THE JOHNNY CAKE
This is the seed,
So yellow and round,
That little John Homer hid in the ground.
These are the leaves,
So graceful and tall,
That grew from the seed so yellow and small.
This is the stalk,
That came up between
The leaves so pretty and graceful and green.
These are the tassels,
So flowery, that crowned
The stalk, so smooth, so strong, and so round.
These are the husks,
With satin inlaid,
That grew 'neath the tassels that drooped and swayed.
This is the silk,
In shining threads spun:
A treasure it hides from the frost and the sun.
This is the treasure,—
Corn yellow as gold,—
That satin and silk so softly unfold.
This is the cake,
For Johnny to eat,
Made from the corn so yellow and sweet.
STOPPING THE EXPRESS
Charles had a small flag which his father gave him. It was fine fun for a while to march about and wave it; but it did not seem to be of much use. So at last Charles hit upon a plan of making his flag do some good. This was the plan: When his father had any bundles to send to Boston, Charles ran down to the street, and put his flag in the fence.
This was a signal for the expressman to stop. When the man saw the flag in the fence, he knew that he was to stop and take a bundle.
Here he is, waiting while Charles brings out the bundle. He knows that Charles is on the watch for him, and that there is no need of driving through the gate. Charles likes to do errands for his father.
Here is Charles, carrying out the bundle. He is running fast, because the man cannot wait long. "Hurry up, little boy!" says the man (who is fond of a joke); "there's no time to play marbles. This wagon must get to the station by nine o'clock."
W. O. C.
WHAT THE SHIP BROUGHT
Oh, a happy new year to you all,
Good children, a happy new year!
To your fathers and mothers,
Your sisters and brothers,
To your grandpas and grandmas so dear.
It's a long way good wishes to send,—
Three thousand miles over the sea;
When the wild winds are roaring,
The rainstorms are pouring,
And the waves are like mountains to see.
May the good ship speed safe on its way,
Though the moon and the stars be unseen!
May the compass be steady,
The helmsman be ready,
And the captain all watchful and keen!
Oh, it's pleasant, dear children, the sea,
When the sky is all fair and serene,
With the breeze blowing lightly,
The sun shining brightly,
Or at night, when the clear moon is seen.
But now, at this "happy new year,"
In your homes and your nurseries bright,
Pray think how the vessel
With wild waves must wrestle,
Through the cold winter day and black night.
When you read the good wishes I send
Three thousand miles over the sea,
I would have you remember
'Twas in dreary December
The ship brought this greeting from me.
Leeds, Eng., December, 1872. Geo. Bennett.
HOW SMART MANAGED THE SHEEP
Smart was a sheep-dog that belonged to a Mr. Scott, who lived in Scotland. On the large sheep-farms of that country a single shepherd often has the charge of from three to six thousand sheep.
The shepherd has with him usually two dogs; of these, one is the driving-out, the other the bringing-in dog. To the first the shepherd points out a number of sheep, and informs him by voice and action that he wishes him to drive them to a distant hill. The dog at once does as he is bid.
In the same way the shepherd informs the second dog that a lot of sheep on a distant hill are to be brought to the spot on which he then stands; and off runs the second dog, and brings the sheep to his master.
Mr. Scott's dog Smart was so trained, that he would never frighten the sheep. In driving a flock from one pasture to another, the sheep would often take a wrong turn, and then scamper off as fast as they could go.
At such times it is the custom of shepherds to send a dog after them at the top of his speed. He is not long in overtaking them, when, if the weather be warm, and the lanes narrow and dusty, the sheep are much frightened, and not infrequently are hurt.
Now, to prevent this, Mr. Scott would order his dog Smart to go the other side of the hedge or fence, saying, "Now, go ahead, and bring them back, and take care not to frighten them."
Smart would trot off so that the sheep should not see him, and in a short time would peep over or through the hedge. At length, when he had satisfied himself that he had got ahead of the sheep, he would come out gently in advance of them, and drive them back down the lane so quietly as not to give them the least alarm.
Smart would never attempt to go ahead of a flock in the usual way: he would manage so that the sheep should not know he was trying to get ahead of them. The picture will show you how he did. Was he not a wise dog?
Uncle Charles.