Produced by Emmy, Juliet Sutherland and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net. Music by Linda Cantoni. THE NURSERY _A Monthly Magazine_ FOR YOUNGEST READERS. VOLUME XXII.--No. 1. BOSTON: JOHN L. SHOREY, No. 36 BROMFIELD STREET, 1877. Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1877, by JOHN L. SHOREY, In the Office of the Librarian of Congress at Washington. FRANKLIN PRESS: RAND, AVERY, AND COMPANY, 117 FRANKLIN STREET, BOSTON. [Illustration: Contents.] IN PROSE. PAGE Percy and the Oxen 3 Pet Rabbits 5 Fourth of July Morning 7 A Fish Story 11 Buttercup's Circus 13 At Sea 14 Drawing-Lesson 17 Solomon and the tame Bear 18 Sixth Lesson in Astronomy 21 Pictures for Mary 25 The Chamois 28 IN VERSE. PAGE The Wild Bees' Home 1 Chipping-Birds' Song 6 The little Deserter 9 At Dinner 20 Teddy's Kitten 23 The Garden Tools 30 What does little Birdie say? (_with music_) 32 [Illustration: A Merry Christmas to You] [Illustration: WILD BEES OF THE WOOD ARE WE; BUT OUR HIVE YOU MUST NOT SEE. VOL. XXII.--NO. 1.] THE WILD BEES' HOME. WILD bees of the wood are we; But our hive you must not see: Here behold our happy home, Where we labor, where we roam. Brooks that on their shining bosoms Catch the overhanging blossoms; Banks all bright with clustering flowers,-- Here is where we pass our hours. Seldom on this solitude Does a girl or boy intrude; Few among you are aware What a home is ours, so fair! In the brook are little fish; You would like them on a dish: Keep away, and bring no hooks To these happy, murmuring brooks. You would like to find our hoard Of honey-comb and honey stored; You would track us, if you could, Through the field, and through the wood, Till, within some hollow tree, You our waxen cells could see. But beware now what you do; Treat us well, and we'll treat you. DORA BURNSIDE. [Illustration]