se'cret

A SECRET FOR THREE

I

just flew point'ed

"Bessie," said grandpa, "can you keep a

secret?"

"Yes, grandpa," said Bessie, "I think I can.” "Then come with me," said grandpa, “and I will show you something."

Bessie put her hand in grandpa's, and they walked over to a tree in the meadow.

It was an old apple tree, and it was covered with little green apples.

Just then, a bluebird flew out from under the green branches. Then all was still.

Grandpa pointed to a hole in the old tree.

And what do you think Bessie saw in the hole? She saw a little round nest. In the nest were three little bluebirds fast asleep.

"That was mother bluebird who flew away," said grandpa, "and this is her secret."

asked care if oh

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no'bod y

"Do birds like apples, grand

pa?" asked Bessie.

"Yes, birds like apples. But mother bluebird does not

hurt my apples. She helps

me take care of my tree." "How, grandpa ?"

"There are little insects

that feed upon the apples,

and hurt them so they do not grow. Mother bluebird eats the little insects. That is how she helps me."

"Will she come back again?" asked Bessie.

"Yes, when we have gone away," said grandpa. "If you stand back from the tree and keep very still, you may see her feed the baby birds."

"Oh," said Bessie, "this is a beautiful secret to keep! Nobody knows but just us three!"

Bruce is a fine, large dog, who lives in the country.

He has a light brown coat, with a white vest and collar. His eyes are soft and brown.

Bruce helps his master with the horses and COWS. He knows everything that is said to him. Every night before supper, his master says, "Bruce, go bring the cows."

Bruce runs away to the pasture as fast as he can go. He runs around the cows and barks until they start for the barn.

He drives them in front of him all the way. If they stop to eat grass, he barks and pulls their tails. The cows know what to do then. They start up and go on to the barn.

"Good dog!" says his master, when the cows are in the barnyard. "You are the dog for me!"

Bruce likes to hear this. He likes to feel his master's hand on his head.

Every morning when the cows are milked, Bruce has a dish of milk. Then, Then, "Drive the cows to the pasture, Bruce," says his master. Away runs the dog to drive the cows through the barnyard gate.

When they are in the pasture, he goes with them until they reach the brook. There he leaves them under the trees to eat and drink.

Then he trots back to the barn to see what else there is for him to do.

I am the North Wind. I blow and blow! I cover the brooks with ice. I cover the ground with snow.

I put the seeds and flowers to sleep. I shake the leaves from the trees, and make them dance over the brown fields.

The

I send the birds away to the south. squirrels hear me and hide in their holes in the trees.

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Oo, oo!" I say, and the leaves fall down.

"Oo, oo!" I say, and the grass turns brown.