the wheel with the other, he kept his foot rising and
falling, just as if he were at work with a genuine treadle. He looked
very sober, and said, "Please, madam, have you any scissors to sharpen?"

The ladies handed him several pairs, which he ground in the best style,
trying the edge with his finger, and at last passing them to the owner
with the request for ten cents.

[Illustration]

Mamma gave him a bit of paper, which he put into his pocket, returning
the change in the form of two leaves.

When he had finished his task, he shouldered the wheelbarrow, and was
saying "Good-afternoon," when one of the party ran after him, calling to
him to kiss her.

"Scissors-grinders don't kiss," he said; but the fun sparkled in his
bright black eye, and he burst into a hearty laugh, which must have been
a relief to the merry boy after being sober so long.

MRS. G.

[Illustration]

[Illustration: Music]

THE OLD YEAR AND THE NEW.

Words by MARIAN DOUGLAS. Music by T. CRAMPTON.

1. The north winds blow o'er drifts of snow.
Out in the cold who goes from here?
"Good-by! good-by!" loud voices cry;
"Good-by!" returns the brave Old Year.
But looking back what word leaves he?
"Oh, you must all good children be!"

2. A knock, a knock! 'tis twelve o'clock!
This time of night, pray who comes here?
Oh, now I see, 'tis he! 'tis he!
All people know the glad New Year!
What has he brought? and what says he?
"Oh, you must all good children be!"

[Illustration: THE NURSERY PREMIUM-LIST.]

INTRODUCTORY REMARKS.

[Illustration: T]HE publication of "The Nursery" was begun in 1867.
The work met a want which was then wholly unsupplied, and it was
at once received with a high degree of public favor. Since then
it has gone on increasing, from year to year, in circulation and in
reputation,--maintaining its supremacy over all imitators and
rivals,--and it now holds a firmly established place among first-class
American periodicals, and is admitted to be the _best magazine in the
world for the class of readers to whom it is addressed_.

Its articles, whether in prose or verse, are adapted with the greatest
care to the capacities of children, and are, with very rare exceptions,
wholly original.

Its illustrations, which are given with great profuseness, are en