STOP, STOP, PRETTY WATER!

'Stop, stop, pretty water!'
Said Mary, one day,
To a frolicsome brook,
That was running away.

'You run on so fast!

I wish you would stay;
My boat and my flowers
You will carry away.

But I will run after;
Mother says that I may;

For I would know where
You are running away.'

So Mary ran on;

But I have heard say,
That she never could find

Where the brook ran away.

BIRDS AND FLOWERS.

"The little birds fly over,
And oh! how sweetly sing,
To tell the happy children
That once again 'tis spring.

"The alder by the river

Shakes out her powdery curls,
The willow buds in silver,
For little boys and girls.

"And just as many daisies

As their small hands can hold,

The little ones may gather,

All fair, in white and gold.

"Here blooms the warm red clover,
There peeps the violet blue;

O happy, happy children!

God makes them all for you."

5. GEMS OF THOUGHT.

"Hearts, like doors, can ope with ease To very, very little keys;

And don't forget that they are these: 'I thank you, sir,' and ' If you please."

"For he who always does his best, His best will better grow;

But he who shirks or slights his task, He lets the better go."

Speak gently! it is better far

To rule by love than fear;

Speak gently! let no harsh words mar The good we might do here."

"God sends his bright spring sun To melt the ice and snow,

To start the green leaf buds,

And make the flowers grow."

"Politeness is to do and say

The kindest thing in the kindest way."

6. MAXIMS. ·

Never put off till to-morrow what you can do to-day.

Never trouble others for what you can do yourself.

Never spend your money before you have it.

Never buy what you do not want because it is cheap.

Pride costs us more than hunger, thirst, and cold.

We never repent of having eaten too little.

Nothing is troublesome is troublesome that we do

willingly.

Take things always by the smooth

handle.

When angry,

angry, count ten before you speak; if very angry, count a hundred.