istle would
startle a herd of deer from their covert, and they would rush up
through the trees, antlers erect, and sleek brown bodies quivering
with alarm, and followed by the soft-eyed, gentle fawn. It was quite a
pretty picture."

"Tell me more; what tind of a city did oo live in?"

[Illustration: CLARA AND THE ANIMAL BOOK.]

"A very beautiful city, Charlie. You should see our noble bay, with
the great ships riding at anchor; our fine parks and stately
buildings. Then if you should go down in Market street, where most of
the business is done, you would see some funny sights. All kinds of
people are there--Ranchmen, Indians, Spaniards, English, Americans and
lots of queer little Chinamen, and they have small, dark shops full of
curious things, and besides spread their wares on the walk."

After telling about the orange groves and vineyards, the lovely
flowers, especially the fuchsia, which winds its branches like a vine
over the porches, often reaching the upper story of a house, Charlie
thought it must be a wonderful country, and expressed his intention of
_living_ in California when he became a man.

In a Chinese village during a time of drought a missionary saw a row
of idols put in the hottest and dustiest part of the road. He inquired
the reason and the natives answered: "We prayed our gods to send us
rain, and they wont, so we've put them out to see how they like the
heat and dryness."

THE UNSOCIABLE DUCKS.

Three meadow birds went out in great glee,
All in the sunshiny weather;
Down by the pond, with the reeds waving free,
Where the ducks were all standing together.

"Good day Mrs. Duck," said the three meadow birds,
"From all the news we can gather,
You're a very good friend, of very few words."
Then one flew away with a feather.

"Quack!" said the duck, "That feather is mine,
I see through your ways altogether;
You want our feathers, your own nests to line,
All in the bright summer weather."

"What shall we use?" said the three meadow birds,
"There's no good in moss or in heather."
"We don't care a straw," said the old blue drake,
"If you line all your nests with sole leather."

"Quack! Quack! Quack! You must think we are slack!
You talk too polite altogether;
We've had quite enough of your high-flown stuff,
And we know, you are birds of a feather."

[Illustration: {DICKE