[Illustration: THE GREAT SAND FORT.]
Two little tots were out at play—
And it was Independence Day;
One said, “I wis’ us bofe was boys!
I do dess feel bang-full of noise!”
The other tossed her little head;
“O dirls is dess as dood,” she said;
“We’ll build a gwate big fort of sand
To guard dis gwate Amer’can land!”
They built and built without a stop;
And when ’twas done, right at the top
Their little flag they grandly flew,
And cheered the old red, white and blue.
All worn, all torn, a playhouse rag,
To them it was their country’s flag!
“Hoowaw for Independence Day!
Hoowaw!” they cried, and ran away.
_Ella Farman Pratt._
[Illustration: THE NIMBLE PENNIES.
Draw a small circle (around a small cent), then a large circle directly
below and behind it (around a large copper cent, or two-cent piece, or
silver quarter), as in the first and second designs. Then add the lines
in the following designs, and a big lion will sit staring at you.]