9039Original
LOSE by the window I saw her,
Only a bright young girl,
With a tear on her drooping lashes,
Half hid by a straying curl.
June sunshine was tempting her sorely,
The children were playing near by,
And still she sat with her sewing,
And the tear-drop in her eye.
At last in anger she muttered,
"So cruel, so hateful, and mean!
I lose all the brightness and beauty,
As I sit here sewing a seam.
"My thread grows tangled and dirty,
My needle is sure to stick fast,
And the girls are passing the window:
Please tell me that work-time has past."
Ah, Daisy, dear child, in the future,
As the shadows of life come and go,
You will find some duties as irksome
As the seam you are trying to sew.
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Threads will knot, Daisy dear, and the needles
Will rust if you wet them with tears;
And seams will grow rough to your fingers,
When feeble and trembling with years.
Even brightness may pass like the sunshine,
Your life holding one little gleam;
But God is still watching my darling,
He knows we are sewing a seam.
Dear Grandma is wiser but cheerful,
She sits by the window to-day;
Where the sunlight is kissing her forehead,
And children are near her at play.
A smile in place of your tear-drop,
Grey locks where your golden are seen;
She says God's loved hath illumined
Her life, and made easy each seam.
She, too, can think of a summer day,
So sunny and bright in the past;
But her lips always say, "Father take me,
When play-time and work-time are past."
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9042Original
LL Toots' playmates among the boys and girls knew how very fond he was of his four-footed friends, and the children were very fond of watching him when he made his pets perform all sorts of tricks. Poor Toots was nearly ill one day when one of his pet cats was found dead in the stable. He cried and would not be comforted, but his mamma said that poor pussy had not been well for a long time, and she probably died in a fit. Not long after Pussy Meek's death, Toots was confined to his room with a bad cough, and his mamma went to a store to buy some cough drops which the doctor had ordered. When the old lady who kept the store heard that Toots was ill she said, "I wish I had something nice to send him; he is so polite and kind. Do you suppose he would like another kitten? We have three beauties now, and our cat mother is a fine old mouser."
"He would like it very much. I left him just now crying for his dear pet Pussy Meek."
"Dear little fellow!" said the old lady, "he shall have the very prettiest one we have."
Then she took a candy-box and made some holes in it and put the prettiest little kitty inside.
Toots was wild with pleasure; he sat up in bed and held her in his arms, then he fed her some warm milk, and at last she cuddled down with her little head peeping out of the bosom of his night-gown, and then she slept a long, long time. Toots was much troubled to find a pretty name for her. At last he said, "poor little Pussy, we cannot find a name good enough or sweet enough for you." His mamma said suppose we call herPsyche.This pleased Toots very much and the new kitty was duly named Pysche, and a nice ribbon was tied about her neck. For many days she lived in Toots' room and nestled close to him. As she grew older she grew wiser and very full of fun. All summer long she chased flies and grasshoppers, and when the children played ball, Pysche understood it all and took her place properly. She has two very cunning tricks—one was to never enter a door if she could make some one open a window to let her in, and the other was to hide away at bedtime and then come out to play when all the house was still. In the summer time Pysche went to the seaside with the family, where she was a great pet with the grown-up people as well as the children.
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9045Original
NLY a doll! I wouldn't cry,"
Said naughty, teasing Sandy;
"She's just a lot of rags and things
I'd rather have some candy."
But little sister cried and cried,
It was her "bestest" treasure;
While naughty Sandy tried and tried
To tease her for his pleasure.
"Don't cry, dear pet," the sister said,
"Some day he would be sorry
To have us treat his pretty boat
As he is treating Dolly."
"Only a doll," said he again,
"A boat is ten times better;
This thing can't sail; I'll go and see
If she can swim, I'll let her."
Oh, sister, make him div' her back;
He'll kill my darling pet;
Don't let him put her in the pond
And get her nice d'ess wet.
"You's very cruel, bruver, now-;
Please, div' her back to me;
'Tause she's my only darlin' child,
She sleeps upon my knee."
"Only a little, mean old doll,
Not worth my bat or ball;
Hark! take your baby; here comes pa;
I hear him in the hall."
"Teasing again? Ah! Sandy, lad,
Remember this, I pray:
Only a coward teases one
Too small to get away.
"Go to your room, my boy, and there
Think how this game would please,
If sister Nell should serve you so,
And always try to tease."
9048Original
LOSSIE helps ever so much," said Toots, one day—"she dusts the chairs in her mother's room, waters the plants, and holds her auntie's worsted. Her auntie is knitting a new rug for the phaeton."
"Little hands should always help," said mamma, "they were made to be useful, and I know Flossie is happier when she is doing something to make home pleasant. One day I heard Flossie saying, "Oh dear! I wish I had something to do. I am tired of my dollies, I don't want to read, and there is no one here for me to play with." I said, "My dear little girl, your mamma has too much to do; she will give you something, and auntie will be glad to have you help her; those little hands must be kept busy every day." Soon after Flossie learned how to dust the chairs, then she picked the bits of thread from the carpet, then she gave the canary some food and water, and now she is making a dress for her dollie. In a few short months Flossie will learn to do a great many useful things and no one will hear her say, "I wish I had something to do."
"I always have enough to do," said Toots, "I cannot get time to read half the books I like, and then there are so many pets to take care of, beside the skating and sliding in winter, and the fun at the seaside in summer, and when I am at grandpa's he calls me 'a little worker.'"
Just then Flossie came running after Toots. "Would he go with her to buy some rolls for tea and take a book back to the library?"
Toots was very glad to go and carry some books for mamma, beside he must stop at the post-office for some stamps, and bring home a sheet of transparent paper to make some paper balloons for the children in the hospital. Such busy little people as they were! and how happy, too!
That night when Toots was fast asleep, his good mother said to his papa: "Children do more than we give them credit for; last week I kept an account of all the kind and useful things performed by our little boy, and it would surprise you to see how much it all amounts to. Beside the errands for me he has thought of others, and that is good for us all. I really think he has found more pleasure in mending old books and toys for sick children than in having them for himself, and Flossie is quite another little girl since she learned to help mamma."
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9051Original
E is lying on his pillows
All day, sweet Jamie Doon
His little back is crooked,
Yet he sings a merry tune.
For light of heart is Jamie,
Poor cripple though he be;
He is cheerful as the sunshine,
Or the birdies on the tree.
What makes you so contented,
My little Jamie boy?"
Asks a thoughtful lady, kindly,
When she carries him a toy.
I have so many blessings,"
Said gentle Jamie Doon,
I watch the flowers, and birdies
Oft sing for me a tune.
Then the children come to see me,
And every one is kind;
It might be worse you see, Miss,
If I were deaf and blind."
Ah, gentle little Jamie!
Count blessings day by day;
It might be worse, indeed, lad,
So smile and sing away.
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Jamie had once been a very active boy and a good scholar, but his back was injured by a blow given him by a thoughtless playmate, and ever since he has been a great sufferer. It is a dreadful thing to injure any one for life, and boys cannot be too careful when playing with each other. I am sorry to say that the little boy who hurt Jamie does not seem to care for the terrible ruin he has wrought; perhaps he has not been taught at home to think kindly and tenderly of others.
FIVE little sparrows one sunny morn
Eating their breakfast out in the corn:
Five little boys, cruel as boys can be,
Longing to kill those birds blithe and free:
Five little stones that whizzed in the air,
And fell all at once where the sparrows were:
Five little sparrows that flew safe away
For sparrows are quicker than boys, any day:
Five little boys that looked quite forlorn
As they wandered on through the waving corn.
9054Original
LIVER TWIST was the name of a fine rooster or gamecock which belonged to Toots' grandpa, and many were the stories told of him. He became quite famous in the family, and out of it, and none of the children wanted him killed or sold even if he grew too old to walk. When grandpa bought Oliver he carried him home between his knees in the carriage, while he drove Frisk, the pony. Toots' mamma sat by his side with a huge basket in her lap containing a fine old mother hen with ten little chicks. They were all going into grandpa's coop at the farm, and then he would take care of them for Toots.
"I suppose I have been very foolish to pay such a price for this fellow," said grandpa, "but he is smart enough to peck pretty hard."
All the way to the farm the new rooster made himself as disagreeable as he could, now biting grandpa's hands, and now his knees, until the dear old man wished he had never seen him. At last he was safe in the hen-house, where he soon began to eat, and, as he never seemed satisfied, he was called Oliver Twist.
"There has been an old fox about here stealing chicks," said the hired man, "but this Oliver will tackle him, I reckon."
The hired man was right. Only a few days after grandpa heard a great noise among the poultry, and there was a large fox trying to get into the chicken-yard from the barn. Grandpa stole softly into the house and got his gun. When he went back Oliver was pecking at the head and eyes of the fox with all his might. Oliver was very angry but did not show any signs of fear, while the fox tried in vain to get nearer. At last the old fox made up his mind to spring over and eat chicken for his lunch, but just then, bang! went grandpa's gun, and the sly enemy tumbled over on the barn floor.
When Oliver heard the gun he thought he was shot too, for he fell down and closed his eyes. When grandpa petted and praised him, and held out a dish of corn, he seemed to think better of it, and began to strut about, while all the hens cackled in chorus and seemed very proud of their defender.
Poor Oliver met with an accident during the cold winter weather; his beautiful red comb was frozen and fell off. He seemed so ashamed of it that he could not or would not hold up his head, but a nice new comb has grown now and he is as proud and lordly as ever. Indeed, only yesterday he was seen driving a strange cat out of the yard.
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9057Original
P at grandpa's farm the chicks were very happy since the old fox was killed, and as Toots wanted some more cunning little ones to play with and feed when he went up for a visit, grandpa decided to put some eggs under Mrs. White. Now, Mrs. White was a very fine hen, and although she had never raised any chicks of her own, she seemed so kind and gentle that grandpa was sure she would make a kind mother. He selected the eggs with great care, marking some very choice ones with a blue pencil. Mrs. White sat very quietly upon her nest for many days, until it was time for the little chicks to come out of their shell houses; then grandpa paid her a visit. Three little ones were already toddling about, and Mrs. White seemed to be in great distress concerning some others who were just trying to see what the world was made of. Grandpa helped the little fellows by picking away small bits of the shell, and then he hurried away to make some nice dough for them. When he returned, Mrs. White was nowhere to be seen, so grandpa covered the little new babies with some wool and then looked for the neglectful mother. He soon found her in the yard with Oliver Twist and a large flock of hens.
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Grandpa caught her and carried her back, but Mrs. White hurt the little ones and refused to scratch for them. She covered them with her wings for a few moments while grandpa was there, and then ran away again.
Grandpa tried shutting her up, but still she hurt her little chicks and at last killed one. Then grandpa told her she was a cruel, wicked mother, and he carried the chicks into the kitchen and covered them over in a nice warm basket. There they nestled for several days until they began to hop out and get under grandma's feet. After that they had a little house in the shed and soon grew very fast. Toots called them the orphans, and never again liked Mrs. White, although she was so handsome. Soon after this grandpa put some eggs under a queer old hen which all the family called Mrs. Gummidge, she was so cross and queer. When her chicks came she was a very kind mother and scratched for them all day long. She was very proud of them, too, and seemed to say, "Did you ever see such little darlings?" Mrs. Gummidge went about with her children until they were large enough to take care of themselves, and then she sat quietly on some more eggs and raised another family, but none of them ever seemed quite so precious to Toots as the little neglected chicks of Mrs. White.
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9060Original
WO dear little girlies, born at the same time, with eyes, hair, and little faces so exactly alike that even their mother could not tell them apart; and when their pictures were taken and sent to Toots' papa, every one wondered which was Bud and which was Bunnie. The twins' papa was an old classmate of Toots' papa, and as soon as the baby girls came he wrote a very funny letter telling all about them. He said they were both like little rosebuds, and he was puzzled to know what to call them, so he simply nicknamed them Bud and Bunnie until the mamma could decide upon a name.
"They are dear little bits of womanhood," he said, when the children were three years old, "and I am ashamed to say that we still go on calling them by the old pet names. It would please you to see them at play, they are so very happy. Bunnie, who is a little more gentle than her sister, often gives up to her in their sports; and yet Bud is never cross. She takes the lead because she is fitted for it, while Bunnie nestles down and is content to do as she is told. They are into mischief every hour in the day—good-natured mischief of course. Sometimes we find them dressed in their mother's clothes, sometimes in my coats.
"Not long ago my wife and I determined to send a hamper of good things to her old nurse, who has been very unfortunate. We collected all our gifts and were about to pack them, when we chanced to think of a new prayer-book in large type, so away we went, to buy it, for she would not go without me and I would not know how to select without her. When we returned to the store-room where we were packing, what did we see but our twins, Bud and Bunnie, both seated in the hamper. They made such a charming picture that I sketched them on the spot."
Of course Toots' papa sent back a letter at once, and said they were the dearest little girlies in the world, and he wished he had some himself; but he was quite sure that his boys were just as good boys as ever grew, and he would send their pictures to prove it.
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9063Original
AISY DEAN is a little lass,
With rosy cheeks and eyes like glass;
When she sulks she is very queer,
When she smiles she is very dear;
Pretty and fair as a flower is she,
Busy and quick as a little bee.
Good or bad, do what she may,
We wash and dress her every day;
Comb her hair, and give her milk,
And dress her well with sash of silk.
With all her faults, we never have seen
A dearer girl than our Daisy Dean.
Daisy was much pleased with her little verses, "all her own," as she said, and I heard her whispering to her friend May that she would never sulk again if she could help it. Daisy has one serious fault: she never puts things in their places. One morning she could not find her hat anywhere, and her mamma made her go to school without it. Daisy cried and wanted to wear her best one, but her mamma said, "No; that would not teach her to remember." The girls were much amused when Daisy entered the dressing-room at school without any hat on.
"What have you done with it?" asked May.
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"I don't know; it is lost somewhere."
"What a careless little girl! Why, I always hang mine up in one place when I go home from school or play," said May.
"So do I," said several of the girls, but some of the boys did not speak, and a little bird whispers to me that some of my kindest "little friends throw their caps down on the floor, table, lounge, chairs, or the first place they can find." Oh, oh, boys! this is too bad, for "order is heaven's first law."
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9066Original
COMMISSARY is one who furnishes supplies of food to an army or body of men, but I dare say you never heard of a dog commissary. He lived at the boarding-school where Toots' mamma went when a little girl, and his owner was the lady who kept the school. Her son brought him home one day and taught him many tricks. Every day he went to market for the family, and it was great fun for the younger girls to see "Captain Com" go out with his basket in his mouth. His errands were always faithfully done. No boy ever dared to meddle with Com, and although he went five blocks to market no one ever tried to get his note out of the basket. Every morning he waited until madam consulted with cook and wrote down the order, and then when it was put into his care he would trot away in a very happy frame of mind. "Com" was very good to the younger pupils. He would let them drive him in a little cart, or play tag with them by the hour. Once in the vacation, when nearly all the pupils had gone home, madam said: "We will not send an order to the butcher to-day; it is so warm, we will have a light lunch."
"Com" did not like this; he was very restless for a long time, and at last one of the children said, "I think Com has gone to market. He tried to get his basket from the nail and he could not; then he ran away."
"We will go out for a walk and see," said madam, "for 'Com' can do everything but talk, and he is greatly distressed because I did not order dinner."
When they reached the butcher's, there was "Com" with his paws on the cutting block, patiently waiting to be served.
"He deserves a nice dinner," said the butcher, and he gave him some meat; still "Com" was not satisfied; he wanted it put up in paper and laid in a basket before he would go away. "Com" never would touch a bit of meat until he went home to cook, with his marketing.
Where Com lived they did not have letter carriers or postmen, and his mistress made a little mail-bag for him which he carried to the office morning and night. He always entered by the back door, and the clerk would kindly wait upon him. Sometimes his bag would be full of letters and papers for the pupils, and then "Com" was very proud. Every night this wise dog guarded the house, and madam always felt quite happy about the younger children if "Com" was with them.
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9069Original
O wise person ever expects children to be perfect—grown people are not—still all can try to overcome their faults and grow wiser day by day.
Although little May was a very sweet child, as she grew older she began to fret about little things, and one day when she was urged to learn her lesson in arithmetic she said, "I wish I never had to see another old arithmetic; I hate them all!"
May's mother was very patient, and she had her own thoughts about punishing children. When her little daughter showed such ill-temper she said, quietly: "May dear, I am going out to do some errands; would you like to go?"
May was delighted; she would do any thing to get away from her hateful book. Their first visit was to a shop where fruit was sold, and then to a florist's where the lady bought some flowers.
"Now where shall we go, mamma?"
"You will see presently, my dear. We will take a car and make a call on a friend of mine."
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At last they got out and went up some steps, where a lad answered their ring at the door.
When they entered they saw a little girl seated on a chair with her hands folded. She was blind. She heard their footsteps and said, "Please be seated, ladies."
"How long have you been blind, dear?" asked May's mother.
"Four years, madam. I was very ill and have never seen the light since."
"You must remember many things which you saw before your illness?"
"Oh, yes; and it makes me very happy. I know just how the grass looks, and how blue the sky is, and when I am tired I think of it over and over."
After some more conversation the matron came in and gladly welcomed May and her mother. "I would like to show my little girl through the school," said the latter, and the matron kindly took them into various rooms. Not one of the children could see, yet all seemed happy and busy. Some were getting lessons, some were knitting, the boys in the work-room were putting new seats into chairs, and yet all were blind.
It was a sad sight to little May, and after she had left the flowers and fruit she went away looking quite thoughtful: Since that day she never complains when asked to get a lesson, and even her music is not tiresome when she thinks of blind Maggie.
9072Original
HE'S only an orphan," mother dear,
"Her father and mother are dead;
She hasn't a home to shelter her,
Or a hat to cover her head.
"I found her crying alone in the street,
And nobody seemed to care;
I know she is hungry and tired now—
Please give her all of my share.
"I am glad we have tea in the garden to-night
For she wouldn't go into our home;
I could hardly coax her up here, papa,
She hasn't a friend, not one."
"Come in, little girl, sit down here and eat,
We have plenty of food and to spare;
You are tired, poor child. Go Harry, my love,
And get your young friend a chair.
"There, now you have eaten, pray tell us why
You wander alone in the street;
And why there is none to look after your clothes,
And keep you more tidy and neat?"
"My mother just died, and they took her away,
And our landlady said I must go;
And all of our things belonged to her,
To pay up the rent we owe.
"I went to the river to sit down and think,
For no one cared for me now;
I wanted to die like my own dear ma,
But I could not—I did not know how.
"This boy he spoke kindly, and led me away,
He said he would bring me to you;
I knows I am dirty, not fit to be seen,
But, lady, my story is true."
So they took her in, as Harry had said,
And they cared for her kindly and well—
The good they have done and the good they will do,
Only angels in heaven can tell.