d decrease.

When next he went (it makes me laugh)
He found the mice had eaten half,
And what remain'd, though once a treat,
So mouldy, 'twas not fit to eat.

WILLIAM'S CAKE

Young William Goodchild was a boy
Who lov'd to give his playmates joy;
And when his mother sent _his_ cake,
Rejoic'd for his companions' sake.

"Come round," he cried, "each take a slice,
Each have his proper share of ice;
We'll eat it up among us, here:
My birth-day comes but once a year."

A poor blind man, who came that way,
His violin began to play;
But though he play'd, he did not speak,
And tears ran slowly down his cheek.

"What makes you weep?" young William cried.
"I'm poor and hungry," he replied,
"For food and home I'm forced to play,
But I have eaten nought to-day."

"Poor man!" said William, "half my share
Remains, which I will gladly spare;
I wish 'twas larger for your sake,
So take this penny and the cake."

I need not ask each youthful breast
Which of these boys you like the best;
Let goodness, then, incitement prove,
And imitate the boy you love.

HOW TO MAKE A CHRISTMAS PUDDING

Now, little Sophy, come with me,
To make a pudding you shall see;
Now sit quite still, and see me do it;
See, here's the flour and the suet.

The suet must be chopped quite small,
For it should scarce be seen at all;
A pound of each will nicely suit,
To which I put two pounds of fruit.

One is of currants, one of plums
(You'll find it good when boiled it comes);
Then almonds, sugar, citron, spice,
And peel, will make it very nice.

Now see me stir and mix it well,
And then we'll leave the rest to Nell;
Now see, the pudding-cloth she flours,
Ties it, and boils it full five hours.

THE END

_Printed by_ R. & R. Clark, Ltd., _Edinburgh_

_For a list of Children's books and others see the next pages._

"THE DUMPY BOOKS FOR CHILDREN"

No. I.

The Flamp,

The Ameliorator,

AND THE

Schoolboy's Apprentice

BY

EDWARD VERRALL LUCAS

_18mo. Cloth. 1s. 6d._

_The Westminster Gazette._--"Very delightful stories they
are. The great difficulty with books for children is that
they are often so large, a difficulty which in the case of
the bound annual really a