oming in, he
would jump up and bark in great delight; and one day he leaped into the
water, and swam out to meet us.

Once my cousin and I were sitting in a cleft in the rocks, gathering
shells and pebbles, when a great black creature jumped right over our
heads. We were much frightened, but soon found that it was only our good
friend Jack. He had seen us from the top of the rock, and had jumped
down full fifteen feet to get to us.

PAUL EATON.

[Illustration]

ENSIGN JOHNNY.

THIS is Ensign Johnny:
See him armed for fight!
Mice are in the garret;
Forth he goes to smite.
Ready for the battle,
He is not afraid;
For the cat, as captain,
Will be by to aid.

Now, good-by, my Johnny!
Soldiers must be brave:
While puss does the fighting,
You the flag can wave.
Do not, like a coward,
From the field retreat:
Forward, Ensign Johnny,
And the mice defeat!

IDA FAY.

BERTIE'S STEAMER.

BERTIE has taken much pleasure in hearing me read about the different
ways in which the little "Nursery" people amuse themselves. He is very
anxious that they should, in return, know about the steamboat which his
uncle brought him from the Centennial,--a _real_ little steamboat.

It is nearly a foot long, made of brass, with a "truly" boiler, as
Bertie says, and a little alcohol lamp to convert the water in the
boiler into steam.

The older folks were as much interested in its trial trip as Bertie. The
biggest tub was brought up, and half filled with water. The little
boiler was also filled, and the lamp lighted; and we all waited
patiently for the steam to start the little wheel. A stick was put
across the tub, and a string fastened from its centre to the end of the
steamer, to keep it from running against the side of the tub. The rudder
was turned to guide the boat in a circle, and soon the steamer started.

But it did not run easily. Could it be that it would prove a failure?
Bertie's face began to put on a disappointed look.

"Can't Uncle Nelson fix it?" said he. "Uncle Nelson can do most any
thing."

So Uncle Nelson took the delicate machinery apart, and found some
particles of dirt, which prevented the piston from working smoothly