When Ellie waked in the morning there was the little kit looking in at her. Ellie thought she said, "Mew, mew! Do let me come to you!" And she made haste to let her in, you may be sure!
```For you look like a Shetland pony, Ted,
```And he thought, "I hate a barber's chair,
```Till one whole side of his little pate
```And he glanced at the uncut side, and said,
```Brown elf-locks covering half, and half
|The magpie is very watchful and cunning. Its colors are black, white, and blue, and its cry is harsh and unpleasing. Its tail, which is always in motion, is quite long, and its flight is heavy because of the shortness of its wings.
It builds its nest in high trees, towers, and church-steeples. The nest is made of strong twigs and is plastered inside with mud. It lays six or seven eggs, whitish gray in color, mottled and dashed with black.
The magpie is easily tamed, is a good mimic, and can be taught to say a few words; but when tamed it is apt to become too familiar. It is a great thief, and will cany off small articles, especially such as sparkle. Thimbles, ear-rings, silver spoons, bows of ribbon, and pieces of lace have been often found in the nest of the magpie. Children and servants have been charged with taking them, when the magpie was the real thief.
A lady once owned a pet magpie. It would perch upon her shoulders and thrust its bill between her lips, to feed her with ripe cherries, just as she sometimes fed him. But what was her surprise and disgust when one day, instead of a cherry, he dropped a large green fat worm into her mouth.
|I went over to Mrs. Good's to spend the day. I did not know there was to be a circus that day. After dinner Mrs. Good said it was time to go to the circus.
Mrs. Good had ten children. They were all going to the circus but the eldest.
The circus ring was under the big oak. On one side were chairs and benches to sit on; on the other side were animals in cages.
Walter Good was the showman. He took us around to see the animals. He was a good showman.
"Here," said lie, "is the beautiful ostrich of Arabia. Its wings are too small to fly with, but they help it in running. Look at its long legs. The ostrich can run faster than any horse except our Selim. Its feathers are used to trim hats. They cost a great deal. My sister cannot afford to buy one for her hat."