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diff --git a/59639-0.txt b/59639-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..4084f07 --- /dev/null +++ b/59639-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,2088 @@ +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 59639 *** + + + + + + + + + + + +[Illustration: HARPER'S YOUNG PEOPLE] + + * * * * * + +VOL. III.--NO. 153. PUBLISHED BY HARPER & BROTHERS, NEW YORK. PRICE FOUR +CENTS. + +Tuesday, October 3, 1882. Copyright, 1882, by HARPER & BROTHERS. $1.50 +per Year, in Advance. + + * * * * * + + + + +[Illustration: "ALL ABOARD!"] + + + + +THE SOLDIER'S CHEESE. + +BY DAVID KER. + + +Any one who had come down the St. Gothard to the village of Andermatt, +just at daybreak one cold winter morning in 1799, would have seen a very +curious sight. All night long the village folks had been busy packing up +and carrying away in carts or on horse and mule back whatever they could +most easily remove. The first gleam of dawn saw the hindmost fugitives +slinking away into the passes of the northern hills, looking fearfully +back every now and then at the towering crest of the St. Gothard, as if +expecting the whole mountain to fall upon them at once, or to send forth +a torrent of fire that would sweep them all away. + +The danger from which they were flying was not long behind them. +Scarcely had the sun peered above the surrounding hill-tops when the +great white slope of the St. Gothard seemed to grow black all at once, +like a white cloth swarmed over by flies. Instantly the whole +mountain-side was alive with bear-skin caps, and glittering bayonets, +and prancing horses, and bright epaulets, and rumbling wheels, and +shining cannon. + +Down they came, still downward, thousands upon thousands--tall sallow +grenadiers in long overcoats of gray frieze, sharp-faced, narrow-eyed +Cossacks with long lances in their hands, black-capped gunners, +glittering hussars, blue-nosed, shivering staff officers--and high above +all, fluttering gayly in the keen morning breeze, the bullet-torn +standard that bore the imperial ensign of Russia. + +At sight of the deserted village there was a murmur of satisfaction +among the Russian soldiers; for it was now forty-eight hours since any +of them had touched a morsel of food, and they were all as hungry as +wolves. + +"These mountain goats have run away at the very sound of our coming," +said a big grenadier; "but so long as they've left some food behind +them, it's all right." + +"Isn't this the place where they said the famous cheese was made?" +suggested a gaunt, red-bearded Cossack. + +"Sure enough!" cried one of his comrades, joyfully. "Hey, brothers! +won't we have a good feed when we get down there!" + +A good feed they certainly _did_ have, a few minutes later. Scarcely had +the foremost battalion entered the village when a shout of "Cheese! +cheese!" from the front drew every one in that direction. The little +shop into which the starving men had rushed was hardly big enough to +hold twenty of them at a time; but Russian soldiers, after a two days' +fast, are not the men to be over ceremonious. In a trice the plank front +of the store was beaten in and torn down, the shining yellow blocks +which made such a tempting show were tossed into the street by hundreds, +and there began such a feast as Andermatt had not seen, for many a year, +even upon a market-day. + +But just as they were at the busiest, munching and gnawing away like so +many rats, a few dropping shots in front, followed by the roll of a full +volley, made them all spring up and seize their arms. + +"Infantry, form!" roared an officer, galloping in among them. +"Skirmishers, advance! Forward! march!" + +And now the work began in earnest. The French had covered their retreat +by filling the wood beyond the village with sharp-shooters, and as the +Russians moved on, the pine-clumps around them seemed alive with +crackling musketry and quick puffs of white smoke, while the gray coats +of fallen soldiers dotted the snow on every side. + +But presently up came three or four light guns at a hard trot, and sent +a shower of grape-shot rattling into the thickets, stirring the +crouching marksmen from their covert like rabbits. On pressed the +Russians; back fell the French; when suddenly a deep, hoarse roar was +heard above all the din of the firing, and right in front of the +charging Russians, as they broke from the wood, yawned a chasm as deep +and narrow as if made by the cut of a sword. A quaint old bridge of +moss-grown stone spanned the gulf, over which the last of the French +soldiers were just filing at a run. + +No time to lose, evidently. Forward sprang the Russians with a loud +hurrah, when suddenly there came a report, sharp as a thunder-clap, +while the whole air was filled with smoke and dust and whizzing masses +of stone. The bridge had been blown up, leaving an impassable gulf +between the two armies; and a taunting laugh from the French, +accompanied by a volley of musketry, answered the yell of rage that +broke from their pursuers. + +What was to be done? Unless they could reach the enemy with the bayonet, +the superior numbers of the Russians would avail them nothing; and if +they stayed where they were they would be shot down like sparrows. + +"This won't do, lads," cried a tall, handsome man in a rich gold-laced +uniform, turning to the Cossacks who stood around him. "Follow me." + +All obeyed without a word, for the speaker was no other than Prince +Bagration, one of the best generals in the Russian army. Creeping round +behind the thickets, that the enemy might not see what they were about, +they came out again upon the river about half a mile higher up, at a +point where the edge of the precipice, though quite bare and rocky on +their side of the gap, was thickly wooded on the other. + +"If we had three or four of those trees over here," said the Prince, +"they'd bridge this gap for us famously. But how are we to get at them?" + +"Twist the officers' sashes into a rope, your Highness," suggested a +Cossack beside him, "knot a stone in the end of it, fling it across so +as to catch in one of the branches, and send somebody over on it. I once +robbed a house that way myself at home in Russia." + +"_Did_ you?" said the General, with a broad grin. "Well, then, you shall +make up for it by being the first man to cross. Off with your sashes, +gentlemen." + +The impromptu rope was soon twisted, the stone knotted in it, and flung +so dexterously across the chasm that it caught in the fork of a tree at +the first cast. The daring Cossack, with a sapper's axe slung round his +neck, swung himself nimbly over the fearful gulf, and went to work upon +the trees with such vigor that it was not long before three of them lay +right across the gap, bridging it completely. + +Then the Prince and his men, stirred to frenzy by the increasing uproar +of the battle below, scrambled like mad-men across the perilous bridge, +and rushing up the heights beyond, commenced firing down upon the French +on the other side. Confounded by this unexpected attack, the enemy broke +and fled, and the fight was won. + + * * * * * + +"Well done, my children," said Marshal Suvoroff, as he passed along the +Russian lines after the battle, with a glow of honest admiration on his +rough old face--"well done, indeed! You have given those French dogs a +lesson, and shown them that Russian bayonets have points." + +"If _you're_ satisfied with us, father, that's all we want," replied a +grim old grenadier, with a face criss-crossed with scars, like a railway +map; "but, after all, we might well fight stoutly when we'd just had +such a big meal of that good cheese." + +"Cheese, eh? Where did you get it?" + +"In the village yonder. We ate a whole shopful in passing through. I've +got a bit left yet, if your Excellency would like to taste." + +And opening his pouch, the veteran displayed to the old General's +astounded eyes a half-gnawed piece of _yellow soap_. + +A roar of laughter, which even the presence of the Commander-in-Chief +could not restrain, broke from the staff officers around, and for many a +day after the "good cheese" of Andermatt was their standing joke. + + + + +THE MOON LENDS A HAND. + +BY CHARLES BARNARD. + + +If you drop a lump of sugar into a cupful of tea, or stir the tea about +with a spoon, there will be little bubbles, floating on the surface. +Watch these bubbles, and you will see that they soon slide off and +gather along the edge of the cup. Boys in the first class in philosophy +know what that means. It is the attraction of the cup. It is larger than +the bubbles, and, as they are free to move about on the tea, they are +attracted or pulled toward the sides of the cup. + +If you lift the tea-cup, you find it is heavy. The great earth, that is +millions of times larger than the cup, pulls it downward. We call it +weight. We say the cup is pulled down by the attraction of gravitation. + +Out of doors you can see the sun. It too has an attraction for the cup +and for the whole round world and all it contains. It is bigger than our +earth, and is pulling it toward itself. So strong is this attraction for +the sun that everything that is lying loose on the earth would fly away +if it were not that the world is so much nearer, and is attracting it +the other way at the same time. There are some things that really start +to go to the sun every day, but very fortunately they soon come back +again. + +Then there is the moon. She too is trying to pull everything toward +herself. Poor Mrs. Moon! She is in an unfortunate position. She is +pulled away toward the sun, and at the same time the earth attracts her +this way. She wants to fly away and tumble into the sun, and she feels a +great desire to fall down upon the world. She can't go both ways at +once, so she contents herself with flying round the world once every +day, and keeping us company in our journey round the sun. + +The moon has her revenge on the earth. It pulls hard on the world all +the time, and some of the things on the surface, that, like the bubbles +in the tea-cup, are free to move, try every day to jump up to the moon. +There is the air and all the water in the sea. They can move about, and +whenever the moon passes overhead they move up as if to meet it. They +can't go far, but they make a good start, and never seem tired of +trying. If we could go up in a balloon to the top of the air we would +probably find the air at one place piled up in a heap, as if it wanted +to fly away to the moon if the earth would only give it a chance. + +As it is not convenient for us to go up to the top of the air, we will +go down to the beach to see how the water behaves when the moon goes by. +No matter what time of the day or night you go to the sea-shore, you +will find the water either rising up toward the moon or falling back +again. It never seems to be discouraged, but as soon as it fails it +starts again. You can not see it move, but if you put a stone at the +edge of the water, and wait an hour or two, you will find the stone has +been covered by the water or is left quite high and dry. It seems as if +the whole of the great sea was forever slowly rising or falling, up and +down, with a slow and solemn motion. + +Any boy who lives by the shore knows that this is the tide. He knows +that all his fun depends on this regular rising and falling of the tide. +At high tide the fishing is good. At low tide the flats are bare, and +the boys can dig clams or watch the long-legged plovers wading about in +the shallow water. This curious rising and falling of the tide is caused +by the attraction of the moon. The sun also helps, but in a lesser +degree. How and why it all happens would take a long time to explain. We +do not care for that just now, as the strange effects of the tides upon +the land are more interesting. + +I have already told you something of the way in which the sea and the +waves are at work cutting out, tearing down, or building up the dry land +on which we live. Perhaps you remember the stories of the walking +beaches and the fight between the rivers and the sand-bars? We can now +see what the moon has to do with this business. + +The tide is like a wave. It is not very high, but wonderfully wide. It +is so broad that a single tide-wave will reach half round the world. Out +at sea it is impossible to tell whether it is high or low tide at any +time. Near the shore the tides behave in a curious and often wonderful +manner, and we can walk along the beaches and see how they work. One of +the best places to do this is the vicinity of New York city. + +South of this city is the harbor. Still farther south, past the Narrows, +is the beautiful bay called New York Bay. Sandy Hook at the south and +Coney Island at the north mark the broad entrance to this bay from the +Atlantic Ocean. The Hudson River, that stretches far back into the +country, runs along the west side of the city. On the east is the narrow +and crooked arm of the sea called the East River. You know all this, and +it may seem a trifle like a school-book, but your books never told you +of half the wonders of this familiar place. The East River opens into +Long Island Sound, and the Sound opens into the Atlantic at the farther +end of Long Island. Thus it is possible for ships to start from New York +and go to sea by the way of the harbor and bay, past Sandy Hook, or they +may sail up the East River into the Sound, and reach the sea at Block +Island, more than a hundred miles to the east of Sandy Hook. + +In the same way the tide coming in from the sea may reach New York by +the way of Long Island Sound and the East River, or by the way of Sandy +Hook and the bay. Suppose it is low tide off Block Island, at the east +end of Long Island (you should look on your map for all this). The tide +begins to rise, and enters the Sound. In two hours the wave reaches +Sand's Point, and begins to enter the East River. Now happens a curious +thing. The Sound grows narrower, and the river is narrower still, and as +all the water has to pass at the same time, it rises higher and runs +faster. At Block Island the tide rises only two feet. At Hallet's Point, +near the city, it rises more than seven feet. The quiet peaceful tide at +Block Island becomes here a swiftly flowing stream that surges with foam +and fury between the rough rocky banks, and making many a dangerous eddy +and whirl-pool. It is no wonder the sailors used to call this place Hell +Gate. + +Let us look at this place a moment. The East River is open to the sea at +each end. It is not like a real river, flowing down hill, and with a +current constantly flowing in one direction. It has no current of its +own, and were it not for the tides that surge backward and forward +through the place twice every day, its waters would be dull and stagnant +as any of the quiet lagoons behind the beaches that we have been +studying. You can guess what would happen then. The place would soon +fill up with mud and sand. Oysters and shell-fish would make it their +home; sea-weeds and mosses would cover the bottom, and before long the +river would be filled up, and Hell Gate would be closed. This wild +turmoil of water just here, this swift-flowing current, keeps the place +clear. The tides scour out the river-bed, and help keep it clean for the +ships. There are more vessels passing through Hell Gate in a year than +at any other place on this continent. If it were closed, our commerce +would be sadly injured. Millions of dollars have been spent to make the +channel clear, but it is the moon that keeps this great water gate open. + +The same tide that first appears off Block Island, and travels through +the Sound, also travels along the southern shore of Long Island, and +reaches Sandy Hook. As the water grows more shallow, the tide piles up +higher, and at Sandy Hook it is more than four feet high. It sweeps on +into the bay, and past the Narrows into the harbor, growing higher at +every step. It rushes past the Battery, and into the East River, and now +it is a swift and powerful current. It rushes onward along both sides of +Blackwell's Island, and at Hell Gate the two tides meet. This only +increases the war and turmoil of the waters. One tide seems to be piled +upon another, and the currents become more furious. In a very little +while one or the other gives way. The current turns, and rushes as +swiftly the other way. All this strange performance is the work of the +moon and the sun. + +Everywhere on the sea-coast all round the world the moon lends a hand to +help the sea carve out the land. At Sandy Hook it also holds the key of +the bay, and keeps the harbor open, that ships may pass out and come in. +Were it not for the moon, Sandy Hook would creep slowly out over the +shallow waters until it nearly reached Coney Island. The friendly tide +comes sweeping in from the sea, and spreads far and wide over the bay. +It fills miles and miles of bays and rivers with water, and then when +the moon passes on, and the water can follow her no farther, it turns in +a mighty flood, and scours and sweeps out all the channels. The +outflowing tide is a big broom to brush away the sand and mud, and keep +the front door of our port open to all the ships of the world. Did not +the sea every day try to reach after the moon, perhaps there would be no +tides. Were the tides to stop, our grand front gate would soon be shut, +and our convenient back way into the Sound would be closed. It is in +this way a great and wise Creator has commanded even the moon to lend a +hand in controlling the sea and the land. + + + + +[Illustration] + +GOLDEN-ROD. + +BY M. R. COLQUITT. + + + Oh, mamma, I've heard such charming news + From the Bobolink down in the lane; + He knows many beautiful stories, + And promised to meet me again. + + He told me about this rich Golden-Rod, + And whence came its glowing hue; + And I'm sure the bright little gossip + Wouldn't care if I should tell you. + + He says when dear little Titania + Was proclaimed the fairies' Queen, + There was such a splendid banquet + As never before was seen, + + And Titania's gorgeous costly robe, + All puffed with fold on fold, + Was made of a sunset tissue + Of shining dazzling gold. + + The Knight of the Topaz Helmet + Was chosen to dance with her, + And he tore her beautiful court train + With the point of his diamond spur. + + The wonderful exquisite fragment + Fluttered about in the breeze, + Now lighting the spears of the bending grass, + Now floating among the trees, + + Till 'twas caught by the old head gardener, + Who gazed at it long, and said; + "This, fugitive flying sunbeam + Has put something new in my head, + + "And our royal lady's accident + Has strangely given a hint, + And furnished me just what I longed for-- + An idea of shape, and a tint + + "For the flower that must be ready, + As soon as the dancing is done, + To present to our lovely sovereign + In token of fealty won. + + "I'll take its form from the flashing plume + Of the Knight who threw in my way + This fleecy fluttering fragment, + So delicate, dainty, and gay. + + "And if she accepts the token, + And prints with her gracious hand + The mystical sign upon it + That shows it from Fairy-land, + + "I'll blow its seed to the outer world, + And scatter them over the sod, + And christen my feathery favorite + Queen Titania's _Golden-Rod_." + + + + +THE CRUISE OF THE CANOE CLUB.[1] + +[1] Begun in No. 146, HARPER'S YOUNG PEOPLE. + +BY W. L. ALDEN, + +AUTHOR OF "THE MORAL PIRATES," "THE CRUISE OF THE 'GHOST,'" ETC., ETC. + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +There is no place more unfit for a sudden and unexpected bath than the +lock of a canal. The sides and the gates are perpendicular and smooth, +and present nothing to which a person in the water can cling. Charley +had no difficulty in supporting himself by throwing one arm over the +stern of Harry's canoe, but had he been alone in the lock he would have +been in a very unpleasant position. + +As soon as the gates were opened the boys paddled out of the lock, and +went ashore to devise a plan for raising the sunken canoe. Of course it +was necessary that some one should dive and bring up the painter, so +that the canoe could be dragged out of the lock; but as canal-boats were +constantly passing, it was a full hour before any attempt at diving +could be made. There were half a dozen small French boys playing near +the lock, and Charley, who was by no means anxious to do any unnecessary +diving, hired them to get the canoe ashore, which they managed to do +easily. It was then found that nearly everything except the spars had +floated out of her, and the rest of the morning was spent in searching +for the missing articles in the muddy bottom of the canal. Most of them +were recovered, but Charley's spare clothes, which were in an +India-rubber bag, could not be found. + +This was the second time that the unfortunate _Midnight_ had foundered, +and Charley was thoroughly convinced of the necessity of providing some +means of keeping her afloat in case of capsizing. It was impossible for +him to put water-tight compartments in her, such as the _Sunshine_ and +the _Dawn_ possessed, but he resolved to buy a dozen beef bladders at +the next town, and after blowing them up, to pack them in the bow and +stern of his canoe. Tom, whose "Rice Lake" canoe was also without +water-tight compartments, agreed to adopt Charley's plan, and thus avoid +running the risk of an accident that might result in the loss of the +canoe and cargo. + +When the fleet finally got under way again there was a nice breeze from +the south, which sent the canoes along at the rate of four or five miles +an hour. Chambly, the northern end of the canal, was reached before four +o'clock, the boys having lunched on bread and water while in the canoes +in order not to lose time by going ashore. They passed safely through +the three great locks at Chambly; and entering the little lake formed by +the expansion of the river, and known as Chambly Basin, they skirted its +northern shore until they reached the ruins of Chambly Castle. + +More than one hundred and fifty years ago the Frenchmen built the great +square fort, with round towers at each angle, which is now called +Chambly Castle. At that time the only direct way of communication +between the settlements on the St. Lawrence and those in the valleys of +the Hudson and the Mohawk was up the Richelieu River, Lake Champlain, +and Lake George. It was this route that Burgoyne followed when he began +the campaign that ended so disastrously for him at Saratoga, and it was +at Chambly Castle that he formally took command of his army. The castle +was placed just at the foot of the rapids, on a broad, level space, +where Indians used to assemble in large numbers to trade with the +French. Its high stone walls, while they could easily have been knocked +to pieces by cannon, were a complete protection against the arrows and +rifles of the savages, and could have withstood a long siege by any +English force not provided with artillery. In the old days when the +castle was garrisoned by gay young French officers, and parties of +beautiful ladies came up from Montreal to attend the officers' balls, +and the gray old walls echoed to music, and brilliant lights flashed +through the windows, the Indians encamped outside the gates must have +thought it the most magnificent and brilliant place in the whole world. +Now there is nothing left of it but the four walls and the crumbling +towers. The iron bolts on which the great castle gate once swung are +still imbedded in the stone, but nothing else remains inside the castle +except grassy mounds, and the wild vines that climb wherever they can +find an angle or a stone to cling to. + +The canoeists made their camp where the Indians had so often camped +before them, and after supper they rambled through the castle and +climbed to the top of one of the towers. They had never heard of its +existence, and were as surprised as they were delighted to find so +romantic a ruin. + +"I haven't the least doubt that the place is full of ghosts," said +Charley, as the boys were getting into the canoes for the night. + +"Do you really believe in ghosts?" asked Tom, in his matter-of-fact way. + +"Why," replied Charley, "when you think of what must have happened +inside of that old castle and outside of it when the Indians tortured +their prisoners, there can't help but be ghosts here." + +"I don't care, provided there are no mosquitoes," said Joe. "Ghosts +don't bite, and don't sing in a fellow's ears." + +Any one who has camped near a rapid knows how strangely the running +water sounds in the stillness of the night. Joe, who, although there +were no mosquitoes to trouble him, could not fall asleep, was sure that +he heard men's voices talking in a low tone, and two or three times +raised himself up in his canoe to see if there were any persons in +sight. He became convinced after a while that the sounds which disturbed +him were made by the water, but, nevertheless, they had made him rather +nervous. Though he had professed not to be afraid of ghosts, he did not +like to think about them, but he could not keep them out of his mind. +Once, when he looked out of his canoe toward the castle, he was startled +to find it brilliantly lighted up. The light was streaming from the +case-mates, loop-holes, and windows, and it was some moments before he +comprehended that it was nothing more ghostly than moonlight. + +Toward midnight Joe fell asleep, but he slept uneasily. He woke up +suddenly to find a dark object with two fiery eyes seated on the deck of +his canoe, and apparently watching him. He sprang up, with a cry of +terror, which awakened his comrades. The strange object rushed away +from the canoe, and stopping near the gate of the castle, seemed to be +waiting to see what the boys would do. + +By this time Joe had recovered his senses, and knew that his strange +visitor was a wild animal. The boys took their pistols. Tom, who was the +best shot, fired at the animal. He did not hit it, but as Tom advanced +slowly toward it the creature went into the castle. + +"It's a wild-cat," cried Charley. "I saw it as it crossed that patch of +moonlight. Come on, boys, and we'll have a hunt." + +[Illustration: HUNTING FOR A WILD-CAT IN CHAMBLY CASTLE.] + +With their pistols ready for instant service, the canoeists rushed into +the castle. The wild-cat was seated on a pile of stones in what was once +the court-yard, and did not show any signs of fear. Three or four +pistol-shots, however, induced it to spring down from its perch and run +across the court-yard. The boys followed it eagerly, plunging into a +thick growth of tall weeds, and shouting at the top of their lungs. +Suddenly the animal vanished; and though Tom fancied that he saw it +crouching in the shadow of the wall, and fired at it, as he supposed, he +soon found that he was firing at a piece of old stove-pipe that had +probably been brought to the place by a picnic party. + +Giving up the hunt with reluctance, the canoeists returned to their +canoes; at least three of them did, but Joe was not with them. They +called to him, but received no answer, and becoming anxious about him, +went back to the castle and shouted his name loudly, but without +success. + +"It's very strange," exclaimed Charley. "He was close behind me when we +chased the wild-cat into those weeds." + +"Has anybody seen him since?" asked Harry. + +Nobody had seen him. + +"Then," said Harry, "the wild-cat has carried him off or killed him." + +"Nonsense!" exclaimed Charley; "a wild-cat isn't a tiger, and couldn't +carry off a small baby. Joe must be trying to play a trick on us." + +"Let's go back, and pay no attention to him," suggested Tom. "I don't +like such tricks." + +"There's no trick about it," said Harry. "Joe isn't that kind of fellow. +Something has happened to him, and we've got to look for him until we +find him." + +"Harry's right," said Charley. "Go and get the lantern out of my canoe, +won't you, Tom? I've got matches in my pocket." + +When the lantern was lit a careful search was made all over the +court-yard. Harry was greatly frightened, for he was afraid that Joe +might have been accidentally shot while the boys were shooting at the +wild-cat, and he remembered that in his excitement he had fired his +pistol in a very reckless way. It was horrible to think that he might +have shot poor Joe; worse even than thinking that the wild-cat might +have seized him. + +The court-yard had been thoroughly searched without finding the least +trace of Joe, and the boys were becoming more and more alarmed, when +Charley, whose ears were particularly sharp, cried, "Hush! I hear +something." They all listened intently, and heard a voice faintly +calling "Help!" They knew at once that it was Joe's voice, but they +could not imagine where he was. They shouted in reply to him, and +Charley, seizing the lantern, carefully pushed aside the tall weeds, and +presently found himself at the mouth of a well. + +"Are you there, Joe?" he cried, lying down on the ground, with his head +over the mouth of the well. + +"I believe I am," replied Joe. "I'm ready to come out, though, if you +fellows will help me." + +The boys gave a great shout of triumph. + +"Are you hurt?" asked Charley, eagerly. + +"I don't think I am; but I think somebody will be if I have to stay here +much longer." + +It was evident that Joe was not seriously hurt, although he had fallen +into the well while rushing recklessly after the wild-cat. Tom and Harry +ran to the canoes, and returned with all four of the canoe painters. +Tying one of them to the lantern, Charley lowered it down, and was able +to get a glimpse of Joe. The well was about twenty feet deep, and +perfectly dry, and Joe was standing, with his hands in his pockets, +leaning against the side of the well, and apparently entirely unhurt, in +spite of his fall. + +[TO BE CONTINUED.] + + + + +"THEIR GIRL." + +A STORY IN THREE CHAPTERS. + +BY JAMES OTIS, + +AUTHOR OF "TOBY TYLER," "TIM AND TIP," "MR. STUBBS'S BROTHER," ETC. + + +I. + +"She had on a dress that was silk all over it, an' it was almost as much +as you could do to see her hands for the lace an' fringe an' ribbons. +She was a good deal handsomer than them wax images in Smith & Jones's +store, an' when she bought a paper of pins of me she give five cents, +without waitin' for the change." + +"Wot's five cents when jest as likely as not she had as much as five +dollars in her pocket?" said Johnny Davis, the newsboy, who was +sometimes spoken of, and to, by his proper name, but more often as +"Water-melon Davis," because of his enormous appetite for the watery +fruit. + +Johnny spoke almost contemptuously of that which Katy Morrison, the +"black-pin girl," considered a piece of good fortune, and if he did not +actually turn his nose up in disdain, it was because nature had already +so elevated that rather prominent feature of his face that it was +impossible for him to get it any higher. + +"Well"--and Jimmy Green, Johnny's partner in business, as well as +particular friend of Katy's, spoke very slowly, as was customary with +him--"five cents ain't to be sneezed at when a feller's only expectin' +to get one, an' if Katy could get enough of 'em she'd make three, four +dollars a day." + +"How I wish I could!" said Katy, enviously, as with her stock of pins in +her lap she sat on the door-step of an unoccupied store, her chin +resting on one hand as she rattled the pennies in her pocket with the +other. "If I could make that much, I'd buy me a whole dress, an' real +shoes without any holes in 'em, an'--an'--an' I'd buy a pair of +bracelets, that's what I'd do." + +"Bracelets!" sneered Johnny, as he folded the paper that was undoubtedly +fated to remain on his hands as stale goods from his morning's stock. +"It makes me feel almost like gettin' mad, Katy, to hear you talk about +buyin' bracelets, when you can get a pair of boxin'-gloves down to +Levy's for as much as you'd pay for bracelets." + +"Well, I don't know 'bout that," said Jimmy, as he rubbed his chin +reflectively. "P'r'aps they'd do her more good than the gloves would, +'cause, you see, Katy don't know nothin' 'bout boxin'." + +"Then she oughter learn," was the very decided response from Master +Davis. "Girls could box as well as fellers if they'd get somebody to +show 'em how." + +"But I don't want to learn, an' I do want the bracelets," said Katy, +thinking that possibly she had the right to say how this prospective +money of hers should be spent. "That's all you boys think about, how you +can hurt each other, an' you don't care what you wear nor how you look. +I'd like to wear dresses that wasn't all torn, an' I'd like to look the +way girls do what have mothers, an' don't have to live in such a old +house as we do, an' pay 'most all our money for what Mother Brown calls +board an' lodgin'. Then when I want bracelets, you tell me to get +boxin'-gloves." + +"Well, if you don't want 'em, don't get 'em," said Johnny, +philosophically, and looking much as if he fully understood how +difficult it is to persuade girls as to just what they really need. "Buy +the bracelets, an' then you'll look fine, won't you? sellin' pins fur a +cent a paper with a big pair of gold bracelets slippin' down over yer +hands every time you try to shy a stick at a dog." + +"I never throwed a stick at a dog in my life," said Katy, indignantly; +and then she added, quickly, "'cept once, when Dutch Pete cheated me +outer two herrin's, an' I hit his dog to get even with him." + +"I tell you what it is, fellers," said Jimmy, who had been making mental +calculations based upon this argument he had unwittingly started, until +he believed he understood it better than either of his companions did: +"neither one of you hain't got the money to buy either the bracelets or +the gloves, so wot's the use of makin' a fuss over it? When I get a +paper stand of my own, I'm goin' to buy Katy everything she wants, an' I +ain't goin' to let her sell pins, neither." + +"Ain't you kinder tired talkin' 'bout that stand, Jimmy? We've heard +'bout it ever since you an' I was pardners, an' you hain't got no nearer +to it now than to owe Mother Brown five cents on last week's board." + +Johnny said this in a reproving tone, but it is very probable that he +did it more to hide his confusion, caused by his partner's first remark, +than for any other purpose, for he was usually careful not to hurt +Jimmy's feelings. + +"I'll have it jest the same," was the calm reply, and then Jimmy +relapsed into another fit of chin rubbing, from which he did not arouse +himself until one of his friends in the same line of business rushed up +with the startling intelligence that there had been "a big accident on +the railroad, an' papers are jest goin' to fly to-night." + + * * * * * + +It was not until quite a late hour in the afternoon that the three +friends, who boarded in the same house, met again after their interview +was broken in upon by the news of a probable activity in the newspaper +business, and when they did meet both the boys were in the highest +possible state of excitement. + +The prediction that papers would "fly" had been verified, and more than +one of Mother Brown's boarders had been made happy. Particularly was +this happiness apparent in Jimmy's case. Even while the rush of trade +was at its height he had been thinking of what Katy had said about +wearing a dress that was not torn, and as his profits accumulated he +conceived a plan so brilliant that he could hardly wait to meet Katy +before he explained it. + +The stores had been closed, and Katy, finding no customers for her pins, +was walking slowly toward the not very cheerful place where Mrs. Brown +kept a boarding-house for those children of the streets who have no idea +of what home is, save as they see it from the outside, peering curiously +in at those more fortunate ones who have a father, mother, home, and +everything which goes to make up happiness and content. + +She had walked nearly down town--for, as may be imagined, Mrs. Brown's +house was not in the most pleasant portion of New York--and she was just +beginning to wonder where her friends were, when she saw them coming +toward her, looking quite as important and a great deal more satisfied +than the most prosperous merchant on the street. + +"Say, Katy," shouted Jimmy, while he was yet some distance away, his +secret having grown so overpowering in the last few moments that he +could hardly keep it until he saw the girl, "I've made a dollar 'n' +forty-one cents, an' what d'yer s'pose I'm goin' to do with it?" + +"Goin' to start your stand?" and Katy seemed quite as much pleased by +the good fortune as Jimmy was. + +[Illustration: "NO, SIR; I'M GOIN' TO BUY YOU A NEW DRESS."] + +"No, sir! I'm goin' to buy you a new dress, after I pay Mother Brown, +an' give Tom Brady the cent I owe him. That'll leave me a dollar 'n' +thirty-five cents, an' you shall have the best one we can find in the +city. I shouldn't wonder if we'd have money enough to get the bracelets +too," he added, in the tone of one who is certain, but prefers to let +the matter remain in pleasing doubt for a time. + +"Oh, Jimmy," cried Katy, in delight, for the thoughts of what she might +have if she only had the money had made her very nearly unhappy during +the remainder of that afternoon, when trade had been dull, "_are_ you +goin' to spend that money for me?" + +"Every cent," was the decided reply, as the money was rattled to give +greater emphasis to the words. + +"But you mustn't, Jimmy," said Katy, as she began to understand that her +friend needed it quite as much as she did. "You can get your stand with +that, an' I can wear this dress as well as not." + +"But I'm goin' to buy the dress, an' the bracelets, an' a lot of +things," was the reply, in a tone that admitted of no argument. + +"An' ef he hain't got enough, I can put out the balance," said Johnny, +speaking thus tardily because there had been a great struggle in his +mind as to whether or no he would not be doing Katy a greater favor by +buying the boxing-gloves for her. + +Never since Katy Morrison could remember had she worn a dress that was +made of new material. Even before her mother had died, leaving her to +the anything but tender care of Mrs. Brown, her dresses had been made of +old ones, and now the mere idea of having one without a hole in it +seemed almost too good to be true. + +She did make another protest against her friends spending their money +for her, though she admitted that if the pin market remained in its +present overstocked condition she could never hope to buy one from her +earnings; but Jimmy had made up his mind, after much rubbing of his +chin, and nothing she could have said would have caused him to change +it. He and Johnny discussed the question of what color the dress should +be--that it was to be of silk was understood, and Katy hardly knew how +to contain her joy, so impossible had such a thing seemed a few hours +before. + +While they were talking they had passed through City Hall Park, and as +they started to cross the street they were still eagerly discussing the +question of color, Johnny being decidedly in favor of red, while Jimmy +believed a bright green would be more suitable. Katy was just behind +them, taking no part in the conversation, because one color would please +her as well as another; the "whole" dress, whatever its shade, was +sufficient for her. + +So heated had the argument become that neither of the boys noticed, amid +the general bustle of the square, the clatter and rush of a horse +attached to a light express wagon, nor did they hear the warning cries +of the driver until it was close upon them. + +Then they had only time to escape being knocked down by the horse. As +they jumped suddenly they heard a cry from Katy, another from those on +the sidewalk, and they turned just in time to see the poor girl, whose +thoughts of a new dress had rendered her careless to everything around +her, lying on the pavement, with a great crimson stain, that grew larger +and larger, upon her hair. + +Before they could reach her a policeman had carried her to the sidewalk, +and they were obliged to stand on the outside of a large crowd of +curious ones, who always gather at anything unusual as if by magic, +while the only being in the world who loved them and whom they loved, +was perhaps dying, perhaps dead. + +Clutching each other's hands tightly, while the great tears of a sorrow +that had almost stupefied them rolled down their cheeks, the two stood +there, near the curb-stone, not knowing what to do or say. They did not +even know how long they remained there; but when the ambulance came, and +they saw the still, lifeless form of "their girl," as they called her, +lifted into the black, ominous-looking wagon, there was such a lump in +the throat of each that it seemed as if he could not breathe. + +The ambulance started off at full speed, its bell clanging the warning +to drivers of other vehicles to clear the way, and without knowing where +it was going, or anything save the fact that "their girl" was in it, the +two boys ran after it regardless of fatigue or danger. + +On and on the precious load was carried, until finally, when it seemed +to Jimmy a physical impossibility that he could run any further, the +ambulance was stopped before a huge building, which both the boys knew +was the hospital. + +One more glimpse they had of Katy as she was carried through the gate, +and then they waited in painful suspense, as if they expected some word +would be sent to them. + +It was late in the evening when one of the attendants came out of the +building, and found the boys crouching close by the gate. Before he had +time to ask them what they were doing there, they overwhelmed him with +questions as to the fate of Katy, and when he finally understood who +they were inquiring about, he told them that it was impossible to say +whether she could recover or not, as her injuries were believed to be +very severe. + +For several moments the boys stood looking at each other in mute fear, +after the man had passed on, and then Johnny said, solemnly, + +"Jimmy, did you ever pray the same as the rich folks do?" + +"No." + +"Let's do it now, an' p'r'aps Katy'll get well." + +"Well, let's," replied Jimmy, earnestly, and there, upon the dusty +street, two boys whose ragged coats covered true, kindly hearts, prayed, +after their fashion, to the God of whom they had but seldom heard, for +the life of "their girl." + +[TO BE CONTINUED.] + + + + +[Illustration: "BREAD-AND-BUTTER DAYS."--FROM A PAINTING BY WEEDON +GROSSMITH.] + + + + +AN UNKNOWN HERO. + + +Deep down in a mine in Wardley Colliery, Newcastle, England, there is a +brave boy who deserves to be called a hero. In a situation of sudden +peril he used precautions which prevented a dreadful explosion, simply +by behaving with courage and presence of mind. + +He noticed that his lamp flared up, a sure sign of the presence of +dangerous gas. Had he hastily rushed away, his light might have burst +through the wire gauze which surrounds a miner's lamp, and setting fire +to the gas, caused a heart-rending accident. + +The lad did nothing so silly. When questioned by the Superintendent as +to how he had found out that there was gas in the neighborhood where he +was at work, he replied, "Because my lamp flared." + +"And what did you do then?" asked the gentleman. + +"I took my pricker, and pulled down the wick, but the lamp still +flared." + +"Well, my boy, and how did you manage then?" + +"Why, I put the lamp inside my jacket, and covered it up tight, and the +light went out." + +Of course, the lamp could not burn without air. + +To think of the right thing to do, and then promptly to do it, boys, +that is what makes the difference between a common man and a hero. + +This little fellow, whose name is not mentioned--Mick, or Ted, or +Jack--has in him the making of a grand man, cool, resolute, and clever. + +Fortunately there was an overseer near him, who, when, he heard from the +lad about his lamp, went bravely through the gas, in total darkness, and +set open a door, the closing of which had forced the gas into the +main-ways of the mine. + +All honor to them both. + + + + +DEACON DODD'S CALF. + +BY SYDNEY DAYRE. + + +Three of us boys--Will Harald, his cousin from the nearest city, who was +visiting him, and myself--went down to Deacon Dodd's farm one Friday +afternoon, after tea. We found the old gentleman mowing the grass in the +front yard. + +"Come in, boys; set down on the steps there. Hot, isn't it?" He wiped +his forehead vigorously with his red silk handkerchief. + +"Deacon," said Will, "we came to ask you for a peck or so of your pound +sweets, for our fishing excursion to-morrow." + +"Have a drink of cold water? Pound sweets, eh? Well, now, I'm sorry. +Won't anything else do you? Fact is, every pound sweet I've got's +promised; there wa'n't many this year, and they're a skurse kind, you +see. But you can have anything else you can find on the farm, and +welcome. The bell-flowers are tiptop--help yourselves." + +We thanked him, but didn't care for anything else. We had plenty of +other apples ourselves, and had set our minds on having some of the +Deacon's great yellow pound sweets. We wandered discontentedly into the +orchard without finding anything we wanted, peeped at the big +snapping-turtle by the spring, patted the pretty gentle Jersey cow and +her half-grown calf, both of which were the pride and delight of the +Deacon's heart, and then sat down in the open doorway of the great barn. + +"He's a mean old skinflint, I say," said George, the boy from town. Will +and I knew he wasn't any such thing, but we were out of humor at having +our walk for nothing, and did not take the trouble to argue the matter. + +"I don't think he would have missed a peck," I said. + +"Wants to sell 'em, I s'pose. Seems to me I'd oblige a few boys even if +it was a few cents out of my pocket." + +"Let's play a trick on the old codger," said George. "Last summer our +teacher wouldn't give us a holiday when we wanted it, so we shut him up +in the school till late at night." + +"And what came of it?" we inquired, in great interest. + +"Oh, well, one or two of us got expelled for awhile, but that just +suited us." + +This did not sound to me like a very successful issue of the trick, but +George went on: + +"Let's run off his calf." + +"How do you mean?" asked Will. + +"Why, lead it clear off, and tie it up somewhere, so he'll think it's +lost." + +"He thinks about as much of that cow and calf as he does of his +children," I said, with some misgivings. + +"All the better--he'll be in a jolly sputter over it. We won't hurt +anything; just have a little fun on the old fellow. Nobody'll know. Come +on." + +Somehow I couldn't help feeling that I hated to do anything like playing +a trick on the Deacon, for as a general thing he was very good to us +boys. But then, on the other hand, it did seem perfectly unreasonable +for him to refuse to give us just a few of those apples when we knew he +had three times as many as he and all his family put together could eat. +Still, I don't think I would have given in if George hadn't urged the +matter so. He is one of those fellows who always takes the lead, and the +rest of us just follow on. He started off, and Will and I went after +him. + +We quietly stole round the back of the barn to the lot in which we had +seen the cow and calf. No one happened to be about just then. We found a +rope, tied it to the calf, and led her into a lane. Soon she got tired +of being handled by so many strangers, and I tell you she gave us a +lively time. She was a stout, skittish little creature, and we boys had +no end of exercise getting her along. She would walk quietly enough for +a few steps, and then make a jump forward, which would nearly jerk us +off our feet; or she would stop suddenly and turn back, tipping over a +boy or two, like enough. At last we put our apple-bag over her head, and +she travelled a little easier, but you'd better believe all our hands +were sore hanging on to that rope. At last we tied her in a bushy grove +about half a mile from the far end of the Deacon's farm. + +We had thought it great fun as long as we were all together, but when I +was at home alone it didn't seem half so smart to be putting a joke on +an old man, and a good kindly old man at that. I woke up several times +in the night with the stinging and burning in my hands, and thought what +if anything should happen to the calf. Not a word had been said between +us as to how it was to be got back again--I don't believe any of us had +thought so far ahead as that. + +It is dreadful hard work to sleep when you've got anything troublesome +on your mind. I tossed about and thought it over just what the Deacon +would say when he found the calf was gone; and how Mrs. Dodd would +worry. Finally I thought of the piles of doughnuts she had given us boys +at one time and another. I got so wretched that I couldn't stand it any +longer. + +I didn't know how long George intended to keep it hidden, but I made up +my mind to get up with the first streak of day, and went to see if I +couldn't get the calf back by myself. Then I meant to leave George and +Will to bother themselves awhile, wondering what could become of it. It +was a long walk, but at last I reached the place, and then I tell you I +stood and stared--that calf was gone! + +I hunted and hunted all about there, but it was no use. The faces of +Will and George grew as blank as my own as I told them, and we joined +the fishing party of a dozen or so boys with a heavy sinking at our +hearts, and many doubts as to what might be the outcome of our clever +joke on the old Deacon. + +Early in the afternoon we saw a spring-wagon working its way along under +the willows where we were fishing. Two men were in it, one of whom, a +stumpy, freckle-faced Irishman, I recognized as Deacon Dodd's new hired +man. The other was a neighbor of ours, and it was not until he had +beckoned George and Will and myself a little apart from the other boys +that I remembered all of a sudden, with a great addition to the weight +on my mind, that he was the deputy-sheriff. + +"Yis, sor, thim's the very b'ys," said the Irishman, with a very +positive nod of his head at us. + +The deputy-sheriff looked puzzled. + +"Why, my man," he said, "you don't mean it's _these_ boys you're after?" + +"It's jist these same I'm maning--the very wans me own eyes saw shtalin' +away the Daacon's calf." + +At this we burst out laughing, and gave the deputy-sheriff an account of +our frolic of the night before. Mike listened unmoved, simply asking, as +we finished: + +"But wheriver is the Daacon's baste, thin?" + +This we could not answer. The deputy-sheriff whispered with the +Irishman, seeming to intercede for us; but Mike only answered, doggedly: + +"The Daacon was called away suddint lasht night, and only mesilf to see +to things. Them b'ys had the calf--wheriver is the calf?" + +His stubborn faithfulness was not to be shaken, and the deputy-sheriff +gave up. + +"Well, boys, seeing he's so set, I guess you'd better just jump in and +go along with me--being such a valuable animal, you see. Of course it +won't amount to anything, mere matter of form; only a little talk before +Squire Granger." + +We were a crest-fallen three as we mounted that spring-wagon, dimly +realizing that, spite of the deputy-sheriff's politeness, the plain +English of all this was that we were under arrest, and on our way to a +magistrate's office. Our worst fears all the morning had been of our +being called upon to pay the price of a choice specimen of blooded +stock, but an indefinite train of horrible possibilities now seemed to +open out before our imaginations. + +How our cheeks burned as we found ourselves before the country justice, +and perceived the crowd drawn by the excitement of a preliminary +examination, and heard the astonishment and horror expressed that we +should be the criminals. How our shame and confusion increased as the +other members of the picnic, whom we had devoutly hoped would not allow +their day's sport to be shortened by our leaving the party so early, +quietly filed in, and added their gaze to the others'. + +The justice seemed somewhat embarrassed himself. There did not seem to +be much of a case, but what little there was was dead against us. The +only thing about it was Mike's unwavering testimony to having seen us in +the lane driving away the calf. This we could not deny, and all our +protestations of its being only a joke were thrown into confusion by his +stubbornly repeated question: + +"Thin, wheriver is the Daacon's baste?" + +The thing began to look less and less like a joke to us as we found it +impossible to bring any witnesses for the defense. The justice and the +deputy-sheriff whispered solemnly together. + +All at once there was a stir in court. Deacon Dodd elbowed his way into +our neighborhood, and as he looked us over, his genial face expanded +into a laugh that shook the very rafters. + +"Well, boys, have you had enough fun?" + +We had nothing to say. The justice seemed cheered by the entrance into +the case of something lively, and asked the Deacon if he had any +evidence to offer. We, the prisoners, were not encouraged, feeling very +sure his testimony could not be in our favor. The justice had some +trouble in getting things sobered down enough to swear the Deacon +properly, but when this was accomplished he was allowed to give his +account in his own way, which went something like this: + +"Yes, your honor, I felt bad when the boys wanted them pound sweets, for +I always do take to giving to boys--used to be a boy myself, you know, +and it don't seem so very long ago neither, 'though I don't pretend to +be as young as I was once. Well, when I got into my little tool-room in +the barn to hang up my scythe, and sat there to cool off a bit, being as +the evening was warmish, and them poor chaps, after having tired +themselves all out trying to find something nice in the orchard, and +couldn't, come to take a rest at the barn door, and says they, 'The +Deacon's an old skinflint, and wants to put every cent he can in his +pocket.' Likewise wishing every apple on his place would rot and such +like--I say, Squire, I could hardly forbear just getting up and going +out to them boys and saying, 'Boys, just you go 'n' get every pound +sweet on that tree--_don't you leave one_.' But, you see, my wife, Mis' +Dodd, had told me how she'd been and promised every individual one of +them pound sweets to the hospital; for them poor souls lying there sick +found it hard to get anything real relishing, and liked 'em baked. So I +couldn't help myself, seeing she'd passed her word for a charity, and +would 'a felt hard at me, naturally, if I'd gone back on her. + +"But when the boys thought they'd like a little fun with the Jersey +calf, I knew they wouldn't do the pretty creatur' any hurt, for I heard +'em saying how they knew I set great store by her. The evening was +getting cooler then, so I just took a walk along behind the hedge, they +being on t'other side.--You did have a time with her, didn't you, boys?" + +What a roar went up from that roomful of listeners! + +"'Twas tough; yes, I could see that, a regular tussle to get her along. +I'd 'a helped you, for she follows me like a lamb, only I was afraid +'twould spoil your fun if I took hold too. So I just kept along till you +tied her up safe and comfortable--" + +Here Mike broke in, in total disregard of the proprieties of a +court-room: + +"But, Daacon, wheriver's the baste _now_? Be the howly poker she's clane +gone off the farrum!" + +"She's in the northeast corner pasture. I'd been calculating to put her +there, to be more in the shade, and the boys gave me just so much help +with her, you see. After I'd put her there and got home, I found a +letter from my son Isaac, telling how he was sick, and wanted to see me +and his mother, Mis' Dodd. So I just hitched up, and without waiting to +see Mike, me and her started off to drive over there--better than four +miles 'tis--and the calf slipped my mind till I just now got back, and +heard tell how Mike here was making a bother with the boys. That's all, +your honor." + +His honor, I knew, had been dreadfully worried at not having been able +to give more dignity to the court, and he now opened his mouth, I +suppose to dismiss the proceedings in proper form, but the Deacon gave +him no chance at all. I am not prepared to say that we three are not +legally under arrest to this day. + +"Better go back to your fishing now, boys," he said. "Too bad to have +your day broke up so; but Mike meant well, you know." + +"Three cheers for Mike!" shouted some one, intent on pushing the fun as +far as possible. + +"Three cheers for Deacon Dodd!" came next, and when they had been given +with a will by the merry crowd, a cry arose: + +"Three cheers for the half-grown calf!" + +Before they had died away, Mike turned with a most meaning look at us +three boys, exclaiming: + +"Ivery wan of 'em." + +And they gave us a tiger. + + + + +A SWAN DESIGN FOR FLAT POCKET PIN-CUSHION. + +BY MRS. T. W. DEWING. + + +[Illustration] + +Mark very exactly on some thin white material of a polished surface and +fine quality outlines of the pincushion and the design. The best way to +do this is to make a very careful tracing of the design, and transfer it +by means of transfer-paper. Any carelessness in following the design +loses all the style it may possess. This done, outline the swan and all +the markings of the wing feathers, eyes, etc., with simple stitching in +a gray silk so pale as to appear white until contrasted with the +brilliant white cloth. Work the part representing water in simple +horizontal lines of chain stitch, as shown in the design, with silk of +light blue across the lower end of the circle. Work the rest of the +background in darning stitch perpendicularly from the top of the circle +to the water in a rich deep blue silk, being very careful not to +interfere with the outline of the swan or of the water. + +Cut two pieces of card-board exactly the size and shape of the circle. +Mount the embroidery upon one of them, and cover the other with blue +satin. Baste the two circles thus covered together back to back, having +laid carefully between them three little circles of flannel a very +little smaller than the outer circles. Then overhand the two edges of +the pincushion very carefully together. + + + + +THE BUILDING OF ST. MARY'S OF THE PEOPLE. + +A LEGEND OF CHRISTIAN ROME. + +BY E. M. TRAQUAIR. + + +Entering Rome by what was anciently called the Flaminian Gate, but is +now the Porta del Popolo, or People's Gate, the stranger finds himself +in a large, beautiful open place called the People's Square. It lies at +the foot of the Pincian Hill, called by the ancient Romans, in the +language of the time, the Hill of Gardens. If it deserved this name in +those days, it does not deserve it less now. The most beautiful gardens +in Rome, laid out with lovely flower beds, commodious carriage drives, +and shady walks, are on its summit. A military band plays there in the +afternoons, and it is the favorite resort of the rank and fashion of +modern Rome, from the King downward. + +Like much else in Rome, the history of the Pincian Gardens is sad and +terrible. The great Mistress of the World, if she was at times rich in +virtues, was just as often famed for terrible crimes. These gardens +belonged at one time to the famous epicure Lucullus. This man, possessor +of enormous wealth, loved good dinners much, but hated the trouble of +ordering them as heartily as many a fine lady of the present day. To +save himself this trouble, then, he had a number of dining-halls in his +house, each arranged in a different manner. His steward was so well +trained that he knew to a nicety, on receiving the order as to which +hall the supper was to be served in, how it was to be arranged, and what +degree of splendor it was to be of. The banquets of Lucullus became +proverbial for luxury. It is even told of him that being very fond of a +certain sort of eel he had a pond made for them in this garden. Their +favorite food being human flesh, the legend tells us that he +occasionally ordered a slave to be thrown in to them, to help to make +them fat and savory for his table. + +After the death of Lucullus, these gardens passed into the hands of a +certain patrician named Valerius Asiaticus. This was during the reign of +the Emperor Claudius. The Emperor's wicked wife Messalina coveted them +for herself, so she got up a false accusation against poor Asiaticus, +who seems, on the whole, to have been a very worthy man. But his +innocence did not save him. He was condemned to death, and his property +given to Messalina. The wretched woman's triumph did not last long, +however. Claudius was told of her wicked life, and she was killed by his +command on the very place she had obtained for herself by such a horrid +crime. Word was brought to the Emperor while he was sitting at table +that his wicked wife was dead. He made no reply, and went on quietly +eating his supper. They were a queer people, those old heathen Romans. + +To return to the People's Square. In the centre is a tall obelisk +brought from the Temple of the Sun in Egypt during the reign of +Augustus. It was thousands of years old, perhaps, before Rome was built. +A beautiful fourfold fountain at its base spouts clear sparkling water +from the mouths of four antique lions of basalt. It is the most +picturesque square in Rome. + +At the left-hand side of the Porta del Popolo, as you enter, stands the +ancient Church of St. Mary's of the People, concerning the building of +which the following story is told: + +When the bloody and cruel Emperor Nero, who had wantonly killed so many +people during his short reign, was killed in his turn, he was so +execrated by the people that none could be found to give him burial. +Then his nurse Eclaga, who still went on loving him, as some gentle +souls will do, in spite of his dreadful crimes, buried him, with the +help of two other women, compassionate like herself, in a tomb at the +foot of the Hill of Gardens. On this tomb, for many years, a wreath of +fresh flowers was found every morning, no one knowing who had placed it +there. So they watched one night, and just before break of day +discovered this poor faithful old woman bringing this loving offering to +the memory of him whom she remembered only as the innocent babe she had +nursed in her arms. + +As time went on, these offerings ceased. Eclaga was dead and gone, and +with her had passed away every loving remembrance of the wretched man +who was buried at the foot of the Pincian Hill. Horror and loathing were +the only sentiments his memory inspired. By-and-by nothing marked the +spot where his body lay but a gigantic walnut-tree which had grown out +of his grave. It was so large that it overshadowed all the place and +covered it with gloom. + +This gloom was still further increased by an innumerable quantity of +large crows that had taken up their abode in this tree. They darkened +the air all around by their flight. The people inhabiting the +neighborhood had no rest by night or by day by reason of their hideous, +unearthly croaking. Every means tried to drive them away proved vain. +They kept their abode on the tree above Nero's tomb, and defied all +earthly power to assail them. + +Then a great fear fell on all the people, for they thought that it was +not with natural crows they had to do, but with demons who were keeping +watch over the grave of the wicked Emperor. Then, as there was no help +in man, they prayed to God. + +Now Paschal the First, who was Bishop of Rome at that time, and a good +and holy man, had a strange dream one night. In this dream it was +revealed to him that no earthly power could drive away the demon crows, +which, if not exorcised, would soon overpower the whole of Rome. The +only way to do this effectually was to go forth at early morning, at the +head of all his clergy, singing psalms and hymns and praying fervently. +Then they were to cut down the tree, and take it out by the roots to the +very last fibre of it, and build a church on the spot where it had +stood. + +Full of joy at this revelation, Paschal summoned his clergy, and told +them of his dream. Then he went, as he had been directed, at their head +in procession through the city, singing psalms and hymns. Arrived at the +spot, they knelt down and prayed fervently. Then they commenced to hew +down the tree, the supposed demons all the while uttering wild and +unearthly croakings. After the tree was cut down, and every root of it +taken up, the crows flew away with a terrible noise. + +A beautiful church was then built on the spot; and as the funds for its +erection were entirely collected and given by the common people, it +received the name of St. Mary's of the People. There are some beautiful +marbles in it, and many fine old paintings, some of them by the most +famous of the old masters. + + + + +[Illustration] + + + Oh, such a bunch of posies! + We found them on our way, + And gathered them for Robin, + Who lies abed all day. + "You'll soon be well, dear laddie," + The posies sweet will say. + + * * * * * + +[Illustration] + + Oh dear, but he's queer, this wonderful snail, + O'er the whole wide world he may travel and sail; + But where'er he may go on the longest track, + He carries his house on his funny back. + What wonder, then, that he likes to roam, + When the comical fellow is always at home. + + * * * * * + +[Illustration] + + Wilt thou listen, Jesus dear, + To the prayer that I would say; + Thou didst promise Thou wouldst hear + When the little children pray. + I would like, dear Lord, to be + Patient, gentle, good, and mild, + Ever growing more like Thee, + And as Thou wert when a child. + + + + +[Illustration] + +OUR POST-OFFICE BOX. + + +Just about this time, dears, your mammas are very busy in looking at the +fall fashions. They wish to dress their girls and boys so neatly and +comfortably that they shall have no temptation to think too much about +their clothes. And then, too, they want you to wear pretty things, +because children should look bright and beautiful, just as flowers and +birds do. + +If you choose, you may ask them to make your own new costumes like some +of these pictures. We think, too, the little women who write to the +Post-office Box about their doll families, and who have so much on their +minds in the way of caring for the Lady Bettys, and Miss Lucys, and +Mabels, and Isabels, whom they so dearly love, will be glad to see some +dainty fall fashions for dolls. The little girls in the picture are very +graceful and sweet. + +I wonder if I can help you a little in dressing these same dollies. +There are two tall girls nearly in the middle. The one on the right we +will call Alice. Her dress is of fine soft cashmere of an olive tint. +She has a wide sash of satin a little darker than her gown. Her friend +Florence has on a petticoat of Indian red, which is a peculiarly rich +dark shade. If mamma will give you a few bits of velvet or velveteen for +this petticoat, and also for the shoulder cape, Miss Florence will look +very charming. Her over-dress may be of fawn-colored silk. + +Shall we call the two little ladies on Alice's right Dotty and Dimple? +Dimple has her face this way, and Dotty's is turned aside. We will dress +Dimple in lavender and heliotrope, and Dotty shall be a cunning little +maiden in two shades of brown. + +Now for the others. Don't you wish we could see little Marjorie's blue +eyes and rosy cheeks? But we can only guess at them. Our artist has +shown us that she knows how to stand up straight, and the way she holds +her head is delightful. She is wearing, as you see, a pretty gray check, +and she is a very good match for her little sister in that stylish cadet +blue, and her cousin Willie in his jaunty suit. + +When you shall have succeeded in dressing some of your pets like these +pictures, you may write and tell me all about the fun you had in cutting +out the clothes and making them fit. Be sure you write about how you +contrived the little bonnets and hats. Perhaps you will be trying your +skill at dressing dolls for a fair this winter, or in making Christmas +presents, and these illustrations may give you some new ideas. + +The boys must not feel that they are left out of this pleasure. They may +draw these little figures on bits of paper, and then color them +beautifully with their paints. Or, if they do so very carefully indeed, +they may color the figures as they stand. + + * * * * * + + FOOCHOW, CHINA. + + I was very glad to see my letter printed in one of the February + papers. I do not expect to learn to write Chinese, but I learn to + talk a little from the servants. Our Amah talks "pidgin English." + This is the way she talks, "Amy just now have got too muchee rain, + no can go walkee." + + I have a doll that can say Papa and Mamma, but my mamma does not + let me play with it, as it is wax. There are a great many roaches + here, and one bit a piece of my dolly's cheek out when it was put + away in the wardrobe. + + Our only pet is a small cat, which is very lazy, and does nothing + but eat and sleep. Sometimes we dress her up in doll's clothes as a + baby. We have a very nice aquarium with gold-fish, shrimp, and one + other kind of fish in it. The gold-fish have double tails. In the + fall we hope to get the aquarium nicely filled with plants and + things. + + It is very hot here in the summer, but there is a large island, + called Sharp Peak, in the China Sea, thirty miles from here, where + the missionaries have houses, and go to spend part of the time. + There is a very nice beach, and the bathing is very good. We went + down for two weeks in June, and had a nice time. My brothers and I + found some pretty shells. Please tell me if the lady whom you heard + talk about China has ever been in Foochow. I have 568 stamps in my + album now. + + AMY C. J. + +Your cat is very accommodating to be willing to wear doll's clothes to +please you. Ask mamma to let you play with your wax doll, and then she +will not be in danger of making a dinner for roaches or rats. I think +the lady I spoke of when replying to your former letter has been in +Foochow. + + * * * * * + + BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS. + + All the young people will be writing about their vacations, I + suppose, and so I will write about mine. The most interesting part + will be, I think, about my visit to Nantucket. Nantucket is a very + old town. The houses are all built away from the sea, so when one + is walking through the streets one has no view of the water at all. + The very old houses all have on their roofs what are called + "Lookouts." These are small railed platforms for the people to + stand in and look out for the whaling vessels. When one came in + sight, whoever was on the lookout gave the signal, and then great + preparations were commenced--cooking mostly, I guess, for they + didn't illuminate and send up fire-works in those days. + + A splendid view of the town of Nantucket is obtained from the + Unitarian church tower. In this tower is a very old bell, with a + cross on two of its sides, and a Latin inscription under each + cross. This bell was originally intended to form one of twelve + chimes in an ancient Catholic church in Spain, but it was stolen, + and after changing hands several times, it was landed in Nantucket. + + Whoever goes to Nantucket must be sure and visit the Old Mill, + which is a great curiosity. There is only one other like it in + America. The curious part about it is that it is so old, and it + never has been changed since it was first built, many, many years + ago. The town-crier is another ancient institution, and with his + bell and tin fish-horn he goes about the streets crying out all the + news. When they wish to have an auction in Nantucket, everybody who + has anything to sell carries it to the corner of some designated + street, and there the things are auctioned off. We did not have + time to go over to Siasconsett, but I mean to if I ever go to + Nantucket again. The next time I write I will tell you about + Plymouth. Good-by. + + A. B. + +Well, you have made me feel a strong desire to go to quaint old +Nantucket. Don't you think the good home cooking must have tasted very +delicious to hungry sailors who had been used to sea fare during long +and tedious voyages? And how happy must dear little girls have been +when, climbing to the lookout, they saw in the distance their fathers' +ships coming in! How they must have hurried down to tell mother, and +what a joyful troop must have been at the wharf to welcome the bronzed +and bearded man when once more he set foot on his native land! + + * * * * * + + BRICK CHURCH, NEW JERSEY. + + I am eleven years of age, and have been receiving HARPER'S YOUNG + PEOPLE as a present for nearly two years. I think it is one of the + nicest Christmas presents I ever had given to me, and I enjoy the + stories, puzzles, and Post-office Box very much. As school opened + last Monday, I thought I would wind up my holidays by sending you + fifty cents of my own for Young People's Cot, and hope it may help + a little to do some poor sick child good. + + I had a real good time during vacation, and among other things, my + brothers and sisters and I (there are six of us all--steps and + stairs, mamma says) made a collection of caterpillars, putting them + in boxes with covers of glass, so that we could watch them. We fed + them with cabbage leaves and turnip-tops. Did you know some + caterpillars were cannibals? We caught some very pretty green ones + with black stripes and yellow horns, and they soon attached + themselves to the side of the box by two threads, and after a day + or so their skins came off, and they turned into cocoons. It was + just after they hung themselves up that the other caterpillars + attacked them, and kept them company until they had eaten them all + up. Wasn't it awful? + + We have lots of butterflies now, but I scarcely think so much of + them since I know how they behaved in their youth. But my uncle Jim + says they are regenerated, and I suppose that takes the bad out. + + Hoping, dear Postmistress, that you had a pleasant time this + summer. I am your little friend, + + EFFIE W. R. + +You were well employed in watching the caterpillars. That is the best +way to study natural history, not depending on books only, but taking +notice for yourself of the ways and habits of insects and birds. + + * * * * * + + SHELTON, NEBRASKA. + + I thought that I must write to you because all the other little + girls and boys do. I take HARPER'S YOUNG PEOPLE and _The Pansy_, + and like them both. I have a pet pig, and I call her Peggy. She is + an orphan; I raised her on a bottle. I once had a pet kitty. I + would put a shawl around her and rock her, and she would go to + sleep. Papa has a horse that I can ride. I can ride sideways on a + gallop without a saddle. My home is on a farm with my papa and + mamma, and I am their only child. We had a hail-storm here in July + which destroyed the wheat for many miles around. I attended the + Grand Army Reunion at Grand Island, Nebraska. + + LOUIE L. + +Take care that the horse does not run away with you one of these merry +days when you are riding without a saddle. + + * * * * * + + DETROIT, MICHIGAN. + + I thought I would write and tell you about my baby brother; he is + seven months old. I have a pet hen and a little kitten. My brother + had a little rabbit a short time ago, but it ran away and got lost. + I like HARPER'S YOUNG PEOPLE; we have had it every week since it + came out, but I would like it better if you would write more about + girls. + + CLARA B. K. + +If you will look carefully over the last few numbers, Clara, you will +find some very pretty stories and poems which are about girls. And we +have some very delightful things all ready for our bright girls this +autumn. + + * * * * * + + GREENWICH, CONNECTICUT. + + I thought I would tell you about some historical reminiscences for + which this place is noted. Not quite a mile out of the village is + the place where brave General Putnam rode down what is now called + "Put's Hill," and escaped from the British soldiers under General + Tryon; and General Putnam's old stone house is still standing here, + and is occupied. + + We have no pets, but papa has a very valuable bull-terrier named + Leo, which is so very gentle that my dear little sister Helen, who + is only five years old, has only to speak to him to make him drop a + bone, no matter how choice it may be. He never attempts to growl at + us when he is eating, as some dogs do. We got him as a pup, when he + was two weeks old, and as he was so young, he was sent back to his + mother until he was six weeks old. Then we have two of the nicest, + gentlest horses that ever were; their names are Charlie and Fannie. + We have had them ten years, and we can do anything with them. They + are unhitched in the main part of the stable, and they are allowed + to go where they will, but they always go in the right stalls. + There are four stalls, two day stalls and two night stalls. I have + a collection of picture cards, and my brother Gershom and I have a + splendid album of stamps. We have quite a large family--twelve in + all--and necessarily never lack company. + + I should think that the Postmistress would be very busy with all + the letters from young people. I am my parents' sixth child and + second son, and I am fourteen years old. + + FRED L. S. + + * * * * * + + FORT CONCHO, TEXAS. + + My papa is an officer in the army. We live at Fort Concho. I take + HARPER'S YOUNG PEOPLE, and get the _St. Nicholas_ from our post + library. I suppose you have heard of the great flood we had here. I + went to the river every day with papa, and saw a great many things + floating down the stream. Mamma saw a big rat on a small piece of + wood sailing along, and looking quite comical. I saw hundreds of + sheep and pieces of furniture and a piano leg rushing on. But all + that did not make me feel so bad as the little girl who lost her + mamma and sister. She stood on the bank and saw them float away on + the house roof. They were brought back dead. + + If you publish this, I will write again, and tell you about my good + times pecan-nutting and Indian-pony-riding, etc. I am ten years + old. + + RUTH W. P. + +It was, indeed, heart-rending for that poor little girl to see her dear +mother and sister carried to death before her eyes. I hope you will +write again, little Ruth. + + * * * * * + +YOUNG PEOPLE'S COT. + +We are very glad to see that the interest of our dear little readers in +Young People's Cot does not decline. The letters which we publish in +connection with the treasurer's report show that the children are +learning how pleasant it is to work for others. + + * * * * * + +Contributions received for Young People's Cot, in Holy Innocent's Ward, +St. Mary's Free Hospital for Children, 407 West Thirty-fourth Street: + + L. Benedict, Jun., New York, $5; Charles, David, Ernest, Wilfred, + and Robert Bliss, Kent, Iowa, $5; proceeds of a fair held by Ned + and Lulu Rawson, Port Richmond, S. I., $1.77; from Harry, Clarence, + Todie, James, and little Florrie, in memoriam of their dear uncle, + $1; Susie and Robbie Orton, Darlington, Wis., $4.50: Fannie, Emma, + Eddie, Mamie, and Bessie Pearson, $1; "The Willing Workers," Minnie + and Mattie Lloyd and Daisy Mason, L'Anse, Mich., $5.25; Fanny G., + 6c.; Ernest L. Scott, Kinsman, Ohio, $1; Roy, Aileen, Dicky, and + George Guppy, Oakland, Cal., $1; fines for using words "horrid" and + "awful," 27c.; Richard P. Appleton, Boonton, N. J., 25c.; total, + $26.10; amount previously acknowledged, $1232.05; grand total, + September 12, $1258.15. + + E. AUGUSTA FANSHAWE, Treasurer, 43 New St. + + * * * * * + + SPRINGFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS. + + We are five little children, and we live in the country. We feel so + sorry for the little sick children in the city that we want to send + to the Cot some money which we earned by picking blackberries and + apples for mamma. We would like very much to send more, but we have + no more at present. We will try to save some, and send some again + soon. We sent once before; perhaps you remember it. We like the + article in YOUNG PEOPLE about Egypt very much. When papa was a + young man he was a sailor, and has been to Alexandria, in Egypt, + and stood under Pompey's Pillar, and saw the two Needles which have + been removed, the one having been sent to England and the other to + America. That is why the article interested us so much. + + FANNIE, EMMA, EDDIE, MAMIE, + and BESSIE PEARSON. + + * * * * * + + L'ANSE, MICHIGAN. + + I am eleven years old. My papa takes HARPER'S YOUNG PEOPLE for me. + I have had it from the first number, and love it very much. I + always look forward with pleasure to the day that brings it. "Mr. + Stubbs's Brother" is a splendid story, and I am sorry it is ended. + Last winter some little girls and myself formed a society, which we + named the Willing Workers. We had four meetings at our house, made + dolls' clothes, and sold them. Mamma looked over the work, and + showed us how to do it right. This summer we had a lawn party, and + altogether we made $5.25, which we want sent to Young People's Cot. + Please send it for us. I hope my letter is not too long for Our + Post-office Box. The names of the little girls of the society are + Minnie and Mattie Lloyd and + + DAISY MASON. + + * * * * * + + OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA. + + Please accept the inclosed contribution of one dollar that Roy, + Aileen, Dickie, and George have saved by selling rags, bags, and + bottles, and accept our many wishes that the necessary $3000 will + soon be contributed. Very truly yours, + + MRS. A. R. GUPPY. + + * * * * * + + KINSMAN, OHIO. + + I am a little boy five years old. I send you one dollar from my + savings-bank for Young People's Cot. I had a little rabbit, but the + cat killed it one night. I have a little blue-eyed sister two years + old. Mamma was going to give her a bath one day, and got the water + all ready, and went after the brush and sponge, and she got in the + tub with her clothes on, and sat right down in the water. Her name + is Nellie. I can not write, so I got my papa to write this. + + ERNEST L. SCOTT. + + * * * * * + + DARLINGTON, WISCONSIN. + + Please find inclosed draft of $4.50 from Susie and Robbie Orton. + The most of the money was earned by them in doing such little + things as children can if they will to help. They know what it is + to be sick and have the tenderest of care, with a pleasant room, + and a soft, nice bed to lie in, and everything to make them + comfortable, and they feel they would like to help in making some + poor little child, who may not be so highly favored as they are, + more comfortable. Their mamma, + + MRS. P. A. ORTON. + + * * * * * + + NEW LONDON, CONNECTICUT. + + My little friend who lives next door to me and myself have been + trying to think of some way to earn some money for Young People's + Cot. So we have had a fair, and made most of the things ourselves, + but we had a little assistance from our friends. A very kind lady + who lives near us sent us a beautiful basket of flowers, which we + made into bouquets. We have just five dollars, which we are going + to send. We had a very nice tent out in our yard, which our mothers + fixed for us. It was made of red, white, and blue cloth, and had + flags around the edge, and lanterns hung on it, though we did not + light them, because we did not have the fair in the evening. We had + candy, lemonade, fruit, and flowers, besides all our fancy things. + We had it two afternoons, and sold nearly all our things. We + thought we had pretty good success, besides a great deal of + pleasure. I found a dandelion to-day, and I thought that was quite + late for it. I hope this is not too long to print, because we + should like very much to see it in the paper. + + LOUISE H. A. and BEATRICE W. + +I am glad to hear that you had so successful a fair, and hope next month +to see your names in the list of contributors to the fund. + + * * * * * + +PUZZLES FROM YOUNG CONTRIBUTORS. + +No. 1. + +THREE ENIGMAS. + +1. + + First in urn, not in vase. + Second in man, not in face. + Third in bell, not in tongue. + Fourth in ring, not in song. + Fifth in even, not in smooth. + Sixth in lessen, not in soothe. + Seventh in lady, also in girl. + Eighth in antelope, not in squirrel. + Whole a thing that John and Jane + Never use when it does not rain. + + MOTHER BUNCH. + +2. + + First in Charlie, not in Fred. + Second in Albert, not in Ned. + Third in tick, not in clock. + Fourth in boat, not in dock. + Fifth in maize, not in corn. + Sixth in shave, not in shorn. + Seventh in ruin, not in waste. + Eighth in rash, also in haste. + Ninth in son, not in daughter. + Whole is used on the water. + + ALFRED B. (aged 8). + +3. + + First in break, not in mend. + Second in bow, not in bend. + Third in hash, not in meat. + Fourth in cold, not in heat. + Fifth in ice, hot in snow. + Sixth in abuse, not in blow. + Seventh in fish, not in fowl. + Eighth in kill, not in howl. + Ninth in fail, not in try. + Whole a mountain in Australia. + + HOPPERGRASS. + + * * * * * + +No. 2. + +NUMERICAL ENIGMA. + + My 1, 2, 3 is to join. + My 4, 5 is a preposition. + My 6, 7, 8 is a trap. + My 15, 16, 9, 18, 11, 13 is abuse. + My 19, 14, 10, 12 is a defeat. + My 17, 18, 19, 20 is an important body of men. + My whole contains 20 letters, and is a familiar proverbial expression. + + V. O. T. + + * * * * * + +No. 3. + +WORD SQUARE. + +1. Not old. 2. A proprietor. 3. A relative. 4. A girl's name. 5. A pair +of matched horses. + + EDITH M. L. + + * * * * * + +No. 4. + +OCTAGON. + +1. A kind of food. 2. Beaten. 3. A variety of thistle. 4. To untwist. 5. +A buffoon. 6. The receiver of a gift. 7. A prefix. + + J. M. ILES and C. M. EYERS. + + * * * * * + +No. 5. + +THREE EASY DIAMONDS. + +1.--1. An aspirate. 2. To marry. 3. A girl's name. 4. Moisture. 5. A +letter. + + EDITH M. L. + +2.--1. A letter. 2. A pronoun. 3. An animal. 4. Not young. 5. A letter. + + EUREKA. + +3.--1. A letter. 2. A receptacle. 3. A fierce animal. 4. A snare. 5. A +letter. + + DAVID H. + + * * * * * + +ANSWERS TO PUZZLES IN No. 149. + +No. 1. + +Spur-royal. + +No. 2. + +P-as-time-s. G-over-no-r. C-harm-ing. B-as-soon-s. F-all-ing. T-he-or-y. +P-rose-cut-e. + +No. 3. + +Syracuse. Italy. Greenland. + +No. 4. + + S A + T U B E L M + S U G A R A L B U M + B A T M U D + R M + + A + A P E + A P R O N + E O N + N + +No. 5 + +F-able. F-act. H-all. C-ask. P-eel. P-inch. + + * * * * * + +Correct answers to puzzles have been received from P. Embury, Jun., +Alice White, Maggie Ford, Peter Lent, John T. D., Effie R., Phebe +McBeath, Maggie Dean, Carrie C. Howard, Alice W., Gertrude Ford, "Fuss +and Feathers," William Armstrong, Charles Haynes, Theodore Hardy, Jack +Truman, A. M. Bloomingdale, Charlie De Gangue, "Eureka," Fanny Still, +and T. B. D. + + * * * * * + +[_For Exchanges, see 3d page of cover._] + + + + +A GOOD SHOOTER. + +BY A. W. ROBERTS. + + +[Illustration] + +For shooting tin-foil pellets, small stones, etc., one of the simplest +and most powerful of easily made toys is shown in the accompanying +drawing. + +The barrel of the gun consists of a piece of green elder from four to +six inches in length, from which the pith has been carefully removed. In +this empty pith chamber we have an excellent "smooth bore," into which +the piston (P) works. At one end of the piston is a knob, the purpose of +which is to prevent the piston from passing into the gun. Over this knob +passes a rubber band (E) half an inch in width, which fits in a slot cut +into the top of the knob for the purpose of keeping the elastic in its +place. The ends of the band are fastened on the outside of the barrel of +the shooter with strong black thread as shown at T. + +When using this shooter the piston is drawn back to nearly its full +length, and the load follows it. By letting go of the piston the load is +discharged with all the force produced by the sudden contraction of the +elastic band. By discarding the elastic band, and using wet pellets of +paper, and compressed air as a propelling force, a very good air or pop +gun is the result. + + * * * * * + +MUSICAL ANIMALS. + +Dogs and other animals are variously affected by musical sounds; some +manifesting dislike, others enjoyment, when within hearing of music. I +knew one dog that, when requested to sing, would stand on his hind-legs +and go on whining and howling for almost any length of time, and while +the performance was attended to he manifested great enthusiasm. But he +also enjoyed real music very much, and showed signs of pleasure when the +piano was played, getting as near to it as possible. Occasionally, +however, he would take a part without being invited, much to the +discomfiture of a singer, who would wonder where the extraordinary +accompaniment came from. I have a lively recollection of his +volunteering assistance when we were singing a hymn one Sunday evening, +and of the way in which it was brought to an abrupt conclusion by the +sight of our doggie on his hind-legs, and the sound of his whines +ringing out above every human voice. + +A black cat belonging to a friend, in whose house I was a guest some +years ago, had a strong dislike to music in every shape, but especially +to singing. Having noticed this peculiarity, I am afraid I teased poor +pussy a good deal by my endeavors to produce a manifestation of her +feelings with regard to vocal music, and when she was stretched +comfortably by the fire I used to begin to sing, taking care to shut the +door first. Puss would jump up, rush to it, and finding the means of +egress cut off, would run wildly round the room, as if in distress, +until I ceased. Not to irritate the creature too much, I generally made +my vocal performance a very short one. + +On an exceptional occasion I thought I would try the cat's powers of +endurance a little longer, and went on singing, when, after vainly +trying to escape, the creature sprang at me, placed one paw across my +mouth, and clung to my dress and neck with the rest of her claws in such +a fashion that I was only too glad to cease my song, and so pacify the +desperate animal. + +When pussy's claws were disengaged I was not a little relieved, and I +need hardly say that this was the last time I ventured to experiment on +the cat's patience. My friend was also much alarmed, and I have no doubt +thought, as I too did, that I had escaped almost better than I deserved, +under the circumstances, for I had only a few scratches. + +A pug-dog, the pet of a lady in this neighborhood, has a favorite tune +which he distinguishes from all others. Nugget is a musical animal, and +has a way of putting in occasional notes of his own when his mistress +plays the piano. But when she commences his tune, Nugget becomes greatly +excited. He first capers up and down the room, and then, running to the +side of the player, he stands on his hind-legs and accompanies the music +in a style peculiar to himself and most amusing in its effect on the +listeners. + +Nugget's mistress or any other performer may play the piano by the hour, +and the dog manifests only an ordinary amount of interest. But no matter +how suddenly his tune may be introduced, Nugget shows his appreciation +of it by going through the performance already described. + +The lady attributes the dog's fondness for the tune to the fact that +when he was a puppy her little niece used to play it upon the piano, +singing only the word "Nugget" again and again to the music. As, +however, the pug recognizes the tune itself, when simply played, from +all others, it is quite evident that he has a musical ear, and is not in +any way guided by words. + + * * * * * + +ENIGMA. + + Even when I am a whole I am only a portion, + And often my price is a wicked extortion; + Sometimes you can buy me without any trouble, + You'll perhaps try again, and find me worth double; + My value, however, can change in an hour-- + In fact I'm like April, all sunshine and shower; + To depend upon me, then, I should not advise, + Still, people run after me, foolish and wise. + I may make a man rich if I deign to get up; + I go down, and he often drains poverty's cup; + My interests frequently lie under-ground, + But others have I all about and around. + And now I shall leave you my title to guess, + Yet in saying farewell I would this fact impress: + Remember the clew which I gave at the start-- + Even when I am whole I am only _a part_. + + F. J. M. + + * * * * * + +[Illustration: A GUILTY CONSCIENCE IS A DISAGREEABLE THING TO HAVE +ROUND. + +The conscience-stricken Cat is haunted at her honest Milk by the Ghosts +of her dead Victims.] + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's Harper's Young People, October 3, 1882, by Various + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 59639 *** |