106 A FUNNY TKEE, COVERED WITH SNOW-FLAKES. 



more cheerful ; their voices of gladness would ring out so 

 much more joyously in the morning, and their songs be so 

 much more sweet at night. 



I remember an anecdote told me of a little child, born in 

 the great metropolis, who had never, until her fifth summer, 

 been outside of the paved streets of New York. Her 

 mother had friends residing in one of the up-river towns, 

 owning a beautiful farm overlooking the Hudson, and in 

 early May she paid them a visit, taking her little daughter 

 with her. Mary, of course, was delighted. Like a bird 

 freed from its cage, she flew about here, there, everywhere, 

 in-doors and out, among the chickens and the pigs, the 

 turkeys and the lambs, enjoying to the full the thousand 

 new things that her eyes rested upon all around her, and 

 her young spirits in wild commotion under the bracing 

 influences of the country air. " Mother ! mother I" she 

 exclaimed, as she came dashing into the parlor, her beauti- 

 ful curls floating wildly over her shoulders, and her bright 

 eyes wide open with wonder ; " Mother 1 mother ! come 

 out here, quick 1 and see this funny tree, all covered over 

 with snow-flakes, and how sweet it smells all around it." It 

 was a plum tree in full blossom. That little child had 

 never seen the beautiful spring blossoms on the fruit 

 trees. 



" I have no children of my own," remarked Smith, " and, 

 therefore, may not be regarded as the best authority in 

 regard to the manner of treating, or rearing children ; but 

 I have often wondered at the very great mistakes people 



