I am sure I never heard

Of a notion more absurd."

4. So she ate it, spice and plum,
Never left the smallest crumb
That a hungry bird might spy
With his little watchful eye.
Then within the pleasant shade
Lazily herself she laid,

And before she meant to do it,
Or, indeed, she really knew it,
She had dropped as fast asleep
As the little maid Bopeep.

5. Now, beneath her basket-lid,
There were red-ripe currants hid;
Plucked before the sun was high,
Or the morning-dew was dry.

It was Lizzie's task to take them

To her mother, who would make them
Into jelly, fine and clear,

That would last for many a year,

And while Lizzie slept at ease
In the shadow of the trees,
Stood her mother at the gate,
Wondering why she stayed so late.

6. More than this-while Lizzie slept, Came a goat, that lightly stepp'd

Round about her; peeped and pried,
And as soon as he espied

Those ripe currants red and nice,
Began to eat them in a trice;
Gave the basket just a stroke
With his fore foot, then a poke
With his horns, and all about
Came the currants tumbling out.

7. In another little minute

Nothing had been left within it,
And if poor old faithful Tray
Had not chanced to come that way,
Very little currant jelly

Had been made at home that day!

8. But he happened to pass by

Just in time the goat to spy,
And flew at him with a growl
That would frighten beast or fowl.
Mister Billy had to run,
Disappointed of his fun;
And the noise awaking Lizzie,
She discovered what was done.

9. Then her rosy cheeks, I think, Turned a deeper shade than pink; To her credit be it said,

That with blushes they were red;

And she wished-but all in vain-
That she had that cake again.

It was rather late, you'll say,
To remember poor old Tray:
But she will not be so selfish,
I am sure, another day.

MARY E. BRADLEY.

Memory Gems from Tennyson.

I held it truth, with him who sings
To one clear harp in divers tones,
That men may rise on stepping-stones
Of their dead selves to higher things.

Howe'er it be, it seems to me

'Tis only noble to be good.

Kind hearts are more than coronets,
And simple faith than Norman blood.

'Tis better to have loved and lost

Than never to have loved at all.

And out of darkness came the hands

That reached through nature, moulding men.

The generous heart

Should scorn a pleasure which gives others pain.

Happy he

With such a mother! Faith in womankind
Beats with his blood, and trust in all things high
Comes easy to him; and, though he trip and fall,
He shall not blind his soul with clay.

It is the little rift within the lute,

That by and by will make the music mute,
And, ever widening, slowly silence all.

47.-Self-Education.

you

educate

1. Boys and girls, never forget that yourselves. Schools, books, and teachers are helps, but have to do the work. Only by persevering, industrious efforts can you become well educated.

you

2. There are two objects in education: first, to develop yourself; second, to gain knowledge. To develop yourself, is to strengthen and cultivate your whole being; to improve your memory and reasoning powers; to learn to think and judge correctly; in short, to have your mind grow, so that

you will be better able to do your work in life.

3. You develop yourself by acquiring an education, thinking about it, and using it; for education is the food to make your mind grow. To gain knowledge, is to learn facts and truths, and methods which will be of use to you in life.

4. There are four sources from which to derive education from your own observation, from your experience, from the conversation of others, and from study. You can learn much without books and teachers.

5. When you walk in the woods and fields, keep your eyes open. Watch the animals, birds, and insects. Do not injure or torment them, but learn all you can about their habits, how they do and live, and what they eat.

Learn to distinguish the different animals by sight and by sound.

6. Some of the birds change their plumage in the winter; some go north, some south; some of the animals change the color of their fur; some of the insects creep part of their lives, and fly during another part. Notice all these peculiarities, and you will learn much of natural history.

7. A celebrated naturalist said of some of his most important discoveries: "All I had to do was to look and see the thing just as it was made." Follow his example-look, and you may be able to announce some new discovery.

8. Study trees and plants. Learn all you can about how they begin to grow, how long they live, how often they blossom and bear fruit, and of what use they are. Learn to tell the different kinds of wood by the grain, and examine the different leaves and stems of plants. Examine the ground and rocks, and see what you will find. Be always on the lookout, and you will see more curiosities than you ever dreamed of.

9. I often think it would be a real treat to camp out a month, and become acquainted with nature. Nature's college is the best college; no other has so wide and grand a course. There is no need to go to California, or to South America, or to the northern regions, to see wonders; there are enough in your yard or garden to keep you interested and busy for weeks.

10. Examine a bit of moss, or the structure of a honey-bee, with the determination to find out all