* 68 *

THE WASP AND THE BEE.

A WASP met a bee that was just buzzing by, And he said, "Little cousin, can you tell me why You are loved so much better by people than I?

"My back shines as bright and as yellow as gold, And my shape is most elegant, too, to behold; Yet nobody likes me for that, I am told.”

"Ah, cousin!" said the bee, "'tis all very true; But if I were half as much mischief to do, Indeed they would love me no better than you.

"You have a fine shape, and a delicate1 wing; They own you are handsome: but then there's one thing

and that is your sting.

They cannot put up with- and that is

66

My coat is quite homely and plain, as you see, Yet nobody ever is angry with me,

Because I'm a harmless and diligent bee."

From this little story, let people beware;
Because, like the wasp, if ill-natured they are,
They will never be loved, though ever so fair.

1 delicate, slight and pretty.

* 69 *

TELL ME WHAT THE MILL DOTH SAY.

TELL me what the mill doth say:
"Clitter, clatter," night and day;
When we sleep, and when we wake,
Clitter, clatter, it doth make:
Never idle, never still,

What a worker is the mill!

Hearken what the rill doth say
As it journeys every day;
Sweet as skylark on the wing,
"Ripple, dipple," it doth sing:
Never idle, never still,
What a worker is the rill!

Listen to the honey-bee

As he dances merrily

To the little fairy's drum

Humming, drumming, drumming, drum:

Never idle, never still,

Humming, drumming, hum he will.

Like the mill, the rill, the bee,

Idleness is not for me.

What says Cock-a-doodle-doo?
"Up, there's work enough for you.'
If I work, then, with a will,

It will be but playing still.

E. CAPERN.

* 70 *

THE VOICE OF SPRING.

I AM coming, I am coming!
Hark! the little bee is humming;
See, the lark is soaring high
In the blue and sunny sky;
And the gnats are on the wing,
Wheeling round in airy ring.

See, the yellow catkins1 cover
All the slender willows over !
And on banks of mossy green
Star-like primroses are seen;

And, their clustering leaves below,
White and purple violets blow.

Hark! the new-born lambs are bleating,
And the cawing rooks are meeting

3

All the birds are singing loud;
And the first white butterfly
In the sunshine dances by.

Look around thee, look around!
Flowers in all the fields abound;
Every running stream is bright;
All the orchard trees are white;

1 catkins, blossoms, -a kind of flower, long and slender, resembling a

cat's tail, as in the willows, the hazel, etc.

2 their, that is, the violets' leaves.

3 rook, a bird like a crow.

And each small and waving shoot
Promises sweet flowers and fruit.

Turn thine eyes to earth and heaven:
God for thee the spring has given,
Taught the birds their melodies,1

Clothed the earth, and cleared the skies,
For thy pleasure or thy food:

Pour thy soul in gratitude.2

MARY HOWITT.

* 71 *

MAY.

WELCOME, Welcome, lovely May!
Breath so sweet, and smiles so gay;
Sun, and dew, and gentle showers,
Welcome, welcome, month of flowers!

Welcome, violets, sweet and blue,
Drinking-cups of morning dew!
Welcome, lambs, so full of glee!
Welcome, too, my busy bee!

Birdies sing on every spray,
Welcome, sunshine! welcome May!
Many a pretty flower uncloses,
And the garden smells of roses.

T. D. MILLER.

1 melodies, songs.

2 be very thankful.

* 72 *

THE SUMMER'S DAY.

FLOWERS are springing,
Birds are singing,

Bees are humming all around;
Joy and pleasure,
Without measure,

Welcome us in every sound.

In the meadows
Lights and shadows

Chase each other far away;

Lambs are bleating,

Swallows fleeting:

Happy all this summer's day.

MATTHIAS BARR.

* 73 *

THE LILY.

COME, my Love, and do not spurn
From a little flower to learn.
See the lily on the bed

Hanging down its modest head,

While it scarcely can be seen,
Folded on its leaf of green.

Yet we love the lily well

For its sweet and pleasant smell,