If nature goes on with her first great plan;
If water, or fire, or some fatal snare
Conspire not to rob us of this, our heir.
Our blessing, our trouble, our rest, our care;
Our torment, our joy--
"Only, a boy."


[Illustration]

JOHNNY AND THE TOAD.


Johnny.
I want to go to school,
And he won't let me pass.
I think that a toad
Ought to keep to the grass.
I don't want to cry,
But I'm afraid I'm going to;
Oh, dear me!
What am I to do?
Toad.
Here's a dreadful thing!
A boy in the way;
I don't know what to do,
I don't know what to say.
I can't see the reason
Such monsters should be loose;
I'm trembling all over,