opened, they would fly to the little girl. The parents feared that this
might be a bad omen, and that the little girl would die.

But she kept her health, and did not die. She still makes pets of the
birds, and they come and play with her. She handles them so gently, that
even a humming-bird has been known to come to her several times.

Last winter a whole flock of birds kept near the house all the season.
She would feed them, and then play with them for hours at a time. Every
morning the birds would fly to her window, and chirp, as much as to say,
"Good-morning, little mistress! Wake up, wake up!"

I think the child must be a near relation of that "Little Bell," of whom
the poet Westwood sang,--

"Whom God's creatures love," the angels fair
Murmured, "God doth bless with angels' care:
Child, thy bed shall be
Folded safe from harm; love deep and kind
Shall watch around, and leave good gifts behind,
Little Bell, for thee!"

EMILY CARTER.

DADDY FROG.

[Illustration: Daddy Frog & Children]

Old Daddy Frog lives in a bog,
And his coat is bottle-green;
Yellow his vest; handsomely dressed,
His pretty shape is seen.
Puffing with pride, there at his side
His dame is sure to be:
Smiling, she says, "No one could raise
A finer family!
Singing Coa, coa, coa, kerchunk!"

Old Daddy Frog leaps on a log
In a spry and jaunty way:
Calling his boys--oh, what a noise!
He joins them in their play.
Hippety hop! under they pop,
And Daddy Frog says he,
"Isn't it fine? How they will shine,
This polished family!
Singing Coa, coa, coa, kerchunk!"

Old Daddy Frog lives in the bog
Till the summer days are done:
Little boys grow; dressed like a beau
Now is each model son.
Daddy Frog's eyes wink with surprise,
Filled with delight is he;
Dame at his side chuckles with pride,
"There's no such family!
Singing Coa, coa, coa, kerchunk!"

GEORGE COOPER.

[Illustration: Daddy Frog]

THE FIRST CATCH.

One.
Two.
Three.
Four.
Five.

[Illustration: Fish in Hat]

I
caught
a
fish
alive.

Why
did
You
let
him
go?

[Illustration: Boy Bit]

He
bit
my
little
finger
so.

TALKING WITH THE FINGERS.

No doubt, many of the little readers