urneying Man made the move to go. "Did
the June fellow tell them the story of Contrary Mary?"

"Yes, he did," the children answered in duet. "And oh, wasn't she curious,
sure enough?"

"Well, she had a right to be queer," the old man said meditatively. "She
inherited queerness. Fact of the matter is, her family name was Queeribus.
Let me tell you about _her_ great-great-great-grandfather!

"Old Quin Queeribus--
He loved his garden so,
He wouldn't have a rake around,
A shovel or a hoe.

"For each potato's eyes he bought
Fine spectacles of gold,
And mufflers for the corn, to keep
Its ears from getting cold.

"On every head of lettuce green--
What do you think of that?--
And every head of cabbage, too,
He tied a garden hat.

"Old Quin Queeribus--
He loved his garden so,
He couldn't eat his growing things,
He only let them grow!"

[Illustration]

AUGUST

_VIII_

_AUGUST_

[Illustration: _Virgo_]

Oh, such a funny August house--
It really was like a zoo,
For animals roamed in all the rooms
(Even a kangaroo);
Such sociable, smiling, friendly beasts!
As soon as the travelers came,
They hurried out with extended paws,
Announcing, each, his name.

[Illustration: _Oh, such a funny August house--
It really was like a zoo_]

"Why, how in the world did they learn to talk?" the young visitors cried.
"Did they go to school, J. M.?"

By that time the various animals, having performed their duties as hosts,
had scampered off to play again, and so they were out of hearing.

"Did they go to school?" the children repeated.

The Journeying Man shook his head and made answer:--

"The birds and beasts don't go to school;
I guess 't would make them mad to;
They wouldn't pass an hour in class.
But just suppose they had to!
How funny it would be to see
The desks all full of scholars,
With fins and claws and hoofs and paws,
Skin coats and brown fur collars!

"How strange 't would seem to happen by
And hear the teacher saying,
'The kitty-cat geography
Must be kept in from playing;
And once again I tell you plain
That I shall give a rapping
To the very next first-reader owl
That I discover napping.'

"The crabs would write in copy-books,
Such crawly, scrawly letters;