Yet to read the shameful story,

How the Jews abused their King— How they served the Lord of glory, Makes me angry while I sing.

See the kinder shepherds round him,

Telling wonders from the sky;

Where they sought him, there they found him,
With his virgin mother by.

See the lovely babe a-dressing!
Lovely infant, how he smiled:
When he wept, the mother's blessing
Soothed and hushed the holy Child.

Lo, he slumbers in the manger,
Where the horned oxen fed!
Peace, my darling, here's no danger,
There's no oxen near thy bed.
'Twas to save thee, child, from dying,
Save my dear from burning flame,
Bitter groans and endless crying,
That thy blest Redeemer came.

May'st thou live to know and fear him,
Trust and love him all thy days;
Then go dwell for ever near him,
See his face, and sing his praise.

I could give thee thousand kisses,
Hoping what I most desire;
Not a mother's fondest wishes
Can to greater joys aspire.

Dr. Watts.

"M°

IV

LITTLE ANN.

ANN.

OTHER, how can flowers grow?"
Said little Ann, one day;

"The fields are covered o'er with snow-
When will it go away?"

MOTHER.

"A few months hence, dear Ann, will view,
In the garden now so white,
The yellow cowslip, violet blue,
And daffodil so bright."

V.

KINDNESS TO ANIMALS.

LIKE little pussy, her coat is so warm,

And if I don't hurt her, she 'll do me no harm; So I'll not pull her tail, nor drive her away,

But pussy and I very gently will play :

She shall sit by my side, and I'll give her some food,

And she'll love me because I am gentle and good.

I'll pat little pussy, and then she will purr,
And thus show her thanks for my kindness to her;

I'll not pinch her ears, nor tread on her paw,
Lest I should provoke her to use her sharp claw.
I never will vex her, nor make her displeased,
For pussy don't like to be worried and teased.

Miss Taylor

VI.

THE PIGEON.

! coo! pretty pigeon, all day,

Cool cool to your children and mate;

You seem in your soft note to say

That you never knew anger or hate.

And thus little children should try

To be civil, and patient, and kind;

And not to be pettish, and cry,

When they cannot have all to their mind.

VII.

LITTLE ROBIN REDBREASTS AT HOME.

WO Robin Redbreasts built their nest

Within a hollow tree;

The hen sat quietly at home,

The cock sang merrily;

And all the little young ones said:

"Wee-wee-wee-wee-wee-wee ! "

One day the sun was warm and bright

And shining in the sky;

Cock robin said: "My little dears,

'Tis time you learn'd to fly."
And all the little young ones said:
"We'll try-we'll try-we'll try!

I know a child, and who she is
I'll tell you by and by;

When mamma says do this or that,

She says: 66 What for?" and "Why?" She'd be a better child by far

If she would say:

"I'll try."

VIII.

THE SLEIGH RIDE.

INGLE, jingle, go the bells;

Over the valleys and over the hills,
Dear grandmamma to see.

The day is bright, and away we go
As swift as swift can be,
Over the smoothly trodden snow,

Dear grandmamma to see.

And look, do look, for there she stands,

Aunt Mary by her side,

To welcome us with outstretched hands

After our pleasant ride.

And there is George-and Carlo too!
For they heard the telltale bells,
As over the shining road we flew,
And down the slippery hills.

IX.

NO ONE EXCUSED.

WHA

HAT if a drop of rain should plead: "So small a drop as I

Can ne'er refresh the thirsty mead;

I'll tarry in the sky"?

What if the shining beam of noon

Should in its fountain stay, Because its feeble light alone, Cannot create a day?

Does not each raindrop help to form

The cool, refreshing shower? And every ray of light to warm

And beautify the flower?

X.

THE GOOD SHEPHERD.

ESUS says that we must love him;

J'

Helpless as the lambs are we;

But he very kindly tells us

That our shepherd he will be.