For Memorizing

So there was war in the basket;

Ah! pity 'tis, 'tis true!

But he that was frozen and starved, at last
A strength from his weakness drew,
And pulled the rugs from both the bugs,
And killed and ate them, too!

Now when bugs live in a basket,

Though more than it well can hold,
It seems to me they had better agree-

The black, the white, and the gold-
And share what comes of beds and crumbs,
And leave no bug in the cold.

-Alice Cary

SECOND GRADE.

BAREFOOT BOY.
(First ten lines.)

Blessings on thee, little man,
Barefoot boy, with cheeks of tan!
With thy turned up pantaloons,
And thy merry whistled tunes;
With thy red lip, redder still
Kissed by strawberries on the hill;
With the sunshine on thy face,

Through thy torn brim's jaunty grace;
From my heart I give thee joy!

I was once a barefoot boy.

THE BOY AND THE BIRD.

Who taught you to sing

My sweet, pretty bird?

Who tuned your melodious throat? You make all the hills and valleys to ring; You bring the first news of the earliest spring With your loud and silvery note.

For Memorizing

66

It was God," said the lark,

As he rose from the earth;

"He gives us the good we enjoy;

He painted our wings, he gave us our voice,

He gives us our food and bids us rejoice,

Good morning, my beautiful boy.

-Author not known.

RAIN-DROPS.

Some little drops of water,

Whose home was in the sea,

To go upon a journey

Once happened to agree.

A cloud they had for carriage,
They drove a playful breeze,
And over town and country,
They rode along with ease.

But, oh! there were so many,
At last the carriage broke;
And to the ground came tumbling
Those frightened little folk.

Through the moss and grasses,
They were compelled to roam
Until a brooklet found them,
And carried them all home.

-Author not known.

For Memorizing

SEVEN TIMES ONE.

There's no dew left on the daisies and clover,

There's no rain left in heaven:

I've said my

66

99
seven times over and over,

Seven times one are seven.

I am old, so old I can write a letter;

My birthday lessons are done;

The lambs play always, they know no better,-
They are only one times one.

O Moon! in the night I have seen you sailing

And shining so round and low;

You were bright, ah bright! but your light is failing,—
You are nothing now but a bow.

You Moon, have you done something wrong in heaven,
That God has hidden your face?

I hope if you have, you will soon be forgiven,
And shine again in your place.

O velvet bee, you're a dusty fellow;

You've powdered your legs with gold!
O brave marshmary buds, rich and yellow,
Give me your money to hold!

O columbine, open your folded wrapper,
Where two twin turtle-doves dwell!
O cuckoo-pint, toll me the purple clapper
That hangs in your clear green bell!

For Memorizing

And show me your nest, with the young ones in it,—

I will not steal it away;

I am old! you may trust me, linnet, linnet,-
I am seven times one to-day.

-Jean Ingelow.

TWO AND ONE.

Two ears and only one mouth have you;
The reason, I think, is clear:

It teaches, my child, that it will not do
To talk about all you hear.

Two eyes and only one mouth have you;
The reason for this must be,

That you should learn that it will not do
To talk about all you see.

Two hands and only one mouth have you;
And it is worth while repeating:

The two are for work you will have to do—
The one is enough for eating.

-Author not known.