and how kind they are to each other. We can learn many | lessons ~ of patience and obedience from the dogs, and we will never want to be rough or unkind to these faithful friends, who seem so - much like little children after all, h I promised you should go. See how these Poodles—comic pair, Stand with their hind legs in the air, "And with their fore-paws on the ground, Io jackets gay, go strutting round ! ‘Now of this pair it may be said, That in this kind of fun. The dog who can the Jongest stand; Must be the strongest one ! aes Fanny on the Tight Rope. YZ ies ay) With a balance pole held in her mouth, And hat with jaunty feather, Miss Fanny dances on the rope, Nor cares for wind or weather. Two gallanis watch with anxious air, Lest Fan should tumble down ; And striking on her little head, Should chance to crack her crown. ExT x é Orr eit easexe L Nt eS ) | D en AAEM ff eR i y. AN = V1 Besa oe aye, | ANNE ; SR RTT |S ; SS EEL FAUNSy Y PXc| | x ee BL EA AANA We aN Aya te ate j ' NY ~ a AN () as pe aera fe oe tee an WW SS 7 =<. ff =X, AN ANS 4 pales Soe “ff a WH XY Serene ee a Sy //S nee! Ae WSs XS | : N 4 35 ime y as ROS Se XN Y ; » OO Se ea PS se 2 | \ ae ee ae Kew eee Fae : — ae “ y ee ee ~The Soldier’s F Brave old Tom the doggie bold, Weary veteran, limping home; Carlo bears his baggage scant— Tom no more to war shall roam. See his flag of honor wave! While his wife with tender fear, Welcomes him with open arms— Longing for her soldier dear. Bs ! an \ |} | Gf w ae q ay OSS SSSSE AMIN Dl | f (| VAN (aN ) 9 CO OA ssi? MBS one! HN = CR ‘i \. SS Nl [ \ a AAA WGK (UML (XS e \\\\) AWWA ZA YAM UA WINK SW AN RUA WW RA MDW brother Tack and back, “High, and ther Makes doggie go— While funny Pout. With a great ront, — And a ioud barking- Tumbles about ! The Gentle Juno and Miss Trot - . Come with merry Pug to tea, : Pretty Doggie maidens they— ‘Fair and brisk, as you may see. How polite the host appears,— Pointing out old fiddler Joe; “ After tea,” ue smiling says, “We will trip it, heel and toe!” RAW VA sd \ i Mini} : A AWW a \ \ ea ( AM (fel I INQ ap \\ YY NUNS a [AQ Nhe | ces x AON NS a HN NAN \\\ \\ \ \ AVANYENY | Nye es se “tds te WA RN (\ oe ae: Eocene Tals The Serenade. Within her window, half afraid, In lace and ribbons bright arrayed, Sits sighing Fanny—gentle maid! While down below, Each Doggie beau Is giving her a serenade, Pir age ial a tte ae WW OY ‘ih Wells =) WM ne LN Nia ARAN oe a ANU AH \\ Ni Nite — ne Slee — Market-Day. ~ ‘“Kor your apples’ to-day What price do you say?”’ Of old Jenny asks close Mrs. Gasket. “or a dime, if you find A quart to your mind, T’ll give you the pick of my basket.” Says the dame in reply, “Your price is too high, Sa I wonder you venture to ask it.” aN) i | i WS : MQQ A AMAA? (| & ee : RE © 8 RASTA IVS | SU The Pleasure Trip. Peel jin Here stopping at a roadside Inn, you see The grand turn-out of Lord and Lady Lee; With coachman, page, and team of spaniels fine, They’ve stopped awhile to water up and dine; While ere they start, the Servants Fan and Will Talk with the host and settle up the bill. Till right at last, a happy jolly load, Away they go again upon the road, ee { Veg ee (hs Do. A. = SG Wao ee Ay RR 4 . AO a Bi DS does omens cy Winx CIQE INU AES oe AA \ ANS Pax , \ ; At “Ss \\ NN Ayer eee \ Vt WW \\ WW ANY CRA . . . Luli I Wy | Miss Kitty went out in fi 7 ee ea hey Pussy-cat Town, = ee = In a fine new hat and ~a lovely gown; And all the kittens as she — passed by, Purred with pleasure, and mewed, “Oh, my!” Now, Toby was out as well that day, As usual ready for mischief and play; He couldn't reach up to her fine new hat! So he trod on her gown and worried that. Alas! to-day he’s a sad bow-wow, For he has to wear a muzzle now; And the kittens laugh as he passes by, For they all of them SS know the reason why! tm, —. eS es Wediqiaw | Al aes Ma Re mr 2 SESS = The Fishermen. Fishermen, one, two. three, four, five— Out to catch fish all. alive! Each took his line, and bait, and rod, And all the fish said, “Oh! how odd!” There was Jip and Snip, and Bob and Bee And the fifth one was a small Puppee | ws At noon they all began to sigh: “It’s high time that a fish came by!” ‘Twas just upon the stroke of five, They caught a beauty, all alive! Jip tumbled in, but, with a shout, The other four soon pulled him out; And then, with loud bow-wows of glee, Those fishers bold—went home to teal Little Nut-Crackers. : BEN = % ee a i ) SS cS SS OA SEN fe Wit ~~ eet Wy oy ik _ ZZ SEE MS SS ce fie cme Said Bushytail: ‘‘What do I see?— Those nuts were meant for you and me!” the dears a few: ‘Spare hisker : Said W There's plenty more for me and you.” A ie zs - Ieee se peel ee == : i! ites rm | ——— i i ty ae y Soest | eee {fi (a Heal Fi a, | a & A ae eae Hh | gay _ You pore little clock, sayin’ “tock, tick-tock,” The whole long day and night through, Say, why don’t you strike’ an’ nen run down? That’s what I’d do ’f I was you! You're a’ nawful queer little clock, I think ; Your hands have the funniest way Of goin’ slow while I study my books, An’ run’in’ so fast when I play! ™N? sometimes I wake in the night, little clock, Too ’fraid to call mother to see If the Injuns an’ things I’ve been dreamin’ ahout — Are sure-a-nuf huntin’ fer me, RW Se a Se ace aeN) YoU’RE A’ NAWFUL QUEER LITTLE CLOCK, I THINK.”’ >. An’ Lie as still as a little mouse, A-listnin’ with all my‘ears Till it seems to me I’ve been lyin’ there Fer purty near fifty years. ’N? en out of the dark I hear your voice A-callin’ so clear to me, “Now don’t you be.scared, you pore little boy, I’m keepin’ you company.” An’ nen I’m so glad ’at you didn’t run down ‘ The way ’at I told you to do, ‘Cause I go to sleep sayin’ “tock, t*'ck-tock,” Right over again after you. —Mary Wricur DAVIS, ’ Betsy Brian’s Needle. BY MARIA A. HOVER, “Oh! Miss Ruby, surely not another torn frock? ‘That’s the third this week.” Ruby had come running in holding up. her skirt and laughing through a great hole torn in it. But at Nurse’s tone of voice she looked a little penitent. “Pm very sorry, Nurse, but it caught on a horrid old nail!” “Oh! yes, I know,” said Nurse a little impatiently, “it is always a horrid nail or a tiresome thorn, never a careless little girl! But, really, to keep you tidy, oes one ought to have Betsy Brian’s Needle.” “Betsy Brian’s Needle!’ cried Ruby. “ What sort of a needle was that, and who was Betsy Brian?” “Betsey Brian was my great grandmother’s second cousin,” said Nurse, “but I’ve no time to tell you about her now. Here’s a nice after- noon’s work for me, for you haven’t a tidy frock to your back!” “Oh! Nurse, do tell me!” said Ruby, eagerly, for she loved Nurse’s ' stories. “ You can tell me while you work, and I’ll thread aL your needles!” So, after a little more coaxing, Nurse began, while Ruby sat on a stool, ° listened, and threaded the needles as they needed it. ? De Ly A ¢ EE no * # # e. * x * * ‘Betsy Brian was just a widow woman,” said Nurse, “ with five boys to . bring up; and she lived in a bit of a cottage on a mountain side, not far off from the haunted glen, where folks said the Good People used to dance.” ‘‘ The Good People are the Fairies, aren’t they nurse?” interrupted Ruby. “Yes, yes, just the Fairies, or the People in Green! Some folks sould A BETSY BRIAN’S NEEDLE. have been frightened, but Betsy Brian never troubled about them, and if she heard queer noises, and laughter, and singing of a night, why she said a prayer and felt as safe as safe. And she had sucha lot to do, she hadn't much time for thinking, for to feed and clothe those five boys of hers some- times nearly passed her wits. For they were hungry, and had such a knack of tearing their clothes, they sometimes drove her nigh crazy. However, she had a patch of potatoes, and a cow, and a field of rye, and a few chickens, not to speak of the pig, and so she managed to get along. When they came in very ragged she’d put the five of them to bed and sit up and mend their clothes, specially on a Saturday night, that they might go a bit decent to church on a Sunday, for you may be sure they hadn’t two suits apiece. . “Well, ’twas the Saturday before Whit-Sunday, and she had packed them all away in bed, as tight as herrings in a barrel, and was sitting up later than usual, darning away for dear life to get the patches on before Sunday morning, when she heard a —— knock, knock, at the door. She called AAR Bl] out, ‘Who's there?’ And avoice— L Nore Se, ey aa eee 58, y a woman’s voice it was—cried: ‘Oh! do let me in, for I’ve lost my way, and it’s raining in torrents and as dark as pitch.’ “Betsy Brian jumped up and opened the door, and there stood a barefoot girl, with her shawl over her head, and the water dripping from her petticoats, and sure it was pouring rain as if the skies ff would fall. : “Come in, come in!’ she é cried, ‘ Why whatever is a bit of a child like you doing out on the mountain side at such a time of night? Come in, at once.’ BETSY BRIAN’S NEEDLE. So) tite ett! came in, and SS SS SS Ss Rigas ce eae aE | SSS FEI when she pulled off her shawl Betsy Brian saw she had long yellow hair, just like gold, hang- ing down below SSS SI ISS Se HA He f her knee, and her eyes were as blue as the forget-me- nots that grow by the brookside. She told her to sit by the fire, and she threw on some turfs to make it burn up a bit, and seeing how cold and wet she was, she made her a bowl of porridge, and gave it her steaming hot. And the girl sat by the fire and dried herself, and ate the hot porridge, and watched Betsy Brian as she went on patching the boys’ torn clothes. “€You havea business there, mother,’ she said at last. ‘Why, how . many boys have you got?’ “There's five of them, bless their hearts!’ said Betsy. “¢ Rive too many!’ said the girl. ' “ “Not one too- many !’ cried Betsy, angrily. They are as good boys as ever ran in the heather, though they do tear their clothes a bit © But then the cloth is old, and goes easy!’ _ “Well, let me help you!’ says the girl, laughing, and she feels in her ‘pocket and brings out a thimble and a needle-book, and in it a queer-looking yellow needle. And up she whips a pair of breeches, that had a hole as big as a potato. "Stop! stop!’ cried Betsy, ‘ that must be patched, that must!’ “But before the words were out of her mouth the yellow needle had wriggled backward and forwards in the girl’s fingers, and the hole was filled ‘BETSY BRIAN’S NEEDLE. up and mended as if it had never been torn. Betsy, she just sat and stared agape, but the girl only laughed and went on, taking up one thingy and another till the heap of clothes was all done. “Now, go to sleep,’ cried the girl, and she made a pass before Betsy’s eyes, and Betsy went sound asleep and did not wake till the sun was shining - in at the window next morning.” ie “ And had the girl gone?” cried Ruby, as Nurse paused. | “Yes, she was gone, but she had left her needle, and it was just a fairy needle and mended the clothes like magic. Great grandmother said _ that she had often seen it.” - “ And—where is it now?” cried Ruby. “ Have you got it, Nursie, or your mother?” But Nurse shook her head. | “Tt went,” she said, “mysteriously. When Betsy Brian died her son’s wife had it, but she - was a poor, cold-hearted thing, and never gave bite or sup to the poor. And one day she drove a poor old lame man away who had asked to rest a bit by the fire—’twas winter cold then—and next day the needle was gone and nobody has ever seen it again er “Oh! What a pity!” said Ruby, The Day We went a-Whaling. Oh, the day we went a-whaling by the pond, To sail to Arctic regions and beyond! Our ships had lovely sails, © And the ducks, they were our whales, And our ships pursued them all across the pond! ae . a Saye JOH ae \ Mt yf i mae a White tas SMH N N \ Wry There was Emmeline and Jonathan and me, And Neddy saw the show, and Baby Bee, And Tip was there of course, And he barked himself quite hoarse _ When our Arctic Expedition went to sea. THE DAY WE WENT A-WHALING. Oh the wonder and excitement of that chase! The pond became a snow-and-icy place, The whales swam very fast, But our ships caught up at last And the great whales turned to meet them face to face! We got ready our harpoons to kill. the whales, And we talked of taking blubber home in pails, But even as we talked The whales got out and walked, And off they waddled, flourishing their tails! The Fairy Queen. O, beautiful Queen of Fairyland, With elegant silver wings, Kindly please lend me your magic wand, For I want so many things. Said the Queen “ You must with : Fae | patience wait 2 . For the presents good Santa Claus OS CWE 4 Vi : 36 y “ pane Pay 7; s: 5 Lo OP Sf pe Please take me from the nursery shelf, And let me introduce myself; My name is Dash, I’m three years old, A doggie just - as good as gold, That is to say, let me remark, I like sometimes to have a lark ; You'll read in this of one I’ve had, But still I'm not so very bad. My little master ealls it fun To give me baths— I gave him one, Although I didn’t mean to do so, The day he played at being Crusoe. ° Cea ca ng } iv | Nba 7! ie oe Hy Pr ae wa » Ay, il \ lly, Vl pass without But this and lots of other larks, I Nt, ' ee y ; NS ce Soul h meen | ‘ a aS (| lt 4 hi r Se yon Otel eae eS eh SS eee < = . cee yery queer fellow is Rutherford Reep Kit give my best fiddle if ever I see Such a curiows, very queer fellow as hes Tn all Kankakee there ave none but agree Amore singular fellow you never will sees Hunt as you ay till you're old and gray. From China to Cape Henlopen, For every Hie huebows bends His ofo mouth es flies of Open » “G 4 Timmy, The Snow Man. They first made a Snow Man so fine and so tall, Then rolled up some snow in a very big ball; And the Snow Man believed it was meant for his head: “Tt will never look well on my shoulders,” he said. It was such a fine and magnificent ball, But it never got up to his shoulders at all; For the ‘sun came out, hearing the children at play, And snowball and Snow Man both melted away. eh eee 3 4 The Rival Musicians. BY MARY BOYLE. — At one side of the way lived Miss Tibbs. She kept a school for girls, which was called a Seminary, and taught her pupils to read and write nicely; and to say “ please,” and “thank you,” very often. . At the. other side of the way lived Dr. Gibbs. He kept a school for boys, which was called an Academy, and taught his pupils many things, stich as twice two make four. Now Miss Tibbs, let me tell you, was fond of cats, and Dr, Gibbs had a liking for dogs. One day Miss Tibbs got four pussy cats, and started there ead then to teach them singing. They must have had lovely voices naturally, for these cats soon became famous in the district, and were known for miles round as the “ Tibby Pussy Cat Quartette.” : They usually sang out of doors of an , evening, and Dr. Gibbs said that their music ' disturbed his rest—but then, you ae he did not like cats. Well, the first half-holiday that came round after the “Tibby Pussy Cat Quar- tette”? was formed, Dr. Gibbs betook himself to town. And when he returned, he brought with him four first-class dog musicians. Where he got them from I cannot tell you. Neither can I explain how proud he was of their playing. Everyone said he must have paid a good price for them, and I think so too. For in every town you’ may find cats with good voices, and dogs in an ordinary way, but tell me where you can procure four first-class dog musicians? There was Sandy, the Scotch terrier, who could poni- pom on his trumpet. THE RIVAL MUSICIANS. ‘There was Punchinello, the pug, who could tum-tum on his trumpet. There was Patch, who could sing; and Switch, a wide-awake fox terrier, who, although he could neither sing nor play, could use a stick, and keep the other three doggies in order. : Dr. Gibbs was very proud of his pets, and would say to his friends, “Any cat can sing, but show mea Scotch terrier who can pom-pom, Or a Pug dog who can tum-tum, a dog like Patch, who can sing any tune you like, or a Fox terrier, like Switch, who can use a baton !” . Then his friends would — shake their heads sol- emnly, and the doctor would chuckle, and re- mark, ‘ What a foolish person Miss Tibbs must be to be bothered with cats!” Well, one Friday afternoon, when the play- ground was empty, Switch, the conductor. of the band, thought “it was a good opportunity to have some music, so he called the dogs together, and told them to get their instruments. “Now, we must practise,” he said. ‘ ' “Very well,” they agreed. . Sandy got his trumpet, and Punch got -his trumpet. “What shall we play, sir?” said Sandy: Switch looked down his nose fof a moment, and then stroked his whiskers with one paw, while arranging his collar with the other. This was all to gain time. “J think Patch had better sing,” he said at length. THE RIVAL MUSICIANS. “Very well, sir,” said Patch, good naturedly, and clearing his throat, in a very deep voice began :— “My heart’s in a erecta ~.“ Pom-a, pom-a, pom, pom. Pom-a, pom-a, pom, pom,”- struck: in. - Sandy by way of accompaniment. | | “ My heart’s in the La-r-d-er!”’ wailed out Patch again. as ‘. Tut, tut!” said Switch, flourishing his stick, and looking very cross at Patch. ‘Come, hurry up out of that larder, will you—and-you,” looking looking fiercely at Punch, “ why are you not ‘ tum-tumming Dp” ( “Please, sir, I can’t,” said Punch, submissively. “You can’t tum-tum ?” “No.2? Why?” “ Because Patch will hang about that larder so long, ge, 2nd my mouth “waters at the bare thought of a larder,. so that I can’t, I really can’t play!” . Here Punch shoots his trumpet to and fro, just as do the. great musicians. — “ Suppose we take a gallop hea? said the perplexed Switch, trying to get out of the difficulty. He meant, of course, ‘‘ Let us play a gallop.” But Sandy and Punch did not understand this. They took the gallop, yelping “Hurrah!” and banged down their trumpets as they scampered round the playground. ; Switch growled, “That all comes of your stupid Lar-der‘ard-ering,” hee said, laying his stick about poor Patch’s‘shoulders. ‘‘ Why are you always reminding us of something to eat at the most inconvenient times. J’ll turn — - you out of our band, I will.” . . es = THE RIVAL MUSICIANS. “Tf you give over-spanking me, I’ll tell you a bit of news,” said Patch. “Well,” said Switch, laying down his stick, for he was a great gossip. ‘What is it?” “You know Miss Tibbs over the way?” “The woman who keeps cats, yes!” ‘Well, I heard her tell our master the other day that he had no right to keep us.” | “Why?” “ Because—” : . Just then Sandy and Punch came up, so Patch had to whisper it. “You don’t say so,” cried Switch. “T do, it’s afact. I heard her Saveit.” “Good gracious © me,” said Switch. “What does the doctor mean, oe * Cy : gentlemen?” he began, WES Bey VOLE: . 7 a turning round and ad- Mie Se . . ae zs . dressing his brother Wes Di = heres : i ot musicians. “I’veheard 77-40% . : WY, ey wit a piece of news!” Oz GE 2 = here Dectori 1s en J going to stand us a.sup- os per,” cried Sandy, ss ec smacking his lips. . : “No, .the Prima Donna wants to hear us play,” suggested Punch, who was rather high-minded. “Nothing of the kind, said Switch, “Dr. Gibbs is keeping us here without paying our taxes.” “You mean to say we're not respectable dogs?” asked Punch. “You mean to say, I, a free-born Scotch terrier, haven’t a ticket?” screamed Sandy. “That is what I have just heard,” said Switch. You heard the lady opposite say so, didn’t you, Patch?” Patch nodded. “ Well, the best thing for us to do is to pack up our trumpets and bolt,” Sandy decided. “ A master who doesn’t provide us with a license should be—” 2 229 | THE RIVAL MUSICIANS. - “Spanked!” said Switch, flourishing his stick. Then the four doggies held a council together. After much bow-wow- 2 ing, it was decided to leave the doctor as soon as possible. This they did. ‘The next morning Dr. Gibbs looked here, there, and everywhere for his “pets, but not a trace of them could he find. As they took their instruments with them, it is only right to suppose that the dog-musicians are touring. Perhaps, by this time, they have pro- cured dog-licenses for themselves. But if, at any time, you meet them in your travels, oh! be sure to let Dr. Gibbs know as early as possible. He is fretting himself sick at the loss of his illustrious band, and to make matters. worse, if that Miss Tibbs hasn’t trained her horrid quartette to mew beneath: the doctor’s window. “To lull him: to sleep,” she says. Father Christmas. Twas on a night in winter, For down each open chimney The snow lay on the ground, - He dropped the dolls and toys And good old Father Christmas He’d brought with him as presents . Was going on his round, For all good girls and boys. - Upon his sturdy shoulder : Then on again he hastened ;- _ He bore a Christmas-tree, But when his task was done, - He was by far too busy He came again and listened lo stop and speak to me. - A while at every one. He peeped in every window, And said, in accents low, : ‘Now I have made them happy > as It’s time for me to go!” He wished “A Merry Christmas” - _ Toallthe children dear, And then he softly whispered, “ Good-bye until next year!” Se ae - 230: =, : Ly / litle old Professor wrote a problem ih in addttion, Read after cocexiny all bis (téle lambs é on mild su bmisscon, : Vie leid the Sums for Stecpy Scholars oy up upon the shelf, ; And taking up the crayon, wrote the answer down himself i And poking all his twenty (ble Ihe chcloren on the bead, | *ve sgethered them about his char, and a LN ade this ¢s Mfabk fe satd ZS My Oe deurs, rn all of you. IS oy fOr can detect | | z Zo Vie very wrong & 6 $0 force the e j , So budding ontelleck.” | | Daffodils. Of all the flowers of spring-time, The snowdrop peeps up shyly, ~ J love the daffodil, O ! A modest little fellow; That comes when March winds whistle But when my garden blossoms And songs the green wood fill,.O! With daffodils so yellow, : “When Winter's nearly over, — I say, “ I love you, snowdrops, gee And birds are piping gaily, . But daffodils are dearer, I watch within my garden Because they say each morning, f The blossoms waking daily. - The spring is one day nearer!” Two Donkeys. _ * IK ' me » ae hac ie ves Satisfied.