* 95 *

A LITTLE GIRL'S GOOD-BY.

GOOD-BY, daisy, pink, and rose,
And snow-white lily too!
Every pretty flower that grows:
Here's a kiss for you.

Good-by, merry bird and bee!
And take this tiny song
For the one you sang to me
All the summer long.

Good-by, mossy little rill,

That shivers in the cold! Leaves that fall on vale and hill Cover you with gold.1

A sweet good-by to birds that roam,2 And rills, and flowers and bees; But when winter's 3 gone, come home As early as you please.

GEORGE COOPER.

* 96 *

THE BIRD'S SONG.

A LITTLE bird with feathers brown
Sat singing on a tree;
The song was very soft and low,
But sweet as it could be.

1 gold-colored leaves.

2 roam, go from place to place.

8 winter's, winter is.

And all the people passing by
Looked up to see the bird
That made the sweetest melody1
That ever they had heard.

But all the bright eyes looked in vain,
For birdie was so small;

And with a modest dark brown coat
He made no show at all.

66

Papa dear," little Gracie said,
"Where can this birdie be?
If I could sing a song like that
I'd sit where folks could see."

"I hope my little girl will learn
A lesson from that bird,

And try to do what good she can,-
Not to be seen or heard.

"This birdie is content to sit

Unnoticed by the way,

And sweetly sing his Maker's praise
From dawn to close of day.

"So live, my child, all through your life, That, be it short or long,

Though others may forget your looks,
They'll not forget your song."

1 melody, music.

* 97 *

DO YOUR BEST.

Do your best, your very best,
And do it every day,
Little boys and little girls:
That is the wisest way.

Whatever work comes to your hand,
At home, or at your school,
Do your best with right good will;
It is a golden rule.

Still do your best, if but at taw
You join the merry ring;
Or if you play at battledoor;
Or if you skip, or swing.

Or if you write your copy-book,
Or if you read or spell,
Or if you seam, or hem, or knit,
Be sure you do it well.

For he who always does his best,
His best will better grow;

But he who shirks or slights his task,

He lets the better go.

What if your lessons should be hard?
You need not yield to sorrow;
For he who bravely works to-day,
His tasks grow light to-morrow.

SECOND

*PART*