The Young and Field Literary Readers Part 8

He did not get them.

He jumped again.

Still he did not get them.

He jumped again and again.

They were too high.

At last he gave it up and went away.

"I don't want those grapes," he said.

"They are sour grapes. I know they are sour. They are not fit to eat."

POEMS BY MARY MAPES DODGE

FOUR LITTLE BIRDS

Four little birds all flew from their nest-- Flew north, flew south, flew east and west;

They thought they would like a wider view, So they spread their wings and away they flew.

IN THE BASKET

Hark! do you hear my basket Go "kippy! kippy! peek"?

Maybe my funny basket Is learning how to speak.

If you want to know the secret, Go ask the speckled hen, And tell her when I've warmed them I'll bring them back again.

COUSIN JEREMY

He came behind me and covered my eyes; "Who is this?" growled he, so sly.

"Why, Cousin Jeremy, how can I tell, When my eyes are shut?" said I.

LITTLE MISS LIMBERKIN

Little Miss Limberkin, Dreadful to say, Found a mouse in the cupboard Sleeping away.

Little Miss Limberkin Gave such a scream, She frightened the little mouse Out of its dream.

SNOWFLAKES

Little white feathers, Filling the air; Little white feathers, How came you there?

"We came from the cloud birds Sailing so high; They're shaking their white wings Up in the sky."

Little white feathers, How swift you go!

Little white snowflakes, I love you so!

"We are swift because We have work to do; But hold up your face, And we'll kiss you true."

HOLLYHOCK

Hollyhock, hollyhock, bend for me; I need a cheese for my dolly's tea.

I'll put it soon on an acorn plate, And dolly and I shall feast in state.

GERMAN FAIRY TALES

THE LITTLE PINE TREE

Once a little pine tree grew in a valley.

It was covered with needles that were always beautiful and green.

But it did not like the needles.

The little tree said:

"All the other trees in the woods have beautiful leaves, but I have only needles. I do not like needles. I wish I could have leaves. But I should like to be more beautiful than the other trees. I should not like green leaves. I should like gold leaves."

The little tree went to sleep.

A fairy happened to be pa.s.sing and said to herself:

"This little pine tree would like gold leaves. It shall have them."

Next morning the tree woke up and found that it was covered with leaves of s.h.i.+ning gold.

"How beautiful!" said the tree. "No other tree has gold leaves!"

Soon a man came by with a bag.

He saw the gold leaves.

He ran to the little pine tree and began to pull them off and to put them into his bag.

He pulled them all off and carried them away.

The little pine tree was bare.