3.  He went to the windows of those who slept,
   And over each pane, like a fairy, crept;
   Wherever he breathed, wherever he stepped,
     By the light of the morn were seen
   Most beautiful things; there were flowers and trees;
   There were bevies of birds, and swarms of bees;
   There were cities with temples and towers, and these
     All pictured in silver sheen.

4.  But he did one thing that was hardly fair;
   He peeped in the cupboard, and, finding there
   That all had forgotten for him to prepare,
     “Now just to set them a-thinking,
   I’ll bite this basket of fruit,” said he,
   “This costly pitcher I’ll burst in three;
   And the glass of water they’ve left for me
     Shall ‘tchick!’ to tell them I’m drinking.”

Definitions.—­l.  Blus’ter-ing, being noisy and loud.  Bus’tle, stir. 2.  Crest, the top.  Quiv’er-ing, trembling, shaking.  Mar’gin, edge, border. 3.  Bev’ies, flocks.  Pic’tured, painted.  Sheen, brightness, splendor of appearance.

Exercises.—­What did the frost say?  What did he do to the mountain?  The trees?  The lake?  What is a “coat of mail”?  What did he do to the window?  The pitcher?

XXI.  WASTE NOT, WANT NOT. (64)

1.  Mr. Jones.  Boys, if you have nothing to do, will you unpack these parcels for me?

2.  The two parcels were exactly alike, both of them well tied up with good whipcord.  Ben took his parcel to the table, and began to examine the knot, and then to untie it.

3.  John took the other parcel, and tried first at one corner, and then at the other, to pull off the string.  But the cord had been too well secured, and he only drew the knots tighter.

4.  John.  I wish these people would not tie up their parcels so tightly, as if they were never to be undone.  Why, Ben, how did you get yours undone?  What is in your parcel?  I wonder what is in mine!  I wish I could get the string off.  I will cut it.

5.  Ben.  Oh, no, do not cut it, John!  Look, what a nice cord this is, and yours is the same.  It is a pity to cut it.

6.  John.  Pooh! what signifies a bit of pack thread?

7.  Ben.  It is whipcord.

8.  John.  Well, whipcord then! what signifies a bit of whipcord?  You can get a piece of whipcord twice as long as that for three cents; and who cares for three cents?  Not I, for one.  So, here it goes.

9.  So he took out his knife, and cut it in several places.

10.  Mr. Jones.  Well, my boys, have you undone the parcels for me?

11.  John.  Yes, sir; here is the parcel.

12.  Ben.  And here is my parcel, father, and here is also the string.

13.  Mr. Jones.  You may keep the string, Ben.

14.  Ben.  Thank you, sir.  What excellent whipcord it is!

15.  Mr. Jones.  And you, John, may keep your string, too, if it will be of any use to you.