And when his shrill brief song is done, He plucks the hat from his curly head, And begs a penny from every one, Though not a word is said. Just fit for a mother's arms to fold, Yet here alone in the heat and dust, Doing his poor, tired, baby best To earn for himself a crust. He looks like Teddy, for all the world; Just such a tanned and rosy skin; Only he lacks the apple cheeks, The dimples, and double-chin. And I think if Teddy were motherless, And had to wander from place to place, How quickly the twinkle would leave his eye, And the dimples leave his face. So, Teddy, open the little bank, And give him the pennies kept for toys, And under my window let me see Two little nut-brown boys! MRS. CLARA DOTY BATES. [Illustration: ] THE CATBIRD. THE catbird belongs to the family of thrushes, and is one of the most peculiar of our American birds. It is dark colored, with brown head and neck, and greenish-black tail. The bird is fond of society, and usually builds its nest near the dwellings of men, rather than in the quiet of the forest. Its voice, when angry or disturbed, is harsh and shrill, but at other times, soft and sweet. It has also a cry like the mewing of a cat, from which it derives its name. It is very courageous, and will defend its young until it falls exhausted. The catbird can be tamed, but is as mischievous as a young monkey,--meddlesome, full of curiosity, and so jealous, that it will drive any other pet bird out of the house. It dislikes to be caged, preferring the freedom of the room, so that it may look in the looking-glass, take pins off from the cushion, or perch on the plants in the window. AUNT ALICE. [Illustration: HOW TO DRAW A CAT.] When Ellen makes up dough for bread, A roll like this you see. One turnover she puts on top, Because it pleases me. Now when I saw Miss Pussy's back As she lay upon the mat, I thought of Ellen's bread and pie It surely looks like that, So adding ears and tail I had, The rear view of my cat. [Illustration] PLAYING COOK. JENNY was at her little table, making a pudding for her doll's dinner, when brother Albert came in with Snap the dog, and said, "Let me be the cook, sister: I know how to make a pudding. First I will break these three eggs into the dish." "But I can see no eggs," said Jenny. "Look sharp," said Albert, going through the motion of breaking an egg. "Good and fresh." "I see no eggs," said Jenny.