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+This eBook, including all associated images, markup, improvements,
+metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be
+in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES.
+
+Procedures for determining public domain status are described in
+the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org.
+
+No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in
+jurisdictions other than the United States. Anyone seeking to utilize
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+status under the laws that apply to them.
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+Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for
+eBook #65358 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/65358)
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-The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Girl's Own Paper, Vol. VIII, No. 362,
-December 4, 1886, 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
-will have to check the laws of the country where you are located before
-using this eBook.
-
-Title: The Girl's Own Paper, Vol. VIII, No. 362, December 4, 1886
-
-Author: Various
-
-Release Date: May 16, 2021 [eBook #65358]
-
-Language: English
-
-Character set encoding: UTF-8
-
-Produced by: Susan Skinner and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at
- https://www.pgdp.net
-
-*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE GIRL'S OWN PAPER, VOL. VIII,
-NO. 362, DECEMBER 4, 1886 ***
-
-
-
-
-[Illustration:
-
-THE GIRL’S OWN PAPER
-
-VOL. VIII.—NO. 362.] DECEMBER 4, 1886. [PRICE ONE PENNY.]
-
-
-
-
-MERLE’S CRUSADE.
-
-BY ROSA NOUCHETTE CAREY, Author of “Aunt Diana,” “For Lilias,” etc.
-
-[Illustration: “‘OH, MERLE!’ SHE WHISPERED, IN A VOICE OF AGONY.”]
-
-_All rights reserved._]
-
-
-CHAPTER IX.
-
-BERENGARIA.
-
-The bright spring days found me a close prisoner to the house. The end
-of April had been unusually chilly, and one cold rainy night Reggie was
-taken with an attack of croup.
-
-It was a very severe attack, and for an hour or two my alarm was
-excessive. Mrs. Morton was at a fancy ball, and Mr. Morton was
-attending a late debate, and, to add to my trouble, Mrs. Garnett, who
-would at once have come to my assistance, was confined to her bed with
-a slight illness.
-
-Travers had no experience in these cases, and her presence was
-perfectly useless. Hannah, frightened and half awake as she was, was
-far more helpful. Happily Anderson was still up, and he undertook at
-once to go for the doctor, adding, of his own accord, that he would
-go round to the stables on his return, and send the carriage off for
-his mistress. “She is not expected home until three, and it is only
-half-past one, but she would never forgive us if she were not fetched
-as quickly as possible.”
-
-I thanked Anderson, and begged Hannah to replenish the bath with hot
-water. Happily, I knew what remedies to use; my former experience in my
-schoolfellow’s nursery proved useful to me now. I remembered how the
-doctor had approved of what I had done, and I resolved to do exactly
-the same for Reggie. Frightened as I was, I am thankful to know my
-fears did not impede my usefulness; I did all I could to relieve my
-darling, and Hannah seconded my efforts. I am sure Travers wished with
-all her heart to help us, but she had no nerve, and her lamentable
-voice made me a trifle impatient.
-
-It was a great relief when Anderson appeared with Dr. Myrtle. He
-waited for a few minutes to hear from the doctor that all dangers had
-been averted by the prompt remedies, and then he went in search of
-Stephenson. It was some time before we heard the sound of carriage
-wheels.
-
-Reggie was still wrapped in a blanket on my lap, and had just fallen
-asleep, worn out by the violence of the remedies still more than by the
-attack. Dr. Myrtle whispered to me not to move, as he would speak to
-Mrs. Morton downstairs, and enforce on her the need of quiet. It would
-have been grievous to wake the exhausted little creature, and I was
-quite content to sit holding him in my lap until morning, if Dr. Myrtle
-thought it well for me to do so.
-
-I had forgotten all about the fancy ball, and my start when I saw Mrs.
-Morton standing in the doorway almost woke Reggie. I really thought for
-a moment that I was dreaming. I learnt afterwards that she had taken
-the character of Berengaria, wife of the lion-hearted Richard, but for
-the moment I was too confused to identify her. She was dressed in
-dark blue velvet, and her gown and mantle were trimmed with ermine;
-she wore a glittering belt that looked as though it were studded with
-brilliants, and her brown hair hung in loose braids and plaits under
-a gold coronet. As she swept noiselessly towards us, I could see the
-tears were running down her cheeks, and her bosom was heaving under her
-ermine.
-
-“Oh, Merle!” she whispered, in a voice of agony, as she knelt down
-beside us, “to think my boy was in danger, and his mother was decked
-out in this fool’s garb; it makes me sick only to remember it; oh, my
-baby, my baby!” and she leant her head against my arm and sobbed, not
-loudly, but with the utmost bitterness.
-
-“Dear Mrs. Morton,” I returned, gently, “it was not your fault; no one
-could have foreseen this. Reggie had a little cold, but I thought it
-was nothing. Oh, what are you doing!” for she had actually kissed me,
-not once, but twice.
-
-“Let me do it, Merle,” returned my sweet mistress; “I am so grateful
-to you, and so will my husband be when he knows all. Dr. Myrtle says
-he never saw a nurse who understood her duties so well; everything had
-been done for the child before he came.”
-
-“Oh, Aunt Agatha, if only you and Uncle Keith had heard that!”
-
-We had talked in whispers, but nothing seemed to disturb Reggie. A
-moment after Mr. Morton came hurriedly into the nursery; he was very
-pale and discomposed, and a sort of shock seemed to pass over him as he
-saw his wife.
-
-“Violet,” he whispered, as she clung to him in a passion of weeping,
-“this has unnerved you, but, indeed, Dr. Myrtle says our boy will do
-well. My darling, will you not try to comfort yourself?”
-
-“I was at Lady S.’s ball when Muriel, our precious baby—oh, you
-remember, Alick”—for she seemed unable to go on. Poor woman, no wonder
-her tears flowed at such a memory. Mrs. Garnett told me reluctantly,
-when I questioned her the next day, that baby Muriel had been taken
-with a fit when Mrs. Morton and her husband were at a ball, and the
-mother had only arrived in time to see the infant breathe its last.
-
-“Yes, yes,” he said, soothing her, “but nothing could have saved her,
-you know. Dr. Myrtle told you so; and you were only spared the pain
-of seeing her suffer. Try to be sensible about it, my dearest; our
-baby has been ill, but everything has been done for him; and now he
-is relieved, poor little fellow. We have to thank you for that, Miss
-Fenton. How nicely you are holding him! he looks as comfortable as
-possible,” touching the boy’s cheek with his forefinger. “Now, my love,
-let me relieve you of this cumbrous thing,” taking off her coronet;
-“this mantle will unfasten, too, I see. Now, suppose you put on your
-dressing-gown, and ask Travers to make you and Miss Fenton some tea. I
-will not be so cruel as to tell you to go to bed”—as she looked at him,
-pleadingly. “If you were a wise woman you would go, but I suppose I
-must humour you; but you must get rid of all this frippery.”
-
-“Oh, Alick, how good you are!” she said, gratefully, and in a few
-minutes more she returned in her warm, quilted dressing gown, with her
-hair simply braided; she looked even more beautiful than she had done
-as Berengaria.
-
-Mr. Morton soon left us after placing his wife in my charge. The night
-passed very quickly away after that. When Reggie stirred I put him in
-his cot, and begged Mrs. Morton to lie down on the bed beside him. She
-did not refuse; emotion had exhausted her, but her eyes never closed.
-She told me long afterwards she dared not sleep, lest the old dream
-should torment her of the dead baby’s hand, that she could never warm
-with all her efforts.
-
-“I can feel it quite icy cold in mine, and sometimes there is a little
-cold face on my bosom, but nothing ever warms them, and when I wake up
-I am shivering too.”
-
-I could not tell what was passing through the poor mother’s mind, but I
-did not like the feverish look in her wide, distended eyes. Mr. Morton
-was right, and the shock of her boy’s illness had utterly unnerved her.
-I thought, perhaps she was blaming herself needlessly, and yet never
-was there a human being more utterly devoid of vanity and selfishness;
-she was simply sacrificing her maternal duties to her husband’s
-ambition; of her own accord she would never have entered a ball-room; I
-am sure of that.
-
-I longed to soothe her, and yet I hardly knew what to say. Presently
-she shivered, and I covered her up carefully with all the wraps I could
-find, and then knelt down and chafed her hands.
-
-“You cannot sleep, Mrs. Morton; I am so sorry, and yet you are tired
-out.”
-
-“I do not want to sleep,” she answered. “I dream badly sometimes, and I
-would rather lie awake and listen to my boy’s breathing; he is sleeping
-nicely, Merle.”
-
-“Yes, indeed; there is no need for anxiety now, and I am watching him
-carefully.”
-
-“Oh, I can trust you,” with a faint smile; “I trusted you from the
-first moment. But, my poor girl, I am afraid you are very tired, and I
-have taken your bed from you.”
-
-“I would rather see you resting there, Mrs. Morton.”
-
-“Do you think you could read to me a little? My husband often reads to
-me when I am nervous and cannot sleep. Anything will do, the simplest
-child’s story; it is just the sound of the voice that soothes me. What
-is that book? Oh, the Bible! I am afraid I do not read that enough, I
-have so little time to myself, and then I am often too tired.”
-
-“It is just the book for tired people,” I returned; “if you want a
-story. I think the history of Ruth is one of the most touching, she has
-always seemed to me one of the sweetest characters in the Bible; it is
-a perfect idyll of Oriental life.”
-
-“It is so long since I have read it,” she returned, apologetically,
-“you shall read it to me if you like.” And I read the whole book
-throughout to her, only pausing now and then to look at Reggie.
-
-She listened to it without interrupting me once, but I was rejoiced
-to see that the strained expression had passed out of her eyes; they
-looked more natural.
-
-“You are right, Merle,” she observed, when I had finished, “it is very
-beautiful and touching; that was something like love, ‘where thou
-goest, I will go.’ Now you may read me a psalm, if you are not tired. I
-like your voice, it is so clear and quiet.”
-
-I read to her until she bade me stop; and then we talked a little.
-I told her an incident or two in my school-days about our nutting
-expeditions in the Luttrell woods, and how one of our party had strayed
-and had encountered a gipsy caravan. I was just in the middle of Rose
-Mervyn’s recital, when I heard measured breathing. She had fallen
-asleep.
-
-I saw a great deal of Mrs. Morton during the next few days. She
-was very unwell, and Dr. Myrtle insisted on her giving up all her
-engagements for a week. He spoke very decidedly, and Mr. Morton was
-obliged to yield to his opinion; but he seemed a little put out.
-
-“It is such a pity all those people should be disappointed,” he
-observed, in a grumbling voice. “Mrs. Granville had quite set her heart
-on having us both on Thursday. I knew how it would be when you fretted
-yourself ill last night.”
-
-“I could not help it,” she pleaded. “Anderson gave me such a fright; of
-course, he thought his coming for me was the best, but when I saw his
-face I thought I should have died with fear.”
-
-“Nonsense, Violet, you ought to learn more self-control; you know I
-dislike to see you give way so entirely. Well, we must abide by Dr.
-Myrtle’s orders and treat you as an invalid.”
-
-“But, Alick,” detaining him as he was turning away, not in the best of
-humours, as I could see from the night nursery, “I can write for you
-all the same; the library is quite warm.”
-
-“How absurd!” was the reply. “Do you think I should let you tire
-yourself for me? I hope I am not quite so selfish, my dear child,” for
-she was still holding his arm beseechingly; “you must really let me go,
-for I am dreadfully busy; rest yourself and get well, that is all I ask
-of you,” and he kissed her and left the room. He was not often hasty
-with her, but he was overworked and irritable.
-
-We made the most of that week between us. Reggie soon recovered, and as
-long as he was kept in a certain temperature, and carefully watched,
-gave us no further anxiety.
-
-His mother took entire charge of him during that week; she came up to
-the nursery as soon as she was dressed, and stayed with us until Reggie
-was in bed and Travers came to summon her. She even took her meals with
-us. Dr. Myrtle thought she was suffering from a chill, and the warm
-nursery was just the right temperature for her. It was a lovely sight
-to watch her with her children. I think even Mr. Morton was struck by
-the beauty of the scene when he came up one afternoon and found her
-sitting in her easy chair with Reggie on her lap and Joyce standing
-beside her.
-
-“You seem all very happy together,” he said, as he took up his position
-on the rug. I had retreated with my work into the other room, but I
-could hear her answer distinctly.
-
-“Oh, Alick, it has been such a happy week—a real holiday; it was worth
-being ill to see so much of the children; Reggie has such pretty ways;
-I knew so little about him before. He can say ‘fada,’ quite plainly.”
-
-“Indeed, my boy, then suppose you say your new words.”
-
-“Do you know what I have been wishing all this week?” she continued,
-when Reggie had finished his vocabulary, and had been taken into his
-father’s arms.
-
-“No, my dear,” sitting down beside her, “unless you wished for me to be
-a Cabinet Minister.”
-
-“Oh no, Alick,” and there was pain in her voice, “not unless you wish
-it very much too; I had a very different desire from that.”
-
-“Perhaps you were longing for a house in the country; well, that may
-come by-and-by.”
-
-“Wrong again, Alick. I was wishing that you were a poor man—not a very
-poor man, I should not like that—and that we lived in a small house
-with a pretty garden where there would be a lawn for the children to
-play on, and plenty of flowers for them to pick.”
-
-“Indeed! this is a strange wish of yours, you discontented woman.”
-
-“No, not discontented, but very, very happy, dear, so you need not
-frown over my poor little wish; everyone builds castles, only mine is
-not a castle, but a cottage.”
-
-“I should not care to live in your cottage, Violet; I am an ambitious
-man. The Cabinet would be more to my taste.”
-
-“Yes, dear,” with a sigh, “it was only make believe nonsense,” and
-she did not say another word about that fancy of hers, but began
-questioning him about last night’s debate. That was just her way to
-forget herself and follow his bent. No wonder he could not do without
-her, and was restless and ill at ease if she were unavoidably absent.
-
-I wonder he understood in the least what she meant by wishing him to
-be poor. No doubt her innocent fancy had constructed a home where no
-uncongenial anxieties or ambition should sever her from her children,
-where she should be all in all to them as well as to her husband.
-
-I daresay she imagined herself no longer burthened with wearisome
-receptions, but sitting working in the shade of the little porch while
-her children made daisy chains on the lawn of that humble abode. The
-mother would undress her children and hear them say their little
-prayers. Hark! was not that a click of the gate? Father has come home.
-How late you are, Alick; the children are asleep; you must kiss them
-without waking them. Hush, what nonsense, she is dreaming. Alick would
-be in the Cabinet; people were prophesying that already. She must take
-up her burthen again and follow him up the steep hill of fame. What if
-her woman’s heart fainted sometimes, women must do their work in life,
-as she would do hers.
-
-The next day the mother’s place was empty in the nursery. “Mrs. Morton
-was with her husband in the library,” Travers told us. Later on we
-heard she was driving. Just as I was putting Reggie, half asleep, in
-his cot, she came up to wish the children good-night, but she did not
-stay with us ten minutes. I remarked that she looked very ill and
-exhausted.
-
-“Oh, I am only a little tired,” she returned, hurriedly; “I have been
-paying calls all the afternoon, trying to make up for my idle week, and
-the talking has tired me. Never mind, it is all in the day’s work.” And
-she nodded to me kindly and left the room.
-
-(_To be continued._)
-
-[Illustration]
-
-
-
-
-CHRISTMAS GIFTS.
-
-
-With the approach of Christmas and Christmas gifts, the cares of the
-girl members of a large family may be said to arrive at a crisis. There
-is no girl so friendless or so heartless that there is no one she loves
-or wishes to remind of that love at this season, while there are many
-surrounded by affectionate relations and true friends, whose love they
-warmly return, and whom they wish to please with a gift, and yet have
-but a small sum at command, and must think carefully over its division.
-
-How many anxious calculations have to be made, what knitting of
-smooth brows, what hasty arithmetic on stray scraps of paper, what
-self-denial in personal matters to increase the little store, and
-then, when the materials are bought, what secret work is carried on
-behind father’s chair, should he happen to be awake, and in this and
-that out-of-the-way nook of the house, so that the all-important,
-and generally extremely apparent, secret is not divulged until the
-Christmas or New Year’s morning!
-
-All honour to this secrecy, this planning and patient work! It is the
-true spirit of present-giving; and let not any of our readers despise
-it as childish; rather let them remember that that which costs no
-time, no thought, no self-sacrifice is but of little value in the eyes
-of affection, and pleases only where the gift is valued for itself,
-and not for the giver. The girl who can walk into a shop and select
-the first handsome article in it for mamma, and pay for it from an
-amply-supplied purse, neither awakens in herself or her mother the
-same holy feelings that are excited when baby works an impossible
-kettle-holder “all by herself,” and which she “bided” out of the
-pennies given her for sweeties.
-
-Admiring and sympathising as we do with girls who are generous-minded
-and do not count labour and time when anxious to please, we have
-brought together in this paper, with the idea of helping them, several
-useful and pretty articles that can be made without any great expense.
-
-For a small present, costing at the utmost one shilling, the
-fashionable little “hold-all bags” are good. These bags are four in
-number, and are connected together only at the top; they are filled
-with odds and ends, such as buttons and silks, until they stand upright
-and all of a row, and they find a conspicuous place among drawing-room
-nick-nacks.
-
-To make them, purchase one yard of good satin ribbon, in colour either
-ruby, navy blue, or chestnut brown, with the reverse side of a pale
-blue or old gold shade. The ribbon should be from two and a half to
-three inches wide. Divide the yard into four equal portions, sew over
-the sides, and hem the tops of two bags without decorating them,
-but work on one of the other bags a handsome and legible monogram
-containing the initials of the person for whom the present is intended.
-Work this with fine gold-coloured purse silk, and surround the chief
-outlines with Japanese gold thread. On the other bag work a small
-spray of flowers, either a branch of wild rose, a bit of heather,
-forget-me-not, or jessamine. Sew up these two bags, and hem them
-round like the others; then make sixteen eyelet-holes, four on each
-bag; make these round and not very big, and place them opposite to
-each other, and at the extreme corners of the opening. Sew the bags
-together by overcasting the first bag with its monogram turned outwards
-on the inner side of its opening to the outer side of the opening
-of one of the undecorated bags. Attach the second plain bag to the
-inner side of the first plain bag, and sew the fourth bag, with its
-decorated side turned outwards, to the inner side of the third bag. By
-this arrangement both the decorated bags are outside, and every bag
-at its base is separate. Finally, take a silk dress lace, the colour
-of the satin ribbon, and run that through the eyelet-holes to make a
-draw-string. Fill the bags, plant them out on the table, and draw their
-openings slightly together.
-
-These “hold-all bags,” instead of being filled with odds and ends, are
-sometimes turned into flower-vases. The smallest-sized penny tumblers
-are inserted into each bag and filled with cut flowers, or the smallest
-size flowerpot, filled with a tiny fern, is used. In the latter case,
-a piece of American cloth is fastened round the pot to prevent any
-moisture soiling the satin bag.
-
-The present method for concealing flower-pots when required for drawing
-room decoration makes another simple but acceptable present. This is
-a bag of plush, into which the pot is put. To make this bag of plush,
-cut a round of millboard or stiff cardboard the size of the bottom
-of an ordinary flower-pot. Take a piece of plush, in width twice the
-circumference of the centre part of the pot, and in height the height
-of the pot; sew the two ends of the plush together, and make a hem an
-inch and a half wide. As a finish to the upper part, just below this
-hem, on the wrong side of the bag, run on a narrow piece of black tape
-to hold a draw-string, which make by running in a piece of strong
-elastic, that will draw in the fulness of the plush until it fits the
-upper part of the flower-pot tightly. Gather the lower ends of the
-plush, arrange evenly round the piece of millboard, and sew to the
-latter with the edges concealed, using strong thread for the securing
-stitches. When the plush cover is used, its millboard foundation keeps
-the bottom of the pot (which may be damp) from doing any damage to
-the furniture, and the wide hem beyond the draw-string stands out as
-a frilling a little below the edge of the pot. Half a yard of plush,
-which costs two shillings, will make a pair of flower-pot covers.
-
-From America comes to us a novelty in bedroom decoration, and one
-very suitable as a present to a young lady who uses her bedroom as
-a sitting-room and likes it prettily decorated. This is known as a
-“pillow sham,” and is a long strip of linen or cambric ornamented with
-lace and ribbons, and laid over the top part of the bed in the daytime
-only. It fits the width of the bed whatever size that is, and does
-not fall down the sides. If the worker is an adept at drawn-thread
-work, the pillow sham can be made very inexpensively and of material
-that will last through much wear, but when drawn-thread work is not
-used, Torchon and other strongly made lace is required. An easy way
-for making a pillow sham is to buy four new hem-stitched-bordered
-handkerchiefs, and upon the corner of one of the handkerchiefs to
-embroider the first letter of the owner’s Christian name, making it
-four inches high and slanting it from the corner to the middle of the
-handkerchief. Join these handkerchiefs together, inserting between each
-an inch and a half wide strip of Torchon lace insertion, and bordering
-the handkerchiefs lengthways with a line of the same, so that each
-square of cambric is surrounded by insertion lace. Finish with a frill
-of Torchon lace edging, which carefully whip to the insertion lace. A
-careless bow of ribbon or one of Liberty’s silk scarves tied in a bow
-is sewn to the corner of the pillow sham, just above the embroidered
-corner.
-
-When using drawn-work instead of lace insertion, a piece of linen the
-length and width of the sham is taken, and the threads from this are
-drawn out as strips down the width, leaving five squares of plain
-linen between them. After working the strips over with linen thread
-into a pattern, narrow coloured ribbon is run down the centres of the
-drawn-work, and the linen squares embroidered with washing cotton of
-the same colour as the ribbon. An edging of lace finishes the border,
-and into this lace a line of narrow ribbon is threaded.
-
-Another variety of pillow sham is made by sewing together five or eight
-pocket handkerchiefs with coloured borders, and ornamenting the same
-with a large knot of narrow ribbons of various shades of colour. The
-handkerchief borders in this case need not be alike, but should blend
-together, and their colours should be used as some of the colours in
-the knot of ribbons.
-
-Palm-leaf fans still find favour as drawing-room fans, but are no
-longer left undecorated. The two newest ways of decorating them are
-as follows:—Take a well shaped and strong fan and paint it with
-oil-colours, with which a very little varnish has been mixed, either a
-very bright yellow or a brilliant scarlet. Give two coats of colour,
-and let the fan dry. Buy some ribbon half an inch in width; in colours,
-black, vivid green, sky-blue, and yellow-pink. Make a wide vandyke
-running down one of the lengths of ribbon by taking the running thread
-in diagonal lines across the ribbon from edge to edge. Draw the ribbon
-up so that it forms a number of pointed vandykes, sew the strips down
-the ribs of the fan at equal distances apart, and use black ribbon more
-than the other colours. Sew on a line of red gold tinsel between each
-strip of ribbon, and finish the handle with a knot of coloured ribbons.
-
-The second make of fan requires a piece of plush, some narrow coloured
-silk cords, and various shades of tinsel. The cords are obtained by
-buying a yard of a twisted silk cord made up of various shades, and
-using the strands of this separately. Cut the piece of the plush the
-size of half the fan, so that it covers the fan on one side from the
-tip of leaf to the handle. Fasten this round the edge to the back of
-the fan, and ornament its straight edge on the fan with a line of
-tinsel on the uncovered side of the fan. Sew down each rib alternate
-lines of coloured silk cord and double lines of tinsel, using as many
-varieties of tinsel as possible, and arranging the cords with due
-regard to effect. Take three long peacocks’ feathers, and fasten these
-across the piece of plush and sew their ends together close to the
-handle of the fan. Cover the handle with a piece of plush, and arrange
-a bow and ends of ribbon round the handle and to conceal the peacock
-feather ends. Line the back of the fan with thin silk or dark twill.
-
-Blotting-book covers of velveteen are always acceptable presents.
-The foundation for these is a sixpenny blotter, size ten inches by
-eight inches, while three quarters of a yard of velveteen (price
-three shillings the yard) will make two covers, with a piece of brown
-holland or blue twill for the inside lining. The decoration for these
-covers is embroidery, but this is only worked on the upper side of
-the blotter, the underside being left plain, so as not to interfere
-with its usefulness. The embroidery can be of any description of silk
-embroidery, either oriental embroidery with its quaintly-formed but
-impossible flowers and foliage, or sprays of naturally-tinted flowers
-worked in crewel silks, and both worked directly on to the velveteen
-foundation; or silk embroidery finished with a gold thread outline
-and worked upon a coloured rep silk foundation, and sewn on as an
-ornamental corner to the blotter; in fact there are many ways of
-ornamenting the cover, and the embroidery the worker is most proficient
-in should be selected. If church embroidery is within her capabilities,
-we advise the initials or coat of arms of the owner being worked in a
-frame on linen, cut out and couched down to the velveteen foundation
-with gold thread or gold cord; but such elaborate embroidery is not
-often obtainable. The way to make up the blotter is to cut the holland
-lining exactly the size of the sixpenny blotter, and the velveteen a
-little larger. Turn in the edges of both, and overcast them together,
-enclosing the stiff cover of the blotter between them, and sewing the
-blotting paper sheets in when the cover is made. Bradshaw covers are
-made like blotters, but naturally take less material, and are only
-embroidered in one corner.
-
-Large photograph-holders can be easily made at home. These are used for
-the display of a number of cabinet photos, and are fitted with bands,
-into which the photograph is slipped and easily taken out. The size
-of such a stand is usually seventeen inches long by thirteen inches
-high, but they can be made of any size desired. The foundation is of
-millboard, to which a millboard support is fastened by its being glued
-to stout tape and the tape glued to the millboard, with sufficient
-width of tape left between the two pieces of millboard to allow the
-support to work. The upper side of the millboard is covered with
-quilted satin. The satin is selected of some bright colour, and the
-quilting lines are run as diagonal lines, not as making diamonds. Three
-tight bands of satin are sewn across the quilting; these are two inches
-in width, and require a lining of stiff net when made up. They are
-embroidered with coloured silks, either forming a running design, such
-as a spray of jessamine or celandine, or with some geometrical pattern
-constantly repeated. When finished and lined, the bands are placed as
-diagonal lines across the satin, not as horizontal lines.
-
-For a photograph-holder the size given, the first band will be eleven
-inches in length, and will cross from the top of the holder to the
-left-hand side; the second band will be nineteen inches in length, and
-will cross from the extreme top corner of the frame on the right side
-to the bottom of the frame on the left; the third band will be twelve
-inches in length, and will be arranged beneath the last-mentioned,
-crossing from the right side to the bottom of the frame. Into these
-bands the photographs are stuck; therefore, they must be sewn firmly
-down at the sides where they end and commence, and stretch tightly
-across the quilted frame. On the right-hand bottom corner of the
-foundation, which is never covered with photographs, the owner’s
-initials are sometimes worked in black silk over the quilting lines.
-This makes a good finish, but is not essential.
-
-Bachelors’ wall pincushions are useful presents for gentlemen. They are
-made of plush, and are ornamented with the perforated brass ornament
-used about the harness of cart-horses. These brass rounds are sold by
-all harness and saddle makers, and cost from sixpence to a shilling,
-and for the latter price the small brass handle by which they hang will
-be removed by the shopman, as it is not required for the pincushion. A
-quarter of a yard of plush, a quarter of a yard of house-flannel, and
-one yard of narrow satin ribbon are required for these cushions. To
-make them, tear up the house-flannel into an inch and a quarter wide
-widths. Roll these strips very tightly one over the other as a wide
-narrow wheel, and keep the strips firm by sticking pins through the
-wheel. When a round as large as the perforated brass is made, cut the
-plush into two rounds of the same size and a long strip an inch and a
-half wide. Cover one plush round with the perforated brass, and sew
-them both on the face of the wheel and well through to the back; turn
-the edges of the round of plush over the side, and sew on the round for
-the back of the cushion; conceal the edges of both pieces of plush with
-the narrow band, which turn in at its edges and secure tightly round
-the sides of the cushion. Make a loop of the ribbon to hang up the
-pincushion by, and sew the ends to the sides of the cushion, and with
-the remaining ribbon make a pretty bow, which fasten to the top of the
-loop.
-
-The newest decoration for white wooden articles is the poker or
-burnt-wood work. This consists of burning down the background of any
-design so that the design itself is in relief. The fumes of the burning
-wood slightly colour the parts left untouched, and give an extremely
-soft and ivory-like appearance to the work, which, if carried out with
-the new apparatus introduced by Mr. Barnard, is quickly and easily
-accomplished.
-
-The articles decorated with burnt wood work are all kinds of white
-wood photo frames, small wooden table screens, all kinds of boxes,
-bookslides, book cutters, drawing-room bellows, salt boxes, milking
-stools, tubs, paste rollers, etc. The best designs are those of large,
-single-petalled flowers, with their leaves, such as daffodils, daisies,
-and dog-roses. The design is drawn upon the wood, outlined with a
-burnt-in line, and its chief lines, such as divisions of flower petals,
-centres of flowers, veins of leaves indicated, and then the background
-burnt until it is depressed, and is of a warm brown deepening to
-black in colour. Mr. Barnard’s apparatus consists of a platinum point
-connected by an indiarubber tube to a bottle of benzine, which is
-connected with another indiarubber tube to a small air pump. The
-latter held in the left hand is pressed, forcing air over the benzine
-to the platinum point and keeping that always red hot. The right hand
-holds the point and uses it like a broad pencil, keeping it steadily
-pressed on the wood until that is deeply burnt in. This apparatus costs
-twenty-five shillings, but if several girls join together to purchase
-it, there is no further outlay. Small pokers are used if the apparatus
-is not procurable. These are about eight inches long and an inch in
-circumference; they are sunk in wooden handles, and kept hot in a fire;
-four to six are required at once, as they soon become cold. The parts
-of the wood not burnt, such as the back of a screen, the legs of a
-stool, require to be stained, sized, and varnished, and the burnt wood
-is also varnished (not stained) as a finish. The paste rollers are used
-for holding whips, keys, etc. They are hung to the wall with coloured
-ribbons, and have a row of hooks screwed into them to hang keys, etc.,
-to.
-
- B. C. SAWARD.
-
-
-
-
-THE AMATEUR CHOIR TEACHER.
-
-BY THE HON. VICTORIA GROSVENOR.
-
-
-In a former article we made some suggestions as to the possibility of
-improving a moderate gift for music with the view of learning to play
-the organ and qualifying for the noblest of service, that of leading
-God’s praise in His church.
-
-We propose now to take up the subject of training choirs for the same
-excellent service, on the understanding that the future teacher has
-taken the advice already given as to her own musical improvement.
-Personal fitness for this branch of instruction is most necessary; as
-if once the taught discover they know anything of which the teacher
-has not more perfect knowledge, that teacher’s task will be a hard
-one. Therefore, there should be familiar acquaintance with every
-description of musical notation. Alto and tenor clefs should be well
-understood to be clearly explained when met with. On this subject we
-should like to recommend the careful study of “A Short Treatise on
-the Stave,” by the late Dr. John Hullah, published by Parker, where
-the whole matter is admirably set forth and illustrated on its own
-technical grounds. The often-heard, but somewhat slipshod explanation,
-“Oh! you must read a note higher or a note lower,” which leaves the
-puzzled learner very much where he was before, will thus be avoided.
-Even supposing the alto and tenor clefs are never met with, the study
-will repay the intending teacher by opening her mind and giving
-clearness to her musical ideas.
-
-It will be seen, by what has been said, that we consider our amateur
-teacher’s first qualification should be thorough knowledge of her
-subject. The second should decidedly be untiring patience, which will
-bear with stupidity, carelessness, want of zeal, deficient ear, bad
-pronunciation, and all the thousand and one difficulties which beset
-choirs. These consist generally of volunteers who join with but little
-idea of giving of their best to God, and an impatient teacher would
-soon find herself in the lonely position of the last player in Haydn’s
-“Good-bye” symphony.
-
-We would next place hopefulness in the teacher’s catalogue of moral
-furniture. The learners will soon find out if they are being taught
-without hope of their improvement; listless work will be the result,
-and the shy, anxious members will give it up in despair. The power of
-encouraging effort, of detecting and commending the slightest sign of
-improvement, of persuading the members mentioned above that the work is
-within their grasp, if persevered in, is most necessary, and a kindly
-sunny disposition ever ready to look at the brightest side is simply
-invaluable.
-
-Next we should place regularity and perseverance. Without these the
-teacher can do nothing. If she works in the best spirit she will feel
-that, like David, she cannot offer to God of that which doth cost her
-nothing, and she will be ready to forego little pleasures in order that
-the practice may not be interfered with, or the evening of the week
-changed. This last is a most important point; as the lives of working
-people, from whose ranks most members of choirs are recruited, do not
-adapt themselves to change, they seldom receive in its integrity a
-hasty message sent round to put off, and of all things, a walk for
-nothing after a day’s work is to be avoided. Of course rules must be
-elastic and not unbending as iron, but experience shows that the above
-advice is really needful. Regularity in the teacher is sure to be
-imitated by the learners, and steady work must tell in the end.
-
-The next point should be firmness tempered with wisdom. The teacher
-must be supreme, or no choir will prosper. Infallible she cannot be
-while here below; but even so, one will must rule or anarchy will be
-the result. Twenty (or whatever number may compose the choir) views
-of doing the same thing cannot conduce to harmony, moral or musical,
-and this fact must be impressed. At the same time there are local
-prejudices and fancies in most places, which a clever tactful teacher
-will soon discover and understand, so as to know when she had better
-give way.
-
-Enough has been said to show that we do not consider the task of
-teaching a choir an easy one, nor will it always repay with success
-those who have given it much trouble. The teacher must sometimes find
-herself grappling with the effort of making the proverbial “sow’s ear
-into a silk purse.” She has impossible materials to weld, such as,
-_e.g._, excellent, but roaring basses, trebles possessing no high
-notes, tenors out of tune, and leaning to amalgamation with treble,
-altos none! What is she to do? Courage! Go on, do your best, teach,
-exhort, scold, coax, never lose hope, and if you get no credit, try
-not to mind. Man does not know, but God does, what work you do for His
-sake, only be sure that you are so doing it. If the music be really
-the unattainable “silk purse,” how much may be done in teaching the
-inharmonious little choir to phrase well, to throw out by judicious
-accent the sense of canticle and hymn, and so lead the congregation to
-think of the lesson it contains! How much zeal may be kindled by the
-teacher’s energy! How speedily the broad dialect peculiar to the place
-will disappear before a little good-natured chaff and imitation from
-one in whose lips it is seen, even by its votaries, to be ridiculous!
-How the ill-used letter “H” may be helped and restored with the advice
-of breathing over it.
-
-The reader will not, perhaps, think us very encouraging; but it is
-obvious that where excellent voices are to be had, forming them into
-a choir only needs intelligence and a firm hand from one who is equal
-in knowledge to the task undertaken. We have, therefore, tried to suit
-our advice to the needs of the many, who must perforce work under
-difficulty, being obliged to take, not the materials they desire to
-have, but only the heterogeneous ones at hand.
-
-A few practical suggestions and we have done! Do not attempt too much
-in public. Congregations are very critical. One piece of music badly
-done will be more noticed than several faultless ones. On the other
-hand, keep on learning some music above the power of the choir for
-improvement and interest. In cold weather, when possible, choose music
-which does not try the voices too much by giving them sustained high
-notes to sing.
-
-Lastly, work according to the views of the vicar of the parish, who
-is responsible for everything in it; try to carry out in the best
-possible manner whatever form of musical worship he desires to have in
-his parish church. You may not be of the same opinion; but you will
-gain nothing but good by putting your own views in the background and
-thus learning to obey as well as to teach. And may we not hope that
-the loving Father will acknowledge such work, even if imperfect in its
-results, as done by His child to His Glory?
-
-
-
-
-“SHE COULDN’T BOIL A POTATO;”
-
-OR,
-
-THE IGNORANT HOUSEKEEPER, AND HOW SHE ACQUIRED KNOWLEDGE.
-
-BY DORA HOPE.
-
-
-Mrs. Wilson’s recovery was slow and tedious, even more trying to
-herself, perhaps, than to her nurses. She had always been particularly
-brisk and active, and had scorned to consider, or, as she said,
-“coddle,” herself in any way, and it was a great trial to her
-energetic, self-reliant nature to be waited on hand and foot, and
-watched over “like a baby.”
-
-Ella, entirely unaccustomed as she was to illness of any sort, save
-her mother’s occasional attacks of asthma, thought the nurse was
-unnecessarily checking her aunt’s attempts to help herself, till Mrs.
-Mobberly explained to her what different treatment is necessary for
-different people, and how impossible it would be, with Mrs. Wilson’s
-active temperament, to prevent her from getting excited and over-tired
-if she once began to take any part in what was going on around her,
-although a little exertion might have been actually beneficial to one
-of a calmer and more indolent nature.
-
-It seemed a long time before Mrs. Wilson was allowed any food more
-substantial than beef-tea, of which she wearied greatly in spite of the
-nurse’s many devices for varying it. She showed Ella how to alter the
-nature of it altogether by making it with half the quantity of mutton,
-or veal, instead of entirely beef; or with all three together. This
-not only made a pleasant change, but the doctor told them it was often
-found more easily digestible than when made of beef alone. Then again,
-both flavour and consistency were varied by adding cream, or an egg
-well beaten up, or thickening with corn flour, tapioca, wheaten flour,
-or rice, while at other times it was served clear, without either
-flavouring or thickening, or in the form of a jelly turned out of a
-tiny mould not larger than a teacup.
-
-Gradually, however, Mrs. Wilson began to take more solid food, and
-then Ella’s great difficulties began. By the end of her first week’s
-experience of providing real meals for her aunt, she wrote to her
-mother that she had come to the conclusion that it was quite impossible
-to arrange dishes suitable in every respect for a sick room.
-
-“Do pity the sorrows of a poor young housekeeper,” she wrote, “with
-three people to please, the doctor, the nurse, and the patient, and
-they all want something different. First comes the doctor, and tells
-me I must now devote my attention to making the dishes as nourishing
-as possible, as it is time aunt was picking up her strength again; so
-I crowd in all the strengthening things I can think of, and flatter
-myself I have made a mixture strong enough to restore the weakest
-invalid; and the consequence is that next day nurse tells me she has
-been up all night with her patient, whose supper was too concentrated
-to digest. Next time, inspired by nurse’s tale of sufferings, I make
-the simplest dish imaginable, which could not disagree with a baby,
-and it comes down almost untouched, with a sarcastic remark from Aunt
-Mary that when she is well she does not mind how plain her food is, but
-that in her present state of health she needs something to tempt the
-appetite a little. And yet——but I will draw a veil over the doctor’s
-reproaches when I ventured to make her a spicy little dish.”
-
-But on the whole, in spite of her poor opinion of her own performances,
-Ella managed to supply the needs of the sick-room very satisfactorily;
-and she was much comforted on hearing from her mother that even
-the most experienced housekeepers find it a hard task to tempt the
-capricious appetite of an invalid, especially when it is necessary also
-that the food should be very nourishing, and at the same time so light
-as not to overtax the most feeble digestion, Mrs. Hastings sent her
-daughter a list of suggestions for little dishes for the sick-room,
-and added, at the close of her letter—
-
-“At any rate, my child, if your task is difficult, as I know it must
-be, it is also satisfactory, for you can watch your patient each day
-able to take a little more nourishment, or a little more substantial
-food than the day before. You are saved the terribly sad duty of vainly
-trying to tempt an appetite which daily gets a little poorer, or of
-watching a dear one getting each day a little weaker, proving only too
-clearly that all your efforts are in vain.”
-
-Happily Mrs. Wilson liked oysters, and, though she soon tired of them,
-as of everything else, they formed the basis of a number of tempting
-little dishes. The favourite of these, a suggestion of the doctor’s,
-was called “Angels on Horseback.” Ella was very anxious to know what
-the ridiculous name meant, but could get no information from the
-doctor, who said he had often wondered himself, but all he knew was
-that it was a favourite dish with invalids, and that was the name it
-had always gone by. Each oyster was taken from the shell, and the beard
-cut off, and was then rolled up in a very thin slice of bacon, tied
-round with cotton, and fried. Usually three of these little rolls were
-enough for a dish.
-
-At first Ella’s generous nature led her into the mistake of sending
-up too large quantities of everything for the patient, but she
-soon learnt that a dish which would tempt an invalid if offered in
-small quantities, would be pushed aside in disgust if large and
-substantial-looking.
-
-Next to “Angels on Horseback,” the favourite dishes were scalloped
-or stewed oysters; while for a little additional nourishment between
-meals, the nurse would often suggest a “Prairie Oyster.” This
-exceedingly simple dish is not an oyster at all, but merely the raw
-yolk of an egg, served like an oyster on a small shell, with the
-smallest possible sprinkling of salt and pepper over it. The white must
-be very carefully strained off, so as to preserve the yolk unbroken,
-and it can then be slipped into the mouth and swallowed without any
-trouble to the patient.
-
-Two other favourite dishes which the cook was particularly clever in
-making were jellied veal and faggots. For the former a small knuckle of
-veal was boiled till the meat slipped easily off the bones, which were
-then taken out. The meat was cut into very small pieces, and pepper,
-salt, mace, and thyme added to taste, with a small shalot chopped very
-fine. This was all put back into the liquor, and boiled again till it
-was thick, and then turned into a mould. When cold it formed a stiff
-jelly. Ella always found the flavouring a difficulty, for Mrs. Wilson’s
-taste as an invalid was of course very different from what it was
-when in health, and her digestion was very easily upset; but the cook
-obstinately declared that she knew her mistress’s tastes better than
-Ella, and in spite of all orders persisted in putting in flavouring
-according to her own fancy; so that many dishes which might have been
-simple and nourishing enough to be frequently asked for, had to be
-altogether prohibited, as being too spicy for the invalid’s delicate
-digestion.
-
-For the faggots, a rump steak was cut into thin strips of about three
-inches by two, and on these was spread a little butter, with pepper,
-salt, and the smallest atom of minced shalot, or sometimes a few herbs.
-The strips were then rolled up, tied with string, and fried in butter
-or clarified dripping, and served up in gravy.
-
-Then there were the different kinds of panada, made of slices of
-chicken or game cut off the bones, and scraped and pounded, and gently
-simmered in milk; not to mention the numberless ways of cooking eggs,
-buttered, scrambled, poached, and boiled, besides omelettes, custards,
-and milk puddings of all descriptions.
-
-At last, Mrs. Wilson began to show signs of real improvement, and as
-her strength returned she was allowed to spend part of every day on her
-comfortable, old-fashioned sofa, while a few visitors were admitted
-to see her. The nurse kept a very watchful eye over these visitors,
-and after their departure sometimes expressed herself in very strong
-language to Ella, saying that, “They ought to know better than to tire
-out an invalid with stopping such a long time, and as for some of them,
-why, they don’t never seem to care how high they send Mrs. Wilson’s
-temperature up, with their worriting talk, and exciting the poor
-creature so.”
-
-The nurse would have soon taken the matter into her own hands, and
-requested the visitors to retire when her patient began to look tired,
-but that Mrs. Wilson preferred Ella’s attendance in the room to that of
-the nurse when visitors came, and she was not sufficiently experienced
-to know when her aunt was beginning to get tired. The nurse hit upon
-a plan, at last, which afforded Ella a good deal of secret amusement.
-Mrs. Wilson’s spectacle-case was always placed on a little table by
-the side of her sofa, and the nurse arranged that, whenever she began
-to feel a little tired, and wished to be relieved of her visitors, she
-should take up this spectacle-case and lay it beside her on the sofa,
-which should be the signal for Ella, or the nurse, to suggest to the
-caller that Mrs. Wilson had talked as much as was good for her.
-
-Every morning Ella had to bring an account of all the pets to her aunt,
-and under her searching questions revealed an amount of ignorance that
-quite appalled the old lady.
-
-“You should not feed the ducks and hens together,” she said, one day,
-in answer to a remark of Ella’s. “Of course, the ducks eat more than
-their share, with their great flat bills. Where are your brains, child?”
-
-Ella had a good deal of trouble with the fowls’ food at first. Their
-morning meal was soft food, consisting of “sharps” (the outer part of
-wheat, which is separated in grinding the corn for white flour) and
-barley meal, mixed in equal parts, and added to any kitchen scraps
-there might be. This was wetted with boiling water, and should have
-been made into a stiff, dryish paste—a point Mrs. Wilson had been most
-particular about. The cook, however, objected to any extra trouble; as
-it was much easier to pour in water enough at once to make the mixture
-wet and sloppy, she always did so; while, as for the kettle really
-boiling—well, that was only one of her mistress’s many fads.
-
-Then there was the Indian meal, which ought not to have been used,
-except in the cold weather, and then only occasionally mixed with
-the other meal, but this had all been used up, and no fresh had been
-ordered, so the fowls had been fed on Indian meal alone, till that,
-too, was finished.
-
-Again, with her liberal ideas, Ella gave them far more food than they
-could eat, and the wet, sour mess lay about all day; so that it was not
-at all to be wondered at that the fowls drooped, seemed out of order,
-and did not lay their proper quantity of eggs, and Ella, afraid of
-exciting her aunt by telling her they were ailing, only increased the
-evil by increasing the quantity of food.
-
-This state of things had lasted some time, when the nurse took pity
-on Ella’s difficulties, and told her it would do her aunt no harm to
-be asked for advice about the fowls; so, to Ella’s great relief, they
-talked the matter over together, and a change was instituted in the
-feeding. Fresh meal of all kinds was ordered, and Ella had a practical
-lessons in mixing it.
-
-Mrs. Wilson had all the materials brought into her room, and directed
-the process, while Ella, arrayed in a large apron, and with her sleeves
-turned up carefully, followed her instructions.
-
-Some potato peelings and kitchen scraps had previously been boiled
-together till they were quite soft, and now Ella cut these up small,
-with an old knife, and then mixed the meal in equal parts, while
-waiting for the kettle to boil.
-
-As soon as it boiled, the scraps were mixed in with the dry flour, and
-Ella, seizing the big wooden spoon, began to stir vigorously, while the
-nurse poured in the boiling water.
-
-“Enough water,” Mrs. Wilson cried, in spite of the incredulity of
-the two operators, who had intended to put in twice as much. “Don’t
-stop beating it up, child,” and Ella continued till she was hot and
-breathless.
-
-“Now take up a handful and squeeze it.”
-
-Ella did so, and it fell from her hand a stiff lump, leaving her palm
-quite clean.
-
-“That is quite right,” said Mrs. Wilson, encouragingly, after slowly
-arranging her gold spectacles, and peering at the mass in the basin.
-“See that it is always stiff like that; and never give them more than
-they will run after when you throw it for them. If you find any is
-left, do not give them so much next time. At night give them each as
-much grain as you can take up in your hand, but no more. You may give
-the ducks a little more, but stop at once when their hunger is not
-keen. Now go and feed them, child; I am tired.”
-
-Under this treatment the fowls soon revived, and Ella was happy about
-them again, at any rate till she discovered that she had made other
-mistakes. She found the eggs she got now were much better and richer
-than those bought in shops, or even than those she got when the fowls
-were being carelessly fed, and that in consequence fewer of them were
-necessary in cooking.
-
-One day, before she had began to take solid food, to the great delight
-of her nurses, Mrs. Wilson declared she was hungry, and had taken a
-fancy for a boiled egg. There were not many eggs from the hens now, but
-the ducks laid regularly; so Ella picked out a fine large duck egg,
-and carried in the prettily arranged tray herself; but what was her
-disappointment when, on breaking the shell, the egg was found not to be
-fresh. Her aunt pushed the tray away in disgust, the sight of the bad
-egg had quite turned off her appetite, and she refused to eat anything
-at all.
-
-The nurse was very much vexed, and Ella herself was greatly distressed,
-and went off with the tray, more convinced than ever that housekeeping
-was not her vocation, and that she never would succeed in it.
-
-The next time she was alone in the sick-room her aunt told her that she
-was evidently very careless about the eggs, and must begin to manage
-them differently. To begin with, she must use up all in the house as
-quickly as possible for cooking, and every fresh one that came in must
-be dated with lead pencil, and placed in order, with the large end
-downward, in a board pierced with round holes for the purpose, and
-which was kept in the cool larder. They were to be used in the order in
-which they were brought in, and, Mrs. Wilson added, severely, she hoped
-they would not soon disgrace themselves again by serving up a musty egg.
-
-At the beginning of January, Mrs. Wilson directed Ella to bring a
-certain note-book and the writing materials.
-
-“Now,” she began, as soon as Ella was ready, “you will find a list, at
-the beginning, of all subscriptions that are due. I want you to write
-to all the people, and enclose the amounts. I will write cheques for
-the large sums, but for the others you must get postal orders. Make a
-list of all you will want, and then you can get them when you go out.”
-
-“But they have not applied for the subscriptions yet, auntie. I have
-brought you every application that has come. Would it not be better to
-leave them till they are asked for?”
-
-But this did not suit Aunt Mary’s views at all. She pointed out to Ella
-that she kept a note herself of the date when her subscriptions were
-due, and therefore knew the time as well as the recipients; and so she
-did not see the good of making the charities expend a penny postage,
-in addition to the cost of paper and envelope and clerk’s salary, in
-merely reminding her of the fact.
-
-“And be sure,” she continued, “that you put a stamped envelope in with
-each subscription. I want them to get the benefit of the whole amount,
-without having to spend part of it in reminding and thanking me.”
-
-“There is another notice under the ‘January’ heading, auntie, about
-paying the dog tax. Ought that to be attended to?”
-
-“Oh, yes, to be sure. Now you see the good of keeping a memorandum
-book, for I had quite forgotten that January was the month for renewing
-the licence. That will be seven and sixpence. Two dogs, did you say?
-Dear, dear, child, how ignorant you are, to be sure! Don’t you know
-that dogs are not taxed till they are six months old, and the puppy is
-not nearly that yet?”
-
-Ella looked rather crestfallen at this rebuke, which her aunt
-perceiving, hastened to comfort her by saying—
-
-“Well, it can’t be helped. You are a good girl, and do your best,
-my dear; but things were different when I was young, and girls were
-expected to know all the ways of a house. Ah, yes! girls were very
-useful, in the old days, when I was young.”
-
-(_To be continued._)
-
-
-
-
-“NO.”
-
-BY MARY E. HULLAH.
-
-
-[Illustration]
-
-Embrance Clemon sat writing in a snug room on the second floor of
-a house in an old-fashioned London street. A geranium stood on a
-flower-stand near the window; the walls were painted brown, and the
-carpet had faded into a comfortable insignificance.
-
-Embrance was just twenty-four. She had come to London three years ago,
-on the strength of a promise of two pupils, and, behold! the pupils
-had multiplied rapidly, and she now had as many lessons as she could
-manage. She had been brought up by an aunt in the west of England; she
-had been educated at a high school, where she had successfully passed
-all the examinations that were open to her, and she was thoroughly
-happy in her present work. In very truth, she stood alone in the world.
-A few months ago, Mrs. Clemon (the aunt who had bestowed upon her such
-good care) had set sail for New Zealand, to join her only son, who was
-a farmer. She would fain have taken Embrance with her, but there were
-two insurmountable difficulties in the way: a lack of funds, and the
-young farmer’s desire to marry his cousin, as soon as he should be in
-a position to support a wife. Embrance liked him, but she did not like
-him well enough to consent to this arrangement; she therefore decided
-to remain in London, and Mrs. Clemon, after some fretting, had been
-induced to look upon the plan with approval.
-
-The years of work in the smoke and fog had not done more than tone down
-the roses in Embrance’s cheeks; her hair, simply drawn back and plaited
-to her head, was that shade of brown that most people call black; she
-had kindly brown eyes, a large mouth, and a smile that won the hearts
-of her pupils at once, and caused their elder sisters to say that,
-after all, Miss Clemon was not so plain when you came to talk to her.
-Certainly, Miss Clemon was very little given to thinking about her
-appearance. It was, as Mrs. Clemon had always maintained, a pity. The
-grey gown that she wore, with a stiff collar, was singularly unbecoming
-to her; it was, indeed, warm and scrupulously neat, but when you had
-said that, you had come to an end of its praises. It was hideous.
-
-At last, Embrance put down her pen and looked at the clock; it was
-getting late, and the tea-things were still uncleared from one end of
-the table. The street was very quiet, and she heard the postman’s knock
-next door.
-
-“I wish somebody would write to me,” she said, aloud.
-
-It was not the mail day, but there were friends in the country who
-corresponded with her from time to time, and to-night she would have
-rejoiced over the arrival of any letter. “I almost think,” she said,
-looking round her little domain with a half-stifled sigh, “that it was
-a pity that I refused to go to that concert, but if I had gone”—with
-a glance at a thick book—“I shouldn’t have got through my reading.
-By-and-by, when I’m an old lady, perhaps I shall have time to enjoy
-myself!” The gratification that she derived from this reflection was
-considerably damped by the after-thought, “and then I shan’t care about
-it!”
-
-Her meditations were interrupted at this stage by a sound of stumbling
-footsteps on the staircase. It was Annie, the maid, panting and out of
-breath; there was a lady just come, who wanted to see Miss Clemon.
-
-“A lady!” repeated Embrance. “What is her name?”
-
-“She didn’t say, miss; she is coming up.”
-
-A sharp ring of a bell sent Annie hurrying down stairs again; the lady,
-whoever she was, would have to find her way unassisted.
-
-Embrance went out on to the landing. “The stairs are very steep,” she
-said, “please take care.”
-
-“Embrance, oh, dear Embrance! is that you at last?” said a voice from
-below. “I thought I should never find you in this horrible dark place;
-how can you bear it?”
-
-“Hush! Come up; I am glad to see you, Joan. Come into my room.”
-
-The new-comer ran up the last few steps, and flung her arms vehemently
-round Embrance, who led her into her sitting-room, and then drew back
-to look at her.
-
-“Oh, Embrance,” gasped Joan, fairly breaking down now that the door was
-shut behind her, “do be glad to see me! I have taken you by surprise,
-haven’t I? But you said you would always help me, so I’ve come.”
-
-She took off her hat, and sat down on the sofa, dragging Embrance with
-her. She was a young, fair girl, graceful in every movement, with a
-small, delicate face, surrounded by masses of yellow hair. Her blue
-eyes were full of tears, and her pretty lips quivered.
-
-“My darling,” said Embrance, tenderly, holding her by both hands, “of
-course you came if you wanted me; but you are so tired and cold, I will
-ring for some hot water and make you fresh tea, and when you are rested
-you shall tell me all about it.”
-
-“Let me tell you now,” said Joan, excitedly. “Oh, Embrance! it is
-so dull at home now that you are gone, and Mrs. Clemon is gone, and
-everybody I care for! And I don’t get on with my painting, and they
-cracked my best plate just when I wanted to send it to the Exhibition
-at Exeter.”
-
-“Well, never mind. You must begin another one,” said Embrance,
-coaxingly, almost as if she had been speaking to a child, while she cut
-thin slices of bread-and-butter, and produced cake from the recesses of
-a cupboard. “Tell me, is your grandfather in London?”
-
-“No; he’s at home, and Emily, too. I said that I should like to come
-to you, and they said very well—I must write and ask you if it would
-be convenient. And then I packed a bag, and just came up by the next
-train.”
-
-“My dear Joan, they will think that you are lost.”
-
-“No they won’t. I wrote a letter to grandpapa before I came away, and
-he had given his consent, you know. Are you shocked, Embrance?”
-
-“Not in the least.” Embrance’s dark eyes rested on her friend with a
-look that showed how completely she meant what she said. “But I should
-like to hear the rest of the story, Joan. There is something more than
-a cracked plate.”
-
-“You are a real conjuror. I believe you know all about it without my
-telling you.” Joan hung her head, and went on pathetically, “Alfred
-Brownhill has been tiresome again, and grandpapa is bent upon my
-accepting him, and Emily keeps on trying to persuade me. She says that
-it is ridiculous for a girl in my position to throw away such a good
-chance. I am tired of being told so often that I’m dependent; so——”
-
-“You came to me to learn to do for your self, you poor child! You know
-how glad I shall be to help you, if I can.”
-
-“Embrance, you’re the kindest person in the world!” was all Joan said;
-but she slipped her hand into her friend’s slim fingers caressingly.
-
-They had been friends from childhood. Embrance had often helped
-little Joan Fulloch with her lessons, or coaxed her grandfather into
-overlooking some escapade that was against his notions of propriety.
-She knew well that it was a dreary home for an imaginative girl down at
-Doveton, and that Emily (another granddaughter of the old man’s) was as
-unsympathetic as she could be, looking upon Joan’s wish to become an
-artist as the wildest of wild schemes. Embrance had vague recollections
-of Mr. Brownhill (a flourishing county town solicitor) as a dull man,
-who played lawn tennis. She did not believe that Joan liked him, and
-as the child was harshly treated at home, she was doubly welcome here.
-At any rate, if the worst came to the worst, there was a small sum in
-the savings bank that would pay extra expenses for a year to come—and a
-year was a long time to look forward in Embrance’s eyes.
-
-Joan soon regained her spirits, and forgot her fatigue in the novelty
-of the situation. It was like a fairy tale, living up here at the top
-of that corkscrew staircase; and what a pretty flower! and might she
-paint here when Embrance was out? She had her own notions, though they
-were somewhat erratic, about making money.
-
-To-morrow she would write to her cousin, Horace Meade, and he would
-help her to get something to do; and she began making calculations as
-to the number of people who required dinner services in the course of
-a year. If Horace could once get orders for her, her fortune was made,
-and in her spare time, she would paint landscapes for exhibitions.
-“Then, you must give up these rooms,” exclaimed Joan, eagerly, “and we
-can go and live somewhere where there is a garden. And, dear Embrance,
-you’ll let me buy you another dress. You ought really never to wear
-that cold colour.”
-
-Joan’s own dress was of a delicate blue shade, hanging in artistic
-folds about her pretty figure.
-
-Embrance heaved a little sigh; she was accustomed of old to her
-friend’s castle-building, but she would not say a word to damp her
-ardour on this first night. She arranged her books and papers ready for
-the morning’s work (her special reading must, of course, be put aside
-now), then she came and sat by Joan, and listened to her long account
-of home troubles, till the clock struck eleven, and the lamp began to
-burn low.
-
-The days passed on; the winter was at hand. In spite of Joan Fulloch’s
-good resolutions, in spite of her hostess’s kindness, she was far
-from content in her new surroundings. Her grandfather had sent a box
-containing clothes and painting materials; he had enclosed a brief note
-in which he foretold that she would soon wish to return to Doveton.
-Perhaps, if it had not been for this note, Joan would have said
-good-bye to Embrance and the second floor parlour some weeks ago. As
-it was she stayed on, always looking out for commissions that never
-came, and making plans to paint pictures that she never began. Either
-the light was too bad, or she had a headache; there was always an
-excuse, and Embrance returned night after night, to find her visitor
-plunged in the depths of despair. She would straightway set to work
-to cheer her up, and before tea was over, Joan was invariably sure
-of success—to-morrow or the next day. At last she heard of a pupil,
-but, unfortunately, she did not take kindly to teaching; she was very
-unpunctual, and it did not seem likely that her connection would
-increase with rapidity. In the meantime, Embrance had begun to draw
-upon her savings, for the expenses had increased marvellously since the
-autumn. There were so many little luxuries that Joan, poor child, could
-not possibly do without.
-
-“Embrance,” said Joan, one evening. She was sitting over the fire with
-a novel, her face was flushed, and her hair was disordered; “I do want
-so many things. I wish I could earn some money.”
-
-“You have got your pupil,” said Embrance, looking up from her book.
-She was translating Schiller, and it was the third time that Joan had
-interrupted her.
-
-“Five shillings an hour!” exclaimed Joan, kicking the fireirons down
-with a clatter. “It’s so little; I shan’t have earned enough by
-Christmas to buy a winter jacket, and besides, I owe you so much,
-Embrance!”
-
-“Never mind about that, Joanie; I have enough for the present, if we
-are careful.”
-
-“It is so tiresome of Horace to be away just when I want him most,”
-continued Joan, “but he’ll come to-morrow; he has enough to do; he
-ought to be able to help me. Do try and be in early to-morrow.”
-
-Embrance shook her head. “I can’t be home till seven o’clock.”
-
-“Put off that stupid lesson.”
-
-“I’m afraid it is impossible.”
-
-“I want you to see Horace. You never do anything I ask you!”
-
-“I am very sorry, Joan.”
-
-“What’s the good of being sorry?” asked Joan, pettishly. “No, no! I
-don’t mean it!” She turned round sharply and saw that her friend’s eyes
-were full of tears. In a second, she had flung down her book and was
-kneeling at Embrance’s chair: “Do forgive me, it isn’t true. You are
-the only person in the world who has real patience with me. Don’t mind
-what I said; I didn’t mean it.”
-
-It took some time to calm Joan down after her fit of penitence, but at
-last she went back to her novel.
-
-Embrance sat with both arms on the table; the translation got no
-farther. Her heart was full of love for her friend, and yet—she had
-her fair share of common sense—she could not but see that Joan was
-thoroughly unfit for her present mode of life. She was just one of
-those girls who would be happiest in a home of her own. Here, for once,
-Embrance found herself cordially agreeing with Emily Fulloch, who was
-as old-fashioned in her notions as it was possible for a narrow-minded
-spinster to be.
-
-Perhaps a “brain-wave” of sympathy passed from one friend to another at
-that moment, for Joan looked up from her book:
-
-“Darling, I think you will like Horace better than Mr. Brownhill,
-though he is not so good-looking. I hope you will!”
-
-“I will try,” said Embrance, jumping up to kiss Joan; “I will try my
-hardest, for your sake.”
-
-Joan blushed, and Embrance began talking of other matters.
-
-A week later, Mrs. Rakely (a friend of the Fullochs) came to London.
-She stayed at an hotel close by, and was glad of Joan’s company, as
-she wished to get through as much sight-seeing as she conveniently—or
-inconveniently—could in the space of a fortnight.
-
-One Saturday afternoon Embrance had come home early (Joan had gone to
-luncheon with Mrs. Rakely); she was tired, it had been a warm, rainy
-day; her boots were muddy and her dress was damp. The armchair by the
-fire looked very tempting; she sat down, and in a few seconds was fast
-asleep, dreaming of a magnificent abode in New Zealand, where Joan, in
-a white satin gown and a diamond necklace, was blissfully wedded to an
-emperor with flowing ringlets and bright grey eyes. The emperor had
-very bright eyes, indeed, and a habit of knocking on the ground with
-his sceptre; he was also afflicted with a curious kind of cough that
-did not sound natural—and yet it was natural, appallingly so. With a
-start and a jerk, Embrance sat up in her chair wide awake, and met the
-gaze of a real pair of grey eyes (brimming over with fun) that belonged
-to a gentleman, who stood, hat in hand, at the open door.
-
-“I really apologise humbly,” he said, without venturing to approach;
-“but I was told to walk up, and I knocked several times, and someone
-said ‘Come in.’”
-
-Embrance had recovered her presence of mind. “Please do come in,” she
-said. “I am very sorry that I was asleep; but I was so tired. I think
-you are Mr. Meade?”
-
-“That is my name,” said the visitor, looking across the room from the
-smoky fire to the rows of books with a quick glance; “and I have the
-pleasure of speaking to Miss Clemon.”
-
-“Yes,” said Embrance, holding out her hand. “Joan will be so
-disappointed to miss you. She is not in.”
-
-The recollection of her plans for Joan’s future happiness brought the
-blood to her cheeks. She stooped over the fire to hide her confusion.
-Yes, she liked the look of him. He had a clever, kindly face, much
-bronzed by the sun; he wore a short beard and a turned-down collar; he
-had no gloves, and his hands were long and thin.
-
-“Do let me do that for you,” said Mr. Meade, putting down his hat and
-umbrella. “I am exceedingly skilful at managing fires and chimneys; in
-fact, I have occasionally regretted not having been brought up to it
-professionally.”
-
-“As a chimney-sweep?” inquired Embrance.
-
-“No, I think not,” said Mr. Meade, gravely, as he inserted the poker
-between the bars, “but there might have been an opening as stoker or
-master of the bellows in some grand family. There, now, if you will
-allow me to have a sheet of newspaper, I think I shall succeed to
-perfection.”
-
-Embrance fetched the newspaper, and in a few minutes the crimson flames
-were leaping up the chimney.
-
-(_To be continued._)
-
-
-
-
-THE SHEPHERD’S FAIRY.
-
-A PASTORALE.
-
-BY DARLEY DALE, Author of “Fair Katherine,” etc.
-
-
-CHAPTER IX.
-
-The following Saturday turned out to be a misty November morning.
-Towards noon the fog lifted, and at half-past one, when Dame Hursey
-prepared to start to keep her appointment with her son, it was
-tolerably clear, but the old wool-gatherer, who was as weather-wise as
-John Shelley himself, shook her head as she scanned the horizon from
-the door of her miserable cottage, and muttered to herself she doubted
-the fog would come on worse than ever at sunset.
-
-As this was the first time she had seen her son for twelve or thirteen
-years, and would probably be the last, seeing that he was going back
-to Australia, probably never to return, at least in her lifetime, Dame
-Hursey regarded the occasion as a festive one, and had taken a holiday
-in honour of it. Her morning had been spent in cleaning her miserable
-cottage, in the faint hope that her son might be persuaded to come home
-and spend the evening with her. In this hope all her wool-gatherings
-had been taken upstairs instead of lying about the floor and corners
-of the kitchen, as they usually did; the floor had been scrubbed, a
-fire was lighted, two rickety armchairs drawn up to it, and a cup
-and saucer, a mug, and two or three plates—Dame Hursey’s stock of
-crockery—placed on the table. She dispensed with dinner, and contenting
-herself with a piece of bread and cheese, reserved two red herrings for
-her tea on her return with her son.
-
-Then she dressed herself in her Sunday dress, not without some qualms
-lest the fog should turn to rain. Even if it did, on such an occasion
-as this she must wear her best things, so she put on her black stuff
-dress, a black and white plaid shawl, and a bonnet that might have come
-out of the ark, judging from its antique shape, and which, to Dame
-Hursey’s pride, was ornamented with some dirty old artificial flowers.
-Thus attired, and having made up the fire and left the kettle on the
-hob, she locked up her hut, put the key in her pocket, and providing
-herself with a gigantic cotton umbrella, to answer the purpose of a
-walking-stick as well as in case of rain, she set out for Mount Harry.
-
-Though Dame Hursey knew all the short cuts, it was more than an hour’s
-walk from her house to the top of Mount Harry, but the old woman was
-longing to see her son again, so she started in good time, and reached
-the spot a quarter of an hour before he did, though he was punctual.
-The fog was rolling up again, as the old wool-gatherer had predicted,
-and, accustomed as her black eyes were to piercing the mists which so
-often wrap those rounded hills like a damp clinging garment, her son
-was close upon her before she saw his form, looming like a gigantic
-grey figure close beside her. It was twelve years and a half since
-they had met, and George Hursey was very much altered in appearance
-since, in the character of John Smith, carpenter on board the French
-yacht Hirondelle, he had laid the baron’s little daughter on John
-Shelley’s doorstep; but for all that his mother declared she would have
-recognised him in a crowd.
-
-“You’ll come home and have a cup of tea and a chat, George, after all
-these years, won’t you?” said the old dame, gazing with pride and
-affection on her ne’er-do-well son.
-
-“No, mother, no; I might be recognised, and I don’t want to be arrested
-for making off with a child, before I go back to my own wife and
-children.”
-
-“The child is safe enough, if you mean the child you left on John
-Shelley’s doorstep thirteen years ago come next June.”
-
-George Hursey gave a sigh of relief, for many a nightmare had that
-innocent baby, which, for aught he knew to the contrary, might have
-perished from cold or exposure through his fault, given him.
-
-“John Shelley took it in then, as I thought he would?”
-
-“Yes, and a beauty she is, and no mistake. George, tell me who the
-child is, will you, honey?” said Dame Hursey, in a wheedling tone.
-
-“That’s what I have come here for chiefly, that and to see you once
-again, for when I say good-bye to England to-morrow it will be for good
-this time; I am going to give up the sea, and live at home now.”
-
-“Well, you know your own affairs best; but about the lassie, George;
-whose child is she? No poor person’s, I’ll be bound,” said Dame Hursey,
-whose curiosity about Fairy exceeded even her interest in her son’s
-family affairs.
-
-“She is the niece of my late master, a French gentleman, and it was
-by his wish I took her to John Shelley, only instead of going in as I
-pretended I had done, I left her on the doorstep, and went off with the
-purse; and if ever I cursed in my life I have cursed that money, which,
-for aught I knew till a few minutes ago, had made me a murderer, though
-for that matter I may be one still, for the baroness may have fretted
-herself into her grave for her baby.”
-
-“The baroness, did you say, George? Sure, I was right, she is no common
-child, no fit wife even for gentleman Jack,” exclaimed the old woman,
-opening her umbrella, partly to keep the fog off, partly as a sort of
-screen to shut in the secret she had yearned so long to learn. But
-George was following up his own train of thought, and went on, heedless
-of her interruption—
-
-“Though, as true as I stand here, I never knew till last week that
-Monsieur Léon was drowned, and the Hirondelle lost a day or two after
-I left her. Likely as not the baron thinks the child was drowned too,
-since they have never found her. I might never have known, only I
-happened to ask at Yarmouth if they had ever had a French yacht named
-Hirondelle over there, and some of the fishermen remembered all about
-the wreck. When I heard that I determined to come and see if the child
-was safe, and now I know it is, I want to do the rest, mother.”
-
-“Yes, honey, what is it? You may trust me. I guessed the night I met
-you you knew all about the fairies’ child, and I have kept your secret
-and watched the child ever since, for your sake, George.”
-
-“Well, I want you to go to John Shelley, or to the parson if you like,
-or both, and tell them the child belongs to the Baron de Thorens, of
-Château de Thorens, near Carolles, in Normandy. Shall I write it down
-for you?”
-
-“No, no, I can’t read it if you do; I shall remember fast enough—Baron
-de Thorens, Château de Thorens, near Carolles, Normandy. I shall think
-of Christmas carols, De Thorens, Château de Thorens,” repeated Dame
-Hursey.
-
-“Never mind château, it only means castle, but don’t forget the name,
-De Thorens. Here, I’ll cut that word on your umbrella handle with my
-knife in printed letters. You can read print, I know.”
-
-“All right; and what else am I to tell them?”
-
-“Why, that my master and the baron gave me the child twelve years and
-a half ago to put out to nurse with an Englishwoman. I went ashore at
-Brighton in a little boat with Pierre Legros, one of the sailors, and I
-walked across the downs with the child, and left it on John Shelley’s
-doorstep; then I told Monsieur Léon John had taken it in and promised
-to look after it. He took the address, and the only person I thought I
-had robbed was John Shelley, though I knew the baron would make it up
-to him when he heard of it.”
-
-“Are they rich, George?” asked the old woman, taking a pinch of snuff
-as she peered at her son through the fog.
-
-“Yes, I think so. The château is a beautiful place, and stands in a
-park.”
-
-“Is that all I am to say?”
-
-“Yes, leave the rest to the parson to decide; he will write to the
-baron in French very likely. You may tell them as soon as you like, for
-I shall be out of the country to-morrow.”
-
-“I shall wait till you are gone; one day more can’t make any
-difference, and it is best to be on the safe side, then if they want
-to know where you are, I can say on your way to Australia, so there’ll
-be no fear of their catching you, though it is so long ago there isn’t
-much danger of that now.”
-
-“Please yourself, and now I must be off. Here are five sovereigns for
-you, mother; they are honestly earned, so you need not be afraid to
-take them, and now I must say good-bye. How thick the fog is; there is
-no danger of anyone seeing me this evening; it is as much as I shall do
-to find my way down to the Brighton Road without breaking my neck in
-a chalk pie. Take care of yourself, mother; but you know these downs
-better than I do,” said George Hursey, kissing his mother.
-
-“Ay, ay, lad, never fear for me; I have been out in worse fogs than
-this. Good-bye, God bless you,” and the old wool-gatherer strained her
-eyes till her son’s figure disappeared, as it very quickly did, in the
-fog.
-
-She stood still for a minute or two after he had gone, gloating over
-the secret she had at last discovered, and muttering to herself again
-and again, “Baron de Thorens, Carolles, Normandy,” and then she too
-turned and walked slowly off through the fog in a different direction.
-
-It was quite true she had been out in worse fogs than this, but whether
-it was that she was too much occupied with her own thoughts to think
-of where she was going, or whether the fog, which gradually increased,
-was worse than she fancied, she suddenly, after wandering about for
-half-an-hour, awoke to the conclusion that she did not know where she
-was. If she had come right she ought to have been at the bottom of the
-hill by now, whereas she was still on flat ground, and had not begun
-the descent.
-
-She had been so absorbed in wondering what the Shelleys, particularly
-“gentleman Jack,” as she always called Jack, would say to her news,
-and in picturing to herself the amazement on learning that Fairy was
-the daughter of a French nobleman, perhaps a baroness herself or a
-countess, for Dame Hursey had very vague ideas on the subject of
-French titles; and in thinking how pleased Fairy would be to hear she
-was a rich lady, that she forgot all about the fog and where she was
-going. Loving gossip as she did, the secret George had put in her
-power was dearer to her than the five sovereigns tied up in the corner
-of her pocket-handkerchief; it would add to her importance in the
-neighbourhood more than the gold. Moreover, it might lead to a reward
-for her, since she had had no part in leaving the child to the care
-of the shepherd, and Fairy she was sure would not suffer her to be
-forgotten when the Shelleys came to be rewarded.
-
-“Why, but for me Fairy might never find her parents after all; if I
-were to keep this secret to myself she would never know for certain she
-was a lady born, perhaps a countess. I shall make them understand that
-before I tell them. Or, if anything was to happen to me now before I
-have told them, why they’d like to never know it. Bless me, where am
-I? This fog is worse than I thought; I ought to have been home by now,
-and here I am still on the top. De Thorens, Carolles, Normandy,” and so
-muttering to herself Dame Hursey disappeared in the fog.
-
-That same afternoon, Fairy, little thinking her name and birth were
-so soon to be revealed, and her happy life in the shepherd’s cottage
-exchanged for a very different one in a French château, had gone for a
-walk with Charlie, and, to Mrs. Shelley’s great anxiety, at half-past
-five o’clock, when her husband and Jack came in to tea, they were not
-home. The fog now was so dense that you could hardly see your hand
-before you, and even with a lantern you could not discern anything a
-yard or two in advance of you, and Mrs. Shelley was intensely relieved
-when John and Jack came home safe.
-
-“Thank God you are both back safely; it is an awful fog, isn’t it,
-John?” asked Mrs. Shelley, as John stood wiping the fog from his beard
-and face.
-
-“Yes, it is a bad one; luckily both Jack and I saw it was coming on and
-got the sheep home before dark, or we might have been half the night on
-the downs.”
-
-“Isn’t it tiresome? Charlie and Fairy went out for a walk soon after
-dinner, and they are not back now; I have been in such a fright about
-them,” said Mrs. Shelley.
-
-“What, mother? Fairy out in this fog? Good heavens! the child may be
-killed! What on earth does that little idiot mean by taking her out in
-a fog? He deserves a sound thrashing,” burst out Jack.
-
-“Hush, Jack; Charlie may be in danger as well,” said Mrs. Shelley.
-
-“Serve him right too,” muttered Jack, as he went in search of a lantern
-without another word.
-
-“Fairy and Charlie out, wife? Dear me, we shall have to go and look for
-them; why, they may fall into a chalkpit and break their necks. Where
-have they gone?” asked John, leisurely putting on his hat and scarf.
-
-“I don’t know, but I fancy to Mount Harry; I heard Fairy talking about
-it.”
-
-“Here, Jack, we shall have to go and look for them children, I think,”
-called out the shepherd to Jack.
-
-“Of course we shall; I am lighting the lantern; let’s be off at once,
-father,” said Jack, who had made the necessary preparations for the
-search while his father was taking in the fact that the children were
-lost, and now stood with the lantern in his hand and his dog by his
-side at the open door.
-
-“Where are we to go, father?” said Jack as they started.
-
-“Well, your mother says they are gone to Mount Harry, so if we were to
-go along the Oatham-road and search those chalkpits as we go, that is
-the only place they are likely to have fallen down. If they are not
-there, and God forbid they should be, we shall know they have not come
-to much harm beyond a fright. When we have passed the chalkpits we can
-climb up Mount Harry and come back by the jail; I have my compass, we
-can’t go far wrong with that.”
-
-Jack fell in with this plan at once; it was by far the best thing
-they could do; but then John Shelley, in his slow, methodical way,
-invariably hit upon the wisest plan of action in an emergency, as Jack
-very well knew. Accordingly, off they started, each with a lantern and
-the shepherd’s dog leading the way. Jack’s own dog was younger and not
-so steady as Rover, so he kept him at home. This Rover was a son of
-the Rover who had first discovered the fairies’ baby on his master’s
-doorstep that midsummer evening, but John Shelley called all his dogs
-Rover, and was rather scandalised when Jack insisted on naming his dog
-Bruce; it was an innovation, and the shepherd disliked anything new;
-however, in this he was persuaded to yield, Mrs. Shelley and Fairy
-taking Jack’s part, and saying two Rovers in one family at the same
-time would never do.
-
-(_To be continued._)
-
-[Illustration: MILAN CATHEDRAL.]
-
-
-
-
-OUR TOUR IN NORTH ITALY.
-
-BY TWO LONDON BACHELORS.
-
-
-After leaving Lugano, the train enters two tunnels, shortly after
-which it crosses the Lake at Bissone, by means of a most hideous stone
-bridge. Bissone is a very picturesque village. The little steeple of
-the church rises romantically from the luxuriant foliage, and numerous
-cottages are scattered on the side of the lake. The charm of the scene,
-however, is much marred by the aforementioned bridge.
-
-After leaving Bissone, the train goes directly south to Mendrisio, the
-station for Monte Generoso, the view from which is said to be equal (if
-not superior) to that from the Rigi. We had intended to climb Monte
-Generoso, but it being a very misty day, there would, of course, have
-been no view, so we continued our journey, passing Chiasso and Como. At
-Chiasso the luggage is examined, for, strange to say, one is in Swiss
-territory until arriving at Como.
-
-We did not stay at Como, as we had decided to see that city and its
-beautiful lake on our return journey. The route from Como to Milan
-interested us, from the variety it afforded to the mountainous
-districts we had recently visited. There is, indeed, a great charm in
-the dead level of this huge Lombard plain; for apart from its cities,
-so interesting, historically and archæologically, we felt a certain
-sense of relief in getting again into a flat country, luxuriantly
-fertile and productive.
-
-We made a mistake in not staying at Monza, a very ancient city
-containing, amongst other interesting buildings, a cathedral, founded
-by Queen Teodolinda in the sixth century, and a Broletto, or town
-hall, attributed to Frederic Barbarossa. We arrived at Milan early in
-the afternoon, and immediately drove to our hotel, through one of the
-magnificent gates which guard the approaches to the city.
-
-On entering this, the first great Italian city which we had seen, many
-thoughts crowded into our minds. Here we were in a country the very
-cradle of European art, where through all times, even down to the
-present, art seems a vital necessity to the people. In other lands art
-has been an ornament or a luxury, but in Italy it seems to enter into
-the very life of the inhabitants, and nothing seems to have been able
-to wean them from their devotion to the beautiful creations of the
-hand of man. We find them revelling in art when foreign armies were
-overunning the country and decimating the population. We find it under
-tyranny and oppression of the most galling description—surrounded by
-acts of horror and infamy of the most despicable kind. We find it often
-in combination with ignorance and folly that are simply contemptible.
-We find it existing when liberty was utterly suppressed. Thus during
-all the Middle Ages and the period of the Renaissance, whether
-the Italians were slaves or free, whether they were conquered or
-victorious, whether they were united or divided, still this marvellous
-spirit of art seems to have pervaded everything from their religion
-down to the most ordinary acts of everyday life.
-
-[Illustration: INTERIOR OF MILAN CATHEDRAL.]
-
-Another thought which naturally suggests itself on entering Milan is
-that of the two noble characters whose lives stand out like brilliant
-meteors amongst the gloom, horror, wickedness, and folly, which stain
-so much of her history. We refer to her two Archbishops—St. Ambrose,
-the light and glory of her early history; and Charles Borromeo, the
-bright star which illumined her deepest gloom. And one cannot help
-thinking of the good and great man pursuing his mission of charity
-amongst the sick and dying of the plague-stricken city.
-
-Our first thought was to find our way to the cathedral, the second
-largest Gothic church in Europe, about which probably more has been
-written, and a greater number of conflicting opinions as to its merit
-expressed, than about any building in the world, with the exception of
-St. Peter’s, Rome. As it is impossible to say anything new about this
-wonderful cathedral, we shall principally confine our remarks to our
-own individual impressions and opinions.
-
-To commence with, the first view of the interior struck us as far finer
-than the more popular exterior. Indeed, so great an effect had it
-upon No. 2, that he turned as white as a sheet, and seemed completely
-overcome with the wonder of the buildings. The enormous proportions
-of the church, the great height of the pillars, with their canopied
-niches over the capitals, and the rich religious effect of the whole,
-formed a picture, in comparison to which (in our eyes) the blazing but
-meretricious glory of the exterior, with its 4,000 or so niches and
-vast masses of carving, was not to be compared. It is said that an
-intimate acquaintance with both exterior and interior will fall far
-short of one’s first impressions.
-
-Now this did not strike us with regard to the interior. No, not even
-after we realised the tracery of the roof to be painted, and the
-tracery of the windows to be somewhat straggling and unmeaning. But it
-is a different matter from the exterior; after the first astonishment
-is over, one sees at once the great over-elaboration and the general
-“spikiness” of the effect, though No. 1 thought the admixture of the
-Renaissance style in the façade saved this portion of the cathedral
-by supplying that solidity and “sobriety of line” which the building
-otherwise so painfully lacks.
-
-Even before we heard that the architect was supposed to have been
-a German, we recognised the Teutonic character of the cathedral,
-especially of the interior, which seemed to be not entirely unlike that
-of Cologne.
-
-To enter more into detail, the plan is a Latin Cross, terminated by
-an apse, and divided into a nave and four aisles. The interior is 477
-feet in length, by 183 in breadth, exclusive of the transepts, and is
-supported by fifty-two pillars, which are eighty feet in height and
-twelve feet in diameter. The before-mentioned niches, which crown the
-pillars, are a great feature, each niche being of different design,
-and all remarkably beautiful. The roof is elaborately painted in
-imitation (so it is said) of tracery. Street calls this an “abominable
-device, which never ceases to offend and annoy the eye more and more
-every time it is observed.” The effect did not seem to No. 1 at all
-disagreeable; quite the contrary. He thought it added great beauty and
-richness to the design, and does not believe that it was ever intended
-to deceive the beholder into the idea that it is real tracery. “Why
-not believe it to be mere decorative painting, and beautiful art as
-such?” he asked. But No. 2 was really deceived into believing that the
-imitation of tracery was actually what it represented, particularly
-as the design, which is in dark-brown colouring upon a light ceiling,
-represents carvings of beautiful patterns and filigree work, very much
-like the Gothic screens of some of our English cathedrals, only fixed
-upon the ceiling instead of being on the line of sight. But when, after
-investigation, he found the paint obliterated here and there by damp
-and other causes, showing blotches of brown and white, he was disgusted
-beyond measure, and began to look upon other work with suspicion.
-“Why,” cried he, “should a Christian church impose on the unwary, or to
-the wary preach affectation and artifice?”
-
-There is no triforium, and the pavement is a mosaic of various coloured
-marbles. There is a great quantity of old stained glass in the windows,
-which, though not equal to our old English glass, yet gives the
-building a very religious effect, which is still more enhanced by the
-colour of the stonework, which has the appearance of old ivory. The
-interior is well filled with ancient monuments; but we have no space
-to describe them, and will simply add that the most remarkable are
-those of Gian Giacomo and Gabriele de Medici, attributed to Michael
-Angelo; of Cardinal Caracciolo, in black marble, by Bambaja; and of
-Ottone Visconti, Archbishop of Milan, which is earlier in date than
-any portion of the cathedral. In the north transept is the bronze
-candelabrum for holding seven lamps, constructed in imitation of that
-which existed in the Holy Temple of Jerusalem—a magnificent work
-erected in the thirteenth century. And in the south transept is a
-famous statue of St. Bartholomew being flayed alive.
-
-St. Charles Borromeo, the great Archbishop of Milan, is buried below
-the dome in a subterranean chapel. It may interest our girls to know
-that he was the originator of Sunday-schools in Europe.
-
-The Duomo of Milan is like no other building in the world, it belongs
-to no distinct style of architecture, and in art it had neither parents
-nor children. Nothing was ever built like it before, and nothing
-will ever be built like it again. We do not say that it is the most
-beautiful church ever built, nor do we deny that, architecturally
-speaking, it possesses many grave faults, but what we mean is this:
-Of all other churches we say they are built in such and such a style,
-or are of such and such an order of architecture. But of this we say
-simply, it is the Duomo of Milan.
-
-When this vast structure, with its countless pinnacles of pure white
-marble glittering in the sun, and backed-up by a dark blue sky, breaks
-upon our astonished gaze, the mind is absorbed with wonder.
-
-Is it a vision? What have we seen before like it—possibly only one
-thing—the snow-clad peaks of the Alps. One cannot get rid of the notion
-that some kind of relationship exists between the two. We begin almost
-to suspect that some mighty Alp, with its snow-clad peaks, must have
-been its mother—so much is it like the kind of architecture that would
-have sprung from the mountains.
-
-It was after leaving the Duomo that the two bachelors had their
-first quarrel. This is how it came about:—The older bachelor, who is
-impressionable and of a poetical and non-technical turn of mind, enjoys
-an undisturbed first sight of a magnificent building, without first of
-all inquiring into its structural and architectural details; and if
-there is one thing more than another which annoys him, it is to have
-the “dry bones” of workmanship dinned into his ears and thrust before
-his mental vision when the complete building should rather impress on
-him all that it has to say of great achievement and power.
-
-Now the younger bachelor is technical and fond of dates, so seized the
-opportunity of showing off his knowledge of history and archæology
-at the very moment when his friend was first gazing at the religious
-splendour of the interior of the cathedral. This made No. 2 insist
-on a judicial separation, at any rate for the first hour, so the
-greater part of the building was explored in “single blessedness.”
-The quarrel, postponed, of course, until we had left the Duomo, was
-happily of short duration, and the two bachelors compared notes, and
-came to the conclusion that, after all, more permanent unity is created
-by contradictory temperaments. Whether this would apply in the case
-of man and wife they unfortunately could offer no opinion founded
-on experience, so they wended their way through some very narrow,
-uninteresting streets to the church of St. Ambrose, at the west of the
-city.
-
-St. Ambrogio, founded in the fourth century, is full of ancient
-epitaphs and early Christian antiquities, notwithstanding that it
-was very much repaired in the seventeenth century. The walls of the
-“atrium,” or open court, in front of it, contain fragments of frescoes,
-ancient inscriptions, etc., which, backed up by the Romanesque red
-brick church (dating from the ninth century), form one of the most
-picturesque scenes in North Italy.
-
-The interior of St. Ambrogio is, if possible, more interesting than
-the exterior; it is of grey stone, with arches of red brick, a quaint
-effect of colour. There are no transepts, and the building terminates
-in an apse.
-
-It would take pages to describe all that is remarkable in the interior
-of St. Ambrogio, so we shall only mention some of the interesting
-features. On first entering the nave we noticed two pillars, on one of
-which is a brazen serpent, said to be the brazen serpent of Exodus. The
-vaulting of the apse is very ancient, and is covered with mosaic work
-as fine as anything in St. Mark’s, Venice. Below we noticed the old
-chair of St. Ambrose. The high altar is interesting, as being the place
-where some of the German emperors received the iron crown of Lombardy;
-a baldachino or ciborium covers it.
-
-On the front of the high altar (itself a blaze of glory) are depicted
-scenes from the life of Christ, while on the back are represented
-incidents in the life of St. Ambrose, the former in plates of gold and
-the latter silver-gilt.
-
-St. Ambrogio contains several frescoes. The finest are “Legend of St.
-George,” by Bernardino; and “Ecce Homo,” by Luini. In it also are the
-shrines of Saints Gervasius and Protasius—very popular saints in Italy.
-
-On leaving St. Ambrogio we wished to get straight back to our hotel;
-but we unfortunately lost our way, and were obliged to ask an Italian
-gentleman to direct us. He not only put us on the right road, but
-actually went out of his way to ensure our not losing ourselves again.
-This is characteristic of the North Italians. They are really polite,
-and, according to the elder bachelor, the most gentlemanly people he
-has visited.
-
-After _table d’hôte_ we strolled out of the hotel, and walked through
-the magnificent Galleria Vittorio Emmanuel (containing some of the best
-shops in Milan) into the Piazza del Duomo. It was a beautiful moonlight
-night, and the cathedral looked simply glorious—its dazzling whiteness
-almost frightening us as it suddenly burst on our view. After due
-deliberation No. 2 irreverently said that the appearance was similar to
-that of a colossal wedding-cake, with its sugary-looking ornamentations
-under a strong light. The Duomo, though not a very pure example of
-Gothic, possibly over-ornamented, and its detail not always in the
-best taste, is certainly one of the most extraordinary examples of
-man’s industry, perseverance, and wealth to be found in the whole realm
-of art.
-
-It was about 9 o’clock p.m. that the first scene was enacted of what
-might have completely wrecked our holiday, viz., the longing of the
-younger bachelor to smoke one of the long cigars, with straws in them
-at either end, which foreigners, especially Italians, seem so to enjoy.
-No. 2 (the older) bachelor being the better linguist, went into a
-tobacco shop and ordered one of these cigars. It was in vain that the
-shopman declared they were never bought by English; it was of no use
-his repeating that they were so inferior—No, No. 1 had set his heart on
-possessing one of them, and have one he would.
-
-We bought two, one of which the younger bachelor immediately smoked,
-having first carefully extracted the straws. The other was given to the
-waiter, and it is safe to predict that neither of us will ever be seen
-with one of those terrible cigars again. About 10 p.m. No. 1 began to
-show signs of a violent bilious attack, which grew worse as the night
-came on. This was the commencement of an ailment which afterwards
-turned out to be “gastric fever.” There was little sleep that night for
-either of the bachelors, as No. 2 sat up by his friend during a great
-part of the night. The next morning, however, though still unwell, No. 1
-insisted on going to church. On returning hotel-ward the younger felt
-alarmingly ill, and could not walk further without help.
-
-When we got to the hotel, No. 2 determined to send for a doctor,
-and, looking into his Baedeker, chose one of those recommended. Our
-girls must not think it was entirely the horrible cigar that made No. 1
-so ill. They must remember he was described as having a shocking
-digestion, which had been “upset” by the continual travelling and the
-change of food; also, the sudden change from the bracing mountain air
-to the comparatively enervating climate of Milan, no doubt accelerated
-the illness. The doctor came about four hours after he was sent
-for, and, after asking innumerable questions as to the occupation,
-rule of life, etc., of the bachelor, seemingly unnecessary—not to
-say impertinent—prescribed an alarming amount of medicine. We shall
-remember that doctor, with his important manner and soft, deep voice.
-He was a smart, healthy-looking man, with an imposing moustache and
-short black hair. We shall also remember the answer he gave to the
-older bachelor, who had inquired how long it would be before his friend
-would be well enough to resume his travels—“Maybe in two or three
-weeks,” being the encouraging reply.
-
-The younger bachelor is here reminded of the interesting view of
-chimney-pots and house-roof visible from his bedroom window, which it
-was his fate to watch incessantly for two whole days, miserably ill,
-with one longing in life, viz., to quench his burning thirst with “a
-lemon squash.”
-
-As it seemed the less expensive method, No. 2 shopped for the lemons,
-bringing in a dozen at a time, and squeezing them with his fingers into
-a water-bottle glass. The sugar was purloined from the _salle-à-manger_
-(as we wish this narrative of ours to be a strictly truthful one,
-we resolutely admit our guilt, but hope the Italian Government will
-not be too hard on us), for we preferred the charge of one halfpenny
-per “squash,” instead of one franc, the probable price of one bought
-at the hotel. If any one of our readers has had a brother to supply
-incessantly with “lemon squash” for two days and one night, without
-the use of a proper lemon-squeezer, she will appreciate the sad
-intelligence that No. 2’s finger joints are now less supple and
-powerful than before this Italian tour.
-
-_La femme de chambre_ was, as most young women are to forlorn and
-helpless bachelors, tender and kind. In fact, at the end of two days
-she quietly suggested that a lemon squash was the worst drink for the
-poor patient, and actually the dear thing made for him some oatmeal,
-bringing into the room a sieve, a basin, some warm water, and a screw
-of paper containing oatmeal. Then (_à la_ Useful Hints in the G. O. P.)
-the recipe was as follows:—A little oatmeal in the strainer, hold over
-the empty basin, and with the warm water (by this time very lukewarm),
-percolate through the sieve, and behold a dish of Scotch oatmeal!
-
-That preparation did not seem to improve the condition of the poor
-patient.
-
-“Oh, that we had some English lady with us,” cried No. 2.
-
-“Never no more,” groaned No. 1, with his face to the wall, though
-whether this depressing remark had a reference to the oatmeal, the
-gentler sex, or the “holiday” (save the mark!), No. 2 has not yet been
-able to determine.
-
-(_To be continued._)
-
-
-
-
-ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS.
-
-[Illustration]
-
-
-MISCELLANEOUS.
-
-GUINEVERE must take her money to the nearest post-office, and say she
-wishes to have a book and become a depositor. There is no difficulty
-about so doing.
-
-EMMY.—“They also serve,” etc., is from Milton’s poem on his blindness.
-The 7th April, 1868, was a Tuesday.
-
-ENID.—Ithuriel, the angel sent by Gabriel to find Satan. He finds him
-squatting like a toad beside Eve, as she lies asleep, and brings him to
-Gabriel. Ithuriel is armed with a spear, which by its touch discovered
-falsehood at once. You will find all this in Milton’s “Paradise Lost,”
-which you ought to have read.
-
-LILITH A.—“In Memoriam” was written in memory of Tennyson’s friend,
-Arthur Henry Hallam, who died in 1833.
-
-GRACE.—The beer made with the ginger-beer plant is quite wholesome, we
-believe.
-
-VIRAGO.—“A young lady, who is nine years old and two months over,” is
-certainly not old enough to choose her books, nor must she think just
-yet of being guided by her own judgment in any way, except in obeying
-others older than herself, and should be punished if she do not.
-
-LADY CLARA VERE DE VERE.—The address of the secretary of the Princess
-Louise Home is 54, New Broad-street, E.C. Write to the secretary. Young
-ladies should have their names on their mother’s card.
-
-E. AUSTILL.—The first two chapters of “A Lady’s Journey to Texas” will
-be found in vol. iv., pages 362 and 713.
-
-PHISIEGIG.—The real name of “George Sand” was Aurore Lucille Amantine
-Dudevant. Henry M. Stanley, the African explorer, was born at Denbigh,
-Wales, in 1840.
-
-C. H. S.—The answer to the riddle, “Man cannot live without my first,”
-is _Ignis fatuus_, otherwise called “will o’ the wisp,” or “corpse
-candle.”
-
-VIOLET.—The lines do much credit to your tenderness of heart and love
-for your parents, but as poetry they are not worth much, and are full
-of faults.
-
-CONSUMPTION.—We regret that we cannot give you any information, as we
-do not know the medicine by name, and we could not advise anyone to use
-it without the consent of a doctor. We should think a change of climate
-would be advisable. Cold, dry climates are apparently more recommended
-now than warm ones.
-
-DIE LORELEI.—The lines you send have some power about them, but they
-are not correct in rhythm nor in construction. Count the feet and
-position of the beats in each line carefully while composing.
-
-MARION MOSS.—Seals are found in the Arctic seas. Dundee and Hull are
-the principal British ports whence the seal-fishers sail. They are also
-found in Russian America, now called Alaska.
-
-PERPLEXED ONE.—Why not try to obtain a good situation as nurse—head
-nurse, with a junior under you?
-
-MAGGIE might obtain the first volume by means of an advertisement in
-the _Exchange and Mart_.
-
-WATER LILY.—Mr. Herbert John Gladstone, M.P., is the youngest son of
-the Prime Minister, and was born 1854.
-
-SEVEN YEARS FOR RACHEL must get her sister to read aloud, alone, and
-with someone slowly and carefully, being particularly careful to take
-her breath regularly, easily, and deeply when reading or speaking. The
-lungs must be well filled.
-
-A CHRISTIAN.—We agree with your mother that you are both very young,
-and had better wait till you be older. Then we should repeat to you the
-saying of Christ, “Have salt in yourselves,” which means that you must
-form your opinions and actions on eternal principles, which are the
-salt which should savour our lives.
-
-TILDA.—We quite agree with you that the manners of lady district
-visitors should be very courteous, and that they should certainly knock
-at people’s doors, and not go in until they be asked, nor should they
-go at the dinner hour. Alas! good breeding and sound common-sense seem
-both rare qualities everywhere. Either of them would have made your
-visitors behave differently.
-
-GIPSY.—You should say, “Lady So-and-so,” and write it with a capital
-“L.”
-
-ETHEL.—Show your teeth to a dentist. We regret that we could not give
-you a recommendation of the kind. Your medical man would do so. The
-loss of an eye-tooth does not affect the sight. It is believed that
-eating very fine white bread has tended to injure the teeth. Wholemeal
-bread is the best for producing good bone.
-
-SARAH BROWN.—You cannot re-silver a good looking-glass yourself.
-You must send it to a manufactory for the purpose. Any furnishing
-upholsterer or looking-glass seller would undertake to do that for you;
-but you must make a bargain before you send it, and you might obtain a
-good secondhand glass at less cost.
-
-DICK.—Dentists usually have a medical man to see and attend to the
-patient when gas is employed. It is not dangerous to take it.
-
-“IN GREAT TROUBLE.”—Yours seems a case for a doctor’s advice. You
-had better consult one. The word “silly” is not spelt “scilly,” like
-the islands of that name, and “disappointed” should not be written
-“dissapointed.”
-
-DOROTHY DRAKE.—You will find the answer to your question several times
-repeated in our correspondence columns.
-
-EVELYN.—We do not place ourselves between our young readers and
-their parents, by expressing an opinion respecting the punishments
-they inflict. If severe, we imagine that their statement of the case
-you describe would be of a different character from yours. Probably
-there were attendant circumstances which aggravated the misdoing on
-your part. What business had you to go out without leave, and not
-fully dressed for so doing? Besides, you may have been disobedient or
-impertinent.
-
-DITTO.—You will find instructions in riding in the monthly part for
-October 1st, 1881, page 3, vol. iii., and, as we told you before,
-at page 131 in the same volume. You cannot read figures, one would
-suppose. There is a picture of a girl on horseback on the same page.
-Look again.
-
-JO.—Perhaps you could receive some little pupils daily for two or
-three hours at your own home, and teach them the rudiments of an
-English education—reading, writing, arithmetic, grammar, geography, and
-needlework.
-
-MOTHER OF SIX.—The Paddington Green Children’s Hospital might suit
-you, boys under twelve years of age and girls under fourteen being
-eligible, and no letters of recommendation being required. Write to
-the treasurer, George Hanbury, Esq. 21, Portman-square, W. There are
-also the Belgrave Hospital for Children, 77 and 79, Gloucester-street,
-S.W.—lady superintendent, Miss Munro; The Eveline Hospital for Sick
-Children, Southwark Bridge-road, S.E.;—secretary, T. H. Chapman, Esq.
-All three are free.
-
-SOPHIA FALCONER.—Cod-liver oil is specially beneficial to consumptive
-persons or those suffering from a severe cough, not from the stomach.
-In cases of atrophy we should think it would be of service. Many
-persons, strong or delicate, find a plunge or two in the sea of much
-benefit; but few comparatively could go into still, cold, fresh water.
-A cold sponge bath is quite a different thing, and cold salt-water
-sponging of the spine, throat, and chest is much to be recommended, or
-a good quick rubbing with a wet towel half wrung out, and drying with a
-rough one.
-
-CURLY and FLUFFY.—Avoid meeting the men who try to force unwelcome
-attentions upon you. Speak to your mother about it, and let her direct
-you. She can put a stop to the persecution with authority. If she were
-to go out with you a few times she could dismiss them at once. Avoid
-seeing them, and go into a shop or turn a different way if they try to
-join you. It is an important part of her duty to protect and chaperone
-you.
-
-AN OLD GIRL OF POLAND.—In adopting a new country it is always wise to
-be provided with a passport, a copy of your certificate of baptism,
-and letters from your clergyman, and any leading men, magistrates or
-others; also your banker, if you have one. Such papers might prove very
-valuable as introductions into society, or to facilitate your obtaining
-employment. Besides this, they would be very essential in case of
-mistaken identity. No passport is needed in coming to England, yet it
-is wise to have one.
-
-J. B.—To know the colour called primrose, you have only to look at
-the flower and at the enamelled or painted representations of it. Why
-ask anyone else when your own eyes could act better for you than any
-description by another person?
-
-CLANSMAN.—We should like to encourage you to write, as the lines speak
-well of the mind and the heart; but we think you would succeed better
-in prose than poetry.
-
-“EUCHARIS LILY.”—We have no recollection of the MS. of which you speak,
-and regret you have waited so long for an opinion. The lines you
-enclose show good feeling, but lack originality. We thank you for your
-kind letter.
-
-F. A. B.—We feel sincere sympathy for you, and scarcely know how to
-advise you. At your early age you are only eligible for the Children’s
-Hospital, Great Ormond Street, W.C. You might write for particulars to
-the lady superintendent. You would have to supply certificates both as
-to character and health.
-
-GERTRUDE MCKENZIE.—No licence is required to enable you to keep a
-registry office for servants.
-
-SNOWDROPS.—Certainly, wear your gloves in church. Why not? A
-correspondent some time ago advised that maidenhair ferns should be
-watered with tea, and tea-leaves from the tea-pot should be put round
-them.
-
-INEZ and PHILIP.—We are of opinion that the amount allowed by your
-brother for his dinner is much in excess of what is needed, and may
-prove a temptation to him if continued. We were interested in your
-letter, and we hope your mutual happiness will long be continued.
-
-ONE YOU HAVE BENEFITED.—Many thanks for your kind letter. We quite see
-all your difficulties, but we think you must not make too much of them.
-The real use of all training at home is to help young people to stand
-alone some day, and act in the fear of God, for themselves; they cannot
-be always children, nor in leading strings, so you must excite in
-them conscientiousness and a constant desire to do right. The conduct
-they propose, _i.e._, of going out and in, of accepting invitations as
-they please, without consulting you, is, in the first place, ill-bred
-and unladylike. No one treats the lady of the house, be she mother
-or step-mother, in that manner, and even in society they would not
-be guests a second time in any house where they ignored the lady who
-invited them.
-
-ALEA EUROPEA.—In the “Chapel in the Tower,” by Mr. Bell, we find the
-following notice of Arthur Pole, who, with his brother Edmund, was
-imprisoned for life, and died in the Tower—They were the sons of Sir
-Geoffrey Pole, and grandsons of Margaret of Clarence, Countess of
-Salisbury. Cardinal Pole was, therefore, their uncle. In 1562 they were
-implicated in a conspiracy to depose Queen Elizabeth, and place Mary
-Queen of Scots on the throne. It was also alleged that one of them
-designed to marry her. They were tried for high treason at Westminster
-Hall, 26th February, 1562, and sentenced to be executed as traitors at
-Tyburn. The sentence was commuted by Queen Elizabeth to imprisonment
-for life in the Tower, and on the walls of the Beauchamp Tower, which
-was their prison, their names will be found carved several times.
-The last written was as follows:—“A passage perillous makethe a port
-pleasante, I. H. S., 1568, Arthur Pole, aged 37.” The date of his death
-and that of his brother seems not to be known, but both were dead in
-1578, and buried in the chapel in the Tower.
-
-DAISY.—Take no notice of the matter, unless you are directly charged,
-when you can deny truthfully the authorship of such an unmaidenly
-epistle.
-
-ALICIA.—If the jewellery be good and old, it is better to employ a
-jeweller to clean it.
-
-SNOWSTORM.—We think you should go to New Zealand to your affianced
-husband, and keep your promise, especially as you leave a sister at
-home to take care of your mother. It would indeed be foolish to bring
-him to England if he be doing well out there, and is able to marry and
-give you a comfortable home.
-
-SYBIL.—We think you may need a tonic of some kind. A little alum and
-water is sometimes good for moist hands, but it is never safe to check
-perspirations, unless under a doctor’s orders.
-
-BUTTERCUP.—We know of no situation easier than a nurse’s, where there
-are only one or two children, unless, perhaps, you could manage to get
-one as parlour-maid only.
-
-A. S. F. T. F. (New South Wales).—There would be no value if the dates
-of the half-crowns were erased, because coins of the House of Brunswick
-are only valuable when in perfect order.
-
-MIZPAH.—The word “Mizpah” means a watch-tower. On a ring it would
-mean, “The Lord watch between thee and me, when we are absent from
-each other,” a solemn pledge of faithfulness and truth in a betrothal.
-It was used as a solemn warning to one suspected, not trusted, in the
-original case.
-
-I. H. B.—“Ban” is an Irish prefix, and means “white.” We cannot find
-any other clue to the word, and we think you should have written
-“Wenham,” which is the name of a lake near Boston, U.S.A., from which
-the ice derives its name.
-
-OMEGA.—The only way to be comfortable is to prevent the chilblains
-from coming at first, by rubbing the place you feel affected with a
-little dry mustard and flour very gently, which will generally put
-the chilblains back. When a chilblain has broken, a decoction of
-poppy-heads with hot water may be soothing, and bread poultices are
-used by many people, but we are doubtful of their expediency. When the
-inflammation has subsided, a little creosote ointment may be used, but
-when so bad it would be well to consult a doctor.
-
-R. A. A.—The editor declines, with thanks.
-
-DUM SPIRO SPERO.—The words are French, and are used when picking
-the leaves from a daisy. They mean, “He loves me a little, much,
-passionately, not at all.” This is one of the many ancient charms, or
-really auguries, which we have obtained from unknown ancestry.
-
-F. A. H. B.—We regret that we can make no use of your essay.
-
-DADDY LONGLEGS should send her locket to a jeweller’s to be cleaned and
-repolished.
-
-LADY GODIVA.—Probably digestion. Ask your doctor about it.
-
-ESTHER BLACK.—The notice of the marriage in the different newspapers is
-a sufficient announcement to friends at a distance. Neither cards nor
-wedding-cake are sent now.
-
-FLORENCE MOORE.—Does your sister wish to look like a balloon, tied in
-at the middle with a string? or, still worse, does she wish to cut her
-liver in two? Her other plan, “to drink vinegar,” would so thin her
-blood that she would exchange her wholesome fat for dropsy, and become
-blown out like a skin-bag used for water in the deserts. For your own
-infirmity you should wear a backboard and faceboard daily while at your
-studies. We have often described and prescribed them already.
-
-CURIOUS.—The origin of the name given by Handel to his composition
-called “The Harmonious Blacksmith” was a very natural one. He was on
-a visit to the Duke of Chandos, at Edgware, and, overtaken by heavy
-rain, he took shelter in a smith’s forge. The ringing strokes of the
-hammer, combined with the song of the smith, told a story to the lively
-imagination of the composer, and gave birth to the piece in question.
-
-LAURA.—It is not very evident as to when the Manx House of Keys was
-first established, but it existed in the time of the Dane King, Orry,
-at the beginning of the tenth century. This sovereign established an
-independent throne in Mona. The term “Keys” is derived from _Kiare
-es feed_, “twenty-four,” and applied to that number of men of the
-island who form the Lower House, while the Upper House, or Council, is
-appointed by the crown, and consists of the bishop, archdeacon, clerk
-of the rolls, and some civil officials.
-
-STRAWBERRY CREAM.—Have you learnt any branch of domestic service? If
-so, make use of it. Better trained servants are much required. You
-might, at least, look for a situation as schoolroom maid, under nurse,
-or mother’s help. These would serve to give you practical training.
-
-LOLLY.—It is for ladies to recognise gentlemen, if acquaintances, not
-the reverse. This being the case, we do not see what your bowing to
-your clergyman can have to do with “fastness.” Of course, the character
-of the recognition must depend on your position in life. Good Friday is
-a fast, not a feast day. That is the reason, as you will perceive.
-
-ADMIRER OF THE G.O.P.—Why should you ask your clergyman to give you a
-severe talking to? If you know you deserve it, why not administer it to
-yourself? Tell your mother that you lament your want of self-control
-and respect in giving way to unseemly ill-temper, and ask her to help
-you by a timely check and reproof, and by her prayers to rule your
-spirit. “He that ruleth his spirit is greater than he that taketh a
-city.” Leaving off your spectacles will not only make your eyes ache,
-but injure them, by overstraining the nerves.
-
-ENID.—If the ends of your hair split, you should have them carefully
-singed by a hairdresser accustomed to do so. You might set all on fire
-if you attempted to do so yourself. Improve your handwriting by writing
-copies daily, and perfect your acquaintance with the first three or
-more rules in arithmetic, and then you will be eligible for a situation
-as shop assistant.
-
-GRETTA’S SISTER.—A surgeon should examine your sister’s tongue to see
-whether it be paralysed. If she can hear, then no other alphabet is
-needed for her than ours.
-
-YOUNG STEPMOTHER.—The advice of your governess is good. As you have
-so high an opinion of her discretion, as well as amiability and
-experience, you had better give her the due authority to act for you.
-In a month’s time, or during the first quarter, you will see with
-what success it is attended. One thing is certain, obedience must be
-enforced.
-
-HOPE has some poetic feeling, but whether she will rise to the level
-of “poetry” in future we could not say, nor could we recommend
-any magazine or publisher likely to take literary and poetical
-compositions. That is a question for the industry and perseverance of
-the writer to solve.
-
-DOROTHY FORSTER.—The lines you send us are very halting, both as to
-rhyme and reason.
-
-CHERRY RIPE.—The word “fiat” means an order or decree. We thank you for
-your good wishes and praise of our paper.
-
-J. F. C.—We have pleasure in giving out readers the address of the
-Santa Claus Society, for providing toys and dolls for children in
-hospitals. To make them during leisure hours would be a nice occupation
-for young people. For the benefit of those who would like to aid in a
-truly charitable and Christian work, as well as for the sake of the
-poor children, we copy your address, as one of the managers of the
-society—Miss J. F. Charles, Hillside, Southwood-lane, Highgate, N.
-
-A. M. C.—There is a home of rest at 9, Albion-place, Ramsgate. Apply to
-Miss Bennett. You may be taken in for three weeks, and the lowest terms
-for board, lodging, and attendance are 10s. a week.
-
-POMME DE TERRE.—We have seen the grave of the late novelist, Charles
-Reade, to which you refer, and the outside public knows no more than
-just what the inscription states. This is all we can say in reply.
-
-WHITE HEATHER.—The falling of the hair is often due to a condition of
-the general health and failure of nerve power, and the remedies need to
-be internally administered, as well as externally. Go to a skin doctor,
-and obtain his advice.
-
-MARY LEEMING and ALICE HAUGHTON.—Some collectors of insects use the
-fumes of chloroform or brimstone. Where there are many wild flowers you
-will find butterflies.
-
-PROGRESS.—Yes, women have been returned to Parliament in past times. In
-1360 writs were issued, to four abbesses, requiring their attendance at
-Westminster, and the year following five ladies of the nobility were
-likewise returned (35th Edward III.)—viz., Marie Countesse de Norff,
-Alianor Countesse de Ormand. Agnes Countesse de Pembrook, Philippa
-Countess March, and Catherine Countesse de Atholl. Whether they
-actually took their seats, we do not say positively. The only woman
-ever made a Freemason was Miss St. Leger, a daughter of Lord Doneraile,
-about the year 1739.
-
-NIL DESPERANDUM.—You may say “intreat,” but “entreat” is more correct.
-
-*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE GIRL'S OWN PAPER, VOL. VIII, NO.
-362, DECEMBER 4, 1886 ***
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-<div style='text-align:center; font-size:1.2em; font-weight:bold'>The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Girl's Own Paper, Vol. VIII, No. 362, December 4, 1886, by Various</div>
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-This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and
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-country where you are located before using this eBook.
-</div>
-
-<div style='display:block; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:1em; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em'>Title: The Girl's Own Paper, Vol. VIII, No. 362, December 4, 1886</div>
-
-<div style='display:block; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:1em; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em'>Author: Various</div>
-
-<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>Release Date: May 16, 2021 [eBook #65358]</div>
-
-<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>Language: English</div>
-
-<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>Character set encoding: UTF-8</div>
-
-<div style='display:block; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em'>Produced by: Susan Skinner and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net</div>
-
-<div style='margin-top:2em; margin-bottom:4em'>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE GIRL'S OWN PAPER, VOL. VIII, NO. 362, DECEMBER 4, 1886 ***</div>
-<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_145">{145}</span></p>
-
-<h1 class="faux">THE GIRL’S OWN PAPER</h1>
-
-<div class="figcenter illowp100" id="header" style="max-width: 37.5em;">
-<img class="w100" src="images/header.jpg" alt="The Girl's Own Paper." />
-</div>
-
-<hr class="full" />
-
-<div class="center">
-<div class="header">
-<p class="floatl"><span class="smcap">Vol. VIII.—No. 362.</span></p>
-<p class="floatr"><span class="smcap">Price One Penny.</span></p>
-<p class="floatc">DECEMBER 4, 1886.</p>
-</div></div>
-
-<hr class="full" />
-
-<p class="center">[Transcriber&#8217;s Note: This Table of Contents was not present in the original.]</p>
-
-<p class="center">
-
-<!-- Autogenerated TOC. Modify or delete as required. -->
-
-<a href="#MERLES_CRUSADE">MERLE’S CRUSADE.</a><br />
-<a href="#CHRISTMAS_GIFTS">CHRISTMAS GIFTS.</a><br />
-<a href="#THE_AMATEUR_CHOIR_TEACHER">THE AMATEUR CHOIR TEACHER.</a><br />
-<a href="#SHE_COULDNT_BOIL_A_POTATO">“SHE COULDN’T BOIL A POTATO.”</a><br />
-<a href="#NO">“NO.”</a><br />
-<a href="#THE_SHEPHERDS_FAIRY">THE SHEPHERD’S FAIRY.</a><br />
-<a href="#OUR_TOUR_IN_NORTH">OUR TOUR IN NORTH ITALY.</a><br />
-<a href="#ANSWERS_TO_CORRESPONDENTS">ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS.</a><br />
-
-<!-- End Autogenerated TOC. -->
-
-</p>
-
-
-<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" />
-
-<div class="chapter">
-<h2 class="nobreak" id="MERLES_CRUSADE">MERLE’S CRUSADE.</h2>
-</div>
-<p class="ph3"><span class="smcap">By</span> ROSA NOUCHETTE CAREY, Author of “Aunt Diana,” “For Lilias,” etc.</p>
-
-<div class="figcenter illowp80" id="i_page_145" style="max-width: 31.25em;">
- <img class="w100" src="images/i_page_145.jpg" alt="" />
- <div class="caption"><p class="center">“‘OH, MERLE!’ SHE WHISPERED, IN A VOICE OF AGONY.”</p></div>
-</div>
-
-<p class="smalltext"><i>All rights reserved.</i>]</p>
-
-<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_146">{146}</span></p>
-
-
-<h3>CHAPTER IX.</h3>
-
-<p class="ph3">BERENGARIA.</p>
-
-<div class="ddropcapbox illowe10_9375" id="i_page_146">
-<img class="idropcap w100" src="images/i_page_146.jpg" alt='T' /></div>
-
-<p><span class="uppercase">he</span> bright spring
-days found me a
-close prisoner to
-the house. The
-end of April had
-been unusually
-chilly, and one
-cold rainy night
-Reggie was taken
-with an attack of
-croup.</p>
-
-<p>It was a very severe attack, and for
-an hour or two my alarm was excessive.
-Mrs. Morton was at a fancy ball, and
-Mr. Morton was attending a late debate,
-and, to add to my trouble, Mrs. Garnett,
-who would at once have come to my
-assistance, was confined to her bed with
-a slight illness.</p>
-
-<p>Travers had no experience in these
-cases, and her presence was perfectly
-useless. Hannah, frightened and half
-awake as she was, was far more helpful.
-Happily Anderson was still up, and he
-undertook at once to go for the doctor,
-adding, of his own accord, that he would
-go round to the stables on his return,
-and send the carriage off for his mistress.
-“She is not expected home until
-three, and it is only half-past one, but she
-would never forgive us if she were not
-fetched as quickly as possible.”</p>
-
-<p>I thanked Anderson, and begged
-Hannah to replenish the bath with hot
-water. Happily, I knew what remedies
-to use; my former experience in my
-schoolfellow’s nursery proved useful to
-me now. I remembered how the doctor
-had approved of what I had done, and
-I resolved to do exactly the same for
-Reggie. Frightened as I was, I am
-thankful to know my fears did not impede
-my usefulness; I did all I could
-to relieve my darling, and Hannah seconded
-my efforts. I am sure Travers
-wished with all her heart to help us, but
-she had no nerve, and her lamentable
-voice made me a trifle impatient.</p>
-
-<p>It was a great relief when Anderson
-appeared with Dr. Myrtle. He waited
-for a few minutes to hear from the doctor
-that all dangers had been averted by
-the prompt remedies, and then he went
-in search of Stephenson. It was some
-time before we heard the sound of carriage
-wheels.</p>
-
-<p>Reggie was still wrapped in a blanket
-on my lap, and had just fallen asleep,
-worn out by the violence of the remedies
-still more than by the attack. Dr.
-Myrtle whispered to me not to move, as
-he would speak to Mrs. Morton downstairs,
-and enforce on her the need of
-quiet. It would have been grievous to
-wake the exhausted little creature, and
-I was quite content to sit holding him in
-my lap until morning, if Dr. Myrtle
-thought it well for me to do so.</p>
-
-<p>I had forgotten all about the fancy
-ball, and my start when I saw Mrs.
-Morton standing in the doorway almost
-woke Reggie. I really thought for a
-moment that I was dreaming. I learnt
-afterwards that she had taken the
-character of Berengaria, wife of the lion-hearted
-Richard, but for the moment I
-was too confused to identify her. She
-was dressed in dark blue velvet, and her
-gown and mantle were trimmed with
-ermine; she wore a glittering belt that
-looked as though it were studded with
-brilliants, and her brown hair hung in
-loose braids and plaits under a gold
-coronet. As she swept noiselessly towards
-us, I could see the tears were
-running down her cheeks, and her
-bosom was heaving under her ermine.</p>
-
-<p>“Oh, Merle!” she whispered, in a
-voice of agony, as she knelt down beside
-us, “to think my boy was in danger,
-and his mother was decked out in this
-fool’s garb; it makes me sick only to
-remember it; oh, my baby, my baby!”
-and she leant her head against my arm
-and sobbed, not loudly, but with the
-utmost bitterness.</p>
-
-<p>“Dear Mrs. Morton,” I returned,
-gently, “it was not your fault; no one
-could have foreseen this. Reggie had a
-little cold, but I thought it was nothing.
-Oh, what are you doing!” for she had
-actually kissed me, not once, but twice.</p>
-
-<p>“Let me do it, Merle,” returned my
-sweet mistress; “I am so grateful to you,
-and so will my husband be when he
-knows all. Dr. Myrtle says he never
-saw a nurse who understood her duties
-so well; everything had been done for
-the child before he came.”</p>
-
-<p>“Oh, Aunt Agatha, if only you and
-Uncle Keith had heard that!”</p>
-
-<p>We had talked in whispers, but nothing
-seemed to disturb Reggie. A
-moment after Mr. Morton came hurriedly
-into the nursery; he was very pale
-and discomposed, and a sort of shock
-seemed to pass over him as he saw his
-wife.</p>
-
-<p>“Violet,” he whispered, as she clung
-to him in a passion of weeping, “this
-has unnerved you, but, indeed, Dr.
-Myrtle says our boy will do well. My
-darling, will you not try to comfort yourself?”</p>
-
-<p>“I was at Lady S.’s ball when Muriel,
-our precious baby—oh, you remember,
-Alick”—for she seemed unable to go on.
-Poor woman, no wonder her tears flowed
-at such a memory. Mrs. Garnett told
-me reluctantly, when I questioned her the
-next day, that baby Muriel had been
-taken with a fit when Mrs. Morton and
-her husband were at a ball, and the
-mother had only arrived in time to see
-the infant breathe its last.</p>
-
-<p>“Yes, yes,” he said, soothing her,
-“but nothing could have saved her, you
-know. Dr. Myrtle told you so; and you
-were only spared the pain of seeing her
-suffer. Try to be sensible about it, my
-dearest; our baby has been ill, but
-everything has been done for him; and
-now he is relieved, poor little fellow. We
-have to thank you for that, Miss Fenton.
-How nicely you are holding him! he
-looks as comfortable as possible,” touching
-the boy’s cheek with his forefinger.
-“Now, my love, let me relieve you of
-this cumbrous thing,” taking off her
-coronet; “this mantle will unfasten, too,
-I see. Now, suppose you put on your
-dressing-gown, and ask Travers to make
-you and Miss Fenton some tea. I will
-not be so cruel as to tell you to go to
-bed”—as she looked at him, pleadingly.
-“If you were a wise woman you would
-go, but I suppose I must humour you;
-but you must get rid of all this frippery.”</p>
-
-<p>“Oh, Alick, how good you are!” she
-said, gratefully, and in a few minutes
-more she returned in her warm, quilted
-dressing gown, with her hair simply
-braided; she looked even more beautiful
-than she had done as Berengaria.</p>
-
-<p>Mr. Morton soon left us after placing
-his wife in my charge. The night passed
-very quickly away after that. When
-Reggie stirred I put him in his cot, and
-begged Mrs. Morton to lie down on the
-bed beside him. She did not refuse;
-emotion had exhausted her, but her eyes
-never closed. She told me long afterwards
-she dared not sleep, lest the old
-dream should torment her of the dead
-baby’s hand, that she could never warm
-with all her efforts.</p>
-
-<p>“I can feel it quite icy cold in mine,
-and sometimes there is a little cold face
-on my bosom, but nothing ever warms
-them, and when I wake up I am shivering
-too.”</p>
-
-<p>I could not tell what was passing
-through the poor mother’s mind, but I
-did not like the feverish look in her
-wide, distended eyes. Mr. Morton was
-right, and the shock of her boy’s illness
-had utterly unnerved her. I thought,
-perhaps she was blaming herself needlessly,
-and yet never was there a human
-being more utterly devoid of vanity and
-selfishness; she was simply sacrificing
-her maternal duties to her husband’s
-ambition; of her own accord she would
-never have entered a ball-room; I am
-sure of that.</p>
-
-<p>I longed to soothe her, and yet I
-hardly knew what to say. Presently
-she shivered, and I covered her up carefully
-with all the wraps I could find, and
-then knelt down and chafed her hands.</p>
-
-<p>“You cannot sleep, Mrs. Morton; I
-am so sorry, and yet you are tired out.”</p>
-
-<p>“I do not want to sleep,” she answered.
-“I dream badly sometimes,
-and I would rather lie awake and listen
-to my boy’s breathing; he is sleeping
-nicely, Merle.”</p>
-
-<p>“Yes, indeed; there is no need for
-anxiety now, and I am watching him
-carefully.”</p>
-
-<p>“Oh, I can trust you,” with a faint
-smile; “I trusted you from the first
-moment. But, my poor girl, I am afraid
-you are very tired, and I have taken your
-bed from you.”</p>
-
-<p>“I would rather see you resting there,
-Mrs. Morton.”</p>
-
-<p>“Do you think you could read to me
-a little? My husband often reads to me
-when I am nervous and cannot sleep.
-Anything will do, the simplest child’s
-story; it is just the sound of the voice
-that soothes me. What is that book?
-Oh, the Bible! I am afraid I do not
-read that enough, I have so little time
-to myself, and then I am often too tired.”</p>
-
-<p>“It is just the book for tired people,”
-I returned; “if you want a story. I
-think the history of Ruth is one of the
-most touching, she has always seemed
-to me one of the sweetest characters in
-the Bible; it is a perfect idyll of Oriental
-life.”</p>
-
-<p>“It is so long since I have read it,”
-she returned, apologetically, “you shall
-read it to me if you like.” And I read<span class="pagenum" id="Page_147">{147}</span>
-the whole book throughout to her, only
-pausing now and then to look at Reggie.</p>
-
-<p>She listened to it without interrupting
-me once, but I was rejoiced to see that
-the strained expression had passed out
-of her eyes; they looked more natural.</p>
-
-<p>“You are right, Merle,” she observed,
-when I had finished, “it is very beautiful
-and touching; that was something
-like love, ‘where thou goest, I will go.’
-Now you may read me a psalm, if you
-are not tired. I like your voice, it is so
-clear and quiet.”</p>
-
-<p>I read to her until she bade me stop;
-and then we talked a little. I told her
-an incident or two in my school-days
-about our nutting expeditions in the
-Luttrell woods, and how one of our party
-had strayed and had encountered a
-gipsy caravan. I was just in the middle
-of Rose Mervyn’s recital, when I heard
-measured breathing. She had fallen
-asleep.</p>
-
-<p>I saw a great deal of Mrs. Morton
-during the next few days. She was
-very unwell, and Dr. Myrtle insisted on
-her giving up all her engagements for a
-week. He spoke very decidedly, and
-Mr. Morton was obliged to yield to his
-opinion; but he seemed a little put out.</p>
-
-<p>“It is such a pity all those people
-should be disappointed,” he observed,
-in a grumbling voice. “Mrs. Granville
-had quite set her heart on having us
-both on Thursday. I knew how it would
-be when you fretted yourself ill last
-night.”</p>
-
-<p>“I could not help it,” she pleaded.
-“Anderson gave me such a fright; of
-course, he thought his coming for me
-was the best, but when I saw his face I
-thought I should have died with fear.”</p>
-
-<p>“Nonsense, Violet, you ought to learn
-more self-control; you know I dislike to
-see you give way so entirely. Well, we
-must abide by Dr. Myrtle’s orders and
-treat you as an invalid.”</p>
-
-<p>“But, Alick,” detaining him as he
-was turning away, not in the best of
-humours, as I could see from the night
-nursery, “I can write for you all the
-same; the library is quite warm.”</p>
-
-<p>“How absurd!” was the reply. “Do
-you think I should let you tire yourself
-for me? I hope I am not quite so selfish,
-my dear child,” for she was still holding
-his arm beseechingly; “you must really
-let me go, for I am dreadfully busy;
-rest yourself and get well, that is all I
-ask of you,” and he kissed her and left
-the room. He was not often hasty with
-her, but he was overworked and irritable.</p>
-
-<p>We made the most of that week between
-us. Reggie soon recovered, and
-as long as he was kept in a certain temperature,
-and carefully watched, gave us
-no further anxiety.</p>
-
-<p>His mother took entire charge of him
-during that week; she came up to the
-nursery as soon as she was dressed, and
-stayed with us until Reggie was in bed
-and Travers came to summon her. She
-even took her meals with us. Dr. Myrtle
-thought she was suffering from a chill,
-and the warm nursery was just the right
-temperature for her. It was a lovely
-sight to watch her with her children. I
-think even Mr. Morton was struck by
-the beauty of the scene when he came
-up one afternoon and found her sitting
-in her easy chair with Reggie on her
-lap and Joyce standing beside her.</p>
-
-<p>“You seem all very happy together,”
-he said, as he took up his position on
-the rug. I had retreated with my work
-into the other room, but I could hear
-her answer distinctly.</p>
-
-<p>“Oh, Alick, it has been such a happy
-week—a real holiday; it was worth
-being ill to see so much of the children;
-Reggie has such pretty ways; I knew
-so little about him before. He can say
-‘fada,’ quite plainly.”</p>
-
-<p>“Indeed, my boy, then suppose you
-say your new words.”</p>
-
-<p>“Do you know what I have been
-wishing all this week?” she continued,
-when Reggie had finished his vocabulary,
-and had been taken into his
-father’s arms.</p>
-
-<p>“No, my dear,” sitting down beside
-her, “unless you wished for me to be a
-Cabinet Minister.”</p>
-
-<p>“Oh no, Alick,” and there was pain
-in her voice, “not unless you wish it
-very much too; I had a very different
-desire from that.”</p>
-
-<p>“Perhaps you were longing for a
-house in the country; well, that may
-come by-and-by.”</p>
-
-<p>“Wrong again, Alick. I was wishing
-that you were a poor man—not a
-very poor man, I should not like that—and
-that we lived in a small house with
-a pretty garden where there would be a
-lawn for the children to play on, and
-plenty of flowers for them to pick.”</p>
-
-<p>“Indeed! this is a strange wish of
-yours, you discontented woman.”</p>
-
-<p>“No, not discontented, but very, very
-happy, dear, so you need not frown over
-my poor little wish; everyone builds
-castles, only mine is not a castle, but a
-cottage.”</p>
-
-<p>“I should not care to live in your
-cottage, Violet; I am an ambitious man.
-The Cabinet would be more to my taste.”</p>
-
-<p>“Yes, dear,” with a sigh, “it was
-only make believe nonsense,” and she
-did not say another word about that
-fancy of hers, but began questioning
-him about last night’s debate. That was
-just her way to forget herself and
-follow his bent. No wonder he could not
-do without her, and was restless and ill
-at ease if she were unavoidably absent.</p>
-
-<p>I wonder he understood in the least
-what she meant by wishing him to be
-poor. No doubt her innocent fancy had
-constructed a home where no uncongenial
-anxieties or ambition should
-sever her from her children, where she
-should be all in all to them as well as to
-her husband.</p>
-
-<p>I daresay she imagined herself no
-longer burthened with wearisome receptions,
-but sitting working in the shade
-of the little porch while her children
-made daisy chains on the lawn of that
-humble abode. The mother would undress
-her children and hear them say
-their little prayers. Hark! was not that
-a click of the gate? Father has come
-home. How late you are, Alick; the
-children are asleep; you must kiss them
-without waking them. Hush, what
-nonsense, she is dreaming. Alick would
-be in the Cabinet; people were prophesying
-that already. She must take up her
-burthen again and follow him up the
-steep hill of fame. What if her woman’s
-heart fainted sometimes, women must
-do their work in life, as she would do
-hers.</p>
-
-<p>The next day the mother’s place was
-empty in the nursery. “Mrs. Morton
-was with her husband in the library,”
-Travers told us. Later on we heard she
-was driving. Just as I was putting
-Reggie, half asleep, in his cot, she
-came up to wish the children good-night,
-but she did not stay with us ten
-minutes. I remarked that she looked
-very ill and exhausted.</p>
-
-<p>“Oh, I am only a little tired,” she
-returned, hurriedly; “I have been paying
-calls all the afternoon, trying to
-make up for my idle week, and the
-talking has tired me. Never mind, it is
-all in the day’s work.” And she nodded
-to me kindly and left the room.</p>
-
-<p class="center">(<i>To be continued.</i>)</p>
-
-<div class="figcenter illowp100" id="i_page_147" style="max-width: 21.875em;">
- <img class="w100" src="images/i_page_147.jpg" alt="" />
-</div>
-<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" />
-
-<div class="chapter">
-<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_148">{148}</span></p>
-
-<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHRISTMAS_GIFTS">CHRISTMAS GIFTS.</h2>
-</div>
-
-
-<div class="ddropcapbox illowe12_5" id="i_page_148">
- <img class="idropcap w100" src="images/i_page_148.jpg" alt="W" />
-</div>
-<p><span class="uppercase">ith</span> the approach
-of Christmas and
-Christmas gifts,
-the cares of the
-girl members of
-a large family
-may be said to
-arrive at a crisis.
-There is no girl
-so friendless or so
-heartless that there is
-no one she loves or
-wishes to remind of
-that love at this season, while there are many
-surrounded by affectionate relations and true
-friends, whose love they warmly return, and
-whom they wish to please with a gift, and yet
-have but a small sum at command, and must
-think carefully over its division.</p>
-
-<p>How many anxious calculations have to be
-made, what knitting of smooth brows, what
-hasty arithmetic on stray scraps of paper,
-what self-denial in personal matters to increase
-the little store, and then, when the materials
-are bought, what secret work is carried on
-behind father’s chair, should he happen to be
-awake, and in this and that out-of-the-way
-nook of the house, so that the all-important,
-and generally extremely apparent, secret is
-not divulged until the Christmas or New
-Year’s morning!</p>
-
-<p>All honour to this secrecy, this planning
-and patient work! It is the true spirit of
-present-giving; and let not any of our readers
-despise it as childish; rather let them remember
-that that which costs no time, no thought,
-no self-sacrifice is but of little value in the
-eyes of affection, and pleases only where the
-gift is valued for itself, and not for the giver.
-The girl who can walk into a shop and select
-the first handsome article in it for mamma,
-and pay for it from an amply-supplied purse,
-neither awakens in herself or her mother the
-same holy feelings that are excited when baby
-works an impossible kettle-holder “all by
-herself,” and which she “bided” out of the
-pennies given her for sweeties.</p>
-
-<p>Admiring and sympathising as we do with
-girls who are generous-minded and do not
-count labour and time when anxious to please,
-we have brought together in this paper, with
-the idea of helping them, several useful and
-pretty articles that can be made without any
-great expense.</p>
-
-<p>For a small present, costing at the utmost
-one shilling, the fashionable little “hold-all
-bags” are good. These bags are four in number,
-and are connected together only at the
-top; they are filled with odds and ends, such
-as buttons and silks, until they stand upright
-and all of a row, and they find a conspicuous
-place among drawing-room nick-nacks.</p>
-
-<p>To make them, purchase one yard of good
-satin ribbon, in colour either ruby, navy blue,
-or chestnut brown, with the reverse side of a
-pale blue or old gold shade. The ribbon
-should be from two and a half to three inches
-wide. Divide the yard into four equal portions,
-sew over the sides, and hem the tops of
-two bags without decorating them, but work
-on one of the other bags a handsome and
-legible monogram containing the initials of
-the person for whom the present is intended.
-Work this with fine gold-coloured purse silk,
-and surround the chief outlines with Japanese
-gold thread. On the other bag work a small
-spray of flowers, either a branch of wild rose,
-a bit of heather, forget-me-not, or jessamine.
-Sew up these two bags, and hem them round
-like the others; then make sixteen eyelet-holes,
-four on each bag; make these round
-and not very big, and place them opposite to
-each other, and at the extreme corners of the
-opening. Sew the bags together by overcasting
-the first bag with its monogram turned
-outwards on the inner side of its opening to
-the outer side of the opening of one of the
-undecorated bags. Attach the second plain
-bag to the inner side of the first plain bag,
-and sew the fourth bag, with its decorated
-side turned outwards, to the inner side of the
-third bag. By this arrangement both the
-decorated bags are outside, and every bag at
-its base is separate. Finally, take a silk dress
-lace, the colour of the satin ribbon, and run
-that through the eyelet-holes to make a draw-string.
-Fill the bags, plant them out on the
-table, and draw their openings slightly together.</p>
-
-<p>These “hold-all bags,” instead of being
-filled with odds and ends, are sometimes
-turned into flower-vases. The smallest-sized
-penny tumblers are inserted into each bag and
-filled with cut flowers, or the smallest size
-flowerpot, filled with a tiny fern, is used. In
-the latter case, a piece of American cloth is
-fastened round the pot to prevent any moisture
-soiling the satin bag.</p>
-
-<p>The present method for concealing flower-pots
-when required for drawing room decoration
-makes another simple but acceptable
-present. This is a bag of plush, into which
-the pot is put. To make this bag of plush,
-cut a round of millboard or stiff cardboard
-the size of the bottom of an ordinary flower-pot.
-Take a piece of plush, in width twice the
-circumference of the centre part of the pot,
-and in height the height of the pot; sew the
-two ends of the plush together, and make a
-hem an inch and a half wide. As a finish to
-the upper part, just below this hem, on the
-wrong side of the bag, run on a narrow piece
-of black tape to hold a draw-string, which
-make by running in a piece of strong elastic,
-that will draw in the fulness of the plush
-until it fits the upper part of the flower-pot
-tightly. Gather the lower ends of the plush,
-arrange evenly round the piece of millboard,
-and sew to the latter with the edges concealed,
-using strong thread for the securing
-stitches. When the plush cover is used, its
-millboard foundation keeps the bottom of the
-pot (which may be damp) from doing any
-damage to the furniture, and the wide hem
-beyond the draw-string stands out as a frilling
-a little below the edge of the pot. Half a yard
-of plush, which costs two shillings, will make
-a pair of flower-pot covers.</p>
-
-<p>From America comes to us a novelty in bedroom
-decoration, and one very suitable as a
-present to a young lady who uses her bedroom
-as a sitting-room and likes it prettily
-decorated. This is known as a “pillow
-sham,” and is a long strip of linen or cambric
-ornamented with lace and ribbons, and laid
-over the top part of the bed in the daytime
-only. It fits the width of the bed whatever
-size that is, and does not fall down the sides.
-If the worker is an adept at drawn-thread
-work, the pillow sham can be made very inexpensively
-and of material that will last through
-much wear, but when drawn-thread work is
-not used, Torchon and other strongly made
-lace is required. An easy way for making a
-pillow sham is to buy four new hem-stitched-bordered
-handkerchiefs, and upon the corner
-of one of the handkerchiefs to embroider
-the first letter of the owner’s Christian name,
-making it four inches high and slanting
-it from the corner to the middle of the handkerchief.
-Join these handkerchiefs together,
-inserting between each an inch and a half
-wide strip of Torchon lace insertion, and
-bordering the handkerchiefs lengthways with a
-line of the same, so that each square of
-cambric is surrounded by insertion lace.
-Finish with a frill of Torchon lace edging,
-which carefully whip to the insertion lace. A
-careless bow of ribbon or one of Liberty’s silk
-scarves tied in a bow is sewn to the corner of
-the pillow sham, just above the embroidered
-corner.</p>
-
-<p>When using drawn-work instead of lace
-insertion, a piece of linen the length and
-width of the sham is taken, and the threads
-from this are drawn out as strips down the
-width, leaving five squares of plain linen
-between them. After working the strips over
-with linen thread into a pattern, narrow
-coloured ribbon is run down the centres of the
-drawn-work, and the linen squares embroidered
-with washing cotton of the same colour
-as the ribbon. An edging of lace finishes the
-border, and into this lace a line of narrow
-ribbon is threaded.</p>
-
-<p>Another variety of pillow sham is made by
-sewing together five or eight pocket handkerchiefs
-with coloured borders, and ornamenting
-the same with a large knot of narrow
-ribbons of various shades of colour. The
-handkerchief borders in this case need not be
-alike, but should blend together, and their
-colours should be used as some of the colours
-in the knot of ribbons.</p>
-
-<p>Palm-leaf fans still find favour as drawing-room
-fans, but are no longer left undecorated.
-The two newest ways of decorating them are
-as follows:—Take a well shaped and strong
-fan and paint it with oil-colours, with which a
-very little varnish has been mixed, either a very
-bright yellow or a brilliant scarlet. Give two coats
-of colour, and let the fan dry. Buy
-some ribbon half an inch in width; in colours,
-black, vivid green, sky-blue, and yellow-pink.
-Make a wide vandyke running down one of the
-lengths of ribbon by taking the running
-thread in diagonal lines across the ribbon
-from edge to edge. Draw the ribbon up so
-that it forms a number of pointed vandykes,
-sew the strips down the ribs of the fan at
-equal distances apart, and use black ribbon
-more than the other colours. Sew on a line
-of red gold tinsel between each strip of ribbon,
-and finish the handle with a knot of coloured
-ribbons.</p>
-
-<p>The second make of fan requires a piece of
-plush, some narrow coloured silk cords, and
-various shades of tinsel. The cords are
-obtained by buying a yard of a twisted silk
-cord made up of various shades, and using the
-strands of this separately. Cut the piece of
-the plush the size of half the fan, so that it
-covers the fan on one side from the tip of leaf
-to the handle. Fasten this round the edge to
-the back of the fan, and ornament its straight
-edge on the fan with a line of tinsel on the
-uncovered side of the fan. Sew down each
-rib alternate lines of coloured silk cord and
-double lines of tinsel, using as many varieties
-of tinsel as possible, and arranging the cords
-with due regard to effect. Take three long
-peacocks’ feathers, and fasten these across the
-piece of plush and sew their ends together
-close to the handle of the fan. Cover the
-handle with a piece of plush, and arrange a
-bow and ends of ribbon round the handle and
-to conceal the peacock feather ends. Line the
-back of the fan with thin silk or dark twill.</p>
-
-<p>Blotting-book covers of velveteen are always
-acceptable presents. The foundation for these
-is a sixpenny blotter, size ten inches by eight
-inches, while three quarters of a yard of
-velveteen (price three shillings the yard) will
-make two covers, with a piece of brown
-holland or blue twill for the inside lining.
-The decoration for these covers is embroidery,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_149">{149}</span>
-but this is only worked on the upper side of
-the blotter, the underside being left plain, so
-as not to interfere with its usefulness. The
-embroidery can be of any description of silk
-embroidery, either oriental embroidery with
-its quaintly-formed but impossible flowers and
-foliage, or sprays of naturally-tinted flowers
-worked in crewel silks, and both worked
-directly on to the velveteen foundation; or
-silk embroidery finished with a gold thread
-outline and worked upon a coloured rep silk
-foundation, and sewn on as an ornamental
-corner to the blotter; in fact there are many
-ways of ornamenting the cover, and the
-embroidery the worker is most proficient in
-should be selected. If church embroidery is
-within her capabilities, we advise the initials
-or coat of arms of the owner being worked in
-a frame on linen, cut out and couched down to
-the velveteen foundation with gold thread or
-gold cord; but such elaborate embroidery is
-not often obtainable. The way to make up
-the blotter is to cut the holland lining exactly
-the size of the sixpenny blotter, and the
-velveteen a little larger. Turn in the edges of
-both, and overcast them together, enclosing the
-stiff cover of the blotter between them, and
-sewing the blotting paper sheets in when the
-cover is made. Bradshaw covers are made
-like blotters, but naturally take less material,
-and are only embroidered in one corner.</p>
-
-<p>Large photograph-holders can be easily
-made at home. These are used for the display
-of a number of cabinet photos, and are
-fitted with bands, into which the photograph
-is slipped and easily taken out. The size of
-such a stand is usually seventeen inches long
-by thirteen inches high, but they can be made
-of any size desired. The foundation is of
-millboard, to which a millboard support is
-fastened by its being glued to stout tape and
-the tape glued to the millboard, with sufficient
-width of tape left between the two pieces of
-millboard to allow the support to work. The
-upper side of the millboard is covered with
-quilted satin. The satin is selected of some
-bright colour, and the quilting lines are run
-as diagonal lines, not as making diamonds.
-Three tight bands of satin are sewn across the
-quilting; these are two inches in width, and
-require a lining of stiff net when made up.
-They are embroidered with coloured silks,
-either forming a running design, such as a
-spray of jessamine or celandine, or with some
-geometrical pattern constantly repeated. When
-finished and lined, the bands are placed as
-diagonal lines across the satin, not as horizontal
-lines.</p>
-
-<p>For a photograph-holder the size given, the
-first band will be eleven inches in length, and
-will cross from the top of the holder to the
-left-hand side; the second band will be nineteen
-inches in length, and will cross from the
-extreme top corner of the frame on the right
-side to the bottom of the frame on the left;
-the third band will be twelve inches in length,
-and will be arranged beneath the last-mentioned,
-crossing from the right side to the
-bottom of the frame. Into these bands the
-photographs are stuck; therefore, they must
-be sewn firmly down at the sides where they
-end and commence, and stretch tightly across
-the quilted frame. On the right-hand bottom
-corner of the foundation, which is never
-covered with photographs, the owner’s initials
-are sometimes worked in black silk over the
-quilting lines. This makes a good finish, but
-is not essential.</p>
-
-<p>Bachelors’ wall pincushions are useful presents
-for gentlemen. They are made of plush,
-and are ornamented with the perforated brass
-ornament used about the harness of cart-horses.
-These brass rounds are sold by all harness and
-saddle makers, and cost from sixpence to a
-shilling, and for the latter price the small brass
-handle by which they hang will be removed
-by the shopman, as it is not required for the
-pincushion. A quarter of a yard of plush, a
-quarter of a yard of house-flannel, and one
-yard of narrow satin ribbon are required for
-these cushions. To make them, tear up the
-house-flannel into an inch and a quarter wide
-widths. Roll these strips very tightly one
-over the other as a wide narrow wheel, and
-keep the strips firm by sticking pins through
-the wheel. When a round as large as the
-perforated brass is made, cut the plush into
-two rounds of the same size and a long strip
-an inch and a half wide. Cover one plush
-round with the perforated brass, and sew them
-both on the face of the wheel and well through
-to the back; turn the edges of the round of
-plush over the side, and sew on the round for
-the back of the cushion; conceal the edges of
-both pieces of plush with the narrow band,
-which turn in at its edges and secure tightly
-round the sides of the cushion. Make a loop
-of the ribbon to hang up the pincushion by,
-and sew the ends to the sides of the cushion,
-and with the remaining ribbon make a pretty
-bow, which fasten to the top of the loop.</p>
-
-<p>The newest decoration for white wooden
-articles is the poker or burnt-wood work. This
-consists of burning down the background of
-any design so that the design itself is in relief.
-The fumes of the burning wood slightly colour
-the parts left untouched, and give an extremely
-soft and ivory-like appearance to the work,
-which, if carried out with the new apparatus
-introduced by Mr. Barnard, is quickly and
-easily accomplished.</p>
-
-<p>The articles decorated with burnt wood
-work are all kinds of white wood photo
-frames, small wooden table screens, all kinds
-of boxes, bookslides, book cutters, drawing-room
-bellows, salt boxes, milking stools, tubs,
-paste rollers, etc. The best designs are
-those of large, single-petalled flowers, with
-their leaves, such as daffodils, daisies, and
-dog-roses. The design is drawn upon the
-wood, outlined with a burnt-in line, and its
-chief lines, such as divisions of flower petals,
-centres of flowers, veins of leaves indicated,
-and then the background burnt until it is
-depressed, and is of a warm brown deepening
-to black in colour. Mr. Barnard’s apparatus
-consists of a platinum point connected by
-an indiarubber tube to a bottle of benzine,
-which is connected with another indiarubber
-tube to a small air pump. The latter held
-in the left hand is pressed, forcing air over the
-benzine to the platinum point and keeping
-that always red hot. The right hand holds
-the point and uses it like a broad pencil,
-keeping it steadily pressed on the wood until
-that is deeply burnt in. This apparatus costs
-twenty-five shillings, but if several girls join
-together to purchase it, there is no further
-outlay. Small pokers are used if the apparatus
-is not procurable. These are about eight inches
-long and an inch in circumference; they are
-sunk in wooden handles, and kept hot in a fire;
-four to six are required at once, as they soon
-become cold. The parts of the wood not
-burnt, such as the back of a screen, the legs of
-a stool, require to be stained, sized, and
-varnished, and the burnt wood is also varnished
-(not stained) as a finish. The paste rollers
-are used for holding whips, keys, etc. They
-are hung to the wall with coloured ribbons,
-and have a row of hooks screwed into them to
-hang keys, etc., to.</p>
-
-<p class="right">
-<span class="smcap">B. C. Saward.</span>
-</p>
-
-
-<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" />
-
-<div class="chapter">
-<h2 class="nobreak" id="THE_AMATEUR_CHOIR_TEACHER">THE AMATEUR CHOIR TEACHER.</h2>
-</div>
-<p class="ph3"><span class="smcap">By the Hon. VICTORIA GROSVENOR.</span></p>
-
-
-<div class="ddropcapbox illowe10_9375" id="i_page_149">
- <img class="idropcap w100" src="images/i_page_149.jpg" alt="I" />
-</div>
-<p><span class="uppercase">n</span> a former article we
-made some suggestions
-as to the possibility
-of improving
-a moderate gift for
-music with the view
-of learning to play
-the organ and
-qualifying for the
-noblest of service,
-that of leading
-God’s praise in His church.</p>
-
-<p>We propose now to take up the subject of
-training choirs for the same excellent service,
-on the understanding that the future teacher
-has taken the advice already given as to her
-own musical improvement. Personal fitness
-for this branch of instruction is most necessary;
-as if once the taught discover they know anything
-of which the teacher has not more perfect
-knowledge, that teacher’s task will be a
-hard one. Therefore, there should be familiar
-acquaintance with every description of musical
-notation. Alto and tenor clefs should be
-well understood to be clearly explained when
-met with. On this subject we should like to recommend
-the careful study of “A Short Treatise
-on the Stave,” by the late Dr. John Hullah,
-published by Parker, where the whole matter is
-admirably set forth and illustrated on its own
-technical grounds. The often-heard, but
-somewhat slipshod explanation, “Oh! you
-must read a note higher or a note lower,”
-which leaves the puzzled learner very much
-where he was before, will thus be avoided.
-Even supposing the alto and tenor clefs are
-never met with, the study will repay the intending
-teacher by opening her mind and
-giving clearness to her musical ideas.</p>
-
-<p>It will be seen, by what has been said, that
-we consider our amateur teacher’s first qualification
-should be thorough knowledge of her
-subject. The second should decidedly be untiring
-patience, which will bear with stupidity,
-carelessness, want of zeal, deficient ear, bad
-pronunciation, and all the thousand and one
-difficulties which beset choirs. These consist
-generally of volunteers who join with but
-little idea of giving of their best to God, and
-an impatient teacher would soon find herself
-in the lonely position of the last player in
-Haydn’s “Good-bye” symphony.</p>
-
-<p>We would next place hopefulness in the
-teacher’s catalogue of moral furniture. The
-learners will soon find out if they are being
-taught without hope of their improvement;
-listless work will be the result, and the shy,
-anxious members will give it up in despair.
-The power of encouraging effort, of detecting
-and commending the slightest sign of improvement,
-of persuading the members mentioned
-above that the work is within their grasp, if
-persevered in, is most necessary, and a kindly
-sunny disposition ever ready to look at the
-brightest side is simply invaluable.</p>
-
-<p>Next we should place regularity and perseverance.<span class="pagenum" id="Page_150">{150}</span>
-Without these the teacher can do
-nothing. If she works in the best spirit she
-will feel that, like David, she cannot offer to
-God of that which doth cost her nothing, and
-she will be ready to forego little pleasures in
-order that the practice may not be interfered
-with, or the evening of the week changed.
-This last is a most important point; as the
-lives of working people, from whose ranks
-most members of choirs are recruited, do not
-adapt themselves to change, they seldom
-receive in its integrity a hasty message sent
-round to put off, and of all things, a walk for
-nothing after a day’s work is to be avoided.
-Of course rules must be elastic and not unbending
-as iron, but experience shows that the
-above advice is really needful. Regularity in
-the teacher is sure to be imitated by the
-learners, and steady work must tell in the end.</p>
-
-<p>The next point should be firmness tempered
-with wisdom. The teacher must be supreme,
-or no choir will prosper. Infallible she
-cannot be while here below; but even so,
-one will must rule or anarchy will be the
-result. Twenty (or whatever number may
-compose the choir) views of doing the same
-thing cannot conduce to harmony, moral or
-musical, and this fact must be impressed. At
-the same time there are local prejudices and
-fancies in most places, which a clever tactful
-teacher will soon discover and understand, so
-as to know when she had better give way.</p>
-
-<p>Enough has been said to show that we do
-not consider the task of teaching a choir an
-easy one, nor will it always repay with success
-those who have given it much trouble. The
-teacher must sometimes find herself grappling
-with the effort of making the proverbial
-“sow’s ear into a silk purse.” She has
-impossible materials to weld, such as, <i>e.g.</i>,
-excellent, but roaring basses, trebles possessing
-no high notes, tenors out of tune, and
-leaning to amalgamation with treble, altos
-none! What is she to do? Courage! Go
-on, do your best, teach, exhort, scold, coax,
-never lose hope, and if you get no credit, try
-not to mind. Man does not know, but God
-does, what work you do for His sake, only be
-sure that you are so doing it. If the music be
-really the unattainable “silk purse,” how much
-may be done in teaching the inharmonious
-little choir to phrase well, to throw out by
-judicious accent the sense of canticle and
-hymn, and so lead the congregation to think
-of the lesson it contains! How much zeal
-may be kindled by the teacher’s energy!
-How speedily the broad dialect peculiar to the
-place will disappear before a little good-natured
-chaff and imitation from one in whose
-lips it is seen, even by its votaries, to be
-ridiculous! How the ill-used letter “H”
-may be helped and restored with the advice of
-breathing over it.</p>
-
-<p>The reader will not, perhaps, think us
-very encouraging; but it is obvious that
-where excellent voices are to be had, forming
-them into a choir only needs intelligence and
-a firm hand from one who is equal in knowledge
-to the task undertaken. We have,
-therefore, tried to suit our advice to the needs
-of the many, who must perforce work under
-difficulty, being obliged to take, not the
-materials they desire to have, but only the
-heterogeneous ones at hand.</p>
-
-<p>A few practical suggestions and we have
-done! Do not attempt too much in public.
-Congregations are very critical. One piece of
-music badly done will be more noticed than
-several faultless ones. On the other hand,
-keep on learning some music above the power
-of the choir for improvement and interest. In
-cold weather, when possible, choose music
-which does not try the voices too much by
-giving them sustained high notes to sing.</p>
-
-<p>Lastly, work according to the views of the
-vicar of the parish, who is responsible for everything
-in it; try to carry out in the best possible
-manner whatever form of musical worship he
-desires to have in his parish church. You
-may not be of the same opinion; but you will
-gain nothing but good by putting your own
-views in the background and thus learning to
-obey as well as to teach. And may we not
-hope that the loving Father will acknowledge
-such work, even if imperfect in its results, as
-done by His child to His Glory?</p>
-
-
-<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" />
-
-<div class="chapter">
-<h2 class="nobreak" id="SHE_COULDNT_BOIL_A_POTATO">“SHE COULDN’T BOIL A POTATO;”<br />
-<span class="smalltext">OR,</span><br />
-THE IGNORANT HOUSEKEEPER, AND HOW SHE ACQUIRED KNOWLEDGE.</h2>
-</div>
-<p class="ph3"><span class="smcap">By</span> DORA HOPE.</p>
-
-
-<p><span class="smcap">Mrs. Wilson</span>’s recovery was slow and tedious,
-even more trying to herself, perhaps, than to
-her nurses. She had always been particularly
-brisk and active, and had scorned to consider,
-or, as she said, “coddle,” herself in any
-way, and it was a great trial to her energetic,
-self-reliant nature to be waited on hand
-and foot, and watched over “like a baby.”</p>
-
-<p>Ella, entirely unaccustomed as she was to
-illness of any sort, save her mother’s occasional
-attacks of asthma, thought the nurse was unnecessarily
-checking her aunt’s attempts to
-help herself, till Mrs. Mobberly explained to
-her what different treatment is necessary for
-different people, and how impossible it would
-be, with Mrs. Wilson’s active temperament, to
-prevent her from getting excited and over-tired
-if she once began to take any part in what was
-going on around her, although a little exertion
-might have been actually beneficial to one of a
-calmer and more indolent nature.</p>
-
-<p>It seemed a long time before Mrs. Wilson
-was allowed any food more substantial than
-beef-tea, of which she wearied greatly in spite
-of the nurse’s many devices for varying it.
-She showed Ella how to alter the nature of it
-altogether by making it with half the quantity
-of mutton, or veal, instead of entirely beef; or
-with all three together. This not only made
-a pleasant change, but the doctor told them it
-was often found more easily digestible than
-when made of beef alone. Then again, both
-flavour and consistency were varied by adding
-cream, or an egg well beaten up, or thickening
-with corn flour, tapioca, wheaten flour, or
-rice, while at other times it was served clear,
-without either flavouring or thickening, or in
-the form of a jelly turned out of a tiny mould
-not larger than a teacup.</p>
-
-<p>Gradually, however, Mrs. Wilson began to
-take more solid food, and then Ella’s great
-difficulties began. By the end of her first
-week’s experience of providing real meals for
-her aunt, she wrote to her mother that she had
-come to the conclusion that it was quite
-impossible to arrange dishes suitable in every
-respect for a sick room.</p>
-
-<p>“Do pity the sorrows of a poor young
-housekeeper,” she wrote, “with three people
-to please, the doctor, the nurse, and the
-patient, and they all want something different.
-First comes the doctor, and tells me I must
-now devote my attention to making the dishes
-as nourishing as possible, as it is time aunt was
-picking up her strength again; so I crowd in
-all the strengthening things I can think of,
-and flatter myself I have made a mixture
-strong enough to restore the weakest invalid;
-and the consequence is that next day nurse
-tells me she has been up all night with her
-patient, whose supper was too concentrated to
-digest. Next time, inspired by nurse’s tale of
-sufferings, I make the simplest dish imaginable,
-which could not disagree with a baby,
-and it comes down almost untouched, with a
-sarcastic remark from Aunt Mary that when
-she is well she does not mind how plain her
-food is, but that in her present state of health
-she needs something to tempt the appetite a
-little. And yet——but I will draw a veil over
-the doctor’s reproaches when I ventured to
-make her a spicy little dish.”</p>
-
-<p>But on the whole, in spite of her poor
-opinion of her own performances, Ella
-managed to supply the needs of the sick-room
-very satisfactorily; and she was much comforted
-on hearing from her mother that even
-the most experienced housekeepers find it a
-hard task to tempt the capricious appetite of
-an invalid, especially when it is necessary also
-that the food should be very nourishing, and at
-the same time so light as not to overtax the
-most feeble digestion, Mrs. Hastings sent
-her daughter a list of suggestions for little
-dishes for the sick-room, and added, at the
-close of her letter—</p>
-
-<p>“At any rate, my child, if your task is
-difficult, as I know it must be, it is also
-satisfactory, for you can watch your patient
-each day able to take a little more nourishment,
-or a little more substantial food than
-the day before. You are saved the terribly sad
-duty of vainly trying to tempt an appetite
-which daily gets a little poorer, or of watching
-a dear one getting each day a little weaker,
-proving only too clearly that all your efforts
-are in vain.”</p>
-
-<p>Happily Mrs. Wilson liked oysters, and,
-though she soon tired of them, as of everything
-else, they formed the basis of a number
-of tempting little dishes. The favourite of
-these, a suggestion of the doctor’s, was called
-“Angels on Horseback.” Ella was very
-anxious to know what the ridiculous name
-meant, but could get no information from the
-doctor, who said he had often wondered himself,
-but all he knew was that it was a
-favourite dish with invalids, and that was the
-name it had always gone by. Each oyster
-was taken from the shell, and the beard cut off,
-and was then rolled up in a very thin slice of
-bacon, tied round with cotton, and fried.
-Usually three of these little rolls were enough
-for a dish.</p>
-
-<p>At first Ella’s generous nature led her into
-the mistake of sending up too large quantities
-of everything for the patient, but she soon
-learnt that a dish which would tempt an
-invalid if offered in small quantities, would be
-pushed aside in disgust if large and substantial-looking.</p>
-
-<p>Next to “Angels on Horseback,” the
-favourite dishes were scalloped or stewed
-oysters; while for a little additional nourishment
-between meals, the nurse would often
-suggest a “Prairie Oyster.” This exceedingly<span class="pagenum" id="Page_151">{151}</span>
-simple dish is not an oyster at all, but merely
-the raw yolk of an egg, served like an oyster
-on a small shell, with the smallest possible
-sprinkling of salt and pepper over it. The
-white must be very carefully strained off, so
-as to preserve the yolk unbroken, and it can
-then be slipped into the mouth and swallowed
-without any trouble to the patient.</p>
-
-<p>Two other favourite dishes which the cook
-was particularly clever in making were
-jellied veal and faggots. For the former a
-small knuckle of veal was boiled till the meat
-slipped easily off the bones, which were then
-taken out. The meat was cut into very small
-pieces, and pepper, salt, mace, and thyme
-added to taste, with a small shalot chopped
-very fine. This was all put back into the
-liquor, and boiled again till it was thick, and
-then turned into a mould. When cold it
-formed a stiff jelly. Ella always found the
-flavouring a difficulty, for Mrs. Wilson’s taste
-as an invalid was of course very different from
-what it was when in health, and her digestion
-was very easily upset; but the cook obstinately
-declared that she knew her mistress’s tastes
-better than Ella, and in spite of all orders persisted
-in putting in flavouring according to her
-own fancy; so that many dishes which might
-have been simple and nourishing enough to be
-frequently asked for, had to be altogether prohibited,
-as being too spicy for the invalid’s
-delicate digestion.</p>
-
-<p>For the faggots, a rump steak was cut into
-thin strips of about three inches by two, and
-on these was spread a little butter, with
-pepper, salt, and the smallest atom of minced
-shalot, or sometimes a few herbs. The strips
-were then rolled up, tied with string, and
-fried in butter or clarified dripping, and served
-up in gravy.</p>
-
-<p>Then there were the different kinds of
-panada, made of slices of chicken or game
-cut off the bones, and scraped and pounded,
-and gently simmered in milk; not to mention
-the numberless ways of cooking eggs, buttered,
-scrambled, poached, and boiled, besides omelettes,
-custards, and milk puddings of all
-descriptions.</p>
-
-<p>At last, Mrs. Wilson began to show signs
-of real improvement, and as her strength returned
-she was allowed to spend part of every
-day on her comfortable, old-fashioned sofa,
-while a few visitors were admitted to see her.
-The nurse kept a very watchful eye over these
-visitors, and after their departure sometimes
-expressed herself in very strong language to
-Ella, saying that, “They ought to know better
-than to tire out an invalid with stopping such
-a long time, and as for some of them, why,
-they don’t never seem to care how high they
-send Mrs. Wilson’s temperature up, with their
-worriting talk, and exciting the poor creature
-so.”</p>
-
-<p>The nurse would have soon taken the matter
-into her own hands, and requested the visitors
-to retire when her patient began to look tired,
-but that Mrs. Wilson preferred Ella’s attendance
-in the room to that of the nurse when
-visitors came, and she was not sufficiently
-experienced to know when her aunt was beginning
-to get tired. The nurse hit upon a
-plan, at last, which afforded Ella a good deal
-of secret amusement. Mrs. Wilson’s spectacle-case
-was always placed on a little table
-by the side of her sofa, and the nurse arranged
-that, whenever she began to feel a little tired,
-and wished to be relieved of her visitors, she
-should take up this spectacle-case and lay it
-beside her on the sofa, which should be the
-signal for Ella, or the nurse, to suggest to the
-caller that Mrs. Wilson had talked as much
-as was good for her.</p>
-
-<p>Every morning Ella had to bring an account
-of all the pets to her aunt, and under her
-searching questions revealed an amount of
-ignorance that quite appalled the old lady.</p>
-
-<p>“You should not feed the ducks and hens
-together,” she said, one day, in answer to a
-remark of Ella’s. “Of course, the ducks eat
-more than their share, with their great flat
-bills. Where are your brains, child?”</p>
-
-<p>Ella had a good deal of trouble with the
-fowls’ food at first. Their morning meal was
-soft food, consisting of “sharps” (the outer
-part of wheat, which is separated in grinding
-the corn for white flour) and barley meal,
-mixed in equal parts, and added to any kitchen
-scraps there might be. This was wetted with
-boiling water, and should have been made
-into a stiff, dryish paste—a point Mrs. Wilson
-had been most particular about. The cook,
-however, objected to any extra trouble; as it
-was much easier to pour in water enough at
-once to make the mixture wet and sloppy, she
-always did so; while, as for the kettle really
-boiling—well, that was only one of her
-mistress’s many fads.</p>
-
-<p>Then there was the Indian meal, which
-ought not to have been used, except in the
-cold weather, and then only occasionally
-mixed with the other meal, but this had all
-been used up, and no fresh had been ordered,
-so the fowls had been fed on Indian meal
-alone, till that, too, was finished.</p>
-
-<p>Again, with her liberal ideas, Ella gave
-them far more food than they could eat, and
-the wet, sour mess lay about all day; so that
-it was not at all to be wondered at that the
-fowls drooped, seemed out of order, and did
-not lay their proper quantity of eggs, and
-Ella, afraid of exciting her aunt by telling her
-they were ailing, only increased the evil by
-increasing the quantity of food.</p>
-
-<p>This state of things had lasted some time,
-when the nurse took pity on Ella’s difficulties,
-and told her it would do her aunt no harm to
-be asked for advice about the fowls; so, to
-Ella’s great relief, they talked the matter over
-together, and a change was instituted in the
-feeding. Fresh meal of all kinds was ordered,
-and Ella had a practical lessons in mixing it.</p>
-
-<p>Mrs. Wilson had all the materials brought
-into her room, and directed the process, while
-Ella, arrayed in a large apron, and with her
-sleeves turned up carefully, followed her
-instructions.</p>
-
-<p>Some potato peelings and kitchen scraps
-had previously been boiled together till they
-were quite soft, and now Ella cut these up
-small, with an old knife, and then mixed the
-meal in equal parts, while waiting for the
-kettle to boil.</p>
-
-<p>As soon as it boiled, the scraps were mixed
-in with the dry flour, and Ella, seizing the big
-wooden spoon, began to stir vigorously, while
-the nurse poured in the boiling water.</p>
-
-<p>“Enough water,” Mrs. Wilson cried, in
-spite of the incredulity of the two operators,
-who had intended to put in twice as much.
-“Don’t stop beating it up, child,” and Ella
-continued till she was hot and breathless.</p>
-
-<p>“Now take up a handful and squeeze it.”</p>
-
-<p>Ella did so, and it fell from her hand a stiff
-lump, leaving her palm quite clean.</p>
-
-<p>“That is quite right,” said Mrs. Wilson,
-encouragingly, after slowly arranging her gold
-spectacles, and peering at the mass in the
-basin. “See that it is always stiff like that;
-and never give them more than they will run
-after when you throw it for them. If you find
-any is left, do not give them so much next
-time. At night give them each as much
-grain as you can take up in your hand, but no
-more. You may give the ducks a little more,
-but stop at once when their hunger is not
-keen. Now go and feed them, child; I am
-tired.”</p>
-
-<p>Under this treatment the fowls soon
-revived, and Ella was happy about them
-again, at any rate till she discovered that she
-had made other mistakes. She found the eggs
-she got now were much better and richer than
-those bought in shops, or even than those she
-got when the fowls were being carelessly fed,
-and that in consequence fewer of them were
-necessary in cooking.</p>
-
-<p>One day, before she had began to take solid
-food, to the great delight of her nurses,
-Mrs. Wilson declared she was hungry, and
-had taken a fancy for a boiled egg. There
-were not many eggs from the hens now, but
-the ducks laid regularly; so Ella picked out a
-fine large duck egg, and carried in the prettily
-arranged tray herself; but what was her
-disappointment when, on breaking the shell,
-the egg was found not to be fresh. Her aunt
-pushed the tray away in disgust, the sight of
-the bad egg had quite turned off her appetite,
-and she refused to eat anything at all.</p>
-
-<p>The nurse was very much vexed, and Ella
-herself was greatly distressed, and went off
-with the tray, more convinced than ever that
-housekeeping was not her vocation, and that
-she never would succeed in it.</p>
-
-<p>The next time she was alone in the sick-room
-her aunt told her that she was evidently
-very careless about the eggs, and must begin
-to manage them differently. To begin with,
-she must use up all in the house as quickly as
-possible for cooking, and every fresh one that
-came in must be dated with lead pencil, and
-placed in order, with the large end downward,
-in a board pierced with round holes for
-the purpose, and which was kept in the cool
-larder. They were to be used in the order in
-which they were brought in, and, Mrs. Wilson
-added, severely, she hoped they would not
-soon disgrace themselves again by serving up
-a musty egg.</p>
-
-<p>At the beginning of January, Mrs. Wilson
-directed Ella to bring a certain note-book and
-the writing materials.</p>
-
-<p>“Now,” she began, as soon as Ella was
-ready, “you will find a list, at the beginning,
-of all subscriptions that are due. I want you
-to write to all the people, and enclose the
-amounts. I will write cheques for the large
-sums, but for the others you must get postal
-orders. Make a list of all you will want, and
-then you can get them when you go out.”</p>
-
-<p>“But they have not applied for the subscriptions
-yet, auntie. I have brought you
-every application that has come. Would it
-not be better to leave them till they are asked
-for?”</p>
-
-<p>But this did not suit Aunt Mary’s views at
-all. She pointed out to Ella that she kept a
-note herself of the date when her subscriptions
-were due, and therefore knew the time as well
-as the recipients; and so she did not see the
-good of making the charities expend a penny
-postage, in addition to the cost of paper and
-envelope and clerk’s salary, in merely reminding
-her of the fact.</p>
-
-<p>“And be sure,” she continued, “that you
-put a stamped envelope in with each subscription.
-I want them to get the benefit of the
-whole amount, without having to spend part
-of it in reminding and thanking me.”</p>
-
-<p>“There is another notice under the ‘January’
-heading, auntie, about paying the dog
-tax. Ought that to be attended to?”</p>
-
-<p>“Oh, yes, to be sure. Now you see the
-good of keeping a memorandum book, for I
-had quite forgotten that January was the
-month for renewing the licence. That will be
-seven and sixpence. Two dogs, did you say?
-Dear, dear, child, how ignorant you are, to be
-sure! Don’t you know that dogs are not
-taxed till they are six months old, and the
-puppy is not nearly that yet?”</p>
-
-<p>Ella looked rather crestfallen at this rebuke,
-which her aunt perceiving, hastened to comfort
-her by saying—</p>
-
-<p>“Well, it can’t be helped. You are a good
-girl, and do your best, my dear; but things
-were different when I was young, and girls
-were expected to know all the ways of a
-house. Ah, yes! girls were very useful, in
-the old days, when I was young.”</p>
-
-<p class="center">(<i>To be continued.</i>)</p>
-<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" />
-
-<div class="chapter">
-<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_152">{152}</span></p>
-
-<h2 class="nobreak" id="NO">“NO.”</h2>
-</div>
-<p class="ph3"><span class="smcap">By</span> MARY E. HULLAH.</p>
-
-
-<div class="figcenter illowp58" id="i_page_152" style="max-width: 28.125em;">
- <img class="w100" src="images/i_page_152.jpg" alt="" />
-</div>
-
-<p><span class="smcap">Embrance Clemon</span> sat writing in a snug
-room on the second floor of a house in an old-fashioned
-London street. A geranium stood
-on a flower-stand near the window; the walls
-were painted brown, and the carpet had faded
-into a comfortable insignificance.</p>
-
-<p>Embrance was just twenty-four. She had
-come to London three years ago, on the
-strength of a promise of two pupils, and, behold!
-the pupils
-had
-multiplied
-rapidly, and
-she now had
-as many lessons
-as she
-could manage.
-She had been
-brought up by an aunt in the
-west of England; she had been
-educated at a high school, where
-she had successfully passed all
-the examinations that were open
-to her, and she was thoroughly
-happy in her present work. In
-very truth, she stood alone in
-the world. A few months ago,
-Mrs. Clemon (the aunt who had
-bestowed upon her such good
-care) had set sail for New Zealand, to join
-her only son, who was a farmer. She would
-fain have taken Embrance with her, but there
-were two insurmountable difficulties in the
-way: a lack of funds, and the young farmer’s
-desire to marry his cousin, as soon as
-he should be in a position to support a wife.
-Embrance liked him, but she did not like him
-well enough to consent to this arrangement;
-she therefore decided to remain in London,
-and Mrs. Clemon, after some fretting, had
-been induced to look upon the plan with
-approval.</p>
-
-<p>The years of work in the smoke and fog
-had not done more than tone down the roses
-in Embrance’s cheeks; her hair, simply drawn
-back and plaited to her head, was that shade
-of brown that most people call black; she had
-kindly brown eyes, a large mouth, and a smile
-that won the hearts of her pupils at once, and
-caused their elder sisters to say that, after all,
-Miss Clemon was not so plain when you came
-to talk to her. Certainly, Miss Clemon was
-very little given to thinking about her appearance.
-It was, as Mrs. Clemon had always
-maintained, a pity. The grey gown that she
-wore, with a stiff collar, was singularly unbecoming
-to her; it was, indeed, warm and
-scrupulously neat, but when you had said that,
-you had come to an end of its praises. It was
-hideous.</p>
-
-<p>At last, Embrance put down her pen and
-looked at the clock; it was getting late, and
-the tea-things were still uncleared from one
-end of the table. The street was very quiet,
-and she heard the postman’s knock next door.</p>
-
-<p>“I wish somebody would write to me,” she
-said, aloud.</p>
-
-<p>It was not the mail day, but there were
-friends in the country who corresponded with
-her from time to time, and to-night she would
-have rejoiced over the arrival of any letter.
-“I almost think,” she said, looking round her
-little domain with a half-stifled sigh, “that it
-was a pity that I refused to go to that concert,
-but if I had gone”—with a glance at a
-thick book—“I shouldn’t have got through<span class="pagenum" id="Page_153">{153}</span>
-my reading. By-and-by, when I’m an old
-lady, perhaps I shall have time to enjoy
-myself!” The gratification that she derived
-from this reflection was considerably damped
-by the after-thought, “and then I shan’t care
-about it!”</p>
-
-<p>Her meditations were interrupted at this
-stage by a sound of stumbling footsteps on
-the staircase. It was Annie, the maid,
-panting and out of breath; there was a lady
-just come, who wanted to see Miss Clemon.</p>
-
-<p>“A lady!” repeated Embrance. “What is
-her name?”</p>
-
-<p>“She didn’t say, miss; she is coming up.”</p>
-
-<p>A sharp ring of a bell sent Annie hurrying
-down stairs again; the lady, whoever she
-was, would have to find her way unassisted.</p>
-
-<p>Embrance went out on to the landing. “The
-stairs are very steep,” she said, “please take
-care.”</p>
-
-<p>“Embrance, oh, dear Embrance! is that you
-at last?” said a voice from below. “I
-thought I should never find you in this
-horrible dark place; how can you bear it?”</p>
-
-<p>“Hush! Come up; I am glad to see you,
-Joan. Come into my room.”</p>
-
-<p>The new-comer ran up the last few steps,
-and flung her arms vehemently round
-Embrance, who led her into her sitting-room,
-and then drew back to look at her.</p>
-
-<p>“Oh, Embrance,” gasped Joan, fairly
-breaking down now that the door was shut
-behind her, “do be glad to see me! I have
-taken you by surprise, haven’t I? But you
-said you would always help me, so I’ve
-come.”</p>
-
-<p>She took off her hat, and sat down on the
-sofa, dragging Embrance with her. She was
-a young, fair girl, graceful in every movement,
-with a small, delicate face, surrounded by
-masses of yellow hair. Her blue eyes were
-full of tears, and her pretty lips quivered.</p>
-
-<p>“My darling,” said Embrance, tenderly,
-holding her by both hands, “of course you
-came if you wanted me; but you are so tired
-and cold, I will ring for some hot water and
-make you fresh tea, and when you are rested
-you shall tell me all about it.”</p>
-
-<p>“Let me tell you now,” said Joan, excitedly.
-“Oh, Embrance! it is so dull at
-home now that you are gone, and Mrs. Clemon
-is gone, and everybody I care for! And
-I don’t get on with my painting, and they
-cracked my best plate just when I wanted to
-send it to the Exhibition at Exeter.”</p>
-
-<p>“Well, never mind. You must begin
-another one,” said Embrance, coaxingly, almost
-as if she had been speaking to a child,
-while she cut thin slices of bread-and-butter,
-and produced cake from the recesses of a cupboard.
-“Tell me, is your grandfather in
-London?”</p>
-
-<p>“No; he’s at home, and Emily, too. I
-said that I should like to come to you, and
-they said very well—I must write and ask
-you if it would be convenient. And then I
-packed a bag, and just came up by the next
-train.”</p>
-
-<p>“My dear Joan, they will think that you
-are lost.”</p>
-
-<p>“No they won’t. I wrote a letter to
-grandpapa before I came away, and he had
-given his consent, you know. Are you
-shocked, Embrance?”</p>
-
-<p>“Not in the least.” Embrance’s dark eyes
-rested on her friend with a look that showed
-how completely she meant what she said.
-“But I should like to hear the rest of the
-story, Joan. There is something more than a
-cracked plate.”</p>
-
-<p>“You are a real conjuror. I believe you
-know all about it without my telling you.”
-Joan hung her head, and went on pathetically,
-“Alfred Brownhill has been tiresome again,
-and grandpapa is bent upon my accepting
-him, and Emily keeps on trying to persuade
-me. She says that it is ridiculous for a girl in
-my position to throw away such a good
-chance. I am tired of being told so often
-that I’m dependent; so——”</p>
-
-<p>“You came to me to learn to do for your
-self, you poor child! You know how glad I
-shall be to help you, if I can.”</p>
-
-<p>“Embrance, you’re the kindest person in
-the world!” was all Joan said; but she slipped
-her hand into her friend’s slim fingers caressingly.</p>
-
-<p>They had been friends from childhood.
-Embrance had often helped little Joan Fulloch
-with her lessons, or coaxed her grandfather
-into overlooking some escapade that
-was against his notions of propriety. She
-knew well that it was a dreary home for an
-imaginative girl down at Doveton, and that
-Emily (another granddaughter of the old
-man’s) was as unsympathetic as she could be,
-looking upon Joan’s wish to become an artist
-as the wildest of wild schemes. Embrance
-had vague recollections of Mr. Brownhill (a
-flourishing county town solicitor) as a dull
-man, who played lawn tennis. She did not
-believe that Joan liked him, and as the child
-was harshly treated at home, she was doubly
-welcome here. At any rate, if the worst
-came to the worst, there was a small sum in
-the savings bank that would pay extra
-expenses for a year to come—and a year
-was a long time to look forward in Embrance’s
-eyes.</p>
-
-<p>Joan soon regained her spirits, and forgot
-her fatigue in the novelty of the situation. It
-was like a fairy tale, living up here at the top
-of that corkscrew staircase; and what a pretty
-flower! and might she paint here when
-Embrance was out? She had her own
-notions, though they were somewhat erratic,
-about making money.</p>
-
-<p>To-morrow she would write to her cousin,
-Horace Meade, and he would help her to get
-something to do; and she began making
-calculations as to the number of people who
-required dinner services in the course of a
-year. If Horace could once get orders for her,
-her fortune was made, and in her spare time,
-she would paint landscapes for exhibitions.
-“Then, you must give up these rooms,”
-exclaimed Joan, eagerly, “and we can go and
-live somewhere where there is a garden. And,
-dear Embrance, you’ll let me buy you
-another dress. You ought really never to
-wear that cold colour.”</p>
-
-<p>Joan’s own dress was of a delicate blue
-shade, hanging in artistic folds about her
-pretty figure.</p>
-
-<p>Embrance heaved a little sigh; she was
-accustomed of old to her friend’s castle-building,
-but she would not say a word to
-damp her ardour on this first night. She
-arranged her books and papers ready for the
-morning’s work (her special reading must, of
-course, be put aside now), then she came and
-sat by Joan, and listened to her long account
-of home troubles, till the clock struck eleven, and
-the lamp began to burn low.</p>
-
-<p>The days passed on; the winter was at
-hand. In spite of Joan Fulloch’s good
-resolutions, in spite of her hostess’s kindness,
-she was far from content in her new surroundings.
-Her grandfather had sent a box containing
-clothes and painting materials; he had
-enclosed a brief note in which he foretold that
-she would soon wish to return to Doveton.
-Perhaps, if it had not been for this note,
-Joan would have said good-bye to Embrance
-and the second floor parlour some weeks ago.
-As it was she stayed on, always looking out
-for commissions that never came, and making
-plans to paint pictures that she never began.
-Either the light was too bad, or she had a
-headache; there was always an excuse, and
-Embrance returned night after night, to find
-her visitor plunged in the depths of despair.
-She would straightway set to work to cheer
-her up, and before tea was over, Joan was
-invariably sure of success—to-morrow or the
-next day. At last she heard of a pupil, but,
-unfortunately, she did not take kindly to
-teaching; she was very unpunctual, and it did
-not seem likely that her connection would
-increase with rapidity. In the meantime,
-Embrance had begun to draw upon her
-savings, for the expenses had increased
-marvellously since the autumn. There were so
-many little luxuries that Joan, poor child,
-could not possibly do without.</p>
-
-<p>“Embrance,” said Joan, one evening. She
-was sitting over the fire with a novel, her face
-was flushed, and her hair was disordered; “I
-do want so many things. I wish I could earn
-some money.”</p>
-
-<p>“You have got your pupil,” said Embrance,
-looking up from her book. She was
-translating Schiller, and it was the third time
-that Joan had interrupted her.</p>
-
-<p>“Five shillings an hour!” exclaimed Joan,
-kicking the fireirons down with a clatter.
-“It’s so little; I shan’t have earned enough
-by Christmas to buy a winter jacket, and
-besides, I owe you so much, Embrance!”</p>
-
-<p>“Never mind about that, Joanie; I have
-enough for the present, if we are careful.”</p>
-
-<p>“It is so tiresome of Horace to be away
-just when I want him most,” continued Joan,
-“but he’ll come to-morrow; he has enough
-to do; he ought to be able to help me. Do
-try and be in early to-morrow.”</p>
-
-<p>Embrance shook her head. “I can’t be
-home till seven o’clock.”</p>
-
-<p>“Put off that stupid lesson.”</p>
-
-<p>“I’m afraid it is impossible.”</p>
-
-<p>“I want you to see Horace. You never do
-anything I ask you!”</p>
-
-<p>“I am very sorry, Joan.”</p>
-
-<p>“What’s the good of being sorry?” asked
-Joan, pettishly. “No, no! I don’t mean it!”
-She turned round sharply and saw that her
-friend’s eyes were full of tears. In a second,
-she had flung down her book and was kneeling
-at Embrance’s chair: “Do forgive me, it isn’t
-true. You are the only person in the world
-who has real patience with me. Don’t mind
-what I said; I didn’t mean it.”</p>
-
-<p>It took some time to calm Joan down after
-her fit of penitence, but at last she went back
-to her novel.</p>
-
-<p>Embrance sat with both arms on the table;
-the translation got no farther. Her heart was
-full of love for her friend, and yet—she had
-her fair share of common sense—she could
-not but see that Joan was thoroughly unfit for
-her present mode of life. She was just one of
-those girls who would be happiest in a home
-of her own. Here, for once, Embrance found
-herself cordially agreeing with Emily Fulloch,
-who was as old-fashioned in her notions as it
-was possible for a narrow-minded spinster to
-be.</p>
-
-<p>Perhaps a “brain-wave” of sympathy
-passed from one friend to another at that
-moment, for Joan looked up from her book:</p>
-
-<p>“Darling, I think you will like Horace
-better than Mr. Brownhill, though he is not so
-good-looking. I hope you will!”</p>
-
-<p>“I will try,” said Embrance, jumping up to
-kiss Joan; “I will try my hardest, for your
-sake.”</p>
-
-<p>Joan blushed, and Embrance began talking
-of other matters.</p>
-
-<p>A week later, Mrs. Rakely (a friend of the
-Fullochs) came to London. She stayed at an
-hotel close by, and was glad of Joan’s
-company, as she wished to get through as
-much sight-seeing as she conveniently—or
-inconveniently—could in the space of a fortnight.</p>
-
-<p>One Saturday afternoon Embrance had
-come home early (Joan had gone to luncheon
-with Mrs. Rakely); she was tired, it had been
-a warm, rainy day; her boots were muddy
-and her dress was damp. The armchair by the
-fire looked very tempting; she sat down, and<span class="pagenum" id="Page_154">{154}</span>
-in a few seconds was fast asleep, dreaming of
-a magnificent abode in New Zealand, where
-Joan, in a white satin gown and a diamond
-necklace, was blissfully wedded to an
-emperor with flowing ringlets and bright
-grey eyes. The emperor had very bright eyes,
-indeed, and a habit of knocking on the ground
-with his sceptre; he was also afflicted with a
-curious kind of cough that did not sound
-natural—and yet it was natural, appallingly so.
-With a start and a jerk, Embrance sat up
-in her chair wide awake, and met the gaze of
-a real pair of grey eyes (brimming over with
-fun) that belonged to a gentleman, who stood,
-hat in hand, at the open door.</p>
-
-<p>“I really apologise humbly,” he said, without
-venturing to approach; “but I was told
-to walk up, and I knocked several times, and
-someone said ‘Come in.’”</p>
-
-<p>Embrance had recovered her presence of
-mind. “Please do come in,” she said. “I
-am very sorry that I was asleep; but I was
-so tired. I think you are Mr. Meade?”</p>
-
-<p>“That is my name,” said the visitor, looking
-across the room from the smoky fire to the rows
-of books with a quick glance; “and I have
-the pleasure of speaking to Miss Clemon.”</p>
-
-<p>“Yes,” said Embrance, holding out her
-hand. “Joan will be so disappointed to miss
-you. She is not in.”</p>
-
-<p>The recollection of her plans for Joan’s
-future happiness brought the blood to her
-cheeks. She stooped over the fire to hide
-her confusion. Yes, she liked the look of
-him. He had a clever, kindly face, much
-bronzed by the sun; he wore a short beard
-and a turned-down collar; he had no gloves,
-and his hands were long and thin.</p>
-
-<p>“Do let me do that for you,” said Mr.
-Meade, putting down his hat and umbrella.
-“I am exceedingly skilful at managing fires
-and chimneys; in fact, I have occasionally
-regretted not having been brought up to it
-professionally.”</p>
-
-<p>“As a chimney-sweep?” inquired Embrance.</p>
-
-<p>“No, I think not,” said Mr. Meade, gravely,
-as he inserted the poker between the bars,
-“but there might have been an opening as
-stoker or master of the bellows in some grand
-family. There, now, if you will allow me to
-have a sheet of newspaper, I think I shall
-succeed to perfection.”</p>
-
-<p>Embrance fetched the newspaper, and in a
-few minutes the crimson flames were leaping
-up the chimney.</p>
-
-<p class="center">(<i>To be continued.</i>)</p>
-
-
-<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" />
-
-<div class="chapter">
-<h2 class="nobreak" id="THE_SHEPHERDS_FAIRY">THE SHEPHERD’S FAIRY.</h2>
-</div>
-<p class="ph3">A PASTORALE.</p>
-
-<p class="ph3"><span class="smcap">By</span> DARLEY DALE, Author of “Fair Katherine,” etc.</p>
-
-
-<h3>CHAPTER IX.</h3>
-
-<p><span class="smcap">The</span> following Saturday turned out to be
-a misty November morning. Towards
-noon the fog lifted, and at half-past one,
-when Dame Hursey prepared to start to
-keep her appointment with her son, it was
-tolerably clear, but the old wool-gatherer,
-who was as weather-wise as John Shelley
-himself, shook her head as she scanned
-the horizon from the door of her miserable
-cottage, and muttered to herself she
-doubted the fog would come on worse
-than ever at sunset.</p>
-
-<p>As this was the first time she had seen
-her son for twelve or thirteen years, and
-would probably be the last, seeing that
-he was going back to Australia, probably
-never to return, at least in her lifetime,
-Dame Hursey regarded the occasion as
-a festive one, and had taken a holiday
-in honour of it. Her morning had been
-spent in cleaning her miserable cottage,
-in the faint hope that her son might be
-persuaded to come home and spend the
-evening with her. In this hope all her
-wool-gatherings had been taken upstairs
-instead of lying about the floor and
-corners of the kitchen, as they usually
-did; the floor had been scrubbed, a fire
-was lighted, two rickety armchairs drawn
-up to it, and a cup and saucer, a mug,
-and two or three plates—Dame Hursey’s
-stock of crockery—placed on the table.
-She dispensed with dinner, and contenting
-herself with a piece of bread and
-cheese, reserved two red herrings for her
-tea on her return with her son.</p>
-
-<p>Then she dressed herself in her Sunday
-dress, not without some qualms lest
-the fog should turn to rain. Even if it
-did, on such an occasion as this she
-must wear her best things, so she put
-on her black stuff dress, a black and
-white plaid shawl, and a bonnet that
-might have come out of the ark, judging
-from its antique shape, and which, to
-Dame Hursey’s pride, was ornamented
-with some dirty old artificial flowers.
-Thus attired, and having made up the
-fire and left the kettle on the hob, she
-locked up her hut, put the key in her
-pocket, and providing herself with a
-gigantic cotton umbrella, to answer the
-purpose of a walking-stick as well as in
-case of rain, she set out for Mount
-Harry.</p>
-
-<p>Though Dame Hursey knew all the
-short cuts, it was more than an hour’s
-walk from her house to the top of Mount
-Harry, but the old woman was longing
-to see her son again, so she started in
-good time, and reached the spot a
-quarter of an hour before he did, though
-he was punctual. The fog was rolling
-up again, as the old wool-gatherer had
-predicted, and, accustomed as her black
-eyes were to piercing the mists which
-so often wrap those rounded hills like a
-damp clinging garment, her son was
-close upon her before she saw his form,
-looming like a gigantic grey figure close
-beside her. It was twelve years and a
-half since they had met, and George
-Hursey was very much altered in appearance
-since, in the character of John
-Smith, carpenter on board the French
-yacht Hirondelle, he had laid the
-baron’s little daughter on John Shelley’s
-doorstep; but for all that his mother declared
-she would have recognised him
-in a crowd.</p>
-
-<p>“You’ll come home and have a cup
-of tea and a chat, George, after all these
-years, won’t you?” said the old dame,
-gazing with pride and affection on her
-ne’er-do-well son.</p>
-
-<p>“No, mother, no; I might be recognised,
-and I don’t want to be arrested
-for making off with a child, before I go
-back to my own wife and children.”</p>
-
-<p>“The child is safe enough, if you mean
-the child you left on John Shelley’s
-doorstep thirteen years ago come next
-June.”</p>
-
-<p>George Hursey gave a sigh of relief,
-for many a nightmare had that innocent
-baby, which, for aught he knew to the
-contrary, might have perished from cold
-or exposure through his fault, given him.</p>
-
-<p>“John Shelley took it in then, as I
-thought he would?”</p>
-
-<p>“Yes, and a beauty she is, and no
-mistake. George, tell me who the child
-is, will you, honey?” said Dame Hursey,
-in a wheedling tone.</p>
-
-<p>“That’s what I have come here for
-chiefly, that and to see you once again,
-for when I say good-bye to England to-morrow
-it will be for good this time; I
-am going to give up the sea, and live at
-home now.”</p>
-
-<p>“Well, you know your own affairs
-best; but about the lassie, George;
-whose child is she? No poor person’s,
-I’ll be bound,” said Dame Hursey,
-whose curiosity about Fairy exceeded
-even her interest in her son’s family
-affairs.</p>
-
-<p>“She is the niece of my late master,
-a French gentleman, and it was by his
-wish I took her to John Shelley, only instead
-of going in as I pretended I had
-done, I left her on the doorstep, and
-went off with the purse; and if
-ever I cursed in my life I have cursed
-that money, which, for aught I knew till
-a few minutes ago, had made me a murderer,
-though for that matter I may be
-one still, for the baroness may have
-fretted herself into her grave for her
-baby.”</p>
-
-<p>“The baroness, did you say, George?
-Sure, I was right, she is no common
-child, no fit wife even for gentleman
-Jack,” exclaimed the old woman, opening
-her umbrella, partly to keep the fog
-off, partly as a sort of screen to shut in the
-secret she had yearned so long to learn.
-But George was following up his own
-train of thought, and went on, heedless
-of her interruption—</p>
-
-<p>“Though, as true as I stand here, I
-never knew till last week that Monsieur
-Léon was drowned, and the Hirondelle
-lost a day or two after I left her. Likely
-as not the baron thinks the child was
-drowned too, since they have never found
-her. I might never have known, only
-I happened to ask at Yarmouth if they
-had ever had a French yacht named
-Hirondelle over there, and some of the
-fishermen remembered all about the
-wreck. When I heard that I determined<span class="pagenum" id="Page_155">{155}</span>
-to come and see if the child was safe, and
-now I know it is, I want to do the rest,
-mother.”</p>
-
-<p>“Yes, honey, what is it? You may
-trust me. I guessed the night I met you
-you knew all about the fairies’ child, and
-I have kept your secret and watched the
-child ever since, for your sake, George.”</p>
-
-<p>“Well, I want you to go to John
-Shelley, or to the parson if you like, or
-both, and tell them the child belongs to
-the Baron de Thorens, of Château de
-Thorens, near Carolles, in Normandy.
-Shall I write it down for you?”</p>
-
-<p>“No, no, I can’t read it if you do; I
-shall remember fast enough—Baron de
-Thorens, Château de Thorens, near
-Carolles, Normandy. I shall think of
-Christmas carols, De Thorens, Château
-de Thorens,” repeated Dame Hursey.</p>
-
-<p>“Never mind château, it only means
-castle, but don’t forget the name, De
-Thorens. Here, I’ll cut that word on
-your umbrella handle with my knife in
-printed letters. You can read print, I
-know.”</p>
-
-<p>“All right; and what else am I to
-tell them?”</p>
-
-<p>“Why, that my master and the baron
-gave me the child twelve years and a
-half ago to put out to nurse with an
-Englishwoman. I went ashore at
-Brighton in a little boat with Pierre
-Legros, one of the sailors, and I walked
-across the downs with the child, and
-left it on John Shelley’s doorstep; then
-I told Monsieur Léon John had taken
-it in and promised to look after it. He
-took the address, and the only person I
-thought I had robbed was John Shelley,
-though I knew the baron would make it
-up to him when he heard of it.”</p>
-
-<p>“Are they rich, George?” asked the
-old woman, taking a pinch of snuff as
-she peered at her son through the fog.</p>
-
-<p>“Yes, I think so. The château is a
-beautiful place, and stands in a park.”</p>
-
-<p>“Is that all I am to say?”</p>
-
-<p>“Yes, leave the rest to the parson to
-decide; he will write to the baron in
-French very likely. You may tell them
-as soon as you like, for I shall be out
-of the country to-morrow.”</p>
-
-<p>“I shall wait till you are gone; one
-day more can’t make any difference,
-and it is best to be on the safe side, then
-if they want to know where you are, I
-can say on your way to Australia, so
-there’ll be no fear of their catching you,
-though it is so long ago there isn’t much
-danger of that now.”</p>
-
-<p>“Please yourself, and now I must be
-off. Here are five sovereigns for you,
-mother; they are honestly earned, so
-you need not be afraid to take them, and
-now I must say good-bye. How thick
-the fog is; there is no danger of anyone
-seeing me this evening; it is as much as
-I shall do to find my way down to the
-Brighton Road without breaking my
-neck in a chalk pie. Take care of yourself,
-mother; but you know these downs
-better than I do,” said George Hursey,
-kissing his mother.</p>
-
-<p>“Ay, ay, lad, never fear for me; I
-have been out in worse fogs than this.
-Good-bye, God bless you,” and the old
-wool-gatherer strained her eyes till her
-son’s figure disappeared, as it very
-quickly did, in the fog.</p>
-
-<p>She stood still for a minute or two
-after he had gone, gloating over the
-secret she had at last discovered, and
-muttering to herself again and again,
-“Baron de Thorens, Carolles, Normandy,”
-and then she too turned and
-walked slowly off through the fog in a
-different direction.</p>
-
-<p>It was quite true she had been out in
-worse fogs than this, but whether it was
-that she was too much occupied with
-her own thoughts to think of where she
-was going, or whether the fog, which
-gradually increased, was worse than
-she fancied, she suddenly, after wandering
-about for half-an-hour, awoke to the
-conclusion that she did not know where
-she was. If she had come right she
-ought to have been at the bottom of
-the hill by now, whereas she was still
-on flat ground, and had not begun the
-descent.</p>
-
-<p>She had been so absorbed in wondering
-what the Shelleys, particularly
-“gentleman Jack,” as she always called
-Jack, would say to her news, and in
-picturing to herself the amazement on
-learning that Fairy was the daughter of
-a French nobleman, perhaps a baroness
-herself or a countess, for Dame Hursey
-had very vague ideas on the subject of
-French titles; and in thinking how
-pleased Fairy would be to hear she was
-a rich lady, that she forgot all about
-the fog and where she was going. Loving
-gossip as she did, the secret George
-had put in her power was dearer to her
-than the five sovereigns tied up in the
-corner of her pocket-handkerchief; it
-would add to her importance in the
-neighbourhood more than the gold.
-Moreover, it might lead to a reward for
-her, since she had had no part in leaving
-the child to the care of the shepherd,
-and Fairy she was sure would not suffer
-her to be forgotten when the Shelleys
-came to be rewarded.</p>
-
-<p>“Why, but for me Fairy might never
-find her parents after all; if I were to
-keep this secret to myself she would
-never know for certain she was a lady
-born, perhaps a countess. I shall make
-them understand that before I tell them.
-Or, if anything was to happen to me now
-before I have told them, why they’d like
-to never know it. Bless me, where am
-I? This fog is worse than I thought;
-I ought to have been home by now, and
-here I am still on the top. De Thorens,
-Carolles, Normandy,” and so muttering
-to herself Dame Hursey disappeared in
-the fog.</p>
-
-<p>That same afternoon, Fairy, little thinking
-her name and birth were so soon to
-be revealed, and her happy life in the
-shepherd’s cottage exchanged for a very
-different one in a French château, had
-gone for a walk with Charlie, and, to
-Mrs. Shelley’s great anxiety, at half-past
-five o’clock, when her husband and Jack
-came in to tea, they were not home. The
-fog now was so dense that you could
-hardly see your hand before you, and
-even with a lantern you could not
-discern anything a yard or two in
-advance of you, and Mrs. Shelley was
-intensely relieved when John and Jack
-came home safe.</p>
-
-<p>“Thank God you are both back safely;
-it is an awful fog, isn’t it, John?” asked
-Mrs. Shelley, as John stood wiping
-the fog from his beard and face.</p>
-
-<p>“Yes, it is a bad one; luckily both Jack
-and I saw it was coming on and got the
-sheep home before dark, or we might
-have been half the night on the downs.”</p>
-
-<p>“Isn’t it tiresome? Charlie and Fairy
-went out for a walk soon after dinner,
-and they are not back now; I have been
-in such a fright about them,” said Mrs.
-Shelley.</p>
-
-<p>“What, mother? Fairy out in this
-fog? Good heavens! the child may be
-killed! What on earth does that little
-idiot mean by taking her out in a fog?
-He deserves a sound thrashing,” burst
-out Jack.</p>
-
-<p>“Hush, Jack; Charlie may be in
-danger as well,” said Mrs. Shelley.</p>
-
-<p>“Serve him right too,” muttered Jack,
-as he went in search of a lantern without
-another word.</p>
-
-<p>“Fairy and Charlie out, wife? Dear
-me, we shall have to go and look for
-them; why, they may fall into a chalkpit
-and break their necks. Where have
-they gone?” asked John, leisurely
-putting on his hat and scarf.</p>
-
-<p>“I don’t know, but I fancy to Mount
-Harry; I heard Fairy talking about it.”</p>
-
-<p>“Here, Jack, we shall have to go and
-look for them children, I think,” called
-out the shepherd to Jack.</p>
-
-<p>“Of course we shall; I am lighting
-the lantern; let’s be off at once,
-father,” said Jack, who had made the
-necessary preparations for the search
-while his father was taking in the fact
-that the children were lost, and now
-stood with the lantern in his hand and
-his dog by his side at the open door.</p>
-
-<p>“Where are we to go, father?” said
-Jack as they started.</p>
-
-<p>“Well, your mother says they are
-gone to Mount Harry, so if we were to
-go along the Oatham-road and search
-those chalkpits as we go, that is the
-only place they are likely to have fallen
-down. If they are not there, and God
-forbid they should be, we shall know
-they have not come to much harm
-beyond a fright. When we have passed
-the chalkpits we can climb up Mount
-Harry and come back by the jail; I
-have my compass, we can’t go far wrong
-with that.”</p>
-
-<p>Jack fell in with this plan at once; it
-was by far the best thing they could
-do; but then John Shelley, in his slow,
-methodical way, invariably hit upon the
-wisest plan of action in an emergency,
-as Jack very well knew. Accordingly,
-off they started, each with a lantern and
-the shepherd’s dog leading the way.
-Jack’s own dog was younger and not so
-steady as Rover, so he kept him at
-home. This Rover was a son of the
-Rover who had first discovered the
-fairies’ baby on his master’s doorstep
-that midsummer evening, but John
-Shelley called all his dogs Rover, and
-was rather scandalised when Jack
-insisted on naming his dog Bruce; it
-was an innovation, and the shepherd
-disliked anything new; however, in this
-he was persuaded to yield, Mrs. Shelley
-and Fairy taking Jack’s part, and saying
-two Rovers in one family at the same
-time would never do.</p>
-
-<p class="center">(<i>To be continued.</i>)</p>
-
-<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" />
-
-<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_156">{156}</span></p>
-
-<div class="figcenter illowp100" id="i_page_156" style="max-width: 31.25em;">
- <img class="w100" src="images/i_page_156.jpg" alt="" />
- <div class="caption"><p class="center">MILAN CATHEDRAL.</p></div>
-</div>
-
-
-<div class="chapter">
-<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_157">{157}</span></p>
-
-<h2 class="nobreak" id="OUR_TOUR_IN_NORTH">OUR TOUR IN NORTH
-ITALY.</h2>
-</div>
-<p class="ph3"><span class="smcap">By</span> TWO LONDON BACHELORS.</p>
-
-
-<p><span class="smcap">After</span> leaving Lugano, the train enters
-two tunnels, shortly after which it crosses
-the Lake at Bissone, by means of a most
-hideous stone bridge. Bissone is a very
-picturesque village. The little steeple of
-the church rises romantically from the
-luxuriant foliage, and numerous cottages are
-scattered on the side of the lake. The charm
-of the scene, however, is much marred by the
-aforementioned bridge.</p>
-
-<p>After leaving Bissone, the train goes directly
-south to Mendrisio, the station for Monte
-Generoso, the view from which is said to be
-equal (if not superior) to that from the Rigi.
-We had intended to climb Monte Generoso,
-but it being a very misty day, there would, of
-course, have been no view, so we continued
-our journey, passing Chiasso and Como. At
-Chiasso the luggage is examined, for, strange
-to say, one is in Swiss territory until arriving
-at Como.</p>
-
-<p>We did not stay at Como, as we had decided
-to see that city and its beautiful lake on
-our return journey. The route from Como to
-Milan interested us, from the variety it afforded
-to the mountainous districts we had recently
-visited. There is, indeed, a great charm in
-the dead level of this huge Lombard plain;
-for apart from its cities, so interesting,
-historically and archæologically, we felt a
-certain sense of relief in getting again into a
-flat country, luxuriantly fertile and productive.</p>
-
-<p>We made a mistake in not staying at
-Monza, a very ancient city containing, amongst
-other interesting buildings, a cathedral,
-founded by Queen Teodolinda in the sixth
-century, and a Broletto, or town hall,
-attributed to Frederic Barbarossa. We
-arrived at Milan early in the afternoon, and
-immediately drove to our hotel, through one
-of the magnificent gates which guard the approaches
-to the city.</p>
-
-<p>On entering this, the first great Italian city
-which we had seen, many thoughts crowded
-into our minds. Here we were in a country
-the very cradle of European art, where
-through all times, even down to the present,
-art seems a vital necessity to the people. In
-other lands art has been an ornament or a
-luxury, but in Italy it seems to enter into the
-very life of the inhabitants, and nothing seems to
-have been able to wean them from their
-devotion to the beautiful creations of the
-hand of man. We find them revelling in art
-when foreign armies were overunning the
-country and decimating the population. We
-find it under tyranny and oppression of the
-most galling description—surrounded by acts
-of horror and infamy of the most despicable
-kind. We find it often in combination with
-ignorance and folly that are simply contemptible.
-We find it existing when liberty was
-utterly suppressed. Thus during all the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_158">{158}</span>
-Middle Ages and the period of the Renaissance,
-whether the Italians were slaves or free,
-whether they were conquered or victorious,
-whether they were united or divided, still this
-marvellous spirit of art seems to have pervaded
-everything from their religion down to the
-most ordinary acts of everyday life.</p>
-
-<div class="figcenter illowp51" id="i_page_157" style="max-width: 25em;">
- <img class="w100" src="images/i_page_157.jpg" alt="" />
- <div class="caption"><p class="center">INTERIOR OF MILAN CATHEDRAL.</p></div>
-</div>
-
-<p>Another thought which naturally suggests
-itself on entering Milan is that of the two
-noble characters whose lives stand out like
-brilliant meteors amongst the gloom, horror,
-wickedness, and folly, which stain so much of
-her history. We refer to her two Archbishops—St.
-Ambrose, the light and glory of
-her early history; and Charles Borromeo, the
-bright star which illumined her deepest
-gloom. And one cannot help thinking of the
-good and great man pursuing his mission of
-charity amongst the sick and dying of the
-plague-stricken city.</p>
-
-<p>Our first thought was to find our way
-to the cathedral, the second largest Gothic
-church in Europe, about which probably
-more has been written, and a greater
-number of conflicting opinions as to its
-merit expressed, than about any building in
-the world, with the exception of St. Peter’s,
-Rome. As it is impossible to say anything
-new about this wonderful cathedral, we shall
-principally confine our remarks to our own
-individual impressions and opinions.</p>
-
-<p>To commence with, the first view of the
-interior struck us as far finer than the more
-popular exterior. Indeed, so great an effect
-had it upon No. 2, that he turned as white as
-a sheet, and seemed completely overcome
-with the wonder of the buildings. The
-enormous proportions of the church, the great
-height of the pillars, with their canopied niches
-over the capitals, and the rich religious effect
-of the whole, formed a picture, in comparison
-to which (in our eyes) the blazing but
-meretricious glory of the exterior, with its
-4,000 or so niches and vast masses of carving,
-was not to be compared. It is said that an
-intimate acquaintance with both exterior and
-interior will fall far short of one’s first
-impressions.</p>
-
-<p>Now this did not strike us with regard to
-the interior. No, not even after we realised
-the tracery of the roof to be painted, and the
-tracery of the windows to be somewhat
-straggling and unmeaning. But it is a
-different matter from the exterior; after the
-first astonishment is over, one sees at once
-the great over-elaboration and the general
-“spikiness” of the effect, though No. 1
-thought the admixture of the Renaissance style
-in the façade saved this portion of the
-cathedral by supplying that solidity and
-“sobriety of line” which the building otherwise
-so painfully lacks.</p>
-
-<p>Even before we heard that the architect was
-supposed to have been a German, we recognised
-the Teutonic character of the cathedral,
-especially of the interior, which seemed to be
-not entirely unlike that of Cologne.</p>
-
-<p>To enter more into detail, the plan is a
-Latin Cross, terminated by an apse, and
-divided into a nave and four aisles. The
-interior is 477 feet in length, by 183 in
-breadth, exclusive of the transepts, and is
-supported by fifty-two pillars, which are eighty
-feet in height and twelve feet in diameter.
-The before-mentioned niches, which crown
-the pillars, are a great feature, each niche
-being of different design, and all remarkably
-beautiful. The roof is elaborately painted in
-imitation (so it is said) of tracery. Street
-calls this an “abominable device, which never
-ceases to offend and annoy the eye more and
-more every time it is observed.” The effect
-did not seem to No. 1 at all disagreeable; quite
-the contrary. He thought it added great
-beauty and richness to the design, and does
-not believe that it was ever intended to deceive
-the beholder into the idea that it is
-real tracery. “Why not believe it to be
-mere decorative painting, and beautiful art as
-such?” he asked. But No. 2 was really
-deceived into believing that the imitation of
-tracery was actually what it represented,
-particularly as the design, which is in dark-brown
-colouring upon a light ceiling, represents
-carvings of beautiful patterns and filigree
-work, very much like the Gothic screens of some
-of our English cathedrals, only fixed upon the
-ceiling instead of being on the line of sight. But
-when, after investigation, he found the paint
-obliterated here and there by damp and other
-causes, showing blotches of brown and white,
-he was disgusted beyond measure, and began
-to look upon other work with suspicion.
-“Why,” cried he, “should a Christian church
-impose on the unwary, or to the wary
-preach affectation and artifice?”</p>
-
-<p>There is no triforium, and the pavement is
-a mosaic of various coloured marbles. There is
-a great quantity of old stained glass in the
-windows, which, though not equal to our old
-English glass, yet gives the building a very religious
-effect, which is still more enhanced by
-the colour of the stonework, which has the appearance
-of old ivory. The interior is well
-filled with ancient monuments; but we have
-no space to describe them, and will simply
-add that the most remarkable are those of
-Gian Giacomo and Gabriele de Medici, attributed
-to Michael Angelo; of Cardinal Caracciolo,
-in black marble, by Bambaja; and of
-Ottone Visconti, Archbishop of Milan, which
-is earlier in date than any portion of the
-cathedral. In the north transept is the bronze
-candelabrum for holding seven lamps, constructed
-in imitation of that which existed
-in the Holy Temple of Jerusalem—a magnificent
-work erected in the thirteenth century.
-And in the south transept is a famous statue
-of St. Bartholomew being flayed alive.</p>
-
-<p>St. Charles Borromeo, the great Archbishop
-of Milan, is buried below the dome in a subterranean
-chapel. It may interest our girls to
-know that he was the originator of Sunday-schools
-in Europe.</p>
-
-<p>The Duomo of Milan is like no other
-building in the world, it belongs to no distinct
-style of architecture, and in art it had neither
-parents nor children. Nothing was ever built
-like it before, and nothing will ever be built
-like it again. We do not say that it is the
-most beautiful church ever built, nor do
-we deny that, architecturally speaking, it
-possesses many grave faults, but what we
-mean is this: Of all other churches we say
-they are built in such and such a style, or are
-of such and such an order of architecture.
-But of this we say simply, it is the Duomo of
-Milan.</p>
-
-<p>When this vast structure, with its countless
-pinnacles of pure white marble glittering in the
-sun, and backed-up by a dark blue sky, breaks
-upon our astonished gaze, the mind is
-absorbed with wonder.</p>
-
-<p>Is it a vision? What have we seen before
-like it—possibly only one thing—the snow-clad
-peaks of the Alps. One cannot get rid of the
-notion that some kind of relationship exists
-between the two. We begin almost to suspect
-that some mighty Alp, with its snow-clad
-peaks, must have been its mother—so much is
-it like the kind of architecture that would have
-sprung from the mountains.</p>
-
-<p>It was after leaving the Duomo that the
-two bachelors had their first quarrel. This is
-how it came about:—The older bachelor, who
-is impressionable and of a poetical and non-technical
-turn of mind, enjoys an undisturbed
-first sight of a magnificent building, without
-first of all inquiring into its structural and
-architectural details; and if there is one thing
-more than another which annoys him, it is to
-have the “dry bones” of workmanship dinned
-into his ears and thrust before his mental
-vision when the complete building should
-rather impress on him all that it has to say of
-great achievement and power.</p>
-
-<p>Now the younger bachelor is technical and
-fond of dates, so seized the opportunity of showing
-off his knowledge of history and archæology
-at the very moment when his friend was first
-gazing at the religious splendour of the interior
-of the cathedral. This made No. 2 insist on
-a judicial separation, at any rate for the first
-hour, so the greater part of the building was
-explored in “single blessedness.” The quarrel,
-postponed, of course, until we had left the
-Duomo, was happily of short duration, and
-the two bachelors compared notes, and came
-to the conclusion that, after all, more permanent
-unity is created by contradictory temperaments.
-Whether this would apply in the
-case of man and wife they unfortunately could
-offer no opinion founded on experience, so they
-wended their way through some very narrow,
-uninteresting streets to the church of St.
-Ambrose, at the west of the city.</p>
-
-<p>St. Ambrogio, founded in the fourth century,
-is full of ancient epitaphs and early Christian
-antiquities, notwithstanding that it was very
-much repaired in the seventeenth century.
-The walls of the “atrium,” or open court, in
-front of it, contain fragments of frescoes,
-ancient inscriptions, etc., which, backed up
-by the Romanesque red brick church (dating
-from the ninth century), form one of the most
-picturesque scenes in North Italy.</p>
-
-<p>The interior of St. Ambrogio is, if possible,
-more interesting than the exterior; it is of
-grey stone, with arches of red brick, a quaint
-effect of colour. There are no transepts, and
-the building terminates in an apse.</p>
-
-<p>It would take pages to describe all that is
-remarkable in the interior of St. Ambrogio, so
-we shall only mention some of the interesting
-features. On first entering the nave we
-noticed two pillars, on one of which is a brazen
-serpent, said to be the brazen serpent of
-Exodus. The vaulting of the apse is very
-ancient, and is covered with mosaic work as
-fine as anything in St. Mark’s, Venice. Below
-we noticed the old chair of St. Ambrose.
-The high altar is interesting, as being the
-place where some of the German emperors
-received the iron crown of Lombardy; a baldachino
-or ciborium covers it.</p>
-
-<p>On the front of the high altar (itself a
-blaze of glory) are depicted scenes from the
-life of Christ, while on the back are represented
-incidents in the life of St. Ambrose,
-the former in plates of gold and the latter
-silver-gilt.</p>
-
-<p>St. Ambrogio contains several frescoes.
-The finest are “Legend of St. George,”
-by Bernardino; and “Ecce Homo,” by
-Luini. In it also are the shrines of Saints
-Gervasius and Protasius—very popular saints
-in Italy.</p>
-
-<p>On leaving St. Ambrogio we wished to get
-straight back to our hotel; but we unfortunately
-lost our way, and were obliged to ask
-an Italian gentleman to direct us. He not
-only put us on the right road, but actually
-went out of his way to ensure our not losing
-ourselves again. This is characteristic of the
-North Italians. They are really polite, and,
-according to the elder bachelor, the most gentlemanly
-people he has visited.</p>
-
-<p>After <i>table d’hôte</i> we strolled out of the
-hotel, and walked through the magnificent Galleria
-Vittorio Emmanuel (containing some
-of the best shops in Milan) into the Piazza
-del Duomo. It was a beautiful moonlight
-night, and the cathedral looked simply glorious—its
-dazzling whiteness almost frightening us
-as it suddenly burst on our view. After due
-deliberation No. 2 irreverently said that the
-appearance was similar to that of a colossal wedding-cake,
-with its sugary-looking ornamentations
-under a strong light. The Duomo, though
-not a very pure example of Gothic, possibly
-over-ornamented, and its detail not always in<span class="pagenum" id="Page_159">{159}</span>
-the best taste, is certainly one of the most
-extraordinary examples of man’s industry,
-perseverance, and wealth to be found in the
-whole realm of art.</p>
-
-<p>It was about 9 o’clock p.m. that the first
-scene was enacted of what might have
-completely wrecked our holiday, viz., the
-longing of the younger bachelor to smoke
-one of the long cigars, with straws in
-them at either end, which foreigners, especially
-Italians, seem so to enjoy. No. 2 (the
-older) bachelor being the better linguist, went
-into a tobacco shop and ordered one of these
-cigars. It was in vain that the shopman declared
-they were never bought by English;
-it was of no use his repeating that they were
-so inferior—No, No. 1 had set his heart on
-possessing one of them, and have one he
-would.</p>
-
-<p>We bought two, one of which the
-younger bachelor immediately smoked, having
-first carefully extracted the straws. The other
-was given to the waiter, and it is safe to predict
-that neither of us will ever be seen with
-one of those terrible cigars again. About
-10 p.m. No. 1 began to show signs of a violent
-bilious attack, which grew worse as the night
-came on. This was the commencement of an
-ailment which afterwards turned out to be
-“gastric fever.” There was little sleep that
-night for either of the bachelors, as No. 2
-sat up by his friend during a great part of the
-night. The next morning, however, though
-still unwell, No. 1 insisted on going to church.
-On returning hotel-ward the younger felt
-alarmingly ill, and could not walk further
-without help.</p>
-
-<p>When we got to the hotel, No. 2 determined
-to send for a doctor, and, looking into his
-Baedeker, chose one of those recommended.
-Our girls must not think it was entirely the
-horrible cigar that made No. 1 so ill.
-They must remember he was described as
-having a shocking digestion, which had been
-“upset” by the continual travelling and the
-change of food; also, the sudden change from
-the bracing mountain air to the comparatively
-enervating climate of Milan, no doubt accelerated
-the illness. The doctor came about four
-hours after he was sent for, and, after asking
-innumerable questions as to the occupation,
-rule of life, etc., of the bachelor, seemingly
-unnecessary—not to say impertinent—prescribed
-an alarming amount of medicine. We
-shall remember that doctor, with his important
-manner and soft, deep voice. He was a
-smart, healthy-looking man, with an imposing
-moustache and short black hair. We shall also
-remember the answer he gave to the older
-bachelor, who had inquired how long it would
-be before his friend would be well enough to
-resume his travels—“Maybe in two or three
-weeks,” being the encouraging reply.</p>
-
-<p>The younger bachelor is here reminded of
-the interesting view of chimney-pots and
-house-roof visible from his bedroom window,
-which it was his fate to watch incessantly for
-two whole days, miserably ill, with one longing
-in life, viz., to quench his burning thirst with
-“a lemon squash.”</p>
-
-<p>As it seemed the less expensive method,
-No. 2 shopped for the lemons, bringing in a
-dozen at a time, and squeezing them with his
-fingers into a water-bottle glass. The sugar
-was purloined from the <i>salle-à-manger</i> (as we
-wish this narrative of ours to be a strictly
-truthful one, we resolutely admit our guilt,
-but hope the Italian Government will not be
-too hard on us), for we preferred the charge of
-one halfpenny per “squash,” instead of one
-franc, the probable price of one bought at the
-hotel. If any one of our readers has had a
-brother to supply incessantly with “lemon
-squash” for two days and one night, without
-the use of a proper lemon-squeezer, she will
-appreciate the sad intelligence that No. 2’s
-finger joints are now less supple and powerful
-than before this Italian tour.</p>
-
-<p><i>La femme de chambre</i> was, as most young
-women are to forlorn and helpless bachelors,
-tender and kind. In fact, at the end of two
-days she quietly suggested that a lemon squash
-was the worst drink for the poor patient, and
-actually the dear thing made for him some
-oatmeal, bringing into the room a sieve, a
-basin, some warm water, and a screw of paper
-containing oatmeal. Then (<i>à la</i> Useful Hints
-in the G. O. P.) the recipe was as follows:—A
-little oatmeal in the strainer, hold over the
-empty basin, and with the warm water (by
-this time very lukewarm), percolate through
-the sieve, and behold a dish of Scotch oatmeal!</p>
-
-<p>That preparation did not seem to improve
-the condition of the poor patient.</p>
-
-<p>“Oh, that we had some English lady with
-us,” cried No. 2.</p>
-
-<p>“Never no more,” groaned No. 1, with his
-face to the wall, though whether this depressing
-remark had a reference to the oatmeal,
-the gentler sex, or the “holiday” (save the
-mark!), No. 2 has not yet been able to determine.</p>
-
-<p class="center">(<i>To be continued.</i>)</p>
-
-
-<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" />
-
-<div class="chapter">
-<h2 class="nobreak" id="ANSWERS_TO_CORRESPONDENTS">ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS.</h2>
-</div>
-
-<div class="figcenter illowp38" id="i_page_159" style="max-width: 15.625em;">
- <img class="w100" src="images/i_page_159.jpg" alt="" />
-</div>
-
-
-<h3>MISCELLANEOUS.</h3>
-
-<div class="blockquot_ans">
-
-<p><span class="smcap">Guinevere</span> must take her money to the nearest post-office,
-and say she wishes to have a book and
-become a depositor. There is no difficulty about
-so doing.</p>
-
-<p><span class="smcap">Emmy.</span>—“They also serve,” etc., is from Milton’s
-poem on his blindness. The 7th April, 1868, was
-a Tuesday.</p>
-
-<p><span class="smcap">Enid.</span>—Ithuriel, the angel sent by Gabriel to find Satan.
-He finds him squatting like a toad beside Eve, as
-she lies asleep, and brings him to Gabriel. Ithuriel
-is armed with a spear, which by its touch discovered
-falsehood at once. You will find all this in Milton’s
-“Paradise Lost,” which you ought to have read.</p>
-
-<p><span class="smcap">Lilith A.</span>—“In Memoriam” was written in memory
-of Tennyson’s friend, Arthur Henry Hallam, who
-died in 1833.</p>
-
-<p><span class="smcap">Grace.</span>—The beer made with the ginger-beer plant is
-quite wholesome, we believe.</p>
-
-<p><span class="smcap">Virago.</span>—“A young lady, who is nine years old and
-two months over,” is certainly not old enough to
-choose her books, nor must she think just yet of
-being guided by her own judgment in any way,
-except in obeying others older than herself, and
-should be punished if she do not.</p>
-
-<p><span class="smcap">Lady Clara Vere de Vere.</span>—The address of the
-secretary of the Princess Louise Home is 54, New
-Broad-street, E.C. Write to the secretary. Young
-ladies should have their names on their mother’s
-card.</p>
-
-<p><span class="smcap">E. Austill.</span>—The first two chapters of “A Lady’s
-Journey to Texas” will be found in vol. iv., pages
-362 and 713.</p>
-
-<p><span class="smcap">Phisiegig.</span>—The real name of “George Sand” was
-Aurore Lucille Amantine Dudevant. Henry M.
-Stanley, the African explorer, was born at Denbigh,
-Wales, in 1840.</p>
-
-<p>C. H. S.—The answer to the riddle, “Man cannot live
-without my first,” is <i>Ignis fatuus</i>, otherwise called
-“will o’ the wisp,” or “corpse candle.”</p>
-
-<p><span class="smcap">Violet.</span>—The lines do much credit to your tenderness
-of heart and love for your parents, but as poetry they
-are not worth much, and are full of faults.</p>
-
-<p><span class="smcap">Consumption.</span>—We regret that we cannot give you
-any information, as we do not know the medicine by
-name, and we could not advise anyone to use it
-without the consent of a doctor. We should think a
-change of climate would be advisable. Cold, dry
-climates are apparently more recommended now than
-warm ones.</p>
-
-<p><span class="smcap">Die Lorelei.</span>—The lines you send have some power
-about them, but they are not correct in rhythm nor
-in construction. Count the feet and position of the
-beats in each line carefully while composing.</p>
-
-<p><span class="smcap">Marion Moss.</span>—Seals are found in the Arctic seas.
-Dundee and Hull are the principal British ports
-whence the seal-fishers sail. They are also found in
-Russian America, now called Alaska.</p>
-
-<p><span class="smcap">Perplexed One.</span>—Why not try to obtain a good
-situation as nurse—head nurse, with a junior under
-you?</p>
-
-<p><span class="smcap">Maggie</span> might obtain the first volume by means of an
-advertisement in the <i>Exchange and Mart</i>.</p>
-
-<p><span class="smcap">Water Lily.</span>—Mr. Herbert John Gladstone, M.P.,
-is the youngest son of the Prime Minister, and was
-born 1854.</p>
-
-<p><span class="smcap">Seven Years for Rachel</span> must get her sister to
-read aloud, alone, and with someone slowly and
-carefully, being particularly careful to take her
-breath regularly, easily, and deeply when reading or
-speaking. The lungs must be well filled.</p>
-
-<p><span class="smcap">A Christian.</span>—We agree with your mother that you
-are both very young, and had better wait till you be
-older. Then we should repeat to you the saying of
-Christ, “Have salt in yourselves,” which means that
-you must form your opinions and actions on eternal
-principles, which are the salt which should savour
-our lives.</p>
-
-<p><span class="smcap">Tilda.</span>—We quite agree with you that the manners of
-lady district visitors should be very courteous, and
-that they should certainly knock at people’s doors,
-and not go in until they be asked, nor should they
-go at the dinner hour. Alas! good breeding and
-sound common-sense seem both rare qualities everywhere.
-Either of them would have made your
-visitors behave differently.</p>
-
-<p><span class="smcap">Gipsy.</span>—You should say, “Lady So-and-so,” and write
-it with a capital “L.”</p>
-
-<p><span class="smcap">Ethel.</span>—Show your teeth to a dentist. We regret
-that we could not give you a recommendation of the
-kind. Your medical man would do so. The loss of
-an eye-tooth does not affect the sight. It is believed
-that eating very fine white bread has tended to
-injure the teeth. Wholemeal bread is the best for
-producing good bone.</p>
-
-<p><span class="smcap">Sarah Brown.</span>—You cannot re-silver a good looking-glass
-yourself. You must send it to a manufactory
-for the purpose. Any furnishing upholsterer or
-looking-glass seller would undertake to do that for
-you; but you must make a bargain before you send
-it, and you might obtain a good secondhand glass at
-less cost.</p>
-
-<p><span class="smcap">Dick.</span>—Dentists usually have a medical man to see
-and attend to the patient when gas is employed. It
-is not dangerous to take it.</p>
-
-<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_160">{160}</span></p>
-
-<p>“<span class="smcap">In Great Trouble.</span>”—Yours seems a case for a
-doctor’s advice. You had better consult one. The
-word “silly” is not spelt “scilly,” like the islands of
-that name, and “disappointed” should not be written
-“dissapointed.”</p>
-
-<p><span class="smcap">Dorothy Drake.</span>—You will find the answer to your
-question several times repeated in our correspondence
-columns.</p>
-
-<p><span class="smcap">Evelyn.</span>—We do not place ourselves between our
-young readers and their parents, by expressing an
-opinion respecting the punishments they inflict. If
-severe, we imagine that their statement of the case
-you describe would be of a different character from
-yours. Probably there were attendant circumstances
-which aggravated the misdoing on your part. What
-business had you to go out without leave, and not
-fully dressed for so doing? Besides, you may have
-been disobedient or impertinent.</p>
-
-<p><span class="smcap">Ditto.</span>—You will find instructions in riding in the
-monthly part for October 1st, 1881, page 3, vol. iii.,
-and, as we told you before, at page 131 in the same
-volume. You cannot read figures, one would suppose.
-There is a picture of a girl on horseback on
-the same page. Look again.</p>
-
-<p><span class="smcap">Jo.</span>—Perhaps you could receive some little pupils daily
-for two or three hours at your own home, and teach
-them the rudiments of an English education—reading,
-writing, arithmetic, grammar, geography, and
-needlework.</p>
-
-<p><span class="smcap">Mother of Six.</span>—The Paddington Green Children’s
-Hospital might suit you, boys under twelve years of
-age and girls under fourteen being eligible, and no
-letters of recommendation being required. Write to
-the treasurer, George Hanbury, Esq. 21, Portman-square,
-W. There are also the Belgrave Hospital
-for Children, 77 and 79, Gloucester-street, S.W.—lady
-superintendent, Miss Munro; The Eveline
-Hospital for Sick Children, Southwark Bridge-road,
-S.E.;—secretary, T. H. Chapman, Esq. All three
-are free.</p>
-
-<p><span class="smcap">Sophia Falconer.</span>—Cod-liver oil is specially beneficial
-to consumptive persons or those suffering from
-a severe cough, not from the stomach. In cases of
-atrophy we should think it would be of service.
-Many persons, strong or delicate, find a plunge or
-two in the sea of much benefit; but few comparatively
-could go into still, cold, fresh water. A cold
-sponge bath is quite a different thing, and cold salt-water
-sponging of the spine, throat, and chest is
-much to be recommended, or a good quick rubbing
-with a wet towel half wrung out, and drying with a
-rough one.</p>
-
-<p><span class="smcap">Curly</span> and <span class="smcap">Fluffy</span>.—Avoid meeting the men who try
-to force unwelcome attentions upon you. Speak to
-your mother about it, and let her direct you. She
-can put a stop to the persecution with authority. If
-she were to go out with you a few times she could
-dismiss them at once. Avoid seeing them, and go
-into a shop or turn a different way if they try to join
-you. It is an important part of her duty to protect
-and chaperone you.</p>
-
-<p><span class="smcap">An Old Girl of Poland.</span>—In adopting a new country
-it is always wise to be provided with a passport, a
-copy of your certificate of baptism, and letters from
-your clergyman, and any leading men, magistrates
-or others; also your banker, if you have one. Such
-papers might prove very valuable as introductions
-into society, or to facilitate your obtaining employment.
-Besides this, they would be very essential in
-case of mistaken identity. No passport is needed
-in coming to England, yet it is wise to have one.</p>
-
-<p>J. B.—To know the colour called primrose, you have
-only to look at the flower and at the enamelled or
-painted representations of it. Why ask anyone else
-when your own eyes could act better for you than
-any description by another person?</p>
-
-<p><span class="smcap">Clansman.</span>—We should like to encourage you to write,
-as the lines speak well of the mind and the heart;
-but we think you would succeed better in prose than
-poetry.</p>
-
-<p>“<span class="smcap">Eucharis Lily.</span>”—We have no recollection of the
-MS. of which you speak, and regret you have waited
-so long for an opinion. The lines you enclose show
-good feeling, but lack originality. We thank you
-for your kind letter.</p>
-
-<p>F. A. B.—We feel sincere sympathy for you, and
-scarcely know how to advise you. At your early age
-you are only eligible for the Children’s Hospital,
-Great Ormond Street, W.C. You might write for
-particulars to the lady superintendent. You would
-have to supply certificates both as to character and
-health.</p>
-
-<p><span class="smcap">Gertrude McKenzie.</span>—No licence is required to
-enable you to keep a registry office for servants.</p>
-
-<p><span class="smcap">Snowdrops.</span>—Certainly, wear your gloves in church.
-Why not? A correspondent some time ago advised
-that maidenhair ferns should be watered with tea,
-and tea-leaves from the tea-pot should be put round
-them.</p>
-
-<p><span class="smcap">Inez</span> and <span class="smcap">Philip</span>.—We are of opinion that the amount
-allowed by your brother for his dinner is much in
-excess of what is needed, and may prove a temptation
-to him if continued. We were interested
-in your letter, and we hope your mutual happiness
-will long be continued.</p>
-
-<p><span class="smcap">One You Have Benefited.</span>—Many thanks for your
-kind letter. We quite see all your difficulties, but
-we think you must not make too much of them.
-The real use of all training at home is to help young
-people to stand alone some day, and act in the fear of
-God, for themselves; they cannot be always children,
-nor in leading strings, so you must excite in them
-conscientiousness and a constant desire to do right.
-The conduct they propose, <i>i.e.</i>, of going out and in,
-of accepting invitations as they please, without consulting
-you, is, in the first place, ill-bred and unladylike.
-No one treats the lady of the house, be she
-mother or step-mother, in that manner, and even in
-society they would not be guests a second time in
-any house where they ignored the lady who invited
-them.</p>
-
-<p><span class="smcap">Alea Europea.</span>—In the “Chapel in the Tower,” by
-Mr. Bell, we find the following notice of Arthur
-Pole, who, with his brother Edmund, was imprisoned
-for life, and died in the Tower—They were
-the sons of Sir Geoffrey Pole, and grandsons of
-Margaret of Clarence, Countess of Salisbury. Cardinal
-Pole was, therefore, their uncle. In 1562 they
-were implicated in a conspiracy to depose Queen
-Elizabeth, and place Mary Queen of Scots on the
-throne. It was also alleged that one of them designed
-to marry her. They were tried for high
-treason at Westminster Hall, 26th February, 1562,
-and sentenced to be executed as traitors at Tyburn.
-The sentence was commuted by Queen Elizabeth to
-imprisonment for life in the Tower, and on the walls
-of the Beauchamp Tower, which was their prison,
-their names will be found carved several times. The
-last written was as follows:—“A passage perillous
-makethe a port pleasante, I. H. S., 1568, Arthur
-Pole, aged 37.” The date of his death and that of
-his brother seems not to be known, but both
-were dead in 1578, and buried in the chapel in the
-Tower.</p>
-
-<p><span class="smcap">Daisy.</span>—Take no notice of the matter, unless you are
-directly charged, when you can deny truthfully the
-authorship of such an unmaidenly epistle.</p>
-
-<p><span class="smcap">Alicia.</span>—If the jewellery be good and old, it is better
-to employ a jeweller to clean it.</p>
-
-<p><span class="smcap">Snowstorm.</span>—We think you should go to New Zealand
-to your affianced husband, and keep your promise,
-especially as you leave a sister at home to take
-care of your mother. It would indeed be foolish to
-bring him to England if he be doing well out there,
-and is able to marry and give you a comfortable
-home.</p>
-
-<p><span class="smcap">Sybil.</span>—We think you may need a tonic of some kind.
-A little alum and water is sometimes good for
-moist hands, but it is never safe to check perspirations,
-unless under a doctor’s orders.</p>
-
-<p><span class="smcap">Buttercup.</span>—We know of no situation easier than a
-nurse’s, where there are only one or two children,
-unless, perhaps, you could manage to get one as
-parlour-maid only.</p>
-
-<p>A. S. F. T. F. (New South Wales).—There would be
-no value if the dates of the half-crowns were erased,
-because coins of the House of Brunswick are only
-valuable when in perfect order.</p>
-
-<p><span class="smcap">Mizpah.</span>—The word “Mizpah” means a watch-tower.
-On a ring it would mean, “The Lord watch between
-thee and me, when we are absent from each other,”
-a solemn pledge of faithfulness and truth in a betrothal.
-It was used as a solemn warning to one
-suspected, not trusted, in the original case.</p>
-
-<p>I. H. B.—“Ban” is an Irish prefix, and means
-“white.” We cannot find any other clue to the
-word, and we think you should have written “Wenham,”
-which is the name of a lake near Boston,
-U.S.A., from which the ice derives its name.</p>
-
-<p><span class="smcap">Omega.</span>—The only way to be comfortable is to prevent
-the chilblains from coming at first, by rubbing the
-place you feel affected with a little dry mustard and
-flour very gently, which will generally put the chilblains
-back. When a chilblain has broken, a decoction
-of poppy-heads with hot water may be soothing,
-and bread poultices are used by many people, but we
-are doubtful of their expediency. When the inflammation
-has subsided, a little creosote ointment may
-be used, but when so bad it would be well to consult
-a doctor.</p>
-
-<p>R. A. A.—The editor declines, with thanks.</p>
-
-<p><span class="smcap">Dum Spiro Spero.</span>—The words are French, and are
-used when picking the leaves from a daisy. They
-mean, “He loves me a little, much, passionately, not
-at all.” This is one of the many ancient charms, or
-really auguries, which we have obtained from unknown
-ancestry.</p>
-
-<p>F. A. H. B.—We regret that we can make no use of
-your essay.</p>
-
-<p><span class="smcap">Daddy Longlegs</span> should send her locket to a jeweller’s
-to be cleaned and repolished.</p>
-
-<p><span class="smcap">Lady Godiva.</span>—Probably digestion. Ask your doctor
-about it.</p>
-
-<p><span class="smcap">Esther Black.</span>—The notice of the marriage in the
-different newspapers is a sufficient announcement to
-friends at a distance. Neither cards nor wedding-cake
-are sent now.</p>
-
-<p><span class="smcap">Florence Moore.</span>—Does your sister wish to look like
-a balloon, tied in at the middle with a string? or,
-still worse, does she wish to cut her liver in two?
-Her other plan, “to drink vinegar,” would so thin
-her blood that she would exchange her wholesome
-fat for dropsy, and become blown out like a skin-bag
-used for water in the deserts. For your own infirmity
-you should wear a backboard and faceboard daily
-while at your studies. We have often described and
-prescribed them already.</p>
-
-<p><span class="smcap">Curious.</span>—The origin of the name given by Handel to
-his composition called “The Harmonious Blacksmith”
-was a very natural one. He was on a visit
-to the Duke of Chandos, at Edgware, and, overtaken
-by heavy rain, he took shelter in a smith’s forge.
-The ringing strokes of the hammer, combined with
-the song of the smith, told a story to the lively
-imagination of the composer, and gave birth to the
-piece in question.</p>
-
-<p><span class="smcap">Laura.</span>—It is not very evident as to when the Manx
-House of Keys was first established, but it existed
-in the time of the Dane King, Orry, at the
-beginning of the tenth century. This sovereign
-established an independent throne in Mona. The
-term “Keys” is derived from <i>Kiare es feed</i>, “twenty-four,”
-and applied to that number of men of the
-island who form the Lower House, while the Upper
-House, or Council, is appointed by the crown, and
-consists of the bishop, archdeacon, clerk of the rolls,
-and some civil officials.</p>
-
-<p><span class="smcap">Strawberry Cream.</span>—Have you learnt any branch
-of domestic service? If so, make use of it. Better
-trained servants are much required. You might, at
-least, look for a situation as schoolroom maid, under
-nurse, or mother’s help. These would serve to give
-you practical training.</p>
-
-<p><span class="smcap">Lolly.</span>—It is for ladies to recognise gentlemen, if acquaintances,
-not the reverse. This being the case,
-we do not see what your bowing to your clergyman
-can have to do with “fastness.” Of course, the
-character of the recognition must depend on your
-position in life. Good Friday is a fast, not a feast
-day. That is the reason, as you will perceive.</p>
-
-<p><span class="smcap">Admirer of the G.O.P.</span>—Why should you ask your
-clergyman to give you a severe talking to? If you
-know you deserve it, why not administer it to yourself?
-Tell your mother that you lament your want
-of self-control and respect in giving way to unseemly
-ill-temper, and ask her to help you by a timely check
-and reproof, and by her prayers to rule your spirit.
-“He that ruleth his spirit is greater than he that
-taketh a city.” Leaving off your spectacles will not
-only make your eyes ache, but injure them, by overstraining
-the nerves.</p>
-
-<p><span class="smcap">Enid.</span>—If the ends of your hair split, you should have
-them carefully singed by a hairdresser accustomed
-to do so. You might set all on fire if you attempted
-to do so yourself. Improve your handwriting by
-writing copies daily, and perfect your acquaintance
-with the first three or more rules in arithmetic, and
-then you will be eligible for a situation as shop assistant.</p>
-
-<p><span class="smcap">Gretta’s Sister.</span>—A surgeon should examine your
-sister’s tongue to see whether it be paralysed. If she
-can hear, then no other alphabet is needed for her
-than ours.</p>
-
-<p><span class="smcap">Young Stepmother.</span>—The advice of your governess
-is good. As you have so high an opinion of her discretion,
-as well as amiability and experience, you
-had better give her the due authority to act for you.
-In a month’s time, or during the first quarter, you
-will see with what success it is attended. One thing
-is certain, obedience must be enforced.</p>
-
-<p><span class="smcap">Hope</span> has some poetic feeling, but whether she will
-rise to the level of “poetry” in future we could not
-say, nor could we recommend any magazine or publisher
-likely to take literary and poetical compositions.
-That is a question for the industry and perseverance
-of the writer to solve.</p>
-
-<p><span class="smcap">Dorothy Forster.</span>—The lines you send us are very
-halting, both as to rhyme and reason.</p>
-
-<p><span class="smcap">Cherry Ripe.</span>—The word “fiat” means an order or
-decree. We thank you for your good wishes and
-praise of our paper.</p>
-
-<p>J. F. C.—We have pleasure in giving out readers the
-address of the Santa Claus Society, for providing
-toys and dolls for children in hospitals. To make
-them during leisure hours would be a nice occupation
-for young people. For the benefit of those
-who would like to aid in a truly charitable and
-Christian work, as well as for the sake of the poor
-children, we copy your address, as one of the
-managers of the society—Miss J. F. Charles, Hillside,
-Southwood-lane, Highgate, N.</p>
-
-<p>A. M. C.—There is a home of rest at 9, Albion-place,
-Ramsgate. Apply to Miss Bennett. You may be
-taken in for three weeks, and the lowest terms for
-board, lodging, and attendance are 10s. a week.</p>
-
-<p><span class="smcap">Pomme de Terre.</span>—We have seen the grave of the
-late novelist, Charles Reade, to which you refer,
-and the outside public knows no more than just what
-the inscription states. This is all we can say in
-reply.</p>
-
-<p><span class="smcap">White Heather.</span>—The falling of the hair is often
-due to a condition of the general health and failure
-of nerve power, and the remedies need to be internally
-administered, as well as externally. Go to a
-skin doctor, and obtain his advice.</p>
-
-<p><span class="smcap">Mary Leeming</span> and <span class="smcap">Alice Haughton</span>.—Some collectors
-of insects use the fumes of chloroform or
-brimstone. Where there are many wild flowers you
-will find butterflies.</p>
-
-<p><span class="smcap">Progress.</span>—Yes, women have been returned to Parliament
-in past times. In 1360 writs were issued,
-to four abbesses, requiring their attendance at
-Westminster, and the year following five ladies of
-the nobility were likewise returned (35th Edward III.)—viz.,
-Marie Countesse de Norff, Alianor Countesse
-de Ormand. Agnes Countesse de Pembrook, Philippa
-Countess March, and Catherine Countesse de Atholl.
-Whether they actually took their seats, we do not
-say positively. The only woman ever made a Freemason
-was Miss St. Leger, a daughter of Lord
-Doneraile, about the year 1739.</p>
-
-<p><span class="smcap">Nil Desperandum.</span>—You may say “intreat,” but
-“entreat” is more correct.</p>
-</div>
-
-<div style='display:block; margin-top:4em'>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE GIRL'S OWN PAPER, VOL. VIII, NO. 362, DECEMBER 4, 1886 ***</div>
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