In the house dinner was over, and the table was waiting for Katy to come from the kitchen to clear it off. The family had gone into the sitting-room, and were busy talking about a ramble in the woods for flowers, which had been promised us children for that afternoon.
All at once we heard the tramp of heavy feet passing through the hall into the dining-room. "Run, Willy," said mother, "and see what is making such a noise."
Willy ran out, and came back laughing so he could hardly speak. "It's old Charley," said he. "He's in the dining-room." We all rushed to the door, and, sure enough, there stood Charley by the table, eating what he could find on the platters and children's plates.
Oh, how we all laughed to see him standing there, as sober as if it were his own stall and manger! We were willing that Charley should have what we had left; but it seemed hardly right that a horse should be in the house; besides, we feared that he might push the dishes off.
So Willy took him by the mane, and led him out of the house. He went off chewing what he had in his mouth, and nodding his head, as much as to say, "That pie-crust and salt are pretty good. If you please, I'll call again."
N. T. B.
PEET-WEET.[A]
Sir Peet-Weet and his little wife
Live, yonder by the water's edge,
A merry life, a busy life,
A life of love, and not of strife,
Close nestled in the sandy sedge,
Where the great hungry billows gnaw:
A fairy creature is Sir Peet;
Such slender legs you never saw,
Not larger than a barley-straw;
Yet wind and wave are not so fleet.
While madam sits upon her eggs,—
Four spotted eggs, a pair for each,—
He loves to match his nimble legs
Against the breaker as it drags
The sand-drift up and down the beach.
So fast behind the wave he trips,
You hardly see his little feet;
Below him, in the wet sand, slips
His picture, and their toes touch tips,
And their pink bills in kissing meet.
To see them chasing, you would say
The giant Ocean and his pet
Were let out for a holiday,
Playing at "tag" as children play,
And laughing at the fun they get.
'Tis more than fun; the big bluff sea
To his small friend brings savory meat:
Peet dines, and hurries, full of glee,
To set his faithful lady free,
That she may run and dance and eat.