I will tell you how to make another pretty thing. You know what a burr is. Alas! it has often played you many a naughty trick,--woven itself provokingly into your clothes, or perhaps into your hair. I can teach you to make a better use of it. Pluck an apron full: lay them one against another so that they shall stick fast together, and make in this manner the bottom of a small basket of any shape you like,--round, square, or oval. Now build the burrs up around the edge to form the sides. When this is finished, make also the handle of burrs. A lovely little basket stands before you, which you can fill with flowers or berries from the fields, and carry home to your mother. Of course you know how to make wreaths and bouquets; but to make them tastefully is a true work of art, in which all children should try to become skilful. ANNA LIVINGSTON. [Illustration] MY CLOTHES-PINS. MY clothes-pins are but kitchen-folk, Unpainted, wooden, small; And for six days in every week Are of no use at all. But when a breezy Monday comes, And all my clothes are out, And want with every idle wind To go and roam about, Oh! if I had no clothes-pins then, What would become of me, When roving towels, mounting shirts, I everywhere should see! "I mean," a flapping sheet begins, "To rise and soar away." "We mean," the clothes-pins answer back, "You on this line shall stay." "Oh, let me!" pleads a handkerchief, "Across the garden fly." "Not while I've power to keep you here," A clothes-pin makes reply. So, fearlessly I hear the wind Across the clothes-yard pass, And shed the apple-blossoms down Upon the flowering grass. The clothes may dance upon the line, And flutter to and fro: My faithful clothes-pins hold them fast, And will not let them go. My clothes-pins are but kitchen-folk, Unpainted, wooden, small; And for six days in every week Are of no use at all. But still, in every listening ear, Their praises I will tell; For all that they profess to do They do, and do it well. MARIAN DOUGLAS. KIT MIDGE. [Illustration] KIT MIDGE was thought in the family to be a wonderful little cat. She enjoyed sitting in the sunshine; she liked to feast upon the dainty little mice; and, oh, dear me! now and then, she liked to catch a bird! This was very naughty, of course; but the best trained cats have their faults. One morning Kit ate her breakfast with great relish, washed her face and paws, smoothed down her fur coat, and went into the parlor to take a nap in the big arm-chair.