Then the _bonne_ told where she found him, and they looked at his hair, and talked so much about it, that Parley-voo wished he could sink through the floor out of sight. And he thought to himself that he would never again touch any thing he had been told not to. The nurse took him up to the nursery, and dressed him all fresh and nice before his father came home. But the pretty yellow hair was two or three months growing out. ELIZABETH A. DAVIS. BABY'S RIDE. CLEAR the way all, move the playthings aside, Baby is having a glorious ride: See! from the hall he comes galloping in, Dimpled hands folded beneath papa's chin. Golden curls flying, fat cheeks all aglow, Three pearly teeth peeping out in a row: Hark! how he crows, and laughs out in his glee! Never was baby more happy than he. [Illustration] Now he goes trotting along to the town, Far away, far away, up hill and down; Back to mamma then as quick as he can, There's a good ride for papa's little man! RUTH REVERE. THE OLD PUMP. THIS is the pump that stands in the field near our house. The well is very deep, and the water is pure and cold. There is a trough at which the cows and horses often come to drink. [Illustration] Bridget goes to the pump two or three times a day to get a pail of water. It is quite a task to bring it so far. But Bridget's arms are quite strong. She takes all the care of the hens and cows and pigs. [Illustration] T. S. R. [Illustration] WINTER ON LAKE CONSTANCE. THE Lake of Constance, which lies between Switzerland and Germany, is seldom frozen over. The last time it was frozen was in December, 1879. Before that, it had not been frozen over since 1829. People came from far and near to see it and to skate on it. The lake was black with skaters who were gliding over its surface. Men, women, and children alike shared the fun. There had not been such skating before for fifty years, and it is no wonder that they made the most of it while it lasted. In January a warm wind blew for two days: the huge masses of snow melted, and the little brooks were once more set running down the mountain-sides. But winter was soon back again with redoubled severity, bringing fresh snow and severer frost, and thus keeping the lake frozen. On Candlemas Day (the second day of February) there was a grand festival on the ice. The peasants came from far and near. There were thousands of them there. In the evening there was a grand illumination, and after that there were fireworks, and then a dance on the ice. In summer the water of Lake Constance is of a dark green color. The River Rhine enters it at the western end, and flows out at the eastern end. The lake is about forty-four miles long and nine miles wide.