toes.

And then when I was called upon to answer "four times four,"
I failed, and teacher told me that I ought to study more.
She asked if I had done my best. I had to answer, "No'm."
I don't believe she leaves a little lonely doll at home!

HANNAH G. FERNALD.

A SLEEPY-HEAD TOP

My top is just the very best,
But, my! it is the laziest.
It sleeps, and sleeps, and sleeps all day,
And doesn't want to come and play.
Then, when it spins, it sleeps the more.
It stands up straight, but it will snore,
Until it is so sound asleep
It tumbles over in a heap.

SINCLAIR LEWIS.

A CHRISTMAS "TELEPHONE"

"Ullo, Mr. Santa! Ullo! Ullo! Ullo!
If must be 'most to Christmas, and I think you ought to know
About the things we're needing most--of course I'd like a doll,
And Jimmy wants a rocking-horse, and Charlie wants a ball.

"And all of us would like a lot of striped candy sticks
(There's just six boys and girls of us--be sure to make it six),
And gum-drops; and oh, if you could, some red-and-white gibraltars!
I had some once, and half was mine, and half of them was Walter's.

"But, dear old Santa, don't forget, whatever you leave out,
To put in some surprises that we never thought about;
For in the whole long stocking, clear down into the toe,
The presents that are nicest are the ones you didn't know."

A LOST BABY

Baby's hidden all away!
Nobody can find her!
Where's the baby, mamma? Say,
Let's go look behind her!

Baby? No, she isn't there--
Have we lost our baby?
Let's go hunting down the stair,
There we'll find her, maybe.

Papa's lost his little girl!
What will he do for kisses?
What is this? A yellow curl?
And please to say what this is

Inside my coat! "_I 'ant some breff!_
_It makes me almost 'oasted!_
_Next time don't smovver me to deff--_
_Let's play aden I'm losted!"_

VELOCIPEDE

I know of a staid and sober horse
That goes by a great, long name.
The little ones like this trusty steed
That always goes at a proper speed.
They call him the good Velocipede,
And he's never tired or lame.

Ah, he is the horse that gives you fun,
And he is the horse you need!
He's never balky, he eats no hay,
He's ready to either go or stay,
And never was known to run away--
This good horse Velocipede.

ANNIE WILLIS MCCULLOUGH.