Inside my coat! "_I 'ant some breff!_ _It makes me almost 'oasted!_ _Next time don't smovver me to deff--_ _Let's play aden I'm losted!"_

VELOCIPEDE

I know of a staid and sober horse That goes by a great, long name.

The little ones like this trusty steed That always goes at a proper speed.

They call him the good Velocipede, And he's never tired or lame.

Ah, he is the horse that gives you fun, And he is the horse you need!

He's never balky, he eats no hay, He's ready to either go or stay, And never was known to run away-- This good horse Velocipede.

ANNIE WILLIS MCCULLOUGH.

A RAINY DAY PLAN

The world's wet and stormy, The wind's in a rage.

We are shut in the house Like poor birds in a cage.

There's a sigh in the chimney, A roar on the wall.

Good-by to "I Spy"

And to swinging and all!

But the child that complains Cannot better the day, So the harder it rains, Why, the harder we'll play!

There are tears on the window And sighs in the trees, But who's going to fret Over matters like these?

If the sky's got to cry, Then it's better by half That the longer it weeps, Why, the louder we'll laugh!

And look! I declare, There's the sun coming out To see what on earth All the fun is about!

NANCY BYRD TURNER.

THE BIRTHDAY ONES

I am the birthday baby, And this is the birthday horse.

They gave him to me because I was three And knew how to drive, of course.

He's trotted and walked and galloped, And traveled the whole birthday; He's carried a load up the hilly road, And once he has run away.

I've fed him high in the stable, I've watered him at the trough, I've curried him down to a glossy brown, And taken his harness off.

Now we are resting a little, Because there has got to be A long, stiff run before we're done, For the birthday horse and me!

NANCY BYRD TURNER.

A DUTCH WISH

The little Dutch children, With little Dutch shoes, Go c.l.i.tter-clatter Wherever they choose.

But we must move lightly, In slippers, at that, And walk on our tip-toes, And go like a cat.

But, oh, noise is lovely!

We wish very much That we were Dutch children With shoes that were Dutch.

[Ill.u.s.tration: The Dutch Wish]

A SIGN OF SPRING

The blue-bird is a-wing; he has heard the call of spring; And a dozen times this morning I have heard a robin sing; But I know a sign that's surer, and I see the twinkling feet Of a score of little children at the corner of the street.

The crocus-bed's abloom; in the shadow of my room Glows a vase of golden jonquils like a star amid the gloom; But the sign that's sure and certain is the children's merry feet Dancing round the organ-grinder at the corner of the street.

Song of bird or hum of bee, there's no sign of spring for me Like the jolly little dancers and the frolic melody; And my heart shall catch the rhythm of the happy little feet Dancing round the organ-grinder at the corner of the street.

MY DOLLY

There's nothing so nice as dolly!

She comforts me when I'm sad, She keeps me from getting lonely, She smiles at me when I'm glad.

She's such a delightful playmate, And causes me so much joy, I wouldn't exchange her for all the toys That people give to a boy.

ANNIE WILLIS MCCULLOUGH.

ONE MILE TO TOYLAND

"One mile, one mile to Toyland!"

Just s'pose, to your intense Astonishment, you found this sign Plain written on a fence.

Just one short mile to Toyland, To happy girl and boy-land, Where one can play the livelong day!

Now who will hurry hence?

There dollies grow on bushes, And wooden soldiers stand With frisky rocking-horses near, A brave and dauntless band; And whips and tops and whistles They grow as thick as thistles, And every kind of toy you find-- A strange and magic land!

"Only a mile to Toyland!"

How big your eyes would grow, And how you'd come and stand stock-still To read it, in a row; Then, brother, girls, and maybe The puppy and the baby, You'd make that mile in little while, And find that land, I know!