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diff --git a/old/63850.txt b/old/63850.txt deleted file mode 100644 index 3749a7f..0000000 --- a/old/63850.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,1950 +0,0 @@ -Project Gutenberg's Eyes and No Eyes, and Other Stories, by Various - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most -other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions -whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of -the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at -www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you'll have -to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this ebook. - -Title: Eyes and No Eyes, and Other Stories - -Author: Various - -Editor: Michael Vincent O'Shea - -Release Date: November 22, 2020 [EBook #63850] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ASCII - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK EYES AND NO EYES *** - - - - -Produced by Tom Cosmas from files made available at The -Internet Archive. - - - - - - - - - - -Transcriber Note: - -Text emphasis denoted as _Italics_. - - - - -[Illustration: Broom Heath] - - - _HEATH SUPPLEMENTARY READERS_ - - - - - EYES AND NO EYES - - AND OTHER STORIES - - - Edited with Introduction and Notes - - _By_ M. V. O'SHEA - - PROFESSOR OF EDUCATION IN THE UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN - - [Illustration] - - - D. C. HEATH AND COMPANY - - BOSTON NEW YORK CHICAGO ATLANTA - - DALLAS SAN FRANCISCO LONDON - - - Copyright, 1900, - By D. C. Heath & Co. - Printed in U. S. A. - 3F0 - -Dr. Oliver Wendell Holmes, in "Over the Teacups," says of the story -"Eyes and No Eyes":-- - -"I have never seen anything of the kind half so good. I advise you, -if you are a child anywhere under forty-five, and do not yet wear -glasses, to send at once for "Evenings at Home," and read that story. -For myself I am always grateful to the writer of it for calling my -attention to common things." - - - - -PREFACE - - -Whatever will stimulate the observing tendencies of the young cannot -but be of value to them. "Eyes and No Eyes" does this in a delightful -way. The story is so natural that the child is wrapped up in it, and -so it makes a deep impress upon him. Much less could be accomplished -by simply telling him to observe, or lecturing upon the value of -keeping one's eyes open. But when the reader sees how much more -William gets out of his walk than Robert, and what marvellous things -exist everywhere if one is on the lookout for them, he is himself -incited to examine with greater care the many more or less ordinary -things he has neglected heretofore. William and Robert become very -real individuals to the child, and there is no doubt which of them he -will choose to emulate. The author relies upon the force of concrete -example to determine the conduct of children, and this is certainly -sound in theory and endorsed by experience. - -The story is told in a very agreeable style, which is at once -attractive and affords a good model for imitation. The dialogue gives -an opportunity to present information without its seeming dry and -didactic. - -"The Three Giants" cannot be too highly commended. I find children -are greatly interested in it, and they get a valuable lesson which -they could not gain quite so well in any other form. The story has -that literary touch which marks it as of permanent value. - -The story of "A Curious Instrument" will offer the child a good -chance to try his imaginative wings, so to speak, and will also -afford him a useful lesson. It cannot but be desirable for the young -to begin early to think upon the wonderful construction of the human -body, although they must not be carried into the detailed anatomy too -far. The child must rather be led to see how marvellously efficient -the various organs of his body are, and what they accomplish to -promote his welfare. The object here indicated is attained very -well in this story; the child's curiosity is greatly stimulated to -find out what the wonderful instrument can be, and this leads him -to appreciate the uses to which it may be put. In this way he gains -useful knowledge while being pleasantly entertained. - -"Travellers' Wonders" will excite hardly less curiosity in the reader -than "A Curious Instrument." He marvels that any people can do as -they are said to in the story; and when he discovers that they dwell -all about him, it is a revelation to him. He usually does not think -upon these familiar topics; he takes them all as matters of course. -But it is a good thing for him to view them in another light once -in a while; and there could hardly be any more effective means of -getting him to do this than is illustrated in this selection. Formal -lessons do not get the hold upon the child that a dramatic story -of this sort does,--one that sets him to solving a puzzle. There -is really no exercise that so stimulates the mind of the young as -something of the puzzle character; and when the outcome of the puzzle -is profitable, it makes a valuable method of teaching. - - M. V. O'SHEA - - University of Wisconsin - - - - -CONTENTS - - - PAGE - - PREFACE V - - EYES AND NO EYES; or, The Art of Seeing 1 - From Aiken and Barbauld's "Evenings at Home" - - THE THREE GIANTS 22 - By Mrs. Marcet - - TRAVELLERS' WONDERS 50 - From Aiken and Barbauld's "Evenings at Home" - - A CURIOUS INSTRUMENT 59 - By Jane Taylor - - NOTE 64 - - - - -ILLUSTRATIONS - - Broom Heath _Frontispiece_ - - View and Plan of Roman Camp 8 - - It was a Large Water-rat 10 - - The Three Giants at Work 21 - - Aquafluens 34 - - Ventosus 41 - - The Coming of Vaporifer 46 - - Vaporifer at Work 48 - - A Curious Instrument 58 - - AND TWENTY-SIX SMALLER ONES IN THE TEXT - - - - -[Illustration] - - - - -EYES AND NO EYES - -OR, THE ART OF SEEING - - -"Well, Robert, where have you been walking this afternoon?" said Mr. -Andrews, to one of his pupils at the close of a holiday. - -Robert. "I have been, sir, to Broom Heath, and so around by the -windmill upon Camp Mount, and home through the meadows by the -riverside." - -Mr. A. "Well, that's a pleasant round." - -Robert. "I thought it very dull, sir; I scarcely met with a single -person. I had rather by half have gone along the turnpike road." - -Mr. A. "Why, if seeing men and horses is your object, you would -indeed be better entertained upon the high road. But did you see -William?" - -Robert. "We set out together, but he lagged behind in the lane, so I -walked on and left him." - -Mr. A. "That was a pity. He would have been company for you." - -Robert. "Oh, he is so tedious, always stopping to look at this thing -and that. I had rather walk alone. I dare say he is not home yet." - -Mr. A. "Here he comes. Well, William, where have you been?" - -[Illustration] - -William. "Oh, sir, the pleasantest walk! I went all over Broom Heath, -and so up to the mill at the top of the hill, and then down among -the green meadows by the side of the river." - -Mr. A. "Why, that is just the round Robert has been taking, and he -complains of its dullness, and prefers the high road." - -William. "I wonder at that. I am sure I hardly took a step that -did not delight me, and I brought home my handkerchief full of -curiosities." - -Mr. A. "Suppose, then, you give us some account of what amused you so -much. I fancy it will be as new to Robert as to me." - -William. "I will, sir. The lane leading to the heath, you know, is -close and sandy, so I did not mind it much, but made the best of my -way. However, I spied a curious thing enough in the hedge. It was an -old crab-tree, out of which grew a great bunch of something green, -quite different from the tree itself. Here is a branch of it." - -[Illustration] - -Mr. A. "Ah! this is mistletoe, a plant of great fame for the use made -of it by the Druids of old in their religious rites and incantations. -It bears a very slimy white berry, of which birdlime may be made. -It is one of those plants which do not grow in the ground by a -root of their own, but fix themselves upon other plants, whence -they have been humorously styled parasitical, as being hangers-on -or dependants. It was the mistletoe of the oak that the Druids -particularly honored." - -William. "A little farther on I saw a green woodpecker fly to a tree -and run up the trunk like a cat." - -[Illustration] - -Mr. A. "That was to seek for insects in the bark, on which they live. -They bore holes with their strong bills for that purpose, and do much -damage to the trees by it." - -William. "What beautiful birds they are!" - -Mr. A. "Yes; they have been called, from their color and size, the -English parrot." - -William. "When I got upon the open heath, how charming it was! The -air seemed so fresh, and the prospect on every side so free and -unbounded! Then it was all covered with gay flowers, many of which I -had never observed before. There were at least three kinds of heath -(I have got them in my handkerchief here), and gorse, and broom, -and bell-flower, and many others of all colors, that I will beg you -presently to tell me the names of." - -Mr. A. "That I will readily." - -[Illustration: Wheatear] - -William. "I saw, too, several birds that were new to me. There was -a pretty grayish one, of the size of a lark, that was hopping about -some great stones; and when he flew he showed a great deal of white -above his tail." - -Mr. A. "That was a wheatear. They are reckoned very delicious -birds to eat, and frequent the open downs in Sussex, and some other -counties, in great numbers." - -William. "There was a flock of lapwings upon a marshy part of the -heath that amused me much. As I came near them, some of them kept -flying round and round just over my head, and crying 'pewit' so -distinctly one might fancy they almost spoke. I thought I should have -caught one of them, for he flew as if one of his wings was broken, -and often tumbled close to the ground; but, as I came near, he always -made a shift to get away." - -[Illustration: Lapwing] - -Mr. A. "Ha, ha! you were finely taken in, then! This was all an -artifice of the bird's to entice you away from its nest; for they -build upon the bare ground, and their nests would easily be observed, -did they not draw off the attention of intruders by their loud cries -and counterfeit lameness." - -[Illustration] - -William. "I wish I had known that, for he led me a long chase, often -over shoes in water. However, it was the cause of my falling in with -an old man and a boy who were cutting and piling up turf for fuel, -and I had a good deal of talk with them about the manner of preparing -the turf, and the price at which it sells. They gave me, too, a -creature I never saw before,--a young viper which they had just -killed, together with its dam. I have seen several common snakes, but -this is thicker in proportion and of a darker color than they are." - -[Illustration: Remains of a Roman Camp at Silchester, England] - -[Illustration] - -Mr. A. "True, vipers frequent those turfy, boggy grounds and I have -known several turf-cutters bitten by them." - -William. "They are very venomous, are they not?" - -Mr. A. "Enough so to make their wounds painful and dangerous, though -they seldom prove fatal." - -William. "Well, I then took my course up to the windmill on the -mount. I climbed up the steps of the mill in order to get a better -view of the country round. What an extensive prospect! I counted -fifteen church steeples, and I saw several gentlemen's houses peeping -out from the midst of green woods and plantations; and I could trace -the windings of the river all along the low grounds, till it was lost -behind a ridge of hills. But I'll tell you what I mean to do, sir, if -you will give me leave." - -Mr. A. "What is that?" - -William. "I will go again, and take with me Carey's country map, by -which I shall probably be able to make out most of the places." - -Mr. A. "You shall have it, and I will go with you, and take my pocket -spying-glass." - -William. "I shall be very glad of that. Well, a thought struck me, -that as the hill is called Camp Mount, there might probably be some -remains of ditches and mounds with which I have read that camps were -surrounded. And I really believe I discovered something of that sort -running round one side of the mount." - -[Illustration: It was a Large Water-rat] - -Mr. A. "Very likely you might. I know antiquaries have described such -remains as existing there, which some suppose to be Roman, others -Danish. We will examine them further when we go." - -William. "From the hill I went straight down to the meadows below, -and walked on the side of a brook that runs into the river. It was -all bordered with reeds and flags and tall flowering plants, quite -different from those I had seen on the heath. As I was getting down -the bank to reach one of them, I heard something plunge into the -water near me. It was a large water-rat, and I saw it swim over to -the other side, and go into its hole. There were a great many large -dragon-flies all about the stream. I caught one of the finest, and -have him here in a leaf. But how I longed to catch a bird that I saw -hovering over the water, and every now and then darting down into -it! It was all over a mixture of the most beautiful green and blue, -with some orange color. It was somewhat less than a thrush, and had a -large head and bill, and a short tail." - -Mr. A. "I can tell you what that bird was--a kingfisher, the -celebrated halcyon[A] of the ancients, about which so many tales are -told. It lives on fish, which it catches in the manner you saw. It -builds in holes in the banks, and is a shy, retired bird, never to be -seen far from the stream where it lives." - -[A] _Halcyon_: the halcyon was said to lay her eggs in a nest built -on the sea during calm weather. Hence, halcyon days,--"days of -repose." - -[Illustration: Kingfishers] - -William. "I must try to get another sight at him, for I never saw -a bird that pleased me so much. Well, I followed this little brook -till it entered the river, and then took the path that runs along the -bank. On the opposite side I observed several little birds running -along the shore, and making a piping noise. They were brown and -white, and about as big as a snipe." - -Mr. A. "I suppose they were sand-pipers, one of the numerous family -of birds that get their living by wading among the shallows, and -picking up worms and insects." - -William. "There were a great many swallows, too, sporting upon -the surface of the water, that entertained me with their motions. -Sometimes they dashed into the stream; sometimes they pursued one -another so quick, that the eye could scarcely follow them. In one -place, where a high, steep sandbank rose directly above the river, I -observed many of them go in and out of holes with which the bank was -bored full." - -[Illustration] - -Mr. A. "Those were sand-martins, the smallest of our species of -swallows. They are of a mouse-color above, and white beneath. They -make their nests and bring up their young in these holes, which run a -great depth, and by their situation are secure from all plunderers." - -[Illustration: Swallow] - -William. "A little farther on I saw a man in a boat, who was catching -eels in an odd way. He had a long pole with broad iron prongs at -the end, just like Neptune's trident, only there were five instead -of three. This he pushed straight down among the mud in the deepest -parts of the river, and fetched up the eels sticking between the -prongs."[B] - -[Illustration] - -[B] _Neptune:_ the god of the sea, always represented with the -trident or three-pronged fork, anciently used by fishermen. - -Mr. A. "I have seen this method: it is called the spearing of eels." - -William. "While I was looking at him a heron came flying over my -head, with his large flapping wings. He lit at the next turn of the -river, and I crept softly behind the bank to watch his motions. He -had waded into the water as far as his long legs would carry him, -and was standing with his neck drawn in, looking intently on the -stream. Presently he darted his long bill as quick as lightning into -the water, and drew out a fish, which he swallowed. I saw him catch -another in the same manner. He then took alarm at some noise I made, -and flew away slowly to a wood at some distance, where he alighted." - -[Illustration] - -Mr. A. "Probably his nest was there, for herons build upon the -loftiest trees they can find, and sometimes in society together, like -rooks. Formerly, when these birds were valued for the amusement of -hawking,[C] many gentlemen had their heronries, and a few are still -remaining." - -[C] _Hawking:_ catching birds by means of trained hawks. - -William. "I think they are the largest wild birds we have." - -Mr. A. "They are of a great length and spread of wing, but their -bodies are comparatively small." - -[Illustration: Heron] - -William. "I then turned homeward across the meadows, where I stopped -awhile to look at a large flock of starlings, which kept flying about -at no great distance. I could not tell at first what to make of them, -for they rose all together from the ground as thick as a swarm of -bees, and formed themselves into a kind of black cloud, hovering -over the field. After taking a short round they settled again, and -presently rose once more in the same manner. I dare say there were -hundreds of them." - -[Illustration: Starling] - -Mr. A. "Perhaps so; for in the fenny countries their flocks are -so numerous that they break down whole acres of reeds by settling -on them. This disposition of starlings to fly in close swarms was -observed even by Homer, who compares the foe flying from one of his -heroes to a cloud of starlings retiring dismayed at the approach of -the hawk." - -William. "After I had left the meadows, I crossed the corn-fields on -the way to our house, and passed close by a deep marl-pit. Looking -into it I saw in one of the sides a cluster of what I took to be -shells, and, upon going down, I picked up a clod of marl, which was -quite full of them; but how sea-shells could get there, I cannot -imagine." - -[Illustration] - -Mr. A. "I do not wonder at your surprise, since many philosophers -have been much perplexed to account for the same appearance. It is -not uncommon to find great quantities of shells and relics of marine -animals even in the bowels of high mountains, very remote from the -sea. They are certainly proofs that the earth was once in a very -different state from what it is at present. When you study geology -you will know more on this subject." - -William. "I got to the high field next our house, just as the sun -was setting, and I stood looking at it till it was quite lost. What -a glorious sight! The clouds were tinged with purple and crimson and -yellow of all shades and hues, and the clear sky varied from blue to -a fine green at the horizon. But how large the sun appears just as it -sets! I think it seems twice as big as when it is overhead." - -Mr. A. "It does so; and you may probably have observed the same -apparent enlargement of the moon at its rising." - -William. "I have; but pray what is the reason of this?" - -Mr. A. "It is an optical deception, depending upon principles which -I cannot well explain to you till you know more of that branch of -science. But what a number of new ideas this afternoon's walk has -afforded you! I do not wonder that you found it amusing; it has been -very instructive, too. Did you see nothing of all these sights, -Robert?" - -Robert. "I saw some of them, but I did not take particular notice of -them." - -Mr. A. "Why not?" - -Robert. "I don't know. I did not care about them, and I made the best -of my way home." - -Mr. A. "That would have been right if you had been sent with a -message; but as you only walked for amusement, it would have been -wiser to have sought out as many sources of it as possible. But so it -is one person walks through the world with his eyes open, and another -with them shut; and upon this difference depends all the superiority -of knowledge the one acquires above the other. I have known sailors -who had been in all the quarters of the world, and could tell you -nothing but the signs of the tippling-houses they frequented in the -different ports, and the price and quality of the liquor. On the -other hand, a Franklin could not cross the Channel,[D] without -making some observations useful to mankind. While many a vacant, -thoughtless youth is whirled throughout Europe without gaining a -single idea worth crossing a street for, the observing eye and -inquiring mind find matter of improvement and delight in every ramble -in town or country. Do you, then, William, continue to make use of -your eyes; and you, Robert, learn that eyes were given you to use." - -[D] _The English Channel:_ the shortest sea trip by which it is -possible to leave England. It divides that country from France. - - - - - -[Illustration: The Three Giants at Work] - - - - -THE THREE GIANTS - - -[Illustration] - -Once upon a time, a poor man who had a large family left England to -go and see if he could find a better living for himself across the -seas. There were many others on board the ship, and for a time all -went well; but when they were nearing the end of their journey, a -great storm arose. The winds blew, the waves rose and roared, and -broke upon the ship; and at last they were very glad to be able to -let her drift aground on the nearest land, which they found to be an -island on which no one was living. - -They all got safely to shore; and as the ship was broken up by the -wind and the waves, they were able to get many planks, and nails, and -other useful things from the ship, and from its cargo, with which -they built themselves houses, made spades and ploughs, so that they -were not so badly off after all. They had plenty of corn to last -them until they could grow some more, and for a time all went well. -But after they had got a good crop of corn, they had to grind it -into flour, and this took a long time. There were no flour-mills on -the island, and John Jobson--for that was the name of the laboring -man--had to spend hours every day grinding the grain into flour for -his wife and family to eat. - -One day, after he had been grinding until his back ached and his arms -were very tired, he began to be in despair. If it took him so much -time grinding his grain, he would have no time left to look after the -little farm which he had laid out. His little boys, although they had -great appetites and ate as much bread as their mother could make out -of the flour which their father ground between the two millstones, -were not strong enough to help him. All the other settlers were just -in the same position. They had no machines to do any work for them. -Everything had to be done with their hands. There were no people to -hire as servants; and if there had been, they could not have paid -them any wages, for they were poor and had no money. So Jobson -became very down-hearted, and not knowing what to do, thought he -would take a stroll in the country and think over things. - -He climbed up some rising ground, and walked a long way among the -hills, wondering what on earth he should do if he could get no help. -He was going up a little valley, which turned suddenly, and there -to his great astonishment he saw a monstrous Giant. He was terribly -scared, and would have run away as hard as he possibly could, but on -taking a second look at the giant he saw that he was asleep. Jobson -looked again, and wondered at the immense size of the giant. He could -hardly see to the end of him, and he saw that he was enormously -strong; yet he looked so harmless and good-humored, that Jobson stood -gazing on him till his fear was nearly over. He was clad in a robe of -dazzling brightness where the sun shone upon it, but the greater part -was shaded by the trees; and it reflected all their different colors, -which made it look like a green changing silk. As Jobson stood, lost -in amazement, the giant opened his eyes, and turned towards him with -a good-humored smile. - -As soon as Jobson saw him open his eyes he started to run again, -feeling sure that he could have no chance if so huge a giant were to -catch him; but as he ran the giant spoke. He was still lying down on -his back in the grass, and his voice was gentle and kind. - -"Do not be afraid," he said. "I will do you no harm." - -"But you are so big," said Jobson, looking timidly at the giant, and -making ready to run the moment the giant stirred. - -But the giant did not stir. He said, "Yes, I am very strong and very -big, but I will do you no harm." - -As he still lay and smiled kindly, Jobson came nearer to him, and at -last all fear began to leave him. Then he asked the giant who he was. - -"My name," said the giant, "is Aquafluens." - -"And where do you live?" said Jobson. - -"I live in the island. I have always lived here, long before you -came." - -"Then does it belong to you?" said Jobson, fearing that the giant -might treat him as a trespasser. - -"I do not know," said the giant. "What does 'belong' mean?" - -Jobson thought it was a queer question, but said nothing. Then Jobson -began to think whether it might be possible to get this good-natured -giant, who seemed so strong, to help him in his work. "Do you ever -work?" he said to the giant. - -"Oh yes," said he; "I can work if you will set me work to do. I like -it. All work is play to me." - -Then Jobson's heart was glad within him, and he thought to himself, -"Here is one who could grind all my corn with his little finger, but -dare I ask him?" So he thought for a time, and then he said, "You -said you would work for any one?" - -"Yes," said Aquafluens, gently, "for any one who will teach me to -work." - -"Then," said Jobson, "would you work for me?" - -"Yes," said the giant; "if you will teach me." - -"But what wages must I pay you?" asked Jobson. - -Then the giant laughed, and said, "What queer words you use. You say -'belong.' What does 'belong' mean? I do not know. You say 'wages.' -What are 'wages'? I have never heard of them." - -At this Jobson thought the giant must be mad, and he was a little -afraid; then again he thought to himself, "Perhaps he is not mad, but -only weak in his head. Giants, they say, are often not very wise." So -he tried to explain. "What shall I give you if you work for me?" - -"Give me?" said the giant; "what a joke! You need give me nothing, I -will work for you for love." - -Then Jobson could hardly believe his ears, but he thought he would -go home at once and tell his wife the good news, that he had got a -great, strong giant who would work for him for nothing. - -"Where are you going?" said the giant. - -"I am going home to tell my wife." - -"Had you not better let me carry you?" said the giant. - -Then Jobson was frightened in his heart. "Perhaps if I say yes the -giant will swallow me alive." But he did not tell him so. - -"How can you carry me?" said he. - -"I can carry you any way you like," said the giant, "so long as the -road goes down hill." - -"Oh, it is down hill all the way!" said Jobson. - -"Then," said he, "you must get upon my back, and I will carry you -there as quick as you like." - -Jobson was afraid, for when he came to look at the giant's back, and -put his hand upon it, it sank right in; then he saw that the skin was -so soft that, when you pressed upon it, it gave way under your hand, -or your foot, and you seemed to sink right into the giant's back. -So Jobson was terrified, and screamed as he pulled his hand out of -the hole that he had made in the giant; but to his surprise the hole -closed up, just as if he had never thrust his hand in. But his hand -was wet with the giant's blood. It was such queer blood; it was quite -cold, and it had no color. - -Then the giant said, "That will never do, for you are so small and so -heavy for your little size, that you would sink into me if you tried -to sit on my back." - -"But what can I do?" said Jobson. The giant took a tree-trunk which -was lying close at hand, and put it on his shoulder. "Now," said he, -"jump onto this trunk, and I will carry you safely." - -[Illustration] - -Jobson was very frightened when he sat on the log, for he thought -nothing would be more likely than for the log and himself to sink -out of sight in the giant's body, but he soon found that although -the log sank in a little way, it did not sink in far enough for him -to touch the giant's body with his feet. He was very glad, for he -felt all wet and cold where his arm seemed to have gone through the -giant's skin. "You had better have a pole with you to steady yourself -with." Jobson picked up a long stick, and climbed up once more onto -the giant's shoulders, where the great log lay; he seated himself, -and waited with terror for the giant's movement. He thought that if -he had seven-league boots he might throw him up into the air. He -would fall off, he was sure; but, to his great surprise, the giant -neither jumped, nor stepped, nor ran; he seemed in the strangest way -to glide, without making any noise, down the valley, across the hill -to the place where his cottage stood. When they came within sight of -the cottage his wife and children were standing on a little hillock -looking for him, and when they saw him seated on the shoulders of -this strange monster they nearly had a fit with fright. The children -ran into the house, and the wife fell at the feet of the great giant, -saying, "Have mercy on my poor husband!" But the giant laughed and -lay down on the grass: then Jobson jumped off the trunk and told his -wife of the glad news, that this was a good giant, and that he would -do all their work for them. The children came out of the house and -looked timidly at the monster, who, as soon as he had lain down, -closed his eyes and seemed to be sound asleep. - -Jobson went into the house to tell his wife all of the wonderful -story of the giant, but his wife did not seem to like the idea of -employing the giant. - -"But he will work for nothing, wife," said Jobson. - -The wife shook her head. "That is all very well," she said; "but -think of the food he will eat. He would swallow all the food we have -in the house for breakfast, and we should starve." - -The husband scratched his head, and said he had never thought of -that. "But," he said, "let us go and ask him how much food we must -give him." - -"And what drink he will want, and where will you put him up?" said -the wife. - -Jobson began to believe that his workman was not such a good bargain -after all. - -So when they drew near to the giant, he opened his eyes and asked -what was the matter. - -Jobson said they were afraid they would not be able to put him up in -their house, as he was too big to enter at the door. - -"Oh," said the giant, "that does not matter, for I never live in a -house. I will simply sleep here in the grass under the sky." - -"But," said Jobson, "we are afraid that we shall not be able to feed -you." - -"Feed me?" said the giant, laughing, with a little ripply murmur -that shook all his body. "Who asked you for any food? I never eat -anything." - -Then Jobson's wife was frightened, and said she was afraid that there -must be something uncanny about him. But Jobson went on asking:-- - -"What do you drink?" said he. - -"Only fresh water," said the giant. - -Jobson was very pleased, and looking in triumph at his wife, said to -him:-- - -"And how much work can you do in a day?" - -"As much as you like," said the giant. - -"But I mean," said he, "how many hours will you work?" - -"As many hours as there are on the face of the clock," said the giant. - -"You mean twelve," said the wife. - -"No," said the giant. "I mean all the hours that are in a day." - -"What!" said Jobson, "never stop night or day? And do you never -sleep?" - -"When I have nothing to do," said the giant, "I sleep, but as long as -you give me work I will go on working." - -"But do you never get tired?" said Jobson. - -"Tired!" said the giant, "I don't know what that is. That is another -funny word. What a queer language you speak. What is being tired?" - -Then Jobson looked at his wife and his wife looked at him, and they -said nothing for a little time. Then they asked him when he was ready -to begin. - -"At once," he said; "as soon as you have put things right for me." - -"What things?" said they. - -"I told you I can only work going down hill. If you want me to work -hard you must let me have some place that is very steep, and make a -step ladder for me to go down on. If you will fix a wheel with steps -on it, so that I can step on the steps and make the wheel go round, I -can do anything you like." - -"Could you grind corn?" said Jobson's wife. - -"I can grind stones," said the giant, laughing. - -So Jobson and his wife set about building a mill with a step wheel -for the giant. They connected a big wheel for the giant to step upon -with grindstones on the inside of the mill, so when the giant stepped -upon the wheel outside, he made the millstones inside go round and -round and grind the wheat. When it was all finished they came to the -giant and asked him if he was ready to begin. - -"Yes," he said. - -"Begin then," said Jobson. - -And the giant slowly and steadily stepped first on one step of the -wheel and then on another until it began to go round and round, and -the millstones went round and round, and so it went on until the -whole of a sack of corn was ground into flour, and still the giant -went on, and on, and on. - -"Are you not tired?" said Jobson to him. - -"I don't know what you mean," said he. - -"Well, now," said Jobson, "do you think you could get me some stones -from the quarry?" - -"Easily," said the giant. "But what have I to carry them in?" - -Then Jobson made a long box and put it upon the giant's back; but he -found that it was not so easy going, for the road was quite flat, and -over and over again the giant stopped. He could go very well down -hill, but on level ground he needed to be poked along with a long -pole which Jobson carried. When it came to the least down hill, he -went as quick as could be. This bothered Jobson a great deal, for he -saw that if the giant could only go down hill, he could not be nearly -so useful as if he could go both ways. So he spoke about it to the -giant once, and he laughed and said: "Hum! you must get my brother, -he could help me to go as quick along the level ground as I do when -I am going down hill; but even he could not make me go up hill. Is -there not plenty of work I can do without that?" - -"Certainly," said Jobson; and soon he had the giant set to work to -make all kinds of things. - -[Illustration: Aquafluens] - -When he had ground all the corn, they took away the millstones and -fixed up a saw which had come ashore from the wreck. They found that -the giant could saw wood as well as he could grind corn. They asked -him if he would bring down the trees from the hills, with which they -could make planks to floor their cottage. - -"Nothing is easier," said the giant; and when the logs came down, -he sawed them all up into planks, and soon the Jobsons were so -comfortable that they not only had enough planks for themselves, but -they had more than they wanted, so they gave them to the neighbors. -Every one was very anxious to find out if there were any more giants -in the island, because they could see that Giant Aquafluens was more -useful than twenty men. He never ate, he never slept, he only drank -cold water, and day and night he would go on working as regularly as -if he were a machine. Only, when the sun got very hot, and he could -not get any water to drink, his strength seemed to wither away, but a -good heavy shower of rain set him up in time, and then he would work -away as hard as ever. - -One day Jobson asked him where this brother of his could be found. -"You will find him usually on the hilltops," said Aquafluens; "but -occasionally he comes sweeping down, and disturbs me in the grass -where I am lying." - -"Can he do as much work as you?" - -[Illustration] - -"When he Is in the humor, but sometimes he is not; and sometimes he -gets into a frightful temper, until you think he is going to destroy -everything. He even gets me mad sometimes," said Aquafluens. - -At this Jobson was silent, and wondered greatly, for he had never -seen his good giant in a passion. He told all this to a neighbor -called Jackson, who was very anxious to have a giant of his own; and -no sooner did he hear that the stormy-tempered brother of Aquafluens -lived on the hilltops, than he went out into the mountains to see if -he could find him. - -At length, one day, Jackson, climbing a high rock, saw a magnificent -figure seated upon the summit. He could scarcely distinguish the -shape for his eyes were dazzled by its brightness; but what struck -him most were two enormous wings, as large as the sails of a ship, -but thin and transparent as the wings of a gnat. Jackson doubted not -but that this was the brother of Aquafluens. Alarmed at the account -he had heard of the uncertainty of his temper, he hesitated whether -to approach. The hope of gain, however, tempted him, and as he -drew nearer he observed that he also had a smiling countenance. So -mustering up courage he ventured to accost him, and inquire whether -he was the person they had so long been in search of, and whether he -would engage in his service. - -"My name is Ventosus," cried the winged giant, "and I am ready to -work for you, if you will let me have my own way. I am not of the low -disposition of my brother, who plods on with the same uniform pace. I -cannot help sometimes laughing at his slow motion, and I amuse myself -with ruffling his placid temper, in order to make him jog on a little -faster. I frequently lend him a helping hand when he is laden with a -heavy burden. I perch upon his bosom, and stretching out my wings I -move with such rapidity as almost to lift him from the ground." - -Jackson was astonished to hear Aquafluens accused of sluggishness; he -told Ventosus what a prodigious quantity of work he had done for the -colony. - -"He is a snail compared to me, for all that," holloed out Ventosus, -who had sometimes a very loud voice; and to show his rapidity he -spread his wings, and was out of sight in a moment. - -Jackson was sadly frightened, lest he should be gone forever; but he -soon returned, and consented to accompany Jackson home, on condition -that he would settle him in an elevated spot of ground. - -"My house is built on the brow of a hill," said Jackson, "and I shall -place yours on the summit." - -"Well," said the giant, "if you will get me a couple of millstones, -I will grind you as much corn in one hour as Aquafluens can in two. -Like my brother, I work without food or wages; but then I have an -independent spirit, I cannot bear confinement; I work only when I -have a mind to it, and I follow no will but my own." - -"This is not such a tractable giant as Aquafluens," thought Jackson; -"but he is still more powerful, so I must try to manage his temper as -well as I can." - -His wonderful form and the lightness of his wings excited great -admiration. Jackson immediately set about building a house for him -on the hill to grind corn in, and meanwhile, Ventosus took a flight -into the valley to see his brother. He found him carrying a heavy -load of planks, which he had lately sawed, to their proprietor. They -embraced each other, and Ventosus, being in a good humor, said, -"Come, brother, let me help you forward with your load, you will -never get on at this lazy pace." - -"Lazy pace!" exclaimed one of the children, who was seated on the -load of wood on the giant's back; "why, there is no man who can walk -half or quarter so fast." - -"True," replied Ventosus; "but we are not such pygmies as you." - -So he seated himself beside the child, stretched out his wings, and -off they flew with a rapidity which at first terrified the boy; but -when he found he was quite safe, he was delighted to sail through the -air almost as quickly as a bird flies. When they arrived, and the -wood had been unloaded, Aquafluens said, "Now, brother, you may help -me back again." - -"Not I," said Ventosus; "I am going on, straight forward. If you -choose to go along with me, well and good; if not, you may make your -way home as you please." - -Aquafluens thought this very unkind, and he began to argue with his -brother; but this only led to a dispute. Aquafluens' temper was at -length ruffled; Ventosus flew into a passion: he struggled with his -brother, and roared louder than any wild beast. Aquafluens then lost -all self-command, and actually foamed with rage. The poor child stood -at a distance, trembling with fear. He hardly knew the face of his -old friend, so much was his countenance distorted by wrath; he looked -as if he could almost have swallowed him up. At length, Ventosus -disengaged himself from his brother, and flew out of his sight; -but his sighs and moans were still heard afar off. Aquafluens also -murmured loudly at the ill-treatment he had received; but he composed -himself by degrees, and, taking the boy on his back, slowly returned -home. - -Jackson inquired eagerly after Ventosus, and when the child told -him all that had happened, he was much alarmed for fear Ventosus -should never return; and he was the more disappointed, as he had -prepared everything for him to go to work. Ventosus, however, came -back in the night, and when Jackson went to set him to work in the -morning, he found that nearly half the corn was already ground. -This was a wonderful performance. Yet, upon the whole, Ventosus did -not prove of such use to the colony as his brother. He would carry -with astonishing quickness; but then he would always carry his own -way; so that it was necessary to know what direction he intended to -take, before you could confide any goods to his charge; and then, -when you thought them sure to arrive on account of the rapidity with -which they were conveyed, Ventosus would sometimes suddenly change -his mind, and veer about with the fickleness of a weathercock; so -that the goods, instead of reaching their place of destination, were -carried to some other place or brought to the spot whence they set -out. This inconvenience could not happen with regard to grinding -corn; but one of no less importance often did occur. Ventosus, when -not inclined to work, disappeared, and was nowhere to be found. - -[Illustration: Ventosus] - -The benefit derived from the labor of these two giants had so much -improved the state of the colony that not only were the cottages -well floored, and had good doors and window-shutters, but there -was abundance of comfortable furniture--bedsteads, tables, chairs, -chests, and cupboards, as many as could be wished; and the men and -women, now that they were relieved from the most laborious work, -could employ themselves in making a number of things which before -they had not time for. It was no wonder, therefore, that the desire -to discover more giants was uppermost in men's minds. - -They were always asking Aquafluens about where they could find -another giant, for he was ever with them and never flew away, so they -could always ask questions; while Ventosus used to fly away and -disappear if they bothered him with questions which he did not like -to answer. - -They hunted high and low for more giants, but they found none. The -heart of Aquafluens was grieved within him, that they should seek so -much for a giant that did not need always to go down hill. So one -day, after much doubt, he told Jobson that there was another giant -who was stronger than he, and much more constant and regular in his -work than Ventosus, who was here to-day and away to-morrow, and whom -you could never be sure of. This giant was the strongest of all -giants, but he was also dangerous. - -"I will then have nothing to do with him," said Jobson. - -"Well," said Aquafluens, "if you know how to manage him he will work -for you." - -"Can he go up hill?" said his little boy. - -"As easily as I can go down," said Aquafluens. - -"And who is this giant?" said Jobson. - -"Alas," said Aquafluens, mournfully, "he is my own son." - -"Where is he?" - -"You can only bring him by a charm, and if you are not very careful, -he may burst out and kill you." - -"Is he so very violent?" said Jobson. - -"Very. His breath is scalding hot, and he is a more expensive giant -than either my brother or myself." - -"Must you pay him, then?" said Jobson's wife. - -"He will work without pay, but he needs to be kept hot. He will not -work at all unless he is seated right on the top of blazing coals." - -"What a funny giant!" said Jobson's little boy. "Does he not burn up?" - -"No, the hotter you make the fire the stronger he grows, but when the -fire grows cold, all his strength seems to die." - -The Jobsons had a long talk over this, and decided that they had -better not have anything to do with this strange giant. But once, -when they wanted a great deal of heavy stones carried up the hill, -they were driven to ask Aquafluens if he would tell them the charm. - -"Yes," said he; "it is very simple, but you must not be afraid." - -"No," said they, "we will not be afraid." - -"Then take a little of my blood." - -"Never!" said Jobson's wife. - -"No, you do not need to be afraid," said Aquafluens; "you only need -to take a very little." - -"And what must we do with it?" - -"You must put it into an iron pot, and then put it on the fire." - -They were very loth to do this; but at last, their need being great, -they did so. They were relieved to find that the taking of his blood -did not seem to hurt the good, kind giant, and then they put the pot -on the fire, and waited to see what would happen. After a time, they -heard a singing noise, and they began to be frightened. At last out -of the pot there came a cloudy vapor, which rose higher and higher -and higher, until it went away. But they saw no giant. - -[Illustration] - -So they went to Aquafluens, and told him that the charm would not -work. He asked them what they had done, and they told him, and he -said, "But did I not tell you my son would never work unless you put -him in prison? I will give you some more of my blood, and you must -put it in an iron pot and put the lid on, and fasten it down tight, -and then see what will happen." - -[Illustration: The Coming of Vaporifer] - -So they did as the good giant said. They took some more of his blood, -put it into the iron pot, and put on a heavy lid, and fastened it -on tight, then they put it on the blazing fire, and waited. This -time they were terribly frightened, for after a time the iron pot -burst into a thousand pieces, and blew all over the place, hurting -Jobson's wife on the head, and cutting Jobson's hand. So they ran -away frightened and told Aquafluens. - -"Ah," he said, "I told you my son was a dangerous child, but he is -very strong, and if you give him nothing to do he does mischief. So -you must give him a handle to turn. If you do that, he will not burst -anything, but will turn the handle as hard as ever you like." - -And they did just as the giant told them, and they found that -everything happened just so, for the new giant, whose name was -Vaporifer, was a strong and willing worker. Up hill and down dale -made no difference to him. He could carry and do everything they -gave him to, but they must keep him hot, and they must give him a -wheel to turn. If at any time he stopped they had to let him get out, -otherwise, if he had no wheel to turn, and could not get out, he -would blow his prison to pieces. - -[Illustration: Vaporifer at Work] - -Thus it came to pass that Ventosus was wanted very little, for Jobson -and his friends liked Vaporifer, who was regular and steady in his -ways, and could be relied upon always to do what was wanted. - -Aquafluens was still the most useful and the cheapest of all the -giants, but his son Vaporifer was much stronger and more handy than -his father. Nor was there any limit to what he could do if only they -would give him plenty of heat and always let him have a wheel to turn. - - * * * * * - -Now, then, who do you think were these three giants? Perhaps you -have already guessed from their names, and from their description. -The first giant, Aquafluens, is the great giant of running water, -which will always run down hill, but which comes to a standstill on -level ground, and cannot go up hill, no matter what happens. It is -this great giant which turned all the water-mills, which ground the -corn, and sawed the wood, and did all manner of work. Ventosus, his -brother, is the wind which bloweth whither it listeth, and sometimes, -lashes the water into stormy waves. While as to that of Vaporifer, -you surely understand that it is nothing else but steam. These three -giants are real giants who are still doing their work day by day, and -every day. There are no servants of man who have worked so cheaply, -so untiringly, and so well. - - - - -[Illustration] - - - - -TRAVELLERS' WONDERS - - -One winter's evening, as Captain Compass was sitting by the fireside, -with his children all around him, little Jack said to him, "Papa, -pray tell us some stories about what you have seen in your voyages. I -have been vastly entertained, while you were abroad, with Gulliver's -Travels, and the Adventures of Sinbad, the Sailor, and I think as you -have gone round and round the world, you must have met with things as -wonderful as they did." - -"No, my dear," said the captain, "I never met with Lilliputians or -Brobdingnagians, I assure you, nor ever saw the black loadstone -mountains or the valley of diamonds, but, to be sure, I have seen a -great variety of people, and have noticed their different manners and -ways of living; and if it will be any entertainment to you, I will -tell you some curious things that I have observed." - -"Pray do, papa," cried Jack and all his brothers and sisters; so they -drew close round him, and he began as follows:-- - -"Well, then, I was once, about this time of the year, in a country -where it was very cold, and the inhabitants had much ado to keep -themselves from starving. They were clad partly in the skins of -beasts, made smooth and soft by a particular art, but chiefly in -garments made from the outward covering of a middle-sized quadruped -which they were so cruel as to strip off his back when he was alive. -They dwelt in habitations part of which was sunk underground. The -materials were either stones or earth hardened by fire; and so -violent on that coast were the showers of wind and rain that many -of the roofs were covered all over with stones. The walls of their -houses had holes to let in light, but to prevent the cold air and -wet from coming in, they were covered by a sort of transparent stone -made artificially of melted sand or flint. As wood was rather scarce, -I know not what they would have done for their fires had they not -discovered in the bowels of the earth a very extraordinary kind of -stone which, when put among burning wood, caught fire and flamed like -a torch." - -"Dear me," said Jack, "what a wonderful stone! I suppose it was -like the things we call fire-stones, that shine so when we rub them -together." - -"I don't think they would burn," replied the captain; "besides, these -are of a darker color. - -"Well,--but their diet was remarkable,--some of them ate fish that -had been hung up in the smoke till it was quite dry and hard; and -along with it they ate either the roots of plants, or a sort of -coarse black cake made of powdered seeds. These were the poorer -class. The richer had a kind of cake which they were fond of daubing -over with a greasy matter, that was the product of a large animal -which lived among them. This grease they used, too, in almost all -their dishes, and when fresh it really was not unpalatable. They -likewise devoured the flesh of many birds and beasts when they could -get it; and ate the leaves and other parts of a number of kinds -of vegetables growing in the country, some absolutely raw, others -variously prepared by the aid of fire. Another great article of food -was the curd of milk, pressed into a hard mass and salted. It had so -rank a smell that often persons of weak stomachs could not bear to -come near it. For drink they made great use of the water in which -certain dry leaves had been steeped. These leaves, I was told, -came from a great distance. They had likewise a method of preparing -a liquor of the seeds of a grass-like plant steeped in water, with -the addition of a bitter herb, and then set to work or ferment. I -was prevailed upon to taste it, and thought it at first nauseous -enough, but in time I liked it pretty well. When a large quantity -of the mixture is used, it becomes perfectly intoxicating. But what -astonished me most was their use of a liquor so excessively hot and -pungent that it seems like liquid fire. I once got a mouthful of it -by mistake, taking it for water, which it resembles in appearance, -but I thought it would instantly have taken away my breath. Indeed, -people are not infrequently killed by it; and yet many of them will -swallow it greedily, whenever they can get it. This, too, is said to -be prepared from the seeds above mentioned, which are harmless and -even valuable in their natural state, though made to yield such a -pernicious juice. The strangest custom that I believe prevails in any -nation, I found here, which was that some take a mighty pleasure in -filling their mouths full of smoke; and others in thrusting a nasty -powder up their nostrils." - -"I should think it would choke them," said Jack. - -"It almost did me," answered his father, "only to stand by while -they did it--but use, it is truly said, is second nature. - -"I was glad enough to leave this cold climate; and about half a -year after I fell in with a people enjoying a delicious temperature -and a country full of beauty and verdure. The trees and shrubs were -furnished with a great variety of fruits which, with other vegetable -products, constituted a large part of the food of the inhabitants. I -particularly relished certain berries growing in bunches, some white -and some red, of a very pleasant sourish taste, and so transparent -that one might see the seeds at their very centre. There were -whole fields full of odoriferous flowers, which they told me were -succeeded by pods bearing seeds that afforded good nourishment to -man and beast. A great variety of birds enlivened the groves and -woods, among which I was greatly entertained by one that without -any teaching spoke almost as articulately as a parrot, though it -was only the repetition of a single word. The people were gentle -and civilized, and possessed many of the arts of life. Their dress -was very various. Many were clad only in a thin cloth made of the -long fibres of the stalk of a plant cultivated for the purpose, -which they prepared by soaking in water and then beating with large -mallets. Men wore cloth woven from a sort of vegetable wool, growing -in pods upon bushes. But the most singular material was a fine -glossy stuff, used chiefly by the richer classes, which, as I was -credibly informed, is manufactured out of the webs of caterpillars--a -most wonderful circumstance, if we consider the immense number of -caterpillars necessary to the production of so large a quantity of -stuff as I saw used. The people are very fantastic in their dress, -especially the women, whose apparel consists of a great number of -articles impossible to be described, and strangely disguising the -form of the body. In some instances they seem very cleanly, but in -other cases the Hottentots can scarce go beyond them, particularly in -the management of their hair, which is all matted and stiffened by -the fat of swine and other animals mixed up with powders of various -colors and ingredients. Like most Indian nations, they wear feathers -in their headdress. One thing surprised me much, which was, that they -bring up in their homes an animal of the tiger kind, with formidable -teeth and claws, which, notwithstanding its natural ferocity, is -played with and caressed by the most timid and delicate of their -women." - -"I am sure I would not play with it," said Jack. - -"Why, you might get an ugly scratch with it if you did," said the -captain. - -[Illustration] - -"The language of this nation seems very harsh and unintelligible -to a foreigner, yet they converse with one another with great ease -and quickness. One of the oddest customs is that which men use on -saluting each other. Let the weather be what it will, they uncover -their heads and remain uncovered for some time if they mean to be -extraordinarily respectful." - -"Why, that's like pulling off our hats," said Jack. - -"Ah, ha! papa," cried Betsy, "I have found you out. You have been -telling us of our own country, and what is done at home, all the -while." - -"But," said Jack, "we don't burn stones, or eat grease and powdered -seeds, or wear skins and caterpillar's webs, or play with tigers." - -"No?" said the captain. "Pray, what are coals but stones; and is not -butter grease; and corn, seeds; and leather, skins; and silk, the -web of a kind of caterpillar? and may we not as well call a cat an -animal of the tiger kind, as a tiger an animal of the cat kind? - -"So if you recall what I have been describing, you will find, with -Betsy's help, that all the other wonderful things I have told you of -are matters familiar among ourselves. But I meant to show you that a -foreigner might easily represent everything as equally strange and -wonderful among us as we could do with respect to his country; and -also to make you sensible that we daily call a great many things by -their names without ever inquiring into their nature and properties; -so that in reality it is only their manners and not the things -themselves with which we are acquainted." - - - - - -[Illustration: A Curious Instrument] - - - - -A CURIOUS INSTRUMENT - - -A gentleman, just returned from a journey to London, was surrounded -by his children eager, after the first salutations were over, to -hear the news; and still more eager to see the contents of a small -portmanteau, which were one by one carefully unfolded and displayed -to view. After distributing among them a few small presents, the -father took his seat again, saying that he must confess he had -brought from town, for his own use, something far more curious and -valuable than any of the little gifts they had received. It was, -he said, too good to present to any of them; but he would, if they -pleased, first give them a brief description of it, and then perhaps -they might be allowed to inspect it. - -The children were accordingly all attention, while the father thus -proceeded: "This small instrument is made in the most perfect -and wonderful way, and everything about it is very delicate and -beautiful. Because of its extreme delicacy it is so liable to injury -that a sort of light curtain, adorned with a beautiful fringe, is -always provided, and so placed as to fall in a moment on the approach -of the slightest danger. Its external appearance is always more or -less beautiful, although in this respect there is a great diversity -in the different sorts. If you should examine the inside you would -find them all alike, but it is so curious, and its powers so truly -astonishing, that no one who considers it can suppress his surprise -and admiration. By a slight and momentary movement, which is easily -made by the person it belongs to, you can ascertain with considerable -accuracy the size, color, shape, weight, and value of any article -whatever. A person having one is thus saved from the necessity of -asking a thousand questions, and trying a variety of troublesome -experiments, which would otherwise be necessary; and such a slow and -laborious process would, after all, not succeed half so well as a -single trial of this very useful article." - -George. "If they are such very useful things I wonder that everybody, -who can at all afford it, does not have one." - -Father. "They are not so uncommon as you may suppose; I myself happen -to know several individuals who possess one or two of them." - -Charles. "How large is it, Father? Could I hold it in my hand?" - -Father. "You might; but I should not like to trust mine with you!" - -George. "You will be obliged to take very great care of it, then?" - -Father. "Indeed I must: I intend every night to enclose it within -the small screen I mentioned; and it must besides be washed -occasionally in a certain colorless fluid kept for the purpose. -But, notwithstanding the tenderness of this instrument, you will be -surprised to hear that its power may be darted to a great distance, -without the least injury, and without any danger of losing it." - -Charles. "Indeed! and how high can you dart it?" - -Father. "I should be afraid of telling you to what a distance it will -reach, lest you should think I am jesting with you." - -George. "Higher than this house, I suppose?" - -Father. "Much higher." - -Charles. "Then how do you get it again?" - -Father. "It is easily cast down by a gentle movement, that does it no -injury." - -George. "But who can do this?" - -Father. "The person whose business it is to take care of it." - -Charles. "Well, I cannot understand you at all; but do tell us. -Father, what it is chiefly used for." - -Father. "Its uses are so various that I know not which to specify. It -has been found very serviceable in deciphering old manuscripts, and, -indeed, has its use in modern prints. It will assist us greatly in -acquiring all kinds of knowledge; and without it some of the most -wonderful things in the world would never have been known. It must be -confessed, however, that very much depends on a proper application -of it, since it is possessed by many persons who appear not to know -what it is worth, but who employ it only for the most low and common -purposes without even thinking, apparently, of the noble uses for -which it is designed, or of the great joy it is capable of affording. -It is, indeed, in order to have you fully appreciate its value that I -am giving you this description." - -George. "Well, then, tell us something more about it." - -Father. "It is very penetrating, and can often discover secrets which -could be detected by no other means. It must be said, however, that -it is equally prone to reveal them." - -Charles. "What! can it speak, then?" - -Father. "It is sometimes said to do so, especially when it happens to -meet with one of its own kind." - -George. "What color are these strange things?" - -Father. "They vary considerably in this respect." - -George. "What color is yours?" - -Father. "I believe of a darkish color, but, to confess the truth, I -never saw it in my life." - -Both. "Never saw it in your life!" - -Father. "No, nor do I wish to; but I have seen a reflection of it, -which is so exact that my curiosity is quite satisfied." - -George. "But why don't you look at the thing itself?" - -Father. "I should be in great danger of losing it if I did." - -Charles. "Then you could buy another." - -Father. "Nay, I believe I could not prevail upon my body to part with -it." - -George. "Then how did you get this one?" - -Father. "I am so fortunate as to have more than one; but how I got -them I really cannot recollect." - -Charles. "Not recollect! why, you said you brought them from London -to-night." - -Father. "So I did; I should be sorry if I had left them behind me." - -Charles. "Tell, Father, do tell us the name of this curious -instrument." - -Father. "It is called--an EYE." - - - - -NOTE - - -The first of these stories is reprinted from the well-known "Evenings -at Home, or the Family Budget Newly Opened," by Dr. John Aiken and -his sister Mrs. Barbauld, which is a survival from a very dreary -period in the history of books for children. Except lesson books, -books of manners, morals, and religion, the printing press had done -little for youth until about the middle of the eighteenth century, -and for long years after that no book was thought to be suitable for -children's reading unless it contained many pills of information -and so-called "useful knowledge," gilded over with more or less of -fancy and imagination. These books were generally of the driest -and most uninteresting character, but Dr. Aiken and his sister -Mrs. Barbauld were among the two or three writers who succeeded in -making their stories more vivid and real, and their men, women, -and children seem more like actual living people, than did most of -their contemporaries. There is a human interest in some of their -stories which has charmed each successive generation of men and women -that has come upon the scene since they were written, and unless -the child-mind changes very much, will continue to do so for many -generations to come.[E] - -[E] Dr. Aiken was born in London in 1757, and Mrs. Barbauld in 1743. -The former died in 1822, and the latter in 1825. - -There are many walks in our vast country quite as full of interest in -sights and sounds as that over Broom Heath, "among the green meads -by the side of the river," and there are many boys who go through -them in just the same way as William and Robert took their walk. Let -our Roberts take a lesson from our Williams, and our Williams go on -cultivating the habit of observing and remembering what they see. - -Professor Archibald Geikie, in his work on the "Teaching of -Geography," page 54, makes the following interesting remarks as to -the pedagogical value of the story of "Eyes and No Eyes":-- - -"It is worth a thousand educational treatises. Never shall I forget -the impression it made on me when, as a young boy, I first came upon -it. Every step of William's walk was to me a subject of engrossing -interest; I tried myself to make similar observations, and was -delighted in particular to recognize the movements of a lapwing in -a succeeding country ramble. To this day, such is the permanence of -early associations, the swoop and scream of that bird overhead brings -back to me these first impressions of boyhood, and reminds me of my -lifelong debt to the 'Evenings at Home.' The story ought not only to -be known to the teacher; he should make it thoroughly familiar to his -pupils as soon as they are of an age to understand and enjoy it. - -"The contrast between the two boys in this story is one which may -be found in every schoolroom. Unless a teacher actually tries the -experiment, he can scarcely imagine the extraordinary differences in -power of observation, not so much between clever and dull pupils, for -that might be looked for, as among those who are bright and forward -in the general work of the school. Of two clever boys, the one who -has the quicker perception of things around him is more likely to -succeed in life. But the chances of the other may be vastly improved -by early training. And it is this training, so little provided for by -the ordinary school work, that the teacher should do all in his power -to secure." - -Charles Kingsley says: "When we were good, a long time ago, we used -to have a jolly old book called 'Evenings at Home' in which was a -great story called 'Eyes and No Eyes,' and that story was of more -use to me than any dozen other stories I ever read;" and what Oliver -Wendell Holmes thought of the story is printed at the beginning of -the book. - -To turn to the other stories in the book, "The Three Giants" is from -"Tales of Political Economy," by Mrs. Marcet (1769-1858), and has -long been a favorite with children. Slight changes have been made -in order to simplify it, and to confine the attention solely to -the leading idea. "Travellers' Wonders" is also from "Evenings at -Home," and in reading it one might almost imagine Captain Compass was -thinking of a visit to the United States when he unfolded his budget -of wonders to his listening family. "A Curious Instrument" is by Jane -Taylor (1783-1824), who wrote many books for children in conjunction -with her sister Ann. The sisters are best known, perhaps, by their -"Original Poems" and "Hymns for Infant Minds." - - * * * * * - - -Transcriber Note - -Minor typos were corrected. Text was moved to prevent images splitting -paragraphs. The page numbers for The Coming of Vaporifer and Vaporifer -at Work in the Illustrations listing have been corrected. 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