Toots and His Friends Read online

  ``Wearing glasses, teaching school,

  ``Bringing dollies up by rule,

  ``Working hard to call it play,

  ```That's our darling,

  ```That's our May.=

  0034]

  ``In the parlor, on the floor,

  ``Looking all the pictures o'er;

  ``Making fun of grave old books,

  ``Searching into sacred nooks--

  ``Always cheerful, always gay.

  ```That's our darling,

  ```That's our May.=

  ``At the door, the first to see

  ``Papa, as he comes to tea,

  ``In his lap, with dancing eyes,

  ``Searching pockets for a prize,

  ``Asking "what you've done all day?"

  ```That's our darling,

  ```That's our May.=

  ``In the chamber just at night,

  ``Nestled in her gown of white;

  ``Eyelids closed on cheeks of red,

  ``Kneeling by her little bed,

  ``Lisping "teach me how to pray."

  ```That's our darling,

  ```That's our May.=

  ``Future woman, what maybe

  ``Life with all its cares to thee?

  ``Who shall say in after time,

  ``Blessings on that head of thine?

  ``Rich and good thy life we pray,

  ```God's and ours,

  ```Dear little May.=

  A BUBBLE PARTY.

  9036]

  HEN Toots was four years old, his mamma thought she would let him have abirthday party. She wrote the invitations on the prettiest littlepaper, with funny frogs and dogs and cats in the corner, and eachlittle envelope was made to match. Twenty-five pretty little notes totwenty-five dear little people, and every one came. No one else ever hadsuch a party before. Large tables were covered with books and toys,all manner of games were waiting to be played, and in one corner of thechildren's play-room was a table with bowls, plates, and pipes, and allthe children were invited to blow bubbles. Such fun as they had! Someblew large and some blew small, and those who laughed hard blew none atall. At last Toots and Robbie Mason began to see something in the soapbubble, "beautiful colors like the rainbow," said Toots.

  "More of them," said Robbie, and then all the children began to wonder.

  "What makes it?" asked Robbie, eagerly; "I wish I knew?"

  "I will tell you," said mamma. "When a ray of light is divided, as italways is when it reaches an object on which to rest, it has differentcolors, because each color has different powers and is refracted orturned from its course. Let us cast a ray of light on this pieceof glass called a prism; now examine it closely, here we have sevencolors--red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet The red isbent out of its course the least and it remains at the bottom; the blueis refracted most and goes to the top. Now blow a nice bubble, littleDaisy, and I will explain the colors. You see the film is thickerin some places than in others, and that causes different powers ofrefraction or turning aside of the rays, and therefore, you observedifferent colors; as the soap bubble constantly changes its thickness,the rays vary or change also."

  "There isn't any soap in the real rainbow in the clouds, is there?"asked thoughtful Robbie.

  "Oh, no; when the clouds opposite the sun are dark and rain is stillfalling, the rays of the bright sun are divided by the rain drops asthey would be here with my prism." #

  After the children grew tired of bubbles they had many games and a nicesupper, after which they went home saying it was the best party theyever went to.

  0037]

  0038]

  SEWING A SEAM.

  9039]

  LOSE by the window I saw her,

  ``Only a bright young girl,

  ``With a tear on her drooping lashes,

  ```Half hid by a straying curl.=

  ``June sunshine was tempting her sorely,

  ```The children were playing near by,

  ``And still she sat with her sewing,

  ```And the tear-drop in her eye.=

  ``At last in anger she muttered,

  ```"So cruel, so hateful, and mean!

  ``I lose all the brightness and beauty,

  ```As I sit here sewing a seam.=

  ``"My thread grows tangled and dirty,

  ```My needle is sure to stick fast,

  ``And the girls are passing the window:

  ```Please tell me that work-time has past."=

  ``Ah, Daisy, dear child, in the future,

  ```As the shadows of life come and go,

  ``You will find some duties as irksome

  ```As the seam you are trying to sew.=

  0040]

  ``Threads will knot, Daisy dear, and the needles

  ```Will rust if you wet them with tears;

  ``And seams will grow rough to your fingers,

  ```When feeble and trembling with years.=

  ``Even brightness may pass like the sunshine,

  ```Your life holding one little gleam;

  ``But God is still watching my darling,

  ```He knows we are sewing a seam.=

  ``Dear Grandma is wiser but cheerful,

  ```She sits by the window to-day;

  ``Where the sunlight is kissing her forehead,

  ```And children are near her at play.=

  ``A smile in place of your tear-drop,

  ```Grey locks where your golden are seen;

  ``She says God's loved hath illumined

  ```Her life, and made easy each seam.=

  ``She, too, can think of a summer day,

  ```So sunny and bright in the past;

  ``But her lips always say, "Father take me,

  ```When play-time and work-time are past."=

  0041]

  A FOUR-FOOTED FRIEND.

  9042]

  LL Toots' playmates among the boys and girls knew how very fond he wasof his four-footed friends, and the children were very fond of watchinghim when he made his pets perform all sorts of tricks. Poor Tootswas nearly ill one day when one of his pet cats was found dead in thestable. He cried and would not be comforted, but his mamma said thatpoor pussy had not been well for a long time, and she probably died ina fit. Not long after Pussy Meek's death, Toots was confined to his roomwith a bad cough, and his mamma went to a store to buy some cough dropswhich the doctor had ordered. When the old lady who kept the store heardthat Toots was ill she said, "I wish I had something nice to send him;he is so polite and kind. Do you suppose he would like another kitten?We have three beauties now, and our cat mother is a fine old mouser."

  "He would like it very much. I left him just now crying for his dear petPussy Meek."

  "Dear little fellow!" said the old lady, "he shall have the veryprettiest one we have."

  Then she took a candy-box and made some holes in it and put theprettiest little kitty inside.

  Toots was wild with pleasure; he sat up in bed and held her in his arms,then he fed her some warm milk, and at last she cuddled down with herlittle head peeping out of the bosom of his night-gown, and then sheslept a long, long time. Toots was much troubled to find a pretty namefor her. At last he said, "poor little Pussy, we cannot find a namegood enough or sweet enough for you." His mamma said suppose we call her_Psyche._ This pleased Toots very much and the new kitty was duly namedPysche, and a nice ribbon was tied about her neck. For many days shelived in Toots' room and nestled close to him. As she grew older shegrew wiser and very full of fun. All summer long she chased flies andgrasshoppers, and when the children played ball, Pysche understood itall and took her place properly. She has two very cunning tricks--onewas to never enter a door if she could make some one open a window tolet her in, and the other was to hide away at bedtime and then come outto play when all the house was still. In the summer time Pysche went tothe seaside with the family, where she was a great pet with the grown-uppeople as well as the children.

  0044]

  NAUGHTY SANDY

  9045]
<
br />   NLY a doll! I wouldn't cry,"

  `Said naughty, teasing Sandy;

  `"She's just a lot of rags and things

  ``I'd rather have some candy."=

  ``But little sister cried and cried,

  ```It was her "bestest" treasure;

  ``While naughty Sandy tried and tried

  ```To tease her for his pleasure.=

  ``"Don't cry, dear pet," the sister said,

  ```"Some day he would be sorry

  ``To have us treat his pretty boat

  ```As he is treating Dolly."=

  ``"Only a doll," said he again,

  ```"A boat is ten times better;

  ``This thing can't sail; I'll go and see

  ```If she can swim, I'll let her."=

  ``Oh, sister, make him div' her back;

  ```He'll kill my darling pet;

  ``Don't let him put her in the pond

  ```And get her nice d'ess wet.=

  ``"You's very cruel, bruver, now-;

  ``Please, div' her back to me;

  ``'Tause she's my only darlin' child,

  ``She sleeps upon my knee."=

  ``"Only a little, mean old doll,

  ``Not worth my bat or ball;

  ``Hark! take your baby; here comes pa;

  ``I hear him in the hall."=

  ``"Teasing again? Ah! Sandy, lad,

  ``Remember this, I pray:

  ``Only a coward teases one

  ``Too small to get away.=

  ``"Go to your room, my boy, and there

  ``Think how this game would please,

  ``If sister Nell should serve you so,

  ``And always try to tease."

  FLOSSIE'S HANDS.

  9048]

  LOSSIE helps ever so much," said Toots, one day--"she dusts the chairsin her mother's room, waters the plants, and holds her auntie's worsted.Her auntie is knitting a new rug for the phaeton."

  "Little hands should always help," said mamma, "they were made to beuseful, and I know Flossie is happier when she is doing something tomake home pleasant. One day I heard Flossie saying, "Oh dear! I wish Ihad something to do. I am tired of my dollies, I don't want to read, andthere is no one here for me to play with." I said, "My dear little girl,your mamma has too much to do; she will give you something, and auntiewill be glad to have you help her; those little hands must be kept busyevery day." Soon after Flossie learned how to dust the chairs, then shepicked the bits of thread from the carpet, then she gave the canary somefood and water, and now she is making a dress for her dollie. In a fewshort months Flossie will learn to do a great many useful things and noone will hear her say, "I wish I had something to do."

  "I always have enough to do," said Toots, "I cannot get time to readhalf the books I like, and then there are so many pets to take care of,beside the skating and sliding in winter, and the fun at the seaside insummer, and when I am at grandpa's he calls me 'a little worker.'"

  Just then Flossie came running after Toots. "Would he go with her to buysome rolls for tea and take a book back to the library?"

  Toots was very glad to go and carry some books for mamma, beside hemust stop at the post-office for some stamps, and bring home a sheet oftransparent paper to make some paper balloons for the children in thehospital. Such busy little people as they were! and how happy, too!

  That night when Toots was fast asleep, his good mother said to his papa:"Children do more than we give them credit for; last week I kept anaccount of all the kind and useful things performed by our little boy,and it would surprise you to see how much it all amounts to. Beside theerrands for me he has thought of others, and that is good for us all.I really think he has found more pleasure in mending old books and toysfor sick children than in having them for himself, and Flossie is quiteanother little girl since she learned to help mamma."

  0049]

  0050]

  JAMIE DOON.

  9051]

  E is lying on his pillows

  `All day, sweet Jamie Doon

  `His little back is crooked,

  ```Yet he sings a merry tune.=

  ``For light of heart is Jamie,

  ```Poor cripple though he be;

  ``He is cheerful as the sunshine,

  ```Or the birdies on the tree.=

  ``What makes you so contented,

  ```My little Jamie boy?"

  ``Asks a thoughtful lady, kindly,

  ```When she carries him a toy.=

  ``I have so many blessings,"

  ```Said gentle Jamie Doon,

  ``I watch the flowers, and birdies

  ```Oft sing for me a tune.=

  ``Then the children come to see me,

  ```And every one is kind;

  ``It might be worse you see, Miss,

  ``If I were deaf and blind."=

  ``Ah, gentle little Jamie!

  ```Count blessings day by day;

  ``It might be worse, indeed, lad,

  ```So smile and sing away.=

  0052]

  Jamie had once been a very active boy and a good scholar, but his backwas injured by a blow given him by a thoughtless playmate, and eversince he has been a great sufferer. It is a dreadful thing to injureany one for life, and boys cannot be too careful when playing with eachother. I am sorry to say that the little boy who hurt Jamie does notseem to care for the terrible ruin he has wrought; perhaps he has notbeen taught at home to think kindly and tenderly of others.

  FIVES.

  A LITTLE STORY IN RHYME.

  |FIVE little sparrows one sunny morn Eating their breakfast out in thecorn:

  ``Five little boys, cruel as boys can be,

  ``Longing to kill those birds blithe and free:

  ``Five little stones that whizzed in the air,

  ``And fell all at once where the sparrows were:

  ``Five little sparrows that flew safe away

  ``For sparrows are quicker than boys, any day:

  ``Five little boys that looked quite forlorn

  ``As they wandered on through the waving corn.=

  OLIVER TWIST AT HOME.

  [9054]

  LIVER TWIST was the name of a fine rooster or gamecock which belonged toToots' grandpa, and many were the stories told of him. He became quitefamous in the family, and out of it, and none of the children wantedhim killed or sold even if he grew too old to walk. When grandpa boughtOliver he carried him home between his knees in the carriage, while hedrove Frisk, the pony. Toots' mamma sat by his side with a huge basketin her lap containing a fine old mother hen with ten little chicks. Theywere all going into grandpa's coop at the farm, and then he would takecare of them for Toots.

  "I suppose I have been very foolish to pay such a price for thisfellow," said grandpa, "but he is smart enough to peck pretty hard."

  All the way to the farm the new rooster made himself as disagreeable ashe could, now biting grandpa's hands, and now his knees, until thedear old man wished he had never seen him. At last he was safe inthe hen-house, where he soon began to eat, and, as he never seemedsatisfied, he was called Oliver Twist.

  "There has been an old fox about here stealing chicks," said the hiredman, "but this Oliver will tackle him, I reckon."

  The hired man was right. Only a few days after grandpa heard a greatnoise among the poultry, and there was a large fox trying to get intothe chicken-yard from the barn. Grandpa stole softly into the house andgot his gun. When he went back Oliver was pecking at the head and eyesof the fox with all his might. Oliver was very angry but did not showany signs of fear, while the fox tried in vain to get nearer. At lastthe old fox made up his mind to spring over and eat chicken for hislunch, but just then, bang! went grandpa's gun, and the sly enemytumbled over on the barn floor.

  When Oliver heard the gun he thought he was shot too, for he fell downand closed his eyes. When grandpa petted and praised him, and held out adish of corn, he seemed to think better of it, and began to strut about,while all the hens cackled in chorus and seemed very proud of theirdefender.
/>
  Poor Oliver met with an accident during the cold winter weather; hisbeautiful red comb was frozen and fell off. He seemed so ashamed of itthat he could not or would not hold up his head, but a nice new comb hasgrown now and he is as proud and lordly as ever. Indeed, only yesterdayhe was seen driving a strange cat out of the yard.

  0056]

  MRS. WHITE'S FAMILY.

  9057]

  P at grandpa's farm the chicks were very happy since the old fox waskilled, and as Toots wanted some more cunning little ones to play withand feed when he went up for a visit, grandpa decided to put some eggsunder Mrs. White. Now, Mrs. White was a very fine hen, and although shehad never raised any chicks of her own, she seemed so kind and gentlethat grandpa was sure she would make a kind mother. He selected the eggswith great care, marking some very choice ones with a blue pencil. Mrs.White sat very quietly upon her nest for many days, until it was timefor the little chicks to come out of their shell houses; then grandpapaid her a visit. Three little ones were already toddling about, andMrs. White seemed to be in great distress concerning some others whowere just trying to see what the world was made of. Grandpa helped thelittle fellows by picking away small bits of the shell, and then hehurried away to make some nice dough for them. When he returned, Mrs.White was nowhere to be seen, so grandpa covered the little new babieswith some wool and then looked for the neglectful mother. He soon foundher in the yard with Oliver Twist and a large flock of hens.