STRUT was the name of a hen that lived on Father Nunn's farm, nine miles from Norwalk, Ohio. She was very vain; that is, she had a very good opinion of herself. She always would strut when walking. Indeed, it was hard for her to pick up grains of corn as other chickens did. I think she never saw her feet in her life: certainly she never looked where she stepped. Worse than all this, when she saw any person in the yard, instead of dodging away, as a modest hen should, she would strut right up to such a person, and look saucily in his face, as though asking, "Who are you? Where are you going? What for?" At last, however, Strut received a severe rebuke for her evil ways. Cousin William Bird, who is soon to be a doctor, was visiting at Father Nunn's. Having occasion to climb the ladder to the barn-loft, he saw Strut on the farther side. He knew that she would come straight to him; and he also knew that she would not look where she stepped. So he held still to see what would happen; for exactly between them was an opening in the floor for throwing down hay. Sure enough, Strut started for Cousin William, and, stepping off the edge of the hole, fell fluttering, cackling, and frightened, to the floor beneath. She was humbled by her fall; for she never strutted again, but walked and ate afterwards like other chickens. UNCLE JOE. THE CATERPILLARS EIGHT great cabbages growing in the ground; Crowds of little caterpillars crawling all around; Caterpillars squirmed about, and wriggled in the sun; Said, "These cabbages look sweet: suppose we taste of one!" Down flew a hungry bird, coming from the wood, Saw the caterpillars there, and said, "Won't those taste good!" Up crept pussy-cat, hunting round for mice, Saw the bird, and smacked her lips, and said, "Won't he taste nice!" Dog saw pussy creeping there, and he began to run, Said, "Now I will frighten puss, and then there will be fun!" So doggy barked; and pussy hid; and birdie flew away; And caterpillars lived to eat a cabbage up that day. FLETA F. [Illustration] THIRD LESSON IN ASTRONOMY I HAVE told you about the sun and the stars. Can you think of any thing else in the sky that you would like to know a little about? Of course, I do not mean the dark clouds, but something bright and pretty, that all children love to look at. I think you must have guessed that I mean the moon,--the beautiful moon. Now, I want you to make another guess: Is the moon bright because it is made of fire, like the sun; or because the sun shines on it, as it does on Venus and Jupiter? If any of you think it is made of fire, you must try to warm your little toes and fingers in the moonlight, as you do in the sunshine, and you will find out for yourselves that it is not a great fire, like the sun, and that you cannot get warm in the light of it.