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makes its tiny nest. When we remember that the birds have no tools, nothing but their little feet and bill, with which to work, we wonder at the nice, comfortable beds they make for their babies, and we are sure that God alone taught them.

THE NEST-BUILDERS.

The green boughs rustle by my window,
The soft leaves tremble to and fro;
A nest is growing in the shadow,—
I watch the builders come and go.

Out of the free, four winds of heaven,
The pretty hidden home is made;
A straw, a twig, the down of thistle,
With moss and grasses overlaid.

I hear the light wings, flitting, flitting;
They take no time for rest or play,
While falls the rain, or broods the sunlight,
The busy birds improve the day.

They gather up the gifts I throw them,
A silken thread, a ribbon end;
Then come again, with pleasant twitter,
As if to thank, and cail me friend.

No thanks, dear little merry workers!
I shall be doubly glad of spring,
When, by and by, beside my window,
The baby-birds begin to sing.

April 17.

And He took them (the little children) up in His arms. put His hands upon them, and blessed them.-Mark.

x. 16.

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"IF the Bible did not say that God is love, would we know it in any other way, mamma? was the question little Clayton asked, as he read the text, "God is love.” His mamma told him to look out the open window and

tell her what he saw. "I see pretty flowers in the garden, and the apple-trees covered with white and pink blossoms; I see the blue sky, and the river yonder," he answered. Then his mother asked, "Who gives you the pure air to breathe, and sends the sunlight and dew upon the earth? Through whose love are you provided with home, and kind friends to care for you when you are ill? Who gave His dear Son to die that you might live?" 'God," the little boy answered reverently; "yes, we would know that even if the Bible did not say so."

66

God is love,'

ELIZABETH P. ALLAN.

FLOWERS.

Buds and bells! Sweet April pleasures,
Springing all around,—

White, and gold, and crimson treasures
From the cold, unlovely ground!
He who gave them grace and hue,
Made the little children too.

When the weary little flowers
Close their starry eyes,
By the dark and dewy hours

Strength and freshness God supplies ;
He who sends the gentle dew

Cares for little children too!

Then He gives the pleasant weather,
Sunshine, warm and free;
Making all things glad together,
Kind to them, and kind to me;
Lovely flowers! He loveth you,
And the little children too!

Though we cannot hear you singing
Softly chiming lays,

Surely God can see you bringing,
Silent songs of wordless praise!
Hears your anthem, sweet and true,
Hears the little children too!

FRANCES RIDLEY HAVERGAL.

April 18.

Awake to righteousness, and sin not.-1 COR. xv. 34.

It was a little brown bulb down in the ground that had thrown up those beautiful flowers. The bulb had no beauty in itself; it might have said, "I am of no use, and I will lie still here in the ground and rest.” Then no blooming time would have come to it, and the bright and graceful flowers would not have been born to gladden our eyes. But the bulb had gone on gathering strength and nourishing juices from the soil, and had been guarded from the worm, and now we enjoy the beauty of its bloom. Children are like bulbs, and if they are not idle and careless, but work in all things to gather in the right qualities for good and useful lives; and if they keep the worm of sin from eating out the germ of good from their hearts, they will surely find a blooming-time in this world and in the home above.

THEODORE H. MACK.

LITTLE GARDENS.

Little gardens may have room
For the fairest flowers that blow,
If the plants are tended well,
And no weed is left to grow.

So, in all our hearts may be

Little gardens, sweet and fair,

If we check the weeds of sin,

And keep goodness growing there.

EMELIE POULSSON.

April 19.

To him that soweth righteousness shall be a sure reward. -PROV. xi. 18.

IF the spring puts forth no buds or blossoms, in summer there will be no beauty, and in autumn no fruit.

A SONG.

Scatter in spring-time a handful of seeds,
And gather in summer a lapful of flowers;
This is the song of the birds in the bowers,
This is the song of the wind in the reeds.

Down by the roadside and over the meads,
Under the sunshine and under the showers,
Scatter in spring-time a handful of seeds,

And gather in summer a lapful of flowers.

Scatter in childhood kind words and deeds,

Scatter them everywhere, through all the hours;
Whether sky brightens, or whether cloud lowers,
Their blossoms shall come to thee ere summer speeds.
Scatter in spring-time a handful of seeds,
And gather in summer a lapful of flowers.

Harper's Second Reader.

April 20.

Thou hast put gladness in my heart.-PSA. iv. 7.

No matter if it is raining outside, let us try to make sunshine inside. Gather about the window and watch the rain as it comes down upon the grass,—and the showers as they water the earth; look up and see clouds full of rain, those "wandering cisterns in the sky,"— and remember who fills them with water to refresh the thirsty flowers, and shrubs, and trees, and to give drink to every thirsty creature. What music there is, as the pearly drops patter against the window-panes !

Among some of the ways to make sunshine, are:First, not to think of what might have been, if the day had been better. Second,—see how many pleasant things there are left to enjoy. Third,-do all you can to make others happy. Try this plan the next rainy day, and see if sunshine in the heart does not make sunshine everywhere.

SING.

Sing, little bird, when skies are blue;
Sing, for the world has need of you;
Sing when the skies are overcast,-

Sing through the raindrops, falling fast.

Sing, light heart, in sunny weather;

Sing, dear heart, when storm-clouds gather;
Sing a refrain, sweet, loving, true;
Sing, for the world has need of you.

MARY E. Carter.

April 21.

A merry heart maketh a cheerful countenance.-PROV. XV. 13.

A BRIGHT Smile, a beaming countenance, a playful word, these find an entrance into the closed heart, and raise the downcast eye, and bless him that gives and him that takes.

SUNSHINE.

DEAN STANLEY.

"I wish the beautiful sun would shine
Every, every day,

Beaming over the whole great world,
And making it bright and gay.

"I wish that every gloomy cloud
Would hurry and hide away,

Wherever it came from,-I don't know
Nor care, if they'd go and stay.

"I wish, I wish,-but what is the use
Of wishing, I'd like to know!

For grandmother says that clouds and shine
Will always come and go.

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