ring twig, where he clung,
frightened and delighted at what he had done.

I left him then, with his father and mother making just such a time over
him as your fathers and mothers made over you when you took your first
steps.

MABEL ELWELL.

"LULLABY!"

NOW the shadows gather fast, "by-low" time has come at last;
Little birds have gone to rest, safe within their downy nest;
Little lambkins seek the fold, warmly housed from wind and cold:
Baby darling, you and I now must sing our lullaby!

I will sing a sweet good-night to my baby's blue eyes bright,
To the little cheeks so fair, to the sunny, golden hair,
To the rosy lips so sweet, to the dimpled hands and feet;
Gently rocking to and fro, singing softly, singing low.

Into "Dreamland," baby wee, you will slip away from me;
Out from shadow into light, to the world of visions bright;
While the mother-love so true, keeping tender watch o'er you,
With the lullaby shall seem still to soothe and bless your dream.

[Illustration]

Lullaby, oh, lullaby! stars are lighting in the sky;
All the sunshine of the day like yourself is tired of play:
Tell me, are the sunbeams _there_ in that dreamland bright and fair?
Bring them back, my baby, then, when you wake to earth again.

Sweetly on her mother's breast sinks the little one to rest.
By-low time is sweeter far than all the hours of play-time are:
So thinks baby, so think I, as we sing our lullaby,
Rocking gently to and fro, chanting softly, chanting low.

MARY D. BRINE.

HOW LITTLE EDITH WENT TO SLEEP.

"I'M sleepy; and I want my mamma to rock me to sleep; and I don't want
grandma, or auntie, or papa, or any one else, to rock me, but just my
own mamma." And the little queen planted her feet firmly, and looked at
us with so much defiance, that we felt it was of no use for us to coax,
rock, or sing.

Little Edith was tired, and sadly in need of her nap; but her mamma was
sick in bed, and could not be disturbed. What was to be done?

Papa held up a bright silver-piece as a reward of merit to the little
girl, if she would be good, and go to sleep. Grandma ventured a little
coaxing. But it was all of no avail: the sleepy eyes opened wide, as if
they meant to keep open in spite of us all.

But when auntie remarked that she was going to her room to sharpen her
pencil,