DECEMBER

"And dull December brings to earth That time which gave our Savior birth."

"The year is done - Let all revere The great good Father of the year."

THE THREE LITTLE GOLDFISH

crumbs

remember lattice

frightened

There was once a man who had three goldfish.

Every day he threw crumbs to them

The fish would swim quickly to the top to eat the crumbs.

Then the good man would say:

"Dear little goldfish, remember two things. "Never swim through the lattice into the big pond.

"And never go up the bank when I am not here."

The little fish did not understand.

So the man went down and stood near the lattice.

Whenever the fish swam near the lattice, he beat the water with a stick.

This frightened the fish away.

He did the same thing when they came to the bank.

But still the fish did not understand.

"He is on top himself," said one little fish. "He does not love us. He does not want us to have a good time," said another.

"I shall not mind him," said the first fish. "I shall go right off to the big pond."

"I shall not mind him either," said the second.

"I am going upon the bank to enjoy the beautiful sunshine.'

But the third little goldfish stayed down in the deep water.

He did not know why the man told him to do so. He only knew that the man loved him. But what do you think happened?

When the first fish came to the big pond,

a great fish ate him up.

The second little fish died on the bank.

And only the third little fish was left alive. He lived for a long time in the clear water of the beautiful pond.

He has no eyelids.

But he can move his eyes.

His nose is hard to find.

Just like your nose, it is above the mouth.

But he does not use these small holes for breathing.

He breathes through his mouth and gill covers. The water goes into his mouth and out past the gills.

But water is not air.

No; but there is air in it.

Have you never watched the water boil?

Then you have seen the air coming out of it.

G