Produced by Susan Skinner, Juliet Sutherland and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net No. 109. JANUARY, 1876. Vol. XIX. THE NURSERY _A Monthly Magazine_ FOR YOUNGEST READERS. BOSTON: JOHN L. SHOREY, 36 BROMFIELD STREET. AMERICAN NEWS CO., 119 NASSAU ST., NEW YORK. NEW-ENGLAND NEWS CO., 41 COURT ST., BOSTON. CENTRAL NEWS CO., PHILADELPHIA. WESTERN NEWS CO., CHICAGO. $1.60 a Year, in advance. A single copy, 15 cents. Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1875, by JOHN L. SHOREY, in the Office of the Librarian of Congress at Washington. CONTENTS OF NUMBER ONE HUNDRED AND NINE. * * * * * PAGE CHRISTMAS AT THE NORTH By _Alfred Selwyn_ 1 POMPEY GUARDING BABY By _Master John_ 3 THE PARROT FEEDING ITS YOUNG By _Uncle Charles_ 4 LITTLE RUTH'S PRAYER By _Dora Burnside_ 7 PUSSY GETS A WARNING By _Frank_ 9 "PROUD AS A PEACOCK" By _Anna Livingston_ 10 GRANDMOTHER'S STORY By _Jane Oliver_ 12 CHRISTMAS AT THE SOUTH By _Uncle Harry_ 16 THE CHRISTMAS PRESENTS By _D._ 18 THE PROPER TIME By _Emily Carter_ 19 OUR DOG MILO (_From the German_) 20 THE THREE CALVES By _A. B. C._ 23 "WHY?" By _the author of "Dick and I."_ 25 THE OLD YEAR AND THE NEW 27 A MORNING CALL By _M. L. B. Branch_ 28 "HE DID IT FIRST." By _the author of "Dick and I."_ 30 THE CATS AND THE MOUSE (_Music by T. Crampton_) 32 * * * * * EDITOR'S PORTFOLIO. ... A happy New year to all friends and subscribers, old and young! They are sending us such an amount of encouragement, notwithstanding the hard times, that, instead of growing older the coming year, we think we shall grow younger. So do not fear, little ones, that we shall talk too learnedly for you yet awhile. ... See the capital articles by the author of "Dick and I" in this number. They are written in words of one syllable, and are as witty as they are wise and good. Read them, and then hear your little ones read them. ... We need not commend to lovers of art the fine original drawings in this number. That of "Christmas at the North," by Merrill, and that of "Christmas at the South." by Sheppard, of Richmond, are excellent. The drawing of the two dogs by Harrison Weir is also capital.