THE COCK AND THE JEWEL. As a cock was scratching for food, he came upon a jewel. "How many," he said to himself, "would be glad to have found this; but to me it is good for nothing. I would give more for one grain of corn than for many such jewels." -AESOP. WHAT does little birdie say, In her nest at peep of day? "Let me fly," says little birdie ; "Mother, let me fly away." "Birdie, rest a little longer, Till the little wings are stronger." So she rests a little longer, Then she flies away. What does little baby say, In her bed at peep of day? Baby says, like little birdie, "Let me rise and fly away." Baby, sleep a little longer, Till the little limbs are stronger." -TENNYSON. THE EGG IN THE NEST. There was a tree stood in the ground, The tree in the wood, and the wood in the ground, And on this tree there was a limb, The prettiest limb you ever did see; The limb on the tree, and the tree in the wood, The tree in the wood, and the wood in the ground, And the green grass growing all around. And on this limb there was a bough, The prettiest bough you ever did see; The bough on the limb, and the limb on the tree, Now on this bough there was a nest, Eggs in the nest, and the nest on the bough, LITTLE RED HEN. Little Red Hen was scratching in the garden, and she found a grain of wheat. "Now who will plant this grain of wheat?" she asked. "Not I," said the goose. "Nor I," said the duck. "I will then," said Little Red Hen; and she planted the grain of wheat. It grew up and was soon yellow and ripe. "Now who will cut the wheat and thresh it?" goose. "And I will not," said the duck. "I will then," said Little Red Hen. She cut it with her bill and threshed it with her wings. |