THE GRASSHOPPER AND THE BEE A GRASSHOPPER, cold and hungry, came to a well-stored beehive and humbly begged the bees for a few drops of honey. One of the bees asked him how he had spent his time all the summer, and why he had not laid up a store of food for the winter. "Truly," said he, "I spent my time very merrily in drinking, and dancing, and singing, and never thought about the winter.' "Our plan is very different," said the bee. "We work hard in summer, to lay by a store of food against the season when we foresee that we shall need it; but those who do nothing but dance and sing during the summer, must expect to starve in winter." This fable teaches that if we spend our time in idleness we shall surely come to want. Sloth makes all things difficult, but industry makes all things easy. Read: "The Ant and the Cricket," from Baldwin's Fairy Stories and Fables; "The Beaver Story," from Bakewell's True Fairy Stories. Sing: "The Secret of Success," from Uncle Sam's School Songs. Birthdays: John Adams, second president of the United States, born in Braintree, Mass., October 30, 1735; died at Quincy, Mass., July 4, 1826, his son then being the president. Adelaide A. Proctor, British poet, born October 30, 1825; died, 1864. 31 HALLOWE'EN Up the airy mountain, Trooping all together; And white owl's feather! ALL-HALLOW-EVEN [HALLOWE 'EN] ALL-HALLOW-EVE (or Even) is known in some places as Nutcrack Night, or Snapapple Night. It is now usually celebrated by children's parties, when certain special games are played. In the country towns it is also a time of careless frolic, and of great bonfires. The custom of keeping the night has come to us from the Celts. The early inhabitants of Great Britain, Ireland, and parts of France were known as Celts, and their religion was directed by strange priests called Druids. Three times in the year, on the first of May, for the sowing; at the solstice, June 21st, for the ripening and turn of the year; and on the eve of November 1st, for the harvesting, those mysterious priests of the Celts, the Druids, built fires on the hill-tops in France, Britain, and Ireland in honor of the sun. This last festival was made a very solemn ceremony, the Druids of all the region gathering in their white robes around the stone altar or cairn on the hill-top. On the sacred cairn-which was a large mound of stones-was a sacred fire, which had been kept burning through the year. The Druids gathered around the fire, and, at a signal, quenched it. Presently a new fire was kindled on the cairn, and as it gleamed in the darkness, the people in the valley raised a great shout and other fires from sur rounding hill-tops answered the sacred flame. Then the people were satisfied, for they believed everything was safe for another year. When the Celts were converted to the Christian religion, the harvest festival of the Druids became in the Catholic Calendar the Eve of All Saints, for that is the meaning of the name "All-hallow Eve." The custom of playing pranks on Hallowe'en came from the old idea that this is "witches' night," and that all the strange and wild powers of the air are abroad to do mischief, but just when and where the thought arose, no one seems to know. Read: "Tamlane," from Jacobs' More English Fairy Tales. Sing: "The Brownies," from Songs in Season. Birthday: David Graham Phillips, an American author, born in Madison, Ind., October 31, 1867; died January 24, 1911. Special Day: Hallowe'en. Birthday: Antonio Canova, a famous Italian sculptor, born at Possagno, Italy, November 1, 1757; died in Venice, October 13, 1822. 2 GENEROSITY The truly generous is the truly wise; And he who loves not others, lives unblest. -Horace A WAIF'S VIEW OF WEALTH A LITTLE street waif was once at the house of a great lady, and the childish eyes that had to look so sharply after daily bread were dazzled by signs of splendor on every hand. "Can you get everything you want?" the child asked the mistress of the mansion. "Yes, I think so," was the reply. "Can you buy anything you'd like to have?" The lady answered, "Yes." And the child, who was of a meditative turn of mind, looked at her half pityingly, and said, wonderingly, "Don't you find it dull?" To the little keen mind, accustomed to live bird-like from day to day, and to rejoice over a little supply with the delight born of rarity, the aspect of continual plenty, and desires all gratified by possession, contained an idea of monotony that seemed almost wearisome. Many an owner of a well-filled purse has found life "dull," and pronounced in the midst of luxury that all things are vanity; but the hand that knows how wisely to distribute and scatter abroad the bounty possessed will never be without interest in lifewill never miss the sunshine that abides for kind and unselfish hearts. -The Quiver Read: "The Elves and the Shoemaker," by Grimm; "Doctor Goldsmith," in Baldwin's Fifty Famous Stories; Bible, Psalm 23. Sing: "Help to Set the World Rejoicing," from Uncle Sam's School Songs. Birthday: James K. Polk, eleventh president of the United States, born in Mecklenberg County, N. C., November 2, 1795; died in Nashville, Tenn., June 15, 1849. TO-DAY is the birthday of William Cullen Bryant, the "poet of nature." He was born in Cummington, Mass. It was soon discovered that the little fellow was very precocious and the parents gave up all hope of his life. But his father being a physician of considerable skill, decided to put William through a severe treatment in order to save his life. So each morning for a long time, summer and |