"Good-bye," said the Dove. "Be careful not to fall into the water again." A few days later, when the Dove was building her nest, the Ant saw a man raising his gun to shoot her. The Ant ran quickly and bit the man's leg very hard. The man cried, "Oh! oh!" and dropped his gun. This frightened the Dove and she flew safely away. The man then picked up his gun and walked on. When he was gone, the Dove came back to her nest. "Thank you, my little friend," she said to the Ant. "You have saved my life." The little Ant jumped for joy to know that he had been able to help the kind Dove. -Dodsley LITTLE TOM TWIG Little Tom Twig bought a fine bow and arrow, And what did he shoot? Why, a poor little sparrow. Oh, fie, little Tom! with your fine bow and arrow, How cruel to shoot at a poor little sparrow! -Mother Goose THE DOG AND THE HEN One day a dog caught a hen which he carried very gently in his mouth to his kennel. The dog kept the hen in his kennel until she laid an egg. He then ate the egg and invited the hen to have some of his food in return. The hen liked this and came every day to the kennel to receive the price for her egg. (From "A Book of Dogs" by E. Nesbit) THE DOG AND THE CHILD A child once fell into the water and a dog jumped in and saved him. As a reward the dog was petted and given buns to eat. The next day the dog came back to the same place. He was greeted with pats and words of praise, but he was given no buns. After awhile no one noticed him any more. So he slyly pushed the same child into the water and barking loudly, jumped in and saved him again. But when he reached the shore there were no kind words or buns for him. (From "A Book of Dogs" by E. Nesbit) See a pin and pick it up, All the day you'll have good luck; Bad luck you'll have all the day. DAYS OF BIRTH Monday's child is fair of face, Is fair and wise and good and gay. -Old Rhyme THE FIRST OF MAY The fair maid who, the first of May -Old Rhyme Fine feathers do not make fine birds. |