Chapter I: WAS one of a family of nine brothers and sisters. We all found

ourselves outside our shells one fine, sunny day in spring; but we felt chilly, and were glad to nestle under the wings of the kind old hen whom we regarded as our mother.

In a day or two, we began to look about the world. We found that it comprised a pretty lawn, on which our mansion was placed, with a brick wall at one end of it. The other end of the world was at the foot of the lawn, and consisted of a level expanse as smooth as a sheet of glass.

Our mansion was formed of wood, with a high pointed roof, and with open bars in front, through which we could look out and enjoy the prospect. We could crawl under the bars easily; but mother-hen could not.

One day a great, strong giant came and lifted up our mansion right over our heads. This giant had two legs, but no wings. Poor thing! They called him a _little boy_. He frightened us very much at first; but as he fed us, and called us, "Ducky, ducky!" we soon grew fond of him.

When the boy had lifted up our mansion (which he called a coop), mother-hen started at once on a journey round the world. We stopped to pick up some bits of grain, and some little worms, which we found. "Cluck, cluck!" said mother-hen, which means, "Come, come!" and we all said, "Quack, quack!" which means, "Yes, yes!"

On we went, threading our way through the forest of grass; and our ideas were much enlarged by finding that the world comprised a vast farm-yard as well as our lawn, and the distant glass-like boundary. On we went, "Cluck, cluck! quack, quack!" and at last found ourselves close to the smooth expanse, which we learned was called a _pond_, and composed of a beautiful liquid called "water."

Into this pond my brothers and sisters dashed, and of course I followed. How delicious! The water was cool and refreshing, and so buoyant, that we moved about on it more easily than we could walk on the land; but, when we looked back to the bank, we saw mother-hen calling out in grief and dread, "Cluck, cluck! come, come! you'll drown, drown! Oh, oh!"

"All right!" said my eldest brother; "no fear: here we are as jolly as sandboys! You may as well come. It's capital. Here goes for a dive!" And, so saying, under he went, and soon came up again, laughing, "Quack, quack! oh, it's _so_ jolly!"

But poor mother-hen did not see any thing jolly about it, and was always in fear when we went to the pond, into which she would never go herself.

In time we grew up, and found that we could actually _fly in the air_. Oh, capital! When that horrible monster with four legs, which they called "a dog," ran after us, we opened our wings, and flew over the lawn to the pond. And there stood the stupid dog bawling out, "Bow, wow! bow, wow!"

One day our ideas were again expanded by our being driven through a gate. We then found that the world was much larger than we had thought; for beyond our wall was a broad ploughed field, as well as a vast forest, the edges of which touched the distant sky. Wonderful discovery! How grand a duck feels when gaining useful knowledge!

Every thing went on pleasantly enough, until a great awkward giant, named Bob, came and looked very hard at us. At first we did not like him; but he was really very kind, and called us "Ducky, ducky, ducky!" and threw us handfuls of barley. He then seized two or three of my fattest brothers and sisters, and frightened them so much, that they called out, "Quack, quack! don't, don't!" But they need not have made such a fuss, as he put them safely in a basket with a lid to it to keep off the rain, and took a great deal of care of them indeed.

How kind of him to take the trouble to carry them in this basket on his arm, instead of leaving them to waddle along the road! In this way he has taken all my brothers and sisters away with him, except myself and my brother little Jack Drake. I dare say he will soon take _us_ with him in his nice basket.

Certainly it is a good thing to have men to attend to us so well. I am sure they must be very fond of ducks to take such care of us. And so I said to Jack Drake; but all he said in reply was, "Quack, quack! quack, quack!"

T. C.

OUR THANKSGIVING DINNER.

WE live in a little village near the city of Cincinnati. We have not lived here many years; and our grandparents and aunts and uncles and cousins are so far away, that they cannot often come to see us.

This year, on Thanksgiving Day, none of our friends were with us; and mamma and papa felt very sad to have the big turkey cooked, and only our own family to eat it.

So, happening to see a ragged little boy in the street, mamma called him, and told him to go out and find eleven more poor little boys, and tell them to come with him and get a Thanksgiving dinner.

He ran off in high glee; and, sure enough, when twelve o'clock came, along came the whole number of poor, hungry little boys. Their eyes sparkled with delight when they saw the nice brown turkey, and the pies and cakes. They were soon seated at the table; and papa and mamma waited on them.

It made us all glad to see how the poor fellows enjoyed their dinner. One ragged little boy was so afraid of soiling the cloth, that he quietly slipped the bones under the table. Another boy saw him, and told the rest; and then they all had a good laugh.

After they had eaten as much as they wanted, they were taken into the room where the piano is; and mamma got "The Nursery" containing the song of "Mother Hubbard," and played and sung it to them.

Papa then gave each one a paper of candy and a nice large apple, and sent them off. No sooner were they out of the door than they set up a yell like so many little Indians, and ran to their homes as fast as they could, I suppose, to tell about the good time they had had.

We all think now that we enjoyed our Thanksgiving as well as children who had their own friends to dine with them. And I do not doubt that those poor little boys will remember their unexpected dinner as long as they live.

HARRISON, O. ANNIE GRAY PATTISON.

THE GRANDPA STORY.

"WHICH shall it be to-night, Harry?" I said a little while ago?--"The Goblet Story, The Grandpa Story, or About the Runaway Boy?"

"Oh! The Grandpa Story," said Harry at once; "for grandpa has been here to-day, and brought me ten notched sugar-plums,--five red ones, and five white." So I began:--

One bright Monday morning, I looked out of the
front-window, and said, "Why, Harry, Uncle
David has come to town! He is tying his horse
under the elm-tree." A minute after, Uncle
David opened the door into the sitting-room,
and said, "Is there any one here who would like
to go out to grandpa's to-day?" And mamma spoke
right up, and said, "We would all like to go.
It will do my little lads good to have a nice
ride."

"Get ready quick, then," said Uncle David. So
mamma put a little blue cloak and a white
sun-bonnet on Freddy the baby, and a linen
coat, and straw hat with blue ribbons on Harry;
and they all went out, and got into the
carriage.

Then away they rode through the pretty streets,
and over a covered bridge, where the horse went
TROT, TROT, TROT. Then they crossed a
railroad-track, and drove past a station, and
stopped at a store; and Uncle David went in and
bought a great box of sugar for Aunt Mattie,
and a little bag of candy to carry home to his
little boy Philly.

Then they rode up a steep hill, and came out
upon Westfield Plains. And then what beautiful
things they saw!--a man with a gun, a squirrel
cracking a nut, a little girl with red hair, a
man picking apples from a tree, and, best of
all, a boy flying a kite.

By and by they drove up a hill to grandpa's
house. Cousin Philly, who was out on the
piazza, ran into the house to tell his mamma
that Aunt Susan had come, and brought all her
little boys with her.

Tiger, the great black dog, said, "Bow, wow!"
to Harry, as he went up the steps. Cousin Anne
sat in a great rocking-chair by the open
window, and sang to her dolly, "Rock-a-by
baby."

Aunt Mattie was glad enough to see them, and
gave Harry a round cooky with a hole in the
middle, that he thought very funny. Mamma
always makes square cookies, with no holes to
put your fingers through.

By and by, when grandpa came in from the
orchard, they had a nice supper. They had
peaches and cream, and biscuits and honey; and,
oh! how good every thing tasted!

Philly lent Harry his cup with the picture of a
queen on one side, and "_Remember me_" on the
other; and Harry drank two cups of milk, the
cup was so pretty.

After supper Harry's eyes began to droop; and
so mamma said, "Kiss grandpa, my little boy,
and the dear little cousins, and then let's run
to bed with sleepy head."

In six seconds after Harry's head touched the
pillow, he was fast asleep.

The next morning he awoke fresh and bright;
and, after breakfast, Philly and Harry went out
into the road to play. They made little
sand-hills and houses of pebble-stones, and dug
wells in the sand, and had a real good time.

In the afternoon, mamma put the cloaks and hats
on Harry and Freddy; Uncle David drove up to
the house; and they all got into the carriage,
and had a nice ride home.

S. B. T.

JACK FROST.

JACK FROST, he is with us again;
He comes every winter, you know:
But we're hardy and bold,
And we don't mind the cold,
And we welcome the ice and the snow.

Jack Frost plays a rough sort of game
With the children wherever he goes:
He pinches their cheeks;
Their noses he tweaks;
And he treads on their ten little toes.

Jack Frost makes the ground rather hard:
But with thick boots we clatter about;
And we run till our breath
Puffs away like a wreath
Of white steam from the teakettle's spout.

Jack Frost lays his hand on the pond,
And turns it to glittering ice;
Then the skaters they glide,
And the sliders they slide:
Think of that, Charley; isn't it nice!

Jack Frost, he is sure to be found
Where the sleigh-bells are tinkling clear;
As the horses, so strong,
Canter gayly along,
While the lads give a shout and a cheer.

Jack Frost, then, you're welcome again;
Of pleasures you bring us a store:
But be mild as you can,
Oh, you fierce little man!
When you visit the feeble and poor.

GEORGE BENNETT.

MISS JONES'S PICTURE.