SIXTY-SIXTH EVENING

As soon as the children had gathered around Grandma, Belle said, "Wasn't it strange, Grandma? You were telling us about ripe cherries last night, and to-day our teacher taught us a beautiful song, Cherry Ripe'."

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Said Grandma," Won't you and Ben sing it?"

"With pleasure," they replied, and sang

Full and fair ones, come and buy.

"That is part of an old English song," said Grandma. "And you sang it very well."

Then Grandma asked May, "How are all your dollies, May?"

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Very well, thank you, except Margarita, my Spanish doll, you know."

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'Why, what is the matter with her?" asked Belle.

"She has a bad cold, and I am afraid she will sneeze her head off," replied May.

"I don't know about that," said Grandma. "I never heard of a doll sneezing. I have heard of a baby sneezing.'

"Tell us about that," said Ben. And Grandma went on to tell of

THE ISLAND WHERE BABIES GROW.

There's an island way off in the seas,
Where babies grow mostly on trees;
It's the jolliest fun to swing in the sun,
But they have to look out how they sneeze.

They have to look out how they sneeze:
They might break themselves off

With a sneeze or a cough,

And tumble down flop on their knees.

And when the skies darken and wail,

When breezes turn into a gale,

There's a terrible dropping, and flopping, and

hopping

In fact, little babies just hail.

They lie on the ground in a pile,

And people come after a while;

But they quickly pass by the babies that cry,
And pick up the babies that smile—

They even take twins if they smile.

-Albert W. Smith.

"Oh, Grandma! Where is that island?" asked May.

"It's as remote as the Sandman's beaches, May," replied Grandma.

"I wish that dolls grew on trees," went on May.

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Why, May, you have a whole forest full of dolls now!" said Ben.

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No, I haven't," said May. "I have only five: Dutch, Scotch, Spanish, and Japanese dolls, and Aunt Dinah. I should like some Chinese ones, too."

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Well," said Grandma, " those names take you round the earth. Your dolls' family is large enough now, May; don't you think so?"

Before May could reply, Ben exclaimed: Oh, Grandma, look at the clock! Almost nine, and we haven't heard a word this evening of the giant and the tailor."

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They will

"No," replied Grandma. have to wait till to-morrow evening.'

WHERE DO THEY LIVE?

The clock began to strike nine. The children said "Good-night," and walked up-stairs, keeping time to," But-they have to look out how they sneeze."

Grandma's "Good-night" was heard as they reached the top of the stairs.

TO THE PUPILS: Copy the words of "Cherry Ripe." Place the author's name at the end, with a dash in front of it.

TO THE TEACHER: Phonic review, p. 370.