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diff --git a/59103-0.txt b/59103-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..9c02e0c --- /dev/null +++ b/59103-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,2077 @@ +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 59103 *** + + + + + + + + + + + +[Illustration: HARPER'S YOUNG PEOPLE] + + * * * * * + +VOL. III.--NO. 145. PUBLISHED BY HARPER & BROTHERS, NEW YORK. PRICE FOUR +CENTS. + +Tuesday, August 8, 1882. Copyright, 1882, by HARPER & BROTHERS. $1.50 +per Year, in Advance. + + * * * * * + + + + +[Illustration: TOBY RESCUES THE CROWING HEN FROM MR. STUBBS'S BROTHER.] + +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 XIX. + +THE BREAKING UP OF THE SHOW. + + +Now that the boys had found cages ready-made, and needing only some bars +or slats across the front, they did not think it necessary to hurry. +They staid for some time to talk of Abner, and to test some doughnuts +Aunt Olive was frying. It is very likely that they would have remained +even longer if the doughnut-frying had not been completed, and the +tempting dainties placed upon a high shelf beyond their reach, as a +gentle intimation that they had had about as many as they would get that +afternoon. + +After leaving the house they walked leisurely toward the barn, little +dreaming what a state of confusion their property was in, until Reddy +rushed out of the tent, his jacket torn, his face bleeding, and his +general appearance that of a boy who had been having rather a hard time +of it. + +"Why, what's the matter? Why don't you stay an' watch the animals?" +asked Bob, in a tone intended to convey reproach and surprise that one +of the projectors of the enterprise should desert his post. + +"Watch the animals?" screamed Reddy, in a rage. "You go an' watch 'em +awhile instead of eatin' doughnuts, an' see how you like it. Mr. +Stubbs's brother picked a hole in the bag so my cat got out, an' she +jumped on the calf, an' he tore 'round awful till he let the hen an' +Mrs. Simpson's cat loose, an' I got knocked down an' scratched, an' the +whole show's broke up." + +Reddy sat down on the ground, and wiped the blood from his face after he +had imparted the painful news; and all the party started for the tent as +rapidly as possible. + +It was a scene of utter ruin which they looked in upon after they had +pulled aside Mr. Mansfield's flag, and one which was well calculated to +discourage amateur circus proprietors. + +Mr. Stubbs's brother was seated amid Reddy's paper and paint, holding +the crowing hen by the head while he picked her wing feathers out one by +one. Mrs. Simpson's cat and kittens each had one of Bob's mice in its +mouth, while Reddy's cat was chasing one of the squirrels with a +murderous purpose. The calf was no longer an inmate of the tent; but a +large rent in the canvas showed that he had opened a door for himself +when the cat scratched him; and afar in the distance he could be seen, +head down and tail up, as if fleeing from everything that looked like a +circus. + +The destruction was as complete as it could well have been made in so +short a time, and the partners were, quite naturally, discouraged. Toby +retained sufficient presence of mind, amid the trouble, to rescue the +crowing hen from the murderous clutches of Mr. Stubbs's brother, and the +monkey scampered up the tent-pole, brandishing two or three of the poor +creature's best and longest wing feathers, while he screamed with +satisfaction that he had accomplished at least a portion of the work of +stripping the fowl. + +"The show's broke up, an' that's all there's to it," said Bob, +sorrowfully, as he gazed alternately at the hole in the canvas and his +rapidly vanishing calf. + +"Are the squirrels all gone?" asked Joe, driving the cat from her +intended prey long enough to allow Master Bushy-tail to gain a refuge +under the barn. + +"Every one," replied Reddy. "The calf kicked the box over when he come +toward me, an' it looked as if there was as many as a hundred come out +jest as soon as the cover was off. I could have caught one or two; but +somehow Mrs. Simpson's cat got out of the basket jest then,' an' she +flew right into my face." + +The marks on Reddy's cheeks and nose told most eloquently with what +force the cat "flew," and search was at once made for that pet of the +Simpson family. She, with her kittens, had taken refuge under the barn +as soon as the boys entered, and thus another trouble was added to the +load the circus managers had to bear, for that cat must be returned to +her mistress by night, or trouble might come of it. + +The mice were entirely consumed, two tails alone remaining of what would +have been shown to the good people of Guilford as strange animals from +some far-off country. + +The squirrels were gone, the calf had fled, the hen was in a thoroughly +battered condition, and nothing remained of all that vast and wonderful +collection of animals except Mr. Stubbs's brother, and the rabbits, +protected by the cage which their master's thoughtfulness had provided. + +"I guess I'll take the rabbits home," said Leander, as he lifted the box +to his shoulder. "It wouldn't do to have only them for animals, an' it +ain't very certain how long they'll stay alive while that monkey's +'round." + +"He's broke up the whole show, that's what he's done," and Ben shook his +fist at Mr. Stubbs's brother, while he tried to soothe his half-plucked +hen. + +"What _are_ we goin' to do?" asked Toby, almost in despair. + +"I know what I'm goin' to do," said Ben, as he again placed the hen +under the basket; "I'm goin' to crawl under the barn an' try to catch +that cat, an' then I'm goin' home with my hen." + +It seemed to be the desire of all the partners to get home with what +remained of their pets, and as Ben went under the barn on his hands and +knees, Leander started off with his rabbits, Bob went to look for his +calf, Reddy gathered up his bundle of paper, and Joe seized his +pasteboard box, all going away where they could think over the ruin in +solitude. + +But high up on the post the cause of all this trouble chattered and +scolded, while his master sat on the ground, looking at him as if he +wondered whether or not it would ever be possible to reform such a +monkey. + +[TO BE CONTINUED.] + + + + +A TIGRESS HUNT. + + +On a dark evening in December the little village of Sundapoor, Northern +India, presented a picturesque appearance. Each bamboo hut whose inmate +could afford it had hung out a red or yellow paper lantern; fire-works +exploded gayly amongst the banyans and tamarind-trees; the whole +population of the place was gathered around three large bonfires at the +east end of the single street. This demonstration was all in honor of +the arrival an hour before, of Sir Dyce Hanchett--of whom so many boys +and girls have read--the famous young English sportsman from Madras. Sir +Dyce Hanchett had come full twenty miles out of his route expressly to +attempt ridding Sundapoor and its neighborhood of its dreaded curse for +so many long months, the detested man-eater Kali. + +No single tiger had ever wrought such destruction within a little +district. The herds had been thinned beast by beast. In August the old +Buddhist priest Padará had been seized in the moon-lit street before his +door, and borne away, crying out feebly, into the jungle before help was +at hand; two women, one at the well in the afternoon, and the other a +few days later while returning from her milking at twilight, were no +more heard of until their bones were found whitening in a dry ravine. +But the dry ravine was not the home of Kali--for so they called her, +after the Hindoo goddess of murder--nor could they find it. The timid +villagers' hunting parties had been to no purpose. Their second one +indeed was overtaken by night, and before Sundapoor was reached a roar +was heard in the midst of the group; a terrible creature leaped across +their smouldering camp fire, and disappeared with one of their number. +In the morning, a mile away, the half-devoured body of the man was found +and buried. Kali had not carried it to her lair. No wonder that the +unhappy people of Sundapoor began to believe that the tigress was some +evil spirit in quadruped form that no eye should trace nor bullet kill. + +Sir Dyce, however, only laughed at the superstition of the group, as he +sat, surrounded with his men, in the largest bungalow of the little +place, organizing his party for the morning. Even Ram Banee, the +greatest coward of all, exclaimed: "I have comfort when I behold this +stately Englishman, his guns, his bullets. And hearken to his elephant +eating behind the bungalow!" + +At dawn he and his party were off. Out through the village street with +horns and tam-tams the procession moved. The preceding afternoon a +bullock had been seized. The crushed twigs and jungle grass, often +spotted with gore, were now traced for a mile by the trackers. Suddenly +a shout went up from these. "The bullock! the bullock!" Sure enough, +when Sir Dyce had forced his way with two others into the open, there on +the jungle's edge lay what was left of the unlucky animal. "Hurrah!" +cried the enthusiastic Englishman; "she can not be far away. Get +together, all of you, quickly. Beat the bush on the other side of +us--yonder, across the clearing." + +Sir Dyce left his elephant, and joined on foot the excited natives. The +open was crossed. Wild cries and shouts, the clanging of the cymbals and +tam-tams, filled the morning air. The bush was thoroughly beat, every +eye and ear on the alert. + +Sir Dyce and his party located themselves carefully in the underbrush +within easy shot of the carcass. It was their best chance. The afternoon +passed slowly. Each member of the little ambuscade had become a +sentinel. But no tigress came slinking into sight. The shadows grew +purple. Sir Dyce began to doubt the wisdom of further remaining in so +exposed a spot without a regular camping out. Or had not they best +return to Sundapoor? The elephant had been stationed some hundred yards +to the rear. Suddenly an old native laid his hand warningly upon Sir +Dyce's sleeve. The English hunter started, and looked out from behind +their screen toward the little clearing. Full in face of them, every +line and curve of her beautiful form brought into relief by the distance +and the green shade behind her, was seated at last a tigress on the +opposite side of the open. The great beast was indeed returning from her +lair, either to finish her supper here and now, or else to forage for +another one. + +She sat there upon her haunches very composedly, looking over at the +bullock. Perhaps she suspected something. At all events, she seemed +reluctant to stir just yet. She remained well out of range, licking her +paws, and preening herself precisely like pussy before the fire. + +The natives with Sir Dyce in his lurking-place would have risked a shot +already had he not checked them. After a moment, however, the great cat +raised her head, then lowered it, smelling the ground, and finally +advanced slowly toward the dead bullock. The excitement of the natives +upon actually beholding before them the dreaded marauder and murderess +of their district was evinced by their breathless watchfulness of every +motion she made. + +The tigress gained the side of the bullock. Thereupon she stooped, and, +much to Sir Dyce's discomfiture, instead of beginning her supper then +and there, began easily and rapidly to drag the bullock back toward the +opposite thicket. + +There was no time in such an event to be wasted. The elephant was not +available. Sir Dyce stepped quickly from cover and fired. Two of his +native companions followed his example. The tigress started, uninjured, +dropped the carcass, and turned. Perceiving the hunters, she stood for +an instant in a dignified attitude, then roared, lashed her tail +furiously, and charged down upon them. The natives shrieked, and rushed +pell-mell back. Sir Dyce fired, and pierced the brute's shoulder. She +now charged furiously upon him as he stood alone just forward of the +edge of the jungle. His last bullet met her. She leaped into the air, +rolled over and over in her death-agony, and then lay rigid and +motionless. No more cattle or priests or women would Kali bear away from +Sundapoor or any other village. + +The natives approached the dead beast tremblingly, and offered prayers +to the great goddess whose name they had given it, before they ventured +to take the creature home in triumph. Sir Dyce had a rude ovation in +Sundapoor that evening that he often smiled over afterward. He cared +less for the songs sung in his honor, less for the fire-works and +drumming and the procession around his camp-stool, than he did for the +noble skin that afterward he took to his English home for his little +sons to roll upon. But then only an Indian village that has been long in +terror from a man-eater can appreciate what a relief he and a good +English gun had given it. + + + + +HISTORICAL TREES OF MEXICO. + +BY HELEN S. CONANT. + + +Certain species of trees live to a very great age. There are trees in +existence which are supposed to be more than a thousand years old, and +many of them are intimately connected with historical events of the +past. In Morat, a town in Switzerland, where in 1476 a great victory was +won by the Swiss over Charles the Bold, is a famous lime-tree under +which Charles and his Generals sat down to rest before the battle; and +in another Swiss village a lime-tree is still standing, flourishing and +green in its old age, upon whose trunk in 1530 was pasted the +proclamation of the Reformation. + +Many of our youthful readers will remember the account of some +historical trees of the United States given in the second volume of +YOUNG PEOPLE, and the interest it awakened for collecting and exchanging +leaves and twigs from these noble old landmarks, and we think they will +be interested to hear about two magnificent cypress-trees near the city +of Mexico. The oldest trees in the world are supposed to exist in the +cypress forests of Mexico. These cypresses grow to an immense height, +and the trunk which supports the great crown of feathery foliage is +sometimes more than one hundred feet in circumference. + +When in 1519 Cortez landed on the Mexican coast, at the point where the +city of Vera Cruz is now situated, he found the country populated with +Indians, who received him in the most friendly manner, and very soon he +was visited by two messengers, who came from a certain great King called +Montezuma. They brought him rich presents, but entreated him to leave +the country. Now Cortez was a man of very determined character. He had +come to Mexico to make new conquests for the Emperor Charles V.; so he +paid no heed to Montezuma's message, but prepared himself and his +Spanish soldiery to march inland, and see the great magnificence which +he was told existed at the court of this powerful King. Fearing that a +portion if not all of his army might desert him, he burned his ships, +and thus cut off all means of retreat. + +After a long and weary march, Cortez and his men arrived at the city of +Mexico, where the beautiful sight that appeared before their astonished +eyes made them feel as if they had reached the gates of an enchanted +realm. This capital of the great Aztec nation was built in the centre of +a large lake, and was connected with the surrounding country by broad +causeways. The surface of the lake was dotted with floating gardens, and +in the city great towers and temples and palaces of solid masonry rose +above the trees. Many of the streets were broad and well paved, others +were waterways like those of Venice, and crowded with canoes that went +back and forth loaded with fruit, flowers, and all kinds of merchandise. + +But in the midst of this fair city was a terrible spot, where dreadful +deeds were done, for which the people well deserved the punishment which +soon fell upon them. It was the great Temple of the Sun, and upon its +summit stood a huge hideous idol of stone, which the people worshipped, +and before which they sacrificed many thousands of poor men, women, and +children. + +[Illustration: THE FAVORITE TREE OF MONTEZUMA.] + +Montezuma, the great Aztec King, thought himself a very wise ruler. He +had magnificent palaces and pleasure-gardens filled with flowers and +noble trees. One of his favorite palaces was situated several miles from +the city. It was built on a hill, and from its windows the King could +overlook the beautiful valley in the centre of which stood the city, and +watch the great volcano of Popocatepetl, which at that time often threw +forth smoke and burning lava. At the foot of the hill, all around the +palace, was a great park, in which grew many large cypress-trees. One +was Montezuma's favorite tree. He had a seat built under it, and was +accustomed to meet his warriors there and confer with them. That was +more than three hundred and sixty years ago, but the tree still stands, +strong and flourishing, and showing no signs of decay. It is thought to +be one of the oldest trees in the world. On sunny afternoons little +Indian boys and girls play around its enormous trunk in the shade of its +broad-spreading foliage, and they will all tell you that it is +Montezuma's tree under which they are playing, for it still is +remembered in connection with its ancient owner. This wonderful tree has +witnessed many strange events. It saw the downfall of Montezuma, and the +end of the terrible human sacrifices; it was a silent witness while the +Spaniards held rule over New Spain, as Mexico was for a time called; it +stood safely through the great revolution of sixty years ago, when the +Mexicans fought for liberty, and throwing off the Spanish yoke, founded +a republic of their own. In 1847, the bullets of American soldiers +whizzed through its branches, as our army, led by General Scott, stormed +under it and up the hill to take the Mexican fortress built on the +heights where centuries ago stood the pleasure-palace of Montezuma. +During the three years' rule of the French in Mexico, from 1864 to 1867, +when the republic was crushed, and Maximilian of Austria was Emperor, +this old tree shadowed the pathway where Maximilian and his Empress +passed on their way to their beautiful pleasure-palace, which crowned +the height above as in the days of Montezuma. This hill was called +Chapultepec by the ancient Aztecs, which signifies the hill of +grasshoppers, and it bears the same name still. + +[Illustration: "THE TREE OF THE NOCHE TRISTE."] + +The other historical cypress-tree stands on a village green about three +miles from the city of Mexico. Until nine years ago it was a noble tree, +but one night a party of Indians kindled a fire which burned out the +entire centre of the immense trunk, and left it only a scorched wreck of +its former splendor. Many of its branches are still adorned with +feathery foliage, and it is draped with hanging gray moss, similar to +that which grows on many trees in the Southern United States, which +gives it a venerable and hoary appearance suited to its great age. It is +called "The Tree of the _Noche Triste_," meaning the sad night. To +understand its name, we must follow the adventures of Cortez and his men +after their arrival at the city of Mexico. + +Montezuma, although very suspicious of these white-faced strangers who +came riding on horses, which were animals unknown to the Aztecs, and +bringing with them great cannon which made a noise like thunder, +received them kindly, and gave splendid banquets in their honor. + +But Cortez had not come to Mexico to live in luxury, but to gain +possession of the country, and the horrible human sacrifices which he +daily witnessed strengthened his resolution to break down the Aztec +power at any cost, and to establish the government and religion of +Spain. The task was difficult, for he was alone in a strange land, with +only a handful of men at his command. His first attempt ended in +disaster. He succeeded in seizing the person of Montezuma, the King, but +the Mexicans rebelled against the rule of the Spanish soldiery. In one +of the battles Montezuma was killed, which only increased the fury of +the Mexicans against the strangers with white faces. After losing many +of his men, Cortez finally decided to retreat from the city. It was a +dark rainy night in the summer of 1520 when with the remnant of his army +he passed out over one of the great causeways, closely pursued by the +furious Mexicans, who fired showers of sharply pointed arrows after him. +When at last he found himself in the open country, free from his +enemies, who had returned to their strongholds, Cortez sat down under +the great cypress-tree to rest. For the first time his heart failed him, +and all alone, in the dark stormy night, the stern warrior shed bitter +tears. And to this day the tree preserves the memory of that sad hour in +the name by which it is known. + +The determination of Cortez to conquer Mexico became stronger than ever +after this bitter defeat. He immediately set to work to re-enforce his +army by making friends with tribes who had suffered oppression from the +powerful Aztecs. Fresh troops also arrived from Spain, and in a year +after the sad night, Cortez saw conquered Mexico at his feet, and its +great cities in the hands of Spanish soldiers. The temples stained with +the blood of so many unfortunate victims were overthrown, and in their +places churches were built, with towers bearing the sign of the cross. +Idolatry and human sacrifice on Mexican soil were ended forever. + + + + +[Illustration: FEEDING HIS PETS.] + + + + +RUTH'S OPPORTUNITY. + +BY BELLE WILLIAMS. + + +A brighter morning never dawned on the little township of Greenville than +that of a certain day in the summer of '81. The sun rose with a fierce +glare, boding intense heat before night-fall. Every ray seemed like a +fiery dart sent down to destroy the few lingering traces of verdure, for +rain had not fallen in weeks, and plants and animals were alike consumed +with thirst. + +The sun had wide range for havoc on Mr. Leonard's farm, and it blazed +relentlessly down upon his well-tilled acres, upon his roomy barns and +stables, which sheltered the panting cattle, and upon a little +"root-house," used as a storage for winter vegetables, that stood half +underground and covered with earth. But on this retreat the tyrant cast +his beams in vain. The shadowy room within was delightfully cool, and +there in the doorway lay little Scott, the five-year-old baby of the +household, with his chin resting on two chubby palms, his elbows planted +in the damp earth, and heels beating the air, intently watching a swarm +of ants. The old root-house had been a favorite haunt of the little +fellow during the hot, sultry days of summer, for it was so near the +kitchen that he never felt lonely there. + +"Breakfast 'most ready, Ruthie?" he called out, still surveying the +interesting ant colony. + +"Almost, little man," said sister Ruth, appearing at the porch door to +see what the small lord was about. + +Ruth Leonard made a charming picture as she stood there shading her eyes +with her hand, framed in by a clustering mass of honeysuckle vines. Yet +no one called her a pretty girl. Though only sixteen, she was very tall +and strong for her age; every well-formed limb indicated the possession +of muscular strength, and her broad shoulders seemed just fitted to bear +burdens. Her thick brown hair was brushed plainly back from a low +forehead and braided, but the braid was oftener coiled up in a loose +knot to "get it out of the way." Not a suspicion of a curl was to be +seen, for Ruth always forgot to "put up her hair," and Nature had +evidently intended it to hang straight. A pair of keen gray eyes that +often grew dark with unsatisfied longing, yet hid in their depths a +world of conscious power, a straight nose, and full red lips, complete +the picture--a picture which had become to father and mother as their +daily bread. + +Ruth turned away smiling, and went on with her work of setting the +table. Suddenly a shrill voice echoed through the room. "Hi, Betty! ho, +Betty! it's all in m'eye!" came with piercing distinctness from the open +doorway, accompanied by scuffling as of a brigade of robbers, and +boisterous Hal presented himself. + +"Now, Hal--" began Ruth. + +"Now, grandmother," reiterated Hal, striking an attitude, "don't reel +off more than a yard of lecture before breakfast." + +"Henry, behave," commanded a stern voice from the other side of the +room, which caused a noticeable decline in Hal's spirits. + +There stood Mr. Leonard, having just come down-stairs unnoticed by the +young scapegrace. He held little Lou by the hand, a delicate, sensitive +child, older than Hal, though scarcely taller than her sturdy brother. + +"Here come the provisions," remarked Hal, as Ruth brought in a smoking +omelet from the kitchen. + +"Go call Scott," said his father; which, cruel mandate obliged the young +gentleman to remove his admiring gaze from the repast. + +"Ay, ay, sir," he responded, and in a few minutes he reappeared with +Scott, who was very red in the face, and howling most frantically. Hal +had the little fellow's skirts gathered tightly in one hand, while with +the other he firmly grasped the neck of his dress, just as he had picked +him up from the ground, "making him walk Spanish," as he termed it. + +The family gathered around the table, and Mr. Leonard asked a blessing +on the food in a sad, pleading voice. For several minutes the children +seemed awed into silence. At length Ruth broke the stillness. + +"Did you see the doctor again last night, father?" + +"Yes, daughter." + +"What did he say?" she eagerly asked. + +Mr. Leonard could not at once trust himself to speak, but after a moment +he replied, in a husky voice, "The doctor says your mother will never +walk again." + +The quick tears sprang to the girl's eyes as she thought of the dear +little Quaker mother upstairs, lying so patiently on her bed of +suffering, who only a year ago, before that terrible fall which hurt her +back, had been well and happy. + +Lou began to sob outright, and great-hearted Hal again brushed his coat +sleeve over his face, but this time to wipe away the tears. + +"Does mother know it?" asked Ruth. + +"Yes." + +"How does she feel about it?" + +"Cheerful as ever," replied Mr. Leonard. "She never thinks of +complaining, but only of comforting us." + +The children brightened up a little at these words, for their blithe +spirits refused to be long downcast, especially when they felt sure of +seeing the same bright, loving mother unchanged--all except Ruth; her +sober face too well expressed her thoughts. + +"Oh, father," broke in Hal, presently, "Jake Murphy says the fire has +caught over at Liberty." + +"Yes," replied his father, absently, "they are having a desperate +struggle with the fires this summer." + +Lou's great blue eyes had grown brighter and brighter while they were +talking, and a pink spot glowed in each cheek as she asked, "Do you +think it _could_ get here?" + +"No, I think not; the wind is decidedly westward, and the people of +Liberty will probably take all possible measures for checking its +progress." + +Mr. Leonard sighed as he spoke, and he seemed to be looking straight +through Ruth rather than at her. Perhaps he was wondering how the four +bairns and the sick wife were to be fed and cared for all winter if no +rain came to save his failing crops. + +Just then a low call was heard for Lou. + +"Yes, ma'am," answered the little girl, running to the foot of the +stairs. + +"Will thee bring mother a nice glass of cold water?" + +"I will, mother," rang out Ruth's cheery voice; "I'm coming up anyway." + +Ruth went out to the well with her tin water pail, that her mother might +have a draught fresh and sparkling. As she lowered the bucket, peering +down into the mossy depths, she noticed how low the water was--lower +than she had ever seen it, for their well was never known to fail, and +in these times of drought the neighbors from far and near drew their +daily supply from Farmer Leonard's spring. "We'll have to be very +careful of it," she thought, "or it will give out." + +Ruth returned to the house with her cool refreshment, and taking one of +the best goblets from the pantry, gave an extra polish with a fresh +towel, and filled it with the water, "because it would taste so much +better out of that." + +"I thank thee, deary. How good it looks!" said the invalid, drinking +eagerly. "Thee takes a deal of trouble for thy mother." + +"And why shouldn't I? Thee is the best of mothers," responded the girl, +tenderly hugging her. + +Ruth now began to busy herself about the room. She wheeled out a big +arm-chair by the window, padded it out with pillows into comfortable +proportions, placed in front of it a little stuffed cricket, and threw a +large soft shawl over the whole arrangement. She then gathered up all +the stray dishes, placed everything in order, and carefully dusted the +room. + +A pair of loving eyes watched these operations, following every motion; +but not a word was spoken, not a word of the doctor's decision, not a +word of the life-long suffering in store. + +"Now, mother," said Ruth at last, pausing in front of her, "we'll have +thee up in a twinkling;" and with one strong motion she quickly lifted +the slender form, so light in its best days, and so reduced by pain and +suffering now, into the chair. + +When she had settled her comfortably, and arranged the blinds so as to +make a pleasant shade in the room, she brought the mate to the little +stuffed cricket, and sat at her mother's side. + +"What is it, daughter?--what troubles thee?" + +"Oh! a great many things, mother," answered Ruth, laying her head on the +sympathetic breast. + +"Well, suppose thee tell mother the greatest trouble, and then the +second, until thy mind is unburdened?" and the soft hands gently +smoothed the brown hair. + +"Well, the first is about thee;" and the tears would come in spite of +her. + +"Why, my dear child, do not grieve over that. Almost a year has gone by, +and another will soon pass; and think what a calm, peaceful time I may +have with so busy a little housekeeper to do everything." + +"Ah! but that is just the trouble, mother," said Ruth, earnestly, as she +lifted her tear-stained face. "I feel so good-for-nothing when I have +only the same homely little duties every day. I do so long for a chance +to be great and good." + +"My daughter"--and Mrs. Leonard took both trembling hands in her +own--"does thee know that the only way to be good and great is to do +faithfully the work that is nearest thy hand? Let thy whole heart be +drawn into each homely duty, and when an opportunity comes to do a great +work, it will find thee ready." + +Ruth said nothing, but the deep, strong look in the gray eyes expressed +a firm resolve. + +Presently there was a clatter of stout boots heard on the stairs. + +"Harry is coming," said the mother with a smile. + +In burst the noisy urchin, all aglow with excitement, his hair flying, +eyes blazing, and breath so nearly spent that he could hardly speak. + +"Don't you smell the smoke?" he gasped. "Something's up! Father--and a +crowd of men--have gone off--into the woods--to see what's the matter. +There's danger, I tell you. Come on, Scott, let's sit on the big post +and watch." + +"Thee'd better go down and see about it," said Mrs. Leonard to Ruth, as +the two sat staring blankly into each other's faces. + +"I will, mother," assented Ruth, recovering her wonted energy, as she +ran down the stairs. + +A strong wind greeted her upon opening the outer door, blowing into her +face a sickening smell of burned wood. The whole sky seemed overcast, +and a thick, heavy haze was settling down upon fields and buildings as +far as the eye could reach. + +"Harry! Harry!" she called, excitedly, "where's father?" + +"Gone to the woods, I told you. Oh, there he comes!" and Hal peered into +the gloom as he looked in the direction of the woods. + +Ruth saw a dark moving object coming toward them. She waited for no +second look, but sped away like the wind into the nearest field. + +"Oh, father, what's happened?" she cried, breathlessly, running up to +him and catching his arm as she turned to keep pace with his long +strides toward the house. + +"We're going to burn out," he answered, with set teeth, "and there's no +time to lose. Go get your mother ready to move, while I harness the +horses. We must reach the lake within an hour, or--" + +"How can we?" uttered Ruth, aghast. "Ten miles!" + +"It must be done. Quick, daughter!" + +The girl needed no further bidding, but ran homeward, calling to Hal as +she passed, and charging him to keep near the house with Scott. + +Ruth made straight for the store-room, and filling her arms with a pile +of blankets, she carried them to the door and threw them on the ground, +ready to spread in the wagon. She then hastened to her mother's room, +and found her pale and composed, trying to quiet Lou, who was sobbing +hysterically. + +"Mother, we're gone. Not a thing can be saved. Father's getting the +wagon ready to drive us to the lake;" and Ruth began to dress her +mother, slipping on a loose wrapper, and covering her with shawl after +shawl as a protection from the scorching air. + +"Try and gather up some of the clothing, Ruth, if there's time," said +Mrs. Leonard, controlling herself into calmness. + +Ruth obeyed, pulled a sheet from the bed, and crowded into it such +articles as were nearest at hand. + +"Oh, mother!" screamed Lou, and hid her face, as a blinding smoke burst +into the room enveloping the place in darkness. + +"We must go," Ruth, cried, as she snatched her mother up in her arms, +and stepped firmly toward the door, clasping her burden tight to her +breast, and followed by Lou, clinging frantically to her skirts. + +Hurriedly Ruth groped her way down the staircase and through the lower +rooms, stumbling over the furniture, until they reached the scorching +blast without. Upon emerging from the house a burning shower of cinders +met them. + +Not a sign of father or the wagon. + +"Come, put your dress over your head, Lou," panted Ruth, whose hands +were smarting with pain. + +There was not a moment to be lost. They must flee somewhere, for the +house was already ablaze. An awful yellow glare lit up the dense +darkness, and on every side the crash of falling trees filled the air +with a terrible din. On they rushed through the blistering heat, +scarcely knowing where, Ruth still bearing her precious burden, and the +children clinging to her in wild despair. + +How long they pursued this headlong flight no one knew. All sense of +time was lost; it might have been minutes, or it might have been hours. +Suddenly Ruth lost her balance. She gave utterance to one piercing +shriek, but she never let go her burden, and then she slid down, down, +down. The terrified children screamed as they rolled over and over, and +then all was silence and darkness. + +Ruth was the first to recover. + +"Mother?" + +"I'm safe. The children?" + +"Oh, where are we?" moaned the little ones, creeping on their hands and +knees toward the familiar voices. They managed to reach the sheltering +embrace of mother, who lay unhurt amid her wrappings just as she had +slipped from the stanch arms that saved her life. + +Ruth began to feel around; for even the ghastly light of the flames had +vanished, and not an object was visible in the thick, deep gloom. +Brambles and briers and low bushes upon all sides. With each turn the +dry twigs and leaves crackled, and in attempting to move, the girl found +her clothing caught upon thorns that projected on all sides. It was with +difficulty that she managed to extricate herself, bruised and benumbed +as she was, but it was necessary to explore further. The ground felt +hard and clayey, and was covered with stones. Turning halfway round, +Ruth found a little clear space, and creeping forward, soon came to +rising ground. Catching hold of a bush, she pulled herself a little way +up the slope, when an idea of their situation suddenly flashed upon her. + +"Why, we're in the creek--the dry creek down by the meadow lot," she +called out. "Where are you all? I've lost you." + +"Here," replied her mother's voice not three yards away. "Is Scott with +thee? Harry and Lou are safe." + +"No," answered Ruth, aghast, hastening with all possible speed to her +mother's side. + +"Where is the child?" she cried, immediately calling aloud with all her +strength, "Scott! Scott!" + +But no answer. + +"He must have hidden somewhere when the darkness came," was the mother's +despairing conclusion. + +"The root-house!" Ruth's words told the awful story. + +"If I _could_ save him!" And with a silent prayer for strength, she once +more dashed into the stifling smoke. + + * * * * * + +Hour after hour crept by; it seemed to the terrified children as if they +must have sat there for days; and they were so hungry! and Ruth never +would come! + +Presently, after long waiting, the darkness began to lift somewhat, and +they could see each other's faces. Little by little the gloom cleared +away until the whole atmosphere was of a dusky hue. And still they +waited. At length, starting up with an exclamation of joy as rapid +footsteps approached, they heard their father's voice. + +"Ruth? Hal?" + +"Here," roared Hal, starting to his feet. + +In a moment more Mr. Leonard bounded down the steep bank of the creek, +and with him Jake Murphy, who had started from the village to warn Mr. +Leonard, reaching the farm just as that first overwhelming darkness +dropped upon the village. + +They had found shelter in the old well, for Mr. Leonard was overtaken in +his preparations for flight, and could not reach the house before it +burst into flames. When the crisis was past, almost wild with grief and +despair, he commenced a search for wife and children, fearing at every +step to come upon their lifeless bodies. For a moment he stood overcome +with thankfulness as he found them unharmed. + +But two were missing. Mrs. Leonard hurriedly told of little Scott's +disappearance, and of Ruth's effort to save him. + +The two men hastened to the root-house. It was still standing, though +blackened and charred, and no sign of life appeared. The door was +tightly closed, and upon opening it a sight met the father's eye which +almost overpowered the strong man. There lay Ruth, white and still, +tightly clasping the little fellow to her bosom. + +It was but the work of a moment to carry them out of the dark building. +Both were unconscious, though they bore few traces of the fire. Might +there not yet be a chance of life? + +Quickly the men bore the motionless forms to the creek. All the remedies +which they could obtain were applied, but it seemed in vain; the loving +ones could do little but watch and wait. + +At last Ruth stirred, and slowly opened her eyes. The brave heart once +more began to beat, though for many a long, weary day the blistered +hands and arms refused to move. But Ruth was spared. + +Little Scott lay there for hours, until it seemed that the family must +lose their baby, when he wonderingly gazed around upon the anxious +group, and inquired, "Did you try to cook me for dinner?" + +All the pent-up feelings found vent in a tearful laugh, and then the +laugh turned to joy, and the joy to thanksgiving. + +When the flaming hurricane had swept onward in its mad course of +destruction, and the sun, which had risen in such fierce glory, sent a +last sickly glimmer through the murky air, it revealed the little +village of Greenville a waste of smoking ruins. But the fire had +mercifully stopped upon reaching Farmer Leonard's grassy meadow, and +thus had the fugitives in the creek been saved. + +The strong men set to work with a will. It took but a few hours to raise +a little shed for protection; and day after day his prospects +brightened, as the timely aid and sympathy of friends helped him to +rebuild his ruined home. + +It would have been hard to find a happier household than this reunited +family. Slowly strength returned to Ruth's wounded arms, and a sweet +peace shone through the gray eyes as she once more became able to enjoy +the blessings which had so nearly been taken from her. + +Her great opportunity had come, and it had found her ready. + + + + +[Illustration: "WAIT FOR PUSSIE, FIDO!"] + + + + +HOW A BOY WAS HIRED OUT, AND WHAT CAME OF IT. + +BY GEORGE CARY EGGLESTON. + + +When Michael Angelo was twelve years of age, although he had had no +instruction in art, he did a piece of work which greatly pleased the +painter Dominico Ghirlandajo. This artist at once declared that here was +a lad of genius, who must quit his studies, and become a painter. + +This was what the little Michael most wished to do, but he had no hope +that his father would listen for a moment to the suggestion. His father, +Ludovico Buonarotti, was a distinguished man in the state, and held art +and artists in contempt. He had planned a great political career for his +boy, as the boy knew very well. + +Ghirlandajo was enthusiastic, however, and in company with the lad he at +once visited Ludovico, and asked him to place Michael in his studio. + +Ludovico was very angry, saying that he wished his son to become a +prominent man in society and politics, not a dauber and a mason; but +when he found that young Michael was determined to be an artist or +nothing, he gave way, though most ungraciously. He would not say that he +consented to place his son with Ghirlandajo; he would not admit that the +study of art was study, or the studio of an artist anything but a shop. +He said to the artist: "I give up my son to you. He shall be your +apprentice or your servant, as you please, for three years, and you must +pay me twenty-four florins for his services." + +In spite of the insulting words and the insulting terms, Michael Angelo +consented thus to be hired out as a servant to the artist, who should +have been paid by his father for teaching him. He had to endure much, +indeed, besides the anger and contempt of his father, who forbade him +even to visit his house, and utterly disowned him. His fellow-pupils +were jealous of his ability, and ill-treated him constantly, one of them +going so far as to break his nose with a blow. + +When Michael Angelo had been with Ghirlandajo about two years, he went +one day to the Gardens of St. Mark, where the Prince Lorenzo de' +Medici--who was the great patron of art in Florence--had established a +rich museum of art-works at great expense. One of the workmen in the +garden gave the boy leave to try his hand at copying some of the +sculptures there, and Michael, who had hitherto studied only painting, +was glad of a chance to experiment with the chisel, which he preferred +to the brush. He chose for his model an ancient figure of a faun, which +was somewhat mutilated. The mouth, indeed, was entirely broken off, but +the boy was very self-reliant, and this did not trouble him. He worked +day after day at the piece, creating a mouth for it of his own +imagining, with the lips parted in laughter, and the teeth displayed. + +When he had finished and was looking at his work, a man standing near +asked if he might offer a criticism. + +"Yes," answered the boy, "if it is a just one." + +"Of that you shall be the judge," said the man. + +"Very well. What is it?" + +"The forehead of your faun is old, but the mouth is young. See, it has a +full set of perfect teeth. A faun so old as this one is would not have +perfect teeth." + +The lad admitted the justice of the criticism, and proceeded to remedy +the defect by chipping away two or three of the teeth, and chiselling +the gums so as to give them a shrivelled appearance. + +The next morning, when Michael went to remove his faun from the garden, +it was gone. He searched everywhere for it, but without success. +Finally, seeing the man who had made the suggestion about the teeth, he +asked him if he knew where it was. + +"Yes," replied the man, "and if you will follow me I'll show you where +it is." + +"Will you give it back to me? I made it, and have a right to it." + +"Oh, if you must have it, you shall." + +With that he led the way into the palace of the Prince, and there, among +the most precious works of art in the collection, stood the faun. The +young sculptor cried out in alarm, declaring that the Prince Lorenzo +would never forgive the introduction of so rude a piece of work among +his treasures of sculpture. To his astonishment the man declared that he +was himself the Prince Lorenzo de' Medici, and that he set the highest +value upon this work. + +"I am your protector and friend," he added. "Henceforth you shall be +counted as my son, for you are destined to become one of the great +masters of art." + +This was overwhelming good fortune. Lorenzo de' Medici was a powerful +nobleman, known far and wide to be a most expert judge of works of art. +His approval was in itself fame and fortune. + +Filled with joy, the lad went straightway to his father's house, which +he had been forbidden to enter, and forcing his way into Ludovico's +presence, told him what had happened. The father refused to believe the +good news until Michael led him into Lorenzo's presence. + +When the Prince, by way of emphasizing his good-will, offered Ludovico +any post he might choose, he asked for a very modest place indeed, +saying, with bitter contempt, that it was good enough "for the father of +a mason." + + + + +THE HARDEST TUG OF ALL. + +A BAVARIAN STORY. + +BY DAVID KER. + + +The sun was just beginning to sink over the beautiful hills of Southern +Bavaria. A big red-bearded man, with arms bare to the elbow, stood at +the door of a little mountain inn upon one of the higher slopes, +watching, with his broad brown hand arched over his eyes, a group of +five men who had just issued from the mass of dark green pines that +covered the crest of the opposite ridge. + +"One, two, three, four, five," counted the landlord. "They're all there +but Hermann; but they've found no game, I can see. Where can Hermann be, +I wonder? _He_ won't come back empty-handed, I'll be bound." + +"Hermann's late," said one of the foresters, "but I warrant he'll be +ready for his supper when he does come." + +"And well he may, if he has found any game, for I can tell you, lads, +that to carry a quarter of venison from the Riesenberg to my door, on a +roasting day like this, would be a job for Strong Schalk himself." + +"And who may Strong Schalk be?" asked a sunburned peddler who was +sitting beside the window. + +"_Who?_" echoed the landlord, staring; "why, brother, you must be a +stranger in these parts to ask that. But if you want to know about him, +all you've got to do is to go down to Kreuzweg town yonder and ask any +man, woman, or child you may meet about 'Strong Schalk,' and they'll +tell you something that'll astonish you." + +"And if that's not enough," struck in one of the hunters, with a grin, +"let him go into Schalk's shop and challenge him to wrestle, and he'll +be astonished still more--eh, Father Baum?" + +"Ugh! don't talk of it!" grunted the landlord, making a wry face; "you +make my fingers ache with the very recollection." + +"Why, he must be a perfect giant!" cried the peddler, who had been +listening open-mouthed. + +"No, that's the strangest part of it. He's no bigger than another +man--rather smaller, in fact--and a tailor into the bargain; and yet he +can do feats worthy of Hans Stronghand in the story." + +"Of whom are you speaking?" asked a deep voice from the door. + +"Of Strong Schalk, the tailor of Kreuzweg, Friend Hermann," answered the +landlord, shaking hands with the new-comer, a powerful young fellow, +with an air which showed that he had no small idea of his own +importance. + +"The mischief take Strong Schalk!" cried Hermann, angrily. "I'm sick of +his very name;" and with the full power of his mighty voice he rolled +out the song: + + "There were a host of tailors, + Brave fellows one and all; + Then drank they, all the ninety, + Ay, nine times nine-and-ninety, + Out of a thimble small. + + "And when this draught had quenched their thirst, + Then weigh themselves would they; + Yet could not all the ninety, + Ay, nine times nine-and-ninety, + A single goat upweigh. + + "Then homeward trudged they all--but lo! + The door was locked within; + Then hopped they, all the ninety, + Ay, nine times nine-and-ninety, + Right through the key-hole, in." + +The boisterous chorus had hardly died away, when a quiet but +unmistakably firm voice was heard to say: + +"Stop there! enough of this!" + +All turned with a start, and saw that the silent stranger near the door +had risen from his seat. + +"Gentlemen," he continued, amid the universal hush of amazement, "I must +tell you that _I_ am a tailor, and that I object to hear any man speak +ill of my trade." + +"Do you, really?" cried Hermann, with a laugh. "Well, then, I must tell +you that you will either keep a civil tongue in your head, or I'll have +to show you the difference between an honest forester and a fellow who +lives on cloth clippings and ends of thread." + +"Better live on them than on stolen game," retorted the unknown, with +biting contempt. + +At this last insinuation, honest Hermann--who certainly was said to be +not overparticular whether the deer that he shot belonged to the park or +to the forest--lost patience altogether, and laid his hand upon his long +hunting-knife. But instantly the landlord thrust himself between them. + +"Halt there, lad--no bare blades in _my_ house, if you please. I'll tell +you a better way to settle it than that. You know our old Bavarian +fashion; when two young fellows want to try each other's strength, they +join hands and see which can tug the other across the line. Clear a +space there, and let us see which is the best man." + +The tables and benches were pushed back, a line chalked on the floor, +and Hermann and the stranger, seizing each other's hands in a strong +grasp, stood foot to foot, awaiting the signal. + +Now for the first time it broke upon the foresters that their champion +might not have such an easy victory after all, for the supple vigor of +the stranger's movements, and the firmness with which he planted his +feet, showed that Hermann had his work cut out for him. Hermann himself, +feeling the iron grasp of the unknown's long bony fingers, began to +think so too; but could any man, much less a tailor, be a match for +_him_? Absurd! And he began with a pull that ought to have ended the +whole business at once; but somehow it didn't. + +Then, stimulated by his comrades' shouts, Hermann put forth all his +strength, tugging as if he were uprooting a tree, till the sweat hung in +big drops on his forehead, and the veins of his hands stood out like +cords. But though the unknown was sorely shaken, across the line he +would not come; and at length Hermann paused, exhausted. + +Then the watching eyes around saw the stranger's arms stiffen suddenly, +and Hermann's huge frame bend slowly forward. Frantically he struggled, +but his strength was spent, and forward he slid, inch by inch. Just on +the chalk line he made a final effort, and stood firm for an instant; +but now the stranger exerted all his force in turn, and pulled him over +the line with such a tremendous tug that they both rolled on the floor +together. + +"Comrade!" shouted the hunters, crowding round the conqueror, "you've +done what none of _us_ could ever do. Tell us your name, that we may +remember it." + +"My parents named me Ferdinand," answered the stranger, with a queer +little mocking smile, "but of late folks have taken to calling me Strong +Schalk!" + +"Strong Schalk!" echoed Hermann, starting from the seat upon which he +had sunk dejectedly. "Shake hands, lad; it would have broken my heart to +be beaten by a tailor, but I don't mind a bit being beaten by _you_. +Come, let us be friends!" + +And from that day forth the two men were the best friends imaginable. + + + + +HOW TO MAKE A TOY CANOE. + +BY C. W. FISHER. + + +The building of a birch-bark canoe of sufficient size and well enough +made for actual use would rather tax the mechanical skill of most boys; +but with no better tool than a jackknife, and with a little ingenuity, a +small model may be easily made. + +There are few localities where the material--the white birch--can not be +obtained. The dimensions given here are those of one which hangs above +us as we write, and are only given to make the explanations clearer. Of +course it can be built of any size, and the young builder may make such +other changes in its construction as taste or necessity may suggest. + +A tree not more than eight inches through furnishes the best quality of +bark, flexible enough to be readily handled, and tough enough to be +durable. Woodsmen tell us that in stripping it we should avoid +"girdling" the tree--that is, removing the bark the entire distance +round--but should leave a piece several inches wide, that the flow of +sap shall not be wholly stopped. Having determined upon the size of the +canoe (ours is twenty-four inches long), select a part of the tree as +free from knots and imperfections as possible. Make two horizontal cuts +for three-fourths of the girth, and about two feet apart. Connect these +by two vertical cuts at their ends, and peel off the piece between the +cuts. This will be of an oblong shape, and about twenty-four inches by +eighteen. The bark consists of many layers, and the outside one should +be pulled off and discarded, those beneath being much handsomer in color +and finish. + +[Illustration] + +The diagram shows the shape in which the piece is to be first marked +with pencil, and then cut with knife or shears. The edges from B round +to A and C, and from D round to E and F, are next to be joined, and +sewed with an X stitch in colored silk or thread. The natural curve of +the bark shapes an excellent bottom to the little craft, and a gunwale, +which prevents splitting, and gives a more ship-shape appearance to it, +is easily prepared by taking a thinner piece than that of which the body +of the canoe is made, cutting two strips an inch wide and long enough to +extend from A to F, folding them lengthwise, and stitching them as +before, crease uppermost, over the edges. A better curve, and perhaps +added strength, may be secured by running a small wire under the crease, +but this is both troublesome and unnecessary. Two or three thwarts can +be made without difficulty from a bit of soft pine, and held in place +just under the gunwale by small brads. + +Two coats of thin shellac give a beautiful, and lasting finish to the +work, and one is really surprised at the pretty result of so slight an +expenditure of time and labor. Suspended from a hook or an archway by +bright ribbons attached to the prow, stern, and sides, and filled with +dried grapes, or, better still, lined with a shaped tin vessel +containing moss and planted with ferns, the canoe becomes a graceful +household ornament, as well as a charming reminder of a summer's +holiday. + + + + +OUR BULL-FIGHT. + +BY JIMMY BROWN. + + +I'm going to stop improving my mind. It gets me into trouble all the +time. Grown-up folks can improve their minds without doing any harm, for +nobody ever tells them that their conduct is such, and that there isn't +the least excuse in the world for them: but just as sure as a boy tries +to improve his mind, especially with animals, he gets into dreadful +difficulties. + +There was a man came to our town to lecture a while ago. He had been a +great traveller, and knew all about Rome and Niagara Falls and the North +Pole, and such places, and father said: "Now, Jimmy, here's an +opportunity for you to learn something and improve your mind go and take +your mother and do take an interest in something besides games." + +Well, I went to the lecture. The man told all about the Australian +savages and their boomerangs. He showed us a boomerang, which is a stick +with two legs, and an Australian will throw it at a man, and it will go +and hit him, and come back of its own accord. Then he told us about the +way the Zulus throw their assegais--that's the right way to spell +it--and spear an Englishman that is morn ten rods away from them. Then +he showed a long string with a heavy lead ball on each end, and said the +South Americans would throw it at a wild horse, and it would wind around +the horse's legs, and tie itself into a bow-knot, and then the South +Americans would catch the horse. But the best of all was the account of +a bull-fight which he saw in Spain, with the Queen sitting on a throne, +and giving a crown of evergreens to the chief bull-fighter. He said that +bull-fighting was awfully cruel, and that he told us about it so that we +might be thankful that we are so much better than those dreadful Spanish +people, who will watch a bull-fight all day, and think it real fun. + +The next day I told Mr. Travers about the boomerang, and he said it was +all true. Once there was an Australian savage in a circus, and he got +angry, and he threw his boomerang at a man who was in the third story of +a hotel. The boomerang went down one street and up another, and into the +hotel door, and upstairs, and knocked the man on the head, and came back +the same way right into the Australian savage's hand. + +I was so anxious to show father that I had listened to the lecture that +I made a boomerang just like the one the lecturer had. When it was done, +I went out into the back yard, and slung it at a cat on the roof of our +house. It never touched the cat, but it went right through the +dining-room window, and gave Mr. Travers an awful blow in the eye, +besides hitting Sue on the nose. It stopped right there in the +dining-room, and never came back to me at all, and I don't believe a +word the lecturer said about it. I don't feel courage to tell what +father said about it. + +Then I tried to catch Mr. Thompson's dog, that lives next door to us, +with two lead balls tied on the ends of a long string. I didn't hit the +dog any more than I did the cat, but I didn't do any harm except to Mrs. +Thompson's cook, and she ought to be thankful that it was only her arm, +for the doctor said that if the balls had hit her on the head they would +have broken it, and the consequences might have been serious. + +It was a good while before I could find anything to make an assegai out +of; but after hunting all over the house, I came across a lovely piece +of bamboo about ten feet long, and just as light as a feather. Then I +got a big knife blade that hadn't any handle to it, and that had been +lying in father's tool chest for ever so long, and fastened it on the +end of the bamboo. You wouldn't believe how splendidly I could throw +that assegai, only the wind would take it, and you couldn't tell when +you threw it where it would bring up. I don't see how the Zulus ever +manage to hit an Englishman; but Mr. Travers says that the Englishmen +are all so made that you can't very well miss them. And then perhaps the +Zulus, when they want to hit them, aim at something else. One day I was +practicing with the assegai at our barn door, making believe that it was +an Englishman, when Mr. Carruthers, the butcher, drove by, and the +assegai came down and went through his foot, and pinned it to the wagon. +But he didn't see me, and I guess he got it out after a while, though I +never saw it again. + +But what the lecturer taught us about bull-fights was worse than +anything else. Tom McGinnis's father has a terrible bull in the pasture, +and Tom and I agreed that we'd have a bull-fight, only, of course, we +wouldn't hurt the bull. All we wanted to do was to show our parents how +much we had learned about the geography and habits of the Spaniards. + +Tom McGinnis's sister Jane, who is twelve years old, and thinks she +knows everything, said she'd be the Queen of Spain, and give Tom and me +evergreen wreaths. I got an old red curtain out of the dining-room, and +divided it with Tom, so that we could wave it in the bull's face. When a +bull runs after a bull-fighter, the other bull-fighter just waves his +red rag, and the bull goes for him and lets the first bull-fighter +escape. The lecturer said that there wasn't any danger so long as one +fellow would always wave a red rag when the bull ran after the other +fellow, and of course we believed him. + +Pretty nearly all the school came down to the pasture to see our +bull-fight. The Queen of Spain sat on the fence, because there wasn't +any other throne, and the rest of the fellows and girls stood behind the +fence. The bull was pretty savage; but Tom and I had our red rags, and +we weren't afraid of him. + +As soon as we went into the pasture the bull came for me, with his head +down, and bellowing as if he was out of his mind. Tom rushed up and +waved his red rag, and the bull stopped running after me, and went after +Tom, just as the lecturer said he would. + +[Illustration: "HE WENT TWENTY FEET RIGHT UP INTO THE AIR."] + +I know I ought to have waved my red rag, so as to rescue Tom, but I was +so interested that I forgot all about it, and the bull caught up with +Tom. I should think he went twenty feet right up into the air, and as he +came down he hit the Queen of Spain, and knocked her about six feet +right against Mr. McGinnis, who had come down to the pasture to stop the +fight. + +The doctor says they'll all get well, though Tom's legs are all broke, +and his sister's shoulder is out of joint, and Mr. McGinnis has got to +get a new set of teeth. Father didn't do a thing to me--that is, with +anything--but he talked to me till I made up my mind that I'd never try +to learn anything from a lecturer again, not even if he lectures about +Indians and scalping-knives. + + + + +THE OLD MILL. + + + Oh, the merry mill-stream it is sparkling and bright + As it runs down the hill-side in shadow and light; + Now it circles in pools, and now throws a cascade, + And laughs out in high glee at the leap it has made. + + With its ripples are mingled on many a day + The shouts and the laughter of children at play; + And many a picnic is joyously spread + On its banks, where the green branches wave overhead. + + But the jolliest place is the old ruined mill, + With the great wooden water-wheel, solemn and still; + Once it whirled round and round with the rush of the stream, + Till a new mill was built to be driven by steam. + + Now the children climb over its big wooden spokes + But the wheel into motion they never can coax; + They may clamber and push, they may tug with a zest, + They can not awake the old giant from rest. + + And perhaps, if it only could speak, it would say: + "After all the hard labor I've done in my day, + It is pleasant to know that the children may still + Find their happiest times in the old ruined mill." + +[Illustration] + + + + +[Illustration: OUR POST-OFFICE BOX.] + + +Are you sorry, little folks, that your vacation weeks are flying away so +rapidly? They fairly race, says Lottie C., when the second week of +August has come. So they do; but I am sure Lottie would not like a whole +year without school or studies. Fred H. is making a collection of +butterflies, and finds the occupation very interesting. Etta R. has +never until this summer seen the ocean; she likes to hear the roar of +the breakers, and to watch the great waves rolling in upon the shore. +Tom P., whose mother has been ill, has been taking care of her, there +being no girls at home. Well done, Tom. The boy who is kind and +thoughtful in his manner to mother is manly, and on the way to make a +gentleman. That is what a gentleman is, boys--just a _gentle man_. Think +of it. Pauline C. has been reading Mrs. Browning's poems in her +vacation. She has spent her time very wisely. And you, Edward and +Priscy, Charles and Kate, Theodore and Isabel, Lulu and Minnie, and all +the dear girls and boys who come clustering around me even in my dreams, +I am glad when I think how busy and bright you are, and when I hear how +you are trying every day to do right and be good. Our Post-office Box +has been crowded lately with your sparkling letters, but it is very +elastic; so, little Sunbeams, keep on shining. + + * * * * * + + ORION, ILLINOIS. + + I am a little boy seven years old. I have a canary-bird named + Dicky, who sings the day long. I had two pet rabbits, named Bunny + and Snowflake. On the Fourth of July a dog caught Snowflake and + killed him. I felt very bad about it. Papa buried it in the yard, + and I am going to put a head-stone at its grave. Papa says a neat + board, with "Snowflake" on it, will do. I have two little chickens + named Specky and Blackie; and mamma got another rabbit, and his + name is Darling. He is as white as snow, and his eyes are red as + fire. I feed them on clover, bread, cabbage, and some nice tender + grass. I can read in the Second Reader. I am going to school this + winter. I can print on my slate. Do you like to get letters from + little boys? If you do, I guess I will write another some time. + Good-by. I like "Mr. Stubbs's Brother" ever so much. + + S. P. D. + +Poor little Snowflake! If I were you, dear, I would plant a rose-bush +beside his grave. What dreadful things have happened to some of our +pets! Of course I like to hear from little boys, and you must write +again when you are in the Third Reader. + + * * * * * + + PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA. + + I want to tell you about a smart little girl named Hebe at our + school. She is only six years old. One day Miss S. said, "What does + c-a-n-e spell, Hebe?" Hebe said she didn't know. Then Miss S. said, + "What do gentlemen walk with?" and Hebe said, "Ladies." Another + time one of the teachers was hearing her spell, and she couldn't + spell one word right; but at last she did. The teacher asked why + she didn't spell it that way at first, and she said, "Oh, I knew it + all the time, only I was just hugbugging." + + LUCY P. W. + +What a droll little scholar! She must make the class quite merry. + + * * * * * + + WATERLOO, IOWA. + + I have taken YOUNG PEOPLE from the first number, and have read the + letters in the Post-office Box with great interest, but have never + before ventured to write one myself; but now I thought I would + write and tell you about my trip on the Fourth of July across Iowa. + Monday evening I went alone to Cedar Rapids, and in the morning + papa took me in his mail-car, and I rode with him to Council Bluffs + over the Chicago and Northwestern Railroad. It is a beautiful + prairie country, with occasional belts of timber on the streams. We + everywhere saw splendid farms, with fine houses and barns and large + herds. We passed through an Indian reservation near Tama City. The + Indian men were out with their fish-poles and guns, and their + squaws were hoeing in the fields, while the boys, like true + American boys, were playing with fire-crackers. We passed, near + Ames, the State Agricultural College and Farm. Marshalltown and + Boone are thriving towns on this route. At Boone we came to Iowa's + vast coal field, and we passed several mines; it is "soft" coal. + Near Moingona I saw the little house where Kate Shelley lives, and + crossed the long bridge that she crept over at night and in a + terrible storm to warn a coming train of danger. The last twenty + miles of our trip are the most interesting. On the right are the + "bottom" lands of the Missouri, with the highlands of Nebraska in + the distance. On our left are the "bluffs," rising perhaps two + hundred feet, and taking many curious shapes. Once we came in sight + of the great river, and I can now understand why it is called the + "Big Muddy." At nearly every station on the route the people were + out to celebrate the Fourth; flags were flying, bands playing, and + the small boys and fire-crackers were everywhere. I hope they all + had a pleasant, time; I know I did. As I have never seen a letter + in the YOUNG PEOPLE from Waterloo, I hope you will like mine well + enough to print it. + + MARY F. M. + +We are all glad when our correspondents describe their pleasant trips, +and tell what they have seen when away from home. I think Mary's letter +shows that she took notice of what was worth looking at in her +Fourth-of-July journey across Iowa. + + * * * * * + + BRECKSVILLE, OHIO. + + I was ten years old December 20, 1881, and live in Cleveland, but I + am staying here for my vacation. It is a very pretty country + village. I like very much to ride on the hay wagon, but the hay is + damp to-day, and can not be taken in. I am in the Fourth Reader at + school. I would have been in the Fifth, only, when I came from + Brooklyn, New York, I was put back on account of the difference in + the schools. I like the West better than the East. I am getting + stouter every day. I have a brother seven years old, named Sumner. + + LINCOLN S. + +I think it is great fun to ride on top of a load of hay. It makes one +feel quite proud to be so high up in the world. + + * * * * * + + PEEKSKILL, NEW YORK. + + I have taken HARPER'S YOUNG PEOPLE a year and a half, and like it + very much. My home is on the State Camp Ground, but we moved away + when the soldiers came there. We moved the 16th of June; I was + sorry to come away. I do not like it where we live now; it is a + little cooped-up place on the edge of Peekskill. I am the only girl + of the family, but I have four brothers. The week of the Fourth of + July we all went over on a high hill overlooking the camp ground to + see the fire-works. We can not hear the music very plainly, because + of the hill in front of us. I have been over to the camp six times + since we moved. We have a pet cat that can catch fish. One day last + summer two of my brothers were out rowing in a boat, and the cat + was with them, and when they were quite a way out in the creek she + jumped overboard and swam ashore. + + A. G. C. + +Pussy was an exception to cats in general. They seldom like to wet their +dainty feet. It must be very pleasant to have four brothers to take care +of and pet their only sister. I hope yours are very fond of you, and +that you are kind and good to them. + + * * * * * + + BRIGHTON, SUSSEX, ENGLAND. + + I am an English boy nine years old. I have a sister named Eva; she + is four years old; and I have also a jolly little brother named + Harold, and he is two. I have only one pet, a canary, whose name is + Dick; he sings very loud. A friend of my father's, who used to go + to school with him, lives in Philadelphia, and he sends me the + numbers of YOUNG PEOPLE every month. I do enjoy reading them, and I + think Jimmy Brown's stories are capital. When I went to the + Zoological Gardens in London I saw Jumbo have his bath; his keeper + had to give him a good scolding before he would go in. It was so + deep he dived down quite out of sight. I hope you will print this. + I have just got over an illness, and can not go out much. Good-by. + + PERCY WILLIAM S. + +By this time Percy is, I hope, quite well and strong again. We like to +receive pleasant words from little friends across the water. + + * * * * * + + SHOPIERE, WISCONSIN. + + This is a very small place, though it is very pleasant. I have + never seen any letters from this place, so mine will be the first. + I have a pet sheep named Nig; like "Mary's lamb," it followed me to + school one day. It was a warm day, and I had gone to school in the + afternoon. Mamma was home alone, and she heard Nig bleating as + though something were the matter, and she went out and found him + panting as if he were very warm; so she let him through into the + yard (never thinking that the gate was open), and he began to eat, + so she did not watch him. But the first she knew he was gone. One + of the girls at school saw him, and knew he was mine, and began to + laugh. The teacher asked her what she was laughing at, and she + said, "Lula's lamb is here." I went out, and found him walking + around, trying to find me. I took him home then. I have two other + sheep and two lambs. I am taking up a great deal of room, but I + want to tell you about thirteen chickens I had last summer. Papa + gave them to me for taking care of the other hens. I soon got them + tame, and I could take corn and shell it over myself, and they + would scramble over me, sometimes pecking at my teeth. I sold them + for twelve shillings. I have a brother De Witt who is fifteen. I am + twelve. + + LULA H. P. + +So Lula's lamb was like Mary's, and "it made the children laugh and play +to see a lamb at school." Why did you not give him a prettier name, +dear? You are very kind to your pets, and that makes them so gentle. You +must have been as pretty as a picture, with the little chicks scrambling +over you for the kernels of corn. + + * * * * * + + OMEGA P. O., MADISON PARISH, LOUISIANA. + + I'm a little boy six years old, and I take HARPER'S YOUNG PEOPLE. + I'm more interested in Jimmy Brown's stories and the little letters + than in anything else, though I like "Mr. Stubbs's Brother." My + papa is on the railroad in Arkansas, and will be home to see us + soon. He says there are ever so many ticks in the pine woods. I + feed and water the chickens, and sweep the hall and gallery every + day. I will tell you of the overflow in my next letter. I've got a + buddie George; he lives with his auntie May, and I live with my + aunt Leila, as my own mamma is dead, and my papa married my aunt. + With many good wishes to Toby Tyler, your little friend, + + JAMES HOWARD R. + +I hope none of those annoying little pests called ticks will fasten on +those of my children who live in the Southern pine regions. I know all +about them, and they are really "horrid," to borrow a word which is used +sometimes when it ought not to be. + + * * * * * + + JERSEY CITY HEIGHTS, NEW JERSEY. + + I am eleven years old. I have just been reading HARPER'S YOUNG + PEOPLE, and think the letter that Ninetta wrote is very nice. I + have no pets except a darling little brother three years old, and + he says he is going to write you a letter. I have just learned how + to make feather-edge, and I have made half a yard to-day. I have + taken HARPER'S YOUNG PEOPLE ever since it was published, and I + think it is the nicest paper I ever read, or ever expect to read. I + hope this letter is not too long, and will be printed, as I would + like to surprise some of my friends who take the paper. On the + following page you will see my brother's letter. + +Do you know, dear child, that you forgot to sign your name, and so I do +not know who my little correspondent is, although she is much brighter +than I, for I have tried in vain to learn to make that puzzling trimming +called feather-edge. Please kiss little brother for his letter. + + * * * * * + + OXFORD, OHIO. + + I am a little girl eight years old. I have two little kittens, one + black and one white. I have a dog, and his name is Fido. We have a + dove, and she has two little doves in the nest in the cedar-tree. + We have every HARPER'S YOUNG PEOPLE that has been printed. I play + with my brother Sam, who is seven now, and we have two velocipedes. + + LIVY R. + + * * * * * + + PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA. + + My mamma writes this for me, because I can not write very well, and + I would not like to trouble you to read a letter from me. I have + been going to Kindergarten for three or four years, and am just + learning to write now. We have been taking HARPER'S YOUNG PEOPLE a + long time, and we have it complete, excepting the first seventeen + numbers, and No. 33. Now we want to know if we can get those + numbers, in order to have them bound, and as we have tried + unsuccessfully to procure them in Philadelphia, we know of no other + way to find out about it than by applying to you; and if you will + kindly answer through the Post-office Box, we will be very greatly + indebted to you. + + I have a pug dog and two kittens, and they are like the "Happy + Family." We think a great deal of HARPER'S YOUNG PEOPLE, and I read + it to my little sister. + + JOHN M. F. + +No. 33 can be furnished by the Messrs. Harper & Brothers, but not the +earlier numbers of YOUNG PEOPLE. Possibly some little reader may have +duplicates; and if so, will he or she notify the Postmistress on John's +behalf? + + * * * * * + + WINDHAM, NEW YORK. + + I thought I would write you a little letter to put in Our + Post-office Box. I have a little candy store in my papa's office + all my own. I pay for the candy, and have all the profits. It is + vacation now, but I study at home. This village (Windham) is + situated on an elevation of over one thousand five hundred feet + above the level of the sea. Papa has one hundred and fifty-five + hives of bees, and I am going to help him take care of them. We + carefully take the comb out of the hives, put it in a revolving + cylinder, turn the crank, and the honey flies out of the comb + against the side of the cylinder; then it is strained, and is ready + for use. Then we replace the comb for the bees to refill again. + This we do several times in a season. + + DORVILLE C. + +So you are a merchant, dear, and carry on a business all alone. Well, I +hope you keep your accounts with care, and that you will put your +earnings to some good use. Your description of the bees, and the way +their honey is extracted from the comb, is very interesting. + + * * * * * + + Where the blackbird sings the latest, + Where the hawthorn blooms the sweetest, + Where the nestlings chirp and flee, + That's the way for Willie and me. + + Where the mowers mow the cleanest, + Where the hay lies thick and greenest, + There to track the homeward bee, + That's the way for Willie and me. + + * * * * * + + EUREKA, MISSOURI. + + I am a little boy seven years old. My name is Early. My mamma, my + sister Hattie (who is eight years old), and I spend our summers out + here on grandpa's farm. I have a pony to ride; his name is Brigham. + I made $1.45 carrying water for grandpa's hands in harvest; had two + demijohns slung across the pony in front of the saddle. I have a + goat and wagon, but Billy is so big and strong that he runs away, + and dumps me in the ditch. I have two dogs, Nip and Aleck. Aleck is + a shepherd dog; Nip is a little fellow, but he runs awful fast when + he gets after a rabbit. I have lots of fun out here--so many + peaches and apples, and lots of young ducks and chickens. Papa + comes out every Saturday evening, and we go to the train to meet + him. We have such a nice Sunday-school in the little district + school-house right at the corner of our orchard. We go up there to + Sunday-school in the afternoon, and have such nice songs to sing. + Hattie picked two gallons of dewberries, sold them for forty cents, + and gave the money to help pay for the organ. I want papa to let me + be a farmer and stay in the country all the time, but we will go + back to the city in September, when the schools open. We had a nice + picnic and "fish-fry" on the Fourth at the Maramec River, near + here; waded in the cool clear water, and gathered so many mussel + shells; rowed in the boat, made pawpaw whistles, and had lots of + fun. + + EARLY D. + + * * * * * + + ELK CITY, KANSAS. + + This is the second time we have written to your paper together; the + first letter was not published. We like the stories very much, + especially "Mr. Stubbs's Brother"; we always read that first. It + rained very hard last night, and this morning the banks of the + rivers are nearly overflowed. We have one dog; his name is Carlo; + he will be four months old next Sunday. He is so full of mischief. + One day we went in the bedroom and found him playing with mamma's + bonnet; he tore the ribbon, and came pretty near spoiling the + feather. We will look in every number for this until it is + published. + + MARY and CORA W. + +I had a little dog once who used to play just such tricks, and oh! how +angry he sometimes made people by his funny antics and his mischief! I +am glad mamma's feather escaped Carlo's teeth. Well, never mind; if he +lives long enough, he will become a sober and dignified dog. + +Little Evelyn G., who also has a dog named Carlo, can shake hands with +Mary and Cora W. + + * * * * * + + HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT. + + I do love you so much! How good it seems to see your dear little + bright green face every week. I have an auntie in New Bedford, + grown up and married, who sees you and reads you all through before + you come to me. I go to New Brunswick and Martha's Vineyard every + summer, and with my cousin Dolly have great fun bathing in the + salt-water. Dollie is one week younger than myself. I am twelve + years old; my name is Gertie. I learned to swim last summer. We + always take our pets with us. Last summer I had two bantam chicks. + I loved Toney best, and he grew to be a beautiful rooster, and then + died. It is very hard to lose things we love. Mamma says things we + prize are first to vanish. I hope my dear YOUNG PEOPLE will never + leave me. + + GERTIE S. + + P. S.--I heard my auntie say you were "cute." I guess, from the way + she said it, she meant splendid. + +Thanks, dear, for your good opinion. I am very glad you have learned to +swim. I wish all my young friends who live near the water would do the +same. + + * * * * * + + DECATUR, ILLINOIS. + + I write to reproach you for cruelty to an unfortunate boy. Poor + Toby Tyler ran away with the circus, and had on a very old hat. + Months have passed, and still you have not given him a new hat. I + think Abner might cut off some of the brim of his, and let Aunt + Olive mend Toby's with it. But as Abner is sick, I suppose when he + recovers he will need all of his own hat to keep the sun off. I + send a nickel to get Toby a new hat. What if the boys do call them + "Nickel Katies"? It will be better than the thing Toby wears now. + + A sympathizer with Toby, + FANNIE G. + +Jolly Toby Tyler does not care for a new hat, and so I will send your +money, dear, if you please, to help along the Young People's Cot Fund. + + * * * * * + + PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA. + + Aunt Bessie subscribed for YOUNG PEOPLE; she always calls me Effie, + but my name is Evelyn. I have a little dog; his name is Carlo. He + is a comical little thing, and he wants to tear everything to + pieces, and loves to play with me. I have a pet bird; her name is + Cherry. The bottom of her cage came half off the other day while + papa was in the yard and mamma in town, but she did not get away. I + have a cat whose name is Neddie. He does not like Carlo. When + Neddie spits at Carlo I scold him, but that does not do any good. + Mamma wrote this for me, as I do not write plain enough. + + EVELYN G. + + * * * * * + +C. Y. P. R. U. + +SOME FAMILIAR WORDS, AND WHERE THEY COME FROM. + +Every young reader has heard puss called Tabby, but all do not know that +tabby cat was named after Atab, a famous street in the old city of +Bagdad. On this street the merchants sold a beautiful watered silk +called atabi. In modern days this silk has been styled taffeta. The wavy +markings of the silk were thought to resemble pussy's coat of fur. + +Jet derives its name from a river in Lycia--the Gagates--in the bed of +which were found smooth black stones called gaet, of which jewelry was +made. + +A pamphlet is a book bound in paper. A long, long time ago a learned +Greek lady wrote the history of the world in thirty-five little books, +which, after her, were called Pamphylia. + +Humbug is a bit of fun aimed at Hamburg, in Germany, which city was once +rather famous for getting up sensations which turned out to be nothing +very wonderful after all. Hamburg news was humbug. + +Dollar is from the German thaler, named from Thal, in Bohemia, where +were located the silver-works which made this coin. + +Money traces its history to a remote period, when the coinage of the +Romans was struck at the temple of the goddess Juno Monieta. + + * * * * * + +PANSY.--The Postmistress will find out what you wish to know if she can. +Please send her your own full name and address. + + * * * * * + +TO PUZZLERS.--Clever little people who send puzzles will please remember +that enigmas must rhyme, and that the answers must always be sent with +the puzzles. Do not make enigmas upon your own Christian or surname, or +the name of a friend, as it is almost impossible for our great circle of +readers to guess such puzzles. + + * * * * * + +GAZETTA.--Wiggles, puzzles, answers to puzzles, exchanges, and all +letters for Our Post-office Box should be sent to the Editor of HARPER'S +YOUNG PEOPLE, Franklin Square, New York. + + * * * * * + +LILY F.--"Margie's Adventure" is a very pretty story indeed for a girl +of your age to have written. It is rather too long for Our Post-office +Box, but the Postmistress read it with pleasure, and thanks you for +sending it. + + * * * * * + +We would call the attention of the C.Y.P.R.U. this week to "Historical +Trees of Mexico," by Mrs. Helen S. Conant, and to "How a Boy was Hired +Out, and What Came of It," by Mr. George Gary Eggleston. The boys will +be interested in Mr. C. W. Fisher's directions "How to Make a Toy +Canoe." + + * * * * * + +Correct answers to puzzles have been received from "Jan. U. Ary," +Hartley Bishop, Elsie Grey, J. Hanse Gebley, Effie W. Rhind, Emma and +Andrew Campbell, Harry Johnston, Charlie and Willie Lloyd, Edgar Seeman, +Edward and Gustav Metz, Fannie Grimes, M. Portener, Alice Bartlett, John +Todd, Frank Groves, "Fuss and Feathers," Daisy Dean, Lewie Andrews, +Augusta Schultz, Ethel Raymond, "Eureka," Rosa M. Benedict, "North +Star," A. E. Thorp, "Jack and Jill," B. B. A., Mary M. Livingston, Robin +Dykes, Hermann Miller, Lucy Campbell, Louise G., Fred Goodenough, Sydney +Heinemann, "Old Putnam's Pet," Rosa Deffaa, Emma Roehm, and Frank Allan +Ives. + + * * * * * + +PUZZLES FROM YOUNG CONTRIBUTORS. + +No. 1. + +FOUR DIAMONDS. + +1.--1. A letter. 2. A human being. 3. Something for the table. 4. A +light sleep. 5. A letter. + +2.--1. A letter. 2. An animal. 3. A weapon. 4. Part of the head. 5. A +letter. + +3.--1. A letter. 2. Very angry. 3. A title given to a lady. 4. An +obstruction. 5. A letter. + +4.--1. A letter. 2. A fluid. 3. A sign of contempt. 4. View. 5. A +letter. + + COUNT NO ACCOUNT. + + * * * * * + +No. 2. + +ANAGRAM. + +Your page help person. + + EDGAR SEEMAN. + + * * * * * + +No. 3. + +A HALF-SQUARE.--(_To Benny Fishel_). + +1. The mulberry. 2. A nautical term. 3. A mark made by folding. 4. To +accommodate. 5. The fruit of the oak or beech. 6. Resentment. 7. An +abbreviation. 8. A letter. + + I. SCYCLE. + + * * * * * + +No. 4. + +INVERTED PYRAMID. + +Across.--1. A white stone. 2. Narcotics. 3. Furnished with ears. 4. An +animal. 5. A letter. + +Down.--1. A letter. 2. An interjection. 3. An animal. 4. Inclination. 5. +A man's name. 6. Confusion. 7. To spread abroad new-mown grass. 8. An +abbreviation. 9. A letter. + + I. SCYCLE. + + * * * * * + +No. 5. + +ENIGMA. + + From that half-dozen, miss, take nine, + And from that nine take half of twenty. + 'Tis easy done so far; but now + You must from forty borrow fifty, + Then you will see it is quite plain + Just half a dozen still remain. + + * * * * * + +No. 6. + +WORD SQUARE. + +1. Part of the body. 2. To come in. 3. To reconcile. 4. Gaps. 5. A +ringlet. + + HELEN. + + * * * * * + +ANSWERS TO PUZZLES IN No. 142. + +No. 1. + +Michael Angelo. + +No. 2. + + L C + C O T D O T + L O V E R C O V E R + T E A T E N + R R + + C S T + C U P N E T L E G + C U P I D S E V E N T E X A S + P I E T E N G A P + D N S + +No. 3 + +1. G-old. C-oat. C-up. S-in. P-ink. H-and. F-red-red-ed. + +2. C-ore. S-hovel. Y-ear. S-tick. S-hoe. S-pool. T-rick. D-rug. + +No. 4. + + A dreary place would be this earth, + Were there no little people in it; + The song of life would lose its mirth, + Were there no children to begin it. + + * * * * * + +[_For Exchanges, see 2d and 3d pages of cover._] + + + + +A NEW SERIAL. + + * * * * * + +"THE CRUISE OF THE CANOE CLUB," + + * * * * * + +By W. L. ALDEN, + +AUTHOR OF "THE MORAL PIRATES," "CRUISE OF THE 'GHOST,'" ETC. + + +In the next number of YOUNG PEOPLE our readers will have a chance to +renew the acquaintance of the four lads whose adventures they followed +so eagerly in Mr. Alden's former stories. This time the boys have become +the fortunate possessors of four canoes, in which they make a cruise +through some of the rivers and lakes of Canada. Just in proportion as a +canoe excels a row-boat or a sail-boat in its easy motion, its +delightful swiftness, and its liability to capsize, so do the +experiences and adventures of the boys on this cruise exceed those of +the cruises that have preceded it in excitement, picturesqueness, and +general interest. Mr. Alden's stories for young readers are full of the +genial wit and clever handling of amusing situations that have won him +such a brilliant reputation as a humorist. + + * * * * * + +[Illustration: WHAT FIVE INSECTS ARE REPRESENTED IN THIS PICTURE?] + + * * * * * + +A HORSE WHICH MADE A SENSATION. + +Tahiti is one of the Society Islands, a small group in the Southern +Pacific, lying many hundreds of miles away from any mainland. The +Spaniards claim to have discovered them first, but it was famous Captain +Cook who explored them thoroughly, and carried the story of their +wonderful tropical fruits and strange inhabitants back to England. + +Some years after, the good people of England began to send missionaries +to the islands. They were well received, and among their converts was +King Pomare. + +Now neither King Pomare nor any of his subjects had ever seen a horse, +and as they were curious to know something about an animal which the +English people described as so noble and willing and useful, it was +finally decided that one should be sent him as a present. So among the +cargo of a vessel sent to Tahiti from New South Wales was a splendid +horse, with a silky coat and flowing mane and tail, for King Pomare. + +It was originally intended that the horse should be taken ashore from +the vessel in which he had made his voyage, in a large canoe which had +been sent alongside for the purpose, but the slings in which he was +fastened gave way as he was being lowered, and the poor animal fell into +the sea. He at once struck boldly out for the land; but the natives no +sooner saw him than they plunged into the waves and swam after him like +a shoal of porpoises; they seized his tail and his mane, and nearly +pulled him under. The King shouted and the Captain screamed at them in +vain, while the terrified horse struggled as hard as he could. As soon +as he reached the land the crowd there fled for their lives in every +direction, climbing rocks and trees, and hiding behind bushes. One by +one, however, they returned when they saw a sailor slip a halter around +the creature's neck and lead him along. + +Next morning, in the presence of a great number of admiring natives, the +Captain put a saddle on the horse, and rode him up and down before the +King's tent. As he cantered, galloped, and trotted, obedient to the +rein, the people shouted and danced, crying _Buaa-hora-fenna_ and +_Buaa-afai-taata_ (land-running pig, and man-carrying pig). + + * * * * * + +PARLOR MAGIC. + +THE MYSTERIOUS BOX. + +The use of this box is as follows: Hand the box round for examination, +and allow a marked dime to be put into it. Let one of the company lock +the box and keep the key, and also tie a string round it lengthways and +crossways, lay it on the table, touch it with your wand, and command the +dime to vanish and pass into a tumbler, hat, etc. Tell the person who +locked the box to open it and see if he can find the dime within, when, +to the astonishment of all, it will be found to have vanished from the +box, and be found in the place you indicated. + +The secret of this box is as follows: The bottom is divided into three +or four panels, one of the end ones of which is on a swivel exactly in +the centre, and fixed in its place by a nail at each side, the box being +put together with driving nails. The nails being all alike, there is no +likelihood of the secret being discovered. The trick is performed as +follows: When the box has been tied and locked, hold the box on a slope +to the swivel end, slip out the two nails just far enough to allow the +panel to move, push up one end, and the dime will fall out at the other +into your hand. Shut the slide, and put the nails into their places +again, lay the box down on the table, go for your magic wand, and take +that opportunity of putting the dime into the hat or elsewhere. + + * * * * * + +[Illustration: A MOST SUCCESSFUL CAST.] + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's Harper's Young People, August 8, 1882, by Various + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 59103 *** |