4.
To the nursery now comes mother, at last,
And what in her hand is she bringing so fast?
'Tis a plateful of something, all yellow and white,
And she sings as she comes, with her smile so bright:
"'Tis the best bread and butter I ever did see,
And it is for Alice's supper--he! he!"

LESSON LXVII.

tall hung storm pick'et

firs north gowns spar'ked

roof flakes fair'ies cap'tains

A SNOWSTORM.

1. Last night, the cold north wind blew great snow clouds over the sky.
Not a star, not a bit of blue sky could be seen.

2. Soon the tiny flakes floated softly down, like flocks of little white
birds. Faster and faster they came, till they filled the air. They made no
noise, but they were busy all night long.

3. They covered all the ground with a soft, white carpet. They hung
beautiful plumes on the tall, green firs. The little bushes, they put to
sleep in warm nightgowns and caps.

[Illustration: Snow covering house, shed, and road. Children playing.]

4. They hid the paths so that the boys might have the fun of digging new
ones. They turned the old picket fence into a row of soldiers, and the
gate posts into captains, with tall white hats on.

5. The old corn basket that was left out by the barn, upside down, they
made into a cunning little snow house with a round roof.

6. When the busy little flakes had done their work, the sun came up to see
what they had been about.

7. He must have been pleased with what he saw, for he smiled such a
bright, sweet smile, that the whole white world sparkled as if it were
made of little stars.

8. Who would have thought that the black clouds could hide the little
fairies that made the earth so beautiful!

LESSON LXVIII.

dug roots thump of fense'

toad spool heaped smoothed

forth a'pron clos'ets dan'de li ons

BESSIE.

1. One day, Bessie thought how nice it would be to have a garden with only
wild flowers in it. So into the house she ran to find her Aunt Annie, and
ask her leave to go over on the shady hillside, across the brook, where
the wild flowers grew thickest.

[Illustration: Girl planting small garden. Toad sitting in garden.]

2. " Yes, indeed, you may go," said Aunt Annie; "but what will you put the
roots and earth in while you are making the garden?"

3. "Oh," said Bessie, "I can take my apron."

4. Her aunt laughed, and said, "A basket will be