[Illustration]
Little Posy Pinkham always declared her cat un-der-stood what she said.
I could tell little children many things to show that house-cats and
house-dogs _do_ un-der-stand _much_ that is said, and some day I will.
One morning Posy came running downstairs, eager to tell her mama what she
had dreamed, and Posy’s cat at once pricked up her ears to listen, for
she, too, had had a dream. Any child who watches a cat asleep knows cats
dream.
“What makes me dream, mama?” asked Posy.
“O, things you talk about, hear about, and think about.”
“_Meow-wow! ou-ou-wow!_” remarked Posy’s cat. She was saying that now she
understood the reason of her own dream.
Posy’s cat had a very short, stubby tail, while she liked very much
better to see long glossy tails, and wished every day of her life that
her tail was long and handsome.
In her dream she was sitting on the gate-post, and had a long glossy tail
that reached all the way down and lay on the ground, and was so beautiful
that rats came into the yard to look at it and admire it.
“I wish dreams could come true,” said Posy.
[Illustration: THE DREAM.]
“_Ow-wow-ow!_” said Posy’s cat; that meant, “_I_ do too.”
_Laura Hewells._
* * * * *
[Illustration]
B stands for Bob,
For Bob the Bad;
And then, the funny letter,
It stands for Bob,
Just as before,
When he is Bob the Better.
The Going of the Swallows.
[Illustration: DIRECTIONS.—During the singing of the first two verses,
the children enter march and countermarch singly, darting crossing and
wheeling as suggested by the song. Between verses, they gather and sit in
line as swallows gather on the ridge of barn roofs or on telegraph wires,
previous to migratory flight. During the singing of the third verse, the
children gather in line forming a solid body, two leaders somewhat in
advance. During the singing of the fourth verse, the children, keeping
close together, march around the room and out through the door, the
mother or teacher waving farewells.]
(_Mother or Teacher sings_:)
What does disturb the Swallows?
They come from everywhere!
Criss-cross, zig-zag, and circle,
Like bees they fill the air—
What is it, little Swallows?
(_Children sing_:)
We have had word,
Each little bird,
To gather
Together!
(_Mother sings_:)
What was the word, O Swallows,
That it disturbs you so,
That all day long in trouble
You hurry to and fro?
What is it, little Swallows?
(_Children sing_:)
We have had word,
Each little bird,
Of blowing!
Of snowing!
(_Mother sings_:)
Ah, ’tis the winter-warning!
No Swallow will delay!
You’ll take to-night the long-flight,
A thousand miles away,
To find the sunny Southland!
(_Children sing_:)
Goeth each bird,
As it hath word,
From Northland
To Southland!
[Illustration]
(_Mother sings_:)
Goodbye, then, little Swallows!
Safe fly you, little band!
A happy winter to you
Down in the southern land!
But come again, dear Swallows!
(_Children sing_:)
Yea—when each bird
Heareth the word
To fly forth
And fly North!