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+The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Girl's Own Paper, Vol. VIII, No. 357,
+October 30, 1886, by Various
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
+
+
+Title: The Girl's Own Paper, Vol. VIII, No. 357, October 30, 1886
+
+Author: Various
+
+Release Date: June 4, 2006 [EBook #18501]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ASCII
+
+*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK GIRL'S OWN PAPER ***
+
+
+
+
+Produced by Susan Skinner and the Online Distributed
+Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+THE GIRL'S OWN PAPER.
+
+VOL. VIII.--NO. 357.
+
+OCTOBER 30, 1886.
+
+PRICE ONE PENNY.
+
+
+
+
+THE SHEPHERD'S FAIRY
+
+A PASTORALE.
+
+BY DARLEY DALE, Author of "Fair Katherine," etc.
+
+
+[Illustration: "THE POOR LITTLE BARONESS, WHO WAS ASLEEP, STARTED UP."]
+
+
+CHAPTER V.
+
+THE CHATEAU AFTER THE LOSS OF THE BABY.
+
+As the baron had conjectured, the housemaid whom he had called out of
+the nursery to look for Leon's cane, on finding her master had gone
+without it, did not hurry back, but stopped talking to some of the other
+servants for perhaps a quarter of an hour, when she returned to the
+nursery, and to her amazement found the baby was gone. She was not
+alarmed at first, except she supposed she should get a scolding from the
+nurse, who she imagined had come in and taken the child to another room;
+however, having the excellent excuse that her master had called her away
+she went in search of the nurse, but now not finding her anywhere, and
+hearing from the footman that she was not expected back till very late,
+Marie became seriously alarmed.
+
+"Perhaps madame has taken it into her room; she might have heard it
+crying, and fetched it," suggested the footman, and Marie, very much
+against her will, felt she was in duty bound to go and see.
+
+So, knocking at her mistress's door, she called out, "Madame, has she
+taken the baby?"
+
+The poor little baroness, who was asleep, started up, and called to the
+servant to come in.
+
+"Madame, has she the baby?" repeated the girl.
+
+"The baby? No, what do you mean? Where is it, and where is nurse?" cried
+the baroness, jumping up and slipping on a dressing-gown and slippers.
+
+Marie began to cry, and to pour forth such a volley of words, excuses,
+fears, alarms, and wonders that the baroness could make out nothing, and
+rushed to the nursery to see for herself what had happened. The empty
+cradle did not, however, throw much light upon it, and the servants who
+answered the bell, which the baroness clashed wildly, looked as scared
+as the sobbing Marie to find the baby had disappeared. A search from
+attic to basement was at once instituted, the men-servants were sent
+into the grounds with lanterns, the whole house was turned topsy-turvy,
+in the midst of which the nurse returned, and finding her baby was gone,
+went into violent hysterics, while the young baroness, with flying hair
+and dilated eyes, rushed about, wringing her hands, and looking, as she
+felt, distracted with grief.
+
+The search was, of course, in vain, and they were just coming to the
+conclusion that the baby had been stolen, when the baron returned from
+seeing Leon off.
+
+The moment the baroness heard his voice in the hall she flew down the
+wide oak staircase, crying, "Arnaud! Arnaud! My precious baby is gone,
+it is stolen; find her, find her, or I shall go mad." And a glance at
+her wild eyes almost testified she spoke the truth.
+
+"She is not stolen, she is safe enough," said the baron, sulkily.
+
+"Safe? Where? Where? Take me to her, my precious one; where is she?"
+cried the baroness, with a loud burst of hysteric laughter on hearing
+her child was safe.
+
+"Silence, Mathilde, don't behave in this ridiculous style. Come with
+me," said the baron, in a tone his wife had never heard him use to her
+before, and which had the effect of reducing her to tears; and, sobbing
+wildly, she hung on her husband's arm as he half led, half carried her
+upstairs, and laid her on a sofa in her own room.
+
+"Now, Mathilde, if you will try and compose yourself, I will tell you
+what I have done with the baby. For some time I have felt sure that you
+were ruining the child's health by the absurd way in which you coddle it
+up, and, moreover, making yourself a perfect slave to it, neglecting all
+your other duties," began the baron, as he seated himself on the edge of
+the sofa by the side of his sobbing wife, who was, however, much too
+anxious about her baby to be able to listen patiently to the marital
+lecture to which the baron was about to treat her.
+
+"But Arnaud! Arnaud! where is the baby? Oh, do tell me; it is cruel to
+keep me in this suspense," sobbed the baroness.
+
+Now, to be cruel to his wife was the very last thing the baron intended;
+it was only out of the extremity of his jealous love for her that he had
+sent the baby away. Thoughtless and selfish he might have been, but
+surely no one could say he had been guilty of cruelty to this wife, whom
+he loved so madly that even her love for her child had raised the demon
+of jealousy within his breast. The word "cruel" stung him to the quick;
+it was a new phase of his conduct, one that had never struck him before,
+and as he glanced at the poor little baroness, who had half risen on the
+sofa, and was looking at him with an agonised look on her pretty face,
+he was seized with remorse, and felt it impossible to go on with the
+_role_ he had attempted to play of the wise father and husband, who had
+only acted for the good of his wife and child. Already he was beginning
+to repent of his rash act, and if it had been possible to go after the
+yacht the chances are the baron would have started at once, and brought
+back the baby for the pleasure of seeing its mother smile again. As it
+was impossible, the next best thing was to make the best of it, and if
+Mathilde could not be comforted in any other way, why he must promise to
+let her have it back again. He decided all this as he petted the
+baroness, and tried to comfort her by whispering fond nothings into her
+ear; but he soon found all his caresses were useless, unless he yielded
+to her entreaties and told her where the baby was, and as all he knew
+about it was that it was on board Leon's yacht, on which it was being
+taken, he believed, to England, though he was by no means sure, this
+did not tend to allay the poor mother's anxious fears.
+
+Her baby confided to the wild Leon's charge, tossed about in a yacht
+with not a woman on board to take care of it, her fragile little
+daughter, on whom the wind had never been allowed to blow, now at the
+mercy of wind and waves for days, and then, supposing the child was
+alive, which in her present mood the baroness declared to be impossible,
+even if it were, not to know where it was till Leon came back, perhaps
+for a week or more, for the baron dare not tell her it would probably be
+a month before he returned--oh, it was unbearable! She was sure she
+could neither eat nor sleep until she had her baby back. Life until then
+would be a burden to her. What could she do without it? Already she was
+sure it knew her; and oh, how happy she had been watching by its cradle!
+If Arnaud only knew how she delighted in nursing and playing with it,
+even to gaze on it while it slept was a joy to her! Oh, if he only
+understood, he would never have been so cruel as to send it away.
+
+All the baron's arguments as to the advantages to the baby which were to
+be derived from his scheme, and the wonderful health and strength it was
+to derive from leading a less luxurious life, failed to reassure the
+baroness, and she passed a sleepless night, and looked so ill and
+miserable the next morning that the baron was angry with her for looking
+ill, and with himself for being the cause. No one in the house but the
+baroness had been told the night before what had become of the baby, the
+general opinion being that it had been taken or sent to some woman in
+the neighbourhood to look after; but when it became known that it was
+sent away in Leon's charge no one knew where, the sympathy with the
+baroness was universal, and the baron found himself looked upon as a
+jealous tyrant, with no real love for either his wife or child.
+
+"A nice father you are," cried his brother Jacques.
+
+"The idea of trusting Leon with a baby. Why, he will pitch it overboard
+if it cries," said little Louis, a remark which so annoyed the baron
+that he promptly seized Louis by the collar and turned him out of the
+room.
+
+"You really must have been mad, Arnaud, to dream of such a thing as
+entrusting Leon, of all people in the world, with an infant," said the
+old baroness, for once taking the part of her daughter-in-law against
+her son.
+
+Pere Yvon said nothing just then; it would not have been wise to have
+done so while the baron's temper was ruffled by the criticisms of his
+family or in their presence, but when he was alone with Arnaud, Pere
+Yvon spoke his mind pretty freely, and read the baron a severer lecture
+than he had ever done all the years he was under his tuition.
+
+It was nothing but jealousy which had prompted such a mad, cruel act,
+and jealousy of the most unreasonable--he might almost say
+unpardonable--kind: a father to be jealous of his wife's love for his
+own child! There was a German saying, excellent in the original, but
+which lost the double play upon the words in the translation which Pere
+Yvon quoted to the baron--
+
+    "Die Eifersucht ist eine Leidenschaft,
+    Der mit Eifer sucht muss Leiden schaffen,"
+
+which means, freely translated, that jealousy is a passion which brings
+misery to him who indulges in it; and Pere Yvon impressed upon Arnaud
+that if any misfortune happened to the baby, he would have no one to
+blame but himself, for though all sins bring their own punishment,
+jealousy is undoubtedly one that can never be indulged in with impunity.
+This, and much more to the same effect, Pere Yvon said, and the baron,
+lying in an easy chair, listened patiently enough, partly because he was
+very fond of the chaplain, and partly because he was so angry with
+himself now for his folly that it was a relief to him to be blamed
+roundly for it.
+
+All that day the baroness wandered about the house in a vague, restless
+way, unable to settle to anything, and trying to amuse herself by
+consulting with the nurse as to how they should go and fetch the baby
+back when they discovered where it was. She ate little or nothing, and
+after another sleepless night looked so worn and ill that the baron sent
+for a doctor, who came and urged strongly that the baby should be sent
+for at once, or he would not be answerable for the consequences; the
+suspense and anxiety were telling so on the baroness that if the strain
+lasted much longer he feared she would have an attack of brain fever.
+
+On hearing this the baron was dreadfully alarmed, and telegraphed to
+Leon's agent at Havre to let him know immediately he heard from M. Leon
+de Thorens, who had sailed two nights before in the Hirondelle for a
+cruise in the Channel. The agent telegraphed back that he knew no more
+than M. le Baron at present, but so soon as he received any further
+information he would let the baron know. This did not reassure the
+baroness, who had taken it into her head that something had happened to
+the yacht, and not all Arnaud's promises that the moment he knew where
+the child was he would go himself and bring her back could comfort the
+poor, anxious little mother, who, with pale cheeks and black marks round
+her great brown eyes, which were always large but looked bigger than
+ever now that they had not been closed since the baby left, wandered
+about the chateau, looking like a picture of despair.
+
+This lasted for nearly a week, and then came a telegram from the agent
+to say the Hirondelle was lost in a fog off the east coast of England
+with all hands drowned. The baron was alone when the telegram was handed
+to him, and the news was such a shock to him that he read the message
+over again and again before the words, though they were burnt indelibly
+into his brain, conveyed their full meaning to his mind. Slowly he
+grasped the terrible truth; poor Leon, the life of the house, wild,
+handsome Leon was drowned, and his own poor innocent baby as well,
+drowned, and by his fault. He was little better than a murderer, he
+thought, in the first outburst of his grief, and he must tell Mathilde,
+and perhaps kill her too. How should he ever have the courage to do
+this? Strange to say, though perhaps, after all, it was not strange, the
+baron was far more cut up at the sad fate of his little girl, whom, a
+few days ago, he had been so anxious to get rid of, for a while, at
+least, than he was at the news of poor Leon's death. So much hung on the
+baby; Mathilde's life might almost be said to depend upon its recovery,
+and now he must go and strike the blow which would perhaps kill her.
+Pere Yvon was indeed right; his jealousy was truly bringing a terrible
+punishment in its train, and the baron buried his face in his hands, and
+sobs of bitterest grief shook his whole frame. At last, rousing himself,
+he went to the door of the study where the chaplain was engaged teaching
+the younger boys, and beckoned him out. Pere Yvon saw at a glance by the
+baron's pale, scared face, as well as by the telegram he held in his
+hand, that something terrible had happened, and drawing Arnaud into the
+nearest room, he asked eagerly what was the matter. The baron answered
+by placing the telegram in his hands, and paced the room in a frenzy
+while Pere Yvon read it. The chaplain's first thought was for the poor
+widowed mother, whose darling son was thus cut off in the beauty of his
+youth. He had known her so many years, and had comforted her in so many
+sorrows, it was natural he should think of her first, before the other
+mother, who had her husband to comfort her, and whose child was only an
+infant of a few months old.
+
+"La pauvre baronne! My poor madame! It will break her heart: her darling
+son," murmured the chaplain.
+
+"Ah, poor Leon. I can't realise it yet that we shall never see him
+again, and my poor, innocent baby too; it will kill Mathilde. Oh, mon
+pere, how are we to tell them?" groaned the baron.
+
+"I will tell your mother; it is not the first time I have been the
+bearer of ill news to her, and you must break it as gently as you can to
+your wife. It is a sad day indeed for this household, but the Lord's
+will be done. He knows best, and He will not send any of us more than we
+are able to bear," replied Pere Yvon, as he went on his sad mission to
+the old baroness.
+
+As he had said, he had broken many sorrows to her, but he had never had
+to deal a heavier blow than when he told her her favourite son was
+drowned, the son of whom she was so proud, whom she loved better than
+all her other children; but the baroness was a saintly woman, and one of
+her first sayings after she heard the news was, "Mon pere, it is hard,
+but it is just--he was my idol."
+
+She did not grieve in any extravagant way; she did not absent herself
+from any meals; she attended mass, for she was a devout Catholic, in the
+private chapel every morning, and, indeed, spent a great deal of time
+there in prayer; she never gave up one of her accustomed duties, visited
+the poor as regularly as ever, but from the day she heard the sad news
+to her death, which happened a few years later, she was scarcely seen
+to smile again, and she was never heard to mention Leon's name except to
+Pere Yvon. Hers was a life-long sorrow, too deep for words, too deep for
+even tears to assuage its poignancy; her heart was broken; she had no
+further interest in this life; all her hopes were centred on that life
+where she hoped to meet her darling son again, never to be separated
+from him.
+
+The young baroness bore her trial very differently. She gave way to a
+passionate outburst of grief on learning that her baby was drowned--a
+grief in which the baron shared, and was, indeed, in more need of
+consolation than his wife, for to his sorrow was added remorse and
+bitterest stings of conscience for having brought such sorrow to his
+wife, about whom he was very anxious, until the doctor assured him the
+sad certainty was even better for her than the terrible suspense she had
+been enduring for the last week. To a young, passionate nature hitherto
+undisciplined by the sorrows of life, like the young baroness's,
+anything was easier to bear than suspense, and the doctor assured Arnaud
+that the passionate grief in which his wife indulged would do her no
+harm--on the contrary, she was more likely to get over it quickly.
+Violent grief is rarely lasting; there invariably follows a reaction.
+
+A few days later the baron received another telegram from the Havre
+agents, telling him they had found out that the Hirondelle had left
+Yarmouth, on the Norfolk coast, where she had been lying for two or
+three days, the day before she was lost, and was then intending to
+cruise round the coast of Great Britain. The baron was immediately
+raised from the depths of despair to the highest pinnacle of hope on
+hearing this, for he felt sure Leon had gone ashore at Yarmouth to place
+the baby with some Englishwoman, and had remained there some days on
+purpose. Confiding his new hope to Pere Yvon, he at once decided to
+start that night for England by Dover and Calais, for already steamers
+ran once or twice a week between these ports. He would then go on to
+Yarmouth by stage-coach, and make all inquiries for his baby. His
+difficulty was, he did not know the language, but living near the
+Chateau de Thorens was a Monsieur de Courcy, who had married an English
+wife, and spoke English very well. He was intimate with the De Thorens,
+and the baron hoped he might be able to help him in his trouble.
+
+Accordingly he called on the De Courcys at once, and, to his great
+relief, Monsieur de Courcy offered to go to Yarmouth with him, while
+Madame de Courcy suggested that the baroness should come and stay with
+her during their husbands' absence, for the chateau was a very gloomy
+place for the poor young mother while the shadow of death rested upon
+it. Arnaud jumped at this, for he had never been separated from his wife
+since their marriage, and he would far rather leave her with this pretty
+young English lady than at the chateau, while his mother's grief for
+Leon saddened the whole household. It was easy to account for his
+journey to England, by saying that he was going to get particulars of
+the accident from the place off which it happened. This would seem only
+natural to Mathilde, who must on no account be told that he had any hope
+of finding the child. She had accepted the news of its death without
+questioning it, and it was far better to let her continue under this
+impression than to raise fresh hopes, which, after all, might never be
+realised, and if he could only persuade her to come to Parc du Baffy
+while he was away he would feel quite happy about her.
+
+Madame de Courcy and the baroness were on intimate terms with each
+other, although Madame de Courcy was a staunch Protestant, and both the
+baron and baroness bigoted Romanists; but the great attraction to
+Mathilde, as Madame de Courcy guessed, would be her child, a beautiful
+boy of three years old, in whom the baroness had delighted until her own
+baby was born and absorbed all her time and affection. Knowing this,
+Madame de Courcy offered to send her boy to the chateau with the baron,
+hoping to inveigle the baroness to return with him to Parc du Baffy, a
+manoeuvre which succeeded admirably, for Mathilde, not having seen the
+little Rex for some weeks, was so enraptured with him that she could not
+part with him, and as Madame de Courcy could not be asked to spare her
+child as well as her husband, the baroness consented to go and stay at
+the Parc while the baron was away. The little Rex was too old to remind
+her of her own baby, and his pretty mixture of French and English amused
+her immensely, and for the moment charmed away her sorrow. Had she known
+the real object of her husband's visit to England, the suspense and
+anxiety would have made her seriously ill; not knowing it, the change
+and Rex's society did her good, so that Madame de Courcy was able, after
+a day or two, to write to the baron and tell him his wife was certainly
+better and more cheerful since she had been at the Parc du Baffy.
+
+Meanwhile the baron and M. de Courcy reached Yarmouth safely, and
+learned the day and hour on which the Hirondelle arrived and also left
+Yarmouth, and that the cause of her remaining so long there was the
+absconding of an English sailor, named, or, at all events, calling
+himself, John Smith. The baron was more elated than ever at hearing
+this, for he knew the Englishman was to place the baby out to nurse, and
+if he were safe, the chances were that the child was too; but when,
+after having run two or three John Smiths to earth and discovered that
+they bore no resemblance to the original, it became evident that the
+real John Smith had made himself scarce, and was probably not John Smith
+at all, the baron's hopes of recovering the child again fell, though he
+could not abandon the idea that if he could only find the runaway
+sailor he should hear some news of the child. The wish was, perhaps,
+father to the thought, but he could not help thinking the child was not
+on board the Hirondelle when she went down, now that he found the
+English carpenter had left the yacht at Yarmouth. But the baron felt his
+inability to speak English a great drawback to prosecuting his inquiries
+as fully as he would have liked, although M. de Courcy was very kind and
+did all any friend could have been expected to do; still, it was not the
+same as speaking the language himself, as the baron felt, and he
+bitterly regretted he had never tried to master its difficulties. Many
+of the Yarmouth fishermen and boatmen remembered the Hirondelle and the
+handsome French gentleman to whom she belonged, but not one had ever
+seen the sign of a baby on board her, though this did not throw much
+light on the matter, as the baby might easily have been kept below or
+removed at night.
+
+At last, after spending a week or ten days in fruitless inquiries, the
+baron and his friend returned to France, the baron convinced in his own
+mind that some hope of his child being safe still existed, a hope which
+he dared not communicate to the baroness, but which, nevertheless,
+lingered in his breast for many a long day.
+
+(_To be continued._)
+
+
+
+
+THE ROMANCE OF THE BANK OF ENGLAND;
+
+OR,
+
+THE OLD LADY OF THREADNEEDLE STREET.
+
+BY EMMA BREWER.
+
+
+INTRODUCTION.
+
+A gentleman asked me the other day upon what subject I intended next to
+write, and on telling him that the Editor had kindly permitted me to
+deal with the Bank of England and the National Debt, he said, "Nonsense!
+what do girls want to know about the Bank of England and the National
+Debt? Let them be content to leave all such knowledge to men, and rest
+satisfied if they get their dividends all right and know how to spend
+them properly and keep out of debt."
+
+He seemed to forget that to do even the little he permitted us would
+require knowledge and education of a liberal character, and that without
+these our desires might outrun our income, and getting into debt might
+prove our normal condition.
+
+A thorough knowledge of our circumstances is better than partial
+blindness, and to see things all round and weigh them justly is better
+than sitting with hands folded while men see and judge for us.
+
+The subjects of the Bank of England and the National Debt are well worth
+a study, and will not fail to afford us both varied and interesting
+information.
+
+Among other things they will tell us how the Bank of England came into
+existence; what the nation did previous to its existence; how our
+country came to have a debt which it has never been able to pay off, and
+how it would prove a calamity if it were possible to pay it off
+suddenly.
+
+Again, we shall learn the meaning of "selling out" and "buying in"
+money, and what is understood by "consols," "reduced threes," "stocks
+going up and down," "a run upon the Bank," "panic," and many other such
+terms.
+
+There is no reason why girls should not be able to give answers to all
+of these, and every reason why they should, seeing that an intimate
+knowledge of these subjects is as much a part of our nation's history as
+is the history of our kings and queens, our wars, and our institutions.
+
+And even beyond this, it is a matter of importance that girls having
+property, little or much, should understand the character of those to
+whom they entrust it.
+
+There are many and valuable books published upon these subjects, but
+they are expensive to buy and take a long time to wade through; in
+addition to this, they are so learned that we women-folk fail often to
+get the simple information we require, even when we have read them.
+
+The Bank of England, either by name or by sight, is known, I suppose, to
+all of us; but its origin, its working, its influence, is not so
+familiar to us, and it does not seem to me that we should be going at
+all out of our province if we were to ask the "Old Lady of
+Threadneedle-street" to tell us something of her history, her household,
+and her daily life, seeing that most of us contribute to her
+housekeeping, some more, some less.
+
+We trust her so completely that "safe as the Bank of England" has passed
+into a proverb; yet, for all that, we should like the old lady's own
+account of how she came into existence, and how she became such a power
+in the land, and what she does with all the money we lend her, and out
+of what purse she pays us for the loan.
+
+She certainly ought to be able to tell an interesting tale--for her
+palace, her servants, her house-keeping, her treasures, her cellars, her
+expenditure, her receipts and clearing, the frights she has every now
+and again both given and received, must each and all be more amusing and
+full of interest than any fairy tale told by Grimm or Andersen.
+
+
+CHAPTER I.
+
+THE STORY OF THE OLD LADY OF THREADNEEDLE STREET.
+
+And so you want me to tell you the story of my life! Telling tales is
+not quite in my line, but I will do the best I can; and should I become
+garrulous and tedious, as old ladies are wont sometimes to be, you must
+recall me by a gentle reminder that you live in the present century,
+whose characteristics are short, decisive, and by all means amusing.
+
+My career has been a strange and eventful one, as you yourselves will
+see if I can interest you sufficiently to listen to the end.
+
+Of course, I was not always known as the Old Lady of
+Threadneedle-street; indeed, I can well remember the feeling of
+annoyance with which I saw _Mr. Punch's_ illustration of me in 1847, as
+a fat old woman without a trace of beauty, except in my garments, which
+were made of bank notes. I have kept a copy of it, and will just pencil
+you the outline.
+
+The annoyance was intensified when I found myself handed down to
+posterity by him as the _Old_ Lady of Threadneedle-street. He could have
+no authority for this picture, seeing that, like the Delphian mystery of
+old, I am invisible, and deliver my oracles through my directors.
+
+You are girls, and will quite understand the distress of being thrust
+suddenly into old age. Up to 1847 I was young, good-looking, and
+attractive, and to be bereft of my youth and romance at one blow; to
+know that from henceforth all would be prosaic and business-like, that I
+should never again have lovers seeking my favour, was a condition of
+extreme pain. I had always prided myself on my figure, but even this
+_Mr. Punch_ did not leave me, but told the world that it was due to
+tight-lacing. It was very cruel, and I have sometimes thought it was
+envy of my position; but let that go. I took counsel with myself, and
+determined to face the future with the resolve to be the very nicest old
+lady in the world, and to make myself so useful to my fellow-creatures
+that they should love me and stand by me even though my first youth had
+passed. And I am sure you will agree with me in thinking that I have
+accomplished this, and that not only have I kept clear of weakness and
+decrepitude, but have achieved for myself a reputation and position
+second to no lady in the land.
+
+It has been necessary for me to make this little explanation, otherwise
+you might have thought I had never been young. And now to proceed.
+
+It was in the reign of William and Mary that I first saw the light,
+being born in Mercers' Hall on the 27th of July, 1694.
+
+From this place, after a few months, I was removed to Grocers' Hall,
+Poultry; not the stately structure with which you are acquainted, but
+one much more simple, which was razed to make room for the present
+building.
+
+I may say, without vanity, that my birth created a sensation throughout
+the length and breadth of the land.
+
+The House of Commons even was not exempt from this excitement, but set
+aside its serious work to discuss whether or not I should be strangled
+and put out of the way, or nurtured into strength by its support and
+countenance.
+
+Those members who were in favour of the last resolution declared that I
+should rescue the nation out of the hands of extortioners, lower
+interests, raise the value of land, revive public credit, improve
+commerce, and connect the people more closely with the Government, while
+those of the contrary opinion assured the House that I should engross
+the whole money of the kingdom, that I should weaken commerce by
+tempting people to withdraw their money from trade, that I should
+encourage fraud and gaming, and corrupt the morals of the nation.
+
+Little recked I of all the stir and commotion my birth was causing, as,
+nursed and cared for by my father, William Paterson, a Scotch merchant,
+and his friend, Mr. Michael Godfrey, I gradually grew into strength. It
+was not till long afterwards that I heard and understood the
+circumstances of my birth, and how around me were centred the interests
+of the kingdom.
+
+When I was only twelve months old, those who were bound together to take
+care of my interests separated my father from me, giving as an excuse
+that he was of too speculative and adventurous a spirit to be entrusted
+with my welfare.
+
+Poor father! It has always seemed to me very sad that he who had worked
+so long and so persistently for my success should have been condemned to
+spend the last years of his life in solitude and neglect in Scotland,
+while I, his child, was gradually becoming everything that his highest
+ambition could have pictured; but so it was.
+
+[Illustration: THE OLD LADY OF THREADNEEDLE STREET. From "Punch."]
+
+I have often wished that he had employed those last weary years of his
+in writing a history of his life. I am sure it would have interested all
+classes of readers, but I suppose he was too sad and out of heart. He
+was forty-one years of age at the time of my birth, having been born in
+Dumfries in 1658. He was one of those who may be said to live before
+their time. He possessed great ability, knowledge, and experience, and
+was a great traveller, yet, with all this, his life was a series of
+disappointments and failures.
+
+His great friend, Michael Godfrey, who had worked so faithfully by his
+side, would, I am sure, never have forsaken him, but he was struck down
+by a ball in the trenches of Namur, in 1695, while seeking the king in
+my interests.
+
+He was a great loss to me, although I was too young at the time to
+estimate it fully. He has left behind him a quaint and graphic account
+of my infancy, with which I shall hope to make you acquainted later on.
+
+Should you feel any interest in him, look in St. Swithin's Church some
+day when passing, and there you will find a monument to his memory,
+which records that he "died a batchelour, much lamented by his friends,
+relations, and acquaintances for his integrity, his knowledge, and the
+sweetness of his manners."
+
+My name "Bank," which signifies "bench" or "high seat," I derived from
+Italian forefathers, who, in early days, carried on their business in
+the public places or exchanges on _benches_.
+
+This business of theirs consisted chiefly in being the depositories of
+the wealth of rich people, and making payments for them according to
+written orders, and further in receiving money from some people on
+interest, and lending it to others at a higher rate. I have been told
+that in their day making a profit by lending money was not considered at
+all an aristocratic proceeding, and procured for those who indulged in
+it the name of usurers, a word I do not like; it savours of sordidness.
+
+From my very birth I was educated to be reliable, steady, secure, and
+faithful, and to be true and just in all my dealings.
+
+It was made clear to me that it was the lack of these qualities in the
+money affairs of the kingdom which had led to the necessity of my
+existence, and I was made distinctly to understand that it was only upon
+my developing largely these peculiar traits of character that I should
+continue the existence thus begun.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+My education was quite different from that of other girls. I had to
+learn arithmetic almost before I could speak, and the state and
+condition of kings and governments were instilled into my mind as
+regularly as food into my body.
+
+There were no novels, no light literature for me, except what I could
+extract for myself out of the dry material placed before me. Still, my
+mind was not warped with this peculiar bringing up, and now that I am an
+old woman, I think I can see that I owe this to the character of those
+who governed and directed me.
+
+Of course, this peculiar education and training kept me far ahead of
+other girls, and while they were scarcely out of the nursery, and still
+enjoying battledore and shuttlecock, I was seeking information, either
+by reading or conversation, concerning my forefathers, position, duties,
+and property.
+
+Young as I was, I began to feel creeping over me a sense of
+responsibility, and a longing to know how best to fulfil all that was
+required of me. I knew that I was rich, but how did I become so? I knew
+that my riches were expected to make others rich, but how? I was always
+asking questions, and sometimes succeeded in getting an answer, which
+served as a clue, and sent me to search old parchments or to make
+comparisons.
+
+It was some time before I could piece the scraps of information
+together, but gradually I did so, and then assuredly I saw the awfulness
+of my influence and position, and determined, with God's blessing, to be
+a comfort and support to the widows and orphans who trusted in me, as
+well as a source of strength, security, and honour to the nation and its
+rulers, and I resolved that henceforth my name, _the Bank of England_,
+should carry with it a meaning wherever it was heard, far beyond its
+original signification; it should be another term for wealth, honour,
+and thrift--a something to be trusted, and in which nothing foul, mean,
+or sordid must be found.
+
+(_To be continued._)
+
+
+
+
+HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF MUSICAL FORMS.
+
+SKETCH I.--THE ORATORIO AND PASSION MUSIC (SACRED DRAMA).
+
+BY MYLES B. FOSTER, Organist of the Foundling Hospital.
+
+
+In a former number, in prefacing reviews of new music, we said
+sufficient upon the subject of listening to music to call the attention
+of our many readers to the performances going on so frequently in all
+parts of the world, and now we persuade ourselves that there may be some
+to whom a short account of the various and varied forms, to which our
+attention as audience is most frequently invited, would be of interest,
+even though they have some knowledge of the subject already; and that
+there may be others to whom these very incomplete sketches may appear as
+information, and as an incentive to further investigation.
+
+For our first sketch we have chosen the oratorio, for it is undoubtedly
+the highest form of musical dramatic art, and is founded upon and
+contains the greatest and deepest truths of the Christian life. As
+regards the actual music forms employed, we find, indeed, similar ones
+in the operas, such as the various forms of recitative, the aria, the
+duet, and the chorus, and even the scena; but in the sacred works, who
+are the heroes and heroines? Are they not the instruments of the Divine
+power, the messengers of the good tidings? And what are the subjects?
+Are they not the struggles, the trials, the victories of noble souls?
+With such sacred characters, with such lofty thoughts, the composers of
+the oratorio, dealing, not with the semblance of truth that the opera
+contains, but with the truth itself, are bound to express their feelings
+and emotions in the grandest and most perfect thoughts.
+
+Purely sentimental ideas, and the whole list of passions and struggles
+in human existence, rather form the basis of opera than the proper
+subjects for oratorio, and the modern attempts to transform the sacred
+ideal into the region of operatic and dramatic realism seem to fall
+singularly short of expectation. To our minds, the strongest period in
+the history of oratorio was the time of Handel and Bach, and writers of
+to-day have yet to graft on to their work the more careful study, and
+the strengthening influence of these noble masterpieces in stronger
+cuttings, to make the struggling young plant a healthy and beautiful
+tree. Let us progress, by all means, but true progression is but the
+joining of all that is good in the preceding age with all the fresh
+beauty God bestows upon us in this our day.
+
+We seem to be comparing or contrasting the secular form opera and the
+sacred oratorio, and it is interesting to know that the origin of both
+may be traced back to the same source--viz., early miracle plays and
+moralities. For some time after the introduction of Christianity into
+Eastern Europe, the new converts seem to have retained their fondness
+for the heathen practice used in religious, as in secular, celebrations
+of theatrical representations, which were chiefly upon mythological
+subjects, and all of which angered and distressed the priests of the new
+religion. However, the latter soon found out that it was necessary to
+reach the minds of these people through their more acutely trained
+senses and the medium of their old traditions, and thus in these early
+ages the dramatic element worked its way into the church worship.
+Spiritual plays were arranged by the priests in all parts of
+Christianised Europe, who chose scenes and stories from both Old and New
+Testaments, and from the lives of the saints and holy men. The plays
+were acted upon a stage, usually erected under the choir of the church.
+As women were not permitted to appear, priests took all the characters,
+male and female. We learn, from many reliable sources, that these sacred
+representations had a great effect upon the pious worshippers.
+
+In the course of the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries, and chiefly in
+the west of Europe, profane elements crept in amongst the holy legends,
+and these religious entertainments also developed so greatly, that
+hundreds of actors would be engaged in representations lasting over
+several days, whilst the eager audiences were so large that the churches
+could not contain them, and the stage had to be erected in the
+market-places, and out of doors.
+
+The direction passed more and more into the hands of the laity, who
+employed jongleurs, histrions, and strolling vagabonds, whose acting
+included gross buffoonery, and whose profanity completely choked the
+religious growth first implanted by these miracle plays. The stages, it
+should be explained, were of curious construction, being divided into
+three stories, the upper one containing the heavenly characters, the
+middle one being for the people upon earth, and the lowest for the
+denizens of hell.
+
+At the beginning of the sixteenth century the whole Catholic world was
+influenced by those reforms so necessary to the Christian Church of that
+time, and so bravely contended for and gained by Luther. The
+demoralisation which weakened all the church's fabric was deeply
+deplored by the Catholic clergy, and we find at the close of this
+century St. Philip Neri founding a congregation of priests in Rome and
+drawing youths to church by dramatising in simple form such stories as
+the Good Samaritan, the Prodigal Son, etc., which were set to music in
+four parts with alternate solos, first by Animuccia (a pupil of
+Goudimel), and later on by the great Palestrina. These "sacred actions"
+or plays were not performed in the church itself, but in an adjoining
+chamber, called in Italian "oratorio," an oratory, and the title has
+since then adhered to this species of sacred work.
+
+Our girls will be pleased to know that the first oratorio, set to music
+by Emilio del Cavalieri, was written by a lady, Laura Guidiccioni. It
+was acted for the first time in the year 1600, probably in the oratory
+of the Church of Santa Maria della Vallicella, in Rome. The name of the
+work is "The Representation of the Soul and the Body." It was to be
+played in appropriate costumes, and certain choruses were to be
+accompanied, in a reverent and sedate manner, by solemn dances. Some of
+the characters were Time, Pleasure, the World, Human Life, the Body,
+etc.
+
+As the various forms of music, already named as common to the opera and
+oratorio, developed in the former, so in proportion they expanded and
+became freer in the latter; those portions which had been mainly founded
+upon plain song became more expressive and dramatic, and the melody
+assumed a flowing and cantabile character. But whereas you would imagine
+that a closer connection between the secular and sacred would be the
+result of this change, nevertheless, the composer's conviction that the
+music must strive to be of adequate importance to the sacred words and
+subjects caused a line to be drawn, ever growing more and more marked,
+as time and growth in grace and knowledge went on, between the secular
+and sacred musical drama.
+
+In the seventeenth century we find Carissimi greatly advancing oratorio,
+and composing really noble music. You may remember a revival of his
+"Jephtha," by Mr. Henry Leslie, a few years back. Scarlatti, Stradella,
+and others also contributed to this period. But, notwithstanding its
+Italian birth and infancy, it remained for Germany to bring oratorio to
+a vigorous manhood, and to its lofty position in the world of music. The
+compositions of Handel and Bach, early in the eighteenth century, placed
+this sacred art form upon a pinnacle of such height and strength, that
+few composers have the stamina or knowledge wherewith to reach it.
+
+Having gazed at this, for a time, culminating summit, let us go back to
+the early days again for a moment to notice a branch of this tree, a
+member of this sacred family, whose growth has been parallel with that
+of the subject of our sketch, viz., the Passion oratorio, one dealing
+with the sufferings and death of our blessed Redeemer. Foremost amongst
+the miracle plays, in which originated the sacred drama, was the
+representation, during Holy Week, of the Passion of our Lord. To this
+day we have interesting relics of this custom, such as the Oberammergau
+play in South Bavaria, the performances in the Sistine Chapel in Rome,
+and in some parts of Spain. The oldest Protestant composition on this
+subject was published in 1570.
+
+At the commencement of the seventeenth century a great development
+followed in the writings of Heinrich Schuetz, who wrote music to the
+Passion, as told by all four evangelists, and whose tercentenary was
+celebrated last year by commencing the publication of all his works. He
+did much towards the great musical development in Germany. Following in
+his footsteps came Sebastiani, at the end of the century, and Keiser at
+the commencement of the eighteenth. In Keiser's Passion we find, in
+addition to the Bible narrative, reflective passages for a chorus,
+holding much the same functions as the old Greek chorus, with
+interpolated solos for "the Daughter of Sion" and "the Believing Soul,"
+some of which are used later on by Bach, especially in his setting of
+the subject according to St. John's Gospel. John Sebastian Bach added,
+moreover, many well-known chorales in which the people could join, and
+these favourite old hymn tunes had the greatest power over the hearts of
+the worshippers.
+
+Now we have returned to the period at which we left oratorio, and side
+by side with Bach's great Passion music stand up those massive
+monuments, the oratorios of Handel, of which so much has been written,
+and many of which you all know and love so well. It is worthy of notice,
+if only to show how recently (viz., almost halfway through the
+eighteenth century) action, and costume, and other accessories were
+tolerated in connection with the sacred subjects, to tell you that at
+the performance of his first English oratorio, "Esther," at the theatre
+in the Haymarket, Handel appended the following note to the playbills:--
+
+"N.B. There will be no acting on the stage," this being called shortly
+after "oratorio fashion," even when applied to performances of secular
+dramatic subjects which were to be sung, and not acted.
+
+After these great works of Handel, no important oratorio was heard in
+England until Haydn's "Creation," in 1798. Then, in the present century,
+Spohr followed with his "Crucifixion," "Last Judgment," and "Fall of
+Babylon;" and then Mendelssohn, that greatest disciple of Bach, whose
+"Elijah" and "St. Paul" quite revived the taste for oratorio, and gave
+an impetus to it, which extends to our day.
+
+To end this fragmentary sketch, we may fairly say that oratorio should
+contain two important elements:--
+
+I. The narrative form, as subject of the whole work.
+
+II. The didactic and contemplative, as interpolations in soliloquy, or
+in chorus of adoration, prayer, and warning.
+
+A third element, the dramatic accessories of costume, scenery, and
+action, we have dispensed with, and, I think, happily so.
+
+We find in these days in many nations, including our own dear country,
+composers are striving after this highest and noblest ideal; let us pray
+they may receive that strength necessary for so great a responsibility.
+There is none greater in music, and our hearts tell us that unless a
+composer knows and believes himself that the subject which in reverence
+he approaches is the truth itself, which he must proclaim and preach as
+a conviction of his own--we say that unless he thus incorporates himself
+in his work it is but mockery, and the result of it nothingness.
+
+
+
+
+NOTES FOR NOVEMBER.
+
+
+During this month we get the finest effects of the changing tints of
+foliage; after a wet, windy summer the colours are poor, but fine and
+varied after dry calm weather.
+
+These autumnal changes of colour are caused by decay and death; the life
+in the leaf enabled it to withstand certain chemical changes, which it
+can no longer resist as the vital force wanes, and the green colouring
+matter is either changed or destroyed.
+
+We can prove this fact for ourselves if we notice how often, while all
+the rest of a tree is green, the leaves and small branches which are
+partly broken, and have, therefore, lost a great part of their vitality,
+lose their green colour, and become yellow or red.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+Not only are the broad effects of a landscape made beautiful in autumn
+by the rich colouring of large masses of trees, but the close observer
+will find every hedge, bottom, and wild common flaming with colour.
+Heath tell us "it is the commonest plants whose colours are the most
+beautiful and striking." Amongst those which produce the most brilliant
+autumnal tints, the following are found almost everywhere in the hedges
+in England: Bramble, hawthorn, wild strawberry, dock, spindle-tree, herb
+robert, cranes-bill, silver weed, hedge maple, dogwood, black bryony,
+ivy; while in the kitchen gardens nothing can exceed the beauty of the
+asparagus and the common carrot.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+Many birds come to England from the north to spend the winter. Wild
+ducks, woodcocks, fieldfares, and curlews are coming now, besides
+thrushes, larks, and other small birds. Some of these live with us all
+through the year, and are only joined by relatives from colder climates.
+In very cold winters many birds who do not usually migrate, are driven
+south in search of food; but the reception they meet with is hardly
+calculated to attract great numbers of strangers to our shores; for the
+notice one usually reads in the newspapers is that such and such a rare
+bird "has been seen and _shot_."
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+"It is as hot as we have it in India, or, at any rate, I feel the heat
+as much." One often hears this statement on a hot summer's day from an
+Indian visitor; while, on the other hand, our Canadian cousins assure us
+that their bright, clear winter, though so intensely cold, is not so
+trying as ours. This is to a great extent caused by the unusual moisture
+of the air in England. John Burroughs tells us that "the average
+rainfall in London is less than in New York, and yet it doubtless rains
+ten days in the former to one in the latter," which he explains by the
+fact that in England "it rains easily, but slowly."
+
+That we can bear greater dry than damp heat is easily proved by holding
+one's hand before a fire, and then plunging it into hot water, using a
+thermometer in both cases to test the heat. The same fact with regard to
+cold can be tried by holding both hands in a draught of cold air, the
+one hand being wet, the other dry.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+Lovers of natural history are not all aware what advantages the first
+sharp frost offers them for the study of animal and vegetable life in
+ponds. Thoreau, one of the most devoted admirers of nature, says in his
+"Walden," that, "The first ice is especially interesting, being hard,
+dark, and transparent, and affords the best opportunity that ever offers
+for examining the bottom, where it is shallow; for you can lie at your
+length on ice only an inch thick, like a skater insect on the surface of
+the water, and study the bottom at your leisure, only two or three
+inches distant, like a picture behind a glass."
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+[Illustration]
+
+Country girls have an opportunity during the early darkness of winter
+afternoons of appreciating one of the dangers which beset arctic
+explorers during the long twilight which takes the place of day during
+the winter months in those northern climes. In towns, the well-lighted
+and well-paved streets make walking in the dusk as easy as in the day;
+but girls, whose walks lead through fields and rough country lanes, know
+how many trips and stumbles are caused by the uncertain light before
+darkness sets in. Greely, in his terribly sad history of the sufferings
+of his men during their arctic expedition, tells us how much their
+difficulties were increased by this dimness of the light. It was
+necessary that they should go long journeys on foot, each man carrying a
+heavy load of provisions and other stores; and he adds: "The absence of
+sufficient light to cast a shadow has had very unfortunate results, as
+several of the men have been badly bruised and sprained. When no shadow
+is formed, and the light is feeble and blurred, there is the same
+uncertainty about one's walk as if the deepest darkness prevailed. The
+most careful observation fails to advise you as to whether the next step
+is to lie on a level, up an incline, or over a precipice. A few bad
+falls quite demoralise a man, and make him more than ever distrustful of
+his eyesight."
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+There is not much to be done in the garden this month, but bulbs may
+still be put in, though the flowers will not be so good as those planted
+earlier. Hyacinths, narcissi, and tulips planted now ought to flower in
+April.
+
+If the weather is mild, the grass should be rolled occasionally; early
+peas and beans may be planted in a dry place, and a little radish seed
+sown in a warm corner, but they must be carefully covered if a sharp
+frost comes.
+
+Green hedges should be clipped, and shrubs needing it pruned. Now that
+the leaves are off, the fruit trees may be more easily examined, and
+dead branches, or those that rub against one another, removed.
+
+If the weather is very cold, take care of delicate plants by spreading
+cocoa-nut fibre or light manure over the beds, or by covering the plants
+with matting.
+
+
+
+
+CHILD ISLAND.
+
+FAIRY TALE FOR YOUNGER GIRLS.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+
+A long time ago--so long that it was ages before my grandfather was a
+little boy, and long before his grandmother was a little girl--there
+was, not far from fairyland, a beautiful lake, the waters of which were
+so clear that as they sparkled in the sunlight they glistened and
+gleamed like silver: and so it was called the Silver Lake. Beautiful
+white swans sailed majestically on its surface, and thousands of gold
+fishes swam in its clear waters.
+
+On one part of the lake the most lovely water-lilies opened up their
+white flowers, looking, as some people said, like tiny boats; but one of
+the little girls I am going to tell you about thought they looked like a
+set of green saucers and white cups, and used to call them the swans'
+best tea-things. Now, in the midst of this Silver Lake stood the
+beautiful island called Child's Island. Such a lovely little island as
+it was had never been seen before, and I verily believe has never been
+seen since.
+
+Black clouds never came near it, for there the sky was blue and
+cloudless always, and I am told that at night more stars might be seen
+from that pretty isle than from any other part of the world; but whether
+that is true or not I cannot tell. But I do know that its shores sloped
+green down to the water's edge, that the brightest and sweetest flowers
+bordered every pathway, that the roses were without thorns, and there
+was not a single nettle in the whole island. I know, also, that the
+grass was the greenest, the trees the shadiest, the flowers the
+brightest, and the fruit the ripest to be found anywhere. As to the
+animals, there were none but the gentlest kind. Little white mice went
+peeping about with their wee pink eyes, pretty tame squirrels bounded
+from tree to tree, and a herd of graceful fawns fed and played in the
+meadows. Birds of the gayest plumage and sweetest song were there;
+pretty poll-parrots hopped among the trees, crying, "What's o'clock?
+What's o'clock?" In short, it was the brightest, merriest, sunniest spot
+in the world, and I can say no more in its praise than that. All day
+long the sun shone gently down upon the little isle, and the wind never
+raised its voice above a whisper.
+
+But, besides birds and butterflies, fawns, and flowers, there was
+something else in this pretty isle. Now, what do you guess that
+something was? Why, a beautiful fairy palace.
+
+I call it a fairy palace, not because fairies lived there, for they did
+not, but because it was the work of fairy hands, and was more beautiful
+than any other palace in the world. It stood in the midst of a lovely
+garden, but no wall or railing shut it in from the rest of the island;
+and you and I, had we been there, might have walked across the green
+lawn, and plucked some of the gay flowers, and gone up the marble steps,
+without anyone saying, "Stop! You must not go there." Round about the
+palace, in groups of twos and threes, were several little houses, all
+very beautiful and all exactly alike.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+Now, I daresay you will think that this was a very pretty place, at the
+same time, very strange; yet the strangest and, to me, the most charming
+thing of all was that there were none but children in this little
+island. They were all quite young, the eldest amongst them were not
+twelve years old; they were the king and the queen, who, of course,
+lived in the beautiful palace. And thus, because only children dwelt
+there, it was called Child Island.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+Well, these little folks had nothing to do but to play; and a rare time
+they had of it, as you shall hear; but perhaps you would first like to
+know how it happened that they were alone in this island without any
+grown people to take care of them. Then listen, and I will tell you.
+
+The Silver Lake and Child Island belonged to the good fairy Corianda,
+who was very fond of little children, and took great pleasure in
+inventing games for, and otherwise amusing them. She loved all children,
+but she was especially fond of those of Noviland, the king of which was
+one of her subjects. She used often to slip on her magic veil, which
+rendered her invisible, and go amongst the little folks of Noviland to
+watch them at their play, or at their lessons, or to peep at them whilst
+they slept. It was in this way that she found out there was scarcely a
+child in Noviland but what was discontented with what it had, and sighed
+for what it had not.
+
+One fancied that Noviland would be the jolliest place in the world for
+little boys if there were no lessons, no schools; but grammar and
+spelling spoiled all. Pepitia thought that if she might wear fine
+dresses like mamma, have a coach and six to ride in, and no one to
+control her, she would be perfectly contented. The little Teresa sighed
+for a land where there was no A B C, and Dorinda for one where toys grew
+on trees, and no hard-hearted shopkeeper demanded money before they were
+plucked. Herbert wished he lived in a place where there were plenty of
+gay butterflies, and that he had nothing to do but to hunt them. Thus
+each child had something to wish for, and something to be discontented
+about.
+
+I wonder whether there are children in any other part of the world who,
+like those of Noviland, want what they have not, and grumble at what
+they have? Do you know any? Ah, no! I suppose there are no other little
+folks so silly, so I won't urge the question, but go on with my story.
+
+When the good fairy heard all these murmurings, she said to herself, "I
+will gratify these little people for a short time in what they want, and
+we shall see if they will be happy then."
+
+So she set her fays to work, and had built on Child Island the beautiful
+palace and houses I have told you of. When all was ready, she and her
+fays took the little grumblers out of their beds one fine night and
+wafted them away, whilst still asleep, to Child Island, taking care, I
+should tell you, to leave changelings from Fairyland in their places, so
+that the parents might not be filled with grief in the morning to find
+that their dear children had been stolen away.
+
+The next morning, after the sun had dispelled the mist which always
+seemed to hang about him before breakfast at Child Island, and he was
+fresh and bright for the day, like little boys with clean faces ready
+for school, the young strangers were all assembled on the lawn in front
+of the palace, and the fairy spoke to them as follows:--
+
+"My dear children, as you all fancy you would be happier if you were
+quite free from control, and if you had nothing to do but to play, I
+have brought you to this beautiful island, where you can amuse
+yourselves all day long. You will have everything supplied to you, and
+there will be no one to dictate to you. These pretty houses I give you
+to live in. The palace is for the king and queen, and the other houses
+are so precisely alike that none of you will be able to dispute as to
+choice. You, Philip, who are the eldest boy, shall be king, and you,
+Pepitia, who are the eldest girl, shall be queen. Be kind and
+good-natured to one another, and I will always be your friend. Don't eat
+too much fruit or cake, as that will make you ill. Now, come with me,
+and I will show you the inside of the palace."
+
+Then they followed the good fairy, in a merry crowd, up the marble
+steps into the hall of the palace, and a grand hall it was, with its
+rows of pillars and richly decorated walls. The fairy led them up the
+staircase and through the royal apartments, which consisted of
+drawing-rooms, dining-rooms, bedrooms, and dressing-rooms, where the
+looking-glasses reached from floor to ceiling and the wardrooms were
+filled with magnificent dresses. Then into the throne-room, hung with
+crimson velvet embroidered in gold, and where, at the upper end, were
+two golden thrones inlaid with precious stones and cushioned with
+crimson velvet. The more they saw the more delighted the little folks
+were; they clapped their hands with joy, and cried, "Oh, my! how
+beautiful!" at least twenty times in a minute.
+
+"Oh! shouldn't I like to be you," said Amanda to Pepitia, "you will be
+queen, and have all these fine things."
+
+After they had seen all that was in the palace, the fairy took them over
+the other houses, all of which were elegantly furnished, but it would
+take up too much time to tell you of all the beautiful things that were
+in them. Just fancy how you would like to furnish a little house that
+had drawing-rooms, dining-rooms, bedrooms, kitchens, and whatever you
+fancy you would like to put there _was_ there, and even more than that.
+No wonder the children were pleased.
+
+After the fairy had shown them all the pretty things the houses
+contained, and had allotted to each set of children the particular house
+they were to inhabit, a crystal car, drawn by six white swans, was seen
+to approach the shore. Then the fairy said, "Now, my little dears, I
+must go, for here is my coach and six come to fetch me." So she kissed
+them all round, bade them be good children, said she would come to see
+them again some day, got into her car, and was soon out of sight, the
+children shouting, "Good-bye, dear Fairy, good-bye," till they could see
+her no longer.
+
+Then they said, "What shall we play at first?"
+
+"Let us go into that pretty dell, where the fawns are at play, and
+gather some of the flowers," said Pepitia. To this they all readily
+assented, and ran skipping and singing into the dell. Some pulled long
+rushes and sat themselves down to weave little baskets; some gathered
+nosegays, some played with the fawns. Presently one of them said, "Oh!
+suppose we have a dance."
+
+"Yes, yes, yes, so do," cried a dozen little voices.
+
+"But there's no music," objected the queen, "we can't dance without
+music. How I wish we had some!"
+
+"I'll hum a tune," said Sophia; and she immediately began one.
+
+"No, that's so stupid," said Amanda.
+
+"Oh!" screamed a little boy. "Look there!"
+
+"Look where? What's the matter?" cried they all.
+
+"Why, look at that big yellow thing," replied the child, pointing to a
+large gourd which lay upon the ground, "it's opening all by itself!"
+
+And sure enough it was slowly opening, as if it were a monster mouth
+taking a lazy yawn. The children clustered together and watched it
+eagerly, when, to their great amazement, out popped a little figure, not
+more than six inches high, dressed in a suit of sky blue velvet with
+white lace ruffles at the throat and wrists. The dress was fastened down
+the front and at the knees by diamond buttons; diamond buckles were in
+its shoes, white silk stockings on its legs, and on its head a crimson
+cap with white feather. As soon as this quaint little figure jumped out
+of the gourd he was followed by another, and another, and another, till
+there were a full score of them, all dressed exactly like the first, and
+each carrying a tiny musical instrument in his hand.
+
+As the last jumped out the gourd closed, and the leader of the
+Liliputian band stepped a few paces in front of his fellows, and, taking
+off his feathered cap, made a low bow to the king and queen, then,
+without speaking a word, he sprang on to the foremost branch of a white
+Mayflower bush, which was in full blossom, and immediately his little
+companions perched themselves on different branches behind him, and
+began tuning their tiny instruments.
+
+The children, full of glee, arranged themselves for a dance, the band
+struck up "Sir Roger de Coverley," and away they all went, their little
+feet keeping time to the music as truly as the leader's tiny baton. They
+danced, and they danced, and they danced, till they were too tired to
+dance any more, then they flung themselves down to rest; upon which the
+little leader of the band jumped down from his perch and placed himself
+on a broad smooth leaf, that two of his band spread on the grass
+opposite to where sat the king and queen.
+
+He made a low bow to their majesties, the band struck up, and the little
+fellow commenced dancing a _pas seul_. If you had seen him prancing and
+capering about the leaf, now with his arms akimbo, going jauntily round
+and gracefully bending his body from side to side, keeping time to the
+music as he did so; now suddenly clasping his hands above his head,
+whirl rapidly round and round till he got to the front edge of the leaf,
+and then, springing into the air, come down on the very tips of his
+pointed shoes; if you had seen all this I think you would have laughed
+and shouted as loudly as did Rosetta, Minette, and all the rest of the
+little folks. When the droll fellow had finished his dance he flourished
+his feathered cap, made a low bow, and backed to where his companions
+were standing. The gourd slowly opened again, and each little fellow
+making his bow, popped in as quickly as he had popped out; then the
+gourd closed, and nothing more was seen of the little musicians that
+day.
+
+The children gathered round the gourd and tried to open it; tapped at
+it; called to the little musicians to come back; bent down their pretty
+heads to listen; but all was useless, no sound came from it, and they
+might as well have tried to open the oak tree 'neath which they stood as
+it.
+
+Now, for fear you should think that the good fairy had left these little
+children to take care of themselves entirely, to cook their own food,
+wash their own clothes, make their own beds, and all that sort of
+work--for children, you know, cannot do these things for themselves, and
+that is why they are always so good and obedient to mammas and papas and
+kind aunts, who see to all these things being done for them--I will tell
+you what queer, droll little beings she left in the island to attend to
+the domestic concerns of the young king and queen and their little
+subjects.
+
+Just shut your eyes and fancy you see a little brown figure with small
+dark eyes, like black beads, sharp nose, thin lips, and glossy red hair,
+combed off the face, plaited into a long tail behind, and tied by a bow
+of black ribbon. Then fancy this little figure, with arms so long that
+they reach to its knees, dressed in a dark blue smock frock without
+sleeves, a red leather belt round its waist, dark red trousers on its
+legs, and green morocco shoes on its feet; then call it a Noman, and you
+will see precisely the sort of beings which were left to wait on the
+young inhabitants of Child Island. They were all alike and all dressed
+alike; they used to make their appearance and begin to dust and sweep,
+and light fires, and such like, just after cock-crow every morning, and
+they all disappeared every night directly the children were safely
+tucked in bed. They came all together and they disappeared all together,
+but where they came from or where they went to nobody ever knew, so you
+must not expect me to tell you.
+
+I daresay you will think these Nomen a strange race, but I am going to
+tell you something stranger still concerning them, and that is that none
+of them could talk, no--not one!
+
+Was not that odd? They had some way of talking amongst themselves by
+means of signs, but the only words they could say to their young masters
+and mistresses were, "nob, nob," which meant no, and "yah, yah," which
+meant yes. These they uttered very quickly, and nodding their heads at
+each sound.
+
+Now, the good fairy had charged these little beings to be very kind and
+attentive to the children; to cook their meals and serve them nicely,
+and to keep their houses in pretty order.
+
+She also charged the children to be kind and gentle to the Nomen; never
+in any way to tease, annoy, or insult them, for if they did, the fairy
+said, and she looked very grave as she said it, "some punishment would
+immediately follow." This Master Edmund found to be quite true, when one
+day he attempted to kick the Noman who was brushing his hair, for as he
+raised his leg to kick, an invisible hand pulled the other from under
+him, and Master Edmund measured his length on the floor. So, also, Miss
+Sophia, who said one day, whilst looking in the glass, admiring herself
+and sneering at the Noman who was fastening her frock, "What a fright
+you are with your squiny eyes and red hair! I shouldn't like to be such
+a fright as you are." Upon which she immediately felt a sharp prick on
+her nose, whereon a large red pimple, as big as a cherry, made its
+appearance; her frock was torn to tatters, and on going to her wardrobe
+for another she found it quite empty, so she had to wear her rags all
+that day, as it was not until the next that the clothes came back to her
+wardrobe, and the pimple left her nose. I warrant me she will never be
+saucy to the Nomen again!
+
+Master King Philip had a lesson of the same kind once, at his dinner
+table, when all his court were dining with him. Calling to one of the
+Nomen who were waiting, "Make haste, you brown rascal, and fill me a
+glass of wine!" the words were scarcely out of his mouth than he got a
+smart sounding slap on his face, and his elbow was violently jerked, so
+that he spilt all his wine, whereupon the little lords and ladies
+tittered, and some were so uncourtly as to laugh outright, and say it
+"served him right," which made Master King Philip wish he had not been
+so bounceable.
+
+One evening, after they had been some weeks on the island, the king told
+his courtiers to prepare for a butterfly hunt, which he intended to have
+the next day. Early on the morrow they all assembled at the palace,
+attired in green and white, and each carrying an ivory rod, at the end
+of which was a green net, with which to catch the butterflies. On
+reaching the top of the staircase the little lords went to the
+dressing-room of the king, and the little ladies to that of the queen.
+Her majesty was dressed in white satin trimmed with green.
+
+"Won't you wear your crown?" asked Rosetta.
+
+"Well, I don't know," said the queen, in an undecided tone of voice.
+"Ought I? Won't it be too heavy for the chase?"
+
+"Oh, but kings and queens always wear their crowns when they go
+out--don't they?" said Rosetta, appealing to her companions.
+
+"Yes, yes; to be sure they do. Wear the crown--do wear the crown!" they
+all cried, clapping their hands.
+
+Pepitia did not require much persuasion on the subject, as she dearly
+liked to be finely dressed. And, indeed, when she had put it on, and
+also her velvet train lined with satin and trimmed with ermine, I must
+confess she did look a charming young queen. The little Dorinda was so
+struck with her appearance that she screwed up her face into a comical
+expression of surprise, and, holding up both her hands, exclaimed--
+
+"Oh, my! Aren't you smart!"
+
+"But I don't like the way your hair is done," said Amanda, who was
+disposed to be quizzical.
+
+"Don't you?" rejoined the queen, tartly. "Then you needn't."
+
+Amanda was on the point of making an equally tart reply, when
+fortunately the king appeared at the door, and so interrupted the
+threatened dispute. He also wore his crown and train, and, moreover, he
+carried the ball and sceptre in his hand; for this little monarch was
+not disposed to part with any of the insignia of royalty, and thought he
+might as well not be a king if he did not wear the grand trappings
+belonging to his office.
+
+Then the whole party went down into the hall to be marshalled into
+proper order by Alphonse, who always took upon himself to be master of
+the ceremonies whenever he could get a chance. This was not effected
+without a vast deal of chattering and confusion; and report says that
+one or two sounds like "Shan't!" "Shall!" were distinctly heard,
+followed by what sounded like, and probably was, a slap.
+
+The little train-bearers were especially difficult to manage, owing to
+their constantly wanting to speak to one or other of their companions in
+the rear, which inclination occasioned their majesties several
+unmajestic jerks from behind, and, of course, called forth a sharp
+reprimand from the majesty so pulled; the only effect of which was a
+vast deal of giggling amongst the little girls, and the making of droll
+faces by the little boys.
+
+"Please, queen, Edmund's making a face!" cried a little lady-in-waiting,
+looking at the culprit and speaking to the queen.
+
+"Oh, you story-teller!" cried Edmund, indignantly. "I ain't."
+
+"I'll box your ears if you do so again, you rude boy," said the queen,
+turning sharp round on the guilty Edmund. At this threat the urchin made
+a queer grimace, and then pretended to cry, sobbing out, "Oh, please,
+queen, don't!"
+
+[Illustration]
+
+At length all were got into their proper places, and the procession set
+out. The king and queen, with their train-bearers, marched first, then
+strode consequential Master Alphonse, and the rest of the party
+followed, two and two, all singing a jingling rhyme as they marched, and
+swinging their nets to the tune. This is what they sang:--
+
+    "Bring your nets and make haste;
+    Come away to the butterfly chase,
+    Up the meadow and through the dell,
+    By the path we know so well;
+    Shout loud, jump high,
+    And haste to catch the butterfly."
+
+When they came to the dell where most butterflies were to be found they
+all separated and got their nets ready, whilst Alphonse took a thin
+switch and gently beat amongst the flowers, which grew in great
+profusion.
+
+Presently a cloud of large, brilliant butterflies flew up, and the
+children, shouting, started off in chase of them. The train-bearers were
+not proof against the excitement of the moment, and, quite forgetting
+their post of honour, scampered off pell-mell with the rest, leaving
+their majesties looking rather foolish.
+
+"The rude little things, to run off in that manner!" cried the queen.
+
+"Here, I say, you Alphonse!" shouted the king, forgetting his dignity,
+"come back! I shan't play if you're going off like that. Come back."
+
+But Alphonse was too busy chasing a brown and gold butterfly to heed
+King Philip or anybody else.
+
+Just then there flew past an immense butterfly with wings of crimson,
+black, and gold. Philip immediately forgot all about being a king; away
+went ball and sceptre, and off he started in full chase. Now the queen
+loved butterflies no less than the king, so no sooner did she see him
+take to his heels than she started off in pursuit of the same butterfly.
+
+Away they both went, their trains flying behind them, over hillocks and
+through bushes, quite regardless of their fine clothing.
+
+The butterfly led them a fine dance; many a time they thought they had
+got it, but it always managed to fly off just as the extended thumb and
+finger were about to close upon it. Philip and Pepitia were tired,
+though by no means inclined to give up the chase, when the butterfly
+burrowed itself deep into a convolvulus flower that grew on the top of a
+not very high bank.
+
+"Now we shall have him," cried Philip, as they both scrambled up the
+bank. But, alack and alas! Pepitia's foot got caught in her long train
+just as she got to the top of the bank, and down she fell, roly-poly, to
+the bottom.
+
+Poor Pepitia! she quite forgot she was a queen, and began to cry most
+lustily, not the less because she could not use her arms to raise
+herself, for in her tumble she had got so rolled round and round in her
+train that she could not move her limbs.
+
+Philip ran quickly to her assistance, and soon extricated her from her
+embarrassment, but as she still continued to cry, he tenderly, for he
+was a tender-hearted boy, sat her down on a grassy mound and tried to
+console her.
+
+"What is the matter? Have you hurt yourself, dear?"
+
+But Pepitia only sobbed and sobbed instead of answering, partly because
+she was hurt, and partly because she was vexed, and the poor little king
+began to fear she would never leave off crying.
+
+"I wish that Alphonse and the rest would come back," said he, feeling
+disposed to pick a quarrel with "that" Alphonse when he did come.
+
+(_To be concluded._)
+
+
+
+
+AFTERNOON TEA.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+(_See Frontispiece._)
+
+
+    A pretty cottage, and maidens three,
+    Blithe and happy as maids can be,
+    Out in the garden at afternoon tea.
+
+    Just such a feast as girls will make--
+    Fruit and flowers and a big plum cake,
+    And plenty of laughter for laughter's sake.
+
+    The sunflowers nodded their heads so tall,
+    The dahlias smiled 'neath the moss-grown wall,
+    The three little maids outdid them all.
+
+    I warrant me in that garden gay
+    Was never a bloom more fair than they,
+    As they sipped their tea on that summer day.
+
+    Three little maids. Ah! one is dead,
+    And one is married; and one, unwed,
+    Now lives alone in the old homestead.
+
+    There are silver threads in her golden hair,
+    Her cheek is pallid and lined with care,
+    Yet is she still accounted fair.
+
+    And daily her gracious, tender ways
+    Win a more loving meed of praise
+    Than did the prime of her girlish days.
+
+    Yes, youth will wane as the years go by;
+    Too soon do the rose-leaves scattered lie,
+    But charms there are which may never die.
+
+    And hence it happens that oft we trace
+    Through timeworn features the soul's sweet grace,
+    And beauty lives in a faded face.
+
+    SYDNEY GREY.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+
+
+
+HEALTHY LIVES FOR WORKING GIRLS.
+
+"Grant her in health and wealth long to live."
+
+These are the words in which many of us, Sunday after Sunday, pray for
+our gracious Queen. We desire for her health and wealth; and justly so;
+both are necessary. The one for her comfort, and to enable her to
+perform her arduous duties; the other for her exalted rank and position.
+
+For ourselves, however, it is to be hoped we rarely pray for what is
+termed wealth; but, on the other hand, how needful it is that we should
+supplicate unceasingly for health. "Grant me health, Lord, to perform my
+daily task." We have, indeed, need to ask for that unpurchasable, that
+priceless blessing. If we possess it already, we need to implore its
+continuance; if we have lost it, so much the more earnestly and devoutly
+should we solicit a return to its paths. Yes, next to the possession of
+a healthy conscience, we hold physical health to be the greatest of all
+gifts, but, like most of the grandest, fairest, and divinest things on
+earth, many of us accept it as a matter of course. And when, through our
+own want of forethought, through neglect of the most ordinary rules of
+health, through reckless indifference, we are forced practically to
+acknowledge that the most robust health has its limits of endurance,
+then we chafe and pine; and life, which seemed such a joyous, easy thing
+a month ago, is now a dreary burden, duty a heavy chain, pleasure a
+fiction; and self, weary self, rises in the ascendant, occupies all our
+sympathies and thoughts, and leaves us dissatisfied and indifferent,
+ungrateful and ungracious.
+
+There are those who believe that by not attending to or neglecting their
+health they are acting unselfishly. They say it is so selfish to be
+always considering whether this is good or harmful or that is likely to
+encroach upon the domain of health. If this sentiment is carried to the
+verge of hypochondria, we grant its truth. There is nothing more odious
+than a person who is constantly looking out for the weathercocks, and
+who, as soon as he finds the wind in a certain quarter, shuts himself
+up, and carefully excludes all intercourse from the outer world; or who
+can trace certain symptoms--the hypochondriacs' pet word--to the extra
+spoonful of salt or sugar in yesterday's seasoning; who is a bore to his
+surroundings and a melancholy object of interest to himself; who is
+nothing but a useless encumbrance upon the face of the earth.
+
+This is not the taking care which we advise or suggest. Things good in
+themselves may be perverted into errors by the spirit and the want of
+judgment with which they are pursued, and we fervently believe that if
+our prayer for health is answered, it will be first by the opening of
+our own eyes to facts and laws to which we were hitherto blind, or of
+which we have been ignorant, than to the practical observance of these
+laws, and our willingness to be subject to them.
+
+But it is not of those who are merely inconvenienced by illness that we
+would speak to-day. Not of those who are only subjected to the loss of a
+little pleasure, a good deal of temper, and who are learning a lesson in
+being patient. In a word, we do not write for the well-to-do invalid,
+but for a very different class. Our remarks are intended especially for
+those of "our girls" to whom health is, perhaps, the only capital they
+possess. To whom loss of health means loss of work, loss of wage,
+anxiety, which aggravates matters, and perhaps serious privations to
+those in any way dependent upon their exertions.
+
+Yes, the army of girl and women workers in this great metropolis is,
+indeed, a vast one, and work for them is no sinecure. If they cannot
+work so thoroughly or efficiently as men, at least it is for them
+greater toil than for the sterner sex. Of a more delicate organisation,
+of less robust frame, of smaller powers of endurance, the "buffets of
+fortune" meet with less resistance, and are more readily yielded to.
+Added to this, men have the advantage of being early trained to the
+habit of work which many of our girls have not, and they have greater
+facilities afforded them for outdoor exercise, of which they very
+readily avail themselves. These are all advantages which women do not
+possess, or if they do, it is after a careful course of acquired
+systematic training with a view to meet those demands upon their health
+and strength which are entailed by the continued and steady application
+to one branch of labour or to one particular profession. There is no
+doubt that a girl cannot take up an engagement which demands her daily
+presence at a stated place and at a given time, to perform duties which
+perhaps require the concentration of mental powers, and very frequently
+the maintenance of the body in one position for many hours together.
+There is no doubt, we repeat, that unless such avocations are begun and
+continued with decidedly common-sense views as to diet, hygiene, and
+general deportment, but little time will elapse ere our girl will
+succumb for a greater or less period to the unusual fatigue and the
+unwonted restrictions to which she has to submit.
+
+It is fatal in such cases to regard health from a careless or
+indifferent standpoint. It is a question which must be considered by
+every one of the legion of working girls and women who labour for their
+own, and often for others' bread. Looking at it from the most practical
+standpoint, it will be found to be the greatest economy in the end. If
+the health is kept at a fair standard of excellence, the mental powers
+are maintained in a state of useful energy. As soon as health is below
+par, even when not sufficiently so as to force us to desist from work,
+the brain loses its elasticity; we are dull, become mere machines
+instead of intelligent workers, and our duty gets irksome and fails to
+interest us. And here let us interpose one word. If we wish to spare
+ourselves that most wearying of all sensations, that fatal sense of
+boredom and disgust for our daily task which sometimes creeps in upon
+us, we must try with all our hearts to take an interest in what our
+hands find to do. "Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do that do with thy
+might." It is not only right to think and act up to this; it is the
+greatest wisdom also; for our own comfort and happiness. Work done with
+a will only takes half the time in doing. The hours fly, and the sense
+of weariness has no time to creep in. This is a spirit, it will be
+found, which can be easily cultivated, and will, after a little effort,
+come quite naturally, much to our benefit in every way.
+
+It has seemed to us, in spite of the great advance that has been made in
+the teaching of hygiene, and the possession by many of a fair knowledge
+of the laws which govern it, that there is still a lamentable want of
+practicability in its application; that is to say, the theories we
+learn, and to which we subscribe, are rarely, and then very imperfectly,
+carried out in actual individual life. We grant that great improvements
+are visible on all sides, in what we might term general hygiene; but
+where we perceive a great deficiency still, is in that personal
+application of the laws of health which must and can only be properly
+applied by individuals to themselves, so as to make them fit into the
+circumstances under which they exist.
+
+It will not help our girls much, for instance, to have learnt the number
+of cubic feet of oxygen that is necessary for turning the purple blood
+into scarlet--the amount of nitrogenous, phosphatic, carbonaceous, and
+other elements which are requisite for building up new tissue, etc.,
+etc., and many other dry facts of a kindred nature, if she does not put
+this knowledge to practical use. There is a wide division between facts
+thus learnt off glibly at school and the practical application of them
+to our daily wants.
+
+The human body, if it is to be maintained in but a fair state of health,
+requires a certain amount of fresh air--a certain amount of
+flesh-forming, bone-forming, brain-forming, and warmth-giving nutriment.
+Our girls require to have a tolerable, if not exactly a faultless,
+circulation, in order that these various foodstuffs may be digested,
+_i.e._, converted into these flesh, bone, and brain-forming tissues. In
+order to have a tolerable circulation, the body must have a regular
+amount of exercise and of fresh air. There, in a nutshell, is the secret
+of the whole matter. Given a fairly normal state of health to begin
+with, that health may be maintained by a little wise direction of our
+actions towards supplying the really very moderate demands of Nature,
+upon which, however, modest as they are, she insists, to enable her to
+carry on the process of healthy life. Deprive her of that little, and
+the results are such as we too frequently see--broken-down health from
+overwork (so-called) of many of our busy sisters. It is our intention
+here to endeavour to put this plainly before our girls.
+
+We will imagine, then, that some of our girls have to pass many--say
+eight or ten--hours of their days in work; that that work is sedentary
+work; that our girls are very apt to stoop, for their poor backs get
+weary sometimes. We will imagine that it is winter, and sitting as they
+do all day, they like to have all the windows closed. Our girls will not
+feel very hungry when meal-time comes, especially if they have to
+provide their own meals. In fact, many of our girls practise a little
+economy in this direction, if the choice of doing so rests with them.
+Economy, we all know, is imperative in many conditions of life--not only
+amongst working girls; and it is a serious matter to practise it
+wisely--to determine and mark clearly the line that divides the luxuries
+from the necessities. In the former practise as much economy as you
+will; in the latter it is only a false way of meeting matters which will
+have to be balanced by-and-by with heavy interest.
+
+Well, our girls not being very hungry (for their lungs are full of
+impure air, and they feel tired and weary--rather sleepy too--all from
+the same cause), they think they will make themselves "a nice cup of
+tea--strong, you know." They do not care whether they have milk with it
+or not, so long as the tea is strong and gives them a fillip. With this
+they will eat a little roll and butter or bread and cheese. This
+so-called meal is either partaken of in the room in which they work, or
+our girls go out for it. In the latter case they stand a little better
+chance; for often the fact of going out of the room in which they have
+been seated all the morning brings with it a sense of returning
+appetite, and induces them to procure a more substantial meal. But even
+this is rarely the case; for they have an odd sinking at the chest, and
+if they eat a heavy meal and sit down directly after it, they get that
+weight behind their waistbands, they cannot breathe, and they feel
+altogether miserable. They do not feel like this, they think, after the
+good, strong tea--the clearest proof to them that they should look to it
+as a main resource during the midday rest. Probably tea is again hailed
+with delight during another break in the work-hours; and at the end of
+the day our weary one is so fearfully tired, although she has been
+sitting all day, that she feels as though her limbs would never carry
+her home. Come what may, she must ride. She puts herself into the first
+Underground Railway carriage that will take her to her destination, and,
+exchanging the carbonic acid gas of the workroom for the sulphurous gas
+of the underground tunnels, she arrives home spent and utterly tired
+out, longing to get to bed and rest her weary limbs and pillow the poor,
+fatigued head. In the morning, feeling refreshed after Nature's kind and
+grateful rest, she plucks up again and walks to the scene of her duties.
+But she has to be there by a certain time, and, somehow, she always
+manages to be just a little late in starting, so that at the last she
+has to hurry to arrive at the appointed hour. She looks at every clock
+she passes; she starts at some which tell her that it is later than she
+thought, feels relieved at others which are more merciful; and, putting
+on an extra spurt at the last, manages to arrive just to the minute.
+
+But what good can our girl get from a walk taken under such
+circumstances? It is ten times as fatiguing--the mind is harassed, the
+heart is beating wildly, and the breathing is short and hurried.
+
+The routine of the previous day is then repeated. There is the same
+shyness of air, the same imperfect meal, the same lassitude, the same
+finale.
+
+Pursue this course, or one similar to it, for a few months and we defy
+any girl to keep well. She may not yet break down altogether, but she
+will have lapsed from positive into negative health, and the merest
+straw may turn her negative health into actual bodily incapacity--which
+means the loss of work and wages to which we have referred.
+
+And is it to be wondered at? Our girl has been steadily withholding
+from Nature all those elements upon which she imperatively insists as
+the condition under which alone she will consent to carry on her work.
+Long-suffering she is, and ever eager to repair any neglect that has not
+been carried too far. Only return to the right path, and she busily sets
+to work to make good the ravages which have followed upon our ignorance
+or neglect of her laws. But it must be the right path. None other will
+do. She will not be cajoled into working with any other than her own
+simple tools.
+
+Our girls have withheld from her air, food, exercise--the three great
+factors of her powers--and have given for them miserable substitutes.
+Though kind, she cannot be put off with excuses. She is inexorable, and
+the same results will follow our neglect of her laws, whether it be due
+to a want of acquaintance with them or want of attention. It is as much,
+if not more, from these causes, then, that our girl has become ill than
+from the supposed overwork. Overwork might have been the immediate
+cause; that is to say, her collapse might have followed upon a little
+extra pressure or hurry of work; but the real cause will be found to lie
+in that steady neglect of the primary laws of health to which we have
+alluded, and upon which too much emphasis cannot be laid. Had it not
+been so, the fatigue engendered by an extra hour's work would have been
+set right by a good night's rest.
+
+And when our girl is ill, her recovery will depend upon the degree to
+which she is enabled to meet the demands of Nature. If she can have
+plenty of rest, peace of mind, fresh air, light, digestible, and
+nourishing food, sunshine, and genial surroundings, she will soon be
+herself again. But if our brave worker has not these indispensables, or
+has them in a chance, get-me-if-you-can sort of way, then she lingers
+on, and often rises from her couch but half cured, and plunges on again
+under the old conditions, until something occurs which some persons call
+"a chance," some by another name, which mercifully changes the current
+of her life for a while, or perhaps for a permanency.
+
+It is said that "men do work while women weep." That is part of an
+old-time ditty. In this generation women do not leave all the work to
+their brothers, and we will hope that in proportion as we work more, so
+we weep less. And women are not to be pitied that it is so. Work is one
+of the greatest of blessings, and when its aim is high, is, we believe,
+blessed. There is no reason why our work should be irksome to us, or
+should be aught but a pleasure. We must make up our minds to a certain
+number of disagreeables, and be prepared to meet them as they arise; but
+beyond that we should endeavour to take a pleasure in our work and a
+pride in its correct fulfilment. This will be easy to do with health,
+but without it will require more moral resolution than many of us
+possess.
+
+Let us then turn this subject over in our minds and see if nothing can
+be done to make matters a little smoother; to enable us to be happy in
+our work-a-day lives; to lessen the chances of becoming ill, and, in
+spite of circumstances, to meet Nature's demands in one way or another.
+
+First, then, as to air. That early morning walk is a good thing. It is
+well to get the lungs filled with pure morning air. Even in the London
+streets the air is tolerably good at that time. But many of our girls
+live a little way from the crowded streets, and only come into them for
+business or professional purposes. Some live too far to walk the whole
+distance into town. If that is the case, they should ride part of the
+distance. They should choose for the walking that part of the route
+which has the most trees about it, going a little out of their way even
+to walk through one of the parks or squares. They should not hurry, but
+should take care previously to allow themselves ample time. This can
+quite well be done by a little management, and when our girls are imbued
+with a sense of its importance we are sure will be. They should, if
+possible, meet one of their companions who is going the same way, and
+should chat to their hearts' content. (We are not afraid of the
+non-performance of this part of our prescription.) This will exercise
+the lungs, send plenty of fresh air into them, and lessen fatigue. A
+walk, under such conditions, is of untold value.
+
+Our girl then will begin her day in better spirits. She will feel in a
+lighter mood; difficulties will be brushed aside. Instead of a furtive
+glance at the clock, and a thankful gasp that she has arrived in time,
+she will never think of the hour till she enters the room, for she has
+not troubled her mind about it, knowing she has given herself ample
+time. With all the arts of persuasion at her command she will then seek
+to lead her companions to have the windows open, just a chink or two at
+the top; and will gradually lead them round to her own conviction of the
+necessity for fresh air, and of the great desirability there is for an
+outlet for the carbonised air which is being emitted by one and all from
+their lungs. Before long she will have gained her point, and the open
+window will be a daily fact.
+
+We are speaking now, of course, of our sensible girl, the one who has
+taken in the justice of our remarks, and who intends to act up to them
+as far as she can.
+
+At luncheon time she will produce from her store some well cut
+sandwiches, made preferably with brown bread, and, with heroic
+determination, refuse tea (for it is hard to give up a habit), and will,
+instead, regale herself with a glass of milk, or a cup of cocoa; or, if
+she has neither of these, she will make a little strong beef-tea of
+Liebig's extract of meat, and partake of it with her roll and butter,
+remembering that, by the addition of an egg, she will make her broth
+more sustaining.
+
+If she goes out to a restaurant and does not care for meat, she will
+recollect that its properties may be found more or less in eggs, in
+milk, in lentils, in haricot beans, in oatmeal, and in peas. Oatmeal
+porridge and milk form an excellent, inexpensive, and nutritious lunch
+or midday dinner. In some form or other one of these nitrogenous foods
+should be taken during the midday meal; and, if the taste and finances
+permit, should be supplemented by a little fresh, stewed, or dried
+fruit. Fruit is most wholesome, and is well enclosed within the border
+line of necessities.
+
+Then, when tea time comes round, our sensible girl will either take milk
+again, or else will dilute her tea largely with milk, or, failing that,
+with water, and will refuse altogether to drink tea that has "stood" for
+more than a quarter of an hour. In the evening she will feel less tired
+(_i.e._, less exhausted from want of air and food), and will repeat her
+method of procedure of the morning on her journey home. Arrived there,
+she will feel far less weary and exhausted, and will enjoy a quiet,
+social evening, a book, a little music, or some such relaxation.
+
+But we can hear her, O. S. G., saying, after pursuing this _regime_ for
+awhile, "It is true I am better in a great many ways, but I do still
+have back-ache, I do still have the weight in my chest, which I know now
+to be indigestion; you say nothing about that. Even your pea-soup or
+your oatmeal porridge punishes me, and make me wish we could altogether
+live without eating."
+
+Be not so impatient, my dear sensible one, we are coming to that now.
+One great reason of your back-ache is that stoop of yours. You seem to
+think it essential to maintain your spine in the shape of the letter C.
+You have got into a very bad habit, and if you try now to sit upright
+you get as tired as possible--your back, too, is not the only sufferer;
+your digestive organs are all cruelly cramped--all the delicate
+machinery, by the aid of which occur the changes of the food in its
+conversion to the different bodily tissues, is impeded in its action, is
+hemmed in, is fretted. Instead of a free circulation, and an unimpeded
+course between all the channels of communication, the functions of
+digestion are carried on with difficulty, and the stooping pose is the
+cause of many other complications into which we have not space to enter
+here.
+
+We have said that exercise is necessary. A great part of that is indeed
+gained by the walk to and from business. But that is not sufficient.
+Indeed, we do not consider that walking exercise, exclusive of any
+other, is sufficient to keep the body in health; but in the instance we
+are imagining it is especially insufficient. The body ill brooks being
+kept in one posture for any length of time; and during sedentary
+occupation some of the muscles are maintained in a state of extension,
+whilst others are as unduly kept in a state of relaxation. These
+relative conditions, kept up as they are for hours and hours, cannot
+fail to have their marked results on the health of our girl. If she were
+at home, she would throw her work aside, get up and walk about a little,
+or run upstairs to stretch out her limbs; but in business this is not to
+be thought of; so she must bear it as best she can. Not so, say we.
+There is even here a remedy--even here a way of procuring an immense
+amount of relief. Our only fear for its adoption, however, rests in its
+extreme simplicity. But when our girl thinks a little more she will
+learn that all really great and effective things are simple, and that it
+is only their useless wrappings that blind people to their real simple
+grandeur. We shall give O. S. G. our remedy in its modest garb of
+truthfulness, and she will, we think, not reject it. We would advise
+her, then, three or four times during the day, to stand upright by her
+chair--she need not even move from her place--throw her shoulders back,
+stretch her head up, expand her chest, and arch the spine well inwards,
+remaining in that position for at least half a minute. This will
+entirely change the posture of all the muscles, those which before were
+expanded being now contracted, and _vice versa_. She will then send her
+arms straight up over her head, and either bring them down from there
+like a wheel, or, if she has not room for this, will bend her arms so as
+to form a V with each arm, the two points of the V being respectively
+the shoulder and hand and the lower point the elbow. If done properly,
+this will beautifully expand the chest, and will contract the muscles of
+the back both laterally and longitudinally. Our girl must take care,
+however, to keep her head very erect, if she would have the whole
+benefit of the exercise. The whole business occupies about a minute and
+a half; it is as easy and as simple as breathing; and, we repeat, its
+usefulness is not to be measured.
+
+The chief difficulty in this part of our _regime_, after its extreme
+simplicity, will lie in its novelty. It will seem absurd and ridiculous
+to those who do not understand these matters, but O. S. G. will have to
+learn to bear the ridicule of others some time during her life, and she
+might as well begin now. She may be sure that only those will laugh at
+her whose opinions are not worth considering, and if she quietly
+persists in doing what is right, the ridicule will first be changed into
+respect, and then into imitation.
+
+O. S. G. must remember that her health is her all. At least, it is the
+all of the girl of whom we are speaking. Now, it is most imperative that
+she should guard that health as she would a treasure. Once aware of the
+simple rules which must be observed to that end, she will shape her
+actions so as to make them fit in with the circumstances of her life.
+
+The dress of our girl workers is also a point to be considered. It
+should be durable, suitable, comfortable, and should be made simply and
+practically. The dress is far better when made in one, _i.e._, not
+divided at the waist, then the weight of the garment is equally
+distributed over the body, from the waist and shoulders. There should be
+no steels or kindred impediments, which have to be considered in sitting
+down. A durable wool material, thicker in winter, thinner and lighter in
+colour and texture in summer, is always the most durable, and keeps its
+freshness longer. The bodice should fit well and comfortably at the neck
+and round the arm-holes, so that there is no pressure anywhere.
+
+For a working gown there is nothing, in our opinion, to equal the
+princess dress, made to clear the ground, and modernised, if our girl
+wills, by a flouncing, and a little puffed drapery behind, either with
+or without a scarf loosely tied round the waist.
+
+For slender girls the round-gathered dress and bodice (in one) are very
+useful and suitable. The principal advantage of the princess dress is
+its continuity from the shoulders downwards, leaving the waist free of
+bands and tapes. With spotless collars and cuffs, our girl will be both
+suitably and well dressed. A good woollen combination under-garment for
+warmth and protection from the cold, thicker in winter, thinner in
+summer. One, or at the most two, woollen petticoats, made with sloping
+bands, to prevent pressure at the waist, will form a very comfortable
+and practical dress, and, moreover, one that will present a very fair
+appearance.
+
+No, we know we have said nothing about stays; we are no friend to them;
+we dislike them heartily, and we shall never rest until we can release
+our girls from their trammels. We know the difficulties that present
+themselves on all sides, but these can be met and overcome. Once release
+our girls from this bone and steel bondage, her health will rise to a
+high state of excellence. But she has so accustomed herself to use her
+stays as a prop upon which she leans, that not without great resolution
+on her part will she consent to pass through the small discomfort of the
+change.
+
+Once she has done so, however, she will wonder that she never thought of
+it before, so light, so free, so agile will she feel. These stays are
+our girls' worst foes, and have as much to answer for the indigestion as
+all else put together.
+
+If our girls wish to be happy, merry workers, as well as hard,
+responsible workers, they will have to learn to do without stays; they
+will have to train their own muscles to supply them with the support
+they now seek in the corset.
+
+"How are we to do this?" we hear some exclaim, who have followed us so
+far. "How are we, who work from morn till eve, to begin 'training our
+muscles?' We have no time now for that sort of thing."
+
+Get a little more patience, dear girls. Reforms go slowly, but steadily,
+if willing hearts go together. We hope ere long to show you that this,
+too, is possible.
+
+Meantime, for an immediate step in the right direction, let us urge upon
+those who have not the courage to throw aside the corset, to set about
+rendering it less harmful. Let the working corset be soft, and denuded
+of its bones, and let the front steel be exchanged for a very flexible
+one, and let the stays, above all, be very loosely laced. We feel we are
+weak in conceding thus much even, but we look upon it as the thin end of
+the wedge, which represents the fulfilment of our aim.
+
+We think we have now said enough to set our girls thinking, and though
+we have far from exhausted our subject, we hope that each reader will be
+able to deduce some hints which may be applicable to herself.
+
+
+
+
+BOOKS FOR TIRED GIRLS.
+
+
+Have not some readers of THE GIRL'S OWN PAPER a few to spare?
+
+A little reading-room and library for business girls is about to be
+opened in the new Y.W.C.A. Buildings, 316, Regent-street, now quickly
+nearing completion. Help is greatly needed in making it really
+attractive for those whose minds are hungry after the day's mechanical
+work, but who are too weary to take up a prosy volume.
+
+Brightly written works of history, biography, natural history, travels,
+etc., would be warmly welcomed, and good poetry and fiction; also graver
+books, specially such as would be helpful to Sunday-school teachers.
+
+Parcels should be addressed to Miss L. Trotter, 316, Regent-street,
+London, who will thankfully acknowledge them.
+
+
+
+
+ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS.
+
+
+EDUCATIONAL.
+
+H. F. and CONAMARA.--Write to Griffith and Farran, St.
+Paul's-churchyard, E.C., for a small shilling manual called a "Directory
+of Girls' Clubs," which will give you a large choice of educational,
+literary, industrial, artistic, and religious societies instituted for
+the benefit of girls, the cost being little more than nominal.
+
+M. HEDGE.--The change of your address, from what has been given in the
+"Directory of Girls' Clubs," will probably cause you inconvenience,
+which it is now too late to avoid. You should have named the probability
+of a change. In any case, we can tell our readers that those who wish to
+avail themselves of your useful Society for Studying Languages, should
+address the secretary at Lyndhurst Lodge, Chelsea-road, Southsea, Hants.
+
+A. G. O. E.--We scarcely think that any system for helping the memory
+for ordinary use would be of service to you in the matter of playing
+long pieces of music by heart; it is so much a mechanical operation, the
+hands often acting while the mind is preoccupied with other matters. Try
+to learn a simple air, not a long piece of six pages.
+
+A SWISS GIRL.--The Cambridge and Oxford examinations are open to
+students of all nationalities alike. For information respecting those of
+either university, write direct. If you wish to compete in the Cambridge
+junior local examination, held in December, you must be under seventeen.
+Write to the Rev. G. F. Browne, St. Catherine's College; fee, L1. For
+the Cambridge senior you must be under eighteen. The Cambridge higher
+(local) examinations are held in December and in June; fees, L1 and L2.
+An honour certificate in this examination admits to Tripos examinations
+the members of Girton and Newnham who have resided during a sufficient
+number of terms, provided the student has passed a language and
+mathematics. If your age should exclude you, you might go to the
+universities of Edinburgh, Glasgow, or St. Andrews, where no limitations
+are made in respect to age.
+
+GUESS.--We advise you to write to the British chaplain of the Embassy
+Chapel, in the Rue d'Aguesseau, for information and the best advice, as
+he has taken a special interest in the matter of English girls being
+sent to French schools, and has publicly addressed the question in all
+its many bearings. Address the British Chaplain.
+
+ANXIOUS MOTHER.--See our answer to "Guess." There is a French Protestant
+institution, directed by Madame Yeatman Monoury, 27, Bd. Eugene, Parc de
+Neuilly, Paris, which is, or was, patronised by the Rev. Canon Fleming,
+the late Bishop of Carlisle, Bishop of Down, Lord Napier of Magdala, and
+other persons of consideration. There is also a Protestant school at 27,
+Rue des Bois, pres du Bois de Boulogne, for which the charge amounts to
+L60 per annum. Apply to the lady directress, Mademoiselle Jonte.
+
+
+ART.
+
+A COLONIAL SUBJECT.--The illuminating body mentioned is used on
+parchment and hot-pressed drawing-paper. It is mixed with the
+water-colours to render them opaque.
+
+R. C. M.--1. To press flowers, gather them when dry, not quite
+full-blown, and before the sun has faded them; press them between sheets
+of botanical-paper, change and dry the latter constantly. 2. You can
+draw an outline upon a mirror with red pencil and Indian ink. It is
+better, however, to mark the design through tracing-paper with a
+knitting-needle.
+
+ASTHORE and DOLLY.--The generality of the advertisements named by you
+are not to be relied on, and we advise your not spending your money as
+you propose.
+
+LARRY WILFER.--Female art scholarships are conferred by the Slade
+School, by the Crystal Palace School of Art, and by the National Art
+Training School, South Kensington. Apply for farther information to the
+secretaries of each of these schools.
+
+A WOULD-BE ARTIST.--There is a school of wood-engraving at 122,
+Kennington Park-road. The yearly fee for instruction is L3, and free
+scholarships after the first year are obtainable by students. These
+latter must be upwards of sixteen years of age.
+
+PRINCESS PEACE.--1. There is a preparation sold by Lechertier and Barbe
+for fixing chalk drawings. It is a liquid, which is blown upon the
+picture when finished with an apparatus resembling a scent-spray (price
+2s.). 2. If you can obtain regular employment from a good firm,
+wood-carving is profitable, especially when you can originate your
+designs; but these appointments are not to be had every day. Show some
+of your work to an upholsterer, or a carver and gilder, and you may
+either obtain an engagement or at least an order.
+
+
+HOUSEKEEPING.
+
+A YOUNG WIFE is certainly entitled to display any large articles of
+silver she may possess on her sideboard in the dining-room.
+
+PASTORA should have the silver cleaned by a silversmith. 2. A recipe for
+"pot pourri" has lately been given.
+
+A FARMER'S DAUGHTER.--The feathers required a very much longer time for
+drying, and must also be "stripped," as it is called, _i.e._, all the
+large thick stalks taken out. It is these which have not dried, and
+retain the animal particles, causing the smell.
+
+PINCHER and FREDA.--A recipe for "pot pourri" was given at page 224,
+vol. v.
+
+A YOUNG DOMESTIC.--We should recommend the eiderdown quilt being sent to
+a cleaner's, as it will only lead to disappointment if you wash it at
+home. Put a little glycerine on the tea-stain before it goes to the
+wash.
+
+PRIMROSE should try a little tripoli and water upon the surface of the
+table. It will remove the spots.
+
+PRIMEVERE.--There have been no other papers but those you mention on
+"Economical Housekeeping," but we shall probably give more on both
+subjects.
+
+WILLOUGHBY.--We do not think that either green gooseberry jam or jelly
+can be kept green; they always boil a light red.
+
+NOVICE IN HOUSEKEEPING.--If you paid more attention to ascertaining what
+meat, game, fish, poultry, fruit, and vegetables were in season (fully
+in), and then procured them at places where you had not to pay for extra
+high rents, as you do when shops are situated in expensive localities,
+you would bring down your bills greatly.
+
+
+MISCELLANEOUS.
+
+INKY PEN.--We sympathise much with your anxiety, but we can only say to
+you as we say to all who wish to succeed in literary work, you must try
+and try again for a long time before you will succeed, and success is
+not even then assured.
+
+E. MC. T.--Your sedentary life as a dressmaker does not agree with you.
+You should try to take more exercise and warming food. Dress in woollen
+under-clothing, and rub the body well in the morning with a cloth dipped
+in salt and water.
+
+VIOLET VERNON.--We have heard that the homoeopathists have a special
+cure for such little excrescences.
+
+TOM-TIT writes very well. The 2nd of January, 1865, was a Monday.
+
+NYMPHIA ALLA.--Disease or weakness of the nervous system is often,
+unhappily, an inheritance from our parents. Not that they may be nervous
+themselves, but that their course of life--late hours, over-taxed brain,
+poor living, fast living, drink, or bad constitution, etc., result, one
+or more, in bequeathing a wretched inheritance of weak nerves, not
+positive disease, to their children. Live generously, go to bed early,
+be much in the open air, and take a tonic if required, and by a doctor's
+advice.
+
+ALONE.--We sympathise with you, and approve of the sentiments you
+express in verse; but the latter is not even correct in composition,
+quite apart from its lack of any ideality, which is inseparable from
+true poetry. No sentence should be divided (excepting as a joke in a
+burlesque piece) between two lines thus--
+
+    "But 'what' He was preparing _for
+    Him_ was not on earth; it was where"
+
+B. W. complains of "taking fits of laughter into her head." Evidently,
+she has apartments to let in that repository. In any case, it is well
+that she should find so much to entertain her and feel so bright and
+happy. This state of things will only change too soon.
+
+FIDDLESTICKS.--Your verses have been written without due knowledge of
+metrical composition.
+
+MATY GERTY.--We are glad to hear that you have rosy cheeks. Surely you
+would not like to look like a washed-out, pasty-faced, sickly little
+girl? Young folks often get spots in the face from eating too fast,
+swallowing half-masticated food, and indulging in too much jam and sugar
+and "lollypops." By this means they spoil their teeth as well as their
+skin.
+
+GLADYS.--Your neck should be examined by a good surgeon. You may have
+broken some small tendons, and need to be bandaged. It might be
+desirable to go to one of our first-class hospitals, and so get the
+opinion of more than one experienced surgeon. You write a pretty hand.
+On no account change it to the coarse "park-paling" style of writing
+which so many girls affect to look "strong-minded." They do not take us
+in by it!
+
+VERY GRATEFUL WOMAN.--Homoeopathic doctors give vegetable
+medicines--not minerals. The principle of the system is "like cures
+like." Allopaths give drugs of a directly opposite character to the
+disease, instead of that which, taken in health and in different
+proportions, would produce the disease to be cured.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+L. M. O.--The famous Library of Alexandria was burnt by the Saracens in
+642 A.D. It was a union of two collections. One was made by the
+Ptolemies, and the other was that of Pergamus, formed by Eumenes, and
+given by Mark Antony to Cleopatra. Eumenes was a chief officer in the
+army of Alexander, and well worthy to succeed him, as he did.
+
+[Illustration:
+
+RULES
+
+_I. No charge is made for answering questions._
+
+_II. All correspondents to give initials or pseudonym._
+
+_III. The Editor reserves the right of declining to reply to any of the
+questions._
+
+_IV. No direct answers can be sent by the Editor through the post._
+
+_V. No more than two questions may be asked in one letter, which must be
+addressed to the Editor of_ THE GIRL'S OWN PAPER, _56, Paternoster-row,
+London, E.C._
+
+_VI. No addresses of firms, tradesmen, or any other matter of the nature
+of an advertisement will be inserted._]
+
+JOEY.--We will consider your wishes in future, if possible.
+
+UNHAPPY S. (we cannot read the name).--We feel for you much in being
+separated from a home so dear to you; but you must look away from all
+second and human causes of this separation to the ruling Hand of One who
+is as good and as merciful as He is wise and mighty. If you wish for
+peace and real happiness, seek His favour and guidance and personal care
+in daily prayer. Lay your troubles at His feet, and ask Him to give you
+a contented spirit, and grace to be thankful and reverently loving
+towards "Him who first loved us."
+
+ROSEBUD.--Wear stuff shoes, instead of leather, and let them be very
+easy and wide in the toe.
+
+AMERICA.--You will find a full list of Miss Wetherall's (Susan Warner's)
+works in any encyclopaedia. We have not room in our over-crowded
+correspondence column for long lists of books, so only give the chief
+works of interest.
+
+SWEET NINETEEN (?).--The young ladies of a family are called Miss Edith,
+Miss Margaret, etc., by gentlemen who do not know them well.
+
+IONA would not require to know the name of the head of the department.
+She should ask for the secretary or the head clerk.
+
+PRIMROSE.--Lord Beaconsfield was by birth a Jew, and of very ancient and
+distinguished family; but he became a Christian by conviction. Having
+had no personal acquaintance with him, we could not possibly answer such
+a question as yours, even were it right to do so.
+
+DAISY A.--Your contribution is declined, with thanks. It is not devoid
+of merit, but needs more experience in writing.
+
+GEORGIANA W.--We are much obliged, but do not think the essay fit for
+our amateur page, nor is the subject new nor interesting enough.
+
+ETON GARDENS had better wear gloves to protect the hands. We know no
+other way.
+
+A FIJI GIRL.--The work of a bookkeeper is the same almost everywhere.
+She keeps books, and in a hotel she would make out the accounts of the
+visitors, of course.
+
+DAMARIS.--The lady bows first, of course, if she has been formally
+introduced. Invite the brother, certainly. If you know the family you
+do not need a separate introduction to him.
+
+LAURA.--We have always prophets of evil amongst our friends, and a
+celebrated American advises that "no one should prophesy unless he
+knows." There are no reasons for believing that there are any real
+inspired prophets now, if that be what you mean.
+
+STRUGGLING BIRD.--We sympathise with you; but in committing your way to
+God in prayer, you do the best that we could recommend. It is best to
+avoid any exercise of authority over your sister, who is so wild and
+wilful; but should she do anything very wrong, you will have to lay the
+case before your father, painful and ungracious as the duty may be. You
+are right in regarding example as better than precept.
+
+CAMOMILE is thanked for her grateful letter. If she used a better pen
+her friends would like her writing better.
+
+FERNIE.--1. Herne Bay is on the east coast, and thus exposed to the
+trying winds from that quarter, to which you specially object. Ventnor,
+in the Isle of Wight, various places on the south coast of England and
+in the Channel Islands, especially in Jersey and the Isle of Sark, would
+suit your mother. The latter island is specially ordered as a cure for
+asthma. 2. After pressing the leaves between sheets of blotting-paper,
+varnish them with a solution of gum-arabic.
+
+SIRENA.--If you eat hot cake or buttered bread, of course take off one
+glove at afternoon tea.
+
+A YOUNG WIFE.--We are not quite sure that we should advise any business
+man to give up in England and go to Australia unless he saw his way very
+clearly indeed. Why do you not write to your friend who has already
+emigrated, and take his advice on the subject? Write also for full
+particulars of expenses and advice to the secretary of the Colonial
+Emigration Society, 13, Dorset-street, Portman-square, W. The rates of
+passage, third-class, are, L18 and kit; sailing vessel, second-class,
+from L20 to L28; third-class, L17 to L21.
+
+A LOYAL IRISH GIRL.--We are very glad that you have been improved by the
+late competition. We are much obliged by your kind offer. Your letter is
+very creditably written and composed.
+
+SWEET WILLIAM.--Directions for bookbinding were given in vol. ii., pages
+342, 426, and 810.
+
+R. L. I.--Our paper can be got in all the colonies. Many thanks for the
+information that the free grants of land were stopped in Tasmania in
+January last.
+
+A NURSERY GOVERNESS, we think, is unhappy and discontented because she
+dwells on herself and her own feelings too much, and thinks too little
+of other people and their happiness. She must try to live most in
+others, and in giving pleasure and love to them. As yet she fails to
+comprehend the Christ-like character which is so lovely an acquisition,
+and the higher service to which we are destined by following Him in all
+things. Love is the keynote, and, if she try, in so doing is the
+happiest and truest life to be found.
+
+YOUNG LOCHINVAR should bear in mind the enormous ages attained by the
+antediluvian patriarchs, and that the world around them was so quickly
+populated that Cain might, and did, meet with plenty of people who
+possibly, as he thought, would regard him as a monster to be driven from
+amongst them. A long course of years succeeded that on which he slew his
+brother through envy and a hatred as to what was holy and God-fearing.
+In the first days of man upon earth they married their sisters, there
+being no physical objection to it ordained by a merciful God.
+
+M. R. (Norwood).--We pity you! To what a miserable, unwholesome state of
+deformity you have reduced yourself! We do not open our columns to
+persons who boast of having so far degraded themselves.
+
+F. M. C.--On no account take a cold bath if it do not agree with you.
+Have it tepid, or as warm as you feel comfortable. If the bath-sheet
+were warmed you would run no chance of being chilled. The 17th June,
+1865, was a Saturday. The violin is not an easy instrument to learn, and
+requires a good ear; but we should recommend it in preference to the
+banjo or the concertina. The guitar is also unsuited for general music.
+
+LIZZIE MATTIE CLOVER.--Coals are called "black diamonds" because coals
+and diamonds are both carbon.
+
+SINGLE DAHLIA.--You do not name your age. Try St. Mary's Hospital,
+Paddington, W. Write to the matron. We could not say whether it would be
+against you. The 12th March, 1864, was a Saturday.
+
+HOPEFUL.--Perhaps you need a tonic. Ask a medical man, and take plenty
+of exercise and a tepid bath every morning.
+
+LUCY.--From what you say of your being "saucy" to your stepmother, and
+that you are slapped "whenever you tell lies," and that you think you
+"ought to do as you choose," we see that you have been a spoilt child,
+and deserve some sort of correction. You are evidently well and suitably
+fed. We greatly disapprove of tight-lacing. If you were good, obedient,
+and respectful, you might then venture to say when the maid laced you
+in. It is to be regretted that so young a girl should wear any at all.
+
+A BUNCH OF VIOLETS might undertake bookkeeping, or, if she know any
+thing of millinery, she might get a little extra work from that. Her pay
+in the shop is very small. Everyone should be paid enough to live upon,
+and 8s. a week is not enough to live and dress upon.
+
+
+
+
+
+End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Girl's Own Paper, Vol. VIII, No.
+357, October 30, 1886, by Various
+
+*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK GIRL'S OWN PAPER ***
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