Leaves for a Christmas Bough Part 6

There was a brown squirrel on a tree, Hopping about so merrily; And spying below some children near, Said, "I wonder what they're doing here?"

Busy they brought both stones and sticks, And ovens and fires they tried to fix, Grand parlors too, sprang up beside, Their greatest work, their greatest pride!

And there were Emma, and w.i.l.l.y, and Molly, All so bright, and merry, and jolly; With Charley too, and roguish Dan, Named for the great New Hamps.h.i.+re man.

Says Bunny, "I'll try if I can see Anything there, will do for me;"

So slyly he peeped from his high seat, As they were munching their luncheon treat.

Says Molly to w.i.l.l.y and rosy Ju, "Here's a piece of cake for both of you;"

And in the suns.h.i.+ne they cosily sat, Eating and talking childish chat.

But pretty soon their play was o'er, And each went in at the school-room door; Then down came Bunny and ate their crumbs, And then sat coolly wiping his thumbs.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Bough]

A STORY FOR LIZZIE.

A little sparrow who had been very carefully, reared by her mother, was one day permitted to go off by herself to see a little of the great world. Delighted with her freedom, she hopped from bough to bough, and finally alighted near a school-house.

Kindly voices met her ears, and friendly faces soon came out to watch her motions. Without fear of molestation, she picked up the bread and cake scattered round, and eyed the children with her bright black eyes.

Soon after she came again, bringing a little mate; and together they chirped their thanks, and for a long time were regular and welcome visitors.

One morning, feeling less timid than usual, one of them hopped into the school-room, watching everything with a keen interest; but thinking he might intrude, he flew away, very much pleased with the song the children sung to him. It is so pretty, we will sing it now for those who did not hear it on that occasion.

[From the School Singer.]

"With your singing, Pleasure bringing, Come sweet lovely bird again; Winter sighing Off is hieing, Joy again with you shall reign.

Fruits and berries, Plums and cherries, Now shall be your welcome meat; Come to cheer us, Do not fear us, Glad indeed your songs we'll greet.

None shall harm you, None alarm you, Sacred be your dear retreat; Love shall guard you, Love reward you, For your music pure and sweet.

Oh how hateful, How ungrateful, He who would disturb your rest!

No dear treasure, Wake your measure, Softly may you cheer my breast."

THE GERMAN MUSICIANS.

On a dark, rainy day, two weary-looking street minstrels took shelter from the storm, under the projecting roof of a horse shed. Not far from the place stood a small but pretty school-house, in which might be seen a group of bright-faced and busy children; some conning their lessons, some reciting with earnest attention, and others rejoicing with childhood's happy freedom from care, at a temporary release from some expected recitation.

The teacher, during the intervals of occupation, spied out the poor wanderers, and feeling a desire to help them, she concluded to invite them into the school-room, after receiving a promise from the sympathizing circle, that the interruption should not interfere in the least with their studies. Accordingly, the foreigners, who had begun to find their covering insufficient against the drenching rain, very gladly accepted the invitation, and modestly took their places at the farther end of the apartment.

Many bright and inquisitive eyes were turned upon them; but remembering their promise, the children again turned their prompt attention to their various exercises, and while the strangers were busily engaged with some books and a slate, they soon accomplished their required duties.

As a reward for their attention, they were allowed at recess to listen to several gay tunes upon the organ, accompanied by the tambourine, and very soon their lively feet joined in a merry dance. After this irrepressible ebullition of their glee, they each played a tune themselves, and when fully satisfied, voluntarily presented the tired ones with donations from their luncheon baskets, and with flowers that decked the room.

With these the boy made a wreath for his sister's head, but the girl adorned the little image of the virgin placed upon the organ; and then after a few entreaties, they both sang some German songs. In return the scholars sang their prettiest pieces from the "School Singer," and at any familiar melody, the faces of the listeners beamed with pleasure and delight. Before the group was dismissed for home, the boy asked for a pen and paper; and during the time he was left alone, he wrote the following history of himself and his pretty sister for the teacher and her scholars.

"My name is Hendrik Glaubenstein, and I am fourteen years old. My sister Gertruyd, who is as good as an angel, is just sixteen. We have left our poor old father and mother in Germany, and have come to this happy country to make money.

I went to school every winter, and in summer I staid at home on account of work; but after it was done, my sister and I studied together, sometimes in the fields, sometimes in our little cabin. My sister earned all she could by spinning yarn and knitting stockings, which I took once a fortnight to the nearest town to sell. In the mean time I earned all I could, by driving the sheep of a rich neighbor of ours to pasture.

But somehow or other, we did not get along, as well as we wanted to; and we always found it difficult to get the rent ready for our landlord, who was cruel and bad tempered. What to do we did not know, so I had at last to give up my winter's schooling, to do errands for a little money.

Finally I bought me an organ, and with that I continued to pick up something at the Fairs; and I often had a kind word from the ladies and gentlemen, who would listen to me and give me silver pieces. At home my sister always sang with me when I practised, and we could make different parts to our music. I begged her to go with me sometimes, for I knew we could get more money if she would help me with her voice. But she said she could not leave our poor old mother, so I wandered round alone.

In one of my journeys, I met a lad who said he was going to America, and he told me if I would go too, I should make money fast, and we should come home rich men. I told my sister all about this, and she thought it would be a good plan, but that I should not go alone, for I was too young.

After waiting a little while, we got our sister Liesle and her husband Klaus, to come and live with mother, and then we made ready to leave as fast possible. As soon as we could get enough money to pay our pa.s.sage, with many tears we bade good-bye to all at home; and then with prayers to the good G.o.d, we travelled on foot through France, till we reached the sea-sh.o.r.e. Here, we were stowed away in the great hold of the s.h.i.+p, with many other poor companions; and sometimes we were sick, and sometimes we were hungry, for we did not bring enough victuals to last us all our voyage. But Gertruyd was so pleasant to the others, helping the women to take care of their babies, and often singing her pretty songs, that every one gave us something, and we managed to get along.

When we reached New York we were in great trouble, for we knew n.o.body, and had no home to go to; but the good G.o.d took care of us, and made a kind lady notice us standing alone on the Battery. We told her our wants, and after giving us a supper and a nice bed for the night, she sent us to some poor Germans, where we staid till we had learned a little of the American language.

We did very well for a while, singing together, while my sister played upon the tambourine; but soon there were so many other organ players in the streets, that we thought we would go to some other towns near by. We went all through New York, and now we are going to travel over your pleasant State, and if we do well we can go home in two years. Then I shall buy a farm, and a cow for our dear old mother and father, and then we can all live together as happy as princes. Gertruyd can marry our friend Cornelius, for though he is poor, she has always liked him.

Many good people have offered us both nice places; but I like my organ too well to give it up, and my sister will not leave me for never so fine a home, because she promised mother to take care of me always. We live on as little as possible, and dress in very poor clothes so as to save all we can; for we say, no one will care how we look, if we are only tidy and honest, and make trouble for n.o.body.

The Virgin Mother, to whom we have erected a shrine in our organ, smiles upon us, and will keep us from all harm, so we need fear nothing. We are both well contented with little; and as long as we do not lose our voices, we can make several dollars a day, and so we are happy. Good-bye to you, and the kind-hearted children who have been so pleasant to us, and that G.o.d will bless you all, is the prayer of Hendrik and his sister Gertruyd."

[Ill.u.s.tration: Doves]

LETTER FROM A LITTLE GIRL TO AN ABSENT SCHOOL-MATE.

SUNNY SIDE.

MY DEAR LILY:

As you were so kind as to remember me at Christmas, I will write you a letter about our other yearly festival, the "May-day Coronation." Of course, you remember many of our pleasant gatherings, at different rural spots, on that occasion. But I do not think we ever had a pleasanter time than this year at May Mount; for so we christened the place where we had our party.

Early in the morning, we voted for the Queen, and after every one had written their choice on the big slate, we found that Annie was unanimously elected. We were all delighted, as she had been so long separated from us, and then she chose her maids of honor and two pages.

We selected some pretty songs, and all rehea.r.s.ed the pieces of poetry we intended for our Queen; then we were very busy finis.h.i.+ng off moss baskets, and making bouquets and wreaths for the procession.

We had two beautiful banners, all trimmed round with evergreen; one had on it, "All Hail, thou lovely May;" and the other, "Sweet Spring has come." We also twined a tall May-pole with evergreen and put on the top a great wreath of daffies. For a throne we had an armchair, and on each side two large bouquets of flowers. These were sent us from Boston, besides three beautiful wreaths for the Queen and her maids of honor.

The wild flowers were so plentiful, that we had very pretty wreaths for all the subjects too, which we cannot say every year.

At two o'clock we all started, each one carrying baskets of refreshments for the table, which was to be laid in pic-nic style. We had a great deal of fun walking over to the place, for the wind blew quite strong, and we had as much as we could do to get all our things safely to Riverdale. After we arrived in the little wood, we chose a green mound for the throne, and spread carpets round for fear of dampness; and then, while the young ladies made the arrangements for the celebration, we scampered off for wild flowers.

The boys were just as full of fun as they could be, and one of them caught a little snake and chased us; but we did not mind any thing, we felt so happy ourselves. One of the girls tore her dress, and another fell out of the swing, which one of the gentlemen kindly put up for us; but we determined to laugh at everything.