one! now thou, indeed,
From thy wandering dost reappear,
Tell me, who is it to thee that hath said
That again it is spring-time here.

_Swa._ The fatherly God, in that far-off clime,
Who sent me, he told me 'twas sweet spring-time.

And though she had come so far and wide,
She was not deceived in time or tide.
The snow it was gone, the sun shone warm,
The merry gnats danced in many a swarm,
The Swallow knew neither want nor care,
She found for her children enough and to spare.

_Girl._ Come, little Dog, 'tis your master's will
That you learn to sit upright and still.

_Dog._ Learn must I? I'm so small, you see,
Just for a little while let it be!

_Girl._ No, little Dog, it is far best to learn soon,
For later it would be more painfully done.

The little Dog learned, without more ado,
And soon could sit upright and walk upright too;
In deepest waters unfearing could spring,
And whatever was lost could speedily bring.
The master saw his pleasure, and he too began
To learn, and thus grew up a wise, good man.

[Illustration]

THE FLOWERS.

Say, Ma! did God make all the flowers
That richly bloom to-day?
And is it he that sends sweet showers
To make them look so gay?

Did he make all the mountains
That rear their heads so high?
And all the little fountains
That glide so gently by?

And does he care for children small?
Say, ma! does God love me?
Has he the guardian care of all
The various things we see?

Yes! yes! my child, he made them all--
Flowers, mountains, plants and trees.
No man so great, no child so small,
That from his eye can flee.

[Illustration]

THE CHILD AND THE FLOWERS.

Put up thy work, dear mother;
Dear mother, come with me,
For I've found within the garden
The beautiful sweet-pea!

And rows of stately hollyhocks
Down by the garden-wall,
All yellow, white and crimson,
So many-hued and tall!
[Illustration: "Put up thy work, dear Mother."]

And bending on their stalks, mother
Are roses white and red;
And pale-stemmed balsams all a-blow,
On every garden-bed.

Put up thy wo