flJboF Manual 
THE SECRET. 
W E have a secret, just we three, 
The robin, and I, and the sweet cherry tree; 
The bird told the tree, and the tree told me. 
And nobody knows it but just us three. 
But of course the robin knows it best, 
Because he built the — I shan’t tell the rest; 
And laid the four little — somethings in it — 
I am afraid I shall tell it every minute. 
But if the tree and the robin don’t peep, 
I’ll try my best the secret to keep ; 
Though I know when the little birds fly about, 
Then the whole secret will be out. 
THE KIND OLD OAK. 
I T was almost time for winter to come. The little birds had all gone far away, 
for they were afraid of the cold. There was no green grass in the fields, 
and there were no pretty flowers in the gardens. Many of the trees had 
dropped all their leaves. Cold winter, with its snow and ice, was coming. 
At the foot of an old oak tree some sweet little violets were still in blossom. 
“ Dear old oak,’’ said they, “winter is coming; we are afraid that we shall die 
of the cold.’’ 
“Do not be afraid, little ones,” said the oak, “close your yellow eyes in 
sleep, and trust to me. You have made me glad many a time with your sweet¬ 
ness. Now I will take care that the winter shall do you no harm.” 
So the violets closed their pretty eyes and went to sleep ; they knew that 
they could trust the kind old oak. And the great tree softly dropped red leaf 
after fed leaf upon them, until they were all covered over. 
The cold winter came, with its snow and ice, but it could not harm the little 
violets. Safe under the friendly leaves of the old oak they slept and dreamed 
.happy dreams until the warm rains of spring came and waked them again. 
