THE NURSERY _A Monthly Magazine_ FOR YOUNGEST READERS. VOLUME XXIX.--No. 5. BOSTON: THE NURSERY PUBLISHING COMPANY, NO. 36 BROMFIELD STREET. 1881. Entered according to act of Congress, in the year 1881, by THE NURSERY PUBLISHING COMPANY, In the Office of the Librarian of Congress at Washington. [Illustration: JOHN WILSON & SON. UNIVERSITY PRESS.] [Illustration: Contents.] IN PROSE. PAGE The Bold Soldier-Boys 129 Papa Robin 132 Carlo and the Ducks 135 Picking Oranges 139 Mary and Jenny 144 Drawing-Lesson 145 Piggy's Spoon 146 Bouncer 148 Harry and John 154 "Inches" 155 IN VERSE. PAGE The Army of Geese that Came over the Lea 131 The Naughty Cat 136 The May-Queen 141 Sing, Pretty Birds 143 The Traveller 147 The Mouse-Trap 151 One Cat and Two Pigs 152 Small Beginning 157 Jenny Wren 159 Daddy Frog (_with music_) 160 [Illustration: VOL. XXIX.--NO. 5.] THE BOLD SOLDIER-BOYS. "FORWARD, my brave boys!" shouted Colonel Bob, rising in his stirrups, and waving his sword. "You see the enemy before you. Charge!" There stood the enemy in stern defiance,--four chairs, one table, and a sofa,--there they stood, with a plastered wall in their rear, and calmly awaited the attack. The fiery steed of Colonel Bob reared and plunged, as if eager to dash upon the foe. The roll of the drum made a fearful sound. The standard-bearer waved his flag. The army came rushing on. Snap the dog barked furiously. But above all the din was heard the shout of Colonel Bob, "Forward, my brave boys!" Not a picture started from its frame. Not a chair moved. But all of a sudden the door opened, and a face looked in. It was Colonel Bob's papa. "What's all this noise about, Robert?" said he. "This is not the place for such games. Go out of doors if you want to play soldier. I can't have such a drumming and shouting in the house." This was rather a damper on Colonel Bob's military zeal; but what came next was still worse. "Do any of you boys know where to-day's 'Advertiser' is?" asked papa. Colonel Bob came down from his high horse, threw aside his plume, took off his chapeau, and handed it to his papa. There was the "Advertiser" of that very day, folded up as a soldier-cap.