Kitabı oku: «The Nursery, February 1873, Vol. XIII.», sayfa 5
OUR NEW DOG
We have a new dog. His name is Bright. He is only two years old. His master one day took the cars near our place for California; and poor Bright was left behind.
I met him at the railroad-station. He seemed to be in great distress. I had some bread in my hand, and offered him a piece. He was too sad to eat. I patted him on the head, and said, "Poor doggie, have you lost your master?"
Bright howled as if he understood my question; and I believe he did. When I got home that day, I found that he had followed me. As I stood on the door-step, he fawned at my feet, and made a low, imploring noise, as if he would like to say, "Do be my master, and let me be your dog: I will be such a good dog!"
I understood what he wanted, and said, "Well, old fellow, you shall have your wish. I adopt you as my own dog."
Thereupon Bright wagged his tail, and barked, and put his fore-feet on my shoulders, and tried to lick my face. We understood each other now completely.
Bright seemed to understand that he must not only be good to me, but to all under my care. I had a little white kitten named Snow-drop. When she and Bright first met, she was so much afraid, that she leaped up on top of the bookcase to be out of his way.
It was amusing to see how he tried to coax her down, and to make her feel that he was her friend. Snow-drop mewed, and raised her back; but Bright, by some good-natured half-barks and playful grunts, soon made her understand that he was one of the family, and bound to treat her well.
By and by Snow-drop left off mewing, and began to purr. Bright lay down on the carpet, and began flapping and brushing it in a half-circle with his tail. That meant play.
So Kitty at last came down; and, when I left the room, she and Bright were having a grand frolic together. I know you would like my dog Bright if you could see him.
Kansas. Edwin Barton.
BUNNY
One day, when I was in the barn, I happened to look up, and there, on a beam, I saw a red squirrel with a great bushy tail. He was looking right at me.
The next day I saw him in my yard, trying to jump from one tree to another. I thought he would fall; but he just saved himself by catching the end of a twig.
Up in one of the chambers there was an old satchel hanging on a nail. Bunny climbed in at the window, and filled the satchel with nuts and apple-seeds. There was a basket of corn in the wood-house; and Bunny carried it almost all away.
One day, as Bunny was going along in the grass, he heard a noise: so he sat up, and looked about. He saw a dog. Up went Bunny into a tree.
The dog came under the tree, and barked. The saucy squirrel ran down, and said with his eyes, "Now catch me if you can," and then ran up to the top of the tree as quick as a wink.
W. O. C.
THE CHILDREN'S PARTY
Will you come to our party to-day, Carrie Wynn?
The party is all ready now to begin;
And you shall be mother, and pour out the tea,
Because you're the oldest and best of the three.
My white cups and saucers that came Christmas Day
Are all set out nicely on Hatty's gilt tray;
Real milk in the cream-jug, and real sugar too;
But only play-tea—we pretend that it's true.
We've got a whole orange, and three macaroons,
And some blue-mange—we'll eat it with Hatty's new spoons;
And we've carried our table out under the trees:
So come, Carrie Wynn, to our party, do, please!
Hatty'll sit at one end, and the other you'll take;
And I'll cut the orange, and she'll help the cake:
You'll see something funny—the reason, don't ask it—
When we've eaten the cake, we can eat up the basket!
We invited the dolls; but they both have the mumps;
And yesterday mine got two terrible bumps:
So we left them in bed; and I do not much care,
For dolls never will sit up straight on a chair.
Then, nicest of all, when our party is done,
We'll wash up the dishes; and won't that be fun!
Then scrub sticky fingers and sugary thumbs;
And the sparrows and robins may clear up the crumbs.
Elizabeth Sill.
