From the pear-tree's withered bough
He has brought the pretty nest,
Placed within his hat-crown now.

That is why he sits alone;
And he hears a voice within,
Louder than the Robin's note,
Crying, "Harry, this is sin!"

Then put back the nest, my boy,
So you will be glad and free,
Nor will hasten by in shame,
When you pass that withered tree.

GOD LOVES US.

[Illustration: Letter H.]

"How beautiful it is, mamma,
That God should love us all;
That He should listen to their prayer,
When little children call!

"What shall I do for him, mamma?
For He's so kind to me,--
How shall I show my love to Him
Who made bird, flower and tree?"

"The only thing which you can do
Is this, my darling child,
Be always gentle, full of love,
In words and actions mild.

"Thus you will show your love to God
Who is so kind to you;
And you will live with Him at last
In His bright heaven, too."

[Illustration]

THE STORY OF MOSES.

[Illustration: Letter T.]

"Tell me a Sunday story,"
A dear child said to me;
And I bent down and kissed her
And placed her on my knee.

"Once, long ago, in countries
Far, very far away,
Where the cold snow-storm never comes,
And all is bright and gay,

"There lived a king, so cruel,
He gave this stern command,
That all the little children
Must die, throughout the land.

"But still there was one mother
Who kept her baby dear,
And quickly hushed its crying,
In silence and in fear;

"But when she could no longer
Her precious baby hide,
She did not like to throw him
Upon the rushing tide;

"And so a little basket
She made, of rushes stout,
And plastered it with clay and pitch
To keep the water out.

"Then in this basket-cradle
She put the little child;
And quietly he floated down
Among the rushes wild.

"Just then the king's own daughter
Came to the water's edge,
And saw the basket floating
Among the grass and sedge.

"She drew it from the water,
And called the babe her own,
And kept him till to be a man
That little boy had grown.

"And when you read the Bible,--
Which you will learn to do,--
You'll see how great and good he was,
And how God loved him, too."

[Illustration]

ANGER.

[Illustration: W.]

"When a child is cross and angry,
Never must her voice be heard;
Only to herself most softly
May she say this simple word,

"Lead us not into temptation;"
That w