-be," here comes his little mate,
"Phoe-be, phoe-be," both on the garden gate,
"Phoe-be, phoe-be," loving now they trill,
Planning to build a nest in the old well-wheel.

"Phoe-be, phoe-be," now the nest is begun;
"Phoe-be, phoe-be," now it is nearly done;
"Phoe-be, phoe-be," how will the birdies feel,
When the egg is dropped down, with turn of the wheel.

"Phoe-be, phoe-be," children are sorry now,
"Phoe-be, phoe-be," birds are all a-worry now,
"Phoe-be, phoe-be," laying eggs day by day,
While the turn of the wheel ever drops them away.

{305}

"Phoe-be, phoe-be," never the lesson learned,
"Phoe-be, phoe-be," year by year they returned,
"Phoe-be, phoe-be," building persistently,
Where the turn of the wheel dropped the eggs all away.

Phoe-be, phoe-be, yet not in vain you wrought,
Phoe-be, phoe-be, for, by your folly taught,
Phoe-be, phoe-be, children plan so to build,
That no eggs may be lost by the turn of life's wheel.

{306}

_MABEL'S SNOW-FEATHERS._

Listen, children, while I tell you
What our merry Mabel said
When she saw the feathery snow-flakes
Tumbling down about her head.

Clapping hands and dancing gaily,
"Mamma, mamma, come and see!
Come and see the feathers, mamma,
Soft and white as they can be!"

{307}

Standing then a moment, pondering
As it were, whence came the snow,
Little face so wise and thoughtful,
Mabel cried: "Oh, now I know,

"There are lots of eider ducklets
Up in Heaven, above the blue,
And they're dropping off their feathers,--
And such downy feathers, too!

"See them frolic with each other;
See them kiss as fast they fly;
See them make believe they are going to,
Then go gaily flitting by.

"See them on the Spruce and Balsam,
Pile up little soft, fat hands;
See their many plump, white cushions;
See them wave their fairy wands.

"See the showers of flying feathers
Whisking 'round in merry moods;
See, the telegraph their perch is,--
Oh, I'm sure they're almost birds!"

{308}

Now she fancies she can hear them
Whisper of their ducklet birth;--
Hear their soft and wean-y quacklings,
As they tumble down to earth.

Now she listens for the jingle
Of the sleigh-bells they will bring;
Now she sees the flying horses,
Prancing gaily at their ring.

Lovely are these fleecy feathers,
Dainty in each rare devi