Will Charley go a-fishing? 
    Yes, of course he will;
  Fix him out with hook and line,
    And let him try his skill.

[Illustration]

  “Shall I fish for mackerel? 
    Shall I fish for shad?”
  “Pull up any fish that bites,
    That’s a jolly lad!”

A.B.C.

WHAT WE SAW IN THE WOODS.

We were camping out in the woods, not far from the Canada line.  In the party were my brother Tom, Mr. Brisk, who was a sportsman of fame, and uncle Ralph, who hated the sound of a gun.

[Illustration]

One day, as I was roaming through the thick wood, what should I see but a male deer, with branching horns, looking up at the blue sky!

I crept back softly to our tent, and told Mr. Brisk what I had seen.  He seized his gun.  “What’s that you say, Tom?” asked uncle Ralph.  “Only this,” said I; “there is a fine fat deer down by the brook; and, as we are all fond of venison, I think it’s a good chance for Mr. Brisk to get a good shot at him.”

“Oh! that’s it, is it?” said uncle Ralph, while his eyes flashed with mischief.  “By all means let us kill the deer.  Come, Brisk, where’s your gun?”

Mr. Brisk was looking at the barrels and the caps of his gun to see if all was right; then he said to uncle Ralph, “You and Tom had better stay here; for too many of us may startle the deer.”

“Go on,” said uncle Ralph.  “Be quick, or you will lose your chance.”

Mr. Brisk started for the brook, treading carefully, so as not to make a noise.  No sooner was he gone than uncle Ralph seized me by the collar, and said, “Now, you young scapegrace, come along with me, and help me save the life of that deer.”

The old gentleman was in earnest.  He could not bear to see life destroyed, whether of bird or beast.  He lived on vegetables and fruits, and believed that the lower animals have souls.  We took a by-path to the brook, and there found the deer quietly grazing.

Just as Mr. Brisk was preparing to fire, uncle Ralph threw a stone at the deer, and sent him off on a fast gallop through the woods.

“Hallo!  What did you do that for?” asked Mr. Brisk.

“I did it so that you should not have a venison dinner,” said uncle Ralph, laughing.

Mr. Brisk was pretty mad at first; but at last he joined in the laugh, and we all had a good feast on strawberries instead Of Venison.

THOMAS STAFFORD.

[Illustration]

[Illustration]

BABY READING TO HER MOTHER.

  She is tired of her dolly, and tired of her play,
  And she thinks she will read to her mother to-day.

  So, seated on the carpet, this little Kitty Brown
  Reads story after story, though the book is upside down.

M.D.B.

NOW, AND THEN.