dress,
Which is no fun at all."

"I would not be a boy," said May,
"For boys are nasty things,
With pockets filled with hooks and knives,
And nails, and tops and strings
And when a boy becomes a man,
He's got to buy girls rings;"

A Lost Child

"I'm losted! Could you find me, please?"
Poor little frightened baby!
The wind had tossed her golden fleece,
The stones had scratched her dimpled knees,
I stooped and lifted her with ease,
And softly whispered "Maybe."

"Tell me your name, my little maid:
I can't find you without it."
"My name is Shiny-eyes," she said,
"Yes; but your last name?" She shook her head:
"Up to my house 'ey never said
A single word about it."

"But, dear," I said, "what is your name?"
"Why, didn't you hear me told you?
Dust Shiny-eyes." A bright thought came:
"Yes, when you're good. But when they blame
You little one,--is it just the same
When mamma has to scold you?"

"My mamma never scolds," she moans,
A little blush ensuing,
"'Cept when I've been a-frowing stones;
And then she says (the culprit owns),--
Mehitabel Sapphira Jones.
What has you been a-doing?"

Anna E. Burnham

Little Mary

Here stands little, little Mary,
With her face of winning grace,
Chattering tongue that runs apace,
And her ways contrary

Who so gay as Mary?
With her laughs of rippling glee
Brimming o'er with melody,--
Bonny, blithesome Mary.

Household pet is Mary--
Such a merry, joyous sprite,
Filling all our home with light--
Pretty winsome Mary!

Mischief-loving Mary,
Busy as the busiest bee,
Full of sunshine, life, and glee
Is our heart's sweet Mary!

Girl and Angel

As Peter sat at Heaven's gate
A maiden sought permission,
And begged of him, if not too late,
To give her free admission.

"What claim hast thou to enter here?"
He cried with earnest mien.
"Please sir," said she, 'twixt hope and fear,
"I'm only just sixteen!"

"Enough," the hoary guardian said,
And the gate wide open threw.
"That is the age when every maid
Is girl and angel too."

[Illustration: Our Country Cousin.]

[Page 12--Naughty Girls]

Girl Who Wouldn't Go to Bed

Once I knew a little girl,
Who wouldn't go to bed,
And in the morning always had
A very sleepy head.

At night she'd sto