CELEBRATING GRANDMOTHER'S BIRTHDAY.


There were three little sisters and one little brother; and their names
were Emma, Ruth, Linda, and John. And these children had a grandmother,
whose seventieth birthday was near at hand.

"What shall we do to celebrate our dear grandmother's birthday?" asked
Emma, the eldest.

"Get some crackers and torpedoes, and fire them off," said Johnny.

"Oh, that will never do!" cried Linda. "Let us give her a serenade."

"But we none of us sing well enough," said Ruth; "and grandmother, you
know, is a very good musician. Let us do this: Let us come to her as the
'Four Seasons,' and each one salute her with a verse."

"Yes: that's a very pretty idea," cried Linda. "And I'll be Spring; for
they say my eyes are blue as violets."

"Then I'll be Summer," cried Emma. "I like summer best."

"I'll be Autumn," said Johnny; "for, if there's any thing I like, it is
grapes. Peaches, too, are not bad; and what fun it is to go a-nutting!"

"There's but one season left for me," said Ruth. "I must be Winter. No
matter! Winter has its joys as well as the rest."