to make,
But the nest I did not take.
Not I," said the dog, "bow-wow!
I wouldn't be so mean, I vow."

"Coo-oo! Coo-coo! Coo-coo!
Let me speak a word or two:
Who stole that pretty nest,
From little Yellow-breast?"

"Not I," said the sheep; "oh, no,
I would not treat a poor bird so;
I gave wool the nest to line,
But the nest was none of mine.
Baa! Baa!" said the sheep; "oh no;
I wouldn't treat a poor bird so."

"Caw! Caw!" cried the crow,
"I should like to know
What thief took away
A bird's nest to-day."

"Cluck! Cluck!" said the hen,
"Don't ask me again;
Why, I haven't a chick
Would do such a trick.
We all gave her a feather,
And she wove them together.
I'd scorn to intrude
On her and her brood.
Cluck! Cluck!" said the hen,
"Don't ask me again."

"Chirr-a-whirr! Chirr-a-whirr!
All the birds make a stir.
Let us find out his name,
And all cry, 'For shame!'"

"I would not rob a bird!"
Said little Mary Green,
"I think I never heard
Of anything so mean!"

"It's very cruel, too,"
Said little Alice Neal,
"I wonder if he knew
How sad the bird would feel."

A little boy hung down his head,
And went and hid behind the bed:
For he stole that pretty nest
From little Yellow-Breast;
And he felt so full of shame
He did not like to tell his name.

--_Anon._

TWO LITTLE HANDS.

Two little hands so soft and white,
This is the left--this is the right.
Five little fingers stand on each,
So I can hold a plum or a peach.
But if I should grow as old as you
Lots of little things these hands can do.

--_Anon._

THE DANDELION.

O dandelion yellow as gold,
What do you do all day?
I just wait here in the tall green grass
Till the children come to play.
O dandelion yellow as gold,
What do you do all night?
I wait and wait till the cool dews fall
And my hair grows long and white.

And what do you do when your hair is white
And the children come to play?
They take me up in their dimpled hands
And blow my hair away.

--_Anon._

A MILLION LITTLE DIAMONDS.

A million little diamonds
Twinkled on the trees;
And all the little maidens said,
"A jewel, if you please!"

But