ARBOR DA Y MANUAL. 



175 



THE CUNNING OLD CROW. 



ON the limb of an oak sat a cunning old crow, 

 And chatted away with glee, 

 As he saw the old farmer go out to so\v, 

 And he cried, " It's all for me ! 



" Look, look, how he scatters his seeds around ; 



How wonderfully kind to the poor ! 

 If he'd empty it down in a pile on the ground, 

 I could find it much better, I'm sure ! 



" I've learned all the tricks of this wonderful man, 



Who has such regard for the crow 

 That he lays out his grounds in a regular plan, 

 And covers his corn in a row. 



" He must have a very great fancy for me ; 



He tries to entrap me enough, 

 But I measure his distance as well as he, 

 And when he comes near, I'm off." 



THE SEASONS. 



WHAT does it mean when the blue bird flies 

 Away o'er the hills, singing sweet and clear? 

 When violets peep through the blades of grass ? 

 These are the signs that Spring time is here. 



What does it mean when the plums are ripe ? 



And butterflies flit and honey bees hum ? 

 When cattle stand under the shady trees ? 



These are the signs that Summer is here. 



What does it mean when the crickets chirp, 



And off to the south-land the wild geese steer? 



When apples are falling and nuts are brown ? 

 These are the signs that Autumn is here. 



What does it mean when the days are short ? 



When leaves are all gone, and the brooks are dumb ? 

 When meadows are white with the drifting snow ? 



These are the signs that Winter has come. 



M. E. N. HATHEWAY. 



