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Now he is old, you must take care of

him."

The man took the horse home.

He was kind to him.

"I am glad I put the bell there," said King John.

"I am glad the horse rang the bell."

THE BELL OF ATRI.

The King

Had a great bell hung in the market-place

Beneath a roof, projecting some small space,
By way of shelter from the sun and rain.

Then rode he through the streets with all his train,
And with a blast of trumpets loud and long,
Made proclamation, that whenever wrong
Was done to any man, he should but ring
The great bell in the square, and he,
The King, would decide thereon.

* * * *

A knight said: "What is the use or need
To keep at my own cost this lazy steed?
Let him go feed upon the public ways;
I want him only for the holidays."

* * *

The King then said: "As this steed

Served you in youth, henceforth you shall take heed To comfort his old age, and to provide

Shelter in stall, and food and field beside."

-Longfellow.

THE LEAVES.

How pretty the leaves were!

One wore a yellow dress.

One wore a brown dress.

The very little one had a red dress.

The leaves were not happy.

I will tell you why..

"You are getting tired," said the old tree. "Little red is very tired.

It is time for you to go to bed."

The leaves did not want to go to bed.

This is what they said:

"We do not want to go to bed.

Let us stay a little longer.

It is such a sunny day.

We want to play.

Dear father Tree, please let us stay."

So the tree let them stay.

They were very happy.

They danced in the sunshine.

The wind helped them dance.

66

"Perhaps the tree will forget," said they. Perhaps he will let us stay till Spring. Don't say anything to him.

Just keep on play

ing.

Perhaps he will

let us stay till

Spring."

The old tree heard

what they said.

He smiled at the

little leaves.

He shook his head.

All the leaves dropped from the tree.
They flew down to the ground.

The snow spread a blanket over them.
"Good-night, little leaves," said the tree.
"Good-night," said all the leaves.

Soon they were all fast asleep.

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