Boys and Girls Bookshelf; a Practical Plan of Character Building Part 23

"Are you? I believe I'll go, too. I am so fond of milk." So Rover hurried along up the road after the goat.

Just as they turned into the road, who should come jumping along but Tabby the cat.

"Well, well!" he meowed. "When did the circus come to town, Rover?"

"This is not a circus parade," said the dog, the goat, the calf, and Piggie all at once, as they ran on.

"Then, where are you going, Rover?" again meowed Tabby.

"Going with Billie," barked Rover.

[Ill.u.s.tration: "'MY, THAT'S GOOD!'"]

"Where are you going, Billie?" "Going with Bossie."

"Where are you going, Bossie?" "Going with Piggie."

"Where are you going, Piggie?"

"I am going to market to get my mother a pail of milk for Father's supper to-night," squealed Piggie in a great hurry.

"Are you? I believe I'll go along. I am so fond of milk." So Tabby raced along after Rover.

When they got to the market, Piggie told his friends to wait outside while he hurried in and got the milk for his father's supper. It did not take him long, and he soon came trotting out because he was to hurry back home.

"Give me a sup for politeness' sake," meowed Tabby the cat, as she stuck her head in the pail. "My, that's good!"

"Pa.s.s it to me, Tabby," barked Rover the dog, "for politeness' sake. My, that's good!"

"Give me a sup for politeness' sake," said Billie Goat. "My, that's good."

"Do not forget me, Billie, for politeness' sake," said Bossie the calf.

"My, that's good!"

[Ill.u.s.tration: "AWAY HE TROTTED WITH AN EMPTY PAIL."]

"Oh, dear, oh, dear!" squealed Piggie, when he saw what had happened.

"What shall I do?" And away he trotted all by himself with an empty pail, to tell his mother that he did really and truly get the milk, but that his friends had "supped" it all up!

But just then the farmer came with a great, _big_ pail of milk and gave it all to them, so that the good little piggie and his father and mother had a fine supper, and much more milk than Piggie could have brought.

BABY'S PARADISE

BY LUCY FITCH PERKINS

Over the hills and far away, There's a beautiful, wonderful place, Where happy babies in gardens play, With mothers dressed all in lace,--

Dressed all in lace and in silken gown, With flowers in their hair,-- Where trees with blossoms are laden down, And perfumes fill the air.

DISOBEDIENCE

"Wait, Kitty; here's soap and water, And I must wash your face; For the way you do it with your paws Is simply a disgrace!"

_But Kitty didn't wait!_

[Ill.u.s.tration: "WHO SPEAKS FIRST?"

FROM AN ENGRAVING OF THE PAINTING BY ARTHUR J. ELSLEY.]

FOR A LITTLE GIRL OF THREE.

BY UNCLE NED.

_Moo, moo!_ What can I do For my little girl of three?

I will eat the sweet gra.s.s, I will give her a gla.s.s Of my milk for her tea; Moo, moo! that 's what I'll do For my dear little maiden of three.

_Mew, mew!_ What can I do For my little girl of three?

I will catch all the mice, And they shall not come twice To the cake, you'll see; Mew, mew! that's what I'll do For my sweet little maiden of three.

_Bow-wow!_ I will go now With my little girl of three; I will make a great noise; I will frighten the boys, For they all fear me; Bow-wow! that is just how I'll guard my sweet maiden of three.

_Neigh, neigh!_ Out of the way For my little girl of three!

I will give her a ride, We will canter and glide O'er the meadowy lea; Neigh, neigh! that's just the way I'll help my sweet maiden of three.

A FUNNY FAMILY

There was a little lady she was'nt very big She had a spotted cow ...

Also a spotted pig ... Her dress had dots ... Her dog had lots ... it was a funny family but oh so very trig

LITTLE BY LITTLE.

When Charley awoke one morning, he looked from the window, and saw the ground deeply covered with snow.

On the side of the house nearest the kitchen, the snow was piled higher than Charley's head.

"We must have a path through this snow," said his father. "I would make one if I had time. But I must be at the office early this morning.

"Do you think you could make the path, my son?" he asked little Charley.

"I? Why, the snow is higher than my head! How could I ever cut a path through that snow?"

"How? Why, by doing it _little_ by _little_. Suppose you try," said the father, as he left for his office.