And oh! but it's gay in Toy-land,-- This bright, merry girl-and-boy-land; And woolly dogs white That never will bite You'll meet on the highways in Toy-land. Society's fine in Toy-land; The dollies all think it a joy-land; And folks in the ark Stay out after dark; And tin soldiers regulate Toy-land. There's fun all the year in Toy-land: To sorrow 'twas ever a coy-land; And steamboats are run, And steam-cars, for fun: They're wound up with keys down in Toy-land. Bold jumping-jacks thrive in Toy-land; Fine castles adorn this joy-land; And bright are the dreams, And sunny the beams, That gladden the faces in Toy-land. How long do we live in Toy-land?-- This bright, merry girl-and-boy-land; A few days, at best, We stay as a guest, Then good-by forever to Toy-land! GEORGE COOPER. [Illustration] [Illustration] MARY'S SQUIRREL. I WANT to tell you about the little squirrel we have. His name is Frisky. He came from New Jersey, and was quite tame when we got him. We thought it would be better to let him out in the fresh air among the trees; so we let him out. I was away at aunt Lizzie's; but I came home early. Just as Henry and I were going to bed,--Henry is my brother,--the cook called me, and, of course, Henry came after me to see what was the matter. I could not understand what it was at first; but pretty soon I saw it was Frisky up in one of the trees on our place. Frisky never bites: so it was not much trouble to catch him. All the servants were there; but they could not catch him, because he did not know them: so I made them stand back, and held out a peanut to him. He came down and ate it; then he trusted me, and came down and ate another. As soon as I got him within reach, I seized him and gave him to William, the gardener, who, while I held the door open, popped him into his cage. I am eight years old, and my name is MARY WINSOR. [Illustration] [Illustration: DRAWING-LESSON. VOL. XXX.--NO. 2.] A TURTLE SHOW. DOWN in the pond, where willows grow Along the shore in a golden row, Is a single rock with its mossy ridge, And a log as mossy, resting there Half in the water, and half in the air, From shore to islet a beautiful bridge; And the lily-pads on either side Might tempt the little green frogs to ride; And the lily-blooms, so purely made, Do tempt the little white feet to wade. What do you think I saw one day In the month of June, as I passed that way? Five little turtles, all in a row, On the top of the log,--a funny show,-- For they carried their houses on their backs, And tucked their toes out through the cracks Under the eaves! while their heads and tails Played hide-and-seek behind the scales.