Chapter L: E. H., from the German

DAISIES AND CLOVER.

PATTY was taking a stroll in the pasture, plucking daisies as she went along. Suddenly she stopped, and seemed to be intent upon something in the grass.

"Do you see a snake, Patty?" said her cousin Paul, coming softly up behind her.

"Oh, no!" answered Patty, "I was only trying to find something."

"Trying to find something!" said Paul. "What in the world can it be?"

"Guess, if you can."

"Well," said Paul, "I guess it's a gold dollar."

"No such thing."

"Then it must be a pearl."

"No."

"An ear-ring?"

"No, I don't wear ear-rings."

"A hairpin?"

"No indeed! you saucy boy."

"Dear me! Then I shall have to give it up. Can't rack my brains any more. The strain is too great."

"What a bright boy you are at guessing! You shall have this bunch of daisies as a reward of merit. Are they not pretty? Don't despise them because they are weeds. Now I will tell you what I am looking for. I want very much to find a----"

"Stop a minute," said Paul, "I have it." And he stooped down, and plucked a four-leaved clover.

"That's the very thing," said Patty.

"Good luck to you!" said Paul, handing her the clover with a graceful bow.

ANNA LIVINGSTON.

CURLY-HEAD AND INQUISITIVE NED.

"WHAT have you in your basket,
Curly-head?"
"Though 'tis not polite to ask it,
I've some bread."

"Where do you go with your basket?
Who's in need?"
"Though 'tis not polite to ask it,
Swans I feed."

"Will they eat what's in the basket,
All of it?"
"Though 'tis not polite to ask it,
Every bit."

"Where, when empty is your basket,
Go you then?"
"Though 'tis not polite to ask it,
Home again."

E.

HELPING MOTHER.

WHAT is little Susan doing with that big water-bucket? It is a heavy load for her, and she tugs at it with a right good will.

If the water does not all leak out before she gets into the kitchen, she will fill the teakettle. She is trying to make herself useful, you see.

With that cap on her head, and that long apron, she fancies herself quite grown up, and able to do Bridget's work.

She thinks she is helping mother. But, when her mother sees the water spilt about the well, I think she will say that the little girl has only been doing mischief.

A. B. C.

THE SQUIRREL.

ONCE upon a time a squirrel
Scampered quickly up a tree;
There he sat, and from the branches
Chattered gayly unto me.

"I am Mr. Brownie Squirrel,
And my home is in the ground:
There I live; but in this nut-tree
Oftener I may be found.

"Long before the bright sun rises,
Here to gather nuts I roam:
They'll be needed in the winter
By my little ones at home.

"For when shrill the north wind whistles
Through these branches black and bare,
When the nuts and leaves have vanished,
And the snow fills all the air--

"Then, to pay me for my trouble,
I'll have plenty and to spare.
Safe at home I'll pass the winter,
Little for the storm I'll care.

"That reminds me I am idle;
While I'm talking here to you.
Why, dear me! how dark it's growing!
And I still have work to do."

Throwing then a nutshell at me,
Winking with his eyes so bright,
Off he scampered through the branches,
Where he soon was lost to sight.

Grandma heard about the squirrel,
Straightway then did grandma make
Many little squirrels like it,--
Only hers were made of cake!

AUNTY GAY.

ROLY-POLY.

Words by OLIVE A. WADSWORTH. Music by T. CRAMPTON.

1. Roly-Poly is three years old;
Yes, three years old and a trifle over;
Roly-Poly is round as a ball,
As jolly as larks, and sweet as clover.
Roly-Poly has stars for eyes,
A heavenly chin with a dimple in it;
Peaches for cheeks, the bud of a nose,
And a tongue that is never still a minute.

2. Roly-Poly's a business man;
He rides to market on Grandpa's cane;
He orders breakfast of peppermint drops,
Then gallops his pony home again.
Roly-Poly rules everything;
His father and mother are captives wholly;
Sisters must yield to such a king,
Who will make all obey him, Roly-Poly.

* * * * *

Transcriber's Notes: Obvious punctuation errors repaired.

The original text for the July issue had a table of contents that spanned six issues. This was divided amongst those issues.

Additionally, only the July issue had a title page. This page was copied for the remaining five issues. Each issue had the number added on the title page after the Volume number.

End of Project Gutenberg's The Nursery, October 1881, Vol. XXX, by Various