"Will you, please, carry us to the land across the sea?" asked the little birds of the first crane. "My back is full," said the crane. "Ask the fourth crane. I think you will find room on his back. Good-bye, little birds." Away he flew over the water, his back covered with little birds. The second crane flew by, and the third one. Their backs, too, were covered with little birds. The fourth one had room for the six fat, fluffy friends. Soon they were all on his back, ready to start. 66 "Are you all ready?" asked the crane. Hold fast, for we shall soon be flying over the water." The little birds held on with bills and claws to the good crane's feathers. The crane rose high over the sands; and soon they were rushing through the air and across the blue water. Before them lay the new land, and the taste of good fat worms. -Selected. "I wish I knew something good to play," said Paul; "something we all could play." 66 Why don't you spin your tops?" asked his mother. "The girls have no tops," said Paul. 66 Why don't you play with dolls?” "We boys have no dolls. Please, mother, give us a play that boys and girls both like.” "Cat and Mouse is a good game," said mother. "Would you like to try that?" "Indeed we should," said all the children. "Tell us how it is played, and let us try, please." "Take hands, and make a ring," said mother. "Creep into the ring, Ethel, and be the mouse. Jo would make a good cat. Stand outside the ring, Jo. "The little mouse must run around in the ring. The old cat must try to creep through and catch her. "The children in the ring must help the mouse. When you see the cat trying to creep through, hold fast and keep him out. "If the cat creeps into the ring, let the mouse creep out. Then the cat must try to run out after the mouse. "When the mouse is caught, the mouse and the cat help make the ring. Then you must choose another cat and another mouse. "Now run, little mouse! Catch her, old cat! Hold fast, children! Here comes the cat!" A little boy once had three goats, Willie, Nannie, and Winkie. All day the goats played and fed on the hillside. They fed on grass and branches of trees. At night the little boy drove them home to sleep. One day when the little boy went after the goats, they would not go home. Nannie jumped into a turnip field, and then Willie and Winkie jumped in, too. The boy sat down and cried. 66 Why do you cry, little boy?" asked a rabbit, who was hopping by. "My goats are in the turnip field and will not go home," said the boy. |