When the sun sets the cows come home. Why do they come home at night? I think Ned will drive them home.
See, Ned. See the rain. It rains and rains. Who has an umbrella? "I have," said the robin; And he sat under a leaf. "I have," said the bee; And it went into a flower. "I have," said the little yellow chicken; And it ran under its mother's wing. "I have," said the cow; And she stood under a tree. "Who cares for an umbrella," said Ned; And he ran in the rain.
Well, Ned, where are you going now? Are you going to school? Yes, sir, I go to school at nine o'clock. I go to school every day. What do you do at school? Tell me all the things you do. We read and we write. We look at the pretty pictures. We sing about the flowers. Is that all you do, Ned? Oh, no, no. It is not all. I can't tell you everything we do. Every day we play a little. Every day we read something new. At three o'clock we go home.
Here we are at the brook again. See how fast the water runs. Stand still and hear the brook sing. I hear it, I hear it. What does it say when it sings? It says: I am a little brook. I run, and I sing as I run. I give water to the trees and the grass. I give water to the pretty white lily. The cows come to see me. I give them water to drink. The robins sing to me every morning. The flowers love me. Why do you run all the time, little brook? Where are you going this fine day? I am running to the sea. I run, and still I am always here. Boys and girls like to play by the brook. They find many pretty things. Can you tell what they find? I think they sometimes find a flower. Sometimes they catch a fish in the brook. Good-by, little brook! We will see you again.
I have a box full of sand. My father made the box. My big brother put the sand in it. I can build a house of sand. I put windows and doors in it. It is not a good house to live in.
Will you make me a boat, father? Make a little boat with a sail. Where will you sail your boat, Robert? I will sail it on the brook, father. I will play it is a big, big ship. But I will not let it sail far. The brook shall not carry it away.
Good morning, Bennie. Is Marian at home? Yes, Rose, I think she is in the house. Will you go in? What a pretty home you have! What is Marian doing this morning? She is reading in her new book. She will be glad to see you. I love my home. There is no place like it. Do you know why I think so? Father and mother live here. Sister and brother live here. Our baby lives here. I love them all. They all love me. There is a pretty song about home. We sing it at school. Did you ever hear it? Oh, yes. Shall I sing it to you? "Home, home, sweet, sweet home! Be it ever so humble, There is no place like home." Now, is not that a pretty song? Every child loves to sing it.