rave birds to take such
good care of their little ones. What do you think about it, little
"Nursery" folks?

JOSIE'S MAMMA.

MEDITATIONS OF A SHUT-OUT ONE.

WELL, now, do you call that good manners? My master shut the gate in my
face, as much as to say, "Stay where you are, Bob." Then he goes in to
dine and play chess with the parson, and leaves me here to watch and
wait.

Three hours, I do believe, I have been here on the watch,--three long,
long hours. And there he sits yonder with the folks in the summer-house.
The roast meat seems to be deliciously done, if I may judge from the
odor. Just one little bone for me, if you please, good master mine.

What do I see? He gives a bone to that scamp Fido; but for me, his
trusty one, who, year in and year out, have guarded yard and stable so
faithfully,--for me he has nothing, not even a mouthful! And here I sit
hungering and thirsting till my tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth.

[Illustration]

But stop! I hear a whistle. Yes, it comes from my master. And there
comes Betty with a whole plateful of bones in her hand! After all, there
isn't a master like mine in all the world. I knew he wouldn't forget old
Bob. Yes, here they come. Truly a patient waiter is no loser. Bow-wow!

FROM THE GERMAN.

DREAMING AND DOING.

AMY was a dear good girl in many things; but she had one bad habit: she
was too apt to waste time in dreaming of doing, instead of doing.

In the village where she lived, Mr. Thornton kept a small shop, where he
sold fruit of all kinds, including berries in their season.

One day he said to Amy, "Would you like to make some money?"

"Of course I would!" said Amy; "for my dear mother often has to deprive
herself of things she needs, so that she may buy shoes or clothes for
me."

"Well, Amy, I noticed some fine ripe blackberries along by the stone
walls in Mr. Green's five-acre lot; and he said that I or anybody else
was welcome to them. Now, if you will pick the ripest and best, I will
pay you sixteen cents a quart for them."

Amy was delighted at the thought, and ran home and got her basket, and
called her little dog Quilp, with the intention of going at once to pick
the blackberries.

Then she thought she would like to find out, with the aid of her slate
and pencil, how much money she should make, if she were to pick five
quarts. S