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By and by he met a Vulture； and the Vulture； looking hungrily at the tender morsel before him； said； 〃Lambikin！ Lambikin！ I'll EAT YOU！〃
But Lambikin only gave a little frisk； and said；
〃To Granny's house I go； Where I shall fatter grow； Then you can eat me so。〃
The Vulture thought this reasonable； and let Lambikin pass。
And by and by he met a Tiger； and then a Wolf and a Dog and an Eagle； and all these； when they saw the tender little morsel； said； 〃Lambikin！ Lambikin！ I'll EAT YOU！〃
But to all of them Lambikin replied； with a little frisk；
〃To Granny's house I go； Where I shall fatter grow； Then you can eat me so。〃
At last he reached his Granny's house； and said； all in a great hurry； 〃Granny； dear； I've promised to get very fat； so； as people ought to keep their promises； please put me into the corn…bin AT ONCE。〃
So his Granny said he was a good boy； and put him into the corn…bin； and there the greedy little Lambikin stayed for seven days； and ate； and ate； and ate； until he could scarcely waddle； and his Granny said he was fat enough for anything； and must go home。 But cunning little Lambikin said that would never do； for some animal would be sure to eat him on the way back； he was so plump and tender。
〃I'll tell you what you must do；〃 said Master Lambikin； 〃you must make a little drumikin out of the skin of my little brother who died； and then I can sit inside and trundle along nicely； for I'm as tight as a drum myself。〃
So his Granny made a nice little drumikin out of his brother's skin； with the wool inside； and Lambikin curled himself up snug and warm in the middle and trundled away gayly。 Soon he met with the Eagle； who called out；
〃Drumikin！ Drumikin！ Have you seen Lambikin？〃
And Mr。 Lambikin； curled up in his soft； warm nest； replied；
〃Fallen into the fire； and so will you On little Drumikin！ Tum…pa； tum…too！〃
〃How very annoying！〃 sighed the Eagle； thinking regretfully of the tender morsel he had let slip。
Meanwhile Lambikin trundled along； laughing to himself； and singing；
〃Tum…pa； tum…too； Tum…pa； tum…too！〃
Every animal and bird he met asked him the same question；
〃Drumikin！ Drumikin！ Have you seen Lambikin？〃
And to each of them the little slyboots replied；
〃Fallen into the fire； and so will you On little Drumikin！ Tum…pa； tum…too！〃 Tum…pa； tum…too！ tum…pa； tum…too！〃
Then they all sighed to think of the tender little morsel they had let slip。
At last the Jackal came limping along； for all his sorry looks as sharp as a needle； and he； too； called out；
〃Drumikin！ Drumikin！ Have you seen Lambikin？〃
And Lambikin； curled up in his snug little nest； replied gayly；
〃Fallen into the fire； and so will you On little Drumikin！ Tum…pa〃
But he never got any further； for the Jackal recognized his voice at once； and cried； 〃Hullo！ you've turned yourself inside out； have you？ Just you come out of that！〃
Whereupon he tore open Drumikin and gobbled up Lambikin。
THE BLACKBERRY…BUSH＇1＇
＇1＇ From Celia Thaxter's Stories and Poems for Children。
A little boy sat at his mother's knees； by the long western window； looking out into the garden。 It was autumn； and the wind was sad； and the golden elm leaves lay scattered about among the grass； and on the gravel path。 The mother was knitting a little stocking； her fingers moved the bright needles； but her eyes were fixed on the clear evening sky。
As the darkness gathered； the wee boy laid his head on her lap and kept so still that； at last； she leaned forward to look into his dear round face。 He was not asleep； but was watching very earnestly a blackberry…bush； that waved its one tall； dark…red spray in the wind outside the fence。
〃What are you thinking about； my darling？〃 she said； smoothing his soft； honey…colored hair。
〃The blackberry…bush； mamma； what does it say？ It keeps nodding； nodding to me behind the fence； what does it say； mamma？〃
〃It says；〃 she answered； ‘I see a happy little boy in the warm； fire…lighted room。 The wind blows cold； and here it is dark and lonely； but that little boy is warm and happy and safe at his mother's knees。 I nod to him； and he looks at me。 I wonder if he knows how happy he is！
〃‘See； all my leaves are dark crimson。 Every day they dry and wither more and more； by and by they will be so weak they can scarcely cling to my branches； and the north wind will tear them all away； and nobody will remember them any more。 Then the snow will sink down and wrap me close。 Then the snow will melt again and icy rain will clothe me； and the bitter wind will rattle my bare twigs up and down。
〃‘I nod my head to all who pass； and dreary nights and dreary days go by； but in the happy house； so warm and bright； the little boy plays all day with books and toys。 His mother and his father cherish him； he nestles on their knees in the red firelight at night； while they read to him lovely stories； or sing sweet old songs to him；the happy little boy！ And outside I peep over the snow and see a stream of ruddy light from a crack in the window… shutter； and I nod out here alone in the dark； thinking how beautiful it is。
〃‘And here I wait patiently。 I take the snow and the rain and the cold； and I am not sorry； but glad； for in my roots I feel warmth and life； and I know that a store of greenness and beauty is shut up safe in my small brown buds。 Day and night go again and again； little by little the snow melts all away； the ground grows soft； the sky is blue； the little birds fly over crying； 〃It is spring！ it is spring！〃 Ah！ then through all my twigs I feel the slow sap stirring。
〃‘Warmer grow the sunbeams； and softer the air。 The small blades of grass creep thick about my feet； the sweet rain helps swell my shining buds。 More and more I push forth my leaves； till out I burst in a gay green dress； and nod in joy and pride。 The little boy comes running to look at me； and cries； 〃Oh； mamma！ the little blackberry…bush is alive and beautiful and green。 Oh； come and see！〃 And I hear； and I bow my head in the summer wind； and every day they watch me grow more beautiful； till at last I shake out blossoms； fair and fragrant。
〃‘A few days more； and I drop the white petals down among the grass； and； lo！ the green tiny berries！ Carefully I hold them up to the sun； carefully I gather the dew in the summer nights； slowly they ripen； they grow larger and redder and darker； and at last they are black； shining； delicious。 I hold them as high as I can for the little boy； who comes dancing out。 He shouts with joy； and gathers them in his dear hand； and he runs to share them with his mother； saying； 〃Here is what the patient blackberry…bush bore for us： see how nice； mamma！〃
〃‘Ah！ then indeed I am glad； and would say； if I could； 〃Yes； take them； dear little boy； I kept them for you； held them long up to sun and rain to make them sweet and ripe for you；〃 and I nod and nod in full content； for my work is done。 From the window he watches me and thinks； 〃There is the little blackberry…bush that was so kind to me。 I see it and I love it。 I know it is safe out there nodding all alone； and next summer it will h