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diff --git a/29357-0.txt b/29357-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..0c27a56 --- /dev/null +++ b/29357-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,12068 @@ +The Project Gutenberg eBook of Our Young Folks at Home and Abroad, by Various + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and +most other parts of the world 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. If you are not located in the United States, you +will have to check the laws of the country where you are located before +using this eBook. + +Title: Our Young Folks at Home and Abroad + +Author: Various + +Editor: Daphne Dale + +Release Date: July 8, 2009 [eBook #29357] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: UTF-8 + +Produced by: Alicia Williams, Chrome, the dedicated librarians who helped on this project, Sam W. and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team + +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK OUR YOUNG FOLKS AT HOME AND ABROAD *** + + + + +OUR YOUNG FOLKS +AT HOME AND ABROAD. + +[Illustration: {A BOY AND TWO GIRLS.}] + +W. B. CONKEY COMPANY +LONDON--NEW YORK--CHICAGO. + + + + + OUR YOUNG FOLKS + AT HOME AND ABROAD: + + _Illustrated Sketches and Poems + for Young People._ + + BY + + ANNIE D. BELL, CLARA J. DENTON, AMANDA M. DOUGLAS, + FRANK H. SELDEN, CHAS. T. JEROME, LAURA + E. RICHARDS, MRS. L. A. CURTIS, + OLIVER OPTIC, ETC. + + _ORIGINAL ILLUSTRATIONS._ + + BY + F. S. CHURCH, E. H. GARRETT, A. S. COX, CULMER BARNES, + PARKER HAYDEN, H. MOSER, H. PRUETT SHARE, + MISS L. B. HUMPHREY, ETC., ETC. + + + EDITED BY + DAPHNE DALE. + + + LONDON--NEW YORK--CHICAGO: + W. B. CONKEY COMPANY, + PUBLISHERS. + + + + + COPYRIGHT 1894, + W. B. CONKEY COMPANY. + + + + +[Illustration: ANIMAL LIFE FROM EVERY ZONE.] + + + + + THE KITTENS' STEPMOTHER + HOW SOME SEEDS ARE PLANTED + OLD SCORES REPAID, OR TRAGEDY REVERSED + TIPPY, THE FIREMEN'S DOG + NINE LITTLE FOXES + WHAT AILED THE BELL + THE HOOK AND LADDER + LITTLE JOE'S RIDE + GYPSY AND HIS TRICKS + A LITTLE GIRL'S WEDDING GIFT + DO RIGHT + DOG PRINCE + WHERE THE PRETTY PATH LED + A LETTER TO MOTHER NATURE + OUR MAY-DAY AT THE SOUTH + BERTIE'S STORY AND MINE + THE PORCUPINE'S QUILLS + LOVE YOUR ENEMIES + THE MERCIFUL PRINCE + THE OPOSSUM IN THE HEN-HOUSE + HOW ROY WENT A FISHING + A BEAR-STORY + HEAR US SING, SEE US SWING, UP IN THE OLD OAK TREE + SAILOR BABIES + PRETTY POLLY PRIMROSE + LOOK AT THE BABY + AN UNLUCKY SAIL + TO STRAWBERRY TOWN + FLOSSIE AND HER SHOE-BOAT + NELLIE'S LUNCH + DIME AND THE BABY + WIDE-AWAKE LAND + LULU'S FIRST THANKSGIVING + THE SUN-KISS + THE COUNTRY WEEK + THE ROAD TO SCHOOL + WHAT SAMMY'S MONKEY DID + BESSIE IN THE MOUNTAINS + PAULINE'S STRANGE PETS + "GO HALVES!" + LITTLE GAMES + WHAT WE FOUND IN OUR STOVE + THE JOHN AND LINCOLN FLEET + THE YACHT STARLIGHT + THE NEW PARASOL + THE MAN WHO WAS SHAKEN BY A LION + THE LAUGHING JACKASS + THE TRICK THEY PLAYED ON JOCKO + SOME OTHER THINGS BOBBY SAW AT SEA + THE MOSQUITO + THE LAUGHING GIRL + ANNIE'S DUCKS + VICK IN TROUBLE + IN GRANDMA'S ATTIC + LITTLE GIRL GRACIE + A MAGPIE AND HER NEST + AT THE BEACH + FARMER GRAY AND HIS APPLES + AH KEE + DICK AND GRAY + THE RETURN OF THE BIRDS + FIRST REWARD OF MERIT + FOUR LITTLE MICE + FINNETTE + ABOUT THE DEER + EVERYBODY'S DOG + A BIRD'S NEST + A RAINY DAY + THE STORY OF A CANE + MISS LOLLIPOP'S FANCIES + TOMMY'S TEMPTATION + A BEAR STORY + ANNA'S BIRTHDAY GIFT + RALPH AND THE BUTTERFLIES + A POEM + TOM'S LETTER + JANEY'S PRESENT + GOOD OLD ROSE + AUNT PATTY'S PETS + TOMMY AND THE GANDER + A NIGHT VISITOR + THE NIGHT MONKEY + BABY'S NAP + HURRAH! HURRAH! + MOSES GOES TO A CANDY PARTY + FAN'S CARDS:--A CHRISTMAS HINT + KITTY'S TRAMP + THREE ROYAL CHILDREN + AN OSTRICH PLUME + WHO KILLED THE GOOSE? + A TEMPERANCE HORSE + HOW THE WIND BLOWS + DIME AND BETTY + SAVED FROM FREEZING TO DEATH + LILY'S GARDEN + WHERE? + A GOAT IN TROUBLE + A NEGRO MELODIST + TIME ENOUGH + THE MOUSE WEDDING + SHE HAD NEVER SEEN A TREE + A FUNNY HORSE + MRS. GIMSON'S SUMMER BOARDERS + AS NIGHT CAME DARKLY DOWN + GRANDMOTHER'S CLOCK + A STUFFED JUMBO + THE TREES IN SILVER LAND + SMALL BEGINNINGS + GARDEN OF THE GODS + YOUNG ARTIST + A CHANCE WORD + A LITTLE DANCE + LOOKING OUT FOR NUMBER ONE + WOODCROFT + IN THE WOODS + AUTUMN LEAVES, AND WHAT KATIE DID + THE SPINNING LESSON + FOSTER PARENTS + HAYMAKING + WINDOW GARDENING + "CHEER UP." + WAIF'S ROMANCE + "MAY I GO WITH YOU?" + A SUMMER AT WILLOW-SPRING + GREAT EXPECTATIONS + "WHERE'S SOPHIE?" + "IF I CAN, I WILL." + WINDSOR CASTLE + THE LITTLE PRINCES + THE TOWER OF LONDON + MARY AND HER LAMB + JAMIE'S GARDEN + CAMP TRIO + THE SENTIMENTAL FOX + EARTHEN VESSELS + BIRDIE'S BREAKFAST + A BATTLE + GRACE DARLING, THE HEROINE + ADAM AND EVE + SWINGING SONG + HOW THE DAYS WENT AT SEA-GULL BEACH + MAX AND BEPPO + PANSIES + "COME, LITTLE BIRD!" + SIRENA'S TROUBLE + LADY VIOLET + ON TRIAL + TWO LITTLE GIRLS + HELPFUL WORDS + FALSE SHAME + CLARA AND THE ANIMAL BOOK + AN ANECDOTE + THE UNSOCIABLE DUCKS + PUTTING OUT THE CANDLE + SULKY ARCHIE + A WISH FOR WINGS + CONSEQUENCES: A PARABLE + COMFORTABLE MRS. CROOK + AN EVENING SONG + "BUT THEN." + AN ANECDOTE + WHAT THE SNAIL SAID + ONLY NOW AND THEN + A SERPENT AMONG THE BOOKS + "LITTLE MOTHER." + LITTLE SCATTER + WHAT CHICKY THINKS + STOP-A-WHILE + THE BIRDS' CONCERT + ONLY A BOY + BIRD NEEDLEWORK + HE WAS A GENTLEMAN + TIME FOR BED + THE VALUE OF A GOOD NAME + DINGFORD'S BABY + A BED-TIME STORY + THE LESSON AFTER RECESS + THE LION AT THE "ZOO" + DISOBEYING MOTHER + PLANTS THAT EAT + THE CUCKOO CLOCK + DAVY'S GIRL + EARLY TEA + BONEY + CATCHING SNOW FLAKES + A MISCHIEVOUS MONKEY + THE AFRICAN SLAVE BOY + CLIMBING + LITTLE ELSIE + KITTY STRIKER + MAYING + GRACIE'S TEMPER + AN ANECDOTE + THE SWEET-GRASS HOUSE + JOHNNY'S GARDEN + BOY BILLY AND THE RABBIT + A FISH STORY + + + + +Our Young Folks at Home and Abroad. + + + + +[Illustration: THREE ORPHANS, ONE MOURNER.] + +THE KITTENS' STEPMOTHER. + + +There are two little girls living nearly a hundred rods apart, Mamie +and Fannie. Each had a nice pet cat. + +Mamie's cat had three little kittens. When they were about three weeks +old their poor mother was killed by a useless dog. For two days Mamie +fed her kittens with a spoon, and did all she could to comfort them; +but they would cry for their mother. + +Fannie's cat had only one kitten, and it died at once. Then Mamie took +her three motherless kittens down to Fannie's cat to see if she would +adopt them. She took them at once, and made a great fuss over them. +Then she was allowed to raise them. + +When Mamie thought her kittens were old enough she took all three of +them home again. But their stepmother would neither eat nor drink. She +cried and looked for the kittens. At last Fannie carried her cat up to +Mamie's house to see the kittens. Then mother and kittens were all +happy again, and played together as if they had never been separated. + +When the girls saw how much the cat and kittens were attached to each +other they concluded to take Fannie's cat home again with only two of +the kittens; in a short time bring back one of them, and later the +last one. In this way they thought they could separate them without +any trouble. + +Fannie's cat was not pleased with this plan. She began to look for and +call the third kitten. The next morning, when Mamie went to feed her +one kitten, she could not find it anywhere about the barn or woodshed. +She went down to Fannie's house, and there she found her kitten. +Sometime in the night Fannie's cat went to Mamie's house, found the +kitten, and carried it home. Since that time the girls have not tried +to part the cat and kittens, and they are a happy family. + + MAMIE A. AND FANNIE H. + +[Illustration: {KITTEN IN A BASKET.}] + + + + +[Illustration: {A COUNTRY SCENE.}] + +HOW SOME SEEDS ARE PLANTED. + + +Many noble oak-trees are planted by the little squirrel. Running up +the branches, this little animal strips off the acorns, and buries +them in the ground for food in the cold weather; and when he goes to +hunt them up he does not find all of them. Those he leaves behind +often grow up into great and beautiful trees. + +The nuthatch, too, among the birds, is a great planter. After +twisting off a cluster of beech-nuts this queer little bird carries +them to some favorite tree, and pegs them into the crevices of the +bark in a curious way. How, we cannot tell. After a while they fall to +the ground, and there grow into large trees. + +[Illustration: {TREES ON THE BANK OF A STREAM.}] + +Some larger animals are good seed-planters, and have sometimes covered +barren countries with trees. It is very singular that animals and +birds can do so much farm-work, isn't it? + + MRS. G. HALL. + + + + +[Illustration: {A CAT CATCHES A MOUSE.}] + +OLD SCORES REPAID, OR TRAGEDY REVERSED. + + + I met a tearful little lass; + She sobbed so hard I could not pass, + I wondered so thereat; + "Oh, dry your tears, my pretty child, + Pray tell me why you grieve so wild." + "A--mouse--ate--up--my--cat!" + +[Illustration: {A MOUSE LOOKS AT A CANDY CAT.}] + +[Illustration: {A MOUSE EATING A CANDY CAT.}] + + "A mouse ate up your cat!" I cried, + To think she'd fib quite horrified; + "Why, how can you say that?" + Her tears afresh began to run, + She sobbed the words out, one by one: + "It--was--a--candy--cat!" + + S. ISADORE MINER. + +[Illustration: {THREE MICE AROUND A TRAP.}] + + + + +TIPPY, THE FIREMEN'S DOG. + + +[Illustration: {TIPPY LYING DOWN.}] + +Tippy was a little, black dog, and he lived at the engine-house, where +the great engines, which put out the fires, were kept. + +[Illustration: {TIPPY BARKING.}] + +He was a poor, miserable, little dog, without a home until the firemen +took pity on him and gave him one. + +Dick was one of the horses that helped to pull the engine. He was very +large and black, with a white spot on his forehead. He and Tippy were +fine friends. + +When it was cold the little dog would curl close down by Dick's back, +and sleep all night, as warm as could be. + +One day, when it was Dick's dinner-time, and he was very hungry, Tippy +kept running into his stall and barking and biting at his heels. + +Dick did not like it, and he wanted his dinner so much that it made +him cross. So he put down his head, took Tippy by the back of the +neck, and lifted him over the side of the low stall, as much as to +say:-- + +"If you won't go out I will put you out!" + +[Illustration: {TIPPY CARRYING A BUCKET.}] + +Tippy soon grew to know what the engines were for, and when the +fire-bells rang, and the great horses came from their stalls ready to +be harnessed to the engine, he would bark and jump up and down, and +beg to go too. + +[Illustration: TIPPY, THE FIREMEN'S DOG.] + +One day he hid under the driver's seat, and the firemen did not see +him, so he went to the fire. + +After that, the instant an alarm sounded, Tippy would spring on the +engine. As it dashed down the street, the bells ringing, the firemen +shouting, he would bark to let the people along the way know he was +going to help put out the fire. + +Every day the firemen would give Tippy a basket, and a penny to buy a +bone with. He would take the basket in his mouth, and trot across the +street to the butcher's for the bone. The butcher would take the penny +out, and put a bone in its place, and Tippy would run home to eat his +breakfast. + +Once in a while Tippy would be very naughty, and would have to be +punished. Then the firemen would make him sit on a chair for a long +while, until he would promise, by a bark which meant, "Yes," that he +would be good. + + LOUISE THRUSH BROOKS. + +[Illustration: {TIPPY SITTING ON A CHAIR.}] + + + + +[Illustration: {A FOX AND SOME CUBS.}] + +NINE LITTLE FOXES. + + +Tommy and Bessie, Bert, and even little Caddie, think there is no +treat like a visit to Covill Farm. + +They all jumped for joy when, one bright afternoon in early summer, +their papa said:-- + +"I am going out past the Covill Farm, and if any little folks want to +go along they may stop there while I do my errands." + +How soon they were all ready! How busy all the little tongues were, +talking over what they would see and do! + +"There'll be lots of little chickens now; and ducklings, too!" + +"Yes; and we'll see the dear little lambs, and the little calfeys!" + +"And maybe we can go down to the boat-house, and have a row on the +lake!" + +But they never dreamed of the funny sight they really saw that +afternoon. Papa set them all down at the gate, and drove on, promising +to come back for them in an hour. + +When he came back he tied his horse, and set out to find the little +folks. But in a few moments they saw him, and came rushing across the +yard, all talking at once:-- + +"O papa, come! come and see!" + +"Oh, so funny!" + +Little two-year-old Caddie was as much excited as the rest; she +cried:-- + +[Illustration: {NINE FOX CUBS.}] + +"Take my hand, papa! Little piggies shall not bite you!" + +"Little piggies," indeed! Little foxes they were; and nine of the +cunning creatures. Only think! + +The manager of the farm said that something had been killing his +lambs, and he had been on the watch to find out the rascal. + +One day, when he was out with his gun, he saw something moving near +an old woodchuck hole; at least, there had been woodchucks there the +year before. + +He went nearer, expecting to see a woodchuck again; but there were +these little foxes playing around. The woodchucks must have burrowed +out, and an old fox taken possession of their hole for a den. + +Mr. Nash lay down on the ground to count the funny little things, and +watch them tumbling over each other. Then he tried to stop up the +entrance to their den with his coat, so that he could catch them. But +a tree root lay across the hole in such a way that there was a place +left big enough for the little foxes to get in; and in they went. + +Then Mr. Nash went and called a man to help him. They took spades and +dug into the hole until they found them. + +They carried them up to the farm-yard, and put them into a pen. They +were of a tawny color; and when the children saw them they were about +as large as cats, and as full of play as any kittens. + +Mr. Nash said he did not want to kill them, because they were so +cunning. But it was a good thing that he caught them. Just think how +many chickens, and ducks, and geese, and lambs those nine foxes might +have killed, if they had grown up in their den! + + MRS. D. P. SANFORD. + +[Illustration: {A FOX CUB SITTING ON A TABLE.}] + + + + +[Illustration: {BIRDS AROUND THE BELL.}] + +WHAT AILED THE BELL. + + +It was the first day of school after a vacation. The children were +playing in the yards. The teachers sat at their desks waiting for the +bell to strike to call the children to the different rooms. The hands +of the different clocks pointed to a quarter before nine. + +The bell was a sort of gong, fastened to the outside of the building, +and the master of the school could ring it by touching a knob in the +wall near his desk. It was now time to call the children into school. +The master pulled the bell and waited. Still the merry shouts could be +heard in the school-yards. Very strange! The children were so engaged +in play that they could not hear the bell, he thought. Then he pulled +it more vigorously. Still the shouts and laughter continued. + +The master raised his window, clapped his hands, and pointed to the +bell. + +[Illustration: {THE MASTER LOOKS OUT OF THE WINDOW.}] + +The children rushed into line like little soldiers, and waited for the +second signal. The teacher pulled and pulled, but there was no sound. +Then he sent a boy to tell each line to file in, and he sent another +boy for a carpenter to find out if the bell-cord was broken. + +[Illustration: {A BOY CLEARS THE EMPTY NEST AWAY FROM THE BELL.}] + +What do you think the carpenter found? A little sparrow had built its +nest inside the bell, and prevented the hammer striking against the +bell. The teacher told the children what the trouble was, and asked if +the nest should be taken out. There was a loud chorus of "No, sir." + +Every day the four hundred children would gather in the yard and look +up at the nest. When the little birds were able to fly to the trees in +the yard, and no longer needed a nest, one of the boys climbed on a +ladder and cleared away the straw and hay so that the sound of the +bell might call the children from play. + + M. A. HALEY. + + + + +[Illustration: {BOYS AT PLAY.}] + +THE HOOK AND LADDER. + + + The frosts in the door-yard maple + Had lighted a fine red blaze, + And one of the golden twilights + That come September days: + The neighborhood lads had gathered + To play their usual plays. + +[Illustration: {A BOY UP A TREE.}] + + Frankie was good at planning, + And seeing the glowing tree, + "Let's have a fire department + And play 'tis a house!" said he. + "Oh, yes, a hook and ladder," + Cried all; "what fun 'twill be!" + + So they put the hose on the hydrant. + Searched everywhere about + Until they found a ladder, + And then, with yell and shout + Of "fire" and clang of "ding-dong," + They rushed to put it out. + + The hosemen pulled their jackets + Hastily from their backs; + One climbed the tree like a squirrel, + With a ball-bat for an axe + And he hewed at the beautiful branches + With frantic hacks and whacks. + + Some one turned on the water, + And the boy in the foremost place + Got the full force from the nozzle + Square in his little face; + And he cried for half a minute + With the funniest grimace. + +[Illustration: {ONE BOY IS SOAKED BY ANOTHER BOY WITH A HOSE.}] + + The stream flew this way, that way, + And up to the tree's bright top, + And back came the water splashing + With reckless slosh and slop, + And with it showers of red leaves + And twigs began to drop. + + This small boys' Hook and Ladder + Was a very good company, + And they squirted till the sidewalk + Was like a mimic sea; + But they didn't put out the fire + In the old red maple-tree. + + MRS. CLARA DOTY BATES. + + + + +[Illustration: {JOE, HIS UNCLE AND THE HORSE.}] + +LITTLE JOE'S RIDE. + + +"Good Billy! nice Billy!" said little Joe, as he patted the nose of +the old black horse. "Say, Uncle John, can't I ride him to water?" + +"I am afraid you cannot hang on to him," replied his uncle. "Did you +ever ride a horse?" + +"No, uncle; but I am sure I can," answered Joe. "Please let me try. +I'll take hold of his mane with both hands, and hang on as hard as +ever I can." + +"Well, you may try it. There is the trough, against that fence, the +other side of the barn. Look out that old Billy does not give you a +ducking." + +"Never fear for me," cried Joe, riding away in great glee. + +He was a little city boy, and had come out to the farm to make his +uncle a visit. He thought it great fun to take a ride on horseback. + +It did not take him long to find the trough, for old Billy knew the +way right well. Then, how it happened, Joe never could tell: Billy put +his head down quite suddenly, and right over it slid the little boy +with a great splash, head first into the water. + +Of course he was not hurt. He caught hold of the fence and came out, +dripping from head to foot. + +[Illustration: {JOE IN THE WATER TROUGH.}] + +Old Billy looked on rather surprised, but got his drink. He let Joe +lead him back to the barn, and how Uncle John did laugh at him. Joe +laughed too, as he went off to get on some dry clothes. Though he took +a good many rides after that, he never forgot his first one on old +Billy's back. + + MRS. M. E. SANDFORD. + + + + +[Illustration: {GYPSY PULLING A SMALL TWO WHEELED CART.}] + +GYPSY AND HIS TRICKS. + + +When Harry was six years old his grandfather sent him a very nice +present from the farm. You cannot guess what it was, so I will tell +you. + +[Illustration: {GYPSY STANDING ON HIS HEAD.}] + +A goat, with a harness and cart, for Harry to drive him. Harry named +him Gypsy, because he was so black. + +Gypsy and Harry had a great many good times together. He would draw +Harry to school and then wait very patiently under the shade of a tree +until school was out. All the school-children were very fond of him +and would bring him sweet apples and cake. + +[Illustration: {GYPSY BOWING.}] + +The teacher was fond of Gypsy, too, and would often bring sugar to +him; but she never let Gypsy have it until he had performed one of the +tricks the boys had taught him. He must either stand on his head, bow, +or dance. Gypsy could do all these. + +One day Gypsy did something very funny. It was a very hot day, and +Harry thought he would unharness him and let him roam around the +school-yard. + +What do you think Gypsy did? He walked into the school-house, straight +up to the teacher, and stood on his head. He was begging for sugar. + +[Illustration: {GYPSY STANDING ON HIS HIND LEGS.}] + +The teacher laughed with the scholars, and said, "Gypsy, you have +learned your lesson well; now I'll excuse you, and let you go out to +play." And then she drove him out. + +One of the boys begged leave to give Gypsy an apple, and the teacher +said he might. Gypsy took the apple in his mouth and made a little +bow. + +The scholars laughed so long that the teacher had to close the door +for fear Gypsy would do some other funny thing. + + KATY KYLE. + + + + +[Illustration: {TWO LITTLE GIRLS.}] + +A LITTLE GIRL'S WEDDING GIFT. + + + If I could choose a wedding gift, + I'd climb for you the rainbow stairs + And bring a star to bless + This day of happiness. + + As I came down, a bird I'd lift + From off his nest, that his sweet airs + And songs might you delight + From rosy morn till night. + + But rainbow stairs are hard to mount, + The birds hide in the trees' green shade, + And so I bring, dear friend, to you + The flowers wet with dew. + +[Illustration: {TWO LITTLE GIRLS.}] + + Take them, and then take me; please count + My eyes your stars; the little maid + Who offers flowers, your bird, + Whose heart with love is stirred. + +[Illustration: {A LITTLE GIRL IN A PATCH OF FLOWERS.}] + + May child love and the birds together + Make all your life like summer weather; + May flowers blossom in your sight, + And golden stars bring peace at night. + + MRS. E. ANNETTE HILLS. + + + + +DO RIGHT. + + + "Well met, my little man! + Now tell me, if you can, + The very nicest way + To spend this long, dull day." + + "Well, sir, my mother says, + Of all the pretty ways + To make a dark day bright + The best is just do right!" + + M. J. T. + + + + +DOG PRINCE. + + + "Shake hands, Prince!" + Black as a coal, and curly, too. + Is the dog I introduce to you. + He gives at once his right-hand paw, + None a softer one ever saw. + +[Illustration: {PRINCE SHAKING HANDS WITH A LITTLE BOY.}] + + "Beg, Prince!" + Up he rises on his hind legs, + Flies both little fore-feet, and begs, + Not for money, nor food, nor clothes, + But merely to show how much he knows. + + "Speak, Prince!" + You'd think from that first growling note, + He'd a bumble-bee inside his throat; + 'Tis not a bee, but only a bark; + For answer, shrill and eager, hark! + +[Illustration: {PRINCE BEGGING.}] + + "Roll over, Prince!" + He'll do all other things you ask; + But this is a task, a dreadful task. + He hates the dust on his silky hide + And in the fringe of his ears beside. + + "Roll over, I say!" + Such a struggle as he goes through; + He wants to do it, and don't want to! + He rubs one black ear on the floor, + Rubs a little, and nothing more. + + "Ah, Prince! Ah, Prince!" + Do you call that minding? Yet, I find + Yours is a common way to mind: + Willing to do what you like to best, + And only half-way doing the rest. + + MRS. CLARA DOTY BATES. + + + + +[Illustration: {THE CHILDREN BY THE LILY POND.}] + +WHERE THE PRETTY PATH LED. + + +Little Fred went to spend his long vacation with his grandpa and +grandma in the country. Fred's grandpa had an old white horse named +Betsy. He had owned her ever since mamma was a little girl, and Fred +and Betsy soon became great friends. + +Every day grandma would give Fred two biscuits, two apples and two +lumps of sugar in a little basket and he would take them over to the +pasture. Betsy soon learned to expect him, and waited for him at the +bars. She knew that half of what was in the basket was meant for her. + +A very pretty path came in at one end of the pasture. Fred often +wondered where it went, but he never dared to go in very far alone. +One day his two cousins, Alice and Frank, came to make grandma a +little visit. Grandma told Fred he must show them all over the farm. +The next morning, after he had taken them out to lunch with Betsy, he +thought it would be a good chance to go down the little path. Alice +and Frank said they would like to go very much. Fred was still a +little afraid, and kept very near Alice. But he forgot everything +else, when, at the end of the path, they came upon a lovely little +pond. It was all covered with great white lilies and their green pads. + +They wanted to get some lilies to take home. They tried to reach them +from the bank, but lilies have a provoking way of growing just out of +reach. Then they tried to hook them in with sticks, but got only three +or four, without stems. Then they looked for a board to use as a raft. + +At last Frank said they must wade for them. He and Fred took off their +shoes and stockings, pulled up their trousers, and went in. Fred used +a long stick to feel the way before him, so as not to get into water +too deep. + +This time they were successful, and got just as many lilies as their +hands would hold. + +Grandma was delighted with them; she said she had not had any lilies +from that old pond since grandpa used to bring them to her years and +years before. + + MRS. F. T. MERRILL. + + + + +A LETTER TO MOTHER NATURE. + + +[Illustration: {A LITTLE GIRL WRITING A LETTER.}] + + "You dear old Mother Nature, I am writing you a letter, + To let you know you ought to fix up things a little better. + The best of us will make mistakes--I thought perhaps if I + Should tell you how you might improve, you would be glad to try. + + "I think you have forgotten, ma'am, that little girls and boys + Are fond of dolls, and tops, and sleds, and balls, and other toys; + Why didn't you--I wonder, now!--just take it in your head + To have such things all growing in a lovely garden bed? + +[Illustration: {DRINKING FROM A LEMONADE SPRING.}] + + "And then I should have planted (if it only had been me) + Some vines with little pickles, and a great big cooky tree; + And trees, besides, with gum-drops and caramels and things; + And lemonade should bubble up in all the little springs. + + "I'd like to have the coasting and the skating in July, + When old Jack Frost would never get a single chance to try + To nip our cheeks and noses; and the Christmas trees should stand + By dozens, loaded!--in the woods!--now, wouldn't that be grand? + +[Illustration: {PICKING UNUSUAL PLANTS.}] + + "Ah! what a world it would have been! How could you, madam, make + Such lots of bread and butter to so very little cake? + I'd have it just the other way, and every one would see + How very, very, very, very nice my way would be. + + "But, as I cannot do it, will you think of what I say? + And please, ma'am, _do_ begin and alter things this very day. + And one thing more--on Saturdays don't send us any rain. + Good-by. If I should think of something else, I'll write again." + + SYDNEY DAYRE. + +[Illustration: {A BOY PLAYING A PIPE TO A DOG.}] + + + + +[Illustration: {A BOY AND A GIRL.}] + +OUR MAY-DAY AT THE SOUTH. + + + Out in the woods we went to-day: + Mamma and Nannie, Freddie and May, + Charlie and I, and good old Tray, + Out in the greenwood to romp and play. + + To-day, you know, is the first of May; + And we meant to be so jolly and gay: + And celebrate in so merry a way + That we could never forget this holiday. + + So first we chose the loveliest queen, + The dearest and sweetest that ever was seen; + For mamma herself was Her Highness Serene, + And we crowned her with rosebuds and evergreen. + + Then we kneeled around and vowed to obey + All the laws she made, not only to-day, + But all the year through. Then she waved a spray + Of lilac bloom, and bade us all be gay. + + Oh the games we played, and the races we run! + The bars we leaped, and the prizes we won! + Oh the shouting, the singing, the laughter and fun,-- + It were hard to tell who was the happiest one! + + Then, rosy and tired, we gathered around + Our beautiful queen on the mossy ground; + The hungriest group in the land, I'll be bound. + As the sandwiches, cookies, and tarts went round. + +[Illustration: {ENJOYING GAMES AND A PICNIC.}] + + When the sun was low and shadows were gray, + Down from her throne stepped our fair Queen of May, + And through the green fields led homeward our way, + While we gave her sweet thanks for this beautiful day. + + L. A. B. C. + + + + +[Illustration: {SHIPS NEAR A LIGHT-HOUSE.}] + +BERTIE'S STORY AND MINE. + + + "Tell me a story about a bear, + A great big bear who lived in a wood + And ate little children." "O, my dear, + The bears I know of were playful and good, + And lived in houses or parks or a pen, + And never ate children, or boys, or men. + + "There was one snow white, a mother bear,-- + With two little babies cunning and queer; + Who rolled and climbed and stood on their heads, + And fell over, as boys often do, I fear. + They hugged their mother, and talked in their way, + And kept still when they'd nothing to do or say." + + "No, I mean a real bear out in the woods, + Who growls and chases you, makes you run, + Half scared to death,--and a little boy lost + Out in the woods and the night coming on; + And the terrible bear with his great fierce eyes, + And no one to hear the little child's cries! + + "He runs and runs,"--and then Bertie smiles, + His climax reached,--"I was only in fun; + The bear didn't kill him, because, you see, + There was just behind a man with a gun, + And he shot! Bang! Down came the old bear; + 'Twas his own little boy and he saved him--there!" + +[Illustration: {BERTIE AND THE BEAR.}] + + "O, I am so glad!" and I give him a kiss; + Then silent we sit for a moment or two. + "That's a boy's story; yours, you know, + For nice little girls very well will do. + But boys, you remember, grow up to be men, + And can fight the bears to their very den." + + AMANDA M. DOUGLAS. + + + + +THE PORCUPINE'S QUILLS. + + +Every animal has an instrument of defence. Some have claws, some +hoofs, some spurs and beaks, some powerful teeth and stings. + +[Illustration: {A PORCUPINE FENDS OFF A DOG.}] + +The porcupine has something queerer than all these. Its body is +covered all over with two sets of quills. One set is long, slender, +and curved; the other, short and straight, very stout, and with sharp +points. + +Whenever the porcupine is chased by any animal, and finds he cannot +get out of the way, he just stops and bristles up all his quills. Then +he backs quickly upon the animal, so that the short, sharp quills may +stick into the body. If any happen to be a little loose, they stick so +fast in the flesh, like an arrow, that they often make a very bad +wound. Remember this whenever you come in the way of the porcupine. + + MRS. G. HALL. + + + + +LOVE YOUR ENEMIES. + + +I was watching Willie and Grouse at play on the lawn a few days since. +I saw in the poor dumb brute a spirit that is too seldom found in man. + +[Illustration: {WILLIE POURS WATER OVER GROUSE.}] + +Grouse is an old bird-dog,--a setter. He was bought before Willie came +to be his little master. He has soft, brown hair, and is a very +clever, good-natured dog. Willie can do anything with him, and he +never gets angry; but when Willie hurts him he only looks up and +pleads with his large, misty eyes. + +They had been playing a long while. Grouse got tired and lay down on +the grass. Pretty soon I saw Willie get some water in a basin. I +wondered what he was going to do with it. Then he walked close up to +Grouse, who lay on the lawn, and threw the water all over him. + +It was very unkind for Willie to do so, don't you think it was? I +called Willie to me, and told him it was too bad for him to plague +such a good old dog. I told him he was a very naughty boy to do so. + +Willie said he supposed it was wrong to plague Grouse, but he didn't +mean to hurt him much. + +So Willie went back to where Grouse lay in the sun drying himself. He +patted the poor dog on the head, and asked him if he would forgive him +for his unkindness. + +Then Grouse, as if he knew what was said, licked Willie's hand. He +looked up forgivingly into his face with his dewy eyes, as much as to +say, "I am one who can love his enemies." + + FRANK. H. SELDEN. + + + + +THE MERCIFUL PRINCE. + + +More than two thousand years ago, in a far-off country, a prince was +born. While he was yet a child every care was taken that he should be +made happy, and sights of sorrow were carefully kept from him. He was +of a very kind, loving, and tender disposition. + +But the care even of a king for a prince could not keep away all +sorrowful sights. His watchful eyes sometimes saw suffering that +filled his heart with pity. + +As he was playing with his cousin in the palace ground, a flock of +wild swans flew over their heads. His cousin drew his bow and wounded +one. It fell at his feet. The prince with pity drew the arrow from the +wounded bird, nursed it, and saved its life. + +While his child life was one of tenderness and mercy, the years passed +by and he became a man. His heart was still filled with pity for every +suffering creature. He went from the palace, from home and dear +friends, to become poor and a wanderer, that he might help the +suffering. It is beautifully told that in his wanderings he came upon +a flock of sheep driven along the dusty highway. There was one poor +wounded, bleeding lamb, which he took tenderly in his arms and +carried. And so through life his pity and his help were given to the +weak, whether men or beasts. From his tender and beautiful life, men +came to worship him after his death. + +[Illustration: {THE PRINCE HELPS A WOUNDED SWAN.}] + +The prince was Prince Gautama, of India, who is worshipped as Buddha. +Is not his loving and merciful life, from a little child to an old +man, a beautiful example to us? + + CHARLES T. JEROME + + + + +THE OPOSSUM IN THE HEN-HOUSE. + + +"O George, the circus is coming! the handbills are all up, and such +pictures of horses and lions and tigers, and everything!" + +Ned jumped about for joy, until George said,-- + +"But how are you going, Ned? We have no money, and papa said he could +not give us any more this month, if he gave us a gun." + +"The new gun,--so he did," said Ned, sadly. "But the circus takes so +little; they would let us in at half price." + +"I will tell you," exclaimed George; "let us sell our white Leghorns +to mamma. She wants them, I know, and the money we get for them will +take us both to the circus." + +This was settled, and at dinner mamma was told of the plan. + +"Put them up in the hen-house to-night," she said, "and to-morrow I +will look at them and we will fix the price." + +The boys went to bed early that night, but had hardly settled +themselves to sleep when Melissa, the little servant-girl, rushed in +with a light in her hand. + +"O, git up, boys, git up! Sompen's in de hen-house, killin' all de +fowls." + +They jumped up and huddled on their clothes as fast as they could, +then ran after Melissa, who held the light while they armed themselves +with sticks. + +There was a great stir, sure enough, in the hen-house,--fowls were +cackling and screaming with fright, and a curious snapping sound came +from one corner. When the light fell here they saw a rough, hairy +little animal, with small bright eyes like a pig, and a long smooth +tail. But, worst of all, one of the beautiful white Leghorns lay +before it, all mangled and bleeding. The horrid creature was tearing +its soft body, and would hardly stop eating when the children attacked +him. + +At last Melissa caught up a stick, and killed the little beast with a +quick blow. She held it up in triumph by its long tail. It looked +very much like a little pig, and had five fingers, like toes, on each +foot. + +"'Tis a 'possum," said Melissa, "and very good to eat. I's right glad +_I_ kill it, cos now 'tis mine." + +[Illustration: {MELISSA AND THE BOYS WITH THE DEAD OPOSSUM.}] + +"You are welcome to it," said Ned, half crying. "What shall we do now +our pretty Leghorn rooster is dead? We can't go to the circus." + +Next morning they told their tale at the breakfast-table. + +"Never mind," said their father; "I think you may go, after all, as I +owe you something for killing the opossum. He would have destroyed the +rest of the fowls." + +"Yes; but, papa, Melissa killed it; we only struck at it." + +"Well, I think I must treat the whole party, as all did their best. We +will set a trap to-day for the next opossum that may come to see us." + +The boys and Melissa went to the circus, and enjoyed all they saw, and +Melissa had a fine opossum stew into the bargain. + + PINK HUNTER. + VIRGINIA. + + + + +HOW ROY WENT A FISHING. + + +Roy had fished in the ditch by the side of the road a great many +times; but he had only a bent pin for a fish-hook, and a piece of +twine for a line. He never caught any fish there. + +When he was six years old his uncle James gave him a real fish-hook +and a line, and after a good deal of coaxing his mother said that he +might go down the cow-path to the brook and fish for trout. + +Uncle James caught a great many trout in the brook. + +Alice wanted to go with Roy; and Roy, who is very kind to his sister, +asked his mother to let her go. + +Alice carried the basket,--a pretty large one. Mary, the cook, told +them to be sure and get it full of fish, so that she could fry them +for dinner. + +How proud and happy they were! Their mother could see them from the +window all the time. + +When they reached the brook Alice sat down on a rock. Roy put a worm +on the hook, and dropped the end of the line into the stream. But it +was a long time before he got a bite. At last he thought he felt a +nibble. + +"I've got one, Ally!" he shouted. "O, such a big fellow! You will have +to come and help me pull him out!" + +They tugged away on the line, and then they both fell over backwards. + +[Illustration: {ROY CATCHES SOMETHING UNEXPECTED AND UPSETS ALICE.}] + +"There he is!" cried Roy. But when they got up and looked, it was not +a trout at all. It was only a piece of a black root that broke off and +gave them a tumble. + +Roy tried again, and after a good while he felt another nibble. He +jerked the line out so quickly that the hook caught in the back of +Alice's dress. It pricked her shoulder so that she had half a mind to +cry. + +Roy could not get the hook out of her dress, and they went home for +their mother to help them. + +Mary laughed at Roy a good deal. She told his uncle James, at +dinner-time, that Roy caught the biggest trout she ever saw, and he +had to come home for his mother to get it off the hook. + + L. A. B. C. + +[Illustration: {PORTRAIT OF A CHILD, SURROUNDED BY FLOWERS.}] + + + + +A BEAR-STORY. + + + "I know a new bear-story," + I said to the little folks, + Who surely as the twilight falls, + Begin to tease and coax. + +[Illustration: {A BEAR AT THE ZOO.}] + + "And did they live in the forest, + In a den all deep and dark? + And were there three?"--"Yes, three," I said, + "But they lived in the park. + + "Let's see! Old Jack, the grizzly, + With great white claws, was there; + And a mother bear with thick brown coat, + And Betty, the little bear! + + "And Silver-Locks went strolling + One day, in that pretty wood, + With Ninny, the nurse, and all at once + They came where the bears' house stood. + + "And without so much as knocking + To see who was at home, + She cried out in a happy voice, + 'Old Grizzly, here I come!' + + "And thereupon old Grizzly + Began to gaze about; + And the mother bear sniffed at the bars, + And the baby bear peeped out. + + "And they thought she must be a fairy, + Though, instead of a golden wand, + She carried a five-cent paper bag + Of peanuts in her hand. + + "Old Grizzly his red mouth opened + As though they tasted good; + And the brown bear opened her red mouth + To catch one when she could; + + "And Betty, the greedy baby, + Followed the big bears' style, + And held her little fire-red mouth, + Wide open all the while. + + "And Silver-Locks laughed delighted, + And thought it wondrous fun, + And fed them peanuts from the bag + Till she hadn't another one. + + "And is that all?" sighed Gold-Locks. + "Pshaw, is that all?" cried Ted. + "No--one thing more! 'Tis quite, quite time + That little folks were in bed!" + + CLARA DOTY BATES. + + + + +[Illustration: {A BOY AND A GIRL ON A SWING.}] + +HEAR US SING SEE US SWING UP IN THE OLD OAK TREE. + + + O--oh! O--oh! + Here we go, + Now so high, + Now so low; + Soon, soon, + We'll reach the moon; + Hear us sing, + See us swing, + Up in the old oak-tree. + + O--oh! O--oh! + To and fro, + Like the birds, + High and low; + See us fly + To the sky; + Hear us sing, + On the wing, + Up in the old oak-tree. + + L. A. B. C. + + + + +[Illustration: {TWO BOATS NEAR THE SHORE.}] + +SAILOR BABIES. + + +[Illustration: {A PAIR OF BIRDS.}] + +Birds, and birds, and birds! Have you any idea how many kinds of birds +there are? I am very sorry you could not count them all. And such +queer fellows many of them are! There are butcher-birds and +tailor-birds, soldier-birds--the penguins, you know, who stand on the +sea-shore like companies of soldiers, "heads up, eyes front, arms +(meaning wings) at the sides"--and sailor-birds. It is about one of +the sailor-birds and his babies that I am going to tell you now. She +is called the Little Grebe, or sometimes, by her intimate friends, the +Dabchick. She is a pretty little bird, about nine inches long, with +brown head and back, and grayish-white breast. She and her husband are +both extremely fond of the water. "We are first cousins to the +Divers!" they sometimes say proudly. "The Divers are never happy away +from the water, and neither are we. It is very vulgar to live on land +all the time. One might almost as well have four legs, and be a +creature at once!" (The Divers are a very proud family, and speak of +all quadrupeds as "creatures.") Mr. and Mrs. Grebe have very +curiously webbed feet, looking more like a horse-chestnut leaf with +three lobes than anything else. They are excellent swimmers and +divers; indeed, in diving, the Great Northern Diver himself is not so +quick and alert. If anything frightens them, pop! they are under the +water in the shaking of a feather; and you may sometimes see them in a +pond, popping up and down like little absurd Jacks-in-the-box. As they +think the land so very vulgar, of course they do not want to bring up +their children on it. + +[Illustration: {BIRDS ON THE RIVER.}] + +Oh, dear, no! They find a pleasant, quiet stream, or pond, where there +are plenty of reeds and rushes growing in the water, and where there +is no danger of their being disturbed by "creatures." Then they go to +work and make a raft, a regular raft, of strong stems of water-plants, +reeds, and arrow-heads, plaited and woven together with great care and +skill. It is light enough to float, and yet strong enough to bear the +weight of the mother-bird. + +While she is building it she sits, or stands, on another and more +roughly built raft, which is not meant to hold together long. Mr. +Grebe helps her, pulling up the water-plants and cutting off the stems +the right length; and so this little couple work away till the +raft-nest is quite ready. Then Mrs. Grebe takes her place on it, and +proceeds to lay and hatch her eggs. There are five or six eggs, and +they are white when she lays them; but they do not keep their +whiteness long, for the water-weeds and the leaves that cover the +raft soon decay, and stain the pretty white eggs, so that they are +muddy brown by the time they are hatched. Well, there little Madame +Grebe sits, brooding contentedly over her eggs, and thinking how +carefully she will bring up her children, so that they will be a +credit to the family of the Divers. Mr. Grebe paddles, and dives and +pops up and down about the nest, and brings her all sorts of good +things to eat,--worms for dinner, minnows for supper, and for +breakfast the most delicate and appetizing of flies and beetles. One +day, when he brings his wife's dinner (a fine stickle-back), he finds +her in a state of great excitement. + +"My dear," she says, "I am going to move. I cannot endure this place +another hour. I only waited to tell you about it." + +"Why, what is the matter, my love?" asks Mr. Grebe, in amazement. + +"Some creatures have been here," answers little madam, +indignantly,--"huge, ugly monsters, with horns; cows, I believe they +are called. They have torn up the reeds, and muddied the water; and, +if you will believe it, Dabchick, one of them nearly walked right over +me; then I flew in his face, and gave him a good fright, I can tell +you. But the whole thing has upset me very much, and I am determined +to leave the place." + +"Very well, my love," says the dutiful Dabchick. "Whatever you say is +always right!" + +Accordingly, when she has finished her dinner, Mrs. Grebe puts one +foot into the water, and paddles her raft away as skilfully as if she +were an Indian in a birch canoe. She steers it round the corners, and +paddles on and on, till she finds another quiet nook, where there is +no sign of any "creatures." Then she draws in her paddle-foot, and +broods quietly again, while Mr. Grebe, who has followed her, goes to +explore the new surroundings, and see what he can pick up for supper. + +After a time the muddy brown eggs crack open one by one, and out come +the young Dabchicks, pretty, little, fuzzy brown balls. They shake +themselves, and look at each other, and say how-d'-ye-do to their +mother and father; and then, without any more delay, pop! they go into +the water. "Hurrah!" says one. "I can swim!" + + + + +PRETTY POLLY PRIMROSE. + + + Out here papa finds her, + Lifts her tenderly, + Carries her safe home again,-- + Never once wakes she. + +[Illustration: {POLLY ASLEEP UNDER A TREE.}] + + When the breakfast all is o'er + Polly opes her eyes. + "Surely, mamma, I did dream," + Says she in surprise, + "That I went out to the Park, + Where the birdies sing." + Mamma smiles; how can she chide + The winsome little thing! + + AMANDA M. DOUGLAS. + +[Illustration: {A PAIR OF BIRDS.}] + + + + +LOOK AT THE BABY. + + + This way and that way, one, two, three. + Come if you want a dance to see; + With his chubby hands on his dress so blue, + See what a baby boy can do. + + One foot up and one foot down; + See him try to smile and frown; + He would look better, I do declare, + With some more teeth and a little more hair. + + One, two, three, chick-a-dee-dee! + This I take the fact to be, + That there never was, on sea nor shore, + Such a queer little dance as this before! + + + + +AN UNLUCKY SAIL. + + +When little Sam was six years old, he began to go to school. His +teacher gave him a merit card whenever he was good all day. But +sometimes he whispered, or made a noise in school, and then he did not +get one. + +"I will give you a penny whenever you bring home a card," said Sam's +father. + +After that Sam was very good, and brought home a card almost every +day. He saved up his pennies, and when he was seven years old, he +bought a pretty toy boat. + +Sam's sister Hattie went with him to the duck-pond to see him sail the +boat. But soon she grew tired, and went back to the house. + +"I wish I had something to put into my boat," thought Sam. + +He looked around and saw Hattie's doll under a tree. Hattie had +forgotten it when she went to the house. It was a pretty wax doll, +with long flaxen hair, and blue eyes that would open and shut. It was +dressed in pink silk, and had a little straw hat with a pink feather. + +[Illustration: {SAM AND HIS SAILING BOAT, AND WHAT HAPPENED TO MISS +DOLLY.}] + +"I will give Miss Dolly a sail," thought Sam. + +He put the doll in the boat, and pushed it out on the water. + +"Hattie, Hattie!" he cried, "come and see your doll taking a sail." + +Just as he spoke an old duck swam against the boat, and gave it such +a push that Miss Dolly fell off into the water. Before Sam could reach +her with a long stick she sank to the bottom of the pond. + +Hattie cried until she had no tears left to shed, and Sam felt like +crying, too. He knew he ought not to have taken his sister's doll. + +He went on saving his pennies just as he had done before he bought the +boat. And when he opened his tin bank on his next birthday he found +that he had nearly three dollars. What do you think he bought? I am +afraid you would never guess, so I will tell you. He bought a new doll +for Hattie, and it was even prettier than the one he had drowned in +the duck-pond. + + FLORENCE B. HALLOWELL. + +[Illustration: {HATTIE AND SAM AFTER THE SINKING.}] + + + + +TO STRAWBERRY TOWN. + + + A dear little maid, with sun-bonnet red + Tied carefully over her little brown head, + With two little bare feet, so active and brown, + Has started to travel to Strawberry town. + + "And pray where is that?" Oh dear! don't you know? + It's out in the field where the strawberries grow; + Where papa, and Henry, and Sue, in the sun, + Pick the sweet, big, red berries so fast, one by one. + +[Illustration: {THE MAID AND HER KITTENS.}] + + "It's a very great ways," says the dear little maid, + "To Strawberry town, and I'm so afraid." + And so as companions, to keep her from harm, + She takes two fat kittens, one under each arm. + + She trudges along with brown eyes opened wide, + The kittens hugged sociably up to each side; + With ears sticking up and tails hanging down, + She carries them bravely to Strawberry town. + + MARY A. ALLEN, M.D. + + + + +[Illustration: {FLOSSIE AND HER SHOE-BOAT.}] + +FLOSSIE AND HER SHOE-BOAT. + + +Flossie took to the sea very early. She did not like to be bathed, but +she was very fond of playing in the water. + +One day, when she was at her bath, her mother's back was turned, and +little Miss Flossie turned her slipper into a boat and set it afloat +in her little bath-tub. Then she pushed it about and made believe it +was sailing. By and by it got full of water and sank, crew and all. +This made her cry, and that made her mother look round. Flossie's +shoe-boat was taken from her, and then she cried more. Her mother knew +best, and was very firm. Miss Flossie had to give up being a sailor, +and put on her pink dress and go downstairs. + + R. W. L. + + + + +NELLIE'S LUNCH. + + +Little Nellie lived in California. Her papa was going on a visit to +his old home in Maine, but Nellie was to stay at home with her mamma. +Just before her father left, her mother took his great-coat, brushed +it, and said, "I have put some handkerchiefs in this pocket, and in +the other one is a nice lunch of cake and fruit." + +The father and mother were so busy that they took no notice of Nellie. +But she had heard what mamma said. Her first thought was that she must +put something in papa's pocket, too. + +[Illustration: {NELLIE MAKES LUNCH FOR HER FATHER.}] + +Her mother had been changing Nellie's clothes, and a soiled little +stocking lay on the floor. The child had a small cake of maple sugar +in her hand that she was eating. She took up the stocking and crammed +the sugar down into the toe. She then rolled it up tight and tucked it +down in one corner of her papa's pocket. No one saw her do it. The +first that was known of what she had done was one day after her papa +had reached his old home. He was searching his pocket for something +when he felt the little stocking. He took it out, and when he saw what +it was, what a good laugh he had! And how it made him think of his +little Nellie, who was so far away! + +Nellie's papa showed me the little stocking and the cake of sugar. He +said he would save them until Nellie was older, and she could then see +what a nice lunch she had put up for her papa. + + NELLIE BURNS. + + + + +[Illustration: {A PORTRAIT OF DIME.}] + +DIME AND THE BABY. + + +Bow-wow! Here I am again! I told you before that my name is Dime; but +the baby calls me "Bow-wow." Do you know why? It is because I always +say "Bow-wow." It is all the word I know how to say. + +Do you know our baby? She has big black eyes, and her mouth looks like +a pink rosebud. She is a sweet little girl. I love her dearly. I did +not like her when she first came. That was a long time ago. My master +was very fond of her. That made me feel cross. I used to bark at baby +and show all my teeth. After that they did not let me come near her. I +did not see the baby for a long time. I did not care for that. + +My master did not seem to like me then. When he saw me, he said, "Go +away, Dime! Go away, bad dog! You are not good to the baby." So I was +not happy. I made up my mind to bite that baby. + +It was a long time before I got a chance to bite her; but one day I +found her alone. She was in her little crib. I put my paws on her +crib. + +But I did not bite her, after all. Shall I tell you why? She was too +pretty to bite. So I kissed the baby, and I have loved her ever since. + +[Illustration: {DIME LOOKS AT THE SLEEPING BABY.}] + +Now, my master likes me again. He pats my head and says, "Good old +dog! Good Dime! You love the baby, don't you?" + +I am glad I am not a cross dog now. I feel better when I am good. +Don't you? + + S. E. SPRAGUE. + + + + +WIDE-AWAKE LAND. + + +"Come, Freddie, time you were in bed long ago," said mamma. + +"Don't want to go!" cried Fred. "I wish I never had to go to bed!" + +But in a few moments Fred was snugly tucked away. Everything grew dim, +and Fred's eyes began to close. Very soon he heard a little voice from +somewhere, and started up. + +Perched on his knee was the queerest little man he had ever seen. In +one hand he held a long pin, and this he often thrust at Fred. + +"What are you doing that for?" asked Fred. "To keep you awake," said +the little dwarf. "You are in Wide-Awake Land, and no one goes to +sleep here." + +[Illustration: {FREDDIE IS WIDE AWAKE.}] + +Fred sat up in bed and looked about. Was it really Wide-Awake Land? +Needn't he ever go to bed again? "O, I am glad!" he said. + +There were many other boys and girls in this queer land, and most of +them looked very unhappy. + +"What is the matter?" asked Fred of a little boy who was crying hard. + +"I'm tired and sleepy," sobbed the boy. + +"Why don't you go to sleep then?" asked Fred. + +"Humph! I guess you haven't been here long, or you'd know." + +"No, I've just come; I think it's nice." + +"Wait till you get sleepy," said the boy. "I used to think Wide-Awake +Land would be nice. I believe Sleepy Land would be nicer now." + +[Illustration: {FREDDIE AND THE OTHER LITTLE BOYS.}] + +"Yes," added Fred; "but why can't you go to sleep?" + +"Because the little men that you see everywhere carry pins. They prick +us when we try to sleep. O, I wish I hadn't come!" And the boy began +to cry again. Fred thought he was very silly, and ran off to find some +other new-comer. + +Night came at last. Big lamps were hung on the trees and made the +place as light as day. The little men were flying about to keep the +sleepy ones awake. + +Fred got sleepy at last, and began to nod. A little man thrust a big +pin into him. "You must keep awake," he said. Fred tried hard, but his +eyes would shut, and then would come the wicked pin. At last he +screamed aloud. + +"Why, Fred! what is the trouble?" and he looked up. There was mamma. + +"I don't like Wide-Awake Land," cried Fred. "I will go to sleep when +you want me to after this." + +"I think you are dreaming, Fred," replied mamma. + +"I was, but I am awake now." + +"Well, dear, you are in Sleepy Land now. So good night, and pleasant +dreams." + + ELIZA M. SHERMAN. + +[Illustration: {A LITTLE GIRL WEARING A HAT.}] + + + + +LULU'S FIRST THANKSGIVING. + + +Lulu was six years old last spring. She came to make a visit at her +grandfather's, and stayed until after Thanksgiving. + +Lulu had lived away down in Cuba ever since she was a year old. Her +cousins had written to her what a good time they had on Thanksgiving +Day; so she was very anxious to be at her grandfather's at that time. +They do not have a Thanksgiving Day down in Cuba. That is how Lulu did +not have one until she was six years old. + +[Illustration: {THE FAMILY AT TABLE WAITING FOR THE TURKEY TO BE +CARVED.}] + +She could hardly wait for the day to come. Such a grand time as they +did have! Lulu did not know she had so many cousins until they came to +spend the day at her grandfather's. It did not take them long to get +acquainted. Before time for dinner they felt as if they had always +known each other. + +The dinner was the grand event of the day. Lulu had never seen so long +a table except at a hotel, nor some of the vegetables and kinds of +pie. + +[Illustration: {PLAYING BLIND-MAN'S-BUFF.}] + +Lulu had never tasted turkey before. Her grandmother would not have +one cooked until then, so she could say that she had eaten her first +piece of turkey on Thanksgiving Day. + +After dinner they played all kinds of games. All the uncles and aunts +and grown-up cousins played blind-man's-buff with them. + + + + +THE SUN-KISS.[1] + + [1] Small purple flower; grows by the wayside in the South. + + + In a land where summer lingers, + Far from Northern rains and snows, + Where, like loving, clasping fingers, + Twines the jasmine with the rose, + +[Illustration: {A LITTLE GIRL WITH A BUNCH OF FLOWERS.}] + + There I found a little maiden: + Oh! her eyes were black as night, + And her tiny hands were laden + Down with blossoms pearly white. + + Sought she all along the wayside, + 'Mong the ferns and waving palms, + Where the tiniest flower might hide + From her sweet protecting arms. + + "What fresh treasure are you seeking?" + Asked I of the little one, + For a myriad blooms were peeping + Through the mosses to the sun. + + "Have you never heard, dear lady, + Of the sweetest flower that blooms,-- + It is neither proud nor stately, + Like the lily and the rose; + + "But it brightens every pathway, + Springing 'neath your careless tread. + Till the sun, with quickening ray, + Kisses soft its drooping head. + + "Then its petals quick unclosing, + Freshly sweet with morning dew,-- + It is left for our supposing + That the story must be true,-- + + "How it shyly waits the coming + Of the glorious King of Day, + And that hence the pretty naming + Of a Sun-Kiss, so they say?" + + ELIZABETH A. DAVIS. + +[Illustration: {A DRAGONFLY AND LEAVES.}] + + + + +[Illustration: {TWO CALVES.}] + +THE COUNTRY WEEK. + + +Mrs. Brown read a little article in the newspaper one evening, about +"Country week for poor children." + +"Husband," said she, "I have an idea. We have such a good farm, and so +many nice things, suppose we take some boarders this summer, who can't +afford to pay anything." + +When she told him what she meant, Mr. Brown thought it a very good +idea, indeed. + +"The currants and raspberries are ripe. I'll see if Mrs. Anderson +knows of some nice children, who will have to stay in the hot streets +of the city all summer. We will ask them to come here." + +Of course, Mrs. Anderson knew of some nice children. She belonged to a +mission-school, and knew dozens of them. So, the next Wednesday, when +Mr. Brown drove down to the station, there she was, and two little +ones with her, Lina and Carl Schmidt. Carl was almost a baby, and went +to sleep as soon as they were in the carriage; but Lina held her +breath with delight as she rode to the farm. She was half afraid, too, +and held on very tightly if old Billy went faster than a walk. As Mr. +Brown watched the bright little face he began to think his wife's idea +was a splendid one. + +"Well, little one," said Mrs. Brown to Lina, when they reached the +house, "what do you think of the country?" + +"Oh, I do want to take such long breaths!" said Lina, "I wish my +mamma could see it too." + +"The first thing for these small folks," added Mrs. Brown, "is some of +Brindle's nice milk." + +[Illustration: {THE FAMILY WATCH THE COW BEING MILKED.}] + +Carl waked up long enough to drink some, and say, "Dood, dood." Then +he grew sleepy again, and Mrs. Brown laid him on a shawl upon the +grass, under the trees. The hens gathered around him, looked at each +other and clucked, as much as to say, "What kind of a queer creature +is this?" Young Mr. Bantie was about to peck him to find out, when +they heard a little voice calling "Biddy, Biddy, Biddy!" from the +barn. Off they went, half flying and half running. + +Mrs. Brown had given Lina a tin pail, with corn in it to scatter to +the hens. They came from all directions, and got around her so closely +that she was afraid to stir. She had taken out one handful of the +corn, but was afraid to throw it. Then the greedy hens began to peck +her hand, and try to get it out of the pail. She began to cry so loud +that every one ran out of the house to see what was the matter. It was +funny enough to see her, standing in the middle of that greedy crowd +of hens, with her eyes shut very tightly, and her mouth very wide +open. + +When Carl waked up, he wanted some more milk. Mrs. Brown said, "We'll +go down and see Brindle milked, and you shall have it nice and warm." +Lina had seen pictures of cows, but never a live one. She had no idea +they were so big. Mrs. Brown asked her if she would like to milk; but +she thought she would rather stand at a little distance. As for Carl, +he shut up his eyes, and tried to get out of sight of the creature. +However, he liked the warm milk very much. + +Lina spent most of the next day in the garden. She helped pick the +peas and beans, and stem the currants. She went with Mr. Brown to find +the eggs, and held Billy's halter while he drank at the trough. Every +day was full of pleasure, and Mr. and Mrs. Brown had just as good a +time as the children. At the end of the week they couldn't bear to let +them go; so it came about that the children's week, for Lina and Carl, +lasted all summer. + + J. A. M. + +[Illustration: {A SPRIG OF BERRIES.}] + + + + +THE ROAD TO SCHOOL. + +[FROM THE GERMAN.] + + + In winter, when it freezes, + In winter, when it snows, + The road to school seems long and drear, + O'er which the school-boy goes. + +[Illustration: {WALKING THROUGH FALLING SNOW.}] + + But when the pleasant summer comes, + With birds and fruit and flowers, + The road to school, how short it is! + And short the sunny hours! + +[Illustration: {WALKING UNDER SHADY TREES.}] + + But to the boy who loves to learn, + And wisdom strives to gain, + The road to school is always short, + In sunshine, snow, or rain. + + L. A. B. C. + + + + +WHAT SAMMY'S MONKEY DID. + + +Sammy Brown had a monkey. He bought him of an organ-player. He named +him Billy. + +[Illustration: {SAMMY AND BILLY.}] + +Sammy's mother did not know what a naughty monkey he was. If she had, +she would not have given Sammy the money to buy him. + +Sammy thought he was very cunning. All the boys at school thought so +too. They all wanted one just like him. Sammy had him out every +Saturday afternoon. He was dressed in a gay little uniform. He would +play on a drum. He was fond of mischief; and when no one was watching +him he would do some very queer things. He would take the spools from +Mrs. Brown's work-basket. He would carry them away and hide them. + +He would take her thimble and wax, and hide them too. + +Sometimes he would bring them back again. Sometimes Mrs. Brown would +have to find them herself. This gave her a good deal of trouble. + +At last Billy acted so badly, that Mrs. Brown told Sammy that she +could not have him in the house any longer. One morning Mrs. Brown +went away to spend the day. + +She thought the monkey was fastened out of the house. But he got in +through a window. When Mrs. Brown came home she did think of Billy. +She opened the door of her pantry. She saw a dreadful sight. She knew +at once that Billy had been there. He had moved the dishes all about, +from one shelf to another. He had poured milk and sugar over the +floor. He had emptied bottles of medicine into clean dishes. He had +broken up a whole loaf of cake and scattered it around. He had eaten +out the middle of a pie, and turned it over in the plate. Mrs. Brown +could not find her spoons and forks anywhere. But she found them +afterwards in the cellar. + +Now Mrs. Brown had to go right to work and clean her pantry. After she +had put that in order, she made a fire in the stove. All this time +Billy was not seen anywhere. + +[Illustration: {BILLY POURING MILK ON THE FLOOR.}] + +The fire had been burning a few minutes, when Mrs. Brown heard a +terrible scratching in the oven, and out jumped Billy as spry as ever. + +He ran out of doors. He was not seen again until the next morning. + +Then Mrs. Brown told Sammy that the monkey had made so much work for +her, that she could not have him any longer. + +Sammy saw that his mother was very much in earnest. + +So he sold Billy to a pedler who came along the next day. + +The pedler gave him fifty cents for Billy. + +Sammy was sorry to let him go, but he wanted to please his mother. + + M. M. H. + +[Illustration: {AN OWL.}] + + + + +[Illustration: {A COTTAGE, BIRDS AND BUTTERFLIES.}] + +BESSIE IN THE MOUNTAINS. + + +Bessie Lee was six years old when she went to the mountains of North +Carolina with her father. + +What Bessie liked best of all were the nice donkey rides every +morning. The poor donkeys didn't get much rest, for the little folks +kept them busy all day. Bessie was kind to them, but some of the +children were not. Bessie liked a donkey named Kate best of all. + +[Illustration: {KATE IS UNHAPPY AT BEING RIDDEN.}] + +One day Bessie's father put her in the saddle, and Kate kicked up. +When Bessie was lifted off, and the saddle removed, a great bleeding +sore was found on the poor donkey's back. + +Bessie felt very sorry for poor Kate, and said, "Papa, I don't want to +ride to-day, but please do not send Kate back to the stables." + +"Why not, Bessie?" said Mr. Lee. + +"O, papa, the man will let her to some of the rough boys, and they +will hurt her back." + +Mr. Lee was pleased to see his little daughter's kindness to the poor +dumb donkey; but he wished to know if Bessie would deny herself for +Kate. + +"Well, Bessie," said her father, "if you have any money, give it to +the man when he comes for the donkey. Tell him you wish to keep Kate +all day." + +"I have the money you gave me for ice-cream," said Bessie. "Will that +pay the man?" + +It was enough, and was given to the man. Bessie kept the donkey all +day. She led Kate to the greenest places in the yard, and let her eat +the grass. She divided her apples with Kate, and carried her a little +pail of water. + +[Illustration: {BESSIE FEEDS AN APPLE TO KATE.}] + +At night Bessie told her father she had been happy all day. He made +her still happier by telling her she could keep Kate every day while +she was in the mountains. + +Bessie kissed her father and was soon fast asleep. She dreamed of +riding in a little carriage drawn by six white donkeys. + + AUNT NELL. + + + + +[Illustration: {A SPRAY OF FLOWERS.}] + +PAULINE'S STRANGE PETS. + + +Pauline had no little brothers or sisters, and no little playmates. +Her father's home was away out in the country, far away from any +neighbors. Being so much alone, Pauline thought of all sorts of queer +ways to amuse herself. One day she invited her papa and mamma to go +down to see her "Nursery," as she called it. It was a little, square +piece of ground, enclosed by a neat low fence, made of narrow slats, +placed close together. All kinds of flowers were planted around it. +Besides, there were some little, flat buildings all along one side. + +[Illustration: {TOADS.}] + +[Illustration: PAULINE'S STRANGE PETS.] + +What do you think they saw there? Toads of all sorts and sizes, from +the wee baby toads to the great big grandfathers. Then such a +strange array of garments!--for they were all dressed. Pauline had +made for her pets all kinds of clothes. There they were, hopping +around, some in bright calico dresses, and some in the funniest red +flannel pants and coats you ever saw. + +[Illustration: {TOADS IN COSTUME.}] + +Day after day Pauline went to her "Nursery" to feed and play with her +strange little pets. But one morning she ran down as usual, after +breakfast, to find all of the toad family had disappeared. The fence +that enclosed her "Nursery" was completely broken down. Not a single +toad was left of the funny creatures who had lived there. + +Pauline felt very sorry to lose them. She told her mamma she was sure +they would all die of shame when they found other toads did not wear +any clothes at all. + + H. C. LARNED. + +[Illustration: {LARGE MUSHROOMS.}] + + + + +"GO HALVES!" + + +Little Fred Mason's father took him to an exhibition of wild animals. + +After they had looked at the elephants, lions, tigers and bears, they +went to see the monkeys. On the way, Mr. Mason bought two large +oranges and gave them to Fred. + +There were six cages of small animals. One of them was for the "happy +family." Fred thought the creatures in it must be called the "happy +family" because the dogs, cats and monkeys were all the time teasing +and plaguing one another. One monkey had a rat in his lap. He tended +it as a mother does her baby. The monkey was happy, but Mr. Mason did +not think the rat liked it very well. + +Fred put one orange in his side pocket. He could not wait until he got +home to eat the other. As he walked along among the cages he seemed to +care more for the fruit than for the animals. He sucked the orange +with all his might till he came to a cage with three monkeys in it. + +One of them looked very sober and solemn. One opened his mouth and +seemed to be laughing. All of them looked at Fred and held out their +hands. + +They could not talk; if they could they would have said, "Go halves!" + +The orange was nice and sweet; Fred did not wish to "go halves." He +turned away, for he did not like to be asked for that which he was not +willing to give. The monkeys put their hands out for some of the +oranges, but Fred looked the other way. + +Fred should have looked at the monkeys, for the one nearest to him put +out his long arm and snatched the orange from his hand. Fred tried to +get it again. While he was doing so, the solemn monkey reached down +and took the orange from his pocket. Fred did not think how near he +was to the cage. + +Fred began to cry. The laughing monkey had no orange. He was afraid of +the solemn monkey, but he chased the one that had stolen the orange +Fred was eating all over the cage. He got it at last. + +Fred's father bought two more oranges for him, and he did not go near +the cages again. + + MARY BLOOM. + +[Illustration: "GO HALVES!"] + + + + +[Illustration: {CHILDREN PLAY RING-AROUND-A-ROSY.}] + +LITTLE GAMES. + + + "Ring--a--round--a--rosy!" + Cheeks just like a posy; + Eyes that twinkle with delight,-- + Could there be a fairer sight? + Little feet that dance in glee; + Voices singing merrily. + Won't you stop a little while? + At my question you will smile: + "Rosy I have never seen,-- + Tell me, is she some fair queen? + Have your lily hands now crowned her, + While you formed a ring around her? + + "Why 'draw buckets of water + For my lady's daughter'? + Has she spoiled her pretty dress? + Ah! to wash her face, I guess! + Very hard 'tis to unravel + What is meant, dears, by 'green gravel.' + Then, you say, 'How barley grows + You, nor I, nor nobody knows;' + Oats, peas, beans, too, you include: + If the question be not rude, + Darlings, tell why this is done." + "Ha! ha!" laugh they; "it's such fun!" + + GEORGE COOPER. + + + + +WHAT WE FOUND IN OUR STOVE. + + +Something very strange happened at our house the other day. In our +cold country we keep a stove in our sitting-room all summer. Sometimes +we have to build a fire, even in July and August. + +One afternoon I was surprised to hear a great scratching in the room. +After looking about a little, I found it came from the stove. Scratch, +scratch, scratch, as if some creature was trying hard to get out. I +called my boy of eight years. For a few moments all was still, and we +concluded the poor thing had got out as it had come in. + +But we were mistaken; soon came that same clattering noise again. We +removed the top of the stove and peeped in; nothing was to be seen in +the darkness. We then made bold to open the door and poke about; but +with no better result. After listening, we decided that the creature +was between the lining and outside. + +But how were we to get at it? Annie came in from the kitchen armed +with a poker. We took out the damper and poked out all the soot and +ashes. We brought to the front--what do you think? Why, a little bird, +a chimney swallow, chirping and fluttering, poor thing, with fright. + +One wing seemed to droop a little; so we took it up and put it in a +box. If we supposed it was going to stay there we were much mistaken. +Soon the bird began to recover, and with a little hop was upon the +edge of the box cocking its head and looking with its big, bright eyes +all about, as if on the alert for any new danger. + +A tree was the best and safest place, and Hervin carried it out and +set it gently down. + +It rose, feebly at first, then soared away over the tops of the +houses. + +Wasn't that a queer place to find a birdie? You are glad it got out, +for that very night we had to have a fire. + + MRS. W. S. AMSDEN. + +[Illustration: {TWO CHERUBS.}] + + + + +THE JOHN AND LINCOLN FLEET. + + +John and Lincoln have a fleet of ten boats. They made these boats +themselves. They are made out of flat chips. They are whittled round +at one end and pointed at the other. Each boat has a mast and a sail. + +Sometimes they tie these boats together, and call them the _John and +Lincoln_ fleet; they call each other "Captain John" and "Captain +Lincoln." They have a big boat called the _Mary_; aunt Mary gave it to +them. The _Mary_ is their flagship. + +[Illustration: CAPTAIN JOHN AND THE MARY.] + +One day the fleet were all out when a storm came. The wind blew, the +rain fell, and the waves were big. Six of the little boats were +wrecked on a rock. But the _Mary_ only plunged a little. It was great +fun. What, a storm at sea great fun! Yes, because John and Lincoln +made the storm themselves. They made the wind with the bellows; they +poured the big raindrops from the watering-pot; and they made the high +waves by dragging shingles through the water. + + + + +THE YACHT STARLIGHT. + + +The _Starlight_ was in Gloucester harbor for three days, and Rob and +Phyllis went on board with mamma one day, to lunch with Arthur and +Helen and their mamma. They had never been on a yacht before. They +were surprised to find it so pretty. It was finished in beautiful +mahogany with a great deal of brass-work, the latter brightly shining, +too, for the housekeeping on a yacht is always first-rate. + +The ceiling of the cabin was of blue satin, and so were the curtains, +which hung before the funny little windows, and at the doors. On each +side of the cabin was a long seat covered with blue satin cushions. + +These cushions lifted up, and underneath were kept books, dishes, +clothes, in fact, all sorts of things. Every bit of room on a vessel +is always precious, there can be so little of it, anyway. Helen showed +Phyllis her sleeping room. It was a mite of a place, about half as big +as the bed Phyllis slept in at home. The walls were lined with blue +satin and the bed was covered with blue satin, and it was a real blue +satin nest for a little girl, instead of for a bird. + +Then they went on deck to watch the sailors, who were running up and +down the rigging. Arthur has been on his father's yacht so much, for +his father owns the _Starlight_, that he can run up and down the +ratlines almost as fast as the sailors can. The ratlines are the rope +ladders you see in the picture. There was on board a big Newfoundland +dog named Gil. Arthur's aunt Lou told them a story about Gil. + +[Illustration: THE YACHT STARLIGHT.] + + +THE STORY OF THE DOG ON THE YACHT STARLIGHT. + +[Illustration: {THREE DOGS.}] + +Now Gil once belonged to an officer in our Navy and he sometimes went +to sea with his master. + +Once when he went on a voyage a little kitten went too. She was +everybody's pet and a very friendly kitty. She was afraid of Gil, +though, and would never let him come near her, but would make such a +loud spitting and growling at him, when he tried to play with her, +that poor Gil had to go away and play by himself. + +One day kitty fell overboard and Gil saw her and plunged into the sea +to save her. Kitty thought it was bad enough to fall into the water, +but to see Gil come jumping after her was too much, and she was ready +to die with fright. + +When he opened his great mouth to take her and hold her above water, +she felt sure that her last moment had come, and she fought and +scratched so, that Gil could not get hold of her. + +The officers stood watching Gil and pussy. Poor little mistaken pussy +was getting very tired and would soon sink if she did not let good old +Gil save her. + +Suddenly Gil dove down out of sight and then rose again just under +kitty, so that she stood on his back. Puss was so glad to feel +something solid under her little tired legs, that she clung to it with +all her nails. Then Gil swam slowly to meet the boat which had been +sent to pick him up. + + + + +[Illustration: THE YOUNG ARTIST.] + + + + +THE NEW PARASOL. + + +[Illustration: {A LITTLE GIRL.}] + + I've got a brand-new parasol + (Of pink silk trimmed with lace), + But auntie says 'twill never keep + The shine out of _my_ face. + + Why not, I wonder: if it's held + Just in the proper place, + Why won't it keep the sunshine out + Of anybody's face? + + She says thick clouds would hardly do + (Much less pink silk and lace) + To keep the merry sunshine out + Of such a dimpled face. + + But mamma says, "Go take your walk, + And never mind aunt Grace." + I 'spect I'll have to let the sun + Keep shining in my face! + + + + +THE MAN WHO WAS SHAKEN BY A LION. + + +He was David Livingstone. He was a missionary, and a great traveller +too. + +He lived almost all his life in Africa. In some parts of Africa there +are lions. Once he was staying at a certain village. Every night the +lions broke into the yards and carried off a cow or two. So a party of +natives went out to hunt for them. + +[Illustration: A LION.] + +Livingstone was with them. They saw some lions, and tried to surround +them in a circle. But the lions got away. + +They were coming home when Livingstone saw a great lion. He was +sitting on a rock not far away. He fired at him, but did not hit him. +He stopped to load his gun again. + +He heard the men shout. He turned and saw the lion all ready to +spring. + +(A lion crouches to spring, like a cat.) + +The lion sprang upon Livingstone, and seized his shoulder with his +great teeth. He shook him just as a cat shakes a mouse. + +Was Livingstone frightened? He was frightened when the lion seized +him. But after he shook him he wasn't a bit afraid. + +He said the lion shook the fear all out of him. He felt as if he was +in a pleasant dream. He only wondered what the lion would do next. + +He did not do anything next. He stood with his great paw on +Livingstone's head till another man fired at him. Then he sprang on +that man and bit him. + +Then he sprang on a third man and bit him. And then--he rolled over, +dead! So Livingstone escaped. + +Livingstone afterwards visited England. The little English children +used to ask him to tell them the story of how the lion shook him. + +The lion belongs to the cat family. Does not the lion in the picture +look like a big handsome cat? + + + + +THE LAUGHING JACKASS. + + +He always begins his queer cry about an hour before sunrise. + +Then he is heard again just at noon, and again at sunset. So he has +another name. He is called the "Bushman's clock." + +In Australia there are great tracts of land where few white people +live. These tracts of land are called "The Bush;" and the settlers on +these lands are called Bushmen. + +[Illustration: LAUGHING JACKASSES.] + +The laughing jackass is a very sociable bird. He likes to watch the +Bushman at his work. He watches him as he pitches his tent, and builds +his fire and cooks his supper. He is a kingfisher. + +Kingfishers generally live near the water. But this great brown fisher +lives in the woods. He eats crabs and insects. He relishes lizards +very much, and there are plenty of lizards in Australia. + +[Illustration: HE LISTENS TO THE CRY OF THE LAUGHING JACKASS.] + +He hates snakes. A great many snakes are found in Australia, and many +of them are very poisonous. + +The laughing jackass is not a bit afraid of them. He kills them with +his long, sharp bill. + +When he is angry he raises the crest on his head. + +His color is a fine chestnut brown mixed with white. His wings are +slightly blue. + +The mother-bird lays her eggs in a hole in a gum-tree. She does not +build a nest. She lays her eggs on the rotten wood at the bottom of +the hole. Her eggs are a lovely pearl white. + +Here is one of the black men who live in Australia. He is listening to +the cry of the laughing jackass. + + + + +THE TRICK THEY PLAYED ON JOCKO. + + +Jocko was homesick. Jocko was a forest creature. He was born to tread +the ground, and climb trees, and eat sweet wild fruits. + +Jocko liked to leap from tree to tree, and run about over miles of +woodland. Now he found himself in a cage. He called and cried, but +none of his little brown playmates answered. + +He could see only blue waves, and the ropes and masts and sails of the +ship. He was tossed up and down. His cage swung from side to side. The +motion made him sick--seasick. + +After many days, he saw the land again. But it was not forest land. It +was brown land--city land. No moss, no vines, no dewy green grass, no +flowers! All stone and brick! His cage was carried into a hotel +dining-room where people came and sat down and talked in German, and +ate things that Jocko knew were not good to eat--bread and pies and +cheese and sauerkraut and meat. Oh, how Jocko wanted a fresh sweet +cocoanut! + +But by and by Jocko was not so homesick. The cook was kind to him, and +gave him sweet bits to eat. The visitors took him up and petted him. +The little girl who lived at the hotel made him a nice bed in the +little crib she used to sleep in. + +So at last Jocko had a good time, and forgot about the woods. + +But one day little Gretchen played a trick on him to see what he would +do. She knew he was fond of white lump sugar. So she filled a bottle +with lumps of sugar. Then she gave it to Jocko. + +Jocko was wild with delight when he saw the sugar. He jumped up in a +chair and lifted the bottle to his mouth. + +But Gretchen had put in a cork. The sugar would not pour out. + +It was very funny then to see what trouble Jocko was in. He would +tilt the bottle up and try to drink the sugar out of the neck. Then he +would try to shake it out at the bottom. Then he would sit still and +look at the lumps. Then he would try to bite through the glass. Then +he would jump down and run away. Then he would come back and catch the +bottle again and roll the lumps about, and chatter and scold as he +heard them rattle. + +This went on for several days. Everybody came in to see little +Gretchen's monkey and his sugar bottle. + +[Illustration: GRETCHEN.] + +But one day the cook let a jar of olives fall. It broke, and the +olives rolled out on the floor. Jocko gave a little scream of joy. +Like a flash, up he sprang to a high cupboard with his sugar bottle, +and gave it a mighty fling. Down it came--crash! + +Out the lumps rolled over the floor. Down sprang Jocko. He shouted +with delight. He had a sweet feast. + +Oh, how he munched and crunched and chattered! And now, what do you +think happened? + +He would seize every bottle and can and pitcher that was left within +reach. Up he would run to the top of some high cupboard or shelf and +dash it to the floor! Such mischief as he made! + +Little Gretchen had to give him away at last because he broke +everything he could lay his roguish paws upon. + + + + +SOME OTHER THINGS BOBBY SAW AT SEA. + + +He saw the stormy petrels. They flew about the ship almost every day. +They liked to eat the scraps the cook threw overboard. + +[Illustration: THE STORMY PETREL.] + +The petrels are sooty black. Their feet are partly webbed. + +They sit and float upon the water. They run about over the water. In +stormy weather they fly through the dashing foam. + +Bobby's mamma told him many things about the stormy petrel. She told +him how the stormy petrel flies far, far away from land. His home is +on the sea. He can fly all day long and not be tired. + +The stormy petrel hardly ever goes on land except to lay her eggs. Her +nest is in a hole in some high cliff by the sea. She hatches one +little bird. It looks like a ball of fluff. The nest smells very oily. + +The stormy petrel is very oily, like all sea birds. He is so full of +oil that the people of the Faroe Islands sometimes use him for a lamp. +They take a dead petrel and run a wick through him. Then they set him +on end and light the wick and he gives a very good light indeed! + +The sailors call the stormy petrel "Mother Carey's chickens." + +The name of Bobby's ship was _The Jefferson_. Once when the +_Jefferson_ was in an English port, Bobby saw something very pretty. +It was a bird's nest. It was built in the rigging of a ship. + +This ship had been lying in port a good while. The nest was built in +a block where some of the cordage runs. It was built by a pair of +chaffinches. + +Now the chaffinch is not a sea bird; it is a land bird. It builds its +nest in trees and hedges. It builds a cosey little nest out of moss +and wool and hair. It is deep and round like a cup. + +But this pretty pair of chaffinches found a new place in which to +build their nest. It was even more airy than the top of a tree. See it +in the picture! Day by day Bobby watched them as they flew busily to +and fro. Many other people watched them too. + +[Illustration: THE CHAFFINCHES' NEST.] + +The chaffinch is a cheerful little bird. In the countries where he +lives, he is heard merrily whistling in the spring time. There he sits +singing to his mate who is keeping her eggs warm. Happy little fellow! + + + + +THE MOSQUITO. + + +Little boys and girls believe that all mosquitoes sting and bite. + +But they do not. The male mosquito never does. He wears a plume on his +head, and does nothing but dance in the sunshine. + +It is the female mosquito that sings around our heads at night and +keeps us awake. It is she who bites us. Look at her head. This is the +way it looks under a microscope. Do you wonder that her bite hurts? + +[Illustration: MOSQUITO'S HEAD UNDER A MICROSCOPE.] + +She lays her eggs in a very queer way. First she finds a puddle or a +pool of warmish water. Then she fastens herself to some stick, or +sliver, or stem, or floating leaf, by her first two rows of legs. Then +she lays about three hundred tiny eggs. + +The eggs cling together in the shape of a boat or canoe, and float +upon the water. In about three days they hatch. Then the warm water is +full of "wigglers." + +By and by these wigglers have wings. The outside skin bursts open. +They lift their heads and shoulders out of the water. Then off they +fly--a whole swarm of singing, stinging mosquitoes. + +We are all glad when the cold weather comes and the mosquito goes. + +I suppose you think if you lived in a cold country, you would not be +troubled by mosquitoes. + +But in Lapland, a very cold country, the mosquitoes come in crowds and +clouds. Sometimes they are so thick they hide people in the road like +a fog. What do you think of that? + + + + +THE LAUGHING GIRL. + + + The bobolink laughs in the meadow; + The wild waves laugh on the sea; + They sparkle and glance, they dimple and dance, + And are merry as waves can be. + + The green leaves laugh on the trees; + The fields laugh out with their flowers; + In the sunbeam's glance, they glow and they dance. + And laugh to their falling showers. + + The man laughs up in the moon; + The stars too laugh in the sky; + They sparkle and glance, they twinkle and dance. + Then why, then, pray, shouldn't I? + + Oh, I laugh at morn and at night, + I laugh through the livelong day. + I laugh and I prance, I skip and I dance. + So happy am I and so gay. + +[Illustration: THE LAUGHING GIRL.] + + + + +[Illustration: "CLUCK-CLUCK-CLUCK! QUAW-AW-AWK! CR-R-R-R!" SAID THE +HEN MOTHER.] + +ANNIE'S DUCKS. + + +There were seven ducklings. The very first thing they did was to go +and tumble into a bucket of water. + +"Cluck-cluck-cluck! quaw-aw-awk! cr-r-r!" said the hen-mother. She was +so frightened she made just such a noise as she does when she sees a +hawk. + +She thought they would all drown. But they didn't. They swam and dove +and shook the water from their little wings. + +One day when they were about a quarter grown, Annie found +Fluffy-dumpty lying on the ground; she was quacking faintly. Her leg +was broken! Annie ran to papa. + +"O papa! mend her leg just as you did my arm!" she said. + +Papa is a doctor; and when Annie was a _very_ little girl she broke +her arm and papa mended it. So he did up Fluffy-dumpty's leg with a +splinter, and then wound a bandage round it. Annie took care of her. +Mary used to help Annie feed her with a spoon. + +Fluffy-dumpty got well very fast. But when she was about three +quarters grown, she met with another accident. She fell down a steep +cellar way. + +"Quack-quack! Take me out! Oh, take me out!" cried poor Fluffy-dumpty. +The other six ducks crowded around and looked down at her. + +"We can't! we can't!" they cried. "We haven't got any hands. Call a +boy, do!" So Annie called Sam, who took her out. + +How thankful Fluffy-dumpty was! She smoothed down her ruffled feathers +and said, "Quack-quack," softly. The other ducks all talked at once. + +"What a narrow 'scape you had, Fluffy-dumpty!" said one duck. + +"How did you happen to fall into that horrid place?" asked another. + +"What a fine boy Sam is!" said a third duck. + +"He's almost too good for a boy," said a fourth. + +But it all sounded as if they only said "quack-quack!" + +Every day of their lives these ducks got into the garden, and ate the +lettuce and strawberries and cabbage. So the gardener put a board over +the hole under the gate. + +"Never mind," said big Broad-bill, "we know more ways than one." Then +the seven started off in a line, and marched round the garden till +they came to another hole, and in they went. The gardener was very +angry. + + + + +VICK IN TROUBLE. + + +Bertie had gone off and left Vick. He was so eager to see the soldiers +parade that he forgot all about him. This had never happened before. + +When Uncle Ned gave Vick to Bertie mamma said: "Now, Bertie, you must +take the care of Vick. If a boy has a dog he must learn to care for +him. You must see that Vick is fed. You must bathe and comb him every +day; and you must give him plenty of exercise." + +But as I said, Bertie had forgotten Vick that day. Vick did not know +what to make of it. His heart was almost broken. + +"This is too bad!" he howled. "Here am I shut up with two saucepans +and a dummy. No water to drink--no bone to gnaw--no little master to +play with--wow-ow-ow-ow!" + +What a dismal howl it was! Mamma heard him; she was in the kitchen +making sponge cake. She could not leave it for a moment. But as soon +as it was baked she let Vick out. + +There was Bertie just coming round the corner! He looked quite +ashamed. Yes, he had thought of Vick at last. He had come home for +him. + +Did Vick forgive him? Doggies always forgive. They have loving and +generous hearts. He scrambled all over Bertie and licked his hands and +his face and off they went to see the soldiers--a very happy pair. + +Do you think Bertie ever forgot Vick again? + +Do you ever forget to care for your pets? + +[Illustration: IT WAS FUN TO SEE THEM EAT.] + + + + +IN GRANDMA'S ATTIC. + + +Every summer grandma Cushing has two visitors. Their names are Blanche +Cushing and Dorothy Cushing. + +Blanche lives in Iowa. She has blue eyes and yellow hair and is seven +years old. Dorothy lives in New York City. She has brown eyes and +brown hair and is eight years old. + +They love dearly to play in grandma's attic. There are queer old +bonnets and gowns and cocked hats hanging on the walls. + +There are trunks full of caps and spectacles and old snuffers and no +end of queer things. + +I cannot begin to tell you everything the cousins play. But there is +one thing they like to play ever so much. + +[Illustration: PLAYING IN GRANDMA'S ATTIC.] + +They like to dress up in the queer old clothes and play Cinderella, +and Mother Hubbard, and Red Riding Hood. + +When Blanche gets on her great-great-grandma Cushing's cap and +spectacles and long mits, she makes a very charming little Mother +Hubbard. + +[Illustration: A VERY CHARMING MOTHER HUBBARD.] + +They sit in the big old chairs and tell stories. Dorothy likes to hear +about the wolves. There are wolves where Blanche lives. + +"Yes, one day when I was a very, _very_ little girl," said Blanche, "a +horrid big wolf came up to the window and looked in. I was sitting in +mamma's lap, and he put his paws on the window and just looked at us +horrid! + +"And then another time, mamma, you know, was going out to meet papa, +and she saw a big wolf on the ground, and she thought it was dead, and +she was going right up, and it wasn't dead a bit. It just got up and +runned off to the woods, and mamma was awful scared and runned away +too." + +When Blanche tells the wolf stories they play "scared." It is fun to +play "scared." They shriek and run and hide. + +One rainy day they had been playing Mother Hubbard. + +"Now," said Blanche, "I will tell a b-eautiful wolf story. It will +make us awful scared. See if it doesn't!" + +So she climbed up into a big chair and began. But right in the middle +of the story they heard something go scratch, scratch, very loudly. + +"Oh, what is that, Dotty?" whispered Blanche, clutching Dorothy's arm. + +Scratch, scratch, it went again, and then there was a great rattling. + +"Oh, it's a wolf!" cried Dotty; and down the attic stairs they flew +pell-mell; through the kitchen chamber and the great unfinished +chamber, and down the back stairs; through the kitchen and the +dining-room, and burst into grandma's room all out of breath. + +"What _is_ the matter, children?" asked grandma. + +"Oh, there's a wolf in the attic," they both cried out. + +"Nonsense! we don't have wolves in Massachusetts," said grandma. + +"Well," said Dorothy, "something scratched dreadfully." + +So grandma went up to the attic to see about it. "Where was the +noise?" she asked. + +[Illustration: BRIGHT-EYES AT HOME.] + +They pointed to the dark place behind the big chimneys. Grandma went +up and opened a door and out walked--a wolf! no; Towser, the old cat! +Blanche and Dorothy sometimes have another visitor in the attic. It is +a big rat. He lives in the barn. He has a road underground to the +house cellar. Then he comes up to the attic through the wall. + +The cousins never know when to expect him. He comes in without +knocking. The first thing they know there he is looking at them with +bright eyes. + +They have named him Bright-eyes. They feed him with cake and cheese. +He is very tame. Grandma says she never heard of such a thing as +feeding a rat. She says Bright-eyes eats her hens' eggs. He steals +them out of the nests. + + + + +LITTLE GIRL GRACIE. + + +BEDTIME. + + So sleepy and demure is my wee Gracie, + So long and sober grows the little facie, + So silent are the red, red lips so sweet, + So quiet are the little hands and feet, + I know, yes, well I know + My Gracie wants to go + Into the soft, white nest where every night + My birdie folds her wings till morning light. + + And now beside my knee the pretty lisper + Her evening prayer with folded hands must whisper, + While baby sister sleeps on mother's breast, + Lulled with our voices low to dreamy rest. + Then in her nightie white, + My restless sunbeam bright + Is hidden from her shoulders to her feet, + And tucked away in slumber soft and sweet. + + +MORNING. + + A merry, white-robed figure at my side, + A laughing face, with blue eyes opened wide. + Red lips that kiss me in the early dawn + And tell me fast enough that night is gone. + Ripe and ready for play, + In the early morning gray, + Restless again are the small hands and feet, + Silent no longer, little lips so sweet. + + Where is the sunbeam like my Gracie's eyes? + Blue as the blue of summer's bluest skies! + What sweeter wakening could be mine than this + The soft "Good morning!" of my daughter's kiss? + And thus each hour of day + Girl Gracie claims for play + Till comes the "Sand-man" with the twilight hour + And play has vanished 'neath his mystic power. + + + + +A MAGPIE AND HER NEST. + + +The magpie is a very handsome bird. He knows he is handsome, too. He +has a fine broad tail. There is a band of purple near the end of each +feather, and the end is green and purple. + +He walks about with this handsome tail perked in the air. He does not +drag it in the dirt, not he! + +He is a bright bird, too. He can learn to talk, and he is full of +pretty and naughty tricks. He is a--thief! He steals eggs from other +birds' nests. He strikes his bill through the egg and walks off with +it. And he does a worse thing than that. He steals the young birds and +eats them. + +[Illustration: MAGPIE AND NEST.] + +But the Magpie is very careful to build her nest so nobody shall steal +her eggs. In the first place she always builds on a high tree. She +chooses a tree that has a long smooth trunk, that the boys cannot +climb easily. How do you suppose she knows about mischievous boys? She +must make a study of boys. + +She builds her nest of dry sticks and mud. She carpets it with wool +and fine roots. (Birds can always find plenty of wool sticking on the +bushes in sheep pastures. There is vegetable wool too, like the wool +on the growing ferns.) Then she makes a roof of sticks; she leaves +open a small round door at the side. So you see it is not easy for +boys or birds to steal her eggs. + +Magpies like bright glittering things like silver spoons and rings. +They often steal them and hide them in their nests. + +This Magpie is a European bird. There is a beautiful red Magpie that +lives in China. + + + + +[Illustration: MARY AND ANNIE FEED FLUFFY-DUMPTY. + {FROM "ANNIE'S DUCKS."}] + + + + +AT THE BEACH. + + +The Park children went to the beach last summer. It was a small beach; +not at all like Nantasket Beach. + +There were not many folks there. There was a young woman--a very queer +young woman indeed, Sam thought. She used to go out on the beach and +sit in a camp chair and read! + +"Pshaw! who wants to read with a whole ocean to look at?" said Sam. + +[Illustration: THE YOUNG WOMAN.] + +Such cunning little slippers as she wore! and her ruffles and hat! Oh, +my! She used to draw pictures sometimes, but Sam didn't know that. + +"Halloo! there she is again!" shouted Sam one day. She was drawing a +picture of them that moment, but they did not know it. They were all +sliding down the sand cliff. + +They had taken off their shoes and stockings, and were going in +bathing. + +"Whoo-oop! hurrah! here we come! clear the track!" What a noise they +did make, to be sure! + +But it did not disturb anybody. Nobody heard it but the young woman +and some cows in the pasture near by. + +How warm and soft the sand was! It was as good as coasting in winter. +It was better! + +[Illustration: THE PICTURE THE YOUNG WOMAN DREW.] + +Down they went into the water like so many ducks. They can all dive +and swim almost as well as ducks. Papa and mamma were off shore, +taking a sail together. They saw the slide down hill, and the plunge +into the water. They saw the brown and yellow heads bobbing about. + +"Do look at them!" said mamma. "Perfect little Arabs!" + +"Do 'em good," said papa. "Little Molly never had such rosy cheeks in +all her life." + +"But think of their clothes!" said mamma. + + + + +FARMER GRAY AND HIS APPLES. + + +Farmer Gray had a load of apples to sell one day. But nobody wanted +them. People offered him such a small sum of money for them, he said +he would rather give them away. + +So he started for home with his load of apples. He drove down Summer +street, past the schoolhouse. The boys were having their recess. + +Now Farmer Gray loved children. So when he saw these boys he thought, +"Here's just the market for my apples." + +He stopped his horse and called out, "Do any of you boys know what to +do with apples?" + +Then there _was_ a shout! "O yes, sir, we guess we do!" said all the +boys. + +"Come on, then!" said Farmer Gray. + +[Illustration: HE KNOWS WHAT TO DO WITH FARMER GRAY'S APPLES.] + +The boys crowded around the wagon, and the farmer tossed the apples to +them. + +"It is well for you, boys, that I found no market for my apples this +morning," he said. + +"That's so!" said the boys. Then they thanked him heartily. + +Charlie Read said, "You are the funniest man I ever saw to stop and +give us the apples." + +"You would like to see another just like me to-morrow, wouldn't you?" +said Farmer Gray. + +"Yes, I would," said Charley, "and I should like to live with you +too." + +Just then the school bell rang. The boys all shouted, "Good-by! +good-by!" as Farmer Gray drove off. + +"I'm glad enough I didn't sell those apples this morning," thought +Farmer Gray. + + + + +AH KEE. + + +Ah Kee is the funniest little fellow alive. + +He can stand as straight as any boy I ever saw. + +But the straighter he stands, the more you laugh. + +He thinks he is very tall. He is about three feet tall. + +He thinks he is a little gentleman, because he can drink out of a +coffee-cup and not spill a drop. + +But Ah Kee oftener behaves like a rogue than like a gentleman. + +There is always a look of mischief in his bright black eyes. + +His mistress never allows him to go into the parlor by himself. + +She knows he would sit on the brackets with the little statues. + +She knows he would like to swing to and fro on the curtain tassels. + +She knows he would like to jerk the bell-pull, and bring Rose up from +the kitchen. + +She knows he would like to take the Sevres vases and walk up and down +the room with them in his arms. + +No, Ah Kee, with his roguish tastes, is not to be trusted in the +parlor by himself. + +But he sometimes comes in when she is there. Sometimes when she is +reading she hears a soft sound like this, "_lsp-s-s-s!_" + +She jumps up, looks all around. Under the table, or in a corner she +sees a soft, round, feathery ball of fur--and one little paw raised, +all claws and motion. + +[Illustration: AH KEE'S GREAT ACCOMPLISHMENT.] + +Ah, that is Ah Kee, and Ah Kee means mischief. Perhaps he will spring +into his mistress' lap. Perhaps he will leap up on the piano. You +cannot be sure what he will decide to do. + +Yes, Ah Kee is a monkey, a gay little spider monkey, with a long tail +that he likes to carry over his head in the shape of the letter S. + +Ah Kee's mistress has made up her mind to do one thing. She will buy +Ah Kee a silver collar with a ring. She will buy Ah Kee a broad blue +ribbon. + +Then, when she wants a quiet hour, she will slip the blue ribbon +through the collar ring, and tie Ah Kee to the door knob. + + + + +[Illustration: {DICK AND GRAY.}] + + Dick and Gray, + My bird and cat, + Good friends are they: + Just think of that! + Dick pecks Gray's paw; + Gray winks and blinks. + "I'll not harm Dick," + Is what he thinks. + So on the wall, + This sunny weather, + Chirping, purring, + They play together. + + + + +THE RETURN OF THE BIRDS. + + +Down in the South Land, one morning in March, there was a great stir +among the birds. "Spring has come in the far North," they said. "Jack +Frost is going, the ice is melting, and now we'll go home-home!" + +Bluebirds, and robins, and bobolinks, how glad they were! They got up +very early that morning, even for birds. They bathed in a tiny pond, +and preened their feathers. They ate their breakfast and then they +started, straight through the air, for the North. + +Do you wonder how they knew the way? How does a bird know which way is +north and which way is south? There is a "Careful Gardener" who tells +the flowers when to bloom, and he tells the birds which way to fly. + +They flew that day on and on; over the green fields bright with +flowers; over the trees covered with green leaves. By and by, they +came where the grass was not yet green; where there was snow in the +hollows; where there was ice in the brooks. But they didn't mind the +cold, for they wore their very thickest feather coats. + +[Illustration: ON THROUGH THE AIR.] + +That night they nestled down together, and slept in a big pine-tree. +They found some dried berries on the bushes, for breakfast and +supper. It was very dark in the morning; it rained. But they did not +mind that; they liked it. They knew the rain would melt the snow, and +make the grass and flowers grow. + +"But we must put on our waterproofs," they said. + +Do birds wear waterproofs? Oh, yes! But they do not carry them in +trunks. When a bird wants to take a journey, he just flies off. He +does not have to pack a trunk. He has a tiny bag of oil under the tip +of his wings. This is his waterproof. + +With his bill he takes out the oil and spreads it over his feathers. + +The raindrops cannot go through this oil waterproof, but they roll +quickly off to the ground. After they had all put on their +waterproofs, they flew on and on again, through the rain. + +[Illustration: THE LITTLE COUNTRY CHILDREN.] + +They did not stay together that day. Part of them flew to the +northeast. By and by these came in sight of a big gilded dome. + +"I know where we are," said one old robin. "That is Boston State +House, and right down there is our old nest!" and down they flew into +the Public Gardens. The Boston little men and women can see them there +any day, busy about their nests, and merry as birds can be. + +Part of the birds flew to the northwest, to the hills and woods and +fields. They built their nests in the trees and on the ground. They +built them in barns and in chimneys. They hid them in the grass and in +the reeds by the brooks; and the little country children know where to +find them. + +[Illustration: A NEST.] + + + + +FIRST REWARD OF MERIT. + + + With bounding step and merry laugh + My little girl--five and a half-- + Held in her hand a picture-card: + "See! mamma, see! I've tried so hard; + Look and see what the letters spell; + 'Tis a reward for doing well. + I have been good a whole long week; + Not once, mamma, did teacher speak, + Or say from recess I must stay, + Because in school I'd tried to play. + Last week, you know, my card I lost + For giving Charlie's book a 'tost,' + And speaking out aloud in school; + I did not know 'twas 'gainst the rule. + Then teacher said, 'Edith come here.' + I went right to her, mamma dear, + And 'cause I hop-skipped down the aisle, + The scholars all began to smile. + That week I was so very good, + 'Most got a card, and think I should + If I'd not hop-skipped down the aisle, + And made the other scholars smile. + But if I get one once in four, + School keeps so long, I'll get lots more." + +[Illustration: EDITH AT HOME.] + + + + +[Illustration: SUCH MISCHIEF AS HE MADE. + {FROM "THE TRICK THEY PLAYED ON JOCKO."}] + + + + +FOUR LITTLE MICE. + + + Four little mice lived all alone + Where cats had been so long unknown; + They ate and slept without a fear + That any danger could be near. + One sunny day with brush and broom + They cleaned their pantry, swept their room, + Then made themselves as neat and fine + As if invited out to dine. + And then not knowing what to do, + They looked their cedar closet through + And found their gray coats growing thin: + So sat them down some yarn to spin, + Soon, through a chink to their surprise, + A cat looked in with hungry eyes-- + "Shall I come in and cut your thread?" + "Oh, thank you, no!" they trembling said. + +[Illustration: {A CAT LOOKS INTO THE MOUSE HOUSE.}] + + + + +FINNETTE. + + +"Bow-wow-wow!" was the first thing Winny heard that morning. She +opened her eyes and there stood Finnette. Aunt Bertha had brought her +as a birthday gift for Winny from Paris. + +Finnette was full of pretty tricks. She could stand on her hind legs +and dance. She could sing. + +"Now, Finnette," Winny's mamma would say, "I will play and you shall +sing." + +[Illustration: WINNY.] + +So Finnette would stand on her hind legs and sing such a droll little +tune. It sounded like "I love--I love--I love--do you?" Finnette +always helped Winny to put her dolls to bed. It was wonderful to see +her. + +"Bring me Grandma Snowhair's cap, Finnette," Winny would say. And +Finnette would trot off and fetch it. She knew the doll's clothes just +as well as Winny did. + +"Now, Finnette, I will have Glorianna's nightgown," said Winny again, +and Finnette would bring it. + +When Winny got her dolls in bed, she always sang them to sleep, and +then Finnette would sing too. "I love--I love--I love--do you?" + +Mamma used to like to peep in and see them. Winny always put her dolls +to bed at five o'clock. Finnette always knew when the clock struck +five, and off she would run to find Winny. + +But one day she couldn't find her. She searched through the house and +garden, but Winny was not to be found. So Finnette lay down in the +library, and waited. Once she got up and trotted in and looked at the +dolls. She barked softly, as though she would say, "Be patient; your +mamma will be here soon." + +But the little mamma did not come; so Finnette concluded to put the +dolls to bed herself. She laid Grandma Snowhair on the floor and then +with her teeth and paws she gently drew off her cap and gray silk +dress. She put on her nightgown, but she could not button it. + +She undressed Glorianna, but she got her nightgown on upside down. She +put her legs into the sleeves. She did not try to put on aunt Sukey's +nightgown. She just wrapped her up in a blanket. + +She tumbled the four small dolls into their beds anyhow. How surprised +and pleased and amused Winny was when she came home! There were the +dolls fast asleep, and their clothes all piled on a chair; and there +sat Finnette watching them. She gave the happiest little "bow-wow," +when she saw Winny. She had not been able to eat or to sleep with the +care of all those dolls on her mind. Winny hugged and kissed her. + +[Illustration: THERE STOOD--FINNETTE!] + +"You dear old darling Finnette," she said. "How sweet you have been to +my children. You shall have a silver collar, for you are my best +friend." Then Bridget brought Finnette her supper of bread and milk. + + + + +ABOUT THE DEER. + + +"Look! look!" said Ernest, "see the deer! It has got out of the deer +park. I did not know deer could run like that!" + +The frightened creature was running down Washington street. He darted +in and out among the horses and carriages, and people. He leaped over +the heads of the children. + +Ernest and his mother stopped to look; everybody stopped to look. On +and on he ran till he came to the river, then he leaped into the deep +water and was drowned. Was it not a pity? The pretty deer that Ernest +had fed so often on Boston Common! He almost cried when he thought of +it. + +How many of you have ever seen deer? In many of the United States they +are still found in the woods. They are kept in almost all public +parks. + +Deer are gentle creatures, and are easily tamed. But I think they are +happiest when they are free to roam the woods where they like. + +They eat the tender grass in the spring, and sometimes, if they live +near farms, they break into the corn and wheat fields. + +In the winter they eat the seed vessels of the wild rose, the hawthorn +buds, the brambles and leaves. They like acorns, and, in the South, +they eat the persimmons. The persimmon is a yellow plum. They feed in +the night. + +In hot summer days they like to wade into the ponds and rivers, and +stand under water, all but their noses. + +The young deer are called fawns; they are pretty spotted creatures. +The mother keeps them in a quiet place where she thinks the hunters +and dogs cannot get them; for men often hunt the wild deer. It is a +great pity to kill them for sport, is it not? + +[Illustration: HOW FLEET HE IS!] + +The deer hears quickly, and his scent is very keen too. When the +hunters are after him, how fleet he is! Sometimes he leaps into the +water and swims. Then the dogs lose the scent and cannot follow him. +The male deer sheds his horns every year. + +When the horns are growing they look as if they were covered with +velvet. + +[Illustration: HAVE THEY NO LANGUAGE?] + + + + +[Illustration: {A DOG LYING DOWN.}] + +EVERYBODY'S DOG. + + + Seen me? Of course you have seen me before. + I can't count the times I have been at your door. + Where do I live? Why, everywhere, here! + My name? Well, I own it is rather queer; + Some call me "good fellow," or "Fido," or "Tray," + But I come just the same, whatever they say. + Am I ever lonesome? How can I be + When acquaintances everywhere whistle to me? + Hungry? That's something I've never yet known, + For friendly hands toss me sweet bits or a bone. + Cold? Oh, never! for doors everywhere + Are opened to shelter my silky brown hair, + For _I_ am everybody's dog! + + And what do I give for this treatment so kind? + I drive home the lost cattle and sheep that I find; + With the children and babies I tenderly play, + And faithfully keep them from going astray. + And many an ill-natured tramp I have sent + Away from the game on which he was bent. + I can carry a basket or pail just the same + As a boy, and better than some I could name. + I bark in the night when danger is near, + And if I'm in the house no sleeper need fear. + What! be your own dog? Do you think 'twould be fair + To stay here with you when they all need my care? + No; I'll come every day for a minute or two + But now I must go for I've so much to do; + For _I_ am everybody's dog! + + + + +A BIRD'S NEST. + + +What a wonderful thing a bird's nest is! Even the simplest nests are +very wonderful. Some boys and girls collect birds' nests, and that is +very well, if you wait till the eggs are hatched, and the birds have +flown. + +The ground sparrow builds a lovely little nest; and what a curious +nest is that of the barn swallow. + +[Illustration: A WEAVER BIRD AND HER NEST.] + +How many of you have seen the nest of the Baltimore oriole? She hangs +it upon the end of an elm branch, where it swings and dances in the +wind. + +I have for you this time, the nest of an African bird. This little +bird belongs to the class called weavers. If you look at the nest, +you will understand why this bird is called a weaver bird. + +See how skilfully the nest is woven out of twigs, and grasses, and +fibrous roots. There are many kinds of weaver birds, and each kind +builds a different nest. Sometime I shall show you another weaver +bird's nest. + + + + +A RAINY DAY. + + +It was the day set for the picnic by the lake. Two little white gowns, +and the boys' best coats, and the ribbons and the neck-ties, had been +joyfully laid out the night before. + +But next morning it was not picnic weather. The sky was low and heavy. +By nine o'clock there were thick, dense, black clouds. + +"I think we might go," said Flossie, "even if it does rain. We go to +school, lots o' days, when it rains." + +Just then the big black raindrops fell upon the window-panes--"A great +pailful in every drop," said Tom. + +"I want a picnic," wailed Susie, "and I can't have it." + +"You shall have it," said papa; "we will have an indoors picnic, such +as my papa used to give me on a rainy day." + +He led the way to the library. He took down a huge set of maps, a +great portfolio of engravings, and two or three heavy picture books. +"We will visit India," said he. + +"Hurrah," said Tom. "Tiger hunts, elephant rides, jungles, snake +charmers, jolly old idols, and the Parsee merchants." + +Tom knew very well what it meant when papa gave his mind up to turning +over picture books and talking as he turned. + +They did have a good time; and before three o'clock it cleared away, +and though it was too late for the picnic they had planned, it was the +most perfect picnic weather, and as papa wanted to trim up cedars on +the knoll by the lake, they all went down. Papa and mamma played with +them for a while like an older brother and sister. They harnessed the +children in a "four-horse team," and drove up and down until the +"little colts" had had enough of fun and were glad to sit in the arbor +and watch papa trim trees. + +[Illustration: A PICNIC AFTER ALL.] + + + + +THE STORY OF A CANE. + + +Was it a shiny black cane with a gold head? No. I think you never saw +a cane like this one. It was made out of a small balm-of-Gilead-tree. +It belonged to John Reed. He taught school. He was eighteen years old. + +When vacation came, John walked home. It was forty miles, and a pretty +long walk. But there were no railroads in those days, and John did not +like to ride in a stage-coach. + +He thought he could walk more easily with a cane to help him. So he +made this cane I am going to tell you about. + +When he got home he stuck this cane into the ground in the lane, and +then forgot all about it. But the cane was alive! When John stuck it +into the ground it began to drink up the water from the soil. + +Tiny green leaves sprouted out all over it. John saw it one day. How +surprised he was! It grew all summer long. The next year the branches +began to grow; and year by year it grew larger and larger till it was +fifty years old. + +Then John Reed was sixty-eight years old; the little children called +him "Grandpa Reed." + +[Illustration: GRANDPA REED.] + +They called the great balm-of-Gilead-tree in the lane "Grandpa's +cane." They used to like to put their arms about it and look up into +the branches. They thought it wonderful that a cane should grow into +such a big tree. + +Then came the great Civil War. Your mamma or auntie can tell you about +it. There were a great many wounded soldiers, and the people used to +send bandages and lint for their wounds. Do you know what lint is? It +is made of linen cloth. It is soft, like wool. + +Grandpa Reed had a little granddaughter Clara. Clara saw the women and +girls making lint, and she wanted to make lint too. But aunt Mary said +she was not big enough to make lint. + +[Illustration: CLARA.] + +"But I will tell you," said aunt Mary, "where you can find some nice +lint;" and she took her out to the great balm-of-Gilead-tree in the +lane. + +Now you have all seen the soft, white pussy-willows. Well, the pussies +are the willow flowers; and the balm-of-Gilead-tree has pussies too. +But they are not soft and white; they are brown. They look like brown +caterpillars. + +After the blossoms wither the seeds come. These seeds are covered +with wool like that on the dandelion's ball. + +The wind blows this wool from off the trees, and there it was that +morning. The ground was white with it. + +"There is the lint," said aunt Mary, and she gave Clara a bag to put +it in. + +It took a great many bits of wool to fill the bag. But Clara was +patient, and worked diligently, and when the bag was full, she went +with aunt Mary to carry it to the soldiers' camp. + +Clara gave it to the surgeon. He said the balm-of-Gilead lint was much +better than the linen lint. So "Grandpa's cane" and little Clara +helped the sick soldiers to get well again. + + + + +MISS LOLLIPOP'S FANCIES. + + + Down by the seashore Miss Lollipop sat, + Dropping the little white shells in her hat; + "See!" cried the darling, and shouted with glee, + "These pretty things were all waiting for me; + Waiting for me!" + + Creeping and curving across the gray sand, + The wavelets came dancing to kiss the fair land, + Wooing with murmurs the flower-gemmed lea; + "Ah," cried Miss Pops, "they are whispering to me, + Whispering to me!" + + Darting and flashing the gay sunbeams flew + Down from a heaven of midsummer blue, + Smiling and dimpling all over the sea; + "There," cried Miss Pops, "they are laughing at me, + Laughing at me!" + + In the green meadows the tall grass stood fair, + Waving and tossing in sweet summer air, + Dipping and bending around her white knee; + "Look," cried Miss Pops, "it is bowing to me, + Bowing to me!" + +[Illustration: HAPPY MISS LOLLIPOP.] + + Over the hills the sweet flower bells rang, + High in the tree tops the little birds sang. + --Tipsy-top bobolinks bent on a spree; + "Hark!" cried Miss Pops. "They are singing to me, + Singing to me!" + + Deep in the roses the bumblebees flew, + Sipping their rations of honey and dew, + With jewel-necked humming-birds gorgeous to see; + "Now," cried Miss Pops, "they are shining for me, + Shining for me!" + + Sweet little Happy Heart! Pure little soul! + Earth would be robbed of its darkness and dole + If with the faith of thy heart I could see + How much of God's world is fashioned for me! + + + + +TOMMY'S TEMPTATION. + + +Mr. Allen's early apples were almost ripe. They were uncommonly pretty +apples--yellow, streaked with red. How tempting they looked! Ripe +apples in August are always tempting. + +Mr. Allen knew that, so he had put up a sign to warn the boys off. For +boys were very apt to help themselves to ripe apples. Somehow they +think that taking a few apples is not stealing. + +So, as I said, Mr. Allen put up a board with these words on +it--"Trespassers prosecuted." That meant, if he caught any boy near +his apple-tree, he would carry him off to a justice of the peace, for +stealing. + +Early one morning Tommy Tilden was walking through the lane. He had +just driven the cows to pasture and was coming home. He stopped and +looked at the apples. How good they did look, to be sure! + +He searched on the ground to see if any had dropped into the lane. +But he could not find one. Then he looked at the tree again. "I wish I +had one," he thought. + +Ah, Tommy, Tommy, the best thing for you to do is to run away as fast +as you can! + +But Tommy didn't do any such thing. He kept looking at the apples and +wishing he had one. Then he thought, "I'll just climb up and look at +them." + +And now, of course, you can guess what happened. Tommy climbed up, and +tried the apples with his thumb to see if they were ripe. Then he +reached out to get a fine big one, and the branch broke, and over he +went, with the branch, and the sign, and a shower of apples, into Mr. +Allen's garden. + +The dog ran out barking furiously, and Mr. Allen, who was just eating +his breakfast, came out too, and little May Allen, to see what was the +matter. + +How ashamed Tommy felt! "Trying to steal some of my apples, were you, +eh?" said Mr. Allen, and Tommy could not answer a word. + +Little May Allen felt very sorry for him. "Can't you give him some +apples, papa?" she said. + +"No," said Mr. Allen; "if he had come and asked me I would have given +him some gladly. But he ought to be ashamed to try to get them in this +way. But he can go. I sha'n't punish him." + +So Tommy picked up his hat and went home. He told his mother all about +it. + +"Tommy," she said, "you shouldn't have stood and looked at those +apples, and wished for them, when they were not yours. It is always +best to run away from temptation." + + + + +A BEAR STORY. + + +When mother was a young girl, she taught school in Illinois. Very few +people lived there at that time. The settlements were far apart. The +schoolhouse was built of rough logs, and the chinks were filled with +clay and straw. Instead of glass windows, they had oiled paper to let +in the light. + +One night mother staid late at the schoolhouse, to help the girls trim +it with evergreens. It was almost dark when she started for home. She +walked very fast, as she felt lonely. Her way lay through a thick, +tall woods, and the path was narrow. + +All at once she saw a big animal in front of her. What was it? A calf? +No; it was a big black bear. + +Was she afraid? Of course she was afraid. Shouldn't you be afraid if +you met a big bear in the woods? She had an umbrella in her hand, and +she held the point close to the bear's nose, and opened and shut it as +fast as she could. She called him all the bad names she could think +of, and he walked off, growling. + +He was a brave bear, wasn't he, to be afraid of an umbrella? Mother +hurried on, and just as she got to the edge of the woods, out he came +again. Then she opened the umbrella at him again, and shouted as loud +as she could, and away he went. + +Mother was so tired and frightened she almost fainted when she got +home. "I don't believe it was a bear; it must have been neighbor +Clapp's big heifer," grandma said. + +But just as she said it, they heard a loud squeal. They ran to the +door, and there was the bear carrying off a pig. He had jumped into +the pen and got it. + +[Illustration: THE BEARS AT THE ZOÖLOGICAL GARDEN.] + +Aunt Stella seized the dinner horn and blew a loud blast. That was +the way they used to call the settlers together when anything was the +matter. There was a great rush for grandfather's house, and when the +men heard about the bear they said. "We must kill him as soon as +possible." + +So they had a great hunt for him. They hunted all that night and the +next day. They found him, at last, sitting upon the stump of a hollow +tree, and they killed him. + +What do you think they found in the hollow stump? Three little cubs. +The hunters brought the cubs to grandfather's farm, and uncle Stephen +kept one of them for a pet. + +My little daughter Anna often asks to hear the story of how the "Bear +wanted to eat grandma." Last summer I took Anna to the Zoölogical +Garden. There we saw a family of bears. + +One old bear was sitting in a tree, with his arms folded. + +"Why, how pleasant he looks," said Anna. "I don't believe he would eat +anybody." + +"No, I don't think he would," I said. "He is tame, and he would rather +have a sweet bun to eat than anything else." + +[Illustration: {A LIZARD ON A GRASSY BANK.}] + + + + +[Illustration: SHETLAND PONIES AT HOME.] + +ANNA'S BIRTHDAY GIFT. + + +"Anna, Anna!" shouted Harry. "Come quick, do! O such a!"--But mamma +clapped her hand right over his mouth, and he couldn't say another +word. + +"Pat, pat, pat!" Anna heard a queer sound of feet on the veranda, and +in at the open windows trotted just the dearest little Shetland pony +all saddled and bridled. Harry was leading it. A card hung from the +saddle, and on it was printed, "A birthday gift for my little Anna, +from Grandpa." + +"There! what do you think of that?" asked Harry. + +"I think," said Anna, as soon as she could speak, "that no little girl +ever had such a splendid, _splendid_ grandpa as mine!" + +"Isn't he, though!" said Harry. "And now I'll get out Boy Blue and +we'll ride over and thank him." Boy Blue is Harry's pony. + +Do you know where these lovely little Shetland ponies live when they +are at home? They live in the northern islands of Great Britain. + + + + +RALPH AND THE BUTTERFLIES. + + +Ralph was walking with papa in the fields, when he saw a red and black +butterfly. It was on a thistle. + +[Illustration: {A BUTTERFLY.}] + +"I will catch him," said Ralph. So he walked slowly up to the thistle +and put out his hand to catch the butterfly. But the butterfly spread +his wings and flew up in the air. In a moment he came back and lighted +on the thistle again. + +Ralph wanted to try to catch him again, but papa said, "The butterfly +is eating his dinner." + +"Does he eat the thistle?" asked Ralph. + +"He eats the honey in the thistle," said papa. "We will sit down and I +will show you the honey. Each thistle head has a great many tiny +flowers. See, like these!" and papa pulled some of them out. Then he +took one of the blossoms between his thumb and finger. He pressed the +slender tube till Ralph saw a wee drop of honey at the end. Then Ralph +wanted to do the same. So he pressed one after the other of the purple +tubes and found a drop of honey in each. + +"Does the butterfly squeeze them that way?" asked Ralph. + +"No; he has no thumb and finger," said papa. + +"How can he get the honey, then?" Ralph asked. + +"He finds it with his long sucker, which reaches to the bottom of +these slender tubes." + +"I wish he would eat this honey, papa, now I have got it all ready for +him," said Ralph. "I'll ask him." + +So he walked slowly towards the butterfly, holding out the little +purple blossoms. + +"Here's some honey all squeezed," he said softly; "don't you want it, +Butterfly?" + +But the butterfly opened and shut his pretty spotted wings and then +flew away. + +[Illustration: RALPH.] + +Ralph looked sorry. "Never mind," said papa, "he isn't used to having +little boys wait upon him. He likes to get his dinner himself." + +[Illustration: {TWO BUTTERFLIES.}] + + + + + Bright the sun! gay the flowers! + Gently falls the rain! + O the jolly, the blithesome hours, + Summer is come again! + Eggs in my nest, snails to eat, + A whole round world for my home, + I sing, I sing, so sweet, so sweet! + Summer again is come! + +[Illustration: A LITTLE BIRD SAT ON A TWIG.] + + + + +TOM'S LETTER. + + +This is the letter a little English boy wrote to his American cousin +whom he never had seen. He wrote it on his slate in "print letters," +and his sister Bess copied it on paper in "writing letters." + +The words were spelled wrong on the slate. He worked four evenings to +write it all. + +[Illustration: THE WAY TOM WROTE IT.] + +"DEAR COUSIN DICK: + +"You thought I would like to write letters because I am old like +you--ten years. But I am not a school-boy, like you. I am a home-boy. +I think home-boys don't study regular, and learn truly like +school-boys. Mother says she will tell your mother in her letter about +how I have been sick always. + +"I think I would like to be a school-boy, but I wouldn't either. +School-boys are mean. If the new boy is lame and shy, they think that +is big fun. _I_ do not see how the tricks can be any fun then. + +"If I was a school-boy I would not think it was fun to trip a lame +boy up. I would not think it fun to see him splash down backward into +a pool, and when he soused under and wet his lame back ice-cold, I +would not call, 'Cry-baby!' + +"But that is what the school-boys did that day I went. + +"So I can't write handsome letters. Do you trick new boys the first +day they come to your school in America? I have had twelve sore +throats since, and I wear a scarf in the house. + +"I can knit, and I can mend, and I color pictures. But that is not +learning as school-boys learn. Girls are good to me, and there is a +school where they are all girls, but I think I would not like to go to +it--would you? Write again. + + "Your cousin Tom." + +[Illustration: {A LITTLE GIRL HELPS TOM AWAY FROM THE BULLIES.}] + + + + +[Illustration: LADY FLORENCE.--_From the painting by G. A. Storey, +A. R. A._] + + + + +[Illustration: HOW PLEASANT TO LIE ON THE LOUNGE.] + +JANEY'S PRESENT. + + +Janey had been very sick. She had not left her room for a month. But +she was much better. Why, she was really hungry this morning! And here +comes mamma with a nice breakfast! She looked at the pleasant room +while she ate her toast and drank her milk. + +"It isn't such an old, headachy place now," she said. "But please open +the windows and let all the sickness out." Then mamma put on the soft +red wrapper and knitted slippers that auntie had made for her to wear +on this very day. How pleasant it was to lie on the lounge with her +own dearest doll Belinda Button, tucked away under the afghan! She +could see the children at play through the open window and hear their +merry laughter. + +"Mamma," she said, "I am so glad to be well. I want to make a present. +May I give some things to Bobby's lame sister? Not Belinda: she knows +how sick I have been, and would not leave me. But I want to give her +my red leather ball, and white rabbit and the picture book cousin +George sent me. And mamma, will you buy a new dolly who has no mother, +for Nellie?" + +Was not that a kind thought of Janey's? and you may be sure Nellie had +them. + + + + +GOOD OLD ROSE. + + +Rose is our old dog. Her hair is as curly as dandelion stems. Her tail +waves like a great feather duster. + +When we say "Good dog," it thumps like grandpa's cane when he walks +up-stairs. Now I will tell you why we call her "Good old Rose." + +One day papa sent Lily to the store. Lily is six years old. The store +is just beyond the railroad track. + +"Rose, take care of Lily!" said papa. Rose wagged her tail for "yes, +sir!" and off they went. She trotted along by Lily's side. Lily felt +very grand to go to the store all alone. She didn't know that Rose was +taking care of her. + +All at once Rose caught Lily's dress in her teeth. They were just +going to cross the track. + +"Let me go!" said Lily. But Rose pulled her back hard. Lily looked up +and down the track. There was no train in sight. But Rose _heard_ it +shake the ground. "You shall let me go!" cried Lily. "Bad Rose!" and +she jerked the dress, and tore it out of Rose's teeth, and ran. Then +Rose jumped right at Lily and threw her down on the ground, and +dragged her back again. + +Just that instant the train thundered round the curve. But Lily was +safe. How the men in the train cheered! how the ladies waved their +handkerchiefs! Rose hadn't any handkerchief, but she waved her tail, +and that is all a dog can do. + +Wouldn't you pat her big head too, and call her "good old Rose?" + +[Illustration: GOOD OLD ROSE.] + + + + +AUNT PATTY'S PETS. + + +Aunt Patty lives in a little bit of a house. It has only two rooms. In +summer it is covered with vines--grapevines, morning glories and +flowering beans. It is cosey as a bird's nest and it is brimful of +pets. + +[Illustration: PANSY AND PICKWICK PAY A VISIT TO THE BIRDS.] + +If you should call on aunt Patty, just as soon as you stepped into +the yard, out would fly Gypsy, barking furiously. But he would not +bite you. O, no! He only barks to let aunt Patty know you are coming. + +Then, when you opened the door, a sharp little voice would say +"Good-morning! walk in." That is the gray parrot, Nick. As you walked +into the kitchen, Pansy and Pickwick would come up to you and purr, +and put up their heads to be rubbed. + +In one window you would see two canaries in a cage. In the other would +be a cage full of gay little African birds. + +If it were winter there would be a cage of big birds. But in summer +aunt Patty keeps these big birds in the garden near the woodhouse. + +[Illustration: GYPSY.] + +Where did aunt Patty get so many pets? They were given to her. +Everybody knows that she likes pets. A sailor cousin once brought her +a turtle. It is quite big enough for you to ride on. This turtle lives +in the cellar in the winter, and in the garden in the summer. + +Somebody sent her a small alligator once, but she did not keep it. She +likes pretty pets. + +"Do your pets ever quarrel?" I asked aunt Patty once. + +"Never," said aunt Patty. "Pansy and Pickwick, and the birds and +Gypsy, and Methusaleh are all good friends." + +Methusaleh is the turtle. + + + + +TOMMY AND THE GANDER. + + +Tommy sometimes visits his old nurse. Nurse lives in a tiny house and +keeps geese. Tommy is afraid of the geese. The gander hisses at him +and Tommy does not like that. + +One day Nurse went into the goose-house and brought out ten little +goslings. Tommy took one of them in his hands. How pretty they were +with their pink feet and fluffy white feathers! + +"To-morrow, they will go out and eat the tender grass," said Nurse. + +"Then I shall catch them," said Tommy. + +"The old gander won't let you," said Nurse. + +"Pooh! who's afraid?" said Tommy very bravely. + +So the next day Tommy tried to catch a gosling. Nurse had gone down +cellar and the gander was in the goose-house. But the mother-goose +hissed and the gander heard her and flew out of the goose-house after +Tommy. + +Tommy ran, but the gander caught hold of his clothes and began to beat +Tommy's legs with his wings. The old goose screamed, and Tommy ran and +screamed, and the gander ran and screamed and whipped. What a noise +they made! and Nurse ran up from the cellar to see what the matter +was. + +Just as Tommy went up the steps the gander bit both his red stockings. +Nurse picked Tommy up and shut the door so the gander could not get +in. Then she kissed Tommy, and cuddled him, and laughed, and said, +"Who's afraid?" + +"I am," sobbed Tommy. "And I want that old gander shut up in the +barn. He isn't good for anything." + +"Oh, yes, he is," said Nurse, "he takes care of the goslings." + +The next day Tommy saw something very pretty. He was looking over the +gate. He did not dare to go out for fear the gander would bite him +again. He heard a gosling cry "peep, peep." The goose and gander heard +it too, and ran and looked down into a deep hole. + +Tommy used to play this hole was his "well." Tommy saw the gander +stretch his long neck down into the hole and lift out a little +gosling, and put it carefully on the grass. Then the mother goose was +so pleased that she screamed outright. + +[Illustration: TOMMY'S NURSE.] + +And Tommy screamed too. "O Nurse, Nurse, that gander is good for +something. He lifted a gosling right out of my well. I saw him!" + +[Illustration: TOMMY DOES NOT DARE TO GO OUT.] + + + + +[Illustration: A VAMPIRE BAT.] + +A NIGHT VISITOR. + + +We were all sitting in the parlor one evening last summer when in flew +a creature through the open window. Bump--bump, he went against the +wall and ceiling. + +"A bat! a bat!" shrieked aunt Mary, and ran behind the door. Mamma +jumped up into a chair and gathered her skirts about her, just as +though it were a mouse. Grace and Mabel ran out of the Room, while +papa and Frank and Kate chased the bat. + +The poor little bat fluttered about, and almost fell into the kerosene +lamp chimney. Then he got entangled in the window draperies. You know +a bat cannot see by a light any more than an owl can. He finally +tumbled behind the sofa where papa caught him. + +Mamma then got down from the chair, aunt Mary came out from behind the +door, Grace and Mabel ventured in, and we all gathered about and +looked at the bat. How he panted! + +"Think of being afraid of such a little creature as that," said Kate +scornfully. + +"But he bites," said Grace. "Doesn't he, papa?" + +"I don't think he would bite," said papa. "He's a good deal more +frightened than you were." + +"What made him fly into the window then?" asked Grace. + +"He is out after insects," replied papa. "He was dazzled by the light +from the window, and flew towards it, as all half-blind creatures +will." + +Our little bats, the bats that live in cool countries, do not harm any +one. But there is a big bat, called the Vampire bat, that will do a +good deal of mischief, if he can get a chance. + +The Vampire bat lives in the tropics. It is very comfortable, sleeping +out of doors, in the tropics. + +A traveller will oftentimes swing his hammock on a tree, and sleep in +it all night. But he must be careful, and not sleep too soundly. + +For a Vampire bat may find him; and if he does, he will bite the +traveller's toe and suck his blood; and when the traveller wakes in +the morning, he will feel weak and faint from loss of blood. + +A bat does not perch, and tuck his head under his wing, and sleep like +a bird. He has some hooks on his wings, and he just hangs himself up +by those, and that's the way he sleeps! + + + + +THE NIGHT MONKEY. + + +Isn't this the very queerest creature you ever saw? He looks as though +he had a candle in each eye; and just look at his feet! His eyes are +round, like the eyes of owls. Like the owl, this monkey can see well +only in the night. + +These monkeys are called night monkeys. Most other monkeys have long +forelegs, but this monkey's forelegs are short. + +He is very small; his body is six inches long, his tail is over nine +inches. + +These little creatures sleep in the daytime, and go out in search of +food, and to play in the night. They eat insects, lizards and crabs. + +[Illustration: THE NIGHT MONKEY.] + +They are greedy creatures. They leap at one bound on their prey. They +live in warm countries. They make very nice pets. + + + + +[Illustration: {BABY WAKING UP.}] + +BABY'S NAP. + + + Now Baby's asleep, mamma can sew-- + "Rock-a-by-baby--by-lo, by-lo!" + Baby's asleep and Tommy can tell + Of the cat that was drown'd in the great big well. + + "She had the weest, _teentiest_ toes, + And the leastest speck of a blackish nose, + With great, great eyes"--"Coo, coo! coo, coo!" + Baby's awake--and listening too! + + + + +HURRAH! HURRAH! + + + Hurrah for old winter, he's coming at last! + The snow flakes are falling so thick and so fast! + Hurrah! Hurrah! + + My skates I have mended, and painted my sled; + Now, boys, you will soon see this chap go ahead! + Hurrah! Hurrah! + + I've jolly thick mittens, a brand-new fur cap; + Now, what does it matter if I get a rap? + Hurrah! Hurrah! + + I've got such a secret! We've built us a fort! + But you must tell no one, 'twould spoil all our sport. + Hurrah! Hurrah! + + Jack, Clement, and Robbie, are garrison men, + And we can defend it against any ten. + Hurrah! Hurrah! + + We've made heaps of snowballs, each one round and hard, + They're hid away safe in the old schoolhouse yard. + Hurrah! Hurrah! + + Pell-mell through the snow rush the merry boy crowd; + While the bare woodlands echo the hearty and loud + Hurrah! Hurrah! + + + + +[Illustration: SOMEWHERE IN LEAFY FORESTS THE WILD DEER ROAM AND +SLEEP.] + + + + +MOSES GOES TO A CANDY PARTY. + + +"No, I _won't_!" said Moses. He felt pretty cross, for he did hate to +have his hair cut. + +"Well, then," said his grandma, "you can't go to the candy party." + +Moses thought a few moments, and then he jumped up and said, "Well, +grandma, cut it, then." + +Now grandma wasn't much of a barber. She was apt to cut his hair so it +hung in scallops. But this time she wanted to cut it very even, as +Moses was going to a party. So she brought out an old wooden bowl that +just fitted his head. + +[Illustration: MOSES HAS HIS HAIR CUT.] + +Then she cut his hair straight to the edge of the bowl, and when she +took the bowl off, there it was beautifully even, and banged right +down over his forehead! + +Then he put on the trousers and jacket grandma herself had made, and +his new shoes, and a blue bow where his collar met, and went off to +the party. It was Sally Poole's party and Sally was one of Moses' +playmates. + +They boiled molasses in a kettle over a fire in the big kitchen +fireplace; then they poured it into buttered pans and set them out in +the snow for the candy to cool. It was great fun pulling it, and when +Moses went home, Sally gave him two sticks and a big braided piece. + +"And I think, Moses," she said, "your hair is banged beautiful." + + + + +FAN'S CARDS:--A CHRISTMAS HINT. + + +What do you think I did with all my beautiful Christmas cards? + +I had saved ever and ever so many, and Easter and New Year's, and +Birthday cards, and a lot of Valentines. I knew I would get more this +Christmas, so I thought I would give these away. + +Then I thought I would paste them in a scrapbook, or tack them up on +the wall instead. Then, I thought I would just keep them in a box +forever, and show them to my grandchildren; but, when aunt Nora told +me about the sick children at the hospital, then I thought I'd give my +cards to them. I just made up my mind I would, and so I did. + +Aunt Nora took me to the hospital, and I wore my new red cloak and +hat. I think I looked sweet, too. The hospital is pretty big, and we +had to go down a long hall and a long pair of stairs. I began to be +frightened, 'cause suppose one of the doctors made a mistake and +thought I was sick! + +So I held aunt Nora's hand tight until we came to a big room where +there were lots of beds and poor little sick boys and girls in them. +Some more children were playing around, and they were sick too. One of +them, a wee little mite, was eating bread and molasses, and her face +was all sticky. She wanted to kiss me. + +A pretty nurse in a white cap came up and spoke to us, and aunt Nora +told her about my cards. She said I might give them round myself. + +So I went up to the first cot, and, oh dear! there was such a sick +little girl in it. I asked her if she would like a card, and she +seemed so delighted that I gave her a beauty, with red and white +fringe. Then all the children said, "Gi'me one too, lady! Oh, lady! +gi'me one!" + +[Illustration: "I THINK I LOOKED SO SWEET."] + +Nobody ever called me "lady" before, but then I am most grown up now. +One child there was just as old as I am; only he was a boy, and he had +a big iron thing on his leg. When I gave him a card, he said, "Thank +you marm, and merry Christmas!" + +Then they all waved their cards and cried "Merry Christmas! merry +Christmas!" as I went out of the door. + +I hope I'll get ever so many cards this Christmas, so I can give them +to the hospital children. It's such fun! + + + + +KITTY'S TRAMP. + + +One cold day in January Kitty Blake had dined with grandma and was on +her way home through the fields. Perhaps you wonder why Kitty should +walk in the fields when the snow was so deep. But there was a hard +crust on the snow and she could skip along over it without breaking +through. It was great fun. + +Suddenly she stopped, for there in a slight hollow in the snow lay a +tiny bird. + +"Poor little birdie, it must have frozen to death," said Kitty softly, +and a tear stood in her eye, for she has a tender heart for all little +creatures. Then she said "Oh!" and gave a start that sent the tears +tumbling over her muff for just that instant, one of the bird's legs +twitched and the tears would not stay back. + +"P'r'aps it's still alive, after all;" she thought, and she picked it +up and tucked it into her muff. Her muff was lined with fur. + +She reached home quite breathless, and when she took out the bird and +laid it on mamma's lap, it gave one little "Peep!" stood on its legs, +and then flew up into the ivy that ran all about the south bay window. + +"What made it make b'lieve dead?" asked Kitty. + +"It didn't make believe," said mamma. "I think it was dizzy. Birds +sometimes are dizzy. But if you had not found it, it would soon have +frozen to death." + +Kitty named him "The Tramp," and he lived in the bay window with +mamma's plants. This bay window was shut off from the rest of the room +by glass doors. It was a sunny and fragrant home for the little +chickadee, and a lucky bird he was to have it just then. + +For on the first day of February it began to snow and snowed three +days, and when it cleared there were piles and piles of snow. + +Great flocks of birds then came about the house searching for food. + +"We must feed them or they will die," said mamma. "The snow is so deep +they cannot find food." + +So Kitty scattered meal and hemp seed on the snow and tied meaty bones +on the lilac and rose bushes, and there wasn't a moment of the day +when some blue jay, or snow bird, or chickadee, or robin, was not +picking up grain, or pecking at the bones. + +"That is the way to have birds in winter!" said Kitty. + +The Tramp did not seem to care a fig about his relations till one day +in March when a flock of chickadees flew past, and he fluttered +against the windows and begged to be let out. + +[Illustration: THE TRAMP VISITS CHARLEY.] + +Mamma opened the window and off he flew! Kitty sighed and said, "That +is the last of him, I suppose." But it wasn't. + +One sunny May day Charley was sitting up in bed. Charley is Kitty's +brother. He had been sick and the window was open so he could breathe +the soft spring air. Suddenly a bird dropped upon the window sill and +began to whistle "Chick-a-dee-dee-dee!" so blithely and cock his head +at Charley. + +"It's the Tramp!" said Charley; and sure enough it was! After that he +came almost every day. If the window was shut they opened it for him. +Charley used to hide hemp seed and sugar under the edge of the pillows +for the Tramp to find. He always found it. Sometimes he would tie +sugar up in a paper and the Tramp would peck at it until he got it +out. + +[Illustration: THE TRAMP'S HOME.] + +He would perch on Charley's shoulder and eat seeds from his mouth. + +He wanted to build a nest in an old letter box nailed up against a +wall. Ever so many birds, blue birds, wrens and sparrows wanted to +build in that box too. + +The Tramp was a brave little fellow and a good fighter; but he never +would have driven the birds off, if Kitty hadn't helped him. + +"I love all the birds," said Kitty, "but the Tramp is my very own +bird." + +So he and his mate built a nest and raised a family of birds in peace, +and now Kitty and Charley call the old letter-box "The Tramp's Home." + + + + +[Illustration: A PAIR OF HORSES.--_From Rosa Bonheur's painting, "The +Horse Fair."_] + + + + +[Illustration: CHILDREN OF CHARLES I.--_From the sketch by Verspronck, +in the Louvre._] + +THREE ROYAL CHILDREN. + + +Here is a picture of a little prince and two little princesses who +lived about two hundred years ago. They were the children of Charles +the First, king of England. I suppose they were very much like the +boys and girls of nowadays. They played and studied and had their +pets, just as children play and study now. + + + + +[Illustration: READY FOR THANKSGIVING.] + + + + +AN OSTRICH PLUME. + + +Matty Ellis had a new hat. It was a pretty white hat with a long, +curly white plume, and it was very becoming to her. + +"Yes, I like it," she said to aunt Sarah. "But Nanny Rich has a hat +with two plumes." + +"And I can tell you somebody who wears half a dozen or more," replied +aunt Sarah, "and that somebody is the ostrich himself." + +[Illustration: OSTRICH EGGS.] + +Aunt Sarah tells Matty a great many interesting things, and she told +her about ostriches. She told how they live in hot sandy countries +like Africa. + +They are so tall and have such long legs they can run as fast as, or +faster than, a horse. + +[Illustration: A PAIR OF OSTRICHES AT HOME.] + +They have their nests in a hollow on the ground. The Hottentot likes +ostrich eggs to eat. One ostrich egg is as big as sixteen hen's eggs. +So it makes a breakfast for a number of people. The Hottentot breaks a +hole in the small end of the egg, stirs up the contents with a stick, +and then sets it over the fire to cook. The shell is very thick and +hard, and the heat of the fire will not break it. + +There is somebody else who likes ostrich eggs too, and that somebody +is a kind of fox. He comes when the ostrich is away and helps himself. +Sometimes the ostrich comes home and finds him at it. + +Many other people like to wear ostrich plumes as well as Matty. So +there is a large trade in them. The wild ostrich does not supply +feathers enough for the market, so ostriches are now raised like +turkeys and hens. This business is called "ostrich farming." The +ostriches are kept in large yards, and the plumes are taken out every +year. + +Aunt Sarah told all this to Matty. "And so," said Matty, stroking the +long white plume, "this feather has ridden on the back of an ostrich +in Africa; I wish it could tell me what it has seen." + +[Illustration: SOMEBODY ELSE WHO LIKES EGGS.] + + + + +WHO KILLED THE GOOSE? + + +[Illustration: {A DOG WRAPPED IN A QUILT.}] + +It was the very nicest, whitest goose of the whole flock, and there it +was--dead! Who had killed it? was the question. Everybody said it must +have been Bose; and why? Because Bose liked to tease the geese. +Sometimes he jumped from behind a bush and frightened them. Sometimes +when they were standing at their trough eating, he ran at them, just +for the fun of seeing them run. + +[Illustration: {A DOG IN A BASKET.}] + +"I don't think he meant to kill it," said the grandpa. + +"Very likely not," said the father, "but I must teach him not to run +at the geese. Come here, sir," he said to Bose. + +[Illustration: {A DOG WITH A BLANKET WRAPPED AROUND HIM.}] + +Bose felt very badly. He crawled slowly along. He couldn't say, "I +didn't do it; please don't whip me," as a little boy or girl can. He +could only look up to his master with soft, begging eyes. But little +Patsy was looking in at the door. Little Patsy loves Bose dearly; and +of all the family Bose best loves Patsy. They are always playing +together. + +[Illustration: {A DOG SITTING.}] + +"Oh, please don't whip Bose," cried Patsy. "I don't believe he did it. +Nobody saw him do it," and she begged so hard her father said he would +only tie Bose up. He would not whip him till he was sure he had killed +the goose. That night Patsy cried herself to sleep. It almost broke +her heart to think that on the morrow Bose might have to be whipped. +Suddenly in the night she heard a queer, soft voice say, "I don't +believe he did it. I wouldn't kill a goose." Patsy opened her eyes and +found herself in a room full of dogs. The voice came from a wee doggie +wrapped in an eider down quilt. + +"Very good reason why; you couldn't," barked another little fellow. He +had a head that looked as if it were bald, and large soft ears, and he +was peeping out of a basket. + +[Illustration: PROSPECTIVE PUNISHMENT.] + +[Illustration: {A FLUFFY DOG.}] + +"Raw goose, faugh!" said a dainty doggie, who had a blanket pinned +carefully around him. "I like my poultry well picked and cooked." + +"That's so. So do I," rejoined a fierce scrap of a dog. He wore a +collar and little silver locket, and cocked his ears. + +"People are always saying dogs do things," said a tousled terrier, +whose hair had tumbled over his eyes, so he couldn't see a thing. "The +cat ate the cream the other day and cook said I did it. I hate cooks." + +[Illustration: {A DOG LYING DOWN.}] + +A grave-looking dog opened his mouth and spoke. He must have been a +lawyer among dogs. Patsy thought he looked like Judge Drake. He spoke +slowly. "If Bose had never chased the geese even in play, his master +would never have suspected him. A great deal depends on a dog's +character. But I don't think he killed the goose." + +"I _know_ he didn't," spoke up a big splendid dog. "Bose is a good +fellow!" Then all the dogs barked out, "Hear! hear!" so loudly that +Patsy awoke. The dogs had vanished; the morning sun was shining. She +heard her father call, "Patsy, come and see the fox! We've trapped the +rogue. It was he that killed the goose!" + +[Illustration: {A DOG LYING DOWN.}] + + + + +[Illustration: {THE BAKER AND FRIENDS OFFER BEER TO THE HORSE.}] + +A TEMPERANCE HORSE. + + +He belongs to a baker. His master went into a restaurant to deliver +some pies. I was sitting at a window opposite. He stayed so long in +the place that I thought he had forgotten his faithful beast. + +After a while he came out carrying a great mug full of foaming beer. +There were two other men with him. All their faces were red, and they +walked unsteadily, and they were laughing loud, and shouting. Then the +baker went up to his beautiful horse, and offered him the beer to +drink. + +Do you suppose he took it? No, indeed! He gave it one sniff from his +smooth, brown nostrils. Then he turned his head away with a jerk so +sudden that he knocked the glass, beer and all, upon the pavement. He +looked at his master as if to say, "Don't insult me again in that way, +sir!" + +So his bad master had to pay for both the beer and the glass. + +Wise old horse, he was not afraid to give his opinion of beer. + + CLARA J. DENTON. + + + + +[Illustration: {TWO CHILDREN FLYING KITES.}] + +HOW THE WIND BLOWS. + + + High and low + The spring winds blow! + They take the kites that the boys have made, + And carry them off high into the air; + They snatch the little girls' hats away, + And toss and tangle their flowing hair. + + High and low + The summer winds blow! + They dance and play with the garden flowers, + And bend the grasses and yellow grain; + They rock the bird in her hanging nest, + And dash the rain on the window-pane. + +[Illustration: {A GARDEN WITH BEEHIVES.}] + +[Illustration: {HAYSTACKS IN A FIELD.}] + + High and low + The autumn winds blow! + They frighten the bees and blossoms away, + And whirl the dry leaves over the ground; + They shake the branches of all the trees, + And scatter ripe nuts and apples around. + + High and low + The winter winds blow! + They fill the hollows with drifts of snow, + And sweep on the hills a pathway clear; + They hurry the children along to school, + And whistle a song for the happy New Year. + + M. E. N. H. + +[Illustration: {CHILDREN IN A SNOWY FIELD.}] + + + + +DIME AND BETTY. + + +Bow-wow! Who are you? I am only a little dog. My name is Dime. I am +not a cross dog. I have been a pet dog all my life. Shall I tell you +what I can do? I can sit up and beg. I can shake hands. I can jump +over a stick, O yes; and I can run very fast. I can run as fast as +Pomp, the baker's dog; and Pomp is a big dog. + +[Illustration: {DIME AND POMP RACING EACH OTHER.}] + +I like to run races with Pomp. He never bites a little dog. We like to +run after birds. But we never catch any birds. They fly away when we +come near. I wonder how the birds fly. Pomp and I cannot fly. + +My master has a cow. Her name is Betty. She is a good cow. She gives +nice, white milk. I do not care much for milk. I like a bone better. +But old Tab, the cat, likes milk. I like to see Tab drink milk. She +laps it up very fast. + +I drive Betty to pasture every day. John goes with me to shut the +gate. John is the boy who milks the cow. I wish I could open and shut +that gate. Then John would not go to the pasture. I should like to go +all alone. I think it would be fine. + +[Illustration: {DRIVING BETTY TO PASTURE.}] + +I take good care of Betty. When any one comes near her, I say, +"Bow-wow" very sharply. + + S. E. SPRAGUE. + + + + +[Illustration: {BOBBY AND THE RAM.}] + +SAVED FROM FREEZING TO DEATH. + + +When Bobby Smart was six years old, he was left to the care of his +Uncle James, who lived in the country. His aunt took him to his future +home, and at the depot he saw his uncle for the first time. + +Bobby was lonely and sad; his uncle often treated him with harshness +and even cruelty. The cold winter had come on early. Bobby was the +only boy about the farm, and he had to work very hard. His clothing +was unfit for the winter weather, and he often suffered from the cold. + +Among the duties which this poor boy had to perform was that of +tending a flock of sheep. One afternoon, when there were signs of a +snow-storm, he was sent to drive the flock to the barn. He started for +the field, but his clothes were so thin that he was benumbed by the +intense cold. He sat down on a large rock to rest himself. He felt +strangely tired and cold. In a little while he began to feel drowsy. +Then he thought it was so nice and comfortable that he would stay +there awhile. In a very few moments he was asleep, and perhaps +dreaming. + +Suddenly he was aroused by a tremendous blow which sent him spinning +from his perch on the rock to the ground. Looking about him, he saw an +old ram near by. The creature looked as though he had been doing +mischief, and Bobby was no longer at a loss to know where the blow +came from; but he thought the attack was an accident, and in a short +time he was again in the land of Nod. + +Again the ram very rudely tumbled him over into the snow. He was now +wide awake, and provoked at the attack of the beast. He began to +search for a stick to chastise his enemy. The ram understood his +intention, for he turned upon Bobby as if to finish the poor boy. +Bobby was forced to take to his heels, and ran towards home. + +The ram chased him, while the rest of the flock followed after their +leader. The inmates of the farm-house were surprised to see Bobby +rushing towards the house as fast as his little legs would allow him. +His hair was streaming in the wind, and he was very much terrified. +Close upon him was the old ram, kicking up his heels in his anger. +Behind him could be seen a straggling line of sheep doing their best +to keep up. + +[Illustration: {THE RAM CHASES BOBBY.}] + +Bobby won the race, however. His uncle came out in time to turn the +flock into the barn. It was a long time before Bobby would venture +near the ram again. + +Bobby knows now that but for the efforts of that old ram in knocking +him from his seat on that bitterly cold day he would have been among +the angels in a very short time. The sleepy feeling which overcame him +would have ended in death. + +Bobby declares that the ram knew all the time what ailed him, and that +he butted him from the rock on purpose. I cannot explain it, but do +know that "God moves in a mysterious way his wonders to perform." + + MRS. F. GREENOUGH. + + + + +LILY'S GARDEN. + +[Illustration: {A VASE OF DANDELIONS.}] + + +There was only a little piece of garden belonging to Lily's home in +the city. In the bright spring days she went out there, and watched to +see if any flowers came up. She felt happy when she found the first +blades of grass. + +The poet sings that "his heart dances with the daffodils." Lily's +heart danced, one morning, when she found a dandelion among the +grasses in her yard,--a real yellow dandelion, with all its golden +petals spread out. + +Just then, one of her playmates looked over the fence, and put out her +hand. + +"Do give it to me," she said. "I sha'n't like you a bit, if you don't: +I shall think you are just as stingy--" + +"But it's all I have," said Lily; "I can't give it away. I can't. Wait +till to-morrow, and there'll be some more out. They're growing. +There'll be some all round to-morrow or next week." + +"To-morrow! I want it now, to-day," said her friend, "to-day's better +than to-morrow." + +Lily looked at the child and then at the dandelion. "I suppose it +would be mean to keep it," she said, "but it is so lovely--_can't_ you +wait?" + +"Oh, well, keep it, you stingy girl!" + +[Illustration: {THE LITTLE GIRL ASKS FOR THE DANDELION.}] + +"Come and pick it yourself, then," said Lily, with tears in her eyes. + +The next day, when Lily went into the yard, there were a dozen golden +dandelions, like stars in the grass, and a little blue violet was +blooming all alone by itself. + + MARY N. PRESCOTT. + + + + +[Illustration: {A GIRL AND BOY WALK ALONG A ROAD.}] + +WHERE? + + + Where is the honey-bee? + Where has the swallow flown? + Only the chickadee + Chirrups his song alone. + + Where is the bobolink, + Bubbling with merriment? + What was the road, think, + The gadding fire-fly went? + + Whither flew the little wings + Grown in green forest aisles? + Where are the pretty things + That blossomed miles on miles? + + MARY N. PRESCOTT. + + + + +[Illustration: {THE GOAT ON THE RAILROAD TRACK.}] + +A GOAT IN TROUBLE. + + +A few weeks ago, as I was crossing a railroad track just outside of +the city, a little goat stepped before me. With a sad cry, she seemed +to ask me to stop. I turned aside to pass on, but she kept brushing +against me, until I finally decided to find out what she wanted. + +The goat had wandered from her usual browsing place. In crossing the +railroad track she had caught her chain on a rail, and could not get +away. I stooped down and let her loose. Then she pressed against me as +if to thank me, and bounded off quickly to her old pasture. + +If we would always listen to the cries of animals in distress, we +might do a great deal of good. Just after I had released the goat, a +train of cars came rushing along, and she would certainly have been +killed if I had not attended to her. + + L. B. P. + + + + +[Illustration: {THE BIRD SINGING.}] + +A NEGRO MELODIST. + + +It has often been remarked that in the bird world the rule is for the +males to have the brilliant plumage, with all the beautiful colors and +for the females to be the dowdy ones--a rule which would entail a +revolution in fashions, startling and ludicrous, if it were to be +introduced for variety among our own kind. Again, gaily-dressed birds +have the least pleasing song--the screaming jay bearing an unfavorable +comparison with the thrush--and the modestly-attired nightingale +having furnished, in all ages, a brilliant example of virtue +unadorned. The nightingale, however, leaving before the climate has +become objectionable, we must praise its musical accomplishments +rather as being those of a distinguished guest, or foreign _prima +donna_, than of an indigenous artist. But we have another bird who +_is_ always here, facing winter's blasts in addition to summer's +bloom, who in voice stands unrivaled; no competitor approaching any +where near him for fluency, richness, and liquid melody of song--to +wit, the blackbird. + +This negro melodist seldom spares his lungs at all until winter is far +advanced into its New Year months; and even amid the bitter mornings +of January, his rich, unfaltering notes can sometimes be heard. His +coat is a glossy black, always cleanly brushed, and in the case of one +family, sometimes called the "Red-wing," with a gorgeous scarlet lapel +on either side. + + + + +TIME ENOUGH. + + + Two little rabbits out in the sun; + One gathered food, the other had none. + "Time enough yet," his constant refrain; + "Summer is still just on the wane." + + Listen, my child, while I tell you his fate: + He roused him at last, but he roused him too late. + Down fell the snow from a pitiless cloud, + And gave little rabbit a spotless white shroud. + + Two little boys in a school-room were placed; + One always perfect, the other disgraced. + "Time enough yet for my learning," he said; + "I will climb by-and-by, from the foot to the head." + + Listen, my darling--their locks are turned gray; + One, as a governor, sitteth to-day. + The other, a pauper, looks out at the door + Of the alms-house, and idles his days as of yore. + + Two kinds of people we meet every day; + One is at work, the other at play, + Living uncared for, dying unknown.-- + The busiest hive hath ever a drone. + + Tell me, my child, if the rabbits have taught, + The lesson I longed to impart in your thought. + Answer me this, and my story is done, + Which of the two will you be, little one? + + + + +THE MOUSE WEDDING. + + +Dick Sly was the smartest mouse in Mousetown. He knew any kind of a +new trap that was set to catch him, and he always warned the rest. The +houses in Mousetown are called "holes," you know. Next to the hole +where Dick lived with his parents was the hole where pretty Nan Spry +lived. She could run faster than any mouse in Mousetown; even Dick +could not catch her, if she tried to run away from him. At last it was +told in Mousetown that Dick and Nan were to be married, and every body +said, "What a grand pair they'll make." Judge Mouse, who married them, +put on his best gold spectacles, and they were married on a big +wedding cake, which some folks called a "cheese." Every one in +Mousetown had a bit of it, and declared it to be the best wedding cake +they had ever eaten. + + + + +SHE HAD NEVER SEEN A TREE. + + + They took the little London girl, from out the city street, + To where the grass was growing green, the birds were singing sweet; + And every thing along the road, so filled her with surprise, + The look of wonder fixed itself, within her violet eyes. + + The breezes ran to welcome her; they kissed her on each cheek, + And tried in every way they could, their ecstacy to speak, + Inviting her to romp with them, and tumbling up her curls, + Expecting she would laugh or scold, like other little girls. + + But she didn't--no she didn't; for this crippled little child + Had lived within a dingy court, where sunshine never smiled; + And for weary, weary days and months, the little one had lain + Confined within a narrow room, and on a couch of pain. + + The out-door world was strange to her--the broad expanse of sky, + The soft, green grass, the pretty flowers, the stream that trickled by; + But all at once she saw a sight, that made her hold her breath, + And shake and tremble as if she were frightened near to death. + + Oh, like some horrid monster, of which the child had dreamed, + With nodding head, and waving arms, the angry creature seemed; + It threatened her, it mocked at her, with gestures and grimace + That made her shrink with terror, from its serpent-like embrace. + + They kissed the trembling little one; they held her in their arms, + And tried in every way they could to quiet her alarms, + And said, "Oh, what a foolish little girl you are, to be + So nervous and so terrified, at nothing but a tree!" + + They made her go up close to it, and put her arms around + The trunk, and see how firmly it was fastened in the ground; + They told her all about the roots, that clung down deeper yet, + And spoke of other curious things, she never would forget. + + Oh, I have heard of many, very many girls and boys + Who have to do without the sight, of pretty books and toys-- + Who have never seen the ocean; but the saddest thought to me + Is that any where there lives a child, who never saw a tree. + + + + +A FUNNY HORSE. + + + Knock! Knock! Knock! I've been before this block + More than half an hour, I should say; + I am standing in the sun, while Miss Lucy lingers on, + Talking of the fashions of the day. + + It is a trick you know, she taught me long ago, + But now I am in earnest, not in play; + And the world is very wide, to a horse that isn't tied, + I've a mind to go and ask the price of hay. + + There's a nail in my shoe that needs fixing too, + And I want a drink more than I can say; + How I could run, with my dandy harness on! + But it's such a mean thing to run away. + + Rap! Tap! Tap! That's enough to break a nap-- + There she comes, and is laughing at the way + I brought her to the door, when she wouldn't come before, + That's a trick worth playing any day. + + + + +MRS. GIMSON'S SUMMER BOARDERS. + + +It was recess at the school-house at the cross roads, and three +country girls gathered round a companion, whose unhappy face showed +that something had gone wrong. + +"Is this your last day at school, Lucindy?" asked Carrie Hess, a girl +of fifteen, and the eldest of the three sisters. + +"Yes, this is my last day, thanks to the summer boarders. I can't bear +to think of them. I hate them!" + +"Will you have to work harder than you do now?" asked Freda, who was +next younger to Carrie. + +"I don't mind the work so much as I do their impudent airs, and their +stuck-up ways. I wont be ordered around, and if Auntie thinks I'm +going to be a black slave, she'll find she's mistaken." + +Lucindy's face flushed, and she appeared to be greatly in earnest. + +"I'd be glad to have them come to our house, they have such nice +clothes," said Lena, the youngest and most mischievous. + +"Yes, it's very nice, I must say, to go around in old duds, and have a +girl that's not a whit better in any way than you, only she's been to +a city school and has a rich father, turn up her nose at you, and +perhaps make fun of you, with her white dresses and her silk dresses, +and her gaiter boots." + +"Can't we come to your house any more? Can't we come to play?" asked +Carrie. + +"Oh, can't we come?" said the other two, almost in a breath. + +"No, Auntie told me this morning, that I must tell you and the rest of +the girls, that it wouldn't be convenient to have you come, as you +have done; you are not stylish enough for Miss Hattie Randolph to +associate with, I suppose." + +The girls looked really disappointed. Lucindy was a great favorite, +and a leader, fearless and successful in all escapades that required +originality and coolness, and her company would be sorely missed. Her +aunt had indulged her in all the dress and amusement she could afford, +and her companions had always been welcome to visit at the house, but +now there was a necessity for her services, and play could not be +indulged in so often for the rest of the summer, as the household +needed the avails, if not the presence of summer boarders. + +"Is she older than we?" asked Carrie. + +"No, but she's lived all her life in the city, and feels above +everybody. She and her brother and her mother will just take +possession of our piazza and door-yard, and our swing; and I can wash +dishes, and sit on the back door-step, and never see a girl from one +month's end to another." Here Lucindy burst out crying. + +"It's too bad," said Carrie. + +The little Lena, ever fertile in invention, crept near, and putting +her arms around Lucindy's neck, whispered: + +"We'll come to see you on the sly, and we can go down in the fields +and have fun, when your Auntie goes out for an afternoon." + +"I wish you would," said Lucindy. "And I'll bring down some cake and +pickles, and some honey, and we'll have a pic-nic in spite of Mrs. +Randolph!" + +This was a solution of the unhappy problem, and it seemed to throw a +ray of sunlight slantwise into the gloomy picture of the coming +summer. + +The progress of the afternoon at the school-house was not marked by +any unusual occurrence, and at the close, the little company of +schoolmates proceeded together, until they came to the road leading to +Lucindy's home. Here they parted, with many professions of everlasting +friendship; Lucindy, walking backwards, watched her companions until +the turn in the road hid them from view. + +Then she sat down upon a bank by the roadside under an old tree. +Throwing her slate and books down on the grass, she snatched a few +daisies that grew near, and thought of many things of a disquieting +nature, pulling the flowers to pieces. + +"I feel mad enough to run away!" she thought. "I could earn my living +easy enough in the city, and not have to work so hard either. Miss +Hunter can't teach me any thing more. I've learned all she knows. It's +just too bad not to be able to get more education. I'll just take my +own way, if Auntie crowds me too much. I don't care if she don't like +it. If my father and mother were alive, she wouldn't be my boss. I can +get on in another place with what I know about a good many things. + +"But oh, that girl that's coming has so much better times than I. +Those lovely city schools! no one can help learning there, they take +such pains with you." + +She looked down the road upon which the slanting red light of the +declining sun was shining, and there she saw a cloud of dust. This +road was not a great thoroughfare, and she knew that was the stage, +and it probably would bring the undesired summer guests. + +She shrank visibly back into the shadow of the tree as it came on, and +smoothed out her faded calico dress and pulled her sun-bonnet farther +over her face. + +The coach came rolling past, and a girl in the back seat directed the +attention of a fashionably-dressed lady to herself, she thought, and +laughed as though immensely pleased, at the same time pointing at her. +A little boy, who sat in the front seat with the driver, and who was +playing upon a harmonica, stopped, and looking in her direction, +laughed too. + +"It's my outlandish sun-bonnet they're making fun of," she thought. "I +suppose this is the beginning of it." + +[Illustration: SHE SAT DOWN ON A BANK BY THE ROADSIDE UNDER AN OLD +TREE.] + +Now this ungentle girl was mistaken in her surmise, as she was about +many things that caused her unhappiness. What the people in the stage +were really interested and amused with were a couple of lambs in the +field back of Lucindy, and their playful gyrations were a novel sight +to them, and they had come for the very purpose of being pleased with +country sights and experiences. Lucindy felt sure these were the +summer boarders, and, taking a short cut across the fields, arrived at +her aunt's just as the guests were alighting. + +Lucindy stood at the back corner of the house, and heard the sprightly +talk of Mrs. Randolph and the merry laugh of the daughter, as her aunt +bade them welcome, and she knew they were being conducted to the upper +rooms that had been prepared with such thoughtful reference to their +comfort. + +Her aunt came down very soon, and seeing Lucindy, bade her wash her +hands and smooth her hair, and put on a white apron, and prepare to +get ready the tea. This duty Lucindy had always done, and a little +curiosity, mingled with her other feelings, came to her, as to how the +boarders would like her aunt's puffy biscuit, and if the cold custard +and raspberry jam wouldn't be to their taste. If coffee and fricasseed +chicken would not be just the thing after an all-day ride, and +remarked to herself: "If they don't like such fare, let them go where +they'll get better." + +The tea passed off with great good feeling; the new people making a +most favorable impression upon her aunt, and impressing Lucindy with +the discovery that polite manners were a recommend to strangers, for +her aunt made gratified remarks from time to time as she came into the +kitchen. Lucindy would not wait upon the table the first evening, a +convenient head-ache being the excuse. + +Mrs. Gimson was a most kindly disposed person, and endeavored, in +every way, to make the time pass pleasantly to her guests; but all she +could say in their favor did nothing toward disposing the mind of her +niece to regard them with any toleration. She performed the household +duties that fell to her with a stolid indifference, or with an openly +expressed reluctance, and her aunt bore all kindly, explaining and +smoothing away what she could, promising Lucindy that she should have +a nice present of money when the guests departed. + +Hattie Randolph had not taken any notice of her, never really having +seen her, for Lucindy had positively refused to wait upon the table; +and had kept herself in the back-ground, thus making her life at home +more of a discipline than was necessary. She envied Hattie's graceful +ways and refined conversation; and her apparel was a revelation, not +of beauty, but of another source of jealous envy to the country girl, +for in putting the guests' rooms in order, she examined, critically, +the pretty things in the wardrobe. + +The city people found so much to interest them in the beauties of the +surrounding neighborhood, that they were out nearly all the time, and +when the evening came, Mrs. Randolph, with her son and daughter, made +a pleasant addition to Mrs. Gimson's parlors, with their graceful +talk, and numberless resources of entertainment. + +Lucindy, observant and sullen, kept herself informed of all their +movements, and was continually having the blush brought to her cheek +and the bitterness of comparison to her heart, as she noted the wide +difference there was between herself and them. It never once occurred +to this foolish girl, that this difference was growing more and more +every day, by the fostering of pride and an ignorant stubbornness, +which prevented her, utterly, from ever cultivating their envied +characteristics. + +It was a long time since she had seen any of her playmates from the +school, but by an ingenious contrivance, that had been thought out by +Lucindy, a tin box had been inserted into an old tree in a fence +corner, about midway between her home and the school-house, and in +this they deposited their notes to each other. + +[Illustration: MISS HATTIE RANDOLPH.] + +This was a solace to Lucindy, as all the happenings at the school +could be reported, and many a mis-spelled, soiled missive found its +way to the eager hands of the absent one. Not less interesting was the +news as to the doings of the boarders. Nothing, however trivial, that +happened not to accord with Lucindy's notions was overlooked in her +setting forth of grievances, and she found ready sympathizers in the +Hess girls. Carrie Hess stood under the old tree, one lovely morning, +overstaying her time in doing so, as the warning bell had rung at the +school-house, reading a note she had taken from the tree post-office. +Among other things, it communicated the welcome news, that herself and +sisters might come to the pretty knoll behind the house that +afternoon, and that Lucindy would take the occasion to make a holiday +for herself, as her aunt was going, after dinner, to look up fresh +butter and eggs, and would be gone until near tea time. + +Mrs. Randolph had hired a team, and with her family would be gone the +same length of time, for a ride. + +Carrie took a race to school, very much elated at the prospect of +enjoying Lucindy's company once more. Recess came, and after eating +their very generous lunch, they prepared to quietly put a considerable +distance between themselves and the precincts over which Miss Hunter's +authority extended. They were "skipping," as they termed it, and as +their parents would not know of it, they reveled in the forbidden +freedom. They proceeded over fences and across stubble fields, and +soon reached the coveted meeting-place. A wide-spreading tree, with a +wreath of apples upon it, just turning to a ruddy hue, was almost +completely surrounded at its trunk with hazel bushes, but on one side +they did not grow; this was away from the house, and toward the wheat +field. It was a natural bower, and into this they crept to await the +coming of Lucindy. + +They were not kept long in suspense, and when she appeared what a +hugging and kissing were gone through with! + +"Have your boarders gone for their ride?" asked Carrie. + +"Yes, and I thought they'd never get off. Old Mrs. Randolph fusses so, +you'd think she was going to a party every time she goes to ride. I +wonder who she expects to see on a country road?" + +"Sure enough. How was the girl dressed, Lu?" + +"Oh, she had on a light check silk, and a lovely brown jockey, trimmed +with pink satin ribbon rosettes and long ends at the back, and a +lovely, wide collar." + +"Don't you like her better than her mother?" asked Lena. + +"Well, she doesn't put on as many airs as her mother, and she's acted, +two or three times, as if she were going to speak to me, but I managed +not to let her. I don't want her acquaintance. I don't want any of her +coming down to me!" + +"I suppose they have nice things, that they've brought with them, in +their rooms," said Carrie. + +"Yes, Mrs. Randolph has an elegant blue satin pin-cushion, with +morning-glories and apple-blossoms painted on it, and a dressing-case +with white ivory combs and brushes, and they do your hair up lovely, +for I fixed mine in her room yesterday with them." This caused much +merriment. + +Lucindy proceeded to take from her pocket a pack of children's cards, +illuminated with gaily-dressed ladies and gentlemen, and queer-looking +figures of all kinds. These caused a sensation; they looked +incredulously at Lucindy, as she said: + +"These are the things that make them laugh evenings. If we knew how to +play them, we could have some of their kind of fun." + +They passed them to one another and examined them. They threw them +aside presently, and returned to the subject of never-failing +interest--the wardrobe of the boarders. + +Carrie and Lena intimated more than once, that if they could only see +something that city people really considered elegant, they would be +satisfied, and forever indebted to Lucindy for the sight. + +[Illustration: GRETCHEN TRAILING THE BEAUTIFUL MULL OVERSKIRT ON THE +GROUND.] + +"Oh, dear, if that will please you so much," said Lucindy, entirely +willing to gratify them, "I'll go and get one of Mrs. Randolph's +prettiest dresses and show you. It wont take me a minute." + +"Oh, do, Lucindy! we're just crazy to see it! She'll never know it," +said Carrie, with eagerness. + +Lucindy had no scruples whatever in procuring so coveted a pleasure +for her dear friends. She ran back to the house and up into Mrs. +Randolph's room. She fumbled over the dresses, and thinking it was as +well to take out two or three, that they might feast their eyes upon a +variety, she piled two silk dresses and an India mull upon her arm, +and hurried out. + +They dragged considerably upon the dusty path, but this was not +noticed, and the wild delight of the girls, when they really had them +in their hands, amply repaid Lucindy for any risk, she thought. + +They fingered them over, the bead embroideries and lace trimmings, and +examined the fashion of each with untiring interest. + +"Let's put them on!" said Carrie, "and see how we would look in +them." + +"We'll look sweetly stylish," said Freda. + +"Oh, do let us, Lucindy! Mrs. Randolph wont be back until evening. +It'll be such fun!" insisted Carrie. + +"All right, let us; I don't care how much fun we have with them, the +more the better," returned Lucindy. No sooner said than done; over +their clothing they stretched the dresses, and jerked and settled them +into the proper set. Shouts of laughter greeted every ridiculous pose +and awkward stumble, and certainly nothing could be more provocative +of merriment than their appearance. They trailed the dresses over the +stubble in mock dignity; they improvised a dance, and went through all +the grotesque changes they could invent. Their comments and jokes were +most spicy and personal, and in all Lucindy led. + +After a good time enjoyed in this way, the fun lost its point and +novelty, and they threw the dresses in a heap on the grass, and sat +and chatted over the gossip connected with the school at the cross +roads. The afternoon was wearing on, and Lucindy thought it time to +produce her good things, and taking up the dresses, ran along to the +house. + +In getting through the bars she dropped the mull overskirt and did not +perceive her loss. Gretchen saw it, and running after, brought it +back. Lucindy hung the dresses up in their places, certainly not +improved by the airing they had had; but chancing to look out of an +upper window, she was horrified to see down the road the identical +team that Mrs. Randolph had hired, and as true as the world, they were +coming home! + +She rushed down, and abandoning the lunch, ran as fast as she could to +the field, and as she approached, this was the sight that met her +gaze: + +Gretchen was strutting about with a dock leaf held over her head for a +parasol, and trailing the beautiful mull overskirt on the ground, +endeavoring to realize the feelings of a fine lady in a trailed dress. + +"Gretchen! Gretchen!" screamed Lucindy, as loudly as she dared. "Hide +it! hide it! Mrs. Randolph has come home!" + +Carrie jumped, and lifting Gretchen from it, secured the skirt, and +Lucindy grasped it and rolled it in a small ball and hid it in the +hazel bushes. Then they held a hurried consultation, and decided it +was best for Lucindy to go back immediately; but, as it was now +impossible to restore the skirt to its place in the wardrobe, they +urged her to put it in some unfrequented spot, until a favorable +opportunity came to get it back. Lucindy now feared her aunt would +arrive without warning, and, although loth to part without the long +anticipated treat, they walked quickly down the path by the fence +toward the road. + +"What on the face of the earth will I ever do with this thing?" +whispered Lucindy, for the first time betraying fear. "I can't get it +back to-night, that's as plain as the nose on your face. Oh, grief! +she may inquire after it as soon as I go in! It'll be just like my +luck for her to want to wear it to-night. Maybe she expects some one +to spend the evening with them, and that's what brought them back so +early. Let me see--Auntie will find it if I put it anywhere about the +house or barn; I must not be found out in this, because if I am, +Auntie wont give me the present she promised. I'll tell you, Carrie, +you take it and put it down the hole in the tree, under the tin box. +No one has ever found out that place; it will be safe there until I go +for it to-morrow." + +This was immediately decided upon, and the girls went sulkily home. +The skirt was forced down into the tree, and the tin box placed on +top, and they trudged slowly homeward. + +As Lucindy approached the house, she began to see more and more the +serious dilemma in which she was placed, and her face hardened visibly +as she thought. + +"I'll deny the whole thing if I'm cornered; perhaps Mrs. Randolph will +live through the disappointment of not wearing her dress for once. I +have to live all the time without such dresses." + +Just then she heard her aunt calling her, and she knew that some +unlooked-for occasion had brought them home before evening. + +"Lucindy, we must hurry up the tea; the folks are going to spend the +evening at Judge Brander's. The team is waiting to take them there. +Mrs. Randolph saw me in the village, and told me." + +Lucindy did not answer, but went in and about her duties as usual. +Presently Mrs. Randolph called for Mrs. Gimson to come up stairs, as +she wished to speak to her. Lucindy felt that now the discovery had +been made, and strengthening her purpose, to deny all, worked on, +quietly waiting for developments. + +In a few moments, her aunt came down in great excitement, and told her +that someone had been in the house, while they were away, and had +stolen Mrs. Randolph's elegant India mull overskirt, and had almost +ruined her other dresses, as the trimmings were broken and destroyed, +and some of them were gone entirely. + +"It must have been when I went for water; I noticed that there were +two tramps going down the road, a man and woman." + +"Oh, Lucindy, you should have locked the door!" + +"Why, aunt, I never lock the doors when I go after water. I suppose +you'll put the blame of it on me!" Here Lucindy began to cry. "I think +you are a very strange woman to leave no one but a girl alone in a +house, with such valuable things; it's a wonder the robbers didn't +kill me; my coming in frightened them away. I've no doubt they thought +it was the hired man," Lucindy continued to cry. + +Mrs. Gimson never suspected her niece of such systematic deception. +The well was a short distance from the house, and that accounted for +the fact that nothing else was missing, as they had not had time, and +also that the other dresses had been rudely dragged to get them down. + +She believed Lucindy's story. Mrs. Randolph could not account for the +plight in which she found her clothing, and bewailed her loss, as +being particularly annoying at this juncture. + +Nothing more was said, and, after taking tea, they started for the +Judge's, leaving Mrs. Gimson in a greatly perturbed state of mind. She +knew that this unfortunate thing would get abroad and discourage +patrons. Desirable boarders would avoid her house in future. + +Lucindy, never uttering a comforting word to her aunt, went up to her +room with an air of injured innocence that hurt her aunt quite as much +as any thing she had undergone. During the early part of the evening a +violent thunder storm came up, and Mrs. Randolph did not return. The +next morning it still rained, and there was no excuse for Lucindy's +going out, and the dress could not be secured. Mrs. Randolph returned +at noon, and informed Mrs. Gimson that she had been invited to visit, +for the rest of the summer, at Judge Brander's, and would leave Mrs. +Gimson's the next day. + +Just as soon as Lucindy could be spared, she ran down to the tree +post-office, put a note into the tin box, and returned. This, Carrie +Hess got as soon as recess came, and the scheme worked out +successfully, as the event proved. + +Barry, Hattie's brother, was standing by the shrubbery gate, when a +little barefoot boy sidled up, and attracted his attention by his +curious behavior--he finally spoke: + +"I say, them Hitalyans stuffed yer mother's clothes inter a tree down +here; I found it this mornin'." + +"What do you mean?" asked Barry, not fully understanding the boy. + +"That ere tree, don't yer see?" and the boy pointed to the girls' +post-office, that stood out dimly down the road. + +"Is it there now?" asked Barry. + +"I do'no, I seed it there this mornin'." + +[Illustration: A LITTLE BAREFOOT BOY SIDLED UP AND ATTRACTED HIS +ATTENTION.] + +"Wait till I go and tell my mother," said Barry, and he ran into the +house. + +In a moment Mrs. Randolph and Mrs. Gimson were at the gate, but the +boy had disappeared. "Go down, Barry, and see if what he says is +true," said his mother. He ran off, and returning after a little time, +brought the overskirt, rolled up in a soiled bundle, as the rain had +soaked it and the decayed wood had stained it. + +"Yes, I think it must have been those tramps," said Mrs. Randolph. +"They hid it there, expecting to come for the rest of it the next day. +They'll be disappointed. I'll be gone." + +The boy was Carrie Hess's brother, and the ruse had worked; entirely +turning off all suspicion from Lucindy. + +Mrs. Gimson lost her summer boarders and Lucindy returned to school. +This unprincipled girl, however, learned the hard lesson, in her after +life, that ingratitude to benefactors, and unfaithfulness to trust, +meet a sure retribution, even if they appear to succeed. + + + + +[Illustration: A MIDNIGHT ATTACK.] + + + + +[Illustration: {AS NIGHT CAME DARKLY DOWN--BIRDS; A WOMAN AND CHILD; + TREES.}] + +[Illustration: {A CHERUB AND BIRDS.}] + +AS NIGHT CAME DARKLY DOWN. + + + The night came darkly down; + The birdies' mother said, + "Peep! peep! + You ought to be asleep! + 'Tis time my little ones were safe in bed!" + So, sheltered by her wings in downy nest, + The weary little birdlings took their rest. + + The night came darkly down; + The baby's mother said, + "Bye-low! + You musn't frolic so! + You should have been asleep an hour ago!" + And, nestling closer to its mother's breast, + The merry prattler sank to quiet rest. + + Then in the cradle soft + 'Twas laid with tenderest care. + "Good-night! + Sleep till the morning light!" + Whispered the mother as she breathed a prayer. + Night settled down; the gates of day were barred + And only loving angels were on guard. + + JOSEPHINE POLLARD. + + + + +GRANDMOTHER'S CLOCK. + + + It stands in the corner of Grandma's room; + From the ceiling it reaches the floor; + "Tick-tock," it keeps saying the whole day long, + "Tick-tock," and nothing more. + + Grandma says the clock is old, like herself; + But dear Grandma is wrinkled and gray, + While the face of the clock is smooth as my hand, + And painted with flowers so gay! + + Backwards and forwards, this way and that, + You can see the big pendulum rock: + "Tick-tock," it keeps saying the whole day long, + "Tick-tock, tick-tock, tick-tock!" + + The clock never sleeps, and its hands never rest + As they slowly go moving around; + And it strikes the hours with a ding, ding, ding, + Ding, ding, and a whirring sound. + + I wonder if this is the same old clock + That the mousie ran up in the night, + And played hide-and-seek till the clock struck one, + And then ran down in a fright. + + Backwards and forwards, this way and that, + You can see the big pendulum rock; + "Tick-tock," it keeps saying the whole day long, + "Tick-tock, tick-tock, tick-tock!" + + NELLIE M. GARABRANT. + +[Illustration: {A SPRAY OF LEAVES AND FLOWERS.}] + +[Illustration: {A LITTLE GIRL AND A WOMAN BY A GRANDFATHER CLOCK.}] + + + + +A STUFFED JUMBO. + + +Yesterday, Alice met the stuffed Jumbo, her former mate. She walked +slowly up to him, and then stood for a few moments, evidently +surveying him with wonder. Then she swung her trunk so as to reach +Jumbo's mouth. She also touched his trunk in a cautious manner, and +then turning her back upon him, gave vent to a groan that made the +roof of the garden tremble. William Newman, the elephant trainer, +Frank Hyatt, the superintendent, and "Toddy" Hamilton, talked to her +in their usual winning way, and she again faced Jumbo. She fondled his +trunk, looked straight into his eyes, and again she groaned, and then +walked away as though disgusted with the old partner of her joys and +sorrows. She went back to her quarters and continued to mourn. Her +keeper, Scott, was appealed to by the spectators. He was asked whether +he believed that she recognized Jumbo, and he replied in all +seriousness, "Of course she did. She told me so." At another time he +said, "I can understand elephant talk, and Alice told me she +recognized Jumbo." Scott seemed very much affected by the meeting. He +was Jumbo's old keeper.--_Humane Journal._ + +[Illustration: JUMBO MAKING HIMSELF USEFUL.] + +[Illustration: SCENE AT AN ELEPHANT MARKET.] + + + + +[Illustration: {FLORAL PATTERN.}] + +THE TREES IN SILVER LAND. + + + O softly falling flakes of snow + That fill the wintry air,-- + A thickening cloud on every side, + Each flake a wonder rare. + +[Illustration: {A WOMAN AND CHILD LOOK OUT OF A WINDOW.}] + + "Are they from trees in Silver Land?" + My child is asking me. + He claps his hands, he laughs, he begs, + "One leaf from silver tree." + + Such questions as he asks in vain + About the leaf-like snow! + He might as well talk of the tides + That strangely come and go. + + "Who plants those fairy trees?" he asks, + "With tops that reach so high?" + Oh, answer, Garden of Delight, + All in the cloudy sky! + + "Who shakes those trees and sends their leaves + On field and wood and town? + Is it the Gardener living there, + Or winds that blow them down?" + + O child, look up and see yourself, + The clouds are Silver Land. + Who made those flakes, He scatters them; + They fall at His command. + + They fall, they melt, they come again. + And His the gardener's hand + That gently shakes the silver trees + Which grow in Silver Land. + + REV. EDWARD A. RAND. + + + + +[Illustration: LINCOLN'S EARLY HOME.] + +SMALL BEGINNINGS. + + +Did you ever think of how lowly was the start in life of many of our +great men? Read the pages of history and you will find that fully +seven out of ten of the great men were really poor. Bonaparte used to +be a book agent, Gould was a surveyor, Franklin was a printer, +Garfield worked on the tow path, Lincoln was a rail splitter, Grant +was a tanner, Poe was always in financial distress; Crome, the great +artist, used to pull hair from his cat's tail to make his brushes; +Astor came to New York with nothing as the foundation of his fortunes. +The list is almost endless. + +To us, there is much encouragement in these facts. By looking into the +lives of such men we find the secret of success. Lincoln was a poor +Illinois farmer, with no visionary dreams of his great future. He was +poor and unlearned. Of the poverty he was not ashamed; of his lack of +learning he was by no means satisfied. He resolved to gain knowledge. +He studied, studied hard, and at a time in his life when other men +felt they had passed the age of schooling. Of his work, we find he +always tried to give an honest day's labor; his motto was to do well +everything he put his hands to. It was this trait of character that +attracted the attention of his neighbors, and this it was that first +started him on the road to great success. + +[Illustration: GRANT'S HOUSE, NEAR ST. LOUIS.] + +Look at the early days of Grant. There was no indication of unusual +brightness in him. At West Point, where he was sent to military +school, he did not stand at the head of his classes. He only seemed an +earnest worker, with plenty of determination. Later, when he lived on +his little Illinois farm, there was nothing about him that pointed him +out as the future great general. It was only when the great civil war +broke out that he had an opportunity to show the kind of a man he was. +His only thought was to accomplish the task assigned him, be it ever +so difficult. This naturally found him in the line of promotion, and +step by step he climbed higher, earning by hard work every step he +gained, until he reached the highest office in the land. + +Take Edison, the inventor. He was only a tramp telegrapher, but he was +not satisfied with being anything but the best, and many are the +stories of speed he attained in sending or receiving messages. He was +inquisitive--wanted to know more of the mysteries of the electricity +that carried his messages. He began experimenting, and by close +application to his studies, has astonished the world with his +telephone, phonograph and other inventions. + +Now, these great men are not merely the products of chance. Not at +all. Study each of them and you will find they were workers, gaining +by just such struggles as you and I can make. We may not reach such +distinction as these have reached, but rest assured there is just as +great a demand now as ever for good, earnest men, and earnest, +successful men grow from painstaking boys. The boy who, as clerk in +the counting-house, watches after the interests of his employers, will +be the coming merchant; the young man on the farm who slights not the +work assigned him, will own a farm of his own. + +Let this lesson make an impression. The road to success may be rugged, +but it is not so steep but that enough steps, if in the right +direction, be they ever so short, will in time carry you a long way +toward the top. + + + + +[Illustration: {A MOUNTAINOUS LANDSCAPE.}] + +GARDEN OF THE GODS. + + +This, one of the grandest of American natural sceneries, is located +along the Colorado River. The river, in its years and years of +flowing, has washed out the soil, and owing to the peculiar +composition of the ground has washed it away unevenly, and these +standing peaks are so numerous and so fantastic in form, that this +location has been called the Garden of the Gods. It is most impressive +and inspiring grandeur. A trip will well repay a journey from the most +remote parts of our country to see this view, only a little of which +is in the engraving. + + + + +[Illustration: A STRANGE STUDIO.] + +YOUNG ARTIST. + + +Albert, the blacksmith's son, will be an artist some day. While other +boys are playing ball or skating, or other amusements, Albert is using +his time making pictures. He seems to delight in it, and even when +quite a small boy, many were the scoldings he received from his +parents for a too free use of his chalk and pencil, leaving his rude +drawings on wall and fences; and in school his troubles were only +increased, for his books always contained pictures, sometimes of +horses, or dogs, or of his friends. This habit did not correspond with +his teachers' ideas of tidiness, and punishment followed punishment. +It did not help matters, though, and his drawing continued. In time he +became quite apt and could make pictures that very closely resembled +the objects he drew. His companions called him the "artist," and they +would have him make pictures of them. Some of his methods were odd +enough. To make an outline of a boy's face he would tack a piece of +paper on the side of a door in his father's shop, and by placing the +boy between the paper and a lighted lamp, would trace with pencil the +outline of the shadow as it fell on the paper. Soon he tried painting +with paint and brush. At first his efforts were crude, and to anyone +less determined and enthusiastic, discouraging. Not so to Albert. He +worked along day after day, and in time could paint well enough to +attract some notice in his little village. + +About this time a great artist from the city, spending the summer in +this part of the country, heard of Albert, and by accident met him. +Quick to perceive the natural talent of the boy, and being generously +inclined, he offered to take him to his city home and give him +training in his studio. The parents, though loth to be separated from +their son, saw here an opportunity to educate him in his favorite +study, and so accepted the offer. + +You can well imagine Albert's surprise and delight when he first +entered the studio and saw the work of the master. How the great +paintings filled him with wonder. He proved an apt student, a true +artist, and year after year worked with patience and determination, +and became a noted painter. + +He often thinks of his early days--of the pictures he made in the old +blacksmith shop. He thinks, too, of the years spent since then in +attaining prominence in his calling, but no regrets come to him. + +The true story of how one boy succeeded can be of use to others. It +only takes this same perseverance and pluck to succeed in any other +calling. Had he complained because he could not paint like the master, +and not been contented to study on during these years, he could not +now lay claim to his present success and eminence as an artist. Let +others, in reading this, see in it an object, and may it bring to them +new resolve to succeed in the life work they have started on. + +Life is what we make it, and not a matter of chance. By marking out a +future success we expect to accomplish,--by sticking closely to this +one idea, and bending every energy to attain it, we can come +approximately near accomplishing our undertaking. + +[Illustration: {ORNAMENTAL PATTERN.}] + + + + +A CHANCE WORD. + + +Ralph and Lily had one game of which they never tired, and that was +"horses." It was really a convenient game, for it could be played on +wet or fine days, in the nursery or on the road. Perhaps it was best +fun on the road, "like real horses;" but I am not sure, for it was +very delightful to sit on the nursery table, with the box of bricks +for a coachman's seat, and from that elevated position to drive the +spirited four horses represented by the four chairs, to which the +reins would be fastened. + +One day--a fine day--the two children were playing at their usual game +on the turnpike road, and waiting for nurse, who had gone into a +cottage near by to speak to the washerwoman. Nurse was a long time, +and Ralph, who was horse, was quite out of breath with his long trot +on the hard road. Lily touched him up with the whip, but all to no +avail--he could run no more. + +"I've no breath left," said the poor horse, sinking down exhausted on +a heap of stones. + +Lily put down the whip and patted his head to encourage him. "Soh! +soh!" she said, in as good an imitation as she could manage of the way +the groom spoke to their father's horse; "you are quite done, I see. +You must rest, and have a handful of oats," and she dived into her +pocket and produced a bit of biscuit, which the horse ate with great +satisfaction, and soon professed himself ready to go on again. "Ah!" +said Lily, sagely, "I knew you'd be all right soon; there's nothing +like food and kindness for horses when they're tired." + +A tinker, with a cart and a poor, ill-fed beast harnessed to it, +happened to be passing, and heard the little girl's words. He stared +after her, for she seemed very small to speak so wisely, and the +tinker did not, of course, know that she was only repeating what she +had heard her father say. + +"Well, I'm dazed!" exclaimed the tinker, looking after the children; +"wherever did little Missy learn that?" + +He said no more then; but Lily's words stuck to him, and his poor +horse had reason to bless Lily for them, for from that day forward he +got, not only more food, but more kindness and fewer blows and so he +became a better horse, and the tinker the better man in consequence. + + + + +A LITTLE DANCE. + + + Oh, it is fun! Oh, it is fun! + To dress ourselves up, as Grandma has done. + See how we go! See how we go! + Forward and back, heel and toe. + + Lighter than down, our feet come down + Mind all your steps, and hold out your gown; + Faster than that, whatever may hap, + Cherry red waist and blue speckled cap. + + Hi! Master John! Ho! Master John! + Don't go to sleep, while the music goes on; + Faster than that! Faster than that! + Hold up your head, and flourish your hat! + + How she trips it along, that bright little maid, + With her dainty blue skirt and spotted brocade; + And that one in yellow, who wears the red rose + How she keeps her mouth shut and turns out her toes. + + How they do spin! when they truly begin; + Each dancer as airy and bright as a doll; + While the music complete, keeps time to their feet, + With its fiddle-dee-diddle and tol-de-rol-ol! + + Oh, it is fun! Oh, it is fun! + To dance, when every duty is done; + Forward and back, or all in a ring, + A quick little dance is a very gay thing. + + + + +[Illustration: {A PORTRAIT OF JOE; JOE AND CHARLEY BY A TREE.}] + +LOOKING OUT FOR NUMBER ONE. + +OLIVE A. WADSWORTH. + + + Joey was a country boy, + Father's help and mother's joy; + In the morning he rose early,-- + That's what made his hair so curly; + Early went to bed at night,-- + That's what made his eyes so bright; + Ruddy as a red-cheeked apple; + Playful as his pony, Dapple; + Even the nature of the rose + Wasn't quite as sweet as Joe's. + + Charley was a city boy, + Father's pet and mother's joy; + Always lay in bed till late; + That's what made his hair so straight, + Late he sat up every night,-- + That's what made his cheeks so white; + Always had whate'er he wanted, + He but asked, and mother granted; + Cakes and comfits made him snarly, + Sweets but soured this poor Charley. + + Charley, dressed quite like a beau, + Went, one day, to visit Joe. + "Come," said Joey, "let's go walking; + As we wander, we'll be talking; + And, besides, there's something growing + In the garden, worth your knowing." + "Ha!" said Charley, "I'm your guest; + Therefore I must have the best. + All the _inner_ part I choose, + And the _outer_ you can use." + + Joey gave a little laugh; + "Let's," said he, "go half and half." + "No, you don't!" was Charley's answer, + "I look out for number one, sir." + But when they arrived, behold, + On the tree a peach of gold, + All without, fair, ripe and yellow, + Fragrant, juicy, tempting, mellow, + And, within, a gnarly stone. + "There," said Joey, "that's your own; + As you choose, by right of guest, + Keep your choice--I'll eat the rest." + +[Illustration: {A PORTRAIT OF CHARLEY.}] + + Charley looked as black as thunder, + Scarce could keep his temper under. + "'Twas too bad, I think," said Joe; + "Through the cornfield let us go, + Something there, perhaps we'll see + That will suit you to a T." + "Yes," said Charles, with accent nipping, + "Twice you will not catch me tripping; + Since I lost the fruit before, + You now owe me ten times more. + Now the _outer_ part I choose, + And the _inner_ you can use." + + Joey gave another laugh; + "Better call it half and half." + "No, indeed!" was Charley's answer, + "I look out for number one, sir! + Well I know what I'm about,-- + For you, what's in; for me what's out!" + On they went, and on a slope + Lay a luscious cantaloupe, + Rich and rare, with all the rays + From the August suns that blaze; + Quite _within_ its sweets you find, + And _without_ the rugged rind. + + Charley gazed in blank despair, + Deeply vexed and shamed his air. + "Well," said Joey, "since you would + Choose the bad and leave the good; + Since you claimed the outer part, + And disdained the juicy heart,-- + Yours the rind, and mine the rest; + But as you're my friend and guest, + Charley, man, cheer up and laugh, + And we'll share it half and half; + Looking out for number one + Doesn't always bring the fun." + + + + +[Illustration: {AT WORK IN THE STUDIO.}] + +WOODCROFT. + + +Woodcroft to be sold!--like a knell of doom the words fell on our +ears--it could not be! Our dear old home, the only one we children had +ever known, to be taken from us. We sat in the bright little +sitting-room, blankly looking at one another, in dumb astonishment. +Louise, who was always the thoughtful one, soon roused herself from +the stupor which seemed to have come upon us all, and going over to +the lounge, began comforting--as best she could, poor child--our +gentle little mother, upon whom this blow had fallen most heavily. +Presently she sat up, and in trembling tones told us, as we clustered +at her knee, the particulars of our misfortune. + +There were three of us--Louise, Cal and I, who rejoiced in the quaint +cognomen of Pen, named for a rich, eccentric, old aunt, who had never +left me any money because she never died. + +"Now, Marmo, out with all the trouble and let us share it," said +matter-of-fact Cal. And then she told how, after papa's sudden death a +year before, she had discovered a mortgage to be on the place, small, +but now due and no money to meet it; the creditor was pressing, and +the home to be sold. We felt sad, but cheered her up, and talked over +ways and means as never before. + +"Even though he consents to renew it, where would the yearly interest +money come from," she wailed. + +We urged her to lie down and rest, and, following Cal's beckoning +finger, tip-toed out of the room. + +"Now, girls," said she, "_something's_ got to be done, and _we've_ got +to do it." + +[Illustration: "A TRIBUTE TO YOUR GENIUS, LOU," SAID I. "LIKE THE +FAMOUS ARTIST OF OLD, WHO PAINTED CHERRIES SO NATURALLY, THE BIRDS +FLEW DOWN AND PECKED AT THE CANVAS."] + +One thing after another was proposed and rejected; we knew, if the +home were sold, after the demands were met, there would be but a mere +pittance left for four females to live on. Finally I broke in: + +"Girls, my brain is not usually fertile, but a thought has been +growing--we are all well educated, but teaching is out of the +question, the supply is greater than the demand, but Lou, here, is +skilled with pencil and brush, and Cal has a genius for contrivance; +now why could you not paint and decorate some of the dainty trifles +you often make as gifts, and _sell_ them. _I_ always did have a notion +for cookery, which I shall proceed to put in practice, dismissing the +servants." Having delivered this little speech, I paused, breathless. + +Cal clapped her hands, and Lou's brown eyes glowed. "Pen, you little +duck," and Cal pounced on me in an excess of joy. + +"But," faltered Lou, "the mortgage." + +"I thought of that too--our lady-like Louise shall go to that crusty +old creditor, and beg him to _renew_ it, and with what you girls earn +and what we save from the rent of the farm land (for we must live +economically) we will pay him the interest promptly." I will add, that +she did that very thing, and completely won over the hard-hearted +fellow with her sweet, earnest manner. + +So to work we went, and the sitting-room was converted into a studio, +littered with papers, books, gay ribbons and glue-pots. But some +exquisite creations came out of that chaos. I had visited the +aforesaid Aunt Pen the previous winter, in New York city, and at the +American Specialty House had been enchanted with the many novel and +beautiful pieces of decorated work. All would be entirely new in +_this_ part of the world, and our idea was, to take orders from the +near towns for their Holiday trade. It was now only May and we would +have plenty of time. Cal, who, with her brusque, honest ways, +determined face, and curly, short hair, was our man of business, took +samples of our work in to the various towns, receiving large orders in +almost every instance. + +Happy and busy as bees we worked, and began to feel quite important, +as the pile grew high, of white boxes, filled with delicate satin +souvenirs for wedding and birthdays, Christmas tokens of lovely +design, little poems with dainty painted covers, blotters and thought +books, beautifully decorated, all of which found ready sale. The +little mother's sad eyes began to brighten, and Cal would say: + +"Marmo, we can take care of you almost as good as sons, can't we?" + +"God bless my daughters," would be the reply. + +Louise had established her studio under the old apple-tree one warm +June day, and, running out to call her to lunch, I found she had gone +down in the garden, but I saw the cutest, prettiest sight! I beckoned +her to come softly. There, on her sketch-book, opened against the +tree, and on which was a half-finished painting of birds, hopped +around two brown sparrows, peeping and twittering as contentedly as +possible. It was too cunning! as though they had recognized their +portraits and felt at home. + +"A tribute to your genius, Lou," said I. "Like the famous artist of +old, who painted cherries so naturally, the birds flew down and pecked +at the canvas." + +"I fear I shall have to dispel the illusion, dear. I guess they were +more eager to pick up some cake crumbs I left than to admire my work." + +Readers, you will be glad to know that the girls' work continued +successful, and that the "crusty old creditor" turned out a good +friend, from sheer admiration of their pluck and courage. + +[Illustration: {TWO LITTLE BIRDS.}] + + + + +[Illustration: {CLIMBING ROSES.}] + +IN THE WOODS. + + +Merryvale was not a very lively place for any one except a couple of +young colts, and as many calves, jumping around after their mothers. + +The bees seemed to be making a good deal of fun for themselves, if +stinging us children amused them, and buzzing into every pretty, +bright flower, so that no one could pick it with safety. + +The crows, too, collected in great gossiping parties, in the pines, +over on the shore of the pond, and they always seemed to be +congratulating themselves over something immensely satisfactory. + +But we children, especially the girls, found it very dull after we had +seen the few sights of the farm. The boys were trying to hunt and +fish; but Lib and I talked that over, and we came to the conclusion, +after much laughing and many caustic remarks, that the only amusement +we had was, laughing at their failures. + +We communicated that fact to them, but it didn't seem to make any +difference; off they went on the same fruitless hunt, and left us to +do what we might, to make ourselves happy. + +The next day, Lib and Dora and I told them we would go into the woods +with them and see what the charm was. Lib was the eldest of us three, +and had read a great deal, and she said: + +"May be we shall find the robbers' cave, and if we say, 'Open Sesame,' +the great stone doors will slowly swing open, and we can go in where +the chains of flashing gems and the heaps of golden coin are." + +"I think you'll get into places where you can't get out; 'open sesame' +will never lift you out of a marsh hole," said William Pitt Gaylord, +our eldest brother. + +"Mollie, you can find somebody to have a talking match with, for there +are lots of chipmunks over in the grove," remarked Hugh. + +"I've seen snakes in that very woods, too, and if you'd holler, Lib, +at that end of the pond, as you do at this end of the tea-table, you +wouldn't catch any fish," said William. This caused an uproarious +laugh on the part of the boys. + +We listened quietly to their sarcastic remarks, knowing they were +prompted by an unreasonable desire to monopolize the delights of the +woods to themselves. + +William Pitt remarked that "Girls had no business to meddle with boys' +sports, and they'd come to grief if they did; you'd see!" + +Next morning the August haze lay soft on the landscape, but in a +short time it went off, and Father, learning that we girls were going +to spend a part of the day in the woods, quietly told the boys that +they must escort us to the pleasantest place, and not wander very far +off. They pouted considerably, and had a talk at the corner of the +barn; they then came back, smiling, and apparently good-natured. + +[Illustration: {WALKING THROUGH THE FIELDS.}] + +Our brothers did not intend to be unkind, but they had the common +failing of humanity--selfishness. But Lib matched them in a dozen ways +with her good-humored retaliations; and many a tilt she had with +William Pitt since we had arrived at the farm. In the city she was +abreast of him in all his studies; and I noticed that Lib could get +out her Latin, and write a composition much faster than he, and often +he had been obliged to come to her for aid. It nettled Lib not to be +able to hunt and fish. We two younger ones modeled after her; she was +the leader, and when she said we would go with the boys, we went. + +"Hello Fred," said Hugh, as a neighboring boy, a city boarder, came +through the gate, attired in base-ball cap and knickerbockers, "we +can't go to Duck Inlet to-day. Father says the girls must have a good +time, too, and that we must devote one day to them, at least." + +"All right," said Fred, "can I go with you? I'll go and get my +butterfly net, and we can go over to Fern Hollow mill, the +winter-greens and berries are as thick there! Gracious! you can get a +quart pail full in no time. The mill-wheel is a beautiful sight," said +Fred, turning to Lib, "and you can sketch it, Miss Gaylord." + +Lib looked upon Fred with a little more toleration, after he had said +"Miss Gaylord," and went and ordered an additional ration to be put +into the lunch basket. We were glad to have Fred along with us, for he +was very funny, and made jokes on every thing. + +Lib would allow no one to carry the lunch basket but herself, as she +remarked, "It is safer with me." + +We started, and were tempted to loiter at all the little nooks on the +leaf-shadowed road, and investigate the haunts of the curious dwellers +in the rocks and bushes, and especially were we interested in the +ducks on Fern Hollow creek. Dora insisted upon feeding them a piece of +bread. "Calamity," the dog, was along, of course, and as he belonged +to William Pitt, who called him "Clam," he was always in that boy's +company. It was, "Love me, love my dog," with William; and as he was a +professional of some kind, he was greatly prized by the boys. + +We reached the woods and the old mill early; I think I never was in a +more delightful place. Every thing seemed to grow here. +Winter-greens, with their crimson berries, shining in the moss, and +blueberries, where the sun came; tall, white flowers that grew in +clusters in the shade, sent their perfume all about. Back of the mill, +on some sandy ledges, grew pennyroyal and spearmint; raspberries and +blackberries grew everywhere. + +[Illustration: {A STREAM RUNNING THROUGH FIELDS.}] + +The boys went off to gather a quantity for lunch, and Lib and Dora and +I hunted for a pleasant place to set out our dainties. We found it. A +natural bower, between four trees; one being a giant of a pine, right +at the doorway. The wild grape-vine and the woodbine had inclosed the +space so completely, that Lib, who had thoughtfully brought along a +scissors to cut off stubborn plants, could make two windows in the +green wall; one looking into the woods, the other off at the distant +pond. The grass was fine in here, and the sunbeams dropped down in +little round spots, on the pine needles that covered the floor. + +"This is certainly the fairies' dining hall," said Lib. + +"I'll tell you what," said I, "this is not far from home, and we can +bring things, and have a little parlor here. I can make a couple of +curtains out of that figured scrim, for windows, and that old square +rug in the carriage-house will do for the floor. You can bring your +rocking-chair, Lib, and Dora can bring her tea-set." + +"I'll bring our Christmas and Easter cards, and we can fasten them all +about, on the walls," said Lib, who had fallen in immediately with the +plan. + +"I'll bring Mrs. Snobley, and all her children, and the dining table," +said Dora. + +She had reference to her large doll, and a whole dozen of little ones, +that were always brought forward in any play that Dora had taken a +fancy to. + +We were in such haste to put our scheme into operation, that we +dispatched the lunch in short order, and told the boys of our plan. +They thought it was capital. Any thing that would release them, after +they had eaten all that was to be had, would, of course, be received +with acclamation. They acknowledged the same, in a very neat speech, +which Lib said, "did very good for Hugh." + +She fell in immediately with our fun, and helped us to a number of +nice things, to furnish our greenwood bower. We worked tremendously +that afternoon, and after Betty had washed the dinner dishes, she +helped us. Before sun-down every thing was complete. The boys, who had +taken themselves a mile away, to hunt, came round to visit us on their +way home. They agreed that it was just perfect, and inquired if we +hadn't put in an elevator, to reach the second story, with numerous +other inquiries, intended to be funny; and then asked where we kept +our cranberry tarts. + +"We're not going to allow any boys in this play-house after to-day," +said I; "your feet are muddy, and you're so big, you fill it all up." + +Our visitor, Fred, looked at his feet, and blushed. "Not after to-day? +How are you going to keep any one out?" inquired William Pitt. + +"We will draw this portiere across the doorway, and no _gentleman_ +would think of entering," said Lib. + +"No, they wouldn't, sure enough," said Hugh. "How are you going to +prevent our looking in the windows?" + +"Only rude boys would look in windows," said Fred, "and I don't know +of any hereabouts." + +They laughed at this, and Lib laughed too, and made the sly remark, +that "Hunting on the duck-pond transformed some people mighty soon." + +Fred said he'd try to be on his good behavior if we'd let him make a +formal call on us the next afternoon. We consented to this; then they +all said they'd call. + +The next day we busied ourselves in preparing a spread of good things +for our reception, and Betty took it over, and on returning, said +every thing was just as we had left it. We dressed ourselves up in our +best, to receive the gentlemen, a little time after dinner. The woods +were never so lovely, we thought, and to add to our personal charms, +we made wreaths and garlands of ferns and wild-flowers to adorn our +persons and hats. + +I had sauntered along considerably in advance, and as I approached the +bower I was not a little surprised to see from a distance that the +door-curtain was drawn half open. I stopped to listen, but there was +no sound, only a wild bird piping its three little notes, down by the +mill. I cautiously went up, and peeped into the little window, and +there stood a man on the rug! He seemed to be looking about. I think I +never was so frightened. I ran back, and whispered to the rest the +dreadful state of things. They looked horror-stricken. Lib changed +color, but just stood still. Then she said,--"There's plenty of help +over at the mill." + +"Oh, let us go no nearer, but get home as fast as we can," I said. + +Lib raised her hand in warning for us to keep still, and we crept +along, softly, behind the bower; and when we had gotten so far, we all +turned around and ran for dear life into the woods again. + +"This is nonsense," said Lib. "You were mistaken, Mollie, I'm sure." + +I said I'd go back with her, and she could see for herself. We crept +to the back of the bower, and Lib leaned over and looked in. Lib +turned pale, caught hold of my hand and Dora's, and ran quite a +distance toward the mill. Then she stopped, and said, as true as she +was alive, there was a man in there; he stood with a large stick +resting on his shoulder, upon which was slung a bundle, tied up in a +red handkerchief, his clothing was ragged, and his hat was very +dilapidated. + +"Oh, Lib, I'm going to run for it," said I. + +"Wait a minute," said she. "I don't hear any noise. Let's think; if we +didn't have to go right in front of the door, we could get to the +mill." + +All this time we were edging ourselves as far away from the dangerous +precincts as we conveniently could. She stood again, perfectly still. +"I won't go another step," she said. That moment's reflect had +re-instated her courage. "He don't come out; I should say that was +making an informal call when the ladies were out. He's a +beautiful-looking specimen anyway," said Lib, with fine irony; and as +she said this, she frowned, and put her head back. + +No sound was heard, and no demonstrations from the interloper were +made. The sight of the mill-wagon, going slowly down the road, gave us +heart, and Lib said: + +"I'll go and order him out, be the consequences what they may. +Mollie, you're good at screaming, you can bring the miller here if we +have to get help." + +"Don't! Don't! I would rather he stole all our things; let him have +the tarts and the cocoanut cake, and the jam, and the pickles, and the +cheese, and the sandwiches! Let him have them in welcome! I'm going to +fly home!" + +"I want Mrs. Snobley!" sobbed Dora. + +Lib never said another word. She walked up to the entrance, and pulled +aside the curtain, and there stood the semblance of a man. In his +extended hand was a card, on which was very badly printed: + + "_I'm a poor b'y,--I want a home._" + + "_References exchanged._" + + "_I'll scrape the mud off me boots, if ye'll let me + in._" + +Lib called, "Come here, Mollie, it's a trick of those boys." + +We went in, and there we found the interloper to be a scarecrow from a +neighboring field, ingeniously arranged so as to appear very human. + +At that moment, a loud laugh above our heads betrayed the presence of +the boys in the trees, who clambered down with hilarious expedition, +and fairly rolled themselves upon the ground with delight. They had +seen all our perturbation; had heard my cowardly cries and +expressions; Lib's looking in the window, and her fearful hesitation +and scamper behind the fairy bower! The best thing to do was to laugh, +and that we did right heartily; we girls, were internally thankful +that the intruder was only a scarecrow after all. + +We ordered the boys take their silly joke out, and to come in like +gentlemen, and make a formal call, and probably they would be invited +to take some refreshments. + +This news caused them to work with great alacrity. They were dressed +up too; Fred having chosen to wear his school uniform, with a gorgeous +crimson sash and his sword. + +We were never so delighted with any thing as with that afternoon's +adventure. For hours we chatted and laughed, and ate our refreshments, +until the western light began to take on a ruddy hue, and we closed +our little bower and proceeded homeward. + +What was our surprise, when we reached there, to find that three young +friends from the city with their servant had come to visit us. +Merryvale was not dull after that, I can assure you. + +[Illustration: THE NEW SERVANT AT MERRYVALE.] + + + + +AUTUMN LEAVES, AND WHAT KATIE DID. + +ALEX DUKE BAILIE. + + +"Oh, Bessie! I've such an idea, _such_ a good one, and _so_ sure, you +can't think how it came either, if you guessed and tried for a week!" + +"Child, you are always having ideas, but they amount to nothing; you +have enough to do at home, without continually fretting your head +about what you cannot carry out." + +"But, Bessie, this is _just splendid_, and it came to me all of a +sudden, and I'm sure as sure can be that it is a real _good_ idea. Now +wont you listen!" + +"I suppose I must, if I want any peace; but I'm very tired, so if it +is like your latest--to catch fish and sell them in the town, or to +have your curls cut off and let some city hair-dresser pay you for +them--there will be no use to tell it to me." + +"Tain't neither, Bessie dear, it's a real clever idea, and I know you +wont say 'no' to it. I was looking over some of the old picture papers +this morning, and I found a funny picture of a gentleman that had gone +fishing with, oh! the greatest lot of lines, and a fine rod, and a +basket swung at his back, and he looked ever so nice; but he hadn't +caught any thing and he was ashamed to go back to the city with an +empty basket; and then there was another picture where he was buying a +great string of fish from a bare-footed little country boy, that had +caught them all, and had only a rough old pole and an old line on it." + +"So it _is_ the fishing idea, again," said Bessie, "but the present +variation does not improve on the last." + +"No, it just ain't the fishing idea any more; it's this: you know all +the excursion parties that come up here, are coming all the time now; +well, the ladies all gather autumn leaves, lots and lots, handsful and +handsful of them. But they get tired of carrying so many after a +while, and by the time they get ready to go back to the cars, their +leaves are thrown away, and they are empty-handed. Now just listen! If +I go to work and pick out the _very_ prettiest leaves and do them up +in the _very_ sweetest bunches, and tie them so they are easy to +carry, and meet them when they are starting to go home, I'm _sure_ +they will buy them, just like the gentleman did the fish from that +boy. Now, ain't that a _real good_ idea?" + +"I believe there is something in it, Katie," answered the eldest +sister. + +"I knew you would," cried Katie, joyously, "and may I try it?" + +"If you will be very careful and not talk too much to the people you +know nothing of, I have no objections; it can do no harm, at all +events," and poor, tired Bessie sighed as she looked at her bright +young sister and thought of the time when she too was young and full +of hope and gay spirits. + +There was quite a family of these Wilsons in the little house at the +foot of the mountains, in Pennsylvania. The widowed mother, sickly and +almost blind; Bessie, a young lady, the eldest daughter, aged +twenty-three, who taught a very large school for very small pay; then +Katie not quite twelve, and Robbie, the baby, the pet, the boy, who +was only five. + +Three years before, their father had been living, and they had enjoyed +all that wealth could bring them. Suddenly he sickened and died, and +then came the dreadful knowledge that he left nothing for his family; +he was deeply in debt to his partner, with whom he had worked a large +coal-mine, and this Mr. Moore was what all people called a "hard man," +he was old and crabbed, and always wanted and would have every cent +coming to him. Bessie was to have been married to his son, Philip, but +when poverty came to her, the old man refused to let Philip see her +more, and the girl was too proud to go into a family where she was +not wanted, and, beside, she had her poor mother, who had given up +and failed fast after her misfortunes, she had her to look after. So +Bessie taught school; Katie attended to the little home into which +they had moved from the great house on the hill, a noble little +housekeeper she was; Robbie did about as he pleased and was well +content with life, except when neat Katie would seize him and wash his +face with plenty of soap in his eyes, and comb his tangled curls with +a comb that "allus pulled," as he cried. + +It was hard for them to pay the rent, to get food and the many +delicacies Mrs. Wilson had always been used to, and now needed more +than ever. Bessie's small wages from her school were taken, every +cent, for these, and Katie was continually bothering her young head +with "ideas" as to how _she_ could make money to help them all. The +autumn leaves were the latest, and it really did seem as though there +were something in it. + +The next day was Saturday, Bessie was free from school duties, and so +her little sister had more time at her disposal. Friday evening she +and Robbie gathered a great quantity of bright-colored leaves; the +next morning, bright and early, they were out again; the little back +porch was filled with them. + +With her own natural good taste, aided by Bessie's more cultivated +judgment, they made up many neat, beautiful bunches of those +bright-colored droppings from the forest trees. These she placed in a +large but pretty basket that once had been sent, filled with rare +fruit, to Bessie, from Philip, and the older girl sighed when she gave +it to her sister. + +Then Katie started, leaving Robbie behind crying; and with a trembling +heart and a big lump in her throat, but bravely as a little soldier, +she made her way to the path by which the excursion parties would have +to return to the cars. Soon they began to come along, all tired, +trying to be merry ladies and gentlemen. + +Katie stood with her basket on her arm. She did not know how pretty +she looked, with her brown curls floating out from beneath her big +sun-bonnet, her pure white apron, her dark dress which Bessie had made +from one of her own, with delicate bits of lace at the wrists, a +bright bit of ribbon about her throat and a plain little breast-pin +clasping it. Her big black eyes looked longingly at the passers-by, +her red lips tried, many times, to utter some words that would help +her sell her wares, but she could not speak, she could only up her +hand and _look_ her wants. + +"What lovely leaves!" cried a young lady, "these of mine seem all +faded by the carrying, and I'm tired of the great load anyhow," and +she threw away a great lot tied round with her handkerchief, and +hastened toward the little merchant. + +"What a pretty girl," said the young man with her. + +"How much are these?" inquired the lady. + +Bessie had not thought of what she would ask for her bunches, and now, +between pleasure and fright, she could not think of any price to put +upon them. + +"Whatever you please, Miss," she faintly murmured. + +"How lovely they are," said the lady, and taking three bunches, she +gave two to the young man with her, telling him: "Harry, you must +carry these, and pay the child," the third one she kept in her own +hand. + +The gentleman put his hand in his pocket, drew it out, and dropped +into Katie's basket a silver dollar. + +The tears almost blinded the little girl--tears of joy over her first +success--she could hardly see what the coin was, but when she picked +it up she managed to stammer that she "had no change." + +"Don't want any, little one," said the young man pleasantly, "the +sight of you is worth all the money and more." Then the couple hurried +away. + +But their stopping had attracted many more, and a dozen bought of +Katie, and, though few were as generous as her first customers, she +soon disposed of most of her stock at ten cents a bunch, having gained +courage to fix and state her price. Quite a number gave her more than +that sum, and she began to feel a very rich little girl, indeed. + +More than half her stock was sold, when an old gentleman and a young +lady came along. The lady, as usual, was the first to admire the +bright bunches, she took two, the old gentleman giving Katie fifty +cents and telling her that "was right." He seemed a cross old man, but +still spoke pleasantly. + +"What's your name, child?" he asked. + +"Katie Wilson, sir," replied the little girl, faintly. + +"Um! um! Come along Helen," said he, hastily, and hurried away. + +These were the last of the excursion parties, except an elderly lady +having in charge a dozen children, all dressed alike; little ones from +a soldiers' orphan school, for whom some kind person had provided a +day's pleasure. They were tired and worn out with romping, and dragged +along slowly; they looked at Katie's bright face and longingly at the +pretty leaves in her basket. The girl's heart was touched; timidly she +held out a bunch to a little boy who half stopped in front of her, he +took it eagerly; in a moment the others were about her. By good +fortune, she had enough to give on to each and an extra bunch to the +lady. + +With the thanks of these poor children in her heart, an empty basket +and a happy jingle in her pocket she ran nearly all the way home, +burst in on Bessie, put her arms about her neck and sobbed for +happiness. + +When the elder sister at last succeeded in calming her, she told the +whole story of her afternoon's work. + +Together they counted the money--three dollars and eighty-five +cents--just think of it! + +If ever there was a happy, excited little girl, it was Katie that +night. She could not sleep or eat. When she _had to_ go to bed, she +lay awake long, long hours, thinking how _she_ would buy back the big +house, how mother should have doctors and every thing she needed, how +Bessie should stop teaching and have a horse and little carriage, and +pretty dresses, and a piano, like she used to, and how Robbie should +go to school and college and grow up to be a great man and finally be +President. She never thought of herself, except that _she_ was to do +all this, and when she fell asleep she dreamed the whole thing over +again, and that it had turned out just as she planned. + +All through the excursion season Katie sold her leaves, and though she +never made as much as on the first day, yet when people stopped coming +she had over one hundred dollars in Bessie's hands, all made by +herself, all made by being up early and attending to her household +duties and working hard so as to have her bunches ready by the time +that visitors were returning to the train. + +She was brave, and true, and unselfish, and her reward was great. + +It was one chill November evening, toward Thanksgiving day, that she +and Robbie had wandered out among the mountain paths; the little +fellow was wild as a colt and ran here and there until it was all +Katie could do to keep track of him. Finally she caught him; both were +tired out, and when she looked around, to her great terror, she could +not make out just where they were. They wandered along and at last +came to a road, but she did not know which way to go. Robbie was cross +and sleepy; she could not carry the heavy boy, and he _would_ lay +down; at last she let him rest. He dropped by a fallen log and in a +moment was asleep. She covered him with a little cloth cape she wore, +and sat down beside him; her eyes were heavy, she nodded, and very +soon was as sound as he. + +Along the road came a thin, old, but active man; he stepped out firmly +and aided his steps with a stout cane. It was after dusk of the +evening. He spied something in the gloom, on the other side of the +road, something unusual; he crossed over; it was a little girl leaning +against a big, fallen tree and a small boy stretched on the ground +beside it; both were fast asleep. He touched the girl's shoulder; she +sprang up. "Oh!" she gasped, "don't hurt Robbie! We weren't doing any +harm, indeed we weren't." + +"What are you doing here any how?" he inquired. + +"It was Robbie, no, it was me, he was so sleepy and so was I, and we +were just resting until we could start and try to find home again." + +"Um! so you're lost, are you?" + +"No, sir, I guess not only--only we don't know the way." + +"Well, I should say that's pretty near being lost. Where do you live? +What's your name?" + +"We live in the old Mill cottage, and my name's Katie Wilson, and +Robbie's is Robert T. Wilson." + +"Um! um! Yes; well, I know where you live; come along, I'll put you +right. Come! wake up here, young man!" and he gently poked Robbie with +his cane. But Robbie was sleepy and cross, and cried and kicked, and +it was all Katie could do to get him on his feet and moving. Then as +they went slowly on, she holding her brother's hand, her own in that +of the stranger, he asked her: "Weren't you frightened to be out all +alone?" + +"Why, no, sir," she answered. "I was frightened for mother and Bessie +being worried, but not for us; I just said my prayers and covered +Robbie, and then I fell asleep and didn't know any thing until you +woke me up." + +"Um! said your prayers, did you!" and the old man stopped and looked +at her. + +"See here, Katie!" he said, in a very gentle voice, "say your prayers +for me, I'd like to hear them." + +The child looked at him in astonishment and trouble. Could it be that +the gentleman could not say his prayers for himself, that he did not +pray himself! "Oh, sir!" she said, with choking voice and tears in her +eyes, "I can't say them to you, only to Bessie or mother: It's just +God bless mother, and Bessie and Robbie and me, and take care of us in +the night and day, and--and that's all, sir." + +"Well, never mind now, little Katie, come along, we must get Robbie +home to the mother and Bessie soon, or they'll think the bears have +eaten you both," and the old man's voice was still more gentle, and he +hurried as fast as the little ones could go. He knew the roads well, +and in half an hour they were on a path that the children were well +acquainted with, and near home. + +There was a cry of joy, and Bessie sprang upon the little ones at a +bend in the road and gathered them in her arms, and kissed and scolded +and petted them, all at the same time. + +The old gentleman hurried away as soon as he saw they were safe; but +he did not go far; he stepped back in the dark and heard Katie tell +the tale of adventure and take all the blame herself, and excuse +Robbie, and talk about the kind gentleman who had found them and +brought them home, and wonder where he had gone so quickly before she +had time to thank him. He followed them at a distance; he saw them +enter their home, and he watched outside until the lamp was lighted in +the little sitting-room; then he came near the window and looked in; +he watched while the sick, half-blind mother cried over her children; +he saw pale, sweet-faced Bessie comforting all; he stood there an +hour without noticing the cold and wind that grew about him. He saw +brave, hard-working Bessie, and true Katie, and the little boy, and +the mother of all, kneel at their chairs, and he thought he could hear +the prayers of thanks that came from the hearts of all and the lips of +the older sister, and he felt drops upon his cheek, not rain, but +tears--tears. It had been many years since his eyes had been wet with +tears, but they were there and they softened the heart of "hard old +man" Moore, and he turned away at last with a strange resolution in +his mind. + +Three days after he was in the sitting-room of that cottage; with him +was his son Philip, by Philip's side was Bessie, looking ever so much +younger and prettier, and _so_, _so_ happy, and standing by the side +of "hard old man" Moore was little Katie, wondering to see such an old +man wipe the tears from his eyes, wondering at the way in which he +held one arm close around her, and wondering still more why he should +keep saying, all the time, "You did it, little Katie, you did it all." + +The Wilsons are comfortable and happy now. Bessie is Mrs. Philip +Moore; the mother has doctors and luxuries; Robbie is at school and +learning fast; Katie, _our_ Katie, is learning fast also, but she is +still the same Katie as of old; she did not have to sell bunches of +leaves another season; but there are always great bouquets of the +beauties in the house, and old Mr. Moore, "hard" no longer, calls her +nothing but his little "Autumn leaf." + +[Illustration: {BIRDS ON A TWIG.}] + + + + +THE SPINNING LESSON. + +MRS. S. J. BRIGHAM. + + + You will not mind, if I sit me down + And watch you spin, in your velvet gown? + You need not fear, + You can trust me here. + I think I can learn to spin, if I + Could watch you work. Will you let me try? + + You spin and weave, but I cannot see + Just how 'tis done, and it puzzles me. + For you have no loom + In your little room. + No silken skein, no spinning-wheel, + No bobbin and no winding reel. + + Please tell me what you use instead? + And where do you hide your shining thread, + As soft as silk + And as white as milk? + I think, Mrs. Spider, it must be + A secret, or you would answer me. + + + + +[Illustration: TREED.] + + + + +[Illustration: FOSTER PARENTS.] + +FOSTER PARENTS. + + +Strolling down back of the barn, and seeing a fluttering of wings near +the ground, Fred and John discovered, upon coming closer, that a poor +little bird had fallen from its nest in the bough of a tree that stood +near them. The bird was young, too young to fly, and seemed more dead +than alive from the fall. The boys took the bird, fondly caressed it, +stroked its feathers, and were glad to see that it showed signs of +life and that it was only stunned by the fall it had received. The +boys were kind-hearted, they were boys full of life, the first-most in +a race, in climbing a hill they among the first who stood on its top. +Yet in all their sports they were never cruel. So with the bird, they +only thought of how to care for it. The tree was too tall to climb +with safety, and then they were forbidden to climb this tree because +John had once ventured to the first of its branches and by some +accident, such as will happen to boys, he lost his hold and tumbled to +the ground and he still remembered the days of pain it caused. + +Said Fred, "Why can we not take the bird home and care for it?" + +So, with this suggestion, they brought it to the house and placed it +in a small basket. The basket was one they used to carry their dinners +to school in, and, of course, this could not be used to keep it in all +the time. John said, "It will be best to make a cage for it. We can, +with our knives, soon whittle out sticks for bars and with the saw and +some boards make a cage." They labored on this for two days, and then, +with Uncle Ben's help, for he could drive nails better than they, the +cage was completed. Some cotton was shaped into a nest and the bird +was placed in it and the cage was its home. + +They fed it on berries and crumbs and it grew rapidly. It soon learned +to perch on one of the boy's fingers and pick its food from his hand. +When it had eaten enough it would fly to his shoulder and seem quite +contented. In due time it became full grown, and though it seemed to +know and appreciate the attention given it by the boys, yet it seemed +to long for more freedom than the little cage afforded. The boys +noticed this, and with sad hearts concluded it would be cruel to keep +it confined and so gave it its freedom. For some time it lingered +around the house, in branches of the trees, but finally it flew away +to the woods. + + + + +HAYMAKING. + + + Many a long hard-working day + Life brings us! And many an hour of play; + But they never come now together, + Playing at work, and working in play, + As they came to us children among the hay, + In the breath of the warm June weather. + + Oft, with our little rakes at play, + Making believe at making hay. + With grave and steadfast endeavor; + Caught by an arm, and out of sight + Hurled and hidden, and buried light + In laughter and hay forever. + + Now pass the hours of work and play + With a step more slow, and the summer's day + Grows short, and more cold the weather. + Calm is our work now, quiet our play, + We take them apart as best we may, + For they come no more together! + + DORA GREENWELL. + + + + +[Illustration: {A COLLECTION OF LEAFY PLANTS.}] + +WINDOW GARDENING. + + +Many a home, now dark and cheerless, might be made bright and cheery +by a few plants in the window, or bunches of ferns and bright autumn +leaves, fastened on the wall, or on the pictures. + +Homes cannot be made too bright and home-like for the husband and the +children; and these little things cost little or nothing, and add much +to the general appearance. + +A novel and pretty window ornament can be made in this way: Take a +white sponge of large size, and sow it full of rice, oats and wheat. +Then place it, for a week or ten days, in a shallow dish, in which a +little water is constantly kept, and as the sponge will absorb the +moisture, the seeds will begin to sprout before many days. When this +has fairly taken place, the sponge may be suspended by means of cords +from a hook in the top of the window where a little sun will enter. It +will thus become a mass of green, and can be kept wet by merely +immersing it in a bowl of water. + + + + +"CHEER UP." + +BY ANNA ELIZABETH C. KELLY. + + +"Oh, it is too bad; too bad! that mother should be so troubled for the +want of a little money," said Mabel. + +"Cheer up! Cheer up!" rang out a voice close at hand, "pretty Poll; +cheer up!" and a bright green parrot with a yellow breast began to +beat against the bars of his cage as if he would like to get out. + +"That is a good omen, Polly," said Mabel, as she rose and opened the +door of the cage, "but it is not Poll who ought to 'cheer up' but I, +you pretty bird." Poll hopped out and perched upon her finger and +looked so knowingly at her, that it almost broke down the resolution +she had formed. Mabel was accustomed to take Poll out and talk to her, +and brother Ben, who was an amateur photographer, had taken a picture +of the pretty pair, so Polly was already immortalized. + +"Poor Ben! Poor Ben!" said Polly. "'On Linden when the sun was +low'--ha! ha! ha! ha! ha! Poor Ben! Poor Ben!" laughed and shouted +Polly. + +"Poor Ben, indeed!" said Mabel, "though the Ben you first heard about +was another Ben, and used to break down with his recitation and be +laughed at. I wonder where he is now, and whether he is dead, my brave +soldier uncle! If he were alive, and should come back, what would he +think to find another Polly just like the one he left behind, who had +learned some of the things his Polly used to say. Mamma says your +predecessor died of old age, Polly; I wonder if that will be your +destiny. I shall never know; for I am going to sell you to the lady up +at the hotel, who saw you hanging outside, and wanted you for her +little girl. She said she would give me five dollars, and when I +refused she offered me ten. I could not let you go, Polly, but now I +_must_. I must say 'good-bye' to you now, Polly, for I shall never +take you out of the cage again." + +"Cheer up! cheer up!" sang Polly, as Mabel put her back, and closing +the cage, left the room. + +The boys were leaving the sitting-room when she went down stairs, and +as Ben passed her, she said, "Do not go to bed till I come up again. I +want to speak to you. Wait in my room." + +Mrs. Ross was getting ready to go up to her room when Mabel entered. + +"Are you going up, mamma?" said she, "I will not keep you long; but I +want to tell you, that I think I know a way for you to get some money. +I wish to keep it a secret for the present; but I think I can safely +promise you some. The last thing before I came down, Polly called, +'cheer up, cheer up,' and it is a good omen; so I say the same to you, +mamma." + +"You are a good girl, Mabel, but I am afraid you are too sanguine. How +can you hope to succeed where I have failed?" + +"You will believe me when you see the money, shall you not, mamma?" + +"There would not be much merit in that, dear, but I will _trust_ you, +and whatever happens I will believe you did what you thought was +right, and that God does every thing for the best." + +"Thank you, mamma. Good night, and pleasant dreams." + +"Good night, dear." + +Mabel went softly up stairs. "Ben," said she, when she reached her +room, but Ben had fallen asleep, and she had to shake him up. + +"What kept you?" said Ben, in a sleepy tone. + +"Why, I was not long, Ben. Do you now the name of that little girl who +took such a fancy to Polly?" + +"Yes," said Ben. "It is Eva Granby. What do you want to know for?" + +"I shall tell you sometime, you are too sleepy to talk to-night, so I +shall let you go. Good night, Ben." + +"Good night," said Ben, not sorry to be dismissed. + +Mabel lay awake some time. She was sorry to part with her parrot, but +after all it was only a bird. Mamma and Ben and Walt and dear little +Joe should not suffer that she might keep it. + +She could hear the music, from the great hotel on the hill, borne on +the breeze, and that, with the happy frame of mind produced by the +approval of her conscience, soon had the effect of sending her into a +sound sleep, from which she awoke in the morning, refreshed and quite +happy. She went about her accustomed duties with a light heart and +singing like a lark. Mrs. Ross wondered, to hear her; what could be +the source of her high spirits. + +She was on the alert for a chance to put her plan into execution, and +when she found her mother occupied over the details of the breakfast +table, she went up to her room, and covering the parrot's cage and +herself with a light water-proof cloak, which the chill of of the May +morning seemed to warrant; she went out of the house and through the +back gate, and took the road to the hotel. + +Mrs. Granby had just risen, and was delighted that Mabel had come to +terms after all, as her little daughter had been longing for the +parrot continually. Mabel told her story and Mrs. Granby was deeply +affected. She promptly agreed to Mabel's condition, to sell her the +bird back again, if she could get together ten dollars of her own to +redeem it, and gave Mabel her address in New York. + +Mabel was at home again just as the boys were getting their breakfast, +and wondering what had become of her. She said she had been taking a +walk for her health and refused to gratify them further. + +Soon they were through and went out, and when she saw little Joe in +the swing, and Ben and Walt sitting on the bench of Walt's making, +under the apple-tree, and knew by their gestures they were discussing +Perry's colt--she drew from her pocket the crisp, bright, ten-dollar +bill, and laid it beside her mother's plate. Her mother's fervent +"Thank God," amply rewarded her for the loss of the parrot. + +"But, Mabel," began Mrs. Ross-- + +"Now, mamma," interrupted Mabel, "you know you promised to trust me. +You will soon know all about it." + +Mabel went to school that day with a happy heart. + +That evening a portly, middle-aged gentleman stood at the gate, and as +she looked up, he said: + +"Can you tell me if this is Mrs. Ross's?" + +"Yes, sir," said Mabel, wondering who he could be. As she turned and +faced him, he caught his breath quickly, and exclaimed: + +"Alice!" + +Mabel's heart gave a great bound. + +"That is mamma's name, mine is Mabel." + +"Lead me to her," he said, hoarsely. + +Mabel quickly ran before him into the house exclaiming: + +"Oh, mamma! I think it is Uncle Ben." + +Mrs. Ross would have fallen had she not been caught by the strong arms +of the stalwart brother whom she had not seen for twenty years. And +then it all came out. Mabel's secret was a secret no longer. + +Captain Ben Grayson, old soldier, and retired ranch owner, had come +back after twenty years of life in the west to hunt for his sister, +his only known relative, whom he had last seen when she was a girl +like Mabel. He had been told a Miss Grayson had died from the ravages +of an epidemic that swept through the school she had been placed at; +and so, when the war ended, he went out west instead of returning to +New York as he should have done but for that false report. But he had +lately heard, from an old school-friend, he had come across, that she +was living, had married, and become a widow, and that was all the +information he could get. + +By the simplest chance he had stopped at Fairmount. Shortly after +rising that morning, he was startled by a parrot hung outside the +window of the room next to his, calling out,--"Cheer up! cheer up!" +and shortly after,--"'On Linden when the sun was low,' ha! ha! ha! ha! +ha! Poor Ben!" + +"Well," said Uncle Ben, "you can imagine the effect. I knew my parrot +could not be living yet; but I thought to myself, _that_ parrot must +have learned from my old one or from you, Alice, and I hastened to +make the acquaintance of my next-door neighbor, and so _I have found +you_." + +And Mabel bought her parrot back again, which was now doubly dear, as +it had been the means of finding Uncle Ben. And quiet brother Ben was +made happy by an artist's outfit, and had the satisfaction of doing +Mabel and the parrot in colors, as he had long ago done them with the +camera. + +When the last gift had been given, the boys, with one accord, threw up +their hats and cried,--"Hurrah, for Uncle Ben!" + +As for Mrs. Ross, her measure of happiness was full; she had her long +lost brother Ben. + + + + +WAIF'S ROMANCE. + + +Several years ago the beautiful Shenandoah valley in West Virginia was +the scene of a great freshet. The river overflowed its banks, and the +usually placid stream became a mighty torrent, rushing along with +frightful velocity, carrying away houses, barns and cattle. Buildings +were washed from their foundations by the resistless current, and sent +whirling down the stream with the terrified occupants clinging to the +roofs. They had not had timely warning, and many perished, while whole +flocks of sheep, and hundreds of cows, horses and oxen were drowned. +The writer visited the valley several years afterward, and could see +articles of clothing and even furniture still lodged in the branches +of trees, they had been caught and lodged by the receding waters, +twenty feet from the ground. + +During this visit a most interesting story was told of a poor little +kitten who lost home and friends, and was carried by the surging flood +far away to find a new home and a genuine lover. It is a true romance +of the flood, and it has never been told in print so far. For all +gentle lovers of animals, this beautiful romance of Woggy and Waif is +given to the world. + +In this beautiful valley there lived a lovely family, consisting of +father, mother and two children. Edwin was a tall and manly lad of +sixteen, and Florence was one year younger. They were children of +refined and cultivated parents, and the members of this little home +circle displayed such charming affection and thoughtfulness in their +intercourse with each other, that it was beautiful to behold. Edwin +was passionately fond of out-of-door sports, and Florence had deep +love for all that was beautiful and interesting in nature. She loved +animals, birds and flowers, and it was her delight to ramble with her +brother through the woods, gathering the modest wild flowers, or the +delicate maiden hair ferns. She took great delight in pets of all +kinds, and had numerous rabbits, birds and squirrels that her brother +had trapped; she made them all love her; even the tiniest bird or +animal can appreciate tenderness and kindness; and Florence's pure +little heart was overflowing with love and kindness toward all God's +dumb creatures. + +The constant companion of the brother and sister in their rambles was +a very frolicsome and handsome dog, which was so remarkable for +sagacity and intelligence, that he was known through all the +countryside; he was devoted to his young mistress, and, though he was +not a very large animal; he had enough of the Shepherd's breed in him +to make him very fierce and courageous in her defense whenever she +seemed to need it. + +At the time of the great freshet, a homeless family, whose house had +been swept away by the flood, had been harbored at Florence's home. +Her time and mind was fully occupied by her additional home duties, +which to her gentle nature, were labors of love, even if the +overflowed valley had prevented her accustomed excursions; but not so +with Woggy, he had no duties to keep him, and no wet ground or body of +water could keep him from taking his usual runs about the country. For +several days after the great flood, he was noticed to leave the house +regularly in the morning and not return until evening. This was +something unusual; generally his runs were finished in one or two +hours; but when he was observed one day to take in his mouth the best +part of his breakfast and trot off with it, Edwin's curiosity was +excited, and he resolved to unravel the mystery of Woggy's regular +absences; he followed his tracks over the wet ground for nearly two +miles, until he came to a good sized pond left by the receding waters +in a hollow near the river. The first thing that attracted his +attention was a partially submerged fir tree near the center of the +ford, and lodged against it was a chicken coop. Were there chickens in +it, do you ask? No; if there had been when the angry waves picked it +up there were none now, but instead, the sweetest little _kitten_ you +ever saw; and crouched down on the trunk of the tree, with his +aristocratic paws resting on the end of the coop, was the mysterious +Woggy, gravely contemplating the kitten, as it minced at the food the +generous dog had brought it. How proud Edwin felt of Woggy as he +looked and understood the scene. How Woggy, in his solitary rambles, +must have discovered the forlorn kitten, who had been suddenly torn +from her home, far up the valley perhaps, and borne, half drowned and +thoroughly frightened, on the rushing torrent, until her box, in which +the rising waters had found her taking her afternoon nap, had lodged +against the tree. Edwin wanted to rescue her, and take her home. This +was his first impulse, but how? The pond was wide and deep, and he had +no boat, nor any other means of reaching her; so he decided to wait +until the water got lower, until he could devise some plan. He +returned home in great amazement, and told the story of Woggy's +wonderful doings. Florence was all excitement and sympathy in a +moment, and wanted to go at once but could not. But what a delicious +hugging and petting Woggy got when he returned home that night. When +Edwin found them, the kitten was snuggled up as close to her brute +protector as the slats would allow; she would put her tongue through +and lick his paws, which process seemed to give him the liveliest +satisfaction. Edwin whistled to him to come home with him, but he only +wagged his bushy tail and looked at his frail charge as much as to +say, "I can't go just now." Just think of the idea of protection +entering the head of a dog! but it did. Some animals seem almost to +reason. We all know a perfect horror of water all cats have, they will +not go into water voluntarily. This poor little thing, surrounded by +water, must have died of starvation had not kind-hearted Woggy found +and cared for her. + +The next day, Edwin, provided with a long board and other means of +rescuing the distressed stranger, started for the pond. Just as he +left the house, with Florence calling out from the porch some parting +injunctions of carefulness, what was their astonishment to see Woggy +coming along the road with the kitten in his mouth; the sagacious dog +had evidently thought that his keepless little charge needed more care +than he could give her, and brought her unharmed to his mistress. When +he had deposited the kitten at her feet, he looked up in her eyes as +though he wanted to tell her something, and he really looked as if he +could almost talk. When Florence took up the pretty thing she +exclaimed, "You poor little waif! Where did you come from?" The little +waif could not tell, but looked as if she wanted to. She was pure +white in color, with a water-stained ribbon and tiny silver bell +around her neck. Edwin said she should be called Waif, and Waif she +was ever after called in that house. + + + + +"MAY I GO WITH YOU?" + + +"May I go with you, Auntie?" + +"No, Jo, I do not wish for any company this morning; here's a kiss, +and you may feed my poodle if you like." So saying, Aunt Millie, who +was spending her vacation at the farm, tied on her garden hat, and +sallied forth for a walk, leaving behind her a very disappointed +little swain, for Jo generally accompanied her in her rambles, and he +and Aunt Millie were sworn allies. Lately she had run off several +times without him, and he certainly felt quite disconsolate to-day. +But he could not doubt her love and goodness, so he whistled away his +blues. + +[Illustration: {PORTRAIT OF A CHILD.}] + +Jo was only five years old, and it is no wonder he soon forgot his +grievances. About lunch-time he thought he would go down in the +meadow, to see if the first strawberries were ripening, as he intended +them for mamma's birthday. + +Threading his way carefully through the tall grass and nodding +daisies, he suddenly came upon the queerest looking "machine"--as he +called it--in front of which sat Auntie. + +"Why, Jo!" + +"Aunt Millie, what _are_ you doing?" as he caught sight of a +photograph of himself, and a large copy on the easel. + +"I am crayoning--and" (this last a trifle averse) "I _had_ intended it +as a surprise for mamma, to-morrow." + +The big blue eyes raised to hers had a suspicion of tears in them--she +bent down quickly and gathered the little fellow in her arms. + +"Never mind, pet! I was a bit vexed, that you had discovered my +secret." + +"Is it a _secret_?" in an awed tone; "well, I'll _keep_ it." + +"Do you think you really can, Jo?" + +"Yes," he said; "and _you_ can keep my strawberries," forgetting he +had told her a dozen times before. + +"Well, I'll trust you." + +Would you believe it, the child _did_ keep his word, although burning +many times to tell; and he succeeded in surprising Aunt Millie, as +much as he did mamma. + + + + +A SUMMER AT WILLOW-SPRING. + + +The trunks were strapped on the back of the carriage; we children, +with Nurse, were bundled inside; the door shut--the driver snapped his +whip--and without any time for last good-byes, we were whirled away to +the station. How excited and glad we were, for Papa and Mamma were to +follow us next day, and we left the city far behind to spend the whole +beautiful summer at Willow-spring. The very first day after our +arrival, we were out--Willie, my brother, Elsie, our little +four-year-old sister, and myself--scouring the premises, and I guess +there were not a nook or corner we had not visited by night. It was a +lovely place, with broad shady walks through which we raced, or Willie +drove us as two spirited young colts, for like most boys he was rather +masterful. + +I wish I could tell you of the grand time we had that summer. We +formed the acquaintance of several little neighbor children, who +proved pleasant playmates, and together we would wander through the +cool leafy woods, or roam the sunny meadows gathering sweet wild +strawberries and armsful of golden-eyed daisies, and taking our +treasures home, would have a little treat on the shady veranda, and +garland ourselves with long daisy chains, making believe we were +woodland fairies. Once in a while the rabbits from the near wood ran +across the garden path, timid and shy little creatures at first--they +grew quite tame from our feeding--and Elsie dearly loved her bunnies, +as she called them. + +Rapidly the days flew by, and the time for our departure was at hand. +We felt sorry to leave, but Mamma, to console us in part, planned a +little out-door feast for the day before our going, to which our +little friends were all invited, and a happy, merry band of children +played out under the trees, and ate the goodies so generously +provided. Just before breaking up, we all joined in playing our +favorite game of "snap the whip," and with screams and laughter, one +after another of the weakest ones rolled over in the soft grass. The +last night at Willow-spring wound up with a grand frolic, in which all +took part. + + + + +GREAT EXPECTATIONS. + + + Every little grape, dear, that clings unto the vine, + Expects some day to ripen its little drops of wine. + Every little girl, I think, expects in time to be + Exactly like her own mamma--as sweet and good as she. + Every little boy who has a pocket of his own, + Expects to be the biggest man the world has ever known. + Every little lambkin, too, that frisks upon the green, + Expects to be the finest sheep that ever yet was seen. + Every little baby colt expects to be a horse; + Every little puppy hopes to be a dog, of course. + Every little kitten pet, so tender and so nice, + Expects to be a grown-up cat and live on rats and mice. + Every little fluffy chick, in downy yellow dressed, + Expects some day to crow and strut or cackle at his best. + Every little baby bird that peeps from out its nest, + Expects some day to cross the sky from glowing east to west. + Now every hope I've mentioned here will bring its sure event, + Provided nothing happens, dear, to hinder or prevent. + + + + +"WHERE'S SOPHIE?" + + + Sophie climbed the garden trellis, + Plucked the finest grapes in view; + How they shone with red and amber, + As the sun came glinting through. + + She was taking painting lessons, + And she paused and gazed at them; + "Oh," she said, "a pretty picture, + Grapes and green leaves on a stem. + + "I will leave them here, unbroken, + Close beside the garden walk; + Look!" she said, to Cousin Mary, + "Just anear this broken stalk." + + Off they went through pleasant pathways; + Staying longer than they knew, + By a russet, leaf-strewn border, + With its asters, pink and blue. + + Then their friendly gossip over, + Homeward as they turned to go; + "Oh, the grapes!" said Sophie, quickly, + "We must go for those, you know." + + When they reached the precious cluster, + Five bold sparrows pertly stood, + Pecking at the grapes beside them, + Chattering in a wanton mood. + + "Look! Oh, look!" said cousin Mary, + "Sparrows at your luscious store!" + "Shoo!" said Sophie, "was there ever + Such a piece of work before?" + + Pilfering sparrows, you have taught me, + By this loss, a lesson true; + When a bunch of grapes I gather, + Just to keep them safe from you. + + + + +"IF I CAN, I WILL." + + +I knew a boy who was preparing to enter the junior class of the New +York University. He was studying trigonometry, and I gave him three +examples for his next lesson. The following day he came into my room +to demonstrate his problems. Two of them he understood; but the +third--a very difficult one--he had not performed. I said to +him,--"Shall I help you?" + +"No, sir! I can and will do it, if you give me time." + +I said: "I will give you all the time you wish." + +The next day he came into my room to recite another lesson in the same +study. + +"Well, Simon, have you worked that example?" + +"No, sir," he answered; "but I can and will do it, if you will give me +a little more time." + +"Certainly, you shall have all the time you desire." + +I always like those boys who are determined to do their own work, for +they make our best scholars, and men too. The third morning you should +have seen Simon enter my room. I knew he had it, for his whole face +told the story of his success. Yes, he had it, notwithstanding it had +cost him many hours of severest mental labor. Not only had he solved +the problem, but, what was of infinitely greater importance to him, he +had begun to develop mathematical powers which, under the inspiration +of "I can and I will," he has continued to cultivate, until to-day he +is professor of mathematics in one of our largest colleges, and one of +the ablest mathematicians of his years in our country. + +My young friends, let your motto ever be,--"If I can, I will." + + + + +WINDSOR CASTLE. + + +This ancient and splendid pile is a fitting residence for the +sovereigns of England. It impresses one with the idea of supreme +grandeur and formidable strength, but it has reached its present +magnificence by constant embellishments and additions by successive +sovereigns. + +It owes its origin to William the Conqueror, that bold and progressive +Norman, who created here a fortified hunting seat, where he and his +brave barons could enjoy themselves after the "hunting of the deer" in +the wild glades of Windsor forest. + +The castle stands upon a hill on the bank of the river Thames, +twenty-three miles from London, with which it is connected by railway. +It is surrounded on all sides, except to the east, by a noble terrace +above two thousand five hundred feet in extent, faced by a strong +rampart of hewn stone, and having, at intervals, easy slopes leading +down to the park. + +The terrace is a most delightful walk, commanding charming views of +the extensive domain and the surrounding country. Everywhere are +evidences of royal expenditure, of watchful care and tasteful +ornamentation. + +The park abounds in woodland scenery of exquisite beauty, and it does +seem as if the "English sunshine" was nowhere more satisfying or +refreshing than in these delightful avenues. The deer roam at will, +and streamlets trickle and English violets and other wild flowers +blossom, the praises of whose delicate perfumes and beauties have been +sung by Wordsworth and Keats. + +There is a stately walk, three miles long, bordered by double rows of +trees, which leads from the lodge to these delightful precincts, and +at the entrance stretch away in gorgeous array, the Queen's gardens, +in which very beautiful and rare productions of floral culture find a +congenial home. + +The castle consists of two courts, having a large, round tower between +them, and covers more than twelve acres of land, being defended by +batteries and towers. The upper court is a spacious quadrangle, having +a round tower on the west, the private apartments of the sovereigns on +the south and east, the State apartments and St. George's Hall and the +chapel royal on the north. + +The royal apartments are reached by an imposing vestibule. The first +room, the Queen's guard chamber, contains a grand array of warlike +implements, and glittering weapons, and its walls are rich in +paintings. + +The Queen's presence chamber contains the rarest furniture and +hangings, with an array of artistic works by the most celebrated +masters. + +The ball-room is hung with tapestry, representing the twelve months of +the year, and upon its ceiling is pictured Charles II, giving freedom +to England. There is here an immense table of solid silver. + +In the Queen's bed-chamber is the State bed, said to have cost +$70,000, designed for Queen Charlotte. The Queen's dressing-room, hung +with British tapestry, contains the closet in which is deposited the +banner of France. The same closet contains the tea-equipage of Queen +Anne. + +An elegant saloon is called the "Room of Beauties," and contains +fourteen portraits of ladies who were "most fair" in the court of +Charles II. Their lovely faces and rich apparel, quaint and oddly +fashioned, make the most delightful and instructive study. + +The audience chamber contains the throne and is enriched with +historical paintings of events in the reign of Henry III. Another +guard chamber contains an immense collection of warlike instruments, +fancifully arranged, and also the flag sent by the Duke of Wellington +in commemoration of the battle of Waterloo. + +St. George's Hall, which is one hundred and eight feet long, is set +apart for the illustrious "Order of the Garter." It is superbly +decorated with allegorical paintings. The chapel is a fine specimen of +the florid Gothic. The roof is elliptical and is composed of stone; +the whole ceiling is ornamented with emblazoned arms of many +sovereigns and knights of the Garter. The stalls of the sovereigns and +knights exhibit a profusion of rare carving. The chapel is the burial +place of many royal and illustrious persons; Edward IV, Henry IV, +Henry VIII and Charles I having been interred here. + + + + +THE LITTLE PRINCES. + + +Among the sad episodes in the illustrated history of English +sovereigns, not one is more pathetic or impressive than the story of +the two little Princes, sons of Edward IV. This King had an ambitious +and unscrupulous brother, called Richard, Duke of Gloucester. + +At the time of the King's death, this man was at the head of an army +in Scotland, which was entirely devoted to him, and he felt strong and +equal to undertaking any bold and unlawful measure to obtain the +crown, which rightfully belonged to Edward's son, the young Prince of +Wales. + +Upon receiving the news of his brother's death, Richard clothed +himself and his large retinue in deep mourning and proceeded in great +haste to London, taking the oath of loyalty on the way, and making +many protestations of interest and affection for the fatherless boys. + +The young Prince of Wales received him with many expressions of regard +and respectful consideration, as befitted a paternal uncle, and placed +undoubted faith in his suggestions; the Duke thus found it an easy +matter to direct his movements, and the selection of his counselors +and servants. Two of these, who were favorite and loyal friends, he +caused to be seized on a frivolous accusation, and they were taken to +a distant castle as prisoners. Other measures were taken to isolate +him, and in a few days the young King was completely in the hands of +the terrible Duke of Gloucester. + +From one high-handed act of usurpation to another, assisted by +unprincipled, ambitious men, he proceeded, evidently aiming to secure +the crown for his own head. + +Under pretense of placing the Prince in greater safety, and removing +him from persons who might influence him, to the detriment of the +peace and welfare of the kingdom, he was conducted, in great state, to +the Tower; his uncle assuming the office of Lord Protector of the +King. + +Upon gaining the entire custody of the royal lad, he sent a large +number of dignitaries to the royal mother, to persuade her to allow +the other little boy to be taken to the Tower to keep his brother +company. The Prince was allowed to proceed thither, and Richard, now +having them both at his mercy, determined upon their death. + +The Governor of the Tower was, it seems, a man of at least human +feelings, and when he was ordered by Richard, "In some wise to put the +children to death," utterly refused to perform so dangerous and +horrible an act. + +Richard then sent for the keys of the Tower, to keep in his possession +twenty-four hours, and gave them, and the command of the Tower for +that time, to Sir James Tyrrel, his master of horse. + +This man procured two assassins, who proceeded, at dead of night, to +the chamber of the sleeping Princes. They lay in each other's arms, as +though they had fallen asleep comforting one another; and the +assassins, falling upon them with their ruffian strength, smothered +them with the bed-clothes, "Keeping the feather pillows hard upon +their mouths." + +When the deed was done, Tyrrel stepped into the chamber, to take a +hasty view of the dead bodies, which were then, by his orders, buried +at the stair-foot, under a heap of stones. + +Richard, Duke of Gloucester, had no further obstacle in assuming the +purple, and was crowned King of England with all pomp and ceremony, +and known to unenviable fame as Richard III. + +This account has come down to us with all the authority of historical +verity, and subsequent evidences of its accuracy have been discovered. +The age was characterized by inhumanity of the most barbarous kind, +and this crime was in keeping with it. + +The English people in this nineteenth century rejoice in a sovereign +who is noble in the highest sense; beloved by her subjects, achieving +for herself the universal plaudit of a "most humane and gracious +lady." + + + + +THE TOWER OF LONDON. + + +This ancient edifice is situated on the north bank of the Thames, at +the extremity of the city of London. + +The antiquity of the building has been a subject of much inquiry, but +the present fortress is believed to have been built by William the +Conqueror, and garrisoned with Normans to secure the allegiance of his +subjects; although it appears that the Romans had a fort on this spot, +if a dim tradition can be credited. The building is governed by the +"Constable of the Tower," who, at coronations and other State +ceremonies, has the custody of the regalia. + +The principal entrance is on the west, and consists of two gates, at +which are stationed guards. The keys are kept, during the day, at the +warder's hall, but deposited every night at the Governor's house. +Cannon are placed at intervals around the great wall, and command +every avenue leading to Tower Hill. + +On the south side is an arch, called "Traitors' Gate," through which +State prisoners were formerly brought from the river. Near the +Traitors' Gate is the "Bloody Tower," in which it is supposed the two +young Princes, Edward V and his brother, were smothered by order of +Richard III. + +In the south-west angle of the inclosure were the royal apartments, +for the Tower was a palace for nearly five hundred years, and only +ceased to be so on the accession of Elizabeth. + +The principal buildings within the walls are the church, the white +tower, the ordnance office, the jewel office, the horse armory. The +church is called "St. Peter in Vincules," and is remarkable as the +depository of the headless bodies of numerous illustrious personages +who suffered either in the Tower or on the hill. Among these were Anna +Boleyn, Thomas Cromwell, Catharine Howard, the Duke of Somerset and +the Duke of Monmouth. + +The jewel office is a strong, stone room, in which are kept the crown +jewels, regalia, such as the golden orb, the golden sceptre with the +dove, St. Edward's staff, State salt-cellar, sword of mercy, golden +spurs, the golden eagle and golden spoons, also the silver font used +at the baptism of the royal family, the State crown worn by her +Majesty in Parliament. A large collection of ancient plate is also +kept here. + +The horse armory is a brick building east of the white tower, adorned +with suits of armor of almost every description; but the most striking +are the effigies of the English kings on horseback, armed cap-a-pie. +The line of mounted celebrities commences with William the Conqueror +and ends with George II. Several of the cuirasses and helmets taken at +Waterloo are kept here. In the armory are also shown a representation +of Queen Elizabeth in armor; the axe which severed the head of Anna +Boleyn, as well as that of the Earl of Essex; the invincible banner +taken from the Spanish Armada, and the wooden cannon used by Henry +VIII at the siege of Boulogne. + +The Beauchamp Tower is noted for the illustrious personages formerly +confined within its walls. + + + + +MARY AND HER LAMB. + + +This is the title of one of the most familiar poems in the English +language, but few people know its history. + +Most of our young readers will be surprised to hear that the +well-known nursery song of "Mary had a Little Lamb" is a true story, +and that "Mary" is still living, says an exchange. + +About seventy years ago she was a little girl, the daughter of a +farmer in Worcester county, Mass. She was very fond of going with her +father to the fields to see the sheep, and one day they found a baby +lamb, which was thought to be dead. + +Kind-hearted little Mary, however, lifted it up in her arms, and as it +seemed to breathe she carried it home, made it a warm bed near the +stove, and nursed it tenderly. Great was her delight when, after weeks +of careful feeding and watching, her little patient began to grow well +and strong, and soon after it was able to run about. It knew its young +mistress perfectly, always came at her call, and was happy only when +at her side. + +One day it followed her to the village school, and not knowing what +else to do with it, she put it under her desk and covered it with her +shawl. + +There it stayed until Mary was called up to the teacher's desk to say +her lesson, and then the lamb walked quietly after her, and the other +children burst out laughing. So the teacher had to shut the little +girl's pet in the woodshed until school was out. Soon after this, a +young student, named John Rollstone, wrote a little poem about Mary +and her lamb and presented it to her. The lamb grew to be a sheep and +lived for many years, and when at last it died Mary grieved so much +for it that her mother took some of its wool, which was as "white as +snow," and knitted a pair of stockings for her, to wear in remembrance +of her darling. + +Some years after the lamb's death, Mrs. Sarah Hall, a celebrated woman +who wrote books, composed some verses about Mary's lamb and added them +to those written by John Rollstone, making the complete poem as we +know it. Mary took such good care of the stockings made of her lamb's +fleece that when she was a grown-up woman she gave one of them to a +church fair in Boston. + +As soon as it became known that the stocking was made from the fleece +of "Mary's little lamb," every one wanted a piece of it; so the +stocking was raveled out, and the yarn cut into small pieces. Each +piece was tied to a card on which "Mary" wrote her full name, and +these cards sold so well that they brought the large sum of $140 in +the Old South Church.--_Our Sunday Afternoon._ + + + + +JAMIE'S GARDEN. + + +"I shall have the nicest kind of a garden," said Jamie, one morning. +"I'm going to make it in that pretty little spot just over the bank. I +mean to have some flowers in pots and some in beds just like the +gardener; and then you can have fresh ones every day, mamma. I'm going +right over there now." + +Jamie started off bravely with his spade on his shoulder; but when, +after an hour, mamma went to see how he was getting on, she found him +lying on the grass, with the ground untouched. + +"Why, Jamie, where is your garden?" + +"I was just lying here, and thinking how nice it will look when it is +all done," said Jamie. + +Mamma shook her head. "But that will not dig ground, nor make the +flowers grow, little boy. No good deed was ever done by only lying +still and thinking about it." + + + + +CAMP TRIO. + +A. DE G. H. + + +Hurrah! Hurrah! only two days more to vacation, and then!---- + +If the crowning whistle, and energetic _bang_ with which the strapped +books came down, were any indication of what was coming after the +"then!" it must be something unusual. And so it was--for Ned, Tom and +Con, who were the greatest of chums, as well as the noisiest, merriest +boys in Curryville Academy--were to go into camp for the next two +weeks, by way of spending part of their vacation. They could hardly +wait for school to close, and over the pages of Greenleaf danced, +those last two days, unknown quantities of fishing tackle, tents, and +the regular regalia of a camping out-fit. They talked of it by day and +dreamed of it by night. + +At last the great day dawned--dawned upon three of the most +grotesque-looking specimens of boyhood, arrayed in the oldest and +worst fitting clothes they could find; for, as they said, in the most +expressive boy language--"We are in for a rattlin' good time, and +don't want to be togged out." They and their effects were taken by +wagon over to the Lake Shore, about four miles distant, to establish +their camp under the shadow of old Rumble Sides, a lofty crag or +boulder. + +Boys, I wish you could have seen them that night, in their little +woodland home; really, it was quite attractive. They worked like +beavers all day--cutting away the brush, driving stakes to tie down +the little white tent, digging a trench all around in case of rain, +and building a fire-place of stone, with a tall, forked stick on which +to hang the kettle. A long board, under the shady trees, served as +table. + +Too tired to make a fire that night, they ate a cold lunch, and threw +themselves on their bed--which was a blanket thrown over pine +boughs--untied the tent flaps to let in air, and slept a happy, +dreamless sleep. + +The next morning, early, they were up, and, after taking a cold plunge +in the lake, built a brisk fire, boiled coffee, and roasted potatoes +for breakfast. They then bailed out the punt, which was their only +sailing craft, and put off for an all-day's fishing excursion. Several +days, with fine weather, passed, and the boys declared they were +having a royal time, and that camping was the only life to lead. + +They had much difficulty to settle upon a name, but finally decided +that "Camp Trio" was most appropriate. + +One night they were suddenly awakened by a deep, roaring sound; the +wind blew fiercely, it rained hard, but the noise was not of thunder, +it seemed almost human; nearer and nearer it came! The three lads sat +up in the semi-darkness, and peered at each other with scared faces. + +"It's Old Rumble broke loose and coming down on us," said Con, in a +ghostly whisper. "Hush!" and the trio clutched in a cold shiver, as a +crackling of twigs was heard outside, a heavy tread, a long, low moan, +a horrible silence. + +"It was the Leviathan, I guess," said Tom, with a ghastly attempt at +smiling, as the early morning light stole through the flaps. At length +they moved their stiffened limbs and peeped out. Oh, how it did pour! +No fire, no fishing, no any thing to-day. Pretty soon a shout from +Ned, who had been cautiously prowling around to find the cause of +their late fright. + +"Oh, boys, it's too rich! Why, it was Potter's old cow, down here last +night, bawling for her calf that was after our towels, as usual--look +here!" and he held up three or four dingy, chewed-looking articles, +which had hung on a tree to dry, and might have been towels once. The +boys broke into a hearty laugh at their own expense. The day was very +long and dull, and the next, stories and jokes fell flat, cold +victuals didn't relish, they began to feel quite blue. The third day +Farmer Potter appeared upon the scene. + +"What on airth ye doin' here; trespassin' on other folks' grounds? +Mebby ye don't know it's agin the law!" + +The boys felt a trifle uneasy, but answered him politely. + +"Hevin' _fun_, be ye! Wall, I'll vow, settin' in the wet, eatin' cold +rations, haint _my_ idee of _fun_." And away he stalked. + +The boys looked at each other. + +"I say, fellers," said Con, "a piece of pie and a hunk of fresh bread +_wouldn't_ go bad--eh?" + +The two answered with a hungry look. + +"But let's tough it out over Sunday, or they'll all laugh at us." And +so they did; but it was the longest, dreariest Sabbath they ever +spent. + +"I'd rather learn ten chapters in Chronicles," Tom affirmed, "than put +in another such a Sunday." + +They had, in the main, a jolly time, but the ending was not as +brilliant as they had looked for. They never regretted going, but the +next year took a larger party, and went for a shorter time. + + + + +THE SENTIMENTAL FOX. + + + "Oh, beautiful wild duck, it pains me to see, + You flying aloft in that gone sort of way, + Sweet one, fare you well. I could shed many tears, + But my deepest emotions I never betray. + + "I've always admired you, wonderful bird, + By the light of the sun and the rays of the moon; + I tell you 'tis more than a fox can endure, + To know that you take your departure so soon. + + "I snatched a few feathers, in memory of you; + I desired a whole wing, but you baffled my plan; + Oh, what a memento to hang in my den! + And in very hot weather to use as a fan. + + "Descend, O, thou beautiful creature, to earth! + There's nothing I would not perform for your sake; + If once in awhile I could see you down here, + I'd never get tired of the shores of this lake!" + + "Cheer up, Mr. Fox," said the duck, flying higher, + "The parting of such friends is sometimes a boon; + When they get far away, and have time to reflect, + They see that it came not a moment too soon. + + "You wanted a wild wing to fan yourself with; + You see if I granted that favor to you, + 'Twould have left me but one, which is hardly enough, + As I find it convenient, just now, to have two." + + Then she faded away, a dark speck on the sky. + "That's a very shrewd bird," said the fox in dismay! + "I shall have to look round for my dinner, again, + And I fancy it will not be wild duck to-day." + + + + +EARTHEN VESSELS. + + +Spring time had come, with its blossoms and birds; and Mrs. Rossiter +threw up the sash of the east window, and pushed open the blinds, and +drew a long deep breath of morning air, and morning sunshine. + +"I think, Bridget," she said, "that we might venture to bring the +house-plants out-doors to-day. There can hardly be another frost, this +year." + +"Oh! may I help?" asked little Charley, "I'll be very careful." + +"On that condition, that you be very careful, you may bring the little +ones," answered his mother. + +The work progressed safely and rapidly for awhile. Geraniums, roses, +fuchsias, heliotropes, and so following, came forth in profusion, many +in bloom, and were placed in rows along the garden borders, ready to +be transferred to the beds, for the summer. At last the little ones +were all brought by Charley, and only larger ones remained. + +"I'll carry just this one big one," he said to himself: "I'm stronger +than mother thinks I am." But the pot full of earth, was heavier than +Charley had thought it, and before he reached the place to set it down +it had grown very heavy indeed; and, glad to get it out of his aching +arms as quickly as possible, he placed it on the curb so suddenly, +that with a loud crash it parted in the middle and lay in pieces at +his feet. Glancing quickly at his mother and seeing in her face +impending reproach, he forestalled it by exclaiming: + +"Well, that pot broke itself very easily. What's it made of, any how?" + +The mother couldn't help but smile at this attempted shifting of the +blame to the pot, but she answered, in a moment, gravely: + +"The pot, Charley, was made of clay; the same weak material from which +little boys are made; who, when they forget to obey their mothers, are +as likely to meet disaster as the earthen pot." + +Charley didn't care just then to discuss disobedient boys, so he +turned at once to the subject of the pot. + +"Made of clay," he exclaimed, "well, I'd like to see a man make a +thing like that of clay." + +"And so would I," said sister Mary, who, from an upper window, had +listened to the conversation. + +"And so you shall, if I have no further reminders of this sort, that +my children are made of the same unreliable material." + +That afternoon, the three, started for the pottery works. Mr. Sands, +the proprietor, kindly received them, and fully explained all his +processes. First he pointed out what seemed to Charley a heap of dry +hard common dirt; taking a little piece of this he dipped it into a +basin of water and then squeezing and pressing it in his hand it soon +became soft, and plastic, so that it could be wrought to any shape. He +then led the party to another room where a young man was engaged in +thus softening large masses. He would first crumble the hard earth +into fine pieces; then wet and pack it together into a "loaf," so +Charley called it, and then raising it over his head throw it again +with all his might upon the table before him until it became soft and +smooth through all its bulk. This, Mr. Sands said, was called "wedging +the clay," and that it was now ready for "throwing" into shape. + +"Will it come into shape if you just throw it?" said Charley. + +Mr. Sands laughed heartily at this, and answered, "come and see;" and +taking up one of the softened "loaves," to use Charley's word for +them, he led the way to the next room. The young man who had been +"wedging" now followed and placed himself at a large wheel which was +connected by a strap or belt with a table at which Mr. Sands seated +himself. + +[Illustration: HOW POTS AND PANS ARE MADE.] + +Upon the table was another little table, round and low, and upon +this Mr. Sands placed his "loaf." Then the young man began to turn the +wheel and the loaf began to spin round very rapidly. Mr. Sands next +pressed his finger right through the middle of the clay, so farming +the hole which we always see at the bottom of flower-pots. Then, as it +spun round, he worked the clay gradually upwards and sloped it +outwards, using both hands, and holding the edges with his fingers and +thumbs. + +Before Charley could express his surprise, the little roll of clay was +changed into a flower-pot. With a square iron tool called a _rib_ it +was smoothed outside, and then the pot was lifted on a board. One +after another followed till a long row was ready and they were carried +off to be dried. + +"How do you know when to leave off stretching it?" asked Mary of the +potter. + +He laughed, and pointed to a small iron gauge on the table. As soon as +the pot reached this he knew he must leave off stretching it out. This +iron is of course put higher or lower according to the size required. + +"Now I'll make you a pitcher, missie," said the good-natured man, and +with the same kind of clay, just rounding it a bit and giving a +cunning little pinch to form the spout, he made quite a pretty jug. + +"Where's the handle?" asked Charley. + +"Oh, that can't go on yet, sir! We must wait till the jug is dry, for +we could not press it tight enough to make it stick." + +Bread-pans and washing-pans are made in exactly the same way as +flower-pots, being moulded by the hand into different forms. When the +pots and pans leave the potter's wheel they are taken, as we saw, to +dry, and great care is required to keep them at a certain heat, for if +the frost gets to them now they crack and are useless. + +"Here's a comical little pot!" exclaimed Charley, holding up a wee +one. + +"We call them _long Toms_," said Mr. Sands. "They are mostly used by +nursery-gardeners, because they take so little room." + +"How long do they take to dry?" asked Mary, looking longingly at her +little jug. + +"About a day; so we will leave your jug with the others, and go to the +kiln to see how they will be burnt to-morrow." + +The kiln was round, with a big doorway, called a wicket. + +The pots and pans are put inside, great care being taken that they +should not touch each other, or they would stick like loaves of bread. +Pans are first glazed with a mixture of blue or red lead. The fire is +burning below, and there are holes to allow the flames to pass upwards +amongst the pottery. When the kiln is full the wicket is bricked up +and daubed over with road-mud. + +"Fancy using such dirty stuff!" said Mary. + +"The manure in it makes it stick, just as hair does in mortar. Clay +would crack with the heat. So you see, dear, there's nothing so dirty +or so common that it may not be of some use in the world." + +"How do you know when they are cooked enough?" asked Charley. + +"I'll show you," said Mr. Sands, and he immediately led us to a small +door, which opened some way up the kiln. + +"This is called the crown," said Mr. Sands. + +It was a flat surface, with four holes which showed the red heat +below, and looked like little volcanoes in a good temper. + +"Do you see those iron rods hanging like walking-sticks in the +furnace?" asked our guide. "Well, those are called _trials_, and at +the end of each is a lump of clay and glaze. If the glaze is burnt +enough we suppose that the whole batch is done, but we sometimes make +a mistake and spoil a lot." + +"What is done next?" asked Charley. + +"If they are properly burnt, they are allowed to cool gradually, and +are then ready for sale." + +By this time all were pretty well tired, and so they said good morning +to Mr. Sands and went home. + +"Mother," said Charley, as they sat down to dinner, "I shall ask how +it's done oftener than ever, now, for I like going over factories. +What's to be the next one, I wonder." + +"Bread," exclaimed Mary, as she cut a big slice for herself. "Shall it +be bread, mother?" + +"Yes, if you like, but I propose we go to see the flour made first. So +the next place we explore will be a flour-mill." + + E. M. W. + + + + +BIRDIE'S BREAKFAST. + +MRS. S. J. BRIGHAM. + + + Take your breakfast, little birdie,-- + Cracker-crumbs, and seeds so yellow, + Bits of sponge-cake, sweet and mellow; + Come quite near me; + Do not fear me. + I can hear your happy twitter, + Although winter winds are bitter; + Take your breakfast, little birdie. + + Come! Oh, come and tell me birdie! + All night long the snow was falling; + Long ago, I heard you calling; + Tell me, dearie, + Are you weary? + Can you sleep, when winds are blowing? + Frosts are biting, clouds are snowing? + Come! Oh, come and tell me, birdie! + + Take your food, and trust me, birdie; + Daily food the Father giveth; + Bread to every thing that liveth. + Come quite near me; + Do not fear me. + Come each day, and bring your fellow, + For your bread, so sweet and mellow; + Take your food, and trust me, birdie. + + + + +A BATTLE. + + +Do you like accounts of battles? Here is one for you. I shall have to +tell of a well-disciplined army, and some hard fighting, as well as of +a victory. + +The scene is a quiet country district, with fields and hedge-rows, not +looking a bit like war and bloodshed, and the time is a summer +afternoon, hot, for it is July, and a haze is over the mountains, +which rise a little way behind, as silent witnesses of the fray. The +sun begins to decline, and as the air grows cooler the army has orders +to start. There is a short delay of preparations, and then the +warriors pour forth; not in confusion, but in a compact, unbroken +column, each keeping to the ranks in perfect order, and never +diverging from them. At first the army follows the high road, but ere +long it passes through an opening in the hedge, and crosses the field +on the other side. Still the soldiers march on, never hindered, never +straggling out of place. It must have been a clever commander-in-chief +to have trained them into such admirable obedience. + +Presently a fortress rises before them--_that_ is the object of their +expedition; rather, it is something within the citadel that they are +sent to get, and have it they _will_. Not without a struggle, though, +for the enemy is on guard, and when he sees the hostile army +approaching, he sallies out to battle. He has no idea of surrendering +without a fight for it. + +The invaders gather up their forces and charge bravely up the hill, +and in an instant, hand to hand, or something very like it, the foes +are locked together in desperate conflict. Neither have they any guns, +but they carry sharp weapons with them, and soon the field is strewn +with the dead and dying. + +The fight thickens--the issue is doubtful, but not long--the defenders +are routed, and the assailants press forward to the citadel. Most +skillful are they, for with neither cannon nor battering-rams they +speedily make a breach in the walls, and in they rush, pouring through +the street and lanes of the devoted city. Yet they do not destroy +it--they do not kill the inhabitants--they do not even stay within the +walls so hardly won. In a very short space of time they return as they +came, save that each bears a portion of the spoil for which they came. +They form in order once again, they march in line, they regain their +own quarters, but each one carrying--would you believe it?--a _young +slave_. + +[Illustration: {ANTS HEADING OUT ON AN EXPEDITION.}] + +Yes, the army did not care to conquer the strange city; the expedition +was organized solely and entirely that they might steal the young and +bring them up in their own colony as slaves. For, through the long +influence of evil habits, the race to which these warriors belong have +lost their natural powers, and so have now to be waited on, fed, and +altogether taken care of by its slaves. With food before them they +would starve unless the slaves put it into their mouths. + +If they want to change their abode, the slaves must make the new +habitation ready, and then carry their masters on their backs to reach +it. If the children have to be taken care of, the slaves must be the +nurses. In fact, _fighting_ is the one single thing they _can_ do, and +that, as we have seen, they do well. As the supply of slaves is +necessary to their existence, every now and then they have to go and +help themselves in the way we have just seen them do; and though the +idea of slavery is abhorrent to every mind, we must allow that they +are brave soldiers, and under excellent discipline. + +Now, can you tell me who the soldiers are? Go back to your history +stories and think. Some old Roman race, perhaps, or the early +inhabitants of Britain, when people knew no better? Or some tribe of +savages in America, or the South Sea islands at the present time? Nay, +you must guess again, or shall I tell you? Yes, you give it up. Well, +then, it is a people "not strong;" small and insignificant, yet wise, +for this is what the Bible says, "Go to the ANT, consider her ways and +be wise."--Prov. vi:10. + +This race of warriors is none other than the slave-keeping ant, +(_Polyergus rufescens_). I do not think you would meet with it in our +woods, but in Switzerland and other countries it is common. Huber, who +wrote so much about bees and ants, first witnessed an attack near +Geneva. I should tell you that the young which they carry off are the +larva or young grubs, which, transferred to the nests of the +conquerors, soon become ants, and live the rest of their lives in +serving them, and waiting on them, as slaves or servants would their +masters. + +How extraordinary! Do they pine for their own kind? Are they happy in +their bondage? We do not know, but as far as we can judge they render +a willing and cheerful service, forgetting themselves in what they do +for others. Then, of course, they are happy; we need not repeat the +question; we are only lost in wonder at this strange and interesting +page in Nature's book. + + M. K. M. + + + + +GRACE DARLING, THE HEROINE. + + +I presume most of you have heard of Grace Darling, the brave girl who +lived with her father and mother at Longstone light-house. On the 6th +of September, 1838, there was a terrible storm, and W. Darling, +knowing well that there would be many wrecks, and much sorrow on the +sea that dark, tempestuous night, waited for daybreak; and when at +last it came, he went to look out. About a mile away he saw a ship in +great distress, but the storm was so awful he had hardly courage to +venture through it for their relief. His daughter Grace, who was +watching the wreck through a glass, could no longer bear to see the +poor fellows clinging to the piece of wreck which remained on the +rocks where it had been broken, and make no effort to help them. She +knew they must be lost. So she implored her father to launch the +life-boat and let her go with him to the rescue. He consented, and +father and daughter, she taking the oars while he steered, went +pulling away for the wreck; and I can fancy how the poor fellows +watched the life-boat like a speck on the waters, counting each minute +as it neared them, then fearing, as it seemed to be almost lost amid +the mountains of hissing and boiling waves, lest it should never come +to them at all. But at last they are alongside; the sufferers hesitate +not a moment, but jump for the life-boat, and so nine precious lives +were saved from a watery grave. + +Every one sang the praises of brave Grace Darling. A sum of $3,500 was +presented to her as a testimonial, and she was invited to dine with +the Duke of Northumberland. She died at the early age of twenty-seven, +of consumption. + +Now, my readers cannot all be Grace Darling, but they can come to the +help of the perishing; those that are weary and ready to die. They can +all do something, by working, by little efforts of self-denial, and by +praying for those who are in danger of being lost; and then one day +they will hear those wonderful words, "Inasmuch as ye have done it +unto the least of these, ye have done it unto me." A testimonial worth +having indeed! + + + + +ADAM AND EVE. + + + Adam and Eve are my two pet doves, + They live in a cot in the maple tree, + They coo and coo as other doves do, + And I know they are fond of me. + + Eve is a dear little milk-white dove, + Her eyes and feet are of coral red. + She wears a quill of gray in her wing, + And a small white cap on her head. + + Adam is bold, and he struts about, + In coat and vest of chocolate brown; + Eve is as sweet as a dove can be, + And Adam will sometimes frown. + + Adam and Eve are my two fond doves, + Their cottage stands in the maple tree, + They coo and coo, as other doves do, + And often take lunch with me. + + MRS. S. J. BRIGHAM. + + + + +SWINGING SONG. + + + Swinging! Swinging! + Up where the bees and the butterflies are, + Winging! Winging! + Their flights 'mong the blossoms that shine near and far. + + Ringing, Ringing, + Song of the blue-bird and bobolink's call, + Singing, Singing, + Up in this beautiful world are they all! + + Clinging, clinging, + In this green shadow, the clematis swings. + Bringing, bringing, + Hints of strange odors, and dim woodland things. + + Flinging, flinging, + The snow-ball, its white, pretty blossoms on me, + Springing, springing, + The damask rose climbs to the lattice to see! + + Backward my hair is floating and swaying, + Here o'er the garden-walk softly I sing; + Far more delightful, than wearily straying, + Is it to dream here, while gently I swing. + + + + +[Illustration: {CHILDREN AT THE BEACH.}] + +HOW THE DAYS WENT AT SEA-GULL BEACH. + + +No school! And the beautiful summer days coming so early in the +morning, that none of us children ever could get awake to see the sun +rise, and staying so long that we grew quite tired of being happy; and +some of us, Gracie and Jimmie in particular, were so little, that they +couldn't stay awake through the whole of it, and went off into a nap +every day after dinner. + +But this was in the city, and when we arrived at the beach we didn't +get tired or cross the whole day long. There were many children at the +hotel, and when we came, with our dolls and toy boats, our +fishing-tackle and spades, and pails, we made a host of friends +immediately. + +Reginald and Willie, our older brothers, did not always go with Gracie +and Jimmie and me, but made the acquaintance of the men that went out +to sea to fish for the great hotels; and they went oftentimes with +them, and we used to enjoy seeing the little boats launched; they +almost stood on end when they went over the breakers, making us scream +with excitement and delight. And as the little fleet grew less and +less, and at last disappeared, we girls thought it was a grand thing +to have such brave brothers. + +I was the elder girl, being ten, and Gracie seven. Our Gracie was a +lovely little sister; she had large blue eyes, and wavy brown hair, +and was very gentle and obedient, and people called her "Pet," almost +as soon as they became acquainted with her. + +Mother had blue flannel suits made for us, and dressed in these, with +sailor hats that had little tapping ribbons at the sides, we scurried +along the beach, climbed the rocks, or waded out into the salt water. + +But we had on our very prettiest dresses in the evening, for the +children were allowed to have the grand parlor, and dance to the music +of the band until nine o'clock. This was a privilege we older ones +talked of continually, and looked forward to all day. We were so +dainty, genteel, and good-mannered for an hour, that it impressed +even ourselves; and boys and girls became models of gentleness and +polite behavior, and the effect of those delightful evenings has given +growth and direction to many graces in our character. + +[Illustration: DANCE TO THE MUSIC OF THE BAND.] + +But the little ones, like Gracie and her friends, really couldn't +stand the excitement, and rolled around in odd corners on the floor, +or sought the grateful obscurity behind the sofas, to indulge in naps, +long before nine o'clock. I found Gracie, in her pink silk dress and +violet slippers, lying curled up under the table, with her head on the +back of Bosin, the great Newfoundland dog that had stolen into the +parlor against rules. + +Nelson Faber was a little boy, not much older than Gracie, and they +seemed to enjoy each other's society very much. He too oftentimes +succumbed to sleepiness when we wanted him to do his sailor dance; but +when the morning came, they were as rosy-cheeked and bright-eyed as +ever, and trotted along the pleasant walks with their hoops and pails, +inseparable friends. It was fortunate for Gracie, too, that he +preferred to play with her, rather than to go off with the boys, for +one day after a boisterous night, the sea came up higher on the beach +than we had ever before seen it; and unsuspecting Gracie was caught by +a wave and thrown down, and as it retired it seemed to drag her along +with it; we older ones lost our presence of mind entirely, and +screamed and cried, and did nothing, but that heroic little fellow ran +into the boiling surf and caught her dress, and with the dog's +assistance, dragged her to a safe place. She said he was, "Very nice +and dood." + +One day, some of my girl companions proposed to visit the rocks that +lay at the mouth of Green river, just where it gently met the ocean. +Right there, no end of sea-weed and shells, and things thrown up by +the ocean, could be found; and there were such curious rocks, with +nooks and basins, where the water stayed in tiny pools, and there we +went fishing, and brought lunch, setting it out on the most convenient +flat rock we could find. I tell you, cold chicken, pickles, cheese, +and sponge cake, with milk, tasted as they never did before or since, +to our party of hungry children. We climbed and fell, and laughed, and +chatted, with the salt breeze lifting our hair, and fanning our brown +faces, and going out far on the point, we came upon a little shining +lake, surrounded by rocks, upon which we could sit, and dabble our +feet in the water. It was no place more than a foot deep, and we +decided to wade round in it. It was a comical sight to see us +navigating ourselves in procession through that water, but it was a +very questionable joke, when Milly Sayre jumped and screamed, and ran +like a frantic creature from the pool, and up the rocks. + +"What's the matter, Milly," we cried. "Are you hurt? What did you +see?" we breathlessly shouted. + +"Oh! oh!" was all she could gasp, pointing to a place she had just +left. We all scrambled out instantly, and peered over the rocks into +the water. + +[Illustration: INSEPARABLE FRIENDS.] + +What should we see but a little creature, grotesque and hideous, that +made its way round in the water, with astounding celerity, throwing +out legs or claws, or whatever they were, from every point of its +circumference. Its body was flat and was a green color above and pink +under, and to add to its alarming appearance, it looked at us with two +black eyes, in a very sinister and uncanny manner. We looked at each +other with blanched faces and speechless horror, and then kept a sharp +lookout, lest it might take it into its head (we couldn't tell if it +had any head, for the place where the eyes were, did not seem +different from any other part of its body,) take it into its "internal +consciousness," to crawl out on to the rocks and chase us. It got +through the water in a distracting manner, which was really quite +amusing after a few moments, and from being horribly frightened, we +became interested when we found it did not attempt the offensive. We +gave it some lunch and called it "Jack Deadeye," and for the whole +afternoon he was the center of attraction. + +"Let us take him back with us," I proposed. "We can get him into a +pail, and then we can have him in some pool nearer home, and see what +he'll turn into. I don't believe but what he'll be something else in a +few days." + +My knowledge of natural history had always been lamentably meager, and +more than once I had brought the laugh upon myself by my ignorance. So +I forbore to predict what would be his ultimate form of beauty. + +"A whale!" said Susie Champney. + +"Oh, dear, no; whales don't have legs and claws," said Estella Bascom. +"It's a tadpole." + +"You're mistaken there," said Mamie Fitz Hugh; "tadpoles are just the +little jokers that do have tails. I've seen hundreds of them, and this +creature has no tail." + +We all rushed again to the edge of the rocks to look at him, with +added wonder. + +"Well, we'll take that tad home on a pole, any way," said Nannie +White, who was the cutest girl to say things in the whole crowd. She +immediately ran off to secure a piece of drift that was tumbling about +on the wet sand. But how to get him into a pail was the next problem. +A committee of the whole was called. I thought we could obstruct his +path by putting the mouth of the pail in front of him, and then when +he sailed into it, we could instantly pull him out. This was decided +upon; but how to get it down to him without falling in? A bright idea +struck me. I whipped off my flannel sash, and running it through the +handle, dashed it into the water; but that proceeding only frightened +him--we must move more cautiously. We worked for an hour and had him +in twice, but were so excited both times that he escaped. + +First time, Totty Rainsford shouted, "We've got him!" and immediately +rolled off the rocks, head first, into the water. We were all so +scared, with the water splashing, and she screaming at the top of her +voice, "Save me! Save me!" that Jack got away. She scrambled out +pretty lively, and when we got him in again, we were all seized with +another fit of laughing at Totty, who, in her moist predicament, was +jumping round to dry herself, because she didn't want to go home, that +he crawled out as leisurely as possible. But we secured him at last, +safe in the pail; and to prevent his crawling out, I clapped my sailor +hat over the top of it, and the elastic kept it down tight. We put the +pole through the handle and Estella and myself took hold of the ends, +and we came near losing him every few minutes, owing to the +inequalities of the ground. The pail would slide down to either end, +as the pole inclined, and Estella would drop it and scream when she +saw the pail traveling noiselessly toward her, and if it hadn't been +for my happy thought of putting the hat over him, he'd have got away +to his "happy hunting grounds," or rather, waters, in short order. + +We arrived at the hotel at last, with Jack all safe, and the rest of +the girls went to dress for dinner, and left me to find the boys, to +help me deposit him in a secure place, for we were sure we should very +greatly astonish the boarders and achieve renown as having discovered +a new species of marine beast. + +The boys were in a perfect ecstacy of curiosity to see what the girls +had caught. When I carefully took off the hat, I found the water had +all leaked out, and his monstership lay kicking and crawling at the +bottom. + +"Ho! ho! ho!" shouted Willie, "is that what-cher call a curiosity?" + +"Oh, Flossie! you have been dreadfully taken in," said Regy. + +"Oh, no," I said, "it's this wonderful animal that's been 'taken in,' +and he's going to be kept in, too." + +I began to feel, though, that there was a great laugh somewhere in the +future, and that it was coming at our expense. + +"Why, Flossie! it's nothing but a baby crab," said Regy. "I can get a +peck of them in an hour, over in the river." + +I felt greatly chagrined, and blushed with mortification. The boys +kept bursting out laughing every few minutes, asking such questions +as: + +[Illustration: HOW MANY GIRLS DID IT TAKE TO LAND HIM?] + +"How many girls did it take to land him?" "Was he gamey, Flossie?" +"Did ye bait him with a clam-shell, or an old boot? they'll snap at +any thing." + +"Oh! I'd given away my dinner to have been there!" and then Regy would +stir him up with a stick, and turn him on his back, all of which +caused me to scream every time, and sent tremors all over me. + +"What-cher goin' to do with him?" inquired Willie. + +"I shall study his habitudes, and improve my knowledge of the +crustacea," said I, giving him a sentence directly out of my +text-book. "I shall look at him every day." + +"Yes, and he'll look at you every night. I have read a book that told +about a traveler that offended a crab once, and he informed the other +crabs, and they all made for him at night, and twenty thousand of them +came that night and crept under his tent, and sat there and looked at +him. And there he was in the middle of them, and you know their eyes +are fastened in their heads by a string, and they can throw them out +of their heads and draw them back again; and, at a signal, they all +threw their eyes at him. He was so horrified that night, that he got +insane and had to be sent to a lunatic asylum." + +"I've heard your stories before, Regy, and I simply don't credit them. +We girls are going to hunt up a pond to put him in, where we can pet +him, and educate him." + +"You'd best hunt up a frying pan to put him in; he's capital eating +for breakfast, well browned, with hard-boiled eggs and parsley round +him," said Reginald. + +I told him if he couldn't do any better than to lie there and make an +exhibition of his bad taste and ignorance, he'd better get up and work +off the fit. I insisted upon his helping me to fill the pail with salt +water, and hang him upon the rocks until we could make a future, +permanent disposal of him. + +[Illustration: "WHERE WE CAN PET AND EDUCATE HIM."] + +That evening our parlor manners were somewhat less decorous and +elegant, owing to the fact that Reginald and Willie had been +industriously circulating the episode of the morning, with such +additions as they thought would add point and piquancy, among the rest +of the boys, and there was no end of innuendo and witticism indulged +in, that caused the young gentlemen to retire in groups and laugh; and +we could hear such remarks as, "Dick, there was a whale hooked on this +coast this afternoon, did you know it?" Or, "I think Jack Deadeye is +the most comical character in Pinafore, he's so crabbed." + +The girls of our party stood it as they best could; and in the morning +we stole out to look at our prize, after the boys had gone off, but +the tide had swept Jack and the pail out to sea. + +It was a long time before we heard the last of it, however. + +[Illustration: {A SMALL SAILING BOAT.}] + + + + +MAX AND BEPPO. + + + Down by the lake they trotted, + All the summer day; + Max and Beppo never plotted + Yet, to run away. + Two little donkey pets, Oh, I loved them so! + When I was in Switzerland, just a year ago. + + How they liked bananas! + And our apples sweet; + They had lovely manners, + Every thing they'd eat. + Then, I'd rub their furry ears, and they'd shake their bells, + While old driver Raspar, funny stories tells. + + Max turns round and winks so pretty, + Little, sharp round eyes; + Beppo sings a jolly ditty, + Quite to our surprise. + Then we mount, and off we go, up and down the mall, + Never do they careless trip, never make a fall. + + Once, a princess royal + Wanted little Max; + How to part those friends so loyal, + Her little brain she racks. + She would give her gold and silver, in a little purse, + Then throw in for measure good, her scolding English nurse! + + Then she cried, and chattered + All her pretty French, + And her little feet she pattered, + On the rustic bench. + "My papa is king," she said, "and I'd have you know, + I shall have the donkey, and to prison shall you go." + + How their tiny feet would scamper, + Up the valley blue, + Carrying each his generous hamper, + And his rider, too. + Sure of foot, they'd clamber round the mountain spur + Where the foot-sore tourist scarcely dared to stir. + + In this bright, sunshiny weather, + I remember with a sigh, + We no more can play together, + Beppo, Max and I. + Never dearer friends exist, in this world below, + Than I made in Switzerland, just a year ago. + + + + +[Illustration: {PANSIES.}] + +PANSIES. + + + As I walked in my garden to-day, + I saw a family sweet. + Many wee faces looked up, + From their cool and shady retreat. + Some had blue eyes and golden curls, + Some dark eyes and raven locks, + Some were dressed in velvets so rare, + And some wore quaint, gay frocks. + I asked these babies so dear, + To come and live ever with me! + Then laughing so gaily they said; + "We are _Pansies_, don't you see?" + + MRS. L. L. SLOANAKER. + + + + +"COME, LITTLE BIRD!" + + + "Come, little bird, I have waited some time, + Light on my hand, and I'll give you a dime. + I have a cage that will keep you warm, + Free from danger, and safe from storm." + + "No, little lady, we cannot do that, + Not for a dime, nor a brand new hat. + We are so happy, and wild, and free, + Chee-dee-dee! Chee-dee-dee!" + + "Fly, pretty bird, fly down, and take + Just a crumb of my Christmas cake; + Santa Claus brought it to me, you know, + Over the snow. Over the snow." + + "Yes, we know of your home, so rare, + And stockings hung in the fire-light there; + We peeped through the window-blinds to see. + Chee-dee-dee! Chee-dee-dee! + + "We were on the button-ball tree, + Closer than we were thought to be; + Soon you may have us in to tea, + Chee-dee-dee! Chee-dee-dee!" + + + + +SIRENA'S TROUBLE. + + +Adalina Patti was a doll of most trying disposition. You wouldn't +tell, when she woke up, what distracting thing she'd do first. I've +known her, when seated at the breakfast table, in her high chair, next +to Sirena, her little mamma, I have known her to jerk suddenly +forward, and plunge her face right into a plate of buttered cakes and +syrup. + +This necessitated the removing of her from the table and a good deal +of cleansing and re-dressing on the part of Bidelia, the hired girl. + +She had movable eyes; they were very lovely, but, if you'll believe +it, she'd screw them round, just to be contrary, so that she'd look +cross-eyed for hours together. No sweet persuasion or threat of +punishment could induce her to look like a doll in her right mind. + +This was not quite so bad though, as the outlandish noises she made +when she didn't want to say "mamma," which she could do very +distinctly when she first arrived, at Christmas. + +But a crisis in her petulant obstinacy came, when she wouldn't sit +still to have her hair combed, and it looked like a "hurrah's nest," +her brother Bob said. All her naughtiness came right out then. She +rolled one eye entirely up in her head, and left it there, and stared +so wild with the other, that Sirena gave her a pretty lively shake, +but she only dropped that eye and rolled up the other. + +This made her little mamma pause and meditate. She got provoked as she +looked at her, and then she gave her a double shake; then that bad +doll rolled up both her eyes, and nothing could induce her to get them +down again. + +Oh, dear! How many dreadful things she looked like. There was a +vicious parrot in the park that made its eyes look just like Adalina's +did, just before it stuck its head through the bars of its cage to +bite people. And there was a stone lady, that was named "Ceres," on +one of the paths in the same park, and she kept her eyes rolled up all +the time, greatly to the terror of Sirena and Bidelia, who had to pass +her in coming home in the twilight. And down street there was a +tobacconist's sign that represented a fairy queen, with butterfly +wings, taking a pinch of snuff, and the weather had taken all the +paint off her eyes and she looked simply hideous; and Sirena grasped +Bidelia very tight, till they got round the corner. Now here was her +lovely French doll looking like them and cutting up worse. She'd go to +mamma with this trouble as she did with all others. + +She put her doll down with her face against the carpet, and taking +hold of her pink kid arm, dragged her, not very gently, over the +carpet to her mother. + +At that moment in bounced Rob, who, immediately taking in the +situation of affairs, exclaimed,--"Oh, don't be so cruel to Adalina! +Is she just horrid? You know, Rena, that's what you are, sometimes, +yourself. What's the matter any way? What makes you look so glum?" + +"This doll is acting dreadful; just look at her eyes!" said Sirena. + +"You can't tell any thing by any one's eyes, yours look like the 4th +of July, now, and you're a delightful little girl, everybody says; you +don't whack things round, and scream, when the flowers bloom in the +spring." + +He was to be repressed immediately. Sirena looked at her mother. + +"He wants to be funny, Sirena," said her mother, soothingly. + +"Then he isn't funny; he's never funny," said Sirena, drawing herself +up with dignity. + +"Totty Belmont says you're the teasenest, hatefulest boy she knows! So +there," remarked Sirena. + +"Oh, ho! I don't wonder the doll is scared. Why don't you treat that +pretty creature with some consideration? Dragging her over the carpet, +and spoiling her pretty dress! Now you'll see, just as soon as she +comes to me, because I'm good-looking and nice, she'll put her eyes +down and smile at me as lovely as ever." + +He took the doll and jumped it up and down in the air, dancing about +and singing, "Tra-la." + +As sure as the world! Down came the eyes, and Adalina was her charming +self again. + +"Now you see," said Rob, "if you want people to be good to you and +love you, you must not be rude and ill-natured yourself. This doll is +French, and particular, and she just won't look at cross little girls; +so there!" + +"I think," said her mamma, "that Sirena will not get so angry with her +doll again. She looks as if she were ashamed of it now. However +disagreeable we may think people are, it's best to watch ourselves, +lest in finding fault with them, we fall into the same errors." + +[Illustration: SIRENA.] + + + + +LADY VIOLET. + + + My little love, with soft, brown eyes, + Looks shyly back at me, + Beneath the drooping apple bough, + She thinks I do not see. + I cannot choose, I laugh with her, + I catch her merry glee; + Or stay you near, or go you far, + Oh, little love, how sweet you are! + + A hue, like light within a rose, + Is dimpling on her cheek, + It wins a grace, it deepens now + With every airy freak; + A love-light in the rose like this, + Ah, you may vainly seek; + It shines for me, no shadows mar, + Oh, little love, how fair you are! + + My heart clings to her pretty words, + They will not be forgot; + My happy brain will not discern, + If they be wise or not. + To ever be so charmed, so blessed, + Ah, this were happy lot. + My own, shine ever like a star + Upon my life, so true you are. + + + + +[Illustration: PAPA'S PETS.] + + + + +ON TRIAL. + + +Little Hal Keys was pretty sure to throw a stone at every pussy cat he +saw, and so all the cats around used to have a great deal to say about +him as they sat together on the back fences, or when they had a party +in the big barn. At last the cats determined to do something about it, +and so they said: "We will have him up for trial before Judge Thomas +White." He was the wisest and oldest of all the cats in town, and wore +spectacles that made him look even wiser than he was. Eleven of the +most learned cats said they would be lawyers, and get other cats to be +witnesses, to tell what Hal had done, and try to get him punished. One +of the eleven said: "For the sake of Hal's mother, who has always been +kind to me from the time I was a little kitten, I will be his lawyer, +and try to get his punishment made as light as I can." + +[Illustration: DOLLY VARDEN ACCUSING JACK WITH CRUELTY.] + +Twelve cats had to be found who could say that they were not quite +sure that Hal was such a bad boy as he seemed to be. They were +stay-at-home cats, who did not know what was going on outside of the +comfortable houses where they lived. These twelve cats were to be the +jury, and it was their duty to hear all that the lawyers and the +witnesses had to say about Hal's doings, and then to tell whether or +not they thought he ought to be punished. + +At last the day of the trial came; Judge Thomas White sat down in his +big chair and took his pen; the lawyers took their places; the twelve +jury cats were brought in, and put in a high box, so they could not +jump out and run away. Hal was brought in and put in the prisoner's +box, as they call it; and Christopher Gray, his mother's old cat, took +his place beside Hal. Three cats, called "reporters," came in with +pockets full of paper and pencils, to write down all that is said; to +print in the newspapers, for all cats in the world to read. + +The first witness to tell all the bad she knew about Hal was his +sister Alice's little Dolly Varden. How saucy she looked, with the +blue ribbon tied around her neck, as she sat on the witness stand +telling how Hal chased her from cellar to garret; and stepped on her +tail; and gave her saucer of milk to the dog Jack whenever he got a +chance. "Cruel, cruel boy," said Dolly Varden, "he teases his sister +almost as much as he teases me." + +Hal trembled from head to foot when he heard what Dolly Varden said, +for he knew it all was true, and he was much afraid that a very hard +punishment would be given to him. Then the old black cat, on whom Hal +had thrown a dipper of hot water, was called to the witness stand. +Poor old thing! the hot water had taken the fur off his back. Then +came another cat, limping up to the witness stand, whose leg had been +broken by a stone which Hal had thrown. There were so many witnesses +that it would make my story too long to tell about them all. All that +Christopher Gray could say in Hal's favor was: "He has a good mother." + +"The more shame for him," said one of the lawyers. + +When the jury had heard all that was to be said, they went out of the +room together; in five minutes they came back; all agreed that Hal +should be punished. Then Judge Thomas White, in his most solemn tone, +said: "Albert Keys, you are found guilty of great cruelty to good cats +everywhere. I must, therefore, pronounce sentence upon you. You must +go with us to Cat town for two days and one night." + +There were tears in Hal's eyes, but the Judge had no pity on him, and +he called in some of the strongest cats to take him. Oh! what a long, +hard way it was; over fences, under houses, and through the barns. It +was hard work for Hal to keep up with them, but they made him. What a +time he had after he got to Cat town. All of the cats gathered around +him, and howled at him, and scratched his face and hands, and made him +wish he was any place but there. At last when he was set free, he +never could have found his way home, if pretty little Dolly Varden had +not forgiven him, and shown him the way back. + +Hal was never known after that to throw a stone at a cat, or to treat +one badly in any way. + + + + +TWO LITTLE GIRLS. + + + They don't know much, these little girls, + I'll tell you why 'tis so, + They played away their time at school, + And let their lessons go. + + One took a slate to cipher, + And all went very well, + Until she came to four times eight, + And that she could not tell. + + The other would make pictures + In her copy book at school, + Of boys and girls and donkeys + Which was against the rule. + + But nothing good could come of it, + And this is what befell; + She tried to write to papa, + And found she could not spell. + + The teacher said, "Of all sad things, + I would not be a dunce, + But would learn to write and cipher, + And begin the work at once." + + + + +[Illustration: {A BOY WITH A BOOK LOOKS OVER THE CITY.}] + +HELPFUL WORDS. + + +A great astronomer was, once in his early days, working hard at +mathematics, and the difficulties he met with, made him ready to give +up the study in despair. After listlessly looking out of the window, +he turned over the leaves of his book, when the lining at the back +attracted his attention. Looking at it closely, he found it was part +of a letter written to a young man, apparently, like himself, +disheartened with his difficulties. "Go on, sir, go on," was the +counsel; "the difficulties you meet will disappear as you advance." + +This short sentence seemed to give the student fresh courage. +Following out these simple words he applied himself with renewed +energy to his studies, and ultimately became one of the most learned +men of his day. + + D. + + + + +FALSE SHAME. + + +Do not be ashamed, my lad, if you have a patch on your elbow. It is no +mark of disgrace. It speaks well for your industrious mother. For our +part, we would rather see a dozen patches on your clothes than to have +you do a bad or mean action, or to hear a profane or vulgar word +proceed from your lips. No good boy will shun you or think less of you +because you do not dress as well as he does, and if any one laugh at +your appearance, never mind it. Go right on doing your duty. + + + + +[Illustration: {FIVE DEER.}] + +CLARA AND THE ANIMAL BOOK. + + +Clara was a little western girl. She had lived in San Francisco until +she was nine years old, when her dear mamma and papa brought her east +to live with Aunt Mary and Cousin Charlie, and they were growing very +fond of her indeed, for she was so sweet and kind and always obedient. + +One day she was sitting out under the blossoming trees on the old +Worden seat, her book lying, unread, in her lap, and her eyes having a +dreamy, far-away look in them, when, from the balcony overhead, +sounded a piping little voice: + +"Clara, Tousin Clara! has oo dot my Animal book?" and a small, +rosy-cheeked boy came running to her, rubbing his sleepy, dark eyes. + +"Why, Charlie, have you finished your nap so soon? yes here is your +Animal book, and what shall I read about?" + +"Oh, about the deers, wiz their dreat big horns, and--and--_every_ +sin," and he nestled close, satisfied he would hear all he wished. So +she read a short sketch of the deer, its haunts and habits, when he +interrupted: + +"Has oo ever _seen_ a deer--a real _live_ one?" and his black eyes +opened wide. + +"Oh, yes; and when we were coming east, across the plains, whenever +the train drew near a wooded stream, often the screaming whistle would +startle a herd of deer from their covert, and they would rush up +through the trees, antlers erect, and sleek brown bodies quivering +with alarm, and followed by the soft-eyed, gentle fawn. It was quite a +pretty picture." + +"Tell me more; what tind of a city did oo live in?" + +[Illustration: CLARA AND THE ANIMAL BOOK.] + +"A very beautiful city, Charlie. You should see our noble bay, with +the great ships riding at anchor; our fine parks and stately +buildings. Then if you should go down in Market street, where most of +the business is done, you would see some funny sights. All kinds of +people are there--Ranchmen, Indians, Spaniards, English, Americans and +lots of queer little Chinamen, and they have small, dark shops full of +curious things, and besides spread their wares on the walk." + +After telling about the orange groves and vineyards, the lovely +flowers, especially the fuchsia, which winds its branches like a vine +over the porches, often reaching the upper story of a house, Charlie +thought it must be a wonderful country, and expressed his intention of +_living_ in California when he became a man. + + + + +In a Chinese village during a time of drought a missionary saw a row +of idols put in the hottest and dustiest part of the road. He inquired +the reason and the natives answered: "We prayed our gods to send us +rain, and they wont, so we've put them out to see how they like the +heat and dryness." + + + + +THE UNSOCIABLE DUCKS. + + + Three meadow birds went out in great glee, + All in the sunshiny weather; + Down by the pond, with the reeds waving free, + Where the ducks were all standing together. + + "Good day Mrs. Duck," said the three meadow birds, + "From all the news we can gather, + You're a very good friend, of very few words." + Then one flew away with a feather. + + "Quack!" said the duck, "That feather is mine, + I see through your ways altogether; + You want our feathers, your own nests to line, + All in the bright summer weather." + + "What shall we use?" said the three meadow birds, + "There's no good in moss or in heather." + "We don't care a straw," said the old blue drake, + "If you line all your nests with sole leather." + + "Quack! Quack! Quack! You must think we are slack! + You talk too polite altogether; + We've had quite enough of your high-flown stuff, + And we know, you are birds of a feather." + + + + +[Illustration: {DICKENS AND HIS CAT.}] + +PUTTING OUT THE CANDLE. + + +Charles Dickens, for that is the name of the gentleman you see sitting +by the table, wrote many books and stories. Some of his stories are +about little children for grown folks to read, and others are for the +children themselves. Mr. Dickens had a pet cat, that was always in his +library. Strange to say, it had no name. That was no matter, because +the cat could not hear. He was deaf. But he liked very much to be +petted, and plainly showed sometimes that he was not pleased to have +his master do any thing else. One evening, when Mr. Dickens was +sitting at the table reading, his candle suddenly went out. He did not +know why it should have done so, but he got up and lighted it. In a +few moments it began to get dark again, and he looked up quickly at +the candle, and saw puss just raising his paw to put it out. "What did +he do?" He gave the cat a loving little pat and went on with his +reading. What a sly cat was that to find a way to make his master +notice him. + + + + +SULKY ARCHIE. + +BY C. MANNERS SMITH. + + +"It must be nice to be a sailor, and I wish I was one. Every thing +goes wrong and mother is always scolding me, and father is never done +growling; I am getting tired of it." + +The speaker was a little, round-cheeked lad, of about nine years of +age. He was standing, with a tall, fair-haired girl, evidently his +sister, on the edge of the river Wyncombe. He was not a lively boy. He +was one of those thoughtful, gloomy little boys who are always +dreaming; always thinking and imagining some fancied injury from +either father or mother. + +[Illustration: "NOBODY CARES."] + +Archie Phillips was the little boy's name, and he and his sister had +got a holiday and were watching a party of older children from the +Wynne High School, who had come down to the river to spend the +afternoon. There was Algernon Wright with a large model yacht, and +Willie Schofield, the Mayor's son, with a new silver-mounted fishing +rod. They were all as happy and full of frolic as all boys in the +spring-time of life ought to be. Little Archie was, however, of a +morose temperament, and did not share in any of the amusements. + +The village of Wynne is a fishing village, and is approached from the +sea by a beautiful cove on the Cornish coast. The town is built on the +slopes of the hills reaching down to the water's edge, and the river +Wynne empties itself into the sea near by. + +It is, indeed, a pleasant place. At the time of this story all the +boys of Wynne, young and old, were crazy after maritime pursuits and +sports. They spent the bulk of their holiday time either in sailing +about the bay, or in fishing, bathing, or holding model yacht races in +the cove. + +"Why don't I have a yacht in the place of a silly ball? Why don't I +have boys to play with instead of Lucy and Gyp? What do girls or dogs +know about a top or a cat hunt? I'm disgusted! I'll go for a sailor! +I'll run away; there!" + +The girl took no notice of this discourse. It was no new thing for her +to hear grumbling from her brother, and she was accustomed to bear it +without murmur or dissent. Presently she ran away, along the river +bank, with her doll, to a shady place, where she knew the sun was not +strong, and where some rushes overhung the path. There she could put +her doll to sleep. It was no use asking Archie to join her. He was too +old and too much of a man to enter into any such stupidity. + +Presently Archie sat down in the shade, on the balustrades of the +churchyard and watched the glee of the High-Schoolboys with a sulky +envy. + +It was a glorious summer afternoon. The sky overhead was one vast, +inverted field of blue, without a single speck of cloud. The hot sun +was beating down almost perpendicularly, and the rays penetrated the +leaves, shedding a lattice-work pattern on the ground. + +"I know Ben Huntly, the boat-builder, will tell me how to go to sea. +He has been a sailor himself, and I know he will tell me all about it. +Nobody cares; well, mother might, perhaps, a bit, but then, I don't +know." + +Then he paused in his musings and thought of all the injustice done to +him by his mother. He thought, like all gloomy, wretched little boys, +of all that was ill. He didn't for one moment remember, how, that very +morning, the self-same, unjust mother, after packing up his little +lunch-basket, had put her arms round his neck, and a little +red-cheeked apple in his pocket, and told him to keep away from the +river. Oh, no, he seemed to have quite forgotten all that. + +Then the sun went behind a cloud and Archie felt the cool wind, which +blew from the cove, on his cheek, so he jumped down from his musing +place and sped away as fast as his legs would carry him toward the +house of the boat-builder. He ran across the green, down the grassy +slopes and across a stretch of shingly beach, to the cottage of his +friend. + +Ben Huntly, the boat-builder, was a good-hearted fellow, and was +extremely fond of all the children of the village. He had that method +possessed by few people of searching into the heart of a child and +arguing with him in a manner suitable for a child's understanding. + +Archie had often sought Ben's counsel when things seemed to go wrong, +and it was seldom that the boat-builder had failed to convince the +boy, even to his satisfaction, that he was wrong. + +It was an off day for the boat-builder. He was sitting, smoking his +pipe, in the cottage porch, and reading a well-thumbed copy of "Gray's +Master Mariner." He welcomed Archie with a secret delight, for he +knew, by his little friend's face, that he was brooding over some +fancied injury, and it gave the boat-builder pleasure to talk his +little friend out of his troubles. + +"Well, Archie, what's new in the wind," said Ben, as he greeted the +boy with a grasp of the hand. "It seems almost an age since I saw you, +my boy." + +Little Archie sat down on a large stone bench in the porch, and told +Ben his story. His mother had been vexed with him that morning. She +had asked him to call at the rectory with a message for Doctor Hart, +and he wanted to cut grass at the time, and objected. His mother did +not scold him, oh, no, Ben, she sent Carrie, who willingly took the +message, and his father had called him a name. Then, again, he had no +toys like other boys. Some had a pony; he couldn't have one. His +father always answered his request for a pony with the reply that he +couldn't afford one just then and he would see about it some day. If +Ben would only tell him how to go to sea he would certainly run away +the next day. + +[Illustration: "AND DISCUSSED LITTLE ARCHIE'S PURPOSED FLIGHT."] + +Now, Ben knew the character of little Archie better, perhaps, than his +own mother did; so, when he had given the little boy a draught of cool +milk from the cottage kitchen, Ben lit his pipe afresh, and took down +an old telescope, a relic of his sea-faring days, from the wall. The +young man and the boy then strolled across a low, level tract of sand, +to a grassy hillock, formed by the current of the Wyncombe. Here they +sat down in the fast waning twilight, and discussed little Archie's +purposed flight. + +"Yes, Archie," said Ben, "a sailor's life is well enough, if you don't +mind hard beds and harder words. If you can eat salty meat and mouldy +bread it's a fine life, Archie. There is no life I'd like better if +they'd give you fresher water and not quite so many cruel blows. But, +if you've made up your mind, Archie, and think you can go to bed +nights in a rolling, tossing sea, with the wind howling and the rain +pouring, and your mother thousands of miles away, looking at your +little empty bed, I should think very seriously about it." Archie +looked thoughtful, as the gloom deepened on his face, and silence fell +on the pair for a time. + +[Illustration: ARCHIE THINKING OF BEN'S STORY.] + +Suddenly Ben spied a French frigate looming against the darkening sky +and showed it to Archie through the telescope. He explained all the +parts of the ship and dwelt long in his answers to the lad's +questions. He told little Archie how, early one stormy morning, he had +been awakened from his bed in the cottage by the sound of guns away at +sea, how he had descended to the beach with a lot of the villagers, to +find the waves beating mercilessly over a great broken ship. He told +how they had all stood, in the leaden morning, stricken with dread at +the sight of the disaster they were all powerless to prevent; leaning +hard against the wind, their breath and vision often failing as the +sleet and spray rushed at them from the great mountain of foaming sea +which kept breaking on the rocks in the cove. He told farther, how, +before all their eyes, the vessel had given one great heave backwards +and sank beneath the waves forever; how they could faintly hear the +heart-rending screams of women and children above the storm as the +great waste of waters covered the struggling vessel. He told Archie +that, on the following evening, while he was mending a boat down the +bay, he came across something lying amongst a mass of sea-weed, and on +turning it over had found it to be the dead body of a sailor--a fair, +curly-headed youth. + +"He was clad," said Ben, "in a pair of linen trowsers and a sea shirt, +and the weeds and sand were all tangled in his hair. I raised him up +from the beach and a small bundle fell out of his bosom. I laid him in +my boat and went for Doctor Hart. It was the talk of the village for +days. Dr. Hart found the bundle to contain a packet of letters written +in a feeble hand and signed by the dead sailor's mother. They were +loving letters of expected joy at her boy's return." + +Ben would have gone on with the story, but he was attracted by the +appearance of Archie. The little lad was sitting, with his pale face +turned up to Ben, and with two great tears, as large as horse beans, +in the corners of his eyes. On meeting Ben's gaze he broke down +thoroughly and burst into a flood of tears, throwing his arms round +the honest boat-builder's neck, sobbing on his breast. + +"Oh, Ben, I don't want to leave mother; I am a wicked boy. If she were +to die, Ben, what should I do? Do you think she is alive now, Ben? I +don't want to go away, Ben." + +The boat-builder soothed the little lad and smiled at the success of +his purpose to divert the boy's mind. + +It was now nearly night, and time for Archie to go home, so Ben took +him on his shoulders and carried him to Mr. Archer's house, where the +family were all waiting supper for the little boy. + +Archie ran to his mother as soon as he got in and kissed her over and +over again. He told her his little story, making the good woman's +heart overflow with love for her little son. + +Ben stayed to supper with the family that night, and all was bright +and happy as the merry party sat round the board laughing and joking +to their heart's content. + + * * * * * + +Archie is a young man now, and has outgrown his gloomy, brooding +disposition. He is a clerk in the office of a rich corn merchant in +Oxbridge, the nearest market to Wynne, and shows every tendency to +become a successful and respected business man. + +Occasionally, when things do not happen to his satisfaction, and he +feels the old spirit of discontent rising, he checks it by reflecting +on his early unhappiness. If his mother or father are harsh or angry +with him, or if Mr. Gayton, his employer, speaks quickly or loudly to +him, he stifles any tendency to sulk and become angry by thinking of +Ben Huntly and the story of the wreck. + + + + +A WISH FOR WINGS. + + + O dear little birdie, how nice it must be + To be able to fly + Far away to the sky, + Or to sit on the toss-away top of a tree. + + I wish you would lend me your wings for a day. + I have two little feet + That can run on the street, + One step at a time, but I can't fly away. + + I would fly to the woods if I only had wings; + Over house-top and tree, + Like a bird or a bee, + And sit by the side of the thrush while she sings. + + I would count the blue eggs in her snug little nest; + I would stay all day long, + To hear her sweet song, + And bring home a feather of gold from her breast. + + MRS. S. J. BRIGHAM. + + + + +CONSEQUENCES: A PARABLE. + + + The baby held it in his hand, + An acorn green and small, + He toyed with it, he tossed it high, + And then he let it fall! + + He sought for it, and sorely wept, + Or did his mother know + (Though sweet she kissed and clasped her boy) + What loss had grieved him so. + + Then he was borne to other lands, + And there he grew to man, + And wrought his best, and did his most, + And lived as heroes can. + + But in old age it came to pass + He trod his native shore, + Yet did not know the pleasant fields + Where he had played before. + + Beneath a spreading oak he sat, + A wearied man and old, + And said,--"I feel a strange content + My inmost heart enfold. + + "As if some sweet old secret wish + Was secretly fulfilled, + As if I traced the plan of life + Which God Himself has willed! + + "Oh, bonnie tree which shelters me, + Where summer sunbeams glow, + I've surely seen thee in my dreams!-- + Why do I love thee so?" + + ISABELLA FYVIE MAYO. + + + + +[Illustration: MATCHES.] + + + + +COMFORTABLE MRS. CROOK. + +BY RUTH LAMB. + + +If Mrs. Jemima Crook happened to be in a very good temper, when taking +a cup of tea with some old acquaintance, she would sometimes allude to +her private affairs in these words: "I don't deny it; Crook has left +me comfortable." This was not much to tell, for Mrs. Crook was not +given to confidences, and a frequent remark of hers was: "I know my +own business, and that is enough for me. I don't see that I have any +call to fill other people's minds and mouths with what does not +concern them." + +Seeing, however, that Mrs. Crook's own mind and heart were entirely +filled by Mrs. Crook herself, it was, perhaps, as well that she should +not occupy too much of the attention and affection of her neighbors. + +It is a poor, narrow heart, and a small mind, that find self enough to +fill them; but these sorts are not unknown, and Mrs. Crook was a +sample of such. + +When she spoke of having been left "comfortable" by her deceased +partner, there was a look of triumph and satisfaction on her face, and +a "No-thanks-to-any-of-you" kind of tone in her voice, that must have +jarred on the ear of a listener. + +No one ever saw a tear in Mrs. Crook's eye, or heard an expression of +regret for the loss of "Crook" himself. He had been dead and out of +sight and mind almost these ten years past. He was merely remembered +as having done his duty in leaving his widow "comfortable." People +were left to speculate as they chose about the amount represented by +the expression. It would not have been good for the man or woman who +had ventured to ask a direct question on the subject, but everybody +agreed that Mrs. Crook must have something handsome. Surely +"comfortable" means free from care, both as regards to-day and +to-morrow: not only enough, but a little more, or else anxiety might +step in and spoil comfort. If Mrs. Crook had more than enough, she +took care not to give of her abundance. Neither man, woman nor child +was ever the better for the surplus, if such there were. One of her +favorite expressions was, "I don't care for much neighboring; I prefer +keeping myself to myself." + +"And you keep every thing else to yourself," muttered one who had +vainly tried to enlist her sympathy for another who was in sickness +and trouble. + +Mrs. Crook had a pretty garden, well-stocked with flowers, according +to the season. She was fond of working in it, and might be seen there +daily, with her sun-bonnet on, snipping, tying and tending her plants. + +Children do so love flowers, and, thank God, those who live in country +places have grand gardens to roam in, free to all, and planted by His +own loving hand. But in town it is different, and Mrs. Crook lived +just outside one; far enough away from its smoke to allow of +successful gardening, not too far to prevent little feet from +wandering thither from narrow courts and alleys, to breathe a purer +air, and gaze, with longing eyes, at the fair blossoms. It always +irritated Mrs. Crook to see these dirty, unkempt little creatures +clustering around her gate, or peeping through her hedge. + +"What do you want here?" she would ask, sharply. "Get away with you, +or I will send for a policeman. You are peeping about to see if you +can pick up something; I know you are. Be off, without any more +telling!" + +The light of pleasure called into the young eyes by the sight of the +flowers would fade away, and the hopeful look leave the dirty faces, +as Mrs. Crook's harsh words fell on the children's ears. But as they +turned away with unwilling, lingering steps, heads would be stretched, +and a wistful, longing gaze cast upon the coveted flowers, until they +were quite lost to sight. + +There was a tradition amongst the youngsters that a very small child +had once called, through the bars of the gate: "P'ease, Missis, do +give me a f'ower." Also that something in the baby voice had so far +moved Mrs. Jemima Crook, that she had stooped to select one or two of +the least faded roses among all those just snipped from the bushes, +and given them to the daring little blue eyes outside, with this +injunction, however: + +"Mind you never come here asking for flowers any more." + +This report was long current among the inhabitants of a city court, +but it needs confirmation. + +Mrs. Crook objected to borrowers also, and perhaps she was not so much +to be blamed for that. Most of us who possess bookshelves, and once +delighted in seeing them well filled, look sorrowfully at gaps made by +borrowers who have failed to return our treasures. But domestic +emergencies occur even in the best regulated families, and neighborly +help may be imperatively required. It may be a matter of Christian +duty and privilege too, to lend both our goods and our personal aid. +Mrs. Crook did not think so. Lending formed no part of her creed. If +other people believed in it, and liked their household goods to travel +up and down the neighborhood, that was their look-out, not hers. + +"I never borrow, so why should I lend?" asked Mrs. Crook. "Besides, I +am particular about my things. My pans are kept as bright and clean as +new ones, and if my servant put them on the shelves, as some people's +servants replace theirs after using, she would not be here long. No, +thank you. When I begin to borrow, I will begin to lend, but not until +then." + +Mrs. Crook's sentiments were so well known that, even in a case of +sickness, when a few spoonfuls of mustard were needed for immediate +use in poultices, the messenger on the way to borrow it, passed her +door rather than risk a refusal, whereby more time might be lost than +by going farther in the first instance. + +Many were the invitations Mrs. Crook received to take part in the work +of different societies. One lady asked her to join the Dorcas meeting. + +"You can sew so beautifully," she said. "You would be a great +acquisition to our little gathering." + +The compliment touched a tender point. Mrs. Crook was proud of her +needlework, but to dedicate such skill in sewing to making +under-clothing for the poorest of the poor: The idea was monstrous! + +Mrs. Crook answered civilly, that she could not undertake to go +backwards and forwards to a room half a mile off. It would be a waste +of time. Besides, though it was probably not the case in that +particular meeting, she had heard that there was often a great deal of +gossip going on at such places. The visitor was determined not to be +offended, and she replied, gently, that there was no chance of gossip, +for, after a certain time had been given to the actual business of the +meeting, such as planning, cutting out, and apportioning work, one of +the ladies read, whilst the rest sewed. "But," she added, "if you are +willing to help us a little, and object to joining the meeting at the +room, perhaps you would let me bring you something to be made at home. +There is always work for every willing hand." + +Then Mrs. Crook drew herself up and said she did not feel inclined to +take in sewing. She had her own to do, and did it without requiring +assistance, and she thought it was better to teach the lower classes +to depend upon themselves than to go about pampering poor people and +encouraging idleness, as many persons were so fond of doing +now-a-days. No doubt they thought they were doing good, but, for her +part, she believed that in many cases they did harm. + +The visitor could have told tales of worn-out toilers, laboring almost +night and day to win bread for their children, but unable to find +either material for a garment or time to make it. She could have +pleaded for the widow and the orphan, if there had seemed any feelings +to touch, any heart to stir. But Mrs. Crook's hard words and looks +repelled her, and she went her way, after a mere "Good-morning. I am +sorry you cannot see your way to help us." + +No chance of widows weeping for the loss of Mrs. Crook, or telling of +her almsdeeds and good works, or showing the coats and garments made +for them by her active fingers! + +It was the same when some adventurous collector called upon Mrs. Crook +to solicit a subscription. She had always something to say against the +object for which money was asked. If it were for the sufferers by an +accident in a coal mine or for the unemployed at a time of trade +depression: + +"Why don't they insure their lives like their betters? Why don't they +save something, when they are getting good wages? I am not going to +encourage the thriftless, or help those who might help themselves, if +they would think beforehand." + +At length every one gave up trying to enlist her services, or to +obtain contributions from her, for the support of any good cause. And +Mrs. Crook bestowed all her thoughts, her affections, her time and her +means, on the only person she thought worthy of them all--namely Mrs. +Crook herself. + + + + +AN EVENING SONG. + +BY COUSIN ANNIE. + + + Twilight dews are gath'ring, + The bright day's done; + Upon thy downy couch + Rest, little one. + + Each tiny bird's hieing + Home to its nest; + Each flower-head's nodding + Upon its breast. + + Be still now, little heart, + Until the morrow + Brings again its share + Of joy and sorrow. + + May angels round thy couch + Be ever nigh, + And over thy slumbers chant + Their lullaby. + + + + +[Illustration: {A LITTLE GIRL IN THOUGHTFUL POSE.}] + +"BUT THEN." + + +It was a queer name for a little girl, and it was not her real +name--that was Lizzie--but everybody called her "But Then." + +"My real name is prettier, _but then_, I like the other pretty well," +she said, nodding her short, brown curls merrily. And that sentence +shows just how she came by her name. + +If Willie complained that it was a miserable, rainy day, and they +couldn't play out of doors, Lizzie assented brightly,-- + +"Yes; _but then_, it is a real nice day to fix our scrapbooks." + +When Kate fretted because they had so far to walk to school, her +little sister reminded her,-- + +"_But then, it's all the way through the woods, you know_, and that's +ever so much nicer than walking on pavements in a town." + +When even patient Aunt Barbara pined a little because the rooms in the +new house were so few and small compared with their old home, a rosy +face was quietly lifted to hers with the suggestion,-- + +"_But then_, little rooms are the best to cuddle all up together in, +don't you think, Auntie?" + +"Better call her 'Little But Then,' and have done with it," declared +Bob, half-vexed, half-laughing. "No matter how bad any thing is, she +is always ready with her 'but then,' and some kind of consolation on +the end of it." + +And so, though no one really intended it, the new name began. There +were a good many things that the children missed in their new home. +Money could have bought them even there; but if the money had not gone +first, their father would scarcely have thought it necessary to leave +his old home. They had done what was best under the circumstances; +still the boys felt rather inclined to grumble about it one winter +morning when they were starting off to the village on an errand. + +"Just look at all the snow going to waste, without our having a chance +to enjoy it," said Will; "and the ice too--all because we couldn't +bring our sleds with us when we moved." + +"_But then_, you might make one yourself, you know. It wouldn't be +quite so pretty, but it would be just as good," suggested Little But +Then. + +"Exactly what I mean to do as soon as I get money enough to buy two or +three boards; but I haven't even that yet, and the winter is nearly +half gone." + +"If we only had a sled to-day, Sis could ride, and we could go on the +river," said Bob. "It's just as near that way, and we could go +faster." + +"It is a pity," admitted the little girl. "_But then_, I've thought of +something--that old chair in the shed! If we turned it down, its back +would be almost like runners, and so--" + +"Hurrah! that's the very thing!" interrupted the boys; and the old +chair was dragged out in a twinkling, and carried down to the river. +Then away went the merry party, laughing and shouting, on the smooth +road between the snowy hills, while Gyp followed, frisking and +barking, and seeming to enjoy the fun as much as any of them. + +"Now we'll draw our sled up here, close under the bank, where nobody +will see it, and leave it while we go up to the store," said Bob, when +they had reached the village. + +Their errand was soon done, and the children ready to return; but as +they set forth Will pointed to a dark spot a little way out on the +ice. + +"What is that? It looks like a great bundle of clothes." + +It was a bundle that moved and moaned as they drew near, and proved to +be a girl, a little bigger than Lizzie. She looked up when they +questioned her, though her face was pale with pain. + +"I slipped and fell on the ice," she explained, "and I'm afraid I've +broken my leg, for it is all twisted under me, and I can't move it or +get up. I live in the village. That's my father's carpenter shop where +you see the sign. I could see it all the time, and yet I was afraid +I'd freeze here before any one saw me. Oh dear! it doesn't seem as if +I could lie here while you go for my father." + +"Why, you needn't," began Bob; but the girl shook her head. + +"I can't walk a step, and you two are not strong enough to carry me +all the way. You'd let me fall, or you'd have to keep stopping to +rest; and putting me down and taking me up again would almost kill +me." + +"Oh, but we'll only lift you into the chair, just as carefully as we +can, then we can carry you easy enough," said Will. + +And in that way the poor girl was borne safely home; and the children +lingered long enough to bring the surgeon and hear his verdict that +"Young bones don't mind much being broken, and she will soon be about +again, as well as ever." + +[Illustration: "BUT THEN, IT'S ALL THE WAY THROUGH THE WOODS, YOU +KNOW."] + +"But I don't see how you happened to have a chair so handy," said her +father to the boys. And when they explained that they were using it +for a sled, he said, with a significant nod of his head,--"Your sled, +was it? Well, I shall be surprised if my shop does not turn you out a +better sled than that, just by way of thanks for your kindness." + +"_But then_, wasn't it good that it was only the old chair that we +had to-day?" asked Little But Then, as she told the story to Aunt +Barbara at home. "Oh Auntie, I had the nicest kind of a time!" + +"I believe you had," answered Aunt Barbara, smiling; "for a brave, +sunny spirit, that never frets over what it has not, but always makes +the best of what it has where it is, is sure to have a good time. It +does not need to wait for it to come--it has a factory for making it." + +[Illustration: {A LITTLE GIRL AND BOY.}] + + + + +--The following is an Arabic proverb taken from the mouth of an +Oriental: "Men are four. 1. He who knows not, and knows not he knows +not. He is a fool; shun him. 2. He who knows not, and knows he knows +not. He is simple; teach him. 3. He who knows, and knows not he knows. +He is asleep; wake him. 4. He who knows, and knows he knows. He is +wise; follow him." + + + + +WHAT THE SNAIL SAID. + + + "You little chicks, tho' you peck at my dress, + I will not get angry at that; + I know you would gobble me up if you could, + As quick as a worm or a gnat." + + "Say, little snail, you had better go on, + They may try the same trick upon you." + "No, no," said the snail, with his hard coat of mail, + "I don't care a rush if they do. + + "Little girl, there's no harm to cause me alarm, + I'll sit here and watch them a spell, + But as soon as they pounce, I'll cheat them at once, + By getting right into my shell." + + "But listen, wise snail, the old hen in the coop + Has her eye very closely on you; + And if she gets out, it may put you about, + Now mind, what I tell you is true." + + "But dear little girl, she is fast in her house; + No, no, she can't touch me, no, no. + But if that respectable fowl should get out, + Oho!" said the snail. "Oho!" + + + + +ONLY NOW AND THEN. + + + Think it no excuse, boys, + Merging into men, + That you do a wrong act + "Only now and then." + Better to be careful + As you go along, + If you would be manly, + Capable and strong. + + Many a wretched sot, boys, + That one daily meets + Drinking from the beer-kegs, + Living in the streets, + Or at best, in quarters + Worse than any pen, + Once was dressed in broadcloth + Drinking now and then. + + When you have a habit + That is wrong, you know, + Knock it off at once, lads, + With a sudden blow. + Think it no excuse, boys, + Merging into men, + That you do a wrong act + "Only now and then." + + + + +A SERPENT AMONG THE BOOKS. + + +One day, a gentleman in India went into his library and took down a +book from the shelves. As he did so, he felt a slight pain in his +finger, like the prick of a pin. He thought that a pin had been stuck, +by some careless person, in the cover of the book. But soon his finger +began to swell, then his arm, and then his whole body, and in a few +days he died. It was not a pin among the books, but a small and deadly +serpent. + +There are many serpents among the books now-a-days; they nestle in the +foliage of some of our most fascinating literature; they coil around +the flowers whose perfume intoxicates the senses. People read and are +charmed by the plot of the story, and the skill with which the +characters are sculptured or grouped, by the gorgeousness of the +wood-painting, and hardly feel the pin-prick of the evil that is +insinuated. But it stings and poisons. + +Let us watch against the serpents and read only that which is healthy, +instructive and profitable. + + + + +[Illustration: GOOD NIGHT.] + + + + +"LITTLE MOTHER." + +BY JULIA HUNT MOREHOUSE. + + +It was Judge Bellow's big, fine house, that stood on the corner by the +park. Every body knew that, but every body did _not_ know that the one +little girl who lived in that house was restless and unhappy and often +cross. + +"Why do you roam about so, Nell? Why don't you settle down to +something?" her mother asked, one bright, spring day. + +"Oh, I am sick of everything. I have read all my books, and I hate my +piano. The croquet isn't up, and there is nobody to play with me, if +it was." + +"Why don't you find some kind of work to do?" + +"That is just the trouble. There's nothing that needs to be done; +servants for every thing; and what does crocheting amount to, and +plastering some little daubs of paint on some plush! Why, I believe +that little Dutch girl that sells things out of her big basket, on our +corner, every morning, is a good deal happier than I am. I mean to ask +her sometime what makes her so." + + * * * * * + +A few weeks more and the hot summer came on, and Nell missed the +little Dutch girl on the corner. It really worried her that the +bright, womanly face did not come any more, but she supposed she had +moved to a better stand or perhaps left the city. + +One morning Nell took a walk with her teacher; a long walk, for they +found themselves outside the city, where there were open holds and +every house had green grass and trees close around it. + +"What a little, _little_ house! That one with the woodbine all over +it--and I do believe--yes, it really _is_ my little Dutch girl +scrubbing the steps," and away she bounded and was soon beside the +little worker. + +"Oh! I'm so glad to find you again! Why don't you come to our corner +any more?" + +"Baby's been sick a long, good time," explained Lena, wiping her hands +on her apron. "Won't you ladies please to walk in, if you please, +ma'am?" + +It was a queer little figure that showed them into the cool, clean +room; short and broad and dumpy. Her shoes were coarse, her dress of +faded black, with a white kerchief at the neck, so like an old woman. +Her face too, was short and broad; her nose was _very_ short and her +eyes very narrow. So you see she was not pretty, but her face was all +love and sunshine. She sat down on a low stool and took up the baby in +such a dear, motherly way, smoothing its hair and dress and kissing it +softly. + +"You don't mean that you live here all alone?" asked Nell. + +"Oh, no; there is Hans and baby and me, and there is old Mrs. Price in +the other part." + +"But your father and mother?" + +"Mother died a year ago. Oh, she was one such good mother, but baby +came in her place. Baby looks like mother, and now I have to be her +little mother, you see," and she set the little dumpling out upon her +knee, with such pride and tenderness. + +"And your father?" + +The little Dutch girl dropped her head and answered very low, "Father +has been gone a long time. They say he is shut up somewhere. He don't +come home any more." + +"Oh, how very dreadful! I don't see where you get money to buy things +with." + +"Hans is fifteen and works in a shop. He gets some money, and he will +get a good deal, by-and-by. The rest _I_ get from the flowers. You see +I raise them myself, mostly." + +"But do you get enough for clothes and playthings, and do you always +have enough to eat?" persisted Nell. + +"_I_ don't have any clothes, I make over mother's. We have Kitty for +playthings. Enough to eat? _Baby_ always has enough, don't she, +lovie?" cuddling her up close. + +A new world was opening up to Nell. + +"Excuse me, but don't you have any pleasure trips, or birthday +parties, or Christmas?" + +"No; I don't just know what those things are, but we have nice beef +and apples for dinner on Christmas." + +"And are you always happy as you seem--really happy?" + +The "little mother" opened her eyes wide in wonder. "Why, _of course_. +What else should we be? Mother always told us it was wicked to be +cross, and that we must not fret much, even over her going away to +heaven." + +Nell did some hard thinking on her way home, and being a sensible +little girl, she made up her mind that one way to be happy is to be +_busy_, and not only busy, but useful, and she set about the new way +in earnest. + +She learned that it is possible to be unselfish and happy _any where_; +she in her wealthy home, and the "little mother" in her one room, with +her baby and her flowers. + + + + +LITTLE SCATTER. + +MRS. JEANE A. WARD. + + +She was her mother's darling, and a very good little girl in most +things. With her yellow hair, big blue eyes and rosy cheeks; in the +pretty blue dress and red sash; nice little slippers on her plump +feet, she made the whole house lively and bright, and sometimes she +made plenty of work for every one in it, too, for she was a terrible +Nelly to scatter playthings. The dolly would be on the chair, her torn +picture-books over the floor, her ball kicking about everywhere, and +her blocks any where. + +What could mother do with such a girl? When she would talk to her, +Nelly would promise not to do so any more, and would pick up the dolly +and the pictures, and the ball and the blocks, and her other toys, and +take them to her own corner play-house and fix them all in order, and +be real good for a little while. + +But the 'real good' would last only a little while and then out all +would come again, and Little Scatter would have them around just as +before. + +That is the way she came to be given that name, and she was old enough +to know she well deserved it, and to be ashamed of it; yet she could +not break off the bad habit. + +She had a kind, good mother, who saw that she would have to, in some +way, cure her little daughter of such slovenly habits or else she +would grow up to be a very careless, untidy woman, and the mother was +wise enough to know that it is more easy to correct such matters when +children are young than when they grow older. + +She did not want to punish Nelly severely, and so, whenever Little +Scatter had gotten all her toys over the floor, tables, sofa and +chairs, mamma would call her and say: + +"Now, Nelly, every thing you have is lying about, it is time for my +Little Scatter to get gathered in close;" and then Miss Nelly would +have to go close to the wall and be shut in by a chair and stand there +until mamma's watch said half an hour had passed. This was very hard +on a little girl that loved to run around so much as Nelly did, and +though she knew she deserved all the punishment, yet she used to beg +very hard and promise, but she always had to stay the full time; then +she would come out, get her mamma's kiss and forgiveness, pick up her +toys and be happy. + +It did not take many such punishments before Nelly began to think +before she acted so carelessly, and in a short time she was almost as +neat about such matters as she was sweet and good in every thing else. +If ever there were a few of her things lying about, mamma had only to +call her 'Little Scatter,' to make her remember, and so hard did she +try to correct herself of this bad habit that in a few months she and +those about her almost forgot that she had ever been known by such an +untidy name. + + + + +WHAT CHICKY THINKS. + + +Seems to me I must be growing big very fast. I don't believe I could +get back into that little house if I should try. I don't want to go +back, either. I had to work too hard to get out the first time. There +was no door, so I had to break the house all in pieces with my little +beak. I couldn't stand up, you know, when I was inside. I got very +tired sitting on my little legs. I wonder how I knew enough to break +open my little house? Nobody ever told me that it was prettier in the +garden than in my house. 'Tis rather cold out here. I never was cold +before; seems to me some little chick has carried off a part of my +house. If I see him, with it, I'll tell him he's a thief. Oh, dear, +dear! something is scratching my back. May be it's the little thief! I +wish I could look and see who it is. + +[Illustration: {A JUST-HATCHED CHICK.}] + + + + +STOP-A-WHILE. + + +There is growing in Africa a thorn called "Stop-a-while." If a person +once gets caught in it, it is with difficulty he escapes with his +clothes on his back, and without being greatly torn, for every attempt +to loosen one part of his dress only hooks more firmly another part. +The man who gets caught by this thorn is in a pitiable plight ere he +gets loose. You would not like--would you, boys? to be caught in this +thorn. And yet many, I fear, are being caught in a worse thorn than +"Stop-a-while." Where do you spend your evenings? At home, I do hope, +studying your lessons, and attending to mother's words; for if you +have formed a habit of spending them on the streets with bad boys, you +are caught in a thorn far worse. + + + + +[Illustration: {BIRDS PERCHING ON PLANTS.}] + +THE BIRDS' CONCERT. + +MRS. L. L. SLOANAKER. + + + There's going to be a concert + Out in the apple trees; + When the air is warm and balmy, + And the floating summer breeze + Waft down the pale pink blossoms + Upon the soft green grass:-- + A lovely place to sit and dream, + For each little lad and lass! + + The concert will open early + When the sun lights up the skies:-- + You'll miss the opening anthem + If you let those sleepy eyes + Stay closed, and do not hasten + Out 'neath the orchard trees, + Where the pink and snowy shower + Is caught in the morning breeze. + + The robins will swing in the branches, + And carol, and whistle and sing. + The thrush, who is coming to-morrow, + Will a charming solo bring. + The wrens will warble in chorus, + Rare music, so touching and sweet; + The orioles sent for their tickets, + And will surely give us a treat. + + The concert will open at sun-rise, + All the June-time sweet and fair; + There'll be a grand full chorus, + For _all_ the birds will be there. + The concert is free to the children, + And is held in the apple trees, + And the birds will sing in a chorus, + "O come to our concert--please!" + + + + +ONLY A BOY. + + + Only a boy with his noise and fun, + The veriest mystery under the sun; + As brimful of mischief and wit and glee, + As ever a human frame can be, + And as hard to manage as--what! ah me! + 'Tis hard to tell, + Yet we love him well. + + Only a boy with his fearful tread, + Who cannot be driven, must be led! + Who troubles the neighbors' dogs and cats, + And tears more clothes and spoils more hats, + Loses more kites and tops and bats + Than would stock a store + For a week or more. + + Only a boy with his wild, strange ways, + With his idle hours or his busy days, + With his queer remarks and his odd replies, + Sometimes foolish and sometimes wise, + Often brilliant for one of his size, + As a meteor hurled + From the planet world. + + Only a boy, who may be a man + If nature goes on with her first great plan-- + If intemperance or some fatal snare, + Conspires not to rob us of this our heir, + Our blessing, our trouble, our rest, our care, + Our torment, our joy! + "Only a boy!" + + + + +BIRD NEEDLEWORK. + +MAY R. BALDWIN. + + +There is a class of workers in India who have always held to +needlework, useful and ornamental, through the changes of the long +years, and have never had the help of machines. + +These workers are "Tailor Birds." Specimens of their handiwork have +excited the admiration of many travelers in the country where they are +found. + +Their needlework is seen in the construction of their nests, which +vary in size and appearance. + +The beak of the bird answers for a needle; and for thread--and this is +the wonderful thing about sewing--they use the silken spiders' webs. +These threads are made secure by fastening them with silken buttons, +made by twisting the ends. Think of that! spiders' webs for thread! +How marvelous would the work of the fair ladies all over the land +seem, if the door screens and the window hangings and the dresses and +the laces were decorated with designs worked with spider's web thread! + +Sometimes, it is true, these birds use the silk from cocoons for their +work; and even such common material as bits of thread and wool are +used. One traveler states that he has seen a bird watch a native +tailor as he sewed under a covered veranda; and, when he had left his +work for a while, the watchful bird flew to the place, gathered some +of the threads quickly, and then flew away with his unlawful prize to +use it in sewing together leaves for his nest. + +Imagine one of these bird homes. Could any thing be more fairy-like? +The leaves are joined, of course, to the tree by their own natural +fastenings. But who taught the first bird home-maker how to bring the +leaves together? And who gave the first lessons in sewing? And how did +it come to choose its delicate spider web thread and twist it into +strength, and fasten it with silken buttons? + +The great art leader, John Ruskin, who has written so many books to +teach people that all beautiful things have their use, and that things +that are not truthful can never be beautiful, would say, I think, that +the workmanship upon the tailor bird's nest exactly fitted his idea of +the "true and the beautiful," because there is no ornament which has +not its use. The silk buttons are not placed there for show; they +fasten the silken lacing. + +We could not say as much for many a fine lady's dress, where dozens of +buttons that fasten nothing are seen. + + + + +HE WAS A GENTLEMAN. + + +Some amusing stories are told of the wit and wisdom of London school +children. A class of boys in a Board School was being examined orally +in Scripture. The history of Moses had been for some time a special +study, and one of the examiners asked,--"What would you say of the +general character of Moses?" + +"He was meek," said one boy. + +"Brave," said another. + +"Learned," added a third boy. + +"Please, sir," piped forth a pale-faced, neatly dressed lad; "he was a +gentleman!" + +"A gentleman!" asked the examiner. "How do you make that out?" + +The boy promptly replied, in the same thin, nervous voice,--"Please, +sir, when the daughters of Jethro went to the well to draw water, the +shepherds came and drove them away; and Moses helped the daughters of +Jethro, and said to the shepherds,--'Ladies first, please, +gentlemen.'" + + + + +TIME FOR BED. + + + Ding-dong! ding-dong! + The bells are ringing for bed, Johnnie-- + The bells are ringing for bed. + I see them swing, + I hear them ring, + And I see you nod your head. + + The bells are ringing for bed, Johnnie-- + They are ringing soft and slow; + And while they ring, + And while they swing, + It's off to bed we'll go. + + + + +THE VALUE OF A GOOD NAME. + + +Samuel Appleton, a distinguished Boston merchant, was once sued for a +note, found among the papers of a deceased merchant tailor, and signed +with his name. The handwriting was exactly like his own, but he +declared it to be a forgery, albeit his own brother said he could not +positively say it was not Mr. Appleton's writing, though he believed +it could not be genuine. The Judge was against Mr. Appleton, but the +jury found a verdict in his favor, because they were confident that +nothing could induce him to dispute the payment of a note unless +certain that he did not owe it. Some years later Mr. Appleton +discovered proof that the actual signer of the note was a ship-master +of the same name, who had been dead many years. Thus, the finding of +the jury was justified. It was based on his good reputation and it +illustrates the truth of the proverb, which says: "A good name is +rather to be chosen than great riches." The root of Mr. Appleton's +good name was his good conduct. He was honest and honorable in all +things. + + + + +DINGFORD'S BABY. + + +That little brother of Hetty Dingford was the funniest baby on the +coast; and there were a good many of them, right around the river +mouth. + +Flora thought so too, or rather she looked upon him in the light of a +puppy, as she had just raised a small family herself, and the baby had +associated so much with the little dogs, that she thought she owned +him too. She seemed to regard him as her especial charge, and used to +rush between him and cattle on the roads, and bark away strollers from +the door-yard; but she seemed to love it most on the beach. + +Whenever she thought of it, she would leave the other children, in +whose charge the baby had been placed, and rush up to the little one, +and lick its face all over, and bark with a very funny sound. The baby +would pick up a handful of gravel and throw it at the dog, but it +never hit him, and then they would both laugh together. + +One afternoon, Tony Dingford said he was going a crabbing, and then +Hetty and Polly and Janey and the baby all wanted to go and see him +off. Janey took a lovely little boat, that had been made for her by +her uncle, and Polly took her spade and pail to dig for shells. Hetty +took the baby, and she had to carry him every step of the way, and she +was only eight years old; he was a year and a half old and couldn't +walk very steady, but he could creep. Oh, how he could get over the +ground! He could go sidewise and backwards, like a crab, Tony said. He +thought he could talk, too, and such a lot of curious sounds as he +used to make. He looked very odd, winking his eyes and sticking his +tongue between his four little teeth, and he was up to all sorts of +tricks. + +After awhile they came to the beach, right opposite the light-house--a +most delightful spot, and Hetty proceeded to deposit the baby on the +ground, when he came to the conclusion that he didn't want to be put +there, and he caught hold of her curly locks and held on for dear +life, and screamed like a sea-gull. + +This made Hetty cry out, but nothing could induce that baby to let go, +until a pail with some shells changed the current of his thoughts. +Hetty jumped away, and ran with the children, a few steps, to see +Tony's boat. + +He threw in his basket and crabbing net and then, getting in himself, +he pulled out into the bay. The children wandered along, watching Tony +as he grew a lessening speck out in the sunshine. It was such fun to +jump on the stones, over the water; the shells looked more beautiful +here, because they were wet. + +They staid longer than they thought, and on going back, they found the +pail and the shells, but no baby! They called, they looked about, but +the baby was gone! Every one of them cried bitter tears; they searched +behind rocks and under bushes; his little pink, spotted cap could not +be seen, but the marks of his hands and feet showed plainly in the +sand, and they led down to the water! + +"Oh, baby," said Hetty in her agony, "you may pull out all my hair if +you like--where are you?" + +"Oo may whack my boat all to pieces, baby--come back to Janey!" said +her sister. No sound answered, and the gulls sailed over them, and the +blue waters lapped the stones. The tide was rising, as it was past the +middle of the afternoon. Nothing was to be done, but to carry the +dreadful news to mother. + +As the children approached the cottage, they saw their father +returning with the dog, Flora, and as the father caught sight of them +he saw that something had happened. Hetty approached, and, with +heart-broken sobs, told her story. The mother cried and wrung her +hands. + +"Husband, he's drowned! he's drowned!" she cried. The father brushed +his hand roughly across his eyes, for the tears would come; and the +dog staring from one to the other, looked painfully alert and +interested. + +"I'll go to the beach and search all night; maybe he'll be washed up +at the bend," he said. + +"Father," said the weeping wife, "maybe he has not been drowned; oh, +let us hope he has not! Let us take Flora; perhaps she will find the +baby." + +The father looked at the dog, which seemed to understand every word, +and went into the house and picked up a little Indian moccasin that +the child had worn, and calling Flora, gave it to her. She looked at +it, smelled of it, and throwing her nose into the air, rushed toward +the beach. + +The short, sharp barks of the dog guided them to the different spots +to which the child had crept. But he was not found. The dog bounded +away again, this time in the direction of some holes that had been +worn in the face of the rocks by the tides. The water was fast coming +up to them, and they would be entirely filled before the tide turned. +The despairing mother was about returning with her children when the +father caught a distant sound, a joyful barking that Flora always made +when she had been successful in a hunt. He bounded over the rocks that +were bathed in the red light of the setting sun. He found Flora +barking and wagging her tail, at the mouth of the first little cavern; +he stooped and looked in, and there on the white sand lay the baby, +asleep. Its little cap was gone, and it dress torn and soiled with +seaweed. + +The father reached for his little treasure, and hugged him to his +heart. The baby laughed, and made most frantic efforts to talk, and +immediately twisted both hands tight in his father's hair. This was +the baby's way, you know, when he wanted to be carried. You would have +cried for joy, to have seen the baby's mother when she snatched him +from his father and covered him with kisses, and the little girls +clinging to their mother, trying to get a look at him. + +They went home very happy, to find Tony with his basket full of crabs, +and when he heard the story, he said,--"Flora shall have a new brass +collar, if I have to earn it for her." There was one little girl that +learned a serious lesson. Hetty says,--"I never will neglect my duty +again." + + + + +A BED-TIME STORY. + + +Mamma dear, tell us a pretty story; tell us of what you and papa saw +when you were traveling; and my sturdy Harold, and his wee baby +sister, tired with their play, sank at my feet at the close of the +long summer day. Kissing the hot up-turned faces, and lifting the +little one to my lap, I began an oft repeated simple tale of how papa +and I, while in Switzerland, drove, one evening, from the village +where we were stopping, way out in the country, over green wooden +bridges and sparkling streams, past dazzling white villas, through +shady lanes bordered by high, thorny hedges; where it was so lifeless +and still, the sound of our shaggy pony's hoofs could hardly be heard. + +[Illustration: {A LITTLE GIRL SITTING ON THE DOORSTEP.}] + +Coming to a low, brown, thatched cottage, the door stood open, and we +drove slowly; inside could be seen the table, spread with its frugal +repast of oaten cakes and milk; a high, old-fashioned dresser, with +its curious jugs of blue delf; a distaff, with the flax still +attached, and on the broad door-step sat the prettiest little +blue-eyed maiden, wearing a quaint white cap over her yellow locks, a +striped kirtle and black waist over a snowy blouse. Like a picture she +sat, eating her oat-cake, while tame gray and white doves circled +about her or lit on the stones, hoping to get a crumb. Farther on, we +stopped at a more pretentious house, called a Swiss chalet, to buy a +drink of goat's milk. Here they were quite well-to-do gardeners; and +while the peasant wife was gone for the milk, the little daughter, who +was rather sweetly dressed, and was very bright and talkative, showed +us, with much pride, the heap of garden produce her father was to take +to market, early the next morning. A pretty sight it was too--the +great wooden table, loaded with the fresh greens and reds of the +vegetables, and at one end, guarded by a tall pewter flagon, polished +till it glowed like silver; an old oaken cabinet on the wall, bearing +glittering decanters and brass candle sticks; the chattering little +maiden, and over all, the golden rays of fading sun-light stealing +through the deep tiny-paned windows. We--ah, my darlings are asleep. + +[Illustration: {A LITTLE GIRL SHOWING OFF GARDEN PRODUCE.}] + + + + +[Illustration: {A LITTLE BOY ASLEEP ON THE GROUND.}] + +THE LESSON AFTER RECESS. + + + A bright little urchin out west, + Thought going to school was a pest. + He said, "I don't care, + I just won't stay there, + I'll have a good time like the rest." + + He said, "I'll run off at recess, + They'll never once miss me, I guess; + A fellow can't stop + When he's got a new top. + There'll just be one good scholar less." + + Now the "rest" was a crowd of rough boys, + Who with rudeness and mischief and noise, + Made one afraid + To go where they played, + But their riotous play he enjoys. + + So away from his lessons he ran, + This promising western young man. + They pushed him down flat, + Tore the rim off his hat, + Said, "There's nothing so healthy as tan." + + And they did what was very much worse; + They stole his new knife and his purse. + They gave him a shake, + And they called him a "cake;" + Said, "Next time, bub, come with your nurse." + + Near sundown this urchin was found + Fast asleep on some very hard ground; + He looked tired and grieved; + He'd been so deceived, + And quite ready for home, I'll be bound. + + The primary teacher, Miss Small, + When she heard his sad fate, forgave all, + "My teacher's a daisy! + I'm through being lazy." + He said, "School's not bad after all." + + + + +THE LION AT THE "ZOO." + + +In the jungles, where the sun is so fierce at noonday that the black +natives, themselves, cannot endure it, but hide in huts and caverns +and in the shadows of rocks, dwelt this lion. + +He did not mind heat, or storm, or the tireless hunters. He was braver +and stronger than any other creature in that tropical wilderness, and +his very appearance and the sound of his terrible roar had sent many a +band of hunters flying back to their safe retreats. + +He prowled about the fountains at night, and woe to any belated native +or domestic animal that happened to be near; he would leap upon them, +and kill them with one blow of his huge paw. + +One day a bushman sighted a fine deer, and incautiously separated +himself from his companions; the ardor of the pursuit led him into the +pathless wilderness, and farther and farther from help, if he should +need any. + +Pausing a moment, he looked about him; he could not believe his eyes! +He saw, not forty rods from him, this creature, regarding him! intense +excitement flashing from his eyes, his tail swaying from side to side, +and striking the ground with a heavy thud. + +The bushman fled in wild terror, and with a bound the lion began the +chase. No match, indeed, could any one man hope to be for such an +enemy--no outrunning this fleet patrol of the forest; roaring and +foaming he came up with the doomed hunter and struck him down and +killed him. + +The roaring over his success was something too terrible to hear. The +other creatures of the forest fled to their dens and coverts, and the +party of hunters, dimly locating the lion's whereabouts, betook +themselves to other grounds, not caring to encounter so formidable a +foe. Little did they suspect the fate of their comrade, and they never +knew of it until, a long time afterward, they found the remains of his +hunting gear. The beast had torn him to pieces and devoured him. + +The devastations of this scourge of the wilderness became so great in +time, that he depopulated whole villages, and the superstitious +natives, believing him to be a demon, became so stricken with fear +that they would not attempt to hunt him, and thus rid the forest of +him. + +Some agents of a business firm in Holland, who negotiate for the +purchase of these ferocious wild animals for menageries, secured, by +promises of great help and large reward, a band of intrepid native +hunters, to procure, if it were within the range of possibility, this +famed lion, alive. + +[Illustration: A BEAUTIFUL DEER.] + +White men joined in the hunt. Brave Englishmen and fearless Americans +attached themselves to the party, and many were the hair-breadth +escapes and critical situations that crowded upon their path. + +On reaching the lion's neighborhood, they took counsel as to the best +way of coming upon him, not knowing just where his lair might be; but +soon they were guided to him by a distant roaring. The advance hunters +caught their first glimpse of him before he was aware of their +presence. He had slain his prey--the pretty creature lay near the +jungle lake, the sword grass and the poisonous marsh flowers +flaunting their lush growth all about. The animal's smooth coat was +brown and glossy, and its black hoofs shone bright in the sunshine. +The lion repeated the same expressions of gratified savagery he had +indulged in when he had devoured the native. He strode about, lashing +his tail and roaring. + +[Illustration: HE WAS FINALLY CAGED.] + +The fearful encounter began! Many of the natives were killed. One +young English nobleman was thought to have received his death wound, +when they came to close quarters. The creature was overcome by numbers +and heroic bravery at last. He was maimed, disabled and secured, in +the deft and expeditious way they have learned in dealing with these +animals. He was finally caged, and the rejoicings of the natives knew +no bounds; the exploit was celebrated with feasting, dancing and wild +observances, the women and the children joining in the uncouth +festivities. + +He was removed by his foreign purchasers, and eventually secured by a +City Park Commission, and was liberated to walk about a spacious cage, +to delight the thousands who visit the menagerie, that affords so much +instructive amusement. He usually lies down in one corner, and +although he has lost much of his magnificent appearance, he is still +worthy to be called the "Forest King." + +If you happen to be in his section when he gets hungry and calls for +his dinner, you will be greatly astonished, if not frightened, at the +sound of his voice. It is like nothing else in nature. It vibrates to +the roof of the vast structure, and the windows rattle in their +frames. He tramps about and lashes his tail against the bars and +stamps his feet, and his keeper hurries to throw him his ration of raw +meat. When he is satisfied, he lies down and purrs as good-naturedly +as a pussy cat, and looks you in the eyes with an unwinking stare. + +You and I most earnestly hope that he may never contrive to escape. + +[Illustration: {A KITTEN ASLEEP IN A SLIPPER.}] + + + + +DISOBEYING MOTHER. + + + "I think, little goslings, you'd better not go. + You're young, and the water is chilly, you know; + But when you get strong, + You can sail right along-- + Go back in the sunshine, or walk in a row." + + "No, no! we will go," said those bold little things, + Except one little dear, close to mother's warm wings. + Out went all the rest, + On the water with zest; + They said, "We will venture, whatever it brings." + + Their mother looked out, so kind and so true, + Adown where the rushes and lily-pads grew; + They looked very gay, + As they paddled away, + With their bright, yellow backs, on the water so blue. + + "Come back!" cried their mother, "come back to the land! + I fear for my dear ones some evil is planned." + But they ventured beyond + The shore of the pond, + And laughed at her warnings, and spurned her command. + + Farewell, to the goslings! their troubles are o'er; + They were pelted with stones, by boys on the shore. + Afar from the bank, + They struggled and sank, + Down deep in the water, to come up no more. + + Oh, see what it cost them, to have their own way; + Their punishment came without stint or delay; + But the sweet one that stayed, + And its mother obeyed, + Lived long, and was happy for many a day. + + + + +[Illustration: PLAYING BARBER.] + + + + +PLANTS THAT EAT. + + +These plants are so constructed as to attract insects, capture them in +various ways, and feed upon them. Perhaps the best known of the group +is _Venus' Fly-Trap_. The leaves vary from one to six inches long, and +at the extremities are placed two blades, or claspers. On the inner +walls of these claspers are placed six irritable hairs; the slightest +touch from an insect on any one of which is sufficient to bring the +two blades together with such rapidity as to preclude any possibility +of the fly escaping. + +[Illustration: LEAVES OF THE FLY-TRAP OPENED AND CLOSED.] + +This plant readily discriminates between animal and other matter; +thus, if a small stone or piece of wood be dropped into the trap, it +will instantly close, but as soon as it has found out its mistake--and +it only takes a few minutes--it begins to unfold its trap, and the +piece of wood or stone falls out. On the other hand, should a piece of +beef or a bluebottle fly be placed in it, it will remain firmly closed +until all the matter is absorbed through the leaf. It will then unfold +itself, and is ready for another meal. + +[Illustration: AUSTRALIAN PITCHER PLANT.] + +Another species is called the _Vegetable Whiskey Shop_, as it captures +its victims by intoxication. The entire shop is shaped after the +manner of a house, with the entrance projecting a little over the rim. +Half-way round the brim of the cavity there are an immense number of +honey glands, which the influence of the sun brings into active +operation. This sweet acts as a lure to passing insects, and they are +sure to alight on the outside edge and tap the nectar. + +They, however, remain there but a brief period, as there is something +more substantial inside the cavity in the shape of an intoxicating +liquid, which is distilled by the plant. The way down to this beverage +is straight, as the entrance is paved with innumerable fine hairs, all +pointing to the bottom, and should the fly walk crooked its feet +become entangled in them. + +[Illustration: AMERICAN SIDE-SADDLE FLOWER.] + +When the fly has had its first sip, it does not stop and fly right +out, as it could do, but it indulges until it comes staggering up and +reaches that portion where the hairs begin; here its progress outward +is stopped, owing to the points of the hairs being placed against it. +The fly is now in a pitiable plight; it attempts to use its wings, but +in doing so only hasten its destruction. It inevitably gets immersed +in the liquid, and dies drunk. + +_Australian Pitcher Plant_ is a beautiful little object. Its pitchers +are at the bottom of the principal stem of the plant. + +One species distils an intoxicant of its own; but owing to its small +orifice, it excludes the majority of insects, and admits but a select +few. The individual pitchers somewhat resemble an inverted parrot's +bill, with a narrow leaf-like expansion running along the top. The +color is light green, beautifully shaded with crimson. The inside of +the pitcher is divided into three parts: The first, nearest the +entrance, is studded with minute honey glands, and is called the +attractive surface; a little farther down the inside, very minute +hairs are situated with their extremities all pointing to the other +chamber. This is the conducting surface. + +[Illustration: THE PITCHER PLANT OF MADAGASCAR.] + +Lastly, the small hairs give place to the longer ones, amid which are +placed secreting pores, which give forth the intoxicating nectar. This +is termed the detentive surface. When the pitcher has caught a +sufficient number of insects, the nectar gives place to a substance +which enables the plant more readily to digest its food. + +Another variety is the _Mosquito Catcher_. It grows about one foot +high, and the leaves, after reaching a certain height, divide into +long, narrow spathes, covered with hairs, each coated with a bright +gummy substance. This, during sunshine, gives to the plant a most +magnificent appearance. If a plant be placed in a room where +mosquitoes abound, all the troublesome pests will in a brief period be +in its steady embrace. + +It is most interesting to watch the method by which it secures its +prey. Immediately the fly alights on the leaf, it may be that only +one of its six legs stick to the sweet, viscid substance at the +extremity of the hairs; but in struggling to free itself, it +invariably touches with its legs or wings the contiguous hairs, and is +immediately fixed. + +These little hairs meantime are not idle; they slowly but surely curl +round and draw their victim into the very center of the leaf, thus +bringing it into contact with the very short hairs, which are placed +there in order to facilitate the process of sucking the life-blood +from the body. + + + + +THE CUCKOO CLOCK. + + + The clock is Swiss, + And a curious thing it is, + Set like a flower against the wall, + With a face of walnut brown + Twelve white eyes always staring out, + And long weights hanging down. + + But there is more + At the top is a little close-shut door. + And when 'tis time for the hour-stroke, + And at the half-stroke too, + It opens wide of its own accord, + And, hark,--"Cuckoo, cuckoo!" + + What do you see? + Why, with a trip and a courtesy, + As if to say,--"Good day, good day," + Out steps a tiny bird! + And though no soul were near to hear + He'd pipe that same blithe word. + + Through all the night, + Through dawn's pale flush, and noon's full light, + And even at twilight, when the dusk + Hides all the room from view, + Out of his little cabinet + He calls,--"Cuckoo, cuckoo!" + + Though but a toy, + Yet might the giddiest girl or boy + Learn three most pleasant truths from it: + How patiently to wait, + How to give greeting graciously, + And never to be too late. + + 'Tis sweet to hear, + Though oft repeated, a word of cheer; + So this little comrade on the wall, + This bird that never flew, + Is an hourly comfort, with his call, + "Cuckoo, cuckoo, cuckoo!" + + MRS. CLARA DOTY BATES. + + + + +DAVY'S GIRL. + +ALEX. DUKE BAILIE. + + +She was only five years old, hardly that, but a stout, healthy little +creature, full of love and fun, but often hard to manage. + +Maggie was her name, but she would call herself nothing but "Davy's +girl." + +Davy, her brother, a brave, good boy, about fifteen years of age, was +all she had to cling to, and she was his only treasure. They were +orphans; their father had been drowned, with many other poor +fishermen, when Maggie was a wee baby, and the mother, soon after, +died, from worry and hard work. + +So these two were all alone in the world, but they did not feel +lonely, for each one was all the world to the other. + +They lived with an old fisherman and his wife, on the shores of the +ocean, in New Jersey; and in the inlets and about outside, Davy used +to go with the men, in the boats, and help them fish; sometimes he +would work in-shore, for the truck farmers; sometimes help to gather +the salt hay from the marshes. He would work hard at any thing so as +to make money to keep his little sister comfortable and to give her +all it was well for her to have. + +In winter he would tramp through cold and snow and storms, several +miles, to the little town where the school was, and so, every year, he +gained a few weeks of instruction. + +The people among whom these orphans lived were rough, but +kind-hearted, and Davy always had enough work to enable him to earn +money sufficient to keep Maggie and himself in the simple way in which +every body about them lived. + +Whenever he had an idle half-day, or even a few hours, he would take +the little girl and his books, and go down to the shore, and getting +into one of the boats always to be found drawn up on the sand, he +would study hard to learn, for he was anxious to get on in the world, +not only for his own, but his sister's sake, and Maggie would take one +of the books, and open it, and run her little fat finger over the +page, and move her lips, and make believe that she, too, was studying +her lessons and she would keep still as a little mouse, until, after a +few minutes of nodding, her eyes would close, then her head would drop +on Davy's knee, and she would be off--sound asleep, until it was time +for him to go. + +It happened, one afternoon, as Davy, with Maggie, was going to the +boat, which was his favorite place of study, a farmer drove along and +asked him if he could not go and help with some work. + +They were very near home yet, and when Davy said, "Maggie, will you +run right home?" she answered, "'Es;" so the brother saw her start off +towards the house, which was in sight, then jumped in beside the +farmer, and they drove off. + +It was several hours before the boy returned. He went directly home, +and as soon as he entered, called, "Maggie!" + +"Maggie aint here," said Mrs. Baker, who was busy cleaning up the +floor, "she hasn't been here since you took her out with you." + +If ever there was a frightened boy, it was Davy, then. He knew how +careless his little sister was, and how she loved to go down and +splash in the water, and play around the deep pools. He could look, +from the door, all along the beach and out on the sea, and there was +no sign of his little girl. Mrs. Baker was frightened, too, when he +told her all. They ran to the few houses about, and while some of the +children had seen Maggie, it was hours before; since then she had +disappeared entirely. + +It was a terrible blow to the poor boy, and he blamed himself as he +thought that perhaps his dear little sister was dead under the great +waves, or her body was being washed away far beyond his reach. He ran +up and down, everywhere calling her name as loudly as he could, but +no answer came. + +Almost blind, with the tears in his eyes, he stood still for a moment +to think, when he caught sight of a little paper book. He knew it at +once; he had made it for Maggie so that she would not soil or tear his +own. In a moment he was running as fast as his feet would carry him to +the boat on the sand, a considerable distance off; quickly he reached +it, and climbed up the side. No Maggie yet. + +The great sail lay in a heap before him; he walked around it, and +there, all curled up, fast asleep, was his runaway girl. + +How his heart did jump for joy as he picked her up, and kissed and +petted her. + +But Maggie cried, and said he hurt her. + +Then he found that in climbing into the boat to "study her lessons," +she had sprained her ankle, and she had been very miserable all by +herself, and cried and called for him until she fell asleep. + +The books, all but one, were lying on the other side of the boat, on +the sand. Davy never minded them, precious as they were to him, but +taking his little sister on his strong back, he carried her home, her +arms about his neck and her cheek close to his; and Maggie had to stay +in the house, with her foot bandaged, for a week. But Davy never +forgot that fright nor left her to herself again until she was much +older; and the little girl never thought of disobeying his orders +after that. They had both learned a hard lesson. + + + + +EARLY TEA. + + +[Illustration: {A CAT PUSHES A PRAM CONTAINING ANOTHER CAT.}] + + Five little pussies + Sitting down to tea; + Pretty little pussies, + Happy as can be! + + Three little pussies, + All in a row, + Ranged on the table, + Two down below. + + Five little pussies, + Dressed all in silk, + Waiting for the sugar, + Waiting for the milk. + + Dear little pussies, + If you would thrive, + Breakfast at nine o'clock, + Take tea at five. + + + + +BONEY. + + +Boney was not a thin cat by any means, as his name would suggest. He +was very stout for his age; this could be explained by the fact that +he had always looked out for number one, and had managed to secure a +great many nice things to eat in the course of his short life. + +His coat, which was striped, gray and black, had an infinite number of +shades in it and was so beautiful, that more than one lady wanted to +buy him. + +Boney was not his whole name. A lovely romance could be written, I've +no doubt, out of the adventures of this cat, before Fannie found him, +one cold morning, in the summer-house. He was covered with dust and +leaves, and moaning piteously. Fannie said,--"Pussy, pussy," to him; +and he tried to get up and come to her, but he couldn't make any +progress, and John Henry came up at that moment, and taking up the cat +by the back of the neck, looked at it critically, and said,--"That cat +ain't a-going to die--he'll come out all right in a few days; he's +been pelted with stones by those children that live at the +cross-roads, I think." + +Fannie followed her brother into the house with the cat, and he gave +it some warm milk, and Fannie covered it up, snug, by the kitchen +stove. + +It was surprising how soon that pussy got well; and John Henry chose +to call him Boneset. The name took in the household, and though Fannie +called him "Boney," Boneset was his real name. John Henry bought him a +collar, and Fannie would tie a beautiful scarlet ribbon on this, and +away they'd go together, down the road to the village post-office. +He'd look very sharply at the meadow-birds flitting over the stone +fences, and the yellow butterflies on the tall mullen stalks, as if he +would say,--"I'll get you any of those you'd like to have, my dear +mistress." + +But Fannie would say, "Don't think of it, Boney; I would like to have +them, but it would be wicked to catch them you know." Pussy did not +want to give up the sport of hunting them, however, and Fannie would +have to take him right up, and carry him until they had passed them. + +He had such lovely coaxing ways; he knew to a minute when it was lunch +time, and he had his in the kitchen, but he would steal up into the +dining-room, and pass round softly to Fannie's place, and pop up into +her lap--or, if she were standing up, he'd get upon the table and rub +his furry cheek against her shoulder, and shut one eye. + +Then Fannie would turn round, and his comical appearance, sitting +there with his little pink tongue sticking out between his lips, would +make Fannie just jump up and down with laughing. + +Of course, he wanted some of Fannie's lunch, and he always got it, and +this was the way he managed to get so fat and sleek. + +One unfortunate time, Fannie was very sick; the room was darkened, and +the doctor came. All the pets were not allowed to come near the room. + +It was, oh, so lonesome for Boney. No one petted him like his little +mistress, and they didn't put up with his tricks, or laugh at his +funny pranks. + +The time went by heavily enough, he had not had on any of his ribbons, +and he would go and stay away from home for days together, and when he +came home just before dark, he had a wild look, as if he had been in +rough company. + +On a lovely morning in June, Fannie was carried down stairs, to sit in +the bay window, in the sunshine, and the ivy hung down its fresh, +green leaves. + +Boney saw her the first thing. His delight knew no bounds; he rubbed +his back against her chair, turned his head around in her robe as it +lay on the carpet, and jumped into her lap! And Fannie smoothed his +back with her little thin hand. + +After a time he went away, and nobody thought any thing about him, +till dinner-time, when, what should they see coming up the piazza +steps, but Boney, with a bobolink in his mouth! He walked right up to +Fannie, and laid it down at her feet, and looked up at his little +mistress, with such a satisfied, happy expression on his face, as if +he would say,--"There, that's the best I could do, and you are welcome +to it." + +Fannie understood his good intentions, and laughed heartily, and that +was the beginning of her recovery. + +Pretty soon, she was able to go out again, and she and Boney had the +best of times that summer. + + + + +CATCHING SNOW FLAKES. + +BY MRS. S. J. BRIGHAM. + + + Down from the sky, one winter day, + The snow-flakes tumbled and whirled in play. + White as a lily, + Light as a feather, + Some so chilly + Were clinging together. + Falling so softly on things below, + Covering all with beautiful snow. + + Drifting about with the winds at play, + Hiding in hollows along the way, + White as a lily, + Light as a feather, + Coming so stilly + In cold winter weather. + Touching so lightly the snow-bird's wing, + Silently covering every thing. + + Every flake is a falling star, + Gently falling, who knows how far? + White as a lily, + Light as a feather, + Hosts so stilly + Are falling together. + Every star that comes fluttering down, + Falls, I know, from the Frost King's crown. + + + + +A MISCHIEVOUS MONKEY. + + +Jocko was hardly more than a baby monkey, but he was so full of +mischief that he often made his mother very sad. Jocko's father used +to get angry with him; sometimes he used to give Jocko a good +spanking; only he hadn't a slipper as the father of little boys have! +Jocko's father and mother used to try to teach him that it was very +bad manners to snatch any thing from the visitors who came up to the +cage. That was a very hard lesson for Jocko to learn. One day he +snatched a pair of spectacles from an old lady, who was looking into +the cage and laughing; the old lady screamed with fright. Jocko tried +to put the spectacles on himself; but the keeper made him give them +up. When the old lady got her glasses again, she didn't care to look +at the monkeys any more. + +Another day Jocko was taken very sick; he laid down in one corner of +the cage, and could not be made to move. His mother thought he was +going to die, and she was quite sure that some of his monkey cousins +had hurt him. "Not so," chattered Jocko's father, "I found some pieces +of gloves among the hay; I think the bad fellow has snatched them from +somebody, and partly eaten them." + +"Dear, dear," chattered mother monkey, "I think you are right." When +she turned Jocko over, he was so afraid of being punished, that he +pretended to be fast asleep; but he heard all that his father and +mother had said, and knew that they guessed right. + +"They're just like boys," said George Bliss one day, as he stood +looking at the monkeys in Central park. George is a boy, and he ought +to know. But there is a great difference after all. Boys can learn, +better than monkeys, not to get into mischief, and bother their +parents, and other people who come where they are. Some boys do not +behave better than monkeys. + +[Illustration: A MISCHIEVOUS MONKEY.] + + + + +THE AFRICAN SLAVE BOY. + + +There are few who have not heard or read of the great traveler, Sir +Samuel Baker, who found his way into the heart of Africa, and whose +brave wife accompanied him in all his perilous journeys. The natives, +when they found how kind he was, and how interested in trying to help +them, called him the Great White Man. + +One day, after traveling a long distance, Sir Samuel and Lady Baker +were sitting, in the cool of the evening, in front of their tent, +enjoying a cup of tea in their English fashion, when a little black +boy suddenly ran into the courtyard, and throwing himself at Lady +Baker's feet raised his hands toward her, and gazed imploringly into +her face. + +The English lady thought that the little lad was hungry, and hastened +to offer him food; but he refused to eat, and began, with sobs and +tears, to tell his tale. He was not hungry, but he wanted to stay with +the white lady and be her slave. + +In broken accents he related how cruelly he had been treated by the +master, who stole him from his parents when he was quite a little boy; +how he made him earn money for him, and beat him because he was too +small to undertake the tasks which were set him. He told how he and +some other boys had crept out of the slave-hut at night and found +their way to English Mission House, because they had heard of the +white people, who were kind to the blacks. + +Then little Saat, for that was his name, made Lady Baker understand +how much he loved the white people, and how he wished to be her little +slave. She told him kindly that she needed no slave-boy, and that he +must go back to his rightful master. But little Saat said, "No, he had +no master;" and explained that the Missionaries had taught him a great +deal, and then sent him, with some other lads, to Egypt, to help in +the Mission work. + +Unfortunately, his companions had soon forgotten the good things they +had been taught, and behaved so badly that the Missionaries in Egypt +refused to keep them, and turned them out, to find their way back as +best they might to their own people; but Saat had no people of his +own, and he never rested until he succeeded in finding the Great White +Man of whom he had heard so much. + +Lady Baker's kind heart was touched. She determined to keep the little +black boy and train him to be her own attendant. He accompanied the +travelers upon their wonderful journey to the Source of the Nile, and +his attachment to his mistress was very touching. + + + + +CLIMBING. + + +The ivy, while climbing, preserves its pointed leaf, but when it has +reached the top of its support it spreads out into a bushy head and +produces only rounded and unshapely leaves. + + The ivy, climbing upward on the tower, + In vigorous life its shapely tendrils weaves, + But, resting on the summit, forms a bower, + And sleeps, a tangled mass of shapeless leaves. + + So we, while striving, climb the upward way, + And shape by enterprise our inner lives; + But when, on some low rest we idly stay, + Our purpose, losing point no longer strives. + + ELLIOT STOCK. + + + + +[Illustration: LEARNING TO KNIT.] + + + + +[Illustration: TUG OF WAR.] + + + + +LITTLE ELSIE. + +FAITH LATIMER. + + +"I don't thee ath a Chineth baby lookth any differenth from any other +folkth baby, do you, Perthy?" + +"That's what I am trying to find out," said Percy, whom his little +sister May called her "big brother;" for only that morning she had +said to her mother,--"I will athk Perthy, he ith tho big, he muth know +every thing." + +Percy was as full of wonder as little May over the baby sleeper. He +wanted to see the back of her head, but it was resting on the soft +pillow, and the eyes were tightly closed. May stood at the foot of the +bed longing, and yet afraid, to pull up the cover, and look at the +little feet. "Do you thpect she wearth pink thatin thlipperth like +thothe in the glath cathe?" she said. + +The voices did not waken the baby even when Percy made May give a +little scream as he pulled her braided hair, and carried off the +ribbon, saying,--"You've got a Chinese pig-tail anyway." Did you ever +see a big brother do any thing like that? Then Percy went out and +slammed the door, and left little May thinking very hard, and the baby +asleep, after all that noise. What was May thinking about? She had +heard mamma talk a great deal about China, and had seen queer pictures +of people with bald heads and a long braid of hair hanging down +behind, and in the cabinet in the sitting-room was a pair of tiny pink +satin slippers, so small that her little hand could just go into one +of them. Then she had a Chinese doll with almost a bald head, and the +queerest shaped eyes; and that was why she and Percy wanted this baby +to wake up that they might see what she looked like. That very morning +while the children were visiting their grandmother, a carriage came to +their house, bringing a little baby and its mother; and by the time +they got home, the child was in May's crib, fast asleep, and the two +mothers were talking together as they had not done for years before. +Baby Elsie was not easily wakened, for she never had a very quiet +place to sleep in. She was quite used to strange noises on shipboard, +creaking ropes and escaping steam, loud voices giving orders to +sailors, sometimes roaring waters and stormy winds. She had been many +nights in a railroad sleeping-car, and she was not disturbed by the +rush of wheels, or the whistling of the locomotive. Before that, she +lived part of her little life on a boat in a narrow river, and a few +months in a crowded, noisy house. Does it seem as if she had been +quite a traveler? She had just come all the way from China--a land on +the other side of the round world--and that was the reason that May +called her a Chinese baby. Percy and May had never seen Elsie's +mother, although she was their own aunt, for she and her husband had +been more than ten years missionaries in China, and had come on a +visit to America. Don't you think the two mothers, dear sisters, who +had been so long and so far apart, had a great deal to say to each +other? Do you expect they wanted Elsie to sleep quite as much as her +cousins wanted her to wake? She was a good child, but she knew how to +cry, and after a few days Percy said,--"She's not so much after all, +she can't talk and tell us anything, and when she cries, she boo-hoo's +just as you do, May." + +In a week, two more Chinese travelers came; the baby's father, and +another cousin, Knox, a boy nine years old. Did you ever fire off a +whole pack of Chinese fire-crackers at a time? That was almost the way +that questions were asked by the two boys, back and forth, so quick +and fast that there was hardly time to answer each one. The boy from +Shanghai found as many things strange to him as the New York boy would +have seen in China. Percy, and May, although she could not understand +half she heard, were full of wonder as Knox told of living on a boat +in the river, of so many boats around them, where people lived crowded +together as closely as houses could be on land. He told of the cities, +of narrow, crooked streets, all the way under awnings, to be shielded +from the hot sun; of riding many miles in a wheel-barrow, with a +Chinaman to push it along the road. They all laughed when Percy said +they called their cousin Elsie "a Chinese baby;" and the grown folks +helped to tell about the black-eyed babies over there, wrapped up in +wadded comforts and placed standing, a great, round roll, in a tall +basket, instead of a cradle. Percy thought the best thing he heard was +of a boy in a royal family. He had to be well taught, for he must be a +wise scholar in Chinese learning, but no one dared to touch or hurt +him; so a poor boy of low rank was hired and kept in the house to take +all the whippings for him; and whenever the young prince deserved +correction, the bamboo rod was well laid on the poor boy's back. What +would you think of such a plan? Elsie's father and mother were going +back to China, but they were not willing that Knox should grow up +there; he must go to some good school and stay in this country. Even +little Elsie they dared not trust out of their sight among the +Chinese. + +And so for the love of the dear Master, who said,--"Go and teach all +nations," they were willing to leave father and mother, and home, +loving sister and friends, even their own young children, for His +sake. + +Don't you believe our heavenly Father will watch over Knox and Elsie, +and make them grow up wise and true; ready to go back to the land +where they were born, to carry on the good work their father and +mother are doing in that strange, far-off country? + +Do you know of any ways in which children at home can help such work +in China, or in other far-off foreign lands? + + + + +KITTY STRIKER. + + + Little Kitty Striker saw + A handsome, fat, old goose + Out a-walking with her gosling. + And she said,--"Now what's the use, + Of letting that old waddler have + Such a pretty thing as that? + I'll run right out and get it; + I'll go without my hat." + Out she ran upon the dusty path, + On the grass, all wet with dew, + And the old goose turned round quickly, + She wished an interview. + And Kitty said,--"Oh, open your mouth + As much as ever you please; + I'm going to take your gosling, + Because I love to tease + Such a cranky, impudent squawker as you." + And she laughed right out, and stooped + To take the toddling little thing, + When down upon her swooped, + The angry goose with hisses fierce, + And wildly flapping wing, + And gave her a nip that was no joke! + On the heel of her red stocking! + Miss Kitty screamed, but tightly held + The little yellow ball, + And you know she'd not the shadow of right + To that goose's gosling at all. + Then its mother made a terrible snap + At Kitty's pretty blue dress! + And that thoughtless, mischievous little girl, + Was pretty well frightened I guess. + For she jumped and screamed, danced round like a top, + And the goose's eyes flashed red; + And she struck her wings in Kitty's eyes, + And on her little brown head! + She dropped the gosling, and ran for home, + Screaming, and crying,--"Boo! hoo!" + And learned a lesson she never forgot, + And it's as wholesome for me and for you, + That it's best to be kind to our barnyard friends, + And let them have their fun too. + + + + +MAYING. + + +Phil says he thinks it is a great pity when the May isn't out till +June, because you can't go Maying if there isn't any May, and it's so +stupid to go Maying in June. Phil is eleven months and fourteen days +younger than I am, and his birthday is on the fourteenth of February +and mine is on the first of March; so for fourteen days we are the +same age, and when it's Leap Year we are the same age for fifteen +days. + +I don't understand _why_ it should be a day more some years and not +others, but mother says we shall learn about it by-and-by. Phil says +he will like learning all that, but I don't think I shall, because I +like playing better. + +Phil and I have a little dog of our own, and he belongs between us. +His name is Dash. He came from the Home for Lost Dogs, and we didn't +know his name, so Phil and I sat on the grass, and we called him by +every name we could think of, until Phil thought of Dash, and when +Dash heard that name he jumped up, and ran to Phil, and licked his +face. We don't know what kind of dog he is, and father called him a +'terrier spaniel;' but he laughed as he said it, and so we're not +quite sure that he wasn't in fun. But it doesn't matter what kind of +dog Dash is, because we are all fond of him, and if you're fond of any +one if doesn't matter what they're like, or if they have a pretty +name. + +Dash goes out with us when we take a walk, and I'm sure he knew +yesterday when we went out without leave, because we wanted to go +Maying. There's a beautiful hedge full of May blossoms down the lane +and across the meadow, and we _did_ want some May very badly. So Phil +and I went without asking mother, and Dash went with us. + +We found the place quite easily, and had pulled down several boughs of +it, when we heard a gruff voice calling to us, and the farmer came up, +asking what we were doing to _his_ hedge. + +I said, "Please, we didn't know it was yours, and we want some May +very much, because to-morrow's the first of June, you know, and Phil +says we can't go Maying then." + +The farmer didn't say any thing until he caught sight of Dash, and +then he called out, angrily,--"If that dog gets among my chickens, I +shall have him shot!" + +We were so frightened at that, that we ran away; and Dash ran too, as +if he understood what the farmer said. We didn't stop for any May +blossoms though we had picked them, and we did want them so, because +of its being the thirty-first of May. + +Phil said the farmer was calling after us, but we only ran the faster, +for fear he should shoot Dash. When we got home, mother met us in the +porch, and asked where we had been; then we told her all about the +farmer, and how we wanted to go Maying while we could. + +She laughed a little, but presently she looked quite grave, and +said,--"I'm very glad to find you have told me the whole truth, +because if you had not I should still have known it. Farmer Grey has +been here, and he told me about your having gone across his meadow +that he is keeping for hay. He has brought you all the May you left +behind, and he says you may have some more if you want it, only you +must not walk through the long grass, but go round the meadow by the +little side-path. He said he was afraid he had frightened you, and he +was sorry." + +Phil and I had a splendid Maying after that. We made wreaths for +ourselves, and one for Dash, only we couldn't get him to wear his, +which was a pity. + +But the best of all is that mother says she can always trust us, +because we told the truth at once; and Phil and I think we would +rather never go Maying any more (though we like it so much) than not +tell her every thing. I'm sure it's a very good plan, and we mean to +do it _always_, even when we're quite grown up. Mother laughs at that, +and says,--"You will have your secrets then;" but Phil and I don't +think we shall, because it couldn't be a really nice secret if we +mightn't tell mother. + + I. T. + + + + +GRACIE'S TEMPER. + + + "Once a gentle, snow-white birdie, + Came and built its nest, + In a spot you'd never dream of,-- + In a baby's breast. + + Then how happy, gentle, loving, + Grew the baby, Grace; + All the smiles and all the dimples + Brightened in her face. + + But a black and ugly raven + Came one morn that way; + Came and drove the gentle birdie. + From its nest away. + + Ah! how frowning and unlovely + Was our Gracie then. + Until evening brought the white dove + To its nest again. + + Children, this was Gracie's raven, + This her gentle dove,-- + In heart a naughty _temper_ + Drove away the _love_." + + + + +[Illustration: {A BEE.}] + +Among the passengers on board a river-steamer recently was a woman, +accompanied by a bright-looking nurse-girl, and a self-willed boy, +about three years old. + +The boy aroused the indignation of the passengers by his continued +shrieks and kicks and screams, and his viciousness toward the patient +nurse. He tore her bonnet, scratched her hands, without a word of +remonstrance from the mother. + +Whenever the nurse showed any firmness, the mother would chide her +sharply, and say,--"Let him have it, Mary. Let him alone." + +Finally the mother composed herself for a nap; and about the time the +boy had slapped the nurse for the fiftieth time, a bee came sailing in +and flew on the window of the nurse's seat. The boy at once tried to +catch it. + +The nurse caught his hand, and said, coaxingly: + +"Harry mustn't touch. It will bite Harry." + +Harry screamed savagely, and began to kick and pound the nurse. + +The mother, without opening her eyes or lifting her head, cried out, +sharply: + +"Why will you tease that child so, Mary? Let him have what he wants at +once." + +"But, ma'am, it's a--" + +"Let him have it, I say." + +Thus encouraged, Harry clutched at the bee and caught it. The yell +that followed brought tears of joy to the passengers. + +The mother awoke again. + +"Mary!" she cried, "let him have it." + +Mary turned in her seat, and said, confusedly:--"He's got it, ma'am." + + + + +THE SWEET-GRASS HOUSE. + +MRS. S. J. BRIGHAM. + + + Two little mice went out one day + Among the scented clover; + They wandered up and down the lane, + They roamed the meadow over. + "Oh, deary me!" said Mrs. Mouse, + "I wish I had a little house!" + + Said Mr. Mouse,--"I know a place + Where nice sweet grass is growing; + Where corn-flowers blue, and buttercups + And poppies red, are blowing." + "Oh, deary me!" said Mrs. Mouse, + "We'll build us there a house." + + So, of some sweet and tender grass + They built their house together; + And had a happy time, through all + The pleasant summer weather. + "Oh, deary me!" said Mrs. Mouse, + "Who ever had so nice a house?" + + + + +JOHNNY'S GARDEN. + + + Johnny had a garden plot, + And set it all in order, + But let it run to grass and weeds, + Which covered bed and border. + + Two stalking sun-flowers reared their heads, + So firmly were they rooted, + And Johnny, as he looked at them, + Was any thing but suited. + + Two children small, looked up and said, + Oh, Mister, beg your pardon! + Or, if you will not answer that, + Say, sonny, where's your garden? + + "What d'ye call those two large flowers? + An' what'll ye take, an' sell em? + You'd better put a ladder up, + So folks our size can smell 'em. + + "We heard old Mrs. Grubber say, + 'That spot ye needn't covet; + He'd better turn it into hay, + Or make a grass-plot of it.'" + + But Johnny never answered back, + But went and dug it over, + And soon again, his sprouting seeds, + He plainly could discover. + + He said, "I'll have a garden yet. + And make a little money; + I never liked those Podger twins,-- + They try to be so funny." + + + + +BOY BILLY AND THE RABBIT. + + + Billy, boy! Billy, boy! + He was his mother's joy, + But he couldn't shoot an arrow worth a cent; + And a rabbit almost laughed + As she watched the flying shaft, + And the place upon the target where it went. + + The rabbit passing by, + So very soft and sly, + Took Billy for a hunter gaily dressed; + But when she came anear, + She said, "'Tis very clear + It's safe enough to stay and take a rest." + + Said the rabbit, "Billy, boy, + You never will annoy + Anybody, by your shooting at a mark; + With an arrow and a bow, + I just would like to show, + I can reach the bull's-eye nearer in the dark." + + Just then an arrow flew, + That pierced it thro' and thro' + Which made Miss Bunny start, and jump, sky high! + She cried, "Oh, dear! Oh, dear! + It's safer in the rear;" + And scampered off and never said,--"Good-bye." + + You see the reason why, + 'Tis always best to try, + Tho' others laugh and slander all the same; + For be it late or soon, + They'll always change their tune, + When they see your arrow doesn't miss its aim. + + + + +A FISH STORY. + +HOPE LEDYARD. + + +Six eager faces, all crowding around to "see the picture!" Four of the +faces belong to girls--Edith and Mamie, Birdie and Jeanie, while Al +and Dick, who are pretty big boys, "over ten," lean over the back of +the chair. + +"_He's_ had a good catch," says Al. + +"_He's_ not caught those," says Dick, while the girls look first at +the picture and then at the boys. "I guess that fellow standing up in +the boat is his father. The men have caught the fish and the boy takes +them to sell. Why, a fish as big as one of those fellows could pull a +boy right into the water, easy!" + +"My brother Dick _knows_," whispers Jeanie, proudly. "He took me +fishing once and I caught two fish." + +The little girls look as if they could hardly believe this, so Jeanie +pulls mamma's arm and asks, "Didn't I catch two fish last summer?" + +"Indeed she did," says Dick, before mamma has time to answer. "She +caught two sun-fish. I never saw any one do it better. Mother fried +'em for her dinner, too." + +"My sister goes to a cooking school and learns to bake fish," says +Edith, "and she is teaching me at home. I know the verse about cooking +fish." + +We all begged Edith to say the verse, so, after a little coaxing, she +repeated: + + "Our lesson is fish, and in every dish + We would like to meet our teacher's wish. + But many men have many minds, + There are many fishes of many kinds; + So we only learn to boil and bake, + To broil and fry, and make a fish-cake. + And trust this knowledge will carry us through + When other fishes we have to 'do.'" + +Edith is a little orphan girl who lives with her grandmother and +sister Minnie. We are all so interested about the cooking class, that +she tells us about how they learn to bake bread. + +"I mixed the bread last Friday night and made some biscuit in the +morning, and if I hadn't forgotten the salt they would have been +splendid. I don't remember all the verses about bread, but one verse +is: + + "'Now you place it in the bread bowl, + A smooth and nice dough ball, + Last, a towel and a cover, + And at night that's all. + But when morning calls the sleeper + From her little bed, + She can make our breakfast biscuit + From that batch of bread.'" + +"Well, it's girls' work to cook and boys' work to catch," said Al, who +was getting tired of hearing verses. + +"Jeanie did some catching before she was five years old, and you +forget how nicely papa cooked the breakfast when you were camping out +last summer." + +"I suppose his cooking, like Jeanie's fishing, was just an accident." + +"No, indeed! Good cooking has to be learned," I said, "and this +picture makes me think of the first fish I had to cook, and what a +foolish girl I had." + +"Oh, mamma's going to tell us a story about when she was a girl," +Jeanie exclaims. So all take seats--Jeanie on my lap, the boys on the +two arms of my chair, and the three little sisters on chairs or +footstools. + +Not about when I was a girl, but about when I was a very young wife. + +You boys know that I had always lived in a big house in the city, +where the servants did all the cooking and such work, while I +practiced music or studied or visited my Sunday-school scholars. I was +just as fond of them in those days as I am now. Well! Your papa took +me to a dear little house, far, far away, near Lake George. I had a +very young girl to help me about the house, who did not know any thing +about cooking. I thought I knew a good deal, for I had learned to bake +bread, and roast meat and make a cup of tea or coffee. I had just as +much fun keeping house in that little cottage as Jeanie has playing +house up stairs. But one day papa went off in a hurry and forgot to +ask me what I wanted for dinner. He was to bring a gentleman home that +day and I hoped he would send me a good dinner. + +About ten o'clock Annie, my little servant, came to me and said, "Oh, +ma'am, the butcher's here with a beautiful fish the master has sent +for the meat." + +"A fish! Annie, do you know how to cook fish?" I said. + +"No, ma'am. Only it's fried they mostly has 'em." + +I went into the kitchen and there lay a beautiful trout--too pretty to +eat, it seemed to me. Certainly too pretty to be spoiled by careless +cooking. So I took my receipt book and after reading carefully, I +stuffed the pretty fish and laid him in a pan all ready for the oven, +and told Annie to put it in at eleven o'clock. + +I was pretty tired, so I lay down for a little nap, and had just +dropped asleep when Annie came into the room, wringing her hands and +saying, "Oh, ma'am! Oh, ma'am! What'll I do in the world?" + +It seems that she had taken the fish out of the safe and put it, pan +and all, on the table, and then, remembering I had told her to +sprinkle a little pepper on it, she went to the closet for her +pepper-box, and when she came back, the pan was empty! + +"The cat stole it, Annie," I said. + +"Indade and she didn't. The innocent cratur was lyin' on my bed and +the door shut." + +I tried to quiet the girl; but I told her at last she could go home +that night, only she must dry her eyes and run to the butcher's for a +steak, for the master would be home with a strange gentleman in half +an hour. We managed to get the steak cooked, and papa tried to laugh +Annie out of the notion of a ghost stealing our beautiful fish, but +the girl would not smile and was afraid to be left alone in the +kitchen. So after tea she packed up her things and was to take the +stage to the depot; for Annie lived a long way off. + +Just before the stage came as I was standing at the gate, my eyes full +of tears at losing my nice little servant all on account of a fish, I +saw the lady who lived across the way open her gate and come toward +our house. I saw the stage stop a few doors off as she came to our +gate and bowing to me said: + +"Excuse me, we are strangers, but did you lose a fine trout to-day?" + +She must have thought me mad, for I rushed into the house, and called: +"Annie, Annie, I've found the fish! Now put your things back in the +bureau, you silly girl." + +Then I went back and invited my neighbor in, telling her about Annie's +fright. + +"Why, it was our Nero--our great dog! I was away at my mother's or I +would have brought it back, for I was sure it belonged to you. Nero +must have slipped in, nabbed the fish, and brought it to our house. He +laid it on the kitchen floor, as if he had done a very good deed, my +girl tells me, and she, foolish thing, thought he had brought it from +my mother's, and cooked it." + +We had a hearty laugh at our stupid servants, and were great friends +from that day, and I never see a picture of fish for sale, but I think +of my first trout, which I prepared for dinner with such care, but +never tasted. Annie never dared say "ghosts" after that, and lived +with us till Dick was three years old. But there is papa, and these +little girls must have a piece of cake and run home. + +[Illustration: {A BOY AND GIRL ICE SKATING.}] + + + + +Transcriber's Note + +The story SAILOR BABIES seems to end rather abruptly, and the poem +following, PRETTY POLLY PRIMROSE, seems to start in the middle. +Another copy of the book was checked and found to be the same, with no +sign of a missing page, so this is probably a printing error. + +The poem starting "Dick and Gray" was originally in the middle of the +story THE RETURN OF THE BIRDS; the poem has been moved before that +story for readability. + +The second page of the story DIME AND BETTY, starting "I drive Betty +to pasture every day," was obtained from a different copy of the book, +which was identical in all aspects except the layout of the copyright +page. + +The story THE TOWER OF LONDON consistently refers to Anne Boleyn as +Anna Boleyn. This has been preserved as printed. + +Punctuation errors have been repaired. Inconsistent spelling and +hyphenation has been preserved as printed across different pieces, but +made consistent within individual pieces, as follows: + + IN THE WOODS--Molly amended to Mollie--""You were + mistaken, Mollie, I'm sure."" + + HOW THE DAYS WENT AT SEA-GULL BEACH--Estelle amended to + Estella--"We put the pole through the handle and Estella + and myself took hold ..." + + DINGFORD'S BABY--Hettie amended to Hetty--"That little + brother of Hetty Dingford was the funniest baby on the + coast; ..." + +The following amendments have also been made: + + THE LAUGHING JACKASS--rellishes amended to relishes--"He + relishes lizards very much, and there are plenty ..." + + THE LAUGHING JACKASS--rotton amended to rotten--"She + lays here egss on the rotten wood at the bottom of the + hole." + + TOMMY AND THE GANDER--then amended to them--"Tommy took + one of them in his hands." + + FAN'S CARDS--Chrisrmas amended to Christmas--"Then they + all waved their cards and cried "Merry Christmas! ..."" + + WHO KILLED THE GOOSE?--alway amended to always--""People + are always saying dogs do things," ..." + + MRS. GIMSON'S SUMMER BOARDERS--fricaseed amended to + fricasseed--"If coffee and fricasseed chicken would not + be just the thing ..." + + MRS. GIMSON'S SUMMER BOARDERS--heir amended to + their--"... with their graceful talk, and numberless + resources of entertainment." + + SMALL BEGINNINGS--close by amended to by close--"... and + by close application to his studies, ..." + + AUTUMN LEAVES, AND WHAT KATIE DID--thown amended to + thrown--"... their leaves are thrown away, and they are + empty-handed." + + WAIF'S ROMANCE--presented amended to prevented--"... + even if the overflowed valley had prevented her + accustomed excursions; ..." + + WAIF'S ROMANCE--receeding amended to receding--"... + until he came to a good sized pond left by the receding + waters ..." + + WAIF'S ROMANCE--smuggled amended to snuggled--"... the + kitten was snuggled up as close to her brute protector + ..." + + TWO LITTLE GIRLS--befel amended to befell--"And this is + what befell;" + + THE LION AT THE "ZOO"--purs amended to purrs--"... he + lies down and purrs as good-naturedly as a pussy cat, + ..." + +A table of contents has been added for the convenience of the reader. + +Illustration captions in {curly brackets} have been added by the +transcriber for the convenience of the reader. + +The frontispiece illustration has been moved to follow the title page. +Illustrations have been moved where necessary so that they are not in +the middle of a paragraph. + + + + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK OUR YOUNG FOLKS AT HOME AND ABROAD *** + +***** This file should be named 29357-0.txt or 29357-0.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/2/9/3/5/29357/ + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will +be renamed. + +Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright +law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, +so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the +United States without permission and without paying copyright +royalties. 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