4. 'One wise man who grows fruit says that his best friends are the sparrows, and he makes holes in the garden-walls for them to build in. Their sharp eyes see the tiny things that would spoil the fruit, and their sharp beaks nip them up at once. [Illustration] 5. 'He loves to see sparrows in an apple-tree in blossom-time; he knows they are saving the apples for him.' 'But Jack says he has seen them pecking at fruit.' 6. 'Yes, they like fruit, just as you and I do. But there would be no fruit at all, if the birds did not eat the grubs. 7. 'The man I was telling you about puts nets over his trees when the fruit begins to ripen. And I heard only the other day that it is a good plan to put pans of clean fresh water close to the trees and bushes. Then the birds will not go so often to the fruit. They are thirsty and hot, poor things! 8. 'And there would be no corn, if the birds did not kill the wheat-fly's grubs.' 9. When Harry heard all this, he made up his mind not to throw stones at the sparrows, as Jack wanted him to do. A DAY IN THE COUNTRY. but'-ter-flies mer'-ry gath'-ered broth'-er flow'-ers o-bliged' roamed scoured pleas'-ant cheese hedge ease brook'-let crys'-tal thrush mus'-ic 1. Where the bees and butterflies Skim the grassy down, Four merry little children Gathered from the town; 2. Ragged little Johnnie, And his brother Ben, With wild-flowers are laden, These merry little men. Kate and Mat have posies Of colours bright and gay, For Tim, their tiny brother, At home obliged to stay. 3. They have roamed the meadow, They have scoured the wood, Seeking nuts and blackberries, For their pleasant food. With their nuts and blackberries And bits of bread and cheese, On a mossy hedge-bank, Now they take their ease. 4. Drinking from the brooklet 'Neath the hawthorn tree, Clear it runs as crystal, Fresh and bright and free. And the thrush sings loudly On the hawthorn spray, And the brooklet ever Makes music on its way. [Illustration] SOME HERBS. stream through grav'-el mar'-ket tea lett'-uce tongue mus'-tard pow'-der sprin'-kled flan'-nel car'-ried pars'-ley thyme herbs sage 1. A little stream ran through one of the farmer's fields. The water was so clear that you could see the sand and gravel at the bottom, and in it there grew plenty of water-cress. [Illustration: Water-cress.] 2. Harry went one afternoon to help Johnny and Tom to pick it for market, and brought a big bunch home for tea. 3. His mother had picked a lettuce from the garden, and some mustard and cress, and they were all put on one plate.