--_Cowper._

IN THE ORCHARD.

Far down in the orchard I found her, Her earnest eyes gazing aloft.

A baby hand waved me a warning, A baby voice called to me--soft.

"Hush, mamma, don't frighten the birdies; They're busy at work, don't you see?

A-picking the worms from the blossoms A-growing on G.o.d's apple-tree!"

Ah, child, when thy life work is given, G.o.d may not have great things for thee.

Be content if He sets thee to guarding The blossoms upon His fruit tree.

Adelphi, Ohio.

--_Mary Nowlan Wittwer._

"THANK YOU" AND "AMEN".

When we were at Grandpa's house to dine, He looked about with sober face; Then clasps his hands and shuts his eyes, And sister says he's saying grace.

He says long words that I don't know; I'm only six years old--but then I know two words he always says, And one is "thanks" and one's "Amen."

While walking in my grandpa's woods We saw a squirrel, big and gray; He held a nut between his paws, But did not eat it right away.

He closed his little shining eyes, His hands raised just like grandpa's--then I said, "O sister, keep real still, He's saying "Thank you" and "Amen.""

"He that planteth a tree is a servant of G.o.d, He provideth a kindness for many generations, And faces that he hath not seen shall bless him."

One impulse from a vernal wood May teach you more of man, Of moral evil and of good, Than all the sages can.

[Ill.u.s.tration: A COUNTRY SCHOOL BUILDING.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: SOUTH SALEM SCHOOL WITH HOUSE FOR SUPERINTENDENT, RENT FREE.]

SPRINGTIME.

AIR--"AULD LANG SYNE."

The Winter storms have pa.s.sed away, And Springtime now is here, With sunshine smiling all around, And heavens blue and clear.

The gifts of Nature brighten earth, And Nature her garden gay; They give a cheery greeting bright On this, the Arbor Day.

The birds with gladsome voices sing, Each its melodious lay, And music swells each little throat On this, the Arbor Day.

The trees put forth their greenest leaves, On this, the Arbor Day.

And welcome now the chosen tree Which we shall plant today.

_Ellen Beauchamp._

DO APPLE SEEDS POINT UP OR DOWN?

When teacher called the apple cla.s.s, they gathered round to see What question deep in apple lore their task that day might be.

"Now tell me," said the teacher, to little Polly Brown, "Do apple seeds grow pointing up, or are they pointing down?"

Poor Polly didn't know, for she had never thought to look (And that's the kind of question you can't find in a book.) And of the whole big Apple cla.s.s not one small pupil knew If apple seeds point up or down! But then, my dear, do you?

--_Carolyn Wells in St. Nicholas._

[Ill.u.s.tration]

If Mother Nature patches The leaves of trees and vines, I'm sure she does her darning With the needles of the pines.

They are so long and slender; And sometimes in full view, They have their thread of cobwebs And thimbles made of dew.

--_William H. Hayne._

THE JOLLY OLD CROW.

On the limb of a tree sat a jolly old crow, And chattered away with glee, with glee, As he saw the old farmer go out to sow, And he cried: "It's all for me, for me-- Caw, caw, caw!

I've learned all the tricks of this wonderful man, Who has such a regard for the crow, the crow, That he lays out his grounds in a regular plan, And covers his corn in a row, a row-- Caw, caw, caw!"