WHAT THE SHIP BROUGHT.
Oh, a happy new year to you all,
Good children, a happy new year!
To your fathers and mothers,
Your sisters and brothers,
To your grandpas and grandmas so dear.
It's a long way good wishes to send,—
Three thousand miles over the sea;
When the wild winds are roaring,
The rainstorms are pouring,
And the waves are like mountains to see.
May the good ship speed safe on its way,
Though the moon and the stars be unseen!
May the compass be steady,
The helmsman be ready,
And the captain all watchful and keen!
Oh, it's pleasant, dear children, the sea,
When the sky is all fair and serene,
With the breeze blowing lightly,
The sun shining brightly,
Or at night, when the clear moon is seen.
But now, at this "happy new year,"
In your homes and your nurseries bright,
Pray think how the vessel
With wild waves must wrestle,
Through the cold winter day and black night.
When you read the good wishes I send
Three thousand miles over the sea,
I would have you remember
'Twas in dreary December
The ship brought this greeting from me.
Leeds, Eng., December, 1872. Geo. Bennett.
HOW SMART MANAGED THE SHEEP.
Smart was a sheep-dog that belonged to a Mr. Scott, who lived in Scotland. On the large sheep-farms of that country a single shepherd often has the charge of from three to six thousand sheep.
The shepherd has with him usually two dogs; of these, one is the driving-out, the other the bringing-in dog. To the first the shepherd points out a number of sheep, and informs him by voice and action that he wishes him to drive them to a distant hill. The dog at once does as he is bid.
In the same way the shepherd informs the second dog that a lot of sheep on a distant hill are to be brought to the spot on which he then stands; and off runs the second dog, and brings the sheep to his master.