is books and played his games,--he even sang a song
And thought how lovely it would be to sit up all night long.

[Illustration]

But soon his games grew stupid, and his puzzles wouldn't work;
He drew himself up stiffly with a sudden little jerk,
And he said, "I am not sleepy, and I love to play alone--
And--I--think--" the rest was mumbled in a drowsy monotone.

He leaned back on the cushions like that night he had the croup;
His head began to wobble and his eyes began to droop;
He closed them for a minute, just to see how it would seem,
And straightway he was sound asleep, and dreamed this awful dream!

He thought he saw a garden filled with flowers and roses gay,
A great big gardener with a hoe came walking down his way;
"Ah, ha!" exclaimed the gardener, as he clutched him by the head,
"Here's a fine specimen I've found; I'll plant him in this bed!"

[Illustration]

He held the boy in one big hand, unheeding how he cried,
And with the other dug a hole enormous, deep, and wide.
He jammed the little fellow in, and said in gruffest tone,
"This is the bed for naughty boys who won't go to their own."

And then the dirt was shovelled in,--it covered up his toes,
His ankles, knees, and waist and arms, and higher yet it rose.
For still the gardener shovelled on, not noticing his cries;
It came up to his chin and mouth--it almost reached his eyes;

Just then he gathered all his strength and gave an awful scream,
And woke himself, and put an end to that terrific dream.
And he said, as Nursey tucked him up and bade him snugly rest,
"When I am planted in a bed, I like my own the best."

The Rivals

[Illustration]

Two well-built men, neither giant nor dwarf,
Were Monsieur Elims and Mynheer Nworf.
They lived in a town not far away,
And spent their time in work and play.
Now Monsieur Elims was loved by all--
By rich and poor, by great and small.
And Mynheer Nworf remarked one day,
"Brother, explain to me, I pray,
Why no one likes me as well as you,
No matter what I may say or do.
I have stores of knowledge packed in my head;
I am learned and wise and very well read;
I can dance, I can sing, I'm extremely polite;
I am worth a large fortune all in my own right.
But still,--and this question has caused me much thought,--
While I am neglected, you're everywhere sought."
Monsieur Elims replied: "My dear sir, that is true,
But you see, I am I, and you see, you a