" answered
the sprite. "I like to change my form now and then."

22. A thought flashed across Annie's brain. What if she should breathe on
the frost and not wait for the sun to melt it. In a moment more she had
done so. Down fell a great number of the tiny mountains and castles,
carrying with them a multitude of frost sprites, and all that could be
seen was a drop of water on the window sill.

23. "Oh, dear! have I hurt them?" she exclaimed. "No, no," replied a
chorus of many small voices from the drop of water, "we are only water
sprites again. Nothing hurts us; we merely change." "But you are always
pretty little things," said Annie. "I wish--"

24. Here a ring at the doorbell woke Annie. She started up to find the
family had returned from their visit, which all declared was a delightful
one. But Annie said she did not believe they had enjoyed their visit
better than she had her half hour's dream.

DEFINITIONS.--1. Nat'u-ral Phi-los'o-phy, the study which teaches about
the laws of matter in nature. 3. E-vap-o-ra'tion, the act of turning into
vapor. 4. De-gree', a division of space marked on an instrument such as a
thermometer. 8. Wa'ter sprite, a spirit or fairy living in the water. 10.
Mis'chie-vous-ly, in a teasing manner. 13. Swarm, to be crowded. 18,
Es-caped', got away, fled.

LXV. MY GHOST. (178)

By Mrs. S. M. B. Piatt, who was born near Lexington, Ky., in 1836. Among
her published works may be mentioned "The Nests at Washington, and Other
Poems," and "A Woman's Poems."

1. Yes, Katie, I think you are very sweet,
Now that the tangles are out of your hair,
And you sing as well as the birds you meet,
That are playing, like you, in the blossoms there.
But now you are coming to kiss me, you say:
Well, what is it for? Shall I tie your shoe?
Or loop up your sleeve in a prettier way?
"Do I know about ghosts?" Indeed I do.

2. "Have I seen one?" Yes; last evening, you know,
We were taking a walk that you had to miss,
(I think you were naughty, and cried to go,
But, surely, you'll stay at home after this!)
And, away in the twilight, lonesomely,
("What is the twilight?" It's--getting late!)
I was thinking of things that were sad to me!--
There, hush! you know nothing about them, Kate.

3. Well, we had to go through the rocky lane,
Close to that bridge where the water roars,
By a still, red house, where the dark and rain
Go in whe