Our Young Folks at Home and Abroad Part 9

Night came at last. Big lamps were hung on the trees and made the place as light as day. The little men were flying about to keep the sleepy ones awake.

Fred got sleepy at last, and began to nod. A little man thrust a big pin into him. "You must keep awake," he said. Fred tried hard, but his eyes would shut, and then would come the wicked pin. At last he screamed aloud.

"Why, Fred! what is the trouble?" and he looked up. There was mamma.

"I don't like Wide-Awake Land," cried Fred. "I will go to sleep when you want me to after this."

"I think you are dreaming, Fred," replied mamma.

"I was, but I am awake now."

"Well, dear, you are in Sleepy Land now. So good night, and pleasant dreams."

ELIZA M. SHERMAN.

[Ill.u.s.tration: {A LITTLE GIRL WEARING A HAT.}]

LULU'S FIRST THANKSGIVING.

Lulu was six years old last spring. She came to make a visit at her grandfather's, and stayed until after Thanksgiving.

Lulu had lived away down in Cuba ever since she was a year old. Her cousins had written to her what a good time they had on Thanksgiving Day; so she was very anxious to be at her grandfather's at that time.

They do not have a Thanksgiving Day down in Cuba. That is how Lulu did not have one until she was six years old.

[Ill.u.s.tration: {THE FAMILY AT TABLE WAITING FOR THE TURKEY TO BE CARVED.}]

She could hardly wait for the day to come. Such a grand time as they did have! Lulu did not know she had so many cousins until they came to spend the day at her grandfather's. It did not take them long to get acquainted. Before time for dinner they felt as if they had always known each other.

The dinner was the grand event of the day. Lulu had never seen so long a table except at a hotel, nor some of the vegetables and kinds of pie.

[Ill.u.s.tration: {PLAYING BLIND-MAN'S-BUFF.}]

Lulu had never tasted turkey before. Her grandmother would not have one cooked until then, so she could say that she had eaten her first piece of turkey on Thanksgiving Day.

After dinner they played all kinds of games. All the uncles and aunts and grown-up cousins played blind-man's-buff with them.

THE SUN-KISS.[1]

[1] Small purple flower; grows by the wayside in the South.

In a land where summer lingers, Far from Northern rains and snows, Where, like loving, clasping fingers, Twines the jasmine with the rose,

[Ill.u.s.tration: {A LITTLE GIRL WITH A BUNCH OF FLOWERS.}]

There I found a little maiden: Oh! her eyes were black as night, And her tiny hands were laden Down with blossoms pearly white.

Sought she all along the wayside, 'Mong the ferns and waving palms, Where the tiniest flower might hide From her sweet protecting arms.

"What fresh treasure are you seeking?"

Asked I of the little one, For a myriad blooms were peeping Through the mosses to the sun.

"Have you never heard, dear lady, Of the sweetest flower that blooms,-- It is neither proud nor stately, Like the lily and the rose;

"But it brightens every pathway, Springing 'neath your careless tread.

Till the sun, with quickening ray, Kisses soft its drooping head.

"Then its petals quick unclosing, Freshly sweet with morning dew,-- It is left for our supposing That the story must be true,--

"How it shyly waits the coming Of the glorious King of Day, And that hence the pretty naming Of a Sun-Kiss, so they say?"

ELIZABETH A. DAVIS.

[Ill.u.s.tration: {A DRAGONFLY AND LEAVES.}]

[Ill.u.s.tration: {TWO CALVES.}]

THE COUNTRY WEEK.

Mrs. Brown read a little article in the newspaper one evening, about "Country week for poor children."

"Husband," said she, "I have an idea. We have such a good farm, and so many nice things, suppose we take some boarders this summer, who can't afford to pay anything."

When she told him what she meant, Mr. Brown thought it a very good idea, indeed.

"The currants and raspberries are ripe. I'll see if Mrs. Anderson knows of some nice children, who will have to stay in the hot streets of the city all summer. We will ask them to come here."

Of course, Mrs. Anderson knew of some nice children. She belonged to a mission-school, and knew dozens of them. So, the next Wednesday, when Mr. Brown drove down to the station, there she was, and two little ones with her, Lina and Carl Schmidt. Carl was almost a baby, and went to sleep as soon as they were in the carriage; but Lina held her breath with delight as she rode to the farm. She was half afraid, too, and held on very tightly if old Billy went faster than a walk. As Mr.

Brown watched the bright little face he began to think his wife's idea was a splendid one.

"Well, little one," said Mrs. Brown to Lina, when they reached the house, "what do you think of the country?"

"Oh, I do want to take such long breaths!" said Lina, "I wish my mamma could see it too."

"The first thing for these small folks," added Mrs. Brown, "is some of Brindle's nice milk."

[Ill.u.s.tration: {THE FAMILY WATCH THE COW BEING MILKED.}]