Summer had been a joyful time in the meadow. It had been a busy time, too, and from morning till night the chirping and humming of the happy people there had mingled with the rustle of the leaves, and the soft "swish, swish," of the tall grass, as the wind passed over it.
True, there had been a few quarrels, and some unpleasant things to remember, but these little people were wise enough to throw away all the sad memories and keep only the glad ones. And now the summer was over. The leaves of the forest trees were turning from green to scarlet, orange, and brown. The beech and hickory nuts were only waiting for a friendly frost to open their outer shells, and loosen their stems, so that they could fall to the earth.
The wind was cold now, and the meadow people knew that the time had come to get ready for winter. One chilly Caterpillar said to another, "Boo-oo! How cold it is! I must find a place for my cocoon. Suppose we sleep side by side this winter, swinging on the same bush?"
And his friend replied: "We must hurry then, or we shall be too old and stiff to spin good ones."
The Garter Snake felt sleepy all the time, and declared that in a few days he would doze off until spring.
The Tree Frog had chosen his winter home already, and the Bees were making the most of their time in visiting the last fall flowers, and gathering every bit of honey they could find for their cold-weather stock.
The last eggs had been laid, and the food had been placed beside many of them for the babies that would hatch out in the spring. Nothing was left but to say "Good-by," and fall asleep. So a message was sent around the meadow for all to come to a farewell party under the elm tree.
Everybody came, and all who could sing did so, and the Crickets and Mosquitoes made music for the rest to dance by.
The Tree Frog led off with a black and yellow Spider, the Garter Snake followed with a Potato Bug, and all the other crawling people joined in the dance on the grass, while over their heads the Butterflies and other light-winged ones fluttered to and fro with airy grace.
The Snail and the fat, old Cricket had meant to look on, and really did so, for a time, from a warm corner by the tree, but the Cricket couldn't stand it to not join in the fun. First, his eyes gleamed, his feelers waved, and his feet kept time to the music, and, when a frisky young Ant beckoned to him, he gave a great leap and danced with the rest, balancing, jumping, and circling around in a most surprising way.
When it grew dark, the Fireflies' lights shone like tiny stars, and the dancing went on until all were tired and ready to sing together the last song of the summer, for on the morrow they would go to rest. And this was their song:
The autumn leaves lying
So thick on the ground,
The summer Birds flying
The meadow around,
Say, "Good-by."
The Seed Babies dropping
Down out of our sight,
The Dragon-flies stopping
A moment in flight,
Say, "Good-by."
The red Squirrels bearing
Their nuts to the tree,
The wild Rabbits caring
For babies so wee,
Say, "Good-by."
The sunbeams now showing
Are hazy and pale,
The warm breezes blowing
Have changed to a gale,
So, "Good-by."
The season for working
Is passing away.
Both playing and shirking
Are ended to day,
So, "Good-by."
The Garter Snake creeping
So softly to rest,
The fuzzy Worms sleeping
Within their warm nest,
Say, "Good-by."
The Honey Bees crawling
Around the full comb,
The tiny Ants calling
Each one to the home,
Say, "Good-by."
We've ended our singing,
Our dancing, and play,
And Nature's voice ringing
Now tells us to say
Our "Good-by."
THE END.
"Many a mother and teacher will accord a vote of thanks to the author."
Among the Meadow People.
STORIES OF FIELD LIFE, WRITTEN FOR THE LITTLE ONES.
By CLARA D. PIERSON.
Illustrated by F. C. Gordon.
New Edition, 12mo, 194 pages, cloth, gilt top, $1.25
"One of the daintiest and in many ways most attractive of the many books of nature study which the past year has brought forth."—Boston Advertiser.
"They are like Mrs. Gatty's well-known 'Parables from Nature,' written in the best of English, as fascinating as fairy tales, and yet 'really true,' a quality which we all know appeals to the childish mind."—N. Y. Evangelist.
"We have seen nothing better for its purpose, and hope many a teacher of kindergartens and many a mother may avail herself of the privilege of using these little tales."—N. Y. Christian Advocate.
"It will be a great advance in the work of education in the school and the home when such books are more generally utilized."—Zion's Herald.
"These charming stories of field life will delight many a child of kindergarten age; and it is safe to say that older brothers and sisters will also want to claim a share in them."—Christian Register.
Among the Forest People
By CLARA D. PIERSON
Illustrated by F. C. Gordon
12mo, 220 pages, cloth, gilt top $1.25
"A thoroughly charming book for the little people, which grown folks can read, also, with many a satisfied chuckle at its slily insinuated 'morals,' and inimitable mingling of human sentiments and affairs in the wild life of 'the Forest People.' The illustrations have really artistic value; thoroughly well done, with a pleasing combination of the conventional in form and light and shade, they are also clever and accurate in drawing."—Living Church.
"A most charming series of stories for children—yes, and for children of all ages, both young and old—is given us in the volume before us. No one can read these realistic conversations of the little creatures of the wood without being most tenderly drawn toward them, and each story teaches many entertaining facts regarding the lives and habits of these little people. Mothers and teachers must welcome this book most cordially. One cannot speak too strongly in praise of it."—Boston Transcript.
"I declare I really feel tempted to adopt or borrow a nice little girl of six or seven, just for the pleasure of reading this perfect book to her while she snuggles down in my lap."—Kate Sanborn.
"The telling is conceived with decided originality."—Outlook.
"There has not been such a book for many a year, and it makes the old folks long to be young again."—N. Y. Observer.
"Is an utterly delightful book for the little folk."—Interior.
Among the Farmyard People
By CLARA D. PIERSON
Illustrated by F. C. Gordon
12mo, 256 pages, cloth, gilt top, $1.25
"The very pretty stories of animal life, 'Among the Forest People,' and 'Among the Meadow People,' are continued in Clara D. Pierson's 'Among the Farmyard People.' To those who know the earlier volumes, this needs no introduction or praise. To those who may still have that pleasure in store, we can commend heartily these tenderly realistic conversations, which show a sympathetic knowledge at once of animals and of children, who will be amused and taught and edified by these dainty little tales that never obtrude the always healthy moral of this genuine Child's Book of Nature."—Churchman.
"They will be found valuable for use by mothers and kindergarten teachers. The beautiful illustrations furnished by F. C. Gordon are distinctively instructive. Altogether the book is one of the most desirable works that can be found to train the child's imagination, affection, and powers of observation."—Boston Beacon.
"We heartily recommend the book for its thoroughly healthy tone, far better adapted to a sweet and simple childhood than much of the rather stimulating juvenile literature of the day."—N. Y. Commercial Advertiser.
"A helpful book for young readers, teaching first lessons in natural history, and inculcating principles of love for animals."—Philadelphia Evening Telegram.
"A charming and pretty book for young children. It will help them to observe, and it will also help them to think. Nearly every story ends with something unsaid, which the nursery people are to think out for themselves."—Church Standard.
Among the Pond People
By CLARA D. PIERSON
With 12 full-page illustrations by F. C. Gordon
12mo, 222 pages, cloth, gilt top $1.25
This last book of Mrs. Pierson's has all the charm of the earlier volumes. The adventures of Mother Eel, the Playful Muskrat, the Snappy Snapping Turtle, and the other Pond People, will be eagerly followed by children, whether they are naturalists or ordinary readers. The fact that one does not continually feel that she is writing for the purpose of instructing the young, gives Mrs. Pierson her hold on so many boys and girls. The books teach a great many lessons, but one does not feel that the author is lying in wait to enlighten the unwary youngster.
"In it, as in the old Greek comedies, the frogs have a voice and speak their little orations and crack their jokes and play their pranks. The 'science' is elementary but the entertainment genuine, and the little people to whom it is read will ever cherish a kindly interest in the denizens of the ponds and their floral homes and environments."—Interior.
"One lays down the book with quickened sympathy for everything that crawls and creeps and swims."—Critic.
"The Pond People are quite as real and as fascinating as were the Meadow People and the Barnyard People of previous books. They are genuine stories, full of a humor that will appeal to boys and girls, yet cleverly conveying information about the frogs, turtles, minnows, etc., and often suggesting a moral in a delicate manner which no child could resent."—Congregationalist.
"In its way the work is very daintily done."—Churchman.
Sent by mail, post-paid, on receipt of price
E. P. DUTTON & CO., Publishers
31 West 23d Street New York
