lect on the frailty of man and his joys;
Short-lived as we are, yet our pleasures, we see,
Have a still shorter date, and die sooner than we.

--_Cowper._

IN THE ORCHARD.

Far down in the orchard I found her,
Her earnest eyes gazing aloft.
A baby hand waved me a warning,
A baby voice called to me--soft.

"Hush, mamma, don't frighten the birdies;
They're busy at work, don't you see?
A-picking the worms from the blossoms
A-growing on God's apple-tree!"

Ah, child, when thy life work is given,
God may not have great things for thee.
Be content if He sets thee to guarding
The blossoms upon His fruit tree.

Adelphi, Ohio.

--_Mary Nowlan Wittwer._

"THANK YOU" AND "AMEN".

When we were at Grandpa's house to dine,
He looked about with sober face;
Then clasps his hands and shuts his eyes,
And sister says he's saying grace.

He says long words that I don't know;
I'm only six years old--but then
I know two words he always says,
And one is "thanks" and one's "Amen."

While walking in my grandpa's woods
We saw a squirrel, big and gray;
He held a nut between his paws,
But did not eat it right away.

He closed his little shining eyes,
His hands raised just like grandpa's--then
I said, "O sister, keep real still,
He's saying "Thank you" and "Amen.""

* * * * *

"He that planteth a tree is a servant of God,
He provideth a kindness for many generations,
And faces that he hath not seen shall bless him."

* * * * *

One impulse from a vernal wood
May teach you more of man,
Of moral evil and of good,
Than all the sages can.

[Illustration: A COUNTRY SCHOOL BUILDING.]

[Illustration: SOUTH SALEM SCHOOL WITH HOUSE FOR SUPERINTENDENT, RENT
FREE.]

SPRINGTIME.

AIR--"AULD LANG SYNE."

The Winter storms have passed away,
And Springtime now is here,
With sunshine smiling all around,
And heavens blue and clear.
The gifts of Nature brighten earth,
And Nature her garden gay;
They give a cheery greeting bright
On this, the Arbor Day.

The birds with gladsome voices sing,
Each its melodious lay,
And music swells each litt