The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Nursery, November 1881, Vol. XXX, by Various.

IN PROSE.
	PAGE
Where Jimmy Lives	323
Jessie and her Kitten	324
Fanchette	329
Old Jack	333
A Day in the Woods	338
Milly and Jip	342
Lawn-Tennis	344
The Kitten's Necktie	345
A Basket from Home	348
[iv]A Letter from Honolulu	350
IN VERSE.
Hush-a-by	322
Two Sides	326
Sweet Good-day	331
My Garden	332
Off for the Winter	335
Baby Bobby	341
A Thrifty Family	346
When will the Snow come	347
Christmas-Time (with music)	352

HUSH-A-BY.

Hush-a-by baby: as the birds fly,
We are off to the island of Lullaby:
I am the captain, and you are the crew,
And the cradle, I guess, is our birch-bark canoe;
We'll drift away from this work-day shore,
Forty thousand long leagues or more,
Till we reach the strand where happy dreams wait,
Whether we're early, or whether we're late.

Hush-a-by baby: as the birds fly,
Let us make the snug harbor of Lullaby:
Some little folks are far on the way;
Some have put in at Wide-awake Bay;
Others, I fear, are long overdue;
Don't let this happen, my darling, to you:
Let us steer for the coast where happy dreams wait,
Whether we're early, or whether we're late.

WHERE JIMMY LIVES.

Jimmy's papa has about a hundred horses, as many cows, and a great many hundred sheep. He does not keep them in barns, or feed them with hay, but they roam over the hills, and feed on grass both in winter and summer.

Mr. Mason's house is five miles from any neighbor, and fifteen miles from town. There is no garden or fence round it, and there are no trees to be seen anywhere near. But there are wild flowers in abundance. One of them is a species of cactus. It bears beautiful yellow blossoms in summer, after which comes the fruit, a prickly pear, not[324] good to eat. Another kind of cactus has crimson and scarlet blossoms, but no prickly pears.

Both of these plants are covered with sharp thorns and prickles. Jimmy thinks the blossoms are pretty; but he does not like to pick them. Can you guess why?

Where do you suppose Jimmy goes to school? Well, he goes to his mamma, and he has a very nice teacher. He never gets lonesome; for he has so much to do and so much to think about, that he has no time to be lonesome.

He helps his mother in the house, he takes care of the chickens, he makes friends with the sheep. When he gets a little bigger, he will ride on horseback and help his papa in taking care of the horses and cattle out on the hills.

JESSIE AND HER KITTEN.

"Call kitty," said her mother, "and let her try to catch this ball while you hold the string."

"Oh, yes, that will be fun," said Jessie; "but if I make a noise, mamma, you will be sure to say, 'Hush, my child! or you will wake grandma.'"

Her mamma laughed, and said, "I think we can manage that, dear. You shall go down in the large front-hall, and there you can run and play as much as you please."

Jessie was delighted with this plan, and presently stood holding the ball just out of reach of the kitten's paws, saying, "Catch it if you can, kitty; catch it if you can!"

As soon as kitty, standing on her hind-legs, had her paw almost upon it, away Jessie would run, shouting and laughing, and kitty would follow her as fast as she could go.

When they had played till Jessie was quite tired, she went to her mamma with kitty cuddled in her arms, and said, "We have had a jolly time, mamma! Now I must give kitty some milk and put her to bed; for I think she is hungry and sleepy after so much exercise." This last was a big word for such a little girl, and she said it quite slowly.

"Yes, dear," mamma said, smiling, "and I think I know somebody else who will soon be hungry and sleepy too."

TWO SIDES.

H, dear! oh, dear! the summer's past;
The singing-birds have gone;
The robin, from the maple-bough,
Who waked me every morn;
The bobolink that used to make
The meadow-grass with music shake;
The humming-bird that dipped his bill
In lily-cup and rose,—
Not one would stay; I only hear
The cawing of the crows.

The fields look brown: oh, dear! oh, dear!
The dismal autumn days are here.
And all my pretty flowers are dead!
My roses and sweet-peas;
The hollyhocks, where, all the day,
There was a crowd of bees;
The lovely morning-glory vine,
That round my window used to twine;
The larkspur, with its horns of blue;
[327]The sunflower proud and tall,—
That thief the Frost, so sly and still,
Has come and stolen all!
Chill blows the wind; oh, dear! oh, dear!
The dreary autumn days are here.

The hives are full of honeycomb;
The barns are full of hay;
The bins are heaped with ripened grain,
[328]That empty were in May;
The red and yellow apples now
Bend many a heavy orchard bough;
Dark purple, 'mid their withered leaves,
The frost-grapes smell of musk;
The pumpkins lie in yellow heaps;
And, in its silver husk,
The corn now shows a golden ear;
Come! why be sorry autumn's here?
The sharp frost cracks the prickly burrs;
The keen wind scatters down
Upon the grass, for eager hands,
The chestnuts ripe and brown;
The orange woods, the flame-red bowers,
Are brighter than the gayest flowers;
'Tis constant changes make the year:
Then why be sorry autumn's here?

FANCHETTE.

The first time we met she looked up at me with such a pleasant smile, that I bowed and smiled in return. After a few days we became still better acquainted, and she would say, "Bon jour, madame!" in answer to my greeting.

One day, besides the basket, she carried a large fagot, and[330] her apron full of wild flowers and drooping vines. Then I thought I would like to know more about her. So I said, "You look tired, my little girl: will you not sit down under this old tree with me, and tell me where you live, and where you go every day with that big basket?"

She seemed quite pleased to do so, and then told me that her father was a wood-cutter, and that every day she had to walk three miles to the forest to carry him his dinner, and sometimes to help bind fagots.

"My name," she said, "is Fanchette, and I have a sister Marie, and a sister Claire, and a baby-brother named Pierre. My sister Marie is ill, and cannot leave her bed, and I have gathered these flowers to take to her."

"A little tired, madam," she said; "but I do not mind, for Marie will be so pleased with these flowers, and baby will clap his hands and laugh when he sees me coming. Then mother will take this fagot and light the fire, and give us our supper, and we shall be very merry.

"There is my home," she said, pointing to a small brown thatched cottage under a hill not far away. "Will you not come to see us some day, madam?"

I promised to do so, and when I kept my word soon after, I found all as she had said. Though they were poor, and the mother had to work hard, their home was so neat, and all seemed so happy in it, that it was a pleasure to go there. I repeated my visits many times, carrying dainties for the invalid, who was soon quite well and strong; and I shall never forget bright, cheery little Fanchette.

SWEET GOOD-DAY.

"We are fading, little children;
One by one, we flutter down;
For the winds are harsh and chilly,
And the meadows, bare and brown.
We are fading," leaves of purple,
Leaves of amber, softly say;
"But we'll meet you in the May-time,
Our merry, merry play-time:
Little children, sweet good-day!"

"We are going, little children,"
Sigh the flowers in the sun;
"Oh! we soon shall end our singing,"
Lisp the brooklets as they run;
And the birds, with silver warble,
Long before they wing away,
Pipe, "We'll meet you in the May-time,
Our merry, merry play-time:
Little children, sweet good-day!"

MY GARDEN.

When fields are green, and skies are fair,
And summer fragrance fills the air,
I love to watch the budding rose
That in my pleasant garden grows;
But when old Winter, fierce and free,
Has hushed the murmur of the bee,
And all the fields and hills are hid
Beneath his snowy coverlid,
Oh! then my only garden-spot
Is just this little flower-pot.

OLD JACK.

EAR me!" exclaimed Mrs. Smith, as she looked from the kitchen-window of her farmhouse; "there are uncle Joe, and aunt Peggy, and all the girls! They have come to tea, I'm certain, and I haven't a speck of green tea in the house. Uncle Joe can't drink any thing else, and he must have white sugar in it too.

"Here, Mike, Mike! take a basket, jump on old Jack, and go to the store just as fast as you can. Get a pound of the[334] best green tea and three pounds of white lump sugar. Now mind you are back in half an hour."

Mike was delighted. He had come to live on the farm only the week before, and in all his life had never been on the back of a horse or donkey. He had looked every day with longing eyes at Jack grazing quietly in the pasture, and had thought how happy he should be if he were ever allowed to have a ride on him. So off he started in great glee, saying to himself, "It will be easy enough to manage this little fellow."

When about half a mile on the way, they came to a brook, and Mike thought he would let Jack have a drink. This was all very well; but, when Mike wanted to go on, Jack had changed his mind, and concluded not to go any further.

Mike pulled and pulled on the bridle, trying to turn him back into the road; but the obstinate creature planted his feet firmly, and would not budge an inch.

Just then a kind old Irishman came, on the little foot-bridge, over the brook, and Mike called to him to know what he should do. "Sure, you must have a stick, sonny," said the man. "Donkeys won't go without the stick."

So he cut a stick from a tree near by, and gave it to Mike, who used it as hard as he could, but to no purpose. Then the old man took another, and, going behind the little beast, touched him up smartly with it, at the same time giving his tail a funny little twist.

This was more than Jack could stand. He gave in and jogged on. But he would go very slowly, in spite of Mike's urging, and now and then he would amuse himself by kicking out his hind-legs, and trying to throw Mike off.

Once, too, just as they were starting back from the grocer's he suddenly lay down flat, and threw Mike over his head, scattering basket and bundles.[335]

Poor Mike was half an hour late; but, when he told good Mrs. Smith all his troubles, she excused him. She laughed hard, too, when Mike said, like a true-born Irish boy, "Sure, marm, I never want to ride Jack again till I've learned how."

OFF FOR THE WINTER.

"O swallows! what can be the matter?
And what do you mean by your chatter?
You sit on the barn-roof by dozens,—
Aunts, grandmothers, uncles, and cousins;
You circle and wheel, then you twitter away:
[336]Oh, what are you saying? Do tell me, I pray."

"My little one, cold winds are blowing;
We swallows to South-land are going:
We meet in the clear autumn weather,
And plan our long journey together.
When spring-time returns, with its green dancing leaves,
We'll come back to our little nests under the eaves."

"Sweet wild flowers, oh, where are you hiding?
In what hidden nook are you biding?
I've wandered the meadows all over,—
There's no breath of wild rose or clover;
No violets peeping through grass-blades I see,
No daisies or buttercups nodding to me."

Then up spake a gentian, late comer,
The last blue-eyed darling of summer,—
"To our long winter rest we betake us:
Good-night, till May breezes awake us."
Then her soft downy cap she drew over her head,
And joined her sweet sisters asleep in their bed.

A DAY IN THE WOODS.

"I!" shouted Jennie; "and I!" shouted Kate; "and can aunt Jane and cousins Tom and Ann go too?" said both.

"Yes," said uncle Tom: "I will take the big wagon, and there will be room enough for all. Run and ask your mother to put up a lunch for us. We must start early in the morning."

Off they ran, and soon came back with Tom and Ann and their little brother Johnny, all eager for a frolic.

The next morning, as soon as the sun peeped out of the east, all the children were up and dressed. By the time breakfast was over, the wagon stood at the door. Into it they climbed one after another. The lunch-basket was packed in safely. Aunt Jane sat on the front seat; uncle Tom jumped up beside her with the reins in his hands; the children shouted "Hurrah!" and off they started.

What fun they had as they rode along! The pure air of the country, flavored with an odor of the sea (for the road lay along the side of the ocean), seemed to put new life into them all.

When they reached the woods, they jumped out of the wagon and rambled about at will. The girls filled their baskets with wild flowers; aunt Jane twined some of them[339] in Kate's hair; and Jennie made a lovely wreath, which she placed on Tom's head.

By and by they all began to feel very hungry. So they opened the lunch-basket under a large tree, and found that mamma had put into it just what they wanted. They had a grand feast. They laughed and sang, and made the old woods ring with their merry voices. At last uncle Tom said, "Now, girls, give us one song more, and then we must be getting ready to go home."

While they were singing, uncle Tom went after the horse. Pretty soon he drove up with the wagon and said, "Now pack in, every one of you, and we will have a jolly ride home."

They were about to take their seats in the wagon, when aunt Jane said, "Where's Johnny? We can't go home without him."

"He strolled off while we were singing," said cousin Tom: "I guess he went down to the beach; for I saw him go in that[340] direction, and he had a box under his arm, probably to put shells in."

"I'll warrant that's where he's gone," said uncle Tom. "And he is there exploring now, I dare say. But he can't be far off. We'll call him."

Then uncle Tom shouted in his deep voice, "Johnny!" Then aunt Jane and all the girls joined in the chorus of "Johnny!"

"The boy must be deaf if he does not hear that," said uncle Tom. Then they all shouted together once more. In a moment they heard Johnny's voice in reply. "I'm coming in a minute," said he.

It was five minutes before Johnny appeared, and then he came holding something in his hand triumphantly.

Now what do you suppose it was? It was a live crab, which the boy had found among the rocks on the shore.

BABY BOBBY.

I know a house so full of noise,
You'd think a regiment of boys,
From early morn till close of day,
Were busy with their romping play.
And yet, I'm ready to declare,
There is but one small youngster there,—
A little golden-headed chap,
Who used to think his mother's lap
The nicest place that e'er could be,
Until he grew so big that he
Was most a man, and learned what fun
[342]It is to shout and jump and run.
This restless, noisy little elf
Has learned, alas! to think himself
Too old in mother's arms to sleep;
Yet his blue eyes he cannot keep
From hiding 'neath their lids so white;
And, climbing to the sofa's height,
He snuggles down, forgets his play,
And into Dreamland sails away;
And then it is that mamma knows
Why the whole house so silent grows.

MILLY AND JIP.

HIS is a little English girl. Her name is Mildred; but she is usually called Milly. She has always lived in a fine old house, with lovely grounds about it, not far from London. But now she is going, with her father and mother, to India.

She thinks it will be very nice to be travelling so far away with them; but she is sorry to leave her kind grandmother, and all her aunts and cousins. She could not help crying when she said good-by to them.

"Oh, no, darling!" said her mother. "I wouldn't think of leaving the little dog behind. He will be a fine play-fellow for you on board the ship."

So she has Jip cuddled close in her arms, you see. It is[343] late in November, and the weather is cold. But Milly has plenty of warm fur wraps to protect her and her pet too.

She will soon be far away from cold weather, and when she reaches India, she will laugh at the thought of ever being bundled up in all that fur.

LAWN-TENNIS.

John sits on a three-legged stool. What is he doing? We can't tell, for we can't see through him: so we must guess. I guess he is watching a game of lawn-tennis.

I think I see one of the players that John has his eye on. It is a bright little girl. Her name is Julia. Look at her. She is having fine fun. John hopes that her side will win. And so do I. Let us all give three cheers for her.

THE KITTEN'S NECKTIE.

USS, Puss, Puss! where are you?" said little Nellie Rich. She had tied a new, bright, cherry ribbon on the kitten's neck, and told her to keep it nice; "for," said Nellie, "my cousin Belle is coming to see me this afternoon, and I want to show her how pretty you can look."

And now naughty puss had run off, and she would come back, perhaps, with the new ribbon all rumpled and soiled. After searching through the house, Nellie ran out to the barn to look for the lost pet.

Sure enough, there was the kitten, not taking the least care of her necktie, just ready to pounce upon a big mouse.

Nellie's voice startled her so that she did not catch the mouse, after all. The nimble little rogue darted into a hole before kitty could even get her paw on his tail.

But the cherry bow was still safe and unsoiled. So, after[346] giving pussy a lecture on her disobedience, Nellie took her into the house.

She met Belle at the door, and told her what a search she had made; while puss, cuddled in her arms, kept up a busy purring, as much as to say, "I'm sorry you were displeased with me. I really thought you would praise me for trying to catch that big mouse; for I'm not much more than a kitten yet."

A THRIFTY FAMILY.

'Twas a bitter cold morning; the new-fallen snow
Had pierced every crack where a snowflake could go;
The streams were all solid, the ice sharp and clear;
And even the fishes were chilly, I fear.

Almost all the wild creatures were troubled and cold,
And sighed for sweet summer,—the shy and the bold;
But one thrifty family, as you must know,
Was breakfasting merrily under the snow.

Close by a tall tree, in a hole in the ground,
Which led to a parlor, with leaves cushioned round,
Five jolly red squirrels were sitting at ease,
And eating their breakfast, as gay as you please.

When will the snow come, mother dear?
When will the soft white snow be here?
Upon my sled I want to go:
Oh for the snow! I long for snow.

I want to see it falling fast,
And covering all the ground at last,
So Dick and I can snowballs throw:
Oh for the snow, the splendid snow!

I look, as soon as it is light,
To see if all the earth is white;
I watch the clouds each day, but no,
There's not a single flake of snow.

I want to plunge about, waist deep,
In the great drifts so high and steep,
And wash Dick's face,—oh, you don't know
[348]What lots of fun we have with snow!

We're going to build a fort, and you'll
See battles fought there after school!
And cannon-balls will fly—hallo!
Look! mother, look! here comes the snow!

A BASKET FROM HOME.

"It is probably a box for me," said one of the older boys, with rather an important air.

This boy, being somewhat selfish, was not a favorite with the little ones, one of whom whispered to another, "I hope it isn't for him, don't you? None of the rest of us will get a peep into it if it is."

Presently the wagon stopped; and Mr. Trott pulled out a basket, and reading the address, "Master Robert Rand," said, "Is there any boy of that name here?"

"Hurrah for you, Rob!" called out four other boys about his age. "Come on, we'll help you carry it in."

In a few minutes the same boys stood around the basket with eager eyes; and Rob and his cousin Willy were seated on the floor, unpacking it.

Oranges, lemons, and apples were soon displayed; then a pot of jam appeared.[349]

"Halloa, what's down in that corner?" cried Tom, a youngster in Scotch cap and velveteen suit. "Isn't that a cake, though!" as a big round cake well stuffed with plums appeared.

"What's in this paper bag?" said Rob. "First-rate! it's white sugar. That's for lemonade. Mother hasn't forgotten how much I like it."

So all the good things that Rob's thoughtful mother had sent him were one by one set out upon the floor.

Rob looked at each one with real delight, and, when the basket was emptied, he said,—

"Now, boys, there's some eating to be done, and I want you all to help me. It is Saturday afternoon: let us all go into the woods and have a regular picnic."

All agreed that this would be jolly fun. One boy (who[350] had a brother in college) remarked that it would be "just immense."

Willy, the youngest boy, who was a great pet with the housekeeper, was sent to borrow a pitcher and tumblers, and whatever else was needed.

Instead of a pitcher, what do you think he brought back?—A teakettle, just like this!

Several other boys joined them at Rob's invitation, and they soon found a pleasant, shady spot near a cool spring.

We have not space to tell all the good things that were said at the feast. In fact, there was no reporter present. But it was a jolly affair. When it was ended, three cheers were given for Robby Rand, and three more for his basket; and then the boys started for home, to wind up the fun with a game of ball.

A LETTER FROM HONOLULU.

I live in Honolulu, way off in the Pacific Ocean. I wonder if many of your readers know what a pretty place Honolulu is. The town faces the open sea;[351] but those who have been accustomed to the stormy Atlantic or the Northern Pacific would scarcely believe that this calm blue water is the ocean.

Back of the town are two mountains,—"Punch-bowl" and "Diamond Head." Between them there is a cocoanut-grove, near which there is a nice place for sea-bathing. As it is a short drive from town, we often go there to bathe, and have great fun. We have no winter here, and it is never too cold to bathe. I am trying to learn to swim.

Sometimes I get tired of having it always summer, and wish for the fun that the snow and ice bring, about which I read so much in "The Nursery."

I go to a kindergarten, and we learn a great many of your songs. Some of your poetry we have made into songs, and we like them very much. Last summer, at the closing exercises of our class, we played the "Kindergarten Game" published in the January number of last year, and every one was delighted with it.

If you like this letter I may write again, and tell you about a feast that I went to, in celebration of the birthday of the little Victoria-Kawekin-Kaiulani-Lunalilo-Kalaninuiahilapalapa. Is it not a pretty name? I cannot pronounce it all for I do not speak the native language. I am a little German girl and my name is

CHRISTMAS TIME.

1. Come, stir the fire, 'tis Christmas time!
While loud the winds howl o'er us,
We'll hail the day with joyful lay,
And raise the swelling chorus.
Time, who brings both care and sorrow,
Bids them slumber till to-morrow,
Bids them slumber till to-morrow.

2 To joyous music's merry strain
Responsive hearts are beating,
And happy voices join amain
The carol, Christmas greeting.
Hearts with fondest rapture swelling,
Glow while lips their thoughts are telling.

3 Then raise the song for Christmas time,
While winds are loudly blowing,
With carol old and chorus bold
Our joyful praises showing,
Bright the old yule-log is beaming,
Let each soul of joy be dreaming.

Transcriber's Notes

Obvious punctuation errors repaired.

The original text for the July issue had a table of contents that spanned six issues. This was divided amongst those issues.

Additionally, only the July issue had a title page. This page was copied for the remaining five issues. Each issue had the number added on the title page after the Volume number.

THE
NURSERY

A Monthly Magazine

For Youngest Readers.

IN PROSE.

IN VERSE.

HUSH-A-BY.

WHERE JIMMY LIVES.

JESSIE AND HER KITTEN.

TWO SIDES.

FANCHETTE.

SWEET GOOD-DAY.

MY GARDEN.

OLD JACK.

OFF FOR THE WINTER.

A DAY IN THE WOODS.

BABY BOBBY.

MILLY AND JIP.

LAWN-TENNIS.

THE KITTEN'S NECKTIE.

A THRIFTY FAMILY.

A BASKET FROM HOME.

A LETTER FROM HONOLULU.

CHRISTMAS TIME.

Transcriber's Notes

THE NURSERY

A Monthly Magazine For Youngest Readers.

IN PROSE.

IN VERSE.

HUSH-A-BY.

WHERE JIMMY LIVES.

JESSIE AND HER KITTEN.

TWO SIDES.

FANCHETTE.

SWEET GOOD-DAY.

MY GARDEN.

OLD JACK.

OFF FOR THE WINTER.

A DAY IN THE WOODS.

BABY BOBBY.

MILLY AND JIP.

LAWN-TENNIS.

THE KITTEN'S NECKTIE.

A THRIFTY FAMILY.

A BASKET FROM HOME.

A LETTER FROM HONOLULU.

CHRISTMAS TIME.

Transcriber's Notes

THE
NURSERY

A Monthly Magazine

For Youngest Readers.