cannot yet draw me a cat or a pig.

But she tries to learn something, though little it be,
Each day of her life,--something useful, you see:
And in two or three years you will find she can spell,
Read, cipher, and write, and do it all well.

ELLEN SIMPSON.

THE SNOW-COUNTRY.

"WHAT a funny looking man!" cried Harry, running to me with his book
open, to show me a picture. "Where does he live, aunty? and why does he
wear such clothes?"

"He is an Esquimau, and lives in the snow-country, and his clothes are
made of fur."

"Tell me about the snow-country, aunty."

"Up in the far north, near the north pole, it is winter all the time.
There the snow is always on the ground; and instead of having, as we do,
many days and nights, they have only one day and one night in all the
year.

"You will wonder if the people sleep all through the long night, and if
they do not get tired of the long day. No; for they go to bed and get up
about as often as we do.

"During the night they have the stars to light them, and bright flashing
colors in the sky, such as we call the 'Northern Lights.' When the sun
comes back, he makes them a long visit; but never gets so high in the
sky as he does with us, and never makes the weather warm."

[Illustration]

"What are those things in the picture that look like bee-hives?" said
Harry.

"The picture shows you an Esquimaux village, and those are the houses.
They are made of blocks of snow. Some of the houses have pieces of clear
ice for windows. Others have no windows at all; only a small hole for a
door, which is closed up with snow after the family have all gone in."

"A snow-house with ice windows!" said Harry. "Why, how do they keep
warm?"

"They warm the houses with oil lamps, and get them very warm and very
smoky too."

"Well," said Harry, "the Esquimaux are a queer people. I should like to
hear more about them."

"I will tell you more some other time."

G. D. Y.

THE FROGGIE'S PARTY.

[Illustration: Music]

1. The frog who would a-wooing go,
Gave a party, you must know;
And his bride dress'd all in green,
Look'd as fine as any queen.
Their reception number'd some
Of the best in Froggiedom:
Four gray froggies play'd the fiddle,--
Ha