ÆäÀÌÁö À̹ÌÁö
PDF
ePub
[blocks in formation]

1. A MILLER was awakened one night by a camel, who thrust his nose into the door of the small room where the miller was sleeping.

2. 'It is very cold out here,' said the camel; 'I only want to get my nose in.'

3. The miller granted his request. After a while the camel asked to be allowed to put his neck in. He then gained permission to have his fore-feet in the room; and so, little by little, he crowded in his whole body.

4. The miller soon found his rude companion very troublesome, for the room was not large enough for them both. So he complained to the camel, and asked him to go out. The camel answered, 'If you don't like it, you may go out yourself; as for me, I shall stay where I am.'

5. So it is with bad habits. They have small beginnings, but in time they get such a hold of us that it is not easy to get rid of them.

[blocks in formation]

I. IN the parlour of a small country inn sat a man who was travelling from place to place with a huge brown bear.

[graphic][ocr errors][ocr errors]

2. The man was eating his supper, and the bear was outside chained up to the palings in front of the inn.

3. Poor Bruin! he looked very grim, but he was quite harmless.

4. In the top room of the inn three little children were playing. The eldest was about six years old, the next four, and the youngest not more than two.

5. Thump, thump, thump! somebody was coming upstairs. Who could it be? The door flew open; it was Bruin-grim-looking Bruin! He had become tired of waiting outside for his master, and having broken the chain with which he was tied, had found his way upstairs.

6. The children were at first very much frightened at the great shaggy beast. Each of them crept into a corner; but Bruin found them out, and smelt them, one by one, but he did not hurt them.

7. 'This must be a great dog,' said the children, and they began to stroke him.

8. When the bear lay down on the floor, the youngest boy climbed on his back and hid his little curly head in the beast's shaggy fur.

9. Presently the eldest boy took his drum, and beat it with all his might. Then the bear rose up on his hind legs and began to dance. The children were delighted.

A STRANGE PLAYFELLOW.

85

After that each boy took his gun, and then one was given to the bear, who held it just like a soldier. What a capital playfellow. they had found! Then they began to march round the room-' Right, left; right, left; right, left.'

10. Suddenly some one came to the door. It was the mother of the children. When she saw the bear in the room she was so terrified that she could not speak. The boys looked joyfully at their mother, and the eldest called out, See, we are playing at soldiers.'

II. At that moment Bruin's master came running upstairs, and led him away, much to the joy of the poor mother, but to the grief of his young playmates.

(By permission of Messrs. Warne & Co.)

[graphic]

MY SISTER.

[graphic]

I. I HAD a little sister-
I had her yester-
day;

She was the brightest,
gayest,

Of all that's bright

and gay.

Her father and his

loving wife

Called her the sunshine of their life.

2. Her cheeks were red

as roses,

Now they are cold

and white;

My rosebud sweet and

blooming

Did wither over night.

And now the flowers fade on her breast,
While she lies in her silent rest.

3. I called her in the morning,

I asked where she had gone ;

« ÀÌÀü°è¼Ó »