BABY

BY GEORGE MACDONALD

Where did you come from, baby dear?
Out of the everywhere into the here.

Where did you get your eyes so blue?
Out of the sky as I came through.

What makes the light in them sparkle and spin?

Some of the starry twinkles left in.

Where did you get that little tear?

I found it waiting when I got here.

What makes your forehead so smooth and high?

A soft hand stroked it as I went by.

What makes your cheek like a warm white rose?

I saw something better than any one knows.

Whence that three-cornered smile of bliss? Three angels gave me at once a kiss.

Where did you get that pearly ear?
God spoke, and it came out to hear.

Where did you get those arms and hands?
Love made itself into bonds and bands.

Feet, whence did you come, you darling things?
From the same box as the cherubs' wings.

How did they all just come to be you?
God thought about me, and so I grew.

But how did you come to us, you dear?
God thought about you, and so I am here.

THE BEAR WHO PLAYED SOLDIERS

BY HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN

In the parlor of an inn in a little country town, sat a man who was eating his supper.

The man owned a dancing bear that he led about from town to town.

The bear was tied up outside behind the woodpile. Poor bear! he would not hurt any one, though he looked so fierce.

Up in the garret three little children were playing. The oldest was about six, the young

est not more than two.

Tramp! tramp! somebody was coming upstairs. Who could it be?

The door was pushed open. It was the bear— the great shaggy bear.

He had grown tired of waiting down in the yard, and had found his way up-stairs..

The children were very much frightened at first by the great shaggy beast. They crept into the corners of the room but the bear found them all.

He smelled at them, but he did not hurt them. "This must be a big dog," they said and began to pat him.

Then he lay down upon the floor and the youngest child climbed upon the bear's back and hid his curly head in the beast's shaggy fur.

The oldest boy took his drum and began to beat it, rub-a-dub-dub! rub-a-dub-dub! The bear rose up on his hind legs and began to dance. What fun!

Each boy now took his gun. The bear was given one, too, and he held it as tight as any soldier.

Here was a fine playmate that they had found. Up and down they marched-one, two; one, two!