drying the breakfast dishes.

"O sunny days, so sweet and warm, I miss you very much. I only hope the rheumatiz My little toe won't touch!" sang Uncle Lucky, helping Daddy Longlegs pull off his rubber boots.

"Ha, ha!" laughed the old gentleman insect, stretching out his cold, damp toes:

"I love the cheerful kitchen fire, And though it is so kind To warm my frozen tippy toes, I'm always cold behind."

"Turn around once in a while," replied Uncle Lucky, "that's what I do!"

"Don't set your coat tails on fire," advised Little Miss Mousie, as she nibbled a piece of angel cake.

Pretty soon, the Old Red Rooster came in with the Bunnybridge Bugle, the nice morning paper that dear Uncle Lucky loves to read when breakfast is over. Taking out a cabbage leaf cigar, he slipped his feet into his comfortable woolen slippers and, placing his gold-rimmed spectacles on his nose, sat down in his big armchair.

Pitter, patter, went the rain On the misty window pane; While the fire's cheerful glow Warmed his poor rheumatic toe.

By this time Daddy Longlegs was nice and dry, so he, too, sat down to read by the fire, and Little Miss Mousie, seeing that nobody wished to talk, scampered back to her little house in the corner of the sitting room. As for the Old Red Rooster, he hurried out to the barn to mend the old wheelbarrow.

Pitter, patter, sings the rain In a drowsy, soft refrain. Ticker, tacker, on the leaves, Dripping, dripping, from the eaves. Tinkle, tinkle, on the pane, Rings the wind-blown summer rain.

Pretty soon, Uncle Lucky fell asleep and when he woke up, Mr. Merry Sun was shining and Daddy Longlegs had gone.

"Oh, dear and oh, dear!" sighed dear Uncle Lucky, taking out his gold watch and chain, "I wonder what time it is." Then he sighed again and looked out of the window. But the postman wasn't in sight, only the Old Red Rooster raking up the leaves.

"Well, well, well!" sighed lonely Uncle Lucky, for the third time, "what shall I do?"

"Sing a song," suggested Little Miss Mousie, peeking out of her small front door in the far corner of the sitting room.

"Sing us two songs," shouted the Old Red Rooster through the open window.

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