"True, it seems a pleasant thing Nipping daisies in the spring; But what chilly nights I pa.s.s On the cold and dewy gra.s.s, Or pick my scanty dinner where All the ground is brown and bare!

"Then the farmer comes at last, When the merry spring is past, Cuts my woolly fleece away, For your coat in wintry day.

Little master, this is why In the pleasant fields I lie."

ANN TAYLOR.

THE BOY WHO CRIED WOLF

There was once a boy who tended his father's sheep on the side of a mountain, near a dark forest.

It was a lonely place. No one was near, excepting three men whom the boy could see working in the fields, in the valley below.

One day the boy thought he would have some fun. He rushed down toward the valley, crying, "Wolf! Wolf!"

The men ran to meet him, and one of them remained with him for a while.

The boy enjoyed the company and the fun so much, that he tried the same trick again, a few days later. Again the men ran to help him.

Soon after this, a wolf really came from the forest and began to steal the sheep.

The boy ran after the men, crying more loudly than ever, "Wolf! Wolf!"

But it was of no use for him to call. The men had been fooled twice, and now no one went to help him. So the wolf had a good meal from the herd of sheep.

THE LION'S SHARE

The fox and the donkey were friends. One day they agreed to go hunting together.

On their way through the forest, they stopped at the den of the lion.

"Ho, ho, King Lion!" called the fox. "Friend Donkey and I are going to hunt for game. Will you go with us?"

"Certainly," said the lion." I am ready for a good dinner."

The lion, the fox, and the donkey set a trap near the lion's den. Then they hid behind the trees near by.

Soon a wolf came prowling along and was caught in the trap.

They attacked the wolf and killed him.

"Let us have our dinner now. I am hungry," said the lion.

"Friend Donkey," added the lion, "you may divide the animal and give each of us his portion."

So the donkey divided the wolf into three equal parts.

Then he said to the lion, "Which part will you have, King Lion?"

The lion saw how the donkey had divided the animal.

King Lion was very angry.

He said with a roar, "What do you mean, Friend Donkey, by taking so much for your share?"

"I have divided the wolf into three equal parts," said the donkey. "If you do not like the way I have divided the animal, you need not take any."

At this the lion was furious.

Springing upon the poor donkey, he killed him instantly.

Then the lion turned to the fox.

"There are only two of us now," said the lion. "Let me see how you will divide the animal."

The fox bowed low before King Lion.

He took one very small piece of meat for himself.

Then he put all the rest of the animal in a heap for the lion.

The lion watched greedily to see what the fox would do next.

"This is your share, King Lion," said the fox.

The lion was pleased with the way the fox had divided the meat.

"Who taught you how to divide the wolf?" he said.

Once more the fox bowed low before King Lion.

Then he said humbly, "Friend Donkey taught me how to divide the wolf!"

ROBIN REDBREAST

Good-by, good-by to summer!

For summer's nearly done; The garden smiling faintly, Cool breezes in the sun.

Our thrushes now are silent, Our swallows flown away-- But Robin's here with coat of brown, And ruddy breast-knot gay.