Careful never to hurt her With sharp little tooth or nail; But one thing was very funny,-- The kitty had never a tail. "O mamma!" Marion shouted, "What in the world can ail This dear little baby-kitty, That she hasn't a bit of tail? "How funny!" said Marion puzzled, And wondering almost frowned, "What will she have to play with, And run after, round and round? "Did somebody snip it with scissors Or pinch it off in the door? Did you ever see a kitten Without a tail, before?" Then mamma laughed at her darling, And kissed her, and then began To tell her about the kittens That come from the Isle of Man. E. A. A. [Illustration] HOW BLUE-EYES WATCHED FOR THE NEW YEAR. LITTLE Miss Blue-Eyes shook her head At nurse's call, "Come, time for bed!" "Oh, no! oh, no indeed! not yet! I'm 'stonished at you! you forget That I and all my family Must watch the Old Year out, you see, And I must be the first to say To all, 'A happy New Year's Day!'" "Oh, bless your little heart, my dear!" Said nurse, "the New Year won't be here Till midnight hour: your curly head Must long ere then be snug in bed." But Blue-Eyes answered, "No, _no_, NO! Please, nursie, do not make me go! I mean to keep awake, and hear The bells that ring in the New Year." But, when the nurse came back to peep, A minute later, sound asleep Was little Blue-Eyes on the floor; And still she slept while nursie bore Her softly to the pretty bed Which waited for the curly head. And the New Year was bright with sun, Ere little Blue-Eyes' sleep was done. [Illustration] Then the gay sunbeams kissing her Caused the small, drowsy limbs to stir, Caused the blue eyes to open wide, And see her mother at her side: And "Happy New Year!" all things said To this same little sleepy head, Who meant to be the first to say, "To all a happy New Year's Day!" MARY D. BRINE. [Illustration] WHY WOULDN'T THE KITE FLY? JACK and Fred sat on the steps, trying to think of something to do. They had spent their morning in digging wells and ditches in the sand; for it was vacation-time, and they were living down by the sea. Just before dinner they had been in bathing. Since dinner they had been over in the fields, picking up long feathery grasses to put in mamma's vases. And now, what should they do next? At last, Jack thought it would be fine fun to make a large kite, much larger than any they had ever seen. Fred said he would help; and off they ran to get sticks, tacks, paper, paste, and string, so as to have every thing ready.