398 NATURE STUDY. 



Our earth such homage pays, 

 So decks her dusty ways, 

 And keeps such holidays, 

 For one, and only one." 



LOWELL. 



DOWN TO SLEEP. 



'* I never knew before what beds, 



Fragrant to smell, and soft to touch, 

 The forest sifts and shapes and spreads ; 

 I never knew before how much 

 Of human sound there is in such 

 Low tones as through the forest sweep 

 When all wild things lie i down to sleep.' 



Each day I find new coverlids 



Tucked in, and more sweet eyes shut tight. 



Sometimes the viewless mother bids 

 Her ferns kneel down full in my sight. 

 I hear their chorus of ' Good-night ; ' 



And half I smile and half I weep, 



Listening while they lie 4 down to sleep. 1 " 



HELEN HUNT JACKSON, 



How THE LEAVES CAME DOWN. 



" I'll tell you how the leaves came down," 

 The great tree to her children said : 



" You're getting sleepy, Yellow and Brown, 

 Yes, very sleepy, little Red." 



"Ah," begged each silly, pouting leaf, 



" Let us a little longer stay ; 

 Dear Father Tree, behold our grief ; 



'Tis such a very pleasant day, 



We do not want to go away." 



So just for one more merry day 

 To the great tree the leaflets clung, 



