s has passed, and you
are recovering by degrees. The gutters ran beneath my bedroom windows,
and I could see the steel-blue backs of the swallows as they sat on the
rims of the gutter, twisting their little heads, opening their
yellow-lined beaks, singing to their hearts' content. Whole families
would perch there together, or the young would rest in rows of four or
five, according to the nest-broods of each. How delightful to see them
fed by their agile parents! how tantalizing to have them almost within
reach of my hands, yet not to be able to catch them or give them a kiss,
as they would cower in my hollow hands if I only could have got them in
there!

[Illustration]

THE BRAVE DOG OF ST. BERNARD.

Where the St. Bernard Pass climbs up
Amid the Alpine snows,
The far-famed Hospice crowns the heights
With shelter and repose.

Its inmates, with their faithful dogs,
Are truly friends in need
When snowdrifts block the traveler's way,
And blinding storms mislead.

Brave "Barry," once, far down the track
That crossed a glacier steep,
Found buried deep beneath the snow
A poor boy, fast asleep.

He licked the cold, numb hands and face
To warmth and life once more,
And bore him safely on his back
Up to the Hospice door.

[Illustration]

[Illustration: COME TO ME!]

G--THE GIRAFFE.

_Full seventeen feet the Giraffe tall
Measures "from top to toe,"
And with his neck outstretched can reach
The branch that bendeth low._

[Illustration]

H--THE HYENA.

_In Asia and in Africa
The fierce Hyenas prowl,
And oft at night the traveler starts
To hear their savage howl._

[Illustration]

I--THE ICHNEUMON.

_A foe to birds and rats and mice,
See the Ichneumon glide!
Oft, too, on reptiles or their eggs
Its hungry teeth are tried._

MOTHER-DEER AND BABY.

Something has startled them, as they fed securely enough, one would
think, on the grass at the foot of the rocks; and if we could only get a
little nearer, this is what we should hear the mother-deer saying to her
baby: "My child, I am sure there is danger about; look out and tell me
if you see the slightest movement on the hill yonder, or if I see it
first, I will give you the signal, and you must follow me, and run for
your very life." And the baby, with cocked ears and glistening eyes,
promises to do as it is told. But after all it will probably prove a
false alarm, for this is not the time of year for