I have been barking at this door a long time; and yet nobody comes to open it. I wonder where my master is, that he doesn't hear me. Perhaps he is asleep. I am very hungry for my dinner; and I should like to get into the house, and lie down in my corner by the kitchen-fire. I can push open the garden-gate with my nose; but this door won't move a bit when I put my paws on it. I wonder why dogs can't open doors as well as gates. I am going to bark again. Bow-wow-wow! There! Didn't you hear a footstep? Yes: there comes some one to let me in. H. B. [Illustration] BABY IN HER HIGH CHAIR. HERE I am all ready: here's my little plate Wants some 'tato on it: papa, you'll be late. Here's the milk a-waiting in my silver cup; I'm so hungry! will somebody please to push me up. Didn't see me, did you, scrambling up my chair? Got up all alone too; would you think I'd dare? Got my clothes all twisted; 'fraid I mussed my curls: What did papa say about frowsy-headed girls? [Illustration] Dear, I have such troubles! people are so slow! Don't they want some supper, I should like to know? There's a fly gone swimming in my silver cup; And I can't quite reach him, 'cause I'm not pushed up. Here's my mamma coming; here come Sue and Fred; Now there goes the ding-dong, just as if it said, "Little folks and big folks, time to come and sup!" Thank you, papa, thank you, for pushing Bessie up. HELEN BARRON BOSTWICK. THE BRINDLED COW. [Illustration] THE cow is in the pasture, feeding. The pasture has been wet with the rain, and the grass is fresh and sweet. The rain makes the grass grow. [Illustration] The sun is hot, and the cow has lain down under a shady tree. She is chewing her cud. It is nice and cool in the shade. [Illustration] But the flies bite her, and plague her. She tries to scare them off; but they come again. Then she gets up, and rubs her nose against the tree. [Illustration] Now she is standing in the water. The water feels cool to her feet; but the flies still plague her. She splashes the water to drive the flies away. [Illustration] By and by the milk-maid comes out, and calls, "Co-boss, co-boss!" The cow hears her, and walks slowly along to the barn. [Illustration] The cow stands quite still while the maid is milking her. But is not the maid seated on the wrong side of the cow? My cow would kick the pail over if I should milk her in that way. W. O. C. NAMING THE KITTEN. "WHAT shall be the kitten's name?" asked Rachel of her younger sister, who stood holding up her apron, and begging to take the little pet. "It is _my_ kitten," pleaded Alice; "and I ought to have it."