And from then till now I have not rested; I have still kept busy every day; When the cowslips bloomed, and, crimson-breasted, Sang the robins in the golden May, When the silver daisies starred the mowing, When the nestling swallows fluttered forth, When the maple-woods like flame were glowing, Or the wild wind piped from out the north; All the time I used to look and listen: "Something for the children I must find, Merry tales to make their bright eyes glisten, Useful lessons they should keep in mind." Fifteen years--how brief they were and pleasant! When these little golden heads are gray, Looking back on what is now the present, Who can tell? There may be one will say,-- "These few words that once my mother taught me From 'The Nursery,' ere I could read, Lingering in my memory, have brought me Helpful counsel in life's hours of need." Everywhere, of every child the lover, Willing doer of my best was I; For the last time, in my pale green cover, I have come to say to you "Good-by!" MARIAN DOUGLAS. [Illustration] * * * * * Transcriber's Notes: Obvious punctuation errors repaired. The original text for the July issue had a table of contents that spanned six issues. This was divided amongst those issues. Additionally, only the July issue had a title page. This page was copied for the remaining five issues. Each issue had the number added on the title page after the Volume number. Table of Contents omits the mention of the Drawing-Lesson on page 369. End of Project Gutenberg's The Nursery, December 1881, Vol. XXX, by Various