their mossy nest. The early notes of the wood-thrush and song-sparrow, with
the tender warbling of the tiny wren, sounded sweetly in the still, dewy
morning air; while from a cedar swamp was heard the trill of the green
frogs, which the squirrels thought very pretty music. As the sun rose above
the tops of the trees, the mist rolled off in light fleecy clouds, and soon
was lost in the blue sky, or lay in large bright drops on the cool grass
and shining leaves. Then all the birds awoke, and the insects shook their
gauzy wings which had been folded all the night in the flower-cups, and the
flowers began to lift their heads, and the leaves to expand to catch the
golden light. There was a murmur on the water as it played among the
sedges, and lifted the broad floating leaves of the white water-lilies,
with their carved ivory cups; and the great green, brown, and blue
dragon-flies rose with a whirring sound, and darted to and fro among the
water flowers.

It is a glorious sight to see the sun rise at any time, for then we can
look upon him without having our eyes dazzled with the brightness of his
beams; and though there were no men and women and little children, in the
lonely waters and woods, to lift up their hands and voices in prayer and
praise to God, who makes the sun to rise each day, yet no doubt the great
Creator is pleased to see his creatures rejoice in the blessings of light
and heat.

Lightly running down the rugged bark of the old oak-tree, the little
squirrels bade farewell to their island home--to the rocks, mosses, ferns,
and flowers that had sheltered them, among which they had so often chased
each other in merry gambols. They thought little of all this, when they
launched themselves on the silver bosom of the cool lake.

"How easy it is to swim in this clear water!" said Silver-nose to her