to another.

While you are looking carefully among the branches where you last heard it, its notes come from another direction, and before you can get a sight of it there, it suddenly darts away, and ko-ko, ko-ko, greets you from some other tree.

The English cuckoo is not found in this country. This bird does not build a nest for itself, but lays its eggs in the nests of other birds. It usually selects that of the hedge-sparrow for this purpose. When the sparrow has sat her usual time and hatched the young cuckoo, with her own offspring, the little cuckoo, though only two or three days old, will throw the young sparrow and the remaining eggs out of the nest, leaving only itself to be fed by the old sparrow. The reason of this singular course is unknown. The American cuckoo, though less cruel, has one bad habit, very much like some naughty boys. It robs the nests of small birds, and eats their eggs.

MY WILLOW TREE.

BY VESTA VIOLET.

"A thing of beauty is a thing o' joy forever."

I HAD a dear willow, that grew in our yard,
That claimed from me ever my warmest regard;
For when but a child from the little "brook side,"
Where the broad spreading tree grew up in its pride,
A schoolmate had whittled a branch off for me,
And told me to plant it, it would soon grow a tree.

But my childish heart asked, Oh! how can this be?
I never a branch on this smooth stick shall see;
Yet I brought it home, and selected with care

A damp, mellow place; I then planted it there;

Each day, came to watch it, when lo! slowly came

Green leaves bursting forth from that smooth willow cane.

I hailed them with joy; and as months flitted by,

All gracefully bending I branches did spy;
It became a nice tree, and year after year

It grew to my heart an object most dear;

The little birds warbled their songs there for me,
And oh! how I cherished that dear willow tree.

But, alas! my father-how could he thus wound?-
Purposely felled my dear tree to the ground,

26

DON'T SNEER.

And the only excuse for an act so unkind,
Was, the chickens a roost in its branches did find.
I could not but weep, though it weakness might be,
To see the sad fate of my dear willow tree.

Ye parents, who'd furnish a bright, happy home,
Do not let the spoiler thus wantonly come,

To thus sever the ties thy children hold dear,
And coldly refuse their love-pleadings to hear;
There is wealth in the home where each object to thee
Is sacred, if cherished, though it's naught but a tree.

DON'T SNEER.

ONE of the many good books for the young contains some excel

lent advice under this head. It should also be read by older people than those for whom it was written. The writer asks, "What is it to sneer?" and answers the question in the following language:

"It is to show contempt by turning up the nose, or by a particular kind of look or glance at a person you are displeased with. To insinuate things, in the use of unkind words. To make faces. To act scornfully. You can sneer with your lips, or with your eyes, or with your nose, or with your whole face, or with your feet; for there are sneering words, and sneering looks, and a sneering face. And when you turn on your heel and walk away with contempt, then you sneer with your feet.

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Sneering never makes any one feel better. It feeds an evil temper in those who sneer, and those who are sneered at. In the breast of the sneerer it stirs up bad feelings that wrangle, and hiss, and sting, like a nest of vipers. And besides all this, it leaves ugly wrinkles on the face. You may try ever so hard to smooth your face over after turning up your nose, and pouting your lips, and making faces, but it won't do. It leaves a mark. You can hardly see it, to be sure, but by-and-by your constant cross looks will tell the story.

"And worse than the wrinkles on your face will be the wrinkles on your heart. They will give form and tone to all your conduct and conversation; for out of the heart proceeds all actions, as well as your thoughts and words. So that if you would keep your face and your heart smooth, avoid all sneering.”—Anonymous.

1

Children's Department.

SHADOW BUFF.

A GAME.

HESE pages are for you, children, and we suppose that you, like all other good boys and girls, are fond of play as well as study. So here is a new game for you, which you can play at home in the evening with your brothers and sisters.

You must all be familiar with the old English game of Blind-Man's Buff. From that this new game, called "Shadow Buff," derived its name. It is much played on the continent of Europe, and to us seems better adapted for amusement in the family than the play so common in this country.

Shadow Buff is played in the following manner: A sheet or table-cloth is hung against the wall, on which the shadows are cast. In front of this, and some eight or ten feet from it, a lamp is placed upon a table. The light should be bright, so that when a person passes between it and the white surface against the wall, his shadow will show distinctly.

When all has been thus arranged, some one volunteers, or is chosen from the company, to be the "Buff." It is the duty of the Buff to sit on a low stool, four or five feet from the wall with his face toward it, and to watch for the shadow without turning his head in the least. As a penalty for violating this rule, he forfeits his right to participate in the game.

When Buff has taken his seat, the others, who join in the play, pass singly between him and the light upon the table, and he tries to name the one passing from his shadow. His mistakes in doing this are usually a cause of much merriment, especially when those who cast the shadows disguise themselves by an unnatural walk, by stooping, or by some

28

A STORY FOR LITTLE Boys.

other motions. Thus the same person may pass several times without casting two shadows alike.

At length Buff guesses right, and the person who is recognized by his shadow now becomes the Buff, occupies the stool, and takes his turn at affording amusement for the others by his wrong guessing. Thus the game proceeds, each becoming Buff as his or her name is called while the shadow passes.

A STORY FOR LITTLE BOYS.

THERE
HERE are a great many good boys, and we are sorry

to

say, many bad ones too. We wish all boys were good ones, then we should have no stories to tell about bad ones. This time we are going to tell you of two boys, one good and the other bad. They both lived in the State of Ohio. Perhaps some of our young readers may know them.

Charles was the name of the good boy. He was an only He was always obedient to his parents, and kind to his little sister.

son.

One day his mother gave him two apples to take with him to school. He was a kind and generous lad, and on meeting Henry, another boy whom he knew, he politely offered him one of his apples. This boy did not like to go to school or

to read good books. He was very rude, and took the apple without thanking Charles for it. And, what was still worse, he knocked the other apple out of his hand into the mud.

This was a very unkind act; and what do you think Charles did? What would you do if any one should treat you so? We will tell you what this good boy did. He was quite small, and younger than the naughty boy, yet he did not cry nor lose his temper, but stood up calmly and bravely, looking him in the face, and said, kindly, "I think your mother never taught you the Golden Rule."

Henry thought he would make Charles angry, and get him to fight, but he was quite mistaken. He thought it strange that a little boy should talk as Charles did, and he turned and asked him what he meant by the Golden Rule.

ADVICE IN RHYMES.

29

Charles told him that it was, "Do to others as you would have them do to you." On hearing this he looked ashamed and went away; and we hope he has since become a better boy. Perhaps that was the first time he had ever heard of the Golden Rule. As Charles went on to school he must have felt happy that he had acted so bravely and wisely.

Now, little boys, what do you think of Charles? Don't you think he was a braver boy than if he had become angry, and gone to fighting? Now I want to ask you once more, what would you have done had you been treated as little Charles was? Would you have said, "I won't stand it," "I'll pay him back?" This would not have been "doing good for evil."

ADVICE IN RHYMES.

My little girl, be always kind,
And cultivate a willing mind;
Be ready, by a word or smile,
The sad or weary to beguile;
And by your acts of love, to give
Pleasure to all with whom you live;
Be kind, then you will be polite,
Your manner simple, graceful, right.

My little girl, be soft and mild;
Oh, be a gentle, docile child!
Raise not your voice to friend or foe,
But let your tones be sweet and low.
Be truthful, open, and sincere,
Be independent without fear;
And if you know that you are right,
Shrink not from ridicule or slight.

Be simple in your taste for dress,
But clothe your soul in loveliness.
Be meek; oh, it is sweet to be
Appareled in humility.

The faults of others do not seek,

And of them do not speak;

But daily search for all your own,

And strive to banish every one.

-Fresh Flowers for Children.