THE TWINS.

Down on the grass, where tall meadow-sweet grows,
Waved by the wind of the West,

Brave little Robin, and dear little Rose,

Happy as birds in a nest,

Gather bright blossoms, and prattle away

Merrily one to the other;

No pair of linnets chirp sweeter than they-
Loving twin sister and brother!

Rosie's straw hat is all garlanded round

With a delicious festoon;

Chainwork of daisy-blooms, fresh from the ground;

Ox-eyes as fair as the moon.

OUR DARLING.

BOUNDING like a football,
Kicking at the door;
Falling from the table-top,
Sprawling on the floor;
Smashing cups and saucers,

Splitting dolly's head;
Putting little pussy cat
Into baby's bed.

Building shops and houses,
Spoiling father's hat,
Hiding mother's precious keys
Underneath the mat;

Jumping on the fender,

Poking at the fire,

Dancing on his little legs-
Legs that never tire.

Making mother's heart leap
Fifty times a day;
A ping everything we do,
Every word we say.
Shouting, laughing, tumbling,
Roar ng with a will,
Anywhere and everywhere,
Never, never still.

Present-bringing sunshine;
Absent-leaving night;
That's our precious darling,
That's our heart's delight.

MATTHIAS BARR.

THE STEP-LADDER.

UPON a bough a sparrow caught

A fly so fat and fine,

And prayers and cries availed her nought; "On thee I mean to dine,

For thou art weak and I am strong,
Thy time on earth will not be long."

A hawk came passing by that way,
As sparrow feasted on his prey;
Said he, "I'll eat thee in thy turn,
As thou hast eaten many a worm;
For thou art weak and I am strong,
Thy time on earth will not be long."
An eagle from his distant height,
Cast upon earth his glance so bright,
Down on the hawk he swiftly flew,
And tore the murderer right in two;
"For thou art weak and I am strong,
Thy time on earth will not be long."

Just at that moment flew a dart,
And pierced the eagle to the heart;
Tyrant," he to the huntsman cried,

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