was then! But he did not forget his dream. Old Joe and Bessie had
their gifts, too, and Maurice tried so hard to be helpful that he
made all his friends glad because the happy New Year had come.



Mother Nature's House Cleaning

One morning Mother Nature stood at the door of her house looking
out over the world. King Winter's reign was over and he had gone
back to his home at the North Pole; and Spring was coming over
the hill with her three little helpers to make Mother Nature a
visit.

Let us see who these helpers were. First there was roguish March
with his rosy cheeks, and his curly hair flying in the winds that
blew all about him. Next came Baby April with her apron full of
violets, daffodillies, and green grasses. Part of the time she
smiled sweetly, and part of it she frowned till the big tear
drops chased each other down her cheeks. Last came May, playing
tag with the sunbeams, wandering knee-deep in flowers, and
calling to the birds that sang around her:

Mother Nature watched them coming and murmured, "Such a dirty
world as King Winter has left behind him! It must be cleaned up
before the little girls, April and May, come, but March I am sure
will want to help me do it."

She beckoned to the frolicsome boy who came racing down the hill
to see what she wanted. "I must have some rain to wash away all