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diff --git a/old/52104-0.txt b/old/52104-0.txt deleted file mode 100644 index 9bf1969..0000000 --- a/old/52104-0.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,2943 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Girl's Own Paper, Vol. XX, No. 992, -December 31, 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. 992, December 31, 1898 - -Author: Various - -Release Date: May 19, 2016 [EBook #52104] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: UTF-8 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE GIRL'S OWN PAPER *** - - - - -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. 992. DECEMBER 31, 1898. [PRICE ONE PENNY.] - - - - -OLD ENGLISH COTTAGE HOMES; - -OR, - -VILLAGE ARCHITECTURE OF BYGONE TIMES. - - -[Illustration: AT CLARE, SUFFOLK.] - -_All rights reserved._] - - -PART III. - -We have already pointed out the simplicity of outline observable -in old English cottages, and the absence of exaggeration and that -disagreeable fussiness brought about by too much striving after the -picturesque. It must not, however, from this be concluded that ancient -village buildings are always plain and do not at times possess elegant -ornamentation and graceful details. - -The general outline, however, is always simple and quiet, for, as will -be seen by the examples we give (two of the most elaborate cottages in -England), the roof lines are very little broken up or varied. - -The first of these buildings is at Clare in Suffolk, and the second is -at Newport in Essex, the latter being one of the richest counties in -England for cottage architecture, many of its villages retaining quite -a mediæval aspect down to the present time. - -We will now say a few words upon the methods of applying ornamental -detail to cottages adopted in mediæval times, and we shall commence -with those structures erected in "Post-and-pan" construction. We trust -that our readers have not forgotten what is meant by the ugly-sounding -expression "Post-and-pan," and regret that we are quite unable to -discover or invent some more elegant name for this description of -building. Some years back a number of architects and archæologists -were examined before a parliamentary commission. The commission -objected to the words "Post-and-pan" being used in their report, and -suggested to the witnesses that they should find some more scientific -expression for this kind of work! It was found, however, impossible to -invent any one which conveyed the idea so concisely and satisfactorily, -so the old-fashioned name "Post-and-pan" received parliamentary -sanction! This being the case, our girls need not scruple to use it, -and may it not, after all, be as valuable for the formation of the lips -as the "prunes" and "prism" of Little Dorritt? - -There are several ways of applying ornamentation to "Post-and-pan" -buildings. The first is to add mouldings, tracery or carving, to the -doorways, windows, cornices, corbels and other constructive parts of -the building. - -The second is to arrange the "posts" in patterns by introducing curved -beams amongst them, or other woodwork, forming a kind of tracery -pattern. - -The third is to adorn the "pans" (panels) either with stamped -plaster-work called "pargeting," or with coloured plaster-work, or -wood-carving. - -The first of these methods is seen in the beautiful example which we -have sketched at Newport in Essex: here it will be noticed that the -bow window of the upper storey is adorned with wood tracery, and its -corbel richly carved with figure subjects, all executed in oak. The -"spurs," as they are called, which carry the projection of the upper -storey, are richly moulded and rest upon elegant little colonnettes. -The pans are filled in with brickwork laid in herring-bone patterns. -The centre of the building is recessed back, but in order to preserve -the severe and simple lines of the roof, the latter does not follow -the line of the recess, but is supported upon an arched beam, from the -centre of which projects a lifting-crane, a treatment quite peculiar to -the home counties and the south of England. - -Of course this building is far more elaborate than most cottages, and -the tradition of the place accounts for this by the supposition that it -was formerly the dwelling of a farm bailiff to the Abbot of Westminster. - -The beautiful little village of Newport has several examples of -interesting domestic work and a very noble church. - -The building which we illustrate dates from the 15th century, and is -still in excellent repair though not in any way restored. - -The very elaborate cottage represented in our first sketch is an -excellent example of pargeting, the surface of the pans being covered -by a rich kind of shawl-pattern executed in hard plaster, like the -Newport example. The constructive portions of the building are -elaborately treated. We are unable to account for the amount of -elaboration bestowed on this cottage, but as it is close to the church, -which is a very handsome building and liberally endowed with chantries, -it is very probable that this may have been the dwelling of one of the -chantry priests. - -Clare was an important place in the Middle Ages and possessed a castle, -remains of which are still to be seen. Richard Strongbow, the Conqueror -of Ireland, is said to have lived in it. - -The Manor of Clare in later times belonged to Edmund Mortimer, Earl of -March. There was also a priory here, built in 1248 by Richard, Earl of -Gloucester. - -A very curious poem exists in the form of a dialogue, "betwixt a -secular askyng and a frere answering at the grave of Dame Johan of -Acris" (of Clare). It is a quaint example of Old English and begins in -rather a curious manner. - -Q. "What man lyeth here, sey me, Sir Frere?" - -A. "No man." - -Q. "What ellis?" - -A. "It is a woman." - -Then follows her pedigree all in rhyme, from which it appears that she -was a daughter of King Edward I., and the remarkable circumstance is -stated, that she was borne of her "moder"! - -As the poem is about three pages long and all pretty much like the -sample we have given, we will not inflict it upon our readers. - - H. W. BREWER. - -[Illustration: AT NEWPORT, ESSEX.] - - - - -ABOUT PEGGY SAVILLE. - -BY JESSIE MANSERGH (Mrs. G. de Horne Vaizey), Author of "Sisters -Three," etc. - - -CHAPTER XIII. - -Peggy felt weak and shaken for some days after her fright, and was -thankful to stay quietly indoors and busy herself with her new task. -The gas fire could be turned on in her room whenever she desired, and -at every spare moment she ran upstairs, locked her door behind her, and -began to write. Robert insisted that the work should be kept secret, -and that not a word should be said about the competition downstairs, -for he was sensitive about the remarks of his companions, and anxious -to keep a possible failure to himself. All the work had to be done -upstairs therefore, and the frequent absence of the partners from the -schoolroom, though much regretted, did not seem at all inexplicable to -the others. It was understood that Peggy and Robert had some interest -in common, but as winter advanced this was no unusual occurrence in a -house where Christmas was a carnival, and surprises of an elaborate -nature were planned by every member of the household. It was taken for -granted that the work had some connection with Christmas, and inquiries -were discreetly avoided. - -With an old calendar before her as a model for the lettering, Peggy did -her work neatly and well, and the gilt "arabesques" had an artistic -flourish which was quite professional. When Robert was shown the first -half-dozen sheets he whistled with surprise, and exclaimed, "Good old -Mariquita!" a burst of approval before which Peggy glowed with delight. -It had been agreed that, after printing the first ten days of January, -Peggy should go on to the first ten of February, and so on throughout -the year, so that Rob should be able to use what quotations had already -been found under each heading, and should not be detained until the -whole thirty or thirty-one had been chosen. - -The partners were most fastidious in their selection at the beginning -of their work, but when half the time had passed and not one-third of -the necessary number of quotations had been found, alarm seized upon -the camp, and it was realised that a little more latitude must be shown. - -"We shall have to use up all the old ones which we struck off the -list," said Rob disconsolately. "I'm sorry; but I never realised -before that three hundred and sixty-five was such an outrageously -large number. And we shall have to get books of extracts and read them -through from beginning to end. Nearly two hundred more to find; a -hundred and fifty, say, when we have used up those old ones! It will -take us all our time!" - -"I'll get up at six every morning and read by my fire," said Peggy -firmly. "If it's necessary I'll get up at five, and if I can't find -bits to suit all the stupid old things, I'll--I'll write some myself! -There! Why shouldn't I? I often make up things in my head, and you -wouldn't believe how fine they are. I think of them days afterwards, -and ask myself, 'Now where did I read that?' and then it comes back to -me. 'Dear me; I made it up myself!' If we get very short, Rob, there -wouldn't be any harm in writing a few sentences and signing them -'Saville,' would there?" - -"Not if they were good enough," said Rob, trying to suppress the laugh -which would have hurt Peggy's feelings, and looking with twinkling eyes -at the little figure by his side, so comically unprofessional, with her -lace collar, dainty little feet, and pigtail of dark brown hair. "You -mustn't get up too early in the morning and overtire yourself. I can't -allow that!" he added firmly. "You have looked like a little white -ghost the last few days, and your face is about the size of my hand. -You must get some colour into your cheeks before the holidays, or that -beloved Arthur will think we have been ill-treating you when he comes -down." - -Peggy gave a sharp little sigh and relapsed into silence. It was the -rarest thing in the world to hear her allude to any of her own people. -When a letter arrived, and Mrs. Asplin asked questions concerning -father, mother, or brother, she answered readily enough, but she never -offered information, or voluntarily carried on the conversation. -Friends less sympathetic might have imagined that she was so happy in -her new home that she had no care beyond it, but no one in the Vicarage -made that mistake. When the square Indian letter was handed to her -across the breakfast table, the flush of delight on the pale cheeks -brought a reflected smile to every face, and more than one pair of eyes -watched her tenderly as she sat hugging the precious letter, waiting -until the moment should come when she could rush upstairs and devour -its contents in her own room. Once it had happened that mail day had -arrived and brought no letter, and that had been a melancholy occasion. -Mrs. Asplin had looked at one envelope after another, had read the -addresses twice, thrice, even four times over before she summoned -courage to tell of its absence. - -"There is no letter for you to-day, Peggy!" Her voice was full -of commiseration as she spoke, but Peggy sat in silence, her -face stiffened, her head thrown back with an assumption of calm -indifference. "There must have been some delay in the mail. You will -have two letters next week, dearie, instead of one." - -"Probably," said Peggy. Mellicent was staring at her with big, round -eyes; the Vicar peered over the rim of his spectacles; Esther passed -the marmalade with eager solicitude; her friends were all full of -sympathy, but there was a "Touch-me-if-you-dare!" atmosphere about -Peggy that day which silenced the words on their lip. It was evident -that she preferred to be left alone, and though her eyes were red -when she came down to lunch, she held her chin so high, and joined in -the conversation with such an elegant flow of language, that no one -dare comment on the fact. Two days later the letter arrived and all -was sunshine again; but in spite of her cheery spirits, her friends -realised that Peggy's heart was not in the vicarage, and that there -were moments when the loneliness of her position pressed on her, and -when she longed intensely for someone of her very own, whose place -could not be taken by even the kindest of friends. - -Like most undemonstrative people, Peggy dearly loved to be appreciated, -and to receive marks of favour from those around. Half the zest with -which she entered into her new labour was owing to the fact that Robert -had chosen her from all the rest to be his partner. She was aglow with -satisfaction in this fact, and with pleasure in the work itself, and -the only cloud which darkened her horizon at the present moment was -caused by those incidental references to the fair Rosalind, which fell -so often from her companion's lips. - -"Everything," said Peggy impatiently to herself, "everything ends -in Rosalind! Whatever we are talking about, that stupid girl's name -is bound to be introduced! I asked Mellicent if she would have a -scone at tea this afternoon, and she said something about Rosalind -in reply--Rosalind liked scones, or she didn't like scones, or some -ridiculous nonsense of the sort! Who wants to know what Rosalind likes? -I don't! I'm sick of the name! And Mrs. Asplin is as silly as the rest! -The girls must have new dresses because Rosalind is coming, and they -will be asked to tea at the Larches! If their green dresses are good -enough for us, why won't they do for Rosalind, I should like to know? -Rob is the only sensible one. I asked him if she were really such a -marvellous creature, and he said she was an affected goose! He ought -to know better than anyone else! Curls indeed! One would think it was -something extraordinary to have curls! My hair would curl too, if I -chose to make it, but I don't; I prefer to have it straight! If she is -the 'Honourable Rosalind,' I am Mariquita Saville, and I'm not going to -be patronised by anybody, so there!" and Peggy tossed her head, and -glared at the reflection in the glass in a lofty and scornful manner, -as though it were the offending party who had had the audacity to -assume superiority. - -Robert was one with Peggy in hoping that his people would not leave -town until such time as the calendar should be despatched on its -travels, for when they were installed at the Larches he was expected to -be at home each week from Saturday until Monday, and the loss of that -long holiday afternoon would interfere seriously with the work on hand. -He had seen so little of his people for the last few years, that he -would be expected to be sociable during the short time that he was with -them, and could hardly shut himself up in his room for hours at a time. -Despair then settled down upon both partners when a letter arrived to -say that the Darcy family were coming down even earlier than had been -expected, and summoning Robert to join them at the earliest possible -moment. - -"This is awful!" cried the lad, ruffling his hair with a big, restless -hand. "I know what it means--not only Saturdays off, but two or three -nights during the week into the bargain! Between you and me, Mariquita, -the governor is coming down here to economise and intends to stay much -longer than usual. Hector has been getting into debt again; he's the -eldest, you know--the one in the Life Guards. It's a lot too bad, for -he has had it all his own way so far, and when he runs up bills like -this, everyone has to suffer for it. Mother hates the country for more -than a few weeks at a time, and will be wretched if she is kept here -all through the winter. I know how it will be, she will keep asking -people down, and getting up all sorts of entertainments to relieve the -dulness. It's all very well in its way, but just now when I need every -minute----" - -"Shall you give up trying for the prize?" asked Peggy faintly, and Rob -threw back his head with emphatic disclaimer. - -"I never give up a thing when I have made up my mind to do it! There -are ten days still, and a great deal can be done in ten days. I'll take -a couple of books upstairs with me every night and see if I can find -something fresh. There is one good thing about it, I shall have a fresh -stock of books to choose from at the Larches. It is the last step that -costs in this case. It was easy enough to fix off the first hundred, -but the last is a teaser!" - -On Saturday morning a dog-cart came over to convey Robert to the -Larches, and the atmosphere of the vicarage seemed charged with -expectation and excitement. The Darcys had arrived; to-morrow they -would appear at church; on Monday they would probably drive over with -Rob and pay a call. These were all important facts in a quiet country -life, and seemed to afford unlimited satisfaction to every member -of the household. Peggy grew so tired of the name of Darcy that she -retired to her room at eight o'clock, and was busy at work over the -September batch of cards, when a knock came to the door, and she had -to cover them over with the blotting paper to admit Mellicent in her -dressing-gown, with her hair arranged for the night in an extraordinary -number of little plaited pig-tails. - -"Will you fasten the ends for me, Peggy, please?" she requested. "When -I do it, the threads fall off, and the ends come loose. I want it to be -specially nice for to-morrow!" - -"But it will look simply awful, Mellicent, if you leave it like this. -It will be frizzed out almost on a level with your head. Let me do it -up in just two tight plaits, it will be far, far nicer," urged Peggy, -lifting one little tail after another, and counting their number in -dismay. But no, Mellicent would not be persuaded. The extra plaits were -a tribute to Rosalind, a mark of attention to her on her arrival with -which she would suffer no interference, and as a consequence of her -stubbornness, she marched to church next morning disfigured by a mop of -untidy, tangled hair instead of the usual glossy locks. - -Peggy preserved a demeanour of stately calm, as she waited for the -arrival of the Darcy family, but even she felt a tremor of excitement -when the verger hobbled up to the square pew and stood holding the door -open in his hand. The heads of the villagers turned with one consent -to the doorway; only one person in the church disdained to move her -position, but she heard the clatter of horses' hoofs from without, and -presently the little procession passed the vicarage pew, and she could -indulge her curiosity without sacrifice to pride. First of all came -Lord Darcy, a thin, oldish man, with a face that looked tired and kind, -and faintly amused by the amount of attention which his entrance had -attracted. Then his wife, a tall, fair woman, with a beautiful profile, -and an air of languid discontent who floated past with rustling silken -skirts, leaving an impression of elegance and luxury, which made Mrs. -Asplin sigh and Mellicent draw in her breath with a gasp of rapture. -Then followed Robert with his shaggy head, scowling more fiercely than -ever in his disgust at finding himself an object of attention, and last -of all a girlish figure in a grey dress, with a collar of soft, fluffy -chinchilla, and a velvet hat with drooping brim, beneath which could be -seen a glimpse of a face pink and white as the blossoms of spring, and -a mass of shining, golden hair. Peggy shut her lips with a snap, and -the iron entered into her soul. It was no use pretending any longer! -This was Rosalind, and she was fairer, sweeter, a hundred times more -beautiful than she had ever imagined! - -(_To be continued._) - - - - -GIRLS AS I HAVE KNOWN THEM. - -BY ELSA D'ESTERRE-KEELING, Author of "Old Maids and Young." - - -PART III. - -THE VULGAR GIRL. - -As translated by Cowley, Horace is made to say-- - - "Hence, ye profane, I hate ye all, - Both the great vulgar and the small!" - -[Illustration: The small vulgar] - -There will be no attempt made in this paper to deal with the great -vulgar, but some attempt will be made in it to deal with the small, -being the category to which, it may be assumed, belongs the average -vulgar girl. - -It is of course impossible within the limits of a short essay to -indicate more than a few of the leading characteristics of this girl. -She it is who not only wants to monopolise the conversation, but who -wants to confine it to one subject. She should remember the quaint -counsel, "The honourablest part of talk is to give the occasion, -and again to moderate, and pass to something else." Moreover in -conversation she too often follows the rule laid down by a French -author for those about to write love-letters: - -"Begin without knowing what you are going to say, and end without -knowing what you have said." - -If at the end of a conversation she sometimes knew what she had said, -the vulgar girl, who is not necessarily a callous girl, would feel very -unhappy. - -Her tendency to talk indiscreetly has doubtless its origin in the -precipitancy which causes her to break in upon the speech of others. -There is a lesson which she might learn from a certain polite echo. -This echo may be heard opposite to Mugdock Castle in Scotland. It will -repeat any sentence of six syllables in the exact tone in which it is -uttered--waiting till the sentence is finished. - -Another result of the lack of deliberation which characterises the -vulgar girl is seen in the fact that the latest book, the latest play, -the latest picture, is to her Thingimy by Thingimbob. That nomenclature -is somewhat vague, and is moreover out of date, but it still commends -itself to the vulgar girl, as does the soubriquet _The Bard_ for -Shakespeare. - -Her singular phraseology, which she conceives to set her at an -advantage, in reality sometimes sets the vulgar girl at a disadvantage. -Of Tennyson she said the other day-- - -"I don't pretend to understand him any more than Browning, but then he -tootles on prettily, and that's what I like in poetry." - -[Illustration] - -A main difference between Browning and Tennyson was here correctly set -forth, but the phrasing was in questionable taste. "Tootles" is a good -word, but to say that Tennyson "tootles on prettily," is to understate -his merits. It shall here be pointed out in passing that "I don't -pretend" is a favourite form of asseveration with the vulgar girl, and -is one which she should try to vary, if only because it inferentially -asserts that other people do pretend. - -The vulgar girl is "by way of being" (her own phrase) witty. One part -of her wit is to say "muchly" for much, and another part of it is to -say "free gratis" for free of charge. - -Flippancy as a substitute for wit so often evokes mirth that the vulgar -girl as would-be wit not incomprehensibly largely indulges in it. I sat -beside her once during a performance of Beethoven's Septett, one of -the loveliest things in music, with here and there a heart-delighting -gaiety in it. During the fifth movement of it she whispered to me-- - -"Isn't it like 'The Bogie Man'?" - -[Illustration] - -The levity in what follows was even more remarkable. The speaker was a -young bride. - -"I didn't feel a bit nervous at my wedding," she said. "You see, I have -been used to private theatricals." - -A girl like that mistakes gaiety of head for gaiety of heart. - -[Illustration: Her first appearance in a new role] - -As a sample of vulgar girl-wit at its crudest, I give the following, in -which a girl spoke of a lady-- - -"She couldn't turn white, but she went the colour of an unripe tomato." - -[Illustration: Upset by Tomato sauce] - -The vulgar girl who is "by way of being" witty is not "by way of -being" sentimental, and is rather addicted to signing her letters -"Your's," which word she believes to be rightly written as above, with -an apostrophe. This girl, for the rest, is generally good-natured, and -her vein of censure is more often odd than terrible. Thus she said the -other day of a dentist-- - -"He is a horrible little snob, but that doesn't matter when he gets -into your mouth." - -[Illustration: An old Fairy Tale] - -As often as not the vulgar girl has both sense and sensibility. Of the -latter fact she is profoundly ashamed, and has been known to say of a -book that has deeply agitated her-- - -"I got to feel quite eye-in-water over it." - -She affects to care, only for the gaieties of life, but knows something -of its gravities, and has often a bit of heroine in her. The worst -thing about her is her speech. "Jolly" is her favourite adverb. She -is jolly glad when she is not jolly mad, and she will soon describe -herself as jolly sad. She uses the verb "mashed" hideously; where her -prototype of twenty years ago said "swell" she says "swagger;" and -she does not stick at saying "beastly." For the rest, she has always -some pet word of the hour. Thus "dotty" is an adjective now much in -favour with her. Thereby hangs a tale. The vulgar girl sometimes knows -Italian, and it was she who translated a line from a famous lady's -epitaph-- - - "_Vergine magnanime, dotta, divina._" - - "A virgin magnanimous, dotty, divine." - -On the other hand there are vulgar girls who do not know Latin, and one -of them has been known to say "effluvia" for "smell," the Latin for -"smell" being "effluvium." - -The pronunciation of her own language is by some thought to offer -insuperable difficulties to the English vulgar girl, who pronounces -the "t" in "often" but does not pronounce it in "Westminster," whose -favourite colour, she has been heard to aver, is "terrar cottar," -who plays an instrument which she calls "the varlin," who says -"to_wards_" and "inter_est_ing," who pronounces "ate" "et," and whose -vocabulary has been known to include the words "pantomine," "Feb'uary" -and "sec'etary." So far is this list from exhausting the faults of -pronunciation of the said vulgar girl, that it must be added that she -gives to no one vowel its proper sound, while among the consonants -"h" initial and "g" final stumble her. She is particularly careless -regarding the latter consonant when the form which her vulgarity takes -is that of would-be "smartness." - -Very abominable to this girl is grammar, which is all but invariably -set at defiance by her. Thus, even when she does not say "it were," as -did Mrs. Cluppins, she favours such phrasing as "those sort of," "very -pleased," "different to" and "between you and I." - -[Illustration: A model] - -Her predilection for abbreviations is another marked feature of the -vulgar girl. To "'bus" she has lately added "biz," and "spec" has found -her approval. - -The pity of it! - -Just as she has always a favourite word, she has mostly a favourite -phrase. In one instance known to me it is "You know what I mean," and -everyone knows what she means, as well everyone may. - -Take this assertion-- - -"It's one of those schools where they sleep in carbuncles--you know -what I mean." - -Of course everyone knows what she means. - -[Illustration] - -Or take this-- - -"I can't be in six or seven places at one; I'm not omnivorous--you know -what I mean." - -[Illustration: not omnivorous] - -Of course everyone knows what she means. - -They call her Mrs. Malaprop; but, in point of fact, her case is a -notable improvement upon that of Sheridan's heroine, the ignorance -of that lady having been of a shade by just so much deeper that it -left her unwitting of the fact that she was wrong. The girl here in -view has a shrewd suspicion that she is wrong, but pays her hearers -the compliment of assuming that they will understand her. In only one -instance, so far as has come to my knowledge, has she ever overtaxed -her listener's powers of comprehension. She spoke of a living novelist. - -"I can't bear his books," she said. "They're so very _femme de -chambre_--you know what I mean." - -Not only did the person addressed not know what she meant, but he -will not now be induced to believe that she meant "_fin de siècle_," -and unconsciously used what, it seems to some of us, was a very happy -substitute for this rather hackneyed phrase. - -I have in the foregoing dwelt more particularly on what is to me the -most striking fact in connection with the vulgar girl, the base uses -to which she puts her native speech; that my account of her may not, -however, be wholly inadequate, I have also conferred with persons whose -views on manners and deportment, as frequently expressed by them, have -led me to believe that they may be better able than I am to point out -what, from the social standpoint, constitutes a vulgar girl. Of the -many _data_ supplied me, I give below a few. - -The vulgar girl is "arch." - -The vulgar girl is "coy." - -The vulgar girl loves "chaff." - -The vulgar girl has sidelong looks. - -The vulgar girl calls milk "cream" and bacon "ham." - -The vulgar girl shouts or whispers. - -The vulgar girl thinks all other girls vulgar. - -[Illustration: An extreme view] - -The vulgar girl has never been told, or has been told in vain, to sit -up and put her knees together. - -The vulgar girl is the girl of whom the vulgar boy says that she is -"not half a bad sort." - -(_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 XIV. - -IN A FORTIFIED TOWN. - -It was growing dark when at length they drove through the gates into -Verdun. - -No one then said a needless word, not even Roy. The sense of banishment -and of captivity pressed upon them all with a new force, at the -sight of this fortified town, with its massive encircling walls, its -iron gates, its pervading gendarmerie. If any lack of realisation of -their true position had helped them hitherto, it had small chance of -surviving this hour. - -At the gate they had to pause, a gendarme coming to the coach door. He -said something to Denham, which made Colonel Baron ask sharply-- - -"Eh, what's that?" - -"We are to go first to the citadel. Not necessary for Mrs. Baron and -Roy. You and I might walk it, sir, and send them on." - -"No, no," Mrs. Baron interposed; "I cannot go on alone. We will keep -together." - -"A pity," murmured Ivor; and Colonel Baron looked doubtfully from him -to his wife. - -"I am not going to do it," she repeated, with her manner of graceful -determination; and then, earnestly, "Do not ask it of me--pray do not!" -No more could be said, and the man was ordered to drive on. - -Verdun at that date lay in the then French province of Lorraine, the -then French department of the Meuse, upon which river it was built. -Distant from Paris somewhere about one hundred and fifty miles, it was -also within about fifty miles, in different directions, of two towns -which have since become vividly historic, Sédan and Metz. The river -thereabouts follows a tortuous course, and the lower part of Verdun -stood mainly on little islands in the Meuse, while the upper part led -to the French citadel, which crowned a rocky summit. - -The valley, containing the town, ran north-west and south-east, being -surrounded by hills. - -On reaching the citadel Mrs. Baron and Roy were desired by the Colonel -to remain in the coach, while he and Denham disappeared within, there -to be carefully examined and closely questioned, and having again -to give their parole. After which they came out, the Colonel saying -shortly-- - -"That business is done! Tell them where to go, Den. They seem -determined to know us again." - -"Were they civil?" his wife asked. - -"No end of a fuss, my dear. As if the word of an English gentleman were -not sufficient. Close description of us both written in the register." - -Once more they drove on, Roy gazing from side to side, noting the -small insignificant shops, and exclaiming at occasional peeps of the -river with an interest which never quite failed him. The others were -for the most part silent. Mrs. Baron's eyes were dim, the Colonel was -pre-occupied, and Ivor, usually the most observant of men, seemed to -see nothing. - -Presently they stopped before the gateway of a large old house or small -private "hôtel," with an untidy little courtyard. An old Frenchman, -in quaint dress, grey-haired, with an imposing pig-tail, came to meet -them, bowing profoundly to the gentlemen, and still more profoundly to -Mrs. Baron. - -"C'est, sans doute, Monsieur le Colonel--et Madame----" - -Colonel Baron's particular gift did not lie in the direction of foreign -languages. He never could talk French, and probably he never would, no -matter how many years he might be compelled to live in France. - -"Oui, monsieur. Bon jour. C'est nous qui sont viendrai," he responded, -feeling it incumbent on him to say something, as he descended from the -old coach. "J'espère que vous êtes bien. Je suis bien aise que nous -sommes haut--pas bas--pas près de le rivière. Bother their grammar, -Denham; you can do it better than I. Just say what's suitable." - -Denham obeyed, and the next object which dawned upon Roy's perceptions -was the sad and gentle face of Lucille de St. Roques. He seized her -hand vehemently. - -"I say, mademoiselle, it's nice to find you here. Isn't it, Den? -Mamma, this is Mademoiselle de St. Roques. Papa, you know she helped -to nurse me after I'd had small-pox. Are we going to live upstairs, -mademoiselle? Is that what it's to be? The whole upstairs, all to -ourselves? What fun! Which way is it? Oh, I see! This way, mamma. Those -poor horses do look tired, just half-starved, and so skinny. Is there -a stable for them? Are we to have tea? Dinner! that's right. We didn't -get half a dinner to-day, and I'm famished. What a droll old staircase? -Do look out of this window, mamma." - -Roy's flow of spirits helped them all. The Colonel and his wife -gratefully expressed their thanks to the French girl for her past -kindness to their boy, both being much attracted by her face and her -pretty manner as she led the way upstairs to the first floor. There -stood Madame Courant, a fat and smiling little Frenchwoman, ready to -bestow unlimited welcomes upon the unfortunate foreigners. - -Lucille had exchanged bows with Ivor at first, and then had a few -words with him, scanning his face as she talked, with rather troubled -glances. There was, however, small leisure at first for any quiet -conversation. The rooms had to be inspected, and they were found to be -not at all bad as to size, though meagrely furnished. Lucille had set -her heart on making everything wear as far as possible an English look, -using her childish recollections of a home across the Channel; and if -she was less successful than she had hoped, nobody betrayed the fact. -It was clear to them all how hard she had worked to render the place -comfortable. - -"But it has been no trouble--non, vraiment--not at all," she assured -them, with her pensive smile, when they apologised. - -While sincerely anxious to help, full of sympathy for their position, -and most desirous to cheer them up, she plainly feared to be guilty -of intrusion, and very soon she took herself off with Madame Courant -to the ground floor. A somewhat clumsy but well-intentioned maiden -had been deputed to wait upon the upstairs party--probably had been -hired for the purpose, since Madame Courant did most of her own -house-work--and dinner was laid in the smaller salon in readiness for -their arrival. - -On the whole that first meal might be reckoned a success. Madame -Courant was no mean cook; and though not much could be said as to the -actual waiting, from an English point of view, that was a minor matter, -compared with the comfort of finding clean and cosy quarters, not to -speak of a kind reception. Roy did his best to supply all deficiencies -in the conversational line, and his efforts were seconded, though not -vigorously, by Denham. - -When, however, dinner was at an end, and they had moved into the -larger salon, which was to be their drawing-room--when a long evening -lay before them, and there was nothing that had to be done, beyond a -certain amount of unpacking and arranging, which no one felt disposed -to begin upon at once--then a change came. Then the shadow of their -captivity descended heavily upon them all, even upon the valiant Roy; -and for once the spirit of cheerfulness and of keeping up seemed to -vanish. - -For a quarter of an hour they all remained together, no one speaking. -No one was able to speak. They had nothing whatever to say. And -presently, when this had gone on a little while, Mrs. Baron made -a move, retreating into her own bedroom, avowedly to "see to a -few things," but in reality, as they all knew, to indulge in a -breakdown--her husband, after a brief hesitation, going thither also. -Denham had flagged completely, retreating to a shady corner near the -big fireplace, where he could scarcely be seen; and for Ivor to flag -meant the flagging of everybody. As for Roy--but that he would have -been ashamed, counting himself already almost a man, he could at this -stage have flung himself on the ground and cried like a little child -for very home-sickness. - -He wanted Molly--oh, most awfully! He wanted her this evening more than -he had ever wanted anything or anybody in his whole life. The craving -that took possession of him for Molly's face, Molly's voice, Molly's -companionship--the passionate desire to have dear little Molly once -more by his side--was a pain never to be forgotten. - -Roy did not know how to bear himself under it. He had nothing to do, -nothing with which to pass the time. He stood at the window, looking -out upon the darkness, trying desperately to be cool and stoical, as -one five minutes crawled by after another. Denham never moved, never -spoke a word. Roy could just make out his dark outline, as motionless -as a carved image, a few yards distant. If only Denham would have -talked, if something would have happened, if somebody would have come -in, it would have been easier to keep going. But nobody came, nothing -happened, and Denham did not stir. - -Roy drummed with his fingers on the window-sill. He could hear shrill -voices out in the street, not far off, and the sound of some tuneless -instrument. One of the two candles was gone with Mrs. Baron, leaving -the room dim. He tried to listen, tried not to think. And just when -he counted himself victorious, there was a queer little catch of his -breath which sounded suspicious. Roy drummed again angrily, hoping that -Denham had not heard. He might be asleep, he was so still. But, after a -slight break, he said-- - -"Come here." - -Roy unwillingly obeyed. He would have liked to refuse, but he looked -upon Ivor as in some sort his commanding officer, so of course he had -no choice. - -"They're making no end of a row out there," he remarked in a tone of -profound indifference, as he lounged nearer. "Can't think what it's all -for. Just listen." - -"Yes; I wish they would stop." - -"Don't know what's it's all about. Something or other--going on. I -shouldn't wonder--if they're quarrelling." - -That odd little catch again. - -"Feel very bad this evening, Roy?" - -The question took Roy by surprise, and a lump in his throat prevented -an immediate reply. - -Denham understood. - -"Never mind," he said. "It's the same with all of us, you know. And -there's one comfort for you--that Molly wants you at least as much as -you want her. Some people would give a good deal for that certainty." - -Roy tried to explain matters away. - -"I didn't say----" - -"My dear boy, there's no need for you to say anything; I know well -enough. Don't you see?" - -Denham's chair shook as Roy leant against it, but no further sound -came. He fought his battle courageously, and Denham waited. - -"We shall all feel better to-morrow," the latter presently remarked. -"It's a strange place, and things look uncomfortable to-night--can't -well do otherwise. Suppose you and I have a game of chess. Better than -to sit brooding over what can't be cured. My little travelling set is -somewhere about, I believe." - -"O yes." Roy's voice told of instant relief. "You gave it to me to take -care of. Don't you mind a game, really? I should like that. Will you -give me your queen?" - -"No; not to-day. I'm not at my best. We'll try on even terms. Get out -the pieces." - -Roy obeyed with alacrity, and whatever the move meant to Denham, it -served to lift Roy out of his unwonted fit of misery. He was soon -deeply absorbed in the mimic fight, and for once he found himself on -the way to win an easy victory. Roy became exultant--till the honour -and glory of success were impaired by the casual discovery that Ivor -could not tell a knight from a bishop except by feeling. Roy stared -wonderingly into the spare bronzed face. - -"Why, Den!" - -"All right; this is my bishop." - -"I say, you didn't take that for a knight?" - -"I believe I was under the delusion for a moment." - -"But why? There, now it's your turn. Oh, I say!--you're going to move -my king." - -Denham laughed slightly. - -"I am rather a futile opponent, seemingly. Never mind. Now it is your -turn." - -"What's the matter? Can't you see?" - -"Not well; just a headache. Go on; you'll soon end the game at this -rate." - -Roy showed himself capable of heroism. Though he had never yet beaten -Denham in full fight, without having some of his adversary's best -pieces presented to him, though the desire of his heart was for a -victory, and though he was on the high road to administering checkmate, -one more glance decided him. He swept his arm over the board. - -Denham half smiled, and made no protest. - -"You are a kind fellow," he said, as he went back to his former -retreat; and Roy dropped on the floor to pick up the scattered pieces. - -"Why didn't you tell me? You'd no business to play. Can't I do anything -for you?" - -"Yes, if you don't mind"--after a moment's racking of his brain to -think of anything that might keep the boy occupied. "I wish you would -unpack my valise--just the things that I shall want to-night." - -Roy was delighted and went off at full speed. In the passage he found -himself face to face with Lucille, and all but rushed into her arms. -Lucille drew back. - -"I say! Oh, I beg your pardon, mademoiselle. I'm going to unpack for -Den. He's just floored; can't even play chess. It's all this horrid -beastly bother, having to come to Verdun, you know. He never used to be -like that. Den was always up to anything. What have you got there?" as -she held up one hand. "A letter!" - -"It is medicine for Monsieur le Capitaine--from England," Lucille said, -with a look of heartfelt pleasure. - -"It really is from England! Won't he be glad? Where did you get it -from? You shall give it to him yourself. Yes; I declare you shall." - -Roy flung open the salon door, and announced, "Here's Mademoiselle de -St. Roques. Den, she's got something for you! Guess what it is. Come -in, Mademoiselle." - -Ivor stood up, not grateful to Roy at this moment. - -"Pray take a seat," he urged. - -"It's a letter--a letter--a letter from England," cried the boy. - -"You have brought this from the post?" asked Denham, as he received -from her hand a folded and sealed packet. - -"Non, it is not that. The letter arrives from M. de Bertrand. It was -send to him from England under cover, and he waited till he should -learn your address and have opportunity to send it with safety. When -I wrote to him that you all were ordered to Verdun, then he sent the -letter to me by one travelling this way. It is but now arrived. I am -glad!" Lucille added, under her breath. - -Denham bent nearer to the candle, trying with drawn brows to make out -the handwriting. As he did so, a curious light crept over his face. -Lucille thought she could read its meaning. - -"You are very good, mademoiselle. I am much indebted to you and to M. -de Bertrand," he said. - -"Den, I do believe it's Polly's writing!" exclaimed Roy. - -Denham glanced towards him. - -"Yes; it is from Polly." - -(_To be continued._) - -[Illustration] - - - - -FROCKS FOR TO-MORROW. - -BY "THE LADY DRESSMAKER." - - -[Illustration: EVENING DRESSES FOR CHRISTMAS FESTIVITIES.] - -The winter is always distinguished by a rather dowdy style of dress, -especially in town, where, for at least three months of the year, the -days are so dark and the light so poor at best that everyone says, "It -really cannot matter what one puts on in such sombre weather as this." -Such is the sentiment expressed by the general public, but, of course, -does not apply to those who, having carriages at their disposal, can -blossom out like the lilies of King Solomon, and be carried over the -mud and through the gloom without let or hindrance. It is only on sunny -days during the winter and at Church Parade in Hyde Park that one sees -the brighter side of winter dress. Otherwise it only blooms in the -shops, at the dressmakers', and at the endless afternoon teas which -constitute the main amusement during the winter. One must have at least -one nice walking-dress for the winter, in spite of the gloom, for these -last-named festive occasions, and one generally needs a cape or mantle -as well to wear in turn with our costume or with it as we may require. -Besides this, most women have a certain amount of "wearing out" to do -of clothes that must put in a second winter. Those wise people who have -established a kind of rule for themselves in the purchase of dress get -a handsome cape or mantle one year and a handsome gown the next, the -latter becoming less visible and important the second year when worn -under the new mantle. Both of these should come from first-rate shops, -in order to get the full value out of them. Then there are the people -who wait for the sales to supply themselves with winter clothes, and -say they manage to finish out the last year's stock by this means in -the still darker and shorter days before Christmas. I always consider -the wearing out of one's winter things a grievous bother which falls -most heavily on the shoulders of those who are very careful wearers of -their garments. I know people who really are never able to wear out -their clothes, and become quite dispirited at the constant sight of -them. I know one lady who is able to clothe several others poorer than -herself because she takes such good care of what she wears, and things -are hardly worn in appearance when she has them repaired and brushed up. - -The class which has the most difficulty in clothing themselves so as -to present a respectable appearance is composed of these very poor -ladies, who are governesses, lady-helps, or companions, and no doubt -my readers will have noticed the moving appeals issued by many of the -societies and agencies which are interested in procuring work for them. -As we are always anxious to find out good works for our women and -girls, we commend to them this one, as one of the most blessed both to -giver and receiver. - -The return to fashion of dresses made from the same material entirely -instead of those which have been so long in wear, which consisted of a -blouse, more or less handsome, and a skirt, has brought in a necessity -for mantles and capes, and so these are really the most fashionable -of the out-of-door garments for the winter months. There is no fear, -however, of the skirt and jacket disappearing from amongst us, for they -have been found too useful to lose their place in our esteem; and the -winter jackets are, some of them, very pretty and tight-fitting, with -large buttons, and generally of three-quarter length, though there are -many quite short ones, but which seem more used for cycling or golf -than for real walking or driving. - -[Illustration: TWO WINTER GOWNS.] - -One of these costumes with a tight-fitting coat is shown in our -illustration of "a gown with braid and fur," which is a very handsome -example of the walking-gowns of the winter. The skirt is made with the -fashionable tightness, the much-worn shaped flounce, and the braiding -is carried down the front on either side in a graceful arabesque -design, which is wider and fuller in detail at the top near the waist. -The points are braided in the same manner, and the tops of the sleeves. -The fronts have revers of mink fur. The dress itself is in dark blue -cloth, and the braiding is in black. The hat is of blue velvet, with -white and green wings, and blue and green velvet trimmings. This -admixture of blue and green seems more popular than ever this winter, -and I have frequently seen a blue hat with a bright green velvet choux -bow placed in a conspicuous position in front. - -The choux and the Louis XII. or true lovers' knot are the two -fashionable bows of the season, for hats and bonnets as well as for -dress. The first-named seems ubiquitous in evening dress, where black -velvet also appears to be most popular as a trimming. - -[Illustration: GOWN WITH BRAID AND FUR.] - -Both velvet and velveteen are much worn, and are suited to the fashions -of the day, and the velveteen blouse retains its popularity, but is -more dressy and fanciful than it was. In some cases velvet is used -for the coat-shaped bodices, with short square tails that are much -seen, and these have almost invariably fancy vests or yokes. In most -instances, too, these are of finely tucked silk muslin, which, in cream -or white, is quite the most popular material for them, in spite of its -perishable nature and apparent unseasonableness. - -So far as materials are concerned, everything that is clinging and soft -is sought after, and even the rustling silks that lined our skirts and -gave us such a feeling of opulence have been relinquished in favour of -something more clinging. Cashmere and nuns' veiling are used for the -lining of day dresses, and China silks for evening ones. For slight -people this clinging effect is sometimes trying, but where stout people -are concerned the matter becomes worse, and we shall hear of all kinds -of cures for obesity in order to wear the new skirts. - -Of course, as is usual at this season, many evening dresses for small -Christmas festivities are simple, and our illustration shows three -of these, which are inexpensive and pretty. The first seated figure -to the right wears a pink silk muslin, plain for wearing over the -accordion-kilted skirt, and having a small black leaf-like pattern on -it for the pointed overskirt; a ruching of rose-coloured silk goes -round the latter part of the bodice and sleeves, and the back is -finished with a wide band and bow with ends of rose colour. This can, -of course, be carried out in any hue, but in white or cream-colour it -is very pretty, and there are such numbers of fancy gauzes and nets -that a pretty choice can be made which would be more inexpensive than -the model we present. - -The centre figure wears a dress of _mousseline-de-soie_ of a pale shade -of Parma violet, which is trimmed with narrow ribbons, drawn up to -form small ruches. These are of a slightly darker violet. The small -Eton jacket is of the same shade of violet velvet or satin, with bands -of velvet and paste buckles. The standing-up figure wears a dress of -jet-embroidered net, with bands of _passementerie_ on the front of the -bodice. The evening wrap is of a soft yellow brocade, which is lined -with a pale violet, and trimmed with flounces of lace and silk. The -collar is edged with white fur, and a bow of chiffon ornaments the neck -at the back. In giving these dresses I should observe that, although -they seem costly, they can be copied in less expensive materials. Nuns' -veiling, China silk, velveteen, taffetas, Russian net, and Brussels net -are all in fashion, and all are comparatively so moderate in price as -to be attainable by those who have slender purses. This season we also -have the embroidered net skirts that were introduced last year, with -the improvement that this season the bodice-piece is sold as well. So -we have not to make troublesome inquiries and huntings for the material -to decorate them. There seems to be a tendency likewise to return to -the use of a three-quarter length sleeve, which fits the arm smoothly -as far as the elbow and terminates in a frill. The long net and chiffon -sleeves are still worn, and I notice that there are some very pretty -high net bodices without sleeves, or, at least, with a few folds -of satin, which answer the purpose. These will be a novelty if they -should be adopted, and will be charming for the evening with all thin -materials. - -The illustration of two winter gowns shows one of the new skirts and a -bodice fastened at the back. The skirt is also fastened there in the -newest fashion; the trimming consists of rows of fine black braid, the -dress being of fine cloth, of a _pervenche_ blue. The bodice is trimmed -with points of velvet, of a darker shade of blue, and the same is used -for the bows at the back. The second dress is one of those tucked -throughout. It is of a soft satin cloth, of a pale shade of grey. The -revers are braided, and there is a front of dark-grey velvet and a -high collar, with the lining braided, like the revers. I hope you will -notice that this skirt opens on one side, usually the left, and it is -finished by a row of tiny buttons, or by a small ruching of ribbon. - -A great deal of this ribbon ruching is seen, as well as much piping. -Silk braids, very fine and very narrow, in black and white, form a -feature of this year's decorations, and silver braids as well. Crystal -buttons are more liked than paste or steel ones, and there is a craze -for old lace and for mixing fur with it. Black and white are in as -much favour as this mixture has always found during the last four -years, and the two are constantly mixed in trimmings. - -I think I mentioned in my last that the hair was worn low on the -neck--certainly far lower than has been the custom for some little -time. But I do not find that the knot of hair is quite so low just now. -Evidently the idea has not quite "caught on," as the slang phrase has -it, and most of the well-dressed heads I have lately seen have had the -coil of hair at the back of the head midway down. Perhaps, later on, we -shall see more of the low hair dressing than we do now. - -Truly the swing of the pendulum has quite carried us away from the neat -and ever-becoming black stockings, and the new ones are a study in -colour and design. I think the tartan ones will be worn, and will look -well; but I cannot say I like the others; nevertheless, that may be -because one has grown used to a lack of colour for so long. - -So far as boots and shoes are concerned, the most fashionable people -wear the American ones with their extremely pointed toes and narrow -feet, but it is open to the sensible to wear something more comfortable -if they do not mind a loss of style, for we cannot be really smart -unless our poor feet be pinched and pointed to the last degree. - - - - -OUR PROSPECTUS PUZZLE REPORT. - - -SOLUTION. - -ANOTHER NAUGHT. - -A ROUNDEL. - - Time hastens onwards to the day - When our good, trusty printer ought - Upon our numbers to display - Another naught. - - Oh! how tremendous is the thought:-- - A thousand weeks have passed away - Since out our magazine was brought! - - We love our work, it is but play; - "_Bon Voyage_" to the bark high-fraught; - And printer, sing as you in-lay - Another naught. - - -PRIZE WINNERS. - -_Ten Shillings Each._ - - J. Hunt, 42, Francis Road, Birmingham. - A. Phillips, 15, South Hill Park, Hampstead. - Emily M. Wood, Woodbank, Southport. - - -_Five Shillings Each._ - - Margaret Baggallay, 3, Clarence Lawn, Dover. - Marie Behrendt, Scanthorpe, Doncaster. - Lily Belling, Wribbenhall, Bewdley. - Miss H. M. Brown, Longformacus, Duns, N.B. - Charlotte D. Cole, 7, High Street, Beckenham. - M. A. C. Crabb, Ipplepen, Alexandra Road, Hemel Hempstead. - Agnes Dewhurst, 32, Lethbridge Road, Southport. - Miss M. Hodgkinson, 2, Feversham Terrace, York. - Benjamin Marcroft, High Legh, Grosvenor Drive, New Brighton. - Nellie Meikle, 2, Newsham Drive, Liverpool. - Henzell G. Robson, 7, Oxford Terrace, Gateshead-on-Tyne. - F. A. Powell, 75, Hythe Road, Swindon. - Anne Sifton, 230, Goldhawk Road, Shepherd's Bush. - M. Stuart, The Shrubbery, Grove Park, Kent. - Ellen C. Tarrant, 2, Palace Grove, Bromley. - Violet C. Todd, Ford, Cornhill-on-Tweed. - - -_Very Highly Commended._ - -Mrs. Acheson, Eliza Acworth, Lottie R. Biddle, E. J. Cameron, Mrs. J. -Cumming, May Merrall, E. C. Milne, Lilla Patterson, Constance Taylor, -Connie E. Thompson, Daisy Tyler, Martha Wood. - - -_For Artistic Execution._ - -Maud Abbott. - - -_Highly Commended._ - -Annie A. Arnott, Fanny Ashby, Ethel M. Atkins, Margaret Bailey, Eva M. -Benson, R. S. Benson, E. K. Berry, Mary A. Blagg, Nancy Bolingbroke, M. -S. Bourne, May Burlinsay, Annie J. Cather, Mabel E. Davis, Mrs. Deane, -Edward R. Duffield, Alice M. Feurer, Emily Francis, Mrs. W. H. Gotch, -Mrs. Grubbe, Edith E. Grundy, A. Hughes, George L. Ingram, Annie G. -Luck, C. Y. MacGibbon, E. Mastin, Jessie Middlemiss, Mrs. Nicholls, -Percy J. Powell, Alice M. Price, Gertrude Saffery, A. C. Sharp, Isabel -Snell, Norah M. Sullivan, A. C. T., Phyllis Toker, Ann Toplis, Florence -Whitlock, Mrs. Wigglesworth, E. Wilson. - - -_Honourable Mention._ - -S. Ballard, Mary I. Chislett, Helen M. Coulthard, Mrs. H. Keel, K. H. -Ingram, E. M. Le Mottée, Charlotte Hayward, Florence Hayward, Ethel -C. Hobbs, Edith L. Howse, Annette E. Jackson, Alice E. Johnson, Fred -Lindley, Ethel C. McMaster, Elsa P. Neel, Charles Parr, Elizabeth A. -Reynolds, Annie Saunders, Dorothy Smith, Ellen R. Smith, Gertrude -Smith, May Tutte, Anna Walker, J. Walker, Julia Waltenberg, John R. -Whyberd, G. Watherston. - - * * * * * - - -EXAMINERS' REPORT. - -The insatiability of an editor who is clamouring daily for our words -of wisdom compels us to be very brief. This is all the more to be -regretted because with such a subject to handle we could have risen to -great literary heights. But to work! - -The title was not "Another aught," the reason being that aught is not -synonymous with naught. The difference between the two is considerable, -"aught" signifying anything, "naught" nothing. The importance of this -pleasing fact is often overlooked, especially by schoolchildren, who -frequently speak of a cipher as "an aught," or, as they in their -childish wisdom spell it "ought." - -In many solutions the final letter of "onwards" was omitted. Doubtless, -"onward" is grammatically just as good, but as the "s" was in the -puzzle it was a pity not to transfer it to the solution. - -The beginning of the third line seems to have caused trouble. Those who -failed to find the true solution generally gave "On our three figures," -or "On our first numbers." Both readings are good interpretations of -the text, but the first is meaningless and the second is incorrect. -With "On all our numbers "--adopted by a few solvers--we have little -fault to find. - -Many competitors kindly pointed out that the minus sign in line 6 ought -to have been the sign of division. Let us examine their contention -closely. Two weeks divided by two yields one week and the beginning of -the line would run "A thousand one week." Two weeks minus two yields -weeks, clearly, and we need pursue the instruction no further. Some of -the readings at this point were remarkable, _e.g._, "A thousand days"; -"Twelve thousand days": "A thousand years," and "A million weeks." - -We have always been accustomed to regard THE GIRL'S OWN PAPER with much -veneration, but the idea of its having first seen the light something -like fourteen thousand years before Adam is somewhat startling. - -In the next line, "G. O. P." often took the place of "magazine." Our -dislike of such irritating abbreviations did not prevent us from doing -justice to the reading which is rhythmically correct. - -The number of solvers who wrote "barque" for "bark" was amazing. The -latter was in the puzzle and signifies any small vessel. The former was -not in the puzzle and defines a vessel of a particular rig. And there -is really no need for more. - - - - -IN THE TWILIGHT SIDE BY SIDE. - -BY RUTH LAMB. - - -PART III. - -HOW TO GROW OLD. - - "They shall still bring forth fruit in old age" (Psalm xcii. 14). - -When I was a child a dear old lady, who had been asking questions about -my lessons, laid her gentle hand on my head and said, "I see you love -school, my child. 'Learn young, learn fair.'" - -You, dear girl friends, will be at no loss to understand the teaching -of the proverb. It says, in few words, that those lessons which are -early imprinted on our minds are likely to have an abiding place in our -memories and a lasting influence over our lives. - -There is one lesson amongst many which we ought to be constantly -learning from the time that we can understand anything. It is, how to -grow old. - -Do I see some of you smiling at each other, as if old age were such -a far-away subject that it ought not to be introduced to my great -gathering of girls? Why, if I could have spoken to you as children, one -by one, I would have asked, "Are you learning how to grow old?" - -You ought to be, for the moment you began to live you started on the -path that leads to old age. From that path none of us can turn aside -and, perhaps without thinking much of the inevitable ending, we pursue -our course thereon steadily and uninterruptedly. We may start on many -other paths--those of duty, work, mental culture, etc.--and we may -take up certain pursuits and relinquish them at our will, but the one -onward journey is continuous. We travel by night and by day. Sleeping -or waking, resting or working, we are ever progressing towards old age, -whether we live to reach it or not. - -It is often said that every age has its special beauty, and yet I -daresay many of you have never dreamed of associating the idea of -beauty with old age. You are apt to claim it as the special prerogative -of youth. Yet I believe that old age may be--and I assert that it ought -to be in certain senses--the most beautiful of all, despite the white -hair, the tremulous hand, the feeble step which seeks support from the -strong arm of the young, and the wrinkles on brows that were once as -smooth and fair as the fairest amongst yours. - -The young often shrink from the very thought of being old. One hears -the girl in her teens whisper to her companion, as she glances at a -third who is not out of her twenties, "She is getting to look quite old -already. She might be five-and-thirty." - -The tone is half pitying, half disparaging, as if the object of the -remark were somehow in fault because a few more years had passed over -her young head than over the speaker's. - -Listen again to words from the lips of a girl who is just "sweet -seventeen." (Alas that seventeen does not always deserve the -adjective!) She has just stigmatised a friend of thirty as "a cross old -thing." And for what? She has only been trying to bring her good common -sense and sound judgment to bear upon the other's wilfulness. She is -anxious to save her from doing a foolish thing on which her childish -will is stubbornly set and which is certain to be followed by remorse -and trouble. - -"Sweet seventeen" purses her pretty lips and tosses her foolish head -whilst saying, "As if I were going to be ordered about by her! Cross -old thing!" And she goes on her wilful way and pays for it. - -Still we must acknowledge that a dozen extra years do not always bring -proportionate wisdom, any more than does the seventeenth birthday -invariably carry sweetness in its train. We have to learn to grow old -in such wise that each year's passage means also progress in everything -that is best. - -It seems very strange--does it not?--that whilst everyone desires long -life, so many dislike to look forward to old age in connection with -themselves. Or, if they do, it is not so much in a frank and natural -manner as in a secret and stealthy fashion. If they speak of it at -all, they speak as of something which may be near to others, but is -still far, far away from themselves. Such people would never tell you -that they are learning how to grow old--striving each day after some -knowledge which will tend towards the attainment of a really beautiful -and lovable old age. - -The need for such a study is ignored by so many up to and beyond middle -age, that one wonders little at its being ignored by the young. Yet -other questions occupy their earnest attention in connection with -increasing years. - -How to ward off the semblance of old age, for the reality cannot be -deferred. How to look young in spite of it. How to conceal the number -of the years that have passed over their heads. How best to utilise art -so as to simulate the complexion of youth and to hide the marks of time -on their features. - -Time is readily given in order to solve such questions to the exclusion -of those higher lessons, attention to which would make old age the most -beautiful and lovely of all. - -Girls, dear girls! you are generally keen observers of externals, and -especially so in matters of female dress and adornment. If one of you -has been at a social gathering, whether amongst humble workers or -leaders in society, what is usually the first question asked by sisters -or acquaintances on her return? Is it not about the dresses worn? You -inquire how such a one looked, or if another again wore a dress which -is too well known on account of its age. You want to hear all about -novelties in the fashioning of new garments, and whether they were of a -mode likely to be becoming to yourselves. It may be you give a little -laugh as you say that such a girl would be sure to look dowdy, or -inquire if the good taste of another was as conspicuous as usual. - -I am inclined to doubt whether you were as anxious to know how your -friend was impressed by the words and conduct of those with whom she -had been associating, or whether she had, during this little season -of social enjoyment, received impressions likely to influence her for -good. We ought to be learners in every place, but not merely in regard -to externals. - -Now I want to ask you a question. I have given you credit for being -keen observers. Tell me, can you imagine a picture more truly pitiable -and contemptible than that of a woman on whose face is the stamp of -age, but who imagines that she has succeeded in hiding it by paint and -powder? - -One who hugs the thought that she has rendered her wrinkles invisible, -or that her dyed hair, with its tell-tale line of grey near the roots, -or the cunningly arranged golden hued substitute for whitened locks, -deceives anyone but herself? All such shams make the old look older -still. They add to the appearance of age instead of taking from it, and -they rob old age of much of the beauty which is as real as that which -pertains to the youth it tries to simulate. I am alluding to externals -first because everyone sees them. - -I have no doubt that you have all discovered my liking for proverbial -expressions. My native county is rich in these pithy sayings which -convey so much meaning in few words. The subject of our present talk -brings to mind one of these proverbs, which was often quoted in my -hearing when I was a girl. I recall one occasion especially. A ruddy -farmer turned to look after an elderly woman who had just passed him. -She was girlishly dressed, and she strove to trip along in youthful -fashion, feeling evidently well satisfied with herself, and claiming -admiration by every gesture. - -What had our countryman to say about her appearance? He jogged his -neighbour's elbow, and quoted the proverb, as he indicated the -retreating figure with a jerk of his thumb: "Old ewe dressed lamb -fashion." - -"Aye," said his friend, "and it's no good. Age will show in spite of -paint and finery. She was turned twenty when I was twelve, and I'm -over fifty-three to-day. Why, deary me! There's always somebody that -remembers." - -These added words were as true as the proverb itself. There is always -someone, amongst our many acquaintances and kinsfolk, who has a good -memory for dates, and who can refer to the number of Life's milestones -we have passed with unerring accuracy. - -I asked you if there could be anything more pitiable and contemptible -than the sight of an elderly woman trying to defy time and age by such -means as I have named? - -I will answer my own question, "Yes, there is. The sight of a girl -who, possessing youth, health, and the share of good looks and -attractiveness which must accompany these two things, is ever striving -to improve Nature's handiwork by the use of unnatural means." Believe -me, my dear girl friends, the sight of a young face disfigured by -artificial colouring and unnaturally whitened by powder, of blackened -eyebrows and eyelashes, together with similar shams, excites in my mind -a feeling of true motherly regret. I love girls too well to say hard -things or to speak of contempt for such practices; though they ought to -be contemptible in the eyes of all pure and right-minded girls. - -One associates the use of them with small minds and natures whose chief -end and aim are to gratify personal vanity and attract admiration, -instead of striving to win respect by the exercise of far nobler -powers. Can any girl be so self-deceived as to think she will win -honest affection by such means? She may win it in spite of them, but -it will be because the one who gives it is able to discover something -better and more deserving of love beneath this miserable upper crust of -deception. - -One is always ready to recognise, with gratitude, even a mistaken -attempt made by the young with a view of giving pleasure to others. But -I am sure that self-pleasing and the gratification of vanity are, in -nearly every case, the incentives to such displays as I have condemned. - -In looking round me, I have been struck with the fact that some of the -girls who use paint, powder, and what are, I am informed, known under -the general name of "make-ups," are just those to whom Nature has been -specially liberal in the gift of beauty. - -Beauty, when joined to vanity, has an insatiable longing to add to its -attractions. It is more than conscious of all that it has, but it is -never satisfied, because it craves to combine, in its own person, the -attractions of every style which is, from time to time, commended in -its hearing. Hence all these useless and foolish efforts to improve on -Nature's handiwork. - -Do not misunderstand me so far as to think I condemn the use of many -little toilet accessories, which add greatly both to comfort and -health. It would be insulting to the good sense of my girls, if I were -to specify what things are lawful and useful, and what are contemptible -and to be avoided. - -You would smile, in pitying fashion, at the sight of an old lady, whose -grey locks having become too scanty to cover her head, had thought fit -to crown her wrinkled face with a wig and fringe of golden hair. But if -the addition matched what remained of her own growth, I hope you would -be glad to think that art had done something on behalf of comfort and -comeliness for old age, as well as for youth. Depend on it the natural -colour of your hair is that which agrees best with your features and -complexion, and if there is anything really wrong with the latter, it -will be better for you to consult your doctor than a manufacturer of -cosmetics. - -I am glad to think I have not known many girls whose vanity led them to -spoil their appearance in the manner I hope you join me in condemning, -but we have all seen plenty of such. I picture two, however, both -rather exceptionally attractive. One had beautiful, glossy, dark hair, -with eyes to match, and a complexion like a blush rose. - -I did not see her for some time, and when we met I was horrified at -the change. A mop of yellow, frizzled hair surmounted a face whence -the blush-rose tint had fled, or been hidden under glaringly false red -and white. All the dainty charm of the face was gone, and I am fain to -confess that I went a little out of my way to avoid a closer meeting -with my changed acquaintance. Happily I can tell of a pleasant sequel -in this case. Some good influence has been brought to bear, or perhaps -the girl's innate good sense has overcome her vanity, and she has found -out that such shams are unworthy of a self-respecting girl. - -She has given fair play to Nature, and that just in time to save the -blush-rose complexion from ruin, and to be once more her bonny self. - -The second girl possessed remarkable beauty especially of complexion, -and her vanity and greed of admiration were in proportion to it. These -impelled her to be ever experimenting on herself to produce greater -perfection, with the result that whilst still a girl she looked many -years older than her age, and I hear, though I do not see her now, that -she is daily becoming less attractive, though no less vain than of old. - -Quite apart from the harm done to personal appearance by these foolish -practices, but of far greater importance, is the moral injury they -cause. One might call the exhibition of paint an acted falsehood, -because it is an attempt to make ourselves appear what we are not. - -But such devices are too transparent to deceive. If begun, they become -more and more injurious and difficult to discontinue, and those who -practise them live in an atmosphere of anxiety and disappointment. -Age comes, despite all efforts to delay its progress, and it leaves -footprints which baffle art to disguise or obliterate. - -Doubtless you have all heard this expression used in relation to -someone you know--"She knows how to grow old gracefully." You -understand it to picture one who accepts age as the natural and -inevitable sequence of youth; who is above the paltry vanity which -would hide it--or, rather, try to hide it--yet who neglects nothing -which can help to make it externally attractive, and especially to the -young. For, if age is to have its full legitimate influence over youth, -it must be beautiful in itself, both without and within. - -I will not ask you, my dear ones, to look again at that pitiable -picture of Vanity battling with Age, despite the certainty of defeat -and disappointment. But be assured of this--that the girl who starts on -the same lines will reach the same goal; but it will not be that of a -beautiful and lovable old age. - -Do not imagine that I undervalue externals. I would have you all be -habitually careful about them. Let your complexion be kept at its best -by scrupulous cleanliness. If your hair is beautiful and abundant, take -pains to dress it in the fashion that best sets off such good looks as -you possess. If you are less favoured in this respect, give the more -care and pains so as to make the best of what you have. - -Exercise good taste in your dress, whilst carefully keeping your -expenditure within your means. The girl who dresses quietly and -becomingly will not make herself conspicuous in later years by the use -of glaring colours or fantastic garments. - -Try to be graceful and quiet in your movements, and scrupulous -in avoiding all little ways and habits likely to be disturbing, -unpleasant, or offensive to others. And do not be offended if a -well-meaning friend ventures to point out a tendency to any growing -habit of the kind, knowing that if once established it will be almost -impossible for you to overcome it. Bear in mind that such a warning can -be only intended for your benefit and to help you on your way towards -growing old gracefully. - -Study to modulate your voices so that the sound of them may fall -pleasantly, even musically, on the ear. Shrill, harsh, and loud -youthful voices become something too terrible when they accompany age. - -I wonder if any of you have heard our dear Queen speak? I regret to say -that I have not, but friends have told me that they never heard a voice -which equalled hers for its melodious tone, perfect clearness, and -faultless enunciation. - -Try to avoid affectation in gesture and movement, and any form of -facial contortion. Habit makes all these painful to witness, and age -exaggerates them. Sometimes a habit of knitting the brows is contracted -early in life, with the result that the forehead is furrowed and a -forbidding expression given to the face which permanently spoils it. -Age intensifies what is forbidding and disagreeable, but shows to the -greatest advantage all that is most lastingly attractive in us, just as -the flower fulfils the promise of the bud. - -In this lesson on "How to grow old" I have confined myself to -externals. It is time for us to part, but when we meet again we will -study the subject from the highest standpoint. - -Before then a new year will have dawned on us. Let me suggest as a -fitting motto for it, "I will go in the strength of the Lord God." May -it prove a very happy one to you all. - -(_To be continued._) - - - - -"SISTER WARWICK": A STORY OF INFLUENCE. - -BY H. MARY WILSON, Author of "In Warwick Ward," "In Monmouth Ward," -"Miss Elsie," etc. - - -CHAPTER IV. - -Granny 20 was in one of her most garrulous moods, but who was there to -listen? She tried to catch a nurse or probationer as they hurried by -the end of the bed, with a "Listen to me now, nurse." But a smile and a -nod and a "By-and-by, Granny," was all she got for her pains. - -Her nearest bed-fellows were too sleepy for anything, and she had to -content herself with murmuring to an imaginary audience until Sister -had a moment's leisure, and came to her bedside. - -"I was saying, Sister, that Mrs. 21 there is one with me. We both rue -our wedding-day! And we thought--bless yer!--we thought, when we stood -up so proud and made our vows, that we was the luckiest women in the -world." - -"And it all turned out badly, Granny?" - -"Oh, well! It might have been wuss for some of us. I won't say it -mightn't; but me was in too much of a hurry--that was the mischief. -Why, bless yer! Mrs. 21 there says she wasn't more'n sixteen when she -took a 'usband! And me? I was only just turned eighteen. We didn't know -no better. We were took by a 'andsome face." - -"Well, Granny, I cannot err on the side of marrying too young, whatever -I do." - -"Sister! You ain't never thinking of matrimoany? Don't 'ee, dear! Don't -'ee! Just take the advice of a old woman what _knows_. This is what I -say. If a man comes to you and seems true enough, don't trust him! No, -not if trust was to sparkle like a diamond from the end of every hair -on his head, don't trust him!" - -Hardly knowing how to contain herself for laughter, Sister promised to -be very careful, and thanked Granny for her wise words. - -"They aire wise. You may well say so," chuckled the old lady. "Now I -could tell you----" - -"Another time, Granny dear--and see! Here's nurse with your tea. A cup -of tea! There's nothing like it, is there?" - -"Bless yer--no!" - -And Nurse Hudson--what of her? Had the episode of yesterday's -carelessness with the words of reproof that followed been the warning -Sister Warwick hoped? The watchful eyes could detect very little that -was amiss that day. But she was obliged to acknowledge that the nurse's -manner towards herself was not what it should be. With her new efforts -not to repel her nurses by the stiffness of her own manners she ignored -what she could. Later she felt glad she had done so. - -After tea the medicines were given out. It was the staff-nurse's duty -to-day, and following the instructions on her chart, Hudson went to and -fro, pouring out the draughts, and bringing them to each bed in order. - -Sister, seated by No. 10, watched her silently. But when she brought -the dose for this "typhoid," she took it from her hand to administer it -herself. - -What instinct made her pause, before giving it, to ask: - -"Is this the new medicine, nurse?" - -"Of course it is, Sister!" The tone was offensive, but, ignoring it, -Sister Warwick leant forward to hold the glass to the girl's lips. -Again she paused. What was it stayed her hand? - -She raised the glass, smelt it, and then put it to her own lips and -tasted the liquid, her eyes on the chart. - -"This is an overdose!" she said sternly. "Here are four times the right -amount!" - -For she knew in a flash what the nurse had done, and she shuddered -at the thought! Hudson had certainly, as she said, given the fresh -medicine the chart directed, but in her heedlessness she had not -looked to see if the quantity was altered too. She had poured out two -tablespoonfuls instead of two teaspoonfuls--a dose that would have -caused intense suffering, if nothing worse, to the sick girl. - -Sister Warwick rose from her chair and looked Nurse Hudson full in the -face. Her utter scorn and indignation at this culpable carelessness -rendered her speechless. - -But her glance was enough! - -Turning on her heel, she carried the medicine-glass into her room, -placed it in a cupboard there, and locking it up, removed the key. - -Nurse Hudson watched it all--miserable and self-condemned--knowing -what the action meant. Now that it was done, she would have given -anything to have been more careful. Her colour came and went. She -stood irresolute. Her better self was urging her to go at once and with -a humble apology plead for another trial with an earnest promise of a -different course in the future. But she could not bring herself to do -that. Pride and Selfishness had been too closely her companions lately, -excluding better impulses. - -No, she would not believe that Sister Warwick meant to report her to -the Matron. Perhaps she would only ask for her removal to another ward; -there she could make a fresh start. But she did not ask herself with -what motive. - -Nurse Hudson's work had always been tarnished with the discolouring -influences of her own low aims. No wonder now that she failed, and did -not take the one step that might have saved her nursing career. - -She left the ward that evening without another word with the -Sister--miserable, self-pitying, undecided, little thinking that she -would never enter it again. - - * * * * * - -"The whole affair shall be stopped at once!" The Matron's voice was -full of decision and very stern. "I will send for Hudson and tell her -I cannot keep her here any longer. Nor will I sign her certificate! I -am not justified, after all you tell me, in sending her away to pass -herself off as a qualified nurse." - -"You take a harder view of her conduct than I do, Matron." And Sister -Warwick then and there began to plead for the nurse who had been such a -"thorn in her side." - -"You will not move me, Sister! Hudson will go! It will seem right, from -many points of view, when you can look at it dispassionately. I am only -very thankful that we so rarely have such a failure among the nurses, -and thankful most of all that no worse harm has been done. We might -have had a case for the coroner." - -Sister Warwick knew the Matron's words were just. She left her and -went back to her own room, sinking into her leaning-chair with the -consciousness that an upset like this "took it out of her" far more -than even an operation involving pain and suffering to one of her dear -ward babies. And, sad at heart, she began to think of Ellen Hudson's -future, then to search back in her own mind for possible opportunities -missed in the past when she might have helped her more kindly. She -realised bitterly that she herself might have done better too. - -She sat forward then and wrote a little note and sent it round to the -Nurses' Home, timed to reach Nurse Hudson just after her interview with -the Matron. - -It was to ask her staff-nurse to come and see her before she left. But -she never came. She passed out of Sister Warwick's life from that hour, -and her place knew her no more. - - * * * * * - -Nurse Carden's bright face and ready sympathy were a pleasant -interruption to the Sister's mournful ruminations that evening. She -came in a little before her usual time, and the two had a quiet chat in -the "Sisters' Room" before the night work began. - -Here Sister Cumberland joined them. These three women--so different in -character, so united in aim and purpose--felt then the sustaining power -of a friendship that was standing the wear and tear of life. - -Seeing how worried the elder "Sister" was by the present, the other two -drew her thoughts back to the past and to their earlier experiences in -the ward. - -"Do you remember?" was the introduction to many reminiscences Sister -Cumberland recalled that night on duty, when she fought her fiercest -fight with the craving for sleep. - -Nurse Carden talked of Tommie the waif and his whimsical ways. He could -not be forgotten, for it was not many days since at the lodge-gate of -her own home she had seen the Tommie of to-day. Such a contrast! A -sturdy, ruddy, honest country lad, loving his life as a gardener's boy, -and always ready, if questioned, to say, "Oh, I belong to Nurse Carden, -I do! I ain't got nobody else! But she is good to me, she is!" - -So the three talked until the hour struck which took them to their -various duties and closed the second of these days my pen has tried to -describe--days chosen not because they were remarkably different from -many others, but because they give an average picture of the cares -and anxieties, the pleasures and interests that belong to a hospital -Sister's life; because, too, they tell of an experience that had a -lasting effect in softening Sister Warwick's character and in extending -her influence over the nurses in her charge. - -[THE END.] - - - - -GUS. - - -Ya want ti knaw aboot ma maate Gus? Set ya doon, then, an' ah'll tell -ya all aboot it. - -Me an' Gus wer friends fra' t' first. 'E wer a shy, quiet soort o' lad, -an' t' other chaps didn't seem ti taake ti 'im at first, an' it wer -soort o' loansoom for a yoong chap lodgin' aloan i' a straange plaace, -specially as 'e didn't seem ti care mooch for t' public-'oose o' neets. -Soa wun evening, as we wer leavin' woork, ah says ti 'im, "Coom in an' -'ave a bit o' soopper wi' ma an' ma missus, lad." - -'E looked real pleased, an' said 'e would coom, bud 'e wouldn't coom -straight 'oam wi' ma, as ah wanted 'im ti. Noa, 'e mun gang back ti 'is -lodgins an' fettle issen oop. - -My missus weant best pleased when sha 'eard 'e wer coming; mebbe, theer -weant ower mooch for soopper, an' sha niver were fond o' straangers; -bud 'e 'adn't been i' oor lahtle room aboove 'alf a minute afoor ah -seed as sha'od taaken a fancy ti 'im. 'E com in rather shy an' bashful -loike, for all 'e'd maade 'issen soa graand wi' 'is Soonday coate an' -all, an' ma missus, she says-- - -"Set ya doon an' maak yersen at whoam, while ah get summat for ya ti -eat," an' 'e set doon reet theer by t' door, on t' edge o' 'is cheer, -an' 'adn't a woord to say for 'issen. - -Oor lahtle lass Polly--she wer nobbut fooer year owd then--shoo com in -an' stood starin' at 'im wi' 'er finger i' 'er mooth, an' at sight o' -'er 'e foond 'is tongue. - -"Coom 'ere, lahtle ma'ad," says 'e; "ah'm wonnerful fond o' childer. -Coom an' see what ah've got i' ma pocket." - -Bud t' lahtle lass still stood beside ma, starin' at 'im as if 'e wer -summat i' a show. - -Gus didn't saay nowt moor, but 'e oots wi' 'is knife an' a bit o' wood -and starts carvin' summat. - -"Noo," says 'e, arter a bit, "what shall it be? Shall ah maak tha a -'orse, or a coo, or what?" - -T' lahtle lass foond 'er toongue at that. - -"A lad," says she, an' cooms a step nearer ti see what 'e wer at. - -"Shoo'll be a rare wun for t' lads when shoo's a bit bigger, ah'se -warran'," says 'e, wi' a laugh; an' 'e goes on carvin' t' bit o' -wood in a waay 'at wer wunnerful ti me. Soon t' head an' shoolthers -appeared, an' then t' legs an' arms, an' all t' while t' tahtle lass -crept nearer an' nearer, an' by t' tahm t' lad wer doon, shoo wer -sittin' on 'is knee an' chatterin' awaay ti 'im as if 'e wer' an owd -friend. - -That woon moother's 'eart, for shoo's powerful set on t' lahtle lass, -seem' shoo's t' oanly wun wi' 'ave--an' ah reckon ah weant far be'ind -'er i' that--an' befoor 'e left shoo'd arst 'im ti taake 'is dinner -wi' us Soonday next. Arter that, Gus wer in an' oot continual, an' 'e -an' t' lahtle lass wer as thick as thieves. It wer pratty ti see 'er -perched o' 'is knee, wi' 'is arm roond 'er, an' ti 'ear 'er pratty -prattle, all aboot 'er dolls an' toys an' sooch-like. 'E used ti call -'er 'is lahtle sweet-'eart, an' saay sha mun marry 'im when sha wer -growed a bit, an' t' lahtle lass 'ud look oop i' 'is faace, as graave -as graave, an' promise ti be 'is lahtle wife. 'Twer as pratty a pictur -as 'eart could wish to see them thegither, an' 'e niver seemed ti tire -o' 'er coompany, or care ti talk wi' me or t' missus when t' lahtle -lass wer theer. - -Well tahm went on, an' t' job e'd coom doon 'ere for wer nigh -finished--layin' rails o' new line it wer--an' 'e wer talkin' o' -leavin', for 'e weant fra' oor parts; when wun daay--ah mind it wer t' -first o' April, for theer'd been soom foolin' amoong t' lads earlier -i' t' daay, an' t' blackthorn wer buddin' i' t' 'edges--we wer setting -on t' railway bank eatin' oor dinners. Gus wer moor talkative than -ordinary that daay; ah mind 'e'd been tellin' us o' t' waay they did -'arvestin' i' 'is parts--Lancashire waay--an' 'arvest-'oams, an' -sooch-like, when all of a soodden ah caught sight o' ma lahtle lass -runnin' along t' line. It did gie ma a toorn, for t' doon traain 'ad -been signalled two or three minutes sin', an' even as ah caught sight -o' 'er, ah 'eerd it roombling along i' t' distance. - -"Ma God!" ah cried. "Look theer!" - -Jack Wilson--'im as lives i' yon cottage wi' t' creepers doon by t' -church--shoots as lood as 'e could, "Get oft t' line, bairn! Get off t' -line!" Bud Polly, sha didn't taak noa 'eed ti 'im. - -Then afoor ah 'ad got ma wits aboot ma, or 'ad ony idea what 'e wer -goin ti do, Gus 'ad joomped doon fra' t' bank, an' were roonnin' for -'is loife doon t' line ti meet t' lahtle lass. It wer awful to see 'im, -while every moment t' thoonder o' t' train com nearer. - -"Is t' man mad?" cried Wilson. "It's certain death." An' even as 'e -spoke, t' train com roond t' corner. - -Polly stood still, terrified, an' Gus ran on reet inti t' teeth o' t' -train. Ah turned deadly sick, for ah niver thowt 'e would be i' tahm, -an' it seemed nobbut a waaste o' two lives; bud 'e reached 'er joost -afoor t' train did. Ah seed 'im catch 'er oop an' toss 'er on ti t' -bank, an' then--then t' traan wer on 'im, an' we saw noothing moor till -it 'ad past. Then ah ran ti wheer 'e wer lyin', an' an awful sight it -wer. It 'aunts ma yet, thoo it's nigh on ten year sin. 'E wer livin', -poor chap, an' 'e looked up at ma wi' a smile, though t' death dews -were gathering on 'is faace. - -"T' lahtle lass?" 'e asked anxiously. - -"Saafe an' well," ah answered. "Eh, Gus, lad, tha' shouldn't 'a doon -it. Ah reckon she weant woorth it." - -"Niver saay that!" 'e said. "Wheer is sha? Ah'd like fine to bid her -good-bye." - -Polly wer cryin' wi' fright on t' bank cloas at 'and. Ah called 'er, -bud at first sha 'ung back, not knawin' as it wer 'er friend as lay -theer, a sickenin' sight, an' not fit for a bairn ti see. - -"Niver mind, John," 'e said, sadly enough. "It's better soa. Ah -wouldn't like 'er ti think o' ma like this." But ah went an' fetched -'er, an' bade 'er ti thank 'im for saavin' 'er loife. - -"Nay, nay," 'e said, smoilin' oop at 'er. "Good-bye, lahtle sweet'eart. -Tha'lt 'ave ti get anoother lad noo." - -"Nay, ah'll waait for thee an' be thy lahtle wife," says Polly -sturdily, not un'erstan'in', poor lahtle lass, as 'e wer dyin'. - -"Tha'lt 'ave ti waait till tha gets ti t' New Jeroosalem, then," 'e -answers, "if soa be as they'll let ma in." An' at that 'e looks serious. - -Ah maade 'aste ti cheer 'im oop. - -"Nay, lad, thoo need 'ave noa fear o' that," ah says. "Tha mind hoo He -said, 'Inasmooch as ye 'a doon it to wun o' t' least o' these, ye 'a -doon it unto Me.'" - -Hoo 'is faace lighted oop at that word! Then a spasm o' agony crossed -it, an' t' death rattle began i' 'is throat. - -'E couldn't speak, bud 'e maade ma a sign ti send t' lahtle lass away, -an' ah bade 'er roon 'oam ti 'er moother. Then ah knelt doon an' raised -'im in ma arms, an' it weant long--thank God, it weant long. - -Well, it's ten year sin, as ah said, an' it's an owd story noo, an' t' -grass is green on 'is graave. T' lahtle lass keeps it rare an' gay wi' -flooers. Shoo's growin' a graat gell noo, an' it weant be long afoor -t' lads begin ti coom aboot 'er, for shoo's growin' bonny; bud shoo's -niver forgotten Gus, an' if shoo iver did, ah wouldn't oan 'er as ma -darter, that ah wouldn't! - - - - -ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. - - -MEDICAL. - -FREDA.--Of the cause of exophthalmic goître but little is known for -certain. Worry or anxiety often precede the onset of the disease. -Unlike ordinary goître this affection is not limited in any way to -certain districts, but occurs in every part of the country. "Is it -curable, and if so, how long should a moderate case take to cure?" -Yes, many cases do recover. When the disease is very marked, recovery -is unusual. But now that surgeons have directed their attention to the -disease there is every reason to believe that the severer grades of the -affection may yield to operative treatment. We can no more tell you how -long an attack of exophthalmic goître will last than we could tell you -the day of your death. Sometimes the disease disappears in six months -or a year, often it drags on for many years. As a rule, if the symptoms -develop rapidly, the disease runs a rapid course. Men are comparatively -rarely attacked. We can, however, call to mind a fair number of cases -of exophthalmic goître in the male sex. Unmarried women of from twenty -to thirty years of age are the usual victims of this disease. - -WORRIED.--1. In all probability your sister would get better and -stronger after marriage. Of course it depends a good deal upon the -cause of her malady. She had far better go to her family doctor and -get his advice upon the matter. We cannot take the responsibility of -giving a definite answer to your question from such a very scanty -amount of information.--2. There are so many books on travel and -science, suitable to ordinary readers, that it is rather difficult to -choose any particular volume. One of the best books on science for a -beginner--that is, a person who is beginning to read science--is a -little work called _Ants and their Ways_, by the Rev. Farren White. It -is a charming little volume which will instil into anyone who reads it -the habit of observation--so all-important in science. The book is very -moderate in price. It is published by the Religious Tract Society. If -you turn to the advertisement sheets at the back of this paper you will -see notices of a number of very good books on both science and travel. - -MATRON.--Obviously the book you want is the _British Pharmacopœia_. -This gives definite instructions how to make up every official -preparation. There is a new edition just published. For the drugs which -are not in the _British Pharmacopœia_, Squire's _Companion to the -British Pharmacopœia_ may be consulted. You will do well to thoroughly -master the decimal measures, and to use them exclusively, as they -are now official and will alone be used in the future. The old and -confusing apothecaries' measures are now out of date. - -ALTA.--For the bites and stings of midges, etc., rub a little dilute -ammonia on the bite. This usually relieves the pain instantly. It is -better to put a drop of dilute carbolic acid (about 1 in 100) upon the -bite after using the ammonia. The reason for this is that the trouble -from an insect's bite is dependent upon two causes. In the first place -the insect actually drops poison into the bite. This, which is usually -formic acid, makes the wound smart at once, but its effect passes off -in a little time. Ammonia neutralises this acid and so gives instant -relief. But there is a second cause of trouble which is far more -serious. The bite of a fly has caused more deaths than you would think, -and from this reason. Flies of all kinds are given to feed on garbage, -and as they have not yet learnt to use a toothbrush, their mouths are -always swarming with germs. Usually these germs are not of a very -virulent kind. But suppose that a midge has been eating the carcase of -an animal which has died from peritonitis. That fly is now more deadly -than a viper, for on its tongue it has a poison which is capable of -rapid increase if it ever finds a suitable home. If this fly bites you, -you may die from the bite. Everyone knows that often an insect sting -or bite does not ache or swell at first; but after several hours the -place becomes hot and swollen, and if the place bitten be the hand, -the arm begins to swell and the glands in the armpit enlarge. In this -case a mild dose of microbes has been innoculated. Ammonia will not -in most cases destroy these microbes. Therefore, we say, put a drop -of dilute carbolic acid on the place as soon as you can. The ammonia -simply relieves a little itching (for the poison of the insect itself -is rarely dangerous), but the carbolic acid destroys organisms which -are capable of great mischief. Rubbing the face and hands with oil of -eucalyptus, or paraffin, will sometimes prevent insects from coming -near you. - -LILY, MY QUEENIE.--1. Is the skin round your eyebrows scarred? Hair -never grows on scars, nor can it be made to do so by any means in our -power. If there are no scars, try a little white precipitate ointment -applied carefully to the eyebrows.--2. Moles cannot be cured. They can -be removed by operation. If they are large and noticeable it is better -to have them removed. Otherwise leave them severely alone. - -PEARL.--Take our advice and see a doctor at once. Severe headache is a -very common symptom, and though it is usually caused by some trivial -ailment, it is often the only subjective sign of a serious disease. -Your attacks suggest megraine, but they might be due to far more -serious things. Without a complete personal examination no man living -could diagnose your malady. - -FOX.--What size corsets do you wear? Tight lacing is, or rather was, -a very common cause of fatness about the face. What age are you? It -is very common for women to get double chins and extra plump cheeks -when they have passed their thirtieth year. Very many diseases cause -fatness of the face. Kidney disease is one of the commonest of these. -All we can advise you to do is to be careful about your diet. Avoid -farinaceous puddings and sweets. Take plenty of exercise. No drug -is of much good in obesity of any kind. Some of the mineral waters, -especially Vichy, are sometimes useful to stout persons. - -A WEARY AND CAREWORN GIRL.--We are exceedingly sorry that we could not -answer your letter earlier. The troubles that you have gone through are -enough to depress any girl of twice your age. We think that all your -sufferings are due to nervousness resulting from being "run down." What -the impediment in your speech is, is not quite clear from your letter. -Probably it is far less than you imagine, else your mother would -certainly have noticed it. The difficulty which you find in commencing -to talk is due to nervousness. As your health improves, and as you -grow older this will tend to disappear. We will publish an article on -blushing and nervousness next month. To the last of your questions your -clergyman would be more competent to give you an answer than ever we -could be. Go to your pastor and tell him your troubles. He is sure to -be able to comfort you in your affliction and to help you to bear your -cross with patience for the sake of Him who laid down His life for you. - -CROYDEN.--The habit of taking acids to cure indigestion is greatly -to be deprecated. Acids and bitters are very useful in some forms -of indigestion, but they should never be taken unless ordered by a -physician. Alkalis, such as bicarbonate of soda, are on the other hand -of great value in the majority of cases of indigestion. Indeed we will -go further than this: we have never met with a case of indigestion -from any cause which was not benefited, sometimes only temporarily, by -alkalis. We have seen very few cases of indigestion which have been -relieved by acids. Our candid opinion is that the habit of taking acids -and bitters to cure disorders of the stomach or loss of appetite, is a -very fertile cause of the life-long indigestion so common nowadays. - -BLACK EYES.--In an answer to "Fair Isobel," which was published some -months ago, the treatment of blackheads was thoroughly discussed. - -EMILY PHELPS.--Your glasses do not suit you. Go to an oculist and get -his prescription for another pair. Your symptoms are very common in -people who use unsuitable spectacles. - -BUTTERCUP.--Bunions are due to the pressure of badly-fitting boots. In -the human foot the great or innermost toe bends away from the other -toes. This gives to the inner border of the foot a direction slanting -inwards towards the middle line of the body. Most boots are made -with their inner border slanting outwards away from the middle line -so as to meet the outer border of the boots at a more or less acute -angle. We have therefore the great toe naturally tending to depart -from its fellows, and we have the boot forcing the great toe towards, -and possibly under or over, the other toes. The boot is an unyielding -structure. The inner border of the foot is also practically unyielding, -except at one spot, the joint of the great toe. The first toe is -therefore forced inwards and its joint projects as an angle. The boot -presses upon this joint, a corn forms, inflammation is set up, and -the joint becomes diseased, forming a bunion. When once a bunion has -developed, it is no good talking about its prevention. We must attempt -to cure it, and it is not so very difficult to cure it, and keep it -cured, if you fully understand how it originated. A bunion is caused by -pressure upon the joint. The cure of the bunion consists of removing -the pressure from the joint. To do this you should wear boots in which -the inner border slopes away from the centre of the boot. We advise you -to get a pair of boots of this shape made for yourself. If the bunion -is intractable, you may need a "post" in the boot between the great and -the second toe. Keep your foot scrupulously clean, and take a foot-bath -every evening. - -J. S. N.--As your mother died from heart disease, it is no wonder that -you imagine your own symptoms to be likewise due to heart trouble; but -the symptoms you mention are all characteristic of simple dyspepsia; -not one of them is common in heart disease. When you say "at times my -pulse beats very fast and sometimes irregularly," we presume that you -mean that you feel your heart beating fast or irregularly, in other -words, that you have palpitation. When the heart is beating fast or -irregularly, as it frequently does in heart disease, it produces no -symptoms which might inform the sufferer of her state. It is only by -feeling the pulse that irregularities in its action can be detected. We -will not say that heart disease is not hereditary, but the importance -of this factor has been greatly over-estimated. Disease of the heart -is very frequently due to rheumatic fever; and the tendency to -rheumatism is; to a certain extent, hereditary. You will find plenty of -information about indigestion in our last year's volume. - -ESTHER.--We can well understand that you feel a little nervous about -your chest, when you tell us that both your parents died of phthisis. -You know that the risk of your developing the disease is considerable, -yet it by no means follows that you will get phthisis. By no means are -you certain to get phthisis. You must be very careful about yourself, -and the least bit of a cough or cold which may attack you must be -carefully attended to. Indeed we advise you to call in your family -doctor the moment that you have any cough or other untoward symptom. -Certainly you would do well to spend your winters in Switzerland. - -CANARY.--1. A little dumb-bell exercise every morning will improve -the form of your back and shoulders. The dumb-bells should be made of -wood and not weigh more than two pounds each. Heavy bell exercise is -very dangerous. It has always been considered beautiful for women to -possess broad hips.--2. Why? Why do so many of our correspondents call -themselves "constant readers"? Perhaps it is that they think that by -using that pseudonym they will get answered sooner, or perhaps it is -merely from lack of sufficient imagination to think of some phrase less -commonplace. - -E. M. WALKER.--Cinnamon is more at home in the pantry than in pharmacy. -The only medicinal action it possesses is that of all aromatic -substances. It is occasionally used as a stomachic, but its chief use -is for flavouring. Sometimes it is given for diarrhœa as it is a mild -astringent. Cinnamon has no action on cancer, neither has any drug the -slightest effect upon the course of this disease. Indeed one might put -down the medicinal action of cinnamon at zero. - -MABEL B.--It is not at all uncommon for the hair to fall out after a -severe illness. It is, however, rare for permanent baldness to result. -Usually after combing out in large quantities for some weeks or months -the hair grows quickly and luxuriously again. A mildly stimulating -hair-wash is often useful in these cases. Brilliantine, bay rum or -rosemary hair-washes are suitable. We much doubt whether taking -cod-liver oil would have any effect upon your hair, but it might help -to restore your strength. - -FLORRIE.--1. We know of no recipe which will remove hairs from the face -without doing serious damage to the skin at the same time.--2. Try -sulphur soap for a shiny face. Do not use face powder. - -HELENA.--Read the answer to "Florrie" above. The Laws of Libel prevent -us from giving you our opinion on the preparation which you mention. We -are allowed, however, to warn you to have nothing to do with any patent -medicine of which you do not know the composition. It has not been our -experience that peroxide of hydrogen makes the hair grow quickly. - - -STUDY AND STUDIO. - -IRISH MAY FLOWER.--It is rather difficult to dispose of such sketches -as you describe. We should suggest that you took them to any picture -dealer in your neighbourhood, and asked him to try to sell them for -you. Or you might write to the Irish Ladies' Work Society, 47, George -Street, Kingstown, inquiring if that would be of any use to you. - -MABEL ENTWISTLE.--We are very glad that you have been enabled through -our means "to make the acquaintance of two extremely nice French -girls." Your writing we like very much. It is clear, definite, and -has a character of its own. If we gave any hint for its improvement, -it would be to avoid the lapses in the middle of a word, making the -writing flow consecutively. - -LA PETITE VIOLETTE.--We have not forgotten you, and are very glad you -have taken up some special study. We have placed your request in "Our -Open Letter Box." - -WILD ROSE.--1. Your first quotation is from Tennyson's _In Memoriam_, -xxvii., stanza 4. - - "I hold it true, whate'er befall, - I feel it when I sorrow most, - 'Tis better to have loved and lost, - Than never to have loved at all." - -2. Look through the poetry of Thomas Moore for your second extract, and -if you cannot find it there, send it again and we will place it in "Our -Open Letter Box." - -CATALINA.--1. Apply to the Church Sunday School Institute, -Serjeant's Inn, Fleet Street, E.C., or to the Sunday School Union -(undenominational), 57, Ludgate Hill, and you will receive the fullest -information. The lessons for each Sunday are set forth in certain -inexpensive books in detail, with comments and information upon every -verse. In addition to these "lesson helps" you should read and study -books upon the Old Testament and upon the life of our Lord, such as -Farrar's _Life of Christ_. The Religious Tract Society has published -one (_The Life of Jesus Christ the Saviour_, by Mrs. S. Watson), which -is not too ambitious, and might help you. The net price is 3s. 9d.--2. -Your writing is good for your age, but might be improved if the tails -to your "g's," "y's," etc., were less straggling. - -ERIN-GO-BRAGH.--1. We have inserted your request, but (as you give a -pseudonym) not your address.--2. Your handwriting is too upright and -irregular, but there is the foundation of a good hand in it. - -EXILE OF ERIN.--The "Fragment" you enclose is above the average of -poems submitted to us, but your metre does not flow quite smoothly -enough. You should avoid too many monosyllables in these long lines. - -L. A. T.--We should advise you to read Homer's "Odyssey," translated -by Butcher and Lang, and if you find difficulty in understanding it, -a "Primer" on the subject as well. But we think you will enjoy it. As -for Plato, read "The Trial and Death of Socrates," translated by Dean -Church, and consult a small history of Greece on the period (399 B.C.) -Do not attempt too much at once, nor read Plato's deeper "Dialogues" -to begin with. Your letter, which you ask us to criticise, is clearly -written, with only one mistake in spelling. - -MISS BEALEY.--We undertake no communication by post (see "Rules" in our -November part and elsewhere). You will find the "Home Reading Union" -an excellent society; apply to the Secretary, Surrey House, Victoria -Embankment. Consult this column for amateur societies occasionally -mentioned. - -MISS FLORENCE E. SMITH calls attention to the "Bedford Practising -Society," of which she is secretary. She will be delighted to send -particulars to any fellow reader of the GIRL'S OWN PAPER. Address to -her at Winfrith, The Crescent, Bedford. - -HOFFNUNG.--Many thanks for your letter. By all means try again. - - -INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENCE. - -MADEMOISELLE MARGUERITE GONTARD (address "Nikopal Mariopol Co., -Mariopol, South Russia, Engineer Prauss for M. Gontard"), wishes to be -put into communication with a young English lady, resident in either of -the continents of Asia, Africa, America, or Australia. She desires to -correspond with her either in English or French. We thank Mademoiselle -Gontard for her pretty English letter. She may certainly write to us in -French if she prefers to do so. - -"ERIN-GO-BRAGH" would like to correspond with a French girl of about -her own age--twenty-one. - -FLORENCE writes a kind letter from which we quote a sentence. "I am -wondering whether some little girl belonging to the readers of our -GIRL'S OWN PAPER would care to have an older friend to write to; she -would receive in return sympathy if in trouble, and an interest would -be taken in all she might care to confide to one whom she could perhaps -learn to look upon in the light of an elder sister." We regret that -it is against our rules to undertake direct postal communication; but -if any little girl sends us her address, we will insert it here for -"Florence" to see. Perhaps some lonely, or motherless, or sad little -girls might be glad to find a friend. - - -OUR OPEN LETTER BOX. - -LA PETITE VIOLETTE wishes to find a poem with a refrain to each verse -"Belle Marquise." She saw a quotation from it as a heading to a chapter -in a book entitled _Woman and the Shadow_. - -MISS M. A. C. CRABB and ELPIS answer LENNOX by referring the verse she -quotes-- - - "Alas! how easily things go wrong," - -to a poem in the 19th chapter of George Macdonald's "Phantastes: a -Faerie Romance." They agree in saying that the second verse is not by -the same pen. - -PETERKIN, GERTRUDE ASHWORTH, KLONDYKE, B. D. WARD, M. E. BATES, -"STICK," R. M. COOKE, MABEL ENTWISTLE and "THE ELDEST GIRL," inform -Ethel Rimmer that Christina Rossetti's poem beginning-- - - "When I am dead, my dearest, - Sing no sad songs for me," - -has been set to music by Malcolm Lawson, and is entitled "Hereafter," -in keys E♭ and G. It appeared in the June number of the _Strand Musical -Magazine_ for 1895. "A LOVER OF THE 'G.O.P.'" says it has been set to -music by C. A. Lee, either for a soprano or an alto voice. - -R. C. R. suggests to GOLD DUST that the poem "Tit for Tat" is contained -in "Original Poems for Infant Minds," by Jane Taylor, her sisters and -brother. If this is the poem sought for, we may add that the volume is -published by Routledge. - -ONE OF THE FIRST READERS, AZIE, asks for the author of a poem entitled -"Maggie and the Angels," containing two lines-- - - "Maggie, are they the angels? - And be they always there?" - -PERSEVERANZA would be glad to know the publishers of a picture-book -of performing frogs or cats from which she could copy for painting on -dessert doyleys. - -L B. N. R. wishes to know the author of the following lines-- - - "There is a river which flows for ever, - And the flowers that bloom on its banks - Grow bright, as they glitter in grateful endeavour - To vie in a perfume of thanks." - - -MISCELLANEOUS. - -EDITH.--The origin of the Lions as a device on the Royal Arms we trace -to William the Conqueror, who introduced those of Normandy. These two -original Lions were supplemented by a third, added by Henry III., it is -generally supposed, for Aquitaine. - -MATER.--To make an economical Christmas cake, take half a pound -of butter, place in a bowl, and break five eggs over it, stirring -continuously, while a second person sifts in slowly a pound and -a half of currants (well washed, dried, and carefully picked), -three-quarters of a pound of flour, and two ounces of citron peel -chopped to moderately small pieces. Place in a papered shape--not -buttered--several folds of paper being laid at the bottom of the tin, -and bake in moderately hot oven during three hours. - -SEMPER PARATUS.--We answer two questions, and you have asked nineteen! -It is impossible to describe the several Scotch tartans otherwise than -by coloured illustrations. These you will find in a book published by -W. and A. K. Johnston (Edinburgh and London), entitled, _The Scottish -Clans and their Tartans_, now in its second (if not third) edition. -Some account of every Clan is given. - -ANXIOUS.--Rheumatism will, no doubt, be made worse by exposure to damp -and draughts; but the origin is in acidity, which crystallises in the -joints and muscles. You should abstain for a time from butchers' meat, -and from sweet things. Attend to the action of the liver, which may -be torpid; and if the pain be in the arms and shoulders, you should -perform all kinds of exercises with them, and employ friction and -rubbing with suitable embrocation. If you do not perform exercises, the -joints and sinews will become stiff. - -A. E. C.--_Noah's Ark_, by Darley Dale, is published as a book by F. -Warne, Bedford Street, Strand. Price 3s. 6d. - -HELEN OF TROY.--You will find several families of the name -Marshall--though not necessarily related--in Burke's _Landed Gentry_. -Perhaps you can claim your connection with one of them. The first on -the list is G. H. Marshall, of Patterdale Hall, Westmoreland, descended -from John of Yeadon Hall, Co. York, who made a large fortune from -the mechanical improvements in a branch of the linen manufacture. -There is Marshall of Treworgley, Cornwall; Marshall of Penwortham -Hall, descended from M. of Ardwick, near Manchester; Marshall of -Ward End House, Co. Warwick, descended from M. of Perlethorp, Co. -Nottinghamshire; and Marshall of Broadwater, Surrey, apparently the -oldest family of that name, anciently spelt Marchal, and long resident -in that county. None of these families have the same arms, nor crest. -The first-named (of Patterdale) has none ascribed to them in the -_Landed Gentry_. You had better consult the second volume in some -library. - - - - -OUR PUZZLE POEMS. - -A NEW DEPARTURE. - - -We are publishing Three Puzzle Poems in succession dealing with -accidents and the way to meet them, and the following is the second of -the series. The lines should be carefully committed to memory for the -sake of the valuable instruction they contain. - -In addition to the ordinary monthly prizes THREE SPECIAL PRIZES are -offered for the best solutions of the whole series. - -The first Special Prize will be THREE GUINEAS; the second Special -Prize, TWO GUINEAS, and the third Special Prize, ONE GUINEA. - -A careful record of mistakes will be kept, and these prizes will be -awarded to those competitors who perpetrate the fewest in all three -puzzles. - -If a winner of one of these prizes has already received an ordinary -prize in the series, the amount of the smaller prize will be deducted. -This will then be sent to the most deserving non-prize-winner in the -list relating to the puzzle for which the prize in question was awarded. - - -OUR NEW PUZZLE POEM. - -[Illustration] - -⁂ Prizes to the amount of six guineas (one of which will be reserved -for competitors living abroad) are offered for the best solutions of -the above Puzzle Poem. The following conditions must be observed. - -1. Solutions to be written on one side of the paper only. - -2. Each paper to be headed with the name and address of the competitor. - -3. Attention must be paid to spelling, punctuation, and neatness. - -4. Send by post to Editor, GIRL'S OWN PAPER, 56, Paternoster Row, -London. "Puzzle Poem" to be written on the top left-hand corner of the -envelope. - -5. The last day for receiving solutions from Great Britain and Ireland -will be February 17, 1899; from Abroad, April 17, 1899. - -The competition is open to all without any restrictions as to sex or -age. - - - - -OUR SUPPLEMENT STORY COMPETITION. - - -SELF OR FRIEND? - -A STORY IN MINIATURE. - - -FIRST PRIZE (£2 2s.). - -Margaret A. Fish, 49, Foregate Street, Worcester. - - -SECOND PRIZE (£1 1s.). - -Rose Cook, 2, South Cliff, Lowestoft. - - -THIRD PRIZE (10s. 6d.). - -Edith Ivens, Mayfield, Station Road, Llandaff, nr. Cardiff. - - -VERY HIGHLY COMMENDED. - -Emily M. P. Wood, Woodbank, Southport. - - -HONOURABLE MENTION. - -Mary Adamson, Eastbourne; Lucy H. Chapman, Weston-super-Mare; "Conor," -Bonchurch, I.W.; Rose L. Connor, Greenock, N.B.; "Editha," Birmingham; -Kate Collins Ensor, Atherstone; "Excelsior," North Bow, E.; Annie F. -Hepple, N. Shields; E. Marian Jupe, Warminster; "Mignonette," New -Cross, S.E.; Edith Miller, Judd St., W.C.; Agnes Osborne, Sidcup; -Minnie Reeves, Twyford; Lucy Richardson, York; Enid G. St. Aubyn, -Retford; Mary Adéle Venn, West Kensington Park; L. M. Willis, -Harrogate; Mabel Wilson, Bedford Park. - - * * * * * - - -TO THE COMPETITORS. - -MY DEAR GIRLS,--To the prize winners and to those of you also who -failed to gain prizes, I offer my hearty congratulations on the -excellent papers you sent in. The work of selecting the very best -was much less difficult than that of choosing a few for "Honourable -Mention," out of hundreds of really good ones. - -It may interest you to know why some of you failed to obtain a place -in the list of honours. Twenty-eight competitors were disqualified -by breaking the rule as to size of paper and space to be filled. -Then there were several charming essays on the story which were not -miniatures of it. In a considerable number necessary parts of the -outline were omitted, hence the work was incomplete. - -It gave me true pleasure to note how thoroughly most of you grasped the -lesson which the story was intended to convey. - -Do not be disheartened. Try again. Such good papers cannot be called -failures, and the exercise will benefit you whether you gain prizes or -not. - - Your affectionate old friend, - RUTH LAMB. - - * * * * * - - -OUR NEXT STORY COMPETITION. - -STORIES IN MINIATURE. - -_Subject_:--"THE G. O. P. SUPPLEMENT FOR JANUARY." - - -WHEN MY SHIP COMES HOME. - -BY SARAH DOUDNEY, Author of "A Cluster of Roses," "A Flower of Light," -etc. - -We offer three prizes of TWO GUINEAS, ONE GUINEA, and HALF-A-GUINEA -for the three best papers on our "Story Supplement" for this month. -The essays are to give a brief account of the plot and action of the -story in the Competitor's own words; in fact, each paper should be a -carefully-constructed _Story in Miniature_, telling the reader in a few -bright words what THE GIRL'S OWN STORY SUPPLEMENT for the month is all -about. - -One page of foolscap only is to be written upon, and is to be signed -by the writer, followed by her full address, and posted to The Editor, -GIRL'S OWN PAPER, in an unsealed envelope, with the words "Stories in -Miniature" written on the left-hand top corner. - -The last day for receiving the papers is January 20th; and no papers -can in any case be returned. - -_Examiners_:--The Author of the Story (Sarah Doudney), and the Editor -of THE GIRL'S OWN PAPER. - - * * * * * - -Transcriber's Note: The following changes have been made to this text. - -Page 218--prevenche changed to pervenche. - -Page 222--parafin changed to paraffin. - - - - - -End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Girl's Own Paper, Vol. XX, No. -992, December 31, 1898, by Various - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE GIRL'S OWN PAPER *** - -***** This file should be named 52104-0.txt or 52104-0.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - http://www.gutenberg.org/5/2/1/0/52104/ - -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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