ome, tumble out!"

[Illustration]

So the young ones have to venture out; and soon they find they can pick
up worms and seeds enough for themselves. What joy to fly from tree to
tree! How pleasant to light among the green stalks and the flowers on
the warm summer days! The starlings have a merry time of it; and, when
winter comes, all they have to do is to fly southward.

No sooner are they gone than the sparrows again take possession of the
forsaken house, in great delight at having such a nice warm dwelling for
the winter.

ANNA LIVINGSTON.

[Illustration]

THE TEA-PARTY.

THE dolls had a tea-party: wasn't it fun!
In ribbons and laces they came, one by one.
We girls set the table, and poured out the tea;
And each of us held up a doll on our knee.

You never saw children behave half so well:
Why, nobody had any gossip to tell!
And (can you believe it?) for badness, that day,
No dolly was sent from the table away.

One dolly, however, the proudest one there,
Was driven almost to the verge of despair,
Because she had met with a simple mishap,
And upset the butter-plate into her lap.

The cups and the saucers they shone lily-white:
We helped all the dollies, they looked so polite.
We had cake and jam from our own pantry-shelves:
Of course, we did most of the eating ourselves.

But housewives don't know when their cares may begin.
The window was open, and pussy popped in:
He jumped on the table; and what do you think?
Down fell all the crockery there, in a wink.

We picked up the pieces, with many a sigh;
Our party broke up, and we all said good-by:
Do come to our next one; but then we'll invite
That very bad pussy to keep out of sight.

GEORGE COOPER.

[Illustration]

[Illustration]

THE SPRAINED ANKLE.

HARRY has been a long, long time at the window, watching the boys as
they go past on their sleds. It is a bright afternoon, and they are
enjoying the coasting very much.

Harry draws a long sigh, which makes his mamma look up from her work,
and say,--

"I know it is hard for you, darling; but think what might have happened
to Johnny if you had not saved him."

Would you like to know what i