The Nursery, No. 169, January, 1881, Vol. XXIX | Page 7

paw; All this happened lately.

[Illustration: Baby May]
This is Baby May: She looks out to spy If her own dear papa comes On
the road near by. Yes, she sees him now, He is coming fast; For he
loves his Baby May, Loves her first and last.
K.G.

THE BASKET OF APPLES.
[Illustration: THE BASKET OF APPLES.]
I.
Albert is a bright little fellow. He is not three years old; but he can read
ten words in "The Nursery." These words are, cat, dog, cow, horse, bird,
mother, father, brother, sister, apple.
One day, John the gardener left a basket of apples at the top of the
garden-steps. Albert saw it, and knew it was meant for the house. "I
will take it in," said he. "I am strong."
[Illustration: Albert II]
II.
But the basket was not so light as he had thought. Indeed it was quite
heavy. Perhaps this was because it was full of apples. The gardener had
just picked them from a fine old tree in the orchard.
Albert was a stout little fellow; but the basket was too much for him. In
trying to lift it, he upset it; and some of the apples rolled out down the
steps as fast as they could go. Perhaps they saw it was a good chance to
run away.
[Illustration: Albert III]

III.
Albert did not cry. He knew that crying would do no good. What was
now the first thing to be done? Albert thought for a while, and said to
himself, "The first thing to do is to set the basket upright."
He did not find it hard work to do this. All the apples had not run out.
Some were still in the basket.
Albert picked up one, smelt of it, and then put it back. He next placed
the basket upright.
[Illustration: Albert IV]
IV.
Having done this so that the basket stood firm, he said, "What is the
next thing to do? The next thing to do is to put back the apples; and I
am the boy that can do it."
And he did it well. He did not once think of keeping any of the apples
for himself; nor did he even take a bite of one of them. He was a good
boy, and too honest for that.
If any one had said to him, "Give me an apple," Albert would have said,
"The apples are not mine to give."
[Illustration: Albert V]
V.
"Now it is all right again," said Albert. "What next? If the basket will
not let me carry it, the basket shall carry me. That would be fair play."
So he mounted the basket, as you see, took hold of the handle with his
left hand, and cried out, "Get up, sir!" He made believe it was a horse.
"Get up, sir!" he cried. But the horse would not move.
[Illustration: Albert VI]

VI.
Albert then began to shake the basket, as if to urge it on. Ah, me! who
would have thought to see it play the gay horse in earnest? It seemed so
gentle!
Who would have thought to see it shy, and kick up, and throw Albert
off? But so it did. Albert put out both hands to save himself, but he
could not keep his seat. Over he went.
[Illustration: Albert VII]
VII.
Over went the basket. Albert, apples, and all rolled down the steps.
"Help!" he cried. The gardener ran up to see what was the matter.
"Where are my apples?" said he. "Here!" said Albert, jumping up, for
the lucky rogue was not hurt a bit.
UNCLE SAM.

CHRISTMAS.
Words by ALFRED SELWYN.[A]
Music by T. CRAMPTON.
[Illustration: Music]
1.
Christmas is coming, ho, ho, and ho, ho! Now bring on your holy and
do not move slow; We'll deck the whole house with the branches so
green, On wall and on picture the leaves shall be seen. Oh! merry the
time when we all meet together In spite of the cold, the wind, and the
weather, When grandparents, uncles, and cousins we see, All gather'd

around the mahogany tree.
2.
It stands in the hall, the mahogany tree; And very nice fruit it will bear,
you'll agree; The turkeys and capons, the puddings and pies, On
Christmas day feed something more than the eyes. The poor and the
needy then come to our door, And carry off with them a bountiful store
Of all the good things that we have for ourselves, In cupboard and
cellar, on table and shelves.
3.
When dinner is ended, what sound do we hear From holly-deck'd parlor
ring merry and clear? 'Tis Uncle Tom's fiddle! the tune is a call To all
the good people to come to our ball. They come, young and