with some fresh food, but no little white nose was to be seen through the bars eager to get the tempting food.

9. Ben opened the door, and there lay the poor little rabbit quite dead. Ben was very grieved at the loss of his pet. But he was still more grieved to think that his own neglect had caused its death.

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1. MOTHER, I wish you would tell me all about coffee,' said little Mary Newson, as she stood watching her mother making some coffee for breakfast one morning.

2. The coffee I am using,' said her mother, 'is the berry of a plant that grows in countries a long way off.'

3. 'What kind of a plant is it, mother? said Mary.

4. It is what we call an evergreen,' said Mrs. Newson, 'because it is green all the year round. First of all there are pretty little white flowers on the coffee tree, and when they die off, the berries take their place.'

5. Tell me how they gather the berries, if you please, mother. Do little boys and girls pick them off the trees, as we pick currants?'

6. 'No, my dear. A large cloth is spread under the tree; then the tree is shaken and the berries fall on the cloth. After this they are spread out in the sun to dry.'

7. 'Is that all they do to the berries, mother, before we use them for making coffee?'

8. 'No, Mary,' said her mother, 'the husks have to be removed, and then the berries are roasted. My little girl has often seen me grind the berries in the mill before I make the coffee for breakfast.'

6

9. Thank you, mother, for telling me so much about coffee. I shall not forget what you have told me.'

THE LITTLE STREAM.

69

THE LITTLE STREAM.

1 LITTLE stream, tell me what 'tis you say As you murmur along

With your musical song

Thro' the grass and the flowers by the way?

2 I have washed all the pebbles quite bright, And now, as I pass,

You may see them like glass,

And I murmur a song of delight.

3 'I have watered each plant that I love, And the blossoms are coming,

And the wild bees are humming,

And I sing with the sky-lark above.

4 'Little children have played by my side, They have stooped at the brink

Of the streamlet to drink,

And I sing them a song as I glide.'

1. Look at these noble-looking creatures. They are lions. We call the lion the king of beasts.

2. The lion is found only in very hot countries. Sometimes lions are caught and brought to our own country, where they may be seen in gardens and in shows, shut up in large strong cages.

3. The lion, as you see, has a large head, but the thick shaggy mane makes it look much larger than it really is.