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diff --git a/43833-0.txt b/43833-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..ebc4875 --- /dev/null +++ b/43833-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,1668 @@ +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 43833 *** + +[Transcriber's Note: Bold text is surrounded by =equal signs= and italic +text is surrounded by _underscores_.] + + + +Our Little Japanese Cousin + + + + +The Little Cousin Series + +[Illustration] + + Our Little Japanese Cousin + BY MARY HAZELTON WADE + + Our Little Indian Cousin + BY MARY HAZELTON WADE + + Our Little Brown Cousin + BY MARY HAZELTON WADE + + Our Little Russian Cousin + BY MARY HAZELTON WADE + +[Illustration] + + L. C. PAGE & COMPANY, + Publishers + 200 Summer Street, Boston, Mass. + +[Illustration: LOTUS BLOSSOM.] + + + + +Our Little Japanese Cousin + + By + Mary Hazelton Wade + + _Illustrated by_ + L. J. Bridgman + +[Illustration] + + Boston + L. C. Page & Company + _MDCCCCI_ + + + + + _Copyright 1901_ + BY L. C. PAGE & COMPANY + (INCORPORATED) + + _All rights reserved_ + + + Colonial Press: + Electrotyped and Printed by C. H. Simonds & Co. + Boston, Mass., U. S. A. + + + + +List of Illustrations + + + PAGE + LOTUS BLOSSOM _Frontispiece_ + "SHE IS SOON SOUND ASLEEP" 18 + TOYO FEEDING THE PIGEONS 26 + THE CANDY MAN 33 + AUNT OCHO'S GARDEN 37 + A LESSON IN ARRANGING FLOWERS 50 + + + + +Our Little Japanese Cousin + + +LOTUS BLOSSOM is the dearest little girl in the world. I beg your +pardon--I mean in the Eastern world, for she lives far away across the +Pacific, on one of the beautiful islands of Japan. + +Lotus Blossom is very pretty. She has a round face, with a clear, +yellow skin, and her teeth are like little pearls. Her black hair is +cut square across the forehead and braided behind. It is never done +up in curl-papers or twisted over a hot iron; the little girl's mamma +would think that very untidy. + +Lotus Blossom does not smile very often, yet she is always happy. She +does not remember crying once in her life. Why should she cry? Papa +and mamma are always kind and ready to play with her. She is never +sent to bed alone in the dark, for she goes to sleep, and gets up in +the morning when her parents do. She does not play so hard as to get +tired out and cross with everybody. She takes everything quietly, just +as the big folks do, and is never in a hurry. Her playmates do not say +unkind words to make her sad, for the children of Japan are taught to +be polite above everything else. Why, I have heard that once upon a +time one little yellow boy so far forgot himself as to call a lady bad +names. His parents were terribly shocked. They felt that they had been +disgraced, and at once sent for a policeman to go to the lady's house +and ask for their child's pardon. As for him! well, he was severely +punished in a way you will hear about later on in my story. + +[Illustration: TOYO FEEDING THE PIGEONS.] + +Besides all these things which help to make Lotus Blossom happy, she +is dressed comfortably. Tight, stiff shoes could never be thought of +for a minute. She wears white stockings made of cloth, with a separate +place in each one for the big toe. In fact, they resemble long mittens. +That is all Lotus Blossom wears on her feet in the house; but when she +goes out-doors she has pretty sandals, if the walking is good. These +sandals have straps, which are fastened on the foot between the big +toe and around the ankle. If the ground is muddy or covered with snow, +Lotus Blossom puts on her clogs. They are queer things, raised high +on strips of wood. Of course one can't walk very fast on such clumsy +affairs, but the Japanese dislike getting their feet wet as much as +kittens do, and would wear anything to prevent such a mishap. But if +Lotus Blossom stops at a house or store while she is out walking, she +is polite enough to take off her clogs or sandals before going inside. +That is one reason why every building can be kept so clean. + +The little Japanese girl's clothes are pretty as well as comfortable. +It is not possible for pins to prick her tender flesh, because they +are never used about her dress. In summer she wears a silk or linen +garment made very much like your papa's dressing-gown, except that it +has immense sleeves. Beautiful scarlet flowers are embroidered all over +it, and a wide sash is wound around her waist and tied in a big, flat +bow behind. She is very fond of red, so she has a bow of red crape in +her hair, and a small red bag is fastened to her belt in front. What do +you suppose she carries in the bag? Paper handkerchiefs! Not linen ones +like yours, which are washed when they get soiled, but rather of soft, +pretty paper. As soon as each one is used it is thrown away. Don't you +think that is a very nice and cleanly custom? Indeed, there are many +things about the Japanese which we might copy with profit, for they +are the cleanest people in the world. Perhaps another reason why our +little cousin is so happy is because she is always clean. + +Lotus Blossom carries another bag at her belt, filled with amulets. +These are charms to keep away any evil spirits that might do her harm. +In the bag with the charms, there is a brass plate, which tells her +name and where she lives. So if she should get lost, her mother need +not worry, for she will be brought safely home without loss of time. +But what can be the use of such big sleeves? When her mamma cut them, +she made them long enough to nearly reach the floor. Then they were +doubled up inside and fastened in front so that they could serve as +pockets. How you would laugh to see Lotus Blossom and her brother tuck +away their playthings in their big sleeves when their mother calls them +away to do something for her! It is enough to make an American boy's +heart fill with envy. He may boast of six pockets, but what of that? +They could all be filled and stowed away in one of Lotus Blossom's +sleeves, and room would be still left. + +The little girl's life is like a long playtime. In the first place, she +lives in a sort of play-house. There is nothing to get out of order; +no chairs in the way, no table-scarfs to pull down, no ink-wells to +tip over. There is only one big room in the house, but there are many +beautiful paper screens, so her mamma can divide the house just as she +pleases by moving the screens about. If company should arrive suddenly, +there need be no question whether there is a guest-room or not. One +can be made with screens in a moment. Even the front of the house is +made of screens, which can be closed at night, and folded away in the +morning to open up the whole house to the fresh air and sunshine. +There are no carpets on the floors, but instead of these there are +pretty mats made of rushes. They are exactly alike in size, and are +shaken every morning. There are no chairs, for Lotus Blossom's family +sit on the mats or on cushions on the floor. They cannot lean against +the walls either, for remember, there are no walls! And if they should +lean against the screens they would tumble over. + +The only tables are six inches high. They are pretty and delicate, and +are highly lacquered. When Lotus Blossom has nothing else to do, she +likes to look at the pictures on these little stands. But where are the +stoves? How do the people keep warm in the cold winter days? And where +is all the cooking done? In the picture do you see a little box with +smoke rising from it? It is lined with metal, and charcoal is burned +in it. All the food is prepared over these little fire-boxes. If any +one is cold, he has only to get a fire-box, light some charcoal, and +sit down beside it. And when Lotus Blossom goes to breakfast, she has a +fire-box beside the lacquered table, so that water for her tea can be +kept hot. + +Tea! you say. That little girl, nine years old, drinking tea? Yes, we +have to admit that the Japanese child drinks tea at a very early age; +and with no milk or sugar, either. But then the cups are so tiny they +do not hold much. They are no bigger than those in a doll's china set. +How quickly the little tea-table is set at meal times. Each member of +the family has one all to himself. There is no table-cloth, no knife, +or fork, or spoon; instead of these one sees a pair of chop-sticks, +a small cup and saucer, and a plate from which he eats the steaming +rice and the minced fish. But suppose that the tea or rice should be +spilled on the beautiful table? Please don't imagine such a thing. +Japanese children are too carefully trained by their kind mammas to be +so careless. They handle their chop-sticks so daintily that no grain of +rice nor bit of fish falls as they lift the food to their pretty mouths. + +Where does our little Japanese cousin sleep in this funny house? +There are no bedsteads, or mattresses, or blankets, or sheets. When +bedtime comes, her papa and mamma move the screens around so as to shut +themselves off from the rest of the house. Then they go to a cupboard +and take down some wadded quilts and queer wooden blocks, whose tops +are slightly curved. A quilt is spread on the floor, and a wooden block +serves as a pillow. Some paper is laid on it so that it may be kept +clean. And now, you think, Lotus Blossom may get into her bed after she +has undressed and put on her night-dress. Not so, however. She must +bathe in a tub of such hot water that it would turn your body very +red, if you were only to hop in and out again. The whole family bathe +in the same tub of water, one after the other, and it is kept hot by a +tube which runs to a fire-box. The little girl puts on her day-dress +after her bath is finished, and, lying down on the quilt, she rests her +head on the hard pillow. Mamma covers her with another quilt, and she +is soon sound asleep. + +[Illustration: "SHE IS SOON SOUND ASLEEP."] + +When Lotus Blossom was two years old her brother Toyo was born. How the +family rejoiced at having a little son! When he was only seven days +old a very important ceremony was performed. He had to receive a name. +His papa, who believes in the religion of Shintoism, fully wrote out +five of his favourite names on pieces of paper. Then he took his baby +in his arms, and, carrying the papers, he went to the temple where he +worshipped. The papers were handed to the priest, who placed them in a +bowl. After some ceremony, the priest began to fish in the bowl with +a sacred wand. The first paper he lifted out bore the name of Toyo. +This was the way that Lotus Blossom's little brother received his name. +When he was about four weeks old he was again carried to the temple by +his father and nurse. The Japanese believe in one great power, or god, +but under him there are many others; as, a god of flowers, a god of +art, and so forth. This time he was put under the care of his special +god, who was then expected to protect him for the rest of his life. + +All this time Toyo's head was kept perfectly smooth. In fact, his first +visit to the barber was very important, for all his hair was shaved off +then except a little fringe at the back and sides. When he was four +months old another important ceremony was held. Toyo left off baby +clothes and was given his first solid food. That was rice, of course, +which he would continue to eat at every meal for the rest of his life. + +Toyo and Lotus Blossom are always happy together. His sister was the +first one to help Toyo squat on his little heels. Japanese babies never +creep. The little brother had no baby-carriage or cradle, but he never +missed them. He was always such a happy little fellow; never perched up +in a high-chair with his body fastened in by a wooden tray, but always +moving around, sometimes on the floor, sometimes fastened on mamma's or +nurse's back, again on the older children's backs, when Lotus Blossom +was out playing in the garden with them. When he got tired he would +simply go to sleep, while the children would keep on with their play. +But when he woke up, he would look about with a dear little smile, as +much as to say: "I'm all right, thank you, don't fret about me." + +It was a most important time when he cut the first tooth, and not only +that, but the second and the third,--in fact, every tooth in turn had +its arrival celebrated. A poem about each one was written by his loving +papa, and a little festival was held in the home. Such happy, childlike +people are the Japanese! They are ready to enjoy everything. Even the +funerals are cheerful, and have nothing sad and dreary about them. Why +should they, when the people believe that they always will live, and +that they will come back to earth again to enjoy the beautiful fields +and flowers and sunshine in new bodies? + +Almost the first words that Toyo learned to speak were, "Thank you," +and "If you please." Don't think for a moment that he ever did such a +rude thing in his life as to answer "no" or "yes" without some very +polite expression with it. For instance, if his mamma asked him a +question, he would answer with his baby lips, "No, thank you, most +admirable mother," or, "If you please, my adorable, honoured parent," +at the same time bowing his little body over till his head reached the +ground. Why! he and Lotus Blossom are taught to speak respectfully even +of the potatoes or the dishes or the table. For example, they say, "the +highly respected cup," etc. Isn't it funny? But, after all, isn't it +nice, too, to act kindly toward every one and everything in the world? + +If her little brother should step on Lotus Blossom's doll and break +its arm, what would she do? Give him a slap and say, "Oh, you bad, +bad boy?" By no means. A slap is unknown in her land. The little +woman would not even let herself look cross or unhappy, while Toyo +would spend five minutes in telling her how unutterably sad and +broken-hearted he was made by his cruel, ungentlemanly carelessness. +And then, to make them forget all about it, mamma would bring a new +doll from the cupboard. + +But perhaps Lotus Blossom is tired of playthings, so she and Toyo run +out in the garden to have a frolic with their pets. They have new ones +nearly every day, for they are fond of every creature that is alive. +To-day they are going to hunt for some big beetles, as Toyo has planned +a little carriage which he will make out of paper, with pasteboard +wheels and reins of silk thread for the paper doll. The beetles will be +harnessed, and the children will train them to draw the carriage. Jolly +fun! The whole afternoon is spent in finding some black beauties and +playing with them. + +Another day the children will catch some grasshoppers and tame them. +Toyo will make a pretty paper cage to hold them, while both he and +Lotus Blossom will be very careful to feed them regularly on the +dainties they like best. When night comes the turtles must be looked +after and fed, for Toyo has some beauties. He likes to fasten a string +through the shell and take them walking, just as his American cousins +do, but he would not willingly torture them. + +Lotus Blossom has a globe full of gold-fish different from any you +have ever seen. Their tails are fan-shaped, and are as long as their +bodies. During the long summer days the globe of fish is set out on the +broad balcony, and many children stop to watch them as they pass. Toyo +loves his little dog more than all his other pets. He is the dearest +little fellow, and wishes to follow his young master wherever he goes. +He looks somewhat like a spaniel, except that he is white. His nose is +turned up at the end, so that he looks all the time as if he would say, +"Humph! I am very wise. You poor people don't know much." And he looks +all this in such a way as to make you wish to laugh. Toyo's mamma has +made a big scarlet ruff for the dog's neck, and it makes him feel very +fine, I dare say. His master has fastened a wooden label on his collar +to tell where he belongs. + +I know you will be disappointed when you learn that Lotus Blossom's +dear little kitten cannot play with her tail. No fun for her, poor +kitty, you are thinking. But why is it? Because she _has_ no tail, +or at least only the stub of one. So of course she is quite calm and +solemn--that is, for a kitten. But then she lives in Japan, and so she +ought to be more dignified than kittens of other lands. Don't you think +so? + +We must leave all these pets now and go to church, or rather to the +temple, with Toyo, Lotus Blossom, and their parents. There is no set +day for worship, for there is no such thing as Sunday in Japan. The +temples are always open, and the children are fond of going to them to +offer prayers, and also to have a good time. As they near the temple +they see stands of sweetmeats and good things of all kinds. The way is +lined on both sides with these stands. Great numbers of people, rich +and poor, high and low, are coming and going. Pigeons are flying in and +out of the sacred building, and no one harms them. Toyo stops and buys +a yen's worth of corn and scatters it for the birds to eat. They flock +around him without fear. They are so tame that the children could catch +them with no difficulty. But Lotus Blossom and Toyo pass on to the +entrance, and, bowing low, take off their clogs. + +The inside of the building is almost bare. There are no statues of +gods or goddesses, no ornaments,--nothing except an altar with some +queer sticks standing upon it. Festoons of white paper hang from these +wands, or "gohei," as the Japanese call them. A priest stands behind +the altar, and a large cloth is spread out on the floor in front of it. +Lotus Blossom and Toyo clap their hands. This is to call the attention +of the gods. Then they say a little prayer and throw some money upon +the cloth. If they are very good and devout children, perhaps the gods +will descend into the temple. The queer papers on the wands are to be +the clothing of these great beings. No images are needed, you see, +only plenty of paper. Rather hard to understand this, and yet all that +is necessary for Toyo and Lotus Blossom is to worship their ancestors +properly, and believe that the great spirits are working everywhere in +nature. This is the reason they are taught to obey their parents at +all times, and never to harm anything living. The children are also +taught to believe that the Mikado, the Emperor of Japan, is descended +from god-kings who once ruled over the country. This is why such great +honour is paid him wherever he goes. Until a few years ago the people +thought him so sacred that they ought not to look at him, so he was +obliged to stay inside his beautiful palace like a prisoner. But times +have changed, and his subjects have a little more common sense nowadays. + +After our little cousins have said their prayers and given their money, +they go to a dance-hall in another part of the temple. You know by this +time that the Japanese like to enjoy themselves. But isn't it a strange +idea to have dancing, praying, and feasting in the same place? The +dancers are dressed like butterflies. They have beautiful red and gold +wings. They are very graceful, but the music is unpleasant to us. Toyo +thinks it is fine, and wishes he could play as well. + +Now for a good dinner in the restaurant in the next hall, for the boy's +father has promised to treat his family to all the dainties of the +season,--candied lotus-leaves, and everything they like best. It is a +happy day, and the children wish they could go to the temple oftener. + +One morning not long after this, poor little Lotus Blossom woke up +with a bad pain in her stomach. Her face and hands were hot. She was +not able to get up and go to school. Mamma felt very sad, and at once +sent to ask the priest for something to make her little daughter +well. You say at once, "Is the priest in Japan a doctor? And will he +prepare medicine marked in some such way as this: 'One teaspoonful to +be taken each hour?'" No, indeed. Lotus Blossom's mamma received from +her queer physician two "moxas," with orders that one of them should be +placed on the back of the sick child, and the other on her foot. The +direction of the priest was followed, although it made Lotus Blossom +very unhappy. I think you would not like it, if you were in her place, +for a moxa makes a burn far worse than a mustard plaster does. You know +the punk that you use on the Fourth of July to light your firecrackers +and fireworks? The moxas are made of a certain kind of pith, and burn +slowly just as the punk does. The Japanese believe in the use of moxas +for many things,--bad children, sickness, and I can't tell you what +else. The impolite boy I told you about, at the beginning of the story, +was burned with a moxa, in such a way that he never forgot himself +again. As for fevers, why, the moxa is certain to drive away the bad +spirits that cause them. + +No doubt you wonder at it, as I do myself, but Lotus Blossom got well +enough in two or three days to sit up and be dressed. But she did not +care for her dolls or games; she felt tired all the time. Her loving +and most honoured father said a change of air would do her good. It +would be well for her to spend some days at the house of an aunt who +lived several miles out in the country. Toyo was allowed to go, too. +How were they to get there? In steam or electric cars? What can you +be thinking of to ask such questions? Two jinrikishas were brought to +the door; one was for Lotus Blossom and one for her brother. Strong +men were hired to draw them. I wonder if you ever saw anything like a +jin-riki-sha, or man-power-carriage, for that is what the word means. +They are very comfortable, much like baby-carriages, and are lined with +soft cushions. The men look strong and kind. They are nearly naked, so +that they can run easily and rapidly. + +It will take only an hour to carry the children to their aunt's, if +they do not stop on the way. But there are so many things to see to-day +that Lotus Blossom forgets all about her sickness and burns, and wants +her runners to stop every few minutes to rest. The children spend at +least five minutes bidding their mother a proper good-bye. Then, at the +word, off they go, down "Dog" Street into "Turtle" Street. There are no +sidewalks, but they are not needed, for horses and wagons are rarely +seen. + +[Illustration: THE CANDY MAN.] + +But look! Here is a man standing in the middle of the street, dancing +and singing a funny song. The sober Japanese who are passing stop and +laugh. The man has a little stand by his side, and on this stand are a +dish of wheat-gluten and a bamboo reed. As Lotus Blossom and Toyo draw +near, the man ends his song and calls out, "Now who wants me to blow +him a candy dog? Or shall it be a monkey eating a nut? You, my most +honoured little lady, want one surely." + +This he said to Lotus Blossom, who was sitting up straight in the +jinrikisha, full of interest. She thought a moment or two, and then +asked for a stork with wings spread out to fly. She had hardly stopped +speaking before the man seized a bamboo reed, dipped it in the sticky +paste, and blowing now this way, now that, fashioned the graceful bird. +Pinching it here and there to make it more perfect, he put on some +touches of colour from a box of paints. It was wonderfully done. Lotus +Blossom gave him five yen for the candy toy, the runners took hold of +the jinrikisha, and away the children went on their journey. + +They came soon to another crowd of boys and girls gathered about a +batter-cake man. He had a little stand on which a pan of charcoal was +burning. A large griddle rested over the coal, and a tiny little urchin +was standing on his tiptoes and baking cakes. The man cut them out +for him in pretty shapes. See the pleasure on the youngster's face! +All this fun for ten yen, or one cent. The other children watch him +in envy. As Toyo and Lotus Blossom draw near, the jinrikisha men make +a place for them in the crowd, and Toyo jumps out to get a lunch. He +has the next turn, and so he asks the pleasant-faced man to cut his +batter-cakes in the shape of turtles. Lotus Blossom does not wish +any, but lies back in her easy carriage under her pretty sunshade, +and watches Toyo cook and eat them. Umbrellas and sunshades are of +the same material in Japan. They are made of several layers of tough, +strong paper, and will last a long time. When they are worn out, they +are thrown away just as the paper handkerchiefs are, and new ones are +bought for a very small sum of money. In stormy weather Lotus Blossom +and Toyo not only carry umbrellas, but wear long capes of oiled paper +to keep off the rain, while very poor people have coats made of +grasses. Funny looking things these are! If you should see a man with +one of them over his shoulders, and a queer mushroom-shaped hat on his +head, you would feel like laughing, I know,--that is, if you had not +already acquired some of the politeness of the Japanese themselves. + +But let us return to Turtle Street and find out what is now attracting +the attentions of our little cousins. Would you believe it? They can't +be in very much of a hurry to get to aunty's, for they have stopped +again. You would also stop if you saw what they do. A travelling street +show is entertaining numbers of men, women, and children. Babies are on +the backs of some of them, laughing and crowing, too. See that clever +fellow in the middle. He is making butterflies of coloured paper and +blowing them up into the air. He keeps them flying about, now in one +direction, now in another, by waving his fan. It seems as though they +must be alive, he does this so cleverly. That yellow butterfly is made +to alight on a baby's hand. Hear the little fellow crow with delight. +Another flies over Lotus Blossom's jinrikisha, and then, by the +dexterous waving of the showman's fan, goes off in another direction +before she can catch it. + +[Illustration: AUNT OCHO'S GARDEN.] + +After the butterfly show another man performs some wonderful tricks +with a ladder. He places the ladder upright on the ground without +any support; he climbs it, rung by rung, keeping its balance all the +time. Finally he reaches the very top and stands on one foot, bowing +and gracefully waving a fan. There is not time to tell you all the +wonderful feats of the Japanese. Toyo and Lotus Blossom are delighted, +although they have seen performances like these many times before. + +But they must really hasten on their journey, for aunty will be +expecting them, and it will soon be sunset. In a few moments they leave +the city behind and are out in the beautiful country. They pass tea +plantations. The glossy green leaves are almost ready to pick. See the +man in that field, running wildly about, making hideous noises. Is he +crazy? Our little cousins do not seem disturbed as they pass by, for he +is only a hired scarecrow. You remember that the people in Japan think +it wrong to kill any living thing. But there are great numbers of birds +in the country which are likely to eat the crops and do much damage. +So men are hired to act as scarecrows and make noises to frighten the +birds away. + +At last Uncle Oto's rice plantation is reached. The children draw up in +front of a large, low house with wide verandas. It is more beautiful +than their own home. The roof is magnificent with carvings, and must +have cost a great deal of money. It is the pride of Aunt Ocho. The +gardens contain the choicest plants and trees, besides a pond and an +artificial waterfall. Lotus Blossom and Toyo are sure of a good time +and much fun. They will have a great deal to tell their mamma when they +return to their home. + + * * * * * + +Time passes by. The children have been back in their own home a long +time. They are now looking forward to New Year's day. Everything is +excitement about the house. Mamma has hired an extra servant to help +clean the house from right to left; not from top to bottom, as we say, +for there are no stairways or rooms overhead. Everything is on one +floor, remember. The screens are carefully wiped, the mats receive an +extra shaking, and then mamma brings out her choicest vase from the +storehouse and places it on a beautiful, ebony stand in the place of +honour. The Japanese are not at all like us. They are so simple in +their tastes, and love beautiful things so much, that they have only +one or two pieces, at the most, on view at a time. They think they can +enjoy them more fully in this way. + +The most honoured father orders some workmen to come and set up some +tall pine branches in front of the gateway. One is of black, the other +of red pine, and tall bamboo reeds are placed beside them. A grass rope +is stretched from one reed to the other, and some funny strips of white +paper are hung on it. You saw many of these papers at the temple where +the children worship. This work is very important to the childlike +people. They think that the rope, with papers fastened to it, will keep +away all the evil spirits that are ever ready to spoil the happiness of +human beings. They are demons, who take the shape of foxes, badgers, +and wolves, and are frightful enough to the imagination of Lotus +Blossom and her brother. Of course, the children are glad that the evil +spirits are to be surely kept away. + +Other things are hung on the rope for good luck. There is a piece of +charcoal and some seaweed, and a "lucky bag" filled with chestnuts, a +bit of herring and some dried fruit. All these things will make the +gods understand they are not forgotten. + +The day before New Year's some men come to the house with an oven +and proceed to make the grand New Year's cake. It must not be eaten, +however, until the 11th of January. The children stand around and watch +the men pound the sticky rice-paste with a heavy mallet. At last it +is smooth enough, and then it is cut into rounds and built up into a +pyramid. I hear you say, "Well, I'd rather have my mother's plum-cake, +any time." But not so with Lotus Blossom and Toyo. They watch their +mother anxiously as she places it with great care on a lacquered stand, +to remain until the time comes to eat it. + +Now they are allowed to put on their clogs and go to buy the "harvest +ship," which they will hang up in the house instead of the holly and +evergreens you like to see at Christmas time. The Japanese believe that +on New Year's eve a wonderful ship comes sailing into port. Of course, +it is sent by the gods. No one has ever really seen it. That does not +matter; there are pictures of it, nevertheless, and no New Year's +decorations are complete without a miniature harvest ship. The shops +are as full of them as our markets are of evergreen trees at Christmas +time. They are made of grasses and trimmed with gaily coloured papers. +The selection of this ship is a very exciting event, not only for +Lotus Blossom and Toyo, but also for their mother. How anxiously they +look at one after another as the shopkeeper shows them. Finally one is +chosen that suits the children's mother as to price and beauty. But the +shopping is by no means ended, for presents must be bought for friends +and playmates. + +And now, children of America, please don't get envious of all the +pretty things which your cousins can buy for a few pennies. Lotus +Blossom and Toyo have been saving money for a long time. Each has a +number of square copper coins strung on a string. They are not like our +pennies, for they are larger and thinner, and each one has a square +hole in the centre. Ten of these are equal in value to one of our +cents, and there are many pretty things that Japanese children can buy +for a yen, as this piece of money is called. Such pretty picture-books +made of the lovely Japanese paper! Dolls that are dressed in the same +fashion as the two children, only the dresses are of paper; pictures of +the Japanese gods and goddesses; games and tops and candies. At length +the shopping is over and the last yen has been spent. The family are +glad to go home and take a hot bath and nap, for they are very tired. + +On New Year's morning Lotus Blossom and her brother receive their own +presents, and although they do not shout and jump up and down as you do +when you are very happy, they are much pleased. Toyo has a drum, some +lovely books and a new game of battledore and shuttlecock, which is +the game of all games to be played at New Year's. The shuttlecock is +a large gilded seed with feathers stuck all around it; the battledore +is a bat, flat on one side to strike with, while the other side has a +raised figure of a beautiful dancing-girl. Lotus Blossom has, among +other things, a doll which her mother has dressed in flowered silk, +and a set of lacquered drawers in which to keep her ornaments. But +the greatest surprise to the children is a white rabbit. These little +creatures are the dearest of all pets in Japan, because they are so +rare. It cost the loving father several dollars, but he is more than +repaid by his children's delight. + +Lotus Blossom's mamma has spent many weeks in embroidering gowns for +each member of the family. They are of silk, and are worn for the first +time on New Year's day. This good mamma has had her hair arranged +for the grand occasion with the greatest of care. You would hardly +believe it, but the hair-dresser spent hours upon it, rolling it up +in wonderful shapes, sticking it in place with a kind of paste, and +fastening many ornaments in it. It was done two days ago, and you may +be sure that the Japanese lady placed her head very carefully on the +pillow every night so that nothing should disarrange it. She has had +her teeth blackened afresh for the greatest holiday of the year, while +both she and her little daughter paint their necks and faces white and +their cheeks red before their toilets are finished. + +I believe I have not yet told you that the pretty Japanese women spoil +their good looks as soon as they are married by colouring their teeth +black! Isn't it a shame? I'm glad we don't have this custom in our +country, aren't you? + +And now the New Year's calls begin. What a bowing and bending! +Men, women, and children are all calling and lavishing many-worded +compliments on each other. Refreshments are passed, and then there is +a "show" to amuse everybody. Some men have been hired to come to the +house. They dance and sing many songs. After this comes the funny part +of the entertainment. One man puts on a mask and makes believe he is an +animal. He rolls around on the floor at the ladies' feet, makes queer +noises, and everybody laughs and is delighted. The big folks like it +as much as the children. Perhaps the funny man will now put on two +masks and represent different things at the same time,--on one side +he will look like a dancing-girl, while on the other he will appear as +some strange beast. He will change about rapidly, and keep the company +watching him with excited interest. + +Night comes to very tired and happy people, but it does not end the +fun by any means. Lotus Blossom's papa will not do any business for a +week at least, and there will be new pleasures each day that he is at +home with his wife and children. After the festival is over, the family +settle down to their daily work until the coming of another holiday. + +The children go to school again, but that does not trouble them. They +love their teacher and try to please him. The school is closed at noon. +Lotus Blossom and Toyo start out every morning with little satchels +over their backs. In these they carry their books, a cake of India ink, +and a paint-brush. When they arrive at their schoolroom, they are met +by a quiet, kindly man with big glasses over his eyes. The children +instantly bow down to the ground before him, for he is their teacher. +Of course the low bow is to show great respect. Japanese children are +taught to treat their instructors, as well as their parents, with +honour and regard. + +And now they enter the schoolroom. But what a schoolroom! No desks, +no platform, no seats! The teacher sits down upon a mat with a small +lacquered stand beside him. The children squat on the floor around him +and begin to study. What queer letters in the books! You would not be +able to read one word. Lotus Blossom and Toyo have already learned +their alphabets. You smile, perhaps, and think, "H'm! that isn't +much." Well, just wait till I tell you there are forty-seven different +characters in one alphabet, while in another there are several times as +many. The easy alphabet is the only one that girls must know, while +boys learn both. But Lotus Blossom is a very bright child, so she +studies the more difficult characters as well. + +Japanese books are printed very differently from ours. The lines run +up and down the page, and keep the eyes of the reader busily moving. +The children don't have many examples to perform, for the Japanese +do not consider arithmetic so important as Americans do. Do you sigh +now, and wish you could get your education in that far-away land where +long division is not a daily trial? But wait till I tell you about the +writing, or rather painting, lessons. You will certainly be envious. +When the schoolmaster gives the signal, the children take the brushes +and the cakes of India ink from their satchels. They mix a little of +the ink with water, and then are ready to paint their words on the +beautiful paper made in their country. Many people think that the +Japanese are such fine artists because their hands are trained to use +the brush from the time they are babies. + +It would make you laugh if I should tell you how the teacher directs +the children to write letters to their friends. They must begin by +writing something very poetical about the weather. They must then +compose some very flowery compliments to the friend who is addressed; +a sheet or two, at least, must be used in this way before they are +allowed to tell the news, etc. But throughout the letter, as in fact +in all conversations, Lotus Blossom and Toyo are taught to speak of +themselves as very mean and humble creatures. + +Their kind school-teacher ends the morning lessons with proverbs. You +know what these are, of course, but the ones which our Japanese cousins +learn are especially about duty to their parents, and kindness to all +living creatures. It would be a great sin for Toyo to tease the cat or +kill a fly. His parents would be shocked beyond expression. + +[Illustration: A LESSON IN ARRANGING FLOWERS.] + +"How about punishment in the Japanese school?" I hear a little boy ask. +My dear child, it is hardly ever needed, but when it does come, it is +not being kept after school; it is not a whipping. The child is burned! +The teacher takes a moxa, which I told you is a kind of pith, and +sticks it on the naughty child's hand. He then sets the moxa on fire to +burn slowly. It is a long, sad punishment for any one who is so bad as +to deserve it. It does not need to be given every day. Lotus Blossom +and Toyo, as well as their little schoolmates, are very attentive to +their work, and try their hardest to please the teacher. + +When school is done, what will the children do throughout the long +afternoon? Lotus Blossom must work a certain time in embroidery, and +take a short lesson with her mamma in arranging flowers. Why, there +are whole books on this subject in Japan. The people are very fond of +flowers, and study how to arrange them in the most graceful manner. +They would never think of bunching many together without their leaves +in an ugly bouquet, nor would they dream of cruelly twisting wires +around their poor little stems. In Japan it is thought an art to know +how to place one spray in a vase in such a way as to show all its +beauty. + +While his sister is doing her work, Toyo is practising on his koto. +This is a musical instrument of which the Japanese are very fond. It +looks much like a harp. Toyo strikes the strings with pieces of ivory +fastened on his finger-tips. Listen! Do you call those sounds music? +It is enough to set one's teeth on edge. Yet Toyo's music-teacher says +that he is doing finely and shows great talent. If that is so, I fear +we would not care to go to many concerts in Japan, for the Japanese +idea of music is very different from ours. + +Hurrah! The children are now ready for play, and there are so many nice +things to do. If it is winter and there is snow on the ground, Lotus +Blossom and Toyo gather together with their little friends to make a +snow man. Not an Irish gentleman with a pipe in his mouth, such as you +like to build, but a figure of Daruma, who was a disciple of Buddha. It +is easy to make this, for it is believed that Daruma lost his legs from +sitting too long in one position. So the snow man has no legs. When it +is made, the children knock it down with snow-balls, just as you do. + +Spring comes, and with it, tops, and kites, and stilts. The stilts are +very high, and Toyo puts his toes through parts of the wooden lifts. +He and the other boys run races and even play games on stilts, and +think it great fun. But the kites! Yours are just babies beside them. +Some of them are so large that it takes two men to sail them. In fact, +grown-up people, in Japan, seem as fond of kite-flying as the children. +Many of these toys have neither tails nor bobs. You wonder how they +manage to get up in the air at all, till you see that the strings are +pulled in such a way as to raise them. They are of all shapes. The boys +sometimes play a game with their kites. They dip the strings in glue +and afterward in powdered glass; then they run with the kites and try +to cross each other's strings and cut them. The boy who succeeds wins +the other's kite. Toyo lost his the other day, and what do you think he +did? Pout, or exclaim, as you sometimes do, "I don't care, that isn't +fair?" By no means! He made three beautiful bows and gave up his kite +with a polite smile. Maybe he did not feel any happier about it than +you would, for it was a fine new one, but he wouldn't show his grief, +at any rate. + +Toyo sometimes wrestles with the other boys, but they are not rough and +noisy about it. They wrestle gently, if you can imagine such a thing. +They have often seen the trained wrestlers at the shows; such big, fat +men. They must weigh at least three hundred pounds. The fat fairly +hangs upon them. The Japanese people are generally slim and rather +small, but if a man is going to train himself to be a wrestler, he eats +everything that will help to make him fat. I should think they could +not get hurt, for they look as though they were cushioned in fat. + +The boys of Japan have marbles and tops, just as you do; in fact, +nearly all the games which you like best were played by your far-away +cousins long before there was a white child on this great continent +of ours. "Blind man's buff," "Hide the thimble," and "Puss in the +corner," are great favourites with the Japanese. Instead of hiding +the thimble, however, they use a slipper, and instead of puss in the +corner, they play that it is the devil. You must not forgot that the +Japanese believe there are many devils, or bad spirits, as well as good +ones who are ready to help. They even think of them in their games. + +How many holidays have we in a whole year? Stop and count. Not a great +number, we must admit. Lotus Blossom and Toyo have so many that they +can count on their fingers the number of days between any two of them. +Next best to New Year's, our little girl cousin likes the Feast of +Dolls. It comes on the third day of the third month. At that time the +stores are filled with dolls,--big dolls, little dolls, dolls dressed +like princesses with flounced silk gowns, dolls made up as servants, +as dancing-girls, and dolls the very image of the Mikado, the ruler +of Japan,--nothing but dolls and dolls' furniture. When the great day +arrives, Lotus Blossom's mamma makes a throne in the house. She brings +out the two dolls that she herself received when she was born, besides +those of her mother and grandmother and great-grandmother! They have +been carefully packed away in soft papers in the family storehouse. +What a sight they are, with all the new ones that have been bought +for Lotus Blossom. The Mikado doll is first placed on his throne, +surrounded by his court, and then the soldiers and dancers and working +people are made to stand at either side. They are dressed in the proper +clothing that belongs to their position. But this grand array is not +all. There are all kinds of doll's furniture, too,--little tables only +four inches high, with dolls' tea-sets, the tiniest, prettiest china +dishes. There are the wadded silk quilts for the dolls to sleep on, +and wooden pillows on which the doll-heads can rest. Yes, there are +dolls' fans, and even dolls' games. + +On this great occasion there is a dinner-party for the whole family of +dolls. Lotus Blossom and her little friends, as well as her father and +mother, are quite busy serving their guests with rice, fish, soup, and +all kinds of sweet dainties. Somehow or other, all these nice things +are eaten. What wonderful dolls they have in Japan, don't they? + +Toyo enjoys the day as well as Lotus Blossom, but still he is looking +forward to the fifth of May. That will be his favourite time of all the +year. By that time the girls' dolls will be put away, and the stores +will be filled with boys' playthings,--soldiers, tents, armour, etc. +Toyo's father will place a tall bamboo pole in front of the house, and +hang an immense paper fish on the top of it. The fish's mouth will be +wide open, so that the air will fill his big body. At some of the other +houses there will be a banner instead of a fish. There are figures of +great warriors who fought in olden times on these banners. + +When Toyo was a baby his father bought him a banner stand. It has been +kept very carefully, and is now put in the place where the doll's +throne stood a little while ago. The banners of great generals are +hung up, and figures of soldiers are placed on the stand. You see Toyo +has dolls as well as his sister. Everything is done to remind boys of +war at this Festival of Banners. They have processions in the streets. +They play a game in which they form armies against each other. Every +boy carries a flag, and those of one company try to seize the flags of +the boys in the other. Of course the side wins which first succeeds in +gaining the flags of the other. + +A festival which everybody loves is the Feast of Lanterns. It is in the +summer time, and the children are dressed in their gayest clothes. They +form processions and march through the streets singing with all their +might. Every child carries a large paper lantern and keeps it swinging +all the time. It is such a pretty sight in the evening light,--the +bright dresses, the graceful figures, the gorgeous lanterns. Oh, Japan +is the land of happy children, young and old. + +One pleasant summer afternoon, as Lotus Blossom and Toyo were playing +on their veranda, they noticed some one stopping at the gateway and +then coming up the walk to the house. It was the man-servant who worked +at the home of a friend of theirs, whose father was very rich. Toyo +whispered, "Oh, Lotus Blossom, I believe he's bringing us an invitation +to Chrysanthemum's party. You know she is going to have one on her +birthday." Sure enough, the man came up to the children, and, making +a low bow, presented them with two daintily folded papers and then +departed. They hastened to open them, and found, with delight, that +they were really and truly asked to their friend's party. It was to +be at three o'clock in the afternoon of the following Thursday. Lotus +Blossom ran to her mother, just as her American cousins might do, and +cried, "Oh, mamma, my precious, honourable mother, what shall I wear? +See this; do look at my invitation." It was a rare thing indeed to see +the child so excited. Her mother smiled, and answered, "My dear little +pearl of a Lotus Blossom, I have almost finished embroidering your new +silk garment. It shall be finished, and you shall have a new yellow +crape kerchief to fold about your throat. A barber shall arrange your +long hair about your head; and I will buy you white silk sandals to +be tied with ribbons. Even though your friend is more wealthy than +ourselves, you shall not disgrace your honoured father. Toyo, too, must +have a new garment." + +All was made ready, and Thursday came at last. The children were sent +to the party in jinrikishas, so that they should not get dusty. They +looked very pretty. Their little hostess and her mamma received the +guests with smiles and with many long phrases of politeness. Lacquered +trays were brought in and placed in front of each one. On these were +beautiful china cups with no handles. What do you think was served in +them? Don't get up your hopes now and say "lemonade," or "sherbet," +for you will surely be disappointed. It was tea,--simply tea, without +milk or sugar. The children drank it in honour of their hostess and her +mamma. But something better still was to come. The tea was removed, and +fresh trays, covered with dainty pink papers, were brought in. A cake +made of red beans lay on the middle of each tray, and around it were +placed sugar maple leaves coloured red and green. They looked pretty +enough to keep, but the little guests ate them, leaves and all. After +these came other cakes and sweetmeats, enough to delight the heart of +every one. + +Now for games! Proverbs come first of all. It is played very much like +the American game of "Authors," and is a great favourite with both old +and young in Japan. Next comes blind man's buff, but you would hardly +know the game, it is played so much more quietly and slowly than you +are in the habit of playing it. + +Wine-cakes, dainties, and tea are served next, and then the best part +of the fun arrives. The screens are moved aside, and the children +behold a little stage. They sit, or rather squat, down on the mats +about the room while some hired performers represent one of their +loved fairy stories in a play. The actresses have lovely gowns, and are +very graceful. It is a very enjoyable occasion. + +The time to leave comes all too soon. The jinrikisha men arrive, and +after assuring their hostess that they never had had so lovely a time +before, Lotus Blossom and Toyo make two deep bows and return home very +happy. I believe you would not object to a party like that yourself, +would you? + +Among all the joyous festivals of the year, I must not forget to tell +you of the plum-viewing. The winter season is very short in Japan, and +the houses are not built to keep out the cold very well, as you must +have already perceived. When the spring days arrive and the blossoms +begin to appear, the child people are very happy. If they are happy, +of course they must show it. How can they do it so well as by having +out-door picnics in the plum orchards? The children watch for the great +day's arrival when the flowers will be in full bloom. They save up +their yen to spend, and plan for a great good time. No school on that +day! No practising on the koto! No embroidery for Lotus Blossom! Every +one is up early on the bright, clear morning, and baskets are filled +with the nice luncheon mamma has prepared. There is actually an air +of excitement in the quiet Japanese household. The good father leads +the family procession as they start out on their walk to the picnic +grounds. It is about two miles from their home. Other families join +them as they walk along. The throng of gaily dressed and happy people +grows larger every moment. As they near the plum-orchard they find the +road lined with stands, which have been put up for the day. It seems as +though everything one could desire were on sale: cakes, tea, fruit, +fans, sweets of all kinds, toys, etc. No wonder Lotus Blossom and +Toyo wanted to save up their money. But the orchard! Was there ever a +lovelier sight? Hundreds of trees loaded with fragrant pink blossoms! + +The people write poems about them, and pin them on the branches, +to show how much they appreciate the beautiful sight which Nature +has given them. Tea-drinking, story-telling, and the entertainments +of travelling showmen take up the day. Sunset bids them leave the +beautiful scene and go back to home and work. + +And now, children, we must bid these dear cousins good-bye for a little +while. Although they worship in strange ways, and read their books +upside down, besides doing many other things in a manner that seems +strange to us, yet we can learn much from their simple, childlike +natures. And, after all, isn't one reason why we live in this big world +and are so different one from another, that we may learn from each +other? + +THE END. + + + + +NEW JUVENILES + + +'Tilda Jane + + BY MARSHALL SAUNDERS + + AUTHOR OF "BEAUTIFUL JOE," "FOR HIS + COUNTRY," ETC. + + _Fully illustrated_ + + 1 vol., 12mo, $1.30 + +[Illustration] + +A charming and wholesome story for girls, handled with unusual charm +and skill, which was issued serially in the _Youth's Companion_. + +'Tilda Jane is a runaway orphan from a Maine asylum, who wanders over +the Canadian border into the settlements of the habitants. The simple +lives of the peasants, their fine characters and racial traits give a +characteristic charm to the story, and the delightful girl heroine will +endear herself to young and old readers. + +SEND FOR CIRCULARS, ETC. + + + + +NEW JUVENILES + + +THE + +Rosamond Tales + +BY CUYLER REYNOLDS + +_With many full-page illustrations from original photographs by the +author, together with a frontispiece from a drawing by Maud Humphreys._ + + Large 12mo, cloth, $1.50 + +[Illustration] + +These are just the bedtime stories that children always ask for, but do +not always get. Rosamond and Rosalind are the hero and heroine of many +happy adventures in town and on their grandfather's farm; and the happy +listeners to their story will unconsciously absorb a vast amount of +interesting knowledge of birds, animals, and flowers, just the things +about which the curiosity of children from four to twelve years old is +most insatiable. The book will be a boon to tired mothers, as a delight +to wide-awake children. + +SEND FOR CIRCULARS, ETC. + + + + +NEW JUVENILES + + +Prince Harold + +A FAIRY STORY + + BY L. F. BROWN + + _With ninety full-page illustrations_ + + Large 12mo, cloth, $1.50 + +[Illustration] + +A delightful fairy tale for children, dealing with the life of a +charming young Prince, who, aided by the Moon Spirit, discovers, after +many adventures, a beautiful girl whom he makes his Princess. He is +so enamored that he dwells with his bride in complete seclusion for a +while, entrusting the conduct of his kingdom meantime to his monkey +servant, Longtail. The latter marries a monkey princess from Amfalulu, +and their joint reign is described with the drollest humor. The real +rulers finally return and upset the reign of the pretenders. An +original and fascinating story for young people. + +SEND FOR CIRCULARS, ETC. + + + + +NEW JUVENILES + + +THE + +Woodranger Tales + + +VOLUME III. + +The Hero of the Hills + + BY G. WALDO BROWNE + + +VOLUME I. + +The Woodranger + + BY G. WALDO BROWNE + + +VOLUME II. + +The Young Gunbearer + + BY G. WALDO BROWNE + + Each large 12mo, cloth, fully illustrated, $1.00 + +[Illustration] + +There is the reality of history behind these stories, the successful +series of "Woodranger Tales," the scope and trend of which are +accurately set forth in the title. While full of adventure, the +interest in which sometimes rises to the pitch of excitement, the +stories are not sensational, for Mr. Browne writes with dignity, if +with liveliness. The books will not fail to interest any lively, +wholesome-minded boy. + +SEND FOR CIRCULARS, ETC. + + + + +NEW JUVENILES + + +Our Devoted Friend the Dog + + BY SARAH K. BOLTON + + AUTHOR OF "GIRLS WHO HAVE BECOME + FAMOUS," ETC. + +_Fully illustrated with many reproductions from original photographs_ + + 1 vol., small quarto, $1.50 + +[Illustration] + +This book of the dog and his friends does for the canine member of the +household what Helen M. Winslow's book, "Concerning Cats," did for the +feline. No one who cares for dogs--and that class includes nearly all +who do not care for cats, and some who do--will admit that the subject +of Mrs. Bolton's book is a less felicitous choice than that of its +predecessor; while the author's well-known ability as a writer and +lecturer, as well as her sympathy with her subject, are a sufficient +guarantee of a happy treatment. + +SEND FOR CIRCULARS, ETC. + + + + +NEW JUVENILES + + +THE + +Cosy Corner Series + +A SERIES OF CHARMING ILLUSTRATED JUVENILES BY WELL-KNOWN AUTHORS + +We shall issue ten new volumes in this well-known series of child +classics, and announce four as follows: + + +A Little Puritan Pioneer + + BY EDITH ROBINSON + +Author of "A Loyal Little Maid," "A Little Puritan's First Christmas," +etc. + + +Madam Liberality + + BY MRS. EWING + +Author of "Jackanapes," "A Great Emergency," "Story of a Short Life," +etc., etc. + + +A Bad Penny + + BY JOHN T. WHEELWRIGHT + +The other seven will include new stories by Louise de la Ramée, Miss +Mulock, Nellie Hellis, Will Allen Dromgoole, etc., etc. + + _Forty-four volumes previously published_ + +SEND FOR CIRCULARS, ETC. + + + + +L. C. PAGE & COMPANY'S + +Cosy Corner Series + +OF + +Charming Juveniles + +[Illustration] + + Each one volume, 16mo, cloth, Illustrated, 50 cents + +[Illustration] + + +=Ole Mammy's Torment.= By ANNIE FELLOWS-JOHNSTON. + +Author of "The Little Colonel," etc. + + +=The Little Colonel.= By ANNIE FELLOWS-JOHNSTON. + +Author of "Big Brother." + + +=Big Brother.= By ANNIE FELLOWS-JOHNSTON. + +Author of "The Little Colonel," etc. + + +=The Gate of the Giant Scissors.= By ANNIE FELLOWS-JOHNSTON. + +Author of "The Little Colonel," etc. + + +=Two Little Knights of Kentucky,= who were "The Little Colonel's" +neighbors. By ANNIE FELLOWS-JOHNSTON. + +A sequel to "The Little Colonel." + + +=The Story of Dago.= By ANNIE FELLOWS-JOHNSTON. + +Author of "The Little Colonel," etc. + + +=Farmer Brown and the Birds.= By FRANCES MARGARET FOX. A little story +which teaches children that the birds are man's best friends. + + +=Story of a Short Life.= By JULIANA HORATIA EWING. + +This beautiful and pathetic story is a part of the world's literature +and will never die. + + +=Jackanapes.= By JULIANA HORATIA EWING. + +A new edition, with new illustrations, of this exquisite and touching +story, dear alike to young and old. + + +=The Little Lame Prince.= By MISS MULOCK. + +A delightful story of a little boy who has many adventures by means of +the magic gifts of his fairy godmother. + + +=The Adventures of a Brownie.= By MISS MULOCK. + +The story of a household elf who torments the cook and gardener, but is +a constant joy and delight to the children. + + +=His Little Mother.= By MISS MULOCK. + +Miss Mulock's short stories for children are a constant source of +delight to them, and "His Little Mother," in this new and attractive +dress, will be welcomed by hosts of readers. + + +=Little Sunshine's Holiday.= By MISS MULOCK. + +"Little Sunshine" is another of those beautiful child-characters for +which Miss Mulock is so justly famous. + + +=Wee Dorothy.= By LAURA UPDEGRAFF. + +A story of two orphan children, the tender devotion of the eldest, a +boy, for his sister being its theme. + + +=Rab and His Friends.= By DR. JOHN BROWN. + +Doctor Brown's little masterpiece is too well known to need description. + + +=The Water People.= By CHARLES LEE SLEIGHT. + +Relating the further adventures of "Harry," the little hero of "The +Prince of the Pin Elves." + + +=The Prince of the Pin Elves.= By CHAS. LEE SLEIGHT. + +A fascinating story of the underground adventures of a sturdy, reliant +American boy among the elves and gnomes. + + +=Helena's Wonderworld.= By FRANCES HODGES WHITE. + +A delightful tale of the adventures of a little girl in the mysterious +regions beneath the sea. + + +=For His Country.= By MARSHALL SAUNDERS. + +A beautiful story of a patriotic little American lad. + + +=A Little Puritan's First Christmas.= By EDITH ROBINSON. + + +=A Little Daughter of Liberty.= By EDITH ROBINSON. + +Author of "A Loyal Little Maid," "A Little Puritan Rebel," etc. + +A true story of the Revolution. + + +=A Little Puritan Rebel.= By EDITH ROBINSON. + +An historical tale of a real girl, during the time when the gallant Sir +Harry Vane was governor of Massachusetts. + + +=A Loyal Little Maid.= By EDITH ROBINSON. + +A delightful and interesting story of Revolutionary days, in which the +child heroine, Betsey Schuyler, renders important services to George +Washington and Alexander Hamilton. + + +=A Dog of Flanders.= A CHRISTMAS STORY. By LOUISE DE LA RAMÉE (Ouida). + + +=The Nurnberg Stove.= By LOUISE DE LA RAMÉE (Ouida). + +This beautiful story has never before been published at a popular price. + + +=The King of the Golden River.= A LEGEND OF STIRIA. By JOHN RUSKIN. + +Written fifty years or more ago, this little fairy tale soon became +known and made a place for itself. + + +=La Belle Nivernaise.= THE STORY OF AN OLD BOAT AND HER CREW. By +ALPHONSE DAUDET. + +It has been out of print for some time, and is now offered in cheap but +dainty form in this new edition. + + +=The Young King.= =The Star Child.= + +Two stories chosen from a recent volume by a gifted author, on account +of their rare beauty, great power, and deep significance. + + +=A Great Emergency.= By MRS. EWING. + + +=The Trinity Flower.= By JULIANA HORATIA EWING. + +In this little volume are collected three of Mrs. Ewing's best short +stories for the young people. + + +=The Adventures of Beatrice and Jessie.= By RICHARD MANSFIELD. + +A bright and amusing story of the strange adventures of two little +girls in the "realms of unreality." + + +=A Child's Garden of Verses.= By R. L. STEVENSON. + +This little classic is undoubtedly the best of all volumes of poetry +for children. + + +=Little King Davie.= By NELLIE HELLIS. + +It is sufficient to say of this book that it has sold over 110,000 +copies in England, and consequently should well be worthy of a place in +"The Cosy Corner Series." + + +=Little Peterkin Vandike.= By CHARLES STUART PRATT. + +The author's dedication furnishes a key to this charming story. + +"I dedicate this book, made for the amusement of the boys who may +read it, to the memory of one boy, who would have enjoyed as much as +Peterkin the plays of the Poetry Party." + + +=The Making of Zimri Bunker.= A TALE OF NANTUCKET. By W. J. LONG. + +The story deals with a sturdy American fisher lad during the war of +1812. + + +=The Fortunes of the Fellow.= By WILL ALLEN DROMGOOLE. A sequel to "The +Farrier's Dog and His Fellow." + + +=The Farrier's Dog and His Fellow.= By WILL ALLEN DROMGOOLE. + +This story, written by the gifted young Southern woman, will appeal to +all that is best in the natures of her many admirers. + + +=The Sleeping Beauty.= A MODERN VERSION. By MARTHA B. DUNN. + +A charming story of a little fishermaid of Maine, intellectually +"asleep," until she meets the "Fairy Prince." + + +=The Young Archer.= By CHARLES E. BRIMBLECOM. + +A strong and wholesome story of a boy who accompanied Columbus on his +voyage to the New World. + + + + +Selections from + +L. C. PAGE & COMPANY'S + +Books for Young People + +[Illustration] + + +=Old Father Gander;= OR, THE BETTER-HALF OF MOTHER GOOSE. RHYMES, +CHIMES, AND JINGLES scratched from his own goose-quill for American +Goslings. Illustrated with impossible Geese, hatched and raised by +WALTER SCOTT HOWARD. + + 1 vol., oblong quarto, cloth decorative $2.00 + +The illustrations are so striking and fascinating that the book will +appeal to the young people aside from the fact even of the charm and +humor of the songs and rhymes. There are thirty-two full-page plates, +of which many are in color. The color illustrations are a distinct and +successful departure from the old-fashioned lithographic work hitherto +invariably used for children's books. + + +=The Crock of Gold:= A NEW BOOK OF FAIRY TALES. By S. BARING GOULD. + +Author of "Mehalah," "Old Country Life," "Old English Fairy Tales," +etc. With twenty-five full-page illustrations by F. D. Bedford. + + 1 vol., tall 12mo, cloth decorative, gilt top $1.50 + +This volume will prove a source of delight to the children of two +continents, answering their always increasing demand for "more fairy +stories." + + +=Shireen and Her Friends:= THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF A PERSIAN CAT. By +GORDON STABLES. + +Illustrated by Harrison Weir. + + 1 vol., large 12mo, cloth decorative $1.25 + +A more charming book about animals Dr. Stables himself has not written. +It is similar in character to "Black Beauty," "Beautiful Joe," and +other books which teach us to love and protect the dumb animals. + + +=Bully, Fag, and Hero.= By CHARLES J. MANSFORD. + +With six full-page illustrations by S. H. Vedder. + + 1 vol., large 12mo, cloth decorative, gilt top $1.50 + +An interesting story of schoolboy life and adventure in school and +during the holidays. + + +=The Adventures of a Boy Reporter in the Philippines.= By HARRY STEELE +MORRISON. + +Author of "A Yankee Boy's Success." + + 1 vol., large 12mo, cloth, illustrated $1.25 + +A true story of the courage and enterprise of an American lad. It is +a splendid boys' book, filled with healthy interest, and will tend to +stimulate and encourage the proper ambition of the young reader. + + +=Tales Told in the Zoo.= By F. C. GOULD. + +With many illustrations from original drawings. + + 1 vol., large quarto $2.00 + +A new book for young people on entirely original lines. The tales are +supposed to be told by an old adjutant stork in the Zoological Gardens +to the assembled birds located there, and they deal with legendary and +folk-lore stories of the origins of various creatures, mostly birds, +and their characteristics. + + +=Philip:= THE STORY OF A BOY VIOLINIST. By T. W. O. + + 1 vol., 12mo, cloth $1.00 + +The life-story of a boy, reared among surroundings singular enough to +awaken interest at the start, is described by the present author as it +could be described only by one thoroughly familiar with the scene. The +reader is carried from the cottages of the humblest coal-miners into +the realms of music and art; and the _finale_ of this charming tale is +a masterpiece of pathetic interest. + + +=Black Beauty:= THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF A HORSE. By ANNA SEWELL. _New +Illustrated Edition._ + +With twenty-five full-page drawings by Winifred Austin. + + 1 vol., large 12mo, cloth decorative, gilt top $1.25 + +There have been many editions of this classic, but we confidently +offer this one as the most appropriate and handsome yet produced. The +illustrations are of special value and beauty, and should make this +the standard edition wherever illustrations worthy of the story are +desired. + + + + +L. C. PAGE & COMPANY'S + +Gift Book Series + +FOR + +Boys and Girls + +[Illustration] + + Each one volume, tall 12mo, cloth, Illustrated, $1.00 + +[Illustration] + + +=The Little Colonel's House Party.= By ANNIE FELLOWS-JOHNSTON. + +Author of "Little Colonel," etc. Illustrated by E. B. Barry. + +Mrs. Johnston has endeared herself to the children by her charming +little books published in the Cosy Corner Series. Accordingly, a longer +story by her will be eagerly welcomed by the little ones who have so +much enjoyed each story from her pen. + + +=Chums.= By MARIA LOUISE POOL. + +Author of "Little Bermuda," etc. Illustrated by L. J. Bridgman. + +"Chums" is a girls' book, about girls and for girls. It relates the +adventures, in school, and during vacation, of two friends. + + +=Three Little Crackers.= FROM DOWN IN DIXIE. By WILL ALLEN DROMGOOLE. + +Author of "The Farrier's Dog." A fascinating story for boys and girls, +of the adventures of a family of Alabama children who move to Florida +and grow up in the South. + + +=Miss Gray's Girls;= OR, SUMMER DAYS IN THE SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS. By +JEANNETTE A. GRANT. + +A delightfully told story of a summer trip through Scotland, somewhat +out of the beaten track. A teacher, starting at Glasgow, takes a lively +party of girls, her pupils, through the Trossachs to Oban, through the +Caledonian Canal to Inverness, and as far north as Brora. + + +=King Pippin:= A STORY FOR CHILDREN. By MRS. GERARD FORD. + +Author of "Pixie." + +One of the most charming books for young folks which has been issued +for some time. The hero is a lovable little fellow, whose frank and +winning ways disarm even the crustiest of grandmothers, and win for him +the affection of all manner of unlikely people. + + +=Feats on the Fiord:= A TALE OF NORWEGIAN LIFE. By HARRIET MARTINEAU. + +This admirable book, read and enjoyed by so many young people, deserves +to be brought to the attention of parents in search of wholesome +reading for their children to-day. It is something more than a juvenile +book, being really one of the most instructive books about Norway and +Norwegian life and manners ever written. + + +=Songs and Rhymes for the Little Ones.= Compiled by MARY WHITNEY +MORRISON (Jenny Wallis). + +New edition, with an introduction by Mrs. A. D. T. Whitney. + +No better description of this admirable book can be given than Mrs. +Whitney's happy introduction: + +"One might almost as well offer June roses with the assurance of +their sweetness, as to present this lovely little gathering of verse, +which announces itself, like them, by its own deliciousness. Yet, as +Mrs. Morrison's charming volume has long been a delight to me, I am +only too happy to declare that it is to me--and to two families of my +grandchildren--the most bewitching book of songs for little people that +we have ever known." + + +=The Young Pearl Divers:= A STORY OF AUSTRALIAN ADVENTURE BY LAND AND +BY SEA. By LIEUT. H. PHELPS WHITMARSH. + +This is a splendid story for boys, by an author who writes in vigorous +and interesting language, of scenes and adventures with which he is +personally acquainted. + + +=The Woodranger.= By G. WALDO BROWNE. + +The first of a series of five volumes entitled "The Woodranger Tales." + +Although based strictly on historical facts the book is an interesting +and exciting tale of adventure, which will delight all boys, and be by +no means unwelcome to their elders. + + +=Three Children of Galilee:= A LIFE OF CHRIST FOR THE YOUNG. By JOHN +GORDON. + +There has long been a need for a Life of Christ for the young, and this +book has been written in answer to this demand. That it will meet with +great favor is beyond question, for parents have recognized that their +boys and girls want something more than a Bible story, a dry statement +of facts, and that, in order to hold the attention of the youthful +readers, a book on this subject should have life and movement as well +as scrupulous accuracy and religious sentiment. + + +=Little Bermuda.= By MARIA LOUISE POOL. + +Author of "Dally," "A Redbridge Neighborhood," "In a Dike Shanty," +"Friendship and Folly," etc. + +The adventures of "Little Bermuda" from her home in the tropics to a +fashionable American boarding-school. The resulting conflict between +the two elements in her nature, the one inherited from her New England +ancestry, and the other developed by her West Indian surroundings, gave +Miss Pool unusual opportunity for creating an original and fascinating +heroine. + + +=The Wild Ruthvens:= A HOME STORY. By CURTIS YORK. + +A story illustrating the mistakes, failures, and successes of a family +of unruly but warm-hearted boys and girls. They are ultimately softened +and civilized by the influence of an invalid cousin, Dick Trevanion, +who comes to live with them. + + +=The Adventures of a Siberian Cub.= Translated from the Russian of +Slibitski by LEON GOLSCHMANN. + +This is indeed a book which will be hailed with delight, especially by +children who love to read about animals. The interesting and pathetic +adventures of the orphan bear, Mishook, will appeal to old and young in +much the same way as have "Black Beauty" and "Beautiful Joe." + + +=Timothy Dole.= By JUNIATA SALSBURY. + +The youthful hero, and a genuine hero he proves to be, starts from +home, loses his way, meets with startling adventures, finds friends, +kind and many, and grows to be a manly man. It is a wholesome and +vigorous book, that boys and girls, and parents as well, will read and +enjoy. + + +=The Young Gunbearer.= By G. WALDO BROWNE. + +This is the second volume of "The Woodranger Tales." The new story, +while complete in itself, continues the fortunes and adventures of "The +Woodranger's" young companions. + + +=A Bad Penny.= By JOHN T. WHEELRIGHT. + +A dashing story of the New England of 1812. In the climax of the +story the scene is laid during the well-known sea-fight between the +_Chesapeake_ and _Shannon_, and the contest is vividly portrayed. + + +=The Fairy Folk of Blue Hill:= A STORY OF FOLK-LORE. By LILY F. +WESSELHOEFT. + +A new volume by Mrs. Wesselhoeft, well known as one of our best writers +for the young, and who has made a host of friends among the young +people who have read her delightful books. This book ought to interest +and appeal to every child who has read her earlier works. + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's Our Little Japanese Cousin, by Mary Hazelton Wade + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 43833 *** |