New York, Jan. 12, 1896. Dear Grandmamma :

I have been learning so much at school that I feel quite proud of my progress. Cousin Martha says I ought not to feel proud,

but I really

can not help it.

How are the chickens and the двои

rabbits, and dear little Fido?

Our teacher is so kind, and

A little boy was walking along the seashore gathering the treasures which were left on the sands. He was searching in a dreamy way, listlessly looking here and there. Sud denly the waves left at his feet a shell

beautiful than any other he had
thought the shell was safe
that it could be picked

more

found. He

enough, and

up at his leisure. But as he waited, a larger wave swept along the beach, recaptured the shell, and bore it back to the bosom of the ocean.

On

al' most

most

every pleasant winter day, these chil

dren might be seen,

of them on the ice

set

lie

raise sit

down, now, Rover, and let me

this blanket over you, but as soon as you see

up.

Leaves and flowers both come from buds. The bud swells, the leaves push out, the flowers form, and then comes the fruit.

Some of the buds of trees are entirely covered with brown scales by which they are sheltered from the cold of winter. These scales are glued tightly together by a sticky substance, and thus form, for those tender buds, a little case which carefully protects them from the sharp, frosty air.

May*

June*

Ju ly' *

March

(Mar.) Feb'ru a ry (Feb.) Au'gust (Aug.) De cem'ber (Dec.) Oc to'ber (Oct.) No vem'ber (Nov.)

A'pril (Apr.) Jan'u a ry (Jan.) Sep tem'ber (Sept.)

*The starred words have no abbreviations.