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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..d7b82bc --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,4 @@ +*.txt text eol=lf +*.htm text eol=lf +*.html text eol=lf +*.md text eol=lf diff --git a/LICENSE.txt b/LICENSE.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6312041 --- /dev/null +++ b/LICENSE.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +This eBook, including all associated images, markup, improvements, +metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be +in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES. + +Procedures for determining public domain status are described in +the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org. + +No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in +jurisdictions other than the United States. Anyone seeking to utilize +this eBook outside of the United States should confirm copyright +status under the laws that apply to them. diff --git a/README.md b/README.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..5af6dc0 --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +eBook #50798 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/50798) diff --git a/old/50798-0.txt b/old/50798-0.txt deleted file mode 100644 index 6a0d998..0000000 --- a/old/50798-0.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,2993 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Girl's Own Paper, Vol. XX, No. 991, -December 24, 1898, 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'll have -to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this ebook. - -Title: The Girl's Own Paper, Vol. XX, No. 991, December 24, 1898 - -Author: Various - -Release Date: December 30, 2015 [EBook #50798] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: UTF-8 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK GIRL'S OWN PAPER, DEC 24, 1898 *** - - - - -Produced by Susan Skinner, Chris Curnow, Pamela Patten and -the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at -http://www.pgdp.net - - - - - - - - - -[Illustration: THE GIRL'S OWN PAPER - -VOL. XX.--NO. 991.] DECEMBER 24, 1898. [PRICE ONE PENNY.] - - - - -ABOUT PEGGY SAVILLE. - -BY JESSIE MANSERGH (Mrs. G. de Horne Vaizey), Author of "Sisters -Three," etc. - -[Illustration: "AN ATTITUDE CALCULATED TO SHOW OFF ALL THE SPLENDOUR OF -HER ATTIRE." (_See page 183._)] - -_All rights reserved._] - - -CHAPTER XII. - -As Peggy sat writing in the study one afternoon, a shaggy head came -peering round the door, and Robert's voice said eagerly: - -"Mariquita! A word in your ear! Could you come out and take a turn -round the garden for half an hour before tea, or are you too busy?" - -"Not at all. I am entirely at your disposal," said Peggy elegantly, and -the young people made their way to the cloak-room, swung on coats and -sailor-hats, and sallied out into the fresh autumn air. - -"Mariquita," said Robert; then, using once more the name by which he -chose to address Peggy in their confidential confabs, "Mariquita, I -am in difficulties. There is a microscope advertised in _Science_ -this week that is the very thing I have been pining for for the last -six years. I must get it, or die, but the question is--_how?_ You see -before you a penniless man." He looked at Peggy as he spoke, and met -her small, demure smile. - -"My dear and honourable sir----" - -"Yes, yes, I know; drop that, Mariquita! Don't take for granted, like -Mellicent, that because a man has a title he must necessarily be a -millionaire. Everything is comparative! My father is rich compared to -the Vicar, but he is really hard up for a man in his position. He gets -almost no rent for his land nowadays, and I am the third son. I haven't -as much pocket-money in a month as Oswald gets through in a week. Now -that microscope is twenty pounds, and if I were to ask the governor -for it, he wouldn't give it to me, but he would sigh and look wretched -at being obliged to refuse. He's a kind-hearted fellow, you know, -who doesn't like to say 'No,' and I hate to worry him. Still--that -microscope! I must have it. By hook or by crook, I must have it. I've -set my mind on that." - -"I'm sure I hope you will, though for my part you must not expect me -to look through it. I like things to be pretty, and when you see them -through a microscope they generally look hideous. I saw my own hand -once--ugh!" Peggy shuddered. "Twenty pounds! Well, I can only say that -my whole worldly wealth is at your disposal. Draw on me for anything -you like--up to seven and six! That's all the money I have till the -beginning of the month." - -"Thanks!--I didn't intend to borrow, I have a better idea than that. -I was reading a magazine the other day, and came upon a list of prize -competitions. The first prize offered was thirty pounds, and I'm going -to win that prize. The microscope costs only twenty pounds, but the -extra ten would come in usefully for--I'll tell you about that later -on! The _Piccadilly Magazine_ is very respectable and all that sort of -thing, but the governor is one of the good old-fashioned, conservative -fellows, who would be horrified if he saw my name figuring in it. I'm -bound to consider his feelings, but all the same I'm going to win that -prize. It says in the rules--I've read them through carefully--that you -can ask your friends to help you, so that there would be nothing unfair -about going into partnership with someone else. What I was going to -suggest was that you and I should collaborate. I'd rather work with you -than with any of the others, and I think we could manage it rather well -between us. Our contribution should be sent in in your name, that is to -say, if you wouldn't object to seeing yourself in print." - -"I should love it. I'm proud of my name, and it would be a new -sensation." But Peggy spoke in absent-minded fashion, as if her -thoughts were running on another subject. Rob had used a word which -was unfamiliar in her ears, a big word, a word with a delightful, -intellectual roll, and she had not the remotest idea of its meaning. -Collaborate! Beautiful! Not for worlds would she confess her ignorance, -yet the opportunity could not be thrown away. She must secure the -treasure and add it to her mental store. She put her head on one side, -and said pensively: - -"I shall be most happy to er--er----In what other words can I exactly -express 'collaborate,' Rob? I do so object to repetition!" - -"Go shags!" returned Robert briefly. "I would do the biggest part of -the work, of course, that's only fair, because I want two-thirds of the -money, but you could do what you liked, and have ten pounds for your -share. Ten pounds would come in very usefully for Christmas." - -"Rather! I'd get mother and father lovely presents, and Mrs. -Asplin too; and buy books for Esther, and a little gold ring for -Mellicent--it's her idea of happiness to have a gold ring. I'll help -you with pleasure, Rob, and I'm sure we shall get the prize. What have -we to do? Make up some poetry?" - -"Goodness, no! Fancy me making up poetry! It's to make up a calendar. -There are subjects given for each month--sorrow, love, obedience, -resignation--that sort of thing, and you have to give a quotation for -each day. It will take some time, but we ought to stand a good chance. -You are fond of reading, and know no end of poetry, and where I have -a pull is in knowing French and German so well. I can give them some -fine translations from the Latin and Greek too, for the matter of that, -and it will look kind of swagger to put the authors' names underneath. -That will impress the judges, and make 'em decide in our favour. I've -been working at it only three days, and I've got over fifty quotations -already. We must keep note-books in our pockets, and jot down any ideas -that occur to us during the day, and go over them together at night. -You will know a lot, I'm sure." - - "'Sorrow and silence are strong, - and patient endurance is godlike, - Therefore accomplish thy labour of love, - till the heart is made godlike,'" - -quoted Peggy with an air, and Rob nodded approval. - -"That's it! That's the style! Something with a bit of a sermon in it -to keep 'em up to the mark for the day. Bravo, Mariquita! you'll do it -splendidly. That's settled then. We shall have to work hard, for there -is only a month before the thing must be sent off, and we must finish -in good time. When you leave things to the last, something is bound to -come in the way. It will take an age to write out three hundred and -sixty-five extracts." - -"It will indeed, for they must be very nicely done," said Peggy -fastidiously. "Of course it is most important that the extracts -themselves should be good, but it matters almost as much that they -should look neat and attractive. Appearances go such a long way." And -when Robert demurred and stated his opinion that the judges would not -trouble their heads about looks, she stuck firmly to her point. - -"Oh, won't they though. Just imagine how you would feel if you were -in their position, and had to look over scores of ugly uninteresting -manuscripts. You would be bored to death, and after plodding -conscientiously through a few dozen, you would get so mixed up that -you would hardly be able to distinguish one from another. Then -suddenly--suddenly"--Peggy clasped her hands with one of her favourite -dramatic gestures--"you would see before you a dainty little volume -prettily written, easy to read, easy to hold, nice to look at, and -do you mean to say that your heart wouldn't give a jump, and that -you would not take a fancy to the writer from that very moment? Of -course you would, and so, if you please, I am going to look after the -decorative department and see what can be done. I must give my mind -to it----Oh! I'll tell you what would be just the thing. When I was -in the library one day lately I saw some sweet little note-books with -pale green leaves and gilt edges. I'll count the pages, and buy enough -to make up three hundred and sixty-five, and twelve extra, so as to -put one plain sheet between each month. Then we must have a cover. -Two pieces of cardboard would do, with gilt edges, and a motto in old -English letters, 'The months in circling orbit fly.' Have I read that -somewhere, or did I make it up? It sounds very well. Well, what next?" -Peggy was growing quite excited, and the restless hands were waving -about at a great rate. "Oh, the pages! We shall have to put the date at -the top of each. I could do that in gold ink, and make a pretty little -skriggle--er--'_arabesque_,' I should say, underneath to give it a -finish. Then I'd hand them on to you to write the extracts in your tiny -little writing. Rob, it will be splendid! Do you really think we shall -get the prize?" - -"I _mean_ to get it! We have a good library here, and plenty of time if -we like to use it. I'm going to get up at six every morning. I sha'n't -fail for want of trying, and if I miss this I'll win something else. My -mind is made up! I'm going to buy that microscope!" Robert tossed his -head and looked ferocious, while Peggy peered in his rugged face, and -womanlike admired him the more for his determination. - -They lingered in the garden discussing details, planning out the work, -and arranging as to the different books to be overlooked until the tea -hour was passed, and Mrs. Asplin came to the door and called to them to -come in. - -"And nothing on your feet but your thin slippers? Oh, you Peggy!" -she exclaimed in despair. "Now you will have a cold, and ten to one -it will fly to your throat. I shall have to fine you a penny every -time you cross the doorstep without changing your shoes. Summer is -over, remember. You can't be too careful in these raw, damp days. Run -upstairs this minute and change your stockings." - -Peggy looked meek, and went to her room at once to obey orders; but the -mischief was done, she shivered and could not get warm, her head ached, -and her eyes felt heavy. Mrs. Asplin looked anxiously at her in the -drawing-room after dinner, and finally called her to her side. - -"Peggy, come here! Aren't you well? Let me feel your hand. Child, it's -like a coal! You are in a fever. Why didn't you tell me at once?" - -"Because I--really, it's nothing, Mrs. Asplin! Don't be worried. I -don't know why I feel so hot. I was shivering only a minute ago." - -"Go straight upstairs and take a dose of ammoniated quinine. Turn on -the fire in your room. Max! Robert! Oswald! Esther! Mellicent! will -everyone please look after Peggy in the future, and see that she does -not run out in her slippers!" cried Mrs. Asplin in a despairing voice, -and Peggy bolted out of the door in haste, to escape before more -reproaches could be hurled at her head. - -But an alarm of a more serious nature than a threatened cold was to -take place before the evening was over. The young people answered -briefly, Mrs. Asplin turned back to her book, and silence settled down -upon the occupants of the drawing-room. It was half-past eight, the -servants had carried away the dinner things, and were enjoying their -evening's rest in the kitchen. The Vicar was nodding in his easy-chair, -the house was so quiet that the tick of the old grandfather clock in -the hall could be heard through the half-opened door. Then suddenly -came the sound of flying footsteps, the door burst open, and in -rushed Peggy once more, but such a Peggy, such an apparition of fear, -suffering, and terror as brought a cry of consternation from every -lip. Her eyes were starting from her head, her face was contorted in -spasmodic gaspings for breath, her arms sawed the air like the sails of -a windmill, and she flew round and round the room in a wild, unheeding -rush. - -"Peggy, my child! my child! what is the matter? Oh, Austin--oh! What -shall we do?" cried Mrs. Asplin, trying to catch hold of the flying -arms, only to be waved off with frenzied energy. Mellicent dissolved -into tears and retreated behind the sofa, under the impression that -Peggy had suddenly taken leave of her senses, and practical Esther -rushed upstairs to search for a clue to the mystery among the medicine -bottles on Peggy's table. She was absent only for a few minutes; but -it seemed like an hour to the watchers, for Peggy's face grew more -and more agonised, she seemed on the verge of suffocation, and could -neither speak, nor endure anyone to approach within yards of her mad -career. Presently, however, she began to falter, to draw her breath in -longer gasps, and as she did so there emerged from her lips a series of -loud whooping sounds, like the crowing of a cock, or the noise made by -a child in the convulsions of whooping-cough. The air was making its -way to the lungs after the temporary stoppage, and the result would -have been comical if any of the hearers had been in a mood for jesting, -which, in good truth, they were not. - -"Thank heaven! She will be better now. Open the window and leave her -alone. Don't try to make her speak. What in the world has the child -been doing?" cried the Vicar wonderingly; and at that moment Esther -entered, bearing in her hand the explanation of the mystery--a bottle -labelled "Spirits of Ammonia," and a tumbler about an eighth full of a -white milky-looking fluid. - -"They were in the front of the table. The other things had not been -moved. I believe she has never looked at the labels, but seized the -first bottle that came to her hand--this dreadfully strong ammonia -which you gave her for the gnat bites when she just came." - -A groan of assent came from the sofa on which Peggy lay, choking no -longer, but ghastly white, and drawing her breath in painful gasps. -Mrs. Asplin sniffed at the contents of the tumbler, only to jerk back -her head with watery eyes and reddened lids. - -"No wonder that the child was nearly choked! The marvel is that she -had ever regained her breath after such a mistake. Her throat must -be raw!" She hurried out of the room to concoct a soothing draught, -at which Peggy supped at intervals during the evening, croaking out -a hoarse, "Better, thank you!" in reply to inquiries, and looking so -small and pathetic in her nest of cushions that the hearts of the -beholders softened at the sight. Before bedtime, however, she revived -considerably, and her elastic spirits coming to her aid, entertained -the listeners with a husky but dramatic account of her proceedings. How -she had not troubled to turn the gas full up, and had just seized the -bottle, tilted some of the contents into a tumbler in which there was a -small portion of water, without troubling to measure it out, and gulped -it down without delay. Her description of the feelings which ensued -was a really clever piece of word painting, but behind the pretence -of horror at her own carelessness, there rang a hardly-concealed note -of pride, as though, in thus risking her life, she had done something -quite clever and distinguished. - -Mrs. Asplin exhausted herself in "Ohs!" and "Ahs!" of sympathy, and had -nothing harsher to say than-- - -"Well, now, dearie, you'll be more careful another time, won't you?" -But the Vicar's long face grew longer than ever as he listened, and -the lines deepened in his forehead. Peggy was inexperienced in danger -signals, but Esther and Mellicent recognised the well-known signs, and -were at no loss to understand the meaning of that quiet "A word with -you in the study, Mariquita, if you please!" with which he rose from -the breakfast-table next morning. - -Peggy's throat was still sore, and she fondly imagined that anxiety -on its behalf was the cause of the summons, but she was speedily -undeceived, for the Vicar motioned towards a chair, and said, in short -grave sentences, as his manner was when annoyed-- - -"I wish to speak to you about the event of last night, my dear. I am -afraid that you hardly realise the matter in its true light. I was not -at all pleased with the manner in which you gave your explanation. You -appeared to imagine that you had done something clever and amusing. I -take a very different view. You showed a reprehensible carelessness -in trifling with medicines in the dark; it might have caused you your -life, or, at best, a serious injury. As it was, you brought pain upon -yourself, and gave us all a serious alarm. I see nothing amusing in -such behaviour, but consider it stupid, and careless to an almost -criminal extent." - -Peggy stood motionless, eyes cast down, hands clasped before her, a -picture of injured innocence. She did not say a word in self-defence, -but her feelings were so plainly written on her face that the Vicar's -eyes flashed with impatience. - -"Well, what have you to say?" - -Peggy sighed in dolorous fashion. - -"I am sorry; I know it was careless. I am always doing things like -that. So is Arthur. So was father when he was a boy. It's in the -family. It's unfortunate, but----" - -"Mariquita," said the Vicar sternly, "you are _not_ sorry! If I had -seen that you were penitent, I should not have spoken, for you would -have been sufficiently punished by your own sufferings, but you are not -sorry; you are, on the whole, rather proud of the escapade! Look into -your own heart and see if it is not so?" - -He paused, looking at her with grave, expectant eyes, but there was -no sign of conviction upon the set face. The eyes were still lowered, -the lips drooped with an expression of patient endurance. There was -silence in the room while Peggy studied the carpet, and the Vicar gazed -at her downcast face. A moment before he had been on the verge of -anger, but the sternness melted away in that silence, and gave place to -an anxious tenderness. Here was a little human soul committed to his -care--how could he help? how best guide and train? The long, grave face -grew beautiful in that moment with the expression which it wore every -Sunday as he gazed around the church at the beginning of the sermon, -noting this one and that, having a swift realisation of their needs and -failings, and breathing a prayer to God that He would give to his lips -the right word, to his heart the right thought to meet the needs of his -people. Evidently sternness and outspoken blame was not the best way to -touch the girl before him. He must try another mode. - -"Peggy," he said quietly, "do you think you realise what a heavy -responsibility we laid upon ourselves when we undertook the care of -you for these three years? If any accident happened to you beneath -our roof, have you ever imagined what would be our misery and remorse -at sending the news to your parents? About their feelings I do not -speak; you can realise them for yourself. We safeguard you with every -precaution in our power; we pray morning and night that you may be -preserved in safety; is it too much to ask that you will do your part -by showing more forethought, and by exercising some little care in the -daily duties of life? I ask it for our sakes as well as your own." - -A faint pink flush spread over Peggy's cheeks; she gulped nervously and -raised her eyes to the Vicar's face. Twice her lips opened as if to -speak, but the natural reserve, which made it agony to her to express -her deepest feelings, closed them again before a word had been spoken. -The question was not answered, but a little hand shot out and nestled -in Mr. Asplin's with a spasmodic grip which was full of eloquence. - -"Yes, dear, I know you will! I know you will!" he said, answering the -unspoken promise, and looking down at her with one of his sweet, kindly -smiles. "It will be a comfort to my wife as well as myself. She is very -nervous about you. She was upstairs three times in the night to satisfy -herself that you were well after your fright, and is too tired herself -to come downstairs this morning. She is always bright and cheery, but -she is not very strong. You would be sorry to make her ill." - -No answer, only another grip of the hand, and a sudden straightening -of the lips as if they were pressed together to avoid an involuntary -trembling. There is something especially touching in the sight of -restrained emotion, and as the Vicar thought of his own two daughters, -his heart was very tender over the girl whose parents were separated -from her by six thousand miles of land and sea. - -"Well, now, dear, I have said my say and that is an end of it. I -don't like finding fault, but my dear wife has thrown that duty on my -shoulders by being too tender-hearted to say a word of blame even when -it is needed. Her method works very well, as a rule, but there are -occasions when it would be criminal to withhold a just reprimand." The -Vicar stopped short and a spasm of laughter crossed his face. Peggy's -fingers had twitched within his own as he spoke those last two words, -and her eyes had dilated with interest. He knew as well as if he had -been told that she was gloating over the new expression, and mentally -noting it for future use. Nothing, however, could have been sweeter -or more natural than the manner in which she sidled against him, and -murmured-- - -"Thank you so much. I am sorry! I will truly try," and he watched her -out of the room with a smile of tender amusement. - -"A nice child--a good child--feels deeply. I can rely upon her to do -her best." - -Robert was hanging about in the passage, ready, as usual, to fulfil his -vows of support, and Peggy slid her hand through his arm and sauntered -slowly with him towards the schoolroom. Like the two girls, he had been -at no loss to understand the reason of the call to the study, and would -fain have expressed his sympathy, but Peggy stopped him with uplifted -finger. - -"No, no--he was perfectly right. You must not blame him. I have been -guilty of reprehensible carelessness, and merited a reprimand!" - -(_To be continued._) - -[Illustration] - - - - -SOCIAL INCIDENTS IN THE LIFE OF AN EAST END GIRL. - - -PART I. - -AN EVENING AT A GIRLS' CLUB. - -I first made Belinda Ann's acquaintance at a social evening at a club -in Bethnal Green to which I had been invited by the lady who had -instituted it. - -In my innocence and ignorance (for at that time I was unacquainted -with the manners and customs of the East End) I took my little roll -of music in my hand, thinking I should be expected to contribute to -the evening's entertainment; but on arrival I found that this was not -necessary, as the girls were quite capable of amusing themselves and us -too. - -On certain occasions a fixed programme was arranged and carried out by -friends from the West End, but this happened to be an "off night," when -the members did pretty much as they pleased, my hostess leaving them to -their own devices entirely, and not interfering unless their spirits -threatened to get too boisterous. - -As she truly said: "You cannot expect the same manners and etiquette -here that you find among Lady Clara Vere de Vere and her friends at -their aristocratic club near Grosvenor Square, but my girls have a -great sense of honour and chivalry, and a word from me is generally -sufficient." - -The club-room was at the back of a large, old-fashioned house which at -one time, long, long ago, stood in its own extensive grounds in the -midst of a peaceful, rural neighbourhood. - -Now it was hemmed in on all sides by streets and houses teeming with -life, and the only relic of its former grandeur left was a tiny piece -of ground in front. - -Still, a certain air of aristocratic calm hung about it, and after my -recent long drive through the hot, crowded streets, I breathed a sigh -of relief when the front door closed behind me and I found myself in -the spacious entrance-hall. - -I followed the neat maid-servant (herself an East Ender born and bred) -along this out into a little paved yard, which we crossed, and up a -flight of break-neck stairs into the club-room. - -It was a long, narrow apartment, with a low platform at one end, and -the wooden walls were hung with gay-coloured bunting interspersed with -various flags, a few pictures from Christmas numbers, and some framed -texts. - -Odd strips of carpet, matting and rugs, covered the floor and on these -stood small tables laden with magazines, books and games, while little -chairs stood here and there not in stiff rows but in conversational -attitudes, so to speak. - -A fixed bench ran all round the walls, a piano (rather the worse for -wear inside and out) stood in one corner of the platform, and a few -plants in pots disguised by crinkled paper completed the furniture. - -Judging from the noise that greeted me when I entered, the lungs of -Belinda Ann and her friends were in fairly good condition, and I felt -distinctly alarmed as I advanced, for they all turned and stared at -me with one consent, making frank and audible remarks on my personal -appearance and dress. - -The room was crowded with girls, tall and short, dark and fair, fat and -thin, very few of whom were playing games or reading, but all of whom -were chattering as fast as their tongues would let them. - -I was relieved when the lady who had invited me stepped forward to -shake hands and at once piloted me up the room (for she knew I wanted -to learn all I could about my East End sisters) whispering as she went, -"I'm going to introduce Belinda Ann to you. You'll find out all you -want to know from her," and next minute I found myself deposited next -a girl who surveyed me with a mixture of good-humoured contempt and -watchful suspicion. - -The first was due to my small size, the second to a lurking conviction -that I wanted to patronise, or as she afterwards expressed it, "Come -the toff over her." - -As soon as she found out I was far from wishing to do this, she became -more friendly, and assured my hostess that she'd take care of the -"lydy." - -Belinda Ann was a head and shoulders taller than myself and broad in -proportion, although she was only eighteen. She possessed a quantity -of black hair which came down to her eyebrows in front in a thick, -straight fringe and was beautifully bright and clean. Brown eyes looked -fearlessly at you from under the fringe, and her whole manner was that -of a girl who, ever since she could walk, had had to fight for herself -and protect herself, and had done it too. - -You couldn't imagine anyone taking a liberty with Belinda Ann, although -she was hail-fellow-well-met with everyone. - -She might be a little rough in her manners, and not always too refined -in her speech, but Belinda Ann had a heart of gold, was as true as -steel to her friends, and thoroughly enjoyed life, taking the sweet -with the bitter, spending money royally when she had it, and cheerfully -going without when times were bad. - -This evening she was attired in a peacock-blue cashmere and plush -dress, which had seen its best days, almost covered by a large apron, -not so clean as it had once been, and surmounted by a limp black straw -hat adorned with some dejected-looking black feathers without a vestige -of curl about them, and various dirty white flowers which flopped -aimlessly over the brim. - -I noticed that her boots were strong and good, and that near her lay -a thick, handsome shawl, and in time I learnt that these two items of -dress rank next in importance to the famous feathers, and that every -true East Ender insists on having them of the best quality, and pays a -good price for them. - -Belinda Ann, meanwhile, having exhausted her interest in me, was -turning to exchange "chaff" with her other neighbour, when, with an -inward gasp, I plunged boldly into conversation. - -"Do you come here every evening?" I asked. - -"Depends!" was the abrupt answer, given in an off-hand, defiant sort -of way which characterised her manner with strangers. "P'raps I do an' -p'raps I don't!" and her look so plainly added, "What's it to you?" -that I refrained from pursuing the subject. - -"You all seem very lively," I hazarded next, with a look round. - -"So you'd be to get a chance to do somethin' beside work!" was the -fierce reply. - -This made a capital opening to the question I was longing to lead up -to, namely, "What do you do all day?" - -"Oh, I'm engyged in chemistry," was the proud reply, accompanied by a -visible swelling of her whole person. - -"Chemistry!" I ejaculated, rather awe-struck at finding her so clever. - -"'Ere, don't you believe 'er!" struck in a fair, florid girl next her -on the other side. "She's bluffin' yer! She only sticks the lybels on -the bottles at the cord-liver oil factry over the wy." - -Whereupon Belinda Ann, with perfect good-humour, made a grab at the -other's hat and a friendly little tussle ensued, accompanied by shrieks -of laughter and a brisk interchange of chaff. - -As soon as this interlude was over and they had once more settled down, -I took up the thread of conversation again. - -"And are all these girls engaged in sticking----I mean, in the -chemistry?" I inquired. - -"No," she retorted; "some's jam an' some's pickles, but the jams are -a low lot!" and the air of inexpressible scorn with which she said it -would not have disgraced a West End beauty alluding to another, "who is -not in our set, my dear." - -I began to think my hostess had made a mistake in assigning me to -Belinda Ann, as the latter seemed more disposed to snub me than -anything else, and I was rather relieved when the piano struck up and -the girls began to dance. - -There were no men present, but this did not at all interfere with their -happiness, and I sat lost in amazement at their extraordinary agility -and wonderful steps. - -Belinda Ann (or as I heard her friends call her, Blinderann) was in no -wise behind the others, and sprang hither and thither with the best. - -My hostess sank into a seat beside me and murmured apologetically-- - -"I let them do this to work off a little of their exuberant spirits, -for they would never sit still a whole evening, and would fight -probably if they had no other outlet. Some nights, if there is any -specially good concert or entertainment, I allow each girl to bring -one male relative or friend, but oddly enough they don't often avail -themselves of the permission. On an informal evening like this, when -there are only girls, I don't think a little physical exercise does -them any harm, and it tires them out so that they will listen to -anything I have to say to them afterwards. If I drew the rein too -tight, they would all disperse to the four winds and I should never get -hold of them again." - -I agreed, and presently seeing a girl leaning up against the wall, I -plucked up courage and asked her if she would care to have me as a -partner. - -She seemed slightly surprised, but consented graciously, and we took a -few turns together. - -I flattered myself I had got on fairly well, and felt so elated at my -success that by-and-by I sought Belinda Ann, who was fanning herself -vigorously with her hat, and requested the pleasure. - -[Illustration: ENVY.] - -Her answer rather stunned me. - -"No, thank'ee. I've been watchin' yer an' your style won't do fer me!" - -Before I had time to reply she was off again, taking part in some -very pretty figures in which narrow coloured ribbons were plaited and -unplaited as the girls holding the ends moved hither and thither. - -As soon as everyone was thoroughly tired and disposed to sit quiet for -half an hour or so, a girl (a stranger from the West End like myself) -was asked by the hostess to play something, and accordingly, thinking -as I should have done, that they preferred lively tunes, sat down and -began to rattle off some "catchy" popular airs. - -She was unceremoniously stopped by Belinda Ann-- - -"'Ere, we don't want that rot!" - -"Oh," mildly replied the unfortunate pianist, not quite knowing what to -say; "I thought you liked variety?" - -"No, we don't," retorted the other, misunderstanding her and thinking -she meant the music hall close by; "the V'riety costs tuppence an' we -can't 'ford it." - -"Well, what would you like?" was the inquiry. - -"Give us 'We are rout on the ocean syling,' or 'God be with you till -we meet agyne,'" and this request being complied with, these favourite -hymns were shouted out at the top of their voices, Belinda Ann's in -particular being like a clarion. - -After this a diversion was created by one of the "pickles" volunteering -a recitation which she gave with a good deal of dramatic power; -then another girl sang a little song, and Belinda Ann followed with -a second, and so the evening wore away to its close; but I felt -dissatisfied, for I seemed no nearer attaining my object than before. - -Taking the opportunity, I forcibly detained Belinda Ann as she was -drifting by, and diffidently observed-- - -"You've told me what you work at, but how do you amuse yourself?" - -"'Ow? There ain't much difficulty 'bout that!" she returned scornfully. -"There's this sort o' thing, an' bank 'ollerdys, an' weddins, an' -funerals, an' launchin' ships, an'-----" - -"I wish you'd let me go with you to some of these!" I eagerly -interrupted. - -She looked dubiously at me for a minute, thinking I was joking, but -seeing I was in earnest, remarked casually-- - -"Well, I don't mind ef I do, but it's a bit rough sometimes fer the -likes o' you." - -"Oh, I sha'n't mind," I joyfully replied. "When can I begin?" - -"A friend o' mine's goin' to be married the dy after ter-morrer," she -said graciously. "I could get yer an invite, if yer liked." - -"Do!" was my ecstatic response. "Where shall we meet?" - -"'Ere," she returned. "Yer can't go wanderin' about these streets by -yerself, an' it wouldn't do fer your grand friends to see me a-knockin' -at your door!" - -I was trying in vain to assure her that she was quite wrong, when -she suddenly rammed her hat viciously down on her head, slung her -shawl round her like a woollen whirlwind, and with the brief remark, -"G'night," was gone. I also soon afterwards took my leave, having first -told my hostess about the proposed expedition. - -She looked a little anxious, but her face cleared when she heard that -Belinda Ann was coming with me. - -"That's all right," she observed, with a sigh of relief. "She's to be -trusted to see that you come to no harm; but don't leave her for a -minute, and don't wear jewellery or carry much money." - -I promised, and went home full of anticipation at the idea of the new -world about to open before my delighted eyes. - -(_To be continued._) - - - - -QUEENS AS NEEDLEWOMEN. - -BY EMMA BREWER. - - -CHAPTER III. - -After the death of Jean D'Albret a hundred years or more passed before -any Queen distinguished herself specially as a needlewoman, and by the -time Queen Mary, Princess of Orange, came to the throne, needlework as -an employment for the high-born had quite gone out of fashion. - -She, however, seemed to have the love of it born in her. Every hour -not occupied with devotion and business was spent by her in all kinds -of needlework; in fact, she worked so well and so constantly that one -might have supposed she was earning her daily bread. - -She regarded idleness as the greatest corrupter of human nature, and -she believed that if the mind had no employment it would create some of -the worst sort for itself. - -She tried to impress this upon the ladies of her Court, who had fallen -into sad habits of idleness which, she assured them, not only wasted -their time, but exposed them to many temptations. - -It was to remedy this and to imbue them with her love of work that she -assembled her ladies every day and worked with them for two or three -hours, and while thus employed, one was appointed to read aloud some -interesting book. - -As usual, the Queen's example was followed by all classes of women and -girls in the kingdom, and it became as much the fashion to work as it -had been to be idle. - -This example came in the very nick of time, for it was stated on good -authority, that "women had become quite mischievous from lack of -employment." - -This action of the Queen, which seems but a small thing, was in reality -a great step towards bettering the age. - -For proofs of this Queen's own beautiful work, one has only to go to -Hampton Court Palace where much of it is still to be seen. - -(Before leaving the seventeenth century, I should like to mention a -quaint fact. It is, that a Catherine Sloper is buried in the cloisters -of Westminster Abbey--date 1620. Her epitaph is, "Exquisite at her -needle." I thought it so curious, standing alone as it does.) - -Coming to the middle of the eighteenth century, we find a group of -royal needlewomen, most of whom found help and comfort in the art of -needlework. - -What, for example, would poor Marie Antoinette, wife of Louis XVI., -have done without it in prison, or Josephine, wife of Napoleon, in her -retirement, or Queen Charlotte in her domestic sorrow? - -To begin with Marie Antoinette. She was devoted to needlework, even in -her happy and prosperous days. In her own private room at Versailles -the low chairs surrounding that in which she usually sat were always -full of workbaskets and bags containing wools, silks, and canvas; -these, together with the beautiful designs for the tapestry, were -bought at the firm of Dubuquoy. - -The Queen's hands were never idle; she was like a busy bee always at -work even when chatting with friends and visitors or waiting with her -bonnet on for the King to walk with her. - -Not only was she clever at embroidery and tapestry, but she could both -mend and make her dresses, her mantles, and under-linen; she could also -trim her hats and mend her shoes. - -Madame Elizabeth, her sister-in-law, who was with her all through her -sorrow, was equally clever with her needle, and the two together have -left some beautiful work in silk and wool on canvas. - -When she quitted her life at Versailles, she did not give up her -needlework; but inquietude and anxiety assailed her as she feverishly -sorted her wools in the Tuileries, hearing all the time the menaces and -threats of the howling crowd outside. - -Both in the Tuileries and in the Temple the Queen and Madame Elizabeth -did very simple work, that is to say, work not requiring concentration -of thought, which would have been impossible for them under the -circumstances. One can picture them, silent and sad, with heads bent -and speaking little, while their needles passed in and out the canvas -watered with tears. - -Yet so long as they were allowed to work there was some comfort left -them, something wherewith to beguile the time. - -Pauline de Tourzelle, the daughter of the governess, was taken with the -Royal Family when they were imprisoned in the Temple, but she had no -dress save that she had on. As some of Madame Elizabeth's clothes had -arrived, she gave the girl one of her dresses, but it did not fit her, -therefore the Queen and Madame Elizabeth set to work and re-made it. - -One of the pieces of work Marie Antoinette did in the Temple fell -into the hands of the Bernard family at Lille, by whom it is greatly -treasured. - -The account of the way the Royal Family passed their time in the Temple -is very pathetic. When at four o'clock the King slept in his arm-chair, -the Queen and Princesses worked at their tapestry or knitting, while -the little Dauphin learnt his lessons, and after the King had retired -for the night they mended their clothes or those of the King and the -Dauphin. - -It is stated that the King's coat became ragged, and as Madame -Elizabeth mended it, she had to bite off the thread with her teeth, as -the scissors had been taken away. - -So long as they were allowed to employ themselves with needlework there -was comfort for them, and yet more, for by their work they were able -to keep up some sort of correspondence with their friends outside the -prison. It is just possible that the jailors had a suspicion of this. -Anyhow, the time came when all their sewing materials and tools were -taken from them and they were desolate indeed. - -Subsequently when Marie Antoinette was removed to the Conciergerie, a -place of confinement of the lowest order, her suffering was greatly -increased at not being allowed to work. The jailors refused even -knitting-needles. At length the thought came to her of drawing out some -threads from the stuffing of her bed, which, with two wooden skewers, -she knitted into garters. - -Some of the work done by Marie Antoinette and Madame Elizabeth during -the last two years of their lives is still in existence, and consists -of hangings six feet by four. The groundwork of the tapestry is in -black wool, with bouquets of flowers, roses, pinks, and convolvulus, on -coarse canvas. - -Some of these hangings were acquired by Rome in 1881. - -The Empress Josephine, wife of Napoleon Buonaparte, both loved and -excelled in the art of needlework, and it certainly was of the greatest -possible comfort and solace to her during the years of her retirement. - -Like Marie Antoinette, she always worked at her embroidery or tapestry -when receiving her most intimate friends, and chatting with them late -in the evening. - -After her separation from Napoleon she took up her abode in beautiful -Malmaison, where, between botany and needlework, she spent most of her -time. The hangings of the saloon were entirely her own work, and the -exquisite furniture of her drawing-room was upholstered in embroidery -and tapestry worked by herself and her ladies in previous happy years. - -Needlework was not infrequently put on one side during the evening -hours, in order that Josephine, her ladies, and guests, might make lint -for the Sisters of Charity, who were greatly in need of it for the -wounded soldiers. - -We now come to our Queen Charlotte, wife of George III. Had it not -been for the intense delight she took in the cultivation of decorative -needlework, the art itself might have been forgotten. - -She was not only very fond of needlework, but exceedingly anxious that -the Princesses should excel in the art. - -In the room where she usually sat with her family were some cane-bottom -chairs, and as an amusement in their play hours she taught the little -Princesses the different stitches on this rough substitute for -canvas. As the children grew older a portion of each day was devoted -to needlework, and with their mother for teacher they became very -accomplished needlewomen. - -The Queen herself embroidered the dresses which the Princesses wore -on the coming of age of the Prince of Wales. They were white crêpe -embroidered with silver. - -She worked several sets of chairs, which are now at Frogmore and -Windsor. These she did in her early days. Later in life she employed -herself almost entirely with knitting. - -The Princess Royal, when only ten years old, was such an accomplished -needlewoman that she worked a suit of rich embroidery for her brother, -the Prince of Wales, which he wore on his birthday. - -Queen Charlotte used to find the strict English Sunday hang heavily -on her hands. Her industrious fingers "ached," as she said, "for -employment. If I read all day my poor eyes get tired. I do not like to -go to sleep, so I lock my door that nobody may be shocked, and take my -knitting for a little while, and then I read a good book again." - -Her chief delight was needlework. When in the morning the weather was -unfavourable, her Majesty occupied herself with needlework, and in the -afternoon she worked while the King read to her. - -When it was known that the British troops in Holland required flannel -waistcoats to screen them from the severe cold and insalubrity of -the soil, the Queen Charlotte sent to London immediately for a large -quantity of flannel, and she and the elder Princesses cut out several -dozens on the very day it was sent. The poor in the neighbourhood of -Windsor were employed in making the waistcoats. - -One of her most important acts in connection with needlework was the -establishment of an institution for training and educating in an -accomplished manner the daughters of poor clergy and decayed tradesmen. - -She purchased a house and grounds in Buckinghamshire, where a lady of -high attainments was placed at a salary of £500 a year to instruct the -pupils in plain needlework, embroidery, and tapestry. - -The work done in this institution was exquisite. For example, the -dresses worn at Court on New Year's Day, 1787, by Queen Charlotte -and the two elder Princesses were made there. The state bed of Queen -Charlotte, together with several ottomans now in Hampton Court Palace, -which are highly-finished pieces of embroidery, were executed by the -pupils in this school. - -Few people knew how much good Queen Charlotte did in a quiet way. - -One never thinks of Catherine II. of Russia as devoting any time to -needlework, yet we find that she worked and presented to Voltaire a -likeness of herself, which he placed in his chamber at Ferney. It is -still in existence in Ferney, but very much faded, and instead of -hanging on the wall as formerly in the place of honour, it is now -placed in a dark corner of the room. - -Once again needlework took a back place until our Queen Adelaide -introduced it as a fashion, and required of all ladies who were invited -guests at her Court that they should be good needlewomen, otherwise she -could not receive them. - -It was a bold thing to do even for a queen, but it turned out well, -causing ladies who took it up for convenience to become skilled workers -and to like the occupation. Queen Adelaide herself was a beautiful -needlewoman, and set an example to all her people. - -Thus we have seen how our queens have kept alive the useful and -ornamental art of needlework--an art invented by woman and kept going -by her for the necessities, comfort, and ornament of the whole peoples -of the world. - -Dr. Johnson says: "Women have a great advantage, viz., that they may -take up with little things without disgracing themselves; a man cannot -except by fiddling." I suppose he refers to needlework. - -It is an occupation that allows the thoughts and tongue of the worker -full liberty; indeed, it is woman's pretty excuse for thought. - -We have noted its power in the lives of the highest of the land--how -it soothes sorrow, calms the troubled mind, and causes solitary hours -to pass more pleasantly, and, as asserted by some rude man, it keeps -us women out of mischief. But whatever it does or does not do, it is -without doubt a gentle, graceful, elegant, and feminine occupation. - -These papers would not be complete without mentioning the work of our -dear Queen Victoria, who in her moments of leisure knits warm garments -for the poor. These may be seen in many a cottage round about Balmoral. - - - - -CHRONICLES OF AN ANGLO-CALIFORNIAN RANCH. - -BY MARGARET INNES. - - -CHAPTER III. - -THE JOURNEY DOWN SOUTH. HOUSEKEEPING. CHINAMEN. - -The journey from San Francisco to San Miguel, some six hundred miles, -we took by steamer, and it was the most delightful episode of all our -Californian experiences. It was the month of April, and with exquisite -weather; the sea was like a pond, so calm and still; the sun was not -too hot, and there were numberless interesting living things to watch -as we moved along the summer sea. Several enormous whales went past, -generally in couples, their great fat backs rising out of the water -side by side, and passing our boat swiftly and with the greatest ease, -when we would see them in a few moments, far in the distance, spurting -up big fountains of spray. Not far off from the whales were generally -flocks of the tiny whale birds, which seemed to use these monsters as -their jackals, feeding greedily on the shoals of fish they drive before -them, so greedily indeed, that many of them were too gorged and heavy -to rise out of the water and our way, but, after a helpless attempt, -would duck under only just in time. The flying fish were more alert, -and would rise away out of the water, going many yards through the air -before dropping again into the sea, and glittering with every rainbow -colour in the sunshine. - -The coast scenery is not beautiful; it is too bare and dry-looking, -especially after passing Santa Barbara, but the glamour of the southern -sun is over everything, and gives all a caressing smile, at any rate, -from a distance. It was a delight to see these wonderful effects again, -and we felt glad to be once more in the warm sunshine. - -When we arrived at the bay of San Miguel late in the afternoon of the -fourth day, it looked so radiantly beautiful in the soft glow of the -setting sun, as if it might indeed be the gate into a real land of -promise; a land flowing with milk and honey. - -It is a splendid bay, and the position of the town is quite ideal, -and though the most has not been made of its possibilities, many -improvements are going on steadily. Given money and taste, it should be -one of the most lovely places in the world. - -We found comfortable rooms in a boarding-house, and settled down to -rest awhile from searching and questioning. The boys went to school as -in San Francisco. These free State schools are exceedingly good. The -teachers are among the most charming ladies we have met, and the plan -of using the same books, and the same system of teaching all over the -State, saves much loss of time, since a child coming to a new school -can at once be placed in exactly the same position where he left off, -in his former school, some three hundred miles away. - -But in spite of our determination to let ourselves drift for a time, -we were very soon drawn into the same old probing and exploring, more -especially as we were delighted with the climate of San Miguel. On the -strength of this, and because our English hearts were hungering for -some place more homelike than any boarding-house can ever be, we took -a little house, hired the necessary furniture, and began our first -experiences of Chinamen as general servants. - -We had the most wonderful procession of Celestials through the little -kitchen before we left that wee house. There was no room convenient for -the Chinaman's bedroom, without giving him one close to our own, which -was not to be thought of, so the arrangement was, that when supper was -over, and the work done, he should retire to Chinatown, coming back in -good time in the morning to get breakfast and do his other duties. He -seemed quite pleased with this plan, and we got along swimmingly for a -fortnight. Then he dropped the news casually to me that he was going -to Los Angeles the next day. When I exclaimed at the shortness of the -notice, he beamed all over, and said, "Me bling other boy, him allie -lightie, him stay." - -Before I had quite made up my mind what to do, I heard breathless -jabbering in the kitchen, and on going in there, was introduced by Sing -Lee to Quong Wong, our new cook. Both of them were very friendly and -smiling. No. 1 was showing No. 2 where everything was kept, and giving -him what sounded like most eloquent instructions about his duties, both -of them being very grave and business-like over this. I did not seem -to be needed, and so quietly went back to the sitting-room. Supper was -prepared and cooked by the two together to an unending accompaniment of -Chinese chatter. - -This was the beginning of the procession. Some men stayed a week, -others three weeks or a month, and each brought and carefully installed -his successor, I taking no part whatever, except to learn a new Chinese -name. We had tall fat fellows, tall lean ones, little dumpy ones and -spare wiry ones; all of them clever and quick beyond anything I had -ever seen or known. They keep themselves exquisitely neat, in their -white linen coats and aprons, which seem always to remain spotless. -Their hands are perfectly fascinating; such delicate tapering fingers, -and such a masterly way of touching everything. One member of the -profession, I remember, who had the most dainty taper fingers, was -very fond of music, and, seeing that I was interested, sat down very -simply at my Broadwood grand (the only piece of furniture which we -had brought from Frisco) and played some hymns quite nicely. He used -to sing, too, at his work--all day--in a curious high falsetto, of -which he seemed very proud. He had learnt to play the piano at the -mission schools, where many of them go, and are converted--so they say. -But they find the free lessons in English, which are given there, so -cheap and convenient, that their motives in being converted are rather -mixed. When he left me, it was to go the very next day to San Francisco -on most important business, so he said. That, of course, was only -the usual way of giving notice, and did not prevent his greeting me -smilingly whenever I chanced to meet him in the streets of San Miguel. -He came to the rescue also, when, through some hitch, the chain of -succession was broken, and I was left to struggle alone in my little -kitchen, and he stayed with me till he could find another "boy." I -began to be haunted by a story I had heard often repeated. A certain -lady was much puzzled and distressed because she could never keep any -Chinaman beyond a few days; they would arrive, smiling and seemingly -much pleased with everything, but invariably on the third or fourth day -they would insist upon leaving at once. At last, in despair, the poor -mistress persuaded her Chinaman to explain the mystery to her, before -he had carried himself and his bundle away. - -He led her to a dark corner of the kitchen, and showed her some Chinese -writing high up on the wall, which be interpreted, "too much talkee -here." That was all. But it had been enough to upset all the comfort of -the household. - -Probably after that she took the hint and let her Chinaman do the work -in his own way, with as few words or instructions from her as possible. -They are so marvellously clever in taking up the work of a new place -the very moment they arrive, exactly as though they had been always in -this one house only, that it is no wonder they resent any interference; -and the sooner one learns to leave them entirely to themselves, the -sooner one reaches some kind of peace. - -However, I found to my relief, that no secret sign had gone out -against myself or the house; the difficulty was the long daily walk to -Chinatown. With their small feet and uncomfortable shoes, they are all -bad walkers, and each in turn had tired of the effort, and handed the -place over to a friend. This explanation, kindly given me by Mr. Kee -Mane, who kept the Chinese stores, lifted a weight from my mind, and I -resigned myself to continuing my lessons in fresh Chinese names. - -(_To be continued._) - - - - -[Illustration: A WINTER NIGHT.] - - - - -A CAROL OF FOOTPRINTS. - -BY NORA HOPPER. - - - 'Twixt snow and snow in their poor apparel - The singers come with their lightsome carol, - On Christmas Day, on Christmas Day. - The singers come in a huddled crowd - Singing "Gloria" low and "Gloria" loud, - On Christmas Day in the morning. - - Under the tread of so many feet - Snow turns mud in the lamplit street, - On Christmas Day, on Christmas Day. - Yet you may see while the dawn endure - Shining footsteps from door to door, - On Christmas Day in the morning. - - Shining prints of a little child, - Feet in the mud set, undefiled, - On Christmas Day, on Christmas Day. - A little while do the footprints stay - Till the clear dawn deepens to rosy day, - To Christmas Day in the morning. - - And those who have looked on the footprints bright, - They know, in the dusk 'twixt day and night, - (On Christmas Day, on Christmas Day,) - That Christ has passed with the passing feet - Of folk that praised Him in carols sweet - On Christmas Day in the morning. - -[Illustration] - - - - -LESSONS FROM NATURE. - -BY JEAN A. OWEN, Author of "Forest, Field and Fell," etc. - - -PART III. - -THE PERSEVERING SPIDER. - -[Illustration] - -Can any pleasant moral lesson be learned from the spider? I fancy -some of our readers asking--the spider, whom many regard as the most -treacherous, cruel, and unrelenting of those creatures who lie in wait -for prey? By the song "Will you walk into my parlour? said the spider -to the fly," in the nursery, several generations of children have been -early prejudiced against this useful and most intelligent insect. - -When they are a little older, it is true, the spider is held up to them -as a wonderful example of perseverance in that story of King Robert the -Bruce, who, when he was banished from his country, lying in concealment -in a miserable hovel, and considering whether it would not be well to -give up the struggle to secure his own, and with it restore freedom to -his country, was attracted by the sight of a spider hanging at the -end of a thread and trying to swing from one part of the cabin roof -to another in order there to fix its line. Six times whilst the King -watched it attempted to do this and failed. The Bruce remembered then -that he also had made just six attempts--that is, fought six battles -with his enemies, and without success. "Now," thought he, "if that -spider tries a seventh time and succeeds, I will take it as a good omen -for myself, and will also try my fortune a seventh time." The spider -reached the beam, and Bruce went forth to victory after victory. - -The disgust aroused by the spider is by no means a just one, and the -fear some people have of these insects is most unreasonable and absurd. -In tropical countries the bites of some are dangerous, but not nearly -so much so as is supposed. Our own spiders are harmless enough. I never -destroy the webs they make in my garden, the circular nets which they -stretch from one branch to another, which are considered by experts to -show a perfection of weaving, whilst those webs which are woven in odd -corners of our dwellings reveal an intelligence in their arrangement -which is perfectly marvellous. I heard a clever man say lately that -spiders were the greatest engineers in the world. - -In some corner of your room you may study the horizontal net, -covered with dust, perhaps, which is the base of the structure. -Irregularly-crossed threads above this cause the prey to become -entangled, and its end is inevitable. Most ingenious is the den in -which the hunter is hidden in waiting. It consists of a circular tunnel -with a double outlet. One of these, being horizontal, opens on to the -web. The other is vertical, with a passage below, which serves as a -trapdoor, whilst from the former the spider darts out on his prey. As -soon as a fly has been destroyed--its blood sucked--it is seized by its -captor and dragged to the tunnel to be thrown out at the trapdoor. This -is no doubt lest the _débris_ should alarm other flies. The hunter can -also escape itself, when necessary, by this exit. This does not often -happen, perhaps, and the main use of the trapdoor, says M. Pouchet, -an interesting French naturalist, is to get rid of the remains of the -spider's repasts. - -"The poison apparatus of spiders," says the same author, "is precisely -analogous to that of serpents, only it is of microscopic size. It -possesses mobile teeth, hollow fangs which distil the poison into -the wound, and this is secreted by a peculiar gland situated in the -interior of the palpi attached to the under jaws which effect the -bite. In the large tropical species this lethal fluid is so active -that it kills in an instant animals of a far superior size, and is -often employed against the birds which the spiders seize on the trees." -The so-called Bird-eating Spider attacks the lovely humming-birds. It -is called the Great Spider in South America, and its cocoon is three -inches long and one broad. - -Thinking of the creatures of prey and their quarry is always a painful -subject. Yet we know surely that the all-wise Creator would not order -the balance of nature to be kept up in this way if it involved cruelty. -There is cruelty in some of the methods of vivisection--in the horrible -way, for instance, in which one French scientist at least has studied -and tested by torture how far a poor loving mother dog will bear being -maimed, before it can be induced to leave its offspring. And there is -a brutality, as demoralising to the men who have to carry out their -master's orders in felling oxen for the market, as it is torturing to -the poor beasts. Nature's methods of killing are, as a rule, mercifully -rapid. It seems to be a part of the Creator's plan that some of His -creatures should live on the rest, and "some," says a thoughtful writer -on God's providence, "have suggested that such a state of things -implies a reflection upon the Divine goodness, ... but by the means -now specified some classes of animals are held in check which would -otherwise so multiply as to become an intolerable nuisance." - -And so we consider with complacence the fact that the cat kills the -mouse, the owl catches up the field vole and the beetle; the swallow -rids the air of insect pests which would render life intolerable, the -ladybird lives on the aphides that devour our plants--those fat green -insects which destroy our roses and honeysuckle. - -The spider does his own appointed work in a way which shows astute -intelligence. Death is the common lot, and most of the creatures preyed -on pass swiftly away in the full height of enjoyment without lingering -sickness or decay. I have known a spider's web put to a very odd -purpose by a lady I knew well in New Zealand, a very successful poultry -rearer. When her chickens had "the pip," she declared that she cured -them by a buttered pill consisting of spiders' webs. And I have known -also Chinamen give dying men, as a last remedy, a tiny chicken pounded -up in a mortar, bones, feathers, and all, and welded into a huge pill. -They declared that it often cured when all else had failed. But this is -a digression. - -To return to our spiders. Besides the geometric spiders (_sic_) we have -the gossamer spiders, little creatures that make floating webs in the -air and on the ground in the autumn. These avail themselves cleverly -of the currents of air in attaching their lines, raising their arms to -test the direction of the light winds. Her webs are often destroyed by -rain or wind, or broken by some large creature like a bee or a wasp -getting entangled in one; but the patient worker is not so discouraged -as to give up. She patiently fasts, until the damage is repaired. And -spiders seem to be weather prophets, for it has been stated that when -it threatens to become wet and stormy, the outdoor spider will make the -threads which support its net short, but if they expect finer, settled -weather, these will be long. As is the case with ants, some species are -more provident than others, and one has been described which suspended -its prey in the meshes above and below the centre of the net, having -quite a well-stocked larder. In the Fen countries a raft of a ball -of weeds, held together by slight silken threads or cords, is often -observed, on which the spider floats down a stream in quest of drowning -insects. - -The "Mason Spider's" home consists of a hole several inches deep in -the ground, and perfectly cylindrical. It is lined with hangings. The -one nearest the rough sides is thick, and carelessly woven. Over this, -like a skilful decorator, he places a hanging of fine silk, carefully -wrought. The door or lid of this dwelling is furnished with a cushion -of silk inside, whilst above it is made of the same material as the -soil, so that when the master is at home there is nothing to reveal -that fact, his door being closed. Layers of earth and silk compose the -lid. - -Kate Dalrymple, as the old Scottish ballad tells us, was "Aye eident -and thrifty." Eident is a rare word, expressive of great perseverance -and application. "To be called eident and thrifty" was the greatest -commendation to the good graces of the desired mother-in-law. I am not -sure, however, apart from this, that it is always a very desirable -thing to be coveted as a wished-for daughter-in-law. A very shrewd -friend of mine, a witty Scotchwoman, when young was told that the -mother of one of her suitors was very anxious that she should marry -him. "'Deed," said the girl, "I'd sooner marry a man whose mother was -not so anxious to get him married." And she was quite right. - -But to be persevering as well as brave, and to be gifted with physical -energy and endurance, is a rare endowment for any woman. Mrs. Scott -Gatty, in one of her stories, tells of a preacher who used to say, -"Girls, be brave; boys, be pure." I used to hear this story many years -before, as a child. It was told then of an old superintendent of a -Sunday-school. He would say, "Boys, they bid you be brave and girls be -pure; but I say, Girls be brave and boys be pure." Then the world would -be far on in a better way than it is now. - -"The spider taketh hold with her hands, and is in kings' palaces," -says the wise man in Proverbs xxx. 28. What a picture in a few simple -words of the industry, courage and perseverance with which this little -creature is gifted! and of the reward which would seem to be implied. -Shall we seem to be straining the image if we allow our thoughts to be -carried by this picture to the home of our heavenly King, where, as -we are promised, our eyes shall see Him "in His beauty"? "To patient -faith," says the hymn, "the prize is sure." - -The spider, we might say, is essentially of an aspiring nature. She -weaves her net high up in corners where the duster and broom of the -busy housemaid will not easily reach her. She fasts long and is not -drawn away from the spot where she expects to get the reward of her -patience. Many of us can work hard and well by fits and starts, but we -weary of sustained effort, and we are "found sleeping." Or like the -pilgrims to the Celestial City we are tempted to stray and delight -ourselves in flowery "Bypath meadows." Play, healthy recreation, we -must have, but it must be such as helps us in the race of life and not -such as weakens our purpose and hinders us from reaching the desired -goal. I look back sometimes on the companions of my girlhood, and I -must often acknowledge that certain boys and girls whom we were wont to -reproach as being dull plodders, have beaten many of their fellows in -the battle of life. - -There is a species of spider which carries, attached to her body, a -round, white, silky bag of eggs, just about as big as a pea. It is -heavy, but nothing would induce the affectionate mother to part with -it. The French naturalist, Bonnet, in order to test this love for -her offspring, once threw such a mother spider into the hole of an -ant-lion, in the sand where the great insect lay in hiding for its -prey. The poor spider tried to run away but the ant-lion caught at the -bag of eggs and tried to drag it under the sand. At last he succeeded -in breaking the gluten by which her bag was attached to her. Instantly -the spider seized this in her jaws and she struggled hard to bear it -away. It was in vain however; her precious burden was dragged under. -Then the poor mother might have escaped with her own life, but she -preferred death to the loss of her offspring, and if the naturalist had -not taken her out of the pit she would have been buried with them. She -would not leave the spot however, although Bonnet tried to make her do -so, by moving her with a little twig, over and over again. In reading -this one cannot help wishing that she had not been so tortured. Some of -our scientists, as I said before, have pushed their studies of moral -qualities in the so-called brute world to a most unjustifiable extent, -it would seem. - -When the young of this affectionate mother are hatched, and they -have got out of the bag where they were kept so safely, they attach -themselves to her body. She carries them everywhere she goes and feeds -them until they are able to fend for themselves. - -Referring to persevering industry, we recall the pretty story of -William Cobbett's courtship and marriage, as told by Dr. Smiles, -from his "Life." Cobbett was a practical man, full of blunt common -sense. When he first saw the girl who afterwards became his wife, -she was only thirteen years of age, he being twenty-one, and at the -time sergeant-major in a foot regiment stationed at St. John's in New -Brunswick. Passing her father's door, on a cold winter's day, he saw -the girl out in the snow, scrubbing a washing-tub. "That's the girl for -me!" he cried, mentally, and he set about making her acquaintance. As -soon as he could get discharged from the army, he determined that he -would persuade her to become his wife. The girl returned to Woolwich -with her father, who was also a sergeant-major, but in the artillery. -The night before they left St. John's, her lover sent her a hundred and -fifty guineas which he had saved, begging her to accept it, so that she -might not be obliged to do any hard work until he also could return to -England and marry her. She took the money, and it was five years before -Cobbett obtained his discharge and was able to go to see the girl he -loved. "I found," he said, "my little girl a servant of all work--and -hard work it was--at five pounds a year, in the house of a Captain -Brisac; and, without hardly saying a word about the matter, she put -into my hands the whole of my hundred and fifty guineas unbroken." Soon -afterwards they were married, and he delighted later in attributing -to her "the comfort and much of the success of his after life." In -his "Advice to young men" he drew from his wife his picture of a true -and womanly helpmate, with "a vividness and brightness and, at the -same time, a force of good sense that have never been surpassed by any -English writer." - -What Sarah Martin, who was left an orphan very young, and who as a -woman went out dressmaking first at one shilling a day, was able to -achieve in visiting and helping to reclaim poor prison women, and not -only them but dissolute men and boys, loving, praying, and watching by -them, you ought all to read fully. I think the story of her life was -published by the Religious Tract Society. She gave six and seven hours -to this work every day. For twenty years she did this without help or -reward--her grandmother having left her ten or twelve pounds a year; -the rest of her income coming from her hard work during part of each -day as a dressmaker. At last the gaol committee told her that she must -become their paid servant at twelve pounds a year or "be excluded from -the prison." Although she shrank from this payment of her labours of -love, she had to accept it, or give up her charge, and for two years -she had that poor stipend until her health failed. She was in point -of fact schoolmistress and chaplain and seamstress to the scum of -Yarmouth. But what a reward was hers! - -In my last paper I quoted Matthew Arnold's lines-- - - "Tasks in hours of insight willed - May be through hours of gloom fulfilled." - -"_Les beaux esprits se rencontrent_," and it will perhaps interest -some of you, as it has done myself, to hear that Professor Tyndall -used to say of Professor Faraday that "in his warm moments he formed -a resolution and in his cool ones he made that resolution good." We -cannot all be active scientists or philanthropists, but let us end this -little study by resolving that we will be less discouraged and hindered -by difficulties in our own special work, or by the consideration of -what we are apt to deem our unfitness for the appointed task, our own -inadequacy, than we have hitherto been. - - "With one hand work and with the other pray, - And God shall bless them both from day to day." - -(_To be continued._) - - - - -"OUR HERO." - -A TALE OF THE FRANCO-ENGLISH WAR NINETY YEARS AGO. - -BY AGNES GIBERNE, Author of "Sun, Moon and Stars," "The Girl at the -Dower House," etc. - - -CHAPTER XIII. - -A FRENCH CONSCRIPT. - -Roy did not soon lose sight of those words of Ivor--"Why, Roy, don't -you know that you are the one bit of cheer left to us?" - -He had not perhaps hitherto been more disposed to put himself into the -place of another than most boys of thirteen; but the events of the last -few months had tended to make him thoughtful; and close intercourse -with Ivor could hardly fail to pull him mentally upwards. - -Denham was not only considerably better educated and better read than -the average young officer of his day--a matter for congratulation in -respect of Roy's present education--but also his intellectual gifts -were well above the average level. The main force of the man lay, -however, rather in the direction of character than of pure intellect. -There was about him a soldierly directness and simplicity, and a -thoroughness which often belongs to that type of nature. Whatever might -befall, he would do his duty, not only with no thought of consequences -to himself, but in the most direct and complete mode possible. - -He was a good man as well as a most gallant soldier, and that in the -best sense of the word. He was one who might say little, but who would -at all costs do what he believed to be right. He was honourable, true, -pure-minded, chivalrous towards women, tender towards little children, -reverent and faithful towards his God. He was indomitable in courage, -when he faced a foe; but so soon as fighting ceased he would be the -first to succour a wounded enemy. All this means largely, as has been -earlier stated, that Denham Ivor had taken shape under the influence -and the example of John Moore. Ivor was the pupil, Moore the master. - -The prolonged banishment from England and captivity in France were a -terrible trial to him; not only because he was cut off indefinitely -from the girl whom he loved with whole-hearted devotion, but because -also he was cut off in his young full vigour from every hope of -promotion and honour, and debarred from serving under the Commander -whom he loved with a devotion no less whole-hearted. Yet he seldom -spoke about the greatness of the trouble. It seemed as if his spirit of -soldierly obedience had taught him submission to the Divine Will. - -It is easy to see that a friendship of this kind could not fail to be -good for Roy. And the friendship was not such in name only, for there -were advantages on both sides. Much as Ivor could do for the lad, in -the way of teaching him and keeping him out of mischief, there was an -opposite view of the matter. Roy, by his light-heartedness and his -spirit of unconquerable fun, could and did do much to lighten the -weight of the young Guardsman's wearisome captivity. - -Thus far Roy had done it, not knowing. Now the fact had dawned upon -him, as a novel idea, that he might be some little help to Ivor. He was -delighted; yet almost immediately he found the task less easy than when -he had carried it out unconsciously. - -The journey from Fontainebleau to Verdun, a matter of one hundred -and seventy miles or more, would be no great matter in these days of -steam-power, but it was a considerable matter in those times of slow -travelling. It seemed to weigh upon Ivor's spirits more than anything -had yet weighed upon them; or Denham was less successful in hiding -what he really felt. Mrs. Baron was brighter than for months past; her -relief at not being forced to leave her husband or to part yet with Roy -tending to cheerfulness; and Colonel Baron, glad to see her happy, was -the same himself. Roy as usual was in good spirits. Ivor alone appeared -to have parted with his elasticity. He did not give in to the mood of -depression, but it was patent enough to Mrs. Baron, whose concerned -gaze wandered often in his direction. - -No one except Ivor himself could know the haunting vision of Polly -Keene, which floated before his eyes, through all those miles of -driving, driving, ever farther away from where he craved to be. -He might respond readily to Roy's chatter; but so soon as silence -recurred, up again would come that picture of Polly, with her soft -velvet eyes, her delicate colouring, her arch smile. And then he would -hear the tender yielding in her voice, as she confessed that she did -like Captain Ivor--well, just a little! and that she might perhaps be -willing to marry him--well, some day! - -Out of this Denham would awake to the dreary flat of the surrounding -country, in its wintry colouring; and the wonder would suggest -itself--how many years might not creep slowly by before that could ever -be? He might even grow old and grey in this miserable banishment before -he should see Polly again. Why not? - -In those times wars had been wont to last in one unbroken stretch, for -such periods as seven years, ten years, twenty years, thirty years. - -Would Polly be content to wait for him? - -This question took him by surprise one day, with nothing especial to -call it forth. Ivor had not before so much as thought of the reverse -possibility. The idea that she might _not_ be willing to wait came -freshly; but having once come, it did not soon depart. - -He never afterwards lost the impression of that moment. The scene -around was deeply stamped upon his mind, in connection with the one -thought. - -They had just reached the end of a stage, and were entering a small -town, where fresh horses would be in waiting. Ivor was listening to -Roy, responding in a half-absent fashion, and gazing down the street, -when, without prelude or warning, that query burst upon him. - -Would Polly indeed be willing to wait? Did she care enough? She was -very young; hardly more than a child in age. If he were to be years -away from her, the two never meeting, letters seldom passing between -them, could he expect--would it even be fair and reasonable to -expect--that he should remain enshrined in her heart, as surely as she -would remain enshrined in his? Polly had known him intimately but a few -weeks, though their acquaintance extended farther back; and impressions -made upon the mind and imagination at seventeen are not always deep -or lasting. Moreover, Polly was exceedingly pretty, quite unusually -charming. Other men would wish to marry her. Could he expect such -constancy on her part, as to wait through long years for her absent -lover, refusing every other chance that might present itself? What -would her grandmother think and say? Polly, with all her charms, was a -portionless maiden. - -The whole question rolled itself out before Denham's mental gaze, as -they drove along the chief street of the place, exciting less attention -than commonly on such occasions. With his bodily eyes he saw little, -yet in a manner he was aware that a considerable stir prevailed, and he -heard, almost without hearing, Roy's rapid questions. - -"I don't in the least know," he replied mechanically, as they came to a -halt before the inn. - -"Den, look! What a lot of people outside the _maison de ville_! What's -it all about? And don't some of them look miserable? What are they -after?" - -"I have not the slightest idea. Something seems to be wrong. Easy to -find out." - -The mystery was soon explained. This happened to be a day appointed for -drawing for the conscription; and around the door of the little town -hall opposite were gathered the near relatives of the young fellows -who were eligible. There was no mistaking the dread written upon their -faces. - -One woman in particular drew notice. She was bent and old in -appearance, with grey hair, though very likely not beyond middle age; -and she wore a short, very full skirt, with a long-waisted bodice, and -big brass buckles on her shoes. From under the wide-brimmed hat her -face waited with a consuming eagerness for news, the lips working, the -eyes staring. - -"I wonder if she's got a son. I hope, if she has, he won't be taken," -exclaimed Roy. "What are they doing inside?" - -"Drawing lots, to see who must go to the wars. All the young men in the -neighbourhood, of a certain age, have been called together, probably; -and then those who are passed by surgeons as whole and healthy are made -to draw lots. Some will escape, and some will have to go." - -"O look--they are coming out. And something is being said--what is it?" - -"Hush--the names of those who are drawn." - -All listened intently; and the elderly woman, clasping her worn hands, -leant forward, with a face of concentrated suspense. - -"Jean Paulet----" sounded clearly. - -A bitter wailing cry burst from her, drowning what followed. - -She held out wild appealing arms. "Mon fils! Mon fils!" she gasped, and -dropped senseless to the ground. - -"Can nothing be done?" exclaimed Mrs. Baron, in distress. "The poor -creature! George, will they not let him off? Surely they need not be so -cruel as to take him away!" - -"I am afraid the only chance would be a substitute--and not much hope -of that." - -"Do ask. Find out something. Do, please." - -Denham crossed the road with his rapid stride, followed closely by -his shadow, Roy, while the Colonel came after in more leisurely -style. The poor woman's friends were attending to her, and Ivor, -always the Colonel's spokesman in a foreign language, made inquiries -of a respectable man, perhaps a small shopkeeper, standing by. The -man shrugged his shoulders as he replied. It had to be, he said, not -unkindly but resignedly. All young men equally were subject to the -conscription, and he who "fell" had to go. There was no escape, no -remedy. None, except through the purchase of a substitute, and Marie -Paulet, he feared, could not manage that. She was a good woman, truly -estimable, and he was sorry for her, yes, sincerely sorry; but what was -to be done? The First Consul required soldiers, and, in fact, he would -have them! Another expressive shrug. - -How much would be required for a substitute? _Eh bien_--one hundred -livres would doubtless suffice. Mme. Paulet, foreseeing this day, had -toiled hard and saved assiduously during many years; but with her -utmost exertions, as he knew, for she had told him, she had managed to -get together only fifty-five livres. No substitute could be obtained -for only fifty-five livres. No, no, impossible! Jean would have to go, -and his mother would grow used to it, like other mothers. How soon? -_Sans doute_ he would be marched away at once--immediately--to the -nearest depôt, there to be exercised. The thing had to be. There was no -remedy. All France was giving up her best men, by tens of thousands, to -feed the Army. In parts already none but women and old men remained to -till the soil. - -Was Mme. Paulet a widow? asked Denham. - -"Oui, oui, oui, oui," the man said, fast as the words could come. -Certainly she was a widow; but then she was not over sixty, nor was -Jean her only son. Had she been over sixty, and depending for her -subsistence upon an only son, then _vraiment_ her case would have been -easily pleaded. Marie Paulet was under fifty in age, though she looked -more, since she had toiled hard and had known much sorrow. She had a -second son too, young and somewhat lame, but able to work, though in -truth more of a burden than an assistance. Jean, however, would have to -go. This was a supplementary conscription for the year, more men being -urgently required by the First Consul. - -Jean Paulet stood with a face of sullen despair beside his mother, -saying not a word. He was scarcely over nineteen, only one fortnight -past the day, Ivor's informant remarked; and he looked young, being -loose-limbed and shambling, though broad-shouldered. - -"Ask them how much they could make up among themselves towards the -purchase of a substitute. Some may be willing to help." - -Denham obeyed, and a discussion took place in raised voices. The two -Englishmen waited gravely, Mrs. Baron watching affairs from the coach, -while Roy stood close by, scanning the conscript with interested gaze. -Marie Paulet sat upon the cold ground, weeping bitterly. - -"About fifteen livres seems to be the outside, sir. They are poor here. -It is a marvel how the woman has managed to save so much. But I am -ready to give fifteen livres." - -Colonel Baron's eyebrows stirred. "More than you can afford, I should -have imagined, but you know your own business best. Well, tell them -that if they can find a substitute for one hundred livres, you will -give that, and I will give another fifteen. Of course, we can't wait -now to see the end of the affair. Tell them we promise it on the -word of an English gentleman--that's understood everywhere. Give -our Verdun address to the Curé yonder--he looks an honest man. For -my part, I doubt if a substitute can be procured, the drain on the -country has been so severe of late. But they may succeed. Anyhow, it -will soften matters a little to the poor woman. One rather grudges -letting the money go into French pockets, but I defy anyone with proper -sensibilities to stand out against that poor creature's misery." - -Denham listened with his air of half-military, half-courtly, attention -to this somewhat prolonged exposition of the Colonel's views. Then -he explained what "Monsieur le Colonel Anglais" had said, failing to -make clear his own share in the matter, though from no lack of power -to express himself. The scene that followed was eminently French in -its _abandon_ of joy. One of the young men present, who was eligible -but who had not been drawn--had not _tombé_, as the saying was--came -forward, and offered for the sum of one hundred livres to go as -the substitute for Jean Paulet. This settled matters; and without -hesitation Colonel Baron produced notes for the amount he had named, -Denham adding his own donation with a rapid movement, which drew no -attention. - -Whereupon enthusiasm rose to its height. The people of the town, with -whom Marie and her son were plainly favourites, shouted their approval; -while Marie crept close to Colonel Baron, knelt at his feet, sobbed -out her wordless rapture, and even kissed his hands, to the Colonel's -discomfiture. - -"I say, Den, I'm going back to the carriage. Say whatever you choose to -them. It's all right, but I vow this sort of thing doesn't quite suit -a Britisher. And it strikes me you haven't made 'em understand that -you're doing as much as I am. Tell 'em that, and talk as much as you -think right, and then come along." - -A murmur in French from Roy to Jean Paulet gave the further -explanation, which would not have been forthcoming from Denham; and he -had to submit to some of the vehement demonstrations from which his -Colonel had basely fled. Denham endured them, with a certain reticent -indifference of manner, which did not mean true indifference. A -slightly quizzical smile stirred his lips, but the dark eyes, bent upon -poor old Mme. Paulet, were infinitely kind. - -Then he too made a move towards the coach; and Roy, lingering one -moment more, held out a hand to Jean, who seemed half stunned with his -unexpected escape. - -"Bon jour, monsieur," the boy said frankly. "I'm glad you are not going -to fight against the English just yet." - -Jean muttered broken words--something of a faltering hope and prayer -that a day might come when he should have it in his power, perhaps--who -could tell?--to do some benefit for Monsieur le Colonel, or for -Monsieur le Colonel's friend. - -It seemed very unlikely--most unlikely--that he and these passing -English prisoners should ever meet again, still more that he should be -able to do aught for them. Yet most improbable events do take place in -this world of ours. Roy had not that day seen the last of Jean Paulet. - -As the coach started, in the midst of grateful acclamations, Marie -Paulet held up mute hands, tears streaming down her faded cheeks. Such -a look was hers, that even Colonel Baron was conscious of moisture in -the region of his eyes, though by no means easily moved to outward -emotion. Mrs. Baron was weeping outright, with the thought of what -such a parting would be between Roy and herself. As for Denham--nobody -managed to get a clear sight of his face for a quarter of a minute. - -Then once more they were rolling along the interminable roads, Roy -declaiming with boyish vehemence against Napoleon, and wondering -whether Jean Paulet would ever again be drawn, and would have after all -to go. They found a good deal to say on the question, and for a while -the interest of the subject kept them going. - -But Denham's mind, like a spring slowly released, went back before long -to the one engrossing question, which for a space had been thrust into -the background. Would Polly indeed wait for him--no matter how long his -imprisonment might last? Or would she grow tired of waiting, forget his -love and some day become the wife of another? - -He could not look that possibility in the face with any sort of inward -composure. It held him in thrall, both day and night, through the -remainder of this wearisome journey. - -Roy was perplexed, during the last two or three days of their progress -towards Verdun, at Ivor's absorption of mind. For the first time in -his experience, his remarks failed repeatedly to reach the other's -understanding. So new a phase of matters was bewildering. Not, however, -till they were within three hours of Verdun did he note his friend's -face with sufficient care to exclaim-- - -"I say, Den, I do believe you're tired! Are you?" - -"Been a dull companion to-day--have I?" - -"Why--but, Den!" Roy spoke in accents of amazement. "You never used to -be anything of that sort! You never usen't to have anything at all the -matter with you." - -"Didn't I? All right--what do you want me to look at now?" - -"Is it because you're a prisoner? Do you know, I couldn't get to sleep -last night for ever so long--not till past eleven--thinking about it -all. I say--don't you hate old Boney? I do. He makes everybody unhappy. -Just think of that poor Marie and her son; if you and papa hadn't been -there, she would have lost Jean, and perhaps she'd never have seen him -again. Wasn't it horrid? And I don't see how men can fight properly, -when they don't want to fight at all. Our soldiers fight, because they -choose, not because they're made to whether they want it or not. I'm -sure Jean didn't want to be a soldier, or he wouldn't have been so glad -to get off." - -Mrs. Baron leant across to say softly, "Roy, do leave Denham in peace -for a little while." - -"Why, ma'am, he likes me to talk. He always says so." - -Mrs. Baron looked again towards Ivor, with a dubious expression. - -(_To be continued._) - - - - -VARIETIES. - - -"WILLIE ONLY TOOK A HORSE." - -Horse-stealers in our time are a good deal handicapped by a change that -has come over public opinion. The Government used to hang them, but the -populace were by no means horrified at the crime. - -Here is a story indicating considerable former leniency in popular -thought. A horse-coper "took" a horse and was discovered and convicted, -but owing to some assistance he had given the police, he received a -light sentence. - -He settled in a Norfolk village, turned an honest stock-breeder, and -prospered greatly; but there was always a rumour that he had been -convicted of some sort of stealing. - -A farmer's daughter, however, fell in love with him and he asked her -from her father. - -"No," said the old yeoman; "I've nothing against you, but no child of -mine shall wed a man who has been in trouble for stealing." - -The daughter cried and implored, and at last sobbed out, "Willie only -took a horse." - -"Why," exclaimed the farmer, "didn't ye say so before! Here have I been -treating a respectable man as if he had been a thief!" - - -THE DEAD DEFUNCT. - -A learned weaver, in stating his case before the provost of Irvine in -Ayrshire, in the days when hand-loom weaving was a leading industry -in that town, having had occasion to speak of a party who was dead, -repeatedly described him as the defunct. - -Irritated by the iteration of a word which he did not understand, the -provost exclaimed-- - -"What's the use o' talking so much about this child you call the -defunct? Cannot ye bring the man here and let him speak for himsel'?" - -"The defunct's dead, my lord!" replied the weaver. - -"Oh, that alters the case," gravely observed the wise provost. - - -THE ART OF CONVERSATION. - -"Tell me," pleaded the artless maid, "wherein lies the secret of the -art of conversation." - -The sage struck the attitude he was wont to assume when in the act of -imparting wisdom and said-- - -"My child, listen!" - -"I am listening!" breathlessly she answered. - -"Well, my child," he rejoined, "that is all there is in the art of -conversation." - - -HOW TO BE FREE FROM DISCONTENT. - -A philosopher offered sacrifice every day in the temple of Jupiter and -made always the same prayer. - -At last Jupiter grew tired of hearing over and over again the one -request and said, "What would you have?" - -"I crave to become a contented man," replied the philosopher. "Never -yet have I enjoyed a really peaceful day, for I have never been -entirely contented. Even now, aged as I am, there is always something -that I long for." - -"Consider well what you ask," said the god sternly; "there is but one -way in which you can secure the boon you seek." - -"And what is that?" asked the philosopher eagerly. - -"I must strike you dead; for in death only can man be free from -discontent." - -"Upon consideration," replied the philosopher, "I think I should be -better contented to remain discontented." - -And so saying he put on his hat and hastily withdrew from the temple. - - -DON'T BE DISCOURAGED. - - "Trust yourself to God who calls you, - Then no harm can e'er befall you; - Don't be discouraged. Do the right, - And day will chase away your night." - - -HOW SHE SHOWED HER GRATITUDE. - -The present Bishop of Gibraltar, Dr. Sandford, tells the following -story. When a young man, and a shy, very shy curate, he called to see -an old woman among his parishioners, who complained to him that all -she had to live on was half-a-crown a week which she received from the -parish. - -"And out of that, sir," she went on, "I have to pay two shillings for -rent, a shilling for firing, sixpence for bread, fourpence for----" - -"Stop, stop, my good woman," said the young curate, "you can't pay all -that out of half-a-crown." - -"Yes, sir, but I do," she persisted, "I pay----" and she ran through -her accounts again. - -Finding she was not to be convinced of her arithmetical errors, and -that she was both poverty-stricken and deserving, Mr. Sandford promised -to send her an extra half-crown on his own account each week. - -"For this she rewarded me," says the bishop, "by coming much more -regularly to church, but to my horror she never caught my eye while -I was in the reading desk or pulpit without promptly jumping up and -bobbing me a little curtsey to show her gratitude. Imagine my feelings -as a shy young curate." - - -HOW THE DUCKS WERE TAUGHT.--An officer in the British navy tells us -that on one of his voyages, he saw a Chinaman, who kept ducks for a -living, practise an odd piece of ingenuity. In the daytime the ducks -were permitted to float about on the river, but at nightfall they were -carefully collected. The keeper, when it began to grow dark, gave a -whistle, when the ducks always flew towards him with violent speed, so -they were all invariably safe at home in less than a minute. How do you -suppose he had educated his flock so effectually? He always beat the -last duck. - - - - -"DINNA FORGET": A NEW YEAR'S SERMON. - -BY "MEDICUS" (DR. GORDON STABLES, M.D., C.M., R.N.). - - "Her air, her manners, all who saw admired; - Courteous though coy, and gentle though refined. - The joy of youth and health her eyes displayed, - And ease of heart her every look conveyed." - - -This well-known magazine of ours, the dear old "G. O. P.," is read -wherever in this wide world the English language is understood, and it -is this very fact that puzzles and worries me a good deal when I am -commencing to write a paper for my readers. You see it is like this: -things I may say, and advice I may give, may not suit everyone, as the -"G. O. P." finds its way into cottage as well as mansion-house. I have -seen its welcome face while travelling in my caravan, in many a stately -home in England and in many a feudal castle in bonnie Scotland; and I -know too it is read by the farmer's fireside in this country and by the -ingle-side in the far north, when the snow-wind goes howthering round -the house and mourns in the chimney like the sound of sea and wind on a -surf-beaten shore. - -And I "dinna forget" either that I have many thousands of lassies in -the city, who have but little time to open it till eventide or even -till Sunday itself. - -Nor do I forget that the things I tell girls at home here to do, may -not altogether apply to those in Australia or Africa. Never mind, I try -to do my best. Who can do more? - -And now, first and foremost, I must wish you all a very healthy New -Year. This is from my heart. Dinna forget that. For, if you have -health, you are bound to have happiness, so long as shocks of grief -and real sorrow keep aloof. Even then, if you are strong, you will be -better able to withstand these, than if you were chicken-hearted and -weakly. - -There is one symptom of weakness, by the way, that is often -over-looked. A girl may be as fresh and bonnie as a thistle or a rose, -yet if she is too sensitive and too sentimental she cannot be really -well. Over-sensitiveness may be caused in a good many ways, but it is -very apt to lead on to hysteria, and this is a very serious ailment. - - -NOT GOING TO REPEAT. - -I am not going to repeat to you all the various rules of health I have -already, in these columns, laid down scores of times, for the very best -of dishes may be served up once too often. - -Just one thing, however, I must mention, and you may consider me -talking figuratively or not, as you please. - -I have a pet swift--the biggest kind of swallow that visits this -country--but, being a pet, he never leaves me more than twelve hours at -a time, and in that brief space he may have flown one thousand miles, -and perhaps visited the rooms of more than one hundred of my girl -readers. He can speak various languages almost as well as Rougemont, -and a little nearer to the truth, and I sit up to listen to him -sometimes till long past twelve at night. - -Dinna forget to look out for my birdie. He can see you when you little -know of it. But one thing which he has recently told me is that a very -large number of you have given up your bath, to which I fondly fancied -I had inured you. This vexed me a deal; but you will promise to begin -it again very soon, won't you? It is the greatest invigorator of the -muscles and nervous system in the world. So "dinna forget." - - -COLDS AND COUGHS. - -Dinna forget that colds and coughs are rampant about this time of the -year. I am writing these lines long before Christmas, and I have been -prophesying for England an open winter. But dinna forget that a green -Yule makes a fat kirkyard, and colds are more easily caught from the -green cold earth and the damp cold winds than even from frost and -snow. The more you are out-of-doors in snow-time--which ought to be -glow-time--the better you will be, provided you are not too warmly and -heavily clad and do not wear india-rubber clothing in any shape or form. - -When a cold comes on, take a warm drink or posset of some kind at -bed-time and eight to ten grains of Dover's powder. Get thus a good -sweat and a good sleep. Then take an aperient (apenta water) next -morning, but I advise you to remain in bed till eventide. This is one -of the best ways of cutting short a cold that I know of. - -But if coughing continues, you must see a doctor. Coughs may be far -more dangerous than you think, and may lead to mischief. Dinna forget -that death respects neither beauty nor sex. Indeed, it is often the -sweetest flowers of earth that leave us first. - - -NEURALGIA. - -A great many young ladies from seven to seventy complain about this -terrible trouble in some form or another. If it is what we call -hemi-crania, engaging, if I may use the term, the whole half of the -face and head, it may proceed from a bad tooth, or from what is the -worst sort of a tooth anyone could be plagued with--a tooth with one -small hole in the side. Have this seen to as soon as the first attack -has gone. Probably a clever dentist may be able to fill it for you. -Some girls go hurrying away to the dentist at once, have gas, and have -it out. Such a pity, for as you get older what a blessing you will find -your own teeth! - -Thank Heaven, I have never worn a false tooth, but it strikes me the -sensation can be far from agreeable. If one uses the toothbrush, with -a good disinfectant powder, such as borax or charcoal, followed by a -rinse of water tinged red with permanganate of potash (and this is -usually sold as Condy's fluid), she will have teeth that will last as -long as they're wanted. - -But what I wish to tell you here is this: apart from actual decay of a -tooth and consequent irritation of the nerve, a girl need never have -facial neuralgia, nor sciatica, nor any other "algia" if she but lives -in such a way as to make herself hardy as a heather stem. Dinna forget -that. - - -CURATIVES. - -Dinna forget that medicines are, as a rule, but palliative, and to call -them curatives is, in nine cases out of ten, a very great misnomer. -All doctors will tell you the same; but they are exceedingly useful -and even most necessary at times. Only dinna forget that they do not -repair, nor rebuild the framework of our bodies. Only good, well-chosen -food can do that. But, as it does not do to eat when you are not -hungry, because then the stomach and other organs are too delicate to -digest, you must get up an appetite by exercise, recreation and fresh -air. - -I don't want you to go about as if you were an invalid. That will make -you worse, and your friends will pretend to pity you, and this acting -on your mind will soon make you an invalid in earnest. No, keep up -bravely and do not complain. Fate will then say-- - -"Oh, there is no frightening that girl to death! She doesn't scare -worth sixpence. Look at her now, on her bit of a bike, with her lips -like a half-cut cherry, and the rose tint upon her cheek. Bah, I'll go -and try to frighten someone else!" - -Then your nerves are re-strung, muscles get hard, you grow a biceps, -and every ache and pain flies away to the Back o' Bell-Fuff. - - -AT THIS TIME OF YEAR. - -At this time of year many girls whose nerves are finely strung suffer -from hypochondriasis, or lowness of spirits, more especially if the -ground is soft and the sky grey and ugly. - -The real hypochondriac is more or less verging on lunacy, because she -has delusions. Nothing seems to go right with her, nothing ever will -be right again. There is no beauty anywhere in life, which, taken on -the whole, is a great big fraud. Why was she ever sent into this world -at all, at all, against her will? She is sure she didn't wish to be -born, and she wishes she were well out of it. She is sad, melancholy, -abstracted, and does nothing with any will. - -Well, what shall we do with a girl of this kind? What say you, mother? -Medicine? Was that what you suggested? Well, medicine, even if she -could swallow the whole pharmacopÅ“ia, would do her no more good than -a pinch of snuff; in fact, not so much, for the snuff would make her -sneeze, and that would help her for a time. She must have a change. - - "A change, a change, and many a change, - Faces and footsteps and all things strange." - -Dinna forget that. If she cannot get away, she must get a new fad of -some kind. Only there is one thing, mother, which pray dinna forget. -You must never let her think that you think she is ill. You've got to -draw her away from her imaginary miseries, and all will soon be well. - -"What would you prescribe for my daughter?" a lady once asked me. "She -must eat." - -"Then let her have a Shetland pony," I replied abstractedly. - -"What!" - -"A Shetland pony, and a young one. Oh, not to eat, to ride on, and make -a general favourite of. For a time the pony will manage her; then with -love and a tiny switch she will learn to manage the pony. After that -the fun will begin, and her imaginary troubles will all fly away." - -In a month or two the cure was complete, and I used to see the -girl--she was young--careering across the common, her bonnie yellow -hair and the pony's mane streaming out in the wind and her face as -merry as a May morning. - - -DOES WINTER DAMAGE BEAUTY? - -It need not, if beauty is only looked well after. But how shall it be? -Not by powders and paint, dear young readers--dinna forget that. Leave -rouge and the rest of it to Miss So-and-so and all the other "quite old -things" whom you know. Be ye natural; unless, indeed, you have some -real blemish. Dinna forgot you have youth on your side, and youth and -beauty are almost synonymous terms. You like Miss So-and-so very well -indeed, and my swift has just told me she heard you make the following -remark the other day to a companion-- - -"Know Miss S.? Oh, yes; have known her for ages. Poor, dear, old thing, -how well she makes up!" - -Well, hug the happiness you possess in being young, to your heart -of hearts; but a little tinge of sadness must mar it at times, when -you remember that you too must get older and be fain to assume the -attractions you shall then no longer possess. - -But beauty in winter? Well, it must be kept up, and can only be kept -up by rational means. If you expose yourself to high cold winds while -biking or driving, you may spoil your complexion for weeks to come. I -declare I should hardly like to enter the breakfast-room with such a -cold as your own folly has brought you, accompanied by watery eyes that -blink at the sunshine, and that wicked, wee red nose. Well, exposure is -unnecessary, so we shall leave that alone. - -Next comes ablution and clothing. If you care a French penny for the -beauty you possess, you will be careful as to both. If you won't, can't -or sha'n't take your bath, dinna forget to have very frequent changes -of underclothing. But in some form or other thorough ablution is -imperative. - -Food comes next. Never touch stimulants. I know some young ladies -do, but it is the biggest mistake in the world, quite an elephantine -error. Dinna forget that. As regards solid food, the more solid it is -the better; and you should now--unless stout--have plenty of sugar and -fatty food. Potatoes and other starchy foods should be taken also. You -want to keep up the strength? Sugar is power! Dinna you forget that. - -Dinna forget this either: that pudding after dinner helps to spoil the -complexion. Have fruit instead. A little vaseline--cold cream at night -will preserve the skin. You need nothing else. Good-bye! Dinna forget! - -[Illustration] - - - - -"SISTER WARWICK": A STORY OF INFLUENCE. - -BY H. MARY WILSON, Author of "In Warwick Ward," "In Monmouth Ward," -"Miss Elsie," etc. - - -CHAPTER III. - -Towards the end of a busy morning Sister Warwick was cheered by the -bright face of her youngest sister, who had come up for a day's -shopping, and who appeared in the ward for a few moments. - -She went with a smile and something sunny to say to the bedside of the -one or two patients she remembered to have seen during her last visit. -Mrs. 13 she asked after with special interest, and paused with sudden -gravity to look at the lines on the suffering face, just now at rest in -sleep. - -She knew Mrs. 13's story, and her heart burnt within her as she -recalled it. How she longed for those who say that the sweating system -of ill-paid and unwholesome work is a thing of the past to stand where -she stood and see for themselves! - -Presently the warm-hearted girl had other thoughts--still kind ones--in -her pretty head. She begged her elder sister to come into her room and -see what she had put there. - -Oh, such a glorious basket of roses! - -Sister Warwick plunged her face among them and sighed her enjoyment, -not only of the scent, but because they had come from home, and because -a dear mother's hands had helped to cut and pack them there. - -"They are not for the ward or the patients this time," said the eager -young voice. "Mother and I thought of it together. We want one to -be laid on each of the nurses' plates at dinner to-day as a little -surprise. Do you think Miss Jameson would say 'Yes' if I took them to -the Nurses' Home?" - -"Of course she would, dear! Only try! And how I wish you could hear -what the nurses will say and the look on their faces when they see a -pretty, gay table where there is usually a desert-plain of white china! -It is a nice thought!" - -"Well, mother and I have come to the conclusion that you working-women -want freshening with a flower sometimes as well as the rich folk. We -mean to do it again some day. Oh, and there are quite enough to go -all round, I hope, and to leave a supply for the Sisters' dinner this -evening. We weren't going to leave you out, you poor, tired old thing. -You look rather washed out, dear." - -There was an anxious question in these last words. - -Sister Warwick told her a little about her disturbed night, and got -a loving kiss of sympathy. Then the merry girl bustled away, leaving -behind her an atmosphere the brighter for her coming. - -Who more than hospital nurses appreciate these short-lived breaks in -their lives, these little visits from their own people that flash -sunshine and warmth into the dark corners? - -And the flowers too. What would hospital life be without the flowers? -Have we not already seen some of the many happy uses to which they may -be put? - - * * * * * - -The typhoid--No. 10--was a poor flower-girl. She had not failed to -notice how the nurses loved the fair blossoms, and with reviving life -her warm little heart filled with gratitude for the tenderness and care -she had received. She could only think of one vent for her feelings. - -"Look here, Sister," she said. "I generally stand at the top o' -Cheapside or thereabouts. Do come my way. I'll be looking out for you. -And I'll give you such a bowkay!" - - * * * * * - -Susie, if she was inclined to fret for "mother" and "home," had a -plucky little soul with which to greet other woes. Just to-day she -was feeling it very perplexing that, in spite of a decidedly hungry -appetite, she was knocked off her dinner altogether. She tried not to -grumble, but her face was very wistful until Sister came and explained -that the doctors wished it, and that in the afternoon she was to "have -on a clean night-gown and such a pretty bed-jacket that is waiting in -my room, and I shall tie up your hair with this nice piece of blue -ribbon. We are going to take you to see the doctors instead of their -coming to see you to-day. You know how kind they are, don't you, little -maid?" - -Susie had nothing but gentleness to remember, and fortunately she did -not connect Sister's words with the great cruel lump on her leg that -was sapping her little life and giving her those sudden sharp pains -that often drew her little lips together with a pathetic "Oh!" - -It was thus that Sister Warwick tenderly shielded the child as much -as possible from the terrors of anticipating an unknown ordeal, and -Susie went smiling in Sister's arms to the operating theatre. She only -had one short moment of fear when she found herself laid on that very -strange bed, with so many strange faces round her. - -Then she went to sleep. She supposed so, for she opened her eyes again -in the long, quiet ward, with the bright flowers on the table and -Sister beside her, one hand resting on her curls, and the other holding -her tiny wrist. Sister was smiling too. Seeing this, Susie guessed -there was nothing to be frightened at, though down in her little heart -she fancied she should have been afraid of something--she did not know -what--if she had waked to find herself alone. - -She drank the milk that was given her, and feeling drowsy sighed a -"Good night, Sister," turned a very white little face sideways upon the -pillow, and slept again--this time a natural satisfactory slumber. - -Susie never realised what a blessed thing had happened to her during -that confused time. For she was hardly old enough to connect that -"going to see the doctors" with the fact that her "poor, poor leg," as -she called it, grew rapidly well from that day. - -Happy Susie, to pass so calmly through such a crisis in your life! and -to lie in your little cot all unconscious of the interest you cause, -not only to your doctors and nurses, but to all the elder women in the -beds up and down this long room, who were well enough to enter into -what went on around them. The flower-girl was one of these, and Mrs. 13 -was another. - -Patty, being a spoilt little mortal, expressed a wish that she too -might "have a pretty hair-tie, and go to see the doctors with Sister." -She was quite jealous of all the attention Susie was receiving, and -thought herself neglected by contrast. - -Sister laughed, and made it all right by saying: - -"You shall do better than that, dear. Some day soon we will put you -into the mail-cart, wrap you up in a pretty blue shawl, and you shall -go under the trees in the gardens." - -So Patty had the pleasure of anticipation, too. - -(_To be concluded._) - - - - -ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. - - -MEDICAL. - -A NEW CORRESPONDENT.--1. Take a lukewarm bath every day. Where you -perspire most profusely sponge the parts over with toilet vinegar and -water. A very good way to check excessive sweating, especially if it is -offensive, is to dust the inside of your gloves, stockings and sleeves -with a powder consisting of ninety-nine parts of silica and one part of -salicylic acid, finely powdered. Wash your feet and hands every night -in warm boracic acid solution (two teaspoonfuls of boracic acid to the -quart of water). Change your linen frequently during hot weather.--2. -The voice of the girl does not alter so much as does that of the boy. -It also "forms" more gradually, and there is rarely or never a distinct -"cracking" of the voice of the girl like that which usually occurs in -the boy. At nineteen years of age the speaking voice is fully formed, -but the singing voice may go on improving till thirty or even later. - -DAISY.--Anything which disturbs the health will cause a dark sallow -complexion and dark rings round the eyes. Defective hygienic -surroundings, lack of exercise or sufficient nourishment, overwork, -or indeed anything which interferes with perfect health will cause a -sallow complexion. The way to improve your complexion is to take plenty -of exercise, eat well, and pay attention to the general laws of health. -Cosmetics and other applications would make your face worse. - -DAUGHTER.--Your mother suffers from hay fever. Let her follow the -advice we gave to Josephine last week. If this proves successful so -much the better. But hay fever is a ticklish thing to treat, and but -rarely does the first treatment tried effect a cure. Snuffs of various -kinds are often used for this ailment. We have seen better results from -snuffs containing menthol or aristol than from others. Very often a -trivial surgical manÅ“uvre, such as destroying a sensitive spot with a -prick of the electric needle will permanently cure hay fever. Sometimes -nothing seems to do any good. Hay fever is thought by some people to -result from the pollen of flowers irritating the mucous membrane of the -nose. This may be a cause in some cases, but it cannot be invariably -the rule. As a matter of fact a large number of totally dissimilar -affections are lumped together and called "hay fever," and so it is not -difficult to see why the same treatment will not be of avail to every -sufferer from this complaint. - -PUSSY.--Can indigestion be cured at home? Of course it can. Better at -home than anywhere else. The person who told you that indigestion could -not be cured without sea air is not a reliable authority. Attention to -diet is everything in indigestion. Last year in THE GIRL'S OWN PAPER -we published two articles on indigestion. Let your friend read these, -and also the answers to correspondents which deal with the subject of -indigestion. We seem to be always discussing indigestion, nervousness -or face spots. She must not eat apples either raw or cooked. She may -relieve her constipation if necessary with a little liquorice powder -or a teaspoonful of cascara sagrada. If your friend reads what we have -advised, she will find all she needs to cure herself of indigestion. - -STAVESACRE.--We are thoroughly aware that this drug is used to destroy -lice in the hair. It is not a drug which we would advise anyone to use. -It is a violent poison, and in our experience it does not do what it is -intended to do. - -MIMOSA.--1. It is hardly correct to say that "nearly every girl is -anæmic." A great many girls do suffer from that malady, but "nearly -every girl" is an exaggeration. We do not think that anæmia is on the -increase, if you take into consideration the conditions under which -girls live. Anæmia is always much more prevalent in cities than it is -in small towns and villages. Consequently, as our towns grow larger, -a greater number of girls get anæmia. In London we think that anæmia -is slightly less common than it was formerly.--2. In severe anæmia the -legs very often do swell. In the slighter grades of the affection they -only swell after severe exertion. - -FOND MOTHER.--There are few places in the world more deadly to -Europeans than the Gold Coast. If you can possibly prevent your son -from going to such an unhealthy place we strongly advise you to do -so. Very few Europeans who have set foot upon "The White Man's Grave" -recover their health when they return home. And it is but a small -number that ever do return. - -PURE WATER.--You say that you have a porcelain filter. Do you mean a -charcoal filter in a porcelain jar, that is, a cottage filter? or do -you mean a filter in which the water is forced through porcelain? The -latter kind of filter is thoroughly efficient. The former kind is far -worse than useless. The question of the use and abuse of filters has -been considered by two commissions. The latest commission was held last -year. It dealt chiefly with the value of the pocket filters used by -British soldiers. The report was very condemnatory. - - -STUDY AND STUDIO. - -BEN BOLT.--1. We smiled at your amusing French-English letter, but -we can inform you that we only criticise the handwriting of our -correspondents when we have been asked to do so. The request very -usually accompanies the MSS. sent to us.--2. There is certainly room -for improvement in your English prose, but we should judge you quite -capable of making yourself competent to undertake translations. - -MISS HATHWAY, whose society we have frequently mentioned, writes to say -that her address is now Chambers' Library, Wokingham. Her "Excelsior -Literary Club" for essays, stories, research, subjects of discussion, -with criticism and prizes, originated in 1877. The second term of her -classes for English subjects, French, and Italian, is now beginning. -Terms (moderate) on application, with stamp for reply. - -AGATHA.--We feel much sympathy for you.--1. Your drawing is good, the -shading being well managed for one who has never learned. We advise you -to persevere.--2. Your writing is very clear and excellent, considering -that you have to write lying on your back. We hope you will soon be -stronger. - -ARDCHULLARY.--1. You have not given your quotation quite correctly-- - - "The light that never was, on sea or land, - The consecration, and the Poet's dream." - -These magnificent lines are from a poem by Wordsworth, "suggested by -a picture of Peele Castle in a storm." They mean the light of poetic -imagination, which irradiates life, although it is not seen with the -outward eye.--2. Your writing is neat and good, but the tails to your -g's and y's, etc., are too long. - -BOUGIE'S FRIEND (Belgium).--1. We answered your first question some -time ago.--2. In reply to your inquiry as to whether "there is no harm -in flirting," we must tell you that there is a type of flirting which -is distinctly vulgar, and does not elevate a girl in the eyes of the -man who is amusing himself with her. On the other hand, it is only fair -to say that some people apply the term "flirting" to very harmless and -innocent gaiety and brightness, which is perfectly natural when young -people meet together. - - -INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENCE. - -"LYS DE FRANCE" writes to inform her many would-be correspondents that -she has already made her choice. She adds, "You cannot imagine the -pleasure your 'International Correspondence' has afforded me." - -"ERICA," Buda-Pesth, Hungary, has offers of correspondence from Miss -Edwards, Bibbenluke, New South Wales; and Miss Green, G. M. King, Esq., -Glen Rock, Spring Valley, Tarkastad, Cape Colony. - -MARIE ARAPIAN has an offer of correspondence from Miss Julia Ina -Fraser, Egypt House, Newmarket Place, Westmoreland, Jamaica. - -MISS FRASER would "like to correspond with some nice ladylike girls -about her own age (seventeen) in England, France and Italy, or India." - -MISS CLARISSA J. AULT and her sister would be glad to have a French -girl correspondent of about their own age (nineteen to twenty-one). -Address, Aulton House, Church Gresley, Burton-on-Trent. - -MISS EMMA L. YOUNG is anxious to obtain a French correspondent aged -twenty-one. Address, 2, Sans Souci, Harold Cross Road, Dublin. - -"POKER," Cholwell House, Temple Cloud, Bristol, wishes to correspond -with a French girl aged about eighteen, of good family. She suggests -that "they should correct each other's letters." - -MISS LILIAN A. J. SLADE, Lawn Villa, Crewkerne, Somerset, would like -both a French and German correspondent aged about eighteen. - -"ONE WHO IS PUZZLED" wishes to correspond with Miss Florence A. Jeffery -(New York). She should write to the address we gave. - -MISS VIOLET GOODHART GODFREY, M.L.S., wishes for an American -correspondent; she is eighteen next January. Will an American girl -(either the one whose request we published on August 6th, or another) -write to her at Ivy Hatch, Horsham? - -GERTRUDE wishes for a French correspondent. - -CLEM wishes to exchange letters with a French, German, or Italian lady. - -MISS E. WATKINSON, Wanaka, The Vale, Chelsea, wishes to correspond with -a young lady of her own age (twenty-four) in Canada. - -IGNORAMUS wishes for a French girl correspondent of seventeen to twenty. - -DOROTHY CROSS, Minterne, Cerne, Dorset, and MISS MADELINA PULLIN, The -Parsonage Farm, Warminster, Wilts, wish to correspond with French girls -aged about fourteen. - -"CISSIE," Southend, should send her full name and address. - -"A READER OF THE 'G. O. P.,' J. B. ASHFORD," a girl aged seventeen, -wishes for either a French or German correspondent, or both. Address, -55, Marlow Road, Anerley, London, S.E. - - -MISCELLANEOUS. - -DOMBEY.--We have not made the experiment ourselves, but we have heard -that you may restore a faded photograph by placing it in a saturated -solution of bichloride of mercury, leaving it in the bath for a -few minutes, and then washing and drying it; of course it must be -unmounted. There is another method; but whatever experiment you make -should be first tried on one which is of no value to you. For our -part, we should prefer to leave the photo in the experienced hands of -a professional artist, and we cannot take any responsibility in giving -the foregoing recipe. - -MARTA.--There is no cruelty attached to the trade in ostrich feathers. -The birds are not killed, excepting only at Buenos Ayres, to provide -the market with them; nor are they made to suffer from plucking like -the poor geese, to supply quill pens. Each plume is cut with a sharp -knife close to the skin, and this gives no pain any more than the -cutting of our hair. The stumps wither and fall out; or after ten days -may be removed. The greatest supply comes from the Cape; but they are -also produced in Tripoli, Egypt, and Morocco. But the trade prices for -birds has much gone down. - -A. B.--The name "Collect," as applied to the short prayer employed -before the Epistle and Gospel, simply expressed the fact that it -has reference to the main subjects of the latter extracts collected -together. The term "Bible" only meant "a book" in the time of Chaucer. -It has been restricted in its application to the Divinely-inspired -collection of writings, and the article "the" was super-added. And so -the term "Scriptures" is employed with the definite article, to show -that these writings are separate from all others; sometimes the word -"holy" being further employed to mark them as standing alone, and -in a rank superior to that of any others, however distinguished and -authoritative. - -EDITH.--Should anyone step on your foot, or accidentally push against -you, and apologise, say "Not at all, don't mention it." Do not say "All -right," and certainly not the vulgar reply, "Granted," from which an -inference could naturally be drawn that you considered an apology was -due, which would not be complimentary. - -L. E. BIRD.--The initial letters placed on an invitation card--"R. S. -V. P."--are those of the French words, _Répondez, s'il vous plait_, -which, translated into English, means, "Answer, if you please." Your -handwriting is scarcely formed, but very legible, and promises well for -a running hand, with practice. - -BEATRICE.--You had better transact the business through the _Exchange -and Mart_. Get one of the papers to see their terms (70, Strand, W.C., -Office of the _Bazaar_. _E. & M._). - -FLORENCE A. JEFFERY.--A halfpenny of William and Mary, with plain edge, -and the date under Britannia, "1694" (in copper) is worth from 1s. to -5s.; but some examples have sold for much more. Three halfpennies, one -Irish, have been sold for £1 12s., but they were very fine specimens. -Another of 1694, of bold work, extremely fine, realised £7 10s. A -halfpenny of George II. is worth from 6d. to a 1s. The head of the date -you name, "1754," is an old one. - -H. MAXWELL.--We must refer you to the 1st volume of _The Oracle -Encyclopædia_ (Geo. Newnes, Ltd.), page 619, where you will read--"In -the old Church of St. Martin, built in the 12th or 13th c., Roman -bricks and Norman sculpture have been worked-up in the walls!" - -M. D.--We recommend you to dispose of the medical books through the -_Exchange and Mart_ (70, Strand, W.C.). - -SILKWORM might offer her silk for disposal through the medium of the -above-named paper. - -LIZZIE.--The French obtained the soubriquet of "frogs" not because of -their using these creatures as food, because we find that the southern -Germans, Austrians, and Italians esteem the green ones in the same way, -as delicacies of the table, but the name was derived from the original -heraldic device of their kings, who bore on their escutcheons "three -toads (or frogs) erect, saltent." In the year 1791, "What will the -frogs say?" was a common phrase of the Court at Versailles, applied to -the citizens of Paris. The site of this city was once a quagmire, or -swamp, like that of London, and was called _Lutétia_, or "mud land," -its inhabitants living like the frogs, in the mud. September 20th, -1885, fell on a Sunday. - -C. W. N.--We like your "Reverie." It shows much poetical feeling; but -a little flaw at the commencement might be corrected. The nave cannot -be said to be "pierced" by the aisle, an arch, nor even by the column. -They do not go through the roof. We do not say this satirically, but -because the full and correct meaning of words must be remembered and -strictly employed in their true sense. - -MAY.--Hermanszoon van Rhyn Rembrandt was a Dutch painter and engraver; -born in 1608, and died in 1669. If your picture be signed, it is -valuable. Search the corners carefully for any initials, date, or mark. -You do not name the subject. - - * * * * * - -Transcriber's note--the following changes have been made to this text: - -Page 195: might changed to night. - - - - - -End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Girl's Own Paper, Vol. XX, No. -991, December 24, 1898, by Various - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK GIRL'S OWN PAPER, DEC 24, 1898 *** - -***** This file should be named 50798-0.txt or 50798-0.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - http://www.gutenberg.org/5/0/7/9/50798/ - -Produced by Susan Skinner, Chris Curnow, Pamela Patten and -the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at -http://www.pgdp.net - -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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No. 991, by Various. - </title> - <link rel="coverpage" href="images/cover.jpg" /> - <style type="text/css"> - -body { - margin-left: 10%; - margin-right: 10%; -} - - h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6 { - text-align: center; /* all headings centered */ - clear: both; -} - -p { - margin-top: .51em; - text-align: justify; - margin-bottom: .49em; -} - -.p2{ margin-top: 2em;} - -.noindent { - text-indent: 0em; -} - -ul {list-style-type: none;} - -.ph3{ - text-align: center; - font-size: large; - font-weight: bold; -} - -.w200{ - width: 200px; -} - -.w350{ - width: 350px; -} - -.w450{ - width: 450px; -} - -.w500{ - width: 500px; -} - -.w600{ - width: 600px; -} - -hr { - width: 33%; - margin-top: 2em; - margin-bottom: 2em; - margin-left: auto; - margin-right: auto; - clear: both; -} - -hr.tb {width: 25%; margin-left: 37.5%; margin-right: 37.5%;} -hr.chap {width: 65%; margin-left: 17.5%; margin-right: 17.5%;} -hr.full {width: 95%; margin-left: 2.5%; margin-right: 2.5%;} - -table { - margin-left: auto; - margin-right: auto; -} - -.pagenum { /* uncomment the next line for invisible page numbers */ - /* visibility: hidden; */ - position: absolute; - left: 92%; - font-size: smaller; - text-align: right; -} /* page numbers */ - -.smalltext{ - font-size: small; -} - -.upper-case {text-transform: uppercase;} - -.blockquot { - margin-left: 1em; - text-indent: -1em; -} - -.center {text-align: center;} - -.smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} - -.faux { - font-size: 0.1em; - visibility: hidden; -} - -.caption {font-weight: bold;} - -img.drop-cap -{ - float: left; - margin: 0 0.5em 0 0; -} - -p.drop-cap:first-letter -{ - color: transparent; - visibility: hidden; - margin-left: -0.9em; -} - -/* Images */ -.figcenter { - margin: auto; - text-align: center; -} - - -/* Poetry */ -.poem { - margin-left:10%; - margin-right:10%; - text-align: left; -} - -.poem br {display: none;} - -.poem .stanza {margin: 1em 0em 1em 0em;} - - .poem span.i0 {display: block; margin-left: 0em; padding-left: 3em; text-indent: -3em;} - .poem span.i2 {display: block; margin-left: 1em; padding-left: 3em; text-indent: -3em;} - - -@media handheld -{ - - img.drop-cap - { - display: none; - } - - p.drop-cap:first-letter - { - color: inherit; - visibility: visible; - margin-left: 0; - } -} - - </style> - </head> -<body> - - -<pre> - -The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Girl's Own Paper, Vol. XX, No. 991, -December 24, 1898, 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'll have -to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this ebook. - -Title: The Girl's Own Paper, Vol. XX, No. 991, December 24, 1898 - -Author: Various - -Release Date: December 30, 2015 [EBook #50798] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK GIRL'S OWN PAPER, DEC 24, 1898 *** - - - - -Produced by Susan Skinner, Chris Curnow, Pamela Patten and -the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at -http://www.pgdp.net - - - - - - -</pre> - -<h1 class='faux'>THE GIRL'S OWN -PAPER</h1> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_193" id="Page_193">{193}</a></span></p> - - -<div class="figcenter w600"> -<img src="images/header.jpg" width="600" height="202" alt="The Girl's Own Paper." /> -</div> - -<hr class="full" /> - -<div class="center"> -<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary="" width="100%"> -<tbody><tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Vol. XX.—No. 991.]</span></td><td align="center">DECEMBER 24, 1898.</td><td align="right"><span class="smcap">[Price One Penny.</span></td></tr> -</tbody></table></div> - -<hr class="full" /> - -<p class="center">[Transcriber's Note: This Table of Contents was not present in the original.]</p> - -<p class="center"> - -<!-- Autogenerated TOC. Modify or delete as required. --> - -<a href="#ABOUT_PEGGY_SAVILLE">ABOUT PEGGY SAVILLE.</a><br /> -<a href="#SOCIAL_INCIDENTS_IN_THE_LIFE_OF_AN_EAST_END_GIRL">SOCIAL INCIDENTS IN THE LIFE OF AN EAST END GIRL.</a><br /> -<a href="#QUEENS_AS_NEEDLEWOMEN">QUEENS AS NEEDLEWOMEN.</a><br /> -<a href="#CHRONICLES_OF_AN_ANGLO-CALIFORNIAN_RANCH">CHRONICLES OF AN ANGLO-CALIFORNIAN RANCH.</a><br /> -<a href="#A_CAROL_OF_FOOTPRINTS">A CAROL OF FOOTPRINTS.</a><br /> -<a href="#LESSONS_FROM_NATURE">LESSONS FROM NATURE.</a><br /> -<a href="#OUR_HERO">"OUR HERO."</a><br /> -<a href="#VARIETIES">VARIETIES.</a><br /> -<a href="#DINNA_FORGET_A_NEW_YEARS_SERMON">"DINNA FORGET": A NEW YEAR'S SERMON.</a><br /> -<a href="#SISTER_WARWICK_A_STORY_OF_INFLUENCE">"SISTER WARWICK": A STORY OF INFLUENCE.</a><br /> -<a href="#ANSWERS_TO_CORRESPONDENTS">ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS.</a><br /> - -<!-- End Autogenerated TOC. --> - -</p> - - -<hr class="chap" /><div> -<h2><a name="ABOUT_PEGGY_SAVILLE" id="ABOUT_PEGGY_SAVILLE">ABOUT PEGGY SAVILLE.</a></h2> - -<p class='ph3'><span class="smcap">By</span> JESSIE MANSERGH (Mrs. G. de Horne Vaizey), Author of "Sisters Three," etc.</p> - -<div class="figcenter w500"> -<img src="images/i_193.jpg" width="500" height="349" alt="" /> -<div class="caption">AN ATTITUDE CALCULATED TO SHOW OFF ALL THE SPLENDOUR OF HER ATTIRE." (<i><a href="http://www.gutenberg.org/files/50795/50795-h/50795-h.htm#Page_183">See page 183.</a></i>)</div> -</div> - -<p class='smalltext'><i>All rights reserved.</i>]</p> - - -<h3>CHAPTER XII.</h3> - -<p><span class="smcap">As</span> Peggy sat writing in the study one -afternoon, a shaggy head came peering -round the door, and Robert's voice said -eagerly:</p> - -<p>"Mariquita! A word in your ear! -Could you come out and take a turn -round the garden for half an hour before -tea, or are you too busy?"</p> - -<p>"Not at all. I am entirely at your -disposal," said Peggy elegantly, and -the young people made their way to -the cloak-room, swung on coats and -sailor-hats, and sallied out into the fresh -autumn air.</p> - -<p>"Mariquita," said Robert; then, -using once more the name by which he -chose to address Peggy in their confidential -confabs, "Mariquita, I am in -difficulties. There is a microscope -advertised in <i>Science</i> this week that is -the very thing I have been pining for -for the last six years. I must get it, or -die, but the question is—<i>how?</i> You -see before you a penniless man." He -looked at Peggy as he spoke, and met -her small, demure smile.</p> - -<p>"My dear and honourable sir——"</p> - -<p>"Yes, yes, I know; drop that, Mariquita! -Don't take for granted, like -Mellicent, that because a man has a -title he must necessarily be a millionaire. -Everything is comparative! My -father is rich compared to the Vicar, -but he is really hard up for a man in his<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_194" id="Page_194">{194}</a></span> -position. He gets almost no rent for -his land nowadays, and I am the third -son. I haven't as much pocket-money in -a month as Oswald gets through in a -week. Now that microscope is twenty -pounds, and if I were to ask the governor -for it, he wouldn't give it to me, but he -would sigh and look wretched at being -obliged to refuse. He's a kind-hearted -fellow, you know, who doesn't like to -say 'No,' and I hate to worry him. -Still—that microscope! I must have -it. By hook or by crook, I must have -it. I've set my mind on that."</p> - -<p>"I'm sure I hope you will, though for -my part you must not expect me to -look through it. I like things to be -pretty, and when you see them through -a microscope they generally look hideous. -I saw my own hand once—ugh!" -Peggy shuddered. "Twenty pounds! -Well, I can only say that my whole -worldly wealth is at your disposal. Draw -on me for anything you like—up to -seven and six! That's all the money I -have till the beginning of the month."</p> - -<p>"Thanks!—I didn't intend to borrow, -I have a better idea than that. I was -reading a magazine the other day, and -came upon a list of prize competitions. -The first prize offered was thirty pounds, -and I'm going to win that prize. The -microscope costs only twenty pounds, but -the extra ten would come in usefully for—I'll -tell you about that later on! The -<i>Piccadilly Magazine</i> is very respectable -and all that sort of thing, but the -governor is one of the good old-fashioned, -conservative fellows, who would be -horrified if he saw my name figuring in -it. I'm bound to consider his feelings, -but all the same I'm going to win that -prize. It says in the rules—I've read -them through carefully—that you can -ask your friends to help you, so that -there would be nothing unfair about -going into partnership with someone -else. What I was going to suggest -was that you and I should collaborate. -I'd rather work with you than with any of -the others, and I think we could manage -it rather well between us. Our contribution -should be sent in in your name, -that is to say, if you wouldn't object to -seeing yourself in print."</p> - -<p>"I should love it. I'm proud of my -name, and it would be a new sensation." -But Peggy spoke in absent-minded -fashion, as if her thoughts were running -on another subject. Rob had used a -word which was unfamiliar in her ears, -a big word, a word with a delightful, -intellectual roll, and she had not the -remotest idea of its meaning. Collaborate! -Beautiful! Not for worlds -would she confess her ignorance, yet -the opportunity could not be thrown -away. She must secure the treasure -and add it to her mental store. She -put her head on one side, and said -pensively:</p> - -<p>"I shall be most happy to er—er——In -what other words can I exactly express -'collaborate,' Rob? I do so object to -repetition!"</p> - -<p>"Go shags!" returned Robert -briefly. "I would do the biggest part -of the work, of course, that's only fair, -because I want two-thirds of the money, -but you could do what you liked, and -have ten pounds for your share. Ten -pounds would come in very usefully for -Christmas."</p> - -<p>"Rather! I'd get mother and father -lovely presents, and Mrs. Asplin too; -and buy books for Esther, and a little -gold ring for Mellicent—it's her idea of -happiness to have a gold ring. I'll -help you with pleasure, Rob, and I'm -sure we shall get the prize. What have -we to do? Make up some poetry?"</p> - -<p>"Goodness, no! Fancy me making -up poetry! It's to make up a calendar. -There are subjects given for each month—sorrow, -love, obedience, resignation—that -sort of thing, and you have to give -a quotation for each day. It will take -some time, but we ought to stand a -good chance. You are fond of reading, -and know no end of poetry, and where I -have a pull is in knowing French and -German so well. I can give them some -fine translations from the Latin and Greek -too, for the matter of that, and it will -look kind of swagger to put the authors' -names underneath. That will impress -the judges, and make 'em decide in our -favour. I've been working at it only -three days, and I've got over fifty -quotations already. We must keep -note-books in our pockets, and jot down -any ideas that occur to us during the -day, and go over them together at night. -You will know a lot, I'm sure."</p> - -<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> -<span class="i0">"'Sorrow and silence are strong, and patient endurance is godlike,<br /></span> -<span class="i0">Therefore accomplish thy labour of love, till the heart is made godlike,'"<br /></span> -</div></div> - -<p>quoted Peggy with an air, and Rob -nodded approval.</p> - -<p>"That's it! That's the style! Something -with a bit of a sermon in it to keep -'em up to the mark for the day. Bravo, -Mariquita! you'll do it splendidly. -That's settled then. We shall have to -work hard, for there is only a month -before the thing must be sent off, and -we must finish in good time. When -you leave things to the last, something -is bound to come in the way. It will -take an age to write out three hundred -and sixty-five extracts."</p> - -<p>"It will indeed, for they must be very -nicely done," said Peggy fastidiously. -"Of course it is most important that -the extracts themselves should be good, -but it matters almost as much that they -should look neat and attractive. Appearances -go such a long way." And when -Robert demurred and stated his opinion -that the judges would not trouble their -heads about looks, she stuck firmly to -her point.</p> - -<p>"Oh, won't they though. Just -imagine how you would feel if you were -in their position, and had to look over -scores of ugly uninteresting manuscripts. -You would be bored to death, and after -plodding conscientiously through a few -dozen, you would get so mixed up that -you would hardly be able to distinguish -one from another. Then suddenly—suddenly"—Peggy -clasped her hands -with one of her favourite dramatic -gestures—"you would see before you a -dainty little volume prettily written, easy -to read, easy to hold, nice to look at, -and do you mean to say that your heart -wouldn't give a jump, and that you -would not take a fancy to the writer -from that very moment? Of course you -would, and so, if you please, I am going -to look after the decorative department -and see what can be done. I must give -my mind to it——Oh! I'll tell you what -would be just the thing. When I was -in the library one day lately I saw some -sweet little note-books with pale green -leaves and gilt edges. I'll count the -pages, and buy enough to make up -three hundred and sixty-five, and twelve -extra, so as to put one plain sheet -between each month. Then we must -have a cover. Two pieces of cardboard -would do, with gilt edges, and a motto -in old English letters, 'The months in -circling orbit fly.' Have I read that -somewhere, or did I make it up? It -sounds very well. Well, what next?" -Peggy was growing quite excited, and -the restless hands were waving about at -a great rate. "Oh, the pages! We -shall have to put the date at the top of -each. I could do that in gold ink, and -make a pretty little skriggle—er—'<i>arabesque</i>,' -I should say, underneath -to give it a finish. Then I'd hand them -on to you to write the extracts in your -tiny little writing. Rob, it will be -splendid! Do you really think we shall -get the prize?"</p> - -<p>"I <i>mean</i> to get it! We have a good -library here, and plenty of time if we -like to use it. I'm going to get up at -six every morning. I sha'n't fail for -want of trying, and if I miss this I'll -win something else. My mind is made -up! I'm going to buy that microscope!" -Robert tossed his head and looked -ferocious, while Peggy peered in his -rugged face, and womanlike admired -him the more for his determination.</p> - -<p>They lingered in the garden discussing -details, planning out the work, and -arranging as to the different books to -be overlooked until the tea hour was -passed, and Mrs. Asplin came to the -door and called to them to come in.</p> - -<p>"And nothing on your feet but your -thin slippers? Oh, you Peggy!" she -exclaimed in despair. "Now you will -have a cold, and ten to one it will fly to -your throat. I shall have to fine you a -penny every time you cross the doorstep -without changing your shoes. Summer -is over, remember. You can't be too -careful in these raw, damp days. Run -upstairs this minute and change your -stockings."</p> - -<p>Peggy looked meek, and went to her -room at once to obey orders; but the -mischief was done, she shivered and -could not get warm, her head ached, -and her eyes felt heavy. Mrs. Asplin -looked anxiously at her in the drawing-room -after dinner, and finally called her -to her side.</p> - -<p>"Peggy, come here! Aren't you well? -Let me feel your hand. Child, it's like -a coal! You are in a fever. Why -didn't you tell me at once?"</p> - -<p>"Because I—really, it's nothing, Mrs. -Asplin! Don't be worried. I don't -know why I feel so hot. I was shivering -only a minute ago."</p> - -<p>"Go straight upstairs and take a -dose of ammoniated quinine. Turn on -the fire in your room. Max! Robert!<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_195" id="Page_195">{195}</a></span> -Oswald! Esther! Mellicent! will everyone -please look after Peggy in the -future, and see that she does not run -out in her slippers!" cried Mrs. Asplin -in a despairing voice, and Peggy bolted -out of the door in haste, to escape before -more reproaches could be hurled at -her head.</p> - -<p>But an alarm of a more serious nature -than a threatened cold was to take place -before the evening was over. The young -people answered briefly, Mrs. Asplin -turned back to her book, and silence -settled down upon the occupants of the -drawing-room. It was half-past eight, -the servants had carried away the -dinner things, and were enjoying their -evening's rest in the kitchen. The -Vicar was nodding in his easy-chair, -the house was so quiet that the tick of -the old grandfather clock in the hall -could be heard through the half-opened -door. Then suddenly came the sound -of flying footsteps, the door burst open, -and in rushed Peggy once more, but -such a Peggy, such an apparition of -fear, suffering, and terror as brought a -cry of consternation from every lip. -Her eyes were starting from her head, -her face was contorted in spasmodic -gaspings for breath, her arms sawed -the air like the sails of a windmill, and -she flew round and round the room in a -wild, unheeding rush.</p> - -<p>"Peggy, my child! my child! what -is the matter? Oh, Austin—oh! What -shall we do?" cried Mrs. Asplin, trying -to catch hold of the flying arms, only to -be waved off with frenzied energy. -Mellicent dissolved into tears and -retreated behind the sofa, under the -impression that Peggy had suddenly -taken leave of her senses, and practical -Esther rushed upstairs to search for a -clue to the mystery among the medicine -bottles on Peggy's table. She was -absent only for a few minutes; but it -seemed like an hour to the watchers, -for Peggy's face grew more and more -agonised, she seemed on the verge of -suffocation, and could neither speak, -nor endure anyone to approach within -yards of her mad career. Presently, -however, she began to falter, to draw -her breath in longer gasps, and as she -did so there emerged from her lips a -series of loud whooping sounds, like -the crowing of a cock, or the noise made -by a child in the convulsions of whooping-cough. -The air was making its -way to the lungs after the temporary -stoppage, and the result would have -been comical if any of the hearers had -been in a mood for jesting, which, in -good truth, they were not.</p> - -<p>"Thank heaven! She will be better -now. Open the window and leave her -alone. Don't try to make her speak. -What in the world has the child been -doing?" cried the Vicar wonderingly; -and at that moment Esther entered, -bearing in her hand the explanation of -the mystery—a bottle labelled "Spirits -of Ammonia," and a tumbler about an -eighth full of a white milky-looking fluid.</p> - -<p>"They were in the front of the table. -The other things had not been moved. -I believe she has never looked at the -labels, but seized the first bottle that -came to her hand—this dreadfully strong -ammonia which you gave her for the -gnat bites when she just came."</p> - -<p>A groan of assent came from the sofa -on which Peggy lay, choking no longer, -but ghastly white, and drawing her -breath in painful gasps. Mrs. Asplin -sniffed at the contents of the tumbler, -only to jerk back her head with watery -eyes and reddened lids.</p> - -<p>"No wonder that the child was nearly -choked! The marvel is that she had -ever regained her breath after such a -mistake. Her throat must be raw!" -She hurried out of the room to concoct -a soothing draught, at which Peggy -supped at intervals during the evening, -croaking out a hoarse, "Better, thank -you!" in reply to inquiries, and looking -so small and pathetic in her nest of -cushions that the hearts of the beholders -softened at the sight. Before bedtime, -however, she revived considerably, and -her elastic spirits coming to her aid, -entertained the listeners with a husky -but dramatic account of her proceedings. -How she had not troubled to turn the -gas full up, and had just seized the -bottle, tilted some of the contents into a -tumbler in which there was a small -portion of water, without troubling to -measure it out, and gulped it down without -delay. Her description of the feelings -which ensued was a really clever piece of -word painting, but behind the pretence -of horror at her own carelessness, there -rang a hardly-concealed note of pride, -as though, in thus risking her life, she -had done something quite clever and -distinguished.</p> - -<p>Mrs. Asplin exhausted herself in -"Ohs!" and "Ahs!" of sympathy, -and had nothing harsher to say than—</p> - -<p>"Well, now, dearie, you'll be more -careful another time, won't you?" But -the Vicar's long face grew longer than -ever as he listened, and the lines -deepened in his forehead. Peggy was -inexperienced in danger signals, but -Esther and Mellicent recognised the -well-known signs, and were at no loss -to understand the meaning of that quiet -"A word with you in the study, Mariquita, -if you please!" with which he rose -from the breakfast-table next morning.</p> - -<p>Peggy's throat was still sore, and she -fondly imagined that anxiety on its -behalf was the cause of the summons, -but she was speedily undeceived, for -the Vicar motioned towards a chair, and -said, in short grave sentences, as his -manner was when annoyed—</p> - -<p>"I wish to speak to you about the -event of last night, my dear. I am -afraid that you hardly realise the matter -in its true light. I was not at all -pleased with the manner in which you -gave your explanation. You appeared -to imagine that you had done something -clever and amusing. I take a very -different view. You showed a reprehensible -carelessness in trifling with -medicines in the dark; it might have -caused you your life, or, at best, a -serious injury. As it was, you brought -pain upon yourself, and gave us all a -serious alarm. I see nothing amusing -in such behaviour, but consider it -stupid, and careless to an almost -criminal extent."</p> - -<p>Peggy stood motionless, eyes cast -down, hands clasped before her, a -picture of injured innocence. She did -not say a word in self-defence, but her -feelings were so plainly written on her -face that the Vicar's eyes flashed with -impatience.</p> - -<p>"Well, what have you to say?"</p> - -<p>Peggy sighed in dolorous fashion.</p> - -<p>"I am sorry; I know it was careless. -I am always doing things like that. So -is Arthur. So was father when he was -a boy. It's in the family. It's unfortunate, -but——"</p> - -<p>"Mariquita," said the Vicar sternly, -"you are <i>not</i> sorry! If I had seen that -you were penitent, I should not have -spoken, for you would have been -sufficiently punished by your own -sufferings, but you are not sorry; you -are, on the whole, rather proud of the -escapade! Look into your own heart -and see if it is not so?"</p> - -<p>He paused, looking at her with grave, -expectant eyes, but there was no sign of -conviction upon the set face. The eyes -were still lowered, the lips drooped with -an expression of patient endurance. -There was silence in the room while -Peggy studied the carpet, and the Vicar -gazed at her downcast face. A moment -before he had been on the verge of -anger, but the sternness melted away in -that silence, and gave place to an -anxious tenderness. Here was a little -human soul committed to his care—how -could he help? how best guide and -train? The long, grave face grew -beautiful in that moment with the -expression which it wore every Sunday -as he gazed around the church at the -beginning of the sermon, noting this -one and that, having a swift realisation -of their needs and failings, and breathing -a prayer to God that He would give to -his lips the right word, to his heart the -right thought to meet the needs of his -people. Evidently sternness and outspoken -blame was not the best way to -touch the girl before him. He must try -another mode.</p> - -<p>"Peggy," he said quietly, "do you -think you realise what a heavy responsibility -we laid upon ourselves when we -undertook the care of you for these -three years? If any accident happened -to you beneath our roof, have you ever -imagined what would be our misery and -remorse at sending the news to your -parents? About their feelings I do not -speak; you can realise them for yourself. -We safeguard you with every -precaution in our power; we pray -morning and night that you may be -preserved in safety; is it too much to -ask that you will do your part by -showing more forethought, and by -exercising some little care in the daily -duties of life? I ask it for our sakes as -well as your own."</p> - -<p>A faint pink flush spread over Peggy's -cheeks; she gulped nervously and raised -her eyes to the Vicar's face. Twice her -lips opened as if to speak, but the -natural reserve, which made it agony to -her to express her deepest feelings, -closed them again before a word had -been spoken. The question was not -answered, but a little hand shot out and -nestled in Mr. Asplin's with a spasmodic -grip which was full of eloquence.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_196" id="Page_196">{196}</a></span></p> - -<p>"Yes, dear, I know you will! I know -you will!" he said, answering the -unspoken promise, and looking down -at her with one of his sweet, kindly -smiles. "It will be a comfort to my -wife as well as myself. She is very -nervous about you. She was upstairs -three times in the night to satisfy -herself that you were well after your -fright, and is too tired herself to come -downstairs this morning. She is always -bright and cheery, but she is not very -strong. You would be sorry to make -her ill."</p> - -<p>No answer, only another grip of the -hand, and a sudden straightening of -the lips as if they were pressed together -to avoid an involuntary trembling. -There is something especially touching -in the sight of restrained emotion, and -as the Vicar thought of his own two -daughters, his heart was very tender -over the girl whose parents were -separated from her by six thousand -miles of land and sea.</p> - -<p>"Well, now, dear, I have said my say -and that is an end of it. I don't like -finding fault, but my dear wife has -thrown that duty on my shoulders by -being too tender-hearted to say a word -of blame even when it is needed. Her -method works very well, as a rule, but -there are occasions when it would be -criminal to withhold a just reprimand." -The Vicar stopped short and a spasm of -laughter crossed his face. Peggy's -fingers had twitched within his own as -he spoke those last two words, and her -eyes had dilated with interest. He -knew as well as if he had been told -that she was gloating over the new -expression, and mentally noting it for -future use. Nothing, however, could -have been sweeter or more natural than -the manner in which she sidled against -him, and murmured—</p> - -<p>"Thank you so much. I am sorry! -I will truly try," and he watched her -out of the room with a smile of tender -amusement.</p> - -<p>"A nice child—a good child—feels -deeply. I can rely upon her to do her -best."</p> - -<p>Robert was hanging about in the -passage, ready, as usual, to fulfil his -vows of support, and Peggy slid her -hand through his arm and sauntered -slowly with him towards the schoolroom. -Like the two girls, he had -been at no loss to understand the -reason of the call to the study, and -would fain have expressed his sympathy, -but Peggy stopped him with -uplifted finger.</p> - -<p>"No, no—he was perfectly right. You -must not blame him. I have been -guilty of reprehensible carelessness, and -merited a reprimand!"</p> - -<p class='center'>(<i>To be continued.</i>)</p> - - - -<hr class="chap" /></div><div> -<div class="figcenter w350"> -<img src="images/i_196.jpg" width="350" height="134" alt="" /> -</div> - - -<h2><a name="SOCIAL_INCIDENTS_IN_THE_LIFE_OF_AN_EAST_END_GIRL" id="SOCIAL_INCIDENTS_IN_THE_LIFE_OF_AN_EAST_END_GIRL">SOCIAL INCIDENTS IN THE LIFE OF AN EAST END GIRL.</a></h2> - - -<h3>PART I.</h3> - -<p class='ph3'>AN EVENING AT A GIRLS' CLUB.</p> - -<p><span class="smcap">I first</span> made Belinda Ann's acquaintance at -a social evening at a club in Bethnal Green to -which I had been invited by the lady who had -instituted it.</p> - -<p>In my innocence and ignorance (for at that -time I was unacquainted with the manners -and customs of the East End) I took my little -roll of music in my hand, thinking I should -be expected to contribute to the evening's -entertainment; but on arrival I found that -this was not necessary, as the girls were quite -capable of amusing themselves and us too.</p> - -<p>On certain occasions a fixed programme was -arranged and carried out by friends from the -West End, but this happened to be an "off -night," when the members did pretty much -as they pleased, my hostess leaving them to -their own devices entirely, and not interfering -unless their spirits threatened to get too -boisterous.</p> - -<p>As she truly said: "You cannot expect the -same manners and etiquette here that you find -among Lady Clara Vere de Vere and her -friends at their aristocratic club near Grosvenor -Square, but my girls have a great sense of -honour and chivalry, and a word from me is -generally sufficient."</p> - -<p>The club-room was at the back of a large, -old-fashioned house which at one time, long, -long ago, stood in its own extensive grounds in -the midst of a peaceful, rural neighbourhood.</p> - -<p>Now it was hemmed in on all sides by -streets and houses teeming with life, and the -only relic of its former grandeur left was a tiny -piece of ground in front.</p> - -<p>Still, a certain air of aristocratic calm hung -about it, and after my recent long drive -through the hot, crowded streets, I breathed a -sigh of relief when the front door closed -behind me and I found myself in the spacious -entrance-hall.</p> - -<p>I followed the neat maid-servant (herself an -East Ender born and bred) along this out -into a little paved yard, which we crossed, -and up a flight of break-neck stairs into the -club-room.</p> - -<p>It was a long, narrow apartment, with a -low platform at one end, and the wooden -walls were hung with gay-coloured bunting -interspersed with various flags, a few pictures -from Christmas numbers, and some framed -texts.</p> - -<p>Odd strips of carpet, matting and rugs, -covered the floor and on these stood small -tables laden with magazines, books and games, -while little chairs stood here and there not in -stiff rows but in conversational attitudes, so to -speak.</p> - -<p>A fixed bench ran all round the walls, a -piano (rather the worse for wear inside and out) -stood in one corner of the platform, and a few -plants in pots disguised by crinkled paper -completed the furniture.</p> - -<p>Judging from the noise that greeted me -when I entered, the lungs of Belinda Ann -and her friends were in fairly good condition, -and I felt distinctly alarmed as I advanced, -for they all turned and stared at me with one -consent, making frank and audible remarks -on my personal appearance and dress.</p> - -<p>The room was crowded with girls, tall and -short, dark and fair, fat and thin, very few of -whom were playing games or reading, but all -of whom were chattering as fast as their -tongues would let them.</p> - -<p>I was relieved when the lady who had -invited me stepped forward to shake hands -and at once piloted me up the room (for she -knew I wanted to learn all I could about my -East End sisters) whispering as she went, -"I'm going to introduce Belinda Ann to you. -You'll find out all you want to know from -her," and next minute I found myself deposited -next a girl who surveyed me with a mixture -of good-humoured contempt and watchful -suspicion.</p> - -<p>The first was due to my small size, the -second to a lurking conviction that I wanted -to patronise, or as she afterwards expressed it, -"Come the toff over her."</p> - -<p>As soon as she found out I was far from -wishing to do this, she became more friendly, -and assured my hostess that she'd take care of -the "lydy."</p> - -<p>Belinda Ann was a head and shoulders -taller than myself and broad in proportion, -although she was only eighteen. She -possessed a quantity of black hair which -came down to her eyebrows in front in a -thick, straight fringe and was beautifully -bright and clean. Brown eyes looked fearlessly -at you from under the fringe, and her -whole manner was that of a girl who, ever -since she could walk, had had to fight for -herself and protect herself, and had done it too.</p> - -<p>You couldn't imagine anyone taking a -liberty with Belinda Ann, although she was -hail-fellow-well-met with everyone.</p> - -<p>She might be a little rough in her manners, -and not always too refined in her speech, but -Belinda Ann had a heart of gold, was as true -as steel to her friends, and thoroughly enjoyed -life, taking the sweet with the bitter, spending -money royally when she had it, and cheerfully -going without when times were bad.</p> - -<p>This evening she was attired in a peacock-blue -cashmere and plush dress, which had -seen its best days, almost covered by a large -apron, not so clean as it had once been, and -surmounted by a limp black straw hat adorned -with some dejected-looking black feathers -without a vestige of curl about them, and -various dirty white flowers which flopped -aimlessly over the brim.</p> - -<p>I noticed that her boots were strong and -good, and that near her lay a thick, handsome -shawl, and in time I learnt that these two -items of dress rank next in importance to the -famous feathers, and that every true East -Ender insists on having them of the best -quality, and pays a good price for them.</p> - -<p>Belinda Ann, meanwhile, having exhausted<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_197" id="Page_197">{197}</a></span> -her interest in me, was turning to exchange -"chaff" with her other neighbour, when, -with an inward gasp, I plunged boldly into -conversation.</p> - -<p>"Do you come here every evening?" I -asked.</p> - -<p>"Depends!" was the abrupt answer, given -in an off-hand, defiant sort of way which -characterised her manner with strangers. -"P'raps I do an' p'raps I don't!" and her -look so plainly added, "What's it to you?" -that I refrained from pursuing the subject.</p> - -<p>"You all seem very lively," I hazarded -next, with a look round.</p> - -<p>"So you'd be to get a chance to do somethin' -beside work!" was the fierce reply.</p> - -<p>This made a capital opening to the question -I was longing to lead up to, -namely, "What do you do all -day?"</p> - -<p>"Oh, I'm engyged in chemistry," -was the proud reply, -accompanied by a visible swelling -of her whole person.</p> - -<p>"Chemistry!" I ejaculated, -rather awe-struck at finding her -so clever.</p> - -<p>"'Ere, don't you believe -'er!" struck in a fair, florid -girl next her on the other side. -"She's bluffin' yer! She only -sticks the lybels on the bottles -at the cord-liver oil factry over -the wy."</p> - -<p>Whereupon Belinda Ann, -with perfect good-humour, -made a grab at the other's hat -and a friendly little tussle ensued, -accompanied by shrieks -of laughter and a brisk interchange -of chaff.</p> - -<p>As soon as this interlude -was over and they had once -more settled down, I took -up the thread of conversation -again.</p> - -<p>"And are all these girls -engaged in sticking——I -mean, in the chemistry?" I -inquired.</p> - -<p>"No," she retorted; "some's -jam an' some's pickles, but the -jams are a low lot!" and the -air of inexpressible scorn with -which she said it would not -have disgraced a West End -beauty alluding to another, -"who is not in our set, my -dear."</p> - -<p>I began to think my hostess -had made a mistake in assigning -me to Belinda Ann, as the latter -seemed more disposed to snub -me than anything else, and I -was rather relieved when the -piano struck up and the girls -began to dance.</p> - -<p>There were no men present, -but this did not at all interfere with their -happiness, and I sat lost in amazement at -their extraordinary agility and wonderful steps.</p> - -<p>Belinda Ann (or as I heard her friends call -her, Blinderann) was in no wise behind the -others, and sprang hither and thither with the -best.</p> - -<p>My hostess sank into a seat beside me and -murmured apologetically—</p> - -<p>"I let them do this to work off a little -of their exuberant spirits, for they would never -sit still a whole evening, and would fight -probably if they had no other outlet. Some -nights, if there is any specially good concert or -entertainment, I allow each girl to bring one -male relative or friend, but oddly enough they -don't often avail themselves of the permission. -On an informal evening like this, when there -are only girls, I don't think a little physical -exercise does them any harm, and it tires them -out so that they will listen to anything I have -to say to them afterwards. If I drew the rein -too tight, they would all disperse to the four -winds and I should never get hold of them -again."</p> - -<p>I agreed, and presently seeing a girl leaning -up against the wall, I plucked up courage and -asked her if she would care to have me as a -partner.</p> - -<p>She seemed slightly surprised, but consented -graciously, and we took a few turns together.</p> - -<p>I flattered myself I had got on fairly well, -and felt so elated at my success that by-and-by -I sought Belinda Ann, who was fanning -herself vigorously with her hat, and requested -the pleasure.</p> - -<div class="figcenter w350"> -<img src="images/i_197.jpg" width="350" height="486" alt="" /> -<div class="caption">ENVY.</div> -</div> - -<p>Her answer rather stunned me.</p> - -<p>"No, thank'ee. I've been watchin' yer -an' your style won't do fer me!"</p> - -<p>Before I had time to reply she was off -again, taking part in some very pretty figures -in which narrow coloured ribbons were plaited -and unplaited as the girls holding the ends -moved hither and thither.</p> - -<p>As soon as everyone was thoroughly tired -and disposed to sit quiet for half an hour or -so, a girl (a stranger from the West End like -myself) was asked by the hostess to play -something, and accordingly, thinking as I -should have done, that they preferred lively -tunes, sat down and began to rattle off some -"catchy" popular airs.</p> - -<p>She was unceremoniously stopped by -Belinda Ann—</p> - -<p>"'Ere, we don't want that rot!"</p> - -<p>"Oh," mildly replied the unfortunate -pianist, not quite knowing what to say; "I -thought you liked variety?"</p> - -<p>"No, we don't," retorted the other, misunderstanding -her and thinking she meant -the music hall close by; "the V'riety costs -tuppence an' we can't 'ford it."</p> - -<p>"Well, what would you like?" was the -inquiry.</p> - -<p>"Give us 'We are rout on the ocean syling,' -or 'God be with you till we meet agyne,'" -and this request being complied with, these -favourite hymns were shouted out at the top of -their voices, Belinda Ann's in particular being -like a clarion.</p> - -<p>After this a diversion was created by one of -the "pickles" volunteering a recitation which -she gave with a good deal of -dramatic power; then another -girl sang a little song, and -Belinda Ann followed with a -second, and so the evening wore -away to its close; but I felt dissatisfied, -for I seemed no nearer -attaining my object than before.</p> - -<p>Taking the opportunity, I -forcibly detained Belinda Ann -as she was drifting by, and -diffidently observed—</p> - -<p>"You've told me what you -work at, but how do you amuse -yourself?"</p> - -<p>"'Ow? There ain't much -difficulty 'bout that!" she returned -scornfully. "There's -this sort o' thing, an' bank -'ollerdys, an' weddins, an' -funerals, an' launchin' ships, -an'——-"</p> - -<p>"I wish you'd let me go -with you to some of these!" I -eagerly interrupted.</p> - -<p>She looked dubiously at me -for a minute, thinking I was -joking, but seeing I was in -earnest, remarked casually—</p> - -<p>"Well, I don't mind ef I -do, but it's a bit rough sometimes -fer the likes o' you."</p> - -<p>"Oh, I sha'n't mind," I -joyfully replied. "When can -I begin?"</p> - -<p>"A friend o' mine's goin' to -be married the dy after ter-morrer," -she said graciously. -"I could get yer an invite, if -yer liked."</p> - -<p>"Do!" was my ecstatic response. -"Where shall we -meet?"</p> - -<p>"'Ere," she returned. "Yer -can't go wanderin' about these -streets by yerself, an' it -wouldn't do fer your grand -friends to see me a-knockin' at -your door!"</p> - -<p>I was trying in vain to assure -her that she was quite wrong, -when she suddenly rammed her hat viciously -down on her head, slung her shawl round -her like a woollen whirlwind, and with the -brief remark, "G'night," was gone. I -also soon afterwards took my leave, having -first told my hostess about the proposed -expedition.</p> - -<p>She looked a little anxious, but her face -cleared when she heard that Belinda Ann was -coming with me.</p> - -<p>"That's all right," she observed, with a -sigh of relief. "She's to be trusted to see -that you come to no harm; but don't leave -her for a minute, and don't wear jewellery or -carry much money."</p> - -<p>I promised, and went home full of anticipation -at the idea of the new world about to -open before my delighted eyes.</p> - -<p class='center'>(<i>To be continued.</i>)</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> -</div><div> -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_198" id="Page_198">{198}</a></span></p> - - - - -<h2><a name="QUEENS_AS_NEEDLEWOMEN" id="QUEENS_AS_NEEDLEWOMEN">QUEENS AS NEEDLEWOMEN.</a></h2> - -<p class='ph3'><span class="smcap">By</span> EMMA BREWER.</p> - - -<h3>CHAPTER III.</h3> - -<div> -<img class="drop-cap" src="images/i_198.jpg" width="125" height="184" alt="" /> -</div> - -<p class="drop-cap"><span class="upper-case">After</span> the death of Jean -D'Albret a hundred -years or more passed before -any Queen distinguished -herself specially -as a needlewoman, and -by the time Queen Mary, -Princess of Orange, came to the -throne, needlework as an employment -for the high-born had quite -gone out of fashion.</p> - -<p>She, however, seemed to have -the love of it born in her. Every -hour not occupied with devotion and business -was spent by her in all kinds of needlework; -in fact, she worked so well and so constantly -that one might have supposed she was earning -her daily bread.</p> - -<p>She regarded idleness as the greatest -corrupter of human nature, and she believed -that if the mind had no employment it would -create some of the worst sort for itself.</p> - -<p>She tried to impress this upon the ladies of -her Court, who had fallen into sad habits of -idleness which, she assured them, not only -wasted their time, but exposed them to many -temptations.</p> - -<p>It was to remedy this and to imbue them -with her love of work that she assembled her -ladies every day and worked with them for -two or three hours, and while thus employed, -one was appointed to read aloud some -interesting book.</p> - -<p>As usual, the Queen's example was followed -by all classes of women and girls in the -kingdom, and it became as much the fashion -to work as it had been to be idle.</p> - -<p>This example came in the very nick of time, -for it was stated on good authority, that -"women had become quite mischievous from -lack of employment."</p> - -<p>This action of the Queen, which seems but -a small thing, was in reality a great step -towards bettering the age.</p> - -<p>For proofs of this Queen's own beautiful -work, one has only to go to Hampton Court -Palace where much of it is still to be seen.</p> - -<p>(Before leaving the seventeenth century, I -should like to mention a quaint fact. It is, -that a Catherine Sloper is buried in the -cloisters of Westminster Abbey—date 1620. -Her epitaph is, "Exquisite at her needle." I -thought it so curious, standing alone as it does.)</p> - -<p>Coming to the middle of the eighteenth -century, we find a group of royal needlewomen, -most of whom found help and -comfort in the art of needlework.</p> - -<p>What, for example, would poor Marie -Antoinette, wife of Louis XVI., have done -without it in prison, or Josephine, wife of -Napoleon, in her retirement, or Queen -Charlotte in her domestic sorrow?</p> - -<p>To begin with Marie Antoinette. She was -devoted to needlework, even in her happy and -prosperous days. In her own private room at -Versailles the low chairs surrounding that in -which she usually sat were always full of -workbaskets and bags containing wools, silks, -and canvas; these, together with the -beautiful designs for the tapestry, were -bought at the firm of Dubuquoy.</p> - -<p>The Queen's hands were never idle; she -was like a busy bee always at work even when -chatting with friends and visitors or waiting -with her bonnet on for the King to walk with -her.</p> - -<p>Not only was she clever at embroidery and -tapestry, but she could both mend and make -her dresses, her mantles, and under-linen; -she could also trim her hats and mend her shoes.</p> - -<p>Madame Elizabeth, her sister-in-law, who -was with her all through her sorrow, was -equally clever with her needle, and the two -together have left some beautiful work in silk -and wool on canvas.</p> - -<p>When she quitted her life at Versailles, she -did not give up her needlework; but inquietude -and anxiety assailed her as she feverishly -sorted her wools in the Tuileries, hearing all -the time the menaces and threats of the -howling crowd outside.</p> - -<p>Both in the Tuileries and in the Temple -the Queen and Madame Elizabeth did very -simple work, that is to say, work not requiring -concentration of thought, which would have -been impossible for them under the circumstances. -One can picture them, silent and sad, -with heads bent and speaking little, while -their needles passed in and out the canvas -watered with tears.</p> - -<p>Yet so long as they were allowed to work -there was some comfort left them, something -wherewith to beguile the time.</p> - -<p>Pauline de Tourzelle, the daughter of the -governess, was taken with the Royal Family -when they were imprisoned in the Temple, -but she had no dress save that she had on. -As some of Madame Elizabeth's clothes had -arrived, she gave the girl one of her dresses, -but it did not fit her, therefore the Queen -and Madame Elizabeth set to work and -re-made it.</p> - -<p>One of the pieces of work Marie Antoinette -did in the Temple fell into the hands of the -Bernard family at Lille, by whom it is greatly -treasured.</p> - -<p>The account of the way the Royal Family -passed their time in the Temple is very -pathetic. When at four o'clock the King -slept in his arm-chair, the Queen and Princesses -worked at their tapestry or knitting, -while the little Dauphin learnt his lessons, -and after the King had retired for the night -they mended their clothes or those of the -King and the Dauphin.</p> - -<p>It is stated that the King's coat became -ragged, and as Madame Elizabeth mended it, -she had to bite off the thread with her teeth, -as the scissors had been taken away.</p> - -<p>So long as they were allowed to employ -themselves with needlework there was comfort -for them, and yet more, for by their work -they were able to keep up some sort of -correspondence with their friends outside the -prison. It is just possible that the jailors -had a suspicion of this. Anyhow, the time -came when all their sewing materials and -tools were taken from them and they were -desolate indeed.</p> - -<p>Subsequently when Marie Antoinette was -removed to the Conciergerie, a place of confinement -of the lowest order, her suffering -was greatly increased at not being allowed to -work. The jailors refused even knitting-needles. -At length the thought came to her -of drawing out some threads from the stuffing -of her bed, which, with two wooden skewers, -she knitted into garters.</p> - -<p>Some of the work done by Marie Antoinette -and Madame Elizabeth during the last two -years of their lives is still in existence, and -consists of hangings six feet by four. The -groundwork of the tapestry is in black wool, -with bouquets of flowers, roses, pinks, and -convolvulus, on coarse canvas.</p> - -<p>Some of these hangings were acquired by -Rome in 1881.</p> - -<p>The Empress Josephine, wife of Napoleon -Buonaparte, both loved and excelled in the -art of needlework, and it certainly was of the -greatest possible comfort and solace to her -during the years of her retirement.</p> - -<p>Like Marie Antoinette, she always worked -at her embroidery or tapestry when receiving -her most intimate friends, and chatting with -them late in the evening.</p> - -<p>After her separation from Napoleon she -took up her abode in beautiful Malmaison, -where, between botany and needlework, she -spent most of her time. The hangings of the -saloon were entirely her own work, and the -exquisite furniture of her drawing-room was -upholstered in embroidery and tapestry worked -by herself and her ladies in previous happy years.</p> - -<p>Needlework was not infrequently put on -one side during the evening hours, in order -that Josephine, her ladies, and guests, might -make lint for the Sisters of Charity, who were -greatly in need of it for the wounded soldiers.</p> - -<p>We now come to our Queen Charlotte, -wife of George III. Had it not been for the -intense delight she took in the cultivation of -decorative needlework, the art itself might -have been forgotten.</p> - -<p>She was not only very fond of needlework, -but exceedingly anxious that the Princesses -should excel in the art.</p> - -<p>In the room where she usually sat with her -family were some cane-bottom chairs, and as -an amusement in their play hours she taught -the little Princesses the different stitches on -this rough substitute for canvas. As the -children grew older a portion of each day was -devoted to needlework, and with their mother -for teacher they became very accomplished -needlewomen.</p> - -<p>The Queen herself embroidered the dresses -which the Princesses wore on the coming of -age of the Prince of Wales. They were -white crêpe embroidered with silver.</p> - -<p>She worked several sets of chairs, which are -now at Frogmore and Windsor. These she -did in her early days. Later in life she employed -herself almost entirely with knitting.</p> - -<p>The Princess Royal, when only ten years -old, was such an accomplished needlewoman -that she worked a suit of rich embroidery for -her brother, the Prince of Wales, which he -wore on his birthday.</p> - -<p>Queen Charlotte used to find the strict -English Sunday hang heavily on her hands. -Her industrious fingers "ached," as she said, -"for employment. If I read all day my poor -eyes get tired. I do not like to go to sleep, -so I lock my door that nobody may be shocked, -and take my knitting for a little while, and -then I read a good book again."</p> - -<p>Her chief delight was needlework. When -in the morning the weather was unfavourable, -her Majesty occupied herself with needlework, -and in the afternoon she worked while the -King read to her.</p> - -<p>When it was known that the British troops -in Holland required flannel waistcoats to -screen them from the severe cold and insalubrity -of the soil, the Queen Charlotte sent -to London immediately for a large quantity of -flannel, and she and the elder Princesses cut -out several dozens on the very day it was sent. -The poor in the neighbourhood of Windsor -were employed in making the waistcoats.</p> - -<p>One of her most important acts in connection -with needlework was the establishment of an -institution for training and educating in an -accomplished manner the daughters of poor -clergy and decayed tradesmen.</p> - -<p>She purchased a house and grounds in -Buckinghamshire, where a lady of high attainments -was placed at a salary of £500 a year -to instruct the pupils in plain needlework, -embroidery, and tapestry.</p> - -<p>The work done in this institution was -exquisite. For example, the dresses worn at -Court on New Year's Day, 1787, by Queen -Charlotte and the two elder Princesses were -made there. The state bed of Queen Charlotte, -together with several ottomans now in<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_199" id="Page_199">{199}</a></span> -Hampton Court Palace, which are highly-finished -pieces of embroidery, were executed -by the pupils in this school.</p> - -<p>Few people knew how much good Queen -Charlotte did in a quiet way.</p> - -<p>One never thinks of Catherine II. of Russia -as devoting any time to needlework, yet we -find that she worked and presented to Voltaire -a likeness of herself, which he placed in his -chamber at Ferney. It is still in existence in -Ferney, but very much faded, and instead of -hanging on the wall as formerly in the place -of honour, it is now placed in a dark corner of -the room.</p> - -<p>Once again needlework took a back place -until our Queen Adelaide introduced it as a -fashion, and required of all ladies who were -invited guests at her Court that they should -be good needlewomen, otherwise she could -not receive them.</p> - -<p>It was a bold thing to do even for a queen, -but it turned out well, causing ladies who took -it up for convenience to become skilled workers -and to like the occupation. Queen Adelaide -herself was a beautiful needlewoman, and set -an example to all her people.</p> - -<p>Thus we have seen how our queens have -kept alive the useful and ornamental art of -needlework—an art invented by woman and -kept going by her for the necessities, comfort, -and ornament of the whole peoples of the world.</p> - -<p>Dr. Johnson says: "Women have a great -advantage, viz., that they may take up with -little things without disgracing themselves; a -man cannot except by fiddling." I suppose -he refers to needlework.</p> - -<p>It is an occupation that allows the thoughts -and tongue of the worker full liberty; indeed, -it is woman's pretty excuse for thought.</p> - -<p>We have noted its power in the lives of -the highest of the land—how it soothes -sorrow, calms the troubled mind, and causes -solitary hours to pass more pleasantly, and, -as asserted by some rude man, it keeps us -women out of mischief. But whatever it -does or does not do, it is without doubt -a gentle, graceful, elegant, and feminine -occupation.</p> - -<p>These papers would not be complete without -mentioning the work of our dear Queen -Victoria, who in her moments of leisure knits -warm garments for the poor. These may -be seen in many a cottage round about -Balmoral.</p> - - -<hr class="chap" /></div><div> - -<h2><a name="CHRONICLES_OF_AN_ANGLO-CALIFORNIAN_RANCH" id="CHRONICLES_OF_AN_ANGLO-CALIFORNIAN_RANCH">CHRONICLES OF AN ANGLO-CALIFORNIAN RANCH.</a></h2> - -<p class='ph3'><span class="smcap">By</span> MARGARET INNES.</p> - - -<h3>CHAPTER III.</h3> - -<p class='ph3'>THE JOURNEY DOWN SOUTH. HOUSEKEEPING. -CHINAMEN.</p> - -<p><span class="smcap">The</span> journey from San Francisco to San -Miguel, some six hundred miles, we took by -steamer, and it was the most delightful -episode of all our Californian experiences. It -was the month of April, and with exquisite -weather; the sea was like a pond, so calm -and still; the sun was not too hot, and there -were numberless interesting living things to -watch as we moved along the summer sea. -Several enormous whales went past, generally -in couples, their great fat backs rising out of the -water side by side, and passing our boat swiftly -and with the greatest ease, when we would -see them in a few moments, far in the distance, -spurting up big fountains of spray. Not far -off from the whales were generally flocks of -the tiny whale birds, which seemed to use these -monsters as their jackals, feeding greedily on -the shoals of fish they drive before them, so -greedily indeed, that many of them were too -gorged and heavy to rise out of the water and -our way, but, after a helpless attempt, would -duck under only just in time. The flying fish -were more alert, and would rise away out of -the water, going many yards through the air -before dropping again into the sea, and -glittering with every rainbow colour in the -sunshine.</p> - -<p>The coast scenery is not beautiful; it is too -bare and dry-looking, especially after passing -Santa Barbara, but the glamour of the southern -sun is over everything, and gives all a caressing -smile, at any rate, from a distance. It was a -delight to see these wonderful effects again, -and we felt glad to be once more in the warm -sunshine.</p> - -<p>When we arrived at the bay of San Miguel -late in the afternoon of the fourth day, it -looked so radiantly beautiful in the soft glow -of the setting sun, as if it might indeed be the -gate into a real land of promise; a land -flowing with milk and honey.</p> - -<p>It is a splendid bay, and the position of the -town is quite ideal, and though the most has -not been made of its possibilities, many -improvements are going on steadily. Given -money and taste, it should be one of the most -lovely places in the world.</p> - -<p>We found comfortable rooms in a boarding-house, -and settled down to rest awhile from -searching and questioning. The boys went -to school as in San Francisco. These free -State schools are exceedingly good. The -teachers are among the most charming ladies -we have met, and the plan of using the same -books, and the same system of teaching all -over the State, saves much loss of time, since -a child coming to a new school can at once be -placed in exactly the same position where he -left off, in his former school, some three -hundred miles away.</p> - -<p>But in spite of our determination to let -ourselves drift for a time, we were very soon -drawn into the same old probing and exploring, -more especially as we were delighted -with the climate of San Miguel. On the -strength of this, and because our English -hearts were hungering for some place more -homelike than any boarding-house can ever -be, we took a little house, hired the necessary -furniture, and began our first experiences of -Chinamen as general servants.</p> - -<p>We had the most wonderful procession of -Celestials through the little kitchen before we -left that wee house. There was no room -convenient for the Chinaman's bedroom, -without giving him one close to our own, -which was not to be thought of, so the -arrangement was, that when supper was over, -and the work done, he should retire to -Chinatown, coming back in good time in the -morning to get breakfast and do his other -duties. He seemed quite pleased with this -plan, and we got along swimmingly for a -fortnight. Then he dropped the news casually -to me that he was going to Los Angeles the -next day. When I exclaimed at the shortness -of the notice, he beamed all over, and said, "Me -bling other boy, him allie lightie, him stay."</p> - -<p>Before I had quite made up my mind what -to do, I heard breathless jabbering in the -kitchen, and on going in there, was introduced -by Sing Lee to Quong Wong, our new cook. -Both of them were very friendly and smiling. -No. 1 was showing No. 2 where everything -was kept, and giving him what sounded like -most eloquent instructions about his duties, -both of them being very grave and business-like -over this. I did not seem to be needed, -and so quietly went back to the sitting-room. -Supper was prepared and cooked by the two -together to an unending accompaniment of -Chinese chatter.</p> - -<p>This was the beginning of the procession. -Some men stayed a week, others three weeks -or a month, and each brought and carefully -installed his successor, I taking no part whatever, -except to learn a new Chinese name. -We had tall fat fellows, tall lean ones, little -dumpy ones and spare wiry ones; all of them -clever and quick beyond anything I had ever -seen or known. They keep themselves exquisitely -neat, in their white linen coats and -aprons, which seem always to remain spotless. -Their hands are perfectly fascinating; such -delicate tapering fingers, and such a masterly -way of touching everything. One member of -the profession, I remember, who had the most -dainty taper fingers, was very fond of music, -and, seeing that I was interested, sat down -very simply at my Broadwood grand (the only -piece of furniture which we had brought from -Frisco) and played some hymns quite nicely. -He used to sing, too, at his work—all day—in -a curious high falsetto, of which he seemed -very proud. He had learnt to play the piano -at the mission schools, where many of them -go, and are converted—so they say. But they -find the free lessons in English, which are -given there, so cheap and convenient, that -their motives in being converted are rather -mixed. When he left me, it was to go the -very next day to San Francisco on most -important business, so he said. That, of -course, was only the usual way of giving -notice, and did not prevent his greeting me -smilingly whenever I chanced to meet him in -the streets of San Miguel. He came to the -rescue also, when, through some hitch, the -chain of succession was broken, and I was left -to struggle alone in my little kitchen, and he -stayed with me till he could find another -"boy." I began to be haunted by a story I -had heard often repeated. A certain lady -was much puzzled and distressed because she -could never keep any Chinaman beyond a few -days; they would arrive, smiling and seemingly -much pleased with everything, but invariably -on the third or fourth day they would insist -upon leaving at once. At last, in despair, -the poor mistress persuaded her Chinaman to -explain the mystery to her, before he had -carried himself and his bundle away.</p> - -<p>He led her to a dark corner of the kitchen, -and showed her some Chinese writing high up -on the wall, which be interpreted, "too much -talkee here." That was all. But it had been -enough to upset all the comfort of the -household.</p> - -<p>Probably after that she took the hint and -let her Chinaman do the work in his own way, -with as few words or instructions from her as -possible. They are so marvellously clever in -taking up the work of a new place the very -moment they arrive, exactly as though they -had been always in this one house only, that -it is no wonder they resent any interference; -and the sooner one learns to leave them -entirely to themselves, the sooner one reaches -some kind of peace.</p> - -<p>However, I found to my relief, that no -secret sign had gone out against myself or the -house; the difficulty was the long daily walk -to Chinatown. With their small feet and -uncomfortable shoes, they are all bad walkers, -and each in turn had tired of the effort, and -handed the place over to a friend. This -explanation, kindly given me by Mr. Kee -Mane, who kept the Chinese stores, lifted a -weight from my mind, and I resigned myself to -continuing my lessons in fresh Chinese names.</p> - -<p class='center'>(<i>To be continued.</i>)</p> - -<hr class="chap" /></div><div> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_200" id="Page_200">{200}</a></span></p> - -<div class="figcenter w500"> -<img src="images/i_200.jpg" width="500" height="363" alt="" /> -<div class="caption">A WINTER NIGHT.</div> -</div> - - - -<hr class="chap" /></div><div> -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_201" id="Page_201">{201}</a></span></p> - -<h2><a name="A_CAROL_OF_FOOTPRINTS" id="A_CAROL_OF_FOOTPRINTS">A CAROL OF FOOTPRINTS.</a></h2> - -<p class='ph3'><span class="smcap">By</span> NORA HOPPER.</p> - - -<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> -<span class="i0">'<span class="smcap">Twixt</span> snow and snow in their poor apparel<br /></span> -<span class="i0">The singers come with their lightsome carol,<br /></span> -<span class="i2">On Christmas Day, on Christmas Day.<br /></span> -<span class="i0">The singers come in a huddled crowd<br /></span> -<span class="i0">Singing "Gloria" low and "Gloria" loud,<br /></span> -<span class="i2">On Christmas Day in the morning.<br /></span> -</div><div class="stanza"> -<span class="i0">Under the tread of so many feet<br /></span> -<span class="i0">Snow turns mud in the lamplit street,<br /></span> -<span class="i2">On Christmas Day, on Christmas Day.<br /></span> -<span class="i0">Yet you may see while the dawn endure<br /></span> -<span class="i0">Shining footsteps from door to door,<br /></span> -<span class="i2">On Christmas Day in the morning.<br /></span> -</div><div class="stanza"> -<span class="i0">Shining prints of a little child,<br /></span> -<span class="i0">Feet in the mud set, undefiled,<br /></span> -<span class="i2">On Christmas Day, on Christmas Day.<br /></span> -<span class="i0">A little while do the footprints stay<br /></span> -<span class="i0">Till the clear dawn deepens to rosy day,<br /></span> -<span class="i2">To Christmas Day in the morning.<br /></span> -</div><div class="stanza"> -<span class="i0">And those who have looked on the footprints bright,<br /></span> -<span class="i0">They know, in the dusk 'twixt day and night,<br /></span> -<span class="i2">(On Christmas Day, on Christmas Day,)<br /></span> -<span class="i0">That Christ has passed with the passing feet<br /></span> -<span class="i0">Of folk that praised Him in carols sweet<br /></span> -<span class="i2">On Christmas Day in the morning.<br /></span> -</div></div> - -<div class="figcenter w450"> -<img src="images/i_201.jpg" width="450" height="120" alt="" /> -</div> - -<hr class="chap" /></div><div> - - -<h2><a name="LESSONS_FROM_NATURE" id="LESSONS_FROM_NATURE">LESSONS FROM NATURE.</a></h2> - -<p class='ph3'><span class="smcap">By</span> JEAN A. OWEN, Author of "Forest, Field and Fell," etc.</p> - - -<h3>PART III.</h3> - -<p class='ph3'>THE PERSEVERING SPIDER.</p> - -<div class="figcenter w200"> -<img src="images/i_201b.jpg" width="200" height="236" alt="" /> -</div> - -<p><span class="smcap">Can</span> any pleasant moral lesson be learned -from the spider? I fancy some of our readers -asking—the spider, whom many regard as the -most treacherous, cruel, and unrelenting of -those creatures who lie in wait for prey? By -the song "Will you walk into my parlour? -said the spider to the fly," in the nursery, -several generations of children have been -early prejudiced against this useful and most -intelligent insect.</p> - -<p>When they are a little older, it is true, -the spider is held up to them as a wonderful -example of perseverance in that story -of King Robert the Bruce, who, when he -was banished from his country, lying in concealment -in a miserable hovel, and considering -whether it would not be well to give up -the struggle to secure his own, and with it -restore freedom to his country, was attracted -by the sight of a spider hanging at the end of -a thread and trying to swing from one part of -the cabin roof to another in order there to fix -its line. Six times whilst the King watched -it attempted to do this and failed. The -Bruce remembered then that he also had -made just six attempts—that is, fought six -battles with his enemies, and without success. -"Now," thought he, "if that spider tries a -seventh time and succeeds, I will take it as a -good omen for myself, and will also try my -fortune a seventh time." The spider reached -the beam, and Bruce went forth to victory -after victory.</p> - -<p>The disgust aroused by the spider is by no -means a just one, and the fear some people -have of these insects is most unreasonable and -absurd. In tropical countries the bites of -some are dangerous, but not nearly so much -so as is supposed. Our own spiders are -harmless enough. I never destroy the webs -they make in my garden, the circular nets -which they stretch from one branch to -another, which are considered by experts to -show a perfection of weaving, whilst those -webs which are woven in odd corners of our -dwellings reveal an intelligence in their -arrangement which is perfectly marvellous. I -heard a clever man say lately that spiders -were the greatest engineers in the world.</p> - -<p>In some corner of your room you may -study the horizontal net, covered with dust, -perhaps, which is the base of the structure. -Irregularly-crossed threads above this -cause the prey to become entangled, and its -end is inevitable. Most ingenious is the den -in which the hunter is hidden in waiting. -It consists of a circular tunnel with a double -outlet. One of these, being horizontal, opens -on to the web. The other is vertical, with -a passage below, which serves as a trapdoor, -whilst from the former the spider darts out -on his prey. As soon as a fly has been -destroyed—its blood sucked—it is seized by -its captor and dragged to the tunnel to be -thrown out at the trapdoor. This is no -doubt lest the <i>débris</i> should alarm other flies. -The hunter can also escape itself, when -necessary, by this exit. This does not often -happen, perhaps, and the main use of the -trapdoor, says M. Pouchet, an interesting -French naturalist, is to get rid of the remains -of the spider's repasts.</p> - -<p>"The poison apparatus of spiders," says -the same author, "is precisely analogous to -that of serpents, only it is of microscopic size. -It possesses mobile teeth, hollow fangs which -distil the poison into the wound, and this is -secreted by a peculiar gland situated in the -interior of the palpi attached to the under -jaws which effect the bite. In the large -tropical species this lethal fluid is so active -that it kills in an instant animals of a far -superior size, and is often employed against -the birds which the spiders seize on the -trees." The so-called Bird-eating Spider -attacks the lovely humming-birds. It is -called the Great Spider in South America, -and its cocoon is three inches long and one -broad.</p> - -<p>Thinking of the creatures of prey and their -quarry is always a painful subject. Yet we -know surely that the all-wise Creator would -not order the balance of nature to be kept up -in this way if it involved cruelty. There is -cruelty in some of the methods of vivisection—in -the horrible way, for instance, in which -one French scientist at least has studied and -tested by torture how far a poor loving -mother dog will bear being maimed, before it -can be induced to leave its offspring. And -there is a brutality, as demoralising to the men -who have to carry out their master's orders in -felling oxen for the market, as it is torturing to -the poor beasts. Nature's methods of killing -are, as a rule, mercifully rapid. It seems to -be a part of the Creator's plan that some of -His creatures should live on the rest, and -"some," says a thoughtful writer on God's -providence, "have suggested that such a -state of things implies a reflection upon the -Divine goodness, ... but by the means<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_202" id="Page_202">{202}</a></span> -now specified some classes of animals are held -in check which would otherwise so multiply as -to become an intolerable nuisance."</p> - -<p>And so we consider with complacence the -fact that the cat kills the mouse, the owl -catches up the field vole and the beetle; the -swallow rids the air of insect pests which -would render life intolerable, the ladybird -lives on the aphides that devour our plants—those -fat green insects which destroy our -roses and honeysuckle.</p> - -<p>The spider does his own appointed work in -a way which shows astute intelligence. Death -is the common lot, and most of the creatures -preyed on pass swiftly away in the full height -of enjoyment without lingering sickness or -decay. I have known a spider's web put -to a very odd purpose by a lady I knew -well in New Zealand, a very successful -poultry rearer. When her chickens had "the -pip," she declared that she cured them by a -buttered pill consisting of spiders' webs. And -I have known also Chinamen give dying men, -as a last remedy, a tiny chicken pounded up in -a mortar, bones, feathers, and all, and welded -into a huge pill. They declared that it often -cured when all else had failed. But this is a -digression.</p> - -<p>To return to our spiders. Besides the geometric -spiders (<i>sic</i>) we have the gossamer -spiders, little creatures that make floating -webs in the air and on the ground in the -autumn. These avail themselves cleverly of -the currents of air in attaching their lines, -raising their arms to test the direction of the -light winds. Her webs are often destroyed -by rain or wind, or broken by some large -creature like a bee or a wasp getting entangled -in one; but the patient worker is not -so discouraged as to give up. She patiently -fasts, until the damage is repaired. And -spiders seem to be weather prophets, for it -has been stated that when it threatens to -become wet and stormy, the outdoor spider -will make the threads which support its net -short, but if they expect finer, settled weather, -these will be long. As is the case with ants, -some species are more provident than others, -and one has been described which suspended -its prey in the meshes above and below the -centre of the net, having quite a well-stocked -larder. In the Fen countries a raft of a ball -of weeds, held together by slight silken -threads or cords, is often observed, on which -the spider floats down a stream in quest of -drowning insects.</p> - -<p>The "Mason Spider's" home consists of a -hole several inches deep in the ground, and -perfectly cylindrical. It is lined with hangings. -The one nearest the rough sides is thick, and -carelessly woven. Over this, like a skilful -decorator, he places a hanging of fine silk, -carefully wrought. The door or lid of this -dwelling is furnished with a cushion of silk -inside, whilst above it is made of the same -material as the soil, so that when the master -is at home there is nothing to reveal that fact, -his door being closed. Layers of earth and -silk compose the lid.</p> - -<p>Kate Dalrymple, as the old Scottish ballad -tells us, was "Aye eident and thrifty." -Eident is a rare word, expressive of great -perseverance and application. "To be called -eident and thrifty" was the greatest commendation -to the good graces of the desired -mother-in-law. I am not sure, however, -apart from this, that it is always a very -desirable thing to be coveted as a wished-for -daughter-in-law. A very shrewd friend of -mine, a witty Scotchwoman, when young -was told that the mother of one of her suitors -was very anxious that she should marry him. -"'Deed," said the girl, "I'd sooner marry a -man whose mother was not so anxious to get -him married." And she was quite right.</p> - -<p>But to be persevering as well as brave, and -to be gifted with physical energy and endurance, -is a rare endowment for any woman. Mrs. -Scott Gatty, in one of her stories, tells -of a preacher who used to say, "Girls, be -brave; boys, be pure." I used to hear this -story many years before, as a child. It was -told then of an old superintendent of a Sunday-school. -He would say, "Boys, they bid you -be brave and girls be pure; but I say, Girls -be brave and boys be pure." Then the world -would be far on in a better way than it is -now.</p> - -<p>"The spider taketh hold with her hands, -and is in kings' palaces," says the wise man in -Proverbs xxx. 28. What a picture in a few -simple words of the industry, courage and -perseverance with which this little creature is -gifted! and of the reward which would seem -to be implied. Shall we seem to be straining -the image if we allow our thoughts to be -carried by this picture to the home of our -heavenly King, where, as we are promised, -our eyes shall see Him "in His beauty"? "To -patient faith," says the hymn, "the prize is -sure."</p> - -<p>The spider, we might say, is essentially -of an aspiring nature. She weaves her net -high up in corners where the duster and broom -of the busy housemaid will not easily reach -her. She fasts long and is not drawn away -from the spot where she expects to get the -reward of her patience. Many of us can -work hard and well by fits and starts, but we -weary of sustained effort, and we are "found -sleeping." Or like the pilgrims to the Celestial -City we are tempted to stray and delight ourselves -in flowery "Bypath meadows." Play, -healthy recreation, we must have, but it must -be such as helps us in the race of life and -not such as weakens our purpose and hinders -us from reaching the desired goal. I look -back sometimes on the companions of my -girlhood, and I must often acknowledge that -certain boys and girls whom we were wont to -reproach as being dull plodders, have beaten -many of their fellows in the battle of life.</p> - -<p>There is a species of spider which carries, -attached to her body, a round, white, silky bag -of eggs, just about as big as a pea. It is -heavy, but nothing would induce the affectionate -mother to part with it. The French -naturalist, Bonnet, in order to test this love -for her offspring, once threw such a mother -spider into the hole of an ant-lion, in the sand -where the great insect lay in hiding for its -prey. The poor spider tried to run away but -the ant-lion caught at the bag of eggs and -tried to drag it under the sand. At last he -succeeded in breaking the gluten by which her -bag was attached to her. Instantly the spider -seized this in her jaws and she struggled hard -to bear it away. It was in vain however; her -precious burden was dragged under. Then -the poor mother might have escaped with her -own life, but she preferred death to the loss -of her offspring, and if the naturalist had not -taken her out of the pit she would have been -buried with them. She would not leave the -spot however, although Bonnet tried to make -her do so, by moving her with a little twig, -over and over again. In reading this one -cannot help wishing that she had not been so -tortured. Some of our scientists, as I said -before, have pushed their studies of moral -qualities in the so-called brute world to a most -unjustifiable extent, it would seem.</p> - -<p>When the young of this affectionate mother -are hatched, and they have got out of the bag -where they were kept so safely, they attach -themselves to her body. She carries them -everywhere she goes and feeds them until -they are able to fend for themselves.</p> - -<p>Referring to persevering industry, we recall -the pretty story of William Cobbett's courtship -and marriage, as told by Dr. Smiles, -from his "Life." Cobbett was a practical man, -full of blunt common sense. When he first -saw the girl who afterwards became his wife, -she was only thirteen years of age, he being -twenty-one, and at the time sergeant-major in -a foot regiment stationed at St. John's in New -Brunswick. Passing her father's door, on a -cold winter's day, he saw the girl out in the -snow, scrubbing a washing-tub. "That's the -girl for me!" he cried, mentally, and he set -about making her acquaintance. As soon as -he could get discharged from the army, he -determined that he would persuade her to -become his wife. The girl returned to -Woolwich with her father, who was also a -sergeant-major, but in the artillery. The -night before they left St. John's, her lover -sent her a hundred and fifty guineas which he -had saved, begging her to accept it, so that -she might not be obliged to do any hard -work until he also could return to England -and marry her. She took the money, and it -was five years before Cobbett obtained his -discharge and was able to go to see the girl -he loved. "I found," he said, "my little -girl a servant of all work—and hard work it -was—at five pounds a year, in the house of -a Captain Brisac; and, without hardly saying -a word about the matter, she put into my -hands the whole of my hundred and fifty -guineas unbroken." Soon afterwards they -were married, and he delighted later in attributing -to her "the comfort and much of -the success of his after life." In his -"Advice to young men" he drew from his -wife his picture of a true and womanly helpmate, -with "a vividness and brightness and, -at the same time, a force of good sense that -have never been surpassed by any English -writer."</p> - -<p>What Sarah Martin, who was left an orphan -very young, and who as a woman went out -dressmaking first at one shilling a day, was -able to achieve in visiting and helping to -reclaim poor prison women, and not only them -but dissolute men and boys, loving, praying, -and watching by them, you ought all to read -fully. I think the story of her life was -published by the Religious Tract Society. -She gave six and seven hours to this work -every day. For twenty years she did this -without help or reward—her grandmother -having left her ten or twelve pounds a year; -the rest of her income coming from her -hard work during part of each day as a dressmaker. -At last the gaol committee told her -that she must become their paid servant at -twelve pounds a year or "be excluded from -the prison." Although she shrank from this -payment of her labours of love, she had to -accept it, or give up her charge, and for two -years she had that poor stipend until her -health failed. She was in point of fact -schoolmistress and chaplain and seamstress to -the scum of Yarmouth. But what a reward -was hers!</p> - -<p>In my last paper I quoted Matthew Arnold's -lines—</p> - -<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> -<span class="i0">"Tasks in hours of insight willed<br /></span> -<span class="i0">May be through hours of gloom fulfilled."<br /></span> -</div></div> - -<p>"<i>Les beaux esprits se rencontrent</i>," and it -will perhaps interest some of you, as it has -done myself, to hear that Professor Tyndall -used to say of Professor Faraday that "in his -warm moments he formed a resolution and in -his cool ones he made that resolution good." -We cannot all be active scientists or philanthropists, -but let us end this little study by -resolving that we will be less discouraged and -hindered by difficulties in our own special -work, or by the consideration of what we are -apt to deem our unfitness for the appointed -task, our own inadequacy, than we have -hitherto been.</p> - -<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> -<span class="i0">"With one hand work and with the other pray,<br /></span> -<span class="i0">And God shall bless them both from day to day."<br /></span> -</div></div> - -<p class='center'>(<i>To be continued.</i>)</p> - -<hr class="chap" /></div><div> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_203" id="Page_203">{203}</a></span></p> - - - - -<h2><a name="OUR_HERO" id="OUR_HERO">"OUR HERO."</a></h2> - -<p class='ph3'>A TALE OF THE FRANCO-ENGLISH WAR NINETY YEARS AGO.</p> - -<p class='ph3'><span class="smcap">By</span> AGNES GIBERNE, Author of "Sun, Moon and Stars," "The Girl at the Dower House," etc.</p> - - -<h3>CHAPTER XIII.</h3> - -<p class='ph3'>A FRENCH CONSCRIPT.</p> - -<div> -<img class="drop-cap" src="images/i_203.jpg" width="150" height="241" alt="" /> -</div> - -<p class="drop-cap"><span class="upper-case">Roy</span> -did not soon lose -sight of those words -of Ivor—"Why, -Roy, don't you -know that you are -the one bit of cheer -left to us?"</p> - -<p>He had not perhaps -hitherto been -more disposed to -put himself into the -place of another -than most boys of -thirteen; but the -events of the last -few months had tended to make him -thoughtful; and close intercourse with -Ivor could hardly fail to pull him mentally -upwards.</p> - -<p>Denham was not only considerably -better educated and better read than -the average young officer of his day—a -matter for congratulation in respect -of Roy's present education—but also -his intellectual gifts were well above -the average level. The main force of -the man lay, however, rather in the -direction of character than of pure -intellect. There was about him a -soldierly directness and simplicity, and -a thoroughness which often belongs -to that type of nature. Whatever -might befall, he would do his duty, not -only with no thought of consequences to -himself, but in the most direct and -complete mode possible.</p> - -<p>He was a good man as well as a -most gallant soldier, and that in the -best sense of the word. He was one -who might say little, but who would at -all costs do what he believed to be -right. He was honourable, true, pure-minded, -chivalrous towards women, -tender towards little children, reverent -and faithful towards his God. He was -indomitable in courage, when he faced -a foe; but so soon as fighting ceased -he would be the first to succour a -wounded enemy. All this means -largely, as has been earlier stated, that -Denham Ivor had taken shape under -the influence and the example of John -Moore. Ivor was the pupil, Moore the -master.</p> - -<p>The prolonged banishment from England -and captivity in France were a -terrible trial to him; not only because -he was cut off indefinitely from the girl -whom he loved with whole-hearted devotion, -but because also he was cut off -in his young full vigour from every hope -of promotion and honour, and debarred -from serving under the Commander -whom he loved with a devotion no less -whole-hearted. Yet he seldom spoke -about the greatness of the trouble. It -seemed as if his spirit of soldierly -obedience had taught him submission to -the Divine Will.</p> - -<p>It is easy to see that a friendship of -this kind could not fail to be good for -Roy. And the friendship was not such -in name only, for there were advantages -on both sides. Much as Ivor could do -for the lad, in the way of teaching him -and keeping him out of mischief, there -was an opposite view of the matter. -Roy, by his light-heartedness and his -spirit of unconquerable fun, could and -did do much to lighten the weight of -the young Guardsman's wearisome -captivity.</p> - -<p>Thus far Roy had done it, not knowing. -Now the fact had dawned upon him, as -a novel idea, that he might be some little -help to Ivor. He was delighted; yet -almost immediately he found the task -less easy than when he had carried it -out unconsciously.</p> - -<p>The journey from Fontainebleau to -Verdun, a matter of one hundred and -seventy miles or more, would be no great -matter in these days of steam-power, -but it was a considerable matter in those -times of slow travelling. It seemed to -weigh upon Ivor's spirits more than -anything had yet weighed upon them; -or Denham was less successful in hiding -what he really felt. Mrs. Baron was -brighter than for months past; her relief -at not being forced to leave her -husband or to part yet with Roy tending -to cheerfulness; and Colonel Baron, -glad to see her happy, was the same -himself. Roy as usual was in good -spirits. Ivor alone appeared to have -parted with his elasticity. He did not -give in to the mood of depression, but it -was patent enough to Mrs. Baron, -whose concerned gaze wandered often -in his direction.</p> - -<p>No one except Ivor himself could know -the haunting vision of Polly Keene, -which floated before his eyes, through -all those miles of driving, driving, ever -farther away from where he craved to be. -He might respond readily to Roy's -chatter; but so soon as silence recurred, -up again would come that picture of -Polly, with her soft velvet eyes, her -delicate colouring, her arch smile. And -then he would hear the tender yielding -in her voice, as she confessed that she -did like Captain Ivor—well, just a little! -and that she might perhaps be willing -to marry him—well, some day!</p> - -<p>Out of this Denham would awake to -the dreary flat of the surrounding -country, in its wintry colouring; and -the wonder would suggest itself—how -many years might not creep slowly by -before that could ever be? He might -even grow old and grey in this miserable -banishment before he should see -Polly again. Why not?</p> - -<p>In those times wars had been wont to -last in one unbroken stretch, for such -periods as seven years, ten years, -twenty years, thirty years.</p> - -<p>Would Polly be content to wait for -him?</p> - -<p>This question took him by surprise -one day, with nothing especial to call it -forth. Ivor had not before so much as -thought of the reverse possibility. The -idea that she might <i>not</i> be willing to -wait came freshly; but having once -come, it did not soon depart.</p> - -<p>He never afterwards lost the impression -of that moment. The scene around -was deeply stamped upon his mind, in -connection with the one thought.</p> - -<p>They had just reached the end of a -stage, and were entering a small town, -where fresh horses would be in waiting. -Ivor was listening to Roy, responding -in a half-absent fashion, and gazing -down the street, when, without prelude or -warning, that query burst upon him.</p> - -<p>Would Polly indeed be willing to -wait? Did she care enough? She was -very young; hardly more than a child -in age. If he were to be years away -from her, the two never meeting, letters -seldom passing between them, could he -expect—would it even be fair and -reasonable to expect—that he should remain -enshrined in her heart, as surely -as she would remain enshrined in his? -Polly had known him intimately but a -few weeks, though their acquaintance -extended farther back; and impressions -made upon the mind and imagination -at seventeen are not always deep or -lasting. Moreover, Polly was exceedingly -pretty, quite unusually charming. -Other men would wish to marry her. -Could he expect such constancy on her -part, as to wait through long years for her -absent lover, refusing every other chance -that might present itself? What would -her grandmother think and say? Polly, -with all her charms, was a portionless -maiden.</p> - -<p>The whole question rolled itself out -before Denham's mental gaze, as they -drove along the chief street of the -place, exciting less attention than commonly -on such occasions. With his -bodily eyes he saw little, yet in a manner -he was aware that a considerable stir -prevailed, and he heard, almost without -hearing, Roy's rapid questions.</p> - -<p>"I don't in the least know," he replied -mechanically, as they came to a -halt before the inn.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_204" id="Page_204">{204}</a></span></p> - -<p>"Den, look! What a lot of people -outside the <i>maison de ville</i>! What's -it all about? And don't some of -them look miserable? What are they -after?"</p> - -<p>"I have not the slightest idea. Something -seems to be wrong. Easy to find -out."</p> - -<p>The mystery was soon explained. This -happened to be a day appointed for drawing -for the conscription; and around the -door of the little town hall opposite were -gathered the near relatives of the young -fellows who were eligible. There was -no mistaking the dread written upon -their faces.</p> - -<p>One woman in particular drew notice. -She was bent and old in appearance, -with grey hair, though very likely not -beyond middle age; and she wore a -short, very full skirt, with a long-waisted -bodice, and big brass buckles on her -shoes. From under the wide-brimmed -hat her face waited with a consuming -eagerness for news, the lips working, -the eyes staring.</p> - -<p>"I wonder if she's got a son. I hope, -if she has, he won't be taken," exclaimed -Roy. "What are they doing -inside?"</p> - -<p>"Drawing lots, to see who must go to -the wars. All the young men in the -neighbourhood, of a certain age, have -been called together, probably; and -then those who are passed by surgeons -as whole and healthy are made to draw -lots. Some will escape, and some will -have to go."</p> - -<p>"O look—they are coming out. -And something is being said—what -is it?"</p> - -<p>"Hush—the names of those who are -drawn."</p> - -<p>All listened intently; and the elderly -woman, clasping her worn hands, leant -forward, with a face of concentrated -suspense.</p> - -<p>"Jean Paulet——" sounded clearly.</p> - -<p>A bitter wailing cry burst from her, -drowning what followed.</p> - -<p>She held out wild appealing arms. -"Mon fils! Mon fils!" she gasped, -and dropped senseless to the ground.</p> - -<p>"Can nothing be done?" exclaimed -Mrs. Baron, in distress. "The poor -creature! George, will they not let him -off? Surely they need not be so cruel -as to take him away!"</p> - -<p>"I am afraid the only chance would -be a substitute—and not much hope of -that."</p> - -<p>"Do ask. Find out something. Do, -please."</p> - -<p>Denham crossed the road with his -rapid stride, followed closely by his -shadow, Roy, while the Colonel came -after in more leisurely style. The poor -woman's friends were attending to her, -and Ivor, always the Colonel's spokesman -in a foreign language, made inquiries -of a respectable man, perhaps -a small shopkeeper, standing by. The -man shrugged his shoulders as he replied. -It had to be, he said, not unkindly -but resignedly. All young men -equally were subject to the conscription, -and he who "fell" had to go. There -was no escape, no remedy. None, except -through the purchase of a substitute, -and Marie Paulet, he feared, could not -manage that. She was a good woman, -truly estimable, and he was sorry for -her, yes, sincerely sorry; but what was -to be done? The First Consul required -soldiers, and, in fact, he would -have them! Another expressive shrug.</p> - -<p>How much would be required for a -substitute? <i>Eh bien</i>—one hundred -livres would doubtless suffice. Mme. -Paulet, foreseeing this day, had toiled -hard and saved assiduously during -many years; but with her utmost -exertions, as he knew, for she had told -him, she had managed to get together -only fifty-five livres. No substitute -could be obtained for only fifty-five -livres. No, no, impossible! Jean would -have to go, and his mother would grow -used to it, like other mothers. How -soon? <i>Sans doute</i> he would be marched -away at once—immediately—to the -nearest depôt, there to be exercised. -The thing had to be. There was no -remedy. All France was giving up her -best men, by tens of thousands, to feed -the Army. In parts already none but -women and old men remained to till the -soil.</p> - -<p>Was Mme. Paulet a widow? asked -Denham.</p> - -<p>"Oui, oui, oui, oui," the man said, -fast as the words could come. Certainly -she was a widow; but then she -was not over sixty, nor was Jean her -only son. Had she been over sixty, and -depending for her subsistence upon an -only son, then <i>vraiment</i> her case would -have been easily pleaded. Marie Paulet -was under fifty in age, though she -looked more, since she had toiled hard -and had known much sorrow. She had -a second son too, young and somewhat -lame, but able to work, though in truth -more of a burden than an assistance. -Jean, however, would have to go. This -was a supplementary conscription for -the year, more men being urgently required -by the First Consul.</p> - -<p>Jean Paulet stood with a face of -sullen despair beside his mother, saying -not a word. He was scarcely over -nineteen, only one fortnight past the -day, Ivor's informant remarked; and -he looked young, being loose-limbed and -shambling, though broad-shouldered.</p> - -<p>"Ask them how much they could -make up among themselves towards -the purchase of a substitute. Some -may be willing to help."</p> - -<p>Denham obeyed, and a discussion -took place in raised voices. The two -Englishmen waited gravely, Mrs. Baron -watching affairs from the coach, while -Roy stood close by, scanning the conscript -with interested gaze. Marie -Paulet sat upon the cold ground, weeping -bitterly.</p> - -<p>"About fifteen livres seems to be the -outside, sir. They are poor here. It is -a marvel how the woman has managed -to save so much. But I am ready to -give fifteen livres."</p> - -<p>Colonel Baron's eyebrows stirred. -"More than you can afford, I should -have imagined, but you know your own -business best. Well, tell them that if -they can find a substitute for one hundred -livres, you will give that, and I will -give another fifteen. Of course, we -can't wait now to see the end of the -affair. Tell them we promise it on the -word of an English gentleman—that's -understood everywhere. Give our Verdun -address to the Curé yonder—he -looks an honest man. For my part, I -doubt if a substitute can be procured, -the drain on the country has been so -severe of late. But they may succeed. -Anyhow, it will soften matters a little -to the poor woman. One rather grudges -letting the money go into French -pockets, but I defy anyone with proper -sensibilities to stand out against that -poor creature's misery."</p> - -<p>Denham listened with his air of half-military, -half-courtly, attention to this -somewhat prolonged exposition of the -Colonel's views. Then he explained -what "Monsieur le Colonel Anglais" -had said, failing to make clear his own -share in the matter, though from no -lack of power to express himself. The -scene that followed was eminently French -in its <i>abandon</i> of joy. One of the -young men present, who was eligible -but who had not been drawn—had not -<i>tombé</i>, as the saying was—came forward, -and offered for the sum of one -hundred livres to go as the substitute -for Jean Paulet. This settled matters; -and without hesitation Colonel Baron -produced notes for the amount he had -named, Denham adding his own donation -with a rapid movement, which drew -no attention.</p> - -<p>Whereupon enthusiasm rose to its -height. The people of the town, with -whom Marie and her son were plainly -favourites, shouted their approval; -while Marie crept close to Colonel -Baron, knelt at his feet, sobbed out her -wordless rapture, and even kissed his -hands, to the Colonel's discomfiture.</p> - -<p>"I say, Den, I'm going back to the -carriage. Say whatever you choose to -them. It's all right, but I vow this sort -of thing doesn't quite suit a Britisher. -And it strikes me you haven't made 'em -understand that you're doing as much -as I am. Tell 'em that, and talk as -much as you think right, and then come -along."</p> - -<p>A murmur in French from Roy to -Jean Paulet gave the further explanation, -which would not have been forthcoming -from Denham; and he had to -submit to some of the vehement demonstrations -from which his Colonel had -basely fled. Denham endured them, -with a certain reticent indifference of -manner, which did not mean true indifference. -A slightly quizzical smile -stirred his lips, but the dark eyes, bent -upon poor old Mme. Paulet, were infinitely -kind.</p> - -<p>Then he too made a move towards the -coach; and Roy, lingering one moment -more, held out a hand to Jean, who -seemed half stunned with his unexpected -escape.</p> - -<p>"Bon jour, monsieur," the boy said -frankly. "I'm glad you are not going -to fight against the English just yet."</p> - -<p>Jean muttered broken words—something -of a faltering hope and prayer that -a day might come when he should have -it in his power, perhaps—who could -tell?—to do some benefit for Monsieur -le Colonel, or for Monsieur le Colonel's -friend.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_205" id="Page_205">{205}</a></span></p> - -<p>It seemed very unlikely—most unlikely—that -he and these passing -English prisoners should ever meet -again, still more that he should be -able to do aught for them. Yet most -improbable events do take place in this -world of ours. Roy had not that day -seen the last of Jean Paulet.</p> - -<p>As the coach started, in the midst of -grateful acclamations, Marie Paulet -held up mute hands, tears streaming -down her faded cheeks. Such a look -was hers, that even Colonel Baron was -conscious of moisture in the region of -his eyes, though by no means easily -moved to outward emotion. Mrs. Baron -was weeping outright, with the thought -of what such a parting would be between -Roy and herself. As for Denham—nobody -managed to get a clear -sight of his face for a quarter of a -minute.</p> - -<p>Then once more they were rolling -along the interminable roads, Roy declaiming -with boyish vehemence against -Napoleon, and wondering whether -Jean Paulet would ever again be drawn, -and would have after all to go. They -found a good deal to say on the -question, and for a while the interest of -the subject kept them going.</p> - -<p>But Denham's mind, like a spring -slowly released, went back before long -to the one engrossing question, which -for a space had been thrust into the -background. Would Polly indeed wait -for him—no matter how long his imprisonment -might last? Or would she -grow tired of waiting, forget his love -and some day become the wife of -another?</p> - -<p>He could not look that possibility in -the face with any sort of inward composure. -It held him in thrall, both day -and night, through the remainder of this -wearisome journey.</p> - -<p>Roy was perplexed, during the last -two or three days of their progress -towards Verdun, at Ivor's absorption of -mind. For the first time in his experience, -his remarks failed repeatedly -to reach the other's understanding. So -new a phase of matters was bewildering. -Not, however, till they were -within three hours of Verdun did he -note his friend's face with sufficient -care to exclaim—</p> - -<p>"I say, Den, I do believe you're -tired! Are you?"</p> - -<p>"Been a dull companion to-day—have -I?"</p> - -<p>"Why—but, Den!" Roy spoke in -accents of amazement. "You never -used to be anything of that sort! You -never usen't to have anything at all the -matter with you."</p> - -<p>"Didn't I? All right—what do you -want me to look at now?"</p> - -<p>"Is it because you're a prisoner? -Do you know, I couldn't get to sleep -last night for ever so long—not till past -eleven—thinking about it all. I say—don't -you hate old Boney? I do. He -makes everybody unhappy. Just think -of that poor Marie and her son; if you -and papa hadn't been there, she would -have lost Jean, and perhaps she'd never -have seen him again. Wasn't it horrid? -And I don't see how men can fight -properly, when they don't want to fight -at all. Our soldiers fight, because they -choose, not because they're made to -whether they want it or not. I'm sure -Jean didn't want to be a soldier, or he -wouldn't have been so glad to get off."</p> - -<p>Mrs. Baron leant across to say softly, -"Roy, do leave Denham in peace for a -little while."</p> - -<p>"Why, ma'am, he likes me to talk. -He always says so."</p> - -<p>Mrs. Baron looked again towards -Ivor, with a dubious expression.</p> - -<p class='center'>(<i>To be continued.</i>)</p> - -<hr class="chap" /></div><div> - - -<h2><a name="VARIETIES" id="VARIETIES">VARIETIES.</a></h2> - - -<p class='center p2'>"<span class="smcap">Willie only took a Horse.</span>"</p> - -<p>Horse-stealers in our time are a good deal -handicapped by a change that has come over -public opinion. The Government used to -hang them, but the populace were by no -means horrified at the crime.</p> - -<p>Here is a story indicating considerable -former leniency in popular thought. A horse-coper -"took" a horse and was discovered -and convicted, but owing to some assistance -he had given the police, he received a light -sentence.</p> - -<p>He settled in a Norfolk village, turned an -honest stock-breeder, and prospered greatly; -but there was always a rumour that he had -been convicted of some sort of stealing.</p> - -<p>A farmer's daughter, however, fell in love -with him and he asked her from her father.</p> - -<p>"No," said the old yeoman; "I've nothing -against you, but no child of mine shall wed a -man who has been in trouble for stealing."</p> - -<p>The daughter cried and implored, and at -last sobbed out, "Willie only took a horse."</p> - -<p>"Why," exclaimed the farmer, "didn't ye -say so before! Here have I been treating a -respectable man as if he had been a thief!"</p> - - -<p class='center p2'><span class="smcap">The Dead Defunct.</span></p> - -<p>A learned weaver, in stating his case before -the provost of Irvine in Ayrshire, in the days -when hand-loom weaving was a leading -industry in that town, having had occasion to -speak of a party who was dead, repeatedly -described him as the defunct.</p> - -<p>Irritated by the iteration of a word which he -did not understand, the provost exclaimed—</p> - -<p>"What's the use o' talking so much about -this child you call the defunct? Cannot ye -bring the man here and let him speak for -himsel'?"</p> - -<p>"The defunct's dead, my lord!" replied -the weaver.</p> - -<p>"Oh, that alters the case," gravely observed -the wise provost.</p> - - -<p class='center p2'><span class="smcap">The Art of Conversation.</span></p> - -<p>"Tell me," pleaded the artless maid, -"wherein lies the secret of the art of -conversation."</p> - -<p>The sage struck the attitude he was wont -to assume when in the act of imparting wisdom -and said—</p> - -<p>"My child, listen!"</p> - -<p>"I am listening!" breathlessly she -answered.</p> - -<p>"Well, my child," he rejoined, "that is all -there is in the art of conversation."</p> - - -<p class='center p2'><span class="smcap">How to be free from Discontent.</span></p> - -<p>A philosopher offered sacrifice every day in -the temple of Jupiter and made always the -same prayer.</p> - -<p>At last Jupiter grew tired of hearing over -and over again the one request and said, -"What would you have?"</p> - -<p>"I crave to become a contented man," -replied the philosopher. "Never yet have I -enjoyed a really peaceful day, for I have never -been entirely contented. Even now, aged as -I am, there is always something that I long -for."</p> - -<p>"Consider well what you ask," said the -god sternly; "there is but one way in which -you can secure the boon you seek."</p> - -<p>"And what is that?" asked the philosopher -eagerly.</p> - -<p>"I must strike you dead; for in death only -can man be free from discontent."</p> - -<p>"Upon consideration," replied the philosopher, -"I think I should be better contented -to remain discontented."</p> - -<p>And so saying he put on his hat and hastily -withdrew from the temple.</p> - - -<p class='center p2'><span class="smcap">Don't be Discouraged.</span></p> - -<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> -<span class="i0">"Trust yourself to God who calls you,<br /></span> -<span class="i0">Then no harm can e'er befall you;<br /></span> -<span class="i0">Don't be discouraged. Do the right,<br /></span> -<span class="i0">And day will chase away your night."<br /></span> -</div></div> - - -<p class='center p2'><span class="smcap">How she showed her Gratitude.</span></p> - -<p>The present Bishop of Gibraltar, Dr. Sandford, -tells the following story. When a -young man, and a shy, very shy curate, he -called to see an old woman among his -parishioners, who complained to him that all -she had to live on was half-a-crown a week -which she received from the parish.</p> - -<p>"And out of that, sir," she went on, "I -have to pay two shillings for rent, a shilling -for firing, sixpence for bread, fourpence -for——"</p> - -<p>"Stop, stop, my good woman," said the -young curate, "you can't pay all that out of -half-a-crown."</p> - -<p>"Yes, sir, but I do," she persisted, "I -pay——" and she ran through her accounts -again.</p> - -<p>Finding she was not to be convinced of her -arithmetical errors, and that she was both -poverty-stricken and deserving, Mr. Sandford -promised to send her an extra half-crown on -his own account each week.</p> - -<p>"For this she rewarded me," says the -bishop, "by coming much more regularly to -church, but to my horror she never caught my -eye while I was in the reading desk or pulpit -without promptly jumping up and bobbing me -a little curtsey to show her gratitude. Imagine -my feelings as a shy young curate."</p> - - -<p class='p2'><span class="smcap">How The Ducks were Taught.</span>—An -officer in the British navy tells us that on one -of his voyages, he saw a Chinaman, who kept -ducks for a living, practise an odd piece of -ingenuity. In the daytime the ducks were -permitted to float about on the river, but at -nightfall they were carefully collected. The -keeper, when it began to grow dark, gave -a whistle, when the ducks always flew towards -him with violent speed, so they were all -invariably safe at home in less than a minute. -How do you suppose he had educated his -flock so effectually? He always beat the last -duck.</p> - -<hr class="chap" /></div><div> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_206" id="Page_206">{206}</a></span></p> - - - - -<h2><a name="DINNA_FORGET_A_NEW_YEARS_SERMON" id="DINNA_FORGET_A_NEW_YEARS_SERMON">"DINNA FORGET": A NEW YEAR'S SERMON.</a></h2> - -<p class='ph3'><span class="smcap">By "MEDICUS" (Dr. GORDON STABLES, M.D., C.M., R.N.).</span></p> - -<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> -<span class="i0">"Her air, her manners, all who saw admired;<br /></span> -<span class="i0">Courteous though coy, and gentle though refined.<br /></span> -<span class="i0">The joy of youth and health her eyes displayed,<br /></span> -<span class="i0">And ease of heart her every look conveyed."<br /></span> -</div></div> - - -<div> -<img class="drop-cap" src="images/i_206.jpg" width="125" height="132" alt="" /> -</div> - -<p class="drop-cap"><span class="upper-case">This</span> well-known -magazine of -ours, the -dear old -"G. O. P.," -is read wherever -in this -wide world the -English language is -understood, and it -is this very fact that -puzzles and worries me a good -deal when I am commencing to -write a paper for my readers. You -see it is like this: things I may say, and -advice I may give, may not suit everyone, as -the "G. O. P." finds its way into cottage -as well as mansion-house. I have seen its -welcome face while travelling in my caravan, -in many a stately home in England and in -many a feudal castle in bonnie Scotland; and -I know too it is read by the farmer's fireside -in this country and by the ingle-side in the -far north, when the snow-wind goes howthering -round the house and mourns in the -chimney like the sound of sea and wind on a -surf-beaten shore.</p> - -<p>And I "dinna forget" either that I have -many thousands of lassies in the city, who -have but little time to open it till eventide or -even till Sunday itself.</p> - -<p>Nor do I forget that the things I tell girls -at home here to do, may not altogether apply -to those in Australia or Africa. Never mind, -I try to do my best. Who can do more?</p> - -<p>And now, first and foremost, I must wish -you all a very healthy New Year. This is -from my heart. Dinna forget that. For, if -you have health, you are bound to have -happiness, so long as shocks of grief and real -sorrow keep aloof. Even then, if you are -strong, you will be better able to withstand -these, than if you were chicken-hearted and -weakly.</p> - -<p>There is one symptom of weakness, by the -way, that is often over-looked. A girl may -be as fresh and bonnie as a thistle or a rose, -yet if she is too sensitive and too sentimental -she cannot be really well. Over-sensitiveness -may be caused in a good many ways, but it is -very apt to lead on to hysteria, and this is a -very serious ailment.</p> - - -<h3><span class="smcap">Not going to Repeat.</span></h3> - -<p>I am not going to repeat to you all the -various rules of health I have already, in these -columns, laid down scores of times, for the -very best of dishes may be served up once -too often.</p> - -<p>Just one thing, however, I must mention, -and you may consider me talking figuratively -or not, as you please.</p> - -<p>I have a pet swift—the biggest kind of -swallow that visits this country—but, being a -pet, he never leaves me more than twelve -hours at a time, and in that brief space he -may have flown one thousand miles, and -perhaps visited the rooms of more than one -hundred of my girl readers. He can speak -various languages almost as well as Rougemont, -and a little nearer to the truth, and I -sit up to listen to him sometimes till long -past twelve at night.</p> - -<p>Dinna forget to look out for my birdie. -He can see you when you little know of -it. But one thing which he has recently -told me is that a very large number of you -have given up your bath, to which I fondly -fancied I had inured you. This vexed me -a deal; but you will promise to begin it -again very soon, won't you? It is the -greatest invigorator of the muscles and nervous -system in the world. So "dinna -forget."</p> - - -<h3><span class="smcap">Colds and Coughs.</span></h3> - -<p>Dinna forget that colds and coughs are -rampant about this time of the year. I am -writing these lines long before Christmas, and -I have been prophesying for England an open -winter. But dinna forget that a green Yule -makes a fat kirkyard, and colds are more -easily caught from the green cold earth and -the damp cold winds than even from frost and -snow. The more you are out-of-doors in -snow-time—which ought to be glow-time—the -better you will be, provided you are not -too warmly and heavily clad and do not wear -india-rubber clothing in any shape or form.</p> - -<p>When a cold comes on, take a warm drink -or posset of some kind at bed-time and eight -to ten grains of Dover's powder. Get thus a -good sweat and a good sleep. Then take an -aperient (apenta water) next morning, but I -advise you to remain in bed till eventide. -This is one of the best ways of cutting short a -cold that I know of.</p> - -<p>But if coughing continues, you must see a -doctor. Coughs may be far more dangerous -than you think, and may lead to mischief. -Dinna forget that death respects neither -beauty nor sex. Indeed, it is often the -sweetest flowers of earth that leave us first.</p> - - -<h3><span class="smcap">Neuralgia.</span></h3> - -<p>A great many young ladies from seven to -seventy complain about this terrible trouble -in some form or another. If it is what we -call hemi-crania, engaging, if I may use the -term, the whole half of the face and head, it -may proceed from a bad tooth, or from what -is the worst sort of a tooth anyone could be -plagued with—a tooth with one small hole in -the side. Have this seen to as soon as the -first attack has gone. Probably a clever -dentist may be able to fill it for you. Some -girls go hurrying away to the dentist at once, -have gas, and have it out. Such a pity, for -as you get older what a blessing you will find -your own teeth!</p> - -<p>Thank Heaven, I have never worn a false -tooth, but it strikes me the sensation can be -far from agreeable. If one uses the toothbrush, -with a good disinfectant powder, such -as borax or charcoal, followed by a rinse of -water tinged red with permanganate of potash -(and this is usually sold as Condy's fluid), she -will have teeth that will last as long as they're -wanted.</p> - -<p>But what I wish to tell you here is this: -apart from actual decay of a tooth and -consequent irritation of the nerve, a girl need -never have facial neuralgia, nor sciatica, nor -any other "algia" if she but lives in such a -way as to make herself hardy as a heather -stem. Dinna forget that.</p> - - -<h3><span class="smcap">Curatives.</span></h3> - -<p>Dinna forget that medicines are, as a rule, -but palliative, and to call them curatives is, in -nine cases out of ten, a very great misnomer. -All doctors will tell you the same; but they -are exceedingly useful and even most necessary -at times. Only dinna forget that they do not -repair, nor rebuild the framework of our -bodies. Only good, well-chosen food can do -that. But, as it does not do to eat when you -are not hungry, because then the stomach and -other organs are too delicate to digest, you -must get up an appetite by exercise, recreation -and fresh air.</p> - -<p>I don't want you to go about as if you were -an invalid. That will make you worse, and -your friends will pretend to pity you, and this -acting on your mind will soon make you an -invalid in earnest. No, keep up bravely and -do not complain. Fate will then say—</p> - -<p>"Oh, there is no frightening that girl to -death! She doesn't scare worth sixpence. -Look at her now, on her bit of a bike, with -her lips like a half-cut cherry, and the rose -tint upon her cheek. Bah, I'll go and try to -frighten someone else!"</p> - -<p>Then your nerves are re-strung, muscles get -hard, you grow a biceps, and every ache and -pain flies away to the Back o' Bell-Fuff.</p> - - -<h3><span class="smcap">At this time of Year.</span></h3> - -<p>At this time of year many girls whose -nerves are finely strung suffer from hypochondriasis, -or lowness of spirits, more especially -if the ground is soft and the sky grey and -ugly.</p> - -<p>The real hypochondriac is more or less -verging on lunacy, because she has delusions. -Nothing seems to go right with her, nothing -ever will be right again. There is no beauty -anywhere in life, which, taken on the whole, is -a great big fraud. Why was she ever sent -into this world at all, at all, against her will? -She is sure she didn't wish to be born, and -she wishes she were well out of it. She is -sad, melancholy, abstracted, and does nothing -with any will.</p> - -<p>Well, what shall we do with a girl of this -kind? What say you, mother? Medicine? -Was that what you suggested? Well, -medicine, even if she could swallow the whole -pharmacopœia, would do her no more good -than a pinch of snuff; in fact, not so much, -for the snuff would make her sneeze, and that -would help her for a time. She must have a -change.</p> - -<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> -<span class="i0">"A change, a change, and many a change,<br /></span> -<span class="i0">Faces and footsteps and all things strange."<br /></span> -</div></div> - -<p>Dinna forget that. If she cannot get away, -she must get a new fad of some kind. Only -there is one thing, mother, which pray dinna -forget. You must never let her think that -you think she is ill. You've got to draw her -away from her imaginary miseries, and all will -soon be well.</p> - -<p>"What would you prescribe for my -daughter?" a lady once asked me. "She -must eat."</p> - -<p>"Then let her have a Shetland pony," I -replied abstractedly.</p> - -<p>"What!"</p> - -<p>"A Shetland pony, and a young one. Oh, -not to eat, to ride on, and make a general -favourite of. For a time the pony will -manage her; then with love and a tiny switch -she will learn to manage the pony. After -that the fun will begin, and her imaginary -troubles will all fly away."</p> - -<p>In a month or two the cure was complete, -and I used to see the girl—she was young—careering -across the common, her bonnie -yellow hair and the pony's mane streaming<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_207" id="Page_207">{207}</a></span> -out in the wind and her face as merry as a -May morning.</p> - - -<h3><span class="smcap">Does Winter damage Beauty?</span></h3> - -<p>It need not, if beauty is only looked well -after. But how shall it be? Not by powders -and paint, dear young readers—dinna forget -that. Leave rouge and the rest of it to -Miss So-and-so and all the other "quite old -things" whom you know. Be ye natural; -unless, indeed, you have some real blemish. -Dinna forgot you have youth on your side, -and youth and beauty are almost synonymous -terms. You like Miss So-and-so very well -indeed, and my swift has just told me she -heard you make the following remark the -other day to a companion—</p> - -<p>"Know Miss S.? Oh, yes; have known -her for ages. Poor, dear, old thing, how -well she makes up!"</p> - -<p>Well, hug the happiness you possess in being -young, to your heart of hearts; but a little -tinge of sadness must mar it at times, when -you remember that you too must get older -and be fain to assume the attractions you shall -then no longer possess.</p> - -<p>But beauty in winter? Well, it must be -kept up, and can only be kept up by rational -means. If you expose yourself to high cold -winds while biking or driving, you may spoil -your complexion for weeks to come. I -declare I should hardly like to enter the -breakfast-room with such a cold as your own -folly has brought you, accompanied by watery -eyes that blink at the sunshine, and that -wicked, wee red nose. Well, exposure is -unnecessary, so we shall leave that alone.</p> - -<p>Next comes ablution and clothing. If you -care a French penny for the beauty you -possess, you will be careful as to both. If you -won't, can't or sha'n't take your bath, dinna -forget to have very frequent changes of -underclothing. But in some form or other -thorough ablution is imperative.</p> - -<p>Food comes next. Never touch stimulants. -I know some young ladies do, but it is the -biggest mistake in the world, quite an -elephantine error. Dinna forget that. As -regards solid food, the more solid it is the -better; and you should now—unless stout—have -plenty of sugar and fatty food. Potatoes -and other starchy foods should be taken also. -You want to keep up the strength? Sugar is -power! Dinna you forget that.</p> - -<p>Dinna forget this either: that pudding -after dinner helps to spoil the complexion. -Have fruit instead. A little vaseline—cold -cream at night will preserve the skin. -You need nothing else. Good-bye! Dinna -forget!</p> - -<div class="figcenter w350"> -<img src="images/i_207.jpg" width="350" height="103" alt="" /> -</div> - - - -<hr class="chap" /></div><div> -<h2><a name="SISTER_WARWICK_A_STORY_OF_INFLUENCE" id="SISTER_WARWICK_A_STORY_OF_INFLUENCE">"SISTER WARWICK": A STORY OF INFLUENCE.</a></h2> - -<p class='ph3'><span class="smcap">By</span> H. MARY WILSON, Author of "In Warwick Ward," "In Monmouth Ward," "Miss Elsie," etc.</p> - - -<h3>CHAPTER III.</h3> - -<p>Towards the end of a busy morning Sister -Warwick was cheered by the bright face of -her youngest sister, who had come up for a -day's shopping, and who appeared in the -ward for a few moments.</p> - -<p>She went with a smile and something sunny -to say to the bedside of the one or two -patients she remembered to have seen during -her last visit. Mrs. 13 she asked after with -special interest, and paused with sudden -gravity to look at the lines on the suffering -face, just now at rest in sleep.</p> - -<p>She knew Mrs. 13's story, and her heart -burnt within her as she recalled it. How she -longed for those who say that the sweating -system of ill-paid and unwholesome work is a -thing of the past to stand where she stood -and see for themselves!</p> - -<p>Presently the warm-hearted girl had other -thoughts—still kind ones—in her pretty head. -She begged her elder sister to come into her -room and see what she had put there.</p> - -<p>Oh, such a glorious basket of roses!</p> - -<p>Sister Warwick plunged her face among -them and sighed her enjoyment, not only of -the scent, but because they had come from -home, and because a dear mother's hands had -helped to cut and pack them there.</p> - -<p>"They are not for the ward or the patients -this time," said the eager young voice. -"Mother and I thought of it together. We -want one to be laid on each of the nurses' -plates at dinner to-day as a little surprise. -Do you think Miss Jameson would say 'Yes' -if I took them to the Nurses' Home?"</p> - -<p>"Of course she would, dear! Only try! -And how I wish you could hear what the -nurses will say and the look on their faces -when they see a pretty, gay table where there -is usually a desert-plain of white china! It is -a nice thought!"</p> - -<p>"Well, mother and I have come to the -conclusion that you working-women want -freshening with a flower sometimes as well as -the rich folk. We mean to do it again some -day. Oh, and there are quite enough to go -all round, I hope, and to leave a supply for -the Sisters' dinner this evening. We weren't -going to leave you out, you poor, tired old -thing. You look rather washed out, dear."</p> - -<p>There was an anxious question in these last -words.</p> - -<p>Sister Warwick told her a little about her -disturbed night, and got a loving kiss of -sympathy. Then the merry girl bustled -away, leaving behind her an atmosphere the -brighter for her coming.</p> - -<p>Who more than hospital nurses appreciate -these short-lived breaks in their lives, these -little visits from their own people that flash -sunshine and warmth into the dark corners?</p> - -<p>And the flowers too. What would hospital -life be without the flowers? Have we not -already seen some of the many happy uses to -which they may be put?</p> - -<p class='p2'>The typhoid—No. 10—was a poor flower-girl. -She had not failed to notice how the -nurses loved the fair blossoms, and with -reviving life her warm little heart filled with -gratitude for the tenderness and care she had -received. She could only think of one vent -for her feelings.</p> - -<p>"Look here, Sister," she said. "I generally -stand at the top o' Cheapside or thereabouts. -Do come my way. I'll be looking out for -you. And I'll give you such a bowkay!"</p> - -<p class='p2'>Susie, if she was inclined to fret for -"mother" and "home," had a plucky little -soul with which to greet other woes. Just -to-day she was feeling it very perplexing that, -in spite of a decidedly hungry appetite, she -was knocked off her dinner altogether. She -tried not to grumble, but her face was very -wistful until Sister came and explained that -the doctors wished it, and that in the afternoon -she was to "have on a clean night-gown -and such a pretty bed-jacket that is waiting -in my room, and I shall tie up your hair with -this nice piece of blue ribbon. We are going -to take you to see the doctors instead of their -coming to see you to-day. You know how -kind they are, don't you, little maid?"</p> - -<p>Susie had nothing but gentleness to remember, -and fortunately she did not connect -Sister's words with the great cruel lump on -her leg that was sapping her little life and -giving her those sudden sharp pains that often -drew her little lips together with a pathetic -"Oh!"</p> - -<p>It was thus that Sister Warwick tenderly -shielded the child as much as possible from -the terrors of anticipating an unknown ordeal, -and Susie went smiling in Sister's arms to the -operating theatre. She only had one short -moment of fear when she found herself laid -on that very strange bed, with so many -strange faces round her.</p> - -<p>Then she went to sleep. She supposed so, -for she opened her eyes again in the long, -quiet ward, with the bright flowers on the -table and Sister beside her, one hand resting -on her curls, and the other holding her tiny -wrist. Sister was smiling too. Seeing this, -Susie guessed there was nothing to be -frightened at, though down in her little heart -she fancied she should have been afraid of -something—she did not know what—if she -had waked to find herself alone.</p> - -<p>She drank the milk that was given her, and -feeling drowsy sighed a "Good night, Sister," -turned a very white little face sideways -upon the pillow, and slept again—this time a -natural satisfactory slumber.</p> - -<p>Susie never realised what a blessed thing -had happened to her during that confused -time. For she was hardly old enough to -connect that "going to see the doctors" -with the fact that her "poor, poor leg," as -she called it, grew rapidly well from that day.</p> - -<p>Happy Susie, to pass so calmly through -such a crisis in your life! and to lie in your -little cot all unconscious of the interest you -cause, not only to your doctors and nurses, -but to all the elder women in the beds up and -down this long room, who were well enough -to enter into what went on around them. -The flower-girl was one of these, and Mrs. 13 -was another.</p> - -<p>Patty, being a spoilt little mortal, expressed -a wish that she too might "have a pretty -hair-tie, and go to see the doctors with Sister." -She was quite jealous of all the attention -Susie was receiving, and thought herself -neglected by contrast.</p> - -<p>Sister laughed, and made it all right by -saying:</p> - -<p>"You shall do better than that, dear. -Some day soon we will put you into the mail-cart, -wrap you up in a pretty blue shawl, and -you shall go under the trees in the gardens."</p> - -<p>So Patty had the pleasure of anticipation, -too.</p> - -<p class='center'>(<i>To be concluded.</i>)</p> - -<hr class="chap" /></div><div> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_208" id="Page_208">{208}</a></span></p> - - - - -<h2><a name="ANSWERS_TO_CORRESPONDENTS" id="ANSWERS_TO_CORRESPONDENTS">ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS.</a></h2> - - -<h3>MEDICAL.</h3> - -<div class="blockquot"> - -<p><span class="smcap">A New Correspondent.</span>—1. Take a lukewarm bath -every day. Where you perspire most profusely -sponge the parts over with toilet vinegar and water. -A very good way to check excessive sweating, especially -if it is offensive, is to dust the inside of your -gloves, stockings and sleeves with a powder consisting -of ninety-nine parts of silica and one part of -salicylic acid, finely powdered. Wash your feet and -hands every night in warm boracic acid solution -(two teaspoonfuls of boracic acid to the quart of -water). Change your linen frequently during hot -weather.—2. The voice of the girl does not alter -so much as does that of the boy. It also "forms" -more gradually, and there is rarely or never a distinct -"cracking" of the voice of the girl like that -which usually occurs in the boy. At nineteen years -of age the speaking voice is fully formed, but the -singing voice may go on improving till thirty or -even later.</p> - -<p><span class="smcap">Daisy.</span>—Anything which disturbs the health will -cause a dark sallow complexion and dark rings -round the eyes. Defective hygienic surroundings, -lack of exercise or sufficient nourishment, overwork, -or indeed anything which interferes with -perfect health will cause a sallow complexion. The -way to improve your complexion is to take plenty -of exercise, eat well, and pay attention to the general -laws of health. Cosmetics and other applications -would make your face worse.</p> - -<p><span class="smcap">Daughter.</span>—Your mother suffers from hay fever. Let -her follow the advice we gave to Josephine last week. -If this proves successful so much the better. But -hay fever is a ticklish thing to treat, and but rarely -does the first treatment tried effect a cure. Snuffs -of various kinds are often used for this ailment. -We have seen better results from snuffs containing -menthol or aristol than from others. Very often a -trivial surgical manœuvre, such as destroying a sensitive -spot with a prick of the electric needle will -permanently cure hay fever. Sometimes nothing -seems to do any good. Hay fever is thought by -some people to result from the pollen of flowers -irritating the mucous membrane of the nose. This -may be a cause in some cases, but it cannot -be invariably the rule. As a matter of fact a -large number of totally dissimilar affections are -lumped together and called "hay fever," and so -it is not difficult to see why the same treatment -will not be of avail to every sufferer from this -complaint.</p> - -<p><span class="smcap">Pussy.</span>—Can indigestion be cured at home? Of -course it can. Better at home than anywhere else. -The person who told you that indigestion could not -be cured without sea air is not a reliable authority. -Attention to diet is everything in indigestion. Last -year in <span class="smcap">The Girl's Own Paper</span> we published two -articles on indigestion. Let your friend read these, -and also the answers to correspondents which deal -with the subject of indigestion. We seem to be -always discussing indigestion, nervousness or face -spots. She must not eat apples either raw or -cooked. She may relieve her constipation if necessary -with a little liquorice powder or a teaspoonful -of cascara sagrada. If your friend reads what we -have advised, she will find all she needs to cure -herself of indigestion.</p> - -<p><span class="smcap">Stavesacre.</span>—We are thoroughly aware that this -drug is used to destroy lice in the hair. It is not a -drug which we would advise anyone to use. It is a -violent poison, and in our experience it does not do -what it is intended to do.</p> - -<p><span class="smcap">Mimosa.</span>—1. It is hardly correct to say that "nearly -every girl is anæmic." A great many girls do -suffer from that malady, but "nearly every girl" -is an exaggeration. We do not think that anæmia -is on the increase, if you take into consideration -the conditions under which girls live. Anæmia is -always much more prevalent in cities than it is in -small towns and villages. Consequently, as our -towns grow larger, a greater number of girls get -anæmia. In London we think that anæmia is -slightly less common than it was formerly.—2. In -severe anæmia the legs very often do swell. In -the slighter grades of the affection they only swell -after severe exertion.</p> - -<p><span class="smcap">Fond Mother.</span>—There are few places in the world -more deadly to Europeans than the Gold Coast. -If you can possibly prevent your son from going to -such an unhealthy place we strongly advise you to -do so. Very few Europeans who have set foot upon -"The White Man's Grave" recover their health -when they return home. And it is but a small -number that ever do return.</p> - -<p><span class="smcap">Pure Water.</span>—You say that you have a porcelain -filter. Do you mean a charcoal filter in a porcelain -jar, that is, a cottage filter? or do you mean a -filter in which the water is forced through porcelain? -The latter kind of filter is thoroughly -efficient. The former kind is far worse than -useless. The question of the use and abuse of -filters has been considered by two commissions. -The latest commission was held last year. It -dealt chiefly with the value of the pocket filters -used by British soldiers. The report was very -condemnatory.</p></div> - - -<h3>STUDY AND STUDIO.</h3> - -<div class="blockquot"> - -<p><span class="smcap">Ben Bolt.</span>—1. We smiled at your amusing French-English -letter, but we can inform you that we only -criticise the handwriting of our correspondents -when we have been asked to do so. The request -very usually accompanies the MSS. sent to us.—2. -There is certainly room for improvement in your -English prose, but we should judge you quite -capable of making yourself competent to undertake -translations.</p> - -<p><span class="smcap">Miss Hathway</span>, whose society we have frequently -mentioned, writes to say that her address is now -Chambers' Library, Wokingham. Her "Excelsior -Literary Club" for essays, stories, research, subjects -of discussion, with criticism and prizes, -originated in 1877. The second term of her classes -for English subjects, French, and Italian, is now -beginning. Terms (moderate) on application, with -stamp for reply.</p> - -<p><span class="smcap">Agatha.</span>—We feel much sympathy for you.—1. Your -drawing is good, the shading being well managed -for one who has never learned. We advise you to -persevere.—2. Your writing is very clear and excellent, -considering that you have to write lying on -your back. We hope you will soon be stronger.</p> - -<p><span class="smcap">Ardchullary.</span>—1. You have not given your quotation -quite correctly—</p> - -<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> -<span class="i0">"The light that never was, on sea or land,<br /></span> -<span class="i0">The consecration, and the Poet's dream."<br /></span> -</div></div> - -<p class='noindent'>These magnificent lines are from a poem by Wordsworth, -"suggested by a picture of Peele Castle in a -storm." They mean the light of poetic imagination, -which irradiates life, although it is not seen with -the outward eye.—2. Your writing is neat and -good, but the tails to your g's and y's, etc., are too -long.</p> - -<p><span class="smcap">Bougie's Friend</span> (Belgium).—1. We answered your -first question some time ago.—2. In reply to your -inquiry as to whether "there is no harm in flirting," -we must tell you that there is a type of flirting which -is distinctly vulgar, and does not elevate a girl in the -eyes of the man who is amusing himself with her. -On the other hand, it is only fair to say that some -people apply the term "flirting" to very harmless -and innocent gaiety and brightness, which is perfectly -natural when young people meet together.</p></div> - - -<h3>INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENCE.</h3> - -<div class="blockquot"> - -<p>"<span class="smcap">Lys de France</span>" writes to inform her many would-be -correspondents that she has already made her -choice. She adds, "You cannot imagine the -pleasure your 'International Correspondence' has -afforded me."</p> - -<p>"<span class="smcap">Erica</span>," Buda-Pesth, Hungary, has offers of correspondence -from Miss Edwards, Bibbenluke, New -South Wales; and Miss Green, G. M. King, Esq., -Glen Rock, Spring Valley, Tarkastad, Cape Colony.</p> - -<p><span class="smcap">Marie Arapian</span> has an offer of correspondence from -Miss Julia Ina Fraser, Egypt House, Newmarket -Place, Westmoreland, Jamaica.</p> - -<p><span class="smcap">Miss Fraser</span> would "like to correspond with some -nice ladylike girls about her own age (seventeen) -in England, France and Italy, or India."</p> - -<p><span class="smcap">Miss Clarissa J. Ault</span> and her sister would be glad -to have a French girl correspondent of about their -own age (nineteen to twenty-one). Address, Aulton -House, Church Gresley, Burton-on-Trent.</p> - -<p><span class="smcap">Miss Emma L. Young</span> is anxious to obtain a French -correspondent aged twenty-one. Address, 2, Sans -Souci, Harold Cross Road, Dublin.</p> - -<p>"<span class="smcap">Poker</span>," Cholwell House, Temple Cloud, Bristol, -wishes to correspond with a French girl aged about -eighteen, of good family. She suggests that "they -should correct each other's letters."</p> - -<p><span class="smcap">Miss Lilian A. J. Slade</span>, Lawn Villa, Crewkerne, -Somerset, would like both a French and German -correspondent aged about eighteen.</p> - -<p>"<span class="smcap">One who is puzzled</span>" wishes to correspond with -Miss Florence A. Jeffery (New York). She should -write to the address we gave.</p> - -<p><span class="smcap">Miss Violet Goodhart Godfrey</span>, M.L.S., wishes -for an American correspondent; she is eighteen next -January. Will an American girl (either the one -whose request we published on August 6th, or another) -write to her at Ivy Hatch, Horsham?</p> - -<p><span class="smcap">Gertrude</span> wishes for a French correspondent.</p> - -<p><span class="smcap">Clem</span> wishes to exchange letters with a French, German, -or Italian lady.</p> - -<p><span class="smcap">Miss E. Watkinson</span>, Wanaka, The Vale, Chelsea, -wishes to correspond with a young lady of her own -age (twenty-four) in Canada.</p> - -<p><span class="smcap">Ignoramus</span> wishes for a French girl correspondent of -seventeen to twenty.</p> - -<p><span class="smcap">Dorothy Cross</span>, Minterne, Cerne, Dorset, and <span class="smcap">Miss -Madelina Pullin</span>, The Parsonage Farm, Warminster, -Wilts, wish to correspond with French -girls aged about fourteen.</p> - -<p>"<span class="smcap">Cissie</span>," Southend, should send her full name and -address.</p> - -<p>"<span class="smcap">A Reader of the 'G. O. P.,' J. B. Ashford</span>," -a girl aged seventeen, wishes for either a French -or German correspondent, or both. Address, -55, Marlow Road, Anerley, London, S.E.</p></div> - - -<h3>MISCELLANEOUS.</h3> - -<div class="blockquot"> - -<p><span class="smcap">Dombey.</span>—We have not made the experiment ourselves, -but we have heard that you may restore a -faded photograph by placing it in a saturated -solution of bichloride of mercury, leaving it in the -bath for a few minutes, and then washing and -drying it; of course it must be unmounted. There -is another method; but whatever experiment you -make should be first tried on one which is of no -value to you. For our part, we should prefer to -leave the photo in the experienced hands of a -professional artist, and we cannot take any responsibility -in giving the foregoing recipe.</p> - -<p><span class="smcap">Marta.</span>—There is no cruelty attached to the trade -in ostrich feathers. The birds are not killed, excepting -only at Buenos Ayres, to provide the -market with them; nor are they made to suffer -from plucking like the poor geese, to supply quill -pens. Each plume is cut with a sharp knife close -to the skin, and this gives no pain any more than -the cutting of our hair. The stumps wither and -fall out; or after ten days may be removed. The -greatest supply comes from the Cape; but they are -also produced in Tripoli, Egypt, and Morocco. -But the trade prices for birds has much gone down.</p> - -<p>A. B.—The name "Collect," as applied to the short -prayer employed before the Epistle and Gospel, -simply expressed the fact that it has reference to -the main subjects of the latter extracts collected -together. The term "Bible" only meant "a book" -in the time of Chaucer. It has been restricted in -its application to the Divinely-inspired collection -of writings, and the article "the" was super-added. -And so the term "Scriptures" is employed with -the definite article, to show that these writings are -separate from all others; sometimes the word -"holy" being further employed to mark them as -standing alone, and in a rank superior to that of any -others, however distinguished and authoritative.</p> - -<p><span class="smcap">Edith.</span>—Should anyone step on your foot, or accidentally -push against you, and apologise, say "Not -at all, don't mention it." Do not say "All right," -and certainly not the vulgar reply, "Granted," -from which an inference could naturally be drawn -that you considered an apology was due, which -would not be complimentary.</p> - -<p><span class="smcap">L. E. Bird.</span>—The initial letters placed on an invitation -card—"R. S. V. P."—are those of the French -words, <i>Répondez, s'il vous plait</i>, which, translated -into English, means, "Answer, if you please." -Your handwriting is scarcely formed, but very -legible, and promises well for a running hand, with -practice.</p> - -<p><span class="smcap">Beatrice.</span>—You had better transact the business -through the <i>Exchange and Mart</i>. Get one of the -papers to see their terms (70, Strand, W.C., Office -of the <i>Bazaar</i>. <i>E. & M.</i>).</p> - -<p><span class="smcap">Florence A. Jeffery.</span>—A halfpenny of William -and Mary, with plain edge, and the date under -Britannia, "1694" (in copper) is worth from 1s. to -5s.; but some examples have sold for much more. -Three halfpennies, one Irish, have been sold for -£1 12s., but they were very fine specimens. Another -of 1694, of bold work, extremely fine, realised £7 10s. -A halfpenny of George II. is worth from 6d. to a 1s. -The head of the date you name, "1754," is an old one.</p> - -<p><span class="smcap">H. Maxwell.</span>—We must refer you to the 1st volume -of <i>The Oracle Encyclopædia</i> (Geo. Newnes, Ltd.), -page 619, where you will read—"In the old Church -of St. Martin, built in the 12th or 13th c., Roman -bricks and Norman sculpture have been worked-up -in the walls!"</p> - -<p>M. D.—We recommend you to dispose of the medical -books through the <i>Exchange and Mart</i> (70, -Strand, W.C.).</p> - -<p><span class="smcap">Silkworm</span> might offer her silk for disposal through -the medium of the above-named paper.</p> - -<p><span class="smcap">Lizzie.</span>—The French obtained the soubriquet of -"frogs" not because of their using these creatures -as food, because we find that the southern Germans, -Austrians, and Italians esteem the green ones in -the same way, as delicacies of the table, but the -name was derived from the original heraldic device -of their kings, who bore on their escutcheons "three -toads (or frogs) erect, saltent." In the year 1791, -"What will the frogs say?" was a common phrase -of the Court at Versailles, applied to the citizens of -Paris. The site of this city was once a quagmire, or -swamp, like that of London, and was called <i>Lutétia</i>, -or "mud land," its inhabitants living like the -frogs, in the mud. September 20th, 1885, fell on a -Sunday.</p> - -<p>C. W. N.—We like your "Reverie." It shows much -poetical feeling; but a little flaw at the commencement -might be corrected. The nave cannot be -said to be "pierced" by the aisle, an arch, nor even -by the column. They do not go through the roof. -We do not say this satirically, but because the full -and correct meaning of words must be remembered -and strictly employed in their true sense.</p> - -<p><span class="smcap">May.</span>—Hermanszoon van Rhyn Rembrandt was a -Dutch painter and engraver; born in 1608, and -died in 1669. If your picture be signed, it is -valuable. Search the corners carefully for any -initials, date, or mark. You do not name the -subject.</p></div> - -</div> - -<hr class='full' /> - -<p>Transcriber's note—the following changes have been made to this text:</p> - -<ul><li>Page 195: might changed to night.</li></ul> - - - - - - - - -<pre> - - - - - -End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Girl's Own Paper, Vol. XX, No. -991, December 24, 1898, by Various - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK GIRL'S OWN PAPER, DEC 24, 1898 *** - -***** This file should be named 50798-h.htm or 50798-h.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - http://www.gutenberg.org/5/0/7/9/50798/ - -Produced by Susan Skinner, Chris Curnow, Pamela Patten and -the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at -http://www.pgdp.net - -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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