Baby has set his eyes on the egg that lies on the floor.  If he takes it up, I hope he will not let it fall, and break it.  The other children will not be slow to find the painted eggs.  There must be a dozen, or more, of them hidden away.

THE BEAUTIFUL SPRING.

    “I was here first,” said the snowdrop:  “look!”
    “Not before me!” sang the silver brook. 
    “Why,” cried the grass, “I’ve been here a week!”
    “So have I, dear,” sighed a violet meek.

    “Well,” piped a bluebird, “don’t leave me out! 
    I saw the snow that lay round about.” 
    “Yes,” chirped a snowbird, “that may be true;
    But I’ve seen it all the bleak winter through.”

    “I came betimes,” sang the southwind, “I!”
    “After me, love!” spake the deep blue sky. 
    “Who is it cares?” chimed the crickets gay: 
    “Now you are here, let us hope you’ll stay.”

    Whispered the sun, “Lo! the winter’s past: 
    What does it matter who’s first or last? 
    Sky, brooks, and flowers, and birdies that sing,
    All help to make up the beautiful spring.”

George Cooper.

OUR CHRISTMAS PLAY.

Our Emily wrote a play for our Christmas entertainment.  Emily, Ruth, Mary, and Uncle Peter, all took part in it.  The curtain fell amid very great applause from grandma, grandpa, father, and Uncle Charles, Brothers Robert and John, Jane, the housemaid, Aunt Alice, and some six of our cousins.  So you see we had a good audience.  As it is the only play we have ever seen acted, we may be too partial critics; but readers must judge for themselves.

(EMILY enters with a basket of shoestrings)

Emily.—­Shoestrings to sell!  Does anybody want shoestrings?  Dear me, how cold it is!  To-morrow is Christmas, and I must earn money enough to buy a basket of coal.  Who wants a nice pair of shoestrings?

Ruth (entering).—­This is a cold day, little girl, and you are thinly clad.  Now, if my Uncle Peter, were here I know what he would do:  he would buy you a shawl.

Emily.—­As soon as I get rich, I mean to buy one myself.  Can I sell you a pair of shoestrings?

Ruth.—­What is the price?

Emily.—­Only two cents a pair.

Ruth.—­Then you may give me three pairs.  Here are six cents. (Takes out her purse, and pays Emily, but, in putting it back, lets it fall on the ground.)

Emily.—­Thank you; and a merry Christmas to you!

Ruth.—­I wish I could make your Christmas a merry one, poor child; but I have done what I could.  Good-by. (Goes out.)

Emily.—­Oh, if more such customers would come along, how glad I should be!  Will any one buy a nice pair of shoestrings? (Sees the purse, and picks it up.) What is this on the ground?  A purse!  And it has money in it.  One dollar, three dollars—­Dear me!  That young lady must have dropped it.  I must run and give it to her.  Where is she? (Puts down her basket, and goes out.)