while they held their hands outstretched
To catch the diamonds gay,
A million little sunbeams came
And stole them all away.

--_M. T. Butts._

DAISY NURSES.

The daisies white are nursery maids with frills upon their caps;
And daisy buds are little babes they tend upon their laps.
Sing "Heigh-ho!" while the winds sweep low,
Both nurses and babies are nodding JUST SO.

The daisy babies never cry, the nurses never scold;
They never crush the dainty frills about their cheeks of gold;
But pure and white, in gay sunlight
They're nid-nodding--pretty sight.

The daisies love the golden sun, upon the clear blue sky,
He gazes kindly down on them and winks his jolly eye;
While soft and low, all in a row,
Both nurses and babies are nodding JUST SO.

--_Anon._

DANDELIONS.

There surely is a gold mine somewhere underneath the grass,
For dandelions are popping out in every place you pass.
But if you want to gather some you'd better not delay,
For the gold will turn to silver soon and all will blow away.

--_Anon._

AT LITTLE VIRGIL'S WINDOW.

There are three green eggs in a small brown pocket,
And the breeze will swing and the gale will rock it,
Till three little birds on the thin edge teeter,
And our God be glad and our world be sweeter.

--_Edwin Markham._

MEMORY GEMS.

Do thy duty, that is best,
Leave unto the Lord the rest.

Whene'er a task is set for you,
Don't idly sit and view it--
Nor be content to wish it done;
Begin at once and do it.

Beautiful hands are those that do
Work that is earnest, brave and true,
Moment by moment, the long day through.

--_Sel._

SECOND GRADE

SEVEN TIMES ONE.

There's no dew left on the daisies and clover,
There's no rain left in heaven;
I've said my "seven times" over and over,
Seven times one are seven.

I am old, so old I can write a letter;
My birthday lessons are done;
The lambs play always, they know no better--
They are only one times one.

O moon! in the night I have seen you sailing
And shining so round and low;
You were bright, ah bright! but your light is fai