The Ye^<""^ Einter'hx.»nr>»en"ts

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APR 3 PN
4271

Southern Branch
of the

University of California

Los Angeles

Form L I

PN
4271

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THE.IUSTWCTOR S£T?IES OF f.ENTt'Kr^" INMENTS

THE

YEAR'S Entertainments

APRIL

A Collection of Recitations, Dialogues, Songs,

Exercises, Etc., Arranged as Programs

for Special Days and Occasions,

Providinp- ^ "ach Month

of tL Qo Year

Compiled and Arranged by

INEZ N. McFEE

■!>Co^\ft

1909

V. A. uVVLN PUBLISHING CO.

DANSVILLE, N. Y.

PREFACE

I have here made onlj' a uosegay of culled flowers, and have
brought uotliing of my own but the string that ties them. — •
Montaigue.

THE YEAR'S ENTERTAINMENTS has been compiled with the ex-
pectation that it will prove to be truly a help to teachers in providing
suitable material for Friday Afternoon Exercises, for celebrating
Special Days, and for commemorating the birth of noted authors. It contains
a great abundance of material in the form of Recitations, Readings, Dia-
logues, Songs, Exercises, Quotations, etc. The material is largely arranged
under the specimen programs given, which include suggestions for Schoolroom
Decoration and general directions for successful production.

For convenience the book is arranged according to months, and issued
in parts, as well as in complete form.

Great utility will be found in the book even for those who do not wish to
celebrate the Special Days or follow complete programs. The amount and
quality of the contents affords a treasure house for Friday Afternoon Ex-
ercises of a miscellaneous character, General Rhetoricals and Entertainments
which will be thoroughly utilized and highly appreciated by the busy teacher.

The Memory Gems and Quotations furnished for every month, are of them-
selves a feature of much value, and susceptible of varied uses.

""Read, and when thou hast considered thy purchase, thou wilt call the price
of' it a charity to thyself.''"'

I. N. McF.
LiscoMB, Iowa.

TN
4-2-1

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

THE SELECTIONS from the writings of Joho Greenleaf
Wbittier, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, James Russell
Lowell, Alice and Phoebe Cary, and Lucy Larcom are
used by permission of and special arrangement with Houghton,
MiflBin & Co.. the authorized publishers of the writings of
these authors.

We wish to make particular mention of the ready kindness
of A. Flanagan & Co., in allowing us the valued privilege of
quoting many beautiful songs from Hanson's Song Series: —
Golden Glees, Silvery Notes, Merry Melodies, Merry Songs,
Primary and Calisthenic Songs, Victorious Songs, and New
Century Songs.

For permission to use other copyrighted matter grateful
acknowledgemct is made to Chas. Scribner's Sons, D. Appple-
ton & Co., Whittaker & Rr.y Co. , also to numerous other pub-
lishers and authors from whose publications many beautiful
and appropriate poems and extracts have been selected.

Great pains have been taken to secure proper authority,
when such was known to be necessary, for the use of every-
thing in this book. It is believed that no one's rights have
been infringed in tlie use ot any material herein contained.
If any such infringement has occurred, it lias been uninten-
tional, and apologies are herewith extended to those effected.

NOTE — Any of the Music Rooks incnlioned in connection 7vilh the songs
in these pages can be furnished by the Publishers of this book.

GENERAL TABLE OF CONTENTS

For full Alphabetical Index giving every selection see back pages of book.

MONTH OF SEPTEMBER— Pages i to 40

September Program

Program for the Commemoration of

Eugene Field's Birth.
Program for Parents Day.

MONTH OF OCTOBER— Pages 41 to 72

Miscellaneous Program for October,

Primary Grade
Miscellaneous Program for October,

Intermediate and Grammar Grades
Program for Columbus' Day

MONTH OF NOVEMBER— Pages 73 to io4

Thanksgiving, Primary Grades
Thanksgiving, Grammar and Inter-
mediate Grades
Misotllaueous Program for Library
Day

MONTH OF DECEMBER— Pages 105 to 145
A Program for Whittier's Birthday
Christmas in the Primary Grades
Christmas in the Grammar and Inter-
mediate Grades

MONTH OF JANUARY— Pages 146 to 180
New Year's in the Primary Grades

New Year's in the Grammar and In-
termediate Grades

A Miscellaneous Program for Fore-
father's Day (Dec. 21st)

MONTH OF FEBRUARY— Pages 181 to 228

Program for Washington's Birthday
Program for Lincoln's Birthday
Program for Valentine's Day
Program for Longfellow's Birthday

MONTH OF MARCH— Pages 229 to 260

A Miscellaneous Spring-Time Program
A Program for Lowell's Birthday (Feb.

22)
Selections for a Labor Program

MONTH OF APRIL— Pages 261 to 300
A Program for Easter
Arbor Day Program
A Bird Day Program

MONTH OF MAY— Pages 301 to 332
A Memorial Day Program
A Temperance Program

MONTH OF JUNE— Pages 333 to 364
A Program for Flag Day
A June Time Program • . .

Miscellaneous ^ - - .

APRIL

The Birdies' Bail

- j( u --2; — \—\- ^^ — - — ^ — ^ — ^--* — -H Pf ^ — \

1. Spring once said to the night -in -gale, I mean to give you birds a ball:

2. Sooa tliey came from bush and tree, .. Sing-ing sweet their songs of glee ;

3. The cuckoo and wren they danc'd for life, The raven wal tz'd with tlie yellow- bird's-wife.The .

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Pray,ma'am, askthebird-ies all,- The birds and bird - ies, great and small.'
Each one fresh from its co -sy nest,- .... Each one drest in its Sun - day best,
awk-ward owl, and the bashful jay, "Wished each other a" "very good day."

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THE YEAR'S ENTERTAINMENTS

APRIL

April ! April ! Are You Here ?

April ! April ! are you here? , , . ,
Oh, how fresh the wind is blowing!

See ' 'the sky is bright and clear,
O, how green the grass is growing!

April! April! are you here?

April! April! is it you? . .

See how fair the flowers are springing
Sun IS warm and brooks are clear,

Oh, how glad the birds are singing!
April', April! is it you?

April! April! vou are herel

Though your smiling turn to weeping,
Thuueh your skies grow cold and drear, _

Though your gentle winds are sleeping:
April ! April ! you are here ! ^ ^ , ,

^ —Dora Read Goodale.

Memory Gems

"Hark, how the blackbird whistles'
Hark, how the song-sparrow trills!
What are they calling with snowflakes
falling
And April cold on the hills?
And wliat is the chick-a-dee saying?

And what do the bluebirds mean?
You'd think »)y their playing, they'd all
come Maying,
When hardly a border is green.
Ho, ho! tliey are as wise as merry.

They know what the sun is about ;
And all without worry, they twitter and
hurry
Inviting the tlowers to come out.

" I cannot tell what you say, green leaves,

I cannot tell what you say ;
But I know there is a spirit in you,

And a word in you this day."

"Up. Up! the blackbirds say.

Tulip and lily and sweet daffodilly,

Awake for the coming of May ;
Up NMtli the simri-e mytha.

Open your eyes so blue !

Fleur-de-lis, violet, quick to your toilet,
The bluebird is calling you,

Chick-a-dee talks to the wind-flower, -
'Ho brave little fellow, awake!

The North-wind, blowing, may bite you
in going _ ,

But the sun has a kiss for yoni sake.

vSong-sparrow twitters in singing,—
'Peepirom your leaf-hi(iden nest.

Sweetly salute us, darling arbutus
Baby on April's breast.' "

"In the heart of a seed

Buried deep, so deep,
A dear little plant

Lav fa'^t asleep.
'Wake!' said the sunshine^

'And creep to tlie light,'
•Wake!' said the voice

()1 the raindrops bright.
Tlie little plant heard

And it rose to see
What the wonderful

Outside world might be.'

264

THE YEAR'S E.V'JERTA/NMENTS

"Up from the suiiliug earth,
Comes there a voice of mirth,

Our hearts to cheer;
Listen where willows lean,
Lovingly o'er the stream,
Listen, where the pine trees dream.

Springtime is here.

"Let us sing merrily.
Blithely and cheerily,

With the new year;
Join in the chorus.
Loud swelling o'er us ;
Joy is before us,

Springtime is here."

Suggested Poems and Stories

For the Teacher's Readmg and for Dis-
cussion with the Pupils: —

April — Samuel Longfellow.

The Voice of the Grass — S. R. Boyle.

Robin's Come— ^. W. Caldzvell.

The Bluebird— 7'. B. Aldrich.

The O'Lincoln Family—^. Flagg.

Sunthin' in a Pastoral hine—Biglow
Papers, No. Six. Lowell.

Now the Noisy Winds are Still. An
April Girl. Out of the S'ky—Mrs. Dodge
' ' When Life is Voung. ' '

A Song of Spring. A Spring Meeting.
April Showers. In April — Lovejoy' s'' Na-
ture in Verse."

April. Robin's Apology. In the Or-
chard — P. D. Sherman.

Sir Robin. Sister and Bluebird. — Lucy
La r com.

April—//. H. fackson.

The First Flowers— Whittier.

April Day. Return of Spring — Long-
fellow.

Early Spring — Tennyson.
Return of the Birds — Bryant.
A Song of Easter. The Robin. In the
Lilac Bush (a robin) — Celia Thaxter.
Robin. Bluebird — Emily Dickinson.
Robin Badfellow. Robin. A Mystery.
The Crows. How the Flowers Grow. Rain
in Spring. Spring Time — From " Ln the
Child World'' by Gabriel Setoun.
Story of Easter — Bible.
Parable of the Sower — Bible.
Myths and Fairy Tales: —
Awakening Life.
Persephone.
Sleeping Beauty.
Idun and her Apples.
Siegfried and Brunhulde.
Wooing of Gerd.
Flower Myths and Stories: —
Narcissus.

For Picture Study

Easter Morning, (809). He is Risen,
{Si^)— Block horst.

Easter Morning, (798). The Marys at the
vSepulchre, (7972) — Hoffmatt.

Mary Magdalene at Sepulchre, (962) —
Burne-fones.

The Resurrection, (216) — Gaddi.

Holy Women at the Tomb, (3330) — Ender.

Feeding the Hens, {^20)— Millet.

Nature Pictures (Colored) of native ^irds
and flowers.

APRIL

265

Miscellaneous Program for Easter

Song

QiiotatioU'S

Rt-citfltioii

Acrostic

Song

Recitation

Concert Recita'.i iii

Recitation

Song

Recitation

Concert Recitation

Reading

Recitation

Soug

Easter

Mary

Easter

Endless Glory

- Ea'r^ter iHowers

Ring Happy Bells

Legend of Easter Eggs

Easter

- Natnre's Easter Music

Easter Time

The Star That Became a Lily

Easter Bells

Recitation

Exercise (three children 1

Recitation

Tableau . . - -

Song - - - -

Easter Lilies

Nature's Greeting
Again

An Easter Lily

I'.a-tcr Morn (See ru-t\ire by Hoffman,)

Easter

Snowdrops, waking from your sleep,
Violets, that from Ijlne hoods peep,
Bloodioot, blooming by the rill,
Stately lily, daffodil,—
\Vliat sweet message do you bring?
Is it only: "This is Spring?"

Snow-drops, violets, lilies 'vhite,

In the answer all unite:

"Tiirough the mold we heard a voice

Calling to the earth : ' Rejoice !'
So we left the ground to rise,
Off'iing incense to the skies."

Little birds the chorus swell,

Humming bees the tidings tell,

Butterflies lilt shining wings,

Ev'ry child with gladness sings;

With the flow'rs rejoicing, say:

"Christ is ris'n on Easter day !"

From "Sougs ill Season," A. Hlaiia.i,':iii
riil)lish«-rs.

Quotations

Ciirist Cometh and the earth is glad ; earth's large self-conscious heart
A glowing tide ol rapture pours through everv (|iiiikened part.

— Iluirh iMcMilliiin.

IMowers are the sweetest tilings God ever made and did ii<jt ]tut a soul inlo.

-//. //•. n.echer.

"Silently, one by one, in the infinite me.idows of Hea\( ii.
Blossomed tlie lovely stars, the forget-me-nots of the angels."

" Flowers are tiie thought<« and fancies of the angels in heaven."

.'2«6

7 11 li ) ■ /:'. \ A" -S" /:".\ ■ I lik TAl.\ 'MEN 1 IS'

" 'Oh, tell us little flower', we cried,
'How dared you come so soon?

Tlie winds aie cold. The otlier flowers
\\ ill scarce be here till June.'

" 'I came to tell you how God's care
Had kept the tiny seed,
And that he cares much more for you.
Will you ui}' message heed?' "

While the lily dwells in earth,

Walled about svith crumbliug mould,

She the secret of her birth

Guesses not, nor lias been told.

Hides the brown bulb in the ground
Knowing not she is a flower;

Knovxing not she shall be crowned
As a queen, with white-rol)ed power.

******

Lo, the unfolding mystery !

We shall bloom, some wondrous hour.
As the lily blooms, when she

Dies a bulb to live a flower!

— Lucv Larcoiii .

Mary-
She walked amid the lilies

Upstanding straight and tall.
Their silver tapers bright against

The dusky mountain wall;
Gray olives dropped upon her

Their crystal globes of dew.
The while the doors of lieaven grew wide

To let the Easter through.

All heaven was rose and golden,

The clouds were reft apart.
Earth's holiest dawn in dazzling white

Came forth from heaven's own heart;
And never since on Eden

Creation's glory lay
Had ever garden of the Lord

Beheld so fair a day.

Her eyes were blurred with weeping,

Her trailing steps were slow;
The cross she bore within her

Transfixed her soul with woe.
One only goal before her

Loomed through her spirit's gloom,
As in the early morning

She sought the guarded tomb.

But down the lilied pathway

A kingly presence came,
A seamless garment clothed Him,

His face was clear as flame.

And in his hands were nail-prints,
Aud on his brow were scars,

But m His eyes a light of love
Beyond the light of stars.

For tears she could not see Him,

As o'er the path He came.
Till, like remembered music,

He called her b)' her name ;
Then swift her soul to answer,

The Lord of life she knew.
Her breast unbarred its prison gati-

To let the Easter through

Such light of revelation

As bathed her being then,
It comes anew wherever Chri>.t

Is known indeed of men :
Such glory on the pathway.

It falls again on all
Who hear the King in blessing.

And hasten at His call.

Rise, King of grace and glory.

This hallowed Easter-tide,
Nor from Thy ransomed people

Let even death divide ;
For yet again doth heaven

Throw all its gates apart,
And send the sacred Easier

Straight from its glowing heart

Selected.

Easter — An Acrostic

E is for the blessed Easter.
A is the jo}' of all men.
S is for sweet carols.
T is our beautiful thoughts.
E is for earnest words.
R is our risen Lord.

Endless Glory

Early dew and gentle rain,

Flow'rs that deck the verdant plain.
Joyous birds on pinions fair.

Gliding thro' the balmy air:

Chorus —

Praise the Lord, our God and King,
Let the earth his wonders sing,

Let his mighty works proclaim
Endless glory to His name.

Sun and moon whose luster bright
Rules the day aud cheers the night,

Years and seasons as 3'e roll,

.Stars that shine from pole to pole.

Chorus,

APRIL

267

Angels heck'ning to His will,

Round His throne attending still,

All ye heav'nly hosts above,
Sing your great Creator's love.

Chorus.

Easter Flowers

{The speaker should carry a basket oj
'lou'ers Tt'hich should be placed in a prom-
'ncnt place at I lie close of the recitation .)

Me— wges of God's dear love

iJo llie-iC flowers hear;
He who ^vitli a gracious hand

C. Ives the-^e colors rare
Will reuieniber you and me

W ilii as true a care.

So 1 bring love's offering

On this Easter Day,
Flowers fair that to each heart

Softly seem to say :
■ ■ Death no more can over you

Hold eternal ssvay."

.\s the tender plants escaped
I'forn the pris'niug mold,
So has Christ death's bondage burst,

Death so grim and cold.
This I think the. message true
That these blossoms hold.

— CI a ra J. Den ton .

Ring Happy Bells

(A Concert Recitation)

Ring happy bells of Easter-time!
The world is glad to hear^our chime.
Across \side tiehls of melting snow,
The winds of summer softly blow
And birds and streams repeat the chime
Ot Easter-time.

Ring, happy bells of Easter-time !
Tlie world takes up 3'oi\r chant sublime;
"The Lord is risen !" The niglit of fear
Has passed away, and heaven (.iraws near;
We breathe the air ol that blest clime
At Easter-time.

Ring, liappy bells of Easter-time!
Our happy hearts give back your chime!
The Lord is risen! We die no more!
He ojjens wide the heavenly door ;
He meets us while to Him we climb,
At Easter-time.

— Lucy Larcoiii.

Legend of Easter Eggs

Trinity bells, with their hollow lungs.

And their vibrant lips and tlieir brazen tongues.

Over the roofs ol the city pour

Their Ka-ter music witii joyous roar,

Till the s(jaring notes to the sun are rolled.

As he swings along in his path of gold.

"Dearest ^)apa," saj's uiy boy to me,
.^s he merrily climbs on his mother's knee,
" Wliv are these eggs that you see me hold
Colored so finely with blue and golil?
And what is the wonderful bird that lays
Sucli beautiful eggs on Easter days?"

"You have heard, my boy, of the Man wlio died.

Crowned with keen thorns and crucified ;

And how Joseph the wealthy — whoTU Ood rewarded-

Cared for the corpse of tlie martyred Lord,

.And piously tombed it within the rock.

And closed tlie gate with a niiglity block.

'Now, close l)y the tomb a fair tree grew,
Willi ])eiiduloiis leaves and blossoms of blue;
And fleep in the green tree's shatlowy brea»l
A beautiful singing-bird sat on her nest,
Whivh w;is bordered willi m<i->es like mal.uhite,
,\n<l iield tour eggs of an i\ory while.

t»()S rilR YliAR'S liNTF.RTMNMliXrS

"Now, when the bird trom her dim recess
Beheld the L,ord in His burial dress,
And looked on the heavenly face so pale
And the dear feet pierced with the crnel nail,
Her heart nigh broke with a sudden pang
And out of the deptlis of her sorrow she sang.

"All night long till the moon was up,

She sat and sang in her moss-wreathed cup, —

A song of sorrow as wild and shrill

As the homeless wind when it roams the hill :

So full of fears, so loud and long,

That the grief of tlie world seemed turned to song.

"But soon there came through the weeping night

A glimmering angel clothed in while ;

And he rolled the stone from the tomb away,

Where the Lord of the eartii and heavens lay ;

And Christ arose iu the ca\eru"s gloom,

And in living luster came from the tomb.

'Now, the bird that sang in the heart of the tree
Beheld this celestial mystery ;
And its heart was filled with sweet delight.
And it poured a song on the throbbing night.
Notes climbed on notes, till higher, higher
They shot to heaven like spears of fire.

"When the glittering white-robed angel hear<I
The sorrowing song of the grieving bird,
And heard the following chant of mirth
Tliat hailed Christ risen again on earth.
He said, 'Sweet bird, be forever blesl, —
Thyself, thy eggs, and thy moss-wreathed nest!'

"And ever, \\\y child, since that blessed night,
Wiien death bowed down the Lord of light,
The eggs of that sweet bird change their hue,
And burn with red, and gold, and l)lue ;
Reminding mankind, in their simple wa}'.
Of the holy marvel of Easter Day."

—Fitzjames O' Briev .

Easter

Oh! the lilies are white in the Easter light,

The lilies with hearts of gold ;
And they silently tell with each niilk-wliite bell,

The story an Angel told.

And they've whispered it long to the weak and the strong,

The rich and poor among men ;
Each Easter day till time dies away

They will tell the tale again.

In the tomb new-made where the Christ was laid,

Tlie Angel told the slory.
Of how he rose from ileatli's repose,

The Son of Eternal Glory.

— Margaret Jordan.

APRII.

269

Nature's Easter Music

Tlie flowers froiu the earth have arisen,
They are singing tlieir Easier-song;

Up tlie valleys and over the hillsides
They come, an unnumbered throng.

Oh, listen! The wild flowers are singiag
Tlieir Ijeautiful songs without words!

They are pouring the soul of their music
Through the voices of happy Ijirds.

Every flower to a bird has confided
The joy of its l)lossoniir.g birth —

The wonder of its resurrection

From its grave in the frozen earth.

For you chirp the wren and the sparrow,
Little Eyebright, Anemone pale!

Gay Columbine, orioles are chanting
Your trumpet-note, loud on the gale.

The buttercup's thanks for the sunsliiue
The goldfinch's twitter reveals;

.\nd the violet trills, through the bluebird,
Of the heaven that within her she feels.

The ?ong-?parrow's exquisite warlde
Is born in the heart of tlie rose —

Of the wild-rose, shut in its calyx.
Afraid of belated snows.

And the melody of tiie wood-thrush
Floats up from llie nameless and shy

White blossoms that stay in tlie cloister
Of pine-forests, dim and high.

The dust of the roadside is vocal ;

Tliere is music from every clod,
I'.ird and breeze are wild-flowers' angels.

Their nie:^>.iges bearing to God.

'We arise and we praise him together'"
With a flutter of patal and wings,

The anthem of spirits immortal
Rings back from created things.

And nothing is left wholly sjjeechless ;
For the dumbest life that we know

May utter itself through another
And double its gladness so!

The trees have the winds to sing for them ;

The rock and the hill have the streams;
And the mountain the thunderous torrrents

That waken okl Earth from her dreams.

She awakes to the Easter music ;

Her bosom with praise overflows;
The forest breaks forth into singing,

For the desert has bloomed as the rose.

And whether in trances ot silence

We lliink of our Lord arisen,
Or whether we carol with angels

.\t the open door of his prison.

He will give us an equal welcome
Whatever the tribute we "nring ;

For to Him who can read the heart's music
To blossom with love is to sing.

— Lucy Larcoin.

Easter Time

(Concert Recitation)

Willow branches whit'ning

'Neath tiie April skies;
Sodden meadows bright' ning.

Where the warm sun lies,

Robin Redbreast -^winging,

In a tree top high.
Swollen brooklets singing —

Easter draweth nigh !

Tender fledgelings hushing

Eager to take wing;
Trees and hedges flushing

With the joy of spring.

Crocus linds up-springing

Tlirougii the cold ilark sward,

Living incense bringing
To the risen Lord.

— Alary j\/ . Jytcfiuuiid.

The Star That Became a Lily

f)nce a beautiful star came down to earth. For a long time it had watclierl the cliil-
rlren at play in the green fields, and the star said, "I love those little Red children.
I would like to go down and live witii them."

So one night the star shot down, down, till it last it stood out upon a big plain.
The people in the wigwam village saw it, and ran to look at it.

"I have come, O good people," said the star, "to dwell with you on the earl.i. , I
love to watcli you in your wigwams. I love to see yf)n make your birch canoes. I
Imvc til \\atrh your children at their play. Till inr, fluii, where I may dwell. It
iMii-l be where I cau see you all, and wliere al iiigiit I can look ii]) to my home in the
-kic"

270

TIIIL 1 l-.A K'S nx TEK TA IN MEMS

Tiien one chief said, "Dwell here upon the mountain top; where you can overlool-
the plain. The clouds will come down and rest upon the high peaks, and each morn
ing y(ju nia\- greet the sun."

"Dwell here npoii the hillsides," said another chief, "for there the flowers grov
hrighte.-l, and the '-un is warmest."

"Dwell in the forests," said a third chief, "for there the sweet violets grow. -ani
llie air is cool, and the smell of spruce is in the air."

But the star thought the mountain was too far away, as it could not see the childrei
from such a height, and it was they it wanted to ue near. The hillside, too, the stai
thought, was far awaj', and the forest, it was sure, was too dark and dreary.

But one day, the star saw a beautiful little lake. The water was verj' clear,— out
could see the skies and the clouds in it. At night the stars shone down into its waters.
The water was soft and warm, and the star was pleased to see it ripple and dauce. I
liked to see the sunlight glimmer on the waters.

The children loved the lake, too; they played all day on its banks, and often pad-
dled out upon it witli their little canoes.

"I will dwell right here," the star said, "for then I can be near the children."

And so, when the sun had set, the star floated down upon the waters. It sent its ray?
way down beneath the waters ; and the Red children are sure these rays took root
Perhaps they did, for sure enough, the very next morning there was a beautiful lil.^
upon the waters. Its roots reached away down into the rich earth, its petals were pure
white, and it had a heart of rich yellow gold.

"No flower has a perfume so sweet," the children cried.

Then the}' rowed out to look at it.

"It is the star," the children said; "it will dwell with us forever, and we will cal
it the Lily vStar." Then the children rowed back to the shore. They did not plm!.
the lilj', but each morning they went to see it.

"Dear, beautiful lily I" tliej- would say.

By and by it opened wide its petals; and the air was filled with svvcetuess.

Then other lilies grew up around it; and after a time these Water Lilies, or Li I)
Stars, as the children called them, were floating on the waters of the lakes everywhere
— Stories of the Red Children, Dorothy Brooks.

Easter Bells
Hark! The Easter Bells are ringing

To and fro,
Notes of joy and comfort bringing

vSweet and low.
Up from the toml) wherein He lav.
Came the Sa\ionr this blest day,
•Ridding the sorrowing on their way

Forward go.

Hark! The Easter Bells are swelling

Loud and clear ;
Over plain and valley telling

Christ is here.
Death at last has lost its sling,
Tlie gra\e no more dari< horror^ brin;.
While the Iiapjiy Seraplis sing

Hjmus of cheer.

Hark I The Easter Belis are chiming

Here and there,
Praising, praving, pulsing, rhyming

Through the air.
"Now, may i-very sin be shriven,
Every heart from doubt be riven.
Since our Lonl this day is Risen,"

Men declare.

Hark I The Easter Bells are ringing.

To and fro.
While the angelic choirs are singing

Sweet and low.
Let peace and love your liearts adorn,
Let not sorrow on your inow be worn.
On this Resurrection :M'>rn

Paeaus flow.

— Susan Rcnnuk.

APRIL

271

Easter Lilies

"Gather the lilies," the minister said,
Aud little maid Marjorie raised her head.
"Gather sweet lilies of love, to bring
Aud lay at the feet of our risen King!"
Little maid Marjorie lifted her eyes,
Bright with the light of a glad surprise,
To the minister's kind and beaming face.
As he uttered these words of truth and grace.

'Twas Easter morn, aud Marjorie knew,
As she sat so still in tlie high-backed pew,
That Jesus, the Sou of God, had risen.
And entered in glorj- into heaven.
And her heart ^vas glad this Easter day,
For here she had suddenlj' found a way
To honor the Lord who loved her so,
And had died that she to heaven might go.

So after the last short prayer was said,
Back to her home she quickh' sped.
And up to her own dear little room.
Where, by a window, all in bloom.
Two Easter lilies, wliite and fair,
Drank in the sunshine and soft spring air,
.\ud seemed to be singing a silent song
To the Lord of heaven this Easter morn

Little maid Marjorie's eyes grew dim.
But she softly said: "It is all for Him!''
.•\nd she plucked the blossoms, and turned

away,
Tliougli a tear in oue waxeu chalice lay.
Then down the steps to the street she went.
On her errand of love and duty bent,
.\nd the passers-by looked up and smiled
kx. sight ot the lilies and the child.

Suddenlv little maid Marjorie turned.
kxxA her tender lieart with pity burned,
For a cripple boy stood at her side,
.\nd with wistful glances the lilies eyed.
She looked from him lo the blossoms fair —
"Surely the l)les^etl Cbri-.t will spare
One of these flow'r-^ for the rri])[jle boy
Who knows so little of love and joy."

So, with a smile of tender grace.
She raised her eyes to the thin, pale face.
"Here, take this lily; 'tis all for you!"
Tlien on lier way to ihe churc h she (lew.
She softly ascended the old '-lone steps,
.\nd entered the bnilding wilii parted lips
.^nd two little hand-, that tightly pressea
The one white blossom against her breast.

'Twas all so still tiiat tlic little mai<l
Was almost tempted to lie afraid,
When out of Mie hihiirr dr<p she ln-ard
i'li' words, "Be iii< rrifnl, <> I^Krd."
.\nd lilllc maid Marjorie -ww liic form

Of a womau in garments old and worn,
Who knelt in tears at the altar rail,
With lips that murmured a pitiful tale.

Marjorie went to the woman's side:
"O, please be happy this Easter-tide!
Here, take this lily, aud may God bless
Aud fill your heart witli joyfulnes-."
The womau smiled through her tearful eyes,
And gradually hushed her litter sighs;
But sweet maid Marjorit^s eyes grew dim —
"I have left no lilies to give to Him!"

O, dearjuaid Marjorie, augels sing
The song of your lilies before the King;
He knows the love that would fain have

given,
.■\nd treasures remembrance up in heaven.
Have }'ou forgotten tlie words of love
That He left us before He went above?
"Inasmuch as ve did it to these," said He,
"Ye did it, My brethren, unto Me!" .
— Alice Garland Steele

Nature's Greeting

The birdies came up from the vSouthhnul
And found that the winter was gone,

And Ihey said, " We must see about singing
For Easter is coming on."

The flowers awoke in the forest

And they found that the skies were clear,
And they said, " We must see about bloom-
ing

For Easter will soon be here."

The leaves all came out on tlie elm tree
And danced with the breezes in glee,

And they said,' ' We must see about grow ing,
Easter is coming you see."

The birdies called down to the flowers,
"O say, will our singing now <lo?"

.And the flowers all smiled back in answer.
.'\nd nodded it was so true.

.And the leaves cried out to the birdies,
"O say, do you think we grow?"

And they all, looking down from tlic
branches,
Cried, "Indeed you do, we know."

Then the flowers looked up from the
mosses —
"O how is our Ijlooming, we praj'!"
.And tile birds and the leaves, they ail
answered,
" 'Tis lovely, lovely," cried they I

.\nd so f>n the bright Easter morning
When the worlil was w.ikiug tf> rise,

111 lb'- •-"Mg, "He i-- risru, is ri-^en,'
Tlieir chorus r.ang to the skic-.

27^ THE YEAR'S ENTERTAINMENTS

Again

(For Tliree Children)
First Child—

Again the Spring! Again the Easter L,!!}'!

Again the soft warm air with odors rite:
Again the tender green on hil] and valley :

Again the miracle of risen life !

Second Child —

Again from the dark mold of their entombing,
In all their lovely robes of radiant hue,

The crocus and the violet are blooming,

The self-same flowers our earliest cliildhood knew.

Third Child—

Again the birds in joyous flocks are winging,
Chirping their songs of love and resting days;

Again the sound of happy children singing,
Along the lanes and in the woodland ways.

All'

Hark ! "Peace on earth, good will to man,
Christ, the Lord, hath risen today."

An Easter Lily

'Tis dawn in Palestine. The morning stars

Have sung themselves away, like dying swans.

A winged glory flutters in the east.

And rising, sweeps its pinions up the sky

Like some great bird-of-paradise. In haste

A glad young breeze lifts up the heavy heads

Of dreaming flowers, and wakes them with a kiss.

No time for sleeping now! The day has come —

Arid such a day as never broke, on earth.

El-fore! The world's first Easter morn, wliich is

To tear the veil of mystery from Death

And show its face to be not Death, but Lite !

A birth into a richer, grander life,

Of which earth's deepest joys are but the types

And misty shadowings. There lies the clue

To God's great secret, and upon tl)is da}'

He gives the key into tlie hand of man !

Along yon dust-white stretch of road, and thro'

The singing, scented, dawn-kissed fields, there comes

A woman, hast'ning from the city gates,

White-robed and flinging back her veil to cool

Her fevered face against the flower-sweet breath

Aiid soft caresses of the morning air;

A face both beautiful and piteous.

Whose eyes — that once intoxicated half

Jerusalem — have had tlieir niadd'ning power

Washed out by many bitter tears, and now

Like liui])id pools in shadowy hollows lie,

Life's blue sky screened forever from their sight

By interlacing foliage of pain.

Tlir dawn ra^s twine tlieir fingers in her Iiair,

WhObS gold-bfi^hl meshes fling their dazzle back

APRIL 273

Like answering smiles. It is the Magdalen —
Her story, like her face, most deeply sad,
Yet strangely, marvelously beautiful !

A hurricane of passion had engulfed

Her dawning maidenhood, and swept it out —

A poor, frail bark — upon life's blackest sea.

Where myriad monsters sought to drag it down.

Until the voice of him of Nazareth

Cried, "Peace!" and stilled the tempest suddenly.

As some crushed, half-wrecked ves-,el is drawn in. *

At last, to quiet haven — so her sonl.

Storm-tossed, a wreck indeed, found anchorage

In that great port of peace, the Master's love.

All lesser loves were naught— this soul touched hers

With holy hands, and lo ! that touch of fire

Consumed the outer robe of vileuess, showed

Her white within — and from her drew sweet chords

Of music, like the play of master-hands

Upon an organ's keys. Poor Magdalen !

One look into that pure face taught her all ;

As by a liglituing-fiash she read her past^

A nightmare, evermore ! She saw the thing

Called life, and what it means; and love became

Far grander than her heart had dreamed. 'Twas (^od !

And therefore pure and fair as his own flowers.

Her woman-soul found, then, its power of speech.

Its long-sought utterance. A perfect love

Had stretched its hands to clasp her groping ones.

And she was saved ! The glory blinded her.

But she could follow on, her hand held fast

In that strong hand that ne'er would fail her now.

So dreamed she sadly, heeding not the words

The Master spoke of coming cross and death.

Till those sad warnings were fulfilled, indeed,

With awful suddenness! At first half-stunned —

Then waked to anguish by his sufferings

Which held her at his side in breathless woe

Thro' those long, tortured hours of Calvary —

She lost her laith, her hope — all, save her love ,

That lived, and broke her heart, when his difl l)reak

Upon the cross I

'Tis over, now — tlu- j')v
That has transformed her life in tliese la-;t yi'ars —
Ay, buried there with tliat dear lorm wliich she
Helped lay away within the new-made t(jml).
Some of the Ma'-ter's followers hail dreanieii
Of eartlily kiiigrioin, eartlily king, and thfv
His lo\al, loving ministers; and some
Ilafl lioped for mysii-rie>, and glorious >ights
And miracles— for lieaven on eartli ; but she -
She liad but loved him, tound in him her ln-avi-n.
Her ];eriect J)ea(e and rest and sympathy!

Now he is gone, and she once more adrift
Upon a worhi that mocks her and dtricU-s.
What wonder that, in this sw<'ct Kaster dawn —
Thnn;.;h, \et, it differs not from otlier da>\ti-.
1 <» her — slie hastens, 'mid the waking flowers

274. THE YEAR'S ENTKRTA/XMENTS

And glad-voiced birds, to that fair garden-spot
Of peace, where rests the well-beloved dead,
And flies from living men, to find s;id joy
' In leaning her poor Jiead against the stone

That holds her all ! And it, perchance, she find
Some kind, strong hand to roll away the stone,
'Twill soften mucli her pain to lay fresh spice
And ointment on the body of her Lord.

But look ! Some other has been here — the stone

Is down — the tomb yawns widely ! Mary stops,

A dumb fear clutching at her heart, and casts

One swift look 'round the slumbrous burial-spot.

Yes, quite alone ; — no creature near, save birds

And fresh-robed flowers; — a scene of utter peace.

She starts — then falters — hastens on again,

And stooping, trembling, looks into the tomb.

Empty! "O God!" "O God !"— The body gone.

The poor, pierced body of her soul's beloved!

Gone — vanished — ^leaving not a trace or sign.

Save folded grave-clothes lying by themselves!

What hands have stol'n him forth? What rough, base hands

And wherefore? — Who can bear him malice now.

Or seek to further harm that loving heart

Their hate has tortured, broken, slowly stilled!

It is too much, this last drop in the cup!

Her frail form, shaken with wild, gasping sobs,

Sways like a wind-torn blossom to tlie ground;

The darkest hour of her soul's despair

Enfolds her in its icy arms, and blinds

Her to the breaking of the day of joy

Which draws so near — is, even now, at hand!

A subtile tremor thro' the garden steals —
A sigh of sudden, hushed expectancy.
As tlio' the leaves and flowers lield their breath.
For lo! there stands a Presence in their midst,
Who smiles upon them with the eyes of God!
They recognize him, and reach out soft hands
To touch liim, as young children show their love.
But lie has heard the agonized heart-cry
Ot yon poor broken flower of womanhood.
And passes sottly, swiftly to her side.

"Why weepest thou? Whom seekest thou?" — the words

Fall sweetly, yet on dull, unheeding ears.

vSlie sees him with but poor, tear-blinded eyes.

And thro' the gold haze of her falling hair,

A qniv'ring sigh breaks from her; "Ah!" she moans,

"They've ta'en away my Lord, and I know not

Where they have laid him!" Then — one last faint liope

Quick-springing in her heart — "O sir, if tliou

Hast borne him hence, I pray thee tell me where

Thou'st laid him; then will I — yea, even I,

With these weak woman-hands — take up my Lord

And carry him away to some forgotten spot.

Where never foot of enemy shall come

To trouble him ; where only flowers, and birds.

And the soft, dreaming e3'es of the far stars

Shall watch his earthly resting-place; and where,

ArKir. 275

Oi silent, moon-white uij^ht>, or in .«ome dawn
A^ lre«bly radiant as tlii~, may steal
Those few poor souls who love his nieniorv
And can not long be absent from his side !"

The shaking voice grows faint, again with tears,

The trembling form droops lower at the feet

Of th? white Majesty she scarcely sees.

And then— like sudden music sweeping thro'

The solemn hush of great cathedral aisles,

The \oice of the dear Crucified and Risen

Sweeps thro' the dnuib soul of the Magdalen

With one sweet " Mary !" — How it echoes down

The world's dim centuries, and grandly strikes

An answering cliord in every woman's breast

That ihriils bent-ath its touch! The voice of God —

Which calls vast worlds and systems into life.

Ant', is tlie perfect music of all time,

Speaks, now, one simple woman's simple name

In tones that knit all woman-hearts to him

Forevt-rmore, because of the love-note

Of tender, comprehending s\'mpathy

That vibrates through them ! Ah, dear Lord, she knows

Thee n<iwl And every woman, in the years

To come, will know thee — recognize thy voice

As speaking unto her own hungry soul.

In that one soft word "Mar)'," uttered here!

So finds the Magdalen her Eastertide;
Nor lalls its glory on her heart, alone —
But, thro' the wule-flnng windows of her soul,
Streams out across futurity, to light
The paths of all her sorrowing sisterhood
Amid the twilight shadows of the woild.
Hail. P^ister Morn! All hail, dear Son of God!
l'V)r. with tliee, woman ri-es from the dead —
I'ir-t Kaster lily of tliy gatliering!

— Marf^aret (irare Hi I son, in ' J he Interior

276 THE YliA R'S EN TER TA IN MEN TS

A Miscellaneous Program for Arbor Day

Spring, with its promise of new life, its joy and gladness, fitly prepares us for the
celebration of Arbor Day. Let us make this occasion not only a pleasant day, but one
that will teach some valuable lessons to the pupils of our schools. When children are
led to a full realization of the economic value of trees, to say nothing of the pleasure
which their cultivation brings, they will become their staunchest protectors. Tlie
forest is the friend of the farmer; as the forests of our hills are cut down, so the fer-
tility of our valleys is lessened. Wanton destruction of trees may be stayed, and
children may learn b)' simple exercises some of the uses and beauties of trees and
flowers, and tlie value of the study of tree-planting. Let us endeavor to bring the
children into a closer acquaintance with the world of nature, and to so strengthen the
ethical sentiment that, while listening to its voice they may hear the voice of God.

Now is the time for planning window decorations and training vines about the room.
Encourage the children to bring plants and blossoms. Give them the care of the
tender plants, and interest them in watching seedlings develop, striving in every way
to draw them near to Nature's heart.

PROGRAM

Song ..---.....-.. Spare the Trees
Quotations

Acrostic -- Springtime

Song -- -- Sugar Season

Recitation ....- Apple Seed John

Exercise ----- Crown the Spade

Recitation - - -- The Four Sunbeams

Reading ---.---.--- Arbor Day Brevities

Exercise - . , - The Poets and Arbor Day

Song - The Planting Song

Recitation - -.....-- Recipe for an April Day

Exercise -.------- A Chorus of the Flowers

Recitation - - The Tree Planter

Recitation .- - -- - - - - - - Planting a Cherry Tree

Recitation -- The Pussy Willow

Exercise .--- Value of Our Phoresis

Song .--.--..- Winter Storms Have Passed Away

Recitation -- Bring Flowers

Reading .-..-. Amy vStewart

Exercise -- My Favorite Tree

Recitation Pine Needles

Essay Famous Trees

Concert Recitation The Tree We Plant

Recitation vSomething Good About Pansies

Song The Grand Old Trees

APRIL

277

Spare the Trees

** (Air: "Hold the Fort.")

I'riends and parents j^ather witli us,

In our scliool today.
Thoughts of groves and tangled wildwoods

In our minds hold sway.

Chorus —

Spare the trees, oh thoughtless woodman,

Hew but what 3'ou need,
They give balms to vagrant breezes,

For their lives we plead.

Giant oaks in sunny pastures
Cast their pleasant shade.

Maples clad in gohl and crimson
Cheer tiie darkened glade.

Loft}- firs and nuirinuring pine trees
Shading niounlain's crest,

Are the growth of weary ages;
For them we protest.

Heralded in leafy b^iiners,

Seasons four, we greet;
Every bough a sacred temple

For the song birds sweet.

Arbor Day Quotations

Now is the time to visit Nature in her grand attire. — Loivell.

Nature is tlie volume of which God is the author. — Harvey.

Come forth into the light of things,
Let Nature be your teacher.

No man hath ever known or said
How many there may be.

But each tree helpeth to make a shade ;
Facli leaf to make a tree.

— Wordsworth .

— Holmes.

A man wlro plants a tree and cares for it, has added at least his mite to God s cre-
ation. — Lucy Larcom.

To own a bit of ground, to scratch it with a lioe, to plant seeds and watch their re-
newal of life, — this is the commonest delight of the race and the most satisfactory thing
one can do. — Warner,

Heaven and eartli help him wlio plants a tree,
And his work his own reward shall be.

Summer or winter, day or night.
The woods are an ever new delight ;

They give us peace and they make us strong.
Such wonderful balms to them belong.

— Lucy Larcom.

— Sloddani.

There i- no -.pot on earth wliich may not be made more beautiful by the help of trees
and flowers. — Holmes.

Woodman, spare that tree!

Touch not a single bough !
In youth it sheltered me,

And I'll protect it now. —Morns.

Accuse not Nature, she hath done her part;

Do thou Init thine. — Alilioii.

The tree of the field is man's life. — Bible.

.Springtime

Children come on stage at left rear, cross
to ri^hl . from rii;;hl rrar diagonally to Ir/l
front ^ hack to li ft rear, diagonally to i ii^ht
J null, across front, wlierc lliey stand, sing
and recite.

After renting, bass Jrom left front tit
left rear, diagona/ly to riiiht front bade to

right rear, diagonally to left front, io
rear and off stage.

.Sing. (Tune: Yankee Doodle. )

Ifft

Welcome to the Springtime dear,
]{inls an<l i)lossi)in-. eoninig,

iMJling liearts with right gcxxl clieer
.\nd with plca-^ant sunshine.

278

THE YEAR'S ENTERTALXMEXTS

{Children ivcar letters made of ever green
or green paper.)

vS u^liLTs in (k-lij^litful Spriii}^,
How ui.iii}- ])leasiires she will liriii:^.

l'iis>\- Willows now are ])eeping

l'"r(>in the cots where they've been sleeping.

Roliiii Retlbreast clears his throat
To trill for us his sweetest note.

Aiul 'tis now the Insects waken

From the long, long sleep they've taken.

N is for Nests and nesting time
When birds return from warmer ciime.

Green springs the Grass o'er meadow-land
When ADril fairies wave their wand.

The grand old Trees, we learn today,
Are nionarclis of our Arbor Day.

( // nut desired for Arbor Day rccitatirn .
litis verse may be substituted for letter J .)

Tlic Treis in tlre-^s of freshest green
Tall mouarchs are of stateliest mien.

Spring's Infant l)lossonis, birds and bees
Are waiting wanner sun and breeze.

One sign of spring we know full well,
When Maple buds begin to swell.

Earth dons her robes of brightest green
A fresher world was never seen.

yThe ehildren sing the same stanza as ol
the beginning and pass offstage, aeeordmg
to diagram and direetions. )

— May R. Collins.

Sugar Season*

'_8— 4— T-J 1 1 r-1 ^ . P » ^ r— f=^ 1

[V— 4 " * ^ ^ !> ^ < # ^ - J ^ ^i

Here we come with shouts and buckets,
Spoons and keitles, every one;

What's the reason?

Suj^ar sea-^on,
And the sap'

begun to run.

IIor~es crunch across the snowpaths.
Loaded sieds oi sap they pull ;
What's the reason?
Sugar sea -on,
And the pails are brimming full.
*Used by special permission of the author ami composer, .\lice K- AUcii and Chas. K. Boyd.

Sap in kettles, watch it bubble.
Try it, see the fine threads coil ;
\Vhat'^ the reason?
Sugar season.
And the sap's begun to Ijoil.

Sugar cakes — all sorts and sizes —
See, our little ba-kets hold ;

What's the reason?

Sugar season.
And our sugar must be sold.

Apple Seed John

Poor Johnny was bended well-nigh double
With years of care, and toil, and trouble;
Rut Ills large old heart still felt the need
Of doing for others some kitidlv deed.

"But wliat can I do?" old Johnny said :
"I, who work so hard for daily brend?
It takes heaps of money to do nnuh uotxl
I am fir t^'o poor to do as I would. "

APRIL

279

Tbe^ld man .sal thiukiug deeply awhile,
Then over his features gleamed a snnle;
And he chipped his hands with childish

glee,
And said to himself, "There's a way for

me!"

He worked and he worked with might and

main,
But uo one knew the plan in his brain.
H<_ took the ripe apples in pay for chores.
And carefulh' cut from them all the ores.

With a bag full of cores he wandered away,
Anil uo man saw him for many a dav.
With knapsack over his shoulder sluug,
He marched along and whistled or sung.

He seemed to roam with uo object in view,
Like one who had nothing on earth to do;
But, journeyiu'4 thus o'er the prairies wide,
He paused now and then, and his bag
untied.

Witli pointed cane, deep holes he would

bore.
And in every hole ho placed a core;
Then covered llit-m well and left them there,
In keeping of -unshine, rain, and air.

Sometimes for days he wadeil through grass,

And saw not a living creature pass;

Buc ofleu, when sinking to sleep in the

dark,
He heard the owls lioot and prairie-dogs

ijark.

Sometime- a log cal)iii came in view.
Where Joliiin}' was sure to find jobs to do,
By wliich he gained stores of bread and

meat.
And welcome rest for his weary feet.

Ht had full many a story to tell,
And goodly livmns that he sang right well ;
He to-^ed u]) the babies and joined the boys
In many a game full of fun and noise.

And he seemed so hearty in work or play,
•Men, women and boys all urged him to

stay ;
But he always said, "I have something to

do.
\nd 1 niu-l go on U> carry it through."

The boys, \sh() were r.ure to follow him

round,
Soon found what it was tiiat he ])nt in the

ground ;
\nd so, as time passed, and he traveled on,
J*!verv one called him, "Old .\pple-Sced

John."

Whenever he'd used the whole of his store,
He went into cities and worked for more ;
Then he marched back to the wilds again.
And planted seed on hillside and plain.

In cities, some said the old man was crazj-,
While others said he was only lazy ;
But he took uo notice of jibes and jeers ;
He knew he was working for future years.

So he kept on traveling far and wide,
Till his old limbs failed him and he died.
He said at last, " 'Tis comfort to feel
I've done good in the world, though not a
great deal."

Wear}' travelers, journeying west.

In the shade of his trees find a pleasant

rest ;
And they often start with glad surprise,
At the ros}' fruit that round them lies,

And if they inquire whence came such
trees.

Where not a branch once swayed in tlie
breeze.

The answer still comes, as they travel on,

"These trees were planted hy 'Apple Seed-
John.' "

— Lydia Maria Child.

Crcwn the Spade

{A pupil hearing an ordinat y gaidi n
spade comes upon the stage, and rccitis.
This spade is undecorated.)

Crown the spade on Arbor Day

Of every tool the king.
The spade digs u]) the little tree

We ior our festal bring ;
The spade makes ready for the place

The little tree must own
When it is from its brothers brought

And coaxed to dwell alone ;
The spade then brings the richer soil

AikI s])rea(ls it all arouml.
And still with kindly services

It often seeks that ground.
Then, while we celebrate the trees

Ami all their virtues trace.
The spades in lu)lirlay attire

Our festival A\\\\\ grace.

( This pupil leaves the stage and four
nihcrs enter. They carry dtcuratrd \pade\
that look as pretty as Janey ribbon % or pupei
ran make them. Each recites in turn.\
.\way to the forest, ho, ho!
'Tis there that the voung saplings gr<»«
'J" is there we m.iy find wliat we please
Wlnii sfj-king for Arbf>r Day tri. -.

^80

THE YEAR'S ENTERTAINMENTS

Awaj- to the forest, ho, ho !
With spades on our shoulders we go.
There fair little trees we shall find.
And l)ring tlieui to places more kiud.

Awav to the forest, ho, ho!
Willi merriest footsteps we go

To make a most diligent search
'Mong hickory, maple and birch.

Then hack from the forest, ho, ho!
And proudly our gleanings we'll show.
Perhaps each small Arbor Day tree
A father of forests may be.

The Four Sunbeams

Four little sunbeams came earthward one day,
Shining and dancing along on their way.

Resolved that their course should be blest.
"Let us try;" they all whispered: "some kindness io do,
Not seek our own pleasuring all the day through,

Then meet in the eve at the west."

One sunbeam ran in at a low cottage door,

And played "hide-and-seek" with a child on the floor,

Till baby laughed loud in his glee.
And chased with delight his strange playmate so bright,
The liitle hands grasping in vain for the light

That ever before them would flee.

One crept to the couch where an invalid lay.

And brought him a dream of the sweet summer day,

Its bird-song and beauty and bloom.
Till pain was forgotten and weary unrest,
And in fancy he roamed through the scenes he loved best,

Far away from the dim, darkened room.

One stole to the heart of a flower that was sad,
And loved and caressed her until she was glad

And lifted her white face again ;
For love brings content to the lowliest lot,
And finds something sweet in the dreariest spot,

And lightens all labor and pain.

And one, where a little blind girl sat alone,
Not sliaring the mirth of her playfellows, shone

On hands that were folded and pale.
And kis-ed the poor eyes that had never known sight,
Tliat never would gaze on the beautiful light

Till angels had lifted the veil.

.■\t last, when the shadows of evening were falling,
■ And the sun, their great father, his children was calling,
l'"our sniibeanis sped into the \\'est.
All ^aid, "We have found that in seeking the pleasure
Of others, we fill to the full our own measure," —
Then softly they sank to their rest.

—St. Nicholas.

Arbor Day Brevities

Arbor Day was started in Nebraska in 1872. J. Sterling Morton was the founder of it.

Practically all of the States and Territories ha- e adopted Arbor Day, and miUious of
trees are set out every year.

The first public planting of trees in honor of the memory of distiuguisheu people
took place in Cincinnati, Ohio, several years ago.

APRIL

2«1

Our country has made a great mistake in cutting down so many trees and spoiling
our splendid forests. Trees not only make the earth more beautiful to look at and
enjoy, but they do a grout deal of good beside.

I'orests affect the climate of a conntry. They prevent extremes of heat and cold,
and the sudden changes in weather that s])oil the cr()])s.

Forests help the farmers by forming a wall that protects the growing crops.

More rain falls every year in the forests than in the open fields. A jiortion of this
rain is caught by the leaves and held, and then drojiped down afterwards to the earth
gradually. This is better for the soil than if it all fell upon the earth at once.

The carpet of leaves in the forests makes the. earth there like a sponge, and it takes
up the rains and melting snows and holds them and lets the moisture down into the
soil, little by little. This spongy leaf-mold keeps the earth from freezing so hard
there so that it can take up the rain.

Old limbs and trunks of trees and big roots that stand out on the surface stop the
water that comes pouring down the hillsides, and slowly fills the springs and rivers.

When the forests are cut down and the ground burnetl over, the leaf}' sponge-like
mold is burned too, and the melting snows and rainfalls rush down the hills and do
great harm.

Large roots of trees will push their way under ground and into rocks and make little
hollow places for the water to run through, and that keeps the springs open all the year.

If trees are planted in sandy deserts by and by good soil will he formed, where other
things can grow. Then people can live in tiiese places. Trees make the air purer.
The leaves take in the impure air which we breathe out. They make it over in
their little cells and give it l)ack to us pure air again.

Trees give out a great deal of moisture. A town or city without any trees would be
a great deal hotter and drier in the summer time.

The Poets and Arbor Day

{Pupils stand by desks atid a/ler naming
authors recite the quotattons.)

First Pupil — Whittier said:

" Give fools their gold, and knaves their
power ;

Let fortune's Imlililes rise and fall ;
Who sows a fielil or trains a flower.

Or plants a tree is more than all."

Second Pupil — Ben Johnson wrote:

"Not merely growing like a tree

In bulk doth make man belter be.

Or standing long an oak tiiree hundred

years,
To fall a log at last, dry, bald and sear.
A lily of a day is fairer f.ir in May ;
Although it fall and die tliat night.
It was the ])lanl and flower of light.
In small prf)i)orUons we ju>t beauties see,
And in short measure life may perfect be. "

Third Pupil — Holmes said:
"In fact there's not liing that keeps its youth,
vSo far as I know, but a tree and truth."

Fourth Pupil — Morris wrote:
"To me the world's an open book

01 sweet and pleasant jioetry ;
I read it in the running l)rook

That sings its way toward the sea.
It whispers in the leaves ol trees.

The swelling grain, the waving grass,
And in the cool, fresh evening breeze,

That crisjjs the wavelets as they pass.

"Tlie flowers below, the stars above,

In all tlieir l)looni and brightness given.

An-, like the attributes of love.
The poetry of earth and heaven;

Thus, nature's volume, read aright.
Attunes ihe soul to minstrelsy

Tingeing life's clou<l with rosy light
And all tiic world with ])oetry."
/ i/th /'«/>// — Longfellow said:

"If tliou ar» worn and heart beset
With sorros\''+.tliat thou wouldst forgot,
If thou wnnld^t read a h-'^'-on th;>t will keep
Thy heart fr<MU hiiuting and thy soul from

sleep,
Co to the woods ,ind hills! No tiars
Dim the sweet look that Nature wears."

282

THE ] 'E. I A-.V ENTER T. I JXM/iX TS

Sixth Pupil — Bryan Waller Procter wrote :

"!Mcthiiiks I love all conunon thiii<J~,
The common air, the common flower,

The dear, kind, common Ihouglil that
springs
I'rom liearts that liave no other dower,
No other wealth, no other power,

Save love; and will not that repay

Tor all else fortune tears away?

What good are fancies rare, that rack
With painful thought the poet s brain?

Alas! they cannot bear us back
Unto happy years agiin !
Hut the vliite rose without a stain

Hringeth times and thoughts of flowers,

When youth was bounteous as the hours."

T/iC School —

"He who plants a tree

Plants a hope.

Rootlets up through fibres Mindly grope ;
Leaves unfold into horizons free.

So man's life must climb

From the clods of time

Unto heavens sublime."

The Planting Song

(Tune: — ".\merica." .See page (121

Jo3' for the aturd}- trees
Fanned by each fragrant bree/.i-.

LoveI_v the}- stand i
Tlie song birds o'er them ir'll.
They shade each tinkliif; 'ill.
They crouti eacti swelling h.il.

Lowly or grand.

Plant them b}' stream and \v::y.
Plant where the chiidren play

.\\\d toilers rest ;
In everj' verdant vale.
On every sunny swale —
Whether to grow or fail,

God knovvest best.

vSelect the strong, the fair,
Plaut them with earnest care,

No toil is vain ;
Plant in a fitter place.
Where, like a love!}- face.
Let in some sweeter grace.

Change ma}' prove gain.

God will Kis blessing" -t-nd,
.■\11 things on Him dejieud.

His loving care
Clings to each leaf and flower.
Like ivy to its lower.
His presence and His power

.Are ever v%\ here.

Recipe for an April Day

Take a dozen little clouils

.•Vud a Jiak'h of bine ;
Take a million raindrops,

.Vs many siinlieams, loo.

Take a host of violets,

.\ wandering little bree/e,
And. nnriads of liltle leaves

Dancing on the trees.

Then mix them well together.

In the verv (juickest wa>-,
Showers and sunsiiine, bird:- and flowers.

And you'll have an April U.iy.

A Chorus of the Flowers

(Six Children)

[Each c III lei carries the tioiucr which he
represents. )

First Child —

I am the honeysuckle,

With my drooping lie.ul.
And early in the springtime

I don my dress of red.
I grow in quiet woo<ll.inds.

Beneath some budding tree ;
.^o wlieii you lake a ramble

Jn>i look at me.

Second Chi Id —

I am the dandelion,

Yellow, as \<i\\ set.;.
And ^\heu the children >ce me

Till y slioiit for glee.
I grow b}- ever)' wayside,

.\nd when I've Iiad \\\\ d.-y
I spread my wings so silvery

.ind fly away.

Thiid Child—

When God made all the flowers

He gave each one a name;
-Vnd when the others all had gone

k little lilne one came,
And said, in trembling whisper,

"My name has been forgot,"
Tlien the good Father called her

Forget-me-not.

l-\fii>th Child —

.\ fern, the people call me,
Um always clothed in green;

1 live in every forest —
', You've seen me oft, I ween.

Sometimes I leave the shadow
I To grow beside the way ;

Y'ou'll see me as jou par;S
; Some nice, fine d.iy.

APRIL

'^X^'.^

Fif'tti Child —

1 am tlie gaj- nasturtium,

I tiloom in ganien- fine,
Aiiiouo \\nt yrumltT llowt-rs

Mv sleiiiier stalk I iw ine.
Brijjlit oranjie is ni)' color

The eyes of all to piease.
I have a tube of houey

For all the bees.

Si.vUi Child—

I am the little violet

In 1113- purple dress;
I hide myself so safely

Tliat you d never guess
There was a ^ower so near you,

Ne-tliiig at your feet;
And that is \vh3- I send j'ou

M}' fragrance sweet.

— Lucy Wheilock.

The Tree Planter

We are building for the future ;

Every loyal youth and lad
In his .M;iy-tinie seed or sapling

Founds a dsvelling green and glad,
Where ihc song birds of the morning

Konnd their cradle-honies will l)iay.
And the rain will store its treasure

For the streams that wear awav.

— :iekclcd.

Planting; a Cherry Tree
Dear little, l)right little Kobin-,
Witli \our co/.y home in view.
When hjv tree has grown
A- big a> your own
I'll have \\\\> haigain wiih yo-.i ,
If you'll tf\: (lie >lugs
And the woriur^ and Ijugs,
Vou may taste of the cherries, too.

l)-ar old, fu^-y old Top- Knot.

V<iu mu~n t scratch there — shoo ; shoo !

•Now just be good

And act as you shonhl
And 1,1 lell you wli;ii I will do:

When the tree grou^ t,dl,

fhe cherrie- that tall
Shall all he reckoneil lor you

Sweet little baby broliier
Dimple and smiie and coo

For this trim little tree

I've brought you to see
I pl.mtc'l on purpose tor you ,

When you're of a si/e

To eat cherry pie-,
Whv, here will 1>'.^ riicrije- for >"ii

The Pussy Willow

The brook is brimming with melting >now,

The maple sap is running,
.A.nd on the highest elm, a crow

His coal-black wings is sunning.
A close green bud, the Mayflower lie>

Upon a mossy pillow;

.\nd sweet and low, the south wind blow-.
And through the i)rown field> calling gof-

"Come, Pu>sy ! Pussy Willow!

Within your close brown wrapper stir!

Come out and show your silver fur'
Come, Pussy! Pussy Willow'"

Soon red will bud the maple-trees,
The bJuebirds will be singing,

The yellow tassels in the breeze
Be from the poplars swinging.

.■\nd rosy will the Mayflower be
Upon Its mossy pillow.

''But you must come the first of ah,—

Come, Puss3' ■'' is the south wind s call •
'Come, Pussy! Pussy Willow! '

A iairy gift to children dear,
The downy firstling of the year.
"Come Pussy I Pussy Wiiow'"

■-Selected.

We Love the Trees

J'int Child—

f iove a tree in spring,

When tlie tir-l green leaves Cfune mii.
And llie birds build their iu-»ts and can. I

Their sweet songs round al)onl.

Second Child —

I love a tree in suramer.

When in the noon-tide heat,
The reapers tie in its sharlow

On the greeuswaril, cool and sweet.

■Jhnd Child—

I iove a tree in autumn.

When Frost, the painter old,
Has touched with his brush its branches,

.-^nd left them all crimson and gold.

l-oiitth Child—
I love a tree in winter,

Mid -now and ue and clou<l,
Wavini.' Us Ion;.', Iiare branches

In the north uiiid wailing loud.

All-
Let us plant a tree by the wayside,

I'hMit it with smiles and with tears,
\ sii.ide ior some weary wanderer,
A Ixipe frif tlie coming years.

-Lucia M. ^

28-t THE YEAR'S ENTERTAINMENTS

The Value of Our Forests

( The pupils come on the sta^c cue at a time and recite, shoiving the article abot
rvhich they speak and give mot ions.)

hirst Pupil {carrying a bunch of toothpJcks)--.\ toollipiiik is a little thing, j'et it
reported that one factory uses 10,000 cords of wood annuall}- in the production of the:
splints of wood.

Second Pupil [carrying a box of pegs) — Shoe pegs are small affairs; 3'et a singl
faclory sends to Europe annuailj', 40,000 bushels of pegs, besides what it sells in th
country.

Third Pupil — A spool is of small account when the thread is wound off; 3'et seven
factories use each from 1,800 to 3,500 cords ot wood every }-ear in making these article
Tiiou.-ands of acres of Ijirch trees have been bought at one time by thread manufacturer
for the sole purpose of securing a supply of spools.

T'ourih Pupil — Who thinks much of the little friction match, as be uses it to ligi
the lamp or fire, and then throw it away? But one factoiy, it is said, makes 6o,ooo,oc
of these little articles every day, and uses for this purpose 12,000 square feet of be
l)ine iumber.

Fifth Pupil — Forests affect the climate of the country . influence the rain of a com
try, build up a wall and protect the crops; they keep the air pure. The leaf-mold i
forests holds back the rains. We draw $700,000,000 worth of products every year froi
the trees. No other crop equals this in value.

All—

"The groves were God's first temples. Ere man learned

To hew the shaft and lay the architrave

And spread the roof above them ; ere he framed

The lofty vault to gather and roll back

The sound of anthems; in the darkling wood,

Amidst the cool and silence, he knelt down

Aud offered to the Mightiest soleiun thanks

And supplication."

Winter Storms Have Passed Away

(Air: "Auld Lang Syne." See page 112)

Tlic winter storms have passed away

And sjiring time now is here
\\\\.\\ sunsMiie smiling all around,

And heavens blue and clear.
The gifts of Nature brighten eartii.

And make her garden gay ;
TIk y give a clieer\- greeting bright

Un this, the Arbor Day.

The birds with gladsome voices sing,

Each its melodious lay.
And music sweKs each little throat

On this, the Arbor Day.
The trees put forth their greenest leaves

On this, the Arbor Day,
And welcome now the chosen tree

Which we shall plant today.

— Ellen Beauchamp.

Bring Flowers

Bring flowers to strew in the conqueror's pathl
He hath sliaken thrones with his stormy wtath ;
He comes with sp(jils of nations back.
The vines lie crushed in his chariot's track
The turf looks red where he won the day.
Bring flowers to die in the conqueror's way!

Bring flowers to the captive's lonely cell '
They have tales of the joyou^^ woods to ttll. —
Uf tiie free blue streams, and the glowing sky,

APRIL J^«n

And the bright world shut from liis languid eye;

The}' will bear him a thought of the suuuy hours,

And the dream of his youth. Biing him flowers, wild flowers i

Bring flowers, fresh flowers, for the bride to wear!

They were born to blush in her ~liining hair.

She is leaving the home of her childhood's mirth

She hath bid farewell to her father's hearth

Her place is now by another's side.

Bring flowers for the locks ot the fair young bride i

Bring flowers pale flowers, o'er the bier to shed,

A crown for the brow of the early dead \

For this through its leaves hath the white rose burst,

For this in the woods was the violet nursed I

Though the)' smile in vain for what once was ours,

They are love's last gift Bring ye flowers, pale flowers!

Bring flowers to the shrine where we kneel in prayei, —

They are nature's offering, their place is there *

They speak ot hope to the fainting heart,

With a voice of promise they come and part,

They sleep in dust through the wintry hours,

They break forth in giory Bring flowers, bright flowers i

-Ahs Henuius

Amy Stewart

There was once a little girl named Amy Stewart who liked to play ah day in the
;arden among the flowers and birds She said they talked to her.

One day her mother said, * You are old enough now Amy, to do a little work, and
fou must begin to be industrious."

"O mammal I do not like to work; may I out go into the woods and play before 1
)egin to work?"

' As I liave nothing ready for you to do just now you may go a little while,' said
ler motlier.

So .\my ran out r)f doors. .\ pretty gray squirrel ran across her path and she called
o him, saying. -

"Dear Sqvirrel, you have nothing to do but play and eat nuts, have your"

"Yes,'" said Mr. Sfjuirrel. "I have a large family to support, and I am busy laying
ip nuts for the winter, so f cannot stop to play witli you."

Just thefl a bee came b\i//,ing by. Amy said, "Little Bee, do you have any work
o.lo?"

" It seems to me i have no time to do anything but work, getting honey and making
he honey comb. ' '

Amy now saw an ant carrying a crumb of bread.

" Is not that crumb too heavy for you? I wish you would dro]) it ami i)lay svilh uu\ "

"It is heavy, but I am too glad to gt-t it not to be willing to i-.irry it- but 1 will
itop long enough to tell you about a lazy day we once had. Our house was de-lrnyed
md I was too la/.y to help rebuild it; and I said to my brothers, ' Let us go and travel ;
lerliaps we wi.J find ;i house ready-m.idc ; perhaps the btittcrflies will play with us.
bVe traveled a long way, but we found no ready-made house, .and ;it last were obligrd
o build one for ourselves. Since tlirti we have- ln-iii contented to do all the work that
(ve And necessary." The ant then picked up the crumb of bread and hurried away.

J>.SG

77//: ) 7:. / A".s' /:-.\' /V'.A" T. I LVMHNTS

Amy sat down on a sloiie and Ihonght "11 seems to me all creatures have some work
to do, and tliey seem to like it ; hut I do not believe flowers have anything to do."
So she walked up to a red poppy and said:

' 'Beautiful red poppy, do flowers work?"

"Of course we do," said the poppy. "I have to take great care to gather all tlit
red rays the good sun sends down to nie, and I must keep them in uiy silken petals
for you to use, and the yreen rays must l)e untatigled and held by my glossy leaves,
and my roots must drink water, my flowers must watch the days not to let the seed-
time pass by — ah, my child, I assure you we are a busy family, and that is why we art
so happy. "

Amy -walked slowly homeward and said to her mother, — "The squirrels, bees, ants,
and even the flowers have something to do. I am the only idle one ; please give me
siiinethiug to do."

Then her mother brought her a towel to hem, which she had begun so long before
that she had cjuite forgotten it. She worked very faithfully, and grew to be an in-
dustrious woman, never forgetting that work makes us happier than idleness. — Anon.

My Favorite Tree

(If possible, let each pupil carry a branch of the tree he describes.)

First Pupil — I speak for the Elm. It is a noble tree. It has the shape of a Greek
vase and such rich foliage running down the trunk to the very roots, as if a vine were
wreathed about it.

Second Pupil — My favorite is the Maple. What a splendid cupola of leaves it builds
tip into the sky. And in autumn, its crimson is so rich one might call it the blush
of the woods !

Third Pupil — The Birch is a tree for me. How like a shaft of ivory it gleams in
the daylight woods! How the moonlight turns it into pearl!

Fourth Pupil — Wh.it a tree is the Oak ! First a tiny needle, rising toward the sun,
a wreath of green to endure for ages. The '■liild gathers the violet at its foot; as a
fioy, he pockets the acorns; as a man, he looks at its towering heights and makes il
the emblem of his ambition.

Fifth Pupil — The Oak may be the king of the lowlands, but the Pine is king of the
hills. There he lifts his haughty head like a warrior and when he is roused to meet
tii.o storm, the battle-crv he sends down the wind is heanl above all the \oices of the
lireen wood.

All-

Hail to the trees!
Patient and generous, mothers of mankind;
Arching the hills, the minstrels of tlie wind,
.Spring's glorious fl<jwers and summer's balmy tents.
A sharer in man's free and happier sense.
The trees bless all, and then, brown-mantled, stand,
The sturdy prophets of a golden land.

— Selected.

Pine-Needles

If Mother Nature patches

The leaves ot trees and vines,

I'm sure she does her darning
With needles of the pines!

They are so long and slender;

And sometimes in full view.
They have their thread of cobwebs

And thimbles made of dew.

— William H. Payne.

APRIL

281

The Tree We Plant

(Concert Recitation)

A strong, fair shoot from the forest bring,
Gentl}- the roots in the soft earth lay ;

(io<! bless with his sunsliine. and wind and
rain
The tree we are planting on Arbor Day.

.May it greenly grow for a hundred years,
And our children's children around it
play,
fiather the fiuit and rest in the shade
Of the trees we are planting on Arbor
Da} .

So may our life he an iipward growth —
In wisdom's soil ever}- rootlet lay;

May every tree bear some precious fruit
Like the tree we plant on Arbor Day.
—Arbor Day Manual.

Something Good About Pansies

U'e had climbed to tlie too of the old Gray
Peak,

And viewed the valley o'er;
^nd we started off on our liomeward tramp,

A good three miles or more.
riie road lay curved lise a ribbon of gold

Around the liase of tlie hill,
\nd the brook gleatned f)ut with a silver
sheen

1-rom thicket-; near the mill.

l!ut the sun shone warm on the dusty road.

Until by heat oppressed I

kVe wearily slopped at a cottage gate;

The matron bade us rc-t.
[low cool was tlie shad'-' of the trumpet-,
vine, I

A s) ring ran fresli and clear;
ilic flash and whirr of a jeweled thing,

A hummiiig-l)ird, was near.

^\'i' were sauntering down tlie garrlen path,

K' pealing kind guorl-liyes,
U'htii suildenly now were (nir footsteps ,
-laved.

New beauties met our eves.
"Will you have some pau-.ies? " the hostess
asks,

"O, thank you, no!" we say;
But the matron is culling the purple blooms,

We let her have her way.

Purple and blue and russet and gold

Those iragrant rich bouquets;
"Ah!" siie explains, "of my violets sweet

You have not learned the ways.
There is something good about pansies

That's worth your while to know;
The more they are picked and given away

The more they're sure to grow."

—Mary A. McClelland.

The Grand Old Trees

(Tune: "There's Music in the Air."
See page 201)

We love the grand old trees, —

With the oak, their royal king.
And the maple, forest queen.

We to her our homage bring.
And the elms with stately form.
Long withstanding wind and storm,
Pine, low whispering to the breeze,
O, we love the grand old trees !

We love the grand old trees, —
Tlie cedar briglit above the snow,

The poplar straiglit and tall,
And the willow weeping low.

Butternut, and walnut, too.

Hickory so staunch and true,

Basswood blooming for the bees,

O, we love the grand old tiees!

We love llie grand old trees, —

The tulip brandling broad and high.
The heecli with shining robe,

And the birch so sweet and shy.
Aged cheslnuls, fair to see,

Holly bright with Christmas glee,

Laurel, crown for victory.

O, we love the grand old trees!

.'2SS

77//; \ RA R'S EXTRR T. I / .Y .] / /■ XTS

A Miscellaneous Program for Bird Day

Song ...-.-------- Birdie's Ball

Quotations ---------------

Concert Recitalioii ---------- Don't Kill tlie Birds

Recitation ------------He Didn't Think

Exercise ------------ Address of tlie Birds

Recitation ----------- The Wren and the Hen

Song ------------- Song of the Frogs

Reading --------- How the Robin Got its Red Breast

Recitation --------- How the Woodpecker Knows

Recitation -------- Mrs. Goldfinch's Afternoon Delight

Exercise ----------- Who Stole the Bird's Nest

Recitation -------------- Cheer Up

Song ------------ Don't Kill the Birds

Recitation ----------- Warblers and Perchers

Recitation ------------- Little Bell

Exercise -_-_ _--_-- Merry Little Sparrows

Recitation - ._-. ------- The Buuible-Bee

Song ------------- If Ever I vSee

Recitation -- --._-_-- The Scarecrow

Recitation --- ..------i Used to Kill Birds

Recitation ----------- Robert of Lincoln

Recitation ----------- What the Sparrow Chirps

Bird Quotations -----------___

Song -.-----------.-.

The Birdie's Ball

Spring once said to the nightingale,

I mean to give j'on birds a ball;

Ptay, ma'am, ask the Ijjrdic-^ all.

The birds and the birdies great and small ;

Tra la la la la la, tra la la la la la,

Tra la la la la l.i, tra la la la la,

Tra la la la la la, tra la la la la la,
Tra la la la la la, la.

Choru?

Chorus.

Soon they came from each bii'^h and tree,
Singing sweetest songs of glt-e;
Soon tlie}' came from each co>y nest,
Each one dressed i n his Sunday best.

Chorus.

Cljorii;

Chorus.

APRIL 'xm

The wren and the woodpecker dauc'd for lifo,
The raven waltz'd witli the yellow bird's wilt;,
The awkward owl and the ba-ldul jay
Wish'd each other a very fine day.

Tlie woodpecker came from his hole in llie tree,
And presented his bill to ihe couipany,
Berries ripe and cherries red,
T'was a very large bill the birdies said.

They danc'd all day till the sun was low,
Then the mother birds prepared to j^o,
When one and all both great antl small,
Flew home to their uests from the birdies' ball.

Quotations

A gush of bird song, a patter of dew,

A cloud and a rainbow's warning ;
Sudden sunshine and perfect blue —

An April day in the morning.

^Harriet Prescoll Spofford.

God sent his singers upon earth
With songs of gladness and of mirth,
That they might touch the hearts of men.
And bring them back to heaven again.

— Henry W'adswoylh Loui^/cllow.

Sleep, little pigeon, and fold your wings, —

Little blue pigeon with velvet eyes;
Sleep to the singing of mother bird swinging —

Swinging the nest where her little one lies.

— E Kg cue Field.

The sweetest bird i)uilds near the ground,

The loveliest flowers spring low.
And we must stoop tor liappiness

If we its worth would know.

— Swain.

The air for the wing of the sparrow,

The nest for the robin and wren;
But always the path that is narrow

And straight for the children of men.

— Alice Cary.

There are notes of joy from the hang-bird and wnii,

And tlie go-<sip of swallows through all the sky ;
The gr()un<i--(iuirrel gaily chirps l)y his den.

And the willing bee hums merrily by.

— ll'illiain Cullcn liryani.

The birds are glad; tlie brier-rose fills
The air with sweetness.

—John iirccnhal M'hiltier.

Hark, ail, tiie nightingale —

The tawny-lhroaled !
Flark! from tlic moon-lit ccd.ir what a bur^l !

What tniinipii! h.irk ! what pain !

—Miill/icw Ai mild.

290

THE YEAR'S ENTERTA /\M /■.NTS

'Tis always niorning somewhere, and above
The awakening continents, from shore to shore,
Somewhere the birds are singing evermore.

— Henry Wadsworth Lonfellow.

Gladness of woods, skies, waters all in one,

Tlie bobolink has come, and, like the soul

Of the sweetest season vocal in a bird,

Gurgles in ecstacy we know not what

Save June ! Dear June ! Now God be praised for June,

— James Russell Lowell.

Don't Kill the Birds

(Concert Recitation)
D(jirt kill the birds, the pretty birds.

That sing aljout your door
Soon as the joyous spring has come

And chilling storms are o'er.
The little birds, how sweet they sing!

Oh ! let them ;^oyous live;
And never seek to take the life

That you can never give.

— Colesworthy .

He Didn't Think

Once there was a robin

Lived outside the door.
Who wanted to go inside

And hop upon the floor.
"No, no," said the mother,

"You must stay with me ;
Little birds are safest

vSitting in a tree."

"I don't care," said Robin.

And he gave his tail a fling,
"I don't think the old folks

Know quite everything."
Down he flew and kitty seized him

Before he'd time to blink ;
"Oh," he cried, "I'm sorry

But I didn't tliink."

Address of the Birds

(An Exercise for Five Pupils)

The Robin —

I am a robin, very brown

.'\ud big and plump and smooth and round.

My breast is pretty, bright and red,

And see this top-knot on my head!

I heard the boys awhile ago

Shooting robins o'er the snow,

And flew away in trembling fear

And thought I'd hide from them in here.

The Blue Bird—
I'm a blue bird. Don't yon see
.Me sitting on this apple tree?
I left my nest an hour ago
To look for bugs and worms, you know ;

And now I know the very thing —
That while I'm waiting I will sing.
Oh! beautiful and balmy spring!

The 11 'oodpeckcr—

I'm a woodpecker— a bird

Whose sound through wood and dale is

heard.
I tap, tap, tap, with noisy glee.
To test the bark of every tree.
I saw a rainbow stretch lug gay,
Across the sky, the other day ;
And some one said, "Goodbye to rain,
The woodpecker has come again."

The Lark —
I'm the lark and early rise
To greet the sun-god of the skies,
And upright cleave the fresliening air
To sail in regions still more fair.
Who could not soar on lusty wing,
His Maker's praises tlms to -iug?

The Nightingale —
In music I excel the lark,
She comes at dawn, I come at dark.
And wlien the stars are shining bright,
I sing the praises of the niglit.

In 'Concert—
Oh! in a cliorus sweet we'll sing,
And wake the echoes of the spring.

— American Teacher.

The Wren and the Hen

Said a very small wren
To a very large hen,

"Pray why do you make such a clatter?
I never could guess.
Why an egg, more or less

Should be thought so important a matter."

Then answered the hen
To the very small wren,

" If Ilaidsuch a small egg as you, madam,
I would not cluck so loud.
Nor would I feel so proud ;

Look at these! How yf)u'(i crnw il vr.u
had 'em!"

— St. jSn.liolds.

APRIL
Song of the Frogs

291

±=«:

P hf K

"^cA

W^ ^\ ^

t±

:?^

r/^i^r

?=^=^

^=^

Early frogs in slush}' bogs,

Hidden safe and snug,
Now come creeping, sofcly peeping,
' ' Peep ! Per-weep ! {short pause) Ker
chug!"
Swiftly leaping, shrilly peeping,
"Peep! Per-weep! Peep-peep!
Ker chug ! Ker chug !

Later frogs in slushy bogs,

Hidden safe and snug,
Now come leaping, shrilly pee]3ing,
'Peep! Per-weep! {short pause)
chug !"
Sw'iftl}' leaping, shrilly peeping,
' ' Peep ! Per-weep ! Peep- peep !
Ker chug ! Ker chug !

Ker

Used by special perinissiou of Alice K. Allen, Author, and Cbas. K. Boyd, Composer.

The North Story of How the Robin Got Its Red Breast

(Let some Child tell this Story)

Long ;igo, in the far north, where it is very cold, there was only one fire.

.\n old man and his little son took care of this fire and kept it burning day ;uid
night. They knew that il the fire went out all the people would freeze and llic while
bear would have the Northland all to himself.

One day the old n;aii l)ecanie very ill, so that his son !ia<l everything to do. I'or
manv «lays and nights the boy bravel}- took care of his father and kept the fire burning.
At last he got -o tired ami sleepy that he could no longer walk.

Now, llie white ))e.(r wa-^ always watching the fire.

He longed lor the time wlit-ii lie -hould have the N<jrlliland all to himself.

When he ~aw how tired and .-lee])y the lillle boy was, he stave<l close to the fire and
laughed to hiui-elf.

One nij<ht the ]»oi)r little boy could keep awake no longer and fell last asleep.

Then the white l)ear ran as fa>t as he could and jumped ui)on the fire with hi^ wet
feet and rolled upon it.

At la-l be lhf)U'.;ht it wa^ nil out anrl went happily awiiy to his cave.

But a gr,i\- robin had iiefu Hying near am! !ia>l ^ecn wli.il the white bear was doing.

She waited until the IjL-ar had gone away.

Then she flew down and searchcfl wiih her -harp lillle eyes until she found a tiny
live spark.

For a long time she palictiliy faiiucd ihi-. little >p.irk with her wings.

Her little breast was scortlnd rid, but -lie diil not give up.

After a while a liu", red blaze sprang up. Then she flew away to every hiil in lli'
Northland.

^92

THE YEAR'S ENTERTAINMENTS

Everywhere that she touched the ground, a fire began to burn.

So that soon instead of one little tire, the whole Northland was lighted up.

Now, all that the white bear could do was to go back further into his cave and growl.

For now, indeed, he knew that the northland was not all for hira.

And this is the reason why the people in the north country love the robin. And
thev are never tired of telling their children how it got its red breast. — Flora Cook's
Myths.

How the Woodpecker Knows

Boy at the Window —

"How does he know where to dig his hole,
The woodpecker there on the elui-tree bole?
How does he know what kind of a limb
To use for a drum, and to burrow in?
How does he find where the young grubs grow —

I'd like to know?

The woodpecker flew to a maple limb
And drummed a tattoo that was fun for him.
" No breakfast here ! It's too hard for that,"
He said as down on his tail he sat.
"Jiist listen to this rrrrr rat-tat-tat."

Away to the pear tree, out of sight,
With a cherry call and a jumping flight!
He hopped around till he found a stub,
' ' All, here's the place to look for a grub !
'Tis moist and dead — rrrir rub-dnb-dub. "

To a branch of the apple tree Downy hied,

And hung by his toes to the under side.

" 'Twill be sunny here in this hollow trunk ;

It's dr}' and soft with a heart of punk.

Just the place for a rest — rrrrr runk-tunk-tunk."

"1 sec," said the boy. "Just a tap or two;
Then listen as any briglit boy mijiht do.
You can tell ripe melons and garden stuff
In the very same way — it's easy enough."

— William J. Long in Youth's Companion.

Mrs. Goldfinch's "Afternoon Delight"

The thistles at the counlty-side

Were ripe ; the da}' was bright
For Mrs. Goldfinch, when she gave

Her "Afternoon Delight."

Arrangements all were perfect;

Her black and yellow dress,
Ju~t touched with white, was elegant;

Her manners were no less.

And oh, the folks invited !

Well, everybody camv,
l"r>«iu Tommy-Tip-I"t)-Tfeler-Tail

7o --ome I couldn't name.

Miss Polly Pewee — she was there
With Mr. Grackle-wing ;

Miss Oriole, from Baltimore,
Came all the way to sing.

Miss Long-Stilts came from Jersey,
And walked 'nio>t all the way;

Miss Sparrow rode, I understood,
On top a load of hay.

Will you believe it, every one
Had ju-t wlKit he would wish!

Mi s Ruliin had a dish of worms;
i'or several there uas fi-li.

APRIL

29' i

Miss Pewee had soine marmalade
Of moths, and rose leaf tea.

And drank so much she sang " Peet-weet
Instead of Pe-ssee-ee," —

Which Tommy-Tip-Up didn't like;

And so Miss Oriole
Set np a song like drippina; pearls

And all tlie wooded knoll

Re-otnided uiili the nielodv;

And every lily-ht-11
Swung out upon the evenini^ wind

Until the darkness fell.

And llieu Ihe nierrj' company

Broke up, and I suppose
That every lillle hoy and girl

In all the country knows

That Mrs. Goldfinch, after this,

I'ut off her yellow gown,
And since that "Atternoou Deliglit"

She wears a cloak of brown.

— J/erbiti A'andall.

Who Stole the Bird's Ne.st

(An Kxercise for Six Pupils)
First Pupil—

"To-whit, to-whit, to-whee
Will you listen to nie?
Who stole lonr eggs 1 laid.
And tile nice nest I made?"

S.'cond Pupil —

"Not I," said the cow, " nioo-oo !

Sufh a tiling I'd never do.

I gave you a wisp of hay

But didn t take your nest away."

Third Pupil—

"Not I," said the dog; "l)ow-wowl
I wouldn't he so mean anyhow.
I gave hairs the nest to make
But the nest I did not take."

I'onrtli Pupil-

"Not I," said the slieep, "oh, n<>!
I wouhin't treat a j)oor hird sn.
I gave the wool tlie ne-t to line,
But the nest was none of mine."

liflh Pupil—

"Cluck, cluck !" snid the hen ;
l>f>u"t ask me ;igain ;

Sixth Pupil—

"I would not roh a bird "
Said little Mary Green ;
"I think I never heard
Of anything so mean."

All—

I liavtti't a cliic-k
That woulil do -iich

tri.k.

A little boy hung down his head,
And went and hi(Tl)tliiii,l the bed;
F«.r iie stole that jjrt-tly uesl,
From poor little yellow breast;
-Ami lit- flit so full of slianie,
Hr didirt' likt- to ifll his name.

— /-. Maria ( hihl.

Cheer Up

A little bird sings, and he sings all day —

"Cheer up' Cheer u]) ! Cheer up!"
No matter to him il tlie skies be gray —

"Cheer up! Cheer up! Cheer up!''
He flies o'er the fields of waving corn.

And over the ripening wheat;
He answers the lark in the early morn

In cadences cheery and sweet.
And only these two little words he sings—

"Cheer up! Cheer u}) ! Cheer up!"
A me-^sage to earth which he gladly brings —

"Cheer up! Cheer up! Cheer up!"

He sings in a voice that is blithe and bold —

"Cheer up! Cheer up! Cheer up!"
And little cares he for the storm or coM

"Cheer up! Cheer up! Cheer up'''
.-Viid when in the winter the snow comr^
down.
And the fields are ail frosty aiul b.iic,
He flies to the heart of the \n\<\ town,

And sings just as cheerily there.
He chirps from his perch on iiiv window
sill—
"Cheer up! Cheer up! Clieer up!"
This message he brings with a right s^uod
will—
'Cheer up! Cheer uj)! Cheer up!"
This dear little messenger can l)ut say,
"Clieer up! Cheer up! Cheer up!"

A>- over the house-tops he makes his way —

"Cheer up! Cheer uji ! Cheer up!"
Oh, let us all learn from this little bir.l

A lesson we surely should heed;
For if we all uttered but one liright wi.rd

The world would be briglitcr indceill
If only Kartii's cliildren would bliilielysa\

"Cheer np! Cheer ui-! Cheer nu"'
How Jolly a world would ours be today--

"Cheer up I Clieer u))! Cheer uj)!"

— Eva Jiest, in ( lit d-Life.

294

7 7//; 1 l-A A"-;; 7:. \ ' / '/: K TA IN ME NTS

Don't Kill the Birds

E. L. VTm-n.

.•^ntmata

1. Don't kill the birci>, the

2. iKjii't kill the birds, the

3. Don't kill the birds, the

-lO — ^» 1**-

i^^E

lit • tie birds. That sing about your door
lit -tie birds That play among the trees;
happy birds That bless the tield and grove ;

Soon as the joy-ous

Twould make the earth a

So in • no • cent to

g - g_g _

si%^^^

spring has come, And chill - ing storms are o'er. The lit - tie birds, how sweet they sing! Oh I
cheerless place. Be - r;ft of songs like these. The lit - tie birds, how fond they play! Do
look up - on, They claim our v/armest love. The hap - py birds, tlie tune • ful birds. How

let them joyous live; And ney • er seek to take the li/e Which you can nev • er give,
not disturb their spon; But let them v/arble forth their songs Till win - ter cuts them ghort.
pleasant 'lis to see! No spot can be a cheerless place' Where'er their presence be.

Warblers and Perchers

A little brown bird sat on the twit; of a tree
A swinging!; and siii'^ing as glad as could be,

And wlien lie had finished his gay little song,

He flew down in the street and went hopping along.

A little boy said to liiru, "Little bird, stop!

And tell me the reason why 3'ou go with a hop;
Why don't yon walk as boys do, and men,

One foot at a time like a dnck or a hen?"

Then tlie liltle bird went with a liop, hop, hop.

And he laughed and he laughed as he never would stop.

And lie sail', "Little boy, there are some birds that talk,
And some l)irds that hop and some birds that walk.

"Every bird th.it can scratch in the dirt, can walk;

Every bird that can wade in the water can walk ;
Every bird that ha- claws to scratch with c;iii walk ;

One foot at a time, that's the way they walk.

APRIL J^95

"But most little birds who can sing you a song,

Are so small that their legs are not verj' strong
To scratch with, or wade with, or catch things. That's why

They hop with both feet. They all know how to fly!"

— fhe Kindergarten.

Little Bell

Piped the blackbird on the beechwood spray, *

"Pretty maiil, slow wandering this way,

What's your name?" quoth he,
"What's your name? O, stop and straight unl'nUl,
rrellv maid witli showery curls of gold."

"Litlle Bell." said she".

Liule Bell sat down beneath the rocks,
Tossed a-iile her gleaming golden locks,

"Bonnj- birii," quoth she,
"Sing me your best song before I go."
"Here's the very finest song I know,

Litlle Bell," said he.

And the blackbird piped ; you never heard
Hall so gay a song from any bird,

Full (Jt q\iips and wiles,
Now r.o round and ricli, now sott and slow,
.All for love oi that sweet face below,

I)iiii])k-d o'er with smiles.

.\nd the wliile the bonny bird did pour
Hi- lull heart freely o'er and o'er

'Nealli the morning skies.
In Uie litlle childish heart below,
All the- >weetness seemed to grow and grow,
.\nil -.bine forth in happy overflow,

J''roiii the l)Iue, bright eyes.

Down the dull she tri])ped and through llie glaiK-.
l'ee])ed lluf si|uirrel from the hazel shade,

.\nd froiM out the tree
Swung, and lea])ed, and frolicked, void of fear ;
While bold bhirkl)ir<i piped that all miglit lu-ar,

" Little Beil," ])ii)ed lie.

Link- Hell sat down amid llie fern.
"Scjiiirrel, squirrel, to your task return;

Bring me nuts", (|iiotli -he.
Up away the frisky s(|uirrcl hies.
Golden woo<l-Jigiits glancing in liis eyes.

And adown tlie tree
f Treat ri)ie nuls, ki>-ed l)rown by July -un,
In the little lap dro]i])cd one by one.

Hark, liow Idaekbird l>ip''- to see tbi- lim !

■ I lajipy Beil ,' ' pi])e-. he.
i.illle Beil looked up and down llie glade,
"S(|uirrel, scpiirrel, if you are not afr.iid,

Come and share with me!"
Down came -quirrel eager for lii- iare,
Down cime liouny blaikl)inl, I declare;
Li uie Bell give each his hf)ne->t share,

All the merry Ihree t

1^96 Tllli YEAR'S JiN77iRTA/\.U /■XfS

And the while these frolic playmates twain
Piped and frisked from bough to bongh again

Neath the morning skies,
In the little childish heart below
All the sweetness seemed to grow and grow.
And shine out in happy overflow

From her blue, bright eyes.

By her snow-white cot at close of day

Knelt sweet Bell, with folded palms, to pray;

Ver}- calm and clear
Rose the praying voice to where, unseen.
In blue heaven, an angel shape serene

Paused awhile to hear.
"Wliat good chilli is this," tlie angel said,
"That with happy heart beside her bed

Prays so lovingly?"
Low and soit, O, very low and soft,
Crooned the blackljird in the orchard croft,

"Bell, dear Bell!" crooned he.

"Whom God's creatures love," the angel fair

Murmured, "God doth bless with angels' care;

Child, thy bed shall be

Folded safe from harm. Love, deep and kind,

Shall walch around and leave' good gifts i;eliin(l,

Little Bell, for thee!"

~ fhuma^ West-wood.

Merry Little Sparrows

First Child—

Merry little sparrow, God is watching you;
Who will dare to harm yon, in his keeping true?
(\cii\, our Heavenly Father would be grieved with me
If to any creature I should cruel be.

All-

No. no, no ! Let us not do so ;
We would not hurt a little bird.
No, no, no i

Second Child—

Prettv little bird nest woven with such care,
ShalTl dare to rob it of its treasures there?
Some poor mother birdie would be so distressed ;
Could I bring such trouble to its little breast?

No, no, no ! Let us not do so;
We would not hurt a little bird,
No, no, no!

Third Child—

All the little songsters happy lessons teach,
From their leafy pulpits little sermons preach
All about our Father and his tender love ;
If I dared to harm them, could I look above?

All—

No, no, no! Let ns not do so;
We would not hurt a little bird.
No, no, no! .

APRIL

297

The Bumble-bee

You better not fool with a Bumble-bee ! —
Ef you don't think they can sting — you'll

see !
They're lazy to look at, and kind o' go
Buzzin' and hummin' aroun' so slow,
An' ac' so slouchy an' all fagged out.
Danglin' their legs as they drone about
The hollyhawks 'at they can't climb in
'Ithout ist a-tumble-un out agin !
Wunst I watched one climb clean 'way
In a jim' son-blossom, I did, one day —

An' I ist grabbed it — an' uen let go —
An' '■'■Ooh-ooh! ooh-ooh! Honey! I told ye

so!''
Says the Raggedy Man, an' he ist run
An' pullt out the stinger, an' don't laugh

none.
An' says, "They has been folks, I guess,
'At thought I wasprejudfced, more or less —
Yit I still maintain 'at a Bumble-bee
Wears out his welcome too quick fer me !"
— James U'hitcoinb Riley.

If Ever I See

CHILDHOOD SONGS

Allegro.

1. If ev - er I see, On bush or tree, Young birds in pret - ty

2. My moth-er, I know, Would sor - row so. Should I be sto - len a
r And.when they can fly, In the bright blue sky They'll war- ble a song to

^ .f f ^ .^ - *^ ^

I must not, in
So I'll speak to
And then if

my play. Steal the birds *, • way, To

the birds In my soft - est words. Net

I'm sad, It will make me so glad. To

nest,
way:

me;

grieve their moth-er's breast.

hurt them in my play.

Aink they an hap • py and free.

.<» r s ' — <j^ itf »> — 1^-1 ^ P — Urn 1 —

-leufi

The Scarecrow

The farmer looked at his cherry tree,

With thick Inids clustered on every bough;

"I wish I could cheat the robins," said he;
If somebody would only show me how!

"I'll make a terrible scarecrow grim,

With llireatening arms and bristling head,

And up in the tree I'll fasten him

To frigliten them half to death," he said.

He fasliioned a scarecrow, lattcrcd ami lorn —
Oh, 'twas a liorrible thing to see!

And very early, one sumnur morn.
He set it up in his cherry tree.

The blososms were white as the light sea fn.-im.
The beautiful tree was a lovely sight.

298

THE YEAR'S ENTERTAINMENTS

But the scarecrow stood there so much at home
All the birds flew screaming away iu fright.

The robins, who watched him every day,
Heads held aslant, keeu eyes so bright,

Surveying the monster, began to say,

"Why should this monster our prospects blight?"

"He never moves round for the roughest weather,
He's a harmless, comical, tough old fellow:

Let's all go into the tree together,

For be won't budge till tlie fruit is mellow!"

So up they flew : and the sauciest pair

'Mid the shady branches peered and perked,

Selected a spot with the utmost care.
And all day merrilj' sang and worked.

And where do you think they built their nest?

In tlie scarecrow's pocket, if you please.
That, half concealed on his ragged breast

Made a charming covert of safety and ease !

By the time the cherries were ruby-red,
A thriving family, hungry and brisk.

The whole day long on the ripe fruit fed;
'Twas so convenient! they ran no risk!

Until the children were ready to fly.
All undisturbed they lived in the tree ;

For nobody thought to look at the Guy
For a robin's flourishing family!

-Celia Thaxter.

I Used to Kill Birds

I used to kill birds in my boyhood,

Bluebirds and robins and wrens,
I hunted them up in the mountains,

I hunted them down in the glens ;
I never thought it was sinful —

I did it only for fun —
And I had rare sport in the forest

With the poor little birds and my gun.

One beautiful day in the springtime

I spied a brown bird in a tiee,
Merrily swinging and chirping,

As happy as bird could be ;
And. raising my gun in a twinkling,

I fired, and my aim was too true ;
For a moment the little thing fluttered.

Then off to the bushes it flew.

I followed it quickly and softly.

And there to my sorrow I found,
Right close to its nest full of young ones,

The little bird dead on the ground!
Poor birdies! For food tliey were calling;

But now they could never be fed.
For the kind mother-bird who had loved
them

Was lying there bleeding and dead.

I picked up the bird in my anguish,

I stroked the wee motherly thing
That could never more feed its dear young
ones.

Nor dart through the air on swift wing.
And I made a firm vow in that moment,

When my heart with such sorrow was
stirred,
That never again in my lifetime.

Would I shoot a poor innocent bird!

Robert of Lincoln

Merrily swinging on brier and weed.
Near to the nest of his little dame,
Over the mountain-side or mead,

Robert of Lincoln is telling his name;
"Bob-o'-link, bob-o'-link,
Spink, spank, spink;
Snug and safe is this nest of ours,
Hidden among the summer flowers.
Chee, chee, chee."

Robert of Lincoln is gayly drest.

Wearing a bright black wedding coat ;
White are his shoulders, and white his crest;
Hear him call in his merry note:
"Bob-o'-link, bob-o'-link,
Spink, spank, spink ;

APRIL

299

Look, what a uice new coat is mine,
Sure there was never a bird so fine.
Chee, chee, chee."

Robert of Lincoln's Quaker wife,

Pretty and quiet with plain brown wings,
Passing at home a patient life.

Broods in the grass, while her husband
sings,
"Bob-o'-link, bob-o'-link,
Spink, spank, spink ;
Brood, kind creature ; vou need not fear
Thieves and robbers while I am here.
Chee, chee, chee."

Modest and shy as a nun is she,

One -weak chirp is her only note ;
Braggart and prince of braggarts is he,
Pouring boasts from his little throat.
"Bob-o'-link. bob-o'-link,
Spink, spank, spink;
Never was I afraid of man.
Catch me, cowardly knaves, if you can !
Chee, chee, chee."

Six white eggs on a bed of hay,

Flecked with purple, a pretty sight ;
There as the mother sits all day,.

Robert is singing with all his might:
"Bob-o'-link, bob-o'-link,
Spink, spank, spink ;
Nice good wife that never goes out,
Keeping house while I frolic about.
Chee, chee, chee."

Soon as the little ones chip the shell.
Six wide mouths are open for food.
Robert of Lincoln bestirs him well,
Gathering seeds for the hungry brood :
"Bob-o'-link, bob-o'-link,
Spink, spank, spink;
This new life is likely to be-
Hard for a gay 3-oung fellow like nie.
Chee, chee, chee. "

Robert of Lincoln at lenglli :- made

Sober with work and silent with care;
Off is his holiday garment laid,
Half forgotten tliat merry air;
"Bob-o'-link, l)ob-o'-huk,
Spink, spank, spink;
Nobody knows, but my mate and I,
Where our nest and our nestlings lie.
Chee, chee, chee."

Summer wanes; the cliildren are grown ;

Pun and frolic no more lie knows,
Rotiert of JJncoln's a huniflrum crone;

Off lie flics, and we sing as he goes,
"Bob-o'-link, bob-o'-link,

Spink, spank, spink;
When 3-0U can pipe that merry old strain,
Robert of Lincoln come back again.
Chee, chee, chee."

— IVilliani Cullen Bryant.
Used by kind permission of D. Appleton & Co.

What the Sparrow Chirps

I am only a little sparrow,

A bird of low degree ;
My life's of little value.

But the dear Lord careth for me.

He gave me a coat of feathers,

'Tis very plain I know,
With never a speck of crimson.

For it was not made for show.

But it keeps me warm in winter,
And it shields me from the rain;

Were it 'broidered with gold or purple
Perhaps it would make one vain.

By and by when it is springtime,
I will build me a little nest,

With manj" a chirp of pleasure.
In tue spot I like the best.

give me wisdom

And He will

To build it of leaves most brown
Warm and soft for my birdies.

So will I line it with down.

I have no barn or storehouse,

I neither sow nor reap ;
_God gives me a sparrow's portion,

With never a speck to keep.

I know there are many sparrows.
All over the world we're found;

Hut our Heavenly Father knowcth
When one of us falls to the ground.

Thon;.^h small, we are never forgotten ;

Though weak, we arc never afraid.
For sve know the dear Lord keejieth

The life of the creatures He made.

1 fly through the thickest forests,
I liglit on the smallest spray;

I have no chart or compass.
But I never lose my waj-.

And I fold my wings at twilight

Wherever I hap]ien to be.
For the Fatlier's always watching

And no harm can come to me.

I am only a little sparrow,

A bird of low degree ;
But I know the dear Lord loves nie —

Have you less failli than we?

300

THE YRAKS ENTERTAINMENTS

Bird Quotations

SKYLARK —

The messenger of morn,
Ere yet the shadows fly, he, mounted, sings
Amid the dawning clouds.

Then piped a tiny voice hard by,
Gay and polite, a cheerful cry,
Cliick-a-dee-dee! saucy note
Out of sound heart and merry throat,
As if it said. Good day, good sir!
Fine afternoon, old passenger!
Happy to meet you in these places.
Where January brings few faces.

— Emerson .

' ' Hear the thrush that carols at dawn of day
Fom the green steeples of the piney wood . ' '

"Even the blackest of them all, the crow,
Renders good service."

See yon goiannc
Who sings a fare

jn goldfinch hop from spray to spray,
ings a farewell to parting day.

—John Gay

Tuwhit! tu whoo ! All the livelong night

A right gladsome life lead we.
While the starry ones from their azure height
Look down appiovingly.
Tu whoo !
They may bask who will iii the noonday
light,
But the midnight dark for me.

— Ulrs. Hewitt.

I'm bobolink! bobolink!
Here and there quick as wink.
Before you can think —

Think! think!
That's bobolink !

—Adeline Whitney.

"High on yon poplar, clad in glossiest

green,
The orange, black-capped Baltimore is

seen."

"Out burst the merry, bright sun, like

gold;
And a robin sung out, so blithe and bold."

A little bird, in suit

Of sombre olive, soft and brown,

Peiched in the maple branches, mute;

With greenish gold its vest was fringed,

Its tiny cap was ebon-tinged,

With ivory pale its wings were barred,

And its dark eyes were tender starred —

"uear bird," I said, "what is thy name.?"

And thence the mournful answer came,

So faint and far, and yet so near, —

"Pe-wee! pe-wee ! peer!"

— Trowbridge

CATBIRD —
He sits on a branch of you blossoming tree,
This mad-cap cousin of robin and thrush.
And sings without ceasing the whole mor-
ning long:
Now wild, now tender, the wayward song
That flows from his soft, gray, fluttering

throat ;
But often he stops in his sweetest note,
And shaking a flower from the blossoming

bough.
Daawls out, ' ' Mi-eu ! mi-ow !"

— Edith M. Thomas,

The humming bird ! the humming bird !

So fairy-like and bright :
It hies among the sunny flowers,

A creature of delight.

— Mrs. Howitt.

INDEX

49
112
137
143

Autumn Days-Margaret Sangster 4.

vmerica (Song) •

Autumn Days, an Acrostic

Auld Lang Syne (Song) . ..... ..■■•. • • • • • • -g " : ^g

Address to Santa Claus, An -Mrs M. if . Buub

A<^ain the Angel Hosts Draw ^ igu

il^r the Hoimays-Edwin L. Sabm 152

April. April, Are You Here?-Dora R. Goodale . . ^o^

\pril Memory Gems 2T2

Again (Exercise) .^^7

i^^ae^ydiaMaria-chiui:::::::::: irs

Arbor Day Brevities 285

Amy Stewart •• ;■•• onn 1 v niio^-""- „

Address of the Birds (Exercise) xf^\ Qi^rigtmas Welcome, The (Son^j

Alcohol's Curse (Exercise) - crowning Lincoln

Abraham Lincoln-Tom Taylor i^^ 1 ^ ^ ~

Anecdotes of Eugene field ^^^

Anecdotes of Lincoln ,,,3

Anecdotes of Washington.. . .^^. ~

Christmas Secrets (Song) ^

Christmas Acrostic. .■...••• ,q.^

Christmas Bells (Motion Song) 1^

Christmas Day-Nora Ferry ^fJi

Christmas Stockings Jgg

ChrilSoai^^^rgareisangsien:::::::::^ 1|

Christmas Acrostic. , ,00

8Smfs fn an ^Lanf -G.' T. BrownV. :::::::: : lar

Chrlltmal Bells (Song)-Alice Jean Cleator.. . . ^^^

Christmas Song, A. ^.-^

Christmas Secret, A j^g

Christmas Hymn, A f^^

Christmas Carol, A ,05

Christmas Dilemma. A.....

Christmas Carol— Adelaide

Anno Procter 136

194
Butter-

Ants and the Grasshoppers. The ^

Baby Bye. Here's a Fly (Song) Jl

Business Conditions-John &. Graj |'^

Be Happy As You Can jg

Better Than Gold ■ ok,;

Before and After School..- ••••••• -?^

Brfng Back My Schools Days To Me"(Songi '. '. ". : 40

Baby Corn 8-2

Buzz (Song) ;a.''''\ $3

Bringing in the Sheaves (Song) "

Books (Class Recitation) r\

Battle Cry of Freedom (Song) .^.^

Brown of Ossawatomie j^-

l?1^5Yuff S^a^esVA^^tion Soiigi ! ! 1 1 ! ! ! 1 ! 155

BatUe Hymn of the Republ|c (Song) -18

Boacon Lights (A Lanlerii Drill) ^'

Bring Flowers-Mrs. Hcmaus ■^^^

Bird Day quotations ~.'f,o

Bird yuotatioup 3,(

Betsj-^s Battle Flag-Irving '^tj^

Birds' Nests. , . . . ... . . . ;;^.;.;^ -iv; :,;;,;; ' • ; ; m

crown our Washington-Hezekiah Butter- ^^^

worth : • • ■ orn

Crown the Spade (Exercise) ^' ^

Crooked Spectacles .^g.^

Cheer Up ' 330

Courage. • 57

Chestnut Burr, A • • ^g

g^i^^TS|lvm^sSu^-L.-^-i^ni^age 81

Chorus of th^ Flowers, A (Exercise) -Lucy ^^

Chimreirs'Battle S<nVi,'Th4-MkV Greenwo^^^^^

8!;!SS?Jacki'^^VThe-A;ma:kennedy

^:;SS^yTf^^S^^^icafWhitticV.-.V.. ^86

.3-.i5

15'J
154
11)5

201
37

Conl^d^'Mai^'-ni^Ai-Umf' W^ '■:'.'.'■
Chicken's Mistake, Thc-Phoebe Cai >

Sonlu; v;Sin;^;The-May 'RyAVwator: ! " !

I 'hihlrcn in tlio Rain, The "'^^

( 'all to tlie Colors, The • .••■•■ „,..,

Cont est of the Flowers, The (Exercise) 35^

Coming Thro' the Rye j,,.

Poll's Thanksgiving, The .. ^^

Di-iigon, The ' ' 350

K;i;i;ish Tale; A-Lou Bovce Haydcn 1^^ t;" t^es (Excr;-ise)V.-,V ^IJ

Brave Soldier, A (Song) .j, 5 Dolly's Toilet ^9

Brotherhood of Heroes, A jg Dimes and Dollars ^g

^;;re^^y?ThI^vi;itticV.-.-.: :::::::::::::::: ^^ i;::;-;^-- -.i; • 7,H-:,-oiv-;^unibus •.Kx\^rcis.-i :::::: ^^5

^;:^l;;Vs;yB;f>kH:Tfi^-K:w:coi^ ^ };;:caoi.airSS;soniioiiy\song^^^ Vg

Brp^sJdi^s^'of" Bonks: ThP-K." W.' Col.:
Ttrpfik- Sl;ill The Clinton Srollarn. . .. . .

Banner of tl';' Union, The (Song) -Kate Brown ^_

leo Sherwood „j^

Birdies' Hall, The (Song) :,y^

Boy Washington, Th<', T,,-

Rpifrv of Brugf s. The • ^n',

look Lovpr. The-Henry Ward : -^echer 10.

Bluebird. The (Song)..... •.• ZL

Choice of Occupations (Exorcise) ->7^

Come Little Leaves • . • • a-,

Christopher Columbus (Acrostic) ^^

ColumbuH Day Qiiotat ions ,,

Cohimbus— Joaqn in IM i llfi; • • • • • • • ^^

Coin mbia the Gem of tlip r.cean <•:""«•••••,•,:: ''''
Catrlilnglho Thanksgiving Tiirkfy-OongMs ^,^

Z. Doty q;

( Mimblng the Hill (Souk). • ... • • • • • •• • .\.

C'himf on Swoct Village Bolls (Song) 1 1,1

Chrlslmab yuoUtlonii '"

IRt)
•Mi
!i90
310
.320
.354

Dncenibi'i' !M

Deck the Ha

Dreaming.

Dick's ValenI inc .•■.••

Don't Kill the Birds ^^''^'^^■■■•\.-\; — -;,\
Driving Home tl;.; Cows-Ka V M. Of^i^ood

Dfcoration Day Hymii-Lu B. C ak.

Di^roiilcnt Julia S. R. Dorr ■•••• \^^^

Down In a Field " .^

Kxcelsior jfiv

)'',vervday Work .^^r,

Faster (Song) .jftf,

lOaster Quotations .tm

Easter Acrostic

Endless Glory (Song)

vajitor— Marirartt .Ionian

FrHlfrFlw,'frs_('lara^.. D;;n<o.K

Easter Time (Concert Rccltation)-i>i.ny

Easier Lily! An-Jiai-^ariA; Ora;:;^ WUsou: ! ! ! ! !

2«li

2IW
2B7

•Jl)9

', :catter the Flowers (Song) 303

some Fapnous Patriots— L. bliiiubiiLluilI ."ill

Sparkling unci Britjht (Song) .'aa

Special Flags b47

Strawberries— J. T. Trowbridge ."i.W

Song ot Wintry Days, A 1 17

Snow Song, A ISG

Suggestion for Santa Clans, A 129

Seasons, The (Exercise)— Mary Pr^scott 59

Ship of State, Tlie— Longfellow 71

Stoi'y of the Pilgrims, The— Bessie Wiekham. . 79

Story of a Seed, The 80

Snowflakes, The— Margaret E. Sangster 154

Snow Fairies, The (Song) 157

Sin of Omission, The— Margaret E. Sangster. . 159

Skater's Song, The 160

Sleighing, Song, The 163

Settler, The— Alfred BilUngs Street 176

Star Spangled Banner, The (Song) 64

Shortest Month, The— Mrs. Whitney !i05

Sparrow's Song, The aU

Spring of the Year, The (Concert Recitation) . 239

Star That Became a Lily— Dorothy Brooks 269

Song of the Scissors, The (Song) ll«

Strange Child's Christmas, The 132

Snowbird, The 151

Soldier's Reprieve, The 316

Song of the Corn, The 328

Shine On, O Flag— George F. Packard 346

Songster of June, The 349

Suppose the Little Cowslip 349

Swanee Rivei', The (Song) ,. 351

Shadow Girl, The— Kate Lawrence 354

Secret, A— Helen I. Moorhouse 358

Toad's Toilet, A oi

Thanksgiving Ride of the Pumpkins, A 8u

Thanksgiving Song, A— Laura Smith 89

Thanksgiving, A (Exercise) - Lucy Larcom 92

Thanksgiving Hymn, A— James Montgomery.. 81

Thanksgiving Song— Alice J. Cleator 7'8

Thanksgiving Day (Acrostic) 8u

Ti'ue Tlianksgiving, A 82

Tum-sThanksgiving— Emma Plater Seabury. 81

Turkey's Soliloquy, A 84

They Say 7

They Say— Ella Wheeler Wilcox 15

Teacher's Dream, The— W. H. Venable 34

Tommy's School :«

This Way (Exerci.se) 57

Things to See— William J. Long ,59

Thoughts About Labor 257

To the Autumn Wind— Stella H. Seed 46

Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star (Song) 80

Time Enough : 98

Traveling the High Road to Learning (Song) . . 98

To the Snowstorm 161

Tendril's Faith, The— Ella Wheeler Wilcox .... 240

To the Dandelion 251

Tree Planters, The 283

Tree We Plant, The !387

There's Music m the Air (Song) 201

Ten Dates in the Life of Lincoln 197

To My Valentine 201

'Tis Splendid to Live so Grandly 209

Tableau ; Hiawatha and Minnehaha Before

Old Nokomis 224

Tableau: My Best Friends 103

Tableau : The Little Gossips 2

Tableau: Keening Houec 42

Talking in Their Sleep 238

Tommy's Chrismas Wish— R. K. Munkittrick. . 127

Two Little Stockings ia3

Through the Telephone 136

Tenting on the Old Camp Ground (Song) 302

Tramp, Tramp, Tramp (Song) 313

True to the Brave (Song; 314

Tribute ta the Brave— Ada Simpson Sherwood 315

Temperance Exercise 329

Temperance Quotations 321

Temperance Acrostic 332

To Thee, O Country— Anna Elohberg 389

This is Our Flag 343

Three O'clock In the Morning 349

IJpidee (Song) i64

Unfurl the Flag— Rev. L. N. Waterman 342

Vacation (Song)— Bertha M. Vanderpool 358

Vacation Acrostic 348

Valentine Song, A 200

Value of Books, The (Dialogue; lOO

VacantChair, The (Song) 175

Value of Our Forests, The 284

Village Blacksmith, The 224

Vacation is Coming 254

Welcome 5

When I am Big 6

Wynken, Blynken and Nod— Eugene Field 24

Why Don't Parents Visit the School (Song) 29

When Father Rode the Goat 38

When Father Stays at Home 37

Why Cats Wash After Eating 46

What Was It? 49

Writing to Grandma 49

Where Ye Spankweed Grows 49

Willie's Breeches 52

Where the Jam Pots Grow (Song) 50

Why the Continent Was Called America 71

What I'm Thankful For ^ 79

Who Gives Us Our Th'ksgivlng Dinner— Emile

Poulsson 88

We Thank Thee (Exercise)— Pabodie 89

Who Shall Be Queen / 90

What a Book Said— Maxon Book Clark 99

What Books Give— Crabbe 101

What We Know About Book.s— Wordsworth... . 103

When the Cooling Breezes Come and Go (Song) 104

Whittier Acrostic Ill

Whittier Memory Gems ill

Winter.', , 125

"Watching In" Christmas 134

Who Will Be It?— Frank Walcott Hult 174

When the Birds Go North Again (Song) 153

Winter Playmates .,., 159

When the Puritans Came Over (Song) 172

We Love the Trees (Exercise)— L. M. Mooney... 283

Washington— Emma 'J. Dowd 214

Woods in Winter— Longfellow 183

Words of Lincoln 185

When Li'icoln Died— J. A. Edgerton 197

Who'll Get a Valentine? (Dialogue) 203

Words of Washington 208

Work for the Night is Coming (Song) 260

Washington Acrostic 208

Washington (Exercise) 216

Washington's Christmas Party (Song) 210

Washington's Life (Exercise) 212

Waiting to Grow 234

Winter and Spring— Dorothy Brooks 936

When Robin Comes to Town (Song) 235

Winter Storms Have Passed Away 284

Who Stole the Birds's Nest? (Exercise)— Lydia

Maria Child 293

Warblers and Perchers 294

What the Sparrow Chirps 299

We Drank from the Sume Canteen— Private

Miles O'Reilly 309

White Ribbon Dayi (Song) 321

Why and Because (Exercise) 326

What Shall we do with the Apples ? 331

What March Does— May Riley Smith 240

Wee One's Wishes, The 9

Wine Cup, The— Stoddard 326

Wandering Birds, The 58

Winter Woods,Tbe 202

Wren and the Hen, The 290

We Love Our Flag (Exercise)— E. L. Brown. . . 840

What Have We Done Today ? 358

Your Mission (Song) 188

You're the Man 188

Ye Shepherds Arise (Song) 141

Yankee Girl, The— Whittier 114

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