One day grandpa was very tired, and fell fast asleep after he had eaten his cake. Pretty soon he felt a pull at his soft white hair. He put up his hand, and down ran mousie. Not getting as much to eat that day as he wanted, mousie had just walked up grandpa's side to his shoulder, and then up on his head. Wasn't that a queer place for a mouse to try to find something to eat? AUNT EMMIE. [Illustration] [Illustration] HOME FROM THE WOODS. IT rains! and, hark! the rushing wind Begins to moan and blow: Take jug and basket, and come on. For we have far to go. Don't fret and whimper, little one; Here, my umbrella take: The birds heed not the pouring rain; Just hear the songs they make! And see how glad are leaf and bud To get each cooling drop: Come, soon it will be bright again, For soon the rain will stop. FROM THE GERMAN. THE SPECKLED HEN. [Illustration] THE speckled hen walked all around the house, and saw the front-door open. So she walked right in, and went up stairs. She peeped into the front-chamber, pecked a little at the carpet, and clucked with surprise when she saw herself in the looking-glass. [Illustration] By and by she saw a wash-bowl standing on the top of the bureau. She thought this would make a nice place for a nest. So she flew up to see; but the bowl tipped over, and fell upon the floor. [Illustration] When the people came up stairs to see what was the matter, they found that the wash-bowl was all broken in pieces, and the hen had made her nest in the band-box in the corner of the room. They thought this a very saucy thing for a hen to do; but they did not drive her out: they waited to see what she would do next. [Illustration] By and by the hen came off, and flew up on the window-sill. Then she began to cackle very loud. I suppose she meant to say, "Go and look in the band-box." W. O. C. [Illustration] STORY OF A DAISY. DEEP down in a snug little dell, beneath a high bank, near the roadside, grew a wild daisy. It had braved the snow and ice of winter, and was now putting forth its leaves to the soft breezes and blue skies of spring. One day a party of boys and girls came to play near the daisy-plant's home; and she thought she would surely be trampled on and killed. But the children at last went away, and daisy-plant breathed freely once more. But it was not long before she heard a child's voice cry, "Papa, papa, I can run down this bank. Let me run down this bank all by myself, dear papa." And, before papa could say Nay, down ran little Emma Vincent, and stood close beside daisy-plant.