A PRACTICAL JOKE.

was noon-tide on a summer day, And in a hammock Bruin lay, Studying the price of pork and veal, And wondering how to get a meal, And what his little ones would do If all the papers said was true. The sun was very warm that day, And having trudged a weary way In search of food, 'twas no surprise That Mr. Bruin shut his eyes Now and again, and did not see Two monkeys o'er him in the tree. "Hurrah!" they whispered, "here's a chance Of making Mr. Bruin dance! Oft has he put us in a fix: We'll pay him out now for his tricks, And let him know that, though we're small, We're not so harmless after all!"

'twas noon-tide on a summer day, and in a hammock bruin lay.

upon the ground, with aching bones, poor bruin mingled sighs and groans

Then, knife in hand, one monkey passed From branch to branch, until at last He reached the bough wherefrom was hung Old Bruin's hammock, firmly slung; And made one sudden vigorous slash Through all the ropes: then—crash, crash, crash! Upon the ground, with aching bones, Poor Bruin mingled sighs and groans, Compelled to linger there and hear The monkeys' frequent taunt and jeer, While "What's the price, of bear's grease, please?" Went echoing through the forest trees.

G. W.