Next day, she went out again, and left the same orders as before. The owner came, and waited. The sun grew hot, but nothing was done, for not a soul came. “ You see,” said the owner to his son, “ these friends of ours are not to be depended upon; so run off at once to your uncles and cousins, and say I wish them to come early to-morrow morning and help us reap.”

This the Young Ones, in a great fright, told also to their mother. “Do not fear, children,” said she; “ kindred and relations are not always very forward in helping one another ; but keep your ears open, and let me know what you hear to-morrow.

The owner came the next day, and, finding his relations as backward as his neighbors, said to his son, “Now listen to me. Get two good sickles ready for to-morrow morning, for it seems we must reap the grain by ourselves.”

The Young Ones told this to their mother. Then, my dears,” said she, “it is time for us to go ; for when a man undertakes to do his work himself, it is not so likely that he will be disappointed.” She took away her Young Ones at once, and the grain was reaped the next day by the old man and his son.

66

LONDON BRIDGE.

London bridge is broken down,

Dance over my Lady Lee; London bridge is broken down,

With a gay lady.

How shall we build it up again?

Dance over my Lady Lee; How shall we build it up again ?

With a gay lady.

Build it up with silver and gold,

Dance over my Lady Lee; Build it up with silver and gold,

With a gay lady.

Silver and gold will be stolen away,

Dance over my Lady Lee; Silver and gold will be stolen away,

With a gay lady.

Build it up with iron and steel,

Dance over my Lady Lee; Build it up with iron and steel,

With a gay lady

Iron and steel will bend and bow,

Dance over my Lady Lee; Iron and steel will bend and bow,

With a gay lady.

Build it up with wood and clay,

Dance over my Lady Lee; Build it up with wood and clay,

With a gay lady.

Wood and clay will wash away,

Dance over my Lady Lee; Wood and clay will wash away,

With a gay lady.

Build it up with stone so strong,

Dance over my Lady Lee; Huzza! 'twill last for ages long,

With a gay lady.

THE BELLS OF LONDON.

Gay go up and gay go down,
To ring the bells of London town.

Bull's-eyes and targets,
Say the bells of St. Marg'ret's.

Brickbats and tiles,
Say the bells of St. Giles'.

Half-pence and farthings,
Say the bells of St. Martin's.

Oranges and lemons,
Say the bells of St. Clement's

Pancakes and fritters,
Say the bells of St. Peter's.

Two sticks and an apple,
Say the bells of Whitechapel.

Old Father Baldpate,
Say the slow bells of Aldgate.

You owe me ten shillings,
Say the bells of St. Helen's.

Pokers and tongs,
Say the bells of St. John's.

Kettles and pans,
Say the bells of St. Ann's.

When will you pay me
Say the bells of Old Bailey,

When I grow rich,
Say the bells of Shoreditch.

Pray when will that be?
Say the bells of Stepney.

I'm sure I don't know,
Says the great bell of Bow.

THE HISTORY OF TOM THUMB.

In the days of King Arthur, Merlin, the famous enchanter, was once upon a long journey; when, feeling very weary, he stopped at the cottage of an honest ploughman to ask for some food. The ploughman's wife immediately brought him some milk and some brown bread, setting it before him with great civility.

Merlin could not help seeing that, although everything was very neat and clean, and the ploughman and his wife did not

to be in want, yet they looked very sad; so he asked them to let him know the cause of their grief, and found that they were unhappy because they had no children. “Ah me!” said the forlorn woman, “ if I had but a son, although he were