ockings high,
Said "Good-by."
Now, of toys he had no lack:
They were carried on his back,
In a sack.

What did little Flora find?--
Flora kind.
Why, a doll with golden hair,
Candies, and a tiny chair,
I declare!

What did bright-eyed Georgie get?--
Mamma's pet.
Can't you guess? A tiny gun;
But you see it's only one
Made for fun.

Here's what lazy Joseph found,
Looking round.
It was shocking!
In his stocking,
There was nothing, you must know,
But a big hole at the toe!
Lazy Joe!

GEORGE COOPER.

BECKY.

A TRUE STORY.

AFTER I had finished reading "The Nursery" to my little Willy to-night,
he said, "Please, mamma, now tell me the story about the cat you had
when you were a little girl; then I will go to bed."

When I had told him the story, as I have told it a great many times
before, he said, "Mamma, why don't you send that story to 'The Nursery,'
so that some other little boy can hear it too?"

"Why, Willie!" said I: "do you think it is enough of a story to put in
print?"

"Of course I do!" said he. "I like it; and I ought to know what little
boys like. Now, promise me to send it; and then I will go to bed." So I
promised.

And now that my little boy has said his prayers, and is nicely tucked in
bed, I will write out the story, hoping it will amuse some other little
Willy as much as it does mine.

Here it is, just as I tell it to him:--

When I was quite young, I had a cat to which I
gave the name of Becky. I know nothing of her
very early history, for she was a sober pussy
when she was given to me; but she soon became a
great pet in the family, and seemed very fond
of us all, particularly of my father.

[Illustration]

She always showed great delight when he came
home after a long absence. She would put her
paws on his shoulders, and rub his face, and
purr in a most contented manner. She would
never eat a mouse until she had first carried
it to him; and after he had stroked her, and
called her a good pussy, she would go away
quite happy.

After a time she had two beautiful kittens.
When