at. We will pull off his
feathers, and tell Betty Cook to roast him. Here is a hare too. Poor
puss! the hounds did catch her.

[Illustration]

[Illustration]

NOVEMBER.

How dark and dismal it is! No more flowers! no more pleasant sunshine!
no more haymaking! The sky is very black: the rain pours down. Well,
never mind it; we will sit by the fire, and read, and tell stories, and
look at pictures. I wonder what poor little boys do that have no fire to
go to, and no shoes and stockings to keep them warm, and no victuals to
eat? Here is a halfpenny, Harry, and when you see one of those poor
boys you shall give it to him. He will say, "Thank you, you are very
good!" and then he will buy a roll.

Where are Billy, and Harry, and Betsy? Now tell me who can spell best.
Good boy! Now you shall all have some cake. That is right, Jane, shut
the cupboard door.

[Illustration]

[Illustration]

DECEMBER.

Christmas is coming, and Betty is very busy. What is she doing? She is
paring apples, and chopping meat, and beating spice. What for, I wonder?
It is to make mince-pies. Do you love mince-pies? Oh, they are very
good!

Look! a pretty little robin is flying against the window. Open the
window. Well, what do you want, little robin? Only a few crumbs of
bread. Give him some crumbs, and he will hop, hop about the parlour, and
sit upon the top of the screen, and sing--oh, he will sing all day
long! Now pray do not let that wicked cat take him. No, puss! you must
go and catch mice; you shall not eat poor robin.

Little boys come from school at Christmas. Pray wrap them up warm, for
it is very cold. Well, spring will come again some time.

[Illustration]

[Illustration]

THE IDLE BOY.

There was a little boy; he was not a big boy, for if he had been a big
boy I suppose he would have been wiser; but this was a little boy, not
higher than the table, and his papa and mamma sent him to school. It was
a very pleasant morning; the sun shone, and the birds sung on the trees.
Now this little boy did not much love his book, for he was but a silly
little boy, as I told you; and he had a great mind to play instead of
going to school. And he saw a [Illustration]

bee flying about, first upon one flower, and then upon another; so he
said, "Pretty bee! will you come and play with me?" But the bee said,
"No, I must not be idle; I must go and gather honey." Then the little
boy met a dog, and he said, "Dog! wil