lliam I have, who's so nice,
He's charming to every one,--even to mice.

You ask how I know it? Well, listen: I'll tell
Of something which proves it, that lately befell.

One night, when young William was snugly in bed,
A very queer notion came into his head.

He woke from his slumbers, quite sure that he heard
The musical warbling of some little bird.

He listened a moment: all silent, and then
The sweet little songster was singing again.

A lamp, dimly burning, gave light in the room:
Will raised his head softly, and peered through the gloom.

The door was wide open; and there, on the sill
(It's true, on my word: let them doubt it who will),

A mite of a mousie sat singing away
As sweetly as bobolink on a June day.

Erect on her haunches, her head in the air;
That Pussy might catch her she seemed not to care,

But sang till her sweet serenade was quite done;
Then ran away swiftly as mousie could run.

Now, said I not truly, that Willy's so nice,
He's charming to every one,--even to mice?

S. C. R.

[Illustration]

[Illustration]

OUR PONY.

WE have a pony whose name is Duke. He was very skittish when we first
had him. There are four of us children who ride him,--Mamie, Winnie,
Arthur, and myself. We have another little sister, Florence; but she is
not old enough to ride, being only five years old.

Winnie is a nice little rider. Duke was Mamie's birthday present. We
were all very much pleased when he came. We danced round him, and
clapped our hands. Mamma wanted to surprise us: so, while we were at
dinner, she had the pony brought up and put in the barn.

After dinner we went out to play; and Winnie saw the whip and the
saddles, and then she suspected something. So she began looking around
in the stalls. There she found the pony, and then came running in to
mamma to ask if it was really ours. Mamma said, Yes.

Then we were very much pleased, and said we would ride him. Winnie rode
him up to the house first; then Mamie wanted to ride, so she got on the
boys' saddle. Duke would not stand still for her; and, when she got on,
he went galloping down to the barn. Her hat flew off, and she was very
much frightened. She kept calling out, "Stop him!" but he would not stop
until he