_"A million million babes smile up From dawn till day is done. And when I say my last good-night I kiss them every one."_ THE SUN'S BABIES THE SNOWDROP BABY The Snowdrop Baby lay in her little cradle under the ground. Do you know how white and smooth the Snowdrop cradle is, and how snugly the silky sheets are tucked round the baby? Above the ground it was summer. The birds sang, the bees hummed, the roses and pinks talked to one another across the beds. "What a number of flowers are out this year!" they said. "The garden is full of blossom." Do you know that the flowers talk? The Snowdrop Baby listened to it all. "I am not needed yet," she said. She turned over and went to sleep. Summer passed, and autumn came. Asters and dahlias talked to one another now, and tiger lilies bloomed in the garden. The Snowdrop Baby woke and listened. "My time is not yet come," she said. She slept again. Winter came. Frost following frost killed all the flowers; storm after storm blew the dead leaves away, leaving the brown stalks bare. Snow fell, and melted. A tiny drop crept down to where the Snowdrop Baby lay. Do you know how the water-drops creep down? "Your time has come," it said. "Yes," said the Baby joyfully; "I am making my white frock. Soon I shall go up." Next day she was ready. She pushed her way through the soft wet earth, and reached the top. Up yet, and up, till she hung on her green stalk high above the ground. How beautiful she looked in her snowy frock! Pure white it was, except for here and there a splash of softest green. Do you know how lovely Snowdrop Babies are? She turned her face to the ground, for the sun dazzled her, and made her shy; but a bird saw her. "A Snowdrop! A Snowdrop!" he sang. "Spring is coming, sweet spring is coming!" Do you know how sweet spring is? LITTLE GOLDEN HEART A field-daisy opened her golden heart, and looked up at the blue sky. The warm sun shone on her, and the morning wind blew softly over her; but the daisy was afraid. "The world is so wide, and I am so small," she sighed. "I cannot be of any use. Perhaps it would be better to fold my petals and hide my head." A bee flew down and settled on the daisy. "Dear little Golden Heart, how sweet you are!" she whispered. "How your white petals shine! Their tips are pink, as if the wind had kissed them. Will you give me honey and pollen to make bee bread for the babies in the hive?" The daisy shook with joy. "Take all I have," she said. "How glad I am to find that I am loved and needed!" A lark dropped from the sky, singing a glorious song that told about the beauty of the clouds. He saw the daisy. "Dear little Golden Heart, how sweet you are!" he sang, as he came down. "How your white petals shine! Their tips are pink, as if the wind had kissed them. Will you stay there and bloom so that my babies peeping from their nest may watch you all the day? They love to look at pretty, shining things."