"Coo-oo! Coo-oo!" Says the dove on the roof: "Go to sleep, pet, while I strut here and coo, As for my own pretty nestlings I do,-- Coo-oo! Coo-oo!" [Illustration] "Cut, cut, ca-dah-cut!" Cackles kind biddy-hen: "Listen, my little one: if you'll not weep, I'll lay an egg for you while you are asleep,-- Cut, cut, ca-dah-cut!" "Moo-oo! Moo-oo!" Says the good moolly-cow: "Sleep, my wee man, and I'll make it fair, For I'll give you milk from bossy's own share,-- Moo-oo! Moo-oo!" "Hum, hum! Buz, buz!" Drones the bee on the wing: "Fret not, my baby, but croon in your bed, I'll bring you honey to eat on your bread,-- Hum, hum! Buz, buz!" "Hush-sh-sh! Hush-sh-sh!" Whisper leaves on the tree: "As through our shadow soft sunlight streams, See how the angels send smiles in his dreams! Hush-sh-sh! Hush-sh-sh!" M. A. C. [Illustration] THE BEAR THAT PUT ON AIRS. THERE was once a bear that had been tamed and made to dance by a man who beat him when he did not mind. This bear was called Dandy, and he had been taught many queer tricks. He could shoulder a pole as if it were a gun, and could balance it on his nose, or stand on his hind-legs and hold it by his fore-paws behind his back. He did all these things at his master's bidding because he stood in great fear of his master's whip. His master made a show of him; and, though Dandy did not like it, he was forced to submit. [Illustration] But one day, when he had been left alone, the chain, that held him by a ring in his nose, got loose from the ring; and Dandy was soon a free bear. Taking his pole, he made his way, as fast as he could, to a mountain where the woods were high and thick. Here he found a number of fellow-bears. Instead of treating them as equals, he put on fine airs, told them what a rare life he had led among men, how many nice tricks he had learned, and how much wiser he was than all the bears that had ever lived. For a time the other bears were simple enough to take him at his word. They thought, because he said so, that he must be a very great bear indeed. He never was at a loss when they asked him a question, never would confess his ignorance, and so had to say much that was not true. Dandy boasted so of the respect which men had paid him, that he made the other bears think he was doing them a great honor by living with them. He made them all wait on him. But at last a young bear, that had escaped from a trap which some men had set for him, said to Dandy, "Is that ring in your nose for ornament or for use?"