1. Look at my fine new kite. Father gave it to me for being a good boy, and mother has given me some paper for its tail.

2. Tom Wells is coming to help me make the tail. We are going to make a very long one-three or four yards long.

3. I have a large ball of string, one end of which I shall tie to my kite.

4. When I fly it I shall hold the ball in

LITTLE BOY'S GOOD-NIGHT.

27

my hand, and as the wind takes the kite up higher and higher I shall unwind the string.

5. Mother says that if we have made the tail in good time Tom and I may go into the field at the back of our house and fly my kite.

6. I shall try to get it done early, for I

want to see the kite flying high up in the air.

1 THE sun is hidden from our sight,
The birds are sleeping sound;
'Tis time to say to all Good-night!'
And give a kiss all round.

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LITTLE BOY'S GOOD-NIGHT.

2 Good-night, my father, mother dear,

Good-night! my friends both far and near,
Good-night to every one.

3 Good-night, ye merry, merry birds,
Sleep well till morning light;
Perhaps if you could sing in words,

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You would have said Good-night!'

4 To all my pretty flowers, good-night,
You blossom while I sleep!

And all the stars that shine so bright,
With you their watches keep.

5 The moon is lighting up the skies,
The stars are sparkling there;
'Tis time to shut our weary eyes,
And say our evening prayer.

ELIZA LEE FOLLEN.

1. WE ought to be very kind to the little birds.

2. In the spring and summer they fly about, and cheer us with their sweet songs.

3. It is true that when the corn and fruit are ripe, they often pick the best and eat it.

4. But I will tell you why we should let the birds have some of the fruit and grain.

5. In the winter and early spring the trees and fields are covered with the eggs of insects.

6. These eggs are so small, that even if men

had time to look for them, they could not always see them.

7. But the birds with their sharp eyes look for these eggs in the young buds, and in the cracks in the bark of trees.

8. If the birds did not pick off the eggs they would soon become insects. And these insects would eat much of the corn, or spoil the trees, so that they could not bear much fruit.

9. You will now see that we ought not to grudge the little birds a share of the corn and fruit that they have helped to save for us.