The Nursery, No. 107, November, 1875, Vol. XVIII. | Page 4

hear my story; then,
perhaps, You'll freely grant me pardon. (See how the spiders set their
traps All over grandma's garden.) Long since I had a little friend, Dear
as your darling sister, And she from over sea, did send This token, ere
Death kissed her: 'Twas in a box, a tiny slip, With word just how to set
it: And now I kiss its fragrant tip,-- You see I can't forget it.
[Illustration]
Well, here I get thyme, sage, and mint, Sweet marjoram and savory;
(Cook says they always give a hint Of summer, rich and flavory);
Here's caraway--take, if you will: Fennel and coriander Hang over beds
of daffodil, And myrtles close meander. What's next to come, one may
not know-- But then I like surprises: Just here, where tender roses blow,
A tiger-lily rises. Here cock's-comb flaunts, and columbine Stands
shaded by sweetbrier, And marigolds and poppies shine Like beds of
glowing fire. A group of honest sunflowers tall Keep sentry in yon
corner; And close beside them on the wall, The peacock, strutting
scorner, Spreads out his rainbow plumes alone, Or stoops to pick a

berry, Where briers climb the mossy stone Beneath those clumps of
cherry. Now we'll turn back: you've seen but few Of my old-fashioned
beauties, But take away a nosegay new To cheer you at your duties;
Take pansies and forget-me-nots; Pluck pinks, bluebells, and roses,
And tell me if you know a spot Where flourish fairer posies. Grandma
herself no lovelier ground This side of paradise has found.
M.A.C.
[Illustration]

GREAT-AUNT PATIENCE AND HER LITTLE LION.
"What relation is she to me?" said black-eyed Fred, as he heard his
mother say that her Aunt Patience was coming to visit them.
"She is your _great_-aunt," said mamma; "and I want you and Bertie to
be very polite to her."
The little boys had heard their mamma say that Aunt Patience was "a
lady of the old school," and that she was afraid the children would
trouble her, as they were not quite so still as the little boys and girls
used to be forty or fifty years ago.
So Fred and Bertie stood somewhat in awe of this Great-Aunt Patience;
and when the dear old lady arrived, and papa and mamma went to the
cars to meet her, the two boys were watching rather timidly for the
carriage, at the parlor-windows.
As she came up the steps, leaning on papa's arm, little Bertie exclaimed,
"Oh, see, Freddie! she is not great at all: she is as little as a girl."
"Yes, and she laughs too," said Fred; "and her eyes are as blue as
mamma's, and her hair as white as a snowdrift."
Just then, the driver took off a strange-looking thing from the carriage,
and brought it up the steps. It was an old-fashioned trunk, covered with

stiff, reddish-brown hair. The boys had never seen a hair trunk, and it
seemed to them, at the first glance, more like some kind of an animal
than a trunk.
Before they had a chance to examine it, their mamma called them to
come and kiss their aunt, which they did very politely, as they had been
directed. But her sweet face won their hearts at once; and Bertie
exclaimed, "Oh, you are not a big Patience: you are a little good
Patience, I know; and I am not a bit afraid of you!"
[Illustration]
"Bless your little heart, dear! what has mamma been telling you to
make you afraid of me?" said auntie with a merry laugh.
As soon as they could get away, the boys ran up stairs to see what the
driver had carried to their aunt's room. Fred discovered what it was as
soon as he opened the door; but Bertie, who was not yet four years old,
was greatly puzzled. "What can it be?" said he, keeping a safe distance
away from it.
Now, Fred liked to play tricks upon his little brother sometimes: so he
said, with pretended alarm, "Why, perhaps it is a young lion."
After this startling suggestion, Bertie did not wait an instant. He ran as
fast as his legs would carry him, screaming, "O mamma! there is a
young lion up stairs. O papa! do get your pistol, and shoot him." The
poor child was really in a great fright; and all the family ran at once to
see what could be the matter.
They met naughty Fred, laughing, but looking rather guilty. "Why, it is
only great Patience's trunk," said he. "Bertie thinks it is a lion." Papa
told Fred he did very wrong to frighten the boy so; but they all had a
good laugh at poor Bertie's mistake. Bertie was soon induced to take a
nearer look at his frightful little lion;