"And baby pulled it to pieces first," added Bella.
It was a happy meeting; and father and mother agreed that to come home and find all the little ones well and happy was better even than to sell his fish at a good price.
Uncle Charles.
THE PUPPY AND THE WASP.
As asleep I was lying, My ear on the ground, A queer thing came flying And humming around. Humming and coming Close to my ear: Shall I never be quiet? O dear, and O dear!
You bold little teaser, Now take yourself off; Of your buzzing and fussing I've had quite enough. You will not? Tormentor, I mean to rest here, So mind how you vex me, And come not too near.
You dare to defy me? You come all the bolder? I'll punish you, rash one, Ere I'm a breath older. With my big paw uplifted I'll crush you to dust: Shoo! What a dodger! Leave me—you must!
I'll bite you, I'll kill you, I snap and I spring: If I only could catch you, You rude saucy thing! If you were not so little, So cunning and spry, I'd punish you quickly, Pert wretch! you should die.
It darts quick as lightning,— O woe, and O woe! On the nose it has stung me: O, it burns and smarts so! It pains like a needle, It gives me no rest; Oh, the wasp is a creature I hate and detest.
He knows he has hurt me, Away now he darts; Oh, poor little puppy! It smarts and it smarts! To think such an insect Should worry a dog! He could not have hurt me, If I'd been a log!
MORE ABOUT CRICKETS.
We keep crickets in a box, and find them very interesting. They are very active, and occupy themselves in laying eggs, digging holes, eating, singing, and running. Only the males sing, and their wings are very rough, and curiously marked.
