"'Tis very cruel, too,"
Said little Alice Neal;
"I wonder if he knew

How sad the bird would feel!"

A little boy hung down his head,
And went and hid behind the bed;
For HE stole that pretty nest
From poor little yellow-breast;
And he felt so full of shame,
He did not like to tell his name.

"D

XXXIV.

BESSIE BELL.

EAR mother, why do all the girls
Love little Bessie Bell?

I've often thought it o'er and o'er,
And yet I can not tell.

My favorite cousin always was

Dear, gentle cousin Bess;
But why the girls all love her so,
Indeed I can not guess.

"She's not so pretty, half, as Kate,
Her hair don't curl like mine;
Candies and cakes she never brings
To school, like Caroline.

She has no garden large and fine,
Like Amy, Grace, and Jane;
No coach, like Rose, to take us home,
When falls the snow or rain."

"They hear her gentle voice, my child,

And see her mild, soft eye, Beaming around on every one With love and sympathy. They see her striving every hour

For others' happiness;

These are some reasons why the girls

So love dear little Bess.

"Her widowed mother's heart she cheers By love and tenderness,

And by her daily walk with God,

And growth in holiness.

Sweet Bessie is a Christian child,

She loves the Saviour dear;
One of the lambs of His own flock,
She has no want or fear.

"Money which other children spend
In candies, toys, and cake,
She carries to the poor and sick-

She loves them for Christ's sake.

Poor old blind Dinah down the lane, She reads to every day,

And ne'er forgets it-though dear Bess Is very fond of play.

"And now, my little daughter dear,
Would you be loved like Bess?
Go, ask of God to change your heart
From pride and sinfulness.

Better than beauty, rank, or gold,
To be like little Bess,

Clothed in the spotless garment
Of the Saviour's righteousness."

Youth's Penny Gazelle.

XXXV.

DEEDS OF KINDNESS.

UPPOSE the little cowslip
Should hang its golden cup,
And say, 'I'm such a tiny flower,
I'd better not grow up;'
How many a weary traveller
Would miss its fragrant smell!
How many a little child would grieve
To lose it from the dell !

"Suppose the glistening dew-drops
Upon the grass should say,
'What can a little dew-drop do?
I'd better roll away;'

The blade on which it rested,

Before the day was done, Without a drop to moisten it Would wither in the sun.

"Suppose the little breezes Upon a summer's day,

Should think themselves too small to cool The traveller on his way;

Who would not miss the smallest

And softest ones that blow,

And think they made a great mistake If they were talking so?

"How many deeds of kindness A little child may do,

Although it has so little strength,

And little wisdom too!

It needs a loving spirit,

Much more than strength, to prove How many things a child may do For others, by its love."

XXXVI.

BUTTERCUPS AND DAISIES.

B

UTTERCUPS and Daisies

Oh! the

pretty flowers!

Coming ere the spring-time,

To tell of sunny hours.
While the trees are leafless,

While the fields are bare,

Buttercups and Daisies

Spring up everywhere.

Little hardy flowers,

Like to children poor,
Playing in their sturdy health,

By their mother's door;

Purple with the north-wind,
Yet alert and bold,
Fearing not, and caring not,
Though they be a-cold.

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,
And patient hearts to bear.