1. THERE is an old fable about the magpie's nest which you may like to hear. Once on a time, the birds, seeing that the magpie made a fine, strong nest, agreed to ask him how he did it. So they all came to seek his advice. 66 2. Well, I will show you," said the mag"I first lay two sticks across, so.' pie. 66 Yes, yes. I said that was the way," cried the crow. 3. "Then put a few more like this." 66 jay. Who does not know that?" said the 4. "Then fetch a little moss and wool." "To be sure; why, we could do that," sneered the jackdaw. 5. "O, well," said the magpie, "I see you are just as able to build a nest as I am, so I wish you a very good morning." Then, with a polite bow, he flew away. 6. He had said nothing of the roof, and so the other birds all but the sly tomtit have never learned how to put a roof over their nests. 1. BOUNDING like a foot-ball, Kicking at the door; 2. Building shops and houses, Spoiling father's hat; Hiding mother's precious keys Underneath the mat; Jumping on the fender, Poking at the fire; Making mother's heart leap Fifty times a day; Aping everything we do, Every word we say ; 3. Shouting, laughing, tumbling, Present, bringing sunshine; 1. PLANTS have five parts. These parts are the root, the stem, the leaf, the flower, and the fruit. 2. The root holds the plant firmly in the ground. By the root, also, the plant takes up food from the earth to keep it alive and help it grow. 3. The stem is the main part of a plant. The stem springs from the root, and supports the branches and other parts above the root. 4. The leaf, like our skin, is full of little holes or pores. Through these pores the air gets to the plant and keeps it in health. 5. The flower is that part from which the fruit or seed is formed; the flower is the prettiest part of the plant. 6. The seed is the most useful part of the plant. From it other plants of the same sort grow. The great work of a plant is to bring out seed. The seed is the little child of the plant. |