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I'm the funniest friend of all your friends,

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Because I have to be

Just the way you look and feel,

Whenever you look at me.

If you are cross,

and grumpy,
and sad,

I 'm sad and

grumpy, too;

And no matter

how much I

want to smile, I can not smile at you.

So please be very
careful

Whenever you
look my way,

Because I hate to

make scowls

and tears, And like to look

merry and

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gay.

Mr. Snip and Mrs. Snap
Always together go;

Because, if they should sepa

rate,

They'd be no use, you know. They have long edges-oh, so

sharp!

To cut things through and through.

If we 're not careful,

they will cut Our little fingers too.

I have no top or bottom, I'm just a nice soft place, Where you can rest your tired head

I will not hurt your face. I'm full of down and feathers From little ducks and

chicks,

So you can punch me all you

want

And play all sorts of tricks.

My head is a hook like a shepherd's crook,

On a body long and thin. If you put me around the shoe-button's neck,

I will help you pull it in.

In the little red beds, where the white pearls grow,

Is where I must work to keep them so;

I must go into

every corner and crack,

Or the food will hide there

and closely pack, And then the people will nod and say, "Where's Mr. Tooth

brush? Gone away?"

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FOR VERY LITTLE FOLK

THE CHRISTMAS RUNAWAYS

By JANE E. LYMAN

IT was Christmas Eve, but there was trouble in the little red house under the hill where Mark and the colonel and the best little old woman in the world had been living happily together for a long time.

"I'm tired of this!" said Mark, the big gray cat, who had one side of the fireplace to himself. "I'm tired of milk, and I 'm tired of my red cushion, and I 'm tired of an old woman who always wears purple ribbons in her cap. I want a green cushion for Christmas, and salmon for my Christmas dinner, and I'm going to run away and seek my fortune! I shall look for some other old woman, who will wear pink ribbons!"

"All right!" said the colonel, "I'll go with you. I need a nice new brass cage, and I have n't had a piece of banana in a long time -I feel neglected! Let us start right away." The colonel's real name was Colonel Mulberry Sellers, but that was too long for everyday use. He was a fine parrot, in a green coat, with a topknot of lovely yellow feathers, and he lived on the other side of the fireplace in a big cage, the door of which was always open so he could go in and out as he pleased.

The old woman's chair stood right in front of the fire, and she was very apt to be in it taking a comfortable nap while the kettle was waiting on the hob to make her cup of tea. So, as she happened to be asleep just then, Mark and the colonel stole softly out of the half-open door and started for town to seek their fortunes.

After they had gone a mile or two, Mark running, and the colonel hopping along beside him, for he could fly but very little, the parrot grew pretty tired, and the cat said "just jump right up on my back and we shall get on much faster, but be sure not to hold on too tight!"

So up jumped the colonel, and Mark trotted along at a fine pace, and all went well until, just as they got into town, the parrot forgot the cat's warning and, trying to hold on tighter, stuck his sharp claws into Mark's neck.

Mark gave a great jump, which shook the colonel off and scared him so badly that he

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"I'M AFRAID I DON'T REMEMBER ANY,' ANSWERED THE POLICEMAN" (SEE NEXT PAGE)

down the street and every one was shouting, "Where is the fire?"

Of course, they could n't find any, and then they were all much disappointed and the firemen were very cross.

"I wish we could get hold of the rascal who shouted 'Fire!"" said several; and a policeman answered, "Yes, indeed! he deserves to be put in jail for making us all this trouble for nothing!"

"Dear me!" whispered Mark to the colonel, "we'd better get away from here as quickly as possible! You must fly from tree to tree, and I'll run as fast as I can and wait for you at the market."

So away they both went and soon met again in the market square.

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saying, she gave Mark a large sandwich, and the colonel a handful of peanuts, which they were only too glad to get, for they were very hungry after their long trip.

Then they thanked her most politely and started for the shop of the old umbrella-man, going up one street two squares, and down the next street three squares, and turning four corners, just as she had directed them.

The umbrella-man was sitting in a corner of his little shop, so busily at work that he did n't see them come in and jumped nearly out of his seat when he heard the colonel's voice.

"I'm terribly busy to-day," said he, gruffly; "I'm mending the queen's green umbrella and it must be done by afternoon, as she needs it. I don't like to be interrupted!"

"Oh, please excuse us," said the colonel, in haste; "we 're very sorry to worry you, but your friend, the apple-woman, said you were very wise and would surely be able to help us."

"Did she, indeed?" said the umbrella-man, much pleased; "that was very good of herjust tell me what you want."

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'HAVE A BITE WITH ME BEFORE YOU GO FARTHER'"

better do the talking, for my voice is clearer than yours."

"All right," answered Mark; and so they found a policeman. Then the colonel said politely, "Would you please tell us if you know of a nice, kind old woman who needs a cat and a parrot?"

"I'm afraid I don't remember any," answered the policeman, after thinking a while; "but perhaps the apple-woman at the next corner can tell you of one she knows everybody."

They thanked him warmly and hurried across the market to the apple-woman's stall. She was very busy polishing apples, but kindly stopped to hear what the travelers wanted.

"I'm very sorry," said she, "but I don't know any old woman but myself, and I'm sure I 've no time to visit with a cat and a parrot; but I think the old umbrella-man in the next street may be able to help you-he's terribly wise! But have a bite with me before you go farther-you both look tired." So

"WE 'RE LOOKING FOR A GOOD HOME, PLEASE, SIR,' SAID THE COLONEL"

"We 're looking for a good home, please, sir," said the colonel, "with the kindest old woman you can think of who is in need of a cat and a parrot."

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