Cinderella | Page 9

"That's just the
very thing I want," Said he unto himself.
He caught the turkey, but the cook Caught him with firmer grasp, And
shook him till he could not bark But only choke and gasp.
Meanwhile, those hungry animals, Who'd waited there in vain,
Declared they never would be guest Of Mr. Pug again.

GUY AND THE BEE
One day a jolly bumble-bee, In coat of black and yellow, Got caught
inside a window-pane; The silly little fellow.
He buzzed and buzzed against the glass, To Guy's great enjoyment,
Who thought to watch this funny thing Was just the best employment.
But soon to touch those gauzy wings, Became Guy's great desire,
Although mama had told him that A bee could sting like fire.
But Guy, silly as the bee, Paid no heed to mama, He touched the bee,
then gave a howl Which could be heard afar.
Mama a soothing poultice mixed, And on his finger laid. "Another time
you'll be more wise," Was everything she said.

A MEAN BOY.
Harry Burton woke one night and heard a strange noise in his closet.
He got out of bed, crossed the floor in his bare feet, and carefully
opened the closet door. The noise stopped, instantly.
"Ah!" said Harry, "I knew it was mice made that noise. How I wish I
could catch them."

The next morning he told his mother about the noises he had heard.
"I will get you a mouse-trap," she said.
"I don't want the kind that kills the mice, I only want to catch them and
tame them," said Harry.
His mother laughed and told him when he had tamed his mice he must
keep them well out of her way.
The trap was set, the mice were caught, and sure enough, in a short
time were so tame they would eat from Harry's hand. He made a little
house for them, and kept in it his bedroom. Whenever he went out, he
always shut the door carefully.
Now it happened that among Harry's acquaintances, there was one very
disagreeable boy. His name was Dick Taft. Harry did not play with him
very often, for he was so ugly it was hard to get along with him.
Dick never liked to be beaten at any game, and sometimes made it very
uncomfortable for the one who got ahead of him.
One day Harry happened to beat him at one of their school games. Dick
called after him when it was over, "I'll pay you for this, see if I don't."
Harry only laughed as he walked away going in the opposite direction
from his own house.
When he was out of sight, Dick ran to Harry's house, made some
excuse to go up in his bedroom, and let in the big cat, who was eagerly
watching outside.
When Harry came home, the mouse house was open, and not one of his
pets was to be seen. The poor fellow was almost heart-broken. He
asked every one in the house who had left his door open. The maid told
him she thought it must have been that boy he sent up to his room.
She described the boy, and Harry knew in a moment that it was Dick
Taft.
"So that is the way he paid me for beating him at a game," cried Harry.
"Well, never again, so long as I live, will I play with a boy who is mean
enough to do such a trick as that."
And he kept his word.

A NAUGHTY PUMPKIN'S FATE.
A queer little pumpkin, a jolly fat fellow, Stood close to his mother so
rotund and yellow. "What a stupid old place! how I long to aspire,"
Cried he, "I was destined for something much higher."

"My son," said the mother, "pray do be content, There's great
satisfaction in life that's well spent!" But he shrugged up his shoulders,
this pumpkin, 't is true, And acted just like some bad children will do.
With a shout and a whoop, in the garden they ran, Tom and Ned, for
they'd thought of the loveliest plan To astonish their friends from the
city, you see, With a fine Jack-o'-lantern--"Ah, this one suits me!"
Neddie seized the bad pumpkin, and dug out his brains, Till he felt so
light-headed and brimful of pains; Then two eyes, a long nose, and a
mouth big and wide, They cut in a minute, and laid him aside
Until night, when they hung him upon a stout limb, With a candle
inside; how his poor head did swim, As they twisted him this way, then
twirled him round that, Till at last, with a crash, he fell on the ground
flat,
A wreck of the once jolly, fat little fellow, Who stood