Once, a princess royal Wanted little Max; How to part those friends so loyal, Her little brain she racks. She would give her gold and silver, in a little purse, Then throw in for measure good, her scolding English nurse! Then she cried, and chattered All her pretty French, And her little feet she pattered, On the rustic bench. "My papa is king," she said, "and I'd have you know, I shall have the donkey, and to prison shall you go." How their tiny feet would scamper, Up the valley blue, Carrying each his generous hamper, And his rider, too. Sure of foot, they'd clamber round the mountain spur Where the foot-sore tourist scarcely dared to stir. In this bright, sunshiny weather, I remember with a sigh, We no more can play together, Beppo, Max and I. Never dearer friends exist, in this world below, Than I made in Switzerland, just a year ago. [Illustration: {PANSIES.}] PANSIES. As I walked in my garden to-day, I saw a family sweet. Many wee faces looked up, From their cool and shady retreat. Some had blue eyes and golden curls, Some dark eyes and raven locks, Some were dressed in velvets so rare, And some wore quaint, gay frocks. I asked these babies so dear, To come and live ever with me! Then laughing so gaily they said; "We are _Pansies_, don't you see?" MRS. L. L. SLOANAKER. "COME, LITTLE BIRD!" "Come, little bird, I have waited some time, Light on my hand, and I'll give you a dime. I have a cage that will keep you warm, Free from danger, and safe from storm." "No, little lady, we cannot do that, Not for a dime, nor a brand new hat. We are so happy, and wild, and free, Chee-dee-dee! Chee-dee-dee!" "Fly, pretty bird, fly down, and take Just a crumb of my Christmas cake; Santa Claus brought it to me, you know, Over the snow. Over the snow." "Yes, we know of your home, so rare, And stockings hung in the fire-light there; We peeped through the window-blinds to see. Chee-dee-dee! Chee-dee-dee! "We were on the button-ball tree, Closer than we were thought to be; Soon you may have us in to tea, Chee-dee-dee! Chee-dee-dee!" SIRENA'S TROUBLE. Adalina Patti was a doll of most trying disposition. You wouldn't tell, when she woke up, what distracting thing she'd do first. I've known her, when seated at the breakfast table, in her high chair, next to Sirena, her little mamma, I have known her to jerk suddenly forward, and plunge her face right into a plate of buttered cakes and syrup. This necessitated the removing of her from the table and a good deal of cleansing and re-dressing on the part of Bidelia, the hired girl.