2. Ann likes them all, but she likes the little chickens best, they are so soft, and so fond of the old hen.

3. The hen that has no chickens lays eggs for Ann; nice, white eggs. When the hen has laid an egg she begins to make a loud cackling noise, to let every one know what she has done.

4. Some day this hen will have chickens too. Ann will put straw in a box, and will give the hen some eggs.

5. The hen will sit on the eggs for three weeks, and keep them warm.

6. Then the chickens in the eggs will cry "Peep, peep," and peck at the shell. The hen will help them break the shell, and out will come the chickens.

7. When the chickens are hatched, the hen takes very great care of them.

8. She calls them to her, scrapes in the earth to find food for them, and covers them with her wings to keep them warm and out of danger.

1. "LITTLE finch, little finch,
Pray where is your house?"
"High up in the tree,

Made of down, and of moss,
And of soft budding boughs,
There is my little house,
My snug little house."

2. "Little finch, little finch,

Who lives in your house?"
"Birdies one, two, and three,
With feathers of down,
As brown as a mouse,
All live in my house,

1. JANE Ross is six years old. She is never cross or pert. She is kind to all her playmates, and they are kind to her.

2. She always keeps her dress clean and neat, and her face and hands free from dirt; for she has heard her mother say that no one likes to see boys or girls who are not neat.

3. One day her mother gave her a pretty little bird. At first the bird was afraid of Jane, but now it has become quite tame.

4. It will perch on her shoulder, and eat seed and worms out of her hand.

5. It seems to be happy in its little cage, and sings almost all day long.

1. THIS road will lead us down by a hedge into a vale. In the midst of the vale is a stream. It comes from a spring by the side of the hill.

2. Let us sit down on the edge of this bank near the spring. How clear and pure the water looks! The brook is small where it first starts.

3. See how it winds through the vale. Far down the vale a bridge crosses the stream.

4. Trees grow on the bank of the stream, Their long branches bend down to the water.

5. There are stones by the side of the brook See that dove standing on one of them to drink.

6. Now he dips his bill into the stream. How quickly he lifts his head from the water! Now he turns his head first to one side and then to the other. He heard a noise, and has flown over the ridge of the hill.

7. I have found some ant-hills here. Let us sit down and watch the ants. How hard they toil in the hot sun! From the ant all may learn to work.