all red, or blue, or green, out
doors, instead of white? It would seem a good deal like fireworks to us,
I think.

Now look out of the window again, and try to pick out a red star. I know
one you can all see before you go to bed, unless you are too sleepy to
see any thing. It is nearly overhead about supper-time. If you find it,
write a little letter to "The Nursery," and tell me.

M. E. R.

PAPA'S BIRTHDAY PRESENT.

HARRY is a little boy six years old. He always wants to be doing
something; and many funny pictures he makes, both on his slate and with
a lead pencil on paper. Mamma saves all the blank pieces of paper she
can to give him. When he is tired of pictures, he plays with his
blocks, and makes boats, and cars and bridges, and towers and churches.

Harry lives on the west bank of the Mississippi River, where there is a
bridge right in sight from his home. He often watches the cars go across
the bridge, and the boats go through the draw. He is an observing little
fellow, and he notices that just before the cars get to the bridge they
stop, and then go over very slowly. Then they start up faster and
faster; and soon the bridge is left behind, and the cars are out of
sight.

The cars always have to wait for the boats to go through the bridge; and
Harry thinks that is too bad; for the cars would not keep the boats
waiting half as long as the boats keep them. So mamma tells him that the
river was there first, and the boats have the first right.

But about the present. There had been a week of rain; but papa's
birthday was pleasant, and Harry was glad to get out of doors. He ran
till he was tired, and then, as he sat down to rest, he thought he would
get some clay, and make something to show mamma.

So he began. First he made a round ball like a marble, then a larger
ball; then he put them together, and thought, "I will make a man, and
this little ball shall be his head." He put a stick in to hold the head
to the body, and put clay around the stick, and that made the neck. Then
he made a long piece for the legs, and cut out between them with a knife
to form two. Then he made the arms, and joined them to the body.

He was very much pleased with his work so far; but to complete it was
the most fun. He got little stones, and stuck them into the clay for
eyes, nose, and buttons; made a cut for the mouth; and, for a
head-dress, made use of the green spi