But in the corner between the two houses, at the cold hour of early morning, sat the little match-girl, with rosy cheeks, and with a smiling mouth, leaning against the wall, half covered with snow, and frozen to death on that last night of the old year. Of her matches one bundle had been burned. "She has been trying to warm herself," people said. But no one knew what beautiful things she had seen, as she entered, with her grandmother, into the joys of a New Year. FOR PRACTICE IN ARTICULATION. 1. Drill carefully in pronouncing the th (vocal) in these Drill carefully in pronouncing th (sharp) in these words. LESSON XIX. bridge spăr'row tun'nel Morris Plains My Dear Susie: Parsippany, N. J., June 20, 1888. We left the city yesterday for the country. We hope to remain eight weeks. How pleasant the change was, as the train moved out of the dusty city-streets into the open country! We went slowly through the tunnel, and over the bridge; then we moved faster and faster, till trees, fences, and houses seemed flying past us. One hour brought us to Morris Plains. Grandpa was waiting for us with the wagon. We were soon on our way to the old farmhouse. Grandpa looks very well. Wild The fields are bright with daisies. roses peep through the fences by the wayside, like the sweet faces of little children. When we reached the brow of the hill, I saw the tops of the dear old trees-the button-balls, we always called them! There hangs the old swing; but Aunt Kate has had it mended with new ropes. It will be safer than it was last summer, when Jay took that ride through the air and landed so suddenly in the road. Aunt Kate and Grandma asked at once when Susie was coming. This morning I awoke early. The birds were chirping; the air was fresh and clear. I got up, dressed, and sat down by the open window. The birds seemed to be everywhere;-on the lawn, in the trees, upor the bushes, and hopping over the garden beds. There were robins, blue-birds, yellow-birds, and others, all motion and song. Where do they go later in the day; for one sees and hears only the noisy sparrows? Grandpa says the sparrows chase the other birds away, and kill their young ones. But their worst foe is the gentle lady who loves to hear them sing. She will buy their poor, pretty bodies, or their wings and wear them on her bonnet. She forgets that a sweet little singer is made silent forever; that a happy life is taken away, because she is vain. I, for one, will not wear birds upon my hat. But my letter is long. I hope to see you soon; so, "good-bye". With love to all, from all of us, I am Yours sincerely, NELLIE. BUTTERCUPS AND DAISIES. Buttercups and daisies, Oh, the pretty flowers! Buttercups and daisies Spring up here and there. Little hardy flowers, Like to children poor, Fearing not and caring not, What to them is weather? What are stormy showers ? Buttercups and daisies Are these human flowers! He who gave them hardship, And a life of care, Gave them likewise hardy strength, God is a small word, but there is all in it; all faith and all morals. Nearly all the great truths can be put in a small space, and they need not big words to tell them. His laws are said in a few words. The same words that the child learns are the same that the man needs to guide his mind and heart; for a man is only a big child. God tells the child not to swear nor lie nor steal. These are small small words, yet they are big with meaning, and |