Chestnut-burs, you know, are covered with sharp thorns; and yet the bear, being very fond of chestnuts, would try to get at the nuts which he knew were in them,--snarling and whining, and making up very comical faces, because the burs pricked his mouth. Solomon would stand and watch him, and think it fine fun. But he came near doing it once too often; for one day, when he had carried the bear a capful of burs, intending to have a good laugh at him, the chain that held the bear was not fastened as firmly as usual. After trying two or three burs, the bear made a spring toward Solomon, got loose from his chain, and started after him in earnest. Solomon was not long in deciding that he had something to do _that_ time besides laughing, and started in a hurry to get out of the bear's way. Now there was a ladder leaning against the side of the barn close by, and Solomon thought that if he went up on the barn-roof he would be all right. [Illustration] No such thing. The bear went right up the ladder after him. Then Solomon ran up the roof to the ridge; but the bear followed. Solomon ran down the other side of the roof, and so did the bear. Solomon jumped down to the cow-house, and still the bear followed him. Then Solomon jumped on to a shed that was close by the cow-house, and the bear jumped too. Solomon now began to think that his time had come. He gave one more jump from the shed to the ground. This was too much of a jump for the bear to take, and so Solomon made good his escape. I do not remember how the bear got down; but I am sure, that, when he did, Solomon did not care to feed him any more with green chestnut-burs. I think Solomon was too glad to escape a hugging to try it very soon again. This is a true story. AUNT EM. [Illustration] AT DINNER. MY little kittens, here, you see, Are just as good as they can be; Not often do three children dine, Who are as well-behaved as mine. I've taught them how to be polite, To keep their bibs all clean and white, To say, "Mee-oo" for "If you please," And never to be cross, or tease. My darlings, Muff and Puff and Fluff, Stop always when they've had enough: They never come unwashed or late, They never crowd or push the plate. My care has not been vainly spent; That's why I purr with such content; For I'm the milk-white puss, you know, That sits close by--their mother--SNOW. [Illustration] SIXTH LESSON IN ASTRONOMY. DID you ever hear of a great bear and a little bear made of stars? And a big dog? And a lion? If you never did, I suppose you would like to be told where they are,--such astonishing things as animals made of stars. But, if you think a minute, you will see that every thing that has any thing to do with stars must be up in the sky.