TOOTS is our baby. He is a queer one too; up early, and always in dread of bed-time. One morning, not long ago, we heard him singing, and on looking for him, found the little rogue in the very middle of our best bed in the guest chamber, where he was playing hand-organ with a long hairpin put through the pretty pillow covers which had just come home from the laundry. There he sat singing a droll medley of "Uncle Ned," "Blessed Desus," and "Down in the Coal Mine." He had been watching two soldiers with a hand-organ, and Toots likes to do everything he sees done. While we were putting the guest-room in order, Toots marched out as a blind man, with his eyes shut and a cane in his hand. This brought him to grief, for he was picked up at the foot of the stairs with two large bumps on his pretty white brow. Toots was quiet then for a little while, a very little while, for as soon as we decided that his bones were all sound and a doctor need not be called, he "played sick," and asked for "shicken brof" and toast.

One night mamma was imprudent, for she said to a visitor, who was praising the little fellow, "Oh, yes, Toots is always lovely and gentle at bed-time." That very night while mamma was resting on the lounge, and her friend was chatting, both ladies heard a mysterious clicking. "It can't be Toots," said mamma; "his eyes were closed when I left him." Then the clicking came again louder than ever, and suddenly a crash as of breaking glass. Mamma sprang up at once, and there was Toots seated on a bath-tub driving for dear life with two of his best sashes for reins. He had fastened one on each side of the mirror, and in his eagerness to drive fast, had tumbled down toilet-bottles, cushions, and all the pretty things his mamma loved to see. Toots was playing circus. Barnum had been in town the day before, and Toots had made a grand procession with chairs, books, bottles, pictures, and everything his little hands could reach. Such a happy, beaming face was never seen before. "Why, Toots, I thought you were asleep," said mamma. "No, I hab too much to do, my 'cession is coming up street fast."

When he was quite small, Toots used to spend hours in the garden safely fastened into the standing stool which his grandpa had when a little boy. The little fellow's face was so bright, and his large eyes so full of innocent fun, that no one could be angry with Toots even when he did very strange and unexpected things.

[Original]

TOOTS AT THE KINDERGARTEN.

WHEN Toots was old enough to enter a little school, his mamma said he must go to a Kindergarten, which, you all know, is a delightful place for all children. Our good German friends first thought of it for their little people, and here in America we have found it an excellent fashion to follow. Block building, song singing, and drawing with pretty things in needlework, and forms in clay, not only teach the children to think but to do, and good thinking must always come before well doing, Toots' mamma knew a kind German lady who understood teaching the little ones, and after some delay a school was opened and Toots was a pupil. He cried hard at first. He was afraid of strangers, and he dreaded to speak aloud before them, although he was such a rogue at home. His mamma bought him a pretty lunch basket and put in it some little cakes for his lunch, and then they rode away in the horse car to the schoolroom. After the first day Toots was always ready to go. "It is only play," he said. But it was more than play, for every night Toots had something new to tell; sometimes he had watered the plants in the school-room, sometimes he talked of cubes and triangles, sometimes he sang a little song. Toots was learning without knowing it, and all the time he was very happy. No one was allowed to say a naughty word, no one was ever rude or unkind, and all the little eyes and hands were trained.

[Original]

When Toots told his grandma about the seed germ of a plant and how it grew she said, "Ah, I wish I could have gone to such a school; the children are very fortunate now a days." One day Toots brought his grandma a pretty book-mark he had worked, and he could tell the names of all the colors in it and the names of the stitches. Such pretty things as he made in clay, such dainty shapes and forms, it really was quite wonderful to see them and hear the little fellow in kilt skirts talk about them. One day Toots did not come home from the Kindergarten as usual. His favorite car driver shook his head as he passed the house. Toots had not come out to ride home with him. Grandma was much worried. "Never mind," said mamma, "he is quite safe, perhaps they are all out for walk, or studying the trees or flowers in the garden; he will come in the next car, for his teacher always puts him on herself." When the next car came, there was the little boy, smiling and happy. The children had taken a long walk with their teacher, and when they returned Toots had fallen asleep, so the kind teacher would not disturb him, and the little fellow was well rested.

After dinner he had a long story to tell about the lungs of plants and the edges of leaves, which were like little saws, and a pretty pitcher-plant he had seen. When his story was complete he added, "All my children shall go to a Kindergarten, for it is the nicest place in the world 'cept mamma's room."

THE HAPPY HOUR.

[Original]

VERY night just before bedtime Toots and his mamma had a happy hour together.

Sometimes a friend or two would share the pleasures of this evening hour, and Toots enjoyed it much more if Bessie or Flossie, or some of his mates, could hear mamma's stories or verses written expressly for children. When Toots was quite small he was rude enough one day to strike his nurse, and after mamma had heard all the story, she read these lines about

JOHNNIE'S TROUBLES.

My mamma's sorry, now, she is;

I don' know what I'se done;

S'pec' she feels sorry jess bekause

I slapped old nurse like fun.

Old nurse she digs and shates me too;

I wish I went to stool;

Teacher won't set me down so hard,

An' call me "little fool."

She pinches awful! dess I know,

My arms is black an' blue;

She says she "hopes to do to Heaven

I hope I shan't do too.

I don't like nurses—do you now?

Dey is dest as mean as dirls;

When I dits big I'll let'em know

Dey musn't pull my turls.

My mamma she's real dood, she is;

On most the days I play

With her jess like she was a boy,

She hugs me every day.

My mamma she don't stold me none,

I dess she don't know how;

But nurse, oh, my! she spoke so loud;

Hush, she is toming now!

No, dat ain't nurse, an' ain't I glad?

I jess know what I'll do,

I'll do tell mamma I was bad,

An' I feel sorry too.

I dess Dod made my mamma sure,

She is so sweet and nice;

But who made nurse, s'pose you know?

I'll ask my Drandma Rice.

[Original]

ELFIE.

[Original]

MONG Toots' friends was a little girl whose name was Elfie. She lived just across the way, and her papa's garden joined that of Toots' mamma. There was a large gate, between the gardens, and the children went back and forth in the summer. They seldom quarrelled, and both children were glad to share their playthings. When Toots had the scarlet fever and was shut up in a room with his mamma and nurse, Elfie cried to have the fever too, so she could see him. It was summer time when Toots was sick, and sometimes when he was tired and restless he would moan so Elfie could hear him in the garden. One day when it was very warm and every one was tired and cross, Auntie bathed Elfie and put her on the bed, but she did not stay there long; she began to think of Toots—how warm he must be, how tired of the bed and that ugly dark room. Suddenly Elfie remembered that people used to bring her mamma pretty flowers when she was ill.

[Original]

Perhaps she might carry Toots some flowers; her auntie was fast asleep and the nurse was out. Yes, she would go into the garden and get the prettiest flowers there for poor Toots. She had no shoes—auntie had put them away—and no stockings; but it would not matter; plenty of children never had shoes or stockings, and it could not hurt very much, for they could run.

Just then a low moan was heard and that decided Elfie; she sprang up and ran down stairs; no one was in sight but Touser, and he was such a good dog, he only lapped her bare feet with his tongue, so little Elfie went into the garden and began to gather flowers.

Presently she heard another moan from the sick-room, and she ran as fast as she could through the gate and up to the door. One of the servants was just coming out. "Why, little Elfie!" said she, "you will hurt those poor bare feet and you must not come here now, did any one send you?"

"No, I runned away,'coz I wanted Toots to have some flowers, and I wish I could have the fever too, and be sick with him."

"Poor child!" said the maid, "Master Toots shall have your flowers and he is better to-day, only the great heat makes him moan; wait here a bit until I send them up to his room and then I will take you home."

The flowers were carried to the sick-room and Toots smiled when they told him what his little friend said. "Tell her not to wish for the fever," he said, "for I feel as if I were on fire, and there is no cool place in the bed; but when I am well again we will play together at the fountain and keep our store as we used to." Elfie was very happy when she heard this message, and after that she sent flowers to the sick boy every day.

PAUL BROWN.

[Original]

HEN Toots first went to the Kindergarten he met there a little boy whose name was Paul Brown. He was a very bright little fellow, but he could not talk as well as Toots; some of his words were cut short and it sounded very cunning, for Paul did his best and the Kindergarten teacher told the boys and girls that no one could do better than his best. One day a little baby sister came to Paul's house and this is the story he told his grandpa when the old gentleman came in to see the stranger:

PAUL'S REMARKS AT FOUR YEARS OF AGE.

"Fink I don't know what dat fing is,

All wrapped up in gwanma's lap?

I does; nurse told me so to-day,

It's my sisser tatin' a nap.

"She's only a piece of a day old now,

But she looks like any fing;

Wight out of her great eyes all boo,

An', ganpa, she can sing:

"There, don't you hear her, naughty dirl?

She skuled dat way—because

I feeled her foots, to see if 'em gowed

Like mine or pussy's claws.

"Sissers ain't nice to sing dat way,

And gwanma holds her snug;

I wouldn't cuy if her holded me,

All up in dat pwetty rug.

"Oh, yes, me knows, she's a sisser, she is,

An' I'm jess a boy, dat's all;

Sissers ain't dood for much, I fink,

Why, her couldn't hold my ball.

"Dess if I was made a piece of a day,

I would know some more dan dat;

No, ganpa, sissers ain't dood for much,

I'll do and find my cat."

[Original]

[Original]

PAUL'S VIEWS AT EIGHT YEARS OF AGE.

WHEN Paul grew older and the little sister could go with him to school he changed his mind about her value. Sometimes, I am sorry to say, he led her into mischief, and once they were lost a whole day in the woods because Paul wanted to show her how the flowers grew and the trees sang, but after all the little girl made him a better boy as we shall see.

What's that you say? "She's only a girl?"

Well, so much the better for that;

Her eyes are the prettiest I ever saw,

Just peep at them under her hat.

She talks in the funniest broken way,

Just as I did once! Well, who cares?

I never could smile the way she does,

Or pit-a-pat on the stairs.

I wonder at girls, I do, Jim Pool,

Let me try as hard as I will,

To put my feet down easy and soft,

They will pound and thump down still.

And I never yet tried to close the door

As gentle as sister pan do,

That it doesn't go bang and shake the house,

"That's queer; it's just so with you."

[Original]

Well, Jim, we are boys, only boys you see,

And apt to be noisy and rough;

But my little sister, she just teaches me,

One look of her eyes is enough.

I can't tell just why, but as true as you live,

I am better since she came here;

"She's only a girl!" Yes, I know, Jim Pool,

And I'm only a boy, that's clear.

My mother was once a girl like her,

And she's just as good as gold;

What's that? oh, nonsense, I know, Jim Pool,

My mother won't ever "grow old."

What's that? False hair and teeth for her?

Go home, Jim Pool, I won't play

With a boy who says my mother dear

Will ever be "ugly and gray."

But never mind, Jim, you ain't to blame,

You've no sister or mother, you see;

If mine grows ugly, and wrinkled, and lame,

She will still be mother to me.

MAX THE MEDDLER.

[Original]

AX was not one of Toots' "really truly friends," so Toots said, but mamma and cousin Hattie were kind to Max. He needed friends badly. He had no mother, and his father was a cruel, wicked man. One day when Toots and his mother were spending the day with cousin Hattie, the latter said, "I have some very bad news to tell you. Some wicked boy has torn down my little bird-house which papa put in the maple tree for me, and my dear little birds have gone away."

"How cruel!" said Toots.

"Who could climb over your high wall?" asked his mamma.

"I cannot guess," replied cousin Hattie, "but my roses are trampled, and papa says it must be a boy, as he measured the footsteps."

"You had better watch for the thief, and, perhaps, we can coax him to behave better in future." Miss Hattie and the servants watched in vain for a week, but one day while the ladies were reading in the library the servant knocked to say that a queer-looking boy had just slid down the fence, and perhaps he was the thief.

The ladies went out at once and found him. He looked ragged and neglected, but his face was a good one if it had only been clean and happy.

"I am sorry you climbed over that way," said cousin Hattie; "whenever you would like to see my garden you shall come in if you will ring the bell." The boy looked very much ashamed. "Please tell me your name."

"Max," was the brief reply.

"It is a very nice name," said cousin Hattie. "Now Max, if you will come with me into the kitchen I will find some lunch for you." Max followed her in, but he could not eat much; the cook looked at him sharply.

"I know him, miss," said she, "he is called Max the Meddler. He never lets a poor bird or cat have any rest where he is, and he is prying about everywhere. I am sure he took your bird-house."

Cousin Hattie said, "Never mind, cook; he will never do it again; perhaps he will earn a new name and a better one." After he had eaten his lunch the young lady took him out into the garden and told him the story of her birds—how much she loved them, how her papa put up their house, and how sorry she was to have them disturbed. Max looked more than ever ashamed. At last he said: "I will never do so again, lady, and if you will let me come and work in your garden I will pay you for the little house, which I sold to another boy."

[Original]

OUR MAY.

[Original]

ITTLE MAY is Toots' own cousin, and one of the dearest little girls you ever knew!

She is a tender-hearted child, and, like Toots, very fond of pets. Once on a cold winter day she found a poor little dead bird which the snow storm of the night before had killed. She brought it to cousin Toots, and together they buried it under a snowbank in the garden. One night during the "Happy Hour" May said "I wish you wrote some truly verses about me, dear auntie," and the very next night auntie did, and here they are:

In the early summer light,

Trampling down the red and white,

Eating clover, sweet and fair,

Happy child with floating hair;

Not a thought of injured hay.

That's our darling,

That's our May.

In the garret, on the stair,

Climbing haymows, everywhere;

Wearing glasses, teaching school,

Bringing dollies up by rule,

Working hard to call it play,

That's our darling,

That's our May.

[Original]

In the parlor, on the floor,

Looking all the pictures o'er;

Making fun of grave old books,

Searching into sacred nooks—

Always cheerful, always gay.

That's our darling,

That's our May.

At the door, the first to see

Papa, as he comes to tea,

In his lap, with dancing eyes,

Searching pockets for a prize,

Asking "what you've done all day?"

That's our darling,

That's our May.

In the chamber just at night,

Nestled in her gown of white;

Eyelids closed on cheeks of red,

Kneeling by her little bed,

Lisping "teach me how to pray."

That's our darling,

That's our May.

Future woman, what maybe

Life with all its cares to thee?

Who shall say in after time,

Blessings on that head of thine?

Rich and good thy life we pray,

God's and ours,

Dear little May.

A BUBBLE PARTY.

[Original]

HEN Toots was four years old, his mamma thought she would let him have a birthday party. She wrote the invitations on the prettiest little paper, with funny frogs and dogs and cats in the corner, and each little envelope was made to match. Twenty-five pretty little notes to twenty-five dear little people, and every one came. No one else ever had such a party before. Large tables were covered with books and toys, all manner of games were waiting to be played, and in one corner of the children's play-room was a table with bowls, plates, and pipes, and all the children were invited to blow bubbles. Such fun as they had! Some blew large and some blew small, and those who laughed hard blew none at all. At last Toots and Robbie Mason began to see something in the soap bubble, "beautiful colors like the rainbow," said Toots.

"More of them," said Robbie, and then all the children began to wonder.

"What makes it?" asked Robbie, eagerly; "I wish I knew?"

"I will tell you," said mamma. "When a ray of light is divided, as it always is when it reaches an object on which to rest, it has different colors, because each color has different powers and is refracted or turned from its course. Let us cast a ray of light on this piece of glass called a prism; now examine it closely, here we have seven colors—red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet The red is bent out of its course the least and it remains at the bottom; the blue is refracted most and goes to the top. Now blow a nice bubble, little Daisy, and I will explain the colors. You see the film is thicker in some places than in others, and that causes different powers of refraction or turning aside of the rays, and therefore, you observe different colors; as the soap bubble constantly changes its thickness, the rays vary or change also."

"There isn't any soap in the real rainbow in the clouds, is there?" asked thoughtful Robbie.

"Oh, no; when the clouds opposite the sun are dark and rain is still falling, the rays of the bright sun are divided by the rain drops as they would be here with my prism." #

After the children grew tired of bubbles they had many games and a nice supper, after which they went home saying it was the best party they ever went to.

Toots and His Friends

TOOTS AND HIS FRIENDS

By Kate Tannatt Woods

Author Of "Twice Two," "Six Little Rebels," "Doctor Dick," "Out And About," Etc.Cassell & Company, Limited New York, London And Paris1883

HOW TOOTS WENT TO BED.

TOOTS AT THE KINDERGARTEN.

THE HAPPY HOUR.

JOHNNIE'S TROUBLES.

ELFIE.

PAUL BROWN.

PAUL'S REMARKS AT FOUR YEARS OF AGE.

PAUL'S VIEWS AT EIGHT YEARS OF AGE.

MAX THE MEDDLER.

OUR MAY.

A BUBBLE PARTY.

Author Of "Twice Two," "Six Little Rebels," "Doctor Dick," "Out And About," Etc.
Cassell & Company, Limited New York, London And Paris
1883