mb the ladder to the barn-loft, he saw
Strut on the farther side. He knew that she would come straight to him;
and he also knew that she would not look where she stepped. So he held
still to see what would happen; for exactly between them was an opening
in the floor for throwing down hay.

Sure enough, Strut started for Cousin William, and, stepping off the
edge of the hole, fell fluttering, cackling, and frightened, to the
floor beneath.

She was humbled by her fall; for she never strutted again, but walked
and ate afterwards like other chickens.

UNCLE JOE.

THE CATERPILLARS

EIGHT great cabbages growing in the ground;
Crowds of little caterpillars crawling all around;
Caterpillars squirmed about, and wriggled in the sun;
Said, "These cabbages look sweet: suppose we taste of one!"

Down flew a hungry bird, coming from the wood,
Saw the caterpillars there, and said, "Won't those taste good!"
Up crept pussy-cat, hunting round for mice,
Saw the bird, and smacked her lips, and said, "Won't he taste nice!"

Dog saw pussy creeping there, and he began to run,
Said, "Now I will frighten puss, and then there will be fun!"
So doggy barked; and pussy hid; and birdie flew away;
And caterpillars lived to eat a cabbage up that day.

FLETA F.

[Illustration]

THIRD LESSON IN ASTRONOMY

I HAVE told you about the sun and the stars. Can you think of any thing
else in the sky that you would like to know a little about? Of course, I
do not mean the dark clouds, but something bright and pretty, that all
children love to look at.

I think you must have guessed that I mean the moon,--the beautiful moon.
Now, I want you to make another guess: Is the moon bright because it is
made of fire, like the sun; or because the sun shines on it, as it does
on Venus and Jupiter?

If any of you think it is made of fire, you must try to warm your little
toes and fingers in the moonlight, as you do in the sunshine, and you
will find out for yourselves that it is not a great fire, like the sun,
and that you cannot get warm in the light of it.

And now you will guess at once, that, if it is not fire itself, it must
shine from the sun's fire; and that is right. The moon itself is cold
and dark. It is the light of the sun that makes it look bright to us. We
might call it the