Year: 1861

know two little girls away off in Ohio,
who love dearly to hear stories. Often in
the summer twilights they climbed beside
me, upon the sofa, and nestled close to my
side, or, when l sat in the chair, came and
pcrched themselves like little tame birds
upon the broad cushioned arms, or n my
lap, and there pnt their irresistible plea for
n story. Now never thought could tell
stories to children, but when their little
soft cheeks were pressed to mine, and the
careSsing hands and eloquent eyes aided the
pleading Of the lips, could not help trying
Well, tonight ! sat at the table reading.
and | came TO a sentence which made me
think of these TITLE pets and the stories |
used to tell them, aud in a moment more it
seemed as if could see Nelly with her
thoughtful and sensitive face and womauIy
ways, aud Gerty with her clear, honest,
blae eyes and her counlenance changing
with every turn of the story. How
those eyes did open wide with aStonshment
as | read of Jack the Giant Killer or the
Three Little Kittens who lost ther mittenS.
Dear little birds, l said to myself, what
if | should aorite story for them Aud
here it is. Are there any other Nelies or
Gertys who would like to read it?


Oace, not a great while ago, down in
the warm earth there lay q little brown
seed, asleep. How long it had been there
do not know, but one beautiful spring day
it awoke, and heard the call of the sun.
beams playing in the grass above it, and
peeped up It's head to see what they want
ed, and what kind of place they were in
But, once wide awake and up, it was TOO
happy to go TO sleep again in the dark
ground. 50 it fixed itself more firmly in
the soil and grew from day to day, till it
was higher than the grass and clover around
il, and had good many bright shining
leaves At first they were a very light
green but as the season advanced they grew
broad aud dark and rich,


Aud now. what do you think Under
each Of these beautiful leaves there was the
cosiest little cradle, and in it lay tiny baby
leaf 1t didu't look mnch like leaf to be
sure indeed it was SO small | think you
would not know it was there but the warm
sunshine came to il all the summer long,
and smiled upon and caressed it, and the
gentle winds stopped now and then to speak
lovingly aud tell some story Of the places
from which they came, and the sights they
had seen in their way, or to sing some sweet
soothing song as they rocked it to sleep.
Something, too, the white clouds, sailing
along over the tops of the great trees, sent
down gifts Of pure sparkling waterdrops ;
and 50, with the sunlight, and the air, and
rain, and the loving care of its mother leaf
each little bud grew surprisingly. But, 10y
and by, when October came, the old leaves
began to lose their brightness and to lool
very sober, and when the winds came the
shivered aud sighed. aud one by one fell OF
and lay quietly upon the ground. So tht
little leaf buds were left oil alone upon tbt
tree but the good God who takes care 0
little children takes care of the leaves anC
flowers too, and instead of being hurt bJ
the rough winds and winter storms, they
stood strong and ready for the life when
was comig to them in the spring.


Then, when the days were warm aud long
aud the grass upon the hll-sides began 10 oe
green, the doors of the little houses III
which they had laid SO safely all winter
were opened, and they threw oil the tiny
doway coverings 10 which they had been
SO carefully wrapped, aud grew faster than
ever before in thir whole lives. For week


or two they were so small and tender tha


Jack Frost, If be had CHANGED along, coulC