Grace. Oh! I wish they could have left the Crocuses. But what is the welkin? Aunt C. The skies, or firmament. the word in German as wolken, clouds. Grace. And Æolian? Alice knows Aunt C. Æolus was in Greek mythology lord of the winds; so Eolian means windy. It is generally applied to music made by the wind, because there is an instrument called Eolian harp, arranged to be played upon by the winds. Grace. Like the telegraph wires, where the wind makes such pretty tones. Alice. I am sure we have not found half enough verses about flowers. Grace. Alice found me these pretty verses to say to you. Alice. They are in the Youth's Companion, that nice paper we get from America. OUR FLOWERS. Oh, Maggie loves the lily fair, We love the golden buttercup, The violet blossoming in the shade, The wall-flower and the marigold, And the blue-bell hanging down its head, And the hollyhock that turns about Oh, dearly do we love the flowers- Far better than our painted toys, For it is God who made the flowers, And for our Heavenly Father's love He fans them with His gentle wind, And the God who loves the little flowers, Alice. Is it not pretty? I must find a tune for it, and let the Infant School children sing it. Alice. We had Partlet and Chanticleer, but I am sure there are plenty of delightful verses about Chickens and Ducks besides. I found one to-day called "The Motherless Turkeys." Edmund. Are they Chickens or Ducks? Alice. Turkey-chicks, you objector; besides, there is plenty about the other creatures in the verses. THE MOTHERLESS TURKEYS. The white Turkey was dead, the white Turkey was dead, Of a mother bereft, four small Turkeys were left, E'en the Peacock respectfully folded his tail, And his plainer wife said, "Now the old bird is dead, "And when evening around them comes dreary and chill, Who above them will watchfully hover?" "Two each night I will tuck 'neath my wings," said the Duck, "Though I've eight of my own I must cover." "I have so much to do! for the grubs and the worms I have nothing to spare-for my own I must care," "How I wish," said the Goose, "I could be of some use, The next morning that's fine they shall go with my nine "I will do what I can," the old Dorking began, Though I've ten of my own, that are only half grown, But those poor little things that are all legs and wings, "Half my care, I suppose, there is nobody knows, They must learn, little elves, to scratch for themselves, She went by with a cluck, and the Goose and the Duck Said the Duck, "I declare those who have the least care And when all things appear to look threatening and drear, And when troubles your pathway are thick in, For aid in your woe, oh! beware how you go To a Hen with one chicken. MARIAN Douglas. Aunt C. It reminds me of a sentence I read the other day "You have not enough to do to have any leisure." Edmund. I don't see any sense in it at all. Grace. I see she was a cross old selfish thing; and I hope she lost her one chicken! Alice. It is very droll; but I do not see the point of it, nor of what you said just now, Aunt Charlotte. Aunt C. Did you never hear it said that it is the really busy people who will always find time and means to help others? A narrow, selfish, indolent heart attends to nothing but its one small charge, and makes it an excuse for offering no kindness. Alice. I see; it is the man with the one talent again-doing nothing, yet fancying he is overloaded. |