There's something very, very queer About a story-book, No matter what's the time of year, Nor where you chance to look;

No matter when it is begun, How many pages read, The very best of all the fun Comes just the time for bed,

When mother whispers in your ear: "'Tis almost eight--just look!

Now finish up your chapter, dear, And put away your book."

The minutes almost seem to race When it is growing late; The very most exciting place Is just half after eight.

[Ill.u.s.tration: The Bedtime Story-Book]

THE BROWNIES

The little Bad Luck Brownies, They cry and pout and frown; They pucker up a crying-mouth, And pull the corners down; They blot the smile from every face And hush the happy song-- The little Bad Luck Brownies That make the world go wrong!

The little Good Luck Brownies, They sing and laugh and shout; If any cloud of trouble comes, They turn it inside out To show the silver lining That's always, always there,-- The little Good Luck Brownies That make the world so fair!

[Ill.u.s.tration: Bad Luck and Good Luck Brownies]

HER ANSWER

It was an easy question and Margie thought it so, An easy one to answer, as any one would know.

She smiled and smiled again as it hung upon the wall: "In going to school what do you like the very best of all?"

Then grew a little sober as she began to write, With wrinkles on her forehead and lips a little tight.

She wrote her answer carefully, with look so grave and wise, She minded all her capitals and dotted all her I's, She crossed her T's precisely, she smiled a little more At all the pleasant images the pleasant question bore Of all the merry, laughing hours, and all the joyous play-- "The thing I like the best of all in school--a holiday."

SIDNEY DAYRE.

A TROUBLESOME DAUGHTER

Angelica Sue is the carelessest child!

The trouble she makes me is perfectly fearful.

I told her this morning, but she only smiled, And swung in her hammock, and looked just as cheerful.

I'm sure I should feel I had nothing to do, If some one adopted Angelica Sue.

It's always Angelica falls in the dust, Angelica's frock that gets torn on the fences, The other dolls sit as I tell them they must, But when she comes out, then the trouble commences.

Wherever I go, or whatever I do, She's sure to be with me--Angelica Sue.

Oh, n.o.body knows how I work for that child!

But once, when I spoke of her ways to my brother, He said, and he looked at us both, and he smiled, "Angelica Susan takes after her mother!"

I've wondered since then if it really can be Angelica Sue is a little like me.

HANNAH G. FERNALD.

THE RACE

Across the field and down the hill I ran a race with Cousin Will, And lost my shoe, I ran so fast, And that is why I came in last.

But Cousin Will would try once more Across the field down to the sh.o.r.e.

This time all would have ended well, Only I stubbed my toe and fell.

And then we raced across the yard, And though I ran as swift and hard As Cousin Will, yet some way he Got to the place ahead of me.

Will says to lose is no disgrace, That trying really makes a race.

Twas trying, he says, made the fun, That all we wanted was the run.

ALICE TURNER CURTIS.

A BIG PLAYFELLOW

It's lots of fun down in the gra.s.s, A-watching all the things that pa.s.s!

You won't come too? I wonder why It's fun a-playing with the sky!

I guess you are too tall to see; If you would come down here with me, And just _ungrow_ a little, you Could see just what you wanted to.

Such big cloud-ships with sails spread out To catch the breeze that's all about!

And big gray birds with soft cloud-wings, And wolves and bears and tiger things!

Just lying down here in the gra.s.s, I've seen about a million pa.s.s; They creep and run and sail and fly-- It's fun a-playing with the sky!

[Ill.u.s.tration: A Big Playfellow]

HAYING TIME

In haying-time my grandpa says I'm lots of use to him; I take my nice new wheelbarrow and fill it to the brim; The big team comes out, too, and takes the hay-c.o.c.ks one by one, And that and my new wheelbarrow soon get the haying done.

F. LILEY-YOUNG.