Roly-Poly's a man of pleasure:
Sorrow and care are for grown-up stupids:
Pictures and kisses, toys and caresses,
Fondling and fun, for dimpled Cupids.

After the sun has gone out of the south,
The night comes down on his eyelids slowly;
He topples asleep with his thumb in his mouth,--
What an iniquity, Roly-Poly!

OLIVE A. WADSWORTH.




ELSIE'S DUCKS.


Elsie was the daughter of poor parents, who lived on the borders of a
lake. Once, when she was very ill with a fever, a good neighbor made her
a present of three young ducks. Elsie was much pleased, and she soon
began to get well.

Her mother would bring a large tub of water into the room where the
little invalid lay; and the three ducks would swim about, and swallow
the crumbs which Elsie threw to them.

As soon as she got well, she would drive the ducks down to the lake, and
let them swim. They were so tame, that they would come out of the water