y ten lines together.

Then let us, my baby, begin,
And try these few lines here to learn,
It will not be a difficult thing,
And then he'll some sugar-plums earn.

IMPROVEMENT.

Another story, Mother dear,
Did young Maria say;
You read so nice, so loud and clear,--
Another story, pray.

I love that book, I do indeed,
So take it up again;
I think I _see_ the things you read,
You make it all so plain.

[Illustration]

What would I give to read like you,
Why nothing comes amiss!
O, any thing I'll gladly do,
If you will teach me this.

Maria, then, must learn to spell,
If she would read like me;
She soon may learn to read as well;
O, that I will, said she.

[Illustration]

THE LITTLE COWARD.

Why here's a foolish little man!
Laugh at him, Donkey, if you can:
And Cat and Dog, and Cow and Calf
Come, ev'ry one of you and laugh!

For, only think, he runs away,
If honest Donkey does but bray;
And when the Bull begins to bellow
He's like a crazy little fellow!

Poor Brindle Cow can hardly pass
Along the hedge to nip the grass,
Or wag her tail to lash the flies,
But off the little booby hies!

And when old Tray comes running too,
With bow, wow, wow, for how d'ye do,
And means it all for civil play,
'Tis sure to make him run away!

But all the while you're thinking, may be
Ah! well, but this must be a baby.
O, cat and dog, and cow and calf,
I'm not surpris'd to see you laugh,
He's five years old, and almost half!

Idle Children.

Children who with idle habits
From the school-room haste away,
Wishing out of doors to ramble
Ere they do their lessons say--

They shall have no tasks or reading,
But they must to school be sent,
Because they are a bad life leading,
And this shall be their punishment.

But those who quickly say their lessons,
By mama shall still be taught,
And afterwards, nice stories telling,
Shall hear the books papa has bought.

[Illustration]

THE LITTLE GIRL THAT BEAT HER SISTER.

Go, go, my naughty girl, and kiss
Your little sister dear;
I must not have such things as this,
Nor noisy quarrels hear.

What! little children scold and fight,
That ought to be so mild;
O Mary, 'tis a shocking sight
To see an angry child.

I can't imagine, for my part,
The reason of your folly:
As if she did you any hurt,
By playing with your dolly!

See, how the little te