a squirrel in a cage; he had watched him whirling about
and cracking his nuts, and he longed to have one of his own; so he
built a trap-cage, and set it near the great nut tree. He set it in
the morning, and then went to school, but he could not study much for
thinking of the trap. After school it did not take him long to visit
the old nut tree, and lo! there was a little squirrel in his trap; but
little squirry soon got away, as you see, and ran off to the woods,
happy enough to get his liberty again.

[Illustration]

THE SQUIRREL.

One pleasant summer morning
A little boy was seen
Beneath a spreading oak tree
Upon a village green.

And to a merry squirrel
The child was heard to say--
"How is it, Mr. Muncher,
You always are at play?"

"I laid up nuts, last autumn,
So I can frolic now,"
Replied the merry squirrel,
And frisked along the bough.

[Illustration]

"And you, my little school-boy,
Must study all you can,
And lay up stores of knowledge,
To use when you're a man."

Near by a bird was stopping
To rest its pretty wing--
"Pray, tell me," said the youngster,
"Who taught you how to sing?"

"I never had a master,"
The little bird replied;
"But when my mate was sitting,
To comfort her I tried;

"And if you like my singing,
Its secret I will tell--
All that we do for love, sir,
We surely shall do well."

And now, dear little children,
If you open wide your eyes,
You will see the pretty lessons
In creatures, birds, and skies.

[Illustration]

[Illustration]

How doth the little busy bee
Improve each shining hour,
And gather honey all the day
From every opening flower!

In books, or work, or healthful play,
Let my first years be passed,
That I may give for every day
Some good account at last.

[Illustration]

THE SWING.

"Oh! is it not a nice swing!" said Amy to her little brother; "how
cool it makes you to swing in the shade! I love papa for fixing this
swing, don't you? We will kiss him when he comes home."

Amy loves to swing her little brother better than to swing herself;
but sometimes she swings, and holds little Eddie in her lap. What nice
times little children have, when they love each other, and try to
please!

[Illustration]

THE POOR BEGGAR.

"Mother, I am so hungry," said Charley Gray, as he returned from
school. "Why!" said his mother, "did you not eat the dinner that you