away almost too quickly, and the time came to go back to
the city. That seemed rather hard to Jane and George. But they have the
promise of another excursion before the summer is over.

JANE OLIVER.

[Illustration]

[Illustration]

BUMBLE-BEE.

THE smartest of dandies is young Mr. Bee,
Who is known by the name of Bumble;
His life is a short one, but merry and free:
They're mistaken who call him "Humble."
Clad in black velvet, with trimmings of yellow,
He knows well enough he's a fine-looking fellow;
And, hiding away a sharp little dagger,
He dashes about with a confident swagger,
While to show he's at ease, and to tell of his coming,
A tune he is always carelessly humming.
Eating or drinking, or looking for pleasure
Fit for the tastes of a person of leisure,
Down where the meadow is sunny and breezy,
In the red clover, he takes the world easy;
Or, feeling the need of a little diversion,
He makes to the garden a pleasant excursion,
And into a lily or hollyhock dodging
With quiet assurance he takes up his lodging.
With a snug little fortune invested in honey,
Young Bumble Bee lives like a prince, on his money,
And, scorning some plodding relations of his, he
Leaves hard labor to them,--his cousins named "Busy."

D. B. BARNARD.

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BUTTERCUP AND DAISY.

_Dear little Readers of "The Nursery:"_--I would like to tell you a
story about my little brother Clinton and myself. We each have a nice
little calf down at our grandpa's farm in the country. One is a pure
Alderney, grandpa says, and is of a beautiful fawn color: the other is
red and white. Grandpa let us name them: so we called them Buttercup and
Daisy. Clinton's is Buttercup, and mine is Daisy.

They are both very kind and gentle. Both have cunning little horns, just
coming out of their heads; but they do not hook little brother or me. In
the picture you will see them eating corn out of our hands.

At first we were afraid of their damp noses and rough tongues; but we
soon got over that, and now feed them every time we go to the farm.

Papa tried to have the little Alderney give us a ride on i