Slaps little Mosquito, alight on his ear,
And thus puts an end to her hopeful career,--
Whee, whee, whee!

FLETA F.

[Illustration]

LEARNING TO IRON.

"NOW I've had my lesson in my 'Nursery Primer,'" said little
five-year-old Ellen, "and I want to learn to iron clothes."

"You are rather too young to be trusted with a flat-iron," said her
mother: "you might burn your fingers."

"I'll promise not to cry if I do," said Ellen. "Please let me go out and
help Patience iron, mamma."

Mamma at last gave her consent; and our picture of Ellen and Patience at
work at the ironing-board gives about as good likenesses of the two as
their reflections in a mirror could have given.

Ellen saw how Patience used her flat-iron, and then used hers in the
same way. She ironed a towel so well, that Patience praised her, and
said she could not have done it better herself.

But, as she was trying to put a flat-iron on the stove, Ellen burnt her
fingers so as to make her hop. She did not cry; for she remembered her
promise. Patience wet a cloth with cold water, and put it on the burn;
then she remembered that common brown soap was the best thing for a
burn, so she spread some soap on a cotton rag and put that on. Soon the
pain was gone, and Ellen ran and told her mother what had happened.

"You should not have tried to put the flat-iron on the stove," said her
mother. "If your clothes had caught fire, you might have had a bad
time."

"Would my dress have blazed up?" asked Ellen.

"I take care to dip your clothes in a weak solution of nitre before they
are worn; for that prevents their blazing, even if they should catch
fire," said mamma. "But you must not let that keep you from taking great
care."

"Next Tuesday may I take another lesson in ironing?" asked Ellen.

"Yes: if you say your lessons well during the week, you shall not only
learn to iron your clothes, but to wash them."

"That will be fun!" cried Ellen, clapping her hands, and quite
forgetting her burnt finger.

DORA BURNSIDE.

[Illustration]

BIRDIE AND BABY.

BIRDIE is a canary-bird of pale gold color. Tiny as he is, he is quite
old compared with baby.

He was the sole pet of the house long before baby came into the world,
and he did as much as any bird could to fill a baby's place.

All the bright hours of the