A THRIFTY FAMILY.
'Twas a bitter cold morning; the new-fallen snow
Had pierced every crack where a snowflake could go;
The streams were all solid, the ice sharp and clear;
And even the fishes were chilly, I fear.
Almost all the wild creatures were troubled and cold,
And sighed for sweet summer,—the shy and the bold;
But one thrifty family, as you must know,
Was breakfasting merrily under the snow.
Close by a tall tree, in a hole in the ground,
Which led to a parlor, with leaves cushioned round,
Five jolly red squirrels were sitting at ease,
And eating their breakfast, as gay as you please.
D. H. R. Goodale.
When will the snow come, mother dear?
When will the soft white snow be here?
Upon my sled I want to go:
Oh for the snow! I long for snow.
I want to see it falling fast,
And covering all the ground at last,
So Dick and I can snowballs throw:
Oh for the snow, the splendid snow!
I look, as soon as it is light,
To see if all the earth is white;
I watch the clouds each day, but no,
There's not a single flake of snow.
I want to plunge about, waist deep,
In the great drifts so high and steep,
And wash Dick's face,—oh, you don't know
What lots of fun we have with snow!
We're going to build a fort, and you'll
See battles fought there after school!
And cannon-balls will fly—hallo!
Look! mother, look! here comes the snow!
ELIZABETH SILL.