MRS. CLARA DOTY BATES. [Illustration] MY RABBITS. ONE day Cousin John asked me if I would like two nice rabbits. I said I would like them very much. So he gave them to me, and I had a pen made for them. One I called Pink, and the other White. They were very tame, and soon got to know their names. I took them out and let them run about the yard every fine day. Once Pink ran away, and I thought he was lost. I had a long chase after him through the bushes; but I caught him at last and brought him home. My brother George kept a lot of chickens in the yard, and while I fed my pet rabbits, he would feed his chickens. HATTIE. [Illustration] THE COUNCIL OF BUZZARDS. THE buzzard is a large black bird, nearly as large as a turkey. He never kills that he may eat, but devours the refuse in the city streets, and the dead animals on the prairies and swamps of the Southern States. It is against the law to shoot buzzards; for they are the health officers of the South. Here, in beautiful, sunny Louisiana, I seldom look out doors without seeing one or more buzzards slowly circling around in the air in quest of food. Before they begin to eat, they arrange themselves in a solemn row, as if holding a council, and "caw" in a very wise manner. Then one flies down, and then another, and another; and as they eat, they seem to comment on their repast. At last nothing is left of it but the bare bones to bleach in the sun. They will eat an ox in a day. AUNT ANN. LA TECHE, LA. [Illustration] A MOTHER GOOSE MELODY. Music by ANNIE MOORE. [Illustration: Music] Three little dogs were basking in the cinders, And three little cats were playing in the windows, Three little mice popp'd out of a hole, And a piece of cheese they stole, they stole! The three little cats jump'd up in a trice, And crack'd the bones of the three little mice, The three little mice. * * * * * Transcriber's Notes: The January edition of the Nursery had a table of contents for the first six issues of the year. This table was divided to cover each specific issue. A title page copied from the January edition was also used for this number.