Look at the bird on the other page.

See what a fine dress she has.

How soft and light it is!

It will not be too heavy to carry as she flies. It will help her to fly.

Now look at the fish.

His dress is not of feathers.

They would get wet and heavy in the water.

A fish's dress is made of hard, shiny scales.

They lap over.

The water cannot get in.

They are oiled.

No wonder the fish can slip easily through

the water.

His body can bend easily in swimming.

How could he have a better dress?

And yet what could a bird do with a fish's dress?

JANUARY

"Snowballs showering,

Snow men towering,

Fingers tingling,

Sleigh-bells jingling,

Horns a-tooting,

That's our merry

January."

- From Youth's Companion.

THE LITTLE NEW YEAR

tripping shaking din

blessings

treasure

Oh, I am the little New Year, oh, ho!
Here I come tripping it over the snow,
Shaking my bells with a merry din,
So open your doors and let me in!

Blessings I bring for each and all,
Big folks and little folks, short and tall;
Each from me a treasure may win,
So open your doors and let me in.

For I am the little New Year, oh, ho!
Here I come tripping it over the snow,
Shaking my bells with a merry din,
So open your doors and let me in.

LINDU, THE KEEPER OF THE BIRDS

finished

hunters
jewels

Northern Light

The world was finished.

God made beautiful Lindu.

He gave her charge of all the birds.

Sometimes the hunters tried to shoot these

birds.

Then Lindu sent a stormy wind.

This blew dust in their eyes.

The North Star wished to marry her.

But Lindu would not let him.

"You always stay in one place," she said.

"I do not love you."

Then the moon asked her to marry him.
To him she said:

"You change your face too often.

"Besides, you always travel the same road." She said the same thing to the sun.

Then the Northern Light came to her.

A thousand white horses drew his diamond coach.

His servants carried a cloak full of jewels. Lindu loved this bright and changeful one.