Simple Simon went a-fishing

For to catch a whale;
All the water that he had,
Was in his mother's pail.

Simple Simon went to look

If plums grew on a thistle;
He pricked his fingers very much,
Which made poor Simon whistle.

Jack and Jill went up the hill,
To draw a pail of water;

Jack fell down and broke his crown,
And Jill came tumbling after.

Mrs. Sarah J. Hale was born in New Hampshire in 1795. She wrote many volumes, but this little poem is all that has survived of her numerous publications.

M

ARY had a little lamb;

Its fleece was white as snow;
And everywhere that Mary went,
The lamb was sure to go.

He followed her to school one day

That was against the rule;

It made the children laugh and play,
To see a lamb at school.

So the teacher turned him out;
But still he lingered near;
And waited patiently about ·
Till Mary did appear.

Then he ran to her, and laid
His head upon her arm,
As if he said: "I'm not afraid;
You'll keep me from all harm."

"What makes the lamb love Mary so?" The eager children cry;

"Oh, Mary loves the lamb, you know," The teacher did reply.

Stevenson was born in Edinburgh, Scotland, in 1850. He is the author of many attractive poems. The best known ones are found in "A Child's Garden of Verses," copyright, 1895, by Charles Scribner's Sons. Among his many delightful prose works the most popular are "Treasure Island," "The Black Arrow," and "Kidnapped." Every boy will be delighted to read these as soon as he is old enough to appreciate them.

Jane Taylor was born in England in 1783. She wrote many books. Several of her poems are still popular.

TWINKLE, twinkle, little star!

How I wonder what you are,

Up above the world so high,
Like a diamond in the sky.

When the glorious sun is set,
And the grass with dew is wet,
Then you show your little light,
Twinkle, twinkle, all the night.

Then, if I were in the dark,

I would thank you for your spark.
I could not see which way to go,
If you did not twinkle so.

In the dark blue sky you keep,
And often through my curtains peep;