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Read Ebook: The Nursery January 1873 Vol. XIII. A Monthly Magazine for Youngest Readers by Various
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Ebook has 95 lines and 7687 words, and 2 pages
said his prayers, and is nicely tucked in bed, I will write out the story, hoping it will amuse some other little Willy as much as it does mine.
Here it is, just as I tell it to him:--
When I was quite young, I had a cat to which I gave the name of Becky. I know nothing of her very early history, for she was a sober pussy when she was given to me; but she soon became a great pet in the family, and seemed very fond of us all, particularly of my father.
She always showed great delight when he came home after a long absence. She would put her paws on his shoulders, and rub his face, and purr in a most contented manner. She would never eat a mouse until she had first carried it to him; and after he had stroked her, and called her a good pussy, she would go away quite happy.
After a time she had two beautiful kittens. When they were large enough to follow her about, I used to give them warm milk from the pail that was brought in from milking; but one morning, when the pail was set on the floor, the kittens were too hungry to wait for the milk to be dipped out for them, and, putting their paws on the side of the pail, began to lap from the top
Becky sat quietly washing her face; but she saw what the kittens were doing, and thought it was her duty to give them a lesson in good manners: so she walked up to them, and boxed their ears till they ran away mewing piteously. They never again tried to lap milk from the pail.
"Tell me something else about Becky," Willy always says when I get to this point. So I go on:--
She had several families of kittens. Once her whole family was one poor little thing, which lived only a few days. Becky was grieved sadly at its death; but, after mourning for some time, she went into the field and caught a mouse, which she adopted, and treated like a kitten.
After Becky had been with us a long time, my brother was taken sick; and, as he reclined in an easy-chair, she used to lie for hours beside him.
One day, a short time after he died, she entered the room, and, jumping up in the chair, examined it all over. Then she jumped down and sat on the floor, looking at the chair, and mewing sorrowfully. Then she went away; and we never saw poor Becky again, or knew what became of her.
WILLY'S MOTHER.
ROBERT'S PROMISE TO SANTA CLAUS.
ROBERT'S hope was that he should have a sled. "O Santa Claus!" said he, "if you will only bring me a sled, I will promise to give all your other presents away to those who need them most."
Uncle Charles heard this speech, and said, "May I send word to Santa Claus of your promise?"
"Yes, you may," said Robert; "for I am in earnest about it. If Santa Claus will only bring me a sled, I shall be content."
"And you will bestow his other Christmas-gifts on those who need them most,--is that the bargain?" asked Uncle Charles.
"Yes, that is it," said Robert.
The little boy went to sleep that night, wondering who Mr. Santa Claus was, and whether he would heed a hint from Uncle Charles.
Early Christmas morning, Robert woke; and what do you think he saw by the side of his bed? Well, it was a fine sled, painted red, with thick iron runners.
Robert could hardly believe his eyes. He jumped out of bed, and dressed himself. Then, as the morning light grew clearer, he saw other presents,--a beautiful pair of skates, a rabbit that could hop out of a box, but was not alive, a bat and ball, a bag of marbles, a fine pocket-knife, a silver pencil-case, a ship all rigged, a paint-box, and many more things that I cannot name.
"And all these things are mine!" cried Robert. But he then remembered his promise to Santa Claus, and sighed. "What a nice pair of skates!" thought he. "And this knife and this pencil-case,--they are just what I want. Will Santa Claus ever find it out, I wonder, if I keep them?"
It was only for a moment that the little boy hesitated. Then he put his hand on his sled, and said, "No! a promise is a promise. Here is what I asked for. I sent word to Mr. Santa Claus what I would do; and it would be mean now if I were to break my promise."
I am glad to say that Robert distributed all the presents, except the sled, among the boys and girls of his acquaintance, whose parents were too poor to spend money on Christmas-gifts.
Uncle Charles was so much pleased with Robert's conduct, that he bought the prettiest pair of skates he could find, and put them on Robert's feet, and told him they were his own.
ALFRED SELWYN.
PIGGY'S VISIT.
MARY stood by the table kneading dough. Annie was washing Dolly's apron. Bobby was making a pasteboard wagon for Dolly. Clara was rocking the cradle, which was baby Dan's carriage to the land of Nod. Cook was paring the "taters," as she called them. Mother sat quietly sewing on Annie's sack. How still every thing was!
All at once piggy put his nose in at the door with an "Ugh, ugh! May I come in?"
Mary let some flour fall; Annie hugged Dolly closely, perhaps to keep piggy from eating her; cook got the broom; baby screamed; and Clara laughed aloud.
Mother took the baby, and sat still. Where was piggy? and where was Bob?
Down came the broom where piggy had been; but piggy was scampering down the path, with Bob at his heels, and in a few minutes piggy was in his pen in the far corner of the lot, grunting with fear and weariness.
Bob came up, and closed the door of the pen, "Piggy," said Bob, "naughty piggy, to come where you are not wanted! I should think you would like to stay in your own house, so neat and comfortable."
"Ugh, ugh!" said piggy.
"Oh! you were lonesome, were you?" said Bob. "You thought it was no more than civil to call on your neighbors. You wanted to show us that you were not too proud to be sociable. Next time please to send in your card first."
"Ugh, ugh!" said piggy.
That was more than a week ago; and piggy has staid at home since then. Perhaps he is waiting for us to return his call.
Now, how many persons have I told you about?
FANNIE.
THIS is the seed, So yellow and round, That little John Homer hid in the ground.
These are the leaves, So graceful and tall, That grew from the seed so yellow and small.
This is the stalk, That came up between The leaves so pretty and graceful and green.
These are the tassels, So flowery, that crowned The stalk, so smooth, so strong, and so round.
These are the husks, With satin inlaid, That grew 'neath the tassels that drooped and swayed.
This is the silk, In shining threads spun: A treasure it hides from the frost and the sun.
This is the treasure,-- Corn yellow as gold,-- That satin and silk so softly unfold.
This is the cake, For Johnny to eat, Made from the corn so yellow and sweet.
STOPPING THE EXPRESS.
CHARLES had a small flag which his father gave him. It was fine fun for a while to march about and wave it; but it did not seem to be of much use. So at last Charles hit upon a plan of making his flag do some good. This was the plan: When his father had any bundles to send to Boston, Charles ran down to the street, and put his flag in the fence.
This was a signal for the expressman to stop. When the man saw the flag in the fence, he knew that he was to stop and take a bundle.
Here he is, waiting while Charles brings out the bundle. He knows that Charles is on the watch for him, and that there is no need of driving through the gate. Charles likes to do errands for his father.
Here is Charles, carrying out the bundle. He is running fast, because the man cannot wait long. "Hurry up, little boy!" says the man ; "there's no time to play marbles. This wagon must get to the station by nine o'clock."
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