Part 13 (1/2)

I'm the finest rain-drop you ever did see: I have lived ten seconds at least on ain

”All the little rain-drops unto me run, I watch them and catch them and suck them up each one: All the pretty children stand and at est drop there'”

”Yet you are but a drop,” the small drop replied; ”I don't er you swell up,--we knoell, my friend,-- The faster you run down the sooner you'll end

”Forthe patter of rain in the hedge; Looking at the firelight and the children fair,-- Whether they look at me, I'm sure I don't care”

”Sir,” cried the first drop, ”your talk is but dull; I can't wait to listen, for I'm almost full; You'll run a race with est drop in the whole pane”

Off ran the big drop, at first rather slow: Then faster and faster, as drops will, you know: Raced down the -pane, like hundreds before, Just reached the -sill--one splash--and was o'er

THE YEAR'S END

SO grows the rising year, and so declines By months, weeks, days, unto its peaceful end Even as by slow and ever-varying signs Through childhood, youth, our solemn steps we bend Up to the crown of life, and thence descend

Great Father, who of every one takest care, Fro babe, just taught to lisp a prayer About the ”Gentle Jesus,once hirow; More pure and good, more dutiful and meek; Because He loves those who obey Hi to seek, Because without His love, all loves are weak,--

All earthly joys are oodness quickly droops and dies, Like rootless flowers you plant in gardens--sure That they will flourish--till in mid-day skies The sun burns, and they fade before your eyes

O God, who art alone the life and light Of this strange world to which as babes we coht: Guide us froloom And at our year's end, Father, take us home

RUNNING AFTER THE RAINBOW

”WHY thus aside your playthings throw, Over the wet lawn hurrying so?

Where are you going, I want to know?”

”I' after the rainbow”

”Little boy, with your bright brown eyes Full of an innocent surprise, Stop a minute, my Arthur wise, What do you ith the rainbow?”

Arthur paused in his headlong race, Turned to hisface, ”Mother, I want to reach the place At either end of the rainbow

”Nurse says, wherever it s may oft be found Buried below, or scattered round, If one can but catch the rainbow

”O please don't hinder one while I stay here;”

So with many a hope and not one fear, The child ran after the rainbow

Over the da up the hilly steep, And the here the birds were going to sleep, But he couldn't catch the rainbow

And when he caolden pride, There were plenty of clouds all rainbow dyed, But not a sign of the rainbow

Said Arthur, sobbing, as hoht what mother meant; I wish I had only been content, And not ran after the rainbow”