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Their mistress, however, thought one day that she had bestowed a rash confidence on Puss. On hearing her give a slight growl, the lady looked and saw her seize the bird in her mouth. Then Puss leapt on the bed; her tail swelled out, her hair stood erect, and her eyes grew as big_as four. Dickie was of course given up for lost. this fear was groundless, for it soon appeared that the door had been accidentally left open, and a strange cat had come in.

But

It was for the safety of the bird that Puss had seized him, and as soon as the intruder was put out of the room, she set the prisoner at liberty.*

ROBIN REDBREAST AND BUTTERFLY. WHAT ail'd thee, Robin, that thou could'st pursue A beautiful creature,

That is gentle by nature!

Beneath the summer sky

From flower to flower let him fly;
'Tis all that he wishes to do.

The cheerer thou of our indoor sadness,
He is the friend of our summer gladness;
What hinders, then, that ye should be
Playmates in the sunny weather,
And fly about in the air together!
His beautiful bosom is drest
In crimson as bright as thine own;
If thou would'st be happy in thy vest,
O pious bird! whom man loves best,
Love him, or leave him alone!-- Wordsworth.

* Mrs. Lee.

Neglect, forget. Interest, pleasure.

Extend, stretch. Protection, guarding against harm.
Annoy, disturb (so as to displease).

Impertinence, impudence. Composure, calmness.

THE DOG AND THE KITTEN.

A FEW years ago a lady was travelling in the south of England, having with her a pretty little black and tan spaniel, with long curling ears. On one occasion, this lady lodged in a house where there was a cat, with one kitten. Now, strange to say, this mother neglected her duty so much, that the kitten was left in her basket alone, to take care of itself.

The dog whose name was was "Black Prince," had never seen a kitten before, and seemed to look at it with much interest. He went up to the basket, smelling it all round, until at length he became so bold as to take the kitten up in his

mouth.

He carried it to his own rug, and laid it down; he then lay down himself, extending his fore paw round it, for protection, and began licking it just as tenderly as the mother could have done. This scene was repeated until the dog and the kitten became quite friendly. They might often be seen asleep together, the dog's paws embracing the kitten, whose little grey head rested on his soft warm shoulder.

As the kitten grew older, and became more playful, its sharp claws sometimes annoyed the little dog, who would now and then, show, by a gentle growl, that he was not quite pleased; but yet always seeming to think that his little friend was young and knew no better.

One day when the dog was eating his dinner, the poor little kitten, crawled into the middle of

Black Prince's plate! This was a piece of impertinence which even a dog could not allow. With perfect coolness, and composure, Black Prince took up the little intruder in his mouth, carried it to its own basket, and laid it down with the utmost gentleness.

Frolicsome, playful, sporting.
Impudence, daring.

Extend, stretch, reach.
Alarm, frighten.

THE BOB-O-LINK.

LEANING idly over a fence, I once noticed a boy amusing himself in the grass by watching the frolicsome flight of birds playing around him. At length a beautiful Bob-o-link perched himself upon a drooping bough of an apple-tree, which extended to within a few yards of the place where the urchin sat.

The boy seemed astonished at the impudence of the bird. After regarding him steadily for a minute or two, he picked up a stone lying at his feet. He prepared to throw it, steadying himself carefully for a good aim.

The little arm was reached backward without alarming the bird, and Bob was within an inch of death, when, lo! his throat swelled, and forth came "A link-a link-a link, Bob-o-link-Bob-o-link -a-no-weet-a-no-weet! I know it-I know it! a link—a link-a link-don't throw it!-throw it!throw it!"

And he didn't slowly the little arm fell by his side, and the stone dropped from his hand. Approaching the boy, I asked him why he didn't throw the stone. His reply was, "Could'nt, 'cause So!" The songster had charmed the

he sung murderer.

Gibbet, the gallows. Eschew, avoid.
Mime, mimic, imitator. Marvellous, wonderful.

THE CARRION CROW.

The Carrion Crow is a sexton bold,

He raketh the dead from out of the mould;
He delveth the ground like a miser old,
Stealthily hiding his store of gold.
Caw! Caw!

The Carrion Crow hath a dainty maw,
With savory pickings he crammeth his craw;
Kept meat from the gibbet, it pleaseth his whim,
It never can hang too long for him.
Caw! Caw!

The Carrion Crow smelleth powder, 'tis said,
Like a soldier escheweth the taste of cold lead
No jester or mime hath more marvellous wit,
For wherever he lighteth he maketh a hit.
Caw! Caw! the Carrion Crow!

Dig! Dig! in the ground below!-Ainsworth.

Perfume, to scent, spread pleasant smells.
Scared, frightened. Destructive, destroying.
Abundance, plenty. Procure, get, obtain.

THE SONG-BIRDS.

THERE was a pleasant village entirely surrounded by an orchard of fruit-trees. In spring the trees blossomed and perfumed the air. Upon their branches and in the hedges all kinds of lively birds sang, and made their nests in every direction. In the autumn, every branch was richly laden with apples, pears, or plums.

STANDARD

Some mischievous boys once began to take and destroy the nests. The birds were therefore scared away, and by degrees altogether deserted the spot. There was now no more singing heard in the garden or the orchard; all was still and gloomy.

More than that, the destructive caterpillars, which had hitherto been the food of the birds, got the upper hand, and devoured the leaves and blossoms. The trees stood bare as in the middle of winter; and the mischievous boys, who used to have excellent fruit to eat in abundance, were now unable to procure a single apple.

"Rob the poor birds of eggs and nest,

Nor fruit nor song you'll find;

So kindly let in safety rest

Things harmless of their kind."*

Scant, empty, bare. Case, circumstances.

THE IRISH HARPER AND HIS DOG.

On the green banks of Shannon, when Sheelah was nigh,
No blithe Irish lad was so happy as I;

No harp like my own could so cheerily play,
And wherever I went was my poor dog, Tray.

When at last I was forced from my Sheelah to part,
She said while the sorrow was big at her heart-

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Oh! remember your Sheelah, when far, far away,
And be kind, my dear Pat, to our poor dog, Tray."

Poor dog! he was faithful and kind, to be sure,
And he constantly loved me, although I was poor;
When the sour-looking folks sent me heartless away,
I had always a friend in my poor dog, Tray.

* Schmid's 100 Tales; Translated by Wells Bosworth and Harrison. This and other extracts speak for the volume.

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