"I'll show you," said Mr. Sands, and he immediately led us to a small door, which opened some way up the kiln. "This is called the crown," said Mr. Sands. It was a flat surface, with four holes which showed the red heat below, and looked like little volcanoes in a good temper. "Do you see those iron rods hanging like walking-sticks in the furnace?" asked our guide. "Well, those are called _trials_, and at the end of each is a lump of clay and glaze. If the glaze is burnt enough we suppose that the whole batch is done, but we sometimes make a mistake and spoil a lot." "What is done next?" asked Charley. "If they are properly burnt, they are allowed to cool gradually, and are then ready for sale." By this time all were pretty well tired, and so they said good morning to Mr. Sands and went home. "Mother," said Charley, as they sat down to dinner, "I shall ask how it's done oftener than ever, now, for I like going over factories. What's to be the next one, I wonder." "Bread," exclaimed Mary, as she cut a big slice for herself. "Shall it be bread, mother?" "Yes, if you like, but I propose we go to see the flour made first. So the next place we explore will be a flour-mill." E. M. W. BIRDIE'S BREAKFAST. MRS. S. J. BRIGHAM. Take your breakfast, little birdie,-- Cracker-crumbs, and seeds so yellow, Bits of sponge-cake, sweet and mellow; Come quite near me; Do not fear me. I can hear your happy twitter, Although winter winds are bitter; Take your breakfast, little birdie. Come! Oh, come and tell me birdie! All night long the snow was falling; Long ago, I heard you calling; Tell me, dearie, Are you weary? Can you sleep, when winds are blowing? Frosts are biting, clouds are snowing? Come! Oh, come and tell me, birdie! Take your food, and trust me, birdie; Daily food the Father giveth; Bread to every thing that liveth. Come quite near me; Do not fear me. Come each day, and bring your fellow, For your bread, so sweet and mellow; Take your food, and trust me, birdie. A BATTLE. Do you like accounts of battles? Here is one for you. I shall have to tell of a well-disciplined army, and some hard fighting, as well as of a victory.