The master raised his window, clapped his hands, and pointed to the bell. [Illustration: {THE MASTER LOOKS OUT OF THE WINDOW.}] The children rushed into line like little soldiers, and waited for the second signal. The teacher pulled and pulled, but there was no sound. Then he sent a boy to tell each line to file in, and he sent another boy for a carpenter to find out if the bell-cord was broken. [Illustration: {A BOY CLEARS THE EMPTY NEST AWAY FROM THE BELL.}] What do you think the carpenter found? A little sparrow had built its nest inside the bell, and prevented the hammer striking against the bell. The teacher told the children what the trouble was, and asked if the nest should be taken out. There was a loud chorus of "No, sir." Every day the four hundred children would gather in the yard and look up at the nest. When the little birds were able to fly to the trees in the yard, and no longer needed a nest, one of the boys climbed on a ladder and cleared away the straw and hay so that the sound of the bell might call the children from play. M. A. HALEY. [Illustration: {BOYS AT PLAY.}] THE HOOK AND LADDER. The frosts in the door-yard maple Had lighted a fine red blaze, And one of the golden twilights That come September days: The neighborhood lads had gathered To play their usual plays. [Illustration: {A BOY UP A TREE.}] Frankie was good at planning, And seeing the glowing tree, "Let's have a fire department And play 'tis a house!" said he. "Oh, yes, a hook and ladder," Cried all; "what fun 'twill be!" So they put the hose on the hydrant. Searched everywhere about Until they found a ladder, And then, with yell and shout Of "fire" and clang of "ding-dong," They rushed to put it out. The hosemen pulled their jackets Hastily from their backs; One climbed the tree like a squirrel, With a ball-bat for an axe And he hewed at the beautiful branches With frantic hacks and whacks. Some one turned on the water, And the boy in the foremost place Got the full force from the nozzle Square in his little face; And he cried for half a minute With the funniest grimace. [Illustration: {ONE BOY IS SOAKED BY ANOTHER BOY WITH A HOSE.}] The stream flew this way, that way, And up to the tree's bright top, And back came the water splashing With reckless slosh and slop, And with it showers of red leaves And twigs began to drop. This small boys' Hook and Ladder Was a very good company, And they squirted till the sidewalk Was like a mimic sea; But they didn't put out the fire In the old red maple-tree. MRS. CLARA DOTY BATES. [Illustration: {JOE, HIS UNCLE AND THE HORSE.}] LITTLE JOE'S RIDE.