A BALLOON was going up from Boston Common, and two children were out upon a hill in the country watching for it. "There it is!" said Willy, as he pointed to a black speck right over the State House. [Illustration] The speck seemed to grow larger every moment. "The balloon is coming this way," said Willy. "I can see a man in it waving a flag." By and by it seemed to be coming down on a hill close by where the children stood. They ran to meet it, shouting as they went; but it was a great deal farther off than they thought it was. [Illustration] A good many other people were looking at the balloon at the same time; and it came down in a pasture where some children were picking berries. When it got almost down, the man looked out and said, "Have you any blueberries for sale?" [Illustration] The children held out their baskets, and said, "Yes, plenty of them."--"Well, then," said the man, "I think this is a good place to stop at." W. O. C. [Illustration] WHAT THE CAT SAID TO THE MONKEY. YOU cowardly monkey, come out if you dare! I'll teach you my dear little kittens to scare. Because I had gone a few moments away, You thought that to plague them was good monkey play. But when I came back, just in season, I saw What was up, and I gave you a pat with my paw: It didn't set well, might I judge from your face. What ails your poor arm? and why that grimace? Now, here hangs my paw; and, if you're inclined To try it again, 'twill be ready, you'll find. And mark, Mr. Monkey, if up to your fun, I'll show, to your sorrow, I have more than one. So Velvetpaw, Whitefoot, and Darkey, don't fear! No monkey shall harm you while mother is near. The rascal who plagued you has found I am rough: Of my paw and my claw he has had quite enough. [Illustration] THE STARLING AND THE SPARROWS. THE starling is a trim little bird, measuring from seven to eight inches in length. He goes dressed in black, and his coat glistens like satin in the sunlight. In autumn, however, after moulting, he looks as if bedecked with white pearls. This is his travelling-suit, and in it he prepares to take his flight southward to a warmer region. He is a European bird; and so he goes from Germany as far south as Spain, Italy, and Greece. Now and then he ventures as far as Africa. But, as soon as spring begins to appear, the starling is sure to come back northward to his old haunts. He comes with merry songs and chatterings, and seems determined that no one shall be sad while he is about. Flying to the topmost bough of some tree in the neighborhood of his old home, he proclaims to all the world that the Good Fellow (as the Germans call him) has come back, and that all the people may be glad accordingly.