Baby Chatterbox | Page 4

injuring?him. I stood for a while hesitating, and?at length determined to go round through?another gate, when a fine Newfoundland?dog, who had been waiting patiently for?his wonted caresses, and wondering why?I did not come in, looked accidently down?at the invalid. He comprehended the whole?business in a moment. He put down his?great paw, and, as quickly and as gently as?possible, rolled the invalid out of the way,?and then drew himself back in order to?leave room for the opening of the gate."
[Illustration]
[Illustration]
The Little Gleaner.
Little Ruth, like the woman of old of that name,?Returns from the field, where she gathered the grain.
[Illustration]
IN THE SWING.
"Up little Gracie! Swing up high,?As if you're going to touch the sky;?Only, take care, my darling pet--?Hold the two ropes, and don't forget.
"Up again, Gracie! There--that's right,?Laughing away, but holding tight;?While little Dottie waits below,?And Harry sends you to and fro.
"Stop, Harry, now! 'tis time for Grace?To yield to little Dot her place.?Be gentle, dear, for Dot's so small--?If you're not careful, she may fall."
The children change; for all the three?Are fair in play, and well agree;?And now the youngest laughing pet?Begs for "a little higher!" yet.
[Illustration]
THE DONKEY RIDE.
"Oh, papa! will you please buy me a?donkey?" said little Ella Clark to her?father, as she ran to meet him. "Well,"?said her father, "if you will promise to be?a very good girl, and give your sister May?a share of the rides, I will get one in the?city and send it home." So, in a few days?the donkey came, with a new bridle and?saddle. The next thing to do was to give?him a name; so, after trying a great many?they agreed to call him "Jack." The next?day Ella and May were up early and went?to the barn, where they found Henry, and?asked him to saddle "Jack." Henry brushed?down "Jack's" thick coat of hair, and made?him look quite trim, and he then placed Ella?on "Jack's" back, and walked him up and?down, holding on to Ella, and in a short?time she could ride alone, and felt as proud?as a queen when her father saw her sitting?up on "Jack's" back. She then gave May?a ride, and at last got so bold as to take?"Jack" down the lane alone, and had a?splendid time riding up and down.
[Illustration]
THE SPELLING LESSON.
Now, Pussy, you must be real good,?And learn to spell like me;?When I say, "Pussy, what is this?"?You must say, That is C.
Don't scratch, and twist, and turn about,?And try to get away;?But, Pussy, please to try and learn:?This is the letter A.
There now, that's nice, you're doing well;?Oh, dear! where can she be;?Just as I'd taught her how to spell?Clear to the letter T.
She jumped and ran away so fast,?She must have seen a rat;?And now how will she ever know?That C-A-T spells Cat.
[Illustration]
"GEE UP, PONY."
When mother threw open the nursery door,?There she found uncle down on the floor;?While up on his back sat Harry and Fred,?And Nellie stood by and was stroking his head.
"This is my pony," cried Harry: "gee way;?Get on, old Dobbin--don't wait here all day."?And "Gee way," says Freddy, who thinks he must do?Whatever his brother may do or say too.
And uncle good-humoredly keeps on his round,?Creeping and crawling about on the ground;?And mother still hears, as she goes on her way,?"Come, gee up, my pony--don't wait here all day."
[Illustration]
GOOD-NIGHT AND GOOD-MORNING.
A fair little girl sat careless and free,?Sewing as long as her eyes could see;?Then smoothed her work, and folded it right,?And said "Dear Work! good-night! good-night!"
Such a number of rooks came over her head,?Crying "Caw! Caw!" on their way to bed.?She said, as she watched their curious flight,?"Little black things! good-night! good-night!"
The horses neighed, and the oxen lowed;?The sheeps "Bleat! bleat!" came over the road--?All seeming to say with a quiet delight,?"Good little girl! good-night! good-night!"
The tall pink foxglove bowed his head--?The violets curtsied and went to bed;?And good little Lucy tied up her hair,?And said on her knees her favorite prayer.
And while on her pillow she softly lay,?She knew nothing more till again it was day;?And all things said to the beautiful sun,?"Good-morning! good-morning! our work is begun."
[Illustration]
A DEAR LITTLE GRANNY.
I want to be your granny--?Granny, granny dear;?Do you think in glasses?I'm anything like near?
Would you take me for her?If I wore her cap;?Told you pretty stories,?Took you in my lap?
Gave you lots of sweeties,?Cakes and apples too??That's the way that grannies,?Dear old grannies do!
[Illustration]
PLAYING IN THE HAY.
Little Elsie and Gertie live in the?country. They do not see the gay?shops full of pretty things that amuse children?in New York, and they have never?been to a bazaar, or to the Zoological?Gardens, but they have sweet flowers to?smell and look at, and live creatures about?them at home. They find amusements at?all seasons of the year, and are very merry.?You see them now in the field where the?grass has been cut and is drying