Now, if any one wants to break in a young horse well, that is the way.

My master often drove me in double harness with my mother, because she was steady and could teach me how to go better than could a strange horse. She told me the better I behaved the better I should be treated, and that it was wisest always to do my best to please my master.

serve.

"But," said she, "there are a great many kinds of men. There are good, thoughtful men like our master, that any horse may be proud to And there are bad, cruel men, who never ought to have a horse or a dog to call their Besides, there are a great many foolish men, vain, ignorant and careless, who never trouble themselves to think. Such men spoil many horses, just for want of sense. They don't mean to do it, but they do it for all that. I hope you will fall into good hands.

own.

"But a horse never knows who may buy him, or who may drive him. drive him. It is all chance for us.

Still, I say, do your best wherever it is, and keep

up your good name."

It was early in May, when there came a man

66

who took me away to the Hall. My master said, Good-by, Darkie; be a good horse, and always do your best." I could not say "good-by," so I put my nose into his hand; he patted me kindly, and I left my first home.

Abridged.

MILKING TIME

BY CHRISTINA ROSSETTI

When the cows come home the milk is coming;
Honey's made while the bees are humming;
Duck and drake on the rushy lake,

And the deer live safe in the breezy brake;
And timid, funny, pert little bunny

Winks his nose, and sits all sunny.

A VISIT FROM ST. NICHOLAS

BY CLEMENT C. MOORE

'Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house,

Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse. The stockings were hung by the chimney with

care,

In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there. The children were nestled all snug in their beds, While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads;

And mamma in her kerchief, and I in my cap, Had just settled our brains for a long winter's

nap

When out on the lawn there rose such a clatter sprang from bed to see what was the matter.

my

I
Away to the window I flew like a flash,

Tore open the shutter, and threw up the sash.
The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow
Gave a luster of midday to objects below;
When what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But a miniature sleigh and eight tiny reindeer,

With a little old driver, so lively and quick,
I knew in a moment it must be St. Nick!

More rapid than eagles his coursers they came, And he whistled and shouted and called them by

name:

"Now, Dasher! now, Dancer! now, Prancer and Vixen!

On, Comet! on, Cupid! on, Donder and Blitzen!—
To the top of the porch, to the top of the wall,—
Now dash away, dash away, dash away all!"
As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,
When they meet with an obstacle mount to the
sky,

So, up to the housetop the coursers they flew,
With a sleigh full of toys-and St. Nicholas, too.

And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof
The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.
As I drew in my head, and was turning around,
Down the chimney St. Nicholas came with a
bound:

He was dressed all in fur from his head to his

foot,

And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes

and soot.

A bundle of toys he had flung on his back,
And he looked like a peddler just opening his pack.

His eyes, how they twinkled! his dimples, how merry!

His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry; His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow, And the beard on his chin was as white as the

snow.

The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth, And the smoke, it encircled his head like a wreath.

He had a broad face and a little round belly
That shook when he laughed, like a bowl full of
jelly.

He was chubby and plump-a right jolly old elf,
And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself;
A wink of his eye, and a twist of his head,
Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread.

He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,