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on one leg, then stopped, and said he could cure himself; where-up-on he pointed his forc-fin'ger first up to the sky, then down to the earth, then clapped his hands three times, and said, "Pres'to, hick'o-ry, one, two, three," after which he de-clared that his ankle was as good as new.

5. "Why did you say you had sprained your ankle?" I asked; for I did not like it that he should have said what was not true. But John replied that he was in so much pain, at first, that he really thought his ankle was sprained; but when he found it was not, he thought he would make a joke of the ac'ci-dent.

6. From the cherry-tree we went into the woods, and then to a beau'ti-ful pond, where a man took us into his boat, and rowed us across. We then walked round by the edge of the pond, and I saw a bird, which John told me was a wood'peck-er. It is so called because it pecks its bill into the wood of trees for worms, which it swallows as food.

7. I want to tell you about a birds'-nest, and about grandmother's dinner, and about the fire'works in the evening, and how Emma Bradford was frightened by a rock'et, and we laughed at her; but Mr. Osborne, who is writing this story down for me, says that he cannot have any more of it printed, and that I have prattled quite enough.

8. I tell him that I know the boys will like my story as well as any in the book; but he says I am not the judge of that. Well, good-by, boys.

9. If, during va-ca'tion, you should ever be in the village where grandmother lives, just ask for Edward

Lee; and I and John Winter will take you round

and show you some sport. You will know me by the likeness.

Osborne.

A poet has called it "the morning star of flowers." 2. When the snow'drop appears above the earth, and swings its delicate bells to and fro, we know that we shall soon see other flowers, and that the buds of the spring-time are preparing to swell, and the small leaves to unfold.

3. This flower, from its whiteness, was called, by the Greeks, by a name which means milk-flower in English. The French name means in English snow-piercer; and it is a good name, for the little snowdrop is so hardy, that it will thrive even when it has to struggle through the snow. It does not wilt, like other flowers, after freezing.

4. But the most singular name that I have heard

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123

given to snow'drops, is that of "The Fair Maids of Feb'ru-a-ry." They were so called from the month in which they gen'er-al-ly make their ap-pearance; although in mild seasons, and in shel'tered spots, they may be sometimes seen in Jan'u-a-ry.

5. They have what are called bulb'ous roots, and green shining stems, each of which supports a single white, drooping, bell-shaped blossom. A bulb'ous root is like that of an onion.

6. The snow'drop has been compared to hope. Can you tell me why? You shall know. It springs up through the cold snows, and under wintry skies, as hope does through the gloom of dis-ap-point'ment, and under the frown of sorrow.

7. It has also been lik'ened to hu-mil'i-ty, because, although a beautiful flower, it keeps near the ground, and puts forth its silver blossoms as if it were not proud of their love'li-ness.

8. If you know any person who raises snow'drops, you must ask him, in the time of their bloom, to let you see one.

1. "OH! call my brother back to me,

I cannot play alone;

The summer comes with flower and bee, -
Where is my brother gone?

2. "The butterfly is glancing bright

Across the sunbeam's track;

3. "The flowers run wild, the flowers we sowed

Around our garden-tree;

Our vine is drooping with its load,

Oh! call him back to me."

4. "He would not hear my voice, fair child!
He may not come to thee;

The face that once like spring-time smiled
On earth no more thou 'lt see!

5. "A rose's brief, bright life of joy,
Such unto him was given;
Go,-thou must play alone, my boy;
Thy brother is in heaven!"

6. "And has he left the birds and flowers,
And must I call in vain ;

And through the long, long summer hours,
Will he not come again?

7. "And by the brook, and in the glade
Are all our wanderings o'er?

Oh! while my brother with me played,
Would I had loved him more !"

MRS. HEMANS.

LXVI.

THE SHOW OF WILD BEASTS.

PART I.

(77, 117, 125, 279, 316, 305, 323.)

1. THERE was a show of el'e-phants and wild beasts in our town the last Fourth of July. A big tent

THE SHOW OF WILD BEASTS.

125

was set up, and a band of mu'sic played tunes all

day.

2. Do you know Grace next door to my mother's.

Brown? She lives the

She is a girl whom you would love. I will tell you a story about her.

3. Her father took her to see the an'i-mals in the tent. Grace was much pleased. She looked with won'der on the big el'e-phant, and fed him with apples, which he seemed to like.

4. He put out his big trunk and took them from her hand. She pat'ted him on the trunk, and all at once he took hold of her with his trunk and lift'ed her on to his back.

5. She was a little fright'ened, but the keeper told her not to be a-fraid. He said that the el'e-phant liked her, and that was the rea'son he put her on his back.

6. He said there was once an elephant who became so fond of a little baby, that he used to rock its cradle, and would not take his meals till the baby was brought to him.

7. The keeper told the el'e-phant to put Grace down on the ground, which he did so gen'tly, that Grace laughed and clapped her hands.

8. She then looked at the li'on, the ti'ger, and the mon'keys. She was much a-mused. At length her father said it was time to go, and they went.

9. Out-side of the tent they found a number of poor boys and girls, who lis'tened to the mu'sic, and wished they only had money enough to see the show.

10. Grace stopped and began to count. " What