IF

PINE NEEDLE.

F Mother Nature patches the leaves of trees and vines, I'm sure she does her darning with the needles of the pines,

They are so long and slender; and somewhere in full view, She has her threads of cobweb, and a thimble made of dew.

TH

THREE TREES.

HE pine-tree grew in the wood,
Tapering, straight, and high;

Stately and proud it stood,

Black-green against the sky.
Crowded. so close, it sought the blue,
And ever upward it reached and grew.

The oak-tree stood in the field.
Beneath it dozed the herds;
It gave to the mower a shield,
It gave a home to the birds.

Sturdy and broad, it guarded the farms
With its brawny trunk and knotted arms.

The apple-tree grew by the wall,
Ugly and crooked and black;
But it knew the gardener's call,

And the children rode on its back.
It scattered its blossoms upon the air,
It covered the ground with fruitage fair.

"Now, hey," said the pine, "for the wood! Come live with the forest band.

Our comrades will do you good,

And tall and straight you will stand." And he swung his boughs to a witching sound, And flung his cones like coins around.

"O-ho!" laughed the sturdy oak; "The life of the field for me.

I weather the lightning-stroke;

My branches are broad and free.

Grow straight and slim in the wood if you will, Give me the sun and the wind-swept hill."

And the apple-tree murmured low,

"I am neither straight nor strong; Crooked my back doth grow

With bearing my burdens long."

And it dropped its fruit as it dropped a tear, And reddened the ground with fragrant cheer

And the Lord of the harvest heard,
And he said: "I have use for all;
For the bough that shelters a bird,
For the beam that pillars a hall;
And grow they tall, or grow they ill,
They grow but to wait their Master's will."

So a ship of the oak was sent

Far over the ocean blue,

And the pine was the mast that bent

As over the waves it flew,

And the ruddy fruit of the apple-tree

Was borne to a starving isle of the sea.

U

Now the farmer grows like the oak,
And the townsman is proud and tall;
The city and field are full of folk-
But the Lord has need of all.

FR

THE BODY.

ROM the top of my head to my tiny toes,
I am built of bones as every one knows.

These are the framework so strong within;
Outside they are covered with flesh and skin.

The parts of my body are only three,
My head, my trunk, and my limbs as you see.

My head has a back, two sides, and a crown,
All covered with hair, yellow, black, red, or brown

And just in front, in the foremost place,
You plainly can see my neat little face.

My face has a forehead, nose, mouth, and chin,
Two cheeks where the dimples slip out and in.

Two eyes to see you when you are near,
Two ears like seashells, to help me to hear.

My neck and shoulders so broad and strong,
Arm, forearm, wrist, hand, and fingers so long.

My trunk, and my thighs, legs, ankles, and knees,
On two feet I stand, or run, if I please.

My joints are to bend, when I run, jump, or walk; I've a little red tongue to help me to talk.

These make up my body, and now I will tell
What we all must do to keep strong and well.

To be neat and clean we must take great care,
Have plenty of sunshine and breathe the fresh air.

Eat nourishing food to make good blood; and then We shall all become strong women and men.

- Selected

Two

TWO AND ONE.

"WO ears and only one mouth have
The reason, I think, is clear;

It teaches, my child, that it will not do

To talk about all you hear.

Two eyes and only one mouth have you;
The reason of this must be

That

you should learn that it will not do To talk about all you see.

you

Two hands and only one mouth have you;
And it is worth while repeating;

The two are for work that you must do,

The one is enough for eating.

-Selected.

WHAT THE COAL SAYS.

AM as black as black can be,
But yet I shine.

My home was deep within the earth,
In a dark mine.

Ages ago I was buried there,

And yet I hold

The sunshine and the heat which warmed
That world of old.

Though black and cold I seem to be,
Yet I can glow.

Just put me on a blazing fire,

Then you will know.

When I sing my very sweetest,
As I always try to do,

She covers up my cage, and says,
"Oh, what a great ado!

- Selectea