à căde my satchels creaking swaying night' in găle graceful

LXXV. THE PINE TREE ACADEMY.

All the birdies went to school,
In a pine tree, dark and cool,
At its foot a brook was flowing.
The teacher was a crow,

And what he did not know,

You may be sure was not worth knowing.

Their satchels are hanging up tidy and neat, They smooth down their feathers and wipe off their feet,

While the wind through the tree-top goes creeping.

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Speak up loud," says the crow, "I can't hear, as you know,

While the branches are swaying and creak

ing."

very best way

to fly,

They are taught the
To catch the insect that goes buzzing by;

How to cock the head when beginning to sing. "I've a cold," says the crow,

"Or else I would show

How the nightingale does when he makes the woods ring."

The books are made of maple leaves,
For paper, bark from white-birch trees,
And for pencil each uses a stick.

"When you write," says the crow,
"Be both careful and slow.

Make your letters look graceful, not thick.”

Every birdie builds a nest,

In the place each thinks the best,

While the teacher gives good sound advice.
All the sticks," says the crow,

"You must lay in a row;

Before using one, look at it twice."

All at once, with a cold blast,

The rain comes falling, thick and fast,
While the old pine tree groans in the gale.
"School is closed," says the crow,
“You must all quickly go,

But to-morrow, come back without fail."

wicked mesh'es es cape' rubbish craft'y moun tain eer

LXXVI. THE FOUR YOUNG SPARROWS.

A sparrow once had four young ones in a swallow's nest. Just as they were fledged some wicked boys tore the nest down. Happily the little birds fluttered away without having received harm. any But the mother sparrow was very unhappy because her children had gone out into the world without being warned of the dangers that awaited them, and without being taught how to escape.

Autumn came, and a large number of sparrows met in a wheat-field. Here, to the mother's great joy, she found her young ones, and took them home with her.

"Alas! my dear children," she said, "what great sorrow you have caused me this summer, before I could give you

because

flew you

away

any advice. Listen to my words now; and

obey me in all I say. Little birds have to meet many dangers."

Then she asked the largest one where he had spent the summer and how he had fared.

"I stayed in the garden," he replied, "and lived on worms and caterpillars till cherries were ripe."

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Digging with the bill is not bad pastime," said the mother bird, "but there is great

danger in a garden. Beware of people who walk around carrying a long green stick that is hollow and has a hole in the top."

"And what if there is a green leaf on the hole, covered with wax ?" asked the young one. "Where did you see that?"

“In the merchant's garden.'

you

"O, my child!" exclaimed the mother, "merchants are cunning people. But if have been among the world's people, you have learned enough of their crafty ways. Make good use of your knowledge, and do not take any risks."

Then she asked another where he had been living.

"At court," was the reply.

"That is no place for sparrows and silly little birds," said the mother. "There one finds gold and silks and velvets; but your place is out in the stables, where the grain is scattered, and you can pick up your living in peace."

"Yes;" answered the young bird, “but when the stable boys weave the straw into knots and meshes, many a bird gets hanged."