DUMPTY.
{FROM "ANNIE'S DUCKS."}]

AT THE BEACH.

The Park children went to the beach last summer. It was a small beach;
not at all like Nantasket Beach.

There were not many folks there. There was a young woman--a very queer
young woman indeed, Sam thought. She used to go out on the beach and
sit in a camp chair and read!

"Pshaw! who wants to read with a whole ocean to look at?" said Sam.

[Illustration: THE YOUNG WOMAN.]

Such cunning little slippers as she wore! and her ruffles and hat! Oh,
my! She used to draw pictures sometimes, but Sam didn't know that.

"Halloo! there she is again!" shouted Sam one day. She was drawing a
picture of them that moment, but they did not know it. They were all
sliding down the sand cliff.

They had taken off their shoes and stockings, and were going in
bathing.

"Whoo-oop! hurrah! here we come! clear the track!" What a noise they
did make, to be sure!

But it did not disturb anybody. Nobody heard it but the young woman
and some cows in the pasture near by.

How warm and soft the sand was! It was as good as coasting in winter.
It was better!

[Illustration: THE PICTURE THE YOUNG WOMAN DREW.]

Down they went into the water like so many ducks. They can all dive
and swim almost as well as ducks. Papa and mamma were off shore,
taking a sail together. They saw the slide down hill, and the plunge
into the water. They saw the brown and yellow heads bobbing about.

"Do look at them!" said mamma. "Perfect little Arabs!"

"Do 'em good," said papa. "Little Molly never had such rosy cheeks in
all her life."

"But think of their clothes!" said mamma.

FARMER GRAY AND HIS APPLES.

Farmer Gray had a load of apples to sell one day. But nobody wanted
them. People offered him such a small sum of money for them, he said
he would rather give them away.

So he started for home with his load of apples. He drove down Summer
street, past the schoolhouse. The boys were having their recess.

Now Farmer Gray loved children. So when he saw these boys he thought,
"Here's just the market for my apples."

He stopped his horse and called out, "Do any of you boys know what to
do with apples?"

Then there _was_ a shout! "O yes, sir, we guess we do!" said all the
boys.

"Come on, then!" said Farmer Gray.

[Illustration: HE KNOWS WHAT TO DO WITH FARMER GRAY'S APPLES.]

The boys crowded around the wagon, and the farmer tossed the apples to
them.

"It is well for you,