ese selections have been somewhat abridged, but it has
thought wiser to have them a little longer than many
books introduce, rather than to mar the symmetry and
y of the author's work.

re are also represented the more recent writers who have
a place in the literary world, thus making this reading
the foundation for a systematic study of literature.

order to cherish the true American spirit, speeches of
of our great statesmen and stories of loyalty and heroism
been introduced. There are tales of travel and adventure
roaden the mental horizon, and the imagination finds food
Fancies in many of the prose selections as well as in

-oems.

ateful acknowledgment for copyright matter is extended
essrs. Houghton, Mifflin & Co. for the use of extracts
the writings of Hawthorne, Elizabeth Stuart Phelps,
Charles Dudley Warner; to Charles Scribner's Sons
he selections from Eugene Field, Thomas Nelson Page,
Josiah Gilbert Holland; to The Century Co. for stories
ictor Mapes and Harriet Prescott Spofford; to Roberts
- for poems by Helen Hunt Jackson; and to G. P.
am's Sons for selections from Bayard Taylor; also
he following authors: Mrs. Abby Morton Diaz, Mrs.
Het Prescott Spofford, and Mrs. Elizabeth Stuart Phelps
; Mr. Henry L. Koopman, Mr. Victor Mapes, and Mr.
les Dudley Warner.

ELLEN M. CYR.

DIAZ was born at Plymouth, Mass., in 1821. s allowed to live out of doors, a free, happy life, the ship-yards, and playing upon the beach to her She was very fond of playing with other children, A games, making songs to fit them.

season was over, she became fond of study, and ittle for children. She was full of music, and dren about her and teach them to sing.

story for children appeared in print she was o have her friends see it, for it seemed to her er own was worth publishing.

well received, however, and followed by many full of nature, imagination, and fun.

Boston, and is interested at present in writing for

TREE awoke at springtime, shivering in "O Mother Nature," she said, "I tremble hold my limbs, ugly and bare. The birds

ll coming back from the South, and I would look my
They will soon be building their nests. O, a bird's-
does make a tree so pleasant! But they will not
e to me, because I have no leaves to hide them!"
And kind Mother Nature smiled, and presented her
ghter Maple with such multitudes of leaves! More

you could count! These gave beauty to the tree, des keeping the rain out of the bird's-nests. For birds quickly come to build there, and there was reason to ect a lively summer.

A happy Maple Tree now was she, and well pleased her pretty green leaves. They were so beautiful in sunlight; and the winds whispered such sweet things hem as to make them dance for joy! A pair of golden ns had a home there, and thrushes came often. Sune and song all day long! Or if the little leaves me hot and thirsty in the summer's heat, good Mother ure gave them cooling rain-drops to drink. A happier le Tree could nowhere be found.

"Thanks! thanks, Mother Nature," she said, "for our care and your loving kindness to me!"

ut when autumn came with its gloomy skies and its ing winds, the Maple Tree grew sad, for she heard little leaves saying to each other, "We are going to We are going to die!"

eople living near said, "Hark! Do you hear the

sunds like fall." Nobody all over the forest, saying t die! We are going to di dear little leaves!" sighed gs, they must go! Ah, ho

A WOODLAND SCENE

ill make their death Suture. And she changed med in the sunlight like f ery one said, "How beau cold morning she sto