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diff --git a/15373-h/15373-h.htm b/15373-h/15373-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..00412b6 --- /dev/null +++ b/15373-h/15373-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,9809 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> + +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> + <head> +<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1" /> + <title> + The Project Gutenberg eBook of "St. Nicholas, Vol. V., December, + 1877, No. 2", by Mary Mapes Dodge. + </title> + <style type="text/css"> + <!-- /* old browser blockout*/ +/*<![CDATA[ XML blockout */ + +body { margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; max-width: 40em; } + +h1,h2,h3,h4 { text-align: center; } +h3,h4 { font-weight: normal; } +h2 { margin-top: 3em; } + +a:link { text-decoration: none; } +a:visited { text-decoration: none; } +a:active { text-decoration: underline; } +a:link:hover { text-decoration: underline; } + +hr { width: 33%; margin-top: 5em; margin-bottom: 5em; + margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; } +hr.long { width: 100%; margin-top: 2em; margin-bottom: 2em; + margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; } +hr.short { width: 20%; margin-top: 2em; margin-bottom: 4em; + margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; } +hr.tiny { width: 10%; margin-top: 1em; margin-bottom: 1em; + margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; } + +img.border { border: 1px black solid; } +.imgleft { float: left; clear: left; text-align: center; + margin-right: 4px; padding: 3px; } +.imgright { float: right; clear: right; text-align: center; + margin-left: 4px; padding: 3px; } +.imgcenter { text-align: center; + padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 0.5em; + margin-left:auto; margin-right:auto; } + +#toc ul { font-size: 90%; } +#toc li { list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 0.5em; } +#toc ul.sub { font-size: 100%; } +#toc li.sub { margin-bottom: 0.25em; } + +p { margin-top: 1em; margin-bottom: 1em; text-align: justify; + text-indent: 1em; } +p.noindent { text-indent: 0em; } + +#puzzles p { margin-top: 1em; margin-bottom: 1em; text-align: justify; + text-indent: 0em; } + +.poem { text-align: center; } +.poem .stanza { margin-left: 30%; margin-right: auto; + text-align: left; } +.stanza div { line-height: 1.4em; margin-top: 0em; + text-align: left; margin-left: 2em; + text-indent: -2em; } + +.poem .in1 {margin-left: 3em;} +.poem .in2 {margin-left: 4em;} +.poem .in3 {margin-left: 5em;} +.poem .in5 {margin-left: 7em;} +.poem .in6 {margin-left: 8em;} +.poem .in13 {margin-left: 15em;} +.poem .in18 {margin-left: 20em;} +.poem p.right { text-align: right; } +.poem div.quote { text-indent: -2.4em; } + +.fnref { font-size: 60%; } +.fn { border-top: .1em dashed gray; border-bottom: .1em dashed gray; + padding: 1em 1em 1em 4em; font-size: 90%; text-align: justify; + margin-right: 10%; margin-left: 10%; } +.fn span.fnnum { position: absolute; left: 17.5%; text-align: left; } + +.small { font-size: 90%; } +.center { text-align: center; } +.right { text-align: right; } +.caption { font-size: smaller; margin-top: 0; text-indent: 0em; + text-align: center; } + +.vlouter { width: 100%; border-top: 1px black solid; + border-bottom: 1px black solid; padding-top: 0.25em; + padding-bottom: 0.25em; } +.volumeline { width: 100%; border-top: 1px black solid; + border-bottom: 1px black solid; padding-top: 0.25em; + padding-bottom: 0.25em; } +.volumeleft { float:left; width:33%; text-align:left; } +.volumeright { float:right; text-align:right; width:33%; } +.spacer { clear: both; } + +table { text-align: center; width: 100%; } +td.right {text-align:right;} +td.left {text-align:left;} + + /* XML end ]]>*/ + /*old browser end */ --> + </style> + </head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +Project Gutenberg's St. Nicholas, Vol. 5, No. 2, December, 1877, by Various + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere 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 + + +Title: St. Nicholas, Vol. 5, No. 2, December, 1877 + +Author: Various + +Release Date: March 15, 2005 [EBook #15373] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ST. NICHOLAS, VOL. 5, NO. 2, *** + + + + +Produced by Juliet Sutherland, Lynn Bornath and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net. + + + + + + +</pre> + + +<div> + +<a name="image01" id="image01"></a> +<div class="imgcenter"> +<img src="images/image01.jpg" width="339" height="501" +alt="The Holy Family" title="The Holy Family" /> +<p class="caption">THE HOLY FAMILY.</p> +</div> + +<br /> + +<h1>ST. NICHOLAS.</h1> + +<div class="vlouter"> +<div class="volumeline"> +<div class="volumeleft">VOL. V.</div> +<div class="volumeright">No. 2.</div> +<div class="center">DECEMBER, 1877.</div> +<div class="spacer"><!-- empty for spacing purposes --></div> +</div> +</div> +<br /> + +<div class="center"> +<span class="small">[Copyright, 1877, by Scribner & Co.]</span> +</div> + +</div> + +<div id="toc"> +<br /><br /> + +<div>TABLE OF CONTENTS & ILLUSTRATIONS</div> + +<ul> + <li><a href="#image01">THE HOLY FAMILY.</a> <i>(Illustration)</i></li> + <li><a href="#threekings">THE THREE KINGS.</a> By Henry W. Longfellow.</li> + <li><a href="#rowingagainsttide">ROWING AGAINST TIDE.</a> By Theodore Winthrop.</li> + <li><a href="#butts">A CHAPTER OF BUTTS.</a> <i>(Illustration)</i></li> + <li><a href="#lionkiller">THE LION-KILLER.</a> (<i>From the French of Duatyeff</i>.) By Mary Wager Fisher. + <ul class="sub"> + <li class="sub"><i>Illustration:</i> + <ul class="sub"> + <li><a href="#image05">"THE BEAST GAVE A MIGHTY SPRING."</a></li> + </ul> + </li> + </ul> + </li> + <li><a href="#bruno">BRUNO'S REVENGE.</a> By the Author of "Alice in Wonderland." + <ul class="sub"> + <li class="sub"><i>Illustrations:</i> + <ul class="sub"> + <li class="sub"><a href="#image06">MUSIC FOR "TING, TING, TING".</a></li> + <li><a href="#image07">"IT'S THE LOVELIEST THING AS I NEVER SAW IN ALL MY LIFE BEFORE!"</a></li> + </ul> + </li> + </ul> + </li> + <li><a href="#mockingbird">THE MOCKING-BIRD AND THE DONKEY.</a> + (<i>From the Spanish of the Mexican poet José Rosas</i>.) + By William Cullen Bryant.</li> + <li><a href="#horses">THE FAMOUS HORSES OF VENICE.</a> + By Mary Lloyd. + <ul class="sub"> + <li class="sub"><i>Illustration:</i> + <ul class="sub"> + <li><a href="#image08">THE HORSES OF ST. MARK'S.</a></li> + </ul> + </li> + </ul> + </li> + <li><a href="#card">CHRISTMAS CARD.</a> <i>(Illustration)</i></li> + <li><a href="#peterkins">THE PETERKINS' CHARADES.</a> + By Lucretia P. Hale.</li> + <li><a href="#doubleriddle">A DOUBLE RIDDLE.</a> By J.G.H.</li> + <li><a href="#lilacs">UNDER THE LILACS</a> By Louisa M. Alcott. + <ul class="sub"> + <li class="sub"><i>Illustrations:</i> + <ul class="sub"> + <li class="sub"><a href="#image10">"A RAG-BABY HUNG FROM THE RUSTY +KNOCKER."</a></li> + <li class="sub"><a href="#image11">"BAB AND BETTY ON THEIR WAY TO THE TEA-PARTY."</a></li> + <li class="sub"><a href="#image12">GETTING BEN'S SUPPER.</a></li> + <li><a href="#image13">"BEN PRESENTED IT TO HER ON THE BACK OF HIS HAND."</a></li> + </ul> + </li> + </ul> + </li> + <li><a href="#pottery">A CHAT ABOUT POTTERY.</a> + By Edwin C. Taylor. + <ul class="sub"> + <li class="sub"><i>Illustrations:</i> + <ul class="sub"> + <li class="sub"><a href="#image16">TEA-STAND (ROYAL WORCESTER PORCELAIN).</a></li> + <li class="sub"><a href="#image14">LONDON CABMAN (ROYAL WORCESTER PORCELAIN).</a></li> + <li class="sub"><a href="#image15">CHINESE DOG (ROYAL WORCESTER PORCELAIN).</a></li> + <li class="sub"><a href="#image17">DRESDEN CHINA.</a></li> + <li class="sub"><a href="#image19a">MARK OF DRESDEN CHINA.</a></li> + <li class="sub"><a href="#image19b">MARK OF WORCESTER PORCELAIN.</a></li> + <li class="sub"><a href="#image18">TERRA COTTA VASE.</a></li> + <li class="sub"><a href="#image20">JEWELED PORCELAIN.</a></li> + <li class="sub"><a href="#image21">DOULTON WARE.</a></li> + <li class="sub"><a href="#image23">ENGLISH PUG IN PORCELAIN.</a></li> + <li><a href="#image22">MAJOLICA PLATE FROM CASTELLANI COLLECTION.</a></li> + </ul> + </li> + </ul> + </li> + <li><a href="#poemsgirls">POEMS BY TWO LITTLE AMERICAN GIRLS.</a> + Elaine and Dora Read Goodale</li> + <li><a href="#marjoram">SWEET MARJORAM DAY.</a> + (<i>A Fairy Tale</i>.) By Frank R. Stockton. + <ul class="sub"> + <li class="sub"><i>Illustrations:</i> + <ul class="sub"> + <li class="sub"><a href="#image24">THE BABIES IN THE SWEET MARJORAM BEDS.</a></li> + <li class="sub"><a href="#image25">THE REFORMED PIRATE.</a></li> + <li class="sub"><a href="#image26">"THE REFORMED PIRATE IS THE JOLLIEST MAN AFLOAT."</a></li> + <li class="sub"><a href="#image27">"IT SEEMS TO ME THAT IT COULDN'T BE BETTER,' SAID THE CONDENSED PIRATE."</a></li> + <li><a href="#image28">THE CONDENSED PIRATE CLIMBS UP THE OUTSIDE OF THE + STEEPLE.</a></li> + </ul> + </li> + </ul> + </li> + <li><a href="#singasing">"SING-A-SING!"</a> By S.C. Stone. + <ul class="sub"> + <li class="sub"><i>Illustration:</i> + <ul class="sub"> + <li><a href="#image29">SING-A-SING.</a></li> + </ul> + </li> + </ul> + </li> + <li><a href="#noworthen">NOW, OR THEN?</a> By Gail Hamilton.</li> + <li><a href="#jackschristmas">JACK'S CHRISTMAS.</a> + By Emma K. Parrish. + <ul class="sub"> + <li class="sub"><i>Illustration:</i> + <ul class="sub"> + <li><a href="#image30">"'LET ME SEE 'EM,' SAID HIS FATHER."</a></li> + </ul> + </li> + </ul> + </li> + <li><a href="#leftout">LEFT OUT.</a> By A.G.W.</li> + <li><a href="#missalcott">MISS ALCOTT,</a> + The Friend of Little Women and of Little Men. By F.B.S. + <ul class="sub"> + <li class="sub"><i>Illustration:</i> + <ul class="sub"> + <li><a href="#image31">PORTRAIT</a></li> + </ul> + </li> + </ul> + </li> + <li><a href="#boytrains">THE BOY WHO JUMPED ON TRAINS.</a> + By Mary Hartwell. + <ul class="sub"> + <li class="sub"><i>Illustrations:</i> + <ul class="sub"> + <li class="sub"><a href="#image32">"HE WOULD JUMP ON THE CARS TO RIDE."</a></li> + <li class="sub"><a href="#image33">"HIS FATHER'S STERN COMMAND."</a></li> + <li><a href="#image34">"THE FREIGHT-CARS DECKED WITH BOYS DID SLIDE."</a></li> + </ul> + </li> + </ul> + </li> + <li><a href="#towermountain">THE TOWER-MOUNTAIN</a> + By Gustavus Frankenstein. + <ul class="sub"> + <li class="sub"><i>Illustrations:</i> + <ul class="sub"> + <li class="sub"><a href="#image35">THE VIEW FROM THE LEDGE.</a></li> + <li><a href="#image36">"THERE WAS THE PARROT ON THE TABLE."</a></li> + </ul> + </li> + </ul> + </li> + <li><a href="#singingpins">SINGING PINS.</a> + By Harlan H. Ballard. + <ul class="sub"> + <li class="sub"><i>Illustrations:</i> + <ul class="sub"> + <li class="sub"><a href="#image37">TUNING THE PINS.</a></li> + <li><a href="#image38">THE PIN-ORGAN.</a></li> + </ul> + </li> + </ul> + </li> + <li><a href="#porpoises">ABOUT THE PORPOISES.</a> By J.D. + <ul class="sub"> + <li class="sub"><i>Illustration:</i> + <ul class="sub"> + <li><a href="#image39">A SCHOOL OF PORPOISES.</a></li> + </ul> + </li> + </ul> + </li> + <li><a href="#wildwind">THE WILD WIND.</a> + By Clara W. Raymond.</li> + <li><a href="#magician">THE MAGICIAN AND HIS BEE.</a> By P.F. + <ul class="sub"> + <li class="sub"><i>Illustrations:</i> + <ul class="sub"> + <li class="sub"><a href="#image40">"THE MAGICIAN AT THE HEAD."</a></li> + <li class="sub"><a href="#image41">"THE KING CAME, WITH HIS THREE BODY-GUARDS MARCHING IN FRONT."</a></li> + <li class="sub"><a href="#image42">"THE COURT TAILOR RODE ON A GOAT."</a></li> + <li class="sub"><a href="#image43">"THEN CAME THE LADIES OF THE COURT."</a></li> + <li class="sub"><a href="#image44">"THE TOWN BELL-MAN WALKED ALONG IN GRAND STATE."</a></li> + <li class="sub"><a href="#image45">"THERE WAS A LION WHO LIVED AT THE TOWN-HALL."</a></li> + <li class="sub"><a href="#image46">"TWO OF THE LIVELIEST ANIMALS IN THE TOWN."</a></li> + <li class="sub"><a href="#image47">"THERE WERE A LOT OF GRASSHOPPERS AND LITTLE GNATS."</a></li> + <li><a href="#image48">NO SKOOL TODAY.</a></li> + </ul> + </li> + </ul> + </li> + <li><a href="#scrubby">SCRUBBY'S BEAUTIFUL TREE.</a> By J.C. Purdy. + <ul class="sub"> + <li class="sub"><i>Illustrations:</i> + <ul class="sub"> + <li class="sub"><a href="#image49">"OLE KRISS IS COMING WITH HIS REINDEER."</a></li> + <li><a href="#image50">SCRUBBY'S FRIENDS ARRANGING HER CHRISTMAS-TREE.</a></li> + </ul> + </li> + </ul> + </li> + <li><a href="#minstrelscarol">THE MINSTREL'S CAROL.</a> + A Christmas Colloquy. + <ul class="sub"> + <li class="sub"><i>Illustration:</i> + <ul class="sub"> + <li><a href="#image51">MUSIC FOR "WITH WOND'RING AWE."</a></li> + </ul> + </li> + </ul> + </li> + <li><a href="#jackinthepulpit">JACK-IN-THE-PULPIT.</a></li> + <li><a href="#babybo">BABY-BO.</a> + <ul class="sub"> + <li class="sub"><i>Illustration:</i> + <ul class="sub"> + <li><a href="#image53">BABY-BO</a></li> + </ul> + </li> + </ul> + </li> + <li><a href="#arthur">ARTHUR AND HIS PONY.</a> + <ul class="sub"> + <li class="sub"><i>Illustration:</i> + <ul class="sub"> + <li><a href="#image54">ARTHUR ON HIS PONY.</a></li> + </ul> + </li> + </ul> + </li> + <li><a href="#contributors">YOUNG CONTRIBUTORS' DEPARTMENT</a>. + <ul class="sub"> + <li class="sub"><i>Illustrations:</i> + <ul class="sub"> + <li class="sub"><a href="#image55">TWO YOUNG MARTYRS.</a></li> + <li><a href="#image56">"H'M! DOES YOUR MOTHER KNOW YOU'RE OUT?"</a></li> + </ul> + </li> + </ul> + </li> + <li><a href="#letterbox">THE LETTER BOX.</a></li> + <li><a href="#notices">NOTICES OF NEW BOOKS.</a></li> + <li><a href="#riddlebox">THE RIDDLE-BOX.</a></li> + <li><a href="#answers">ANSWERS TO PUZZLES IN NOVEMBER NUMBER.</a></li> +</ul> + +</div> + +<div id="all"> +<hr /> +<h2><a name="threekings" id="threekings">THE THREE KINGS.</a></h2> + +<hr class="tiny" /> +<div class="center">BY HENRY W. LONGFELLOW.</div> +<hr class="tiny" /> + +<br /> + +<div class="poem"> +<div class="stanza"> + <div>Three Kings came riding from far away,</div> + <div class="in1">Melchior and Gaspar and Baltazar;</div> + <div>Three Wise Men out of the East were they,</div> + <div>And they traveled by night and they slept by day,</div> + <div class="in1">For their guide was a beautiful, wonderful star.</div> +</div> +<br /> +<div class="stanza"> + <div>The star was so beautiful, large and clear,</div> + <div class="in1">That all the other stars of the sky</div> + <div>Became a white mist in the atmosphere,</div> + <div>And the Wise Men knew that the coming was near</div> + <div class="in1">Of the Prince foretold in the prophecy.</div> +</div> +<br /> +<div class="stanza"> + <div>Three caskets they bore on their saddle-bows,</div> + <div class="in1">Three caskets of gold with golden keys;</div> + <div>Their robes were of crimson silk, with rows</div> + <div>Of bells and pomegranates and furbelows,</div> + <div class="in1">Their turbans like blossoming almond-trees.</div> +</div> +<br /> +<div class="stanza"> + <div>And so the Three Kings rode into the West,</div> + <div class="in1">Through the dusk of night over hills and dells,</div> + <div>And sometimes they nodded with beard on breast,</div> + <div>And sometimes talked, as they paused to rest,</div> + <div class="in1">With the people they met at the way-side wells.</div> +</div> +<br /> +<div class="stanza"> + <div>"Of the child that is born," said Baltazar,</div> + <div class="in1">"Good people, I pray you, tell us the news,</div> + <div>For we in the East have seen his star,</div> + <div>And have ridden fast, and have ridden far,</div> + <div class="in1">To find and worship the King of the Jews."</div> +</div> +<br /> +<div class="stanza"> + <div>And the people answered: "You ask in vain;</div> + <div class="in1">We know of no king but Herod the Great!"</div> + <div>They thought the Wise Men were men insane,</div> + <div>As they spurred their horses across the plain</div> + <div class="in1">Like riders in haste who cannot wait.</div> +</div> +<br /> +<div class="stanza"> + <div>And when they came to Jerusalem,</div> + <div class="in1">Herod the Great, who had heard this thing,</div> + <div>Sent for the Wise Men and questioned them;</div> + <div>And said: "Go down into Bethlehem,</div> + <div class="in1">And bring me tidings of this new king."</div> +</div> +<br /> +<div class="stanza"> + <div>So they rode away; and the star stood still,</div> + <div class="in1">The only one in the gray of morn;</div> + <div>Yes, it stopped, it stood still of its own free will,</div> + <div>Right over Bethlehem on the hill,</div> + <div class="in1">The city of David where Christ was born.</div> +</div> +<br /> +<div class="stanza"> + <div>And the Three Kings rode through the gate and the guard,</div> + <div class="in1">Through the silent street, till their horses turned</div> + <div>And neighed as they entered the great inn-yard;</div> + <div>But the windows were closed, and the doors were barred,</div> + <div class="in1">And only a light in the stable burned.</div> +</div> +<br /> +<div class="stanza"> + <div>And cradled there in the scented hay,</div> + <div class="in1">In the air made sweet by the breath of kine,</div> + <div>The little child in the manger lay,—</div> + <div>The child that would be king one day</div> + <div class="in1">Of a kingdom not human but divine.</div> +</div> +<br /> +<div class="stanza"> + <div>His mother, Mary of Nazareth,</div> + <div class="in1">Sat watching beside his place of rest,</div> + <div>Watching the even flow of his breath,</div> + <div>For the joy of life and the terror of death</div> + <div class="in1">Were mingled together in her breast.</div> +</div> +<br /> +<div class="stanza"> + <div>They laid their offerings at his feet;</div> + <div class="in1">The gold was their tribute to a king;</div> + <div>The frankincense, with its odor sweet,</div> + <div>Was for the priest, the Paraclete,</div> + <div class="in1">The myrrh for the body's burying.</div> +</div> +<br /> +<div class="stanza"> + <div>And the mother wondered and bowed her head,</div> + <div class="in1">And sat as still as a statue of stone;</div> + <div>Her heart was troubled, yet comforted,</div> + <div>Remembering what the angel had said</div> + <div class="in1">Of an endless reign and of David's throne.</div> +</div> +<br /> +<div class="stanza"> + <div>Then the Kings rode out of the city gate,</div> + <div class="in1">With the clatter of hoofs in proud array;</div> + <div>But they went not back to Herod the Great,</div> + <div>For they knew his malice and feared his hate,</div> + <div class="in1">And returned to their homes by another way.</div> +</div> +</div> + +<hr /> + +<div class="center"> +<img src="images/image02.png" width="399" height="94" alt="" /> +</div> + +<h2 style="margin-top:2em;"><a name="rowingagainsttide" +id="rowingagainsttide">ROWING AGAINST TIDE.</a></h2> + +<hr class="tiny" /> +<div class="center">BY THEODORE WINTHROP.</div> +<hr class="tiny" /> + +<br /> + +<div class="small"> +<p>[The following hitherto-unprinted fragment by Theodore Winthrop, +author of "John Brent," "The Canoe and the Saddle," "Life in the Open +Air," and other works, was intended by him for the first chapter of a +story called "Steers Flotsam," but it has an interest of its own, and +is a complete narrative in itself.</p> + +<p>Perhaps there are many of our young readers who do not know the +history of that brave young officer who, one of the very first to fall +in the late war, was killed at Great Bethel, Virginia, June 10, 1861. +He was born at New Haven, Connecticut, in September, 1828. He was a +studious and quiet boy, and not very robust. From early youth he had +determined to become an author worthy of fame, but he tore himself +away from his beloved work at the call of his country just as he was +about to win that fame, leaving behind him a number of finished and +unfinished writings, most of which were afterward published.</p> + +<p>He could handle oars as well as write of them, could skate like his +hero in "Love and Skates," and was good at all manly sports. He +traveled much, visited Europe twice, lived two years at the Isthmus of +Panama, and returning from there across the plains (an adventurous trip +at that time), learned in those far western wilds to manage and +understand the half-tamed horses and untamed savages about whom he +writes so well. This varied experience gave a freedom and power to his +pen that the readers of the <span class="small">ST. NICHOLAS</span> +are not too young to perceive and appreciate.]</p> +</div> + +<p>Almost sunset. I pulled my boat's head round, and made for home.</p> + +<p>I had been floating with the tide, drifting athwart the long shadows +under the western bank, shooting across the whirls and eddies of the +rapid strait, grappling to one and another of the good-natured sloops +and schooners that swept along the highway to the great city, near at +hand.</p> + +<p>For an hour I had sailed over the fleet, smooth glimmering water, +free and careless as a sea-gull. Now I must 'bout ship and tussle with +the whole force of the tide at the jaws of Hellgate. I did not know +that not for that day only, but for life, my floating gayly with the +stream was done.</p> + +<p>I pulled in under the eastern shore, and began to give way with all +my boyish force.</p> + +<p>I was a little fellow, only ten years old, but my pretty white skiff +was little, in proportion, and so were my sculls, and we were all used +to work together.</p> + +<p>As I faced about, a carriage came driving furiously along the turn +of the shore. The road followed the water's edge. I was pulling close +to the rocks to profit by every eddy. The carriage whirled by so near +me that I could recognize one of the two persons within. No mistaking +that pale, keen face. He evidently saw and recognized me also. He +looked out at the window and signaled the coachman to stop. But before +the horses could be pulled into a trot he gave a sign to go on again. +The carriage disappeared at a turn of the shore.</p> + +<p>This encounter strangely dispirited me. My joy in battling with the +tide, in winning upward, foot by foot, boat's length after boat's +length, gave place to a forlorn doubt whether I could hold my +own—whether I should not presently be swept away.</p> + +<p>The tide seemed to run more sternly than I had ever known it. It +made a plaything of my little vessel, slapping it about most +uncivilly. The black rocks, covered with clammy, unwholesome-looking +sea-weed, seemed like the mile-stones of a nightmare, steadily to move +with me. The water, bronzed by the low sun, poured mightily along, and +there hung my boat, glued to its white reflection.</p> + +<p>As I struggled there, the great sloops and schooners rustling by +with the ebb, and eclipsing an instant the June sunset, gave me a +miserable impression of careless unfriendliness. I had made friends +with them all my life, and this evening, while I was drifting +down-stream, they had been willing enough to give me a tow, and to +send bluff, good-humored replies to my boyish hails. Now they rushed +on, each chasing the golden wake of its forerunner, and took no +thought of me, straining at my oar, apart. I grew dispirited, quite to +the point of a childish despair.</p> + +<p>Of course it was easy enough to land, leave my boat, and trudge +home, but that was a confession of defeat not to be thought of. Two +things only my father required of me—manliness and truth. My +pretty little skiff—the "Aladdin," I called it—he had +given to me as a test of my manhood. I should be ashamed of myself to +go home and tell him that I had abdicated my royal prerogative of +taking care of myself, and pulling where I would in a boat with a +keel. I must take the "Aladdin" home, or be degraded to my old punt, +and confined to still water.</p> + +<p>The alternative brought back strength to my arms. I threw off the +ominous influence. I leaned to my sculls. The clammy black rocks began +deliberately to march by me down-stream. I was making headway, and the +more way I made, the more my courage grew.</p> + +<p>Presently, as I battled round a point, I heard a rustle and a rush +of something coming, and the bowsprit of a large sloop glided into view +close by me. She was painted in stripes of all colors above her green +bottom. The shimmer of the water shook the reflection of her hull, and +made the edges of the stripes blend together. It was as if a rainbow +had suddenly flung itself down for me to sail over.</p> + +<p>I looked up and read the name on her headboards, "James Silt."</p> + +<p>At the same moment a child's voice over my head cried, "Oh, brother +Charles! what a little boy! what a pretty boat!"</p> + +<p>The gliding sloop brought the speaker into view. She was a girl both +little and pretty. A rosy, blue-eyed, golden-haired sprite, hanging +over the gunwale, and smiling pleasantly at me.</p> + +<p>"Yes, Betty," the voice of a cheerful, honest-looking young fellow +at the tiller—evidently brother Charles—replied. "He's a +little chap, but he's got a man into him. Hurrah!"</p> + +<p>"Give way, 'Aladdin!' Stick to it! You're sure to get there."</p> + +<p>The sloop had slid along by me now, so that I could read her name +repeated on her stern—"James Silt, New Haven."</p> + +<p>"Good-bye, little boy!" cried my cherubic vision to me, flitting +aft, and leaning over the port davit.</p> + +<p>"Good-bye, sissy!" I returned, and raising my voice, I hailed, +"Good-bye, Cap'n Silt!"</p> + +<p>Brother Charles looked puzzled an instant. Then he gave a laugh, and +shouted across the broadening interval of burnished water, "You got my +name off the stern. Well, it's right, and you're a bright one. You'll +make a sailor! Good luck to you!"</p> + +<p>He waved his cap, and the strong tide swept his craft onward, +dragging her rainbow image with her.</p> + +<p>As far as I could see, the fair-haired child was leaning over the +stern watching me, and brother Charles, at intervals, turned and waved +his cap encouragingly.</p> + +<p>This little incident quite made a man of me again. I forgot the hard +face I had seen, and brother Charles's frank, merry face took its +place, while, leaning over brother Charles's shoulder, was that angelic +vision of his sister.</p> + +<p>Under the inspiring influence of Miss Betty's smiles—a boy is +never so young as not to conduct such electricity—I pulled along +at double speed. I no longer measured my progress by the rocks in the +mud, but by the cottages and villas on the bank. Now that I had found +friends on board one of the vessels arrowing by, it seemed as if all +would prove freighted with sympathizing people if they would only come +near enough to hail. But I was content with the two pleasant faces +stamped on my memory, and only minded my business of getting home +before dark.</p> + +<p>The setting sun drew itself a crimson path across the widening +strait. The smooth water grew all deliciously rosy with twilight. The +moon had just begun to put in a faint claim to be recognized as a +luminary, when I pulled up to my father's private jetty.</p> + +<p>Everything looked singularly sweet and quiet. June never, in all her +dreams of perfection, could have devised a fairer evening. I was a +little disappointed to miss my father from his usual station on the +wharf. He loved to be there to welcome me returning from my little +voyages, and to hail me gently: "Now then, Harry, a strong pull, and +let me see how far you can send her! Bravo, my boy! We'll soon make a +man of you. You shall not be a weakling all your life as your father +has been, mind and body, for want of good strong machinery to work +with."</p> + +<p>He was absent that evening. I hurried to bestow my boat neatly in +the boat-house. I locked the door, pocketed the key, and ran up the +lawn, thinking how pleased my father would be to hear of my adventure +with the sloop and its crew, and how he would make me sketch the sloop +for him, which I could do very fairly, and how he would laugh at my +vain attempts to convey to him the cheeks and the curls of Miss Betty.</p> + +<hr /> + +<h2><a name="butts" id="butts">A CHAPTER OF BUTTS.</a></h2> + +<hr class="tiny" /> +<br /> + +<div class="center"> +<table summary=""> +<tr> + <td><img class="border" src="images/image03a.png" width="232" + height="200" alt="" /> + <p class="caption">"I'LL BUTT IT," SAID THE GOAT.</p></td> + <td><img class="border" src="images/image03b.png" width="260" + height="200" alt="" /> + <p class="caption">"WHAT! IT BUTTS AGAIN."</p></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td colspan="2"><img class="border" src="images/image03c.png" + width="327" height="200" alt="" /> + <p class="caption">"I'LL GIVE IT A GOOD ONE, THIS TIME."</p></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td><img class="border" src="images/image03d.png" width="224" + height="200" alt="" /> + <p class="caption">"PERHAPS I'D BETTER GET OUT OF ITS WAY."</p></td> + <td><img class="border" src="images/image03e.png" width="236" + height="200" alt="" /> + <p class="caption">BUT HE DIDN'T.</p></td> +</tr> +</table> +</div> + +<hr /> + +<h2><a name="lionkiller" id="lionkiller">THE LION-KILLER.</a></h2> + +<div class="center">(<i>From the French of Duatyeff</i>.)</div> + +<br /> + +<hr class="tiny" /> + +<div class="center">BY MARY WAGER FISHER.</div> + +<hr class="tiny" /> + +<div style="float:left;margin-top:-2.5em;"> +<img src="images/image04.png" width="100" height="300" alt="" /> +</div> + +<p class="noindent">eople in Tunis, Africa,—at least, some of +the older people,—often talk of the wonderful exploits of a +lion-killer who was famous there forty years ago. The story is this, +and is said to be entirely true:</p> + +<p>The lion-killer was called "The Sicilian," because his native +country was Sicily; and he was known as "The Christian" among the +people in Tunis, who were mostly Arabs, and, consequently, +Mohammedans. He was also called "Hercules," because of his +strength,—that being the name of a strong demi-god of the +ancient Greeks. He was not built like Hercules, however; he was tall, +but beautifully proportioned, and there was nothing in his form that +betrayed his powerful muscles. He performed prodigies of strength with +so much gracefulness and ease as to astonish all who saw them.</p> + +<p>He was a member of a traveling show company that visited +Tunis,—very much as menagerie and circus troupes go about this +country now from town to town. His part of the business was, not +simply to do things that would display his great strength, but also to +represent scenes by pantomime so that they would appear to the +audience exactly as if the real scenes were being performed before +their very eyes. In one of these scenes he showed the people how he +had encountered and killed a lion with a wooden club in the country of +Damascus. This is the manner in which he did it:</p> + +<p>After a flourish of trumpets, the Sicilian came upon the stage, +which was arranged to represent a circle, or arena, and had three +palm-trees in the middle. He was handsomely dressed in a costume of +black velvet, trimmed with silver braid, and, as he looked around upon +the audience with a grave but gentle expression, and went through with +the Arabian salutation, which was to bear his right hand to his heart, +mouth and forehead successively, there was perfect silence, so charmed +were the people with his beauty and dignity.</p> + +<p>Then an interpreter cried:</p> + +<p>"The Christian will show you how, with his club, he killed a lion in +the country of Damascus!"</p> + +<p>Immediately following this came another flourish of trumpets and a +striking of cymbals, as if to announce the entrance of the lion. +Quickly the Sicilian sprang behind one of the three palms, whence to +watch his enemy. With an attentive and resolute eye, leaning his body +first to the right, and then to the left, of the tree, he kept his gaze +on the terrible beast, following all its movements with the graceful +motions of his own body, so naturally and suitably as to captivate the +attention of the spectators.</p> + +<p>"The lion surely is there!" they whispered. "<i>We</i> do not see +him, but <i>he</i> sees him! How he watches his least motion! How +resolute he is! He will not allow himself to be +surprised——"</p> + +<p>Suddenly the Sicilian leaps; with a bound he has crossed from one +palm-tree to another, and, with a second spring, has climbed half-way +up the tree, still holding his massive club in one hand. One +understands by his movements that the lion has followed him, and, +crouched and angry, stops at the foot of the tree. The Sicilian, +leaning over, notes the slightest change of posture; then, like a flash +of light, he leaps to the ground behind the trunk of the tree; the +terrible club makes a whistling sound as it swings through the air, and +the lion falls to the ground.</p> + +<p>The scene was so well played that the wildest applause came from all +parts of the audience.</p> + +<p>Then the interpreter came in, and, throwing at the feet of the +Hercules a magnificent lion's skin, cried:</p> + +<p>"Behold the skin of the lion that the Christian killed in the +country of Damascus."</p> + +<p>The fame of the Sicilian reached the ears of the Bey of Tunis. But +the royal dignity of the Bey, the reigning prince of that country, +would not allow him to be present at exhibitions given to the common +people. Finally, however, having heard so much about the handsome and +strong Sicilian, he became curious to see him, and said:</p> + +<p>"If this Christian has killed one lion with a club, he can kill +another. Tell him that if he will knock down my grand lion with it, I +will give him a thousand ducats"—quite a large sum in those +days, a ducat being about equal to the American dollar.</p> + +<p>At this time the Bey had several young lions that ran freely about +in the court-yard or garden of his palace, and in a great pit, entirely +surrounded by a high terrace, on a level with the ground-floor of the +palace, a superb Atlas lion was kept in royal captivity. It was this +lion that the Bey wished the Sicilian to combat. The proposition was +sent to the Sicilian, who accepted it without hesitation, and without +boasting what he would do.</p> + +<p>The combat was to take place a week from that time, and the +announcement that the handsome Sicilian was to fight a duel with the +grand lion was spread far and wide, even to the borders of the desert, +producing a profound sensation. Everybody, old and young, great and +small, desired to be present; moreover, the people would be freely +admitted to the garden of the Bey, where they could witness the combat +from the top of the terrace. The duel was to be early in the morning, +before the heat of the day.</p> + +<p>During the week that intervened, the Sicilian performed every day in +the show, instead of two days a week, as had been his custom. Never was +he more calm, graceful and fascinating in his performances. The evening +before the eventful day, he repeated in pantomime his victory over the +lion near Damascus, with so much elegance, precision and suppleness as +to elicit round after round of enthusiastic cheers. Of course everybody +who had seen him <i>play</i> killing a lion was wild with curiosity to +see him actually fight with a <i>real</i> lion.</p> + +<p>So, on the following morning, in the early dawn, the terrace around +the lion's pit was crowded with people. For three days the grand lion +had been deprived of food in order that he might be the more ferocious +and terrible. His eyes shone like two balls of fire, and he incessantly +lashed his flanks with his tail. At one moment he would madly roar, +and, in the next, rub himself against the wall, vainly trying to find a +chink between the stones in which to insert his claws.</p> + +<p>Precisely at the appointed hour, the princely Bey and his court took +the places that had been reserved for them on one side of the terrace. +The Sicilian came a few steps behind, dressed in his costume of velvet +and silver, and holding his club in his hand. With his accustomed easy +and regular step, and a naturally elegant and dignified bearing, he +advanced in front of the royal party and made a low obeisance to the +Bey. The prince made some remark to him, to which he responded with a +fresh salute; then he withdrew, and descended the steps which led to +the lion's pit.</p> + +<p>The crowd was silent. At the end of some seconds, the barred gate of +the pit was opened, and gave entrance, not to the brave and powerful +Hercules, but to a poor dog that was thrown toward the ferocious beast +with the intention of still more exciting its ravenous appetite. This +unexpected act of cruelty drew hisses from the spectators, but they +were soon absorbed in watching the behavior of the dog. When the lion +saw the prey that had been thrown to him, he stood motionless for a +moment, ceased to beat his flanks with his tail, growled deeply, and +crouched on the ground, with his paws extended, his neck stretched out, +and his eyes fixed upon the victim.</p> + +<p>The dog, on being thrown into the pit, ran at once toward a corner +of the wall, as far as possible from the lion, and, trembling, yet not +overcome by fear, fixed his eyes on the huge beast, watching anxiously, +but intently, his every motion.</p> + +<p>With apparent unconcern, the lion creepingly advanced toward the +dog, and then, with a sudden movement, he was upon his feet, and in a +second launched himself into the air! But the dog that same instant +bounded in an opposite direction, so that the lion fell in the corner, +while the dog alighted where the lion had been.</p> + +<p>For a moment the lion seemed very much surprised at the loss of his +prey; with the dog, the instinct of self-preservation developed a +coolness that even overcame his terror. The body of the poor animal was +all in a shiver, but his head was firm, his eyes were watchful. Without +losing sight of his enemy, he slowly retreated into the corner behind +him.</p> + +<p>Then the lion, scanning his victim from the corners of his eyes, +walked sidewise a few steps, and, turning suddenly, tried again to +pounce with one bound upon the dog; but the latter seemed to +anticipate this movement also, and, in the same second, jumped in the +opposite direction, as before, crossing the lion in the air.</p> + +<p>At this the lion became furious, and lost the calmness that might +have insured him victory, while the courage of the unfortunate dog won +for him the sympathy of all the spectators.</p> + +<p>As the lion, excited and terrible, was preparing a new plan of +attack, a rope ending in a loop was lowered to the dog. The brave +little animal, whose imploring looks had been pitiful to look upon, +saw the help sent to him, and, fastening his teeth and claws into the +rope, was immediately drawn up. The lion, perceiving this, made a +prodigious leap, but the dog was happily beyond his reach. The poor +creature, drawn in safety to the terrace, at once took flight, and was +soon lost to view.</p> + +<p>At the moment when the lion threw himself on the ground of the pit, +roaring with rage at the escape of his prey, the Sicilian entered, calm +and firm, superb in his brilliant costume, and with his club in his +hand.</p> + +<p>At his appearance in the pit, a silence like death came over the +crowd of spectators. The Hercules walked rapidly toward a corner, and, +leaning upon his club, awaited the onslaught of the lion, who, blinded +by fury, had not yet perceived his entrance.</p> + +<p>The waiting was of short duration, for the lion, in turning, espied +him, and the fire that flashed from the eyes of the terrible beast told +of savage joy in finding another victim.</p> + +<p>Here, however, the animal showed for a moment a feeling of anxiety; +slowly, as if conscious that he was in the presence of a powerful +adversary, he retreated some steps, keeping his fiery eyes all the time +on the man. The Sicilian also kept his keen gaze on the lion, and, with +his body slightly inclined forward, marked every alteration of +position. Between the two adversaries, it was easy to see that fear was +on the side of the beast; but, in comparing the feeble means of the +man—a rude club—with the powerful structure of the lion, +whose boundings made the very ground beneath him tremble, it was hard +for the spectators to believe that courage, and not strength, would +win the victory.</p> + +<p>The lion was too excited and famished to remain long undecided. +After more backward steps, which he made as if gaining time for +reflection, he suddenly advanced in a sidelong direction in order to +charge upon his adversary.</p> + +<a name="image05" id="image05"></a> +<div class="imgcenter"> +<img src="images/image05.png" width="320" height="350" +alt="The beast gave a mighty spring" +title="The beast game a mighty spring" /> +<p class="caption">"THE BEAST GAVE A MIGHTY SPRING."</p> +</div> + +<p>The Sicilian did not move, but followed with his fixed gaze the +motions of the lion. Greatly irritated, the beast gave a mighty spring, +uttering a terrible roar; the man, at the same moment, leaped aside, +and the lion had barely touched the ground, when the club came down +upon his head with a dull, shocking thud. The king of the desert rolled +heavily under the stroke, and fell headlong, stunned and senseless, but +not dead.</p> + +<p>The spectators, overcome with admiration, and awed at the +exhibition of so much calmness, address and strength, were hushed into +profound silence. The next moment, the Bey arose, and, with a gesture +of his hand, asked mercy for his favorite lion.</p> + +<p>"A thousand ducats the more if you will not kill him!" he cried to +the Sicilian. "Agreed!" was the instant reply.</p> + +<p>The lion lay panting on the ground. The Hercules bowed at the word +of the Bey, and slowly withdrew, still keeping his eyes on the +conquered brute. The two thousand ducats were counted out and paid. +The lion shortly recovered.</p> + +<p>With a universal gasp of relief, followed by deafening shouts and +cheers, the spectators withdrew from the terrace, having witnessed a +scene they could never forget, and which, as I said at the beginning, +is still talked of in Tunis.</p> + +<hr /> + +<h2><a name="bruno" id="bruno">BRUNO'S REVENGE.</a></h2> + +<hr class="tiny" /> +<div class="center">BY THE AUTHOR OF "ALICE IN WONDERLAND."</div> +<hr class="tiny" /> + +<p>It was a very hot afternoon,—too hot to go for a walk or do +anything,—or else it wouldn't have happened, I believe.</p> + +<p>In the first place, I want to know why fairies should always be +teaching <i>us</i> to do our duty, and lecturing <i>us</i> when we go +wrong, and we should never teach <i>them</i> anything? You can't mean +to say that fairies are never greedy, or selfish, or cross, or +deceitful, because that would be nonsense, you know. Well, then, don't +you agree with me that they might be all the better for a little +scolding and punishing now and then?</p> + +<p>I really don't see why it shouldn't be tried, and I'm almost sure +(only <i>please</i> don't repeat this loud in the woods) that if you +could only catch a fairy, and put it in the corner, and give it +nothing but bread and water for a day or two, you'd find it quite an +improved character; it would take down its conceit a little, at all +events.</p> + +<p>The next question is, what is the best time for seeing fairies? I +believe I can tell you all about that.</p> + +<p>The first rule is, that it must be a <i>very</i> hot day—that +we may consider as settled; and you must be just a <i>little</i> +sleepy—but not too sleepy to keep your eyes open, mind. Well, +and you ought to feel a little—what one may call +"fairyish"—the Scotch call it "eerie," and perhaps that's a +prettier word; if you don't know what it means, I'm afraid I can +hardly explain it; you must wait till you meet a fairy, and then +you'll know.</p> + +<p>And the last rule is, that the crickets shouldn't be chirping. I +can't stop to explain that rule just now—you must take it on +trust for the present.</p> + +<p>So, if all these things happen together, you've a good chance of +seeing a fairy—or at least a much better chance than if they +didn't.</p> + +<p>The one I'm going to tell you about was a real, naughty little +fairy. Properly speaking, there were two of them, and one was naughty +and one was good, but perhaps you would have found that out for +yourself.</p> + +<p>Now we really <i>are</i> going to begin the story.</p> + +<p>It was Tuesday afternoon, about half-past three,—it's always +best to be particular as to dates,—and I had wandered down into +the wood by the lake, partly because I had nothing to do, and that +seemed to be a good place to do it in, and partly (as I said at first) +because it was too hot to be comfortable anywhere, except under trees.</p> + +<p>The first thing I noticed, as I went lazily along through an open +place in the wood, was a large beetle lying struggling on its back, +and I went down directly on one knee to help the poor thing on its feet +again. In some things, you know, you can't be quite sure what an insect +would like; for instance, I never could quite settle, supposing I were +a moth, whether I would rather be kept out of the candle, or be allowed +to fly straight in and get burnt; or, again, supposing I were a spider, +I'm not sure if I should be <i>quite</i> pleased to have my web torn +down, and the fly let loose; but I feel quite certain that, if I were a +beetle and had rolled over on my back, I should always be glad to be +helped up again.</p> + +<p>So, as I was saying, I had gone down on one knee, and was just +reaching out a little stick to turn the beetle over, when I saw a +sight that made me draw back hastily and hold my breath, for fear of +making any noise and frightening the little creature away.</p> + +<p>Not that she looked as if she would be easily frightened; she +seemed so good and gentle that I'm sure she would never expect that +any one could wish to hurt her. She was only a few inches high, and +was dressed in green, so that you really would hardly have noticed her +among the long grass; and she was so delicate and graceful that she +quite seemed to belong to the place, almost as if she were one of the +flowers. I may tell you, besides, that she had no wings (I don't +believe in fairies with wings), and that she had quantities of long +brown hair and large, earnest brown eyes, and then I shall have done +all I can to give you an idea of what she was like.</p> + +<p>Sylvie (I found out her name afterward) had knelt down, just as I +was doing, to help the beetle; but it needed more than a little stick +for <i>her</i> to get it on its legs again; it was as much as she +could do, with both arms, to roll the heavy thing over; and all the +while she was talking to it, half-scolding and half-comforting, as a +nurse might do with a child that had fallen down.</p> + +<p>"There, there! You needn't cry so much about it; you're not killed +yet—though if you were, you couldn't cry, you know, and so it's a +general rule against crying, my dear! And how did you come to tumble +over? But I can see well enough how it was,—I needn't ask you +that,—walking over sand-pits with your chin in the air, as +usual. Of course if you go among sand-pits like that, you must expect +to tumble; you should look."</p> + +<p>The beetle murmured something that sounded like "I <i>did</i> +look," and Sylvie went on again:</p> + +<p>"But I know you didn't! You never do! You always walk with your chin +up—you're so dreadfully conceited. Well, let's see how many legs +are broken this time. Why, none of them, I declare! though that's +certainly more than you deserve. And what's the good of having six +legs, my dear, if you can only kick them all about in the air when you +tumble? Legs are meant to walk with, you know. Now, don't be cross +about it, and don't begin putting out your wings yet; I've some more +to say. Go down to the frog that lives behind that +buttercup—give him my compliments—Sylvie's +compliments—can you say 'compliments?'"</p> + +<p>The beetle tried, and, I suppose, succeeded.</p> + +<p>"Yes, that's right. And tell him he's to give you some of that +salve I left with him yesterday. And you'd better get him to rub it in +for you; he's got rather cold hands, but you mustn't mind that."</p> + +<p>I think the beetle must have shuddered at this idea, for Sylvie +went on in a graver tone:</p> + +<p>"Now, you needn't pretend to be so particular as all that, as if you +were too grand to be rubbed by a frog. The fact is, you ought to be +very much obliged to him. Suppose you could get nobody but a toad to do +it, how would you like that?"</p> + +<p>There was a little pause, and then Sylvie added:</p> + +<p>"Now you may go. Be a good beetle, and don't keep your chin in the +air."</p> + +<p>And then began one of those performances of humming, and whizzing, +and restless banging about, such as a beetle indulges in when it has +decided on flying, but hasn't quite made up its mind which way to go. +At last, in one of its awkward zigzags, it managed to fly right into my +face, and by the time I had recovered from the shock, the little fairy +was gone.</p> + +<p>I looked about in all directions for the little creature, but there +was no trace of her—and my "eerie" feeling was quite gone off, +and the crickets were chirping again merrily, so I knew she was really +gone.</p> + +<p>And now I've got time to tell you the rule about the crickets. They +always leave off chirping when a fairy goes by, because a fairy's a +kind of queen over them, I suppose; at all events, it's a much grander +thing than a cricket; so whenever you're walking out, and the crickets +suddenly leave off chirping, you may be sure that either they see a +fairy, or else they're frightened at your coming so near.</p> + +<p>I walked on sadly enough, you may be sure. However, I comforted +myself with thinking, "It's been a very wonderful afternoon, so far; +I'll just go quietly on and look about me, and I shouldn't wonder if I +come across another fairy somewhere."</p> + +<p>Peering about in this way, I happened to notice a plant with rounded +leaves, and with queer little holes cut out in the middle of several of +them. "Ah! the leaf-cutter bee," I carelessly remarked; you know I am +very learned in natural history (for instance, I can always tell +kittens from chickens at one glance); and I was passing on, when a +sudden thought made me stoop down and examine the leaves more +carefully.</p> + +<p>Then a little thrill of delight ran through me, for I noticed that +the holes were all arranged so as to form letters; there were three +leaves side by side, with "B," "R" and "U" marked on them, and after +some search I found two more, which contained an "N" and an "O."</p> + +<p>By this time the "eerie" feeling had all come back again, and I +suddenly observed that no crickets were chirping; so I felt quite sure +that "Bruno" was a fairy, and that he was somewhere very near.</p> + +<p>And so indeed he was—so near that I had very nearly walked +over him without seeing him; which would have been dreadful, always +supposing that fairies <i>can</i> be walked over; my own belief is +that they are something of the nature of will-o'-the-wisps, and +there's no walking over <i>them</i>.</p> + +<p>Think of any pretty little boy you know, rather fat, with rosy +cheeks, large dark eyes, and tangled brown hair, and then fancy him +made small enough to go comfortably into a coffee-cup, and you'll have +a very fair idea of what the little creature was like.</p> + +<p>"What's your name, little fellow?" I began, in as soft a voice as I +could manage. And, by the way, that's another of the curious things in +life that I never could quite understand—why we always begin by +asking little children their names; is it because we fancy there isn't +quite enough of them, and a name will help to make them a little +bigger? You never thought of asking a real large man his name, now, +did you? But, however that may be, I felt it quite necessary to know +<i>his</i> name; so, as he didn't answer my question, I asked it again +a little louder. "What's your name, my little man?"</p> + +<p>"What's yours?" he said, without looking up.</p> + +<p>"My name's Lewis Carroll," I said, quite gently, for he was much too +small to be angry with for answering so uncivilly.</p> + +<p>"Duke of Anything?" he asked, just looking at me for a moment, and +then going on with his work.</p> + +<p>"Not Duke at all," I said, a little ashamed of having to confess it.</p> + +<p>"You're big enough to be two Dukes," said the little creature. "I +suppose you're Sir Something, then?"</p> + +<p>"No," I said, feeling more and more ashamed. "I haven't got any +title."</p> + +<p>The fairy seemed to think that in that case I really wasn't worth +the trouble of talking to, for he quietly went on digging, and tearing +the flowers to pieces as fast as he got them out of the ground. After +a few minutes I tried again:</p> + +<p>"<i>Please</i> tell me what your name is."</p> + +<p>"Bruno," the little fellow answered, very readily. "Why didn't you +say 'please' before?"</p> + +<p>"That's something like what we used to be taught in the nursery," I +thought to myself, looking back through the long years (about a hundred +and fifty of them) to the time when I used to be a little child myself. +And here an idea came into my head, and I asked him, "Aren't you one of +the fairies that teach children to be good?"</p> + +<p>"Well, we have to do that sometimes," said Bruno, "and a dreadful +bother it is."</p> + +<p>As he said this, he savagely tore a heart's-ease in two, and +trampled on the pieces.</p> + +<p>"What <i>are</i> you doing there, Bruno?" I said.</p> + +<p>"Spoiling Sylvie's garden," was all the answer Bruno would give at +first. But, as he went on tearing up the flowers, he muttered to +himself, "The nasty c'oss thing—wouldn't let me go and play this +morning, though I wanted to ever so much—said I must finish my +lessons first—lessons, indeed! I'll vex her finely, though!"</p> + +<p>"Oh, Bruno, you shouldn't do that!" I cried. "Don't you know that's +revenge? And revenge is a wicked, cruel, dangerous thing!"</p> + +<p>"River-edge?" said Bruno. "What a funny word! I suppose you call it +cooel and dangerous because, if you went too far and tumbled in, you'd +get d'owned."</p> + +<p>"No, not river-edge," I explained; "rev-enge" (saying the word very +slowly and distinctly). But I couldn't help thinking that Bruno's +explanation did very well for either word.</p> + +<p>"Oh!" said Bruno, opening his eyes very wide, but without +attempting to repeat the word.</p> + +<p>"Come! try and pronounce it, Bruno!" I said, cheerfully. "Rev-enge, +rev-enge."</p> + +<p>But Bruno only tossed his little head, and said he couldn't; that +his mouth wasn't the right shape for words of that kind. And the more I +laughed, the more sulky the little fellow got about it.</p> + +<p>"Well, never mind, little man!" I said. "Shall I help you with the +job you've got there?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, please," Bruno said, quite pacified. "Only I wish I could +think of something to vex her more than this. You don't know how hard +it is to make her ang'y!"</p> + +<p>"Now listen to me, Bruno, and I'll teach you quite a splendid kind +of revenge!"</p> + +<p>"Something that'll vex her finely?" Bruno asked with gleaming eyes.</p> + +<p>"Something that'll vex her finely. First, we'll get up all the +weeds in her garden. See, there are a good many at this +end—quite hiding the flowers."</p> + +<p>"But <i>that</i> wont vex her," said Bruno, looking rather puzzled.</p> + +<p>"After that," I said, without noticing the remark, "we'll water the +highest bed—up here. You see it's getting quite dry and dusty."</p> + +<p>Bruno looked at me inquisitively, but he said nothing this time.</p> + +<p>"Then, after that," I went on, "the walks want sweeping a bit; and I +think you might cut down that tall nettle; it's so close to the garden +that it's quite in the way—"</p> + +<p>"What <i>are</i> you talking about?" Bruno impatiently interrupted +me. "All that wont vex her a bit!"</p> + +<p>"Wont it?" I said, innocently. "Then, after that, suppose we put in +some of these colored pebbles—just to mark the divisions between +the different kinds of flowers, you know. That'll have a very pretty +effect."</p> + +<p>Bruno turned round and had another good stare at me. At last there +came an odd little twinkle in his eye, and he said, with quite a new +meaning in his voice:</p> + +<p>"V'y well—let's put 'em in rows—all the 'ed together, +and all the blue together."</p> + +<p>"That'll do capitally," I said; "and then—what kind of +flowers does Sylvie like best in her garden?"</p> + +<p>Bruno had to put his thumb in his mouth and consider a little +before he could answer. "Violets," he said, at last.</p> + +<p>"There's a beautiful bed of violets down by the lake—"</p> + +<p>"Oh, let's fetch 'em!" cried Bruno, giving a little skip into the +air. "Here! Catch hold of my hand, and I'll help you along. The g'ass +is rather thick down that way."</p> + +<p>I couldn't help laughing at his having so entirely forgotten what a +big creature he was talking to.</p> + +<p>"No, not yet, Bruno," I said; "we must consider what's the right +thing to do first. You see we've got quite a business before us."</p> + +<p>"Yes, let's consider," said Bruno, putting his thumb into his mouth +again, and sitting down upon a stuffed mouse.</p> + +<p>"What do you keep that mouse for?" I said. "You should bury it, or +throw it into the lake."</p> + +<p>"Why, it's to measure with!" cried Bruno. "How ever would you do a +garden without one? We make each bed th'ee mouses and a half long, and +two mouses wide."</p> + +<p>I stopped him, as he was dragging it off by the tail to show me how +it was used, for I was half afraid the "eerie" feeling might go off +before we had finished the garden, and in that case I should see no +more of him or Sylvie.</p> + +<p>"I think the best way will be for <i>you</i> to weed the beds, +while <i>I</i> sort out these pebbles, ready to mark the walks with."</p> + +<p>"That's it!" cried Bruno. "And I'll tell you about the caterpillars +while we work."</p> + +<p>"Ah, let's hear about the caterpillars," I said, as I drew the +pebbles together into a heap, and began dividing them into colors.</p> + +<p>And Bruno went on in a low, rapid tone, more as if he were talking +to himself. "Yesterday I saw two little caterpillars, when I was +sitting by the brook, just where you go into the wood. They were quite +g'een, and they had yellow eyes, and they didn't see <i>me</i>. And +one of them had got a moth's wing to carry—a g'eat b'own moth's +wing, you know, all d'y, with feathers. So he couldn't want it to eat, +I should think—perhaps he meant to make a cloak for the +winter?"</p> + +<p>"Perhaps," I said, for Bruno had twisted up the last word into a +sort of question, and was looking at me for an answer.</p> + +<p>One word was quite enough for the little fellow, and he went on, +merrily:</p> + +<p>"Well, and so he didn't want the other caterpillar to see the moth's +wing, you know; so what must he do but t'y to carry it with all his +left legs, and he t'ied to walk on the other set. Of course, he toppled +over after that."</p> + +<p>"After what?" I said, catching at the last word, for, to tell the +truth, I hadn't been attending much.</p> + +<p>"He toppled over," Bruno repeated, very gravely, "and if <i>you</i> +ever saw a caterpillar topple over, you'd know it's a serious thing, +and not sit g'inning like that—and I shan't tell you any more."</p> + +<p>"Indeed and indeed, Bruno, I didn't mean to grin. See, I'm quite +grave again now."</p> + +<p>But Bruno only folded his arms and said, "Don't tell <i>me</i>. I +see a little twinkle in one of your eyes—just like the moon."</p> + +<p>"Am <i>I</i> like the moon, Bruno?" I asked.</p> + +<p>"Your face is large and round like the moon," Bruno answered, +looking at me thoughtfully. "It doesn't shine quite so +bright—but it's cleaner."</p> + +<p>I couldn't help smiling at this. "You know I wash <i>my</i> face, +Bruno. The moon never does that."</p> + +<p>"Oh, doesn't she though!" cried Bruno; and he leaned forward and +added in a solemn whisper, "The moon's face gets dirtier and dirtier +every night, till it's black all ac'oss. And then, when it's dirty all +over—<i>so</i>—" (he passed his hand across his own rosy +cheeks as he spoke) "then she washes it."</p> + +<p>"And then it's all clean again, isn't it?"</p> + +<p>"Not all in a moment," said Bruno. "What a deal of teaching you +want! She washes it little by little—only she begins at the +other edge."</p> + +<p>By this time he was sitting quietly on the mouse, with his arms +folded, and the weeding wasn't getting on a bit. So I was obliged to +say:</p> + +<p>"Work first and pleasure afterward; no more talking till that bed's +finished."</p> + +<p>After that we had a few minutes of silence, while I sorted out the +pebbles, and amused myself with watching Bruno's plan of gardening. It +was quite a new plan to me: he always measured each bed before he +weeded it, as if he was afraid the weeding would make it shrink; and +once, when it came out longer than he wished, he set to work to thump +the mouse with his tiny fist, crying out, "There now! It's all 'ong +again! Why don't you keep your tail st'aight when I tell you!"</p> + +<p>"I'll tell you what I'll do," Bruno said in a half-whisper, as we +worked: "I'll get you an invitation to the king's dinner-party. I know +one of the head-waiters."</p> + +<p>I couldn't help laughing at this idea. "Do the waiters invite the +guests?" I asked.</p> + +<p>"Oh, not <i>to sit down</i>!" Bruno hastily replied. "But to help, +you know. You'd like that, wouldn't you? To hand about plates, and so +on."</p> + +<p>"Well, but that's not so nice as sitting at the table, is it?"</p> + +<p>"Of course it isn't," Bruno said, in a tone as if he rather pitied +my ignorance; "but if you're not even Sir Anything, you can't expect +to be allowed to sit at the table, you know."</p> + +<p>I said, as meekly as I could, that I didn't expect it, but it was +the only way of going to a dinner-party that I really enjoyed. And +Bruno tossed his head, and said, in a rather offended tone, that I +might do as I pleased—there were many he knew that would give +their ears to go.</p> + +<p>"Have you ever been yourself, Bruno?"</p> + +<p>"They invited me once last year," Bruno said, very gravely. "It was +to wash up the soup-plates—no, the cheese-plates I +mean—that was g'and enough. But the g'andest thing of all was, +<i>I</i> fetched the Duke of Dandelion a glass of cider!"</p> + +<p>"That <i>was</i> grand!" I said, biting my lip to keep myself from +laughing.</p> + +<p>"Wasn't it!" said Bruno, very earnestly. "You know it isn't every +one that's had such an honor as <i>that</i>!"</p> + +<p>This set me thinking of the various queer things we call "an honor" +in this world, which, after all, haven't a bit more honor in them than +what the dear little Bruno enjoyed (by the way, I hope you're beginning +to like him a little, naughty as he was?) when he took the Duke of +Dandelion a glass of cider.</p> + +<p>I don't know how long I might have dreamed on in this way if Bruno +hadn't suddenly roused me.</p> + +<p>"Oh, come here quick!" he cried, in a state of the wildest +excitement. "Catch hold of his other horn! I can't hold him more than +a minute!"</p> + +<p>He was struggling desperately with a great snail, clinging to one of +its horns, and nearly breaking his poor little back in his efforts to +drag it over a blade of grass.</p> + +<p>I saw we should have no more gardening if I let this sort of thing +go on, so I quietly took the snail away, and put it on a bank where he +couldn't reach it. "We'll hunt it afterward, Bruno," I said, "if you +really want to catch it. But what's the use of it when you've got +it?"</p> + +<p>"What's the use of a fox when you've got it?" said Bruno. "I know +you big things hunt foxes."</p> + +<p>I tried to think of some good reason why "big things" should hunt +foxes, and he shouldn't hunt snails, but none came into my head: so I +said at last, "Well, I suppose one's as good as the other. I'll go +snail-hunting myself, some day."</p> + +<p>"I should think you wouldn't be so silly," said Bruno, "as to go +snail-hunting all by yourself. Why, you'd never get the snail along, if +you hadn't somebody to hold on to his other horn!"</p> + +<p>"Of course I sha'n't go alone," I said, quite gravely. "By the way, +is that the best kind to hunt, or do you recommend the ones without +shells?"</p> + +<p>"Oh no! We never hunt the ones without shells," Bruno said, with a +little shudder at the thought of it. "They're always so c'oss about it; +and then, if you tumble over them, they're ever so sticky!"</p> + +<p>By this time we had nearly finished the garden. I had fetched some +violets, and Bruno was just helping me to put in the last, when he +suddenly stopped and said, "I'm tired."</p> + +<p>"Rest, then," I said; "I can go on without you."</p> + +<p>Bruno needed no second invitation: he at once began arranging the +mouse as a kind of sofa. "And I'll sing you a little song," he said as +he rolled it about.</p> + +<p>"Do," said I: "there's nothing I should like better."</p> + +<p>"Which song will you choose?" Bruno said, as he dragged the mouse +into a place where he could get a good view of me. "'Ting, ting, +ting,' is the nicest."</p> + +<p>There was no resisting such a strong hint as this: however, I +pretended to think about it for a moment, and then said, "Well, I like +'Ting, ting, ting,' best of all."</p> + +<p>"That shows you're a good judge of music," Bruno said, with a +pleased look. "How many bluebells would you like?" And he put his +thumb into his mouth to help me to consider.</p> + +<p>As there was only one bluebell within easy reach, I said very +gravely that I thought one would do <i>this</i> time, and I picked it +and gave it to him. Bruno ran his hand once or twice up and down the +flowers,—like a musician trying an instrument,—producing a +most delicious delicate tinkling as he did so. I had never heard +flower-music before,—I don't think one can unless one's in the +"eerie" state,—and I don't know quite how to give you an idea of +what it was like, except by saying that it sounded like a peal of +bells a thousand miles off.</p> + +<p>When he had satisfied himself that the flowers were in tune, he +seated himself on the mouse (he never seemed really comfortable +anywhere else), and, looking up at me with a merry twinkle in his +eyes, he began. By the way, the tune was rather a curious one, and you +might like to try it for yourself, so here are the notes:</p> + +<a name="image06" id="image06"></a> +<div class="imgcenter"> +<img src="images/image06.png" width="400" height="232" alt="" /> +</div> + +<br /> + +<div class="poem"> +<div class="stanza"> + <div>"Rise, oh, rise! The daylight dies:</div> + <div class="in1">The owls are hooting, ting, ting, ting!</div> + <div>Wake, oh, wake! Beside the lake</div> + <div class="in1">The elves are fluting, ting, ting, ting!</div> + <div>Welcoming our fairy king</div> + <div class="in1">We sing, sing, sing."</div> +</div> +</div> + +<br /> + +<p>He sang the first four lines briskly and merrily, making the +bluebells chime in time with the music; but the last two he sang quite +slowly and gently, and merely waved the flowers backward and forward +above his head. And when he had finished the first verse, he left off +to explain.</p> + +<p>"The name of our fairy king is Obberwon" (he meant Oberon, I +believe), "and he lives over the lake—<i>there</i>—and now +and then he comes in a little boat—and then we go and meet +him—and then we sing this song, you know."</p> + +<p>"And then you go and dine with him?" I said, mischievously.</p> + +<p>"You shouldn't talk," Bruno hastily said; "it interrupts the song +so."</p> + +<p>I said I wouldn't do it again.</p> + +<p>"I never talk myself when I'm singing," he went on, very gravely; +"so you shouldn't either."</p> + +<p>Then he tuned the bluebells once more, and sung:</p> + +<div class="poem"> +<div class="stanza"> + <div>"Hear, oh, hear! From far and near</div> + <div class="in1">A music stealing, ting, ting, ting!</div> + <div>Fairy bells adown the dells</div> + <div class="in1">Are merrily pealing, ting, ting, ting!</div> + <div>Welcoming our fairy king</div> + <div class="in1">We ring, ring, ring.</div> +</div> +<br /> +<div class="stanza"> + <div>"See, oh, see! On every tree</div> + <div class="in1">What lamps are shining, ting, ting, ting!</div> + <div>They are eyes of fiery flies</div> + <div class="in1">To light our dining, ting, ting, ting!</div> + <div>Welcoming our fairy king</div> + <div class="in1">They swing, swing, swing.</div> +</div> +<br /> +<div class="stanza"> + <div>"Haste, oh, haste! to take and taste</div> + <div class="in1">The dainties waiting, ting, ting, ting!</div> + <div>Honey-dew is stored—"</div> +</div> +</div> + +<p>"Hush, Bruno!" I interrupted, in a warning whisper. "She's +coming!"</p> + +<p>Bruno checked his song only just in time for Sylvie not to hear him; +and then, catching sight of her as she slowly made her way through the +long grass, he suddenly rushed out headlong at her like a little bull, +shouting, "Look the other way! Look the other way!"</p> + +<p>"Which way?" Sylvie asked, in rather a frightened tone, as she +looked round in all directions to see where the danger could be.</p> + +<p>"<i>That</i> way!" said Bruno, carefully turning her round with her +face to the wood. "Now, walk backward—walk gently—don't be +frightened; you sha'n't t'ip!"</p> + +<p>But Sylvie did "t'ip," notwithstanding; in fact he led her, in his +hurry, across so many little sticks and stones, that it was really a +wonder the poor child could keep on her feet at all. But he was far too +much excited to think of what he was doing.</p> + +<p>I silently pointed out to Bruno the best place to lead her to, so +as to get a view of the whole garden at once; it was a little rising +ground, about the height of a potato; and, when they had mounted it, I +drew back into the shade that Sylvie mightn't see me.</p> + +<p>I heard Bruno cry out triumphantly, "<i>Now</i> you may look!" and +then followed a great clapping of hands, but it was all done by Bruno +himself. Sylvie was quite silent; she only stood and gazed with her +hands clasped tightly together, and I was half afraid she didn't like +it after all.</p> + +<p>Bruno, too, was watching her anxiously, and when she jumped down +from the mound, and began wandering up and down the little walks, he +cautiously followed her about, evidently anxious that she should form +her own opinion of it all, without any hint from him. And when at last +she drew a long breath, and gave her verdict,—in a hurried +whisper, and without the slightest regard to grammar,—"It's the +loveliest thing as I never saw in all my life before!" the little +fellow looked as well pleased as if it had been given by all the +judges and juries in England put together.</p> + +<a name="image07" id="image07"></a> +<div class="imgcenter"> +<img src="images/image07.jpg" width="292" height="400" +alt="IT'S THE LOVELIEST THING AS I NEVER SAW IN ALL MY LIFE BEFORE!" +title="IT'S THE LOVELIEST THING AS I NEVER SAW IN ALL MY LIFE BEFORE!" /> +<p class="caption">"IT'S THE LOVELIEST THING AS I NEVER SAW IN ALL MY +LIFE BEFORE!"</p> +</div> + +<p>"And did you really do it all by yourself, Bruno?" said Sylvie. "And +all for me?"</p> + +<p>"I was helped a bit," Bruno began, with a merry little laugh at her +surprise. "We've been at it all the afternoon; I thought you 'd +like—" and here the poor little fellow's lip began to quiver, +and all in a moment he burst out crying, and, running up to Sylvie, he +flung his arms passionately round her neck, and hid his face on her +shoulder.</p> + +<p>There was a little quiver in Sylvie's voice too, as she whispered, +"Why, what's the matter, darling?" and tried to lift up his head and +kiss him.</p> + +<p>But Bruno only clung to her, sobbing, and wouldn't be comforted +till he had confessed all.</p> + +<p>"I tried—to spoil your garden—first—but—I'll +never—never——" and then came another burst of tears +which drowned the rest of the sentence. At last he got out the words, +"I liked—putting in the flowers—for <i>you</i>, +Sylvie—and I never was so happy before," and the rosy little +face came up at last to be kissed, all wet with tears as it was.</p> + +<p>Sylvie was crying too by this time, and she said nothing but "Bruno +dear!" and "<i>I</i> never was so happy before;" though why two +children who had never been so happy before should both be crying was +a great mystery to me.</p> + +<p>I, too, felt very happy, but of course I didn't cry; "big things" +never do, you know—we leave all that to the fairies. Only I +think it must have been raining a little just then, for I found a drop +or two on my cheeks.</p> + +<p>After that they went through the whole garden again, flower by +flower, as if it were a long sentence they were spelling out, with +kisses for commas, and a great hug by way of a full-stop when they got +to the end.</p> + +<p>"Do you know, that was my river-edge, Sylvie?" Bruno began, looking +solemnly at her.</p> + +<p>Sylvie laughed merrily.</p> + +<p>"What <i>do</i> you mean?" she said, and she pushed back her heavy +brown hair with both hands, and looked at him with dancing eyes in +which the big tear-drops were still glittering.</p> + +<p>Bruno drew in a long breath, and made up his mouth for a great +effort.</p> + +<p>"I mean rev—enge," he said; "now you under'tand." And he +looked so happy and proud at having said the word right at last that I +quite envied him. I rather think Sylvie didn't "under'tand" at all; +but she gave him a little kiss on each cheek, which seemed to do just +as well.</p> + +<p>So they wandered off lovingly together, in among the buttercups, +each with an arm twined round the other, whispering and laughing as +they went, and never so much as once looked back at poor me. Yes, +once, just before I quite lost sight of them, Bruno half turned his +head, and nodded me a saucy little good-bye over one shoulder. And +that was all the thanks I got for <i>my</i> trouble.</p> + +<p>I know you're sorry the story's come to an end—aren't +you?—so I'll just tell you one thing more. The very last thing I +saw of them was this: Sylvie was stooping down with her arms round +Bruno's neck, and saying coaxingly in his ear, "Do you know, Bruno, +I've quite forgotten that hard word; do say it once more. Come! Only +this once, dear!"</p> + +<p>But Bruno wouldn't try it again.</p> + +<hr /> + +<h2><a name="mockingbird" id="mockingbird">THE MOCKING-BIRD AND THE +DONKEY.</a></h2> + +<div class="center">(<i>From the Spanish of the Mexican poet José +Rosas</i>.)</div> + +<hr class="tiny" /> +<div class="center">BY WILLIAM CULLEN BRYANT.</div> +<hr class="tiny" /> + +<div class="poem"> +<div class="stanza"> + <div>A mock-bird in a village</div> + <div class="in1">Had somehow gained the skill</div> + <div>To imitate the voices</div> + <div class="in1">Of animals at will.</div> +</div> +<br /> +<div class="stanza"> + <div>And singing in his prison,</div> + <div class="in1">Once, at the close of day,</div> + <div>He gave, with great precision,</div> + <div class="in1">The donkey's heavy bray.</div> +</div> +<br /> +<div class="stanza"> + <div>Well pleased, the mock-bird's master</div> + <div class="in1">Sent to the neighbors 'round,</div> + <div>And bade them come together</div> + <div class="in1">To hear that curious sound.</div> +</div> +<br /> +<div class="stanza"> + <div>They came, and all were talking</div> + <div class="in1">In praise of what they heard,</div> + <div>And one delighted lady</div> + <div class="in1">Would fain have bought the bird.</div> +</div> +<br /> +<div class="stanza"> + <div>A donkey listened sadly,</div> + <div class="in1">And said: "Confess I must</div> + <div>That these are shallow people,</div> + <div class="in1">And terribly unjust.</div> +</div> +<br /> +<div class="stanza"> + <div>"I'm bigger than the mock-bird,</div> + <div class="in1">And better bray than he,</div> + <div>Yet not a soul has uttered</div> + <div class="in1">A word in praise of me."</div> +</div> +</div> + +<hr /> + +<h2><a name="horses" id="horses">THE FAMOUS HORSES OF VENICE.</a></h2> + +<hr class="tiny" /> +<div class="center">BY MARY LLOYD.</div> +<hr class="tiny" /> + +<p>No doubt you all know something of Venice, that wonderful and +fairy-like city which seems to rise up out of the sea; with its bridges +and gondolas; its marble palaces coming down to the water's edge; its +gay ladies and stately doges. What a magnificent pageant was that which +took place every Ascension Day, when the doge and all his court sailed +grandly out in the "Bucentaur," or state galley, with gay colors +flying, to the tune of lively music, and went through the oft-repeated +ceremony of dropping a ring into the Adriatic, in token of marriage +between the sea and Venice! This was a custom instituted as far back as +1177. The Venetians having espoused the cause of the pope, Alexander +III., against the emperor, Frederic Barbarossa, gained a great victory +over the imperial fleet, and the pope, in grateful remembrance of the +event, presented the doge with the ring symbolizing the subjection of +the Adriatic to Venice.</p> + +<p>But one of the most wonderful things about Venice is that, with the +exception of those I intend to tell you about, there are no horses +there. How charming it must be, you think, when you want to visit a +friend, to run down the marble steps of some old palace, step into a +gondola, and glide swiftly and noiselessly away, instead of jolting and +rumbling along over the cobble-stones! And then to come back by +moonlight, and hear the low plash of the oar in the water, and the +distant voices of the boatmen singing some love-sick song,—oh, +it's as good as a play!</p> + +<p>Of course there are no carts in Venice; and the fish-man, the +vegetable-man, the butcher, the baker, and the candlestick maker, all +glide softly up in their boats to the kitchen door with their +vendibles, and chaffer and haggle with the cook for half an hour, after +the manner of market-men the world over.</p> + +<p>So you see the little black-eyed Venetian boys and girls gaze on the +brazen horses in St. Mark's Square with as much wonder and curiosity as +ours when we look upon a griffin or a unicorn.</p> + +<a name="image08" id="image08"></a> +<div class="imgcenter"> +<img src="images/image08.jpg" width="400" height="251" +alt="THE HORSES OF ST. MARK'S" title="THE HORSES OF ST. MARK'S" /> +<p class="caption">THE HORSES OF ST. MARK'S.</p> +</div> + +<p>These horses—there are four of them—have quite a +history of their own. They once formed part of a group made by a +celebrated sculptor of antiquity, named Lysippus. He was of such +acknowledged merit that he was one of the three included in the famous +edict of Alexander, which gave to Apelles the sole right of painting +his portrait, to Lysippus that of sculpturing his form in any style, +and to Pyrgoteles that of engraving it upon precious stones.</p> + +<p>Lysippus executed a group of twenty-five equestrian statues of the +Macedonian horses that fell at the passage of the Granicus, and of this +group the horses now at Venice formed a part. They were carried from +Alexandria to Rome by Augustus, who placed them on his triumphal arch. +Afterward Nero, Domitian and Trajan, successfully transferred them to +arches of their own.</p> + +<p>When Constantine removed the capital of the Roman empire to the +ancient Byzantium, he sought to beautify it by all means in his power, +and for this purpose he removed a great number of works of art from +Rome to Constantinople, and among them these bronze horses of Lysippus.</p> + +<p>In the early part of the thirteenth century the nobles of France and +Germany, who were going on the fourth crusade, arrived at Venice and +stipulated with the Venetians for means of transport to the Holy Land. +But instead of proceeding to Jerusalem they were diverted from their +original intention, and, under the leadership of the blind old doge, +Dandolo, they captured the city of Constantinople. The fall of the city +was followed by an almost total destruction of the works of art by +which it had been adorned; for the Latins disgraced themselves by a +more ruthless vandalism than that of the Vandals themselves.</p> + +<p>But out of the wreck the four bronze horses were saved and carried +in triumph to Venice, where they were placed over the central porch of +St. Mark's Cathedral. There they stood until Napoleon Bonaparte in 1797 +removed them with other trophies to Paris; but after his downfall they +were restored, and, as Byron says in "Childe Harold":</p> + +<div class="poem"> +<div class="stanza"> + <div>"Before St. Mark still glow his steeds of brass,</div> + <div class="in1">Their gilded collars glittering in the sun;</div> + <div>But is not Doria's menace come to pass?</div> + <div class="in1">Are they not bridled?"—</div> +</div> +</div> + +<p>Apropos of the last two lines I have quoted, I must tell you an +incident of history.</p> + +<p>During the middle ages, when so many of the Italian cities existed +as independent republics, there was a great deal of rivalry between +Genoa and Venice, the most important of them. Both were wealthy +commercial cities; both strove for the supremacy of the sea, upon +which much of their prosperity depended, and each strove to gain the +advantage over the other. This led to many wars between them, when +sometimes one would gain the upper hand, and sometimes the other. At +length, in the year 1379, the Genoese defeated the Venetians in the +battle of Pola, and then took Chiozza, which commanded, as one might +say, the entrance to Venice. The Venetians, alarmed beyond measure, +sent an embassy to the Genoese commander, Pietro Doria, agreeing to +any terms whatever, imploring only that he would spare the city. They +also sent the chief of the prisoners they had taken in the war in +order to appease the fierce anger of the general. "Take back your +captives, ye gentlemen of Venice," was the too confident reply of the +haughty Doria; "we will release them and their companions. On God's +faith, ye shall have no peace till we put a curb into the mouths of +those wild horses of St. Mark's. Place but the reins once in our +hands, and we shall know how to bridle them for the future."</p> + +<p>Armed with the courage and energy which despair alone can give, the +Venetians rallied for the defence of their city. Women and children +joined in the preparations. All private feuds, jealousies and +animosities were forgotten in the common danger. All were animated by +the one feeling of implacable hatred of the Genoese. Pisani, an old +commander, who had been unjustly imprisoned through the envy of his +fellow-citizens, was released and put in command of the fleet. On +coming out of his cell, he was surrounded by those who had injured him, +who implored him to forget the injustice with which he had been +treated. He partook of the sacrament with them in token of complete +forgetfulness and forgiveness, and then proceeded against the enemy. +The confidence of the republic had not been misplaced. His bravery, +skill and foresight, together with the aid of another brave captain, +Carl Zeno, saved the city, retook Chiozza, and completely humiliated +the Genoese, who were now willing to sue for peace. So that, after all, +Doria's angry menace was the means of saving the independence of the +city, and the proud possession of the bronze horses of St. Mark's.</p> + +<hr /> + +<h2><a name="card" id="card">CHRISTMAS CARD.</a></h2> + +<hr class="tiny" /> +<div class="center"><span class="small">(SEE "<a +href="#letterbox">LETTER-BOX</a>.")</span></div> + +<br /> + +<div class="center"> +<img src="images/image09.jpg" width="294" height="451" alt="" /> +</div> + +<hr /> + +<h2><a name="peterkins" id="peterkins">THE PETERKINS' CHARADES.</a></h2> + +<hr class="tiny" /> +<div class="center">BY LUCRETIA P. HALE.</div> +<hr class="tiny" /> + +<p>Ever since they had come home from the great Centennial at +Philadelphia, the Peterkins had felt anxious to have "something." The +little boys wanted to get up a "great Exposition," to show to the +people of the place who had not been able to go to Philadelphia. But +Mr. Peterkin thought it too great an effort, and it was given up.</p> + +<p>There was, however, a new water-trough needed on the town-common, +and the ladies of the place thought it ought to be something +handsome,—something more than a common trough,—and they +ought to work for it.</p> + +<p>Elizabeth Eliza had heard at Philadelphia how much women had done, +and she felt they ought to contribute to such a cause. She had an +idea, but she would not speak of it at first, not until after she had +written to the lady from Philadelphia. She had often thought, in many +cases, if they had asked her advice first, they might have saved +trouble.</p> + +<p>Still, how could they ask advice before they themselves knew what +they wanted? It was very easy to ask advice, but you must first know +what to ask about. And again: Elizabeth Eliza felt you might have +ideas, but you could not always put them together. There was this idea +of the water-trough, and then this idea of getting some money for it. +So she began with writing to the lady from Philadelphia. The little +boys believed she spent enough for it in postage-stamps before it all +came out.</p> + +<p>But it did come out at last that the Peterkins were to have some +charades at their own house for the benefit of the needed +water-trough,—tickets sold only to especial friends. Ann Maria +Bromwich was to help act, because she could bring some old bonnets and +gowns that had been worn by an aged aunt years ago, and which they had +always kept. Elizabeth Eliza said that Solomon John would have to be a +Turk, and they must borrow all the red things and Cashmere scarfs in +the place. She knew people would be willing to lend things.</p> + +<p>Agamemnon thought you ought to get in something about the Hindoos, +they were such an odd people. Elizabeth Eliza said you must not have +it too odd, or people would not understand it, and she did not want +anything to frighten her mother. She had one word suggested by the +lady from Philadelphia in her letters,—the one that had "Turk" +in it,—but they ought to have two words.</p> + +<p>"Oh yes," Ann Maria said, "you must have two words; if the people +paid for their tickets, they would want to get their money's worth."</p> + +<p>Solomon John thought you might have "Hindoos"; the little boys could +color their faces brown to look like Hindoos. You could have the first +scene an Irishman catching a hen, and then paying the water-taxes for +"dues," and then have the little boys for Hindoos.</p> + +<p>A great many other words were talked of, but nothing seemed to suit. +There was a curtain, too, to be thought of, because the folding doors +stuck when you tried to open and shut them. Agamemnon said the +Pan-Elocutionists had a curtain they would probably lend John Osborne, +and so it was decided to ask John Osborne to help.</p> + +<p>If they had a curtain they ought to have a stage. Solomon John said +he was sure he had boards and nails enough, and it would be easy to +make a stage if John Osborne would help put it up.</p> + +<p>All this talk was the day before the charades. In the midst of it +Ann Maria went over for her old bonnets and dresses and umbrellas, and +they spent the evening in trying on the various things,—such odd +caps and remarkable bonnets! Solomon John said they ought to have +plenty of bandboxes; if you only had bandboxes enough, a charade was +sure to go off well; he had seen charades in Boston. Mrs. Peterkin +said there were plenty in their attic, and the little boys brought +down piles of them, and the back parlor was filled with costumes.</p> + +<p>Ann Maria said she could bring over more things if she only knew +what they were going to act. Elizabeth Eliza told her to bring +anything she had,—it would all come of use.</p> + +<p>The morning came, and the boards were collected for the stage. +Agamemnon and Solomon John gave themselves to the work, and John +Osborne helped zealously. He said the Pan-Elocutionists would lend a +scene also. There was a great clatter of bandboxes, and piles of shawls +in corners, and such a piece of work in getting up the curtain! In the +midst of it, came in the little boys, shouting, "All the tickets are +sold at ten cents each!"</p> + +<p>"Seventy tickets sold!" exclaimed Agamemnon.</p> + +<p>"Seven dollars for the water-trough!" said Elizabeth Eliza.</p> + +<p>"And we do not know yet what we are going to act!" exclaimed Ann +Maria.</p> + +<p>But everybody's attention had to be given to the scene that was +going up in the background, borrowed from the Pan-Elocutionists. It was +magnificent, and represented a forest.</p> + +<p>"Where are we going to put seventy people?" exclaimed Mrs. Peterkin, +venturing, dismayed, into the heaps of shavings and boards and litter.</p> + +<p>The little boys exclaimed that a large part of the audience +consisted of boys, who would not take up much room. But how much +clearing and sweeping and moving of chairs was necessary before all +could be made ready! It was late, and some of the people had already +come to secure good seats even before the actors had assembled.</p> + +<p>"What are we going to act?" asked Ann Maria.</p> + +<p>"I have been so torn with one thing and another," said Elizabeth +Eliza, "I haven't had time to think!"</p> + +<p>"Haven't you the word yet?" asked John Osborne, for the audience was +flocking in, and the seats were filling up rapidly.</p> + +<p>"I have got one word in my pocket," said Elizabeth Eliza, "in the +letter from the lady from Philadelphia. She sent me the parts of the +word. Solomon John is to be a Turk, but I don't yet understand the +whole of the word."</p> + +<p>"You don't know the word and the people are all here!" said John +Osborne, impatiently.</p> + +<p>"Elizabeth Eliza!" exclaimed Ann Maria, "Solomon John says I'm to +be a Turkish slave, and I'll have to wear a veil. Do you know where the +veils are? You know I brought them over last night."</p> + +<p>"Elizabeth Eliza! Solomon John wants you to send him the large +cashmere scarf," exclaimed one of the little boys, coming in. +"Elizabeth Eliza! you must tell us what kind of faces to make up!" +cried another of the boys.</p> + +<p>And the audience were heard meanwhile taking their seats on the +other side of the thin curtain.</p> + +<p>"You sit in front, Mrs. Bromwich, you are a little hard of hearing; +sit where you can hear."</p> + +<p>"And let Julia Fitch come where she can see," said another voice.</p> + +<p>"And we have not any words for them to hear or see!" exclaimed John +Osborne behind the curtain.</p> + +<p>"Oh, I wish we'd never determined to have charades!" exclaimed +Elizabeth Eliza. "Can't we return the money!"</p> + +<p>"They are all here; we must give them something!" said John Osborne, +heroically.</p> + +<p>"And Solomon John is almost dressed," reported Ann Maria, winding a +veil around her head.</p> + +<p>"Why don't we take Solomon John's word 'Hindoos' for the first?" +said Agamemnon.</p> + +<p>John Osborne agreed to go in the first, hunting the "hin," or +anything, and one of the little boys took the part of the hen, with +the help of a feather duster. The bell rang, and the first scene began.</p> + +<p>It was a great success. John Osborne's Irish was perfect. Nobody +guessed it, for the hen crowed by mistake; but it received great +applause.</p> + +<p>Mr. Peterkin came on in the second scene to receive the water-rates, +and made a long speech on taxation. He was interrupted by Ann Maria as +an old woman in a huge bonnet. She persisted in turning her back to the +audience, and speaking so low nobody heard her; and Elizabeth Eliza, +who appeared in a more remarkable bonnet, was so alarmed, she went +directly back, saying she had forgotten something. But this was +supposed to be the effect intended, and it was loudly cheered.</p> + +<p>Then came a long delay, for the little boys brought out a number of +their friends to be browned for Hindoos. Ann Maria played on the piano +till the scene was ready. The curtain rose upon five brown boys done up +in blankets and turbans.</p> + +<p>"I am thankful that is over," said Elizabeth Eliza, "for now we can +act my word. Only I don't myself know the whole."</p> + +<p>"Never mind, let us act it," said John Osborne, "and the audience +can guess the whole."</p> + +<p>"The first syllable must be the letter P," said Elizabeth Eliza, +"and we must have a school."</p> + +<p>Agamemnon was master, and the little boys and their friends went on +as scholars. All the boys talked and shouted at once, acting their +idea of a school by flinging peanuts about, and scoffing at the master.</p> + +<p>"They'll guess that to be 'row,'" said John Osborne in despair; +"they'll never guess 'P'!"</p> + +<p>The next scene was gorgeous. Solomon John, as a Turk, reclined on +John Osborne's army-blanket. He had on a turban, and a long beard, and +all the family shawls. Ann Maria and Elizabeth Eliza were brought in to +him, veiled, by the little boys in their Hindoo costumes.</p> + +<p>This was considered the great scene of the evening, though Elizabeth +Eliza was sure she did not know what to do,—whether to kneel or +sit down; she did not know whether Turkish women did sit down, and she +could not help laughing whenever she looked at Solomon John. He, +however, kept his solemnity. "I suppose I need not say much," he had +said, "for I shall be the 'Turk who was dreaming of the hour.'" But he +did order the little boys to bring sherbet, and when they brought it +without ice, insisted they must have their heads cut off, and Ann Maria +fainted, and the scene closed.</p> + +<p>"What are we to do now?" asked John Osborne, warming up to the +occasion.</p> + +<p>"We must have an 'inn' scene," said Elizabeth Eliza, consulting her +letter; "two inns if we can."</p> + +<p>"We will have some travelers disgusted with one inn, and going to +another," said John Osborne.</p> + +<p>"Now is the time for the bandboxes," said Solomon John, who, since +his Turk scene was over, could give his attention to the rest of the +charade.</p> + +<p>Elizabeth Eliza and Ann Maria went on as rival hostesses, trying to +draw Solomon John, Agamemnon and John Osborne into their several inns. +The little boys carried valises, hand-bags, umbrellas and bandboxes. +Bandbox after bandbox appeared, and when Agamemnon sat down upon his, +the applause was immense. At last the curtain fell.</p> + +<p>"Now for the whole," said John Osborne, as he made his way off the +stage over a heap of umbrellas.</p> + +<p>"I can't think why the lady from Philadelphia did not send me the +whole," said Elizabeth Eliza, musing over the letter.</p> + +<p>"Listen, they are guessing," said John Osborne. "'<i>D-ice-box</i>.' +I don't wonder they get it wrong."</p> + +<p>"But we know it can't be that!" exclaimed Elizabeth Eliza, in agony. +"How can we act the whole if we don't know it ourselves!"</p> + +<p>"Oh, I see it!" said Ann Maria, clapping. "Get your whole family in +for the last scene."</p> + +<p>Mr. and Mrs. Peterkin were summoned to the stage, and formed the +background, standing on stools; in front were Agamemnon and Solomon +John, leaving room for Elizabeth Eliza between; a little in advance, +and in front of all, half kneeling, were the little boys in their India +rubber boots.</p> + +<p>The audience rose to an exclamation of delight, "the Peterkins!"</p> + +<p>It was not until this moment that Elizabeth Eliza guessed the whole.</p> + +<p>"What a tableau!" exclaimed Mr. Bromwich; "the Peterkin family +guessing their own charade."</p> + +<hr /> + +<h2><a name="doubleriddle" id="doubleriddle">A DOUBLE RIDDLE.</a> +<span class="fnref"><a name="fnrefA" id="fnrefA" href="#fnA">[A]</a></span></h2> + +<hr class="tiny" /> +<div class="center">BY J.G.H.</div> +<hr class="tiny" /> + +<div class="poem"> +<div class="stanza"> + <div>There is a word of music's own</div> + <div class="in1">That lifts the soul to see and do,—</div> + <div>A happy word, that leaps alone</div> + <div class="in1">From lips by pleasure touched anew,</div> +</div> +<br /> +<div class="stanza"> + <div>Which, if it join thy parted name,</div> + <div class="in1">O Blessed Virgin! bears a curse,</div> + <div>Than which the fatal midnight flame,</div> + <div class="in1">Or fateful war, holds nothing worse!</div> +</div> +<br /> +<div class="stanza"> + <div>What is this word, with baleful charm,</div> + <div class="in1">To change the sweetest name we know</div> + <div>To one surcharged with subtile harm?—</div> + <div class="in1">And what the strange, new name of woe?</div> +</div> +<br /> +<div class="stanza"> + <div>And if you guess this riddle well,</div> + <div class="in1">And speak this word in answer true,</div> + <div>How may it lift—I pray you tell—</div> + <div class="in1">The tuneful soul to see and do?</div> +</div> +</div> + +<br /> + +<div class="fn"> +<span class="fnnum"><a name="fnA" id="fnA" href="#fnrefA">[A]</a></span> +The answer will be given in "Letter-Box" of January number. +</div> + +<hr /> + +<h2><a name="lilacs" id="lilacs">UNDER THE LILACS</a></h2> + +<hr class="tiny" /> +<div class="center">BY LOUISA M. ALCOTT.</div> +<hr class="tiny" /> + +<br /> + +<h3>CHAPTER 1</h3> + +<h4>A MYSTERIOUS DOG.</h4> + +<p>The elm-tree avenue was all overgrown, the great gate was never +unlocked, and the old house had been shut up for several years. Yet +voices were heard about the place, the lilacs nodded over the high wall +as if they said, "We could tell fine secrets if we chose," and the +mullein outside the gate made haste to reach the keyhole that it might +peep in and see what was going on.</p> + +<p>If it had suddenly grown up like a magic bean-stalk, and looked in +on a certain June day, it would have seen a droll but pleasant sight, +for somebody evidently was going to have a party.</p> + +<p>From the gate to the porch went a wide walk, paved with smooth +slabs of dark stone, and bordered with the tall bushes which met +overhead, making a green roof. All sorts of neglected flowers and wild +weeds grew between their stems, covering the walls of this summer +parlor with the prettiest tapestry. A board, propped on two blocks of +wood, stood in the middle of the walk, covered with a little plaid +shawl much the worse for wear, and on it a miniature tea service was +set forth with great elegance. To be sure, the tea-pot had lost its +spout, the cream-jug its handle, the sugar-bowl its cover, and the +cups and plates were all more or less cracked or nicked; but polite +persons would not take notice of these trifling deficiencies, and none +but polite persons were invited to this party.</p> + +<p>On either side of the porch was a seat, and here a somewhat +remarkable sight would have been revealed to any inquisitive eye +peering through the aforesaid key-hole. Upon the left-hand seat lay +seven dolls, upon the right-hand seat lay six, and so varied were the +expressions of their countenances, owing to fractures, dirt, age and +other afflictions, that one would very naturally have thought this a +doll's hospital, and these the patients waiting for their tea. This, +however, would have been a sad mistake; for, if the wind had lifted the +coverings laid over them, it would have disclosed the fact that all +were in full dress, and merely reposing before the feast should begin.</p> + +<p>There was another interesting feature of the scene which would have +puzzled any but those well acquainted with the manners and customs of +dolls. A fourteenth rag baby, with a china head, hung by her neck from +the rusty knocker in the middle of the door. A sprig of white and one +of purple lilac nodded over her, a dress of yellow calico, richly +trimmed with red flannel scallops, shrouded her slender form, a garland +of small flowers crowned her glossy curls, and a pair of blue boots +touched toes in the friendliest, if not the most graceful, manner. An +emotion of grief, as well as of surprise, might well have thrilled any +youthful breast at such a spectacle, for why, oh! why, was this +resplendent dolly hung up there to be stared at by thirteen of her +kindred? Was she a criminal, the sight of whose execution threw them +flat upon their backs in speechless horror? Or was she an idol, to be +adored in that humble posture? Neither, my friends. She was blonde +Belinda, set, or rather hung, aloft, in the place of honor, for this +was her seventh birthday, and a superb ball was about to celebrate the +great event.</p> + +<a name="image10" id="image10"></a> +<div class="center"> +<img src="images/image10.jpg" width="261" height="400" +alt="A RAG-BABY HUNG FROM THE RUSTY KNOCKER" +title="A RAG-BABY HUNG FROM THE RUSTY KNOCKER" /> +<p class="caption">"A RAG-BABY HUNG FROM THE RUSTY KNOCKER."</p> +</div> + +<p>All were evidently awaiting a summons to the festive board, but such +was the perfect breeding of these dolls that not a single eye out of +the whole twenty-seven (Dutch Hans had lost one of the black beads from +his worsted countenance) turned for a moment toward the table, or so +much as winked, as they lay in decorous rows, gazing with mute +admiration at Belinda. She, unable to repress the joy and pride which +swelled her sawdust bosom till the seams gaped, gave an occasional +bounce as the wind waved her yellow skirts or made the blue boots dance +a sort of jig upon the door. Hanging was evidently not a painful +operation, for she smiled contentedly, and looked as if the red ribbon +around her neck was not uncomfortably tight; therefore, if slow +suffocation suited <i>her</i>, who else had any right to complain? So a +pleasing silence reigned, not even broken by a snore from Dinah, the +top of whose turban alone was visible above the coverlet, or a cry from +baby Jane, though her bare feet stuck out in a way that would have +produced shrieks from a less well-trained infant.</p> + +<p>Presently voices were heard approaching, and through the arch which +led to a side path came two little girls, one carrying a small +pitcher, the other proudly bearing a basket covered with a napkin. +They looked like twins, but were not—for Bab was a year older +than Betty, though only an inch taller. Both had on brown calico +frocks, much the worse for a week's wear, but clean pink pinafores, in +honor of the occasion, made up for that, as well as the gray stockings +and thick boots. Both had round rosy faces rather sunburnt, pug noses +somewhat freckled, merry blue eyes, and braided tails of hair hanging +down their backs like those of the dear little Kenwigses.</p> + +<a name="image11" id="image11"></a> +<div class="imgcenter"> +<img src="images/image11.jpg" width="257" height="400" +alt="BAB AND BETTY ON THEIR WAY TO THE TEA-PARTY" +title="BAB AND BETTY ON THEIR WAY TO THE TEA-PARTY" /> +<p class="caption">BAB AND BETTY ON THEIR WAY TO THE TEA-PARTY.</p> +</div> + +<p>"Don't they look sweet?" cried Bab, gazing with maternal pride upon +the left-hand row of dolls, who might appropriately have sung in +chorus, "We are seven."</p> + +<p>"Very nice; but my Belinda beats them all. I do think she is the +splendidest child that ever was!" And Betty set down the basket to run +and embrace the suspended darling, just then kicking up her heels with +joyful abandon.</p> + +<p>"The cake can be cooling while we fix the children. It does smell +perfectly delicious!" said Bab, lifting the napkin to hang over the +basket, fondly regarding the little round loaf that lay inside.</p> + +<p>"Leave some smell for me!" commanded Betty, rushing back to get her +fair share of the spicy fragrance.</p> + +<p>The pug noses sniffed it up luxuriously, and the bright eyes feasted +upon the loveliness of the cake, so brown and shiny, with a +tipsy-looking B in pie-crust staggering down one side, instead of +sitting properly atop.</p> + +<p>"Ma let me put it on the very last minute, and it baked so hard I +couldn't pick it off. We can give Belinda that piece, so it's just as +well," observed Betty, taking the lead, as her child was queen of the +revel.</p> + +<p>"Let's set them round, so they can see too," proposed Bab, going, +with a hop, skip and jump, to collect her young family.</p> + +<p>Betty agreed, and for several minutes both were absorbed in seating +their dolls about the table, for some of the dear things were so limp +they wouldn't sit up, and others so stiff they wouldn't sit down, and +all sorts of seats had to be contrived to suit the peculiarities of +their spines. This arduous task accomplished, the fond mammas stepped +back to enjoy the spectacle, which, I assure you, was an impressive +one. Belinda sat with great dignity at the head, her hands genteelly +holding a pink cambric pocket-handkerchief in her lap. Josephus, her +cousin, took the foot, elegantly arrayed in a new suit of purple and +green gingham, with his speaking countenance much obscured by a straw +hat several sizes too large for him; while on either side sat guests of +every size, complexion and costume, producing a very gay and varied +effect, as all were dressed with a noble disregard of fashion.</p> + +<p>"They will like to see us get tea. Did you forget the buns?" +inquired Betty, anxiously.</p> + +<p>"No; got them in my pocket." And Bab produced from that chaotic +cupboard two rather stale and crumbly ones, saved from lunch for the +fete. These were cut up and arranged in plates, forming a graceful +circle around the cake, still in its basket.</p> + +<p>"Ma couldn't spare much milk, so we must mix water with it. Strong +tea isn't good for children, she says." And Bab contentedly surveyed +the gill of skim-milk which was to satisfy the thirst of the company.</p> + +<p>"While the tea draws and the cake cools let's sit down and rest; +I'm so tired!" sighed Betty, dropping down on the door-step and +stretching out the stout little legs which had been on the go all day; +for Saturday had its tasks as well as its fun, and much business had +preceded this unusual pleasure.</p> + +<p>Bab went and sat beside her, looking idly down the walk toward the +gate, where a fine cobweb shone in the afternoon sun.</p> + +<p>"Ma says she is going over the house in a day or two, now it is warm +and dry after the storm, and we may go with her. You know she wouldn't +take us in the fall, 'cause we had whooping-cough and it was damp +there. Now we shall see all the nice things; wont it be fun?" observed +Bab, after a pause.</p> + +<p>"Yes, indeed! Ma says there's lots of books in one room, and I can +look at 'em while she goes round. May be I'll have time to read some, +and then I can tell you," answered Betty, who dearly loved stories and +seldom got any new ones.</p> + +<p>"I'd rather see the old spinning-wheel up garret, and the big +pictures, and the queer clothes in the blue chest. It makes me mad to +have them all shut up there when we might have such fun with them. I'd +just like to bang that old door down!" And Bab twisted round to give +it a thump with her boots. "You needn't laugh; you know you 'd like it +as much as me," she added, twisting back again, rather ashamed of her +impatience.</p> + +<p>"I didn't laugh."</p> + +<p>"You did! Don't you suppose I know what laughing is?"</p> + +<p>"I guess I know I didn't."</p> + +<p>"You did laugh! How darst you tell such a fib?"</p> + +<p>"If you say that again I'll take Belinda and go right home; then +what will you do?"</p> + +<p>"I'll eat up the cake."</p> + +<p>"No, you wont! It's mine, ma said so, and you are only company, so +you'd better behave or I wont have any party at all, so now."</p> + +<p>This awful threat calmed Bab's anger at once, and she hastened to +introduce a safer subject.</p> + +<p>"Never mind; don't let's fight before the children. Do you know ma +says she will let us play in the coach-house next time it rains, and +keep the key if we want to."</p> + +<p>"Oh, goody! that's because we told her how we found the little +window under the woodbine, and didn't try to go in, though we might +have just as easy as not," cried Betty, appeased at once, for after a +ten years' acquaintance she had grown used to Bab's peppery temper.</p> + +<p>"I suppose the coach will be all dust and rats and spiders, but I +don't care. You and the dolls can be the passengers, and I shall sit +up in front and drive."</p> + +<p>"You always do. I shall like riding better than being horse all the +time with that old wooden bit in my mouth, and you jerking my arms +off," said poor Betty, who was tired of being horse all the time.</p> + +<p>"I guess we'd better go and get the water now," suggested Bab, +feeling that it was not safe to encourage her sister in such +complaints.</p> + +<p>"It is not many people who would dare to leave their children all +alone with such a lovely cake, and know they wouldn't pick at it," +said Betty proudly, as they trotted away to the spring, each with a +little tin pail in her hand.</p> + +<p>Alas, for the faith of these too confiding mammas! They were gone +about five minutes, and when they returned a sight met their +astonished eyes which produced a simultaneous shriek of horror. Flat +upon their faces lay the fourteen dolls, and the cake, the cherished +cake, was gone!</p> + +<p>For an instant the little girls could only stand motionless, gazing +at the dreadful scene. Then Bab cast her water-pail wildly away, and +doubling up her fist, cried out fiercely:</p> + +<p>"It was that Sally! She said she'd pay me for slapping her when she +pinched little Mary Ann, and now she has. I'll give it to her! You run +that way. I'll run this. Quick! quick!"</p> + +<p>Away they went, Bab racing straight on, and bewildered Betty turning +obediently round to trot in the opposite direction as fast as she +could, with the water splashing all over her as she ran, for she had +forgotten to put down her pail. Round the house they went, and met with +a crash at the back door, but no sign of the thief appeared.</p> + +<p>"In the lane!" shouted Bab.</p> + +<p>"Down by the spring!" panted Betty, and off they went again, one to +scramble up a pile of stones and look over the wall into the avenue, +the other to scamper to the spot they had just left. Still nothing +appeared but the dandelions' innocent faces looking up at Bab, and a +brown bird scared from his bath in the spring by Betty's hasty +approach.</p> + +<p>Back they rushed, but only to meet a new scare, which made them both +cry "Ow!" and fly into the porch for refuge.</p> + +<p>A strange dog was sitting calmly among the ruins of the feast, +licking his lips after basely eating up the last poor bits of bun when +he had bolted the cake, basket and all.</p> + +<p>"Oh, the horrid thing!" cried Bab, longing to give battle but +afraid, for the dog was a peculiar as well as a dishonest animal.</p> + +<p>"He looks like our China poodle, doesn't he?" whispered Betty, +making herself as small as possible behind her more valiant sister.</p> + +<p>He certainly did; for, though much dirtier than the well-washed +China dog, this live one had the same tassel at the end of his tail, +ruffles of hair round his ankles, and a body shaven behind and curly +before. His eyes, however, were yellow, instead of glassy black, like +the other's, his red nose worked as he cocked it up, as if smelling for +more cakes in the most impudent manner, and never during the three +years he had stood on the parlor mantel-piece had the China poodle done +the surprising feats with which this mysterious dog now proceeded to +astonish the little girls almost out of their wits.</p> + +<p>First he sat up, put his fore-paws together, and begged prettily; +then he suddenly flung his hind legs into the air, and walked about +with great ease. Hardly had they recovered from this shock when the +hind legs came down, the fore legs went up, and he paraded in a +soldierly manner to and fro, like a sentinel on guard. But the crowning +performance was when he took his tail in his mouth and waltzed down the +walk, over the prostrate dolls, to the gate and back again, barely +escaping a general upset of the ravaged table.</p> + +<p>Bab and Betty could only hold each other tight and squeal with +delight, for never had they seen anything so funny; but when the +gymnastics ended, and the dizzy dog came and stood on the step before +them barking loudly, with that pink nose of his sniffing at their feet +and his queer eyes fixed sharply upon them, their amusement turned to +fear again, and they dared not stir.</p> + +<p>"Whish, go away!" commanded Bab.</p> + +<p>"Scat!" meekly quavered Betty.</p> + +<p>To their great relief the poodle gave several more inquiring barks, +and then vanished as suddenly as he appeared. With one impulse the +children ran to see what became of him, and after a brisk scamper +through the orchard saw the tasseled tail disappear under the fence at +the far end.</p> + +<p>"Where <i>do</i> you s'pose he came from?" asked Betty, stopping to +rest on a big stone.</p> + +<p>"I'd like to know where he's gone, too, and give him a good beating, +old thief," scolded Bab, remembering their wrongs.</p> + +<p>"Oh dear, yes! I hope the cake burnt him dreadfully if he did eat +it," groaned Betty, sadly remembering the dozen good raisins she +chopped up, and the "lots of 'lasses" Ma put into the dear lost loaf.</p> + +<p>"The party's all spoilt, so we may as well go home," and Bab +mournfully led the way back.</p> + +<p>Betty puckered up her face to cry, but burst out laughing in spite +of her woe, "It was <i>so</i> funny to see him spin round and walk on +his head! I wish he'd do it all over again; don't you?"</p> + +<p>"Yes; but I hate him just the same. I wonder what ma will say +when—why! why!"—and Bab stopped short in the arch, with +her eyes as round and almost as large as the blue saucers on the +tea-tray.</p> + +<p>"What is it? oh, what is it?" cried Betty, all ready to run away if +any new terror appeared.</p> + +<p>"Look! there! it's come back!" said Bab in an awe-stricken whisper, +pointing to the table.</p> + +<p>Betty did look and her eyes opened even wider,—as well they +might,—for there, just where they first put it, was the lost +cake, unhurt, unchanged, except that the big B. had coasted a little +further down the gingerbread hill.</p> + +<hr class="short" /> + +<h3>CHAPTER II.</h3> + +<h4>WHERE THEY FOUND HIS MASTER.</h4> + +<p>Neither spoke for a minute, astonishment being too great for words; +then, as by one impulse, both stole up and touched the cake with a +timid little finger, quite prepared to see it fly away in some +mysterious and startling manner. It remained sitting tranquilly in the +basket, however, and the children drew a long breath of relief, for, +though they did not believe in fairies, the late performances did seem +rather like witchcraft.</p> + +<p>"The dog didn't eat it!"</p> + +<p>"Sally didn't take it!"</p> + +<p>"How do you know?"</p> + +<p>"<i>She</i> never would have put it back."</p> + +<p>"Who did?"</p> + +<p>"Can't tell, but I forgive 'em."</p> + +<p>"What shall we do now?" asked Betty, feeling as if it would be very +difficult to settle down to a quiet tea-party after such unusual +excitement.</p> + +<p>"Eat that cake up just as fast as ever we can," and Bab divided the +contested delicacy with one chop of the big knife, bound to make sure +of her own share at all events.</p> + +<p>It did not take long, for they washed it down with sips of milk and +ate as fast as possible, glancing round all the while to see if the +queer dog was coming again.</p> + +<p>"There! now I'd like to see any one take <i>my</i> cake away," said +Bab, defiantly crunching her half of the pie-crust B.</p> + +<p>"Or mine either," coughed Betty, choking over a raisin that +wouldn't go down in a hurry.</p> + +<p>"We might as well clear up, and play there had been an earthquake," +suggested Bab, feeling that some such convulsion of nature was needed +to explain satisfactorily the demoralized condition of her family.</p> + +<p>"That will be splendid. My poor Linda was knocked right over on her +nose. Darlin' child, come to your mother and be fixed," purred Betty, +lifting the fallen idol from a grove of chickweed, and tenderly +brushing the dirt from Belinda's heroically smiling face.</p> + +<p>"She'll have croup to-night as sure as the world. We'd better make +up some squills out of this sugar and water," said Bab, who dearly +loved to dose the dollies all round.</p> + +<p>"P'r'aps she will, but you needn't begin to sneeze yet awhile. I can +sneeze for my own children, thank you, ma'am," returned Betty, sharply, +for her usually amiable spirit had been ruffled by the late +occurrences.</p> + +<p>"I didn't sneeze! I've got enough to do to talk and cry and cough +for my own poor dears without bothering about yours," cried Bab, even +more ruffled than her sister.</p> + +<p>"Then who did? I heard a real, live sneeze just as plain as +anything," and Betty looked up to the green roof above her, as if the +sound came from that direction.</p> + +<p>A yellow-bird sat swinging and chirping on the tall lilac-bush, but +no other living thing was in sight.</p> + +<p>"Birds don't sneeze, do they?" asked Betty, eying little Goldy +suspiciously.</p> + +<p>"You goose! of course they don't."</p> + +<p>"Well, I should just like to know who is laughing and sneezing round +here. May be it is the dog," suggested Betty, looking relieved.</p> + +<p>"I never heard of a dog's laughing, except Mother Hubbard's. This is +such a queer one, may be he can, though. I wonder where he went to?" +and Bab took a patient survey down both the side paths, quite longing +to see the funny poodle again.</p> + +<p>"I know where <i>I'm</i> going to," said Betty, piling the dolls +into her apron with more haste than care. "I'm going right straight +home to tell Ma all about it. I don't like such actions, and I'm +afraid to stay."</p> + +<p>"I aint; but I guess it is going to rain, so I shall have to go +anyway," answered Bab, taking advantage of the black clouds rolling up +the sky, for <i>she</i> scorned to own that she was afraid of anything.</p> + +<p>Clearing the table in a summary manner by catching up the four +corners of the cloth, Bab put the rattling bundle into her apron, +flung her children on the top, and pronounced herself ready to depart. +Betty lingered an instant to pick up odds and ends that might be +spoilt by the rain, and when she turned from taking the red halter off +the knocker, two lovely pink roses lay on the stone steps.</p> + +<p>"Oh, Bab, just see! Here's the very ones we wanted. Wasn't it nice +of the wind to blow 'em down?" she called out, picking them up and +running after her sister, who had strolled moodily along, still +looking about her for her sworn foe, Sally Folsom.</p> + +<p>The flowers soothed the feelings of the little girls, because they +had longed for them, and bravely resisted the temptation to climb up +the trellis and help themselves, since their mother had forbidden such +feats, owing to a fall Bab got trying to reach a honeysuckle from the +vine which ran all over the porch.</p> + +<p>Home they went and poured out their tale, to Mrs. Moss's great +amusement, for she saw in it only some playmate's prank, and was not +much impressed by the mysterious sneeze and laugh.</p> + +<p>"We'll have a grand rummage Monday, and find out what is going on +over there," was all she said.</p> + +<p>But Mrs. Moss could not keep her promise, for on Monday it still +rained, and the little girls paddled off to school like a pair of young +ducks, enjoying every puddle they came to, since India rubber boots +made wading a delicious possibility. They took their dinner, and at +noon regaled a crowd of comrades with an account of the mysterious dog, +who appeared to be haunting the neighborhood, as several of the other +children had seen him examining their back yards with interest. He had +begged of them, but to none had he exhibited his accomplishments except +Bab and Betty, and they were therefore much set up, and called him "our +dog" with an air. The cake transaction remained a riddle, for Sally +Folsom solemnly declared that she was playing tag in Mamie Snow's barn +at that identical time. No one had been near the old house but the two +children, and no one could throw any light upon that singular affair.</p> + +<p>It produced a great effect, however; for even "teacher" was +interested, and told such amazing tales of a juggler she once saw that +doughnuts were left forgotten in dinner-baskets, and wedges of pie +remained suspended in the air for several minutes at a time, instead of +vanishing with miraculous rapidity as usual. At afternoon recess, which +the girls had first, Bab nearly dislocated every joint of her little +body trying to imitate the poodle's antics. She had practiced on her +bed with great success, but the wood-shed floor was a different thing, +as her knees and elbows soon testified.</p> + +<p>"It looked just as easy as anything; I don't see how he did it," she +said, coming down with a bump after vainly attempting to walk on her +hands.</p> + +<p>"My gracious, there he is this very minute!" cried Betty, who sat +on a little wood-pile near the door.</p> + +<p>There was a general rush, and sixteen small girls gazed out into the +rain as eagerly as if to behold Cinderella's magic coach, instead of +one forlorn dog trotting by through the mud.</p> + +<p>"Oh, do call him in and make him dance!" cried the girls, all +chirping at once, till it sounded as if a flock of sparrows had taken +possession of the shed.</p> + +<p>"<i>I</i> will call him, he knows <i>me</i>," and Bab scrambled up, +forgetting how she had chased the poodle and called him names two days +ago.</p> + +<p>He evidently had not forgotten, for though he paused and looked +wistfully at them, he would not approach, but stood dripping in the +rain with his frills much bedraggled, while his tasseled tail wagged +slowly, and his pink nose pointed suggestively to the pails and +baskets, nearly empty now.</p> + +<p>"He's hungry; give him something to eat, and then he'll see that we +don't want to hurt him," suggested Sally, starting a contribution with +her last bit of bread and butter.</p> + +<p>Bab caught up her new pail, and collected all the odds and ends, +then tried to beguile the poor beast in to eat and be comforted. But +he only came as far as the door, and sitting up, begged with such +imploring eyes that Bab put down the pail and stepped back, saying +pitifully:</p> + +<p>"The poor thing is starved; let him eat all he wants and we wont +touch him."</p> + +<p>The girls drew back with little clucks of interest and compassion, +but I regret to say their charity was not rewarded as they expected, +for, the minute the coast was clear, the dog marched boldly up, seized +the handle of the pail in his mouth, and was off with it, galloping +down the road at a great pace. Shrieks arose from the children, +especially Bab and Betty, basely bereaved of their new dinner-pail; +but no one could follow the thief, for the bell rang, and in they +went, so much excited that the boys rushed tumultuously forth to +discover the cause.</p> + +<p>By the time school was over the sun was out, and Bab and Betty +hastened home to tell their wrongs and be comforted by mother, who did +it most effectually.</p> + +<p>"Nevermind, dears, I'll get you another pail, if he doesn't bring it +back as he did before. As it is too wet for you to play out, you shall +go and see the old coach-house as I promised. Keep on your rubbers and +come along."</p> + +<p>This delightful prospect much assuaged their woe, and away they +went, skipping gayly down the graveled path, while Mrs. Moss followed, +with skirts well tucked up, and a great bunch of keys in her hand, for +she lived at the Lodge and had charge of the premises.</p> + +<p>The small door of the coach-house was fastened inside, but the large +one had a padlock on it, and this being quickly unfastened, one half +swung open, and the little girls ran in, too eager and curious even to +cry out when they found themselves at last in possession of the +long-coveted old carriage. A dusty, musty concern enough, but it had a +high seat, a door, steps that let down, and many other charms which +rendered it most desirable in the eyes of children.</p> + +<p>Bab made straight for the box and Betty for the door, but both came +tumbling down faster than they went up, when, from the gloom of the +interior came a shrill bark, and a low voice saying quickly: "Down, +Sancho, down!"</p> + +<p>"Who is there?" demanded Mrs. Moss, in a stern tone, backing toward +the door with both children clinging to her skirts.</p> + +<p>The well-known curly white head was popped out of the broken window, +and a mild whine seemed to say, "Don't be alarmed, ladies; we wont hurt +you."</p> + +<p>"Come out this minute, or I shall have to come to get you," called +Mrs. Moss, growing very brave all of a sudden as she caught sight of a +pair of small, dusty shoes under the coach.</p> + +<p>"Yes 'm, I'm coming as fast as I can," answered a meek voice, as +what appeared to be a bundle of rags leaped out of the dark, followed +by the poodle, who immediately sat down at the bare feet of his owner +with a watchful air, as if ready to assault any one who might approach +too near.</p> + +<p>"Now, then, who are you, and how did you get here?" asked Mrs. Moss, +trying to speak sternly, though her motherly eyes were already full of +pity as they rested on the forlorn little figure before her.</p> + +<hr class="short" /> + +<h3>CHAPTER III.</h3> + +<h4>BEN.</h4> + +<p>"Please 'm, my name is Ben Brown, and I'm traveling."</p> + +<p>"Where are you going?"</p> + +<p>"Anywheres to get work."</p> + +<p>"What sort of work can you do?"</p> + +<p>"All kinds. I'm used to horses."</p> + +<p>"Bless me! such a little chap as you?"</p> + +<p>"I'm twelve, ma'am, and can ride anything on four legs;" and the +small boy gave a nod that seemed to say, "Bring on your Cruisers. I'm +ready for 'em."</p> + +<p>"Haven't you got any folks?" asked Mrs. Moss, amused but still +anxious, for the sunburnt face was very thin, the eyes big with hunger +or pain, and the ragged figure leaned on the wheel as if too weak or +weary to stand alone.</p> + +<p>"No,'m, not of my own; and the people I was left with beat me so, +I—run away." The last words seemed to bolt out against his will, +as if the woman's sympathy irresistibly won the child's confidence.</p> + +<p>"Then I don't blame you. But how did you get here?"</p> + +<p>"I was so tired I couldn't go any further, and I thought the folks +up here at the big house would take me in. But the gate was locked, +and I was so discouraged, I jest lay down outside and give up."</p> + +<p>"Poor little soul, I don't wonder," said Mrs. Moss, while the +children looked deeply interested at mention of <i>their</i> gate.</p> + +<p>The boy drew a long breath, and his eyes began to twinkle in spite +of his forlorn state as he went on, while the dog pricked up his ears +at mention of his name:</p> + +<p>"While I was restin' I heard some one come along inside, and I +peeked, and saw them little girls playin'. The vittles looked so nice I +couldn't help wantin' 'em; but I didn't take nothin',—it was +Sancho, and he took the cake for me."</p> + +<p>Bab and Betty gave a gasp and stared reproachfully at the poodle, +who half closed his eyes with a meek, unconscious look that was very +droll.</p> + +<p>"And you made him put it back?" cried Bab.</p> + +<p>"No; I did it myself. Got over the gate when you was racin' after +Sanch, and then clim' up on the porch and hid," said the boy, with a +grin.</p> + +<p>"And you laughed?" asked Bab.</p> + +<p>"Yes."</p> + +<p>"And sneezed?" added Betty.</p> + +<p>"Yes."</p> + +<p>"And threw down the roses?" cried both.</p> + +<p>"Yes; and you liked 'em, didn't you?"</p> + +<p>"Course we did! What made you hide?" said Bab.</p> + +<p>"I wasn't fit to be seen," muttered Ben, glancing at his tatters as +if he'd like to dive out of sight into the dark coach again.</p> + +<p>"How came you <i>here</i>?" demanded Mrs. Moss, suddenly +remembering her responsibility.</p> + +<p>"I heard them talk about a little winder and a shed, and when they'd +gone I found it and come in. The glass was broke, and I only pulled the +nail out. I haven't done a mite of harm sleepin' here two nights. I was +so tuckered out I couldn't go on nohow, though I tried a Sunday."</p> + +<p>"And came back again?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, 'm; it was so lonesome in the rain, and this place seemed +kinder like home, and I could hear 'em talkin' outside, and Sanch he +found vittles, and I was pretty comfortable."</p> + +<p>"Well, I never!" ejaculated Mrs. Moss, whisking up a corner of her +apron to wipe her eyes, for the thought of the poor little fellow alone +there for two days and nights with no bed but musty straw, no food but +the scraps a dog brought him, was too much for her. "Do you know what +I'm going to do with you?" she asked, trying to look calm and cool, +with a great tear running down her wholesome, red cheek, and a smile +trying to break out at the corners of her lips.</p> + +<p>"No, ma'am; and I dunno as I care. Only don't be hard on Sanch; he's +been real good to me, and we're fond of one another; aint us, old +chap?" answered the boy, with his arm around the dog's neck, and an +anxious look which he had not worn for himself.</p> + +<p>"I'm going to take you right home, and wash and feed and put you in +a good bed, and to-morrow—well, we'll see what'll happen then," +said Mrs. Moss, not quite sure about it herself.</p> + +<p>"You're very kind, ma'am. I'll be glad to work for you. Aint you +got a horse I can see to?" asked the boy, eagerly.</p> + +<p>"Nothing but hens and a cat."</p> + +<p>Bab and Betty burst out laughing when their mother said that, and +Ben gave a faint giggle, as if he would like to join in if he only had +the strength to do it. But his legs shook under him, and he felt a +queer dizziness; so he could only hold on to Sancho, and blink at the +light like a young owl.</p> + +<p>"Come right along, child. Run on, girls, and put the rest of the +broth to warming, and fill the kettle. I'll see to the boy," commanded +Mrs. Moss, waving off the children, and going up to feel the pulse of +her new charge, for it suddenly occurred to her that he might be sick +and not safe to take home.</p> + +<p>The hand he gave her was very thin, but clean and cool, and the +black eyes were clear though hollow, for the poor lad was half starved.</p> + +<p>"I'm awful shabby, but I aint dirty. I had a washin' in the rain +last night, and I've jest about lived on water lately," he explained, +wondering why she looked at him so hard.</p> + +<p>"Put out your tongue."</p> + +<p>He did so, but took it in again to say quickly:</p> + +<p>"I aint sick—I'm only hungry; for I haven't had a mite but +what Sanch brought for three days, and I always go halves; don't I, +Sanch?"</p> + +<p>The poodle gave a shrill bark, and vibrated excitedly between the +door and his master as if he understood all that was going on, and +recommended a speedy march toward the promised food and shelter. Mrs. +Moss took the hint, and bade the boy follow her at once and bring his +"things" with him.</p> + +<p>"I aint got any. Some big fellers took away my bundle, else I +wouldn't look so bad. There's only this. I'm sorry Sanch took it, and +I'd like to give it back if I knew whose it was," said Ben, bringing +the new dinner pail out from the depths of the coach where he had gone +to housekeeping.</p> + +<p>"That's soon done; it's mine, and you're welcome to the bits your +queer dog ran off with. Come along, I must lock up," and Mrs. Moss +clanked her keys suggestively.</p> + +<p>Ben limped out, leaning on a broken hoe-handle, for he was stiff +after two days in such damp lodgings, as well as worn out with a +fortnight's wandering through sun and rain. Sancho was in great +spirits, evidently feeling that their woes were over and his foraging +expeditions at an end, for he frisked about his master with yelps of +pleasure, or made playful darts at the ankles of his benefactress, +which caused her to cry, "Whish!" and "Scat!" and shake her skirts at +him as if he were a cat or hen.</p> + +<a name="image12" id="image12"></a> +<div class="imgcenter"> +<img src="images/image12.jpg" width="307" height="400" +alt="GETTING BEN'S SUPPER" title="GETTING BEN'S SUPPER" /> +<p class="caption">GETTING BEN'S SUPPER.</p> +</div> + +<p>A hot fire was roaring in the stove under the broth-skillet and +tea-kettle, and Betty was poking in more wood, with a great smirch of +black on her chubby cheek, while Bab was cutting away at the loaf as if +bent on slicing her own fingers off. Before Ben knew what he was about, +he found himself in the old rocking-chair devouring bread and butter as +only a hungry boy can, with Sancho close by gnawing a mutton-bone like +a ravenous wolf in sheep's clothing.</p> + +<p>While the new-comers were thus happily employed, Mrs. Moss beckoned +the little girls out of the room, and gave them both an errand.</p> + +<p>"Bab, you run over to Mrs. Barton's, and ask her for any old duds +Billy don't want; and Betty, you go to the Cutters, and tell Miss +Clarindy I'd like a couple of the shirts we made at last sewing circle. +Any shoes, or a hat, or socks, would come handy, for the poor dear +hasn't a whole thread on him."</p> + +<p>Away went the children full of anxiety to clothe their beggar, and +so well did they plead his cause with the good neighbors, that Ben +hardly knew himself when he emerged from the back bedroom half an hour +later, clothed in Billy Barton's faded flannel suit, with an +unbleached cotton shirt out of the Dorcas basket, and a pair of Milly +Cutter's old shoes on his feet.</p> + +<p>Sancho also had been put in better trim, for, after his master had +refreshed himself with a warm bath, he gave his dog a good scrub, while +Mrs. Moss set a stitch here and there in the new old clothes, and +Sancho re-appeared, looking more like the china poodle than ever, being +as white as snow, his curls well brushed up, and his tassely tail +waving proudly over his back.</p> + +<p>Feeling eminently respectable and comfortable, the wanderers humbly +presented themselves, and were greeted with smiles of approval from the +little girls and a hospitable welcome from "Ma," who set them near the +stove to dry, as both were decidedly damp after their ablutions.</p> + +<p>"I declare I shouldn't have known you!" exclaimed the good woman, +surveying the boy with great satisfaction; for, though still very thin +and tired, the lad had a tidy look that pleased her, and a lively way +of moving about in his clothes, like an eel in a skin rather too big +for him. The merry black eyes seemed to see everything, the voice had +an honest sound, and the sun-burnt face looked several years younger +since the unnatural despondency had gone out of it.</p> + +<p>"It's very nice, and me and Sanch are lots obliged, ma'am," murmured +Ben, getting red and bashful under the three pairs of friendly eyes +fixed upon him.</p> + +<p>Bab and Betty were doing up the tea-things with unusual dispatch, so +that they might entertain their guest, and just as Ben spoke Bab +dropped a cup. To her great surprise no smash followed, for, bending +quickly, the boy caught it as it fell, and presented it to her on the +back of his hand with a little bow.</p> + +<a name="image13" id="image13"></a> +<div class="imgcenter"> +<img src="images/image13.jpg" width="400" height="257" +alt="BEN PRESENTED IT TO HER ON THE BACK OF HIS HAND." +title="BEN PRESENTED IT TO HER ON THE BACK OF HIS HAND." /> +<p class="caption">"BEN PRESENTED IT TO HER ON THE BACK OF HIS HAND."</p> +</div> + +<p>"Gracious! how could you do it?" asked Bab, looking as if she +thought there was magic about it.</p> + +<p>"That's nothing; look here," and taking two plates Ben sent them +spinning up into the air, catching and throwing so rapidly that Bab and +Betty stood with their mouths open, as if to swallow the plates should +they fall, while Mrs. Moss, with her dish-cloth suspended, watched the +antics of her crockery with a housewife's anxiety.</p> + +<p>"That does beat all!" was the only exclamation she had time to make, +for, as if desirous of showing his gratitude in the only way he could, +Ben took several clothes-pins from a basket near by, sent several +saucers twirling up, caught them on the pins, balanced the pins on +chin, nose, forehead, and went walking about with a new and peculiar +sort of toad-stool ornamenting his countenance.</p> + +<p>The children were immensely tickled, and Mrs. Moss was so amused she +would have lent her best soup-tureen if he had expressed a wish for it. +But Ben was too tired to show all his accomplishments at once, and he +soon stopped, looking as if he almost regretted having betrayed that he +possessed any.</p> + +<p>"I guess you've been in the juggling business," said Mrs. Moss, +with a wise nod, for she saw the same look on his face as when he said +his name was Ben Brown,—the look of one who was not telling the +whole truth.</p> + +<p>"Yes, 'm. I used to help Senior Pedro, the Wizard of the World, and +I learned some of his tricks," stammered Ben, trying to seem innocent.</p> + +<p>"Now, look here, boy, you'd better tell me the whole story, and +tell it true, or I shall have to send you up to Judge Allen. I +wouldn't like to do that, for he is a harsh sort of a man; so, if you +haven't done anything bad, you needn't be afraid to speak out, and +I'll do what I can for you," said Mrs. Moss, rather sternly, as she +went and sat down in her rocking-chair, as if about to open the court.</p> + +<p>"I <i>haven't</i> done anything bad, and I <i>aint</i> afraid, only +I don't want to go back; and if I tell, may be you'll let 'em know +where I be," said Ben, much distressed between his longing to confide +in his new friend and his fear of his old enemies.</p> + +<p>"If they abused you, of course I wouldn't. Tell the truth and I'll +stand by you. Girls, you go for the milk."</p> + +<p>"Oh, Ma, do let us stay! We'll never tell, truly, truly!" cried Bab +and Betty, full of dismay at being sent off when secrets were about to +be divulged.</p> + +<p>"I don't mind 'em," said Ben, handsomely.</p> + +<p>"Very well, only hold your tongues. Now, boy, where did you come +from?" said Mrs. Moss, as the little girls hastily sat down together +on their private and particular bench opposite their mother, brimming +with curiosity and beaming with satisfaction at the prospect before +them.</p> + +<div class="center"> +<i>(To be continued.)</i> +</div> + +<hr /> + +<h2><a name="pottery" id="pottery">A CHAT ABOUT POTTERY.</a></h2> + +<hr class="tiny" /> +<div class="center">BY EDWIN C. TAYLOR.</div> +<hr class="tiny" /> + +<p>"Did you see those funny little china figures at the Centennial when +you were there?" asked Willie of his cousin Al on their way home from +school one day.</p> + +<p>"What figures, Will? Do you mean those large red clay things from +England, or the Chinese figures that Mr. Wu had at his place?" said Al.</p> + +<p>"I don't mean either; I said small figures. Don't you remember a +splendid show of pottery near the music-stand in the main building?" +asked Will.</p> + +<p>"Yes," said Al. "Well, there was a lot of figures of London street +people, and some were the funniest-looking things you ever saw."</p> + +<p>"I saw so much china and 'pottery,' as you call it, that I hardly +recollect any of it. But 'pottery,' I thought, meant merely flower-pots +and other ordinary stone-ware?"</p> + +<p>"Why, no," said Willie; "it means anything that is formed of earth +and hardened by fire. I heard Uncle Jack say so, and he knows, doesn't +he?" said Willie, decidedly.</p> + +<p>"Of course; but people do call these things 'china' or 'porcelain' +as well as 'pottery,' don't they?"</p> + +<p>"Yes; but Uncle Jack says 'pottery' means all those together, and +'porcelain,' 'majolica,' and other names like that are names of +different kinds of pottery," answered Willie.</p> + +<p>"Well," said Al, "let's ask Uncle Jack to tell us all about it. +What do you say?"</p> + +<p>"Yes; let's ask him this very night."</p> + +<p>When the lads reached home they told their plan to Willie's sister +Matie, and then all three determined to carry it out.</p> + +<p>"Rap-a-tap, tap," sounded briskly at the library door after supper. +"Come in," was the response, and in bounded the three children, their +faces lighted up with smiles at the prospect of spending an evening +with Uncle Jack.</p> + +<p>"Welcome, youngsters," said he, in a cheery tone. "But you look as +if you were expecting something; what is it?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, Uncle Jack, we want you to tell us all about pottery," cried +the boys.</p> + +<p>"Yes, please do," chimed in Matie.</p> + +<p>"All about pottery? Why, my dear children, that's very like asking +me to tell you all about the whole civilized world, for a complete +history of one would be almost a history of the other; and I could +hardly do that, you know," said Uncle Jack, with a smile.</p> + +<p>"Willie said you could talk about pottery all night," cried Matie.</p> + +<p>"And so I might, dear, and not get further than the ABC of its +history, after all," answered Uncle Jack.</p> + +<p>"But how many kinds are there, uncle?" asked Will.</p> + +<p>"That question demands an answer that must teach something," said +Uncle Jack. "There are two general kinds."</p> + +<a name="image16" id="image16"></a> +<div class="imgright"> +<img src="images/image16.jpg" width="261" height="300" +alt="Tea-stand" title="Tea-stand" /> +<p class="caption">TEA-STAND<br /><span class="small">(ROYAL WORCESTER +PORCELAIN)</span></p> +</div> + +<p>"Why, I saw a thousand kinds at the Centennial," interrupted Al, +with a wise look.</p> + +<p>"That may be," said his uncle. "But then, too, you saw a thousand +kinds of people, and yet all those people were either men or women; so +all pottery comes under the two general classes of 'hard paste' and +'soft paste.'"</p> + +<p>"Why, none of it was soft, Uncle Jack, was it? I thought it was all +baked hard," said Will, looking incredulous.</p> + +<p>"So all pottery <i>is</i> baked hard, for, until it is made hard by +firing, it is only wet clay and sand,—in pretty shapes, perhaps, +but not fit for any use or ornament,—and is not yet pottery."</p> + +<p>"Then why is it called 'soft?'"</p> + +<p>"You've seen pieces of stone that you could grind to powder under +your heel? You'd call them 'soft.' Other pieces you couldn't crush, and +you'd call them 'hard.' That is something like what is meant by 'hard' +and 'soft' applied to pottery,—at least, 'soft' doesn't mean +soft like putty."</p> + +<p>"But if it's all baked, why isn't it all hard alike?" asked Will.</p> + +<p>"Because different clays are used, and different degrees of heat +applied. At one time we get a kind of pottery that can be scratched +with a knife, at another a ware too hard to be so scratched; the one is +called 'soft paste' and the other 'hard paste.'"</p> + +<p>The boys seemed to be satisfied with this explanation.</p> + +<a name="image14" id="image14"></a> +<div class="imgleft"> +<img src="images/image14.jpg" width="164" height="300" +alt="LONDON CABMAN" title="LONDON CABMAN" /> +<p class="caption">LONDON CABMAN<br /><span class="small">(ROYAL +WORCESTER PORCELAIN)</span></p> +</div> + +<p>"Uncle, didn't you see at the Centennial some funny little figures +representing all sorts of London street-people?" asked Will.</p> + +<p>"Yes, and I brought one with me, I think. Ah! here's one," he said, +showing them a droll little man about four inches high, "and it looks +very like a London cabman—or 'cabby,' as he is called."</p> + +<p>"He's very homely," said Matie. "Where was he made, Uncle Jack?"</p> + +<p>Her uncle turned the figure over, and, looking at a small round +impression on the under side, answered: "At the Royal Worcester Works +in England, where some of the best of modern porcelain has been +made."</p> + +<p>"Is that hard paste or soft, Uncle Jack?" asked Willie, while Al, +as if inclined to test the matter, began a search in his pockets for a +knife.</p> + +<p>"This is hard paste porcelain; it is 'translucent,'—that is, +it shows the light through," and he held the little cabman before the +lamp.</p> + +<p>"Here's another piece from the same factory," continued he, +selecting a second specimen from the cabinet. "This is a copy of the +Chinese 'conventional dog,' made of blue 'crackle-ware.' You see, the +glaze is cracked all over the surface," he added.</p> + +<a name="image15" id="image15"></a> +<div class="imgcenter"> +<img src="images/image15.jpg" width="268" height="300" +alt="CHINESE DOG" title="CHINESE DOG" /> +<p class="caption">CHINESE DOG<br /><span class="small">(ROYAL +WORCESTER PORCELAIN)</span></p> +</div> + +<p>"Who ever saw a blue dog?" cried Matie.</p> + +<p>"In life, no one, my dear; but there are many things in Chinese art +that are not much like living objects."</p> + +<a name="image17" id="image17"></a> +<div class="imgright"> +<img src="images/image17.jpg" width="178" height="300" +alt="DRESDEN CHINA" title="DRESDEN CHINA" /> +<p class="caption">DRESDEN CHINA.</p> +</div> + +<p>"I suppose you have all heard of Dresden china," presently continued +her uncle.</p> + +<p>"Oh yes, sir!" cried Al. "Aunt Susie had a Dresden tea-pot that +belonged to her grandmother, and she said the tea always tasted better +out of it than from anything else."</p> + +<p>"Well, here is an excellent French copy of an old Dresden figure. +It is a pretty flower-girl. See how gracefully she reaches for a +nosegay from her basket. I have seen bouquets of Dresden porcelain +that you could hardly distinguish from real flowers," said Uncle Jack.</p> + +<p>"You'd hardly think that such a beautiful thing was made from common +earth," said Will.</p> + +<p>"Nor is it," said his uncle. "This kind of china is made from a very +fine and very rare clay that, for a long time, was found only in China +and the Corean islands; but about a hundred and sixty years ago, a +noted chemist of Meissen, in Saxony, named Böttcher, discovered a bed +of it there, and manufactured the first true porcelain made in Europe," +said Uncle Jack.</p> + +<p>"Why couldn't they get the fine clay from China and make their +porcelain anywhere?" asked Will.</p> + +<a name="image19a" id="image19a"></a> +<div class="imgleft"> +<img src="images/image19a.png" width="95" height="163" +alt="MARK OF DRESDEN CHINA" title="MARK OF DRESDEN CHINA" /> +<p class="caption">MARK OF<br />DRESDEN CHINA.</p> +</div> + +<p>"Because the Chinese jealously kept all their clay to themselves," +answered Uncle Jack.</p> + +<p>"How did that man come to discover where the clay was, and if it +was of the right kind?" asked Al.</p> + +<a name="image19b" id="image19b"></a> +<div class="imgright"> +<img src="images/image19b.png" width="112" height="163" +alt="MARK OF WORCESTER PORCELAIN" title="MARK OF WORCESTER PORCELAIN" /> +<p class="caption">MARK OF<br />WORCESTER PORCELAIN.</p> +</div> + +<p>"By a strange chance. According to the fashion of the time, men +powdered their hair, using wheat flour for that purpose. One day a +neighbor of the chemist, in traveling an unfrequented part of the +country, observed on his horse's hoofs some white sticky clay, and it +occurred to him that this white clay, dried and powdered, would make an +excellent and cheap substitute for wheat flour as a hair powder. So he +carried a little home with him, and some of it finally reached +Böttcher. The chemist found it extremely heavy, and, fearing the +presence of some metal hurtful to the skin, he tested the clay in his +laboratory. To his surprise and joy this white hair-powder proved +itself possessed of the same qualities as the veritable Chinese +<i>kaolin</i>, as their clay is called."</p> + +<p>"Why, that sounds like a story," said Matie.</p> + +<a name="image18" id="image18"></a> +<div class="imgleft"> +<img src="images/image18.jpg" width="184" height="300" +alt="TERRA COTTA VASE" title="TERRA COTTA VASE" /> +<p class="caption">TERRA COTTA VASE.</p> +</div> + +<p>"Here now," said Uncle Jack, "is a vase; that might carry the mind +back thousands of years, to the time when bodies were burned instead of +buried, and the ashes kept in just such urns as this."</p> + +<p>"Is that vase thousands of years old?" asked Matie.</p> + +<p>"No, dear; this vase is only modeled after the ancient cinerary +urns, as they were called, and was made a year or two ago by Ipsen, of +Copenhagen."</p> + +<p>"That isn't porcelain, is it, uncle?" asked Al.</p> + +<p>"No, this is 'terra cotta,' which is Italian for 'earth cooked.' +Those beautiful lines of color and gilding are painted on the +surface."</p> + +<p>"Did you ever see any real antique vases, uncle?" asked Willie.</p> + +<p>"Why, certainly. There are some in the Cesnola collection at our +Metropolitan Museum of Art in Fourteenth street that are known to have +been made 1,400 years before the Christian era. They were found on the +island of Cyprus, in the Mediterranean Sea, by General Di Cesnola, who +dug up a great many articles,—statues, ornaments of gold, silver +and bronze, beautiful glass bottles, and many domestic utensils. I saw +a cullender made of such earthenware as we have in the kitchen at this +day; it had been used as a milk-strainer, and particles of dried milk +were still clinging to its sides, after lying buried more than three +thousand years."</p> + +<p>"Oh, we must go and see them!" cried Matie and the boys.</p> + +<p>"Yes, you certainly should go," said their uncle. "You would see +some very curious things there, and the elegant forms of many of the +articles would show you that a love for beauty has existed almost as +long as man has lived."</p> + +<a name="image20" id="image20"></a> +<div class="imgright"> +<img src="images/image20.jpg" width="225" height="301" +alt="JEWELED PORCELAIN" title="JEWELED PORCELAIN" /> +<p class="caption">JEWELED PORCELAIN.</p> +</div> + +<p>"You were thinking of ancient times when you said the history of +pottery was almost that of the civilized world; weren't you, uncle?" +asked Will.</p> + +<p>"Yes," answered his uncle, taking from his cabinet a small jug +covered with rich gilding, and glistening as if set with precious +stones.</p> + +<p>"Oh, isn't that lovely?" cried Matie.</p> + +<p>"Well, yes; some people think that this jeweled porcelain, as it is +called, is among the choicest of Copeland's works."</p> + +<p>"Whose, sir?"</p> + +<p>"Copeland, of Stoke-upon-Trent, where are some of the largest +potteries in England."</p> + +<p>"But don't you like it, uncle?" asked Matie.</p> + +<p>"I do admire it very much, Matie; but not so much as some more +simple objects that I have. Here is something that will explain my +meaning," he added, taking from the cabinet a little vase of +grayish-brown with darker indented lines drawn in the form of small +animals, flowers and foliage.</p> + +<a name="image21" id="image21"></a> +<div class="imgleft"> +<img src="images/image21.jpg" width="181" height="300" +alt="DOULTON WARE" title="DOULTON WARE" /> +<p class="caption">DOULTON WARE.</p> +</div> + +<p>"Oh, I've seen ever so many pieces like that, and I thought they +were common stone-ware, the same as the kitchen dishes," said Al.</p> + +<p>"They are of common clay, it is true, but look at the drawing of the +figures," said his uncle, pointing to the tracery upon the surface of +the vase.</p> + +<p>"Why, yes; it almost seems as if that little rabbit would run away, +it is so life-like," said Willie.</p> + +<p>"It was not only for its beauty that I valued this vase, but for the +story that it tells," said Uncle Jack. "In the first place it tells +that the simple earth we walk upon can be made by man into works of +enduring beauty."</p> + +<p>"Where was that vase made, uncle?" asked Willie.</p> + +<p>"At the Doulton Works, Lambeth, England."</p> + +<p>"What is the rest of the story about it?" inquired Al.</p> + +<p>"For many years, common drain-pipes and building-tiles were the only +things made at the Doulton works; but some of the pottery people went +to an art school, and they thought it would be a good idea to ornament +some of the common things they made with the designs they had learned +to draw at school. So, with a bit of pointed stick, they made some of +their favorite pictures on the soft clay objects; and when these were +fired, the glaze flowed into the lines, making them darker than the +other parts, and thus the drawings showed plainly."</p> + +<p>"And since they found that out, have they given up making common +pipes and tiles?" asked Willie, with a look of interest.</p> + +<p>"They still make quantities of those things at the Doulton works, +but the young men and women who had received drawing lessons and +applied their knowledge so well are the authors, I might almost say, +of a new style of artistic pottery," said Uncle Jack, in reply.</p> + +<p>"Why, that was splendid, wasn't it?" cried Matie.</p> + +<p>"Indeed it was a triumph not only for them, but for art itself, and +it shows what a good influence art has on even the humblest people," +said Uncle Jack. "Now can you see why I did not value my little vase +most for its beauty?"</p> + +<p>"Oh yes, sir! for when you see it, you think of the potters who +became artists," said Will.</p> + +<p>"Yes, and I never see any work of art or of patient industry without +trying to understand the meaning its maker meant it to carry, and to +remember the toils that were perhaps endured in its production," +replied his uncle. Then, turning to Matie, he said: "I brought this +little 'English pug-dog' for you, Matie. He doesn't bite, and you'll +not need to give him any food," and he put upon the table a comical +little porcelain dog with a wry nose.</p> + +<a name="image23" id="image23"></a> +<div class="imgright"> +<img src="images/image23.jpg" width="299" height="300" +alt="ENGLISH PUG IN PORCELAIN" title="ENGLISH PUG IN PORCELAIN" /> +<p class="caption">ENGLISH PUG IN PORCELAIN.</p> +</div> + +<p>"Oh! isn't it funny? What an ugly black nose it has!" cried Matie. +"Will the black come off?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, no!"</p> + +<p>"Why not?" asked Al.</p> + +<p>"Because it's fired; that is, after having been painted, the dog was +placed in a furnace and heated so as to melt the coloring matter, which +had been mixed with other ingredients, so that it flowed on the +surface, and cooled hard like glass."</p> + +<p>"Are the colors like those I have in my paint-box?" asked Willie.</p> + +<p>"No. They put the color on, worked up with what is called a flux, +and the mixture has the appearance of thin mud, showing no color at +all; the different tints are seen only after 'firing.'"</p> + +<p>"How can they tell what it's going to look like, if they don't see +the color?"</p> + +<p>"That is one of the nice points of the 'ceramic art,' and much skill +and fine imagination are required to produce some of the wonderful +combinations of color seen upon Italian majolica."</p> + +<p>"Why do they call it majolica?" asked Al.</p> + +<p>"The name is derived from the Spanish island of Majorca in the +Mediterranean Sea, one of the places in Europe where glazed pottery was +first made. About the twelfth century, some Moorish potters had settled +there and carried their art with them."</p> + +<p>"Did you ever see any of the old Italian majolica, uncle?" asked Al.</p> + +<a name="image22" id="image22"></a> +<div class="imgcenter"> +<img src="images/image22.jpg" width="300" height="291" +alt="MAJOLICA PLATE FROM CASTELLANI COLLECTION" +title="MAJOLICA PLATE FROM CASTELLANI COLLECTION" /> +<p class="caption">MAJOLICA PLATE FROM CASTELLANI COLLECTION.</p> +</div> + +<p>"Yes; in the splendid Castellani collection there are some of the +very best specimens of the finest majolica ever made,—that +produced in the fifteenth century by Giorgio Andreoli of Gubbio, and +others who followed him."</p> + +<p>"Where is Gubbio?" asked Al.</p> + +<p>"In Italy."</p> + +<p>"Is the Castellani collection in Italy?"</p> + +<p>"No, it's at the Metropolitan Museum, too; but only on loan at +present, though an effort is being made to purchase and keep it in +this country forever. I hope it will be successful, for it is a grand +collection. But I must tell you that when the French came to +manufacture majolica, most of which by that time was made in the +little Italian town of Faenza, they called the ware <i>faience</i>, +after it. This name is applied to most soft paste glazed pottery, +while majolica is a ware that has a peculiar luster, and in different +lights displays all the colors of the rainbow. Much ordinary glazed, +unlustered pottery is incorrectly called majolica, however."</p> + +<p>"How do they make the luster, uncle?"</p> + +<p>"By coating the ware with certain metallic oxides, which, at the +last of the many necessary firings, diffuses a glaze over the +surface."</p> + +<p>"You said the painting was one of the 'nice points of the ceramic +art,' uncle. What does 'ceramic' mean?" asked Willie.</p> + +<p>"It is sometimes spelled K-e-r-a-m-i-c, <i>keramic</i>, and comes +from the Greek word χεραμος, +signifying 'potters' clay,' and hence, in a general sense, pottery of +every kind and methods of producing it."</p> + +<p>Here Matie, who had been hugging her little pug for some time, +began to grow very sleepy, so Uncle Jack dismissed the children with a +"good-night" all around.</p> + +<p>The door closed softly, and the little ones ran off to their beds, +while Uncle Jack leaned back in his easy chair in a pleasant reverie, +which we will leave him to enjoy.</p> + +<hr /> + +<h2><a name="poemsgirls" id="poemsgirls">POEMS BY TWO LITTLE AMERICAN +GIRLS.</a></h2> + +<br /> + +<hr class="tiny" /> + +<div class="small"> +<p>[<span class="small">ELAINE AND DORA READ GOODALE</span>, the two +sisters some of whose poems are here given for the benefit of the +readers of <span class="small">ST. NICHOLAS</span>, are children +of thirteen and ten years of age.</p> + +<p>Their home, where their infancy and childhood have been passed, is +on a large and isolated farm, lying upon the broad slopes of the +beautiful Berkshire hills of western Massachusetts, and is quaintly +called "Sky Farm."</p> + +<p>Here, in a simple country life, divided between books and nature, +they began, almost as soon as they began to talk, to express in verse +what they saw and felt, rhyme and rhythm seeming to come by instinct. +Living largely out-of-doors, vigorous and healthful in body as in +mind, they draw pleasure and instruction from all about them.</p> + +<p>One of their chief delights is to wander over the lovely hills and +meadows adjoining Sky Farm. Peeping into mossy dells, where wild +flowers love to hide, hunting the early arbutus, the queen harebell, or +the blue gentian, they learn the secrets of nature, and these they pour +forth in song as simply and as naturally as the birds sing.]</p> +</div> + +<hr class="tiny" /> +<br /> + +<h3>SOME VERSES, WRITTEN BY DORA, ON A HUMMING-BIRD'S NEST,<br /> +WHICH SHE FOUND OVER HER STOCKING ON CHRISTMAS MORNING.</h3> + +<div class="poem"> +<div class="stanza"> + <div>When June was bright with roses fair,</div> + <div class="in1">And leafy trees about her stood,</div> + <div>When summer sunshine filled the air</div> + <div class="in1">And flickered through the quiet wood,</div> + <div>There, in its shade and silent rest,</div> + <div>A tiny pair had built their nest.</div> +</div> +<br /> +<div class="stanza"> + <div>And when July, with scorching heat,</div> + <div class="in1">Had dried the meadow grass to hay,</div> + <div>And piled in stacks about the field</div> + <div class="in1">Or fragrant in the barn it lay,</div> + <div>Within the nest so softly made</div> + <div>Two tiny, snowy eggs were laid.</div> +</div> +<br /> +<div class="stanza"> + <div>But when October's ripened fruit</div> + <div class="in1">Had bent the very tree-tops down,</div> + <div>And dainty flowers faded, drooped,</div> + <div class="in1">And stately forests lost their crown,</div> + <div>Their brood was hatched and reared and flown—</div> + <div>The mossy nest was left alone.</div> +</div> +<br /> +<div class="stanza"> + <div>And now the hills are cold and white,</div> + <div class="in1">'T is sever'd from its native bough;</div> + <div>We gaze upon it with delight;</div> + <div class="in1">Where are its cunning builders now?</div> + <div>Far in the sunny south they roam,</div> + <div>And leave to us their northern home.</div> +</div> +</div> + +<br /> +<hr class="tiny" /> +<br /> + +<h3>THE GRUMBLER.</h3> + +<div class="poem"> +<h4><i>His Youth</i>.</h4> +<div class="stanza"> + <div>His coat was too thick and his cap was too thin,</div> + <div>He couldn't be quiet, he hated a din;</div> + <div>He hated to write, and he hated to read,</div> + <div>He was certainly very much injured indeed;</div> + <div>He must study and work over books he detested,</div> + <div>His parents were strict, and he never was rested;</div> + <div>He knew he was wretched as wretched could be,</div> + <div>There was no one so wretchedly wretched as he.</div> +</div> +<br /> +<h4><i>His Maturity</i>.</h4> +<div class="stanza"> + <div>His farm was too small and his taxes too big,</div> + <div>He was selfish and lazy, and cross as a pig;</div> + <div>His wife was too silly, his children too rude;</div> + <div>And just because he was uncommonly good,</div> + <div>He never had money enough or to spare,</div> + <div>He had nothing at all fit to eat or to wear;</div> + <div>He knew he was wretched as wretched could be,</div> + <div>There was no one so wretchedly wretched as he.</div> +</div> +<br /> +<h4><i>His Old Age</i>.</h4> +<div class="stanza"> + <div>He finds he has sorrows more deep than his fears,</div> + <div>He grumbles to think he has grumbled for years;</div> + <div>He grumbles to think he has grumbled away</div> + <div>His home and his fortune, his life's little day.</div> + <div>But, alas! 't is too late,—it is no use to say</div> + <div>That his eyes are too dim, and his hair is too gray.</div> + <div>He knows he is wretched as wretched can be,</div> + <div>There <i>is</i> no one more wretchedly wretched than he.</div> +<div class="in18"><span class="small">DORA.</span></div> +</div> +</div> + +<br /> +<hr class="tiny" /> +<br /> + +<h3>JUNE.</h3> + +<div class="poem"> +<div class="stanza"> + <div>For stately trees in rich array,</div> + <div>For sunlight all the happy day,</div> + <div class="in1">For blossoms radiant and rare,</div> + <div class="in2">For skies when daylight closes,</div> + <div>For joyous, clear, outpouring song</div> + <div>From birds that all the green wood throng,</div> + <div class="in1">For all things young, and bright, and fair,</div> + <div class="in2">We praise thee, Month of Roses!</div> +</div> +<br /> +<div class="stanza"> + <div>For blue, blue skies of summer calm,</div> + <div>For fragrant odors breathing balm,</div> + <div class="in1">For quiet, cooling shades where oft</div> + <div class="in2">The weary head reposes,</div> + <div>For brooklets babbling thro' the fields</div> + <div>Where Earth her choicest treasures yields,</div> + <div class="in1">For all things tender, sweet and soft,</div> + <div class="in2">We love thee, Month of Roses!</div> +<div class="in13"><span class="small">ELAINE.</span></div> +</div> +</div> + +<br /> +<hr class="tiny" /> +<br /> + +<h3>SPRING SONG.</h3> + +<div class="poem"> +<div class="stanza"> + <div>Oh, the little streams are running,</div> + <div class="in3">Running, running!—</div> + <div>Oh, the little streams are running</div> + <div class="in3">O'er the lea;</div> + <div>And the green soft grass is springing,</div> + <div class="in3">Springing, springing!—</div> + <div>And the green soft grass is springing,</div> + <div class="in3">Fair to see.</div> +</div> +<br /> +<div class="stanza"> + <div>In the woods the breezes whisper,</div> + <div class="in3">Whisper, whisper!—</div> + <div>In the woods the breezes whisper</div> + <div class="in3">To the flowers;</div> + <div>And the robins sing their welcome,</div> + <div class="in3">Welcome, welcome!—</div> + <div>And the robins sing their welcome,—</div> + <div class="in3">Happy hours!</div> +</div> +<br /> +<div class="stanza"> + <div>Over all the sun is shining,</div> + <div class="in3">Shining, shining!—</div> + <div>Over all the sun is shining,</div> + <div class="in3">Clear and bright,—</div> + <div>Flooding bare and waiting meadows,</div> + <div class="in3">Meadows, meadows!—</div> + <div>Flooding bare and waiting meadows</div> + <div class="in3">With his light.</div> +<br /> + <div>Sky Farm, March, '76. <span + class="small">ELAINE.</span></div> +</div> +</div> + +<br /><hr class="tiny" /><br /> + +<div class="center"> +<span class="small">[Grown people often write in sympathy with +children, but here is<br /> a little poem by a child written in +sympathy with grown folks:]</span> +</div> + +<h3>ASHES OF ROSES.</h3> + +<div class="poem"> +<div class="stanza"> + <div>Soft on the sunset sky</div> + <div class="in1">Bright daylight closes,</div> + <div>Leaving, when light doth die,</div> + <div>Pale hues that mingling lie—</div> + <div class="in1">Ashes of roses.</div> +</div> +<br /> +<div class="stanza"> + <div>When love's warm sun is set,</div> + <div class="in1">Love's brightness closes;</div> + <div>Eyes with hot tears are wet,</div> + <div>In hearts there linger yet</div> + <div class="in1">Ashes of roses.</div> +<div class="in13"><span class="small">ELAINE.</span></div> +</div> +</div> + +<br /><hr class="tiny" /><br /> + +<h3>SUMMER IS COMING.</h3> + +<div class="poem"> +<div class="stanza"> + <div>"Summer is coming!" the soft breezes whisper;</div> + <div class="in1">"Summer is coming!" the glad birdies sing.</div> + <div>Summer is coming—I hear her quick footsteps;</div> + <div class="in1">Take your last look at the beautiful Spring.</div> +</div> +<br /> +<div class="stanza"> + <div>Lightly she steps from her throne in the woodlands:</div> + <div class="in1">"Summer is coming, and I cannot stay;</div> + <div>Two of my children have crept from my bosom:</div> + <div class="in1">April has left me but lingering May.</div> +</div> +<br /> +<div class="stanza"> + <div>"What tho' bright Summer is crownèd with roses.</div> + <div class="in1">Deep in the forest Arbutus doth hide;</div> + <div>I am the herald of all the rejoicing;</div> + <div class="in1">Why must June always disown me?" she cried.</div> +</div> +<br /> +<div class="stanza"> + <div>Down in the meadow she stoops to the daisies,</div> + <div class="in1">Plucks the first bloom from the apple-tree's bough:</div> + <div>"Autumn will rob me of all the sweet apples;</div> + <div class="in1">I will take one from her store of them now."</div> +</div> +<br /> +<div class="stanza"> + <div>Summer is coming! I hear the glad echo;</div> + <div class="in1">Clearly it rings o'er the mountain and plain.</div> + <div>Sorrowful Spring leaves the beautiful woodlands,</div> + <div class="in1">Bright, happy Summer begins her sweet reign.</div> +<div class="in18"><span class="small">DORA.</span></div> +</div> +</div> + +<hr /> + +<h2><a name="marjoram" id="marjoram">SWEET MARJORAM DAY.</a></h2> + +<div class="center">(<i>A Fairy Tale</i>.)</div> + +<hr class="tiny" /> +<div class="center">BY FRANK R. STOCKTON.</div> +<hr class="tiny" /> + +<p>It was a very delightful country where little Corette lived. It +seemed to be almost always summer-time there, for the winters were +just long enough to make people glad when they were over. When it +rained, it mostly rained at night, and so the fields and gardens had +all the water they wanted, while the people were generally quite sure +of a fine day. And, as they lived a great deal out-of-doors, this was +a great advantage to them.</p> + +<p>The principal business of the people of this country was the +raising of sweet marjoram. The soil and climate were admirably adapted +to the culture of the herb, and fields and fields of it were to be +seen in every direction. At that time, and this was a good while ago, +very little sweet marjoram was raised in other parts of the world, so +this country had the trade nearly all to itself.</p> + +<p>The great holiday of the year was the day on which the harvest of +this national herb began. It was called "Sweet Marjoram Day," and the +people, both young and old, thought more of it than of any other +holiday in the year.</p> + +<p>On that happy day everybody went out into the fields. There was +never a person so old, or so young, or so busy that he or she could +not go to help in the harvest. Even when there were sick people, which +was seldom, they were carried out to the fields and staid there all +day. And they generally felt much better in the evening.</p> + +<a name="image24" id="image24"></a> +<div class="imgcenter"> +<img src="images/image24.png" width="400" height="185" +alt="THE BABIES IN THE SWEET MARJORAM BEDS" +title="THE BABIES IN THE SWEET MARJORAM BEDS" /> +<p class="caption">THE BABIES IN THE SWEET MARJORAM BEDS.</p> +</div> + +<p>There were always patches of sweet marjoram planted on purpose for +the very little babies to play in on the great day. They must be poor, +indeed, these people said, if they could not raise sweet marjoram for +their own needs and for exportation, and yet have enough left for the +babies to play in.</p> + +<p>So, all this day the little youngsters rolled, and tumbled, and +kicked and crowed in the soft green and white beds of the fragrant +herb, and pulled it up by the roots, and laughed and chuckled, and +went to sleep in it, and were the happiest babies in the world.</p> + +<p>They needed no care, except at dinner-time, so the rest of the +people gave all their time to gathering in the crop and having fun. +There was always lots of fun on this great harvest day, for everybody +worked so hard that the whole crop was generally in the sweet marjoram +barns before breakfast, so that they had nearly the whole day for +games and jollity.</p> + +<p>In this country, where little Corette lived, there were fairies. Not +very many of them, it is true, for the people had never seen but two. +These were sisters, and there were never fairies more generally liked +than these two little creatures, neither of them over four inches high. +They were very fond of the company of human beings, and were just as +full of fun as anybody. They often used to come to spend an hour or +two, and sometimes a whole day, with the good folks, and they seemed +always glad to see and to talk to everybody.</p> + +<p>These sisters lived near the top of a mountain in a fairy cottage. +This cottage had never been seen by any of the people, but the sisters +had often told them all about it. It must have been a charming place.</p> + +<p>The house was not much bigger than a bandbox, and it had two stories +and a garret, with a little portico running all around it. Inside was +the dearest little furniture of all kinds,—beds, tables, chairs, +and everything that could possibly be needed.</p> + +<p>Everything about the house and grounds was on the same small scale. +There was a little stable and a little barn, with a little old man to +work the little garden and attend to the two little cows. Around the +house were garden-beds ever so small, and little graveled paths; and a +kitchen-garden, where the peas climbed up little sticks no bigger than +pins, and where the little chickens, about the size of flies, sometimes +got in and scratched up the little vegetables. There was a little +meadow for pasture, and a grove of little trees; and there was also a +small field of sweet marjoram, where the blossoms were so tiny that you +could hardly have seen them without a magnifying glass.</p> + +<p>It was not very far from this cottage to the sweet marjoram country, +and the fairy sisters had no trouble at all in running down there +whenever they felt like it, but none of the people had ever seen this +little home. They had looked for it, but could not find it, and the +fairies would never take any of them to it. They said it was no place +for human beings. Even the smallest boy, if he were to trip his toe, +might fall against their house and knock it over; and as to any of them +coming into the fairy grounds, that would be impossible, for there was +no spot large enough for even a common-sized baby to creep about in.</p> + +<p>On Sweet Marjoram Day the fairies never failed to come. Every year +they taught the people new games, and all sorts of new ways of having +fun. People would never have even thought of having such good times if +it had not been for these fairies.</p> + +<p>One delightful afternoon, about a month before Sweet Marjoram Day, +Corette, who was a little girl just old enough, and not a day too old +(which is exactly the age all little girls ought to be), was talking +about the fairy cottage to some of her companions.</p> + +<p>"We never can see it," said Corette, sorrowfully.</p> + +<p>"No," said one of the other girls, "we are too big. If we were +little enough, we might go."</p> + +<p>"Are you sure the sisters would be glad to see us, then?" asked +Corette.</p> + +<p>"Yes, I heard them say so. But it doesn't matter at all, as we are +not little enough."</p> + +<p>"No," said Corette, and she went off to take a walk by herself.</p> + +<p>She had not walked far before she reached a small house which stood +by the sea-shore. This house belonged to a Reformed Pirate who lived +there all by himself. He had entirely given up a sea-faring life so as +to avoid all temptation, and he employed his time in the mildest +pursuits he could think of.</p> + +<p>When Corette came to his house, she saw him sitting in an +easy-chair in front of his door near the edge of a small bluff which +overhung the sea, busily engaged in knitting a tidy.</p> + +<a name="image25" id="image25"></a> +<div class="imgcenter"> +<img src="images/image25.jpg" width="325" height="400" +alt="THE REFORMED PIRATE" title="THE REFORMED PIRATE" /> +<p class="caption">THE REFORMED PIRATE.</p> +</div> + +<p>When he saw Corette, he greeted her kindly, and put aside his +knitting, which he was very glad to do, for he hated knitting tidies, +though he thought it was his duty to make them.</p> + +<p>"Well, my little maid," he said, in a sort of a muffled voice, which +sounded as if he were speaking under water, for he tried to be as +gentle in every way as he could, "how do you do? You don't look quite +as gay as usual. Has anything run afoul of you?"</p> + +<p>"Oh no!" said Corette, and she came and stood by him, and taking up +his tidy, she looked it over carefully and showed him where he had +dropped a lot of stitches and where he had made some too tight and +others a great deal too loose. He did not know how to knit very well.</p> + +<p>When she had shown him as well as she could how he ought to do it, +she sat down on the grass by his side, and after a while she began to +talk to him about the fairy cottage, and what a great pity it was that +it was impossible for her ever to see it.</p> + +<p>"It <i>is</i> a pity," said the Reformed Pirate. "I've heard of +that cottage and I'd like to see it myself. In fact, I'd like to go to +see almost anything that was proper and quiet, so as to get rid of the +sight of this everlasting knitting."</p> + +<p>"There are other things you might do besides knit," said Corette.</p> + +<p>"Nothing so depressing and suitable," said he, with a sigh.</p> + +<p>"It would be of no use for you to think of going there," said +Corette. "Even I am too large, and you are ever and ever so much too +big. You couldn't get one foot into one of their paths."</p> + +<p>"I've no doubt that's true," he replied; "but the thing might be +done. Almost anything can be done if you set about it in the right +way. But you see, little maid, that you and I don't know enough. Now, +years ago, when I was in a different line of business, I often used to +get puzzled about one thing or another, and then I went to somebody +who knew more than myself."</p> + +<p>"Were there many such persons?" asked Corette.</p> + +<p>"Well, no. I always went to one old fellow who was a Practicing +Wizard. He lived, and still lives, I reckon, on an island about fifty +miles from here, right off there to the sou'-sou'-west. I've no doubt +that if we were to go to him he'd tell us just how to do this thing."</p> + +<p>"But how could we get there?" asked Corette.</p> + +<p>"Oh! I'd manage that," said the Reformed Pirate, his eyes flashing +with animation. "I've an old sail-boat back there in the creek that's +as good as ever she was, I could fix her up, and get everything all +ship-shape in a couple of days, and then you and I could scud over +there in no time. What do you say? Wouldn't you like to go?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, I'd like to go ever so much!" cried Corette, clapping her +hands, "if they'd let me."</p> + +<p>"Well, run and ask them," said he, rolling up his knitting and +stuffing it under the cushion of his chair, "and I'll go and look at +that boat right away."</p> + +<p>So Corette ran home to her father and mother and told them all about +the matter. They listened with great interest, and her father said:</p> + +<p>"Well now, our little girl is not looking quite as well as usual. I +have noticed that she is a little pale. A sea-trip might be the very +thing for her."</p> + +<p>"I think it would do her a great deal of good," said her mother, +"and as to that Reformed Pirate, she'd be just as safe with him as if +she was on dry land."</p> + +<p>So it was agreed that Corette should go. Her father and mother were +always remarkably kind.</p> + +<p>The Reformed Pirate was perfectly delighted when he heard this, and +he went hard to work to get his little vessel ready. To sail again on +the ocean seemed to him the greatest of earthly joys, and as he was to +do it for the benefit of a good little girl, it was all perfectly right +and proper.</p> + +<p>When they started off, the next day but one, all the people who +lived near enough, came down to see them off. Just as they were about +to start, the Reformed Pirate said:</p> + +<p>"Hello! I wonder if I hadn't better run back to the house and get my +sword! I only wear the empty scabbard now, but it might be safer, on a +trip like this, to take the sword along."</p> + +<p>So he ran back and got it, and then he pushed off amid the shouts of +all the good people on the beach.</p> + +<p>The boat was quite a good-sized one, and it had a cabin and +everything neat and comfortable. The Reformed Pirate managed it +beautifully, all by himself, and Corette sat in the stern and watched +the waves, and the sky, and the sea-birds, and was very happy indeed.</p> + +<p>As for her companion, he was in a state of ecstasy. As the breeze +freshened, the sails filled, and the vessel went dashing over the +waves, he laughed and joked, and sang snatches of old sea-songs, and +was the jolliest man afloat.</p> + +<a name="image26" id="image26"></a> +<div class="imgcenter"> +<img src="images/image26.jpg" width="401" height="302" +alt="THE REFORMED PIRATE IS THE JOLLIEST MAN AFLOAT" +title="THE REFORMED PIRATE IS THE JOLLIEST MAN AFLOAT" /> +<p class="caption">THE REFORMED PIRATE IS THE JOLLIEST MAN AFLOAT</p> +</div> + +<p>After a while, as they went thus sailing merrily along, a distant +ship appeared in sight. The moment his eyes fell upon it, a sudden +change came over the Reformed Pirate. He sprang to his feet and, with +his hand still upon the helm, he leaned forward and gazed at the ship. +He gazed and he gazed, and he gazed without saying a word. Corette +spoke to him several times, but he answered not. And as he gazed he +moved the helm so that his little craft gradually turned from her +course, and sailed to meet the distant ship.</p> + +<p>As the two vessels approached each other, the Reformed Pirate became +very much excited. He tightened his belt and loosened his sword in its +sheath. Hurriedly giving the helm to Corette, he went forward and +jerked a lot of ropes and hooks from a cubby-hole where they had been +stowed away. Then he pulled out a small, dark flag, with bits of +skeleton painted on it, and hoisted it to the top-mast.</p> + +<p>By this time he had nearly reached the ship, which was a large +three-masted vessel. There seemed to be a great commotion on board; +sailors were running this way and that; women were screaming; and +officers could be heard shouting, "Put her about! Clap on more sail!"</p> + +<p>But steadily on sailed the small boat, and the moment it came +alongside the big ship, the Reformed Pirate threw out grapnels and +made the two vessels fast together. Then he hooked a rope-ladder to +the side of the ship, and rushing up it, sprang with a yell on the +deck of the vessel, waving his flashing sword around his head!</p> + +<p>"Down, dastards! varlets! hounds!" he shouted. "Down upon your +knees! Throw down your arms! <span class="small">SURRENDER</span>!"</p> + +<p>Then every man went down upon his knees, and threw down his arms and +surrendered.</p> + +<p>"Where is your Captain?" roared their conqueror.</p> + +<p>The Captain came trembling forward.</p> + +<p>"Bring to me your gold and silver, your jewels and your precious +stones, and your rich stuffs!"</p> + +<p>The Captain ordered these to be quickly brought and placed before +the Reformed Pirate, who continued to stride to and fro across the deck +waving his glittering blade, and who, when he saw the treasures placed +before him, shouted again:</p> + +<p>"Prepare for scuttling!" and then, while the women got down on their +knees and begged that he would not sink the ship, and the children +cried, and the men trembled so that they could hardly kneel straight, +and the Captain stood pale and shaking before him, he glanced at the +pile of treasure, and touched it with his sword.</p> + +<p>"Aboard with this, my men!" he said. "But first I will divide it. I +will divide this into,—into,—into <i>one</i> part. Look +here!" and then he paused, glanced around, and clapped his hand to his +head. He looked at the people, the treasure and the ship. Then +suddenly he sheathed his sword, and stepping up to the Captain, +extended his hand.</p> + +<p>"Good sir," said he, "you must excuse me. This is a mistake. I had +no intention of taking this vessel. It was merely a temporary absence +of mind. I forgot I had reformed, and seeing this ship, old scenes and +my old business came into my head, and I just came and took the vessel +without really thinking what I was doing. I beg you will excuse me. And +these ladies,—I am very sorry to have inconvenienced them. I ask +them to overlook my unintentional rudeness."</p> + +<p>"Oh, don't mention it!" cried the Captain, his face beaming with +joy as he seized the hand of the Reformed Pirate. "It is of no +importance, I assure you. We are delighted, sir, delighted!"</p> + +<p>"Oh yes!" cried all the ladies. "Kind sir, we are charmed! We are +charmed!"</p> + +<p>"You are all very good indeed," said the Reformed Pirate, "but I +really think I was not altogether excusable. And I am very sorry that +I made your men bring up all these things."</p> + +<p>"Not at all! not at all!" cried the Captain. "No trouble whatever to +show them. Very glad indeed to have the opportunity. By the by, would +you like to take a few of them, as a memento of your visit?"</p> + +<p>"Oh no, I thank you," replied the Reformed Pirate, "I would rather +not."</p> + +<p>"Perhaps, then, some of your men might like a trinket or a bit of +cloth—"</p> + +<p>"Oh, I have no men! There is no one on board but +myself—excepting a little girl, who is a passenger. But I must +be going. Good-by, Captain!"</p> + +<p>"I am sorry you are in such a hurry," said the Captain. "Is there +anything at all that I can do for you?"</p> + +<p>"No, thank you. But stop!—there may be something. Do you sail +to any port where there is a trade in tidies?"</p> + +<p>"Oh yes! To several such," said the Captain.</p> + +<p>"Well, then, I would be very much obliged to you," said the Reformed +Pirate, "if you would sometimes stop off that point that you see there, +and send a boat ashore to my house for a load of tidies."</p> + +<p>"You manufacture them by the quantity, then?" asked the Captain.</p> + +<p>"I expect to," said the other, sadly.</p> + +<p>The Captain promised to stop, and, after shaking hands with every +person on deck, the Reformed Pirate went down the side of the ship, and +taking in his ladder and his grapnels, he pushed off.</p> + +<p>As he slowly sailed away, having lowered his flag, the Captain +looked over the side of his ship, and said:</p> + +<p>"If I had only known that there was nobody but a little girl on +board! I thought, of course, he had a boat-load of pirates."</p> + +<p>Corette asked a great many questions about everything that had +happened on the ship, for she had heard the noise and confusion as she +sat below in the little boat; but her companion was disposed to be +silent, and said very little in reply.</p> + +<p>When the trip was over, and they had reached the island, the +Reformed Pirate made his boat fast, and taking little Corette by the +hand, he walked up to the house of the Practicing Wizard.</p> + +<p>This was a queer place. It was a great rambling house, one story +high in some places, and nine or ten in other places; and then, again, +it seemed to run into the ground and re-appear at a short +distance—the different parts being connected by cellars and +basements, with nothing but flower-gardens over them.</p> + +<p>Corette thought she had never seen such a wonderful building; but +she had not long to look at the outside of it, for her companion, who +had been there before, and knew the ways of the place, went up to a +little door in a two-story part of the house and knocked. Our friends +were admitted by a dark cream-colored slave, who informed them that the +Practicing Wizard was engaged with other visitors, but that he would +soon be at leisure.</p> + +<p>So Corette and the Reformed Pirate sat down in a handsome room, +full of curious and wonderful things, and, in a short time, they were +summoned into the Practicing Wizard's private office.</p> + +<p>"Glad to see you," said he, as the Reformed Pirate entered. "It has +been a long time since you were here. What can I do for you, now? Want +to know something about the whereabouts of any ships, or the value of +any cargoes?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, no! I'm out of that business now," said the other. "I've come +this time for something entirely different. But I'll let this little +girl tell you what it is. She can do it a great deal better than I +can."</p> + +<p>So Corette stepped up to the Practicing Wizard, who was a pleasant, +elderly man, with a smooth white face, and a constant smile, which +seemed to have grown on his face instead of a beard, and she told him +the whole story of the fairy sisters and their cottage, of her great +desire to see it, and of the difficulties in the way.</p> + +<p>"I know all about those sisters," he said; "I don't wonder you want +to see their house. You both wish to see it?"</p> + +<p>"Yes," said the Reformed Pirate; "I might as well go with her, if +the thing can be done at all."</p> + +<p>"Very proper," said the Practicing Wizard, "very proper, indeed. But +there is only one way in which it can be done. You must be +condensed."</p> + +<p>"Does that hurt?" asked Corette.</p> + +<p>"Oh, not at all! You'll never feel it. For the two it will be one +hundred and eighty ducats," said he, turning to the Reformed Pirate; +"we make a reduction when there are more than one."</p> + +<p>"Are you willing?" asked the Reformed Pirate of Corette, as he put +his hand in his breeches' pocket.</p> + +<p>"Oh yes!" said Corette, "certainly I am, if that's the only way."</p> + +<p>Whereupon her good friend said no more, but pulled out a hundred and +eighty ducats and handed them to the Practicing Wizard, who immediately +commenced operations.</p> + +<p>Corette and the Reformed Pirate were each placed in a large +easy-chair, and upon each of their heads the old white-faced gentleman +placed a little pink ball, about the size of a pea. Then he took a +position in front of them.</p> + +<p>"Now then," said he, "sit perfectly still. It will be over in a few +minutes," and he lifted up a long thin stick, and, pointing it toward +the couple, he began to count: "One, two, three, four——"</p> + +<p>As he counted, the Reformed Pirate and Corette began to shrink, and +by the time he had reached fifty they were no bigger than cats. But he +kept on counting until Corette was about three and a half inches high +and her companion about five inches.</p> + +<p>Then he stopped, and knocked the pink ball from each of their heads +with a little tap of his long stick.</p> + +<p>"There we are," said he, and he carefully picked up the little +creatures and put them on a table in front of a looking-glass, that +they might see how they liked his work.</p> + +<p>It was admirably done. Every proportion had been perfectly kept.</p> + +<p>"It seems to me that it couldn't be better," said the Condensed +Pirate, looking at himself from top to toe.</p> + +<a name="image27" id="image27"></a> +<div class="imgcenter"> +<img src="images/image27.png" width="400" height="242" +alt="IT SEEMS TO ME THAT IT COULDN'T BE BETTER,' SAID THE CONDENSED PIRATE." +title="IT SEEMS TO ME THAT IT COULDN'T BE BETTER,' SAID THE CONDENSED PIRATE." /> +<p class="caption">"IT SEEMS TO ME THAT IT COULDN'T BE BETTER,' SAID +THE CONDENSED PIRATE."</p> +</div> + +<p>"No," said the Practicing Wizard, smiling rather more than usual, "I +don't believe it could."</p> + +<p>"But how are we to get away from here?" said Corette to her friend. +"A little fellow like you can't sail that big boat."</p> + +<p>"No," replied he, ruefully, "that's true; I couldn't do it. But +perhaps, sir, you could condense the boat."</p> + +<p>"Oh no!" said the old gentleman, "that would never do. Such a little +boat would be swamped before you reached shore, if a big fish didn't +swallow you. No, I'll see that you get away safely."</p> + +<p>So saying, he went to a small cage that stood in a window, and took +from it a pigeon.</p> + +<p>"This fellow will take you," said he. "He is very strong and swift, +and will go ever so much faster than your boat."</p> + +<p>Next he fastened a belt around the bird, and to the lower part of +this he hung a little basket, with two seats in it. He then lifted +Corette and the Condensed Pirate into the basket, where they sat down +opposite one another.</p> + +<p>"Do you wish to go directly to the cottage of the fairy sisters?" +said the old gentleman.</p> + +<p>"Oh yes!" said Corette.</p> + +<p>So he wrote the proper address on the bill of the pigeon, and, +opening the window, carefully let the bird fly.</p> + +<p>"I'll take care of your boat," he cried to the Condensed Pirate, as +the pigeon rose in the air. "You'll find it all right, when you come +back."</p> + +<p>And he smiled worse than ever.</p> + +<p>The pigeon flew up to a great height, and then he took flight in a +straight line for the Fairy Cottage, where he arrived before his +passengers thought they had half finished their journey.</p> + +<p>The bird alighted on the ground, just outside of the boundary fence; +and when Corette and her companion had jumped from the basket, he rose +and flew away home as fast as he could go.</p> + +<p>The Condensed Pirate now opened a little gate in the fence, and he +and Corette walked in. They went up the graveled path, and under the +fruit-trees, where the ripe peaches and apples hung, as big as peas, +and they knocked at the door of the fairy sisters.</p> + +<p>When these two little ladies came to the door, they were amazed to +see Corette.</p> + +<p>"Why, how did you ever?" they cried. "And if there isn't our old +friend the Reformed Pirate!"</p> + +<p>"Condensed Pirate, if you please," said that individual. "There's no +use of my being reformed while I'm so small as this. I couldn't hurt +anybody if I wanted to."</p> + +<p>"Well, come right in, both of you," said the sisters, "and tell us +all about it."</p> + +<p>So they went in, and sat in the little parlor, and told their story. +The fairies' were delighted with the whole affair, and insisted on a +long visit, to which our two friends were not at all opposed.</p> + +<p>They found everything at this cottage exactly as they had been told. +They ate the daintiest little meals off the daintiest little dishes, +and they thoroughly enjoyed all the delightful little things in the +little place. Sometimes, Corette and the fairies would take naps in +little hammocks under the trees, while the Condensed Pirate helped the +little man drive up the little cows, or work in the little garden.</p> + +<p>On the second day of their visit, when they were all sitting on the +little portico after supper, one of the sisters, thinking that the +Condensed Pirate might like to have something to do, and knowing how he +used to occupy himself, took from her basket a little half-knit tidy, +with the needles in it, and asked him if he cared to amuse himself with +that.</p> + +<p>"No, <span class="small">MA'AM</span>!" said he, firmly but +politely. "Not at present. If I find it necessary to reform again, I +may do something of the kind, but not now. But I thank you kindly, all +the same."</p> + +<p>After this, they were all very careful not to mention tidies to him.</p> + +<p>Corette and her companion stayed with the fairies for more than a +week. Corette knew that her father and mother did not expect her at +home for some time, and so she felt quite at liberty to stay as long +as she pleased.</p> + +<p>As to the sisters, they were delighted to have their visitors with +them.</p> + +<p>But, one day, the Condensed Pirate, finding Corette alone, led her, +with great secrecy, to the bottom of the pasture field, the very +outskirts of the fairies' domain.</p> + +<p>"Look here," said he, in his lowest tones. "Do you know, little +Corette, that things are not as I expected them to be here? Everything +is very nice and good, but nothing appears very small to me. Indeed, +things seem to be just about the right size. How does it strike you?"</p> + +<p>"Why, I have been thinking the same thing," said Corette. "The +sisters used to be such dear, cunning little creatures, and now +they're bigger than I am. But I don't know what can be done about +it."</p> + +<p>"I know," said the Condensed Pirate.</p> + +<p>"What?" asked Corette.</p> + +<p>"Condense 'em," answered her companion, solemnly.</p> + +<p>"Oh! But you couldn't do that!" exclaimed Corette.</p> + +<p>"Yes, but I can—at least, I think I can. You remember those +two pink condensing balls?"</p> + +<p>"Yes," said Corette.</p> + +<p>"Well, I've got mine."</p> + +<p>"You have!" cried Corette. "How did you get it?"</p> + +<p>"Oh! when the old fellow knocked it off my head, it fell on the +chair beside me, and I picked it up and put it in my coat-pocket. It +would just go in. He charges for the balls, and so I thought I might +as well have it."</p> + +<p>"But do you know how he works them?"</p> + +<p>"Oh yes!" replied the Condensed Pirate. "I watched him. What do you +say? Shall we condense this whole place?"</p> + +<p>"It wont hurt them," said Corette, "and I don't really think they +would mind it."</p> + +<p>"Mind it! No!" said the other. "I believe they'd like it."</p> + +<p>So it was agreed that the Fairy Cottage, inmates, and grounds should +be condensed until they were, relatively, as small as they used to be.</p> + +<p>That afternoon, when the sisters were taking a nap and the little +man was at work in the barn, the Condensed Pirate went up into the +garret of the cottage and got out on the roof. Then he climbed to the +top of the tallest chimney, which overlooked everything on the place, +and there he laid his little pink ball.</p> + +<p>He then softly descended, and, taking Corette by the hand (she had +been waiting for him on the portico), he went down to the bottom of the +pasture field.</p> + +<p>When he was quite sure that he and Corette were entirely outside of +the fairies' grounds, he stood up, pointed to the ball with a long, +thin stick which he had cut, and began to count: "One, two, +three——"</p> + +<p>And as he counted the cottage began to shrink. Smaller and smaller +it became, until it got to be very little indeed.</p> + +<p>"Is that enough?" said the Condensed Pirate, hurriedly between two +counts.</p> + +<p>"No," replied Corette. "There is the little man, just come out of +the barn. He ought to be as small as the sisters used to be. I'll tell +you when to stop."</p> + +<p>So the counting went on until Corette said, "Stop!" and the cottage +was really not much higher than a thimble. The little man stood by the +barn, and seemed to Corette to be just about the former size of the +fairy sisters; but, in fact, he was not quite a quarter of an inch +high. Everything on the place was small in proportion, so that when +Corette said "Stop!" the Condensed Pirate easily leaned over and +knocked the pink ball from the chimney with his long stick. It fell +outside of the grounds, and he picked it up and put it in his pocket.</p> + +<p>Then he and Corette stood and admired everything! It was charming! +It was just what they had imagined before they came there. While they +were looking with delight at the little fields, and trees, and +chickens,—so small that really big people could not have seen +them,—and at the cute little house, with its vines and portico, +the two sisters came out on the little lawn.</p> + +<p>When they saw Corette and her companion they were astounded.</p> + +<p>"Why, when did you grow big again?" they cried. "Oh! how sorry we +are! Now you cannot come into our house and live with us any longer."</p> + +<p>Corette and the Condensed Pirate looked at each other, as much as to +say, "They don't know they have been made so little."</p> + +<p>Then Corette said: "We are sorry too. I suppose we shall have to go +away now. But we have had a delightful visit."</p> + +<p>"It has been a charming one for us," said one of the sisters, "and +if we only had known, we would have had a little party before you went +away; but now it is too late."</p> + +<p>The Condensed Pirate said nothing. He felt rather guilty about the +matter. He might have waited a little, and yet he could not have told +them about it. They might have objected to be condensed.</p> + +<p>"May we stay just a little while and look at things?" asked Corette.</p> + +<p>"Yes," replied one of the fairies; "but you must be very careful +not to step inside the grounds, or to stumble over on our place. You +might do untold damage."</p> + +<p>So the two little big people stood and admired the fairy cottage and +all about it, for this was indeed the sight they came to see; and then +they took leave of their kind entertainers, who would have been glad to +have them stay longer, but were really trembling with apprehension lest +some false step or careless movement might ruin their little home.</p> + +<p>As Corette and the Condensed Pirate took their way through the +woods to their home, they found it very difficult to get along, they +were so small. When they came to a narrow stream, which Corette would +once have jumped over with ease, the Condensed Pirate had to make a +ferry-boat of a piece of bark, and paddle himself and the little girl +across.</p> + +<p>"I wonder how the fairies used to come down to us," said Corette, +who was struggling along over the stones and moss, hanging on to her +companion's hand.</p> + +<p>"Oh! I expect they have a nice smooth path somewhere through the +woods, where they can run along as fast as they please; and bridges +over the streams."</p> + +<p>"Why didn't they tell us of it?" asked Corette.</p> + +<p>"They thought it was too little to be of any use to us. Don't you +see?—they think we're big people and wouldn't need their path."</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes!" said Corette.</p> + +<p>In time, however, they got down the mountain and out of the woods, +and then they climbed up on one of the fences and ran along the top of +it toward Corette's home.</p> + +<p>When the people saw them, they cried out: "Oh, here come our dear +little fairies, who have not visited us for so many days!" But when +they saw them close at hand, and perceived that they were little +Corette and the Pirate who had reformed, they were dumbfounded.</p> + +<p>Corette did not stop to tell them anything; but still holding her +companion's hand, she ran on to her parents' house, followed by a crowd +of neighbors.</p> + +<p>Corette's father and mother could hardly believe that this little +thing was their daughter, but there was no mistaking her face and her +clothes, and her voice, although they were all so small; and when she +had explained the matter to them, and to the people who filled the +house, they understood it all. They were filled with joy to have their +daughter back again, little or big.</p> + +<p>When the Condensed Pirate went to his house, he found the door +locked, as he had left it, but he easily crawled in through a crack. +He found everything of an enormous size. It did not look like the old +place. He climbed up the leg of a chair and got on a table, by the +help of the tablecloth, but it was hard work. He found something to +eat and drink, and all his possessions were in order, but he did not +feel at home.</p> + +<p>Days passed on, and while the Condensed Pirate did not feel any +better satisfied, a sadness seemed to spread over the country, and +particularly over Corette's home. The people grieved that they never +saw the fairy sisters, who indeed had made two or three visits, with +infinite trouble and toil, but who could not make themselves observed, +their bodies and their voices being so very small.</p> + +<p>And Corette's father and mother grieved. They wanted their daughter +to be as she was before. They said that Sweet Marjoram Day was very +near, but that they could not look forward to it with pleasure. +Corette might go out to the fields, but she could only sit upon some +high place, as the fairies used to sit. She could not help in the +gathering. She could not even be with the babies; they would roll on +her and crush her. So they mourned.</p> + +<p>It was now the night before the great holiday. Sweet Marjoram Eve +had not been a very gay time, and the people did not expect to have +much fun the next day. How could they if the fairy sisters did not +come? Corette felt badly, for she had never told that the sisters had +been condensed, and the Condensed Pirate, who had insisted on her +secrecy, felt worse. That night he lay in his great bed, really afraid +to go to sleep on account of rats and mice.</p> + +<p>He was so extremely wakeful that he lay and thought, and thought, +and thought for a long time, and then he got up and dressed and went +out.</p> + +<p>It was a beautiful moonlight night, and he made his way directly to +Corette's house. There, by means of a vine, he climbed up to her +window, and gently called her. She was not sleeping well, and she soon +heard him and came to the window.</p> + +<p>He then asked her to bring him two spools of fine thread.</p> + +<p>Without asking any questions, she went for the thread, and very soon +made her appearance at the window with one spool in her arms, and then +she went back for another.</p> + +<p>"Now, then," said the Condensed Pirate, when he had thrown the +spools down to the ground, "will you dress yourself and wait here at +the window until I come and call you?"</p> + +<p>Corette promised, for she thought he had some good plan in his head, +and he hurried down the vine, took up a spool under each arm, and bent +his way to the church. This building had a high steeple which +overlooked the whole country. He left one of his spools outside, and +then, easily creeping with the other under one of the great doors, he +carried it with infinite pains and labor up into the belfry.</p> + +<p>There he tied it on his back, and, getting out of a window, began to +climb up the outside of the steeple.</p> + +<a name="image28" id="image28"></a> +<div class="imgcenter"> +<img src="images/image28.jpg" width="275" height="400" +alt="THE CONDENSED PIRATE CLIMBS UP THE OUTSIDE OF THE STEEPLE" +title="THE CONDENSED PIRATE CLIMBS UP THE OUTSIDE OF THE STEEPLE" /> +<p class="caption">THE CONDENSED PIRATE CLIMBS UP THE OUTSIDE OF THE +STEEPLE.</p> +</div> + +<p>It was not hard for him to do this, for the rough stones gave him +plenty of foot-hold, and he soon stood on the very tip-top of the +steeple. He then took tight hold of one end of the thread on his spool +and let the spool drop. The thread rapidly unrolled, and the spool soon +touched the ground.</p> + +<p>Then our friend took from his pocket the pink ball, and passing the +end of the thread through a little hole in the middle of it, he tied it +firmly. Placing the ball in a small depression on the top of the +steeple, he left it there, with the thread hanging from it, and rapidly +descended to the ground. Then he took the other spool and tied the end +of its thread to that which was hanging from the steeple.</p> + +<p>He now put down the spool and ran to call Corette. When she heard +his voice she clambered down the vine to him.</p> + +<p>"Now, Corette." he said, "run to my house and stand on the beach, +near the water, and wait for me."</p> + +<p>Corette ran off as he had asked, and he went back to his spool. He +took it up and walked slowly to his house, carefully unwinding the +thread as he went. The church was not very far from the sea-shore, so +he soon joined Corette. With her assistance he then unwound the rest +of the thread, and made a little coil. He next gave the coil to +Corette to hold, cautioning her to be very careful, and then he ran +off to where some bits of wood were lying, close to the water's edge. +Selecting a little piece of thin board he pushed it into the water, +and taking a small stick in his hand, he jumped on it, and poled it +along to where Corette was standing. The ocean here formed a little +bay where the water was quite smooth.</p> + +<p>"Now, Corette," said the Condensed Pirate, "we must be very +careful. I will push this ashore and you must step on board, letting +out some of the thread as you come. Be sure not to pull it tight. Then +I will paddle out a little way, and as I push, you must let out more +thread."</p> + +<p>Corette did as she was directed, and very soon they were standing on +the little raft a few yards from shore. Then her companion put down his +stick, and took the coil of thread.</p> + +<p>"What are you going to do?" asked Corette. She had wanted to ask +before, but there did not seem to be time.</p> + +<p>"Well," said he, "we can't make ourselves any bigger—at +least, I don't know how to do it, and so I'm going to condense the +whole country. The little pink ball is on top of the steeple, which is +higher than anything else about here, you know. I can't knock the ball +off at the proper time, so I've tied a thread to it to pull it off. +You and I are outside of the place, on the water, so we wont be made +any smaller. If the thing works, everybody will be our size, and all +will be right again."</p> + +<p>"Splendid!" cried Corette. "But how will you know when things are +little enough?"</p> + +<p>"Do you see that door in my house, almost in front of us? Well, +when I was of the old size, I used just to touch the top of that door +with my head, if I didn't stoop. When you see that the door is about +my present height, tell me to stop. Now then!"</p> + +<p>The Condensed Pirate began to count, and instantly the whole place, +church, houses, fields, and of course the people who were in bed, began +to shrink! He counted a good while before Corette thought his door +would fit him. At last she called to him to stop. He glanced at the +door to feel sure, counted one more, and pulled the thread. Down came +the ball, and the size of the place was fixed!</p> + +<p>The whole of the sweet marjoram country was now so small that the +houses were like bandboxes, and the people not more than four or five +inches high—excepting some very tall people who were six inches.</p> + +<p>Drawing the ball to him, the Condensed Pirate pushed out some +distance, broke it from the thread, and threw it into the water.</p> + +<p>"No more condensing!" said he. He then paddled himself and Corette +ashore, and running to his cottage, threw open the door and looked +about him. Everything was just right! Everything fitted! He shouted +with joy.</p> + +<p>It was just daybreak when Corette rushed into her parents' house. +Startled by the noise, her father and mother sprang out of bed.</p> + +<p>"Our daughter! Our darling daughter!" they shouted, "and she has her +proper size again!!"</p> + +<p>In an instant she was clasped in their arms.</p> + +<p>When the first transports of joy were over, Corette sat down and +told them the whole story—told them everything.</p> + +<p>"It is all right," said her mother, "so that we are all of the same +size," and she shed tears of joy.</p> + +<p>Corette's father ran out to ring the church-bell, so as to wake up +the people and tell them the good news of his daughter's restoration. +When he came in, he said:</p> + +<p>"I see no difference in anything. Everybody is all right."</p> + +<p>There never was such a glorious celebration of Sweet Marjoram Day as +took place that day.</p> + +<p>The crop was splendid, the weather was more lovely than usual, if +such a thing could be, and everybody was in the gayest humor.</p> + +<p>But the best thing of all was the appearance of the fairy sisters. +When they came among the people they all shouted as if they had gone +wild. And the good little sisters were so overjoyed that they could +scarcely speak.</p> + +<p>"What a wonderful thing it is to find that we have grown to our old +size again! We were here several times lately, but somehow or other we +seemed to be so very small that we couldn't make you see or hear us. +But now it's all right. Hurrah! We have forty-two new games!"</p> + +<p>And at that, the crop being all in, the whole country, with a shout +of joy, went to work to play.</p> + +<p>There were no gayer people to be seen than Corette and the Condensed +Pirate. Some of his friends called this good man by his old name, but +he corrected them.</p> + +<p>"I am reformed, all the same," he said, "but do not call me by that +name, I shall never be able to separate it from its associations with +tidies. And with <i>them</i> I am done for ever. Owing to +circumstances, I do not need to be depressed."</p> + +<p>The captain of the ship never stopped off the coast for a load of +tidies. Perhaps he did not care to come near the house of his former +captor, for fear that he might forget himself again, and take the ship +a second time. But if the captain had come, it is not likely that his +men would have found the cottage of the Condensed Pirate, unless they +had landed at the very spot where it stood.</p> + +<p>And it so happened that no one ever noticed this country after it +was condensed. Passing ships could not come near enough to see such a +very little place, and there never were any very good roads to it by +land.</p> + +<p>But the people continued to be happy and prosperous, and they kept +up the celebration of Sweet Marjoram Day as gayly as when they were all +ordinary-sized people.</p> + +<p>In the whole country there were only two persons, Corette and the +Pirate, who really believed that they were condensed.</p> + +<hr /> + +<h2><a name="singasing" id="singasing">"SING-A-SING!"</a></h2> + +<hr class="tiny" /> +<div class="center">BY S.C. STONE.</div> +<hr class="tiny" /> + +<a name="image29" id="image29"></a> +<div class="center"> +<img src="images/image29.jpg" width="400" height="308" alt="" /> +</div> + +<br /> + +<div class="poem"> +<div class="stanza"> + <div>Listen! and hear the tea-kettle sing:</div> + <div class="in2">"Sing a-sing a-sing a-sing!"</div> + <div>It matters not how hot the fire,</div> + <div>It only sends its voice up higher:</div> + <div class="in2">"Sing a-sing a-sing a-sing!</div> + <div class="in2">Sing a-sing a-sing a-sing!"</div> +</div> +<br /> +<div class="stanza"> + <div>Listen! and hear the tea-kettle sing:</div> + <div class="in2">"Sing a-sing a-sing a-sing!"</div> + <div>As if 't were task of fret and toil</div> + <div>To bring cold water to a boil!</div> + <div class="in2">"Sing a-sing a-sing a-sing!</div> + <div class="in2">Sing a-sing a-sing a-sing!"</div> +</div> +</div> + +<hr /> + +<h2><a name="noworthen" id="noworthen">NOW, OR THEN?</a></h2> + +<hr class="tiny" /> +<div class="center">BY GAIL HAMILTON.</div> +<hr class="tiny" /> + +<p>I suppose the wise young women—fourteen, fifteen, sixteen +years old—who read <span class="small">ST. NICHOLAS</span>, who +understand the most complex vulgar fractions, who cipher out +logarithms "just for fun," who chatter familiarly about "Kickero" and +"luliuse Kiser," and can bang a piano dumb and helpless in fifteen +minutes—they, I suppose, will think me frivolous and unaspiring +if I beg them to lay aside their science,—which is +admirable,—and let us reason together a few minutes +about such unimportant themes as little points of good manners.</p> + +<p>A few months ago I had the pleasure of talking with a gentleman who +thought he remembered being aroused from his midnight sleep by loud +rejoicings in the house and on the streets over the news that Lord +Cornwallis had surrendered the British to the American forces. He was +only two years old at that time; but, he said, he had a very strong +impression of the house being full of light, of many people hurrying +hither and yon, and of the watchman's voice in the street penetrating +through all the din with the cry—"Past twelve o'clock and +Cornwallis is taken!"</p> + +<p>Among many interesting reminiscences and reflections, this dignified +and delightful old gentleman said he thought the young people of to-day +were less mannerly than in the olden time, less deferential, less +decorous. This may be true, and I tried to be sufficiently deferential +to my courtly host, not to disagree with him. But when I look upon the +young people of my own acquaintance, I recall that William went, as a +matter of course, to put the ladies in their carriage; Jamie took the +hand luggage as naturally as if he were born for nothing else; Frank +never failed to open a door for them; Arthur placed Maggie in her chair +at table before he took his own; Nelly and Ruth came to my party just +as sweet and bright as if they did not know that the young gentlemen +whom they had expected to meet were prevented from attending; while +Lucy will run herself out of breath for you, and Mary sits and listens +with flattering intentness, and Anne and Alice and—well, looking +over <i>my</i> constituency, I find the young people charming.</p> + +<p>It is true that all manners are less formal, that etiquette is less +elaborate, now than a hundred years ago. Our grandfathers and +grandmothers—some, indeed, of our fathers and mothers—did +not sit at breakfast with their fathers and mothers, but stood through +the meal, and never spoke except when spoken to. I cannot say I think +we have deteriorated in changing this. The pleasant, familiar, +affectionate intercourse between parent and child seems to me one of +the most delightful features of domestic life. The real, fond intimacy +which exists between parents and children seems a far better and safer +thing than the old fashion of keeping children at arm's length.</p> + +<p>But in casting aside forms we are, perhaps, somewhat in danger of +losing with them some of that inner kindness of which form is only the +outward expression. Without admitting that we are an uncivil people, +insisting even that we compare favorably with other nations, I wish our +boys and girls would resolve that the courtesy of the Republic shall +never suffer in their hands!</p> + +<p>Does this seem a trivial aim for those who are bending their +energies to attain a high standing in classics and mathematics? There +is perhaps no single quality that does as much to make life smooth and +comfortable—yes, and successful—as courtesy. Logarithms +are valuable in their way, but there are many useful and happy people +who are not very well versed even in the rule of three. A man may not +know a word of Latin, or what is meant by "the moon's terminator," or +how much sodium is in Arcturus, and yet be constantly diffusing +pleasure. But no man can be agreeable without courtesy, and every +separate act of incivility creates its little, or large, and ever +enlarging circle of displeasure and unhappiness.</p> + +<p>One does not wish to go through life trying to be agreeable; but +life is a great failure if one goes through it disagreeable.</p> + +<p>Yes, little friends, believe me, you may be very learned, very +skillful, very accomplished. I trust you are: I hope you will become +more so. You may even have sound principles and good habits; but if +people generally do not like you, it is because there is something +wrong in yourself, and the best thing you can do is to study out what +it is and correct it as fast as possible. Do not for a moment fancy it +is because you are superior to other people that they dislike you, for +superiority never, of itself, made a person unlovely. It is invariably +a defect of some sort. Generally it is a defect arising from training, +and therefore possible to overcome.</p> + +<p>For instance: two girls in the country have each a pony phaeton. One +drives her sisters, her family, her guests, her equals, and never +thinks of going outside that circle. Another does the same; but, more +than this, she often takes the cook, the laundress, or the one woman +who often is cook, laundress, housemaid, all in one. And to them the +drive is a far greater luxury than to her own comrades, who would be +playing croquet or riding if they were not with her. Now and then she +invites some poor neighbor, she takes some young sempstress or +worsted-worker to town to do her shopping, she carries the tired +housewife to see her mother, she asks three little girls—somewhat +crowded but rapturously happy—three miles to see the balloon +that has alighted on the hill; she drives a widowed old +mother-in-Israel to a tea-drinking of which she would otherwise be +deprived. These are not charities. They are courtesies, and this +bright-faced girl is sunshine in her village home and, by and by, when +her box of finery is by some mistake left at the station, a stalwart +youngster, unbidden, shoulders it and bears it, panting and +perspiring, to her door-step, declaring that he would not do it for +another person in town but Miss Fanny! And perhaps he does not even +say <i>Miss</i> Fanny—only Fanny. Now she could get on very well +without the villager's admiring affection, and even without her box of +finery; yet the goodwill of your neighbors is exceeding pleasant.</p> + +<p>Another thing Fanny excels in is the acknowledgment of courtesy, +which is itself as great a courtesy as the performance of kindness. If +she is invited to a lawn party or a boating picnic, whether she accept +or not, she pays a visit to her hostess afterward and expresses her +pleasure or her regrets; and she pays it with promptness, and not with +tardy reluctance, as if it were a burden. If she has been making a +week's visit away from home, she notifies her hostess of her safe +return and her enjoyment of the visit, as soon as she is back again. If +a bouquet is sent her,—too informal for a note,—she +remembers to speak of it afterward. You never can remember? No; but +Fanny does. That is why I admire her. If she has borrowed a book, she +has an appreciative word to say when she returns it; and if she has +dropped it in the mud, she does not apologize and offer to replace it. +She replaces it first and apologizes afterward, though she has to +sacrifice a much-needed pair of four-button gloves to do it! Indeed, +no person has as little apologizing to do as Fanny, because she does +everything promptly; and you may notice that what we apologize for +chiefly is delay. We perform our little social duties, only not in +good season, and so rob them of half their grace. It takes no longer +to answer a letter to-day than it will take to-morrow. But if the +letter requires an answer instantly, and you put it off day after day, +your correspondent is vexed, and your tardy answer will never be quite +a reparation. Remember that no explanation, no apology, is quite as +good as to have done the thing exactly as it should be in the first +place.</p> + +<hr /> + +<h2><a name="jackschristmas" id="jackschristmas">JACK'S CHRISTMAS</a></h2> + +<hr class="tiny" /> +<div class="center">BY EMMA K. PARRISH.</div> +<hr class="tiny" /> + +<p>Jack had just heard of Christmas for the first time! Ten years old, +and never knew about Christmas before! Jack's mother was a weary, +overworked woman, and had no heart to tell the children about merry +times and beautiful things in which they could have no share.</p> + +<p>His parents were very poor. When I tell you that they lived in a +log-house you might think so, although some people live very +comfortably in log-houses. But when I say that the snow drifted through +the cracks in the roof until the chamber floor was fit to go sleighing +on, and that it was so cold down-stairs that the gravy froze on the +children's plates while they were eating breakfast, and that the little +girls had no shoes but cloth ones which their mother sewed to their +stockings, you will see that they were poor indeed. Mrs. Boyd, Jack's +mother, generally went about her work with a shawl tied around her, and +a comforter over her ears, on account of the ear-ache; and on the +coldest days she kept Jack's little sisters wrapped up from head to +foot and perched on chairs near the stove, so they wouldn't freeze. No; +she didn't feel much like telling them about Christmas, when she didn't +know but they would freeze to death, or, may be, starve, before that +time. But Jack found out. He was going to school that winter, and one +learns so much at school! He came home one night brimful of the news +that Christmas would be there in three weeks, and that Santa Claus +would come down chimneys and say, "I wish you Merry Christmas!" and +then put lots of nice things in all the stockings.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Boyd heard him talking, and was glad the children were enjoying +themselves, but hoped from her heart that they wouldn't expect +anything, only to be bitterly disappointed. Most of that evening little +Janey, the youngest girl, sat singing:</p> + +<div class="poem"> +<div class="stanza"> + <div class="quote">"Wis' you Melly Kitsmas!</div> + <div>Wis' you Melly Kitsmas!"</div> +</div> +</div> + +<p class="noindent">in a quaint, little minor key, that wasn't +plaintive enough to be sad, nor merry enough to be jolly, but only a +sweet monotony of sounds and words showing that she was contented, and +didn't feel any of the dreadful aches and pains which sometimes +distressed her so.</p> + +<p>For a week, Jack wondered and mused within himself how he could get +something for Christmas presents for his little sisters. He couldn't +make anything at home without their seeing it, nor at school without +the teacher's seeing it, or else the big boys plaguing him about it. +Besides, he would rather buy something pretty, such as they had never +seen before—china dolls in pink dresses, or something of that +kind. One morning, however, Jack discovered some quail-tracks in the +snow near the straw-stack, and he no longer wondered about ways and +means, but in a moment was awake to the importance of this discovery. +That very evening he made a wooden trap, and the next morning early +set it near the stack, and laid an inviting train of wheat quite up to +it, and scattered a little inside. He told his sisters, Mary and +Janey, about the trap, but not about what he meant to do with the +quails when he caught them. That afternoon Jack went to his trap, and +to his unbounded joy found an imprisoned quail, frozen quite stiff. He +quickly set the trap again, and ran to the house with his bird. All +that evening he worked at quail-traps and made three more.</p> + +<p>It was so much warmer that their mother let the children stay up a +little later than usual; and Mary ventured to bring out her playthings +and Janey's. These were two dolls, some bits of broken dishes, and a +few little pine blocks. Mary watched her mother's face until she was +sure she was "feeling good," before she ventured to begin a play, +because on days when mother was very discouraged, it made her feel +worse if the children were noisy, and so they would keep quiet and +speak in whispers.</p> + +<p>"Does Santa Claus bring dolls?" asked Mary, suddenly, of Jack.</p> + +<p>"Oh yes; dolls with pretty dresses on; and little bunnits and pink +shoes; and little cubberds to keep their clothes in, and chairs, and +everything," said Jack, enthusiastically.</p> + +<p>"Oh, my!" sighed Mary, as she looked dolefully at their poor little +heap of toys.</p> + +<p>Reader, their dolls were cobs, with square pieces of calico tied +around them for dresses; and after hearing what Jack said, it wasn't +so much fun playing, and the little girls soon went to bed. After they +were asleep, Mrs. Boyd said, reproachfully:</p> + +<p>"Jack, I wish you wouldn't say anything more about Christmas to the +children."</p> + +<p>"Why, is it bad?" asked Jack, so astonished that he stopped +whittling.</p> + +<p>"No, of course not; but you're getting their heads full of notions +about fine things they never can have."</p> + +<p>Jack's eyes twinkled.</p> + +<p>"Oh, but you don't understand, mother," said he; "may be Santy Claus +will come this year."</p> + +<p>His mother shook her head.</p> + +<p>"You know I caught one quail to-day?" whispered Jack.</p> + +<p>"Well!" said his mother.</p> + +<p>"Well, I'm going to save 'em all the week, and Saturday take 'em to +the meat-man in the village. I guess he'll buy 'em. I heard that quails +were fetching two cents apiece. And I'm going to get enough money to +buy the girls something nice, and you must make 'em hang up their +stockings, mother, and then we'll put the things in after they get +asleep."</p> + +<p>His mother smiled quite cheerfully. "Well," said she, "do the best +you can."</p> + +<p>Their father was away that evening. He was generally away evenings, +because most of the neighbors had cozier firesides than his, besides +apples, and sometimes cider; and so he passed many a pleasant hour in +gossip and farm-talk, while his own little family shivered gloomily at +home.</p> + +<p>By Saturday morning Jack had ten quails. The four traps had not +been as fruitful as they ought to have been, perhaps, but this was +doing very well, and he trudged joyfully to town with his game hanging +on a stick over his shoulder. The meat-man did indeed give two cents +apiece for quails, and he invited Jack to bring as many more as he +could get.</p> + +<p>The next Saturday was only two days before Christmas, and how +beautiful were all the stores on the village street! Even the +groceries had Christmas toys and Christmas trees. A good many boys and +girls stood around the store windows pointing out the things they most +admired, and wondering what Santa Claus would bring them. Jack had +fifteen quails, which brought him thirty cents; so he was now the +owner of half a dollar, which was more money than he had ever +possessed in all his life before. But when two dolls were bought, and +they weren't very fine dolls either, there were only twenty cents +left. Jack <i>did</i> mean to buy something for his mother too, but he +had to give that up, and after looking over the bright colored +toy-books in the show-case, he selected two little primers, one with a +pink cover and one with a blue one, and with a big ache in his throat, +parted with his last ten cents for candy. How very, very little he was +buying after all, and not one thing for his dear mother who had sat up +till two o'clock the night before, mending his ragged clothes for him.</p> + +<p>Jack's heart was very heavy as he walked out of the gay store with +such a little package, but it sank still lower when his father's tall +form loomed up suddenly before him right in front of the door.</p> + +<a name="image30" id="image30"></a> +<div class="imgright"> +<img src="images/image30.jpg" width="314" height="400" +alt="LET ME SEE 'EM, SAID HIS FATHER" +title="LET ME SEE 'EM, SAID HIS FATHER" /> +<p class="caption">"'LET ME SEE 'EM,' SAID HIS FATHER."</p> +</div> + +<p>"What you doing here?" he asked, sternly.</p> + +<p>"Been buying a few things," said Jack.</p> + +<p>"Let me see 'em," said his father.</p> + +<p>Jack tremblingly opened his package.</p> + +<p>"Where'd you get the money?"</p> + +<p>"With quails," said Jack, meekly.</p> + +<p>His father fumbled over the things with his big, mittened hand, and +said quite gently: "For the girls, I s'pose."</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir," answered Jack, beginning to feel relieved.</p> + +<p>"Well, run along home."</p> + +<p>Jack was only too happy to do so. There wasn't much sympathy between +him and his father, nor, indeed, between his father and any of the +family—that is, there didn't seem to be; but I guess the stream +was frozen over, and only needed a few gleams of sunshine to make it +bubble on, laughing and gurgling as in the best of hearts.</p> + +<p>Jack related his adventures to his mother in whispers, and hid the +Christmas articles in the wash-boiler until such time as they should be +wanted for certain small stockings. He told his mother how sorry he was +not to have a present for her, and that little speech went a long way +toward making her happy. That night she sat up—I wouldn't dare +tell you how late—making cookies,—something that hadn't +been in the house before that winter. She cut them out in all manner +of shapes that feminine ingenuity and a case-knife could compass, not +forgetting a bird for Janey, with a remarkably plump bill, and a +little girl for Mary, with the toes turned out. She also made some +balls of brown sugar (the Boyds never thought of such a luxury as +white sugar), to make believe candy, for she didn't know Jack had +bought any candy.</p> + +<p>Now I am going to tell what Mr. Boyd did after he met Jack by the +toy-store. He had gone to the village to have a "good time." That +didn't mean, as it does with some men, to get tipsy; but it meant he +was going to Munger's grocery, where he could meet people, and talk and +joke, and keep warm.</p> + +<p>Mr. Boyd had been chopping wood for a farmer, and had received his +pay; but instead of going dutifully home and consulting with his wife +about what he should buy, he was going to "look around" and see what +Munger had. He was touched at the sight of Jack's poor little package +of gifts, but I doubt if it would have made much impression on his +mind if somebody hadn't walked in to Munger's and asked in a brisk, +loud voice: "Got any Brazil nuts, Munger?"</p> + +<p>The man with the brisk voice bought I don't know how many quarts of +Brazil nuts, and walnuts, and filberts, and almonds, with all the +loungers looking on, very much interested in the spectacle. Then he +bought raisins, and candy, and oranges, Mr. Munger growing more smiling +every minute.</p> + +<p>"Going to keep Christmas, I guess," said he, rubbing his hands +together.</p> + +<p>"That I am; 'Christmas comes but once a year,' and there are little +folks up at our house who've been looking for it with all their eyes +for a fortnight."</p> + +<p>Then he bought a bushel of apples, and, filling a peck measure with +them, passed them around among the men who sat and stood about the +stove.</p> + +<p>"Take 'em home to your little folks if you don't want 'em," he said, +when any one hesitated.</p> + +<p>There were three or four apples apiece, and Mr. Boyd put all his in +his pockets, with a slight feeling of Christmas warmth beginning to +thaw his heart.</p> + +<p>After this cheery purchaser had gone, some one asked: "Who is that +chap?"</p> + +<p>"He's the new superintendent of the Orphant Asylum," answered Mr. +Munger, rubbing his hands again; "and a mighty nice man he is, too. +Pays for all them things out of his own pocket. Very fond of children. +Always likes to see 'em happy."</p> + +<p>There were two or three men around that stove who hung their heads, +and Mr. Boyd was one of them. He hung his the lowest, perhaps because +he had the longest neck. I don't know what the other men +did,—something good and pleasant, I hope,—but Mr. Boyd +thought and thought. First he thought how the "orphants" were going to +have a brighter and merrier Christmas than his own children, who had +both father and mother. Then he thought about sweet, patient little +Janey, and quiet Mary, and generous Jack, who had taken so much pains +to give pleasure to his sisters, and a great rush of shame filled his +heart. Now, when Mr. Boyd was once thoroughly aroused, he was alive +through the whole of his long frame. He thumped his knee with his +fist, then arose and walked to the counter, where he dealt out rapid +orders to the astonished grocer for nuts, candies and oranges; not in +such large quantities, to be sure, as the "orphants'" friend had done, +but generous enough for three children. And he bought a calico dress +for his wife, a pair of shoes for each of the little girls, and a cap +for Jack. That store contained everything, from grind-stones to +slate-pencils, and from whale-oil to peppermint-drops. These +purchases, together with some needful groceries, took all Mr. Boyd's +money, except a few pennies, but a Christmas don't-care feeling +pervaded his being, and he borrowed a bag, into which he stowed his +goods, and set out for home.</p> + +<p>It was a pretty heavy bagful, but its heaviness only made Mr. Boyd's +heart the lighter. When he reached home, he stood the bag up in one +corner, as if it held turnips, and said, "Don't meddle with that, +children." Then he went out and spent the rest of the short day in +chopping wood, which was very cheering to his wife. So many Sundays had +dawned with just wood enough to cook breakfast, that Mrs. Boyd began to +dread that day particularly, for her husband was almost sure to go +right away after breakfast and spend the whole day at the neighbors' +houses, while his own family shivered around a half-empty stove.</p> + +<p>Mr. Boyd said never a word about the bag, and the unsuspecting +household thought it contained corn or some other uninteresting +vegetable, and paid little attention to it. It also stood there all the +next day, and the children grew quite used to the sight of it.</p> + +<p>Sunday went by quietly, and, to the surprise of all, Mr. Boyd +stayed at home, making it his especial business to hold Janey on his +lap, and keep the stove well filled with wood. Janey wasn't feeling +well that day, and this unusual attention to her made the family very +kindly disposed toward their father, whom of late they had come to +regard almost as an alien.</p> + +<p>Jack, whose shoes were not yet worn out, went to Sunday-school, and +after his return the winter day was soon gone. Then he began to fidget, +and was very desirous that his mother should put the little girls to +bed; while, strange to say, his father was desirous that the whole +family should go to bed, except himself. In course of time the little +girls were asleep in their trundle bed, with their little red stockings +hanging behind the door. Mr. Boyd sat with his back to the door, so +Jack slipped in his presents without his father's seeing him, and went +to his cold bed upstairs.</p> + +<p>"Aint you going to hang up your stocking, mother?" asked Mr. Boyd +after Jack had gone.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Boyd looked startled.</p> + +<p>"Why, no," she answered, hesitatingly, not knowing whether the +question was asked in irony or in earnest.</p> + +<p>"You better," said Mr. Boyd, going to the bag in the corner, and +beginning to untie the strings.</p> + +<p>He laid out package after package on the floor. His wife knelt down +by them in a maze of astonishment. Then, with a great deal of +enjoyment, Mr. Boyd untied them one by one, showing candy, nuts, +oranges, shoes, and all the rest, except the calico dress, which he +kept out of sight.</p> + +<p>Aladdin felt very fine when he found the cave-full of precious +stones, but I don't believe he was much happier than Mrs. Boyd. Her +eyes were so full of tears that there seemed to be about eight pairs +of shoes, ten bags, and half a dozen Mr. Boyds; but she managed to lay +hands on the real one, and him she embraced fervently. Then she +brought out the cookies and sugar balls she had made, and said to her +husband, in a very shame-faced way:</p> + +<p>"See my poor presents; I didn't know the children would have +anything nice, and I made these. I guess I wont put 'em in their +stockings though, now."</p> + +<p>But Mr. Boyd insisted on their going in with the other things, and I +think they were prized by the children a little more dearly, if such a +thing could be possible, than those which they called their "boughten" +presents.</p> + +<p>Now, I can't begin to describe the joyful time they had the next +morning, and particularly, the utter astonishment of Jack, who didn't +expect a thing, and hadn't even hung up a stocking. When that devoted +boy recognized one of his own gray socks crammed full of knobs and +bunches, with a beautiful plush cap on top, he was almost out of his +wits. Likewise, Mrs. Boyd's surprise was great at the discovery of her +new dress. The little girls were too happy that day to do much else but +count and arrange and re-arrange their delightful Christmas presents.</p> + +<p>Mr. Boyd killed a chicken, and Jack contributed four quails which he +had caught since market-day, and the festival of Christmas was kept +with much hilarity by the Boyd family.</p> + +<p>The neighbors, one by one, were surprised that Mr. Boyd hadn't +dropped in, as he usually did on Sundays and holidays. But Mr. Boyd +was engaged elsewhere. And this was only the beginning of good days +for that family, for, somehow, the Christmas feeling seemed to last +through all the year with Mr. Boyd, and through many other years; and +the little ball set rolling by Jack with his quail-traps, grew to be a +mighty globe of happiness for the whole family.</p> + +<hr /> + +<h2><a name="leftout" id="leftout">LEFT OUT.</a></h2> + +<hr class="tiny" /> +<div class="center">By A.G.W.</div> +<hr class="tiny" /> + +<div class="poem"> +<div class="stanza"> + <div>One day, St. Nicholas made a complaint:</div> + <div class="quote">"I think it's quite plain why they call me a + saint.</div> + <div>I wonder if any one happens to see</div> + <div>That nobody ever makes presents to me;</div> + <div>That I, who make presents to ever so many,</div> + <div>Am the only poor fellow who never gets any!"</div> +</div> +</div> + +<hr /> + +<h2><a name="missalcott" id="missalcott">MISS ALCOTT,</a></h2> + +<h3>THE FRIEND OF LITTLE WOMEN AND OF LITTLE MEN.</h3> + +<hr class="tiny" /> +<div class="center">BY F.B.S.</div> +<hr class="tiny" /> + +<a name="image31" id="image31"></a> +<div class="imgcenter"> +<img class="border" src="images/image31.jpg" width="232" height="300" alt="" /> +</div> + +<p>Would the readers of <span class="small">ST. NICHOLAS</span>, who +are all admirers of Miss Louisa Alcott, like to hear more than they +now know about this kind friend of theirs, who has been giving them so +much pleasure by her stories, and never writes so well as when she +writes for boys and girls? Then, let me tell you something about her +own family and childhood, and how she became the well-known writer +that she is. She not only tells you pleasant stories about "little +women" and "old-fashioned girls," "eight cousins," and children "under +the lilacs,"—but she shows you how good it is to be generous and +kind, to love others and not to be always caring and working for +yourselves. And the way she can do this is by first being noble and +unselfish herself. "Look into thine own heart and write," said a wise +man to one who had asked how to make a book. And it is because Miss +Alcott looks into her own heart and finds such kindly and beautiful +wishes there that she has been able to write so many beautiful books. +They tell the story of her life; but they tell many other stories +also. So let me give you a few events and scenes in her life, by +themselves.</p> + +<p>Miss Alcott's father was the son of a farmer in Connecticut, and her +mother was the daughter of a merchant in Boston. After growing up in a +pretty, rural town, among hardy people who worked all day in the fields +or the woods, and were not very rich, Mr. Alcott went down into +Virginia and wandered about among the rich planters and the poor slaves +who then lived there; selling the gentlemen and ladies such fine things +as they would buy from his boxes,—for he was a traveling +merchant, or peddler,—staying in their mansions sometimes, and +sometimes in the cabins of the poor; reading all the books he could +find in the great houses, and learning all that he could in other +ways. Then, he went back to Connecticut and became a school-master. So +fond was he of children, and so well did he understand them, that his +school soon became large and famous, and he was sent for to go and +teach poor children in Boston. Miss May, the mother of Miss Alcott, +was then a young lady in that city. She, too, was full of kind +thoughts for children, the poor and the rich, and when she saw how +well the young school-master understood his work, how much good he was +seeking to do, and how well he loved her, why, Miss May consented to +marry Mr. Alcott, and then they went away to Philadelphia together, +where Mr. Alcott taught another school.</p> + +<p>Close by Philadelphia, and now a part of that great city, is +Germantown, a quiet and lovely village then, which had been settled +many years before by Germans, for whom it was named, and by Quakers, +such as came to Philadelphia with William Penn. Here Louisa May Alcott +was born, and she spent the first two years of her life in Germantown +and Philadelphia. Then, her father and mother went back to Boston, +where Mr. Alcott taught a celebrated school in a fine large building +called the Temple, close by Boston Common, and about this school an +interesting book has been written, which, perhaps, you will some day +read. The little Louisa did not go to it at first, because she was not +old enough, but her father and mother taught her at home the same +beautiful things which the older children learned in the Temple school. +By and by people began to complain that Mr. Alcott was too gentle with +his scholars, that he read to them from the New Testament too much, and +talked with them about Jesus, when he should have been making them say +their multiplication-table. So his school became unpopular, and all the +more so because he would not refuse to teach a poor colored boy who +wanted to be his pupil. The fathers and mothers of the white children +were not willing to have a colored child in the same school with their +darlings. So they took away their children, one after another, until, +when Louisa Alcott was between six and seven years old, her father was +left with only five pupils, Louisa and her two sisters ("Jo," "Beth" +and "Meg"), one white boy, and the colored boy whom he would not send +away. Mr. Alcott had depended for his support on the money which his +pupils paid him, and now he became poor, and gave up his school.</p> + +<p>There was a friend of Mr. Alcott's then living in Concord, not far +from Boston,—a man of great wisdom and goodness, who had been +very sad to see the noble Connecticut school-master so shabbily +treated in Boston,—and he invited his friend to come and live in +Concord. So Louisa went to that old country town with her father and +mother when she was eight years old, and lived with them in a little +cottage, where her father worked in the garden, or cut wood in the +forest, while her mother kept the house and did the work of the +cottage, aided by her three little girls. They were very poor, and +worked hard; but they never forgot those who needed their help, and if +a poor traveler came to the cottage door hungry, they gave him what +they had, and cheered him on his journey. By and by, when Louisa was +ten years old, they went to another country town not far off, named +Harvard, where some friends of Mr. Alcott had bought a farm, on which +they were all to live together, in a religious community, working with +their hands, and not eating the flesh of slaughtered animals, but +living on vegetable food, for this practice, they thought, made people +more virtuous. Miss Alcott has written an amusing story about this, +which she calls "Transcendental Wild Oats." When Louisa was twelve +years old, and had a third sister ("Amy"), the family returned to +Concord, and for three years occupied the house in which Mr. +Hawthorne, who wrote the fine romances, afterward lived. There Mr. +Alcott planted a fair garden, and built a summer-house near a brook +for his children, where they spent many happy hours, and where, as I +have heard, Miss Alcott first began to compose stories to amuse her +sisters and other children of the neighborhood.</p> + +<p>When she was almost sixteen, the family returned to Boston, and +there Miss Alcott began to teach boys and girls their lessons. She had +not been at school much herself, but she had been instructed by her +father and mother. She had seen so much that was generous and good +done by them that she had learned it is far better to have a kind +heart and to do unselfish acts than to have riches or learning or fine +clothes. So, mothers were glad to send her their children to be +taught, and she earned money in this way for her own support.</p> + +<p>But she did not like to teach so well as her father did, and thought +that perhaps she could write stories and be paid for them, and earn +more money in that way. So she began to write stories. At first nobody +would pay her any money for them, but she kept patiently at work, +making better and better what she wrote, until in a few years she could +earn a good sum by her pen. Then the great civil war came on, and Miss +Alcott, like the rest of the people, wished to do something for her +country. So she went to Washington as a nurse, and for some time she +took care of the poor soldiers who came into the hospital wounded or +sick, and she has written a little book about these soldiers which you +may have read. But soon she grew ill herself from the labor and anxiety +she had in the hospital, and almost died of typhoid fever; since when +she has never been the robust, healthy young lady she was before, but +was more or less an invalid while writing all those cheerful and +entertaining books. And yet to that illness all her success as an +author might perhaps be traced. Her "Hospital Sketches," first +published in a Boston newspaper, became very popular, and made her name +known all over the North. Then she wrote other books, encouraged by the +reception given to this, and finally, in 1868, five years after she +left the hospital in Washington, she published the first volume of +"Little Women." From that day to this she has been constantly gaining +in the public esteem, and now perhaps no lady in all the land stands +higher. Several hundred thousand volumes of her books have been sold in +this country, and probably as many more in England and other European +countries.</p> + +<p>Twenty years ago, Miss Alcott returned to Concord with her family, who +have ever since resided there. It was there that most of her books were +written, and many of her stories take that town for their +starting-point. It was in Concord that "Beth" died, and there the +"Little Men" now live. Miss Alcott herself has been two or three years +in Europe since 1865, and has spent several winters in Boston or New +York, but her summers are usually passed in Concord, where she lives +with her father and mother in a picturesque old house, under a warm +hill-side, with an orchard around it and a pine-wood on the hill-top +behind. Two aged trees stand in front of the house, and in the rear is +the studio of Miss May Alcott ("Amy"), who has become an artist of +renown, and had a painting exhibited last spring in the great +exhibition of pictures at Paris. Close by is another house, under the +same hill-side, where Mr. Hawthorne lived and wrote several of his +famous books, and it was along the old Lexington road in front of +these ancient houses that the British Grenadiers marched and retreated +on the day of the battle of Concord in April, 1775. Instead of soldiers +marching with their plumed hats, you might have seen there last summer +great plumes of asparagus waving in the field; instead of bayonets, the +poles of grape-vines in ranks upon the hill; while loads of hay, of +strawberries, pears and apples went jolting along the highway between +hill and meadow.</p> + +<p>The engraving shows you how Miss Alcott looks,—only you must +recollect that it does not flatter her; and if you should see her, you +would like her face much better than the picture of it. She has large, +dark-blue eyes, brown clustering hair, a firm but smiling mouth, a +noble head, and a tall and stately presence, as becomes one who is +descended from the Mays, Quincys and Sewalls, of Massachusetts, and +the Alcotts and Bronsons of Connecticut. From them she has inherited +the best New England traits,—courage and independence without +pride, a just and compassionate spirit, strongly domestic habits, good +sense, and a warm heart. In her books you perceive these qualities, do +you not? and notice, too, the vigor of her fancy, the flowing humor +that makes her stories now droll and now pathetic, a keen eye for +character, and the most cheerful tone of mind. From the hard +experiences of life she has drawn lessons of patience and love, and +now with her, as the apostle says, "abideth faith, hope, charity, +these three; but the greatest of these is charity." There have been +men, and some women too, who could practice well the heavenly virtue +of charity toward the world at large, and with a general atmospheric +effect, but could not always bring it down to earth, and train it in +the homely, crooked paths of household care. But those who have seen +Miss Alcott at home know that such is not her practice. In the last +summer, as for years before, the citizen or the visitor who walked the +Concord streets might have seen this admired woman doing errands for +her father, mother, sister, or nephews, and as attentive to the +comfort of her family as if she were only their housekeeper. In the +sick-room she has been their nurse, in the excursion their guide, in +the evening amusements their companion and entertainer. Her good +fortune has been theirs, and she has denied herself other pleasures +for the satisfaction of giving comfort and pleasure to them.</p> + +<div class="poem"> +<div class="stanza"> + <div class="quote">"So did she travel on life's common way</div> + <div>In cheerful godliness; and yet her heart</div> + <div>The lowliest duties on herself did lay."</div> +</div> +</div> + +<hr /> + +<h2><a name="boytrains" id="boytrains">THE BOY WHO JUMPED ON TRAINS.</a></h2> + +<hr class="tiny" /> +<div class="center">BY MARY HARTWELL.</div> +<hr class="tiny" /> + +<br /> + +<div class="poem"> +<div class="stanza"> + <div>There was a boy whose name was Dunn,</div> + <div class="in3">And he was one</div> + <div class="in3">As full of fun</div> + <div>As any boy could walk or run!</div> +</div> +<br /> +<div class="stanza"> + <div>His cheeks were plump, his eyes were bright,</div> + <div class="in3">He stepped as light</div> + <div class="in3">As a camel might,</div> + <div>And bounced and played from morn till night.</div> +</div> +<br /> +<div class="stanza"> + <div>And whether he was here or there,</div> + <div class="in3">His parents' care—</div> + <div class="in3">Unseen like air—</div> + <div>Followed and held him everywhere.</div> +</div> +</div> +<br /> +<a name="image32" id="image32"></a> +<div class="center"> +<img src="images/image32.png" width="299" height="300" +alt="HE WOULD JUMP ON THE CARS TO RIDE." +title="HE WOULD JUMP ON THE CARS TO RIDE." /> +<p class="caption">"HE WOULD JUMP ON THE CARS TO RIDE."</p> +</div> +<br /> +<div class="poem"> +<div class="stanza"> + <div>He really was their joy and pride—</div> + <div class="in3">Was good beside;</div> + <div class="in3">But woe betide—</div> + <div>He <i>would</i> jump on the cars to ride!</div> +</div> +<br /> +<div class="stanza"> + <div>There, hanging to a brake or step,</div> + <div class="in3">Tight hold he kept,</div> + <div class="in3">And onward swept,</div> + <div>Yelling with all his might, "Git-tep!"</div> +</div> +<br /> +<div class="stanza"> + <div>Dunn's father learned that he did so,</div> + <div class="in3">And told him to</div> + <div class="in3">Decline to go</div> + <div>Where trains were running to and fro.</div> +</div> +</div> +<br /> +<a name="image33" id="image33"></a> +<div class="center"> +<img src="images/image33.png" width="299" height="300" +alt="HIS FATHER'S STERN COMMAND." title="HIS FATHER'S STERN COMMAND." /> +<p class="caption">"HIS FATHER'S STERN COMMAND."</p> +</div> +<br /> +<div class="poem"> +<div class="stanza"> + <div>As for his mother, she turned white,</div> + <div class="in3">And gasped with fright</div> + <div class="in3">To think Dunn might</div> + <div>Come home a pancake some fine night!</div> +</div> +<br /> +<div class="stanza"> + <div>But his relations often said,</div> + <div class="in3">With shaking head,</div> + <div class="in3">That boy was led</div> + <div>To have his way if it killed him dead!</div> +</div> +<br /> +<div class="stanza"> + <div>And sure enough when school was out,</div> + <div class="in3">And boys about</div> + <div class="in3">The trains flocked out,</div> + <div>Dunn followed too, with plunge and shout.</div> +</div> +</div> +<br /> +<a name="image34" id="image34"></a> +<div class="center"> +<img src="images/image34.png" width="299" height="300" +alt="THE FREIGHT-CARS DECKED WITH BOYS DID SLIDE." +title="THE FREIGHT-CARS DECKED WITH BOYS DID SLIDE." /> +<p class="caption">"THE FREIGHT-CARS DECKED WITH BOYS DID SLIDE."</p> +</div> +<br /> +<div class="poem"> +<div class="stanza"> + <div>He did not mean to grab a ride,</div> + <div class="in3">But by his side,</div> + <div class="in3">With tempting glide,</div> + <div>The freight-cars decked with boys did slide!</div> +</div> +<br /> +<div class="stanza"> + <div>Where was his father's stern command?</div> + <div class="in3">Out went his hand;</div> + <div class="in3">He gained a stand—</div> + <div>At least he <i>planned</i> to gain a stand!</div> +</div> +<br /> +<div class="stanza"> + <div>What is it? Crash! His head is blind!</div> + <div class="in3">That wheel behind—</div> + <div class="in3">He hears it grind!</div> + <div>And he is paralyzed in mind!</div> +</div> +<br /> +<div class="stanza"> + <div>On cork and crutches now goes Dunn!</div> + <div class="in3"><i>Whole</i> boys may run—</div> + <div class="in3">Grab rides for fun—</div> + <div>But, as I said, <i>this</i> boy is <i>Dunn</i>!</div> +</div> +</div> + +<hr /> + +<h2><a name="towermountain" id="towermountain">THE TOWER-MOUNTAIN</a></h2> + +<hr class="tiny" /> +<div class="center">BY GUSTAVUS FRANKENSTEIN.</div> +<hr class="tiny" /> + +<br /> + +<h3>I.</h3> + +<p>Many years ago, I was roving in a land strange and wonderful to me. +It was a tropical country, and I was wandering alone among the grand +scenery of the mountains, and the luxuriant vegetation of the +hill-sides and valleys.</p> + +<p>I had with me but few implements, and these, such as were light and +easy to carry. A hunting-knife, a small hatchet, a canteen and a few +marching necessaries made up my kit.</p> + +<p>One day while rambling about, living on the bountiful supplies of +fruit nature provides in that charming region, I came to a deep lake +surrounded by steep hills. On the opposite side of this lake I could +see a narrow gap or cleft, which seemed to lead to the higher ground. I +therefore made a raft,—not without considerable +trouble,—and paddled it across the lake. I found the gap quite +narrow at its entrance, but it soon became wider, while far forward, +at the end of the chasm, there appeared to be a series of rude steps.</p> + +<p>I fastened the raft to the rock, in doing which I had the ill luck +to drop my hatchet into the deep water, and, notwithstanding the evil +omen, made my way into the crevice. I passed over the rough bottom of +the chasm until I came to the steps; these I ascended. At a height of +about a hundred feet I came to a wall of rock, the top of which I could +just reach with the ends of my fingers. By a great effort, I got a good +hold of the edge of the rock, and drew myself up.</p> + +<p>When I stood at last upon the upper ground, I saw before me the most +beautiful trees and flowers I had yet met with. On either side the +rocks retreated and rose steeply to the summits I had partially seen +from the lake below. As I passed on and surveyed the plateau, I found +it to be a valley about a mile in diameter, encompassed by precipices +more or less abrupt. With but little trouble I found a place of easy +ascent, and soon climbed to the top of the rocky wall.</p> + +<p>The delight I now experienced surpassed everything I had ever known. +Spread out before me, as I stood upon an eminence somewhat above the +general level, was a vast expanse overflowing with vegetation and +extending for miles in every direction, whilst all round about rose the +mighty domes and pinnacles of snow-clad mountains. I stood in the midst +of the sublimest mountain scenery in the world. I could look down upon +the beautiful lake, and up at the giant peaks, and all about me upon +the fruitful verdure, whilst the atmosphere was charged with +delightful odors, and a pleasant breeze tempered the sweet warm air.</p> + +<a name="image35" id="image35"></a> +<div class="imgright"> +<img src="images/image35.jpg" width="294" height="399" +alt="THE VIEW FROM THE LEDGE" title="THE VIEW FROM THE LEDGE" /> +<p class="caption">THE VIEW FROM THE LEDGE.</p> +</div> + +<p>As here was a delightful climate, fruit in abundance, and scenery +soul-exalting, of whose glory one could never grow tired, I felt rather +pleased with the thought "Why not stay here? Why not remain in this +beautiful place as long as circumstances will permit?"</p> + +<p>All nature seemed here so lovely that I resolved to wander no +further.</p> + +<p>While gazing around at all this grandeur and beauty, my attention +was particularly drawn to a group of lofty peaks which rose in the +midst of this smiling garden. The sides of the towering eminences +seemed almost perpendicular, and they were about three or four +thousand feet high.</p> + +<p>I soon gave up all hope of ever reaching the top, but in examining +the rock I found at its base a great cavern, so high and wide that a +very large building might have stood in it, with plenty of room to +spare. The sides and roof sparkled with crystals of all hues, and were +singularly and picturesquely variegated with differently colored veins +running through them; and, as the cave opened toward the east, with a +large clear space in front of it, nothing could have been more splendid +than when the morning sun shone full into the vast chamber and lighted +it up with dazzling brilliancy.</p> + +<p>In that chamber I made my humble home.</p> + +<p>Near one of the streams that flowed over the precipice into the +lake, grew several species of very tall grasses, with great bushy +heads of long silky fibers that adorned and protected their flowers +and fruit. Of these fine strong threads I made a hammock, which I +suspended from a strong frame bound together with these tough fibers, +placing it a few feet back from the mouth of the cavern. Thus, I had +an excellent bed, and if I should need covering there were plenty of +palm-leaves at hand for the purpose. But in that torrid climate there +was little need of extra protection; the air of the cavern was of just +that delightful coolness which refreshes but does not chill.</p> + +<p>Now, imagine me waking in the morning just as the dawn tinted the +rosy east, refreshed with sweet slumbers and rejoicing to behold the +light, rocking myself gently in my pretty hammock, and hailing the +uprising sun with a merry song,—and would you not suppose there +was one happy man in this great world?</p> + +<p>While the day was yet young I would take a bath in the clear, soft +water of a little stream near by. Then, when all was sparkling and +bright in my humble house, I would partake with keen appetite of the +precious fruits of my unlimited and self-producing garden.</p> + +<p>In the neighboring streams were many kinds of fishes, some of which +I knew to be very good eating, and I could have caught and eaten as +many birds as I wished; but the fruits and nuts were so plentiful, and +of so many different sorts, that I cared for, and, indeed, needed, no +other kind of food.</p> + +<p>Thus, several months passed away, and I was not weary of this +paradise. There was enough to occupy my mind in the examination of the +structure and mode of growth of a vast number of species of plants. +Their flowering, their fruitage, and their decay offered a boundless +field for thought, and kept up a never-flagging interest.</p> + +<p>For the first four months the sun traced his course through the +heavens to the north of me; I knew, therefore, that I was almost +immediately under the equator. For several days at the end of the four +months, the sun rose directly in the east, passing through the sky in +a line dividing it almost exactly into halves north and south. After +that, for six months, I had the great luminary to the south of me.</p> + +<p>In all this time there was but little change in the weather. A short +period without rain was the exception. Otherwise, the mornings and +evenings were invariably clear, with a refreshing rain of about two +hours' duration in the middle of the day. In the afternoon the sun was, +of course, away from my cavern, shining upon the opposite side of the +mountain of solid rock, which rendered my abode delightfully cool in +the greatest heat of the day. Toward the end of the short dry period, +magnificent thunder-showers passed over my domain. Nothing could be +more glorious than these electrical displays of an equatorial sky, as I +sat snug and safe within the rocky shelter. The heaviest shower could +not wet me, the water without ran with a swift descent, from the cave, +and over the precipice into the lake below. It was not likely that the +lightning would take the trouble to creep in under the rock and there +find me out. And as for the thunder, I was not in the least afraid of +it, but gloried in its loud peals and distant reverberations among the +encompassing mountains.</p> + +<p>It was during the violence of one of these tempests that a parrot +flew into my comfortable quarters.</p> + +<p>"Hallo! my fine fellow!" said I. "Where do you come from, and what +do you want here?"</p> + +<p>It flew about the room looking for a place to perch, trying to find +a footing against the wall, slipping down, and flying up again.</p> + +<p>I left it free to find its own roosting-place, or fly out of the +cavern, as it liked. I had seen a few parrots of the same kind, outside +in my garden, had heard them chattering and shrieking amidst the +foliage, and had always been very much amused with their odd ways, and +pleased with the brilliance and the glitter of their splendid plumage. +But I never tried or cared to capture the gorgeous, noisy birds, or any +other of the creatures that were always to be seen around me. Indeed, +from the very first, the living things in this lovely valley appeared +to be uncommonly tame; and in time no bird or other animal showed the +least fear on my approach, regarding me no more than any other creature +that never did them harm. Of course, this came of my never molesting +them. But I never thought of getting on familiar terms with any of +them, although scarcely a day passed that some of these animals did not +come and eat of the fruit by the side of that which I was plucking. I +never laid hands on them, but always let them go about their own +business. They soon became accustomed to my umbrella even, for I early +made one of these necessities of a torrid climate; and although at +first when I had occasion to walk in the sun my appearance shaded by +the portable roof caused unusual chattering and commotion, I speedily +took on a familiar look to them. In the same way I became an object of +curiosity when I plucked a leaf and made of it a cup to drink from. But +at length all signs of strangeness vanished, and there even came to be +a kind of friendship between us.</p> + +<p>I therefore concerned myself no more about the parrot, thinking +that, of course, as soon as the rain should stop, the bird would fly +away.</p> + +<p>I had made a small table of three slabs of rock, where I frequently +placed fruits, nuts, roots and the like, that I might have in case I +should feel hungry when in my house, and yet not care to eat the fruit +directly from the plant, which I most generally preferred. Of course, +too, it was always desirable to have provisions on hand when it rained.</p> + +<p>The next morning, when I awoke, the rain was still descending, for +it was just at this time that it rained for three or four days +together.</p> + +<p>I always had a healthy relish for the good things of this world, +and, as there was no rosy dawn to look at, my eyes immediately went in +search of the breakfast-table.</p> + +<p>"What!" I exclaimed; and I sat upright in my hammock.</p> + +<a name="image36" id="image36"></a> +<div class="imgright"> +<img src="images/image36.jpg" width="290" height="400" alt="" /> +</div> + +<p>There was the parrot on the table.</p> + +<p>I eyed him for some time, and then I cried out:</p> + +<p>"You little thief! Stealing my food, are you?"</p> + +<p>The parrot sat there, but said never a word. He merely raised one of +his claws and sleeked up the feathers on the back of his neck, in the +way his family know so well. Then, raising the feathers of his crest, +he gave utterance to a very faint shriek.</p> + +<p>"Get out of this, you rascal!" I cried and immediately got up and +went toward him with the purpose of putting him out.</p> + +<p>I approached the table very rapidly, expecting that the bird would +fly away. But he remained motionless. I was about to lay rude hands on +him, but I desisted.</p> + +<p>"Why do violence to the creature? Why mar the serenity of this +peaceful vale?" I said to myself. "And why make such ado about a +little fruit when there is abundance on every hand?"</p> + +<p>Happening just then to glance at the fruit, it seemed to me that it +had not been disturbed.</p> + +<p>I examined it more closely, and began to feel I had done the parrot +great injustice. There it lay, just as I had left it the night before; +there was no evidence whatever of its having been picked at, and I came +to the comforting conclusion that the handsome bird had broken no moral +law.</p> + +<p>The parrot rose greatly in my esteem at this happy discovery.</p> + +<p>"Friend Parrot," said I, "I beg pardon for having so rashly jumped +to the conclusion that you had been guilty of theft. I believe that you +have touched nothing of the things which belong to me. Indeed, I am +sure that you have not. That you have so scrupulously regarded the +rights of property is to me the source of infinite gratification, and +fills me with the highest admiration of your character. To show you +that I am disinclined to let virtue go unrewarded, I accord you my +permission to stay here while I am eating my breakfast, and when I have +finished, you too may eat some, if you like."</p> + +<p>Then, having arranged my toilet, I began to partake of the good +things that lay on the table, the parrot all the while looking at me +with lively interest. I could not help being amused at his significant +performances. He turned his knowing head one way, and then another, now +sidewise toward the fruits, and then obliquely up at me, as I sat +enjoying the repast, enlivening his gestures with gentle prattle, and +yet never making a single demonstration in the direction of my food. He +put me in such good humor that I was impelled to say to him:</p> + +<p>"Friend Parrot, I don't mind being sociable; and if you are +inclined to do me the favor of honoring me with your company, I most +respectfully invite you to partake of this humble collation." And, +taking up one of the choicest nuts in the collection, I handed it to +him forthwith.</p> + +<p>He took it promptly, and proceeded to crack and munch it in regular +parrot fashion.</p> + +<p>"You must excuse me," I resumed, "that my viands are not of the +choicest cooking, and that I have no servants to wait upon my highly +esteemed guest, and that there are no silver knives and forks and +spoons to eat with in the latest civilized style, but I have rid myself +of all those things, and am glad of it."</p> + +<p>The parrot nodded his head approvingly, as much as to say, "Right, +quite right."</p> + +<p>The poor bird was very hungry, and I let him eat his fill.</p> + +<p>Breakfast over, my guest flew upon my shoulder and was disposed to +be affectionate. He delicately pecked at my lips, drew his bill gently +across my cheeks, and pulled my hair with his claws.</p> + +<p>"Come, come! friend Parrot, none of your soft billing and cooing. +Leave that to women and children."</p> + +<p>So I gave my friend politely to understand that I did not care for +such pretty endearments; and, soon comprehending the force of my +objection, he very sensibly desisted from bestowing further attention +upon me, and thenceforth kept his handsome person reasonably aloof.</p> + +<p>I entertained my friend two days, during which I gave him much +valuable advice, and, which was more to the purpose and perhaps better +appreciated, plenty to eat.</p> + +<p>On the morning of the third day, the sun rose in all his beauty +again, and I fully expected the bird would fly away. He was in no +hurry to go, however. I went out, wandered about, and toward noon +returned home. Still the parrot was there. So it was the next day, and +the next. I did not want to resort to force and drive him away.</p> + +<p>Finally I said to him one day:</p> + +<p>"Friend Parrot; since I see you are in no hurry to leave my humble +home, and that it evidently grieves you to lose the pleasure of my +society, I shall not eject you forcibly from the premises. Stay, +therefore, as long as it shall please you. I will share with you food, +and shelter from the sun and rain. And whenever you grow weary of this +my society, tired of this plain habitation, or disgusted generally with +civilization, and wish to return to the freedom of savage life, you are +at liberty to go. 'Tis a large door, always open, out of which you can +fly; and when you are gone I shall shed no tears over your +departure."</p> + +<p>The bird seemed really to comprehend the drift of my discourse, and +from that time forward we lived upon the most intimate terms, which, +however, never passed the bounds of mutual respect.</p> + +<p>Now, if we were to live in such close ties of friendship, it was +necessary that my friend should have a name, and that he, too, should +be able to address me by mine. The title, "Friend Parrot," was rather +too formal, and his screeching at me in some unmeaning way every time +he wanted me could not for long be tolerated.</p> + +<p>So, "Mr. Parrot" said I, "you are Mr. Parrot no longer. Your name is +'Pippity.'"</p> + +<p>He soon learned his new name, and then said I:</p> + +<p>"Pippity! my name is 'Frank.'"</p> + +<p>It was incredible how rapidly he learned mine.</p> + +<p>"Further, Pippity," I continued, "you must learn the names of the +things round about us."</p> + +<p>Instruction began at once. For several days he had to be told the +names of things many times before he was able to repeat them +correctly; but after that, and apparently all of a sudden, he seemed +to have caught a bright idea and to thoroughly understand my method of +teaching.</p> + +<p>From that time on, when the name of a thing was made plain to him, +he seemed to grasp it immediately and never forgot it. This expedited +matters wonderfully, for I liked to talk to him and observe his efforts +to repeat what I said, so there was ample conversation, though somewhat +one-sided, going on in our ancient dwelling. I marveled at the parrot's +extraordinary power; but what astonished me above all was his wonderful +memory, and his unlimited capacity for taking in new ideas. Sometimes I +would ask him, after an interval of weeks, some name of a thing I had +taught him, and the answer was invariably correct. On such occasions I +would say to him:</p> + +<p>"Pippity, what's that?"</p> + +<p>He would tell me immediately; and I laughed outright when, one day, +as we were strolling through the forest, I stumbled over a stone, and +the parrot, perching on it, pecked it with his bill, and then, looking +up at me askance, asked:</p> + +<p>"What's that?"</p> + +<p>That was a phrase I had unwittingly taught him. And now I began more +than ever to perceive his extraordinary genius.</p> + +<p>Thenceforth it was "What's that?" and "What's that?" and actually +the fellow wanted to learn more quickly than I could teach.</p> + +<p>Once, after this intelligent bird had been with me for some months, +we were sitting quietly in our domicile, shaded from the afternoon sun +by our lofty rock-built palace, enjoying the beauties of creation, when +all at once he broke out in his clear, melodious voice:</p> + +<p>"Tell me something new!"</p> + +<p>I looked at him in amazement. I had never taught him to say that; +but undoubtedly he must have heard me say, at some time or other, +"Pippity, now I will tell you something new." Yet how the bird had +managed to turn the phrase grammatically to himself puzzled me not a +little.</p> + +<p>However, I soon began to teach him something else that was new, for +I had been thinking that it was time that he should learn the names of +the plants,—at least of the most interesting and useful. So it +was not long before Pippity had a fair acquaintance with botany.</p> + +<p>Nearly a year had now rolled round, when one day Pippity was +missing. What could have happened to him? Had he grown tired of my +society? Did he begin to think that, after all, savage freedom was to +be preferred to dull, systematic civilization? Had he come to the +conclusion that much learning is, at best, but vanity? Did he want to +go babbling again in chaotic gibberish rather than to talk smoothly by +rote?</p> + +<p>Two days passed, in which to drive away any natural feeling of +loneliness at the parrot's absence, I set down notes as concisely as +possible of what had occurred to me so far. For this purpose I used the +point of my knife and thin slabs of mica, wishing to save the small +stock of memorandum paper in my note-book and journals as much as I +could. At other times I had used bark and similar things to write on, +but the mica was more durable, and more easily stowed away. It was my +intention to make a still more condensed series of notes on the paper I +had by me, whenever I should feel like undertaking the task. The juice +of berries would serve for ink, and a feather or light reed would make +as good a pen as I should want. This plan I carried out afterward.</p> + +<p>On the third day Pippity returned, and, as he came flying into the +palace, "Pippity, Pippity!" I cried, "I thought you were never coming +back. Have you been to see your old friends?" He hung his head +demurely, and said nothing.</p> + +<p>Although I had told Pippity, when he had first sought my +hospitality, that I would shed no tears over his departure, if at any +time he might see fit to leave me, I must confess that I was very glad +when he came back. His society was agreeable. He was a good listener, +and he was by no means an idler, as far as that kind of honorable work +is concerned which consists in keeping body and soul together. For +example, strolling through our fertile garden, if I should happen to +see some fine fruit high on a tree, Pippity would fly up to it at my +bidding, and, cutting its stem with his bill, would quickly bring it +to the ground.</p> + +<p>"Pippity," I would say, "do you see that extra fine bunch of +bananas up there? Now, do you go up and cut the stalk, while I stand +below and catch the luscious treasure on this soft bed of leaves."</p> + +<p>And, before I would be done speaking, Pippity would already be +pretty well advanced with his work. For getting nuts, and such fruit +as it was desirable to take carefully from plants at great heights, +his services were invaluable.</p> + +<p>It is a remarkable fact that, although we had such an abundance of +tropical fruits, as well as a large proportion of temperate +productions, on our domain, the cocoa-nut was not one of them. I +remembered that, in coming up from the lake, I had seen large numbers +of cocoa-nut trees growing on the small flat at which I first arrived +about nine hundred feet below the level of our palace plateau.</p> + +<p>It would be an agreeable diversion, I thought, to go down there and +get some of those nuts, and it undoubtedly would be quite a treat to +Pippity to share them with me.</p> + +<p>"So," said I, "Pippity, I am going down this narrow gorge to the +lake; cocoa-nuts grow there, and I mean that you and I shall have +some. Keep house while I am gone. I shall start with the first peep of +dawn, while it is cool, and be back some time in the afternoon."</p> + +<p>I had made some baskets, in which we hung up the fruit we gathered. +One of these I took, and went down the declivity. I soon filled the +basket with good cocoa-nuts, saw plenty of monkeys, and was much +amused at their lively antics, and at their astonishment at seeing one +so much like them, and yet so different. I then returned—not, +however, without being obliged to throw away quite a number of the +nuts before reaching the top, in order to lessen the burden, which was +light enough at first, but which seemed to grow heavier and heavier as +I proceeded.</p> + +<p>As soon as Pippity saw me, he cried out:</p> + +<p>"Cocoa-nuts! Cocoa-nuts!"</p> + +<p>We relished them so much that I went down after them quite often, +always leaving Pippity at home to mind the house.</p> + +<p>On one occasion, while I was gathering these nuts, I was startled +by a loud shrieking not far off, and, looking in the direction of the +noise, I saw that there was a great commotion among the +monkeys—about a hundred of them squealing and yelling and +gesticulating at once. It was on the ground, where the monkey-crowd +swayed to and fro like any civilized mob. I ran up to see what the +fracas was about, but not without some misgivings as to the risk of +meddling in other people's business.</p> + +<div class="center">(<i>To be continued</i>.)</div> + +<hr /> + +<h2><a name="singingpins" id="singingpins">SINGING PINS.</a></h2> + +<hr class="tiny" /> +<div class="center">BY HARLAN H. BALLARD.</div> +<hr class="tiny" /> + +<br /> + +<p>It has been said, you know, that all the millions of pins which are +lost every year are picked up by fairies and hammered out on elfin +anvils into notes of music. There are some who say that this statement +must be received with caution, although they admit that the half and +quarter notes do bear a very singular resemblance to pins.</p> + +<p>I confess that I shared the doubts of this latter class of persons +until a few evenings since; for although I knew well enough that pins +were bright and sharp enough in their way, I never had been able to +discover one of a musical turn of mind.</p> + +<p>But having on a certain evening heard a choir of pins singing +"Yankee Doodle" till you would have thought that their heads must ache +forever after, I hereby withdraw all my objections, and express my +decided opinion that the above-named theory of the future life of pins +is fully as accurate as any other with which I am acquainted.</p> + +<p>The chorus of pins who were singing "Yankee Doodle" were standing at +the time on a piece of pine-board, and were evidently very much stuck +up.</p> + +<p>One of their number, however, when asked if they were not rather too +self-important, bent his head quickly downward, and replied that he +couldn't see the point, which was exceedingly brassy for a pin.</p> + +<p>They looked for all the world as if they were a line of music which, +impatient of being forever kept under key and behind bars, had revolted +under the leadership of an intrepid staff-officer, and marched right +out of Sister Mary's instruction-book.</p> + +<p>Indeed, from a remark which the staff-officer let fall, to the +effect that if they did not all see sharp they would soon be flat +again, nothing else would be natural than to accept that supposition +as the truth.</p> + +<p>Pins they were of all papers and polish.</p> + +<p>They were not ranged according to height, as good soldiers should +be, nor did they all stand erect, but each seemed bent on having his +own way.</p> + +<p>Their heads varied greatly from an even line, and on the whole they +looked far more like the notes of music which they had been, than like +the orderly row of singing-pins which they aspired to be. They had a +scaly appearance.</p> + +<p>My small brother had assumed the management of this curious chorus, +and I was much amused at the manner in which he drilled them. For he +coolly picked up the splendid staff-officer by his head and poked the +first bass with his point, as if to say, "Time—sing!" Whereupon +that pin set up a deep, twanging growl, to express his disapprobation +of that method of drill.</p> + +<p>In like manner did my brother treat each of the pins in succession. +Then it appeared that each had a different voice, and was capable of +producing but one sound. Moreover, they had been so arranged that, as +they uttered each one his peculiar note, the sounds followed each other +in such a manner as to produce the lively and patriotic air of "Yankee +Doodle." This was very wonderful and pleasing.</p> + +<p>"Well, Johnny," said I, as soon as I could stop laughing, "that's +pretty good. Where did you pick that up?"</p> + +<a name="image37" id="image37"></a> +<div class="imgcenter"> +<img src="images/image37.jpg" width="400" height="233" +alt="TUNING THE PINS" title="TUNING THE PINS" /> +<p class="caption">TUNING THE PINS.</p> +</div> + +<p>"Oh, a feller told me," said he. "'T aint nothing to do. All there +is of it is to get a tune in your head, and then drive a pin down in a +board, and keep a-driving, and trying it till it sounds like the first +note in the tune. Then stick up another for the second note, and so +on."</p> + +<p>"How can you raise a pin to a higher note?" said I.</p> + +<p>"Hammer her down farther," said he.</p> + +<p>"And to make a lower note?" I asked.</p> + +<p>"Pull her up a little," said he.</p> + +<p>"How do you manage the time?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, when you want to go slow, you put the pins a good ways apart; +and when you want to go fast, you plant 'em thicker."</p> + +<p>The next day I found that this ridiculous brother of mine had set +up a pin-organ in a circular form. He had made one of those little +whirligigs which spin around when they are held over the register or by +a stove-pipe, and then had connected it by a string with a wheel. This +wheel, as it turned, set an upright shaft in motion, and from this +there projected a stick armed at the end with a pin. This was arranged, +as is shown in the cut, so that when it revolved, the pin in the stick +played upon the pins in the circle, and rattled off the "Mulligan +Guards" at a tremendous pace.</p> + +<a name="image38" id="image38"></a> +<div class="imgcenter"> +<img src="images/image38.jpg" width="300" height="297" +alt="THE PIN-ORGAN" title="THE PIN-ORGAN" /> +<p class="caption">THE PIN-ORGAN.</p> +</div> + +<p>Johnny says that he invented the circular arrangement, and that all +the boys he knows are making these pin-organs for themselves, which I +am not at all surprised to hear.</p> + +<hr /> + +<h2><a name="porpoises" id="porpoises">ABOUT THE PORPOISES.</a></h2> + +<hr class="tiny" /> +<div class="center">BY J. D.</div> +<hr class="tiny" /> + +<br /> + +<p>The porpoise is a long, sleek fish without scales, black on the +back, and white and gray beneath. He is from four to ten feet in +length, and his sociability and good-nature are proverbial among +seamen of all nations.</p> + +<p>A porpoise is rarely seen alone, and if he by chance wanders from +his friends, he acts in a very bewildered and foolish manner, and will +gladly follow a steamer at full speed rather than be left alone. He is +a very inquisitive fish, and is always thrusting his funny-looking +snout into every nook that promises diversion or sport.</p> + +<a name="image39" id="image39"></a> +<div class="imgcenter"> +<img src="images/image39.jpg" width="400" height="256" +alt="A SCHOOL OF PORPOISES" title="A SCHOOL OF PORPOISES" /> +<p class="caption">A SCHOOL OF PORPOISES.</p> +</div> + +<p>A very familiar spectacle at sea is a school of porpoises—or +"porpusses," as the sailors call them. As soon as a school catches +sight of a ship, they immediately make a frantic rush for it, as if +their life depended upon giving it a speedy welcome. After diving under +the vessel a few times to inspect it and try its speed, they take their +station under the bows, just ahead, and proceed to cut up every antic +that a fish is capable of. They jump, turn over, play "leap-frog" and +"tag" in the most approved fashion. Their favorite antic is to dive a +few feet and then come to the surface, showing their backs in a half +circle, and then, making a sound like a long-drawn sigh, disappear +again. Sailors call them "sea-clowns," and never allow them to be +harmed.</p> + +<p>They are met with in schools of from two or three to thousands. They +often get embayed in the inlets and shallow rivers which their +curiosity leads them to investigate. A porpoise once came into the +Harlem River and wandered up and down for a week seeking a way out. One +day he suddenly made his appearance amid some bathers and scattered +them by his gambols.</p> + +<p>When they change their feeding-places, the sea is covered for acres +with a tumultuous multitude of these "sea-clowns," all swimming along +in the same direction.</p> + +<p>When one of these droves is going against the wind (or to windward), +their plungings throw up little jets of water, which, being multiplied +by thousands of fish, present a very curious appearance.</p> + +<hr /> + +<h2><a name="wildwind" id="wildwind">THE WILD WIND.</a></h2> + +<hr class="tiny" /> +<div class="center">BY CLARA W. RAYMOND.</div> +<hr class="tiny" /> + +<br /> + +<div class="poem"> +<div class="stanza"> + <div>Oh, the wind came howling at our house-door,</div> + <div class="in1">Like a maddened fiend set free;</div> + <div>He pushed and struggled with gasp and roar,</div> + <div class="in1">For an angry wind was he!</div> +</div> +<br /> +<div class="stanza"> + <div>He dashed snow-wreaths at our window-panes,</div> + <div class="in1">The casements rattled and creaked;</div> + <div>Then up he climbed to the chimney tops,</div> + <div class="in1">And down through the flues he shrieked.</div> +</div> +<br /> +<div class="stanza"> + <div>He found Jack's sled by the garden fence,</div> + <div class="in1">And tumbled it down in his spite;</div> + <div>And heaped the snow till he covered it up,</div> + <div class="in1">And hid it from poor Jack's sight.</div> +</div> +<br /> +<div class="stanza"> + <div>He tore down the lattice and broke the house</div> + <div class="in1">Ned built for the birds last week;</div> + <div>And he bent the branches and bowed the trees,</div> + <div class="in1">Then rushed off fresh wrath to wreak.</div> +</div> +<br /> +<div class="stanza"> + <div>And oh! how he frightened poor little Nell,</div> + <div class="in1">And made her tremble and weep,</div> + <div>Till mother came up and soothed the wee maid,</div> + <div class="in1">And lulled her with songs to sleep!</div> +</div> +<br /> +<div class="stanza"> + <div>Her tiny hand nestled, content and still,</div> + <div class="in1">In her mother's, so soft and warm;</div> + <div>While with magical power of low, sweet tones</div> + <div class="in1">The mother-love hushed the storm.</div> +</div> +</div> + +<hr /> + +<h2><a name="magician" id="magician">THE MAGICIAN AND HIS BEE.</a></h2> + +<hr class="tiny" /> +<div class="center">BY P.F.</div> +<hr class="tiny" /> + +<br /> + +<p>It was a spelling bee. The magician had never had one, but he +thought it was better late than never, and so he sent word around that +he would have his bee just outside of the town, on the green grass. +Everybody came, because they had to. When the magician said they must +do a thing, there was no help for it. So they all marched in a long +procession, the magician at the head with his dictionary open at the +"bee" page. Every now and then he turned around and waved his wand, so +as to keep the musicians in good time. The cock-of-the-walk led the +band and he played on his own bill, which had holes in it, like a +flute. The rabbit beat the drum, and the pig blew the horn, while old +Mother Clink, who was mustered in to make up the quartette, was +obliged to play on the coffee-mill, because she understood no other +instrument.</p> + +<a name="image40" id="image40"></a> +<div class="imgcenter"> +<img src="images/image40.png" width="500" height="139" alt="" /> +</div> + + +<p>The king came, with his three body-guards marching in front. The +first guard was a wild savage with bare legs, and a gnat stung him on +the knee, which made the second guard laugh so much that the third one +who carried the candles had a chance to eat a penny-dip, without any +person seeing him. The king rode in his chariot, drawn by two wasps. +He was a very warm gentleman, and not only carried a parasol to keep +off the sun, but the head ninny-hammer squirted water on the small of +his back to keep him cool.</p> + +<a name="image41" id="image41"></a> +<div class="imgcenter"> +<img src="images/image41.png" width="498" height="140" alt="" /> +</div> + +<p>The court tailor rode on a goat, and he carried his shears and the +goose he ironed with. He balanced himself pretty well until a bird sat +on his queue, and that bent him over backward so that he nearly fell +off.</p> + +<p>The queen also came; she was bigger than the king and had to have +cats to draw her chariot. The cats fought a good deal, but the driver, +who was a mouse, managed to get them along. The footman was also a +mouse, and the queen had two pet mice that sat at her feet or played +with her scepter. After the queen came the chief jumping jack, who did +funny tricks with bottles as he danced along.</p> + +<a name="image42" id="image42"></a> +<div class="imgcenter"> +<img src="images/image42.png" width="500" height="137" alt="" /> +</div> + +<p>Then came the ladies of the court. They sat in nautilus shells, +which were each borne by two bearers. The first shell went along +nicely, but the men who carried the second were lazy and the lady beat +them with a hair-brush. As for the bearers of the last shell, they had +a fight and took their poles to beat each other, leaving their shell, +with the lady in it, on the ground. She didn't mind, for she thought +that if they went off and left her, she wouldn't have to do any +spelling. So she stayed in her shell and smiled very contentedly.</p> + +<a name="image43" id="image43"></a> +<div class="imgcenter"> +<img src="images/image43.png" width="501" height="139" alt="" /> +</div> + +<p>The town bell-man walked along in grand state ringing his bell, and +the cock-who-could-n't-walk rode on a wheelbarrow and crowed by note. +The old ram wheeled the barrow, in which was also a basket containing +the hen and chickens. The smallest chicken tried to crow in tune with +his father, but nobody could hear whether he crowed right or +wrong—and what is more, nobody cared.</p> + +<p>The monkey didn't walk, but was carried in a bucket by a +mountaineer, and he blew peas through a tube at the palace steward who +was having his hair combed by the court barber. It was so late that +the barber had to hurry, and so he used a rake instead of a comb. The +steward did not like this, but there was so little time that nothing +else could be done, for the procession was already moving.</p> + +<a name="image44" id="image44"></a> +<div class="imgcenter"> +<img src="images/image44.png" width="498" height="136" alt="" /> +</div> + +<p>There was a lion who lived at the Town-hall. He was very wise, and +his business was to bite criminals. When he heard about the bee he +thought he would have to go, but the moment he showed himself in the +street all the relatives of the criminals got after him. The wasps +stung him, a game-cock pecked at him, a beetle nipped him, a dog +barked at him, an old woman ran after him with a broom, a +wooden-legged soldier pursued him with a sword, a rat gave chase to +him, while a rabbit took down his shot-gun and cried out, fiercely, +that he would blow the top of that old lion's head off, if he could +only get a fair crack at him.</p> + +<a name="image45" id="image45"></a> +<div class="imgcenter"> +<img src="images/image45.png" width="500" height="138" alt="" /> +</div> + +<p>Two of the liveliest animals in the town were the donkey and the old +cow. They went to the bee, but they danced along as if they didn't care +at all whether they spelled cat with a <i>c</i> or a <i>k</i>. They +each had two partners. The donkey had two regular danseuses, but the +cow had to content herself with the court librarian and the apothecary.</p> + +<a name="image46" id="image46"></a> +<div class="imgcenter"> +<img src="images/image46.png" width="500" height="138" alt="" /> +</div> + +<p>Out in the green grass where the company assembled there were a lot +of grasshoppers and little gnats. The grasshoppers said to each other, +"We can't put letters together to make words, so let us dance for a +spell," which they did,—all but one poor young creature who had +no partner, and who sat sorrowfully on one side, while the others +skipped gayly about.</p> + +<a name="image47" id="image47"></a> +<div class="imgcenter"> +<img src="images/image47.png" width="500" height="135" alt="" /> +</div> + +<p>As soon as the people and the chickens and donkeys and wasps and +cows and all the others were seated, side by side, in two long rows, +the magician gave out the first word. It was +"Roe-dough-mon-taide"—at least that was the way he pronounced +it. The king and the queen were at the heads of the two lines, and it +was their duty to begin,—first the king, and then the queen, if +he missed.</p> + +<p>But neither of them had ever heard of the word, and so they didn't +try. Then one of the wasps tried, and afterward a ram, a rabbit, and +the head ninny-hammer; but they made sad work of it. Then each one of +the company made an effort and did his, her or its very best, but it +was of no use; they could not spell the word.</p> + +<p>Uprose then the little chicken that had stood on his mother's back +and tried to crow in tune with his father, and he cried out: "Give it +up!"</p> + +<p>"Wrong!" said the magician. "That's not it. You are all now under +the influence of a powerful spell. Here you will remain until some one +can correctly answer my question."</p> + +<p>They are all there yet. How long would you, my reader, have to sit +on the grass before you could spell that word?</p> + +<a name="image48" id="image48"></a> +<div class="imgcenter"> +<img src="images/image48.png" width="401" height="302" alt="" /> +</div> + +<hr /> + +<h2><a name="scrubby" id="scrubby">SCRUBBY'S BEAUTIFUL TREE.</a></h2> + +<hr class="tiny" /> +<div class="center">BY J.C. PURDY.</div> +<hr class="tiny" /> + +<br /> + +<h3>I.</h3> + +<p>"Papa!"</p> + +<p>"Well, dear!"</p> + +<p>"Wont to-morrow be Kissmuss?"</p> + +<p>"Why, no, darling! We had Christmas-day long ago. Don't you +remember?"</p> + +<p>"Yes; but you said we'd have another Kissmuss in a year, and then +I'd have such a pitty tree. I'm sure it's a year. It <i>is</i> a year, +papa; and it takes so awful long to wait for some time—it's jess +a noosance. I fink ole Kriss was drefful mean not to let me have a +tree only cos we'd got poor. Wasn't we ever poor before, papa? Don't +he give trees to <i>any</i> poor little girls? I <i>do</i> want a +tree—sech a pitty one, like I used to have!"</p> + +<p>It was little Scrubby said all that. She was only four years old, +but she could say what she had to say in her own fashion. When she saw +her father's sorrowful face, she thought she had said rather too much +this time; so she gave him a hug and put up her mouth for a kiss.</p> + +<p>"I dess I can wait, papa," she said. "But he will bring me a tree +<i>next</i> Kissmuss, wont he? Jess like I used to have? And then wont +that be nice! There's my baby waked up. She'll be cryin' in a minute, I +s'pose."</p> + +<p>Old Lucy, the dearest baby of all in this little girl's large +family, was taken up and quieted; and then something happened that was +really wonderful. Scrubby, with her poor torn and tangled doll in her +arms, sat very still for at least five minutes. The little maid was +thinking all that time. She did not think very straight, perhaps, but +she thought over a great deal of ground, and settled a good many +things in that busy little head of hers; then she sang them all over +to good old Lucy.</p> + +<p>"Hush, my dear!" she sang. "Don't stay long, for it beats my heart +when the winds blow; and come back soon to your own chickabiddy, and +then Kissmuss'll be here. S'umber on, baby dear. Kriss is coming with +such a booful tree; then wont you be s'prised? She went to the +hatter's to get him a coffin, and when she come back he was fixin' my +Kissmuss-tree!"</p> + +<p>The little singer grew so enthusiastic when she came to the tree +that she could not wait to sing any more; so she just danced Lucy up +and down and chattered to her as fast as her tongue could go.</p> + +<p>"It'll be for me and for you, Lucy, and for all the babies, and then +wont you be glad! And for mamma too, and for papa, cos we's all good +little chillen, if we <i>is</i> poor. Yes, indeed, Ole Kriss is coming +with his reindeer. And he'll bring me a horse with pink shoes on; and +you'll have a piano—a <i>really</i> piano, ye know; and mamma, +she'll have two little glass s'ippers, and—and—"</p> + +<a name="image49" id="image49"></a> +<div class="imgcenter"> +<img src="images/image49.jpg" width="292" height="400" +alt="OLE KRISS IS COMING WITH HIS REINDEER." +title="OLE KRISS IS COMING WITH HIS REINDEER." /> +<p class="caption">"OLE KRISS IS COMING WITH HIS REINDEER."</p> +</div> + +<p>Little Scrubby stopped chattering just there, and laid her head +down on poor old Lucy's kind bosom.</p> + +<p>"Oh dear!" she sighed, "I do <i>wish</i> ole Kriss'd come with that +pitty tree!"</p> + +<p>The kitten curled up on the hearth, and the little broken dog that +lay tipped over in the corner, and good old Lucy, and the three dolls +tucked up in mamma's basket, all heard the wish of the poor little +disappointed child.</p> + +<br /> + +<h3>II.</h3> + +<p>Everybody has noticed that the kittens and the dogs take a great +many naps in the day-time, and that the dolls and toy-animals let the +children do the most of the playing. That is because the pets and the +toys are tired out and sleepy after their doings the night before, when +the children were asleep and the grown people out of the way. They have +rare sprees all by themselves, but just as soon as any person comes +about, the fun stops,—the cat and the dog are sound asleep, the +dolls drop down anywhere still as a wood-pile, and the rocking-horse +don't even switch the ten hairs left in his tail.</p> + +<p>As for talking, though, they might chatter all the time and nobody +be the wiser. People hear them, but not a soul knows what it is. Mamma +sticks paper into the key-hole to keep out the wind that whistles so, +papa takes medicine for the cold that makes such a ringing in his head, +and Bridget sets a trap to catch the mouse that "squales and scrabbles +about so, a body can't slape at all, 'most;" and all the while it is +the dolls and pets laughing and talking among themselves.</p> + +<p>The bird in the cage and the bird out-of-doors know what it is. Very +tame squirrels and rabbits understand it; and the poor little late +chicken, which was brought into the kitchen for fear of freezing, soon +spoke the language like a native.</p> + +<p>Scrubby understood all that any of them said, and they all +understood her and liked her immensely. Even the plants in the window +would nod and wink and shake out their leaves whenever she came about.</p> + +<p>After little Scrubby and everybody else in the house had gone to bed +that night, Minx, the kitten, came out from behind the broom, and +prancing up to the little pasteboard and wool dog that lay tipped over +in the corner, pawed him about until he was as full of fun as herself. +Then she jumped upon the table and clawed the three dolls out of +mamma's work-basket, sending them all sprawling on the floor.</p> + +<p>They were a sad-looking lot of babies, anyway. There was Peg, knit +out of blue, red and yellow worsted, and with black beads for eyes. +She was a good deal raveled out, but there was plenty of fun in her +yet, after all.</p> + +<p>Then there was Française. She was a French girl, who had been +brought from Paris for Scrubby before that bad time when papa "got +poor." She had been very elegant, but now her laces were torn, her +hair would never curl again, one arm swung loose, and her head wobbled +badly; but, for all that, she was still full of lively French airs. +Lyd was the last of the lot. Poor thing! She had been such a lovely +wax blonde: but now the wax had all melted off her cheeks, she was as +bald as a squash, one eye had been knocked out, and, worst of all, she +had not a stitch of clothes on. Scrubby had brought her to this +plight; but, for all that, Lyd loved the very ground Scrubby tumbled +over; and so did all the rest of them, for that matter, never caring +how much she abused them in her happy, loving way.</p> + +<p>Very soon high fun was going on in that room, and it is a wonder the +neighbors did not come in to see what the uproar meant; but nobody +heard it.</p> + +<p>Yes, Ned, the bird, heard it, took his head out from under his wing, +and laughed at the fun until he almost tumbled out of his cage. The +lively dog, Spot, heard it out in his shed, too, and whined at the door +until Jumping Jack contrived to undo the latch and let him in. The +little late chicken heard it also, hopped out of his snug basket, and +was soon enjoying himself as much as if they were all chickens and it +was a warm spring day.</p> + +<p>Lucy heard it, too; but Scrubby had taken Lucy to bed with her, and +had her hugged up so tightly that the kind old baby couldn't get away, +and had to lie there and listen and wait.</p> + +<p>They were having a good time in that room. The rocking-horse had +been hitched to the little wagon, and Jumping Jack was driver; Miss +Française had climbed into the wagon, and was sitting there as +gracefully as she could, trying to hold her head steady; she had the +pasteboard dog for a lap-dog, while Peg and Lyd sprawled on the +wagon-bottom, and Minx stood upon the horse's back like a circus-rider.</p> + +<p>And so they went tearing around the room in fine style, Spot racing +with them and wagging his tail till it looked like a fan. Ned fairly +shouted in his cage, and the chicken jumped on a chair and tried his +best to crow.</p> + +<p>After a while, Spot grabbed up a piece of paper from one corner, and +began to worry it. The fine Française saw that and tumbled out of the +wagon in a minute, as if she were only a very quick-tempered little +girl. She snatched the paper away from Spot and snapped out: "You +sha'n't spoil that! It's Scrubby's letter!"</p> + +<p>The horse had stopped now, Jumping Jack jerked himself up to the +astonished dog, and said, very severely: "Spot, aint you ashamed to +worry anything that belongs to our Scrubby? I'll put you out if there's +any more of it."</p> + +<p>"It's too bad, so it is," said Peg.</p> + +<p>Lyd began to cry with her one eye, while Ned stopped laughing and +went to scolding; the chicken put his claw before his face, as if +ashamed of such a dog, and even the horse shook his head.</p> + +<p>Poor Spot was under a cloud.</p> + +<p>"I didn't know it was anything Scrubby cared for, and I don't +believe it is, either," he snapped.</p> + +<p>"I saw Scrubby write it," said Minx, "and she stuck the pencil in my +ear when she'd finished."</p> + +<p>"She was sitting on us when she wrote it," said Peg and Lyd +together.</p> + +<p>"Yes, and she held me on her lap and read it to me when it was +done," put in Française.</p> + +<p>"Of course it's her letter," spoke up the rocking-horse. "Don't you +remember, Fran, she hitched it to my bridle and told you to ride right +off and give it to old Kriss when he came around?"</p> + +<p>"You're a nice crowd!" growled Spot. "Every one of you knew all +about this, and left it kicking around on the floor! You <i>are</i> a +nice crowd! I'll take charge of it myself now, and see that old Kriss +gets it. He can't read it, of course. Nobody could read that; but it +shows how much <i>you</i> all think of Scrubby."</p> + +<p>Spot had the best of it now; but the French lady spoke up in a way +that put the others in good spirits right off, and made honest Spot +feel as if he had been sat down upon.</p> + +<p>"Perhaps some people can read, if you cant," she said, "<i>I</i> +can read that letter for you, and for old Kriss too, if he wants me +to."</p> + +<p>She could not read a word, but she opened out the scribbled sheet in +fine style, and just repeated what she had heard Scrubby say. And this +is what Scrubby tried to put in the letter:</p> + + <blockquote><p class="noindent"><span class="small">OLE KRISS</span>: + I want a tree, + please, ole Kriss, <i>right away</i>. And lots + of pitty things. And glass s'ippers for mamma. And moss under it, + and animals, jess like I used to have. And a pink coat for papa, + and not wait for some time, cos that's a noosance.</p></blockquote> + +<p>It was very queer how they all acted when they heard the letter. +There was not another cross word said—or a word of any kind for +that matter. Not one of them even looked at the others, and it was not +until poor Spot gave a big snuff that each of them found out that the +rest were crying.</p> + +<p>"Well, I know what <i>I'm</i> going to do," said Minx, at last. +"I'm just going to get that child a tree; that's what I'm going to +do."</p> + +<p>"And I'm going to help you," Française said, as heartily as if she +were not a fine lady at all. "She ruined my dress, and tore my lace, +and put my hair in such a state as never was; but I don't care. She +wants a tree, and she's going to have it."</p> + +<p>"You ought to have heard how she talked to her papa and old Luce +to-night," sobbed the one-eyed baby. "It was enough to break a body's +heart."</p> + +<p>"We did hear her," they all snuffled.</p> + +<p>Then they wiped their eyes, and a minute afterward, with much +chatter, they began to make preparations for getting the tree.</p> + +<p>All but Spot. Scrubby had used him the worst of all, she loved him +so. She had pulled every hair on him loose, and had twisted his tail +until it hung crooked; and yet Spot could not speak or do anything for +crying over little Scrubby's grief.</p> + +<br /> + +<h3>III.</h3> + +<p>Pretty soon, Lucy, who had listened to as much of this talk as she +could, heard the whole party go out of the back door and start off +somewhere. She was in a great state of mind about it. Not for anything +in the world would she waken Scrubby; but oh! how she longed to tumble +down-stairs and rush off after the rest!</p> + +<p>What a party it was that did go out of that back door! And in what +style they went! Ned, the canary, was the only one left behind; and +those who couldn't walk, rode. For they had hitched the horse to +Scrubby's little battered sled, and made a grand sleighing party of it.</p> + +<p>Jumping Jack drove, of course. The French lady had the seat of +honor on the sled, and much trouble she had to keep it, for there was +nothing to hold on by, and her head was so loose that it nearly threw +her over.</p> + +<p>Lyd had wrapped a dish-towel about her, and felt very comfortable +and well-dressed; while Peg had come just as she was, and they both +rolled about on the sled in a very dangerous fashion.</p> + +<p>The late chicken held on with his claws to the curl of the runner, +and flapped his wings and squawked every time the sled plunged a +little in the snow. Minx rode horseback as before, while Spot went +afoot, jumping and barking, and snapping up a mouthful of snow every +few minutes.</p> + +<p>But not one of them knew where they were going, or what they were +going to do. They meant to get Scrubby a tree somehow, and that was +all they knew about it.</p> + +<p>At last, Peg said (Peg was a very sensible baby, if she <i>was</i> +raveled out):</p> + +<p>"What are we going to do, anyhow?"</p> + +<p>"Why, we're going to get a tree for Scrubby," they all answered.</p> + +<p>"Well, what kind of a tree?—and where?"</p> + +<p>That was a poser. None of them had thought so far as that. At last, +Minx said:</p> + +<p>"Why, any kind—somewhere."</p> + +<p>"There are plenty of trees in France," said Française.</p> + +<p>"Then that's the place for us to go," said Jumping Jack; and at once +they raced off to the end of the garden, on their way to France.</p> + +<p>"This aint the way, after all," Minx said, when they got to the +fence. "The world comes to an end just over there. I got up on the +fence one day, and there was nothing beyond but a great, deep hole."</p> + +<p>"There's no use going off this other way," Spot put in, "for there's +nothing over there but a big lot of water with a mill standing by it. I +was over there one day."</p> + +<p>"Then that is our way," said the French lady, decisively. "That is +the ocean. I know they brought me across the ocean, and I was awfully +sick all the way."</p> + +<p>That last rather discouraged them, for nobody wanted to get awfully +sick if there was any other way to find Scrubby's tree; so they +concluded not to go to France.</p> + +<p>"Well, let's go somewhere, for I'm getting cold," peeped the +chicken; and then there was a great discussion. At last, Spot said:</p> + +<p>"We <i>are</i> a stupid lot! There's that sparrow comes about the +door every day—he could tell us all about trees in a minute if +we could find him."</p> + +<p>Minx knew where the sparrow kept himself, for she always watched him +with an eye to business.</p> + +<p>"But," she said, "some of the rest of you will have to talk to him, +for he'll never let me come near him."</p> + +<p>So then the chicken called to the sparrow, and the sparrow answered. +The matter was explained to him, and the bird fluttered down among them +as much excited as anybody.</p> + +<p>"It's for little Scrubby, eh?" he said. "What in the world does she +want a tree for? I know. It's because she is half bird +herself—bless her heart!—and she likes trees just like any +other bird. And don't she come to the door every morning and give me +crumbs and talk to me so friendly? Of course, I'll help find a tree +for her."</p> + +<p>But he had not found one yet, and so the chicken told him.</p> + +<p>"I don't know," he said. "Suppose I call Mrs. Squirrel. She can +tell." And off he flew, and had the gray squirrel there in a minute, +cold as it was.</p> + +<p>Then they had to tell the story over again to Mrs. Squirrel and to +Mr. Rabbit, who had also hopped along to see what the fuss was all +about.</p> + +<p>"Scrubby's got to have a tree, and that's all about it," chattered +Mrs. Squirrel, as she whisked about in a state of great excitement. "I +didn't know old Kriss could be so mean as that. Call <i>him</i> a +saint! And all because Scrubby's poor! Humph! Don't seem to <i>me</i> +she is so very poor. Didn't I give her those eyes she has? And didn't +the robin give her his own throat? And hasn't she a sunbeam inside, +that shines all through? And didn't Miss June roll up all the flowers +she had, and a dozen birds beside, and wrap the whole bundle up in +Scrubby's brown skin? I don't call that being so very poor, do you? +Anyhow, she is not so poor but that she could make me feel jolly every +time she came out-doors last summer to run after me and chatter to +me."</p> + +<p>The rabbit had been standing all this time with one cold foot +wrapped up in his ear. He unfolded his ear now, and wiped his eyes +with it.</p> + +<p>"She almost cried," he said. "Just think of one of my little bunnies +wanting anything she couldn't get, and crying about it! It just breaks +my heart."</p> + +<p>"Tree!" chirped the chicken.</p> + +<p>"Yes," said Mrs. Squirrel, "why don't you go and get a tree for +Scrubby? What do you all stand here for, chattering and doing nothing? +I'd give her mine, only that great beech couldn't be got into the +house."</p> + +<p>"We wanted your advice," the sparrow suggested.</p> + +<p>"Advice! You don't need any advice. Why don't you give her your own +tree? That little Norway spruce is just the thing. Come along, and +don't be so selfish!"</p> + +<p>"I'm not selfish; but really Norway is not fit, and, besides, I +don't believe he'll go."</p> + +<p>"Nonsense! He's a beautiful tree, only there isn't much green on +him; and of course he'll go, for we'll make him go," answered the very +decided Mrs. Squirrel.</p> + +<p>So they all whisked away to the sparrow's roosting-place. Norway was +not in good health, that was evident. He was very thin, and his temper +was in bad condition too; for when the sparrow asked him if he would +please step out and come with them, he answered:</p> + +<p>"Not much I wont! It's bad enough standing here in the ground, +poorly as I am, without coming out there in the snow; and I'll not do +it for anybody."</p> + +<p>"Oh dear! Scrubby will be <i>so</i> disappointed! What will she +do?" they all cried out at once.</p> + +<p>"What's that about Scrubby? What has Scrubby got to do with my +catching my death-cold, anyhow?" asked Norway.</p> + +<p>And then they told him the whole story. He hardly waited for them to +get through before he broke out talking very fast.</p> + +<p>"Why didn't you say so? How should I know it was for Scrubby? Of +course, I'll go! I'd do anything for her. She did enough for me, I +should think,"—and, as quickly as he could, he pulled his one +foot out of the ground and hopped into the snow beside the horse. Then +he went on talking. "You see if it hadn't been for Scrubby I wouldn't +be alive at all. She heard somebody say that I needed to have the dirt +loosened about my roots, and to have plenty of water. So she dug +around me at a great rate, and watered me until I was almost drowned. +She cut off a good many of my roots, and once she threw hot water all +down this side of me; but she didn't know. I'm not much of a tree, I +confess; but Scrubby did what <i>she</i> could, and if she wants me +she shall have me."</p> + +<p>"Come on, then," said the chicken, "for I'm so cold my bill +chatters." And they went.</p> + +<p>It was a very funny procession they made going back to the +house,—the horse prancing along with the sled, the three dolls +taking a sleigh-ride in their queer way, Spot racing about everywhere +with Minx on his back, and the tree hopping along after the sled as +fast as his one foot could go. The chicken rode back on one of +Norway's branches, and fluttered and squawked more than ever.</p> + +<p>When they started, they looked about and called for the sparrow, +Mrs. Squirrel, and Mr. Rabbit, but they had all disappeared; so the +rest went back without them, shouting, laughing and singing.</p> + +<br /> + +<h3>IV.</h3> + +<p>It was a brave sight they saw when Jumping Jack opened the door to +let the party in.</p> + +<p>Luce had got away from her little bedfellow at last without waking +her. She knew that the others had gone to get a tree for little Scrub, +and she knew that a tree was just no tree at all without plenty of +things to hang upon it. So she went to work, and by the time Jack +opened the door she had a great deal done. It was astonishing how many +things she had found to put on that tree; but then she had been +rummaging among Scrubby's old playthings up in the garret.</p> + +<p>There were old dolls, little and big; there were old toys of all +sorts; there were pretty little pictures, and quantities of flowers +made of bright paper. A great many of the things Scrubby had thrown +aside so long ago they would be new to her now; and some of them mamma +had put away very carefully, so that the little girl should not +altogether spoil them.</p> + +<p>Lucy had found them all and had brought them down-stairs; and now +she had them in a heap on the floor, trying to keep them in order, for +they were all very lively at being brought out again.</p> + +<p>"Well, Luce, you <i>have</i> done it!" Jack said.</p> + +<p>"Of course, I have," answered Lucy. "Do keep that horse away, Jack, +and not let him run over these babies."</p> + +<p>"Oh dear!" squawked the chicken, and fluttered under the table, for +these new-comers were all strangers to him.</p> + +<p>Spot tried not to bark his astonishment and delight; Minx began to +claw all the old dolls and toys about; the French lady walked away +into a corner and waited to be introduced, while Lyd and Peg shook +hands with their old cronies until it seemed as though they never +would stop.</p> + +<p>The tree had hopped into the room and stood there, not knowing what +to do with himself. Lucy did not see him at first, being so busy with +the rest; but as soon as she did see him, she gave him such a hug as +nearly pulled him over.</p> + +<p>"Oh, you dear old Norway! Did <i>you</i> come? You're so good, and +I'm so glad! Come up to the fire and get warm. Here, Jack, and Lyd, and +Française, help me get this big foot-stool into the corner. It's +getting awful late."</p> + +<p>Lucy flew about in a ragged kind of way until she had all the rest +flying about too, doing an amount of work nobody would have believed +possible. They were all glad enough to do the work, but they needed +just such a driving, thoughtful old body as Lucy to show them what to +do and keep them at it.</p> + +<a name="image50" id="image50"></a> +<div class="imgcenter"> +<img src="images/image50.jpg" width="400" height="328" +alt="SCRUBBY'S FRIENDS ARRANGING HER CHRISTMAS-TREE" +title="SCRUBBY'S FRIENDS ARRANGING HER CHRISTMAS-TREE" /> +<p class="caption">SCRUBBY'S FRIENDS ARRANGING HER CHRISTMAS-TREE.</p> +</div> + +<p>The big foot-stool was put where Lucy wanted it, and Norway warmed +his foot and hopped upon the stool, pushing himself as far back in the +corner as he could get, to make sure that he would not fall.</p> + +<p>Then Lucy climbed upon a chair in front of him, ready for business. +She took Française up on the chair beside her to help arrange the +things, for the French girl had excellent taste, and nobody could deny +it. Lyd and Peg, and Minx and Spot, and even the chicken, brought the +things to go on the tree, and faster, too, than they could possibly be +used, while Ned shouted all manner of directions.</p> + +<p>Poor Norway fairly bowed his head under the weight of all the things +that were hung upon him. And it was astonishing how pretty those +battered old dolls, broken toys, and torn flowers looked when upon the +tree. There were so many, and they had been arranged so nicely, that +they really did make a splendid show.</p> + +<p>"But, oh dear!" Lucy sighed, when it was all done. "It's not your +fault I know, Norway, and you are just as good as you can be; but if +you only were not quite so thin, and were just a little bit greener! +And then we've no moss to put under you. But we haven't any nice +little animals to put on the moss, if we had it."</p> + +<p>Just then, Jumping Jack heard a queer kind of noise outside, and +opened the door to see what it was. In whisked Mrs. Squirrel; the +sparrow hopped in close beside her, and Mr. Rabbit jumped along right +after them.</p> + +<p>"How are you getting on?" asked the gray lady. "I brought this along +because I thought it might come handy. We laid in a great deal more +than we needed for our nest last fall, and we could just as well spare +it as not."</p> + +<p>It was a big bundle of beautiful green moss she had brought, enough +to spread all around under the tree and make a fine carpet.</p> + +<p>"Oh, you dear, good old thing!" said Luce. "That is just exactly +what we wanted. Here, Lyd! Peg! Help me spread this down."</p> + +<p>"Chick," said the sparrow, "will you please take charge of this?"</p> + +<p>And there was a great long vine of shining green ivy which the +sparrow had dragged in with him from some place in the woods. Lucy was +so delighted that she fairly clapped her brown leather hands.</p> + +<p>"Quick, Française!" she cried. "Take this and twist it around the +tree. Just the thing to hide poor old Norway's bare places. Oh, it's +just lovely!"</p> + +<p>All this time Mr. Rabbit had been holding his ears very straight up, +and now he shook a couple of button-balls and some acorn-cups out of +one, and a lot of mountain-ash berries out of the other.</p> + +<p>"Do to hang around on the tree. Look kind of odd and nice," he said.</p> + +<p>"Well, I should think so!" Luce answered. "I never did see such good +creatures as you are; and we all thought you had gone home to bed."</p> + +<p>Speaking of bed made the chicken gape a little, and they all +remembered how late it was. They never stopped chattering and laughing +for a minute; but they went to work harder than ever, and soon had all +the moss spread down, the ivy twined over the tree, and the +button-balls, acorn-cups, and berries hung up where they would show +best.</p> + +<p>Then Mr. Rabbit got up on the stool and nearly covered himself with +moss; Mrs. Squirrel got under the tree and stood up on her hind-feet, +with an acorn in her paws; Minx curled herself up in the funniest way +on the moss; the sparrow flew up into the tree and began pecking at the +mountain-ash berries; Française and Lyd and Peg all sat down as well as +they could near the squirrel and the rabbit; Jumping Jack mounted the +horse and rode around beside the tree, to stand guard; Spot stood up on +his hind-legs just in front of the stool, with Scrubby's letter in his +mouth, and the chicken hopped up on Spot's head.</p> + +<p>Then good old Lucy started to go upstairs after Scrubby, but she +got no further than the door. Scrubby had waked up and missed her dear +old doll, so she had come down to look for her, and there she stood +now, just inside the door, with her bright brown eyes wide open.</p> + +<p>A minute before there had been only the scraggy little tree she had +taken care of, the battered old toys, the torn dolls and the little +pets she had played with and loved so well, the bird and the wild +creatures she had fed and chattered to, and a little bit of ivy and +green moss. But just as soon as she looked at them all, there was the +most beautiful Christmas-tree that ever was seen.</p> + +<p>It was very curious; but it was the light that did it—the +light of her own happy eyes. It dies out of eyes that are older.</p> + +<hr /> + +<h2><a name="minstrelscarol" id="minstrelscarol">THE MINSTREL'S CAROL.</a></h2> + +<h3>A CHRISTMAS COLLOQUY.</h3> + +<br /> + +<blockquote><p class="noindent"><span class="small">MR</span>. and +<span class="small">MRS. BURTON</span>.<br /> +<span class="small">TOMMY</span>, <i>aged seven.</i><br /> +<span class="small">MAY</span>, <i>aged five.</i><br /> +<span class="small">LUCY</span>, <i>aged eighteen.</i><br /> +<br /> +<span class="small">MR</span>. and <span class="small">MRS. +REMSEN</span>.<br /> +<span class="small">HARRY</span>, } <i>Twins, aged</i><br /> +<span class="small">SADIE</span>, } <i> six.</i><br /> +<span class="small">PATRICK</span>, <i>a hired man</i>.</p></blockquote> +<br /> + +<div class="center"><i>Scene: The Burtons' parlor on Christmas Eve</i>.</div> + + +<p><i>Mr. B</i>. Tommy! stop making such a noise.</p> + +<p><i>Tommy.</i> Oh, I can't have any fun at all!</p> + +<p><i>Mr. B</i>. Why, yes you can. Look at all your toys scattered +about. Play something quietly.</p> + +<p><i>Tommy</i>. Nobody to play with.</p> + +<p><i>Mr. B</i>. Play with your little sister.</p> + +<p><i>Tommy</i>. She's sitting in mamma's lap; besides, she's a girl. +Oh, papa <i>[running to his father</i>] I wish the Remsens would come! +I want to play with Harry.</p> + +<p><i>Mr. B.</i> [<i>hastily</i>]. Never mind, never mind! The Remsens +will not come.</p> + +<p><i>May</i>. Why wont the Remsens come?</p> + +<p><i>Tommy</i>. Oh, dear me, there isn't anything nice to do!</p> + +<p><i>Mr. B</i>. Tommy, stop your whining. Don't say another word. +May, don't speak of the Remsens again. They are not coming, and that's +an end of it.</p> + +<div class="center">[<i>Enter</i> <span class="small">LUCY</span>.]</div> + +<p><i>Lucy</i>. What! tears on Christmas Eve, little May! And Tommy +pouting! Oh, that'll never do! Come, cheer up! You'll have plenty of +fun soon with Harry and Sadie.—It must be nearly time to send +for the Remsens, father.</p> + +<p><i>Mr. B.</i> [<i>vexed</i>]. Don't speak of them again. They're +not coming, and I don't want them. Why <i>will</i> every one keep +talking about them?</p> + +<div class="center">[<i>Enter</i> <span class="small">PATRICK</span>.]</div> + +<p><i>Mrs. B.</i> [<i>aside to Lucy</i>]. Mr. Remsen and your father +have quarreled about a piece of land; so the Remsens are not to come +this year.</p> + +<p><i>Mr. B</i>. Well, Patrick, what is it?</p> + +<p><i>Patrick</i>. Shure, the horse is ready, sir.</p> + +<p><i>Mr. B</i>. Horse ready? What for?</p> + +<p><i>Patrick</i>. To be goin' for the Rimsins, shure!</p> + +<p><i>Mr. B.</i> [<i>angrily</i>]. We are not going for the Remsens! +What do you mean by acting without orders? Take the horse out at once!</p> + +<p><i>Patrick</i>. Widout orthers, is it? An' it's mesilf, thin, that +hitched up the crather every Christmas Ave I've lived wid yous for to +go for them same.</p> + +<p><i>Mr. B</i>. Don't answer, sir; do as I bid you.</p> + +<p><i>Patrick</i> [<i>aside</i>]. It's plain the masther's rin his +nose forninst something harrud. [<i>Exit.</i>]</p> + +<p><i>Mrs. B.</i> [<i>going to Mr. B. and putting her arm about him, he +sitting</i>]. Dear John, send for the Remsens, please. See how +everything conspires to ask it of you, from the prattle of the +children to old Patrick himself. It is Christmas Eve, dear! How can we +teach the dear chicks to be kind to each other unless we set the +example? Send for our old friends, John. They've been with us every +Christmas Eve these many years. You'll settle your affair with Mr. +Remsen all the better, afterward.</p> + +<p><i>Mr. B</i>. Why, Mary, would you have me crawl at the feet of a +man who tries to overreach me?</p> + +<p><i>Mrs. B</i>. No, John! But stand on your own feet, and say: "Come, +neighbor, let us do something better and wiser than hate each other."</p> + +<p><i>Mr. B</i>. I'll not do it. He has—</p> + +<p><i>Lucy</i>. Hark! What's that?</p> + +<div class="center">[<i>Music outside—the sound of a harp, or of +a concealed piano played very softly.<br /> Then, to its +accompaniment, is sung the following carol:</i>]</div> + +<br /> + +<div class="poem"> +<div class="stanza"> + <div>"Be merry all, be merry all!</div> + <div>With holly dress the festive hall,</div> + <div>Prepare the song, the feast, the ball,</div> + <div class="in1">To welcome Merry Christmas.</div> +</div> +<br /> +<div class="stanza"> + <div>"And, oh! remember, gentles gay,</div> + <div>To you who bask in fortune's ray</div> + <div>The year is all a holiday:—</div> + <div class="in1">The poor have only Christmas.</div> +</div> +<br /> +<div class="stanza"> + <div>"When you the costly banquet deal</div> + <div>To guests who never famine feel,</div> + <div>Oh spare one morsel from your meal</div> + <div class="in1">To cheer the poor at Christmas.</div> +</div> +<br /> +<div class="stanza"> + <div>"So shall each note of mirth appear</div> + <div>More sweet to heaven than praise or prayer,</div> + <div>And angels, in their carols there,</div> + <div class="in1">Shall bless the poor at Christmas."</div> +</div> +</div> + +<br /> + +<p><i>Lucy</i>. Oh, what a beautiful carol! I'll call in the minstrel.</p> + +<p><i>Mrs. B</i>. Yes, run Lucy! [<i>Exit</i> <span +class="small">LUCY</span>.]</p> + +<p><i>Mr. B</i>. Set a chair by the fire, Tommy.</p> + +<div class="center">[<i>Enter</i> <span class="small">LUCY</span>, +<i>with old minstrel carrying harp</i>.]</div> + +<p><i>Minstrel</i>. Good even, gentle folks, and a merry Christmas to +you all!</p> + +<p><i>Mrs. B</i>. Come sit by the fire. Tommy placed the chair for +you. It is cold outside.</p> + +<p><i>Minstrel</i>. Thank you kindly, ma'am. So Tommy set the chair +for the old man? Where is Master Tommy? Ah, there's my little man! +Come here, Tommy. That's right. So, up, on my knee. Why, that's a +bright face now! And it ought to be bright, too; for this is Christmas +Eve, merry Christmas Eve, the children's happy time. Tommy, I remember +when I was as young as you are. I had a little sister.</p> + +<p><i>Tommy</i>. I have a little sister, too.</p> + +<p><i>Minstrel</i>. Oh, you have a little sister, eh! Where is she, +then?</p> + +<p><i>Tommy [pointing].</i> Over there, in the corner.</p> + +<p><i>Minstrel</i>. Bless my old eyes, so she is! Run and bring her, +Tommy.</p> + +<div class="center">[<span class="small">TOMMY</span> <i>runs, and +returns leading and coaxing</i> <span class="small">MAY</span>.]</div> + +<p><i>Minstrel</i> [<i>setting one on each knee</i>]. Now, good folks, +if you'll let me, I'll tell these little people a story of Jesus when +he was a little boy. It is called "The Holy Well."</p> + +<div class="center">[<i>They group themselves about the minstrel</i>.]</div> + +<p>Early one bright May morning, Jesus, then a little boy of ten or +twelve years, awoke, and at once remembered that it was a holiday. His +eyes, bright with the morning light, sparkled yet more brightly at the +thought. There would be no school, no work. All the people would keep +the feast. He knew, too, that on that day, the boys of his age would +assemble betimes to play together at The Holy Well. So, brimful of +joyful expectation, he ran to ask his mother's leave to go and join in +the merry games. Soon he was on his way, and he quickened his steps +when he came in sight of the troops of happy children running hither +and thither in their sports. Drawing nearer, he stood still a little +while, watching the games with pleased and eager eyes. Then he called +out: "Little children, shall I play with you, and will you play with +me?" Now, these boys and girls were the children of rich parents, and +lived in much finer houses than the one Jesus had for a home. They had +handsome clothes, too, and everything of the best. So they looked on +the plainly dressed stranger, the son of a poor carpenter, and bade him +begone, saying: "We will not play with you, or with any such as you!" +What a rebuff was that! The poor, sensitive little lad had not expected +it, and his tender feelings were hurt. His eyes filled with tears; and +running home as fast as he could, he laid his head in his mother's lap, +and sobbed out to her the whole story. Then Mary was angry with the +ill-natured children, and told her son to go back and destroy them all +by his word; for she believed that her beautiful boy could do such +things. But, surely, if he could have harbored that thought, he would +not have been beautiful; and so, when his mother spoke, her words drew +away his thoughts from himself to the children who had grieved him. He +knew that they had never really known him, and so could not have +understood what they were doing. Therefore he said to his mother that +he must be helpful and gentle to people, and not destroy them. And that +was the way with him to the very end. For when, years after, the people +(perhaps among them some of those same children grown-up) were putting +him to death on a cross, he bethought him again that they did not +really know him, and prayed: "Father, forgive them; they know not what +they do." And, even before then, he had told all people to love their +enemies, and forgive and be good to one another. If he had not done all +that, Christmas would not be so happy a time for us.</p> + +<p><i>Mrs. B.</i> [<i>approaching her husband and laying her hand on +his shoulder</i>]. John, is not he right?</p> + +<p><i>Mr. B.</i> [<i>who has been lost in thought, starting and +abruptly walking aside</i>]. He is right! So are they all. [<i>Turning +about</i>.] Dear wife, Lucy, Tommy, May, you shall be happy! We'll +have the Remsens! I say, we'll have our dear old friends. Patrick +shall harness the horse at once, and—[<i>The Minstrel suddenly +strips off his disguise and reveals himself as</i> <span +class="small">MR. REMSEN</span>.] What! Remsen! Is that you?</p> + +<p><i>Mr. R</i>. No need to harness up, old friend. Here I am! Ah! I +knew how it would be.</p> + +<p><i>Tommy</i> [<i>capering about</i>]. Hi! Hi! Ho! Isn't it great, +May? I shall have Harry to play with.</p> + +<p><i>May</i> [<i>clapping</i>]. And I shall have Sadie.</p> + +<p><i>Lucy</i>. Oh, what a delightful surprise! Oh, Mr. Remsen, I am +glad, so very glad, that you have come. We will send for the others at +once.</p> + +<p><i>Mr. R</i>. Why, they're all here, too. You may be sure we all +came together. [<i>Opening the door.</i>] Come! come in! It's all +right, as we knew it would be.</p> + +<div class="center">[<i>Enter</i> <span class="small">MRS. +REMSEN</span> <i>and her children</i>, <span +class="small">HARRY</span> <i>and</i> <span +class="small">SADIE</span>,<br /> <i>who immediately run to</i> <span +class="small">TOMMY</span> <i>and</i> <span class="small">MAY</span>.]</div> + +<p><i>Mrs. B. [to Mrs. R</i>.] Welcome, welcome, dear friend! This +<i>is</i> kind.</p> + +<p><i>Lucy</i>. Now Christmas Eve is what it ought to be.</p> + +<p><i>Mrs. R</i>. Oh, Mrs. Burton, I am happy again now. I was afraid +that Christmas would not bring love and joy for us this year. We could +not help coming. Old memories were too strong for us.</p> + +<p><i>Mr. R. to Mr. B</i>. Ah! neighbor, it's a sad thing to interrupt +that "peace on earth" of which the angels sung. There's my hand; take +it kindly.</p> + +<p><i>Mr. B</i>. And there's mine, with all my heart. We'll not let a +bit of land divide old friends.</p> + +<p><i>Mr. R</i>. Aye, aye! We'd better divide the land.</p> + +<p><i>Mr. B</i>. It seems easy to settle now. But no more of that +to-night. Come, let us sing our Christmas carol. It will be sweeter +than ever. Take your harp, friend, and turn minstrel again for the +occasion.</p> + +<a name="image51" id="image51"></a> +<div class="imgcenter"> +<img src="images/image51.png" width="499" height="235" alt="" /> +</div> + +<div class="poem"> +<div class="stanza"> + <div class="in1">With wond'ring awe,</div> + <div class="in1">Tho wise men saw</div> + <div>The star in Heaven springing,</div> + <div class="in1">And with delight</div> + <div class="in1">In peaceful night,</div> + <div>They heard the angels singing,</div> + <div class="in1">Hosanna, Hosanna</div> + <div class="in1">Hosanna to His name!</div> +</div> +<br /> +<div class="stanza"> + <div class="in1">By light of star,</div> + <div class="in1">They traveled far</div> + <div>To seek the lowly manger;</div> + <div class="in1">A humble bed</div> + <div class="in1">Wherein was laid</div> + <div>The wondrous little stranger.</div> + <div class="in1">Hosanna, hosanna,</div> + <div class="in1">Hosanna to His name!</div> +</div> +<br /> +<div class="stanza"> + <div class="in1">And still is found,</div> + <div class="in1">The world around,</div> + <div>The old and hallowed story;</div> + <div class="in1">And still is sung</div> + <div class="in1">In every tongue</div> + <div>The angels' song of glory:</div> + <div class="in1">Hosanna, hosanna,</div> + <div class="in1">Hosanna to His name!</div> +</div> +<br /> +<div class="stanza"> + <div class="in1">The heavenly star</div> + <div class="in1">Its ray afar</div> + <div>On every land is throwing</div> + <div class="in1">And shall not cease</div> + <div class="in1">Till holy peace,</div> + <div>In all the earth is glowing.</div> + <div class="in1">Hosanna, hosanna,</div> + <div class="in1">Hosanna to His name!</div> +</div> +</div> + +<hr /> + +<a name="jackinthepulpit" id="jackinthepulpit"></a> +<a name="image52" id="image52"></a> +<div class="center"> +<img src="images/image52.png" width="340" height="400" alt="" /> +</div> + +<h2 style="margin-top:-1.5em; padding-left:2em;">JACK-IN-THE-PULPIT.</h2> + +<hr class="tiny" /> +<br /> +<p>A <span class="small">MERRY CHRISTMAS</span> to you, my darlings! +It's cold weather—too cold for any but a Scribner +Jack-in-the-Pulpit to be out-of-doors—but our +hearts are green, and there's a fine bracing air.</p> + +<p>Christmas will not be here when you first get the December +magazine, I know, but <span class="small">ST. NICHOLAS</span> likes to +get a good start. He has Dutch blood in his veins, and he knows well +that in Holland St. Nicholas' Day comes on the 6th of December.</p> + +<p>So, just think of the dear Dutch youngsters, and what a happy +holiday they keep on the 6th,—for that is their season of +gift-giving,—and when the 25th comes to you, with its holy, +beautiful light, and its home joys, you'll be all the more ready to +give it welcome.</p> + +<p>Now for</p> + +<div class="center">A WINDFALL.</div> + +<p>Here is a copy of a printed scrap thrown to me by a high wind the +other day. It isn't of very much use to a Jack-in-the-Pulpit; so I +hand it over to you, my chicks. It strikes me that it has the gist of +some of Deacon Green's remarks, and that somehow it doesn't come under +the head of what is called "pernicious reading":</p> + + <blockquote><p class="noindent">"<span class="small">GOOD ADVICE + FOR THE YOUNG</span>.—Avoid all boastings and exaggerations, + backbiting, abuse, and evil speaking; slang phrases and oaths in + conversation; depreciate no man's qualities, and accept + hospitalities of the humblest kind in a hearty and appreciative + manner; avoid giving offense, and if you do offend, have the + manliness to apologize; infuse as much elegance as possible into + your thoughts as well as your actions; and, as you avoid + vulgarities, you will increase the enjoyment of life, and grow in + the respect of others."</p></blockquote> + +<br /><br /> + +<div class="center">KING ALFRED AND THE CAKES.</div> + +<p>Here is a story which I heard a girl tell her little sister the +other day, but I don't believe the girl told it altogether right. Can +any of my youngsters straighten it out? This is the story:</p> + +<p>King Alfred, after his fatal defeat at Marston Moor, having taken +refuge in an oak-tree, was so absorbed in watching a spider which had +tried to weave its web eleven times and succeeded on the twelfth, that +he allowed the cakes to burn; whereupon, the herdsman's wife, rushing +in, exclaimed:</p> + +<p>"Oh, Diamond! Diamond! what mischief hast thou done?"</p> + +<p>To which he meekly replied: "I cannot tell a lie; I did it with my +little hatchet."</p> + +<p>"Take away," cried she, "that bauble!"</p> + +<p>"I have done my duty, thank heaven!" said he, but he never smiled +again.</p> +<br /><br /> + +<div class="center">A LITTLE SCHOOLMA'AM.</div> + + <blockquote><p class="noindent"><span class="small">DEAR + JACK-IN-THE-PULPIT</span>: I should like to tell the Little + Schoolma'am about <i>our</i> little schoolma'am.<br /> <br /> + She is a young lady of about twenty-one years, and looks too + delicate to govern such a school. But she does it; and though as + fond of fun as any of us at the right time, yet in school she + insists on attention to business, and will not tolerate idleness or + disobedience. She is very kind and gentle, but firm and decided, + and we all know that she means what she says, and must be obeyed + implicitly. She says she wants us to love and trust her as a + friend, and we do. Out of school she seems as young as we do, for + she is full of fun and likes us to have a good time. She tries to + make school pleasant to us, and a while ago she put a box on her + desk, and said, when we had any questions to ask, or complaints to + make, we might write them on a slip of paper and put it in that + box, which was locked and had a hole in the top. Sometimes she + answers the questions publicly, and sometimes she writes them and + puts them in the "letter-box." The scholar who has the best record + for a month keeps the key the next month, and once a week opens the + box and distributes the contents. It is quite an honor to be + "postmistress," but no one can have it two months at a time. She + lets us make suggestions if we think of any improvements in the + school, and sometimes adopts them. Another of her plans is to allow + five minutes at the end of each hour when we may whisper, but not + talk out loud. If we wish to speak to any one we can leave our seat + and walk to them, if they are not near to us. But any one who + whispers, or communicates in any way at any other time, forfeits + this chance. I forgot to say that we put notes to each other in the + letter-box. We do like our little schoolma'am so much!—Yours + truly, <span class="small">ALLIE BERTRAM</span>.</p></blockquote> + +<br /> + +<div class="center">AS IDLE AS A BIRD.</div> + +<p>It is not so very long since I heard a little girl say that she +"wished she could only be as idle as a bird."</p> + +<p>Now, this was not a very lazy sort of wish, if she had but known it. +There are very few little girls, or boys,—or grown-ups either, +for the matter of that,—who are as industrious as the birds. How +many people would be willing to begin their daily labors as early as +the birds begin theirs—at half-past three o'clock in the +morning—and keep on toiling away until after eight in the +evening?</p> + +<p>Think of it, my youngsters,—almost eighteen hours of constant +work!</p> + +<p>And the birds do it willingly, too; for it is a labor of love to +bring dainty bits to their hungry little ones and keep the home-nest +snug and warm.</p> + +<p>One pair of birds that had been patiently watched from the first to +the last of their long, long day, made no less than four hundred and +seventy-five trips, of about one hundred and fifty yards each, in +search of food for their darling chicks!</p> + +<p>As idle as a bird, indeed!—with all that hunting, and +fetching, and carrying, and feeding to do!</p> + +<br /> + +<div class="center">"OWN FIRST COUSINS."</div> + +<p>Talking of birds, would you ever have thought +it? The lovely and brilliant Bird of Paradise, I'm +told, is "own first cousin" to the—Crows. And +the Crows are not one bit ashamed to own the relationship! +Very condescending of them, isn't it?</p> + +<br /> + +<div class="center">ORANGE GROVES ON ST. JOHN'S RIVER.</div> + + <blockquote><p class="right">Ocala, Marion County, Fla., 1877.</p> + + <p><span class="small">DEAR JACK</span>: I was on the St. John's + River at work with my father about three years ago. There were + real wild-orange groves there, and the trees bore sour and + bitter-sweet fruit. I will now tell you what I was doing on that + river. I was pressing out the juice of the sour oranges and + boiling it, for making citric acid. We used a cider press for + pressing out the juice, and a copper cauldron for boiling it. We + shipped the acid to Philadelphia, and I do not know + what was done with it next.</p> + + <p>These groves were inhabited by wild beasts, such as opossums, + wild cats, raccoons, deer, and, occasionally, bears and panthers.</p> + + <p>The groves were situated on high mounds, made ages and ages + ago, by people of an ancient race known as "mound-builders." There + were always shells on the mounds, which in some instances appeared + to be made entirely of shells. Some mounds were fifty feet, or + more, above the surrounding country, and from two hundred to four + hundred yards in length.</p> + + <p>Now, I dare say, you would like me to say of what kind these + shells were; but, as I never could find out for myself, I cannot + tell you what kind they were. They are unlike any that I have seen + elsewhere, and I think they do not belong to any living species of + to-day. Farewell, dear Jack!—Yours truly, + <span class="small">TROPIC</span>.</p></blockquote> + +<br /> + +<div class="center">THE BLIND CLERK.</div> + + <blockquote><p><span class="small">DEAR JACK</span>: Ever so many + millions of letters are dropped into the London Post-Office every + year, but some are so badly addressed that they never get out + again. When a direction is so ill-written that the sorters can't + make it out, the letter is taken to a man they call the "Blind + Clerk," and he generally deciphers it. Why they call him "blind" I + don't know, for few addresses are beyond the power of his sharp + eyes to make out. Here is one that did not give him much trouble; + but can any of your young folks tell what it means?</p> + +<div class="center"> + Sarvingle<br /> + Num for te Quins prade<br /> + Lunon. +</div> + + <p>I'll send you the "blind" man's solution next month. Meantime, + here is a puzzle for your merry crowd. You shall have an answer in + that same postscript; but I should like to have the Little + Schoolma'am and the rest work it out for themselves:</p> + +<div class="poem"> +<div class="stanza"> + <div>"I am constrained to plant a grove</div> + <div>To satisfy the girl I love;</div> + <div>And in this grove I must compose</div> + <div>Just nineteen trees in nine straight rows,</div> + <div>And in each row five trees must place,</div> + <div>Or never more behold her face.</div> +</div> +<br /> +<div class="stanza"> + <div>Ye sons of art, lend me your aid</div> + <div>To please this most exacting maid."</div> +</div> +</div> + + <p>This puzzle is so old that it probably will be new to thousands + of your young folks.—Yours truly, M.B.T.</p></blockquote> + +<br /> + +<div class="center">BIRDS CAUGHT BY SALT.</div> + +<p>Yes. It's so; though I must say I felt inclined to laugh the first +time I heard one boy tell another to put salt on a bird's tail by way +of catching it. Now, however, word comes, all the way from California, +that there is a lake there, called "Deep Spring Lake," whose waters are +very salt; and that during certain conditions of the weather the +water-fowl of the lake become so encrusted with salt that they cannot +fly, and the Indians wade into the water and simply catch the birds +with their hands. The coating taken from one duck weighed six +pounds,—enough to have drowned it, even if its eyes and bill had +not been so covered as to blind and choke it. When the weather is +favorable for the formation of this crust upon the birds, the Indians +do their best with fires and noise to keep them away from the few +fresh-water streams where the poor things would be safe from the salt. +Besides this, the savages imitate the cries and calls of the birds, so +as to entice them to the dangerous part of the lake.</p> + +<p>It seems to me that men must be very mean as well as very hungry to +take advantage of the birds in that way. However, "circumstances alter +cases," as the school-boy said when he had been "punished for his good" +by mistake.</p> + +<br /> + +<div class="center">A SPELL UPON KEROSENE.</div> + + <blockquote><p class="right">Bridgeport, Conn.</p> + + <p>Dear Little Schoolma'am: One would think that the word + "kerosene" could not be a very difficult one for the average + inhabitant to write correctly; but it is. From the New York + <i>Independent</i> I learn that the following versions of the word + have actually been received by the Portland Kerosene Oil Company + in its correspondence:</p> + + <p>Caracine, carecane, caroziene, carocine, cursene, carozyne, + coriseen, carosyne, caricien, carsine, caresene, carozine, + carocene, carosean, carycene, caresien, caraseen, caroscene, + crosen, carecene, carizoein, keriscene, karosin, kerocine, + keressean, keriseene, kerasene, kerosen, kereseen, kerison, + kerriseen, kerricene, keroseen, kerosine, karosina, keresene, + kerrsein, keroscene, kerose, kerasseen, kereson kerocene, kerozene, + kerrisene, kerryseen, kerissien, kersien, kerossein, keriscene.</p> + + <p>Now isn't that astonishing?—Yours sincerely, <span + class="small">MARY N.G.</span></p></blockquote> + +<br /> + +<div class="center">THE EYEBROW WORD.</div> + +<p>What do you think this is? It is neither more nor less than the word +"supercilious," which is derived from <i>supercilium</i>, the Latin for +"eyebrow," as I heard the Little Schoolma'am tell the children not long +ago.</p> + +<p>When she had said this, one of the little girls, in a rather +scornful, superior way, said, "I don't see any sense in that." Whereat +the Little Schoolma'am and two or three of the bigger girls laughed, +for the little girl had raised her eyebrow in a most "supercilious" +expression, giving the best possible proof of the appropriateness of +the word. For, certainly, it is hard for one's face to express a +supercilious feeling without raising the eyebrow, or at least changing +that part of the countenance which is over the eyelid.</p> + +<br /> + +<div class="center">SINCERE.</div> + +<p>Here's one more derivation, while we are about it. I heard the other +day that the bees, with the aid of Latin, have given us a beautiful +word: "Sincere"—which is made of the words <i>sine-cera</i>, +meaning "honey without wax."</p> + +<p>Remember this, my chicks, and let your kind words and good actions +be truly sincere,—pure honey, <i>sine cera</i>.</p> + +<br /> + +<div class="center">THE AUTHOR OF "HOME, SWEET HOME."</div> + + <blockquote><p>Dear Jack: My grandfather knew a gentleman who was + a very intimate friend of the author of "Home, Sweet + Home"—John Howard Payne. Mr. Payne told this gentleman, Mr. + C., how he came to write the song. He said that a play or operetta + called "The Maid of Milan," that he had adapted from the French, + was about to be played in London. In this play was a very pretty + scene for which he had an air in his mind. He had to conjure up + some words to suit the tune, and so he wrote the verses of "Home, + Sweet Home." He also said that the very next day after the song + had been brought out at the theater it was all over London. + Everybody was singing it. Grandfather says that Mr. Payne got + really very tired of hearing about this song, and at length said + he supposed he would hereafter be known only as the author of + "Home, Sweet Home." Mr. Robert S. Chilton wrote this beautiful + verse about Mr. Payne's death:</p> + +<div class="poem"> +<div class="stanza"> + <div>Sure, when thy gentle spirit fled</div> + <div class="in1">To realms beyond the azure dome,</div> + <div>With arms outstretched God's angels said:</div> + <div class="in1">"Welcome to heaven's 'Home, Sweet Home!'"</div> +</div> +</div> + + <p>I believe this verse was inscribed on Mr. Payne's tomb-stone in + Tunis, Africa; but I am not sure. Can any one tell me?—Yours + truly, <span class="small">KATIE T.M.</span></p></blockquote> + +<hr /> + +<h2><a name="babybo" id="babybo">BABY-BO.</a></h2> + +<hr class="tiny" /> +<br /> + +<a name="image53" id="image53"></a> +<div class="center"> +<img src="images/image53.png" width="300" height="277" alt="" /> +</div> + +<br /> + +<div class="poem"> +<div class="stanza"> + <div>How many toes has the tootsy foot?</div> + <div class="in1">One, two, three, four, five!</div> + <div>Shut them all up in the little red sock,</div> + <div class="in1">Snugger than bees in a hive.</div> +</div> +<br /> +<div class="stanza"> + <div>How many fingers has little wee hand?</div> + <div class="in1">Four, and a little wee thumb!</div> + <div>Shut them up under the bed-clothes tight,</div> + <div class="in1">For fear Jack Frost should come.</div> +</div> +<br /> +<div class="stanza"> + <div>How many eyes has the Baby Bo?</div> + <div class="in1">Two, so shining and bright!</div> + <div>Shut them up under the little white lids,</div> + <div class="in1">And kiss them a loving good-night.</div> +</div> +</div> + +<hr /> + +<h2><a name="arthur" id="arthur">ARTHUR AND HIS PONY.</a></h2> + +<hr class="tiny" /> +<br /> + +<p>About the middle of the summer, little Arthur, who lived in the +country, went to see his grandmother, whose house was three or four +miles away from Arthur's home. He staid there a week, and when he came +home and had been welcomed by all the family, his father took him out +on the front piazza and said to him:</p> + +<p>"Now, Arthur, if you are not tired, how would you like to take a +ride?"</p> + +<p>"Oh! I'm not tired," said Arthur. "I'd like a ride ever so much. +Will you take me?"</p> + +<p>"No," said his father. "I meant for you to take a ride by +yourself."</p> + +<p>"But I can't drive," said little Arthur.</p> + +<p>"I know that," his father said, with a smile, "but I think we can +manage it. Here, Joseph!" he called out to the hired man, "hurry and +bring Arthur's horse."</p> + +<p>"Oh, papa!" cried Arthur, "I don't want my horse. I can't take a +real ride on him. He's wooden, and I was tired of him long ago. I +thought you meant for me to take a real ride," and the little fellow's +eyes filled with tears.</p> + +<p>"So I do, my son," said his father, "and here comes the horse on +which you are to take it. Is that animal real enough for you, sir?"</p> + +<p>Around the corner came Joseph, leading a plump little black pony, +with a long tail and mane, and a saddle, and bridle, and stirrups.</p> + +<p>Arthur was so astonished and delighted that at first he could not +speak.</p> + +<p>"Well, what do you think of him?" said his father.</p> + +<p>"Is that my horse?" said Arthur.</p> + +<p>"Yes, all your own."</p> + +<p>Arthur did not go to look at his pony. He turned and ran into the +house, screaming at the top of his voice:</p> + +<p>"Mother! mother! I've got a pony! Come quick! I've got a +pony—a real pony! Aunt Rachel! I've got a pony, Laura! Laura! +come, I've got a pony!"</p> + +<p>When he came out again, his father said: "Come now, get on and try +your new horse. He has been waiting here long enough."</p> + +<p>But Arthur was so excited and delighted, and wanted so much to run +around his pony and look at him on all sides, and kept on telling his +father how glad he was to get it, and how ever so much obliged he was +to him for it, and what a good man he was, and what a lovely pony the +pony was, that his father could hardly get him still enough to sit in +the saddle.</p> + +<p>However, he quieted down after a while, and his father put him on +the pony's back, and shortened the stirrups so that they should be the +right length for him, and put the reins in his hands. Now he was all +ready for a ride, and Arthur wanted to gallop away.</p> + +<p>"No, no!" said his father, "you cannot do that. You do not know how +to ride yet. At first your pony must walk."</p> + +<p>So Arthur's father took hold of the pony's bridle and led him along +the carriage-way in front of the house, and as the little boy rode off, +sitting up straight in the saddle, and holding proudly to the reins, +his mother and his aunt and his sister Laura clapped their hands, and +cheered him; and this made Arthur feel prouder than ever.</p> + +<p>He had a good long ride, up and down, and up and down, and the next +day his father took him out again, and taught him how to sit and how to +guide his pony.</p> + +<p>In a week or two Arthur could ride by himself, even when the pony +was trotting gently; and before long he rode all over the grounds, +trotting or cantering or walking, just as he pleased.</p> + +<p>The pony was a very gentle, quiet creature, and Arthur's father felt +quite willing to trust his little boy to ride about on him, provided he +did not go far from home.</p> + +<p>Only once was there any trouble on the pony's account. As Arthur was +riding in a field, one afternoon, there came along a party of +gentlemen, who were hunting a fox. When they galloped away, over the +smooth grass, Arthur whipped up his pony, and went after them as fast +as he could go.</p> + +<p>He went on and on, trying to keep up with the hunters, but he was +soon left behind, for his pony could not gallop half as fast as the +large, strong horses of the hunters.</p> + +<p>Then he turned to come back, but he got into the wrong field, and +soon found that he did not know the way home.</p> + +<p>Arthur began to be very much frightened, for the sun was setting, +and he could see no one of whom he could ask his way home. He first +turned his pony this way and then that way, but the little horse was +now hungry and tired, and he would not turn as Arthur wanted him to.</p> + +<p>Then the pony resolutely started off and trotted along, paying no +attention to Arthur's pulls and tugs, and did not stop until he had +trotted right up to the door of Arthur's home.</p> + +<p>You see, he knew the way well enough. Horses and dogs seldom lose +their way, unless they are very far from home.</p> + +<p>Arthur's parents were frightened at their little boy's long absence, +and he was not allowed to ride again for three days, for he had been +told not to go out of the field in which he was when he saw the +hunters.</p> + +<a name="image54" id="image54"></a> +<div class="imgcenter"> +<img src="images/image54.jpg" width="350" height="323" +alt="ARTHUR ON HIS PONY" title="ARTHUR ON HIS PONY" /> +<p class="caption">ARTHUR ON HIS PONY.</p> +</div> + +<p>Arthur rode that pony until he became quite a big boy, and his feet +nearly touched the ground as he sat in the saddle. Then he gave the +good little animal to a young cousin.</p> + +<p>But he never liked any horse so much as this pony, which was his +own, real horse, when he was such a little boy.</p> + +<hr /> + +<h2><a name="contributors" id="contributors">YOUNG CONTRIBUTORS' +DEPARTMENT</a>.</h2> + +<hr class="tiny" /> +<br /> + +<a name="image55" id="image55"></a> +<div class="center"> +<img src="images/image55.png" width="265" height="300" +alt="TWO YOUNG MARTYRS" title="TWO YOUNG MARTYRS" /> +<p class="caption">TWO YOUNG MARTYRS.<br /> +<span class="small">(Drawn by a Young Contributor.)</span></p> +</div> + +<br /><hr class="tiny" /><br /> + +<div class="center">"TOO-LOO!"</div> + +<div class="poem"> +<div class="stanza"> + <div>The Blue Jay courted the Yellow Cuckoo;</div> + <div class="in1">'Neath its nest he would stay all day long,</div> + <div>Smoothing his feathers of silver and blue,</div> + <div class="in1">Telling his love in a song:</div> + <div class="in5">"Too-loo! too-loo!</div> + <div class="in6">Oh, fly with me,</div> + <div class="in5">My sweet Cuckoo,</div> + <div class="in6">Across the sea!"</div> +</div> +<br /> +<div class="stanza"> + <div>The Cuckoo came gayly forth from her nest;</div> + <div class="in1">But just then an arrow flew by,</div> + <div>Piercing the bird's soft yellow breast,</div> + <div class="in1">Who died with a single sigh.</div> + <div class="in5">"Too-loo! too-loo!"</div> + <div class="in6">The Blue Jay said;</div> + <div class="in5">"What shall I do?</div> + <div class="in6">My love is dead!"</div> +</div> +<br /> +<div class="stanza"> + <div>The Cuckoo lay cold and still on the ground—</div> + <div class="in1">Dead, past all help to save;</div> + <div>And by a Bird-defender was found,</div> + <div class="in1">Who dug her a little grave.</div> + <div class="in5">"Too-loo! too-loo!"</div> + <div class="in6">Was the sorrowful lay,</div> + <div class="in5">For the gentle Cuckoo</div> + <div class="in6">Sung by the Jay.</div> + <br /> + <div class="in13"><span class="small">AMY R.</span></div> +</div> +</div> + +<br /><hr class="tiny" /><br /> + +<div class="center">"MARY AND HER LAMB."</div> + +<br /> +<div class="center">(<i>A Critique.</i>)</div> +<br /><br /> + +<div class="poem"> +<div class="stanza"> + <div>"Mary had a little lamb."</div> +</div> +</div> + +<p>In this poem each stanza, we may say each line, is unalloyed gold. +Let us examine the first line.</p> + +<p>"Mary." The name strikes us at once as belonging to one pure as the +inside of an apple-bloom; and the rest of the poem assures us, that by +making Mary's name an index to Mary's character, we have not been +misled. A master's hand is visible from the first word.</p> + +<p>"A little lamb." The poet does not take for granted, as one of less +genius would, that because a lamb is mentioned the reader necessarily +sees in his mind's eye one of the frolicsome, gentle, confiding +creatures commonly accepted as an emblem of meekness. Not at all. The +lamb is not only a lamb—it is a <i>little</i> lamb. Thus never +in the whole course of the poem can we by any oversight look upon +Mary's treasure as a sheep; it retains its infantile sweetness and +grace through the entire narration. The poet thus draws our attention +to the youth of the animal, in order to palliate the little creature's +after-guilt. This is done with such grace and delicacy, that it is +scarcely perceptible.</p> + +<p>The line, as a whole, shows a touch of high art seldom seen in so +short a poem. The writer knows human nature—that, we see at a +glance. Else, would he not have entered into a detailed account of +Mary's parentage, her appearance, place of residence, or, at least, +the manner in which she became possessed of the lamb. But no; all is +left to the imagination. Mary may be as blonde as the "Fair one with +golden locks," as dark as "Black Agnes." Each reader has a heroine +after his own heart, and each is satisfied.</p> + +<div class="poem"> +<div class="stanza"> + <div>"Its fleece was white as snow."</div> +</div> +</div> + +<p>No black sheep (or lamb) could we in any way imagine as a companion +of Mary—gentle, affectionate, pure little Mary. All her +associates must be pure as herself.</p> + +<div class="poem"> +<div class="stanza"> + <div class="quote">"And everywhere that Mary went</div> + <div>The lamb was sure to go."</div> +</div> +</div> + +<p>Does not this suit the character given to Mary by her name? We can +image to ourselves the lost lamb, the mournful bleating for its mother, +its hunger and cold. In the depth of its misery we see Mary's sweet +face bending pityingly over it; she raises it, takes it home, it +revives, and loves her; she loves it in return. Can we wonder that it +follows in her footsteps wherever she goes? Those two lines tell more +than many a volume; but they must be read feelingly, or all is lost.</p> + +<p>Now follows a tale of wrong-doing and of subsequent punishment. This +is, indeed, a master-stroke; for this climax we were not prepared.</p> + +<div class="poem"> +<div class="stanza"> + <div class="quote">"It followed her to school one day,</div> + <div>Which was against the rule."</div> +</div> +</div> + +<p>Although the lamb follows its mistress everywhere, school is a +tabooed place. Yet the little creature cannot live without Mary, who +has departed fair and fresh as Overbury's "Happy Milkmaid." Long are +the hours that must elapse ere Mary's return, and the lamb tires of the +waiting. "It followed her to school one day." How innocent an act that +seems!—how natural! Then we read the next line,—"Which was +against the rule," and the lamb's action is turned from innocence to +guilt. Mary's favorite, that we have seen heretofore in only a good +light, violates deliberately a rule of the school which Mary attends. +The short sight of the animal's spiritual eyes prevents it from +knowing the extent of the disgrace to which it is to be subjected. At +present the end justifies the means in its little heart, and it leaves +its pleasant home to wander schoolward, and we are left to imagine its +thoughts on the way.</p> + +<p>A scene in the school-house bursts upon us, and</p> + +<div class="poem"> +<div class="stanza"> + <div class="quote">"It makes the children laugh and play</div> + <div>To see a lamb at school."</div> +</div> +</div> + +<p>This is another instance in which we are shown the poet's knowledge +of human nature. At anything less than the sight of a lamb the little +scholars are too well trained to laugh. This has no precedent. They +have been told how to behave should a dog enter the room, or should a +ludicrous error in lessons occur; but when a lamb trots soberly +in,—not gamboling now; conscience already whispers; remorse eats +at the little creature's peace of mind,—it is not to be expected +that order can be longer maintained, and the school, with the +exception of Mary, runs riot. Mary is perhaps, meanwhile, reproaching +her pet with a look "more in sorrow than in anger;" she is too gentle +to scold, but that glance completely fills the lamb's cup of sorrow; +it is yet to overrun, and the drop is soon poured in—the deep +beneath "the lowest deep" is soon reached.</p> + +<div class="poem"> +<div class="stanza"> + <div>"For this the teacher turned him out."</div> +</div> +</div> + +<p>It was his duty, reader; judge him not harshly.</p> + +<div class="poem"> +<div class="stanza"> + <div>"But still he lingered near."</div> +</div> +</div> + +<p>This, at least, was not forbidden,—to wait for his little +mistress.</p> + +<div class="poem"> +<div class="stanza"> + <div class="quote">"And waited patiently about</div> + <div>Till Mary did appear."</div> +</div> +</div> + +<p>How fraught with significance is that one word, "patiently!" All too +eager before, that was the lamb's fault, "and grievously hath [he] +answered it." He has turned over a new leaf, and wandering aimlessly +about, now nibbling a cowslip, now rolling in the young grass to still +the remorse gnawing at his heart, we can imagine him resolving to be a +better lamb in the future,—to grow more worthy Mary's love.</p> + +<div class="poem"> +<div class="stanza"> + <div class="quote">"'What makes the lamb love Mary so?'</div> + <div>The eager children cry."</div> +</div> +</div> + +<p>All have noticed this devotion—all wonder at it. The teacher +answers in words that prove how well we read Mary's affectionate +nature:</p> + +<div class="poem"> +<div class="stanza"> + <div class="quote">"'Why, Mary loves the lamb, you know,'</div> + <div>The teacher did reply."</div> +</div> +</div> + +<p>What could be a more worthy ending to so fine a poem than that the +loves of the two, human and brute, should be recognized by all Mary's +little world, her school-mates and her teacher. More poems like this, +sentiments so pure clad in plain Saxon words, would make our +world—wonderful and beautiful, as it now is—a fitter place +of dwelling for "men and the children of men." We regret but one point +about this gem,—that its author is "A Great Unknown."</p> + +<p class="right">C. McK.</p> + +<br /><hr class="tiny" /><br /> + +<div class="center">THE DEATH OF PRINCE WILLIAM.</div> +<br /> + +<div class="poem"> +<div class="stanza"> + <div>There was a prince named William,</div> + <div class="in1">And he had a sister, too;</div> + <div>He was sailing o'er the English Channel,</div> + <div class="in1">Over the Channel so blue.</div> +</div> +<br /> +<div class="stanza"> + <div>His father had gone ahead;</div> + <div class="in1">And he made the boat go fast,</div> + <div>But soon it struck upon a rock;</div> + <div class="in1">There was a shock to the very mast!</div> +</div> +<br /> +<div class="stanza"> + <div>And everybody did wail,</div> + <div class="in1">And everybody did cry,</div> + <div>Because everybody thought</div> + <div class="in1">That everybody must die!</div> +</div> +<div class="stanza"> + <div>Prince William rushed into a boat,—</div> + <div class="in1">Several lords and he,—</div> + <div>And he was steering for the land,</div> + <div class="in1">Across the dark blue sea.</div> +</div> +<br /> +<div class="stanza"> + <div>In the midst of the general weeping,</div> + <div class="in1">He heard his sister's cry,</div> + <div>And he made the boat go back,</div> + <div class="in1">For he would not let her die!</div> +</div> +<br /> +<div class="stanza"> + <div>When he got near the ship,</div> + <div class="in1">When he was touching her side,</div> + <div>Down the side of the big ship</div> + <div class="in1">Everybody did glide.</div> +</div> +<br /> +<div class="stanza"> + <div>Down went the little boat,</div> + <div class="in1">Too frail for such a load;</div> + <div>Down went the people in it,</div> + <div class="in1">And the people that rowed.</div> +</div> +<br /> +<div class="stanza"> + <div>Down went the big ship,</div> + <div class="in1">Her topmast in the air,</div> + <div>And, if a person were near enough,</div> + <div class="in1">He might see a man clinging there.</div> +</div> +<br /> +<div class="stanza"> + <div>The name of this man was Berold,</div> + <div class="in1">And he was a butcher by trade,</div> + <div>And by the help of a buff garment</div> + <div class="in1">On the top of the water he stayed.</div> +</div> +<br /> +<div class="stanza"> + <div>In the morning some fishermen came</div> + <div class="in1">And delivered him from the mast;</div> + <div>And after he was recovered,</div> + <div class="in1">His tale he told at last.</div> +</div> +<br /> +<div class="stanza"> + <div>When the king heard of the death of his children,</div> + <div class="in1">He fainted away for a while,</div> + <div>And from that day he was never,</div> + <div class="in1">Never was seen to smile!</div> + <div class="in18">H.W.</div> +</div> +</div> + +<br /><hr class="tiny" /><br /> + +<div class="center">ALLIE'S SUNSHINE.</div> + +<p>"A snowy, windy day. Oh, how dismal!" sighed Allie. "I wish it would +clear off, so that I could go out-doors and play."</p> + +<p>With this, Allie, who had been standing by the window gazing out at +the gray sky, sat down and commenced to read that beautiful book, "May +Stanhope." After reading quietly for more than an hour, she laid down +the book, exclaiming: "I <i>can</i> and will try to be of some use in +the world. I do nothing but mope when it rains, or when anything goes +wrong. I will try to help others who need my help. I will ask mamma if +I can carry something to Miss Davies. I am sure she needs some help."</p> + +<p>"Oh, the sun is shining!" Allie jumped up, and ran out of the room +to ask her mother if she would let her go to Miss Davies's. While she +is gone I will tell you briefly who she is. Her name is Allie Harris, +and she is a bright little girl, only apt to be dull on dark days.</p> + +<p>Her mother gave the desired permission, and after wrapping herself +up warmly, she took the well-filled basket that her mother had +prepared, and set out on her errand of mercy. She soon reached Miss +Davies's tiny cottage. She knocked, and a cheery voice bade her enter. +She walked into a neat room, barely but cleanly furnished. At one end +of it, beside a window, around which an ivy was growing, sat a +bright-faced little woman sewing. She looked up and greeted Allie +pleasantly. Allie shyly made known her errand, and stayed with Miss +Davies all the afternoon, singing and reading aloud while Miss Davies +sewed.</p> + +<p>When it began to grow dark she bade Miss Davies a cheerful good-by, +and went merrily home. She said to her mother, "I have learned the +<i>true</i> secret of happiness at last." By doing <i>good</i> to +others you will forget your <i>own</i> unhappiness, and be made happy +in return; while, if you <i>mope</i> and try to be disagreeable, you +will be miserable.</p> + +<p class="right">F.H.</p> + +<br /><hr class="tiny" /><br /> + +<a name="image56" id="image56"></a> +<div class="center"> +<img src="images/image56.png" width="300" height="227" +alt="H'M! DOES YOUR MOTHER KNOW YOU'RE OUT?" +title="H'M! DOES YOUR MOTHER KNOW YOU'RE OUT?" /> +<p class="caption">"H'M! DOES YOUR MOTHER KNOW YOU'RE OUT?"<br /> +<span class="small">(Drawn by a Young Contributor.)</span></p> +</div> + +<hr /> + +<h2><a name="letterbox" id="letterbox">THE LETTER BOX</a></h2> + +<hr class="tiny" /> +<br /> + +<p>Our beautiful new cover was designed and drawn by Walter Crane, of +London, who made all those lovely pictures in "The Baby's Opera." Our +readers will remember what we said of him last month, and that, though +a great artist in other ways also, he has done his best and most famous +work in drawing for the little folks. It would have been impossible, +therefore, to find a hand more skillful in the kind of art desired, or +better fitted to put upon the cover of <span class="small">ST. +NICHOLAS</span> just the things to suit the best tastes and fancies; +and of Mr. Crane's success we think that no one who really studies the +new cover can have a doubt. It seems to us fully worthy both of the +artist and the magazine; and, believing that our young readers will +all agree with us, we leave them the delight of discovering and +enjoying for themselves its special beauties.</p> + +<br /><hr class="tiny" /><br /> + +<p>There is a beautiful custom in England—which is to be hoped +will yet become general in America—of sending around Christmas +cards, dainty things with lovely pictures and hearty verses upon them. +Friends and lovers send them to one another, children send them to +their parents, parents to their children, and the postman, as he flies +from house to house, fairly glows with loving messages.</p> + +<p>And now <span class="small">ST. NICHOLAS</span> presents to one and +all the <a href="#card">sweet little card</a> on page 91, which was +drawn by Miss L. Greenaway, a London artist, who has drawn many +beautiful pictures of child-life. A companion card will be given next +month.</p> + +<br /><hr class="tiny" /><br /> + +<p>We are sure all our readers will appreciate the very comical +pictures on pages 144 and 145, which illustrate the funny story of +<a href="#magician">"The Magician and His Bee."</a> But some of our +older boys and girls may be able to put them to another +use,—which, also, would cause much fun and merriment,—for +these pictures would form an admirable series of magic-lantern slides. +And all that is needed to make them is a little skill with the brush +and—patience.</p> + +<p>Take an <i>outline</i> tracing of each figure; arrange all the +tracings for each slide on the glass strip, according to their +positions in the picture; then, by a slight touch of mucilage, or by +holding each one with the forefinger, secure them in their places +until the outlines can be traced on the glass. Fill up all the space +outside the tracings with black paint, and, this done, put in the +shadings of the figures (lines of features, costumes, etc.) with +touches of the brush, according to the lines in the printed pictures, +until the reproductions upon the slide are true and complete.</p> + +<p>Once done, the pictures, enlarged and thrown upon a screen, would be +very funny indeed; and if, when they are exhibited, some one will read +the story aloud, so as to describe the slides as they succeed each +other, you may count upon having a jolly time.</p> + +<br /><hr class="tiny" /><br /> + + <blockquote><p class="right">Kiukiang, China, August 18, 1877.</p> + + <p>Dear St. Nicholas: I am not so far out of the world but that I + can receive and read your excellent magazine. I look forward to + mail day with much pleasure, especially the mail which brings the + <span class="small">ST. NICHOLAS.</span> I read every number + through. I enjoy reading the letters from the little boys and + girls, I suppose, because I am a little boy myself. There are no + American boys here except my three little brothers. We would like + to have a play with some of the boys who write for your magazine. + The little boys of China have no such magazine as yours. I wish + they had; it would make better boys of them. The children of the + better class of Chinese go to school. There they learn to commit + to memory the Chinese characters. In repeating the characters, + they sway back and forth; it's real comical to see them. They + repeat in a sing-song tone. They go to school at six in the + morning. They have a rest at noon, after which they remain in the + evening until eight o'clock. They have no idea of what we have in + America; they are even stupid enough to ask if we have a sun and + moon, and all such questions. My home is on the banks of the great + river Yang-tse; nine miles back from the river are the Lu-Say + Mountains, five thousand feet high. The foreign people find it + very cool up in the mountains. There are several large pools of + water where they bathe. I have written more than I expected to.</p> + + <p>—Good-by, dear <span class="small">ST. NICHOLAS</span>, + from your reader,</p> + + <p class="right"><span class="small">EVANSTON HART</span>.</p> + </blockquote> + +<br /><hr class="tiny" /><br /> + +<p>Readers who were interested in Professor Proctor's letter about the +Sea-Serpent in <span class="small">ST. NICHOLAS</span> for August +last, may like to read also these little extracts on the same subject:</p> + +<div class="center"><i>From the New York "Independent."</i></div> + +<p>A sea-monster was seen by the officers of H.M.S. "Osborne," on June +2, off the coast of Sicily, which is sketched by Lieut. Haynes and +figured in the London <i>Graphic</i>. The first sketch is merely of a +long row of fins just appearing above the water, of irregular height, +and extending, says Lieutenant Osborne, from thirty to forty feet in +length. The other sketch is of the creature as seen "end on," and shows +only the head, which was "bullet-shaped and quite six feet thick," and +a couple of flappers, one on each side. The creature was, says +Lieutenant Osborne, at least fifteen or twenty feet wide across the +back, and "from the top of the head to the part of the back where it +became immersed I should consider about fifty feet, and that seemed +about a third of its whole length." Thus it is certainly much longer +than any fish hitherto known to the zoölogists, and is, at least, as +remarkable a creature as most of the old wonder-makers ever alleged.</p> + +<div class="center"><i>From the "National Teachers' Monthly," +September</i>.</div> + +<p>Mr. John Kieller Webster says he has seen the sea-serpent in the +Straits of Malacca. Its body was fifty feet in length, the head twelve +feet, and the tail one hundred and fifty. It seemed to be a huge +salamander. The Chinese on board the ship were so frightened, they set +up a howl,—a circumstance very remarkable.</p> + +<br /><hr class="tiny" /><br /> + +<div class="center">THE GAME OF FAGOT-GATHERING.</div> + +<p>There is a jolly in-door game, for the winter, called +"Fagot-Gathering," which has been described in print before, but it +makes so much fun that many who have never heard of it will be glad if +we tell about it here.</p> + +<p>First you take some slips of paper,—as many as there are +players,—and on one of them you write "Fagot-Gatherer;" on each +of the rest you write either "good wood" or "snapper," making three +times as many "good woods" as "snappers." Of course, anybody who knows +about wood-fires will see that this is because some sticks will burn +quietly and brightly while others will crack and snap and fly without +the least warning. You put the papers into a hat, and each player +takes one, telling nobody what is written on it. Every one then sits +as near to the wall as possible, leaving a clear space in the middle +of the room, and the player who has chosen the "Fagot-Gatherer" slip +proceeds in a serious, business-like way to bundle the fagots. He, or +she, chooses four or five girls and boys, standing them together to +represent a fagot, and then makes similar groups of the rest in other +parts of the room. This done, he begins to "bind the fagots" by +walking slowly around each group, making with his arms such motions as +a real fagot-binder would make. The "sticks" are quiet until the +binder lets his arms fall, but then comes a sudden change; the "good +woods" run to their seats, but the "snappers" chase the "binder" and +try to touch him before he can begin to bind another "fagot;" failing +in this, they have to go and mourn among the "good woods." Then the +binding of the second "fagot" goes on, like that of the first. But +when a "fagot-gatherer" is touched, the "snapper" takes the place of +the "gatherer," who goes and rests himself. The game ends when all the +"fagots" have been used up in this way, and is then begun again by +another selection of papers from the hat. The fun is in the frights +and surprises of the "fagot-gatherer," who, of course, does not know +who is a "good wood" and who a "snapper;" and all do their best to +avoid betraying themselves. If you have a good big room and lots of +players you will find this game as full of fun as you can wish.</p> + +<br /><hr class="tiny" /><br /> + + <blockquote><p class="right">Philadelphia, September 16, 1877.</p> + + <p>Dear <span class="small">ST. NICHOLAS</span>: I was looking + over your September number, and happened to read a letter + addressed to the "Little Schoolma'am," and signed "Father of two + school-girls;" it was about school lunches, and told of a visit to + the new Normal school of Philadelphia; he said that in the lunch + hall there is a long table on which there was nothing but cakes of + all sorts. Now, being a member of the school, I was a little hurt + at the injustice done to our school. I know there is something + else but cake,—fruit, milk, soup, sandwiches, etc., being + among the other things that are spread on the lunch-table, + provided by the janitor, and sold to the girls at very low rates. + So you see I had reason to be a little indignant at the discredit + done to our school, and set about repairing it as far as possible; + and you, too, can help repair the harm done to this fine public + school by kindly printing this note. But I must close, for my + letter is getting too long.—Your true friend,</p> + + <p><span class="small">A MEMBER OF THE MODEL CLASSES PRIMARY + DEPARTMENT</span>. (Aged eleven years.)</p></blockquote> + +<br /><hr class="tiny" /><br /> + +<div class="center">SCIENCE AT HOME.</div> + + <blockquote><p class="right">Brooklyn.</p> + + <p><span class="small">DEAR ST. NICHOLAS</span>: I am an old boy, + but not too old to be one of your most delighted readers; and I am + glad of the present chance to send you my good wishes, and say my + say. Here it is:</p> + + <p>Be sure and tell your youngsters to bear in mind that + opportunities for home study on their own accounts are multiplying + around them day by day, and that in taking advantage of them they + will not only find great enjoyment and add to their stock of + knowledge, but also will come upon hundreds of ways in which to + amuse their friends, both old and young.</p> + + <p>Here, for instance, come Professor Mayer, and your frequent + contributor, Mr. Charles Barnard, with a little book about "Light." + They are not content with merely telling the dry facts about their + subject, but, with pictures and plain speech, they explain how + almost any boy or girl may, at small cost, make his or her own + apparatus, and with it verify by actual trial what the book says. + Some of the experiments are positively beautiful, and the hardest + is not <i>very</i> difficult.</p> + + <p>Then, too, Professor Tyndall has written out his lectures to + young people, given before the Royal Institution at London during + 1875-76, in a little work called "Lessons in Electricity,"—most + interesting and beautiful of scientific studies,—in which he + tells how to make the instruments and conduct the experiments + yourself. And, as if that were not enough, Mr. Curt W. Meyer, of + the Bible House, New York, has arranged to supply a complete set of + instruments, to suit this book of Professor Tyndall's, at a total + cost of $55, packing-case and all; the various articles being + obtainable separately at proportionate prices.</p> + + <p>I only wish we had had such chances fifty years ago; for, if our + older friends had not made presents of such things to us,—as + no doubt many oldsters will to your young folks this coming + Christmas,—we'd have saved up our pocket money and gone ahead + alone. I know that I made all my own electrical apparatus; but + there was good fun in doing it, and it worked well, and made + splendid times for our circle of young folks on cozy winter + evenings.</p> + + <p>I hope you will read this letter through, although it is as + long as most old men's memories.—Yours still affectionately,</p> + + <p class="right"><span class="small">GRAN'THER HORTON</span>.</p> + </blockquote> + +<br /><hr class="tiny" /><br /> + + <blockquote><p class="right">Jamaica, L.I.</p> + + <p><span class="small">DEAR ST. NICHOLAS</span>: I read + Jack-in-the-Pulpit's inquiry in the August number about the "Fiery + Tears of St. Lawrence." Yesterday I was reading a book, and in it + there was an article headed "Showers of Stars." I read it, and at + the end of it was a piece which seemed to be an answer to Jack's + question. I copied word for word from the book. Here it is:</p> + + <p>"Another writer suggests the theory that a stream or group of + innumerable bodies, comparatively small, but of various dimensions, + is sweeping around the solar focus in an orbit, which periodically + cuts the orbit of the earth, thus explaining the actual cause of + shooting stars, aerolites, and meteoric showers."</p> + + <p>This is all I have been able to find out, and I hope it is + correct.—Believe me to be yours very truly,</p> + + <p class="right"><span class="small">C.A.R.</span></p></blockquote> + +<p><span class="small">C.A.R.</span>, and others who wish to know more +of this subject, will find all the latest information in "Appleton's +Cyclopaedia," under the items "Aerolite" and "Meteor," where admirably +clear and condensed accounts are given of all that is known about +these bodies. <span class="small">C.A.R.</span>'s extract states the +theory most generally held.</p> + +<br /><hr class="tiny" /><br /> + +<div class="center">TABLEAUX FROM ST. NICHOLAS PICTURES.</div> + + <blockquote><p class="right">Brooklyn, November, 1877.</p> + + <p><span class="small">DEAR OLD ST. NICHOLAS</span>: My little + sisters and my brother love you, and so do I, for your monthly + visits make our house brighter and pleasanter to us all. I am + fifteen, not yet too old to be one of your children, you see.</p> + + <p>What I want to tell you is how easily some of your pictures can be + turned into <i>tableaux-vivants,</i> or even acted. There was + "Pattikin's House;" I am sure we had the greatest fun with those + pictures, we being so many girls: and "The man all tattered and + torn that married the maiden all forlorn;" that was on p. 652 of + the volume for 1876: "The Minuet," in January, 1877: "Hagar in the + Desert," in June, 1877; my aunty did that, and it was lovely: the + little girl in "The Owl That Stared," in November, 1876; and + "Leap-Year," in the same number. All these we had at our own home, + but there are lots of others that might suit some folks better than + they would suit us.</p> + + <p>This winter some of your pictures will be used in a series of + grand tableaux for our Sunday-school entertainments. A number of + people belonging to the school can paint scenes, get up costumes, + and all that. It is going to be splendid.</p> + + <p>I thought that your other children, you dear old ST. NICHOLAS, + would surely like to know about this, and I hope I have not made my + letter too long. From yours lovingly,</p> + + <p class="right"><span class="small">MINA B.H.</span></p> + </blockquote> + +<br /><hr class="tiny" /><br /> + +<p><span class="small">MARY C. WARREN</span> answered correctly all +the puzzles in the October "Riddle-Box," but her answers came too late +for acknowledgment in the November number.</p> + +<br /><hr class="tiny" /><br /> + + <blockquote><p class="right">Black Oak Ridge, Passaic County, N.J.</p> + + <p><span class="small">MRS. EDITOR</span>: Excuse me writing to + you, but I want to ask you if you think it is right to be killing + cats all the time, for my brother Eddie has killed fifteen this + year, and whenever I scold him about it, he begins to sing pilly + willy winkum bang dow diddle ee ing ding poo poo fordy, pilly + willy winkum bang. There, there he stands now behind the barn with + his hands full of lumps of coal watching for one that killed his + chicken a month ago. O dear, if he would only stop killing cats + what a good boy he would be! He always gives me half of his candy, + and he raises such nice melons in his garden. O, O, as true as I + live there he goes now after the poor cat. Good, good, + good—neither piece of coal hit her. What can I do to stop + his bad habit. I think it is too bad even if they do kill his + chicks once in a while. I have only got two cats left, Dick and + Mizy, and he watches them awful close.—Your friend,</p> + + <p class="right"><span class="small">KATIE BAKER.</span></p> + </blockquote> + +<br /><hr class="tiny" /><br /> + + <blockquote><p class="right">New York.</p> + + <p><span class="small">DEAR ST NICHOLAS</span>: I want to send + this story to The letter box that I wrote when I was 6 years old + this is it</p> + + <p class="center"><span class="small">LITTLE MAY</span></p> + + <p>Once upon a time there lived a little girl whose father and + mother were very rich, so the little girl had lovely dresses, but + she had a very bad temper and was very proud so nobody loved her. + One day this little girl I might as well tell you her name it was + May was sitting in her mothers lap Mama said she what makes + everybody act so to me? Dear said her mother it is because you are + so proud and get angry so easily then said May if I should try to + be good would they like me Yes said her mother so after that May + was a better child and every body liked her even her mother loved + her better than before and so did her father and after that the + little girl was no more saying Oh dear nobody loves me but lived + happy and contented.</p> + + <p class="right"><span class="small">ELISE L. LATHROP.</span></p> + </blockquote> + +<br /><hr class="tiny" /><br /> + + <blockquote><p class="right">Geneva, N.Y.</p> + + <p><span class="small">DEAR ST. NICHOLAS</span>: I notice in a + chapter of "His Own Master" for September a mistake which I can + correct. In describing the Cincinnati suspension bridge, it says + that trains go across on it. This is a mistake, as that bridge is + only used for carriages, horse-cars and pedestrians, the + steam-cars going across on another bridge above. There is now + building a new railroad bridge below for the new Southern + Railroad.—Yours respectfully,</p> + + <p class="right"><span class="small">W.S.N.</span></p></blockquote> + +<br /><hr class="tiny" /><br /> + + <blockquote><p class="right">San Leandro, Cal., Sept. 3, 1877.</p> + + <p><span class="small">DEAR ST. NICHOLAS</span>: I tried the + Little Schoolma'am's way of pressing + flowers, and I think it is ever so nice. I pressed a wall-flower; + it retained all its brightness and looked just like a fresh flower. + Last spring we discovered a humming-bird's nest in one of the trees + in our orchard. It was very pretty, being no larger than half of a + hen's egg. The first time I saw it the little mother was on it; she + sat as still as a stone, and looked as if she would not budge an + inch for me or anybody else. I am always very glad when the <span + class="small">ST. NICHOLAS</span> comes.—Your affectionate + little reader,</p> + + <p class="right"><span class="small">SUSIE R. IRWIN.</span></p> + </blockquote> + +<br /><hr class="tiny" /><br /> + + <blockquote><p class="right">Princeton, N.J.</p> + + <p><span class="small">DEAR ST. NICHOLAS</span>: I would like to + tell you of the interesting + expedition I made last August to the college observatory here for + the purpose of seeing the three planets, Jupiter, Mars and Saturn. + Through the telescope we were shown Mars burning with a ruddy glow, + and having on the rim of one side a bright white spot, which the + professor told us was the ice piled up around the north pole; + Saturn with its rings, seen with wonderful clearness, and shining + pale and far off in comparison with Mars; Jupiter with its two dark + bands around the center, and three of its satellites plainly + visible; and, last, the moon with its curiously indented surface + and ragged edge. The telescope was small, so we could not, of + course, see the newly discovered satellites of Mars, the professor + saying that there were only two instruments in this country that + would show them. Hoping that you may have as good an opportunity to + see these splendid heavenly bodies as I have had, I remain, your + friend,</p> + + <p class="right"><span class="small">B.H.S.</span></p></blockquote> + +<hr /> + +<h2><a name="notices" id="notices">NOTICES OF NEW BOOKS.</a></h2> + +<hr class="tiny" /><br /> + +<p><span class="small">BABY DAYS</span>, a selection of Songs, Stories +and Pictures for Very Little Folks, with an introduction by the Editor +of <span class="small">ST. NICHOLAS</span>, and 300 illustrations. +Scribner & Co.—This large and very handsome book has +been made up from <span class="small">ST. NICHOLAS</span>, and nearly +all from the pages devoted to the "Very Little Folks," and although +the readers of this magazine know that there have been many good +things in that department, they can have no idea, until they see it +gathered together in this book, what a wealth of pictures, stories, +funny little poems and jingles have been offered the little ones in +<span class="small">ST. NICHOLAS</span>. To children who have never +read <span class="small">ST. NICHOLAS</span>, this book, with its +three hundred pictures,—to say nothing of its other +contents,—will be a revelation; to children who take the +magazine, it will bring up many pleasant recollections of good things +they have enjoyed.</p> + +<br /><hr class="tiny" /><br /> + +<p><span class="small">ABOUT OLD STORY-TELLERS</span>—of How and +When they Lived, and what Stories they Told. By Donald G. Mitchell. +Published by Scribner, Armstrong & Co.—When any one comes +late to dinner nothing can be kinder than to bring back for him some +of the good things which may have been removed before his +arrival,—and something very like this has here been done by +Mr. Mitchell for the boys and girls who came into this world too late +to hear in their original freshness all the good stories that were the +delight of their fathers and mothers when they were children. And these +fine old stories are all so nicely warmed up (if we may so express it) +by the author of the book, and so daintily and attractively presented +to our boys and girls, that some older folks may be in doubt whether or +not they would have lost anything in this respect if they, too, had +happened to come a little late to the feast furnished by Defoe, Dean +Swift, Miss Edgeworth, Oliver Goldsmith, the man who wrote the "Arabian +Nights," and other good old story-tellers.</p> + +<br /><hr class="tiny" /><br /> + +<p>Our little housekeepers, especially those who have put into practice +Marion Harland's admirable recipes which we gave in our third and +fourth volumes, will be delighted with a little book published by +Jansen, McClurg & Co., of Chicago. It is called <span +class="small">SIX LITTLE COOKS</span>; or, Aunt Jane's +Cooking-Class,—and, while it is really an interesting +narrative in itself, it delightfully teaches girls just how to follow +practically its many recipes. The only fault we have to find with it is +the great preponderance of cakes and pastry and sweets over healthful +dishes and the more solid kinds of cookery.</p> + +<br /><hr class="tiny" /><br /> + +<p>A very pleasant little book is <span class="small">THE WINGS OF +COURAGE</span>, adapted from the French for American boys and girls by +Marie E. Field, and published by the Putnams. The three stories which +make up the book will delight fairy-loving boys and girls. They are +illustrated by Mrs. Lucy G. Morse, the author of "The Ash-Girl," well +known to <span class="small">ST. NICHOLAS</span> readers. The pictures +all are pretty, but to our mind the best of all is "Margot and Neva," +illustrating "Queen Coax."</p> + +<br /><hr class="tiny" /><br /> + +<p><span class="small">BETTY AND HER COUSIN HARRY</span>. By Miss +Sarah E. Chester. American Tract Society, N.Y. Price, $1; postage, 7 +cents.—This book tells in a bright and lively way about the +pranks of a merry little girl and her boy-cousin. There is plenty of +good fun and goodwill throughout, especially in the parts that tell of +the doings of the two young madcaps on April Fools' Day and the Fourth +of July, and of the queer way in which Toby, the pet crow, becomes +peace-maker between them.</p> + +<br /><hr class="tiny" /><br /> + +<p><span class="small">THE BODLEYS TELLING STORIES</span>. Hurd & +Houghton.—None of our young friends who have read "The Doings of +the Bodley Family" will need to be told that this new volume is filled +with stories bright, interesting, and helpful; and the Bodley folks +have already gained so many friends and admirers that the book will be +sure to make its way. We said of the former volume that it was +charming, but the new one is even more exquisitely printed, and has a +cover even more quaint and beautiful. So we cordially commend it to +our young friends as a book which will both satisfy their interest and +benefit their tastes.</p> + +<br /><hr class="tiny" /><br /> + +<p><span class="small">THE CHRISTMAS STORY-TELLER</span>, published by +Scribner, Welford & Armstrong, is a well-illustrated collection of +excellent Christmas stories by English writers. It is meant for papas +and mammas rather than little folks, but some of our older boys and +girls may enjoy the Christmas tales by such authors as Mark Lemon, +Edmund Yates, Tom Hood, Shirley Brooks, and that very funny man, F.C. +Burnand.</p> + +<hr /> + +</div> + +<div id="puzzles"> + +<h2><a name="riddlebox" id="riddlebox">THE RIDDLE-BOX</a></h2> + +<hr class="tiny" /><br /> + +<div class="center"><b>A CHESS PUZZLE.</b></div> + +<p>Our readers will here find a "knight's move" problem, similar to the +one published in the "Riddle-Box" of <span class="small">ST. +NICHOLAS</span> for February, 1874. By beginning at the right word and +going from square to square as a knight moves, you will find an +eight-line quotation from an old poet. The verse is quoted in one of +"Elia's Essays." M.</p> + +<div class="center"> +<table border="1" summary=""> +<tr> + <td><br />And<br /> </td><td>you,</td> + <td>ding</td><td>close</td> + <td>your</td><td>bond-</td> + <td>me</td><td>cir-</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td><br />gad-<br /> </td><td>me</td> + <td>oh</td><td>age</td> + <td>chain</td><td>your</td> + <td>I</td><td>en</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td><br />O<br /> </td><td>vines;</td> + <td>Do</td><td>through</td> + <td>so</td><td>silk-</td> + <td>cles</td><td>too,</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td><br />nail<br /> </td><td>ye</td> + <td>lest</td><td>bles,</td> + <td>break,</td><td>Ere</td> + <td>me</td><td>That</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td><br />your<br /> </td><td>bram-</td> + <td>ars,</td><td>in</td> + <td>Bind</td><td>knee,</td> + <td>And,</td><td>weak,</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td><br />bout,<br /> </td><td>But,</td> + <td>me</td><td>ver</td> + <td>prove</td><td>bines,</td> + <td>I</td><td>ye</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td><br />Curl<br /> </td><td>fet-</td> + <td>this</td><td>bri-</td> + <td>your</td><td>ne-</td> + <td>too</td><td>cour-</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td><br />place;<br /> </td><td>a-</td> + <td>twines;</td><td>ters</td> + <td>leave</td><td>teous</td> + <td>wood-</td><td>may</td> +</tr> +</table> +</div> + +<br /><br /> + +<div class="center"><b>EASY NUMERICAL ENIGMA.</b></div> + +<p>The whole, composed of six letters, is a New England city. The 1 is +a numeral. The 1 2 is a word signifying "Behold!" The +1 2 3 is cheap. The 2 3 4 is to be indebted. The +3 4 is a pronoun. The 3 4 5 6 is a cistern. The +4 5 6 is a measure.</p> + +<div class="right">C.D.</div> + +<br /><br /> + +<div class="center"><b>A PLEA FOR SANTA CLAUS.</b></div> + +<p>By taking one letter from each line of this verse, you will find an +acrostic which spells a holiday greeting. The letters, too, are in a +straight line with one another—but what letters shall be taken?</p> + +<div class="poem"> +<div class="stanza"> + <div>Coming with merry feet to young and old,</div> + <div>Where snow and ice would block his onward way;</div> + <div>Strive they in vain his eager step to stay,</div> + <div>For Santa Claus is curious as bold.</div> + <div>Why should he <i>not</i> know what the ovens hold?</div> + <div>Such odors tempt him, and he must obey!</div> + <div>School-boys and matrons, grandsires, maidens gay,</div> + <div>Forgive him if he warm his fingers cold</div> + <div>While waiting: Arrows from his mystic pack—</div> + <div>Wise fellow! see him choose! "<i>These</i> (from <i>my</i> bows),</div> + <div>With shaft of silver, tipped with jewel rare,</div> + <div>Aimed with the skill which Love can well impart,</div> + <div>Shall strike the center of the coyest heart!</div> + <div>Lest Santa Claus be slighted, then, beware!"</div> +</div> +</div> +<div class="right">B.</div> + +<br /><br /> + +<div class="center"><b>BROKEN WORDS.</b></div> + +<p>In each sentence, fill the first two blanks with two words which, +joined together, will form a word to fill the remaining blank.</p> + +<p>1. "Do you buy paper —— —— or reams?" +—— one school-girl of another.<br /> +2. —— —— Puritans do not regard it as you free +—— men might.<br /> +3. He built —— —— when in ——, and +lived like the natives themselves.</p> + +<div class="right">B.</div> + +<br /><br /> + +<div class="center"><b>PICTORIAL QUADRUPLE-ACROSTIC.</b></div> + +<p>The initials and finals of the words represented by the small +pictures name two objects to be seen in the central picture. Two other +words relating to the central picture may also be found in succession, +by taking one letter from each of the words represented by the small +pictures.</p> + +<div class="right">L.J.</div> + +<br /><br /> + +<div class="center"> +<img src="images/image57.jpg" width="400" height="342" alt="" /> +</div> + +<br /><br /> + +<div class="center"><b>CHRISTMAS ENIGMA.</b></div> + +<p>The answer is a proverb relating to Christmas. Forty-four letters. +My 2 30 9 8 24 38 15 22 32 27, +and also 25 20 11 38 31 25, and +6 13 17 35 25 9 18 29 2 are +used in Christmas decorations. +36 1 26 42 9 16 are rung, +44 41 7 38 39 31 16 are told, +24 4 6 2 12 are played, +10 11 33 26 21 2 5 12 is laid +aside, 19 9 43 38 35 37 16 are +brightened by yule logs, 34 23 14 11 20 25 +salutations are exchanged, 28 22 4 8 35 44 +gladdened, and 3 7 11 38 27 winged, all at the +good old Christmas-time.</p> + +<div class="right">B.</div> + +<br /><br /> +<div class="center"><b>AUTHORS' NAMES.</b></div> + +<p>The answers will give respectively the names of sixteen authors.</p> + +<p>1. A cat's cry and a Scotch lake. 2. The value of the rim 3. A +rough or clumsy cut between a sunbeam and the old ladies' beverage. 4. +A man's name and an island. 5. A teacher commanding one of his male +scholars to perform his task. 6. A bun and a hotel. 7. A light, and a +"k," and a measure of length. 8. Strong and well.</p> + + <blockquote><p class="noindent">9. Two-thirds of an eye; a Scotch + title prefixed;<br /> With a shoe-maker's tool nicely put in betwixt:<br /> + If you look at it closely, I think you will find<br /> + An essayist, poet, historian, combined.</p></blockquote> + +<p>10. Conqueror, embrace O. 11. Indispensable to printers, and a +little bed. 12. A bit, and a horse's cry. 13. A small nail and a +Spanish title. 14. A boy's nickname and an humble dwelling. 15. The +patriarch Jacob between "D" and myself.</p> + + <blockquote><p class="noident">16. If two pretty girl-names together you tie<br /> + (Some E's you must lose, for "I can't tell a lie"),<br /> + The name of two poets at once you'll descry.</p></blockquote> + +<div class="right">M.M.</div> + +<br /><br /> + +<div class="center"><b>A RIMLESS WHEEL.</b></div> + +<p>The wheel is made of four words of seven letters each, with a common +central letter. The first word is written vertically, the second +horizontally, the third diagonally from left to right, and the fourth +diagonally from right to left. The half of each word, from the outside +to the central letter (but not including that letter), forms a smaller +word. The whole line of dots from 1<i>a</i> to 1<i>b</i> including the +central letter, indicates the first of the four principal words, while +1<i>a</i> indicates the first of the small words belonging to it, and +1<i>b</i> indicates its second small word. This numbering and +lettering applies also to the other words. The central letter is +given, and all the words are defined below.</p> + +<div class="center"> +<img src="images/image58.png" width="300" height="245" alt="" /> +</div> + +<p class="noindent">1. A wall of defense. 2. A brilliant bird of South +America. 3. An enthusiast. 4. The noise of a drum.</p> + +<p class="noindent">1<i>a</i>. Equal value. 1<i>b</i>. A fondling. +2<i>a</i>. The human race. 2<i>b</i>. A relative. 3<i>a</i>. An +article of summer use. 3<i>b</i>. Involuntary muscular motion. +4<i>a</i>. To chafe. 4<i>b</i>. To entitle.</p> + +<div class="right">B.</div> + +<br /><br /> + +<div class="center"><b>MAGIC DOMINO-SQUARE.</b></div> + +<p>Eight dominoes placed together form a square composed of sixteen +half-dominoes, as shown in the diagram below. But, in the diagram, each +row of four half-dominoes contains a different number of spots from any +of the other rows. Thus the topmost row, counting horizontally, +contains eighteen spots; the one below it only four; the first row to +the left, counting vertically, ten; the diagonal row, downward from +left to right, eight, etc. It is required to make a square of eight +dominoes of the same set, in which each vertical, horizontal, and +diagonal row of half dominoes shall contain exactly sixteen spots. Who +can do it?</p> + +<div class="right">M.D.</div> + +<div class="center"> +<img src="images/image59.png" width="200" height="204" alt="" /> +</div> + +<br /><br /> + +<div class="center"><b>DIAGONAL PUZZLE.</b></div> + +<p>The puzzle contains ten words of ten letters each. Fill the blanks +with words suited to the sense, and arrange these one above another in +the order in which they occur in the sentences. They will then form a +square, and the diagonal letters, read downward from left to right, +will name a friend we all like.</p> + +<p>—— (the same person as the diagonal, with another name) +boys, and the children may well put —— in a friend who can +—— so much to their happiness. No ordinary person is +—— to him; and the legend —— us to the belief +that he is well-nigh —— that tells of the —— +exercise of his power in a —— —— manner, and +on account of which he deserves to be called the "——" +patron.</p> + +<div class="right">B.</div> + +<br /><br /> + +<div class="center"><b>PROVERB PUZZLE.</b></div> + +<p>Supply the blanks with words to complete the sense, and transpose +them into an appropriate proverb, with no letter repeated.</p> + +<div class="poem"> +<div class="stanza"> + <div>When Santa Claus, laughing at Christmas cold,</div> + <div>Leaps gayly out from his —— of gold,</div> + <div>No clattering —— disturb the house,</div> + <div>But down the —— as still as a ——</div> + <div>He glides to lighten his burdened back,</div> + <div>By tossing treasures from out his pack;</div> + <div>Then up and off, with no —— behind</div> + <div>But the "Merry Christmas" you all shall find.</div> +</div> +</div> + +<br /><br /> + +<div class="center"><b>SEXTUPLE ACROSTIC.</b></div> + +<p>Initials, read downward, a man; read upward, a biblical locality. +Centrals, read downward, a portion; read upward, a snare. Finals, read +downward, something seen at night; read upward, small animals.</p> + +<p>1. Stupid persons. 2. Toward the stern of a ship. 3. An insect in a +caterpillar state. 4. To come in.</p> + +<div class="right">N.T.M.</div> + +<br /><br /> + +<div class="center"><b>EASY DIAMOND PUZZLE.</b></div> + +<p>In work, but not in play; a domestic animal; a singing bird; a light +carriage; in night, but not in day.</p> + +<div class="right">ISOLA.</div> + +<br /><br /> + +<div class="center"><b>NUMERICAL ENIGMAS.</b></div> + +<p>1. She is such a sweet, 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 +child, I feel sure that I can soon +1 2 3 4 5 6 7 of her love.</p> + +<p>2. "Will you 1 2 3 4 5 6 row?" +said the 1 2 3 4 5 6.</p> + +<p>3. If you do 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 +about the stem of, the vase, choose the delicate +1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11.</p> + +<p>4. Shall you 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 +for robbing the poor little +1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12's +nest?</p> + +<p>5. My 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 a +house to the 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 of ten +children.</p> + +<p>6. Shall it be a sail, 1 2 3, 4 5 6 7 8,—1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8? +Whichever it is to be, we must prepare for it to-day, Tom.</p> + +<p>7. 1 2 3 4! 5 6 7 8 1 2 3 4, +I shall always be interested in your 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8.</p> + +<div class="right">O.B.</div> + +<hr /> + +<h2><a name="answers" id="answers">ANSWERS TO PUZZLES IN NOVEMBER +NUMBER.</a></h2> + +<hr class="tiny" /><br /> + +<p><span class="small">DOUBLE ACROSTIC</span>.—Franklin, +Herschel.</p> + +<div class="center"> +<table style="width:25%; margin-right:auto; margin-left:auto;" summary=""> +<tr><td>F</td><td>——rit——</td><td>H</td></tr> +<tr><td>R</td><td>——os——</td><td>E</td></tr> +<tr><td>A</td><td>——lde——</td><td>R</td></tr> +<tr><td>N</td><td>—autilu—</td><td>S</td></tr> +<tr><td>K</td><td>—ennebe—</td><td>C</td></tr> +<tr><td>L</td><td>——arc——</td><td>H</td></tr> +<tr><td>I</td><td>——sl——</td><td>E</td></tr> +<tr><td>N</td><td>—icke—</td><td>L</td></tr> +</table> +</div> + +<p><span class="small">BROKEN WORDS</span>.—1. +Forgotten—forgot ten. 2. Offences—of fences. +3. Significant—sign if I can't. 4. Firmament—firm ament.</p> + +<p><span class="small">PICTORIAL NUMERICAL REBUS</span>.—</p> + +<div class="center"> +<table style="width:25%; margin-right:auto; margin-left:auto;" summary=""> +<tr><td class="right">4,002,063</td></tr> +<tr><td class="right">83,080,010</td></tr> +<tr><td class="right">76,094</td></tr> +<tr><td class="right">89,000,000,011</td></tr> +<tr><td class="right">———————</td></tr> +<tr><td class="right">89,087,158,178</td></tr> +</table> +</div> + +<p><span class="small">HOUR-GLASS PUZZLE</span>.—</p> + +<div class="center"> +<img src="images/image60.png" width="200" height="182" alt="" /> +</div> + +<p><span class="small">NUMERICAL ENIGMA</span>—Cleopatra—ale, top, car.</p> + + +<p><span class="small">BEHEADINGS AND CURTAILINGS</span>.—1. +Shame, Sham, Ham, Ha, A. 2. White, Whit, Hit, It, I. 3. Coral, Cora, +Ora, Or, R. 4. Spine, Pine, Pin, In, I. 5. Honey, Hone, One, On, O.</p> + +<p><span class="small">EASY DIAMOND PUZZLE</span>.—D, Cid, +Clara, Diamond, Droit, Ant, D.</p> + +<p><span class="small">CHARADE</span>.—Stratagem.</p> + +<p><span class="small">PUZZLE BOUQUET</span>.—1. Foxglove. 2. +Hawkweed. 3. Tuberose. 4. Candytuft. 5. Snapdragon. 6. Wall-flower. 7. +Sweet-pea. 8. Balsam (Ball Sam). 9. Snowdrop. 10. Marigold (Marry +Gold).</p> + +<p><span class="small">TRANSPOSITIONS</span>.—1. Earth, heart. +2. Oder, rode. 3. Wells, swell. 4. Evil, Levi. 5. Edges, sedge.</p> + +<p><span class="small">LETTER ANAGRAMS</span>.—1. L over +P—Plover. 2. R after S—Rafters. 3. S and T—Stand. 4. +P under L—Plunder. 5. Et upon Ic—Unpoetic.</p> + +<p><span class="small">HIDDEN DRESS GOODS</span>.—1. Calico. 2. +Gingham. 3. Cotton. 4. Linen. 5. Serge. 6. Merino. 7. Silk. 8. Satin. +9. Muslin.</p> + +<p><span class="small">PICTORIAL PROVERB-ACROSTIC</span>.—"The +longest day must have an end."</p> + +<div class="center"> +<table style="width:40%; margin-right:auto; margin-left:auto;" summary=""> +<tr> + <td class="right">1.</td> + <td>T</td> + <td>——e Deu——</td> + <td>M</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="right">2.</td> + <td>H</td> + <td>—-yosciam—</td> + <td>U</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="right">3.</td> + <td>E</td> + <td>——ye———</td> + <td>S</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="right">4.</td> + <td>L</td> + <td>——as———</td> + <td>T</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="right">5.</td> + <td>O</td> + <td>——————</td> + <td>H</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="right">6.</td> + <td>N</td> + <td>—ux Vomic—</td> + <td>A</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="right">7.</td> + <td>G</td> + <td>—love(—e—)</td> + <td>V</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="right">8.</td> + <td>E</td> + <td>——y———</td> + <td>E</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="right">9.</td> + <td>S</td> + <td>——e———</td> + <td>A</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="right">10.</td> + <td>T</td> + <td>——uree——</td> + <td>N</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="right">11.</td> + <td>D</td> + <td>——rup———</td> + <td>E</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="right">12.</td> + <td>A</td> + <td>—ndiro——</td> + <td>N</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="right">13.</td> + <td>Y</td> + <td>——ar———</td> + <td>D</td> +</tr> +</table> +</div> + +<br /><br /> + +<p><span class="small">THE ANSWERS TO THE PICTORIAL PUZZLES IN THE +OCTOBER "RIDDLE-BOX"</span> were accidentally omitted from the +November number, and are given here. <span class="small">REBUS</span>: +"Liars are not to be believed or respected." <span +class="small">PICTORIAL PROVERB-ANAGRAM:</span> "Listeners never hear +any good of themselves."</p> + +<p><span class="small">ANSWERS TO ALL THE PUZZLES IN THE OCTOBER +NUMBER</span> have been received from Harry H Neill, George J. Fiske, +Eddie Vultee, John W. Riddle, Marion Abbott, Harriet M. Hall, Grant +Squires, George Herbert White, William Kiersted, Maxwell W. Turner, +Emma Elliott, H.V. Wurdemann, Alice B. Moore, "Clarinet," Sophie Owen +Smith, Julia Abbott, Alice M. King, Mary W. Ovington, "Maudie," Edith +Merriam, Eddie H. Eckel, "Bessie and her Cousin," Alice Bertram, M.W. +Collet, and "A.B.C."</p> + +<p><span class="small">ANSWERS TO SPECIAL PUZZLES</span> were also +received, previous to October 18th, from Georgietta N. Congdon, Bessie +Dorsey, Fred M. Pease, T.M. Ware, A.G. Cameron, "May," Rosie S. +Palmer, Julia Lathers, Florence Wilcox, Edwin R. Garsia, Lizzie M. +Knapp, Alice B. McNary, May Danforth, Katie Earl, W. Creighton +Spencer, W. Irving Spencer, Carrie M. Hart, Edna A. Hart, Olive E. +Hart, B.P. Emery, Gertrude Eager, and Alice T. Booth.</p> + +</div> + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of St. Nicholas, Vol. 5, No. 2, December, +1877, by Various + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ST. NICHOLAS, VOL. 5, NO. 2, *** + +***** This file should be named 15373-h.htm or 15373-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/1/5/3/7/15373/ + +Produced by Juliet Sutherland, Lynn Bornath and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net. + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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