Once when he cut his father's tree
He owned it to his face;

And then his father ardently
Clasped him in his embrace.

He told his son it pleased him more
To find him own the truth,
Than if his tree were bending o'er
With rich and golden fruit.

Then like this good and noble youth,
Whose virtues ever shone,

I'll seek the paths of love and truth,
And all my faults will own.

THE BUTTERFLY

ADELAIDE O'KEEFE

THE Butterfly, an idle thing,

Nor honey makes, nor yet can sing,
As do the bee and bird;

Nor does it, like the prudent ant,
Lay up the grain for times of want,
A wise and cautious hoard.

My youth is but a summer's day;
Then like the bee and ant I'll lay

A store of learning by;

And though from flower to flower I rove, My stock of wisdom I'll improve,

Shining down, the great round sun
Shines upon it often;

Little raindrops, pattering down,
Help the seeds to soften.

Then the little plant awakes!

Down the roots go creeping.

Up it lifts its little head

Through the brown earth peeping.

Higher and higher still it grows

Through the summer hours,

Till some happy day the buds
Open into flowers.

THE STARS.

MAY MOORE JACKSON

Do you know what the little stars do at night?

They play on a deep blue hill.

Mother Moon watches to keep them in sight,

For they're never, never still.

Do you know what the little stars do at dawn?
They sink in a sun-kissed sea,

And there they sleep till the day is gone,

As still as still can be.

Mounting, whirling, sailing,

Full of mirth.

Life there, welling, flowing,
Waving round;
Pictures coming, going,

Without sound.

Quick now, be this airy
Globe repelled;

Never can the fairy

Star be held.

A MAY SONG

AUTHOR NOT KNOWN

AMERRY little maiden

In the merry month of May
Came tripping o'er the meadow
As she sang this merry lay:

"I'm a merry little maiden,
My heart is light and gay,
And I love the sunny weather
In the merry month of May.

"I love the little birdies

That sport along my way, And sing their sweet and merry songs In the merry month of May.

"I love my little sisters

And my brothers every day; But I seem to love them better In the merry month of May. "

PROVERBS AND POPULAR SAYINGS

Waste not, want not.

As blind as a bat.

Out of the frying pan into the fire.

Penny wise and pound foolish.