I'm a pretty little thing, Always coming with the spring; In the meadows green I'm found, Peeping just above the ground, And my stalk is cover'd flat With a white and yellow hat. Little Mary, when you pass Lightly o'er the tender grass, Skip about, but do not tread On my bright but lowly head, For I always seem to say, "Surely winter's gone away." [Illustration] LEARNING TO GO ALONE. Come, my darling, come away. Take a pretty walk to-day; Run along, and never fear, I'll take care of baby dear: Up and down with little feet, That's the way to walk, my sweet. Now it is so very near, Soon she'll get to mother dear. There she comes along at last: Here's my finger, hold it fast Now one pretty little kiss, After such a walk as this. [Illustration] FINERY. In an elegant frock, trimm'd with beautiful lace, And hair nicely curl'd, hanging over her face, Young Fanny went out to the house of a friend, With a large _little_ party the evening to spend. "Ah! how they will all be delighted, I guess, And stare with surprise at my handsome new dress!" Thus said the vain girl, and her little heart beat, Impatient the happy young party to meet. But, alas! they were all too intent on their play To observe the fine clothes of this lady so gay, And thus all her trouble quite lost its design;-- For they saw she was proud, but forgot she was fine. 'Twas Lucy, though only in simple white clad, (Nor trimmings, nor laces, nor jewels, she had,) Whose cheerful good-nature delighted them more Than Fanny and all the fine garments she wore. 'Tis better to have a sweet smile on one's face, Than to wear a fine frock with an elegant lace, For the good-natured girl is loved best in the main, If her dress is but decent, though ever so plain. [Illustration] GREEDY RICHARD. "I think I want some pies this morning," Said Dick, stretching himself and yawning; So down he threw his slate and books, And saunter'd to the pastry-cook's. And there he cast his greedy eyes Round on the jellies and the pies, So to select, with anxious care, The very nicest that was there. At last the point was thus decided: As his opinion was divided 'Twixt pie and jelly, being loth Either to leave, he took them both. Now Richard never could be pleased To stop when hunger was appeased, But would go on to eat still more When he had had an ample store. "No, not another now," said Dick; "Dear me, I feel extremely sick: I cannot even eat this bit; I wish I had not tasted it." Then slowly rising from his seat, He threw his cheesecake in the street, And left the tempting pastry-cook's With very discontented looks.