Chapter 1

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No. 109. JANUARY, 1876. Vol. XIX.

THE NURSERY

_A Monthly Magazine_

FOR YOUNGEST READERS.

BOSTON: JOHN L. SHOREY, 36 BROMFIELD STREET. AMERICAN NEWS CO., 119 NASSAU ST., NEW YORK. NEW-ENGLAND NEWS CO., 41 COURT ST., BOSTON. CENTRAL NEWS CO., PHILADELPHIA. WESTERN NEWS CO., CHICAGO.

$1.60 a Year, in advance. A single copy, 15 cents.

Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1875, by JOHN L. SHOREY, in the Office of the Librarian of Congress at Washington.

CONTENTS OF NUMBER ONE HUNDRED AND NINE.

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PAGE CHRISTMAS AT THE NORTH By _Alfred Selwyn_ 1

POMPEY GUARDING BABY By _Master John_ 3

THE PARROT FEEDING ITS YOUNG By _Uncle Charles_ 4

LITTLE RUTH'S PRAYER By _Dora Burnside_ 7

PUSSY GETS A WARNING By _Frank_ 9

"PROUD AS A PEACOCK" By _Anna Livingston_ 10

GRANDMOTHER'S STORY By _Jane Oliver_ 12

CHRISTMAS AT THE SOUTH By _Uncle Harry_ 16

THE CHRISTMAS PRESENTS By _D._ 18

THE PROPER TIME By _Emily Carter_ 19

OUR DOG MILO (_From the German_) 20

THE THREE CALVES By _A. B. C._ 23

"WHY?" By _the author of "Dick and I."_ 25

THE OLD YEAR AND THE NEW 27

A MORNING CALL By _M. L. B. Branch_ 28

"HE DID IT FIRST." By _the author of "Dick and I."_ 30

THE CATS AND THE MOUSE (_Music by T. Crampton_) 32

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EDITOR'S PORTFOLIO.

... A happy New year to all friends and subscribers, old and young! They are sending us such an amount of encouragement, notwithstanding the hard times, that, instead of growing older the coming year, we think we shall grow younger. So do not fear, little ones, that we shall talk too learnedly for you yet awhile.

... See the capital articles by the author of "Dick and I" in this number. They are written in words of one syllable, and are as witty as they are wise and good. Read them, and then hear your little ones read them.

... We need not commend to lovers of art the fine original drawings in this number. That of "Christmas at the North," by Merrill, and that of "Christmas at the South." by Sheppard, of Richmond, are excellent. The drawing of the two dogs by Harrison Weir is also capital.

... The little boys in all parts of the country, who have been asking us so urgently to give a picture of a train of cars, will be glad to learn that Mr. Merrill has drawn a capital one which will appear in our next number.

... There is a great rush for THE NURSERY PRIMER. We can hardly get the books from the binder fast enough to supply the demand. It is no wonder; for no cheaper or better present for a child can be found.

... THE EASY BOOK and the THE BEAUTIFUL BOOK are also in great demand for holiday Gifts.

... Unaccepted articles will be returned to the writers _if stamps are sent with them_ to pay return postage. Manuscripts not so accompanied will not be preserved, and subsequent requests for their return cannot be complied with.

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These New and Beautiful Productions of the Loom are the wonder and admiration of all. They are not only useful as Book Registers, but elegant and tasteful as presents. Each design is woven in silk in various colors, and the views and likenesses are remarkably clear and correct. The engraving here given is a careful reproduction of one of them on a reduced scale, and will give a faint outline of their beauty.

From the large list of mottoes and designs we have made the following selections, which we specially recommend:

~SERIES No. 1. Price 50 Cents Each.~

NO The Busy Bee 76 Little Red Riding-Hood 85 I Love Little Pussy 87 For a Good Girl 88 For a Good Boy 89 Little Boy Blue 90 Little Bo Peep 91 Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star 93 Mistress Mary 94 To my Darling 96 To my Pet 98 To my Favorite 99 Love's Emblem 51 To my dear Cousin 52 Birthday Wish 54 Happy may thy Birthday be 62 A Birthday Blessing 64 Dearest, I love but Thee 66 Forget me not 67 The Lily 68 True Love 69 Compliments of the Season 70 God is Good 73 The Lord my Pasture 74 A Tribute of Affection 77 A Blessing 78 To my dear Brother 79 A Wish 80 Remember Me 81 Unchanging Love 82 To my dear Sister 83 To my dear Father 84 To my dear Mother 86 With best Wishes 100 To one I Love 101

~SERIES No. 2. Price $1.00 Each.~

NO A Birthday Gift 251 Hope the Anchor of the Soul 252 Remember now thy Creator 257 The Ascension 258 A Happy New Year 260 Family Worship 262 The Beatitudes 265 Birthday Blessing 266 Many Happy Returns of the Day 269 Home, Sweet Home 277 I Love Thee 278 The Old Arm Chair 280 The last Rose of Summer 282 The Priceless Gem 288 Unchanging Love 289 True Love 293 A Birthday Wish 295 Remember Me 352 Thy Will be Done 358 Compliments of the Season 359 Forget me not 364 A Happy New Year 367

The above will be sent by mail, postpaid, on receipt of price, by

~JOHN L. SHOREY,~ PUBLISHER OF "THE NURSERY," ~36 Bromfield Street, Boston.~

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~SPECIAL OFFERS TO SUBSCRIBERS.~--Any subscriber now on our list, who shall send us ~$3.20~, in payment for his own renewal and ~one new~ subscription, may select as a premium, any one of the Book-Marks described above in Series No. 1. Or, for ~$4.80~, and ~two new~ subscribers, any Book-Mark in Series No. 2.

CHRISTMAS AT THE NORTH.

Hark! the bells are sounding; Christmas draweth nigh; Now let joy abounding Bid all trouble fly. Ye who pine in sorrow, Come, be cheered to-day; Of our gladness borrow, As you freely may.

First give your attention To our Christmas-tree; But pray do not mention All the things you see: These are for surprises To the children dear,-- To the Anns, Elizas, Johnnys, Charleys here.

Are you hale and hearty, And still young enough? Come, then, join our party, And play blind man's buff. But if with the coasters You would rather be, See them there, the boasters! Join them: you are free.

Hark! the sleigh-bells tinkle: Do you wish a ride? Will it smooth a wrinkle Just to have a slide? See, the road invites you; See, the ponds entice: Take, then, what delights you: Whether snow or ice.

If the path to glory Best your mood befits, If you'd live in story, And can brave hard hits, See, where heroes yonder Storm the fort with balls; Do not stop to ponder: Go where glory calls!

Or, perhaps, the skaters Now attract you most: We are patient waiters-- Will you skate, or coast? Do not fear a tumble; See poor Tommy there! Up, without a grumble, He will never care.

Welcome to our pleasures And our Christmas cheer! We'll not stint the measures: Would you all were here! Boys and girls together,-- From all parts and climes, To enjoy this weather, And these Christmas times!

ALFRED SELWYN.

POMPEY GUARDING BABY.

My real name is Pompey; but Mr. John sometimes calls me Pompous. What he means by that I do not know. Perhaps it is a joke. Mr. John is the eldest brother of Dot, the baby.

I am put here to keep watch over Dot. That is a picture of me as I appear seated on a chair by the side of the cradle where Dot is sleeping.

I am very fond of babies. One reason of it, I think, is, that they cannot hurt me with their little hands. They pull my ears, but not so hard as to give me pain.

Once, on a hot day, when my mouth was open, and my tongue was out, Dot took hold of my tongue, and pulled it as hard as he could. I did not even say _Bow-wow_. I let him pull away.

I would have all people know that this baby is not to be touched while I am here. If you come near to disturb baby, I shall bark; but, if you try to touch him, I shall bite. So be careful. You must not even touch baby's rattle that lies on the floor.

I hear my mistress tell people what a good dog I am, and how she can trust me to take care of baby. Yes, I am proud to say I do my duty. I hold my head up, and keep my eyes wide open. That drawing of me is from a photograph, and is a very good likeness. As I can't write, I have got Master John to write this down for me.

MASTER JOHN.

THE PARROT FEEDING ITS YOUNG.

The parrot is a curious bird. Here is a picture of one feeding its young. It has a large hooked beak, and climbs trees by the aid of its beak and feet.

The plumage of parrots varies in color. I have seen it of a bright green, also, red and gray. These birds were well known to the ancient Greeks and Romans, who got them mostly from India and Africa.

The parrot, as every child knows, can be taught to talk. This power it shares with some other birds whose tongues are thick, round, and almost the same in form as that of the parrot. Starlings, blackbirds, jays, jackdaws, and ravens can imitate the human voice.

The parrot imitates all the noises it hears--the mewing of cats, the barking of dogs, and the cries of birds--as easily as it imitates speech. The parrots brought from Africa seem to prefer imitating the voices of children, and, on that account, more easily receive their education from them.

But the gray parrot imitates the grave tones of older persons. A parrot from Guinea, taught on the voyage by an old sailor, had caught up his hoarse voice and cough perfectly. Afterwards, owned and taught by a young girl, it did not forget the lessons of its first master. It was amusing to hear this bird pass from a soft, girlish voice to his hoarse and sailor-like tone.

Not only has the parrot the power of imitating the human voice, but it seems to wish to do so. This is shown by its attention in listening, and by the efforts it makes to repeat every word. It will often repeat words or sounds that no one has taken the trouble to teach it.

A parrot which had grown old with its master, and shared with him the pains of old age, being used to hear but little more than the words, "I am very ill," when asked, "What is the matter, Polly?" answered in a dismal tone, and stretching itself, "I am very ill."

The language of the parrot is not wanting in ideas. When you ask one if it has breakfasted, it knows well how to answer you, if it has satisfied its hunger. It will not tell you that it has breakfasted when this is not the case: at least, you cannot force it to say "No" when it ought to say "Yes."

I have heard of a parrot, which, when pleased, would laugh most heartily, and then cry out, "Don't make me laugh so! I shall die, I shall die." The bird would also mimic sobbing, and exclaim, "So bad, so bad! got such a cold!" If any one happened to cough, the parrot would remark, "What a bad cold!"

UNCLE CHARLES.

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LITTLE RUTH'S PRAYER.

Stormy and chilly had been the day; Drifts of snow on the sidewalk lay: All who were out in the wintry street Went shivering on with rapid feet; And some were poor, and thinly clad, And wished that a good warm home they had.