“Your company will cheer me, it is true, And I could never think of burdening you.” Idly they wandered onward, side by side, Till, by and by, they neared a silvery tide. “Let’s bathe,” the angel suddenly suggested. “Agreed,” the demon answered. “I’ll go last, Because I needs must leave quite unmolested This tiresome sun, which I will now make fast.” He set the pole well in the sandy turf, And called a jackdaw near to watch the place. Meanwhile the angel paddled in the surf, And playfully dared his brother to a race. They swam around together for awhile, The demon always keeping near his prize, Till presently the angel, with a smile, Proposed a healthful diving exercise. The demon hesitated. “But,” thought he, “The jackdaw will inform me with a cry If this good brother tries deceiving me; I will not be outdone by him--not I!” Down, down they went. The angel in a trice Rose up again, and swift to shore he sped. The jackdaw shrieked, but lo! a mile of ice The demon found had frozen o’er his head. He swore an oath, and gathered all his force, And broke the ice, to see the sun, of course, Held firmly in the radiant angel’s hand, Who sailed away toward the heavenly land. He gave pursuit. Wrath lent speed to his chase; All heaven leaned down to watch the exciting race. On, on they came, and still the Evil One Gained on the angel burdened with the sun. With bated breath and faces white as ghosts, Over the walls leaned heaven’s affrighted hosts. Up, up, still up, the angel almost spent, Threw one foot forward o’er the battlement. The demon seized the other with a shout; So fierce his clutch he pulled the bottom out, As the good angel, fainting, laid the sun Down by the throne of God, who cried: “Well done! Thy great misfortune shall be made divine: _Man_ will I create with a foot like thine!” PEEK-A-BOO. The cunningest thing that a baby can do Is the very first time it plays peek-a-boo; When it hides its pink little face in its hands, And crows, and shows that it understands What nurse, and mamma and papa, too, Mean when they hide and cry, “Peek-a-boo, peek-a-boo.” Oh, what a wonderful thing it is, When they find that baby can play like this; And everyone listens, and thinks it true That baby’s gurgle means “Peek-a-boo, peek-a-boo”; And over and over the changes are rung On the marvelous infant who talks so young. I wonder if any one ever knew A baby that never played peek-a-boo, peek-a-boo? ’Tis old as the hills are. I believe Cain was taught it by Mother Eve; For Cain was an innocent baby, too, And I am sure he played peek-a-boo, peek-a-boo. And the whole world full of the children of men, Have all of them played that game since then.