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diff --git a/58223-0.txt b/58223-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..d2cc1e8 --- /dev/null +++ b/58223-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,2189 @@ +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 58223 *** + + + + + + + + + + + +[Illustration: HARPER'S YOUNG PEOPLE] + + * * * * * + +VOL. III.--NO. 138. PUBLISHED BY HARPER & BROTHERS, NEW YORK. PRICE FOUR +CENTS. + +Tuesday, June 20, 1882. Copyright, 1882, by HARPER & BROTHERS. $1.50 per +Year, in Advance. + + * * * * * + + + + +[Illustration: TOBY AND ABNER ATTENDING THE REHEARSAL.] + +MR. STUBBS'S BROTHER[1] + +[1] Begun in No. 127, HARPER'S YOUNG PEOPLE. + +BY. JAMES OTIS, + +AUTHOR OF "TOBY TYLER," "TIM AND TIP," ETC. + +CHAPTER XII. + +A REHEARSAL. + + +When Toby told Uncle Daniel that night of their intention to go on with +the work of the long-delayed circus, and that Abner was to ride up to +the pasture, where he could see everything that was going on, the old +gentleman shook his head doubtingly; as if he feared the consequence to +the invalid, who appeared very much exhausted even by the short ride he +had taken. + +Abner, interpreting Uncle Daniel's shake of the head the same way Toby +did, pleaded hard to be allowed to go, insisting that he would be no +more tired sitting in the little carriage than he would in a chair at +home; and Aunt Olive joined in the boys' entreaty, promising to arrange +the pillows in such a manner that Abner could lie down or sit up as best +suited him. + +"We'll see what the doctor has to say about it," replied Uncle Daniel, +and with much anxiety the boys awaited the physician's coming. + +"Go? Why, of course he can go, and it will do him good to be +out-of-doors," said the medical gentleman when he made his regular +afternoon visit, and Uncle Daniel laid the case before him. + +Toby insisted on bringing Mr. Stubbs's brother into the invalid's room +as a signal mark of rejoicing at the victory the doctor had won for +them, and Abner was so delighted with the funny pranks the monkey played +that it would have been difficult to tell by his face that the morning +ride had tired him. + +Mr. Stubbs's brother was quite as mischievous as a monkey could be; he +capered around the room, picking at this thing and looking into that, +until Aunt Olive laughed herself tired, and Uncle Daniel declared that +if the other monkey was anything like this one, Toby was right when he +named him Steve Stubbs, so much did he resemble that gentleman in +inquisitiveness. + +The day had been so exciting to the boy who had been confined to one +room for several weeks that he was quite ready to go to bed when Aunt +Olive suggested it; and Toby went about his evening's work with a +lighter heart than he had had since the night he found his crippled +friend lying so still and death-like in the circus wagon. + +The next morning Toby was up some time before the sun peeped in through +the crevices of Uncle Daniel's barn to awaken the cows, and he groomed +the tiny ponies until their coats shone like satin. The carriage was +washed until every portion of it reflected one's face like a mirror, and +the harness, with its silver mountings, was free from the slightest +suspicion of dirt. + +Then, after the cows had been driven to the pasture, Mr. Stubbs's +brother was treated to a bath, and was brushed and combed until, losing +all patience at such foolishness, he escaped from his too cleanly +disposed master, taking refuge on the top of the shed, where he +chattered and scolded at a furious rate as he tried to explain that he +had no idea of coming down until the curry-comb and brush had been put +away. + +But when the pony-team was driven up to the door, and Toby decorated the +bridles of the little horses with some of Aunt Olive's roses, Mr. +Stubbs's brother came down from his high perch, and picked some of the +flowers for himself, putting them over his ears to imitate the ponies; +then he gravely seated himself in the carriage, and Toby had no +difficulty in fastening the cord to his collar again. + +Aunt Olive nearly filled the little carriage with pillows so soft that a +very small boy would almost have sunk out of sight in them; and in the +midst of these Abner was carefully placed, looking for all the world, as +Toby said, like a chicken in a nest. + +Mr. Stubbs's brother was fastened in the front in such a way that his +head came just above the dash-board, over which he looked in the most +comical manner possible. + +Then Toby squeezed in on one side, declaring he had plenty of room, +although there was not more than three square inches of space left on +the seat, and even a portion of that was occupied by a fan and some +other things Aunt Olive had put in for Abner's use. + +Both the boys were in the highest possible state of happiness, and Abner +was tucked in until he could hardly have been shaken had he been in a +cart instead of a carriage with springs. + +"Be sure to keep Abner in the shade, and come home just as soon as he +begins to grow tired," cried Aunt Olive, as Toby spoke to the ponies, +and they dashed off like a couple of well-trained Newfoundland dogs. + +"I'll take care of him like he was wax," cried Toby as they drove out +through the gateway, and Mr. Stubbs's brother screamed and chattered +with delight, while Abner lay back restful and happy. + +It was just the kind of a morning for a ride, and Abner appeared to +enjoy it so much that Toby turned the little steeds in the direction of +the village, driving fully a mile before going to the pasture. + +When they did arrive at the place where the first rehearsal was to be +held, they found the partners gathered in full force; and although it +was not even then nine o'clock, they had evidently been there some time. + +Joe Robinson ran to let the bars down, while the ponies pranced into the +field as if they knew they were the objects of admiration from all that +party, and they shook their tiny heads until the petals fell from the +roses in a shower upon the grass. + +Mr. Stubbs's brother stood as erect as possible, and was so excited by +the cheers of the boys that he seized the flowers he had tucked over his +ears, and flung them at the party in great glee. + +The carriage was driven into the shade cast by the alders; the ponies +were unharnessed, and fastened where they could have a feast of grass; +and Toby was ready for business, or thought he was. But just as he was +about to consult with his partners, a scream from both Abner and the +monkey caused him to quickly turn toward the carriage. + +From the moment they had entered the pasture, Mr. Stubbs's brother had +shown the greatest desire to be free; and when he saw his master walking +away, while he was still a prisoner, he made such efforts to release +himself that he got his body over the dash-board of the carriage, and +when Toby looked he was hanging there by the neck as if he had just +committed suicide. + +Toby ran quickly to the relief of his pet; and when he had released him +from his uncomfortable position, the other boys pleaded so hard that +Toby gave him his freedom, which he celebrated by scampering across the +pasture on all four paws, with his tail curled up over his back like a +big letter O. + +It seemed very much as if Mr. Stubbs's brother would break up the +rehearsal, for he did look so comical as he scampered around that all +the partners neglected their business to watch and laugh at him, until +Toby reminded them that he could not stay there very long because of +Abner's weakness. + +Then Bob and Reddy straightened themselves up in a manner befitting +circus proprietors, and began their work. + +"Leander is goin' to commence the show by playin' 'Yankee Doodle,'" said +Bob, as he consulted a few badly written words he had traced on the back +of one of his father's business cards, "an' while he's doin' it Joe'll +put in an' howl all he knows how, for that's the way the hyenas did at +the last circus." + +The entire programme was evidently to be carried out that morning, for, +as Bob spoke, Leander marched with his accordion and a great deal of +dignity to a rock near where a line representing the ring had been cut +in the turf. + +"Now you'll see how good he can do it," said Bob, with no small amount +of pride; and Leander, with his head held so high that it was almost +impossible to see his instrument, struck one or two notes as a prelude, +while Joe took his station at a point about as far distant from the ring +as the door of the tent would probably be. + +Leander started with the first five or six notes all right, and Joe +began some of the most wonderful howling ever heard, which appeared to +disconcert the band, for he got entirely off the track of his original +tune, and mixed "Yankee Doodle" with "Old Dog Tray" in the most reckless +manner, Joe howling the louder at every false note. + +Almost every one in that pasture, save possibly the performers +themselves, was astonished at the din made by these two small boys; and +Mr. Stubbs's brother, who had hung himself up on a tree by his tail, +dropped to his feet in the greatest alarm, adding his chatter of fear to +the general confusion. + +Familiar as he was with circus life, nothing in the experience of Mr. +Stubbs's brother had prepared him for a rehearsal such as he now had the +honor to attend. There was an amount of noise and a peculiarity about +the acrobatic feats that completely upset his nerves. + +But the two performers were not to be daunted by anything that could +occur; in fact, Joe felt rather proud that his howling was so savage as +to frighten the monkey, and he increased his efforts until his face was +as red as a nicely boiled beet. + +For fully five minutes the overture was continued; then the band stopped +and looked around with an air of triumph, while Joe uttered two or three +more howls by way of effect, and to show that he could have kept it up +longer had it been necessary. + +"There! what do you think of that?" asked Reddy, in delight. "You +couldn't get much more noise if you had a whole band, could you?" + +"It's a good deal of noise," said Toby, not feeling quite at liberty to +express exactly his views regarding the music. "But what was it Leander +was playin'?" + +"I played two tunes," replied Leander, proudly. "I can play 'Yankee +Doodle' with the whole of one hand; but I think it sounds better to play +that with my thumb an' two fingers, an' 'Old Dog Tray' with the other +two fingers. You see, I can give 'em both tunes at once that way." + +The monkey went back to the tree as soon as the noise had subsided; but +from the way he looked over his shoulder now and then, one could fancy +he was getting ready to run at the first sign that it was to commence +again. + +"Didn't that sound like a whole cageful of hyenas?" asked Joe, as he +wiped the perspiration from his face, and came toward his partners. "I +can keep that up about as long as Leander can play, only it's awful hard +work." + +Toby had no doubt as to the truth of that statement; but before he could +make any reply, Bob said: + +"Now this is where Ben comes in. He starts the show, an' he ends it, an' +I sing right after he gets through turnin' hand-springs this first time. +Now, Leander, you start the music jest as soon as Ben comes, an' keep it +up till he gets through." + +Ben was prepared for his portion of the work. His trousers were belted +tightly around his waist by a very narrow leather belt, with an +enormously large buckle, and his shirt sleeves were rolled up as high as +he could get them, in order to give full play to his arms. + +"He's been rubbin' goose-grease all over him for as much as two weeks, +an' he can bend almost any way," whispered Reddy to Toby, as Ben stood +swinging his arms at the entrance to the ring, as if limbering himself +for the work to be done. + +Leander started "Yankee Doodle" in slow and solemn strains; Ben gathered +himself for a mighty effort, and began to go around the ring in a series +of hand-springs in true acrobatic style. + +[TO BE CONTINUED.] + + + + +THE THIRSTY FLOWERS. + +BY MRS. SOPHIE B. HERRICK. + + +Fill a glass with water, and let a piece of common tape or a strip of +muslin hang so that its lower end shall dip into the water, and then +notice it: the liquid creeps slowly but surely up the strip. If the end +which you have in your hand is dropped on the table beside the glass, +the goblet may be entirely emptied, the water running up over the edge +of the glass before it runs down again. This behavior of water would +seem very queer if we had not noticed something of the kind all our +lives. It is caused by what is called capillary attraction. Whenever one +part of a material full of fine openings which lead through it is dipped +into a liquid, the fluid runs through the whole stuff, even if it has to +run upward. Try a lump of sugar: put one corner into your cup of tea or +hot milk, and watch it soak the lump through. The burning of a lamp is +upon the same principle. The wick serves to carry the oil from the globe +of the lamp to feed the flame. As soon as the oil gives out, the light +fades and dies away. + +[Illustration: FIG. 1.--CELLS. A, Leaf of Geranium Flower; B, Leaf of +Sorrel.] + +Every part of a plant needs water: it must be close around every little +cell. These cells are the tiny queer-shaped bags full of liquid that are +packed close together, and make up the leaves, stems, and flowers of +plants. In Fig. 1 you see the cells of a leaf of geranium flower, and +one of sorrel or sour grass, which, if you are like the children I know, +you have many a time eaten to get the pleasant sour taste. Well, every +one of these tiny cells must be kept wet all the time, or the plant will +die. The only way we can think of that water could get up into the +leaves and flowers from the earth is by capillary attraction, as it runs +up the slip of muslin. And if it were not for this singular behavior of +water, the only plants in the world would be those that grow in the seas +and rivers and lakes. The land would be as barren as the desert of +Sahara. + +Now try to think of some plant with all the earth away--a tree, for +instance--and you will see that it is a sort of double growth; that +there is an upside-down tree in the ground, with its trunk and branches +and twigs, as well as one above the ground. The under-ground twigs do +not bear leaves, but each one of them wears on its head a little cap or +helmet to protect the tender growing part from being injured as it +pushes its way through the hard earth. The most important parts of a +tree are those that seem of least consequence, the rootlets and the +leaves. These are to the tree what our mouths and stomachs and our lungs +are to us: the roots are the feeders and the leaves the breathing +apparatus of plants. + +As the under-ground tree grows, the tender little roots push their way +down into the darkness and cold of the deep soil; they find their way +around stones and through great clods of earth, anywhere and everywhere, +until they get their little noses into water or damp earth, and then +they begin to suck. Sometimes it is only pure water that they take up +from the earth, but generally it is a sort of broth--water with plant +food dissolved in it. + +[Illustration: FIG. 2.--CORN STALK CUT ACROSS.] + +The roots and stems and leaves are all full of little passageways +running upward and branching and dividing until they reach the leaves. +Fig. 2 shows a corn stalk cut across. You see some roundish holes, +marked _a_; these are the ends of tubes that run through the stalk. When +the corn begins to grow, take a stalk about two feet high, and cut it +across; you will see little white spots all over the cut place. This +figure is one of those white dots magnified. + +[Illustration: FIG. 3.--PLANT MOUTHS. + +A, Corn Leaf: B, Bean Leaf, with Mouth: C, Mouth seen Sidewise.] + +When these tubes come into the leaves, they open into little spaces just +under the outside skin of the leaf. These spaces are like the hollow of +a mouth, and each one has generally two lips, that are sometimes open +and sometimes shut. Through these tiny mouths (Fig. 3) the plant +breathes. It draws in air, and it sends out, as you do, a mixture of air +and water. If you want to know how much water there is in your own +breath, try holding a piece of cold glass before your mouth. + +Plants are not wasteful of the water so necessary to their lives. What +they do not use they give back to the air from which it was received, as +we make our thank-offerings to God of what He has given us. The roots +suck up the water, and each little cell takes a drink as the water +passes it, and hands on the rest to the cell just above it. And so the +water takes its course, supplying each thirsty cell with drink as it +passes, spreading through every part of the plant until it reaches the +little mouths. And there all that is left is breathed out in a fine +steam which you can not see until it touches some cold substances, and +is turned into water again. + +Some one who wanted to know exactly how much water was given back to the +air by growing plants carefully examined a number of them, and found +that a single sunflower gave off in twelve hours a pound and a +quarter--enough to fill nearly to the brim three common table goblets. +Another plant, the wild cornel, was found to breathe but more than twice +its own weight of water in a day and a night. + +[Illustration: FIG. 4.--WATER-CARRYING PLANTS.] + +In order to find out what parts of the flowers were the principal +water-carriers, a deutzia, one of our most delicate and beautiful spring +flowers, which you probably know by sight if not by name, was put into +some very blue water, colored with a mixture of what is called aniline, +and in a little while every vein of the flower was a beautiful dark +blue. The poor little blossom was, however, poisoned with its dose, and +wilted away in a few minutes (Fig. 4). + +The quantity of water that plants breathe off is so great that it makes +an entire change in the climate when forests are cut down. Plants, like +grasses and small weeds that grow on the surface, of course do not make +the same difference, for their roots only go down a little way. But +trees are very important: unless the air is kept damp by the sea or some +large body of water, it depends very much upon trees for its moisture. +Where there are no trees, the rain that does fall sinks into the earth, +and runs away in little under-ground currents, and is lost. There are no +deep roots to stop this waste, to suck up the water, and restore a large +part of it to the air. + +[Illustration: FIG. 5.--CACTUS.] + +In places where the rain-fall is frequent, and the air is always kept +soft, plants may be as lavish of their water as we are in the great +cities where the supply never fails. Plants growing in such places very +often keep their mouths open all the time. If this were the habit of +those which grow in very dry places, they would soon perish of thirst. +On the high Western plains beyond the Mississippi only a few things are +able to live. Among these are some kinds of cactus plants, which you +have probably seen in greenhouses or as window plants (Fig. 5). The +reason why they manage to grow such bulgy leaves and fat stems where +there is so little moisture, is because this plant is so very stingy of +its water. It hoards it up as the travellers over the great African +deserts do, knowing how hard it will be to get more. The roots of the +cactus suck up every drop of water they can find, and the leaves keep +their millions of little mouths tight shut so as to hold it all. Only +such plants can grow on these plains as are able to do with very little +water, or else are wise enough to hoard up all they can get. This water +we have been talking about is not sap--that is the blood of the +plant--but it is like the water we drink, and which not only helps to +make the blood, but keeps all of the parts soft and moist so that it may +live. The largest part of every living thing is water. It is not without +good reason that the Bible so often speaks of the _Water of Life_, for +without water no life could exist for a single hour. + + + + +THESE MY LITTLE ONES. + +BY MONA NOEL PATON. + +I. + + +One very, very wet evening a forlorn little pigeon, with rumpled +feathers and weary wings, came knocking at the door of a nursery in +which were two children. + +They heard the knock, and going to the window, saw to their +astonishment, the poor unhappy bird. It was not long before the sash was +thrown up, and the rain-soaked wanderer brought in, and fed and petted +to its heart's content. + +"I wonder what brought the darling here?" said Donald, the elder of the +two children. + +"It just _were_ a darlin'; 'at's why it camed," remarked Miss Baby. + +"But I am sure it must have had some reason for coming. Baby," Donald +insisted. "It came for something." + +"For its tea," suggested Baby, doubtfully. + +"Oh, Baby, Baby, you're always thinking about your tea," said Donald, +with contempt. + +"No, Donnie, me isn't. But you said it had camed for somesin." + +"I meant, to tell us something." + +"Do pigeons talk, Donnie?" Baby's eyes opened very wide. + +"Yes, but we can't understand them. I feel that this pigeon wants to +speak to us. I wonder where it came from? I wonder whether mother will +let us keep it? Come down to the drawing-room, and we'll ask her." + +Hand in hand the two proceeded to the drawing-room, Baby a little +anxious lest their elder brother should wish to "'sect" the treasure. +But Donald told her that only dead birds were dissected, not living +ones. The grown-up members of the family were as much surprised at and +pleased with the little stranger as the children had been. For the next +week it was warmly loved and tenderly taken care of, and at the end of +that time they found out all about it. + +On Sunday, Auntie, who had been lunching with her nieces and nephews, +said: "Children, I am not going to church this afternoon. I shall stay +here and tell you a story I heard while visiting among my poor people +yesterday. Shall you like that?" + +"Oh yes!" cried the children, rapturously. + +"Will it be big?" inquired Baby. + +"Yes; but you may go to sleep if you get tired." + +"All right," said Baby, and Auntie began: + + In one of the dreariest parts of our old town there lived, not long + ago, a widow with three little children, two girls and a boy. She + had to work very hard to keep them in food and clothing. Every + morning before it was light she had to go away to her work. She + would creep softly out of bed, dress very quietly, tidy up the + room, build the fire, and set out the children's breakfast, and + then, with a kiss on each sleeping face, she would go away out into + the cold. + + By-and-by the sun would find its way into the room, and the oldest + girl would open her eyes, jump briskly up like a brave little + woman, light the fire, and set on the kettle. Though only nine + years old, she knew how to work, and believed, as very few seem to + do, that whatever is worth doing at all is worth doing well. + + When breakfast was almost ready, Nellie would call her brother, and + then, stooping over the little sister, would kiss her pretty parted + lips. Presently the dark lashes would rise, and a pair of deep gray + eyes, very solemn for a moment, would stare into the loving face. + And then the dimples would come, the dark eyes would twinkle, and + the baby would be wide awake. + + The great trial of the day came after breakfast, for Nellie and + Bill must go to school, and for three or four hours poor Bab, + barely three years old, must stay all alone. Her mother and sister + were very sorry to leave her by herself, but it could not be + helped. The sweet child was so good about it that it comforted + them. + + "What do you do when we are away?" said her mother one day. + + "Me fink you is comin' back," she answered, smiling, as usual. + + Before going to school Nellie always took the coals off the fire, + and put them on the side to cool, set a tin cup of water and a + little bit of bread on a chair for Bab, and with a final hug + hurried off with her brother to the school at the bottom of the + court. + + [Illustration: BAB AT THE WINDOW.] + + As the door closed, Bab always gave a very little sigh, and set to + work to find some amusement. Sometimes she played for a long time + with a wooden footstool which she called her boy; and sometimes, if + she felt cold, she crept into bed and fell asleep. But she loved + best to stand by the window. The top of her head just came to the + lowest pane, and she could not see into the street, but only up + into the sky and gaze at the clouds. How Bab loved those clouds! + especially the great shining ones that lay still, like huge + mountains far away on the horizon. She was a little afraid of the + black clouds, but she would stretch out her arms to the bright + ones and whisper, "Oh, you booful country! Bab would like to be in + you, for always and always!" + + Sometimes she had not even the clouds to keep her company, for the + whole sky would be one gray mass, and then Bab had hard work to + keep from crying, and she wished and wished that her brother and + sister would come home. The moment she heard them on the stairs she + forgot her troubles, and when Nell looked in at the door she found + a laughing face, and the jolly voice soon rang out louder than + ever. The happy afternoon quite made up for the long weary morning. + + As soon as Nellie had cleared away their dinners she wrapped Bab up + in a warm shawl, and the three took a walk to the big street which + ran near by. At the corner of this street was a candy shop, which + the children thought splendid. Sometimes they would spend nearly an + hour peering in at the window, and telling each other what they + would buy "when they were rich." + + Something else besides candy drew them to this corner. A nurse and + two children, a boy and a girl, often passed up and down the + street. The little boy wore a sailor suit, with bright buttons, and + the little girl, just the age of Bab, had a lovely dress, trimmed + with lace, and a Leghorn hat. Such a hat! Nellie used to think that + if she could once see Bab dressed like that she would be perfectly + happy. + + The poor children liked looking at the pretty clothes of their more + fortunate brother and sister, but still more did they enjoy looking + at their faces. They were so kind and bright, and often they smiled + cheerily at their little admirers. Little did they know what a ray + of sunshine these smiles shed into the lives of these little ones. + A day seemed quite empty to Nellie and her charges when they did + not catch a glimpse of their "little gentry." + + Sometimes Bill, Nellie, and Bab ventured farther than the candy + shop. They liked to look at the grand windows, especially those of + one wonderful toy shop. Nellie and Bab never complained because + they could not possess the treasures displayed. It did not occur to + them to desire them. They were perfectly contented just to look at + them. But Bill's face was sometimes dark, and once he said to + Nellie, with a frown: + + "Doesn't it seem hard that we get nothing, that even dear Bab can + not have anything? I should like to give her something to play with + when we are away." + + The grief that Bab had nothing to play with was an old one. Nellie + and Bill had often tried to contrive some way of getting a + plaything for Bab, and once they had enticed a stray dog into their + room, but it soon escaped, and Bab was lonelier than ever. A cat, + too, had been tried, but one fine night took her departure to the + roof, never to return. + + "Never mind, Billy," answered Nellie, "we can look at the lovely + things, and that is nearly as good as having them." + + Bill did not reply. His face was long. His eyes looked as if tears + were not far off. + + "Nell," he said, "I don't see why it is that we can never have any + of the beautiful things that other children have. I am sure we try + to be good." + + "Oh, hush, Bill! here are the little gentry," whispered Nellie. + + "The little gentry" were standing gazing in at the window too, or + at least the baby was. The boy was looking at Bill with a + questioning expression. + + "Well," asked Nurse, "have you made up your minds what you are + going to spend your money upon?" + + "Es," answered the baby. + + The little boy stood still, turning his shilling over and over in + his hand. + + "Come along, Master Dreamer," cried Nurse, as she entered the shop. + "Have you not made up your mind what to spend your shilling upon?" + + "Yes," answered the little fellow, with a sort of sigh. + + Nurse had disappeared. Blushing furiously, the boy pressed his + bright shilling into Bill's rough little hand. + + "No, no," said Bill. + + "I would rather," stammered the little gentleman, not waiting for + thanks. He ran into the store, and stood quietly by while the baby + spent her shilling, and when Nurse asked why he did not spend his, + he climbed on a chair and whispered something in her ear. + +[TO BE CONTINUED.] + + + + +WHAT TELEGRAPH POLES ARE MEANT FOR. + +BY ELLA RODMAN CHURCH. + + + In the island of Sumatra, at the bottom of the map, + Where Asia holds such giant lands in her capacious lap, + The Elephants rise fiercely, in the maddest kind of mob, + When the telegraph employés have finished up a job, + And joined by wires electric places very far away, + For the purpose of conversing--if they've anything to say; + These animals uproarious will throw upon the ground + The telegraphic poles and wires wherever they are found, + While wires and insulators are carried off to hide + In the deep gloomy jungles where the angry beasts abide. + All the labor goes for nothing when the poles are set again, + For the Elephants are watching these persevering men, + Who stick poles where they don't want them, across their "right of way," + And they tear down in the night-time what the men have done by day. + + With the Monkeys and Baboons it is quite another thing, + For the telegraphic wires make the nicest kind of swing; + And just the firmest tight-rope for any sort of antic. + While rambling on "from pole to pole" sounds really quite romantic. + It's a very cute arrangement, far better than the trees, + Which do for common purposes, but not for such as these. + "And those lovely colored glasses!" says delighted Mrs. Ape, + "This really looks like living in some decent sort of shape; + The cocoa-nut shells hold water, which is all that one can say, + But these glasses for the future shall cover my buffet." + So the monkeys haste to gather all the prizes they can reach, + And twist off every insulator with a triumphant screech, + While they chatter and they gibber, and they dance and they play + On the telegraphic wires all the night and all the day. + + We read in "Mother Goose" of quiet little Miss Muffet, + Who was eating curds and whey, and sitting on a tuffet, + When, in the midst of happiness, there came along a Spider, + And, without waiting to be asked, sat down just beside her. + Now the Spiders in Japan treat the telegraphic wires + (Not daunted in the least by their being such high-flyers) + As this Spider did Miss Muffet, and coolly took a seat + On the pole, perhaps, beside the wires so high above the street; + For they bring their spinning with them, so dainty and so fine, + And they drop, to begin with, an experimental line. + With such a handy frame-work as these telegraphic wires + Mrs. Spider soon can weave a web that meets all her desires, + With draperies for the parlor that's to catch the silly fly, + And it is the prettiest parlor that ever you did spy. + + On the bare Western plains there's a dreadful lack of trees, + And nothing for the Buffaloes to scratch themselves at ease; + So a telegraphic pole proves a blessing in disguise, + That brings the tears of gratitude to many hair-roofed eyes. + Though first with some suspicion, "What ever is this thing?" + Exclaims, in great perplexity, the dauntless prairie King; + Then makes a sudden onslaught, as is his mighty way, + To find a pole for scratching, and _not_ a foe at bay. + "How jolly!" says King Buffalo--"how very kind of man + To get up this convenience on such an easy plan! + One grand good scratch, and then I'm off"--but so the pole is too, + Off from its equilibrium--a sorry sight to view. + That sudden rush of matter lays it flat upon the plain, + Until the telegraphic men have set it up again; + And when they seek with roughest nails to bristle it all o'er, + The Buffalo pronounces them even kinder than before; + For what are nails for but to scratch? and as scratching is his plan, + He feels under obligations to the thoughtfulness of man. + So he scratches all the poles down, rejoicing on his way, + While the men who set them up again have something else to say; + That something is not flattering to friend Buffalo at all, + But he is off beyond the sound of voice or musket-ball. + + + + +LITTLE NYÂGÂNDI. + + +Nyâgândi is a little girl whose home is a mere hut on the shores of the +Ogawe River, in West Africa. A lady who has gone as a missionary to her +people has told a very pretty story about her, which we are sure our +girls will like to read. + +Nyâgândi has never worn any clothing in her life, except a cloth tied +around her waist. It has been only lately that she has thought of +wearing anything else. + +Since she has been attending school in the mission-house, and learning +to read, she is anxious to wear a dress like her kind friends, and so +with slow but patient fingers she is learning to make one out of some +bright calico. + +She owns a canoe, in which she darts here and there over the creeks and +rivers like a graceful dusky bird. + +One Saturday she paddled to the mission-house, and sold some bunches of +plantains to the ladies. + +"Now, Nyâ," said one of them, "to-morrow will be Sunday, and you must +come to service." + +"I surely will," she answered, "if I am alive." + +Saturday night somebody stole Nyâ's canoe, and on Sunday nobody would +lend her another, yet she was in her place in church, and in time. Her +home was on the opposite shore of the river, at that place a third of a +mile wide, with a current flowing deep and strong. How had she crossed? + +In the simplest way in the world--by swimming. Some of the boys had seen +the dark head bobbing up and down in the waves, or it is doubtful +whether she would have said a word about her performance. + +But, little women, who sometimes pout at wearing an old bonnet or dress +to church, please think of the African girl, so anxious to keep her +promise that she swam the Ogawe on Sunday morning rather than be absent +when the good missionaries expected to see her at the Christian worship. + + + + +THE BRAVEST FEAT OF ALL. + +BY DAVID KER. + + +"Warm work, eh, Pierre," said one French grenadier to another, as his +cap was knocked off by a bullet, while a second tore a strip of skin +from his shoulder. + +"True enough, comrade," answered the other, wiping the blood from a +wound in his cheek; "but the Little Corporal will get us through it all +right." + +The Little Corporal (otherwise called the Emperor Napoleon) was indeed +doing his best to get them through it; but honest Jacques might well say +that it was warm work. The great fight which was to be known in history +as the battle of Jena was at its hottest, and no one--among the common +soldiers at least--could yet say which side was likely to get the best +of it. True, the French were ninety thousand strong against forty +thousand Prussians, and had taken their enemies completely by surprise; +but, on the other hand, the Prussians were up on a high hill, where it +was not easy to get at them, and the centre of their line was covered by +a village, which they had fortified and filled with cannon, making it +altogether "a hard nut to crack." + +Fighting their way through a terrible cannonade, the French had reached +the village, and burst into it; but they found all the streets +barricaded, and the houses crammed with musketeers, who kept up a +terrible fire upon them. Could they have brought their whole force to +bear at once, the affair would soon have been over; but by some +mischance the supports had been delayed, and all that the van-guard +could do was to intrench themselves in the houses which they had taken, +and wait for the main body to come up. + +Foremost in the fight was a dashing captain of light-infantry--tall, +strong, black-browed, and terrible as any chief in Homer. He had the +name of being the strongest man and best swordsman in the whole +regiment, and liked nothing better than a chance of showing his strength +in a hand-to-hand fight. So when he found himself driven to stand behind +the corner of a wall, with nothing to do but watch the enemy's bullets +smashing the window-frames, or going "plug" into the timbers of the +house front, it was no wonder if "Captain Dreadnaught" (as his men had +justly nicknamed him) began to feel rather sulky. + +"Pretty work for a soldier," growled he, under his huge black mustache; +"to be knocked on the head like a caged rat by a pack of rogues whom one +can't even see! Ah, if the rascals would only come out into the open, +and let us have a fair chance at them!" + +But better luck was at hand. All at once a tremendous shout rose high +above all the din of the firing, and forward came the French supports at +a run, right up the slope of the hill, and into the village. The moment +the blue frocks were seen advancing, Captain Dreadnaught, too eager even +to wait until he could get down to the door, leaped right out of the +window into the street, waving his sword and shouting like a madman. His +men followed him, and the nearest houses were cleared with a rush, and +every man in them killed or made prisoner. + +Just then was heard a sudden crackling and hissing, while a fierce red +glare shot up over the roofs of the surrounding cottages. The shells had +set the village on fire, and what with sparks and hot ashes raining down +upon them, clouds of stifling smoke rolling around them on every side, +and blazing timbers crashing down close to their heads, the French +soldiers had anything but a comfortable time of it. However, they still +held their ground unflinchingly, although their smarting eyes could +hardly see to take aim, and every breath that they drew seemed to come +from the mouth of a furnace. + +On a sudden a strange sound began to be heard in the distance, like rain +pattering on fallen leaves. Louder and nearer it came, until it swelled +into a deep hollow roll that seemed to shake the very earth; and out +from the smoke in front broke a mass of fierce men's faces, and horses' +heads, and gleaming sabres, and gay uniforms. The Prussian cavalry were +charging them. One hasty crackle of musketry, one clash and whirl of +sabres, and then the wave was upon them, and passed over them; and +nothing was left in its track but the dying and the dead. + +Captain Dreadnaught, who had been flung aside into a doorway by the +shock of the charge, was just scrambling to his feet again when he saw +his color-sergeant fall under the sabre of a powerful trooper, who +seized the regimental colors. With one spring the Captain was out in the +middle of the street, and in another moment the Prussian went down in +his turn under a blow that might have cleft a rock, while Captain +Dreadnaught clutched the rescued standard, just as five of the enemy +fell upon him at once. + +A sudden bound foiled the charge of the foremost two, while another good +sabre-cut rid him of the third. Firing his one remaining pistol through +the head of one assailant, he dealt the other a blow in the face with +the broken staff, which knocked out half his teeth. But in the mean time +the first two had reined up and faced about, and now they both made at +him at once. + +Another moment and all would have been over with the daring Captain. But +just at that instant a fresh shout was heard behind, and one of the +Prussian troopers, struck by a bullet, fell heavily to the ground. The +other turned his horse and rode off, while the second line of French +infantry, against which the Prussian charge had broken itself, came on +in its turn, just as the Captain, still clasping the flag, sank +exhausted on the ground. + +Three hours later all was over. The great battle had been fought and +lost; the splendid Prussian army had melted into a rabble of fugitives. +Napoleon, surrounded by his generals, was standing in triumph amid the +ruins of the village which had been the centre of the enemy's position. + +"Sire," said a big, hard-faced man in the gorgeous uniform of a Marshal +of France, leading forward our friend the Captain, who, although very +pale, and with a blood-stained bandage around his forehead, looked as +fearless and resolute as ever, "this is the brave officer whom I saw +defending his regimental colors on foot against five mounted Prussians." + +"Captain Dreadnaught, is it not?" said the Emperor, who seemed to know +by sight not merely every officer but even every private in his whole +army. "It is the best of all names for a French soldier, and no reward +is too great for the man who fears nothing. Wear this, _Colonel_" (and +he took from his breast the cross of the Legion of Honor, which he had +lately instituted), "as my gift to the bravest man in the regiment; and +let it remind you that you have a commander who never lets any gallant +deed go unrewarded." + +Every one expected to see the new-made Colonel look overwhelmed with +joy; but except for the faint flush that crossed it, his dark face never +changed a whit. + +"Sire," answered he, firmly, "this is the proudest moment of my life; +but I can not accept what does not belong to me." + +A murmur of astonishment ran through the group, and even Napoleon's +marble face wore a look of surprise. + +"What do you mean?" he asked. "You have fairly won this cross, and I +give it to you freely." + +"Your Majesty has said," replied Dreadnaught, "that you give it to the +bravest in the regiment; and there is one who has this day done a far +braver deed than mine." + +"Indeed?" said the Emperor. "Well, I should like to see the man who +could do that. Where is he?" + +"Here," answered the officer, stepping suddenly back among his men, and +leading out a little drummer-boy barely twelve years old, whose blue +eyes widened into a stare of terrified wonder as he found himself, for +the first time in his life, face to face with the great Emperor. + +"I saw this boy," said Dreadnaught, "drag two wounded soldiers out of a +burning house in the village yonder; and he had hardly got them out when +down came the roof, singeing his hair, as you see." + +"Good!" growled Marshal Ney, rubbing his hands. + +"And as if that was not enough," continued Dreadnaught, "he went into +the thickest of the fire to fetch water for our wounded; but as he was +coming back with it, a ball hit his leg, making him stumble and spill +the water. What does he do but hobble all the way back and fill his pail +again, with the blazing timbers falling on every side, and the enemy's +shot flying about his ears like hail!" + +[Illustration: THE EMPEROR NAPOLEON PRESENTING THE CROSS OF THE LEGION +OF HONOR TO THE DRUMMER-BOY.] + +The listening soldiers broke into a cheer that made the air ring, and +Napoleon, with a smile such as few men had ever seen him wear, stepped +forward and fixed the cross with his own hands upon the drummer-boy's +breast. + +"I'll find _you_ another cross to-morrow, Colonel," said he; "but you +say truly that this fine fellow should go first. It's the first time +I've heard of him, but I'll warrant it won't be the last." + +He was right; for, not many years later, the little drummer-boy had +become a General. + + + + +[Illustration: IN THE CORNER.] + + + + +A TROPICAL HURRICANE. + +BY FRANK H. CONVERSE. + + +High noon in the little Anglo-Spanish town of Queenston, island of St. +Vincent: everything and everybody seem to be dozing quietly in the hot, +drowsy atmosphere. + +"Why, all the people must be asleep or dead," mutters Ned Brandon, +discontentedly, as he stands on the corner of the one principal street +of Queenston, under the shade of a neat silk umbrella, and stares about +him. Truth to tell, Ned, who is something of a dandy, had before going +ashore dressed himself with exceeding care in his little state-room on +board the brig _Calypso_, owned by his father, and in which, under the +care of good Captain Hardy, he is making a vacation trip to the West +Indies. + +He has on a dazzling suit of pure white linen, a handsome Panama hat, a +white neck-tie, low patent-leather shoes, and striped silk stockings. + +"Well, I certainly took a great deal of trouble for nothing in this +matter of dressing," grumbles Ned, looking listlessly up and down the +almost deserted street. + +Gayly painted shops, where one may buy anything from a penny roll to a +steam-boiler, alternate with small, one-story "bonnet-roof" houses, with +barred and jail-like windows. Past these an occasional group of +meek-looking yellow coolies, as much alike in appearance as a flock of +sheep, shuffle over the rude pavement. Occasionally the blackest kind of +a negro from some neighboring plantation appears, driving before him +three or four diminutive donkeys laden with sugar-cane or panniers of +ripe fruit. + +In the shade of the little stone custom-house, the open door of which is +guarded by a negro, in tattered uniform, bearing a flint-lock musket, +sits a drowsy Creole woman on the edge of the pavement. Before her, on a +brazier of glowing coals, bubbles a pot of odorous soup, to be retailed +to possible customers at a penny per bowl. Whatever may be the remaining +ingredients of the compound, it is plainly evident that garlic +predominates. + +The reason why there is no one to admire the elaborately dressed young +fellow on the corner is very simple. Queenston is taking its noonday +siesta. + +In every little court-yard and inclosure swing sleeping forms in grass +hammocks, shaded by luxuriant growths of pawpaw, banana, and plantain, +orange, mango, and tamarind, while above all towers the beautiful +cocoa-palm with its clusters of golden green fruit. + +"I might as well go down to the landing-steps and signal the _Calypso_ +to send the boat ashore," mutters Ned, with a yawn, himself not +unaffected by the drowsy surroundings. + +"Oh, I say!" suddenly exclaims a boyish voice behind him. Ned feels a +timid touch on his shoulder, and he wheels sharply round. "I'm Joe +Sampson," continues the new-comer, who is a young fellow a year or two +younger than Ned, speaking in an eager, hurried tone, "and I belong out +to Dedham, Massachusetts. I ran away from a Provincetown whaler. Don't +you think your Cap'n will give a fellow a chance to work his passage +back to the States?" And the gaunt, hollow-eyed, sun-browned face of the +speaker is lit up with eager anticipation as he breathlessly awaits the +other's answer. + +Ordinarily Ned would have answered, "Of course he will," with hearty +cordiality. But the thermometer indicates ninety-two degrees in the +shade; he is hot, hungry, and irritable. Besides, Joe Sampson in his +rimless straw hat, coarse blue shirt, tattered trousers, and worn-out +shoes is anything but prepossessing as to outward appearance. + +"I don't think Captain Hardy cares to ship a green hand," coldly begins +Ned, and is thoroughly ashamed of his words as soon as he has spoken. +But before he can mend them, Joe, with a mute gesture of despair, turns +the corner, and hurries off. + +"Hi, there!" shouts Ned, remorsefully, "hold on a bit." But Joe either +can not or will not hear. He is walking along a narrow street of +picturesque but unclean negro cabins--a street which ascending as it +leaves the town limits, widens into a mountain road, leading upward to +the heights which overhang Queenston on all but the harbor side. + +Impulsive Ned stands for a few moments irresolute. + +"Hungry no doubt, and homesick of course," he says, half aloud. "What a +wretch I am, to be sure!" + +With the words he furls his umbrella, and unmindful of the scorching +rays of the sun, starts in rapid pursuit of the runaway, who is now out +of sight in a bend of the rising road. + +Past the dirty suburbs Ned hastens, and now he is climbing the steep +side of Monte Rosa. On either hand are great thickets of tree-ferns, +which as he ascends give place to thickets of the wild-growing banana +festooned through and through with fragrant flowering vines where +humming-birds of gorgeous hue disport themselves. Across the reddish +earth of the roadway dart green and gold lizards with black beady eyes, +land-crabs scuttle hastily away from his hurrying footsteps, and once or +twice the ugly face of a harmless iguana leers at him from a way-side +stump. + +Breathless, and dripping with perspiration at every pore, Ned reaches +the summit, but runaway Joe is nowhere in sight. The plateau at the left +is smooth and level, a crumbled stone parapet follows the edge of the +cliff, and the ruins of what was once a small fortress stand further +back. Perhaps Joe is hidden thereabouts. + +"This is a pretty go; now isn't it?" exclaims Ned, in a disgusted tone, +as, tearing off his saturated collar and tie, he throws himself at full +length on the greensward under the shade of a cabbage-palm which grows +close to the parapet, to cool off a bit. Yet the wonderful outlook +almost repays him for the exhaustive climb. Before his gaze lies the +far-reaching Caribbean Sea, not sparkling and blue as is its wont, +however, but strangely calm, and of an oily smoothness, unbroken by a +ruffle of wind. There is a curious yellowish haze, too, which has been +creeping up from the distant horizon since morning, and is now tempering +the heat of the sun, which shines through it with a singularly brassy +effect. + +"I think," drowsily remarked Ned, "that I'll take a bit of a nap, and +hunt for Joseph the unfortunate later." + +So Ned, resigning himself to slumber, dreamed that he was the admiral of +a fleet manned by deserters from whaling vessels. This fleet was +anchored in Queenston Harbor, and was returning the fire from the guns +of the fortress above. The cannonading grew louder and louder, until Ned +awoke with a start. + +But what is this? + +Above him is a sky blacker than the ink with which the _Calypso_'s log +is written. Great sheets of rose-colored lightning shimmer continually +upward from the distant horizon like the rays of aurora borealis, while +rattling peals of thunder follow each other in quick succession. Then, +as he starts up in a fright, the heavens directly overhead are rent +asunder with one blinding flash, simultaneous with which comes a crash +of thunder that seems to jar his very brain. Then, as though this were a +pre-concerted signal, the sound of a mighty rushing wind, constantly +increasing in intensity, is heard, before which, hurtling through the +thickening gloom, come clouds of dust, branches of trees, and débris of +every sort. The force of the hurricane is not only sufficient to throw +Ned to the ground, but to pin him there as by giant hands, as it goes +roaring seaward with an awfulness of deafening roar which can not be +described in words. + +"It is the Day of Judgment!" is the thought which sweeps through Ned's +bewildered mind. And then as suddenly as the storm arose there is a +lull, followed by an ominous silence as terrifying as the roar itself, +for the darkness seems if possible to grow more intense. + +"The _Calypso_," thinks Ned; "where is she?" Crawling to the edge of the +parapet, he strains his eyes downward through the darkness. A momentary +flash illumines the gloom, and shows a phantom sail, which he hopes may +be the _Calypso_'s, scudding out of the harbor mouth. + +And now the hurricane breaks forth from an almost opposite quarter, +bringing with it torrent upon torrent of driving rain, drenching Ned to +the skin, and fairly blinding him with its force. He is about to fly, he +knows not whither, when some one, dimly seen through the darkness, +clasps his hand. + +"This way--quick!" exclaims the voice of Joe; and feeling himself urged +rapidly forward, Ned in a moment or two finds that at last he has +reached a place of shelter. + +"I stop here nights," laconically observes Joe, as the two boys drop, +dripping and out of breath, on a pile of dry leaves and grasses in one +corner of what Ned sees by the continuous play of lightning is a low +circular stone cell, and which Joe explains was probably used as a sort +of powder-house before the fort was demolished. + +For three long hours the hurricane swept above them, and the sea roared +beneath, while the crash of thunder, almost without cessation, seemed to +jar the stones about them. At last its violence subsided by degrees, and +as Ned and Joe finally emerged from their refuge, it was to see the +clouds rolling away in great rifted masses, through which shone the +beams of sunset. + +"And now, if the _Calypso_ is only safe," said Ned, as they made their +way with difficulty down the mountain road, which had become the bed of +a small stream, "you shall have your passage back to the States, Joe, +and not work it either." + +"Ah! _if_," returned Joe, soberly. He was wondering how they should live +until the brig arrived, even if she was safe; and what on earth would +become of them if she was lost! For the Queenston people do not take +kindly to penniless wanderers, as poor Ned found to his cost before +another twenty-four hours had passed over his head. + +Fortunately for the companions in misfortune, fruit had been dislodged +by the hurricane in such quantities that it was to be had for the +taking. The boys supported life for a fortnight on oranges, ripe +bread-fruit, bananas, guavas, mami apples, and soursops, which are "all +very well for dessert," as Ned afterward remarked, "but for a steady +diet I prefer roast beef; fruit gets monotonous after the forty-fifth or +forty-sixth meal." + +Thus for three weary weeks the boys wandered listlessly by day through +the streets of Queenston, and by night suffered innumerable tortures +from mosquitoes. + + * * * * * + +"Tell those two dirty-looking darkies to sheer off, Mr. Nason," sharply +said Captain Hardy, as with only the stump of her foretopmast standing, +and her bulwarks completely gone, the brig _Calypso_ slowly swung to her +moorings. + +There had been a terrible struggle with tempest and storm, and it was +only after a succession of head-winds and exasperating calms of many +days' duration that the _Calypso_ had finally managed to work back to +the anchorage from which the hurricane had driven her so many miles out +to sea. + +"Be off there!" gruffly commanded Mr. Nason, in obedience to his +Captain's orders, as a shore boat touched the vessel's side. "We don't +want yams or fruit, and we've got nothing for you to beg or steal." + +"If you've only got something to eat, that's all _we_ want," replied a +familiar voice, whose owner sprang lightly over the rail, while his +companion followed more slowly. + +"Upon my word!" ejaculated the Captain, in amazement. "Is that you, Ned, +and what do you look like?" + +A white linen suit that has been soaked with rain or dew and dried in +the sun several times has a tendency to cling to its possessor's figure +with more closeness than ease; its hue becomes dingy by being slept in +and used to wipe fruit-stained fingers on. Such was the case with Ned's +once brilliant costume. He was also barefooted and nearly bare-headed, +while his face was burned to the color of shoe leather. + +"I used to think," said Ned, helping himself to his fifth hot biscuit, +and passing the corned beef to Joe, who sat opposite him at the tea +table in the _Calypso_'s cabin that evening, "that it would be rather +nice to try a touch of vagabond life on some island in the tropics, but +I rather think I prefer my regular meals at a table, and all night in +bed--eh, Joe?" + +And Joe, whose heart and mouth were too full for utterance, nodded an +emphatic assent. + + + + +ADVICE TO BOYS. + +BY H. C. VAN GIESON, M.D. + +CUTS AND BRUISES. + + +The boys of America are venturesome, but I do not think, as a rule, that +they rush into danger heedlessly. But in all the active pursuits of +life, in play as well as in business, accidents are liable to occur, and +it is well to know what to do, as thereby life may sometimes be saved. + +It is my intention to tell boys what they should do under certain +circumstances, when there is no help near. + +Many persons are alarmed at the sight of blood. Now cuts are very +common, but rarely are they very serious. If a simple cut is inflicted, +if no artery is severed, it is only necessary to tie a handkerchief wet +with cold water over the cut, and wait for an opportunity to get some +adhesive plaster, which should be cut into strips one-eighth to one-half +an inch wide, according to the size of the cut, and applied at right +angles to the line of the cut, drawing it together by this means. + +But when the blood flows in spurts or jets of a bright red color, it +shows that an artery has been cut. An artery carries blood _from_ the +heart, and consequently, to control the bleeding, if the cut or wound is +on an arm or leg, pressure with the finger must be made _above_ the cut +toward the body, not toward the hand or foot. If the bleeding does not +stop with pressure continued a little while, then take a handkerchief, +tie a knot in it, and placing the knot above the cut, tie the +handkerchief firmly around the limb. Then take the injured person to the +nearest physician, that the artery may be tied. Simple bleeding from the +veins, which stops soon with a little pressure, needs only the +application of a cool wet cloth. + +When a person becomes faint from the sight of blood, or the loss of any +considerable quantity, always place him flat on his back, with the head +level with the body. Don't raise him up or try to stand him up. Apply +cold water to the face, if available, or fan him with a hat. + +Bruises are often very painful, but usually they are not dangerous. Cold +water or ice applied to a bruise when first received will allay pain and +prevent somewhat the swelling that follows. A bruise that is followed +quickly by a soft bluish tumor or swelling indicates the rupture of a +vein, and it should not be punctured or pricked, but should be allowed +to disappear by absorption; a bandage making moderate pressure will +hasten this process; and here let me say that any bandage should be +applied from the extremity to the point where it is needed, that is, +from the hand or foot to the parts on arm or leg where the bandage is +needed. This is to prevent swelling of the parts below, as the +circulation in the veins is impeded by any bandage between them and the +heart. A bandage, then, should always commence at the toes or the ends +of the fingers, and be applied smoothly and evenly up to and over the +injured parts. + + + + +[Illustration: PADDY AND THE FISH.] + +PADDY RYAN'S BIG FISH. + +BY W. M. LAFFAN. + + +A few weeks ago I tried to give some good advice to young anglers in +regard to trout fishing with hook and line. Now I am going to tell them +of one or two curious methods of capturing trout that are practiced by +fishermen on the other side of the Atlantic. + +The trout in the rivers of Great Britain, as a general thing, attain a +larger size than ours do. Occasionally, however, exceptions may be made +to this rule, as, for instance, in the Rangeley Lakes, in the State of +Maine, where trout are taken that are as large as any in the finest +streams of England or Ireland. + +The brook trout of the latter countries is usually from ten to fourteen +inches in length, but in certain streams it is occasionally found of a +much larger size, weighing in some instances seven or eight pounds. In +color it is yellowish-brown above, shading off to yellow on the sides, +the spots on the back being reddish-brown, while those on the sides are +bright red. + +In certain wild parts of Ireland there is fine trout fishing, four and +five pound fish being frequently caught. There are two methods of +catching them practiced by the inhabitants--tickling and snaring. The +snare is a simple noose made of gray horse-hair, plaited, and of the +strength of perhaps a dozen hairs. This snare is fastened to the end of +a ten-foot pole, slender and springy, and the device is complete. Its +use requires great training of the hand, and even more of the eye. When +I was a boy I was in the County Tipperary, where so many tall Irishmen +come from, where some of the people still speak Gaelic, and where the +trout in the streams are free and frisky. The rivers of Tipperary flow +into the Shannon and the Suir, and the Shannon is a noble river, and an +immense one when you consider how small the accommodations of the +country are. + +To snare a trout, you pick out the clear shallows where the water flows +softly over the yellow gravel. You approach the spot with great caution, +and with such slow and easy movement that the fish is not alarmed, or if +he does dart off to deeper water or some dark lurking-place, presently +returns, revealing himself by his flickering shadow, that seems even +more real than himself. Then, slow as the minute-hand of a clock, +descends the rod, and the horse-hair noose sinks under the surface. The +trout's nose points against the current, and down toward him drifts the +unseen loop of horse-hair. Unfailing must be the judgment of the +distance, and certain the estimate of the depth, and as it glides over +his shoulders a swift stroke sends him flying over your head into the +grass behind you. It is incredible how difficult this method of fishing +is, what great craft it needs, what subtlety of approach, and what fine +discernment in the execution. I have seen a Tipperary woman so skillful +that she could beat all comers in the number of trout she would take in +a day's fishing. It was a fine sight to see her on the bank, rigid as a +statue, with uncovered head crowned with jet-black hair, her bare feet +planted in the sod, and not a trace of movement to be seen until up went +her rod, and a fine flashing trout, as heavy perhaps as her plaited +noose would bear, went kicking through the air. + +But tickling the trout is the more curious method, and is a practice +that has its origin doubtless in the character of the streams, which, +run for the most part by low grass-grown banks, which, being undermined, +shelve over on the edge of the current, or fall into it in great +_scraughs_, or sods. Beneath these lurk the trout of all sizes, sallying +out every now and then like sunbeams into the amber water to catch some +luckless victim passing by. On such an overhanging bank the skilled +Tipperary fisher lies at full length, with shirt sleeves rolled up, and +hands thrust as far beneath the bank as he can reach. If his fingers +touch a fish, away it flies, but only to return shortly and sidle up +against his hand, and be again alarmed. Over and over again this is +repeated, until the fish seems to lose all sense of fear, when the +stealthy, tickling, stroking fingers steal about the gills, and with a +sudden encircling clutch and murderous thrust of the thumb in the +gullet, that too confiding fish's day is ended. + +The Tipperary men catch fine fish, and plenty of them in this way. It is +not a lofty style of angling, but it is a curious instance of the +application of means to ends, the end being the fish, the motive hunger, +and the means being confined to strong hands. + +Many a fine catch of fish have I seen made by the fishermen of +Tipperary, but the most extraordinary was that of my friend Paddy Ryan. +Paddy had a way of his own, and it was better than snaring or tickling, +and it made Paddy famous as a brave and original fisher. + +Up these little tributary streams that flow into the Shannon the salmon +come in the spawning season, ascending until the upper shallows are +reached, when they deposit their eggs, and then work their way back to +the ocean. Great fun it is, too, to watch these lordly fish at some +point where they must leap clear over some small water-fall or mill-dam +if they would pass further up. The water breaks with a mighty swish, and +out comes the salmon, his back like black velvet, and all the rest of +him like a flash of burnished silver, his tail uncurving from the strong +blow that he has struck in his leap, and his fine force and vigor +landing him in the top water, where one great whisk and splash carries +him clean over and out of all danger. Sometimes he falls short, or can +not strike fast enough to overcome the current, and so tumbles back; but +he goes at it again, and, making note of his experience, finally +succeeds. + +Paddy Ryan was nine years old, and was a spectator while I cast flies +for trout; and although I was very far up the river, it was not +altogether above the spawning grounds that the salmon sought. I was +sitting on the parapet of an old bridge, and about one hundred feet down +the stream below me there crossed a rough stone dam that diverted some +part of the stream to the little mill owned by Paddy's father. Under the +dam was a deep pool; above it was another, and the water fell over the +dam along its whole length. But just inside the dam, and running +parallel with it for a short distance, was a bank of gravel, which the +last heavy freshet had thrown up. Paddy walked out on this gravel, and +stretched himself on it at full length in pure idleness and lazy +enjoyment of my useless fly-fishing. The trout were not in the humor to +rise, and I had about made up my mind to give up and go home, when all +at once I heard a splash and saw a great salmon come up with a mighty +curve over the dam, overleap it completely, and land in about three +inches of water on the gravel bank within a foot or two of Paddy. + +The water flew in every direction, and all over Paddy, who turned with a +startled yell to see what had happened. In another instant he was on top +of the salmon, clutching it with arms and legs, while the powerful fish +struggled and kicked, and Paddy bawled and roared at the top of his +voice. Over rolled Paddy, and over rolled the fish, the water splashing +and the gravel flying so that you could not tell which had the best of +it. Paddy's mother, hearing the commotion, ran out of the cottage up +above the mill. + +"Och, murther!" she screamed. "Dinnis! Dinnis! where are ye, Dinnis? an' +a fish atin' me child! Dinnis! Dinnis!" + +Paddy's father heard her frantic screams, and came running up from the +mill. + +"D'ye see yer child et up be a dirthy fish?" she yelled. + +"Begorra!" said the astonished Denis, as he seized a pitchfork, cleared +the mill-race at a bound, ran along the dam, fell into the stream, +scrambled out on the gravel bank, and reached the scene of the conflict. + +"Let go of him till I shtick him!" said he. + +"I won't," spluttered Paddy; "he'll get away." + +"Let go of him, I tell ye!" + +"Prod him now, daddy, where he is;" and seeing his chance, prod him +Denis did, and dragged him kicking out on the gravel bank, Paddy, +breathless and exhausted, still holding on to him. + +It was a splendid salmon, and it weighed thirty-eight pounds, and I went +home, not feeling as if I cared to pursue fly-fishing any further that +day. + + + + +[Illustration] + + + + +[Illustration: OUR POST-OFFICE BOX.] + + +As we happen to know that father and mother as well as the boys and +girls take a weekly peep at the contents of Our Post-office Box, we +insert for their benefit a paragraph which appeared in the Boston +_Journal_ of May 23. The _Journal_ has a very honorable and influential +place among American newspapers, and we are glad to have it express its +appreciation of HARPER'S YOUNG PEOPLE in terms so cordial: + + "When this weekly, intended specially for young readers, was first + started, we were somewhat curious regarding the special field it + would make for itself. It seemed as if the reading public, old and + young, was supplied with literature adapted to the diversified + wants of all, but we felt assured that the Messrs. Harper were too + thoroughly acquainted with their business as publishers to launch a + craft without a knowledge of the demand which existed for its + support. Time has shown that HARPER'S YOUNG PEOPLE was wanted to + fill a vacancy. It is already welcomed every Saturday to thousands + of New England homes. Its tone is pure, its articles are always + interesting, and its illustrations are superior to anything ever + attempted in juvenile literature of its class. While it is intended + for the perusal of Rob and Mabel, of Sam and Lucy, we venture to + say that it has been the experience of others, as it has been our + own, that the older heads of the family find in its pages each week + matter not at all beneath their notice on the score of information + and general interest." + + * * * * * + + ROCHESTER, NEW YORK. + + I am a little boy eight years old. My papa has two hunting dogs + named Steck and Rob, and I have a pet cat. The dogs are very gentle + and kind, and let us tumble all over them; but when they have a + bone given them, they fight terribly. Whenever Rob gets a chance he + steals the cat's meat, and then she gives him a good scratch. My + brother Harry is four years old. He has a little girl friend named + Floy, whom he calls his little sweetheart. When I had the scarlet + fever, and the doctor said my skin would peel off, Harry said, + "Then, Georgie, when your skin peels off, I can see your soul, + can't I?" I am sick, and mamma is writing this for me. I hope you + will print it, so we can surprise papa, for we have not told him + about it. He gave me HARPER'S YOUNG PEOPLE last Christmas, and I + enjoy it more and more every week. Good-by. + + GEORGE B. M. + + * * * * * + + FRANKFORT-ON-THE-MAIN, GERMANY. + + We have taken HARPER'S YOUNG PEOPLE from the beginning, and we + enjoy it very much. + + It is just nine years since we left America. Six of these have been + spent in Paris, one in Freiburg, in Baden, and two here. We like + this city exceedingly. It is very beautiful and interesting. In the + "Judengasse," the principal street of the old Jewish quarter of the + town, in an ancient rickety house still standing, were born the + ancestors of the wealthy Von Rothschilds. Near by, in a similar + house, Boerne was born. Goethe's birth-house, in another street, is + more respectable, and full of souvenirs of Germany's great poet. + + The opera-house here is as beautiful as the one in Paris. Other + attractions are the Palmengarten, the Zoological Garden, the + forest, the river, the cathedral, picture-galleries, museums, + historical buildings, monuments, and the renowned and graceful + sculpture of Ariadne on the lion's back, by Dannecker. The town is + encircled by the "Promenade," a zigzaggy avenue of green woods, + lovely lawns with flower beds, lakes, fountains, statues, etc., at + the place of the old fortifications. + + There are numbers of Hebrews here. They have many noble traits of + character, and some we know are more Christian-like than many + Christians. Besides that, they are very intelligent and quick. We + have plenty of friends among them, and we like them very much. + + I have two sisters and two brothers. We all go to school, except my + elder sister, who studies at the Conservatory of Music, of which + the great composer Joachim Raff is director, and which counts among + its teachers Frau Clara Schumann and the violinist Hermann. + + My baby brother, who was born in Paris, understands perfectly + French and English, but will speak nothing but German. He attends + the Kindergarten. I take lessons on the violin, and in drawing, + elocution, Italian, and "the grand dialect the prophets spake," + Hebrew. + + I love Longfellow, and I feel so grieved at his death! I have a + precious autograph of his, written expressly for me; it is the + first verse of his beautiful poem, "Excelsior," and his name. + + I think, upon the whole, that America is the best country in the + world. However much we are attached to Europe, we will be glad to + get home. Papa is now in New York; he has crossed the Atlantic + Ocean twenty times. + + Would the editor or any of the readers please give me a list of all + the different inventions and discoveries made by Americans, and + oblige their loving compatriot, + + A. M. W. + +A complete list of all the inventions and discoveries, small and great, +which have been made by Americans, would fill a very large space in Our +Post-office Box, even if printed in the closest and tiniest of type. Not +to speak of that fairy of the household, the sewing-machine, and of that +wizard, the electric telegraph, there are dozens of useful and beautiful +things to make life easier and homes more charming which the world owes +to our countrymen. We shall leave the question of A. M. W. to our bright +little correspondents, and we hope to print some replies to it before +long. + + * * * * * + +BED-TIME. + +BY LUCY RANDOLPH FLEMING. + + Tell you a story? Dear me! + And which one shall I tell? + How Tommy Green, in cruel sport, + Dropped Pussy in the well? + + Shall I tell you of Dame Hubbard's dog, + And the wonderful things he did; + Or of poor Bo-Peep, who could not tell + Where her wandering sheep were hid? + + Or shall I tell of the dreadful wolf + Who met Red Riding-hood; + Or will you hear the sad, sad tale + Of the Children in the Wood? + + Of Cinderella, who sat by the fire, + And wanted to go to the ball, + And the nice old godmother who came + With the slippers of glass, and all? + + Or shall I sing of the active cow + Who jumped right over the moon? + Perhaps she frightened the man up there, + And made him come "down too soon." + + Or will you hear of the famous birds + All baked in the royal pie? + I think we could make a better dish + With "a pocket full of rye." + + What! baby mine, you are going to sleep, + And none of the stories are told? + The blue eyes are shut, and the pillow waits + For the touch of the curls of gold. + + * * * * * + + NASHUA, NEW HAMPSHIRE. + + I am a little girl ten years old. I have two pet rabbits; they are + white, with pink eyes. We have a little toy terrier, all blue, with + long silky hair; she is one of the smallest dogs in America or + Europe. I have been taking music lessons ever since I was seven + years old; I have been studying Mozart's sonatas. My grandpa has + four kittens, and I play with them every day. We have three cages + of birds, two in one cage, two in another, and fourteen in the + third. I have two brothers. We go to school, and all study German. + + HARRIET E. S. + + * * * * * + + GIRARD, KANSAS. + + My brother and I have concluded to write a letter together. I am + twelve, and he is a year and a half younger. Our aunt Minnie, + living in Pennsylvania, made us a present of HARPER'S YOUNG PEOPLE + this year. We think she is a good, kind aunt, although we have + never seen her. We are going to get up a club next year, as we want + all our school-mates to read it. Eddie and I signed the pledge + during the Murphy movement never to use tobacco or profane + language, and we intend to keep it, and hope our little friends + will do the same. We live five miles from Girard, the county seat. + My mamma came thirteen years ago, and saw the first house erected, + and now the place has two railroads, and a population of 1731. We + live near Lightning Creek, and have lots of fun fishing, although + the fish are not so fine as some we read of, being mostly sunfish + and catfish, although sometimes we get a nice bass. We have a nice + garden, and had new potatoes and pease the 28th of May. Our two + little brothers, named Colimo and Lew, love to look at the pictures + in YOUNG PEOPLE. We do not go to school this summer, as there is + none in our district; we had a six months' school last winter. But + we are not idle; we weed and hoe in the garden, help to milk, chop + wood, and do many other things. We have sixty-nine little chickens, + and had fifteen little turkeys, but they have all died except four. + Could any one tell us what was the cause of it? They seemed weak + and drooping for several days. Mamma was advised to feed them with + cooked food, and so she did, but it did no good. + + WILLIE D., EDDIE D., and MOTHER. + +You were not more unsuccessful than many others with your flock of +turkeys. Young turkeys are very hard to raise, and sometimes their +mother takes them out into the wet grass, and they get tired, and take +cold. Should you have another brood at any time, be very careful to keep +them dry and warm. A friend who has had experience with turkeys tells +the Postmistress that the little ones require almost as careful tending +as babies do. + + * * * * * + +The Postmistress wonders whether you ever heard of a young woman's +expecting to be paid for being so good as to learn to sew? Most of us +think we ought to pay those who are good enough to teach us anything, as +teachers really have to take more trouble than pupils do. Many years ago +a lady undertook to show some women in the South Sea Islands how to make +their own dresses. They were quite anxious to look like the missionary +ladies, who were the only Europeans they had ever seen. A young woman +attended very regularly for some weeks, and became quite skillful. One +Saturday night she presented herself with the native servants, and +begged to be paid her wages for learning to sew. + +Mrs. Ellis said: "Why should I pay you? In our country those who learn +pay their teachers." + +The woman answered, very earnestly: "You asked me to come and learn. I +have been here so long I have learned. It must be in some way an +advantage to you, or else you would not be so anxious about it. As I +have done it to please you, you ought to pay me for my goodness." + +She was pacified by being engaged to sew for the missionaries. + + * * * * * + + GREENFIELD, ILLINOIS. + + I am a boy twelve years old. We live near the woods, and mamma is + helping me to make a leaf-album. I have a good many sheets of paper + covered with pressed leaves, such as elm, cotton-wood, plum, + willow, etc. It is a very interesting occupation, and the leaves + look very pretty when pressed out. It teaches us so much about the + woods too. I have a small cabinet of curiosities also. We live near + a school-house, and the other day I found a wren's nest in a + rose-bush in the school yard. We watch it very closely to keep the + boys away until the little ones can fly. We think it is a very + pretty idea to build a nest among the roses. Don't you? YOUNG + PEOPLE is the best of papers. + + JESS L. B. + +Yes, indeed. Wrens are so sociable that they like to build close by +people, and probably the wee mother liked the rose-bush because it was +near the school-house. I wonder if she listens, while you boys recite +your lessons? A leaf-album is both interesting and instructive. It is a +good plan to write the name of each leaf under it, and the date of the +day it was gathered, as well as whatever you know about the place where +it was found. + + * * * * * + +THE SKIPPING-ROPE. + + Now all ye tearful children, come and listen while I tell + About the little fairy folk, and what to them befell; + And how three little fairies sat them down, one summer day, + And cried among the grasses till the others flew away. + + They flew away bewildered, for it gave them such a fright + To see the fairies crying, with the jolly sun in sight: + And so they left them all alone, and there they sat and cried + Six little streams of fairy tears, that trickled side by side. + + And looking down, the laughing sun among the drops did pass, + And he laid a little rainbow beside them on the grass. + Then quickly rose the fairies, and clapped their gleeful hands-- + "We've found the brightest skipping-rope in all the fairy lands." + + And there they jumped their tears away, and jumped their dimples in, + And jumped until their laughter came--a tinkling, fairy din. + What! you say you don't believe it, you saucy little elf? + Then run and get your skipping-rope, and try it for yourself. + + * * * * * + + EAST ST. LOUIS, ILLINOIS. + + I am a little girl twelve years of age. I live in the country. I + thought I would write and tell you about my pets. I have a little + Alderney calf; its name is Baby Mine, and it follows me all around. + I have a little colt two years old; its name is Celeste. My uncle + is a stock raiser, and when my brother was eight years of age and I + was six he took us to his pasture and told us each to pick out a + colt. Those colts are now six years old. Mine is named Blaze. My + brother has two colts, one named Rosalie T. and the other Roxie. I + have a Spitz dog named Beauty; he got into a fight not long ago, + and was badly hurt. I have two kittens named Budgy and Toddie. I + have a ball with a string tied to it for my kittens. I have four + canary-birds and a beautiful red-bird. I have been taking music + lessons ever since I was eight years old. This is the first letter + I have ever written. + + ROSALIE T. + + * * * * * + + OCEAN GROVE, NEW JERSEY. + + I am at Ocean Grove for the summer, and expect to stay until + October. On my way down I saw the wrecked coffee ship _Pliny_. The + coffee is washed all along the beach. The other day I went up the + beach toward the wreck, and found five bags, each holding about two + bushels. The coffee is green, that is, not roasted, and is now + quite black in color. I emptied about ten bushels on the sand, and + brought the bags home. The Captain of the wrecked vessel issued a + circular warning people not to use the coffee, as there had been + hides on the vessel which were cured with arsenic. There are piles + of coffee on the sand. + + I will exchange an ounce of coffee from the wrecked vessel _Pliny_, + for ten foreign stamps (no duplicates). Please inclose a 2-cent + stamp for postage on coffee. + + HARRY C. CROSBY, + Box 2104, Ocean Grove, N. J. + + * * * * * + + BROOKLYN, NEW YORK. + + In No. 130 of your paper a reader of the same asks if any one of + your readers knows anything about a, book called _The Runaway_. We + have it, and like it ever so much. The copy we have only says, "By + the Author of _Mrs. Jerningham's Journal_," and it is published by + Macmillan & Co., in London and New York, and our copy was published + in 1872. We think it is so nice. + + I am one of the "little girls who have many pets." We have a + beautiful English setter, and I have a lovely Maltese cat, two + kittens, and a canary-bird--a very sweet singer. He is singing now. + I would write about them, but it would only be to tell what so many + little girls have already done, though I want to ever so much. + + BESSIE W. + + * * * * * + + ADAMS, MASSACHUSETTS. + + I am a little girl six years old; I live in Adams; and my sister is + five, and her name is Clara. We have a good many dollies; my best + one is a large wax doll named Ruth. I can not write, so my mamma is + writing this for me. We have two kitties; mine was born without any + tail. Mamma read to us about Jumbo in the YOUNG PEOPLE, and so we + call my kitty Jumbo. Clara's kitty has a nice long tail, and her + name is Cherrie. We do not go to school, but papa and mamma teach + us at home. Papa takes HARPER'S YOUNG PEOPLE for us, and we like to + read the letters in the Post-office Box; and mamma reads us the + stories. Papa says I may have a garden this summer all my own. I + had one last summer, and I had beans in it, and mamma cooked them. + + HELEN W. H. + + * * * * * + + TARRYTOWN, NEW YORK. + + I am a little girl nearly six years old. My pet is a gray cat named + Tiger, whom I love very much. Last fall my papa had two little + kittens in his store, and Tiger was so jealous of them that he ran + away, and staid six months, and then came home again. Mamma reads + YOUNG PEOPLE to my brother and me every week, and she is writing + this for me. Please print it. + + MARION M. D. + +Thanks, dear, for the daisy and fern. + + * * * * * + + MOUNT VERNON, NEW YORK. + + I am sore (four) years old. Mamma is writing this sor (for) me, as + I can not write. I have a white kitty with a black nose; mamma will + tell you his long name (Don Tomosa Felini Blackernosa, or + Backernoisa, as little four-year-old always calls him). I sit on a + cushion at the table. This morning kitty sat on the same cushion by + me, but he did not take any of my breakfast. Kitty has his supper + on the soar (floor). Jack (our little Skye terrier) sleeps with + kitty on a carpet chair. Jack bit the baby kitten (sister to Don) + because she took his meat. Brother Bertie buried the little kitten. + The kitten's mamma got shot in her paw. She was so sick we gave the + baby kitty a little bottle with milk in it, and a little piece of + sponge in it, so kitty could drink; she put both her little sont + (front) paws on the bottle when she took the milk. It cried and ran + after mamma when it was hungry. I like "Toby Tyler." + + C. HAROLD C. + + P.S.--My baby boy can not sound the f's at all. + + MAMMA. + + * * * * * + + NEWTON, IOWA. + + This is next to the last week of school, and we are anxiously + waiting for our long summer vacation. We expect to have a nice + time. My mother, brother, and I are going to Nebraska the week + after school closes, as we have cousins living there. They have a + little pony for the children, and each has a saddle of its own, and + I expect to learn to ride horseback. As the town is only a few + years old, it will seem almost like the country. The Postmistress + said she would like to hear from the girls having flower beds. I + have one. There are seven children in our neighborhood--two boys + and five girls--who have each a flower bed, and want to see who can + have the nicest. My auntie sent us HARPER'S YOUNG PEOPLE two years + ago, and last year's are being bound for my brother Lewis, and this + year's will be bound for me, and our names will be put on the backs + of them. I thought that I would write a letter to have in mine, and + have been expecting to write sooner. I enjoy reading the letters + and continued pieces the most; also Jimmy Brown's--those about the + animals, and the rest. + + CELIA L. + + * * * * * + + ELIZABETH, NEW JERSEY. + + I am a little girl nine years old, and have as funny a dog as ever + you saw, only I do not own him. I have two brothers. One of them + was my birthday present. I am going to the country soon, and you + are to be sent to me every week. I like you ever so much, and would + be very lonely without you, dear YOUNG PEOPLE. + + SOPHIE M. S. + + * * * * * + + TROY, NEW YORK. + + I am a little boy, and have a dear little brother George. I go to + school, just the same as all the other little boys do that write + you. I have taken your paper ever since it was first issued, and I + have all the back numbers, and whenever any of my little friends + come to see me, he or she always wants to look at them, they are so + nice; and I sometimes send an armful over to the hospital for the + poor little sick children to look at, and you can't imagine how + pleased they are to get them. My paper is read every week by eight + or ten persons, and some of them big folks too. The only fault I + have to find with YOUNG PEOPLE is that it is not large enough. + + CLARENCE G. + + * * * * * + +C. Y. P. R. U. + +Alice asked me why strawberries were so called. She was eating a +delicious plateful of them; and as they were heaped high on the dish, +sprinkled with sugar and covered with cream, they were very inviting. +But why were they strawberries, and not red-berries, or blush-berries, +or best-berries? Because, dear, I told her they grow on the ground on a +pretty running vine, and are found strewn, or strawn, among their green +leaves. From strewn or strawn berries the way is short to strawberries, +which name slips easily over the lips in our talk. + + * * * * * + +FOR THE COMMONPLACE-BOOK.--Here, dear girls, is a picture from Mrs. +Browning for your busy pens to copy: + + She was not so pretty as women I know, + And yet all your best, made of sunshine and snow. + Drop to shade, melt to naught, in the long-trodden ways. + While she's still remembered on warm and cold days-- My Kate. + + Her air had a meaning, her movements a grace, + You turned from the fairest to gaze on her face; + And when you had once seen her forehead and mouth, + You saw as distinctly her soul and her truth-- My Kate. + + Such a blue inner light from her eyelids outbroke + You looked at her silence and fancied she spoke; + When she did, so peculiar yet soft was her tone. + Though the loudest spoke also, you heard her alone-- My Kate. + + I doubt if she said to you much that could act + As a thought or suggestion; she did not attract + In the sense of the brilliant or wise; I infer + 'Twas her thinking of others made you think of her-- My Kate. + + * * * * * + +A BOY.--We will shortly publish an article giving you the information +you desire. + + * * * * * + + CHESTNUT HILL, PENNSYLVANIA. + + I wrote to YOUNG PEOPLE once before, but not finding my letter in + print, I thought I would try again, hoping you will publish it. I + am going to tell you something real funny. One morning at + breakfast, while eating her mutton-chop, one of my friends said to + her father, "Papa, this meat tastes sheepy." The next morning they + had beef-steak, and her father said, "Do you think the meat tastes + sheepy this morning?" But her little sister, about eight or nine + years of age, said, "No; it tastes bully." Of course every one at + the table laughed. But she did not mean it for a slang expression; + she meant that it tasted sort of "beefy." + + BERTHA C. + + * * * * * + +We would call the attention of the C. Y. P. R. U. this week to Mrs. +Herrick's article on botany entitled "The Thirsty Flowers," and to the +story of the heroic drummer-boy at the battle of Jena, which Mr. David +Ker tells under the title of "The Bravest Feat of All." In his sketch +entitled "Paddy Ryan's Big Fish," Mr. W. M. Laffan tells the boys about +curious methods of capturing trout that are practiced on the other side +of the Atlantic. Dr. Van Gieson gives them some sage advice about how to +treat the "Cuts and Bruises" that they are always inflicting upon +themselves in their eager pursuit of pleasure. + + * * * * * + +PUZZLES FROM YOUNG CONTRIBUTORS. + +No. 1. + +GEOGRAPHICAL PUZZLE. + +A gentleman named (a city in New Zealand), and whose Christian name was +(a city in Australia), went to (a town in Vermont) to attend a party. +His partner was a lady whose Christian name was (a river in Siberia), +and whose surname was (a town in Tasmania). During the evening he spoke +a great deal of (a cape on the coast of North America), about her dress, +which was composed of (a valley in Asia), trimmed with lace from (a city +in Belgium). Her shoes were made of (a city in Africa). Her hair was +dressed beautifully with (a river in Africa) flowers. After dancing they +strolled on the terrace, and she happened to step on (a city in +Germany), and fainted from (a cape east of the United States). He flew +for (a city in Europe) to revive her. When she had recovered she partook +of a plate of (islands in the Pacific Ocean), and also ate a whole +(county in New York State). She now said it was time to go home. They +said good-night to their hostess, and took a tender (cape of Greenland) +of each other at the lady's door. + + J. H. B. + + * * * * * + +No. 2. + +ENIGMAS. + +1. + + My first is in bracket, but not in rack. + My second is in plunder, but not in sack. + My third is in running, but not in fast. + My fourth is in end, but not in last. + My fifth is in sitting, but not in sat. + My sixth is in kittens, but not in cat. + My seventh is in gravel, but not in sand. + My eighth is in water, but not in land. + My ninth is in horse, but not in mule. + My tenth is in cotton, but not in spool. + My whole was a battle in time of old + In which the oppressors lost their hold. + + G. B. B., JUN. + +2. + + My first is in hen, but not in rat. + My second is in boat, but not in flat. + My third is in ship, not in scow. + My fourth is in scare, but not in fear. + My fifth is in courtesy, but not in bow. + My sixth is in owl, but not in hen. + My seventh is in tomtit, but not in wren. + My eighth is in cat, but not in kitten. + My ninth is in hand, but not in mitten. + My whole is a game played by us boys, + In which we often make a great noise. + + EDWARD DANA S. + + * * * * * + +No. 3. + +TWO EASY DIAMONDS. + +1.--1. A letter. 2. Time for work. 3. A bird. 4. A consent. 5. A letter. + + C. C. + +2.--1. A letter. 2. A winged animal. 3. Large bundles. 4. A post-horse. +5. A name given to the earth. 6. A body of water. 7. A letter. + + ALLIE W. C. + + * * * * * + +No. 4. + +WORD SQUARE. + +1. A fright. 2. To expiate. 3. A story. 4. Dull. 5. An ancient people. + + * * * * * + +ANSWERS TO PUZZLES IN No. 135. + +No. 1. + +Princeton. United States. + +No. 2. + +Beatrice. Faustina. + +No. 3. + + _T_ U F T + P _O_ C O + P L _U_ S + D O R _R_ + C O _M_ A + B _A_ T S + _L_ I E U + S I_ L O + R U _N_ E + M A T _E_ + +No. 4. + + C B + L A R O R A + C A R I B R A D S + R I B O A D D + B O A T S + I R A T E L K + B R A S S L A I N + A S H K I N + S N + + * * * * * + +Correct answers to puzzles have been received from _George P. Taggart_, +Jerry Helsey, Florence Kahn, Hattie Kahn, Frank H. Powell, A. E. +Cressingham, Charles C. Jacobus, Georgie Wardell, "_I. Scycle_," +Josephine Hopgood, Florence Chambers, Eloise, "Fuss and Feathers," Emily +Nelson, John P. Talbot, Eunice Dean, Frank Ellis, Fay Latimer, Bessie, +C. A. G., Louis Meyers, Emil Shultz, and Irene Prescott. + + * * * * * + +[_For Exchanges, see 2d and 3d pages of cover._] + + + + +[Illustration] + + + + +SOLUTION OF ASTRONOMICAL ACROSTIC PUZZLE. + +(PUBLISHED ON PAGE 476 OF No. 134.) + +PROLOGUE. + +[Illustration: S] + + tars in th_e_ he_a_v_e_ns bri_g_htly sh_i_ne; + t_a__r_s in _t_he t_h__e_at_r__e_ shout a_n_d str_i_d_e_; + tars o_n_ o_u_r fl_a_gs alo_n_g _t_he _l__i_ne + erv_e_d to _a_rou_s_e the _s_ol_d_iers' _p_r_i_de. + +FIRST VERSE. + +[Illustration: T] + + wi_n_klet_u_m Shi_n_e w_a_s a litt_l_e st_a__r_ + u_c_k_e_d in a f_a__r_-awa_y_ nook in t_h_e _s_ky; + akin_g_ a loo_k_ at th_e_ world fro_m_ _a_fa_r_, + hinki_n_g his _s_tation exc_e__e_dingly high. + +SECOND VERSE. + +[Illustration: A] + + _m__b_ition to _r_ise is _u_nknown in a st_a_r, + nd Twinkletum fel_t_ _t_hat he w_a_nted to fa_l_l, + -sh_o_oting h_e_ w_e_nt without asking his "_m_a_r_," + nd he shot d_o_wn h_e_ad first '_g_ainst a h_i_gh g_a__r_den wa_l__l_. + +THIRD VERSE. + +[Illustration: R] + + ec_a__l_l_e__d_ by a vi_e_w of com_p_an_i_on_s_ on high, + eco_l__l_ection_s_ of hom_e_ c_a_me to Twink_l_etum _S_hine; + e_m_o_r_se gn_a_we_d_ h_i_s _b__r_ea_s_t as he clung to _t_he _v_ine + unn_i_ng _o_ve_r_ th_e_ _s_tone w_a__l__l_ 'way up t_o_ward th_e_ _s_ky. + +FOURTH VERSE. + +[Illustration: S] + + till no_t_ hig_h_ e_n_ough to reach his dea_r_ home, + o t_h_e nau_g_h_t_y sta_r_, s_o_r_r_owi_n_g, fad_e_d a_n_d d_i_ed. + ma_l_l _s_tars in the future s_h_ould no_t_ try to roam; + u_s_pen_d_ed above, th_e__y_ s_h_ould be _s_atisfied. + +The letters replacing stars are italics, and they will be found to make +the following names: + +PROLOGUE.--First line, _e_ _a_ _e_ _r_ _g_ _i_; this, transposed, will +give the word Egeria, a primary planet. Second line, _a_ _r_ _t_ _h_ _e_ +_r_ _e_ _n_ _i_ _e_ makes Irene and Earth, two planets. Third line, _n_ +_u_ _a_ _o_ _n_ _t_ _l_ _i_, Lunation, applied to a movement of the +moon. Fourth line, _e_ _a_ _s_ _s_ _d_ _p_ _i_, Apsides, also relating +to movements of the moon. + +FIRST VERSE.--First line, _n_ _u_ _n_ _a_ _l_ _a_ _r_ gives Annular, +when the sun is totally obscured except a bright ring around a dark body +in the centre (Mattison's _Primary Astronomy_, p. 118). Second, third, +and fourth lines, _c_ _e_ _a_ _r_ _y_ _h_ _e_ _s_ _g_ _k_ _e_ _m_ _a_ +_r_ _n_ _s_ _c_ _e_ _e_, Ceres, Hygea, and Mars, planets; and Encke, an +astronomer who discovered an apparently oval comet (Mattison, p. 143). + +SECOND VERSE.--First line, _m_ _b_ _r_ _u_ _a_ gives Umbra, a part of +the moon. Second line, _t_ _t_ _a_ _o_ _l_, Total, one form of eclipse. +Third and fourth lines, _o_ _e_ _e_ _m_ _r_ _o_ _e_ _g_ _i_ _a_ _r_ _l_ +_l_, Galileo, who invented the telescope, and Roemer, a distinguished +foreign astronomer. + +THIRD VERSE.--First line, _a_ _l_ _e_ _d_ _e_ _p_ _i_ _s_, Pleiades, a +cluster of stars. Second line, _l_ _l_ _s_ _e_ _a_ _l_ _s_, Lassell, who +discovered a satellite of Neptune (Mattison, p. 130). Third and fourth +lines, _m_ _r_ _a_ _d_ _i_ _b_ _r_ _s_ _t_ _v_ _i_ _o_ _r_ _e_ _s_ _a_ +_l_ _l_ _o_ _e_ _s_, Variable, a term applied to stars which move in +unexpected directions; Lord Ross, a titled astronomer; and Metis, a +planet. + +FOURTH VERSE.--First line, _t_ _h_ _n_ _o_ _r_, Thorn, Prussia, the +birth-place of Copernicus (Mattison, p. 10). Second and third lines, _h_ +_g_ _t_ _r_ _o_ _r_ _n_ _e_ _n_ _i_ _l_ _s_ _h_ _t_, Northern Lights. +Fourth line, _s_ _d_ _e_ _y_ _h_ _a_, Hyades, a cluster of stars. + + * * * * * + +LETTER SEQUENCES. + +BY G. B. BARTLETT. + +This little game consists in preparing a sentence or story in which the +letters of the alphabet are used in regular order. + +When several persons are engaged upon it at the same time, the game may +be played in two ways. A certain amount of time may be allowed, and the +one who has the most complete and connected story being the winner. It +very often happens, however, when this plan is pursued that some one +with a special talent for remembering words will win every time. It may +be better, therefore, to have all the story when completed placed in a +hat or some other receptacle. Then let them be drawn out one by one and +read, the authorship remaining unknown. + +When all have been read, a ballot is taken to decide upon their merits, +and the author of the one which receives the most votes is declared the +winner of the prize. + +Of course these stories are not expected to be sensible, as a great part +of the fun consists rather in their absurdity. Ex may always be used in +place of X. + +SPECIMEN STORY.--A braying, careless donkey eats green hay in June's +kind, lovely month. No opening posy quaintly roared, "Spare thou us, +vain warbler!" Excuse yours, zealously. + + * * * * * + +[Illustration: FUN ON THE POND--LAUNCHING THE RAFT.] + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's Harper's Young People, June 20, 1882, by Various + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 58223 *** |