Harry. Why so, Miss Eva?

Eva. Why? Well, I can't tell, except because they grow in our own native land.

Sammy. Ha, ha! an excellent reason a real girl's reason! Now, I should say that things growing in distant lands were better than those at home..

Bessie. Why, Sam, I am surprised at you! Don't you know that America boasts of the longest and deepest rivers, the highest mountains, and the greatest men of any nation on earth?

Willie. Yes, and the prettiest girls too; I know I think so.

Sarah. Well, all this does not help the matter of our picnic being broken up by this tiresome rain; what shall we do to pass away the time?

Georgie. Let's tell tales.

Kate. O no, that's so "pokey"! let's hunt the slipper.

Nina. Or play" ship arrived"; I know so many funny things to say.

Robert. Let's play "School"; I'll be the teacher.

Rebecca. I say! you'll be the teacher! why, you could not teach a baby anything.

Robert. Well, I can teach you some manners, at any rate.

Angeline. O children, don't quarrel! that is worse than a rainy May-day.

Alice. Here comes Nora; she always has some nice plan.

All. Yes! Nora can tell us what to do; come, Nora ! Nora (entering). What is it, darlings? don't all speak at once, though.

Rosa. You know, Nora, we were to have had a grand picnic to-day, which this disagreeable rain has broken up; how shall we pass our holiday?

Fanny.

I love the flowers! the bright, sw
Which grow in every dale;
They spring up, after April showe
On hillside and in vale.

I love the birds! the joyous birds
So happily they sing;

I love to see their pretty nests,
Or watch them on the wing.

I love the sun! the glorious sun,
Which shines so warm and brig
I love the stars! the quiet stars!
Which gem the brow of Night.

But, far above all these, I love

The God that made them all; The bright sun shines, the flowers Obedient to his call.

Rosa. O, look, girls! look, the sun All (rising in confusion). The sun! the s sun! Hurrah for our May-day feast!

Ex. 137.-THE CHILDREN'S WISHES.

Lizzie.

Miss S. M. Priest.

I

WISH I was a yellow-bird,

I'd fly so very high,

And sing some of my sweetest songs
Up in the clear blue sky.
I'd sit upon the waving bough
Of some great lofty tree,
Where every little boy and girl
Would love to look at me.

Charlie.

But if you were a yellow-bird,
You would not fly away;
I'd put you in my little cage,
And there you'd have to stay.
I'd give you something nice to eat,
And water from the spring;
And then sit down beside your cage,
And hear you sweetly sing.

Addie.

I wish I was a butterfly,

So merry and so free,

With pretty little golden wings,
How happy I should be!

I'd fly about from flower to flower,
And when the bright bird sings,
I'd sit beneath some rosy bower,
And fold my golden wings.

DIALOGUES.

For very soon you would be caught

By a little boy like me.

And I should love to look upon

Your little wings so bright, Though nothing but a butterfly, 'T would be my chief delight.

Ellen.

I wish I was a fairy bright,
With pretty silken hair;

First I would visit Beauty's bower,
Which is so very fair.

And then I'd hasten far away

Down in the ocean deep, Where I know so very well You'd like to take a peep.

Frank.

I wish you were a fairy, too;
"T would be so very fine,
For you'd grant us all our wishes;
Then I should have mine.

I'd wish to be a little king,

As grand as e'er was seen; Then I would rule the country, And you should be my queen.

All.

Now since 't is wrong for us to wish
To be what we cannot,
Contented we should ever be,

And happy with our lot;

For we are very often told,
A mind to us is given
To teach us to be happy here,
And fit us all for heaven.

149

Ex. 138. JUST AS OUR MOTHERS DO.

Day Visitor.

CHARACTERS. SADIE, DELLA, CADDIE.

SCENE I.

Our School

- A nursery; enter three little girls with dolls.

(ADIE. O, I am tired of playing keep house; ain't you?

SADIE

Della. Let's play visit. Would you like that, Caddie ? Caddie. Yes; that 'll be nice. I'll live over here by this lounge, and you over in that rocking-chair corner, and Della 'll come to make calls on us, just like our mothers do.

Della. Then I must put on my hat and sack, and take a parasol, or a muff, just like a lady.

Sadie. You may take my muff and my old parasol, too, that mamma gave me to play with. (Gets out her parasol and muff. DELLA puts on her hat and coat, and takes both muff and parasol.) Della. I can't stick both hands in the muff, but that does n't make any difference, does it, Caddie?

Caddie. No, not a bit. Now you come to my house first, and we'll talk just as grown-up ladies do. You must go out and knock.

(DELLA goes out and knocks; CADDIE opens the door with a great

flourish.)

Caddie. Why, how do you do, Miss Mills? I was never so delighted in my days. Please to walk right. straight in and sit down in a chair. Is your little girl pretty well, mem?

(DELLA sits down, still keeping her parasol over her head.) Della. No, mem; she's got the measles dreadful. I have to sit up with her all the nights.

Caddie. Dear me ! where did she catch 'em?

Della. Of that dreadful Sadie Miller's girl. She's always a running into my house, and I can't help it. And