I'd have you know,
Is Miss Mary Vernon,
With cheeks in a glow.
She has a doll Bella,
Quite dear to her heart,
And takes her to ride
In a nice little cart.

[Illustration: Tommy Trip]

This is Tommy Trip:
Bubbles he can blow;
When a bubble breaks too soon,
Tommy cries, "Don't go!"
Older folks I know,
Who their fine schemes make,
And, when any fine scheme fails,
Cry, "Oh, do not break!"

[Illustration: Susan]

'Tis the winter cold,
All the ponds are ice;
Susan loves the winter cold,
Calls the weather nice.
Warm with muff and coat,
She can go and skate;
She can glide along the ice
At a merry rate.

[Illustration: Mary Jane]

This is Mary Jane,
See! she has a saucer:
To her cat she says,
"Give me up your paw, sir.
I've some fresh, nice milk
You will relish greatly."
Pussy then put up her paw;
All this happened lately.

[Illustration: Baby May]

This is Baby May:
She looks out to spy
If her own dear papa comes
On the road near by.
Yes, she sees him now,
He is coming fast;
For he loves his Baby May,
Loves her first and last.

K.G.

THE BASKET OF APPLES.

[Illustration: THE BASKET OF APPLES.]

I.

Albert is a bright little fellow. He is not three years old; but he can
read ten words in "The Nursery." These words are, cat, dog, cow, horse,
bird, mother, father, brother, sister, apple.

One day, John the gardener left a basket of apples at the top of the
garden-steps. Albert saw it, and knew it was meant for the house. "I
will take it in," said he. "I am strong."

[Illustration: Albert II]

II.

But the basket was not so light as he had thought. Indeed it was quite
heavy. Perhaps this was because it was full of apples. The gardener had
just picked them from a fine old tree in the orchard.

Albert was a stout little fellow; but the basket was too much for him.
In trying to lift it, he upset it; and some of the apples rolled out
down the steps as fast as they could go. Perhaps they saw it was a good
chance to run away.

[Illustration: Albert III]

III.

Albert did not cry. He knew that crying would do no good. What was now
the first thing to be done? Albert thought for a while, and said to
himself, "The first thing to do is to set the basket upright."

He did not find it ha