Boys and Girls Bookshelf; a Practical Plan of Character Building Part 21

"Never mind, Kitty Cat," said the Horse; "I will teach you to talk.

Listen to this: M-m-m-neigh!"

"No," said the kitten; "that's not the way to talk kitten-talk." And she cried again.

Then along came the Cow and asked what was the matter.

"Oh, Cow," sobbed the kitten, "I have forgotten how to talk kitten-talk.

I try and I try, as hard as I ever can, and all I can say is, M-m-m-bow!"

"Never mind, Kitty Cat," said the Cow; "I will teach you to talk. Listen to this: M-m-m-moo!"

"No," said the kitten; "that is more like it, but that's not the way to talk kitten-talk." And she cried again.

The New Baby was sitting in her high chair at the kitchen door.

"Baby dear," sighed the kitten, "I am in trouble. I have forgotten how to talk kitten-talk. I try and I try, and all I can say is, M-m-m-bow!

Can't you teach me?"

The Baby nodded her head and began, "M-m-m-google-google-goo!"

"No," said the kitten; "that's not the way to talk kitten-talk." And she sat on the kitchen step and cried again.

"What is the matter?" asked a soft voice behind her.

"Oh!" sobbed the kitten, without looking up, "I have forgotten how to talk kitten-talk. I try and I try, and nothing can help me. All I can say is, M-m-m-bow!"

"Look at me," said the soft voice.

The little kitten looked. And there stood a beautiful big gray cat!

"I can teach you to talk," said the Cat. And she did. She taught her so well that the little kitten never again forgot how to mew, though she played out on the soft, green gra.s.s with the dogs every day.

WHAT COULD THE FARMER DO?

BY GEORGE WILLIAM OGDEN

There was an old farmer who had a cow, Moo, moo, moo!

She used to stand on the pump and bow, And what could the farmer do?

Moo, moo, moo, moo, Moo, moo, moo!

She used to stand on the pump and bow, And what could the farmer do?

There was an old farmer who owned some sheep, Baa, baa, baa!

They used to play cribbage while he was asleep, And laugh at the farmer's ma.

Baa, baa, baa, baa!

Moo, moo, moo!

He owned a cow and he owned some sheep, And what could the poor man do?

There was an old farmer who owned a pig, Whoof, whoof, whoof!

He used to dress up in the farmer's wig, And dance on the pig-pen roof.

Whoof, whoof! Baa, baa!

Moo, moo, moo!

He owned a pig, some sheep, and a cow, And what could the poor man do?

There was an old farmer who owned a hen, Cuk-a-ca-doo, ca-doo!

She used to lay eggs for the three hired men, And some for the weasel, too.

Cuk-a-ca-doo! Whoof, whoof!

Baa, baa! Moo!

He owned a hen, pig, sheep, and a cow, And what could the poor man do?

There was an old farmer who had a duck, Quack, quack, quack!

She waddled under a two-horse truck For four long miles and back.

Quack, quack! Cuk-a-ca-doo!

Whoof! Baa! Moo!

With a duck, hen, pig, a sheep, and a cow, Pray what could the poor man do?

There was an old farmer who had a cat, Mee-ow, mee-ow, mee-ow!

She used to waltz with a gray old rat By night in the farmer's mow.

Mee-ow! Quack! Cuk-a-ca-doo!

Whoof! Baa! Moo!

With cat, duck, hen, pig, sheep, and a cow, Pray what could the poor man do?

FLEDGLINGS

BY LUCY FITCH PERKINS

I saw a stork on a chimney high, And called to him as I pa.s.sed by, "O stork! what'll you bring, Tucked away carefully under your wing?

A baby sister and a brother, One for me, and one for mother."

"TIME TO GET UP!"

BY ELLEN FOSTER

Little Elinor Gray lived in a big city, but her grandmother lived in a big house in the country. Elinor and her Nurse Norah were going to visit her, and had to take a long ride in the railway-train, and another ride in a carriage that Grandmother sent to meet them, so it was almost dark when they drove up to the door.

Elinor's grandmother had two beautiful dogs--"Bruno," a big collie, and "Bounder," a little fox-terrier. And when they saw the little girl jump out of the carriage, they barked and barked because they were so glad to see her. And they said to themselves (I _think_ they said to themselves): "We will let her have a good sleep to-night, for she must be very tired and it is nearly dark. But to-morrow, bright and early, we will ask her to come for a romp with us in the garden, and show her how much nicer it is to live in the country than in the city, where little girls have to walk so quietly along the streets, and dogs have to be led along the sidewalk, and cannot frolic on the soft green gra.s.s."

Elinor was very sleepy after her long ride in the train, and so, after she had had her supper, her grandmother told her she might go to bed early and get a good sleep, and that Nurse Norah would call her at seven o'clock in the morning.

But what do you think happened? Why, Bruno and Bounder somehow got into the house _before_ seven o'clock that morning, and came leaping up the stairs, and went straight to Elinor's door. Elinor was a very sound sleeper, and did not hear them at first, and did not wake up. But soon Bounder began to scratch at the door with his little, sharp claws and to make queer little whine-y sounds; and Bruno's bushy tail went "Rap! rap!

rap!" on the door, too. Then Elinor woke up, and listened a moment, and then she said: "Oh, _I_ know what it is! It's those darling dogs!" And she jumped out of bed and opened the door, and there, sure enough, was Bounder, dashing right into the room, barking, "Good morning! good morning!" and big Bruno, looking at Elinor as if saying, "Good morning!

didn't you hear us? It's time to get up!"

Elinor said: "Oh, you beauties! Yes, I know! And I'll get dressed right away!"

But what do you think happened _then_! Why, Bruno and Bounder didn't give her time even to call Nurse Norah and get dressed. You see, Bruno and Bounder did not often have so nice a little visitor, and they were ready to begin play that very minute. Bounder was jumping up and down and all over the room, and at last he spied Elinor's slippers on the floor and caught up one of them between his sharp little teeth and ran round and round the room with it. But Bruno chased Bounder all round the room trying to make him drop the slipper, while Elinor stood still and laughed and laughed and laughed!