HOW THE CORN GREW.

Emilie Poulsson. Cornelia C. Roeske.

1. There was a field that waiting lay,
All hard and brown and bare;
There was a thrifty farmer came
And fenced it in with care,
There was a thrifty farmer came
And fenced it in with care.

2. Then came a ploughman with his plough; From early until late, Across the field and back again, He ploughed the furrows straight.	3. The harrow then was brought to make The ground more soft and loose; And soon the farmer said with joy, “My field is fit for use.”
4. For many days the farmer then Was working with his hoe; And little Johnny brought the corn And dropped the kernels—so!	5. And there they lay, until awaked By tapping rains that fell, Then pushed their green plumes up to greet The sun they loved so well.
6. Then flocks and flocks of hungry crows Came down the corn to taste; But ba-ang! went the farmer’s gun, And off they flew in haste.	7. Then grew and grew the corn, until, When autumn days had come, With sickles keen they cut it down, And sang the “Harvest Home.”

XV.—THE MILL.

A merry little river
Went singing day by day,
Until it reached a mill-dam
That stretched across its way.
And there it spread its waters,
A quiet pond, to wait
Until the busy miller
Should lift the water-gate.
Then, hurrying through the gateway,
The dashing waters found
A mighty millwheel waiting,
And turned it swiftly round.

But faster turned the millstones
Up in the dusty mill,
And quickly did the miller
With corn the hopper fill.
And faster yet and faster
The heavy stones went round,
Until the golden kernels
To golden meal were ground.
“Now fill the empty hopper
With wheat,” the miller said;
“We’ll grind this into flour
To make the children’s bread.”

And still, as flowed the water,
The mighty wheel went round;
And still, as turned the millstones,
The corn and grain were ground.
And busy was the miller
The livelong day, until
The water-gate he fastened,
And silent grew the mill.