A BIT OF POTTERY.

The potter stood at his daily work,
One patient foot on the ground;
The other with never-slacking speed,
Turning his swift wheel round.
Silent we stood beside him there,
Watching the restless knee,

Till my friend said low, in pitying voice,
'How tired his foot must be!"

The potter never paused in his work,
Shaping the wondrous thing;
'Twas only a common flower-pot,
But perfect in fashioning.
Slowly he raised his patient eyes,
With homely truth inspired:

"No, marm, it isn't the foot that kicks-
The one that stands gets tired."

YE CHILDREN, BE GAY.

Ye children, be gay,
Enjoy innocent fun;

'Tis right you should play

When your life's just begun.

But you should be kind,
And your parents obey;
If them you do mind,

You will not go astray.

Be good while you may,

'Tis a message from Heaven;

Do good day by day,

A commandment that's given.

LUCY S. RUGGLES,

DO YOUR BEST.

A gentleman once said to a physician: "I think that at night you would feel so worried over the work of the day that you would not be able to sleep."

"My head hardly touches the pillow till I fall asleep," replied the physician. "I made up my mind,” he continued, "at the commencement of my professional career to do my best under all circumstances, and so doing I am not troubled with any misgivings."

to say,

A good rule for us to follow. Too many are disposed "No matter how I do this work now; next time I'll do better." The practice is as bad as the reasoning. "No matter how I learn this lesson in the lower class⚫ when I get into a higher department then I'll study." As well might the mother in knitting stockings, say, "No matter how the tip is done; even if I do drop a stitch now and then, I'll do better when I get further along." What kind of a stocking would that be?

As well might the builder say, "I don't care how I make the foundation of this house; anything will do here; wait till I get to the top, then I'll do good work."

66

Said Sir Joshua Reynolds once to Doctor Samuel Johnson: Pray tell me, sir, by what means have you attained such extraordinary accuracy and flow of language in the expression of your ideas?"

"I laid it down as a fixed rule," replied the doctor, "to do my best on every occasion, and in every company, to impart what I know in the most forcible language I can put it.

DOING NOTHING.

Worthless, wicked boys I've seen
Doing nothing;

And they grew up worthless men,
Doing nothing;

Life to them a failure proved,
As they spent it, all unloved,
Doing nothing.

OLD SPECKLED HEN.

Have you e'er seen my speckled hen,
That stole into a keg,

And after, cackled long and loud,
Because she laid an egg?

This dear old cackling, speckled hen,
Was quiet in her way,
And wisely cackled only when
She laid an egg each day.

But soon she fluttered in and out,
Her feathers all awry;

I wondered what 'twas all about,
And thought she sure would die.

Now she would cluck and strut as fine
As any king or queen,

When she came off her nest to dine,
Or getting drink was seen.

But silently she kept her house,
And lay upon her bed,

As quiet as a churchyard mouse,

And never raised her head.

And when three weeks had rolled around,

A chirping sound I heard,

And, looking in the old keg, there

I saw a yellow bird!

It's little eyes were black and bright,

It cuddled in the nest;

And on its head were spots of brown,

In softest down 'twas dressed.

Chirp! chirp! I searched and saw some more,
The old hen looked knowing;

I counted them, one! two! three! four!
The cockerel was crowing!

The hen flew out with cluck and clack,
Her ten chicks followed slow;

The chicks were bright, the hen was proud
As any hen I know.

LUCY S. RUGGLES.

LITTLE FOXES.

Among my tender vines I spy,
A little fox named " By-and-By."

Then set upon him, quick, I say,
The swift young hunter "Right Away."

Around each tender vine I plant,
I find the little fox "I Can't!"

Then fast as ever hunter ran,

Chase him with brave and bold “1 Can.”

"No Use in Trying!" lags and whines This fox among my tender vines.

Then drive him low and drive him high,
With this good hunter named "I'll Try."

Among the vines in my small lot,
Creeps in the young fox "I Forgot."

Then hunt him out and to his den,
With "I-Will-Not-Forget-Again."

A little fox is hidden there

Among my vines, named "I Don't Care."

Then let "I'm Sorry," hunter true,

Chase him far from vines and you.

HOW TO DEAL WITH NEW-LAID EGGS.

[The little girl who recites this should have a basket of eggs in her hand.]

Be gentle to the new-laid egg,
For eggs are brittle things;
They cannot fly until they're hatched
And have a pair of wings.
If once you break the tender shell
The wrong you can't redress,
The yelk and white will all run out
And make a dreadful "mess.'
""

'Tis but a little while at best
That hens have power to lay;
To-morrow eggs may addled be
That were quite fresh to day.
Oh, let the touch, my friends be light
That takes them from the keg,
There is no hand whose cunning skill
Can mend a broken egg!

SUNBEAMS.

Merry little sunbeams,

Flitting here and there;
Joyous little sunbeams,
Dancing everywhere.

Come they with the morning light,
And chase away the gloomy night.

Kind words are little sunbeams,
That sparkle as they fall;
And loving smiles are sunbeams,
A light of joy for all.

In sorrow's eye they dry the tear,
And bring the fainting heart good cheer,