Chapter I: HAD just finished reading the last number of "The Nursery" to my

little six-year-old boy. "Read it all over again, mamma," he said. "Why don't the 'Nurseries' come oftener, so you could read me a new story every minute?"

What a silly question, wasn't it? But I didn't tell him it was silly. I sang the frog-song over again with a good many croaks and kerchugs to make it lively; then we all made ready--the two aunts, papa, my little boy, and myself--to go out sailing in the harbor.

Did any of your "Nursery" readers ever take a sail in Captain Burdette's sail-boat "Fearless" on the smooth water at Nantucket? Well, if you did, didn't you have a jolly time? And, if you didn't, do try it some day when the wind blows just enough to fill the white sail.

We had a merry party, and our little boy was so full of play, that he dragged the boat-broom in the wake of the boat. Then he tried to stand on the forward-deck, and hold on by the mast. But the wind shifted a little, and the sail turned about so suddenly, that it came near pushing him into the water.

So papa ordered him into the stern, where the ladies were, and gave him permission to take hold of the tiller, and help steer the boat. He helped turn her toward the jetty which the government is building to make the water deeper, so that large ships may sail safely into the harbor.

Just as we made the turn, we saw another boat coming towards us. The tide was driving it swiftly along, and it bobbed up and down on the sparkling ripples. A little chap was standing on the bow, drying his wet bare legs in the sunshine. He seemed to be enjoying himself hugely, and paid no attention to our party.

He had a dark mantle thrown over his white vest, and was straight and slim like a naval cadet. By and by he gave his tail a little shake, lifted his two wings, and took himself off the water-soaked stick he had used for a sail-boat. Then he went screaming with his mates high up in the air.

I dare say you know by this time that I am talking about a sea-gull,--one of those birds which fly in such numbers about the seacoasts. My little boy wished he could fly like a gull, but thought it wouldn't be wise to be always hungry for a fish-dinner, as those who study their habits say sea-gulls always are.

MRS. G. I. HOPKINS.

THE CRICKETS' SOCIABLE.

EACH cricket was invited, 'twas after twelve at night;
The fire was burning brightly, and not a puss in sight,
When out popped twenty couples, all chirping loud and clear:
The moon peeped in the window, as if it paused to hear.

The band stood on a table,--a fiddle and a harp;
The former was a trifle flat, the latter rather sharp:
But, oh the jolly dancing, the capers queer and gay!
Why, pigeon-wings were nothing, and double-shuffles, play.

The belles reclined in corners, and chatted to the beaux,
Who looked so neat and graceful, each turning out his toes;
And all the daddy-crickets were happy as could be,
Their little baby-crickets they dandled on their knee.

A Daddy Longlegs handed a lady out to dance,--
'Twas said he was a baron,--quite modest was her glance;
He kissed her hand politely, his style they all admired;
He bowed to her sedately; she courtesied and retired.

A dozen tiny crickets then tried a minuet,
And many other dances whose names you would forget.
The fiddler scraped up louder, a mouse peeped out to see;
But laughed his head off nearly to mark such jollity!

The supper, oh, that supper! From brimming cups of dew
They sipped, and luscious goodies were spread out,--not a few.
They handed round in slices a dainty Christmas cake
That very much resembled a tiny snowy flake.

They didn't stop till morning; they heard a rooster crow,
And then the merry fiddler put away his bow;
And twenty jolly couples with weary legs retire
As Bridget pops in lively to make the kitchen-fire.

GEORGE COOPER.

SO TIRED!

NELLY was a bright, happy little girl. Her home was in the country; and in summer, as soon as the birds began to sing, her eyes were wide open, and she was ready to jump and play and sing too.

Then, as soon as she was nicely bathed and dressed, and her curly hair tied with a pretty ribbon, away she would go out of doors, to gather flowers, or feed the chickens, or play with the kitten.

After breakfast she would go into the field where the hay was making, and help with her own little rake to toss and spread it. But at eleven o'clock her mother would call her in, put on her cool night-dress, and lay her in her crib for a nap, and by that time the little girl was usually tired enough to be glad to go to sleep.

But one day she was having such a nice time with some little cousins who had come to play with her, that, when her mother called her in for her nap, she said, "Oh, please, mamma, don't make me go to sleep to-day; I'm not a bit sleepy. See how wide open my eyes are!"

Her mother laughed and said, "Well, darling, we'll try it this once, but I'm afraid you will be tired before night."

"Oh, no! mamma, I shall not be tired, I know, because I am having such a good time."

So she played on merrily until her dinner at one o'clock, and, as soon as that was over, she was off again for another frolic. By and by she came in, looking very weary, and said, "I don't want to play out any more, mamma: I think it's time for my supper."

Now it was not yet five o'clock, and her usual supper hour was half-past six. But her mamma at once put some nice bread and butter on the table and her mug of milk, and left her to eat it, while she went to speak to a friend.

When she came back soon after, Miss Nelly had pushed back her plate, upset her mug, laid down her apron, dropped her head on her chubby arm, and gone fast asleep.

The next day when mamma called her for her nap, she ran quickly, saying, "All ready, mamma, because I was so tired yesterday."

JANE OLIVER.

LESSONS.

AUNT LIZZIE.

OUT in the sunny garden-plot,
Among the blossoms gay,
The lilies and the four-o'clocks,
What have you learned to-day?

ALFRED.

Loud humming in a hollyhock,
I heard a little bee:
He filled his yellow thighs with wax,
And this he taught to me:
"Short time have I to honey win;
Short time have you to study in;
Soon life and summer glide away:
We must keep busy every day."

BESSY.

And on a purple candytuft
I saw a butterfly:
It waved its red-and-yellow wings,
And said, "A worm was I:
Be cheerful whatso'er befall,
And hope to soar when forced to crawl."

CHARLEY.

Among some morning-glories set
There grew the fragrant mignonette:
It said to me, "A winning grace
A kind heart lends the plainest face:
Who would my simple blossom choose
Should I my pleasant perfume lose?"

DORA.

Upon a green sweetbrier bough,
A pleasant, shady place,
All hung with dew, like gems, I found
A web of silver lace;
And on it, with its many eyes,
I saw a spider watching flies,
Who taught me this: "One must beware;
The fairest thing may prove a snare."

AUNT.

Four useful lessons you have learned
This happy summer hour,
Taught by a bee, a butterfly,
A spider, and a flower.

MARIAN DOUGLAS.

VOL. XXX.--NO. 4.]

THE DOLL THAT FANNY FOUND.

FANNY went to spend her vacation with her grandma, who lived in the country. For a whole week every day was pleasant, and she had a lovely time.

She picked berries for grandma to make pies. She drove the cows home from the pasture every night. She rode into the fields in the hay-cart, and came home on the big loads of hay. She fed the chickens, and played with the kittens. But at last there came a rainy day.

Fanny heard the rain pattering on the window the first thing when she awoke in the morning. As soon as grandma opened the door to call her, she cried out: "O grandma! see how it rains! What shall I do to-day?"

"You can stay in the house with me," said grandma; "I have not seen much of my little girl yet."

"Well, you must tell me what to do," said Fanny.

"You can go up in the garret and play. There is where your mother and aunt Sarah used to spend a good many rainy days," said grandma.

So, after breakfast, Fanny went into the attic. The attic was a very large room, containing old spinning-wheels, chests, boxes, and many other things--such as are always found in attics.

"Now for a grand rummage!" said Fanny, and she began to look over the boxes and chests to see what she could find. In some of the boxes there were books and papers. In one of them there were old dresses and bonnets. Fanny pulled the things out of this box, one after another, and as she reached the bottom, she cried, "Oh, what have I found! what have I found!"

It was a large old-fashioned rag-baby almost as large as a real baby a few weeks old. Its face and clothes were soiled and faded; its cap was torn and yellow; and it had but one shoe: but the little girl was delighted with it.

She had a number of handsome dolls at home; but she had never seen one like this before.

"How nice and soft it is to hold!" said Fanny. "I must go right down and show it to grandma, and ask her all about it."

She found grandma in the milk-room, churning cream. "See what I have found, grandma," said Fanny, holding the baby up before her. "Now do tell me whose baby this is."

"Oh," said grandma, laughing, "I made that doll for your mother when she was a little girl. I remember how pleased she was with it. She named it Sally."

"I think old Sally is splendid, and I am going to play with her all the time I am here," said Fanny.

All the rest of her vacation, Sally was Fanny's pet and plaything. She made new clothes for her, took her out to walk and ride every day, and put her to bed every night.

In the picture you may see Fanny and Sally out in the fields together.