THE BIRDS' GOOD-NIGHT

"Good-night," said the robin,
As he finished his song;
"I am going to sleep
Till the morning doth dawn."
"Good-night," said the bluebird,
As he sought his snug nest;
"Now the evening draws near,
I am going to rest."
"Good-night," said the lark,
As he hushed his lay;
"I am off to my sleep
Till the break of the day."
"Good-night," said the thrush
As he trilled his last note;
"I am off to my roost
In the broad spreading oak."
"Good-night," said a maid
As she nodded her head,
"When you've gone to your rest,
I am going to bed.
"I have finished my work,
And have finished my play;
And am glad for the night
At the close of the day.
"I am sleepy and tired,
And I long for my bed;
For the soft, downy pillow,
Where I lay my wee head.
"And to dream there sweetly
Till the sun shines bright:
Till then, my birdies,
Good-night, good-night."

SANTA'S QUEER JOKE

When Santa came one wintry night,
A pair of stockings hung in sight
Just side by side upon the wall—
But one was large and one was small.
When Santa turned and saw them there,
He said: "Well, that's a queer-matched pair!
"This girl is up to tricks I see,
And thinks she'll play a joke on me;
"But I'll look 'round and soon find out
What this fair miss has been about."
And then he took the stockings down,
And a folded note in one he found.
'Twas written plain, so Santa read
Each line and word the wee note said:
"Dear, dear Santa, I hope you won't mind
Because two stockings you happen to find.
"Don't think I'm greedy, that won't be fair!
For one is grandma's you see hung there.
"You have not filled it since she was young,
So I hung it up to have some fun.
"So please, dear Santa, do not scold,
For grandma now is getting old.
"She wants some specs, so she can see
To knit some winter mitts for me.
"Then 'twould be nice if you've enough
So you could spare a box of snuff.
"Some gum to chew, some nuts to crack—
I'm sure you've got them in your pack.
"She needs a cap with lace and strings,
So, Santa, please give her these things.
"That's all I'll ask; if you'll do this,
I'll pay you some time with a kiss."
"This little girl, with heart of gold,
Must love her grandma now so old.
"And it's all for fun! Yes, yes, I see!"
Then Santa laughed again with glee.
"I'll carry the joke as far as I can,
For I like some fun, if I am an old man."
Then dropping his pack upon the floor,
He looked its contents o'er and o'er,
And found a cap, some specs, and gum,
A whistle, doll, and little drum;
A nice red sled, and doll buggy, too,
Old Santa found as he searched them through.
Into grandma's stocking he stuffed the doll;
Although 'twas large, it wouldn't hold all.
Then tied with a string the sticks and drum,
And said: "Now grandma can have some fun."
Then into the other, the one so small,
He stuffed the cap, specs, snuff, and all.
Then said to himself, the jolly old man,
"I've carried the joke as far as I can.
"I'd better be off ere grandma is waking,
Or maybe I'll get a jolly good shaking."
Then should'ring his pack till his form was bent,
He got into mischief wherever he went.
Then in the morning, when grandma awoke,
She laughed, till she cried, at Santa's queer joke.

LITTLE SUNBEAMS