RUTH KENYON. FOOTNOTE: [A] See January number, page 18. [Illustration] _Peter._--Fresh baked peanuts! Give a fellow some, Polly. _Polly._--Yes, Peter, you shall have a good share. [Illustration] TOMMY AND THE BLACKSMITH. _Tommy._--Do you shoe horses here, Mr. Blacksmith? _Blacksmith._--Yes, little man: that's my business. _Tommy._--Well, I want my horse shod. _Blacksmith._--How much can you pay for the job? It will take a good deal of iron to shoe such a big horse as that. _Ruth._--He wants you to do it for nothing, Mr. Blacksmith. _Blacksmith._--Every trade must live, my little lady. If Tommy can afford to keep a horse, he ought to be able to pay for having it shod. _Tommy._--I will pay you next Christmas. _Blacksmith._---Never run in debt, my lad. If you can't pay for a thing on the spot, do without it. Shun debt as you would poison. _Ruth._--That is just what my grandfather says. _Tommy._--Well, when I get some money, I'll come again, Mr. Blacksmith; for this horse must be shod, if there's iron enough to do it with. Good-by! _Blacksmith._--Good-by, Tommy! Good-by, Ruth! ARTHUR SELWYN. DOWN ON THE SANDY BEACH. DOWN on the sandy beach, When the tide was low; Down on the sandy beach, Many years ago, Two of us were walking, Two of us were talking Of what I cannot tell you, Though I'm sure you'd like to know. Down in the water A duck said, "Quack!" Up in the tree-top A crow answered back, Two of us amusing, Two of us confusing: So we had to give up talking, And just listen to their clack. "Quack!" said the little duck, Swimming with the tide; "Caw!" said the saucy crow, Swelling up with pride, "I'm a jolly rover, And I live in clover: Don't you wish that you were here, Sitting by my side?" "Quack, quack!" said the duck, Very much like "No." "Caw, caw!--ha, ha!" Laughed the silly crow: Two of us delighting, Two of us inviting To join the merry frolic With a ringing ho, ho, ho! Crack!--and a bullet went Flying from a gun! Duck swimming down the stream, We on a run, Wondered why or whether We couldn't be together Without another coming in And spoiling all the fun! JOSEPHINE POLLARD. [Illustration] IN THE COUNTRY. FANNY and Willy are having a nice ride on the back of the great cart-horse. Mamma points at Willy with her sun-shade, and says, "Hold on tight, little boy." Pink, the dog, says, "Bow-wow! Take me up there with you." [Illustration]