PEBBLES.

UT of a pellucid brook

Pebbles round and smooth I took;

Like a jewel, every one

Caught a color from the sun,

Ruby red and sapphire blue,
Emerald and onyx too,
Diamond and amethyst,-

Not a precious stone I missed;
Gems I held from every land
In the hollow of my hand.

Workman Water these had made;
Patiently through sun and shade,
With the ripples of the rill
He had polished them until,
Smooth, symmetrical and bright,
Each one sparkling in the light
Showed within its burning heart
All the lapidary's art;

And the brook seemed thus to sing:
Patience conquers everything!

- Frank Dempster Sherman.

WHAT THE BURDOCK WAS GOOD FOR.

OOD for nothing," the farmer said,

"GOO

at the burdock's head;

As he made a sweep But then, it was best, no doubt,

To come some day and root her out.

So he lowered his scythe, and went his way, To see his corn, or gather his hay;

And the weed grew safe and strong and tall, Close by the side of the garden wall.

"Good for home," cried the little toad,
As he hopped up out of the dusty road.
He had just been having a dreadful fright, —
The boy who gave it was yet in sight.
Here it was cool, and dark, and green,
The safest kind of a leafy screen.
The toad was happy: "For," said he,
"The burdock was plainly meant for me.”

"Good for a prop," the spider thought,
And to and fro with care he wrought,
Till he fastened it well to an evergreen
And spun his cables fine between.

'Twas a beautiful bridge, a triumph of skill,
The flies came 'round as idlers will;
The spider lurked in his corner dim;

The more that came the better for him.

"Good for play," said a child, perplext
To know what frolic was coming next;
So she gathered the burrs that all despised,
And her city playmates were quite surprised
To see what a beautiful basket or chair
Could be made, with a little time and care.
They ranged their treasures about with pride,
And played all day by the burdock's side.

Nothing is lost in this world of ours;
Honey comes from the idle flowers;

The weed which we pass in utter scorn,
May save a life by another morn;
Wonders await us at every turn.
We must be silent and gladly learn,
No room for recklessness or abuse,
Since even a burdock has its use.

-Selected.

L

LILY'S BALL.

ILY gave a party,

And her little playmates all,

Gayly dressed came in their best,
To dance at Lily's ball.

Little Quaker Primrose

Sat and never stirred, And, except in whispers, Never spoke a word.

Snowdrop nearly fainted

Because the room was hot, And went away before the rest With sweet Forget-me-not.

Pansy danced with Daffodil,

Rose with Violet; Silly Daisy fell in love

With pretty Mignonette.

But, when they danced the country-dance,

One could scarcely tell

Which of these two danced it best

Cowslip or Heatherbell.

Between the dances, when they all
Were seated in their places,
I thought I'd never seen before
So many pretty faces.

But, of all the pretty maidens
I saw at Lily's ball,
Darling Lily was to me

The sweetest of them all.

And when the dance was over,
They went downstairs to sup;
Each had a taste of honey-cake,
With dew in a buttercup.

And all were dressed to go away
Before the set of sun;

And Lily said "Good-bye," and gave
A kiss to every one.

Before the moon or a single star

Was shining overhead,

Lily and all her little friends

Were fast asleep in bed.

- Fun and Earnest.

OPE

PANSY SONG.

PEN your eyes, my pansies sweet,
Open your eyes, open to me,

Where did you get your purple hue?
Did a cloud smile as you came through?

Open your eyes, my pansies sweet,
Open your eyes, open to me,
Did a little sunbeam bold

Kiss on your lips that tint of gold?

Open your eyes, my pansies sweet,
Open your eyes, open to me,
Driving away with face so true,
The chilly winds and wintry hue.

Whisper to me, oh pansies sweet,
Tell me, oh, tell me, in rustling low,
Then as I bend with listening ear
Your cheerful voice I plainly hear.

- Selected.

THE LILY OF THE VALLEY..

I

HAD found out a sweet green spot,
Where a lily was blooming fair;

The din of the city disturbed it not,
But the spirit that shades the quiet cot
With its wings of love was there.

I found that lily's bloom,

When the day was dark and chill; It smiled like a star in a misty gloom, And it sent abroad a soft perfume,

Which is floating around me still.

I sat by the lily's bell,

And watched it many a day;