When it got almost down, the man looked out and said, "Have you any
blueberries for sale?"

[Illustration]

The children held out their baskets, and said, "Yes, plenty of
them."--"Well, then," said the man, "I think this is a good place to
stop at."

W. O. C.

[Illustration]

WHAT THE CAT SAID TO THE MONKEY.

YOU cowardly monkey, come out if you dare!
I'll teach you my dear little kittens to scare.
Because I had gone a few moments away,
You thought that to plague them was good monkey play.

But when I came back, just in season, I saw
What was up, and I gave you a pat with my paw:
It didn't set well, might I judge from your face.
What ails your poor arm? and why that grimace?

Now, here hangs my paw; and, if you're inclined
To try it again, 'twill be ready, you'll find.
And mark, Mr. Monkey, if up to your fun,
I'll show, to your sorrow, I have more than one.

So Velvetpaw, Whitefoot, and Darkey, don't fear!
No monkey shall harm you while mother is near.
The rascal who plagued you has found I am rough:
Of my paw and my claw he has had quite enough.

[Illustration]

THE STARLING AND THE SPARROWS.

THE starling is a trim little bird, measuring from seven to eight inches
in length. He goes dressed in black, and his coat glistens like satin in
the sunlight. In autumn, however, after moulting, he looks as if
bedecked with white pearls.

This is his travelling-suit, and in it he prepares to take his flight
southward to a warmer region. He is a European bird; and so he goes from
Germany as far south as Spain, Italy, and Greece. Now and then he
ventures as far as Africa.

But, as soon as spring begins to appear, the starling is sure to come
back northward to his old haunts. He comes with merry songs and
chatterings, and seems determined that no one shall be sad while he is
about.

Flying to the topmost bough of some tree in the neighborhood of his old
home, he proclaims to all the world that the Good Fellow (as the Germans
call him) has come back, and that all the people may be glad
accordingly.

After this, his first business will be to see how it stands with his
summer lodgings; for he wants to be spared the trouble of finding a new
mansion if he can help it. Somewhere about, there is, perhaps, a
starling's tu