"Now we will ride up close to the mound," said papa, as he started up old Fox, and sung a bit of the old song:—

"The prairie-dogs in dog-town
Will wag each little tail,
And think there's something coming
Riding on a rail."

There were several bushels of dirt in the mound. In the centre of it was the hole, which was very large at the entrance. The earth all around was worn very smooth and hard.

Here the little dogs sit and bark and jerk, ready to dodge into their hole in a moment. They all looked fat and clumsy. Their color is reddish-brown. Owls and rattlesnakes are often found living with them; but Annie did not see any.

Mrs. O. Howard.



DEAR LITTLE MARY. Dear little Mary,
Susan and Loo,
Jenny and Lizzie,
And Margaret too;
Now the sun's peeping,
Softly and sly,
In at the window,
Pets, where you lie!
Up, up, my darlings,
Up and away!
Out to the meadows
Sweet with new hay;
Out where the berries,
Dewy and red,
Hang in great clusters,
High overhead!