diff options
Diffstat (limited to '1599.txt')
| -rw-r--r-- | 1599.txt | 3139 |
1 files changed, 3139 insertions, 0 deletions
diff --git a/1599.txt b/1599.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..dab1bdb --- /dev/null +++ b/1599.txt @@ -0,0 +1,3139 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Cinderella; or, The Little Glass Slipper +and Other Stories, by Anonymous + +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: Cinderella; or, The Little Glass Slipper and Other Stories + +Author: Anonymous + +Posting Date: September 26, 2008 [EBook #1599] +Release Date: January, 1999 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK CINDERELLA AND OTHERS *** + + + + +Produced by Dianne Bean + + + + + +CINDERELLA OR, THE LITTLE GLASS SLIPPER AND OTHER STORIES + +By Anonymous Authors + + + + Cinderella; or, The Little Glass Slipper + Fanny's Telephone Order + The Raindrops' New Dresses + Sir Gobble + What is It? + John's Bright Idea + A Sad Thanksgiving Party + Guy and the Bee + Mean Boy + Naughty Pumpkin's Fate + Something About Fires + The lee-King's Reign. + Malmo, the Wounded Rat + Mama's Happy Christmas + Cured of Carelessness + A Visit from a Prince + Stringing Cranberries + Christmas in California + A Troublesome Call + Bertie's Corn-Popper + Fire! Fire! Fire! + The Dolls and the Other Dolls + Why Did Mamma Change Her Mind? + Clara's Funeral. + The Chickadee-Dee. + The Children's Party + Brave Tomasso + Tommy Frost Sees a Bear + Myself + Two Strange Sights + A Cat's Instincts + Diliah's New Year's Presents + Night Flowers + The First Snow Storm + Fred's Stolen Ride + A Valentine Party + The Venturesome Rat + The Bear's Feast + Babie's Curls. + The Red Apples + Bubbles + A Horse Who Wore Snow Shoes + The Angry Bobolink + How Hiram Spent His Shrimp Money + The Ant's House + The Foolish Pug + The Silhouette Party + The Snow Birds + A Kind Heart + Towser Talks + Just as She Pleased + + + + +CINDERELLA; OR THE LITTLE GLASS SLIPPER. + +Once there was a gentleman who married for his second wife the proudest +and most haughty woman that was ever seen. She had by a former husband +two daughters of her own humor, who were, indeed, exactly like her in +all things. He had likewise, by another wife, a young daughter, but of +unparalleled goodness and sweetness of temper, which she took from her +mother, who was the best creature in the world. + +No sooner were the ceremonies of the wedding over but the mother-in-law +began to show herself in her true colors. She could not bear the good +qualities of this pretty girl, and the less because they made her own +daughters appear the more odious. She employed her in meanest work of +the house: she scoured the dishes, tables, etc., and scrubbed madam's +chamber and those of misses, her daughters; she lay up in a sorry +garret, upon a wretched straw bed, while her sisters lay in fine rooms, +with floors all inlaid, upon beds of the very newest fashion, and where +they had looking-glasses so large that they might see themselves at +their full length from head to foot. + +The poor girl bore all patiently and dared not tell her father, who +would have rattled her off; for his wife governed him entirely. When she +had done her work she used to go into the chimney-corner and sit down +among cinders and ashes, which made her commonly be called a cinder +maid; but the youngest, who was not so rude and uncivil as the eldest, +called her Cinderella. However, Cinderella, notwithstanding her mean +apparel, was a hundred times handsomer than her sisters, though they +were always dressed very richly. + +It happened that the King's son gave a ball and invited all persons, of +fashion to it. Our young misses were also invited, for they cut a very +grand figure among the quality. They were mightily delighted at this +invitation, and wonderfully busy in choosing out such gowns, petticoats, +and head-clothes as might become them. This was a new trouble to +Cinderella, for it was she who ironed her sisters' linen and plaited +their ruffles. They talked all day long of nothing but how they should +be dressed. + +"For my part," said the eldest, "I will wear my red velvet suit with +French trimming." + +"And I," said the youngest, "shall have my usual petticoat; but then, +to make amends for that, I will put on my gold-flowered manteau and my +diamond stomacher, which is far from being the most ordinary one in the +world." + +They sent for the best tire-woman they could get to make up their +head-dresses and adjust their double pinners, and they had their red +brushes and patches from Mademoiselle de la Poche. + +Cinderella was likewise called up to them to be consulted in all these +matters, for she had excellent notions and advised them always for the +best, nay, and offered her services to dress their heads, which they +were very willing she should do. As she was doing this they said to her: + +"Cinderella, would you not be glad to go to the ball?" + +"Alas!" said she, "you only jeer me. It is not for such as I am to go +thither." + +"Thou art in the right of it," replied they. "It would make the people +laugh to see a cinder wench at a ball." + +Any one but Cinderella would have dressed their heads awry, but she was +very good and dressed them perfectly well. They were almost two days +without eating, so much they were transported with joy. They broke above +a dozen of laces in trying to be laced up close, that they might have a +fine, slender shape, and they were continually at their looking-glass. +At last the happy day came. They went to Court, and Cinderella followed +them with her eyes as long as she could, and when she had lost sight of +them she fell a-crying. + +Her Godmother, who saw her all in tears, asked her what was the matter. + +"I wish I could--I wish I could--" + +She was not able to speak the rest being interrupted by her tears and +sobbing. + +This Godmother of hers, who was a fairy, said to her: "Thou wishest thou +could'st go to the ball. Is it not so?" + +"Y--es," cried Cinderella, with a great sigh. + +"Well," said her Godmother, "be but a good girl, and I will contrive +that thou shalt go." Then she took her into her chamber and said to her: +"Run into the garden and bring me a pumpkin." + +Cinderella went immediately to gather the finest she could get and +brought it to her Godmother, not being able to imagine how this pumpkin +could make her go to the ball. Her Godmother scooped out all the inside +of it, having left nothing but the rind; which done, she struck it with +her wand, and the pumpkin was instantly turned into a fine coach, gilded +all over with gold. + +She then went to look into her mousetrap, where she found six mice all +alive, and ordered Cinderella to lift up a little the trapdoor, when, +giving each mouse as it went out a little tap with her wand, the mouse +was that moment turned into a fine horse, which altogether made a very +fine set of six horses of a beautiful mouse-colored dapple-gray. Being +at a loss for a coachman, Cinderella said: + +"I will go and see if there is never a rat in the rattrap--we may make a +coachman of him." + +"Thou art in the right," replied her Godmother. "Go and look." + +Cinderella brought the trap to her, and in it there were three huge +rats. The fairy made choice of one of the three which had the largest +beard, and having touched him with her wand he was turned into a fat, +jolly coachman, who had the smartest whiskers eyes ever beheld. After +that she said to her: + +"Go again into the garden, and you will find six lizards behind the +watering-pot. Bring them to me." + +She had no sooner done so but her Godmother turned them into six +footmen, who skipped up immediately behind the coach, with their liveries +all bedaubed with gold and silver, and clung as close behind each other +as if they had done nothing else their whole lives. The fairy then said +to Cinderella: + +"Well, you see here an equipage fit to go to the ball with. Are you not +pleased with it?" + +"Oh! yes," cried she; "but must I go thither as I am, in these dirty +rags?" + +Her Godmother only just touched her with her wand, and at the same +instant her clothes were turned into cloth-of-gold and silver, all beset +with jewels. Ah! who can describe a robe made by the fairies? It was +white as snow, and as dazzling; round the hem hung a fringe of diamonds, +sparkling like dewdrops in the sunshine. The lace about the throat and +arms could only have been spun by fairy spiders. Surely it was a dream! +Cinderella put her daintily gloved hand to her throat, and softly +touched the pearls that encircled her neck. + +"Come, child," said the Godmother, "or you will be late." + +As Cinderella moved, the firelight shone upon her dainty shoes. + +"They are of diamonds," she said. + +"No," answered her Godmother, smiling; "they are better than that--they +are of glass, made by the fairies. And now, child, go, and enjoy +yourself to your heart's content." + +But her Godmother, above all things, commanded her not to stay till +after midnight, telling her at the same time that if she stayed one +moment longer the coach would be a pumpkin again, her horses mice, her +coachman a rat, her footmen lizards, and her clothes become just as they +were before. + +She promised her Godmother she would not fail of leaving the ball before +midnight, and then away she drives, scarce able to contain herself for +joy. The King's son, who was told that a great Princess, whom nobody +knew, was come, ran out to receive her. He gave her his hand as she +alighted out of the coach; and led her into the hall among all the +company. There was immediately a profound silence, they left off +dancing, and the violins ceased to play, so attentive was every one to +contemplate the singular beauties of the unknown newcomer. Nothing was +then heard but a confused noise of "Ha! how handsome she is! Ha! how +handsome she is!" + +The King himself, old as he was, could not help watching her and telling +the Queen softly that it was a long time since he had seen so beautiful +and lovely a creature. + +All the ladies were busied in considering her clothes and headdress, +that they might have some made next day after the same pattern, provided +they could meet with such fine materials and as able hands to make them. + +The King's son conducted her to the most honorable seat and afterward +took her out to dance with him. She danced so very gracefully that they +all more and more admired her. A fine collation was served up, whereof +the young Prince ate not a morsel, so intently was he busied in gazing +on her. + +She went and sat down by her sisters, showing them a thousand +civilities, giving them part of the oranges and citrons which the Prince +had presented her with, which very much surprised them, for they did not +know her. While Cinderella was thus amusing her sisters, she heard the +clock strike eleven and three-quarters, whereupon she immediately made a +courtesy to the company and hastened away as fast as she could. + +Being got home, she ran to seek out her Godmother, and after having +thanked her she said she could not but heartily wish she might go next +day to the ball, because the King's son had desired her. + +As she was eagerly telling her Godmother what had passed at the ball her +two sisters knocked at the door, which Cinderella ran and opened. + +"How long you have stayed!" cried she, gaping, rubbing her eyes, and +stretching herself as if she had been just waked out of her sleep. She +had not, however, had any manner of inclination to sleep since they went +from home. + +"If thou hadst been at the ball," said one of her sisters, "thou +would'st not have been tired with it. There came thither the finest +Princess, the most beautiful ever was seen with mortal eyes. She showed +us a thousand civilities and gave us oranges and citrons." + +Cinderella seemed very indifferent in the matter. Indeed, she asked them +the name of that Princess, but they told her they did not know it, and +that the King's son was very uneasy on her account, and would give all +the world to know who she was. At this Cinderella, smiling, replied: + +"She must, then, be very beautiful indeed. How happy you have been! +Could not I see her? Ah! dear Miss Charlotte, do lend me your yellow +suit of clothes which you wear every day." + +"Ay, to be sure," cried Miss Charlotte; "lend my clothes to such it +dirty cinder maid as thou art! I should be a fool." + +Cinderella expected well such answer and was very glad of the refusal, +for she would have been sadly put to it if her sister had lent her what +she asked for jestingly. + +The next day the two sisters were at the ball, and so was Cinderella, +but dressed more magnificently than before. The King's son was always by +her, and never ceased his compliments and kind speeches to her, to whom +all this was so far from being tiresome that she quite forgot what her +Godmother had recommended to her, so that she at last counted the clock +striking twelve when she took it to be no more than eleven. She then +rose up and fled as nimble as a deer. The Prince followed, but could +not overtake her. She left behind one of her glass slippers, which the +Prince took up most carefully. She got home, but quite out of breath, +and in her old clothes, having nothing left her of all her finery but +one of the little slippers, fellow to that she dropped. The guards at +the palace gate were asked if they had not seen a Princess go out. + +They said they had seen nobody go out but a young girl, very meanly +dressed, and who had more of the air of a poor country girl than a +gentlewoman. + +When the two sisters returned from the ball Cinderella asked them if +they had been well diverted and if the beautiful Princess had been +there. + +They told her yes, but that she hurried away immediately when the clock +struck twelve, and with so much haste that she dropped one of her little +glass slippers, the prettiest in the world, which the King's son had +taken up; that he had done nothing but look at her all the time at +the ball, and that most certainly he was very much in love with the +beautiful person who owned the glass slipper. + +What they said was very true, for a few days after the King's son caused +it to be proclaimed, by sound of trumpet, that he would marry her whose +foot this slipper would just fit. They whom he employed began to try it +upon the Princesses, then the Duchesses and all the Court, but in vain. +It was brought to the two sisters, who did all they possibly could to +thrust their feet into the slipper, but they could not effect it. + +On the following morning there was a great noise of trumpets and drums, +and a procession passed through the town, at the head of which rode the +King's son. Behind him came a herald, bearing a velvet cushion, upon +which rested a little glass slipper. The herald blew a blast upon the +trumpet, and then read a proclamation saying that the King's son would +wed any lady in the land who could fit the slipper upon her foot, if she +could produce another to match it. + +Of course, the sisters tried to squeeze their feet into the slipper, but +it was of no use--they were much too large. Then Cinderella shyly begged +that she might try. How the sisters laughed with scorn when the Prince +knelt to fit the slipper on the cinder maid's foot; but what was their +surprise when it slipped on with the greatest ease, and the next moment +Cinderella produced the other from her pocket! Once more she stood +in the slippers, and once more the sisters saw before them the lovely +Princess who was to be the Prince's bride. For at the touch of the magic +shoes the little gray frock disappeared forever, and in place of it she +wore the beautiful robe the fairy Godmother had given to her. + +The sisters hung their heads with sorrow and vexation; but kind little +Cinderella put her arms round their necks, kissed them, and forgave them +for all their unkindness, so that they could not help but love her. + +The Prince could not bear to part from his little love again, so he +carried her back to the palace in his grand coach, and they were married +that very day. Cinderella's stepsisters were present at the feast, but +in the place of honor sat the fairy Godmother. + +So the poor little cinder maid married the Prince, and in time they came +to be King and Queen, and lived happily ever after. + + + + +FANNY'S TELEPHONE ORDER. + +Little Fanny Desmond was a dear child, and, like a good many other +little children, she liked to do whatever she saw the grown people do. + +She would listen with great interest when she saw her mother use the +telephone. She was especially surprised when her mother ordered things, +and later in the day they would be brought to the house. + +"I wish I had a telephone of my own," she said to her papa. "Mama just +puts her mouth up to that funny thing, and gets whatever she asks for. +Yesterday she asked somebody to send us ice-cream for dinner, and sure +enough, it came." + +Papa laughed. "It does seem a very convenient thing," he said. "I will +try to arrange one for you." So papa took a horn which had been put away +in a closet and hung it up where Fanny could talk into it. "There, that +shall be your own private telephone," he said. + +"Now, shall I get whatever I ask for?" said Fanny. + +"Not if you ask for impossible things," replied her papa. + +"But what are impossible things?" asked Fanny. + +"Well," laughed papa, "I think if you should ask for the moon you would +not get it." + +"But I don't want the moon," said Fanny. + +"Ask for something before I go down-town," said papa. + +Fanny thought a moment, and then spoke up quite distinctly: + +"Please send me some peppermints, and some new shoes for my doll, and +a bunch of pansies for my mama, and a new bicycle for my papa, +and--and--that's all this time. Good-bye." + +"That's a very good order," said her papa, "but kiss me good-bye, for I +must be off." + +About half an hour later the front door-bell rang. Very soon the +maid appeared with a package directed to Miss Fanny Desmond. In great +excitement, Fanny opened it. It was a box of peppermints. The child's +delight was great, but when, in another half hour, there came a bundle +which proved to be a new pair of shoes for her doll, she was too happy +for words. But that surprise was hardly over when another package was +brought her. She opened it in great excitement, and behold there was a +bunch of beautiful pansies. + +"They are for you, mama," she cried, "and now everything has come but +papa's new bicycle." + +Just then she looked out of the window, and there was her papa coming up +the drive on a fine new wheel. She rushed down to meet him, exclaiming, +as she threw herself into his arms: + +"Oh, papa, papa, I did get everything; my telephone is beautiful, and +the man at the other end is just lovely!" + +"Ah," said papa, "I am delighted he is so satisfactory." + + + + +THE RAINDROPS' NEW DRESSES. + + "We're so tired of these gray dresses!" + Cried the little drops of rain, + As they came down helter-skelter + From the Nimbus cloud fast train. + + And they bobbed against each other + In a spiteful sort of way, + Just like children when bad temper + Gets the upper hand some day. + + Then the Sun peeped out a minute. + "Dears, be good and do not fight, + I have ordered you new dresses, + Dainty robes of purest white." + + Ah! then all the tiny raindrops + Hummed a merry glad refrain, + And the old folks cried: "How pleasant + Is the music of the rain!" + + Just at even, when the children + Had been safely tucked in bed, + There was such a rush and bustle + In the dark clouds overhead! + + Then those raindrops hurried earthward, + At the North Wind's call, you know, + And the wee folks, in the morning, + Laughed to see the flakes of snow. + + + + +SIR GOBBLE. + +Bessie Curtis was in a great deal of trouble. She was spending a year in +the country while her father and mother were in Europe. It was not that +which was troubling her. She liked the country, she loved her uncle and +aunt with whom she lived, and she heard every week from her father +and mother. But something disturbed her. As the summer passed, and the +autumn came, she had moments when she looked very sober. What was the +reason? + +I will tell you. + +Early in the spring her uncle had given her a young turkey. + +"There, Bessie," he had said, "that is one of the prettiest turkeys I +have ever seen. I will give him into your care, and on Thanksgiving Day +we will have him on the dinner-table." + +For some time Bessie fed the turkey every day without feeling +particularly fond of him. Very soon, however, he began to know her; he +not only ran to meet her when she brought him his corn and meal, but +he would follow her about just the way Mary's little lamb followed HER +about. + +Her uncle often called after her: "And everywhere that Bessie goes, the +turkey's sure to go." + +Yes, round the garden, up and down the avenue, and even into the house +itself the turkey followed Bessie. + +Then why was she so sad? + +Alas! she remembered her uncle's words when he gave her the turkey, "On +Thanksgiving Day we will have him on the table." + +Thanksgiving Day would be here in a week. + +Now, if Bessie had been like some little girls, she would have told her +trouble to her uncle. But she never mentioned it to any one, although +she cried herself to sleep several nights before Thanksgiving Day. + +At last the day came, and Bessie, instead of going out to the fowlyard +as usual, kept in the house all the morning. She was afraid that, if she +went, she would not find her beloved friend. Dinner-time came, and, +with a heavy heart, she seated herself at the table. Her uncle and +aunt noticed her sober face, and thought that she missed her father and +mother. + +"Come, come," said her uncle, "we must cheer up; no sad looks on +Thanksgiving Day. Maria, BRING IN THE TURKEY." + +Poor Bessie! she could not look up as the door opened, and something +was brought in on a big platter. But, as the platter was placed on the +table, she saw that it did indeed hold her turkey, but he was alive and +well. + +She looked so astonished that suddenly her uncle understood all her past +troubles. + +"Why, Bessie," he said, "did you think I would kill your pet? No, +indeed, but I told you he should be on the table Thanksgiving Day, so +here he is." + +Then Bessie's uncle struck the turkey gently with his carving-knife, the +way the queen strikes a man with a sword when she makes him a knight. + +"Behold!" said Bessie's uncle, "I dub you 'Sir Gobble;' you shall never +be killed, but die a natural death, and never be parted from Bessie." + + + + +WHAT IS IT? + + What is that ugly thing I see + Which follows, follows, follows me, + Which ever way I turn or go? + What is that thing? I want to know. + + If I but turn to left or right + It does the same with all its might; + It looks so ugly and so black + When o'er my shoulder I look back. + + Sometimes it runs ahead of me, + Sometimes quite short it seems to be, + And then again it's very tall; + I don't know what it is at all. + + I'll climb into my little bed, + And on my pillow lay my bead, + For when I'm there I never see + That thing in front or back of me. + + + + +JOHN'S BRIGHT IDEA. + +Mrs. Meredith was a most kind and thoughtful woman. She spent a great +deal of time visiting the poor. One morning she told her children about +a family which she had visited the day before. There was a man sick in +bed, his wife who took care of him, and could not go out to work, and +their little boy. The little boy--his name was Bernard--had interested +her very much. + +"I wish you could see him," she said to her own children, John, Harry, +and Clara, "he is such a help to his mother. He wants very much to earn +some money, but I don't see what he can do." + +After their mother had left the room, the children sat thinking about +little Bernard. + +"I wish we could help him to earn money," said little Clara. + +"So do I," said Harry. + +For some moments John said nothing, but, suddenly, he sprang to his feet +and cried: + +"I have an idea!" + +The other children also jumped up all attention. When John had an idea, +it was sure to be a good one. + +"I tell you what we can do," said John. "You know that big box of corn +Uncle Sam sent us for popping? Well, we can pop it, and put it into +paper bags, and Bernard can take it round to the houses and sell." + +When Mrs. Meredith heard of John's idea, she, too, thought it a good +one. + +Very soon the children were busy popping the corn, while their mother +went out to buy the paper bags. When she came back, she brought Bernard +with her. + +In a short time, he started out on his new business, and, much sooner +than could be expected, returned with an empty basket. + +Tucked into one of his mittens were ten nickels. He had never earned so +much money before in his life. When he found that it was all to be his, +he was so delighted he could hardly speak, but his bright smiling face +spoke for him. After he had run home to take the money to his mother, +John said: + +"We have corn enough left to send Bernard out ever so many times. May we +do it again?" + +"Yes," said Mrs. Meredith, "you may send him every Saturday morning, if +you will pop the corn for him yourselves. John, will you agree to take +charge of the work?" + +"Indeed I will," replied John, and he kept his word. For many weeks, +every Saturday morning, no matter what plan was on foot, no matter how +good the coasting or skating, he saw that the corn was all popped, the +paper bags filled, and arranged in the basket when Bernard arrived. + +People began to watch for the "little pop-corn boy," and every week he +had at least fifty cents to take home, and often more. And all this was +because of John's bright idea, and the way he carried it out. + + + + +A SAD THANKSGIVING PARTY. + + Four hungry-looking animals + All seated in a row; + Why does not some one speak to them? + That's what I want to know. + + They all of them were bidden to + A fine Thanksgiving feast, + And now, it seems to me, their host + Might welcome them, at least. + + 'Twas Master Pug invited them, + Why does he not appear? + 'Tis plain they think his absence looks + Extremely rude and queer. + + Alas! poor Pug's in trouble sore, + The host he cannot play; + No feast for self or friends has he + On this Thanksgiving Day. + + He saw a turkey, large and fat, + Upon the kitchen shelf. + "That's just the very thing I want," + Said he unto himself. + + He caught the turkey, but the cook + Caught him with firmer grasp, + And shook him till he could not bark + But only choke and gasp. + + Meanwhile, those hungry animals, + Who'd waited there in vain, + Declared they never would be guest + Of Mr. Pug again. + + + + +GUY AND THE BEE + + One day a jolly bumble-bee, + In coat of black and yellow, + Got caught inside a window-pane; + The silly little fellow. + + He buzzed and buzzed against the glass, + To Guy's great enjoyment, + Who thought to watch this funny thing + Was just the best employment. + + But soon to touch those gauzy wings, + Became Guy's great desire, + Although mama had told him that + A bee could sting like fire. + + But Guy, silly as the bee, + Paid no heed to mama, + He touched the bee, then gave a howl + Which could be heard afar. + + Mama a soothing poultice mixed, + And on his finger laid. + "Another time you'll be more wise," + Was everything she said. + + + + +A MEAN BOY. + +Harry Burton woke one night and heard a strange noise in his closet. He +got out of bed, crossed the floor in his bare feet, and carefully opened +the closet door. The noise stopped, instantly. + +"Ah!" said Harry, "I knew it was mice made that noise. How I wish I +could catch them." + +The next morning he told his mother about the noises he had heard. + +"I will get you a mouse-trap," she said. + +"I don't want the kind that kills the mice, I only want to catch them +and tame them," said Harry. + +His mother laughed and told him when he had tamed his mice he must keep +them well out of her way. + +The trap was set, the mice were caught, and sure enough, in a short time +were so tame they would eat from Harry's hand. He made a little house +for them, and kept in it his bedroom. Whenever he went out, he always +shut the door carefully. + +Now it happened that among Harry's acquaintances, there was one very +disagreeable boy. His name was Dick Taft. Harry did not play with him +very often, for he was so ugly it was hard to get along with him. + +Dick never liked to be beaten at any game, and sometimes made it very +uncomfortable for the one who got ahead of him. + +One day Harry happened to beat him at one of their school games. Dick +called after him when it was over, "I'll pay you for this, see if I +don't." + +Harry only laughed as he walked away going in the opposite direction +from his own house. + +When he was out of sight, Dick ran to Harry's house, made some excuse to +go up in his bedroom, and let in the big cat, who was eagerly watching +outside. + +When Harry came home, the mouse house was open, and not one of his pets +was to be seen. The poor fellow was almost heart-broken. He asked every +one in the house who had left his door open. The maid told him she +thought it must have been that boy he sent up to his room. + +She described the boy, and Harry knew in a moment that it was Dick Taft. + +"So that is the way he paid me for beating him at a game," cried Harry. +"Well, never again, so long as I live, will I play with a boy who is +mean enough to do such a trick as that." + +And he kept his word. + + + + +A NAUGHTY PUMPKIN'S FATE. + + A queer little pumpkin, a jolly fat fellow, + Stood close to his mother so rotund and yellow. + "What a stupid old place! how I long to aspire," + Cried he, "I was destined for something much higher." + + "My son," said the mother, "pray do be content, + There's great satisfaction in life that's well spent!" + But he shrugged up his shoulders, this pumpkin, 't is true, + And acted just like some bad children will do. + + With a shout and a whoop, in the garden they ran, + Tom and Ned, for they'd thought of the loveliest plan + To astonish their friends from the city, you see, + With a fine Jack-o'-lantern--"Ah, this one suits me!" + + Neddie seized the bad pumpkin, and dug out his brains, + Till he felt so light-headed and brimful of pains; + Then two eyes, a long nose, and a mouth big and wide, + They cut in a minute, and laid him aside + + Until night, when they hung him upon a stout limb, + With a candle inside; how his poor head did swim, + As they twisted him this way, then twirled him round that, + Till at last, with a crash, he fell on the ground flat, + + A wreck of the once jolly, fat little fellow, + Who stood by his mother so rotund and yellow. + Just then a lean cow, who was passing that way, + Ate him up, just to finish HER "Thanksgiving Day." + + + + +SOMETHING ABOUT FIRES. + +It was a cold day. Fred was tired of reading, tired of looking out of +the window, and so he poked the fire for a change. + +"I suppose there are a good many different sorts of fires," he said to +his mamma, as he laid down the poker. + +"Yes, indeed," she answered. "It is very interesting to know how people +keep warm in all parts of the world, especially where fuel is scarce and +dear. In Iceland, for example, fires are often made of fish-bones! Think +of that. In Holland and other countries a kind of turf called peat is +dug up in great quantities and used for fuel. And in France a coarse +yellow and brown sea-weed, which is found in Finistere, is carefully +dried and piled up for winter use. A false log, resembling wood, but +made of some composition which does not consume, is often used in that +country. It absorbs and throws out the heat, and adds to the looks of +the hearth and to the comfort of the room. + +"The French have also a movable stove, which can be wheeled from room to +room, or even carried up or down stairs while full of burning coke. In +Russia the poorer people use a large porcelain stove, flat on top like +a great table, with a small fire inside which gives out a gentle, +summer-like warmth. It often serves as a bed for the whole family, who +sleep on top of it. + +"There are, besides gas-stoves, oil-stoves, various methods of obtaining +warmth by heated air and steam, and, doubtless, other devices that I +never heard of. + +"In some countries, however, no fires are needed. In looking at pictures +of tropical towns you will at once notice the absence of chimneys." + +Fred looked admiringly at his mamma as she paused. + +"There never was such a little mother," he said; "you can think of +something to say about everything." + +His mamma was pleased at this pleasant compliment. + +"Oh!" she replied, laughing, "I could go on and tell you more about +bonfires, beacon-fires, signals, drift-wood fires, and gypsy-tea fires; +but I have told you enough for to-day." + + + + +THE ICE-KING'S REIGN. + + The sun had gone down with promises sweet, + When, keen from the north, the wind + Came blustering along on its coursers fleet, + And left frozen tracks behind. + + Maude stood at the window; the moon shimmered down + On whirling leaves, stiff and dead, + All piteously driven; she turned with a frown, + And soft to herself she said:-- + + "The old tyrant Winter leaves nothing to prize, + Leaves nothing that's bright or fair; + He has stolen the blue from the bending skies, + The warmth from the earth and air. + + "The summer's dear blossoms are withered and dead; + My garden is brown and bare; + The chipper of birds in the nest overhead + Is hushed, for no birdlings are here. + + "The woodlands no longer are shady and sweet, + Dry leafage encumbers the ground; + The pathways, once verdant and soft to my feet, + In fetters of ice are bound. + + "The pride of the barn-yard sits humped with the cold, + One frozen foot under his wing; + And the sheep huddle closely, for warmth, in their fold; + The ice tyrant reigns as king." + + She turns from this picture of ruin and death, + And seeks the broad casement again; + And, lo! from the dews of her wasted breath + Great forests have grown on the pane. + + Such beautiful trees! such ferns! and such flowers! + Such rivers and mountains bold! + Such charming cascades! she gazes for hours, + And worships the ice king cold. + + + + +MALMO, THE WOUNDED RAT. + +A poor man saw, by the roadside, a large white rat. It seemed to be +dead. Moving it gently he found it was alive, but had a broken leg. He +took it up and carried it to his lonely home. He bound up the bruised +leg, fed the poor creature, and soon it was quite well. + +Sam Tills trained the rat to gentle ways, and taught it many little +tricks. Malmo was the only company Sam had. He worked in a cotton mill, +and took Malmo with him. He rode in his master's coat-pocket. It looked +droll to see his white head peeping out. + +Sundays both went to dine with Sam's sister. Malmo's funny ways made +everybody laugh. When Sam said, "Malmo, go sit in my hat," he went at +once. He curled himself up in it, and nodded off to sleep. + +When his master said, "Malmo, we're going now; slip in," the droll pet +jumped from the hat, ran up to his pocket-nest, said good-by in his +own fashion, and was ready to start. Evenings, when Sam was reading or +singing from his mother's hymn-book, Malmo had a nap on his master's +head. When it was time to go to bed Sam stroked Malmo's soft fur. The +rat rubbed himself against his master's hand. It was their good-night to +each other. Then Malmo crept into his basket, and the candle was blown +out. Soon both were fast asleep. + + + + +MAMA'S HAPPY CHRISTMAS. + +It had seemed to the little Wendell children that they would have a +very sad Christmas. Mama had been very ill, and papa had been so anxious +about mama that he could not think of anything else. + +When Christmas Day came, however, mama was so much better that she could +lie on the lounge. The children all brought their stockings into her +room to open them. + +"You children all seem as happy as if you had had your usual Christmas +tree," said mama, as they sat around her. + +"Why, I NEVER had such a happy Christmas before," said sweet little +Agnes. "And it's just because you are well again." + +"Now I think you must all run out for the rest of the day," said the +nurse, "because your mama wants to see you all again this evening." + +"I wish we could get up something expressly for mama's amusement," said +Agnes, when they had gone into the nursery. + +"How would you like to have some tableaux in here?" asked their French +governess, Miss Marcelle. + +"Oh, yes," they all cried, "it would be fun, mama loves tableaux." + +So all day long they were busy arranging five tableaux for the evening. +The tableaux were to be in the room which had folding-doors opening into +Mrs. Wendell's sitting-room. + +At the proper time Miss Marcelle stepped outside the folding-doors and +made a pretty little speech. She said that some young ladies and a young +gentleman had asked permission to show some tableaux to Mrs. Wendell +if she would like to see them. Mrs. Wendell replied that she would be +charmed. + +Then mademoiselle announced the tableaux; opening the doors wide for +each one. This is a list of the tableaux: First, The Sleeping Beauty; +second, Little Red Riding Hood third, The Fairy Queen; fourth, Old +Mother Hubbard; fifth, The Lord High Admiral. + +Miss Marcelle had arranged everything so nicely, and Celeste, the French +maid, helped so much with the dressing, that the pictures all went off +without a single mistake. + +Mama was delighted. She said she must kiss those dear young ladies, and +that delightful young man who had given her such a charming surprise. + +So all the children came in rosy and smiling. + +"Why, didn't you know us?" asked the little Lord Admiral. + +"I know this," said mama, "I am like Agnes. I NEVER had such a happy +Christmas before." + + + + +CURED OF CARELESSNESS. + +Mrs. Bertram sat reading a book one morning, or trying to. It was not +easy to do so, for her little boy, Roger, was out in the hall playing +with his drum. Suddenly the drumming ceased, and in a moment Roger +rushed into the room crying as if his heart would break. + +"I've burst it. I've burst it," he sobbed. + +"Your drum," asked his mother. "How did you do that?" + +"I was beating it with the poker and the tongs and--" + +"With the poker and tongs!" exclaimed his mother. "Why, where were your +drum-sticks?" + +Then Roger stopped crying, and hung his head with shame. + +"Where are your drum-sticks?" asked his mother, again. + +"I--I--don't know," sobbed Roger. + +"Have you lost those, too?" said Mrs. Bertram. She needed no words for +answer. Roger's manner was quite enough. "You know, dear, what I said +would happen the next time you lost anything." + +"Yes," said Roger, "I you said I must give away all my toys to some +little boys who would take care of them." + +"Yes," said his mother. "I see you remember. I shall send them all +to-night to the Children's Hospital." + +"But, mama," said Roger, "if I don't have any toys to take care of, how +can I learn to take care of them?" + +Mrs. Bertram had to turn away so that Roger should not see her smile. + +"I shall have to think of some other way to teach you to be careful. Now +go and bring me all your toys." + +Roger went out of the room to do as his mother said. When he had gone, +Mrs. Bertram sat thinking until he came back. + +"I have decided that I want you to dust the library every morning." + +Roger looked astonished. "Boys don't dust," he said. + +"Sometimes," said his mother, smilingly. "Your Uncle Fred had to dust +his own room when he was at West Point. Now if you dust the library +every morning for two months faithfully, and do not break a single +ornament, I shall know you have grown careful in one way, and that may +help you to be careful in another." + +The next morning Roger began his work. At first he disliked it very +much, but after a while he grew very particular. It was not pleasant to +be without any toys, and he determined to earn them. + +The day when his trial of two months would be up, would be Christmas +Day. He did not know if his presents this year would be toys or useful +things. All his mother had said about his work was, "My dear, you are +improving." + +Christmas night came, and with it a beautiful tree. Imagine Roger's +delight when he saw on and about it new skates, a new sled, a new violin +and a new drum. + +And up in the highest branches, in letters of gold, these words: "For +the boy who has proved he can be careful when he tries." + + + + +A VISIT FROM A PRINCE. + +Harry was playing with his letter blocks one afternoon, when a prince +came to visit him. + +Harry knew the prince very well, indeed. As soon as the prince came into +the room Harry said: + +"Hullo, old fellow, is that you?" + +Was not that a very strange way to greet a prince? + +And wasn't it stranger yet for Harry to say next: + +"Come, sit up, old boy, and give us your--" + +Was it hand Harry was going to say? No, indeed, it was paw. "Sit up, old +boy, and give us your paw." + +Prince was a beautiful dog, as black as a coal. Indeed, his real name, +his whole name, was Edward, the Black Prince. Now you must ask somebody +to tell you about the man who was called the "Black Prince," the man for +whom Harry's dog was named. + +When Harry asked Prince to give his paw, the dog did not do it as +quickly as he ought to have done. + +Did Harry beat him for that? No, indeed. Did he say, "Never mind, +Prince, you need not obey me if you do not want to?" No, indeed, again. + +He sat up himself, and then he made Prince sit up on his hind legs. Then +he ordered Prince to give his paw. Prince did so. Then Harry made him +do it again, then again and again and again, until the dog seemed to +understand that he must learn to obey when he was spoken to. + +After Prince appeared to have learned that lesson quite perfectly, Harry +taught him something new. + +He taught him to stand on his hind legs and hold a pipe in his mouth. + +This he soon did so well that Harry clapped his hands and cried, +"Good, good, you smoke as well as his royal highness, the Black Prince, +himself." + +Which remark showed that Harry had not yet begun to study history. If +he had, he would have known that in the country where the Black Prince +lived, tobacco was never heard of until many, many, MANY years after his +death. + + + + +STRINGING CRANBERRIES. + +Arthur Bancroft was feeling very cross one morning in December. He had +a bad cold, and his mother did not think it would be wise for him to go +out-of-doors. That was why he was cross. The skating was finer than it +had been that season; every other boy he knew was enjoying it. + +He walked about the house with a very sulky face; would take no notice +of books or games, and seemed determined to be miserable. + +He was standing looking out of the window when his sister Laura +came into the room. Laura carried in her hand a basket filled with +cranberries. + +She put the basket on the table, took a needle from her mother's needle +book, threaded it with a long, stout thread, and began stringing the +berries. + +Laura was a dear little thing! She was always busy. No one ever heard +her say, "I wish I had something to do." And she was generally doing +something for some one else. + +She made a sweet little picture as she sat bending over the basket of +crimson cranberries. Some such idea may have come into Arthur's mind +as he turned and looked at her. As he watched her silently for some +moments, the cross expression on his face became a little less cross. + +"What are you doing?" he asked. + +"Stringing cranberries for the Mullins' Christmas tree," answered Laura. +"Don't you want to help me?" + +"It's girls' work," replied Arthur. + +"Isn't a boy smart enough to do a girl's work?" asked Laura. + +"Of course, he's SMART enough. I don't mean that! Perhaps he doesn't +want to." + +"Oh," said Laura, "I wish you did want to." + +"Why?" asked Arthur. + +"I promised to string all these for the Mullins' Christmas tree," replied +Laura. "The market-man brought them so late, I have not much time now." + +"Thread another needle," said Arthur. + +In a few moments he was working as busily as Laura, herself. As Arthur +finished his last long string, he tied the ends together and threw it +around Laura's neck. When she bent her head a little, it reached the +floor. + +"There," said he, "that proves that a boy can do a girl's work." + +"Yes," said Laura, "when"--then she stopped and smiled. + +"When what?" asked Arthur. + +"When he has a girl to show him how," laughed Laura, as she danced out +of the room with the cranberry strings. + + + + +CHRISTMAS IN CALIFORNIA. + + "To think that this is Christmas Day!" + Said Harold to his aunt, + "I know it really is, and yet, + Believe it--well, I can't! + I've had a tree, my stocking, too, + This morning full I found, + But how can I believe it + With no snow upon the ground? + + Look at the sea so bright and blue, + And feel the soft, warm air, + And there are roses all in bloom, + And lilies, I declare! + I think that California + Is lovely, but it's queer, + How different Christmas is at home + From what it is out here." + + "Ah, Harold!" gently said his aunt, + "No matter where you go, + In country strewn with flowers like this, + Or clad in ice and snow, + The birthday of the Christ-child is + The same in every place, + And happy greetings in His name, + Bring smiles to every face." + + + + +A TROUBLESOME CALL. + + We were going, on Saturday, ever so far,-- + My mamma and I,--to the Dollies' Bazaar, + Where fifty wax dollies,--the loveliest show, + Went walking about when they wound 'em, you know. + + You wouldn't believe half the things they could do: + Why, one said "Good morning," as plainly as you. + One played the piano, and one, dressed in lace, + Walked up to a mirror and powdered her face. + + Well, when we were ready we stepped in the hall, + And there was a lady a-coming to call. + She said she just chanced to be passing that way, + And she really had only a minute to stay. + + We waited and waited, and hoped she would go, + Till I saw it was almost the time for the show, + For I heard the clocks striking all over the town, + And I knew that the dollies would all be run down. + + And so I just said, "I should s'pose, Mrs. Black, + Your little girl wonders why don't you come back." + That's all that I spoke, every 'dentical word; + But she said, "Little girls should be seen and not heard." + + I guess that's a proverb, so maybe 'tis true; + But, if people won't see, what can little girls do? + My mamma looked queer, but that ended the call, + And we went to the Dollies' Bazaar, after all. + + + + +BERTIE'S CORN-POPPER + +Bertie had the desire of his heart,--a corn-popper! He had wanted it for +a long time,--three weeks, at least. Mamma brought it when she came home +from the city, and gave it to him for his very own. A bushel of corn, +ready popped, would not have been half so good. There was all the +delight of popping in store for the long winter evenings. + +Bertie could hardly wait to eat his supper before he tried his +corn-popper. It proved to be a very good one. He popped corn that +evening, and the next, and the next. He fed all the family, gave some +to all his playmates, and carried a bag of pop-corn to school for his +teacher. + +Trip, the shaggy, little, yellow dog, came in for a share, and Mintie +too. Who or what was Mintie? + +Mintie was a bantam biddy, very small, white as snow, and very pretty. +She had been left an orphan chick, and for a while kept in the house, +near the kitchen fire. She had been Bertie's especial charge, and he fed +and tended her faithfully. + +As she grew older she would rove about with the larger hens, but was +very tame, and always liked the house. She would come in very often. +When Bertie happened to pop corn in the daytime she was pretty apt to be +around, and pick up the kernels he threw to her. + +One night he left his corn-popper on the kitchen table. It was open, and +two or three small kernels were still in it. + +Early next morning, long before Bertie was dressed, Mintie came into the +kitchen. She flew up on the table, and helped herself to the corn in the +popper. The girl was busy getting breakfast, and did not mind much about +her. Presently she went down cellar, and Mintie had the room to herself. + +When Bertie came down to breakfast there was a white egg in the +corn-popper! It was so small that it looked almost like a bird's; but it +was Mintie's first egg. + +Bertie clapped his hands; he was very much pleased. + +"Mamma! mamma!" he shouted. "See this pretty egg! Mintie put it into my +popper, and must have meant to give it to me." + +And mamma said, "Very likely she did." + + + + +FIRE! FIRE!! FIRE!!! + +Where is it? Where is it? Why, it is in the water! Isn't that funny? But +you see it isn't a real fire, but only a fire-fish. [*] Sweet creature, +isn't he? Suppose you were a little, innocent mermaid, swimming alone +for the first time; how would you feel if you were to meet this fellow +darting towards you with his great red mouth open? Why, you would scream +with fright, and swim to your mother as fast as you could, and catch +hold of her tail for protection. At least, that is what I should do if I +were a mermaid. But Mrs. Mermaid won't tell you that the fire-fish will +not hurt you unless you hurt him first, in which case he will prick you +dreadfully with his long, sharp spines. + + * Project Gutenberg ed. note: The picture is of a fish also + known as a scorpionfish. + + +I never see his picture without thinking of a red Indian in his warpaint +and feathers. Perhaps--who knows?-perhaps when Indians are greedy, and +eat too much fish, they may turn into fire-fish, and have to swim about +forever under water, and never see a green forest again. If you are an +Indian I advise you to be careful, my dear. + +Nobody knows why this fish has such enormous, wing-like fins. Wise men +used to think that he could raise himself out of the water with them, +like the flying-fish; but it is now proved that he cannot, and there +seems to be no reason why a set of plain, small fins would not serve him +just as well for swimming. He prefers warm water to cold; so he lives +in the tropical seas, swimming about the coasts of India, Africa, and +Australia. The natives of Ceylon call him Gini-maha, and they think he +is very good to eat. They take great care in catching him, for they are +very much afraid of him, thinking that his sharp spines are poisoned, +and can inflict a deadly wound. But in this they are too hard upon the +fellow. He can prick them deeply and painfully, and he will if they +meddle with him; but he is a perfectly respectable fish, and would not +think of such a cowardly thing as poisoning anybody. + + + + +THE DOLLS AND THE OTHER DOLLS. + +"Mamma," little Nellie asked, "is it right to give away things that have +been given to you?" + +Her mamma replied that it might be quite right sometimes; and she said, +"But I should feel sorry if I had made a little friend a present she did +not value, and so was glad to part with it." + +"O mamma!" said Nellie, "you know how I value my dollies, every one, +that my dear aunts and cousins sent me because I was sick. Now I am well +again. To-morrow is New-Year's. Some sick little girls in the hospital +want dollies. Could I, if I knew which one to choose, keep only one +for myself, and send the whole five of them for those poor children who +haven't any?" + +Her mamma liked the plan. She gave Nellie a box, and Nellie began +kissing her babies, and laying them, one after another, in the box. + +There were two of nearly the same size, that were very dear to this +little mother. She called them twins. They wore white frocks and blue +kid boots. They had real blonde hair and their eyes would open and shut. + +These lovely twins Nellie held in her arms a long time before she could +decide which to part with. When she did place one in the box, to be her +own no more, a tear was on the doll's cheek. I do not think the drop +came from dolly's eye. + +A few days after the dolls were given Nellie's mamma let her invite +three little girls to play with her. Each girl brought her Christmas or +her New-Year's doll; and the three dolls, with Nellie's, looked sweetly +sitting together in a row. + +By and by Nellie's mamma came to her room, which she had given to the +party for its use that afternoon. She told the children she would give +them a little supper of cakes and pears and grapes, and it would be +ready as soon as Biddy could bring the ice-cream from down street. + +The smiling child-visitors gathered around the kind lady, saying, "We +thank you, and we love you ever so much." + +Nellie said softly, "Mamma dear, I wouldn't take my dollies back if I +could. I love to think they amuse the sick children. But I do wish that +for just a minute we had as many at this party." + +Her mamma turned to her dressing-case. It stood low enough for the +smallest child to look into the mirror at the back easily. Moving off +the toilet cushions and cologne-bottles, the lady put the four dolls in +front of the looking-glass. Their reflection in the glass showed four +more. + +"Six, seven, eight," cried the girls, delighted. "And all are +twins--four pairs of twins!" + +After supper they made, the twins sit, and stand, and dance, bow and +shake hands, before the looking-glass. So they played till dusk, when +the other little girls' mammas sent to take them home, after kissing +Nellie good-night. + + + + +WHY DID MAMMA CHANGE HER MIND? + +Mamma Miller told Fay and Lonnie that they might have a party, so they +tried to get ready for it. But the party was very different to what they +expected. It always happens so about everything, if we pay no regard to +one another's wishes. + +Mrs. Miller said they might invite ten children. + +"You write to five little girls, Fay," said she, "and Lonnie will write +to the five little boys." + +So they went into the library. Lonnie sat down in papa's big chair, +while Fay climbed up on one arm, close beside him, and they tried to +think whom they would like to come to their party. + +"Make out your list first," said Lonnie. Fay did, and her brother agreed +to all the girls. But as soon as Lonnie commenced writing his names, Fay +began to find fault. + +"I don't like boys, anyway," said Fay, "only you, Lonnie. Let's have all +girls at our party." + +"But it won't be my party," said Lonnie, "if you have all girls." + +"I don't care, all those are horrid," pointing to his paper. + +"You say that because you don't like boys." And then he told his sister +that every little fellow whose name he had written was just as good as +gold. And so they were just as good as Lonnie Miller, and he was one of +the best boys that ever lived, so everybody said. + +"I sha'n't play with him if he comes," Fay kept saying to every name +Lonnie wrote. + +"You can have your party," said Lonnie, getting up out of the easy-chair +and sitting down in a smaller one, "you and your girls. I'm going to +learn some new pieces," taking up his little silver blower. + +"I don't like boys," Fay kept saying, jumping down off the arm of the +chair, and aiming a blow at the spot where her brother had sat with the +rustic stick their sister Lucia had brought home May Day. + +Lucia was passing the door just then, so she thought she would see what +all the noise was about. + +"I'd better call you to lunch," said she, and there they were just +through breakfast. + +Mamma herself came hurrying in at sound of the bell. When they told her +about the invitations, she said, "I shall not let you have any party at +all, now." + +"What makes you change your mind?" said Fay. + +"Mamma will give her little girl just one week to find out why she has +changed her mind," said Mrs. Miller. + +And for all Fay's coaxing, she could not be persuaded to stay a minute +longer. + + + + +CLARA'S "FUNERAL." + +Clara was the most unfortunate of dollies. She had had the mumps and +whooping cough; and no sooner did she recover from the scarlet fever +than she contracted pneumonia and nearly died. One morning Blanche was +applying hot bandages to relieve bronchitis, and before night Clara had +the small-pox. + +The next day mamma stopped at the nursery door. + +"Good morning, little nurse," she said; "how is poor Clara this +morning?" + +"She's DEADED," said Blanche, with a long face. + +"Dreadful! What did she die of, small-pox? It seems to me that that was +what she was suffering from last evening." + +"No'm'" said Blanche, "'twasn't small-pox. She DID have that bad; but I +think she DIED of measles. The SUNERAL (Blanche could not say 'funeral') +is to be at twelve sharp. Will you come, mamma?" + +"I'm so sorry, darling, but I must go to lunch with Mrs. Mathews at one. +But Jack will go." + +The "suneral" took place at noon, and Blanche and Daisy, Jack and old +Hector followed poor Clara in Benny's wagon to the grave yard at the +bottom of the orchard. It was rather a jolly "suneral," for they had +"refreshments" under the trees afterward. + +In the afternoon, as mamma, came up the orchard path, she was surprised +to see a doll's foot and leg sticking straight up out of the ground. + +"Why did you leave her foot out in this way?" asked mamma. + +"Well," said Blanche, "I thought perhaps she could get to Heaven +easier." + + + + +THE CHICKADEE-DEE. + + Little darling of the snow, + Careless how the winds may blow, + Happy as a bird can be, + Singing, oh, so cheerily, + Chickadee-dee! Chickadee-dee! + + When the skies are cold and gray, + When he trills his happiest lay, + Through the clouds he seems to see + Hidden things to you and me. + Chickadee-dee! chickadee-dee! + + Very likely little birds + Have their thoughts too deep for word, + But we know, and all agree, + That the world would dreary be + Without birds, dear chickadee! + + + + +THE CHILDREN'S PARTY. + + What a merry, merry rout! + See the wee ones dance about! + Dickie's leading off the ball; + There,--he almost had a fall. + + Who's his partner in the whirls, + --Rosiest of all the girls? + But a doll--a DOLL you say; + Dancing in that sprightly way? + + Well I never! Oh, see there, + See--just see those horses tear! + Meg and Madge will sure be thrown. + What a vicious looking roan! + + Not a real live horse you say, + Prancing in that frightful way? + Well, I never! Toys to-day + Surely seem more "real" than "play." + + + + +BRAVE TOMASSO. + +There were once two very beautiful cats named Tomasso and Lilia. It +would be very hard indeed to say which was more beautiful than the +other, Tomasso the husband, or Lilia his wife. + +They were about the same size, although, perhaps, Tomasso was a little +the stouter of the two. There could be no question that at times the +expression of his face was decidedly more fierce than that of his gentle +wife. + +The fur of each of them was as white as the driven snow, and as soft, +and fine, and glossy as the most perfect silk gloss. + +Add to these natural charms the fact that they always kept themselves +beautifully clean, and always wore round their necks cravats made of the +richest satin ribbon, and I am sure you will agree with me in thinking +that they were cats of very high degree. + +Their neighbors considered them extremely proud and haughty. They never +were known to play with any of the cats in their street. To be with each +other was all they asked. Sometimes these neighbors took a great deal of +pains to get a glimpse of Tomasso and Lilia as, paw in paw, they danced +a minuet together. + +Even the most grumpy grimalkin declared it was a beautiful sight. There +was no doubt the young couple was very graceful and their manners were +perfect. Then he said that cats brought up as Tomasso and his wife had +always lived, OUGHT to be amiable and beautiful. He understood that +a jar of Orange County cream was ordered for them every day. Then he +muttered something which sounded very much as if he thought Tomasso +would be not over courageous in a moment of danger. "Alone, white tail +is all very fine," said he, "but mark my word, at a sudden fright it +would turn into a white feather. I should pity his wife if she had no +one but him to protect her." + +Now it happened that that very afternoon Tomasso's courage was put to +the test. As he and Lilia were taking a quiet walk, suddenly a huge dog +rushed out at them. In an instant Tomasso placed himself across Lilia's +trembling body. She had fallen to the ground in terror. The great dog +made a jump at Tomasso, but was met with such a snarl, and then such a +blow from a set of sharp claws that he ran away howling. + +That night the news of Tomasso's bravery spread through the whole +neighborhood. But he was very quiet and modest. His proud wife was much +disturbed at a bad scratch Tomasso had received in the struggle. They +both examined it carefully with the aid of a hand-glass. + +"I hope it will not leave a scar," said Lilia, "but if it does it will +only be a proof of the noble courage of my brave Tomasso." + + + + +TOMMY FROST SEES A BEAR. + +Tommy Frost was making his first visit in the country. He was enjoying +it very much. He liked to ramble about in the woods close by the house +of his aunt, Mrs. Drew. Tommy had never even seen any birds before this, +but pigeons and sparrows. That is, any birds out of cages. He had lived +all his short life in the centre of a great city. He wanted very much to +see a wild animal. He had heard Mr. Drew and some of his friends talking +about "bear tracks" in the woods. Mr. Drew said they must go off some +day and hunt for that bear. + +Now Tommy had no idea what a bear was like. He wished very much that he +might see one. Every day he said to himself, "If I could only find the +one the big men were talking about I'd feel proud." One day as he was +strolling about, he suddenly saw something moving in one of the trees. +He stopped, and looked up excitedly, then he rushed for the house +screaming at the top of his voice, "Aunt Maria! Aunt Maria! come quick, +I've seen it, it's in the woods." + +"What is in the woods?" asked Mrs. Drew. + +"The bear!" cried Tommy. + +"The bear?" repeated Mrs. Drew, hardly understanding. + +Then she drew a long breath and turned very white as she stood a moment +shielding her eyes from the sun, looking in the direction in which Tommy +pointed. Then she ran back into the house, and came out in a moment, +bringing with her a huge horn. It was a megaphone. She was trembling so +she could scarcely lift it, but she managed to raise it to her mouth and +call through it. "John! Murray! come! come this instant! The bear is in +the woods back of the house." + +In a few moments her husband and brother came running from the field +where they were at work. + +They stopped for no questions, but rushed into the house for their guns. +But as they came out Mr. Drew asked, "Who saw it? When, where?" + +"I did," said Tommy, not a bit frightened, but feeling very excited and +proud. "I did, back there in a tree." + +"In a tree?" cried Mrs. Drew's brother, stopping in his quick run for +the woods. + +"Yes," said Tommy, "it was a bear, but it looked,--it LOOKED just like +my picture of a wiggle-tail." + +"Oh," cried Mrs. Drew, as she sank on the door-step, "the child has seen +a gray squirrel!" + + + + +MYSELF. + + One little head so smooth and round, + With soft hair covered, golden or brown, + One little forehead smooth and white, + Two little eye-brows dark or light. + Two little eyes that we see through. + See us looking, now, at you? + Two little cheeks so plump and round, + Where the red rose of health is found. + Two little ears where sound comes in; + One little nose and mouth and chin. + Rows of little teeth all in white; + Ready for use when lunch is in sight. + One little tongue kind words to say-- + Bright little smiles which round them play. + One little head where all are seen. + One little neck which stands between + Head and shoulders to hold them fast. + Now are we ready to find, at last, + One little body with arms and hands + Two legs and two feet on which it stands. + + + + +TWO STRANGE SIGHTS. + + "Oh come into the dining-room!" + Cries Fred, "come, grandma, dear. + For something very strange indeed + Is going on in here!" + And sure enough, when grandma comes, + Perhaps at first with fright, + She stands quite still, astonished at + An unexpected sight. + + For there upon the woollen rug, + A jug between her feet, + Sits Freddy's little sister Bess + Absorbed in pleasures sweet. + Her finger in the syrup now + Behold she slyly dips, + And carries it with great delight + To her own rosy lips. + + "You little witch!" cries grandmama, + "You're like the naughty rat + I found within the cellar once, + Who on a barrel sat, + Filled with molasses, which he reached + By dipping in the hole + His great long tail from which he licked + The sweets he thus had stole. + + "The rat was shot, but grandma's babe, + Well, till she's learned to know + Such tricks are wrong, why we of course + Must naught but patience show." + Then grandma took her little pet, + And washed her sticky face, + Then put that tempting syrup-jug + Up in a safer place. + + + + +A CAT'S INSTINCTS. + +"Take that! and that! and that!" These words came from an angry little +girl. She was leaning over a big gray puss which she was holding down +with one hand, while with the other she struck him a sharp blow every +time she said "THAT." + +It is a wonder puss did not bite her, for he was so strong he could have +done so. He was a very gentle cat. "Gentle?" I hear some one ask. Then +why did he deserve such a whipping as the little girl was giving him? + +That is a question we must try to have answered. For my part I do not +believe he deserved it at all. Let us see what happened next. Just as +the little girl struck the last blow her Aunt Margaret came into the +room. Aunt Margaret stopped in the doorway, astonished. + +"Why Flora," she said, as puss darted out of the room, "what are you +beating Griffin for?" + +"What do you think he was doing?" cried Flora, her cheeks still flushed +with anger. "He was on the table just ready to spring at this beautiful +bird in my new hat. If I had not come he would have torn it to pieces." + +"But he knew no better," said Aunt Margaret, "it is perfectly natural for +a cat to spring at a bird. Yes, and for him to kill it too, if he has +not been trained to do otherwise." + +"But it would have made me feel dreadfully to have this beautiful bird +torn to bits. I really love it. Besides, it was killed long ago." + +"Yes," said Aunt Margaret, "killed that you might wear it on a hat." + +There was something in Aunt Margaret's voice which made Flora and the +little girls who were visiting her stand very still and look up. + +"You say," continued Aunt Margaret very gently, "you say you love your +beautiful bird. That you would feel dreadfully if it were torn to bits. +How do you think its bird-mother felt when it was torn from her nest, +and she never saw it again?" + +"Oh," said Flora, "I never thought of that before. I'm afraid,--I'm +afraid I'm more to blame than the cat." + + + + +DINAH'S NEW YEAR'S PRESENT. + +Dinah Morris is a colored girl. She lives in the South. By South we mean +in the southern part of the United States. + +Dinah is one of the most good-natured children that ever lived, but she +is very, very lazy. There is nothing she likes, or used to like, so much +as to curl up in some warm corner in the sun and do nothing. + +Dinah's mother wished very much that her child should learn to read, +but the lady who tried to teach her soon gave it up. "It is no use," she +said, "Dinah will not learn. She is not a stupid child, but she is too +lazy for anything." + +It happened, soon after this, that a young man from Massachusetts came +to the house where Dinah lived. He brought with him something no one +else in the neighborhood had ever seen before--a pair of roller-skates. + +When Dinah saw the young man going rapidly up and down the piazza on +his skates she was so astonished she hardly knew what to think. She ran +after him like a cat, her black eyes shining as they had never shone +before. + +One day the young man allowed her to try on the skates. The child was +too happy for words. Of course she fell down, and sprawled about the +floor, but did not mind at all. + +"Look here, Dinah," said the young man, "I understand that my aunt has +been trying to teach you to read." + +Dinah answered that she certainly had. + +"Why didn't you learn?" asked the young man. "You need not trouble to +answer," said he, "it was just because you are too lazy. Now, if, on the +first of January, you can read, I tell you what I will do. I will send +you as good a pair of roller-skates as I can buy in Boston." + +How Dinah's eyes snapped. For a moment she said nothing, then exclaimed +decidedly, "I'll have those skates, sure." + +And she did. When she bent her mind on her work she could always do it +well, no matter what it was. + +The lady who had before this found her such a difficult child to +teach, now had no trouble. If Dinah showed the least sign of her former +laziness the word SKATES! was enough to make her bend her mind on her +lesson instantly. + +On New Year's morning she received a box marked in large printed +letters: + + MISS DINAH MORRIS, + Care of Mrs. Lawrence Delaney, + NEW ORLEANS, LA. + + If she can read what is on the outside of + this box she can have what is inside. + +And as Dinah read every word plainly and quickly, of course she had for +her very own the fine roller-skates the box held. And now sitting curled +up in the sun, doing nothing, is not the thing she likes to do best. + + + + +NIGHT FLOWERS. + +There are some flowers that never see the sun. One of the most curious +is the "evening primrose." About six o'clock it suddenly bursts open, +with a popping sound, and at six next morning closes. + +If you watch that pretty flower, and listen, you can hear this strange +performance. + +This is why it does so. The little calyx holds the petals in such a way +that the moment it turns back they are let loose. At once it bursts out +into full flower, with this funny noise, like a pop-gun. + +So the "night-blooming cereus" blossom in the night, only for an hour, +giving out its sweet fragrance, and then dies. Just think of never +seeing the sun at all! + +In a far Eastern country there is a kind of jasmine called the +"sorrowful tree." It droops as if sick in the daytime, and at night +grows fresh and bright. It opens its lovely flowers with a very pleasant +odor till morning, and then wilts and looks wretched again. + + + + +THE FIRST SNOW-STORM. + +Away off on a warm sunny island, little Harry Hall was born. Flowers +bloomed all the year round. The sun shone most of the time, although now +and then there were thunder-showers. + +Many wonderful plants grew wild, while on the shore shells and seaweed +and queer little fishes were often to be found. + +When Harry was six years old his parents took a journey to New York. + +It seemed very odd to the little boy to live in a place where there were +so many people, and such great houses. After a while the weather grew +cold, and he had to wear thick woollen clothing. The house in which they +lived was heated by a furnace; but one day they had a fire of logs on +the hearth. Harry enjoyed it very much, and thought the bright blaze so +pretty. + +The sky was gray and cloudy one afternoon, and Harry had been standing +by the window watching the street cars. Suddenly the air grew thick, and +he could scarcely see the houses opposite. Something white and feathery +fell slowly down and rested on the window ledge. Then it disappeared. +But more and more of the little flakes came, until there was quite a +ridge outside of the window. + +Harry opened the sash gently, fearing it might fly away. He was +surprised when he touched it to find it so cold. He took some up in his +hand, but in a moment it was only a drop of water. + +By that time the street and the men's hats and coats were quite white. +Harry was puzzled to find a name for the beautiful white substance, so +he ran to his mamma and asked her about it. + +She told him it was snow, and because the air was so warm on the +beautiful island where he was born they never had any. + +The next morning he saw the little children of the neighborhood playing +in it; but before noon the sun was so bright and warm the snow had all +melted away. + +When the second snow-storm came Harry's papa brought home a beautiful +sleigh, and gave his little boy great pleasure by drawing him up and +down the street. + +Harry soon learned to go out by himself, and made many friends; +especially of the little girls, as he was very generous with his sleigh. + +But he has never forgotten his surprise when he saw the first +snow-storm. + + + + +FRED'S STOLEN RIDE. + +One day little Fred's mother, who had been sick a long time, told him +she was going out with a friend to take a drive. Fred wanted to go, too, +but his mother said there would not be room in the buggy. Fred felt very +cross and unhappy, and sat down on the front steps, ready to cry as soon +as he should see his mother go away. + +A buggy came to the gate, and the gentleman who was driving went into +the house. Fred ran out and climbed into the buggy to sit there until +his mother came out. + +In looking around he saw there was a wide space under the seat, in which +a boy might hide. He crawled in, thinking he would take a ride, and his +mother would not know it. + +He waited a long time, but no one came, and at last he grew tired and +fell asleep. + +He was waked by feeling a big jolt, as a wheel of the buggy struck a +stone; but he kept still. After what seemed to him a long time the +buggy stopped and he heard some one taking the horse from the shafts. He +waited until all was quiet, and then crawled out from his hiding-place. + +He found it was almost dark, and everything about him was strange. He +was very much frightened, but he jumped down and went to a farm-house +close by. A woman he had never seen before came to the door. When he +told her where he lived she said he was fifteen miles from home, and he +found that he had taken his stolen ride in the buggy of a man who had +called to see his father on business. + +It was too late for Fred to go home that night, and he had to stay at +the farmer's house until the next day. Then he was taken home, and I am +very sure he never tried to steal another ride. + + + + +A VALENTINE PARTY. + +The children had a valentine party, the very nicest party,--they all +declared, that they had ever been to in their lives. All the cousins in +the neighborhood--and there were a lot of them--were there. + +What fun they had opening their valentines, which a "really" postman +brought with his gray uniform and his whistle and his great leather +pack. + +"Dear me," he said, pretending to groan, as he handed the missives, "if +you had a party every day here I think I should be completely worn out!" +But his eyes twinkled merrily. + +Such shouts and exclamations as the valentines were opened and read! +And such fun looking at everybody else's. Here are two, Bessie's and +Fred's:-- + + I'm for the boy + Who can stand on his head, + And who NEVER likes + To go to bed. + If there's more than one of them,-- + I'm for FRED! + + I bring a kiss + From far away; + It's travelled many + Miles to-day. + + Take it, my dear, + And send one back + To your old, loving + Uncle Jack. + +Don't you think that the children OUGHT to have had a good time if all +received as dear little valentines as these? + + + + +THE VENTURESOME RAT. + +He was a fine young rat and lived with his father and mother, and +brothers and sisters in a farm-cellar. + +Now this young rat was not of a very quiet disposition. In fact he was +quite gay, and thought the life in the farm-cellar was very dull and +stupid and longed to see more of the world. + +He sat near his father and mother one day when they were entertaining a +caller, a stranger who seemed to have travelled all over the world, and +told in a very interesting manner of the many wonderful things he had +seen. "Why," said the caller, "how you can be contented to live as you +do I cannot imagine, and to bring up your children in such ignorance +fills me with surprise. They would learn more in one night prowling +through the big house to which this farm belongs than they will learn +here for the rest of their lives." + +After this caller had taken his leave, the young rat decided that he +would venture forth himself. He would that very night visit the big +house and see what was to be seen there. He pretended to cuddle down on +his own bed, and go sound asleep. He was really watching his parents +out of the corners of his wicked eyes, and as soon as they were sound +asleep, off he started. He found his way to the house much more easily +than he had expected; in short, almost before he could believe it, he +was in a fine great pantry. A pantry whose shelves were covered with +such good things to eat as he had never seen. Rich cake, pies, cookies, +and cheese such as he had heard the caller describe. The first nibble +fairly melted in his mouth. + +After he had eaten his fill he began looking about the pantry for other +means of amusement. Suddenly he saw a curious thing; it seemed to be a +little house or hut made of wire. Inside the hut was a piece of cheese. +"I really think I have eaten enough," said the young rat, "but if that +cheese is so fine that it is kept in a house by itself it must be very +fine indeed." With these words he crawled into the hole in the side +of the hut and ate the cheese, but when, later, he tried to get out he +could not to save his life. + +Hours and hours he remained there until the night passed, and the day +came. Indeed he had fallen into a little nap when he was awakened by a +loud cry. Some one was shouting, "we've caught the rascal at last, now +we'll drown him." + +The poor little fellow knew they were wrong; he could not be the rascal +they meant, for this was the first time he had ever been in the house. +At that moment a boy's voice was heard to say. "Let me see him. No, you +shall not drown him. I will tame him if I can." + +And so it came about that the young rat did see a good deal of the +world, but how? THROUGH THE BARS OF A CAGE. + + + + +THE BEARS' FEAST. + +A man had come to town with two tame bears. They were very clever bears, +and could climb posts and trees, dance and turn summersets and do a +great many other tricks besides. + +One day the man was taken ill and had to stay in the house all day. He +thought the bears were locked up in the barn. But the bears decided +they would go for a walk by themselves. They managed to get away without +being seen and started in the direction of the schoolhouse. + +The children were at recess when they suddenly saw the bears. They were +frightened and ran screaming into the school-house. + +The bears were very tame and kind and wanted to make friends with the +children, so they followed them. + +The children jumped on the desks screaming and crying and the teachers +were frightened too. + +When the bears saw that they could not make friends or play they began +quietly walking about the school-room. + +Finally they came to the dressing-room where all the dinner-pails and +baskets were hanging. + +Smelling the food, they managed to knock some of the baskets down and +then such a feast as they had! + +They sat on their haunches and ate sandwiches and fruit and drank milk +out of the bottles just as the children would do. When they had eaten +enough they quietly left the school-house and trotted down the road +toward home. + +After the bears were gone the children became calm again and returned to +their lessons. + +The man and the bears disappeared the next day and were never seen +again. + + + + +PATTY-SAYINGS. + +"I've been reading Bible stories," Patty said, "and I believe That +Adam's name MEANT 'Morning,' Because his wife was 'Eve.'" + + + + +BABIE'S CURLS. + + Little Bessie Boothby + Had a little sister Sue: + And a baby brother, + Whom she thought the world of, too. + + Only one thing troubled + These dear little girls; + 'Though baby Tom was pretty, + He hadn't any curls. + + They found a box of vaseline + And rubbed it on his head; + But even then no hair would grow: + It made his head quite red. + + Bessie once was brushing + Dollie's golden hair, + When off it fell, alas! and left + Poor dollie's head quite bare. + + Little Sue was frightened, + But to comfort, Bessie said, + "Susie dear, do listen, + 'Tis just like babie's head. + + "Let's put the wig on baby Tom, + And then he'll have some curls; + I would not even be surprised + If he looked just like us girls." + + When Mamma saw her baby boy + With all this growth of hair, + She laughed until she nearly cried, + At the naughty little pair. + + + + +THE RED APPLES. + +One windy day in March Kitty Miller was on her way to school, when she +spied in a store window, a great pile of lovely red apples. + +"Oh," she said, "how lovely! if Mamma could only have one!" + +Kittie's mother was very poor. She had been a dress-maker ever since +Mr. Miller died, and had worked so hard to earn a living for herself and +Kitty that she had become sick. She was obliged to lie in bed all day, +and when Kitty was away at school, the house was very lonesome to the +invalid. + +When Kitty reached the school that day her thoughts were full of her +sick mother and the lovely apples. + +She was usually a good scholar, but to-day she made so many blunders +that the teacher looked at her in surprise. The little girl could +only sit at her desk, with her book before her, and dream of those red +apples. When school was dismissed, Kitty started slowly homeward. She +had gone only a short distance when she saw a gentleman in front of her +drop his purse. Running quickly forward she picked it up. It felt quite +heavy in Kittie's little hand. + +"There must be a good deal of money in it," thought Kitty. "How I wish +I could keep it. Then I could buy Mamma a red apple and so many other +things she needs." + +But she knew this would not be right, so she hurried after the +gentleman. Touching him on the arm, she said, "Please, Sir, you dropped +your purse." + +"Thank you, dear," said the gentleman taking the purse. + +Then noticing how poorly dressed she was, he said, "Why did you not keep +the purse, my child?" + +"Because that would be stealing," replied Kitty. "But," she continued +honestly, "before I thought I must give it back to you, I did wish I +could keep it, for then I could buy Mamma a red apple." + +The gentleman smiled kindly and said, "You are a good little girl to +return my purse. I would like to give you a little present and then you +can buy a red apple." + +He handed her a silver dollar and then bade her good-by. + +Kitty was so surprised that she started hastily for home, forgetting all +about the red apples until she stood in front of the store. + +The store-keeper happened to look out and saw the same little girl who +stood looking so longingly in at his window in the morning. He quickly +picked out the biggest, roundest, reddest apple he could find and taking +it out to Kitty said, "Would you like this, my dear?" + +She took the apple, looking so pleased and thanking him so prettily, +that the good man thought of it for many a day. When Kitty reached home +with her treasures she found her mother fast asleep. So she put the +apple and silver piece on a plate where her mother could see them when +she awoke. + +When Mrs. Miller was told the wonderful story, she kissed her little +daughter and said, "You see, dear, it always pays to be honest and +truthful." + + + + +BUBBLES. + +"Now, Tommie, what will you do while I write letters this morning?" + +"Blow soap bubbles, Mamma, please," and Tommie jumped up and down, +clapping his hands for pleasure. + +"Well, run and get me your pipe and bowl and I will mix you some suds." + +The soap-suds were soon ready, and Tommie took his favorite position on +the broad window-sill with the bowl in his lap. + +Mamma, writing in the next room, could hear the Oh's and squeals of +delight, as the bubbles grew larger and rounder. + +"Why is Tommie in all the bubbles?" asked the little boy at last. + +"Because," said Mamma, "the bubbles are like a mirror, and when my little +boy is near enough to look at them, he will be reflected in them, just +the same as when he looks in Mamma's long mirror." + +"But the mirror doesn't break like the bubbles," said Tommie. "Where do +they go when they break, Mamma?" + +"They evaporate, dear; that is a big word for my little boy. Spell +it after Mamma and then perhaps you will remember. E-v-a-p-o-r-a-t-e +evaporate." + +"What does evaporate mean," asked Tommie bringing out the long word with +a jerk. + +"Do you remember, dear," answered Mamma, "that early in the morning when +the grass is all wet with dew, my little boy cannot run in it without +his rubbers? But before long it is all dry and then my little boy takes +off his rubbers and does not get his feet wet. The sun and the air +absorb or suck up the water and carry it off to their homes. Now, the +bubbles are made of a little water and a little air. The water is on the +end of the pipe, and Tommie blows the air into the pipe, and the bubble +grows big and round. When it breaks, the air sucks up the water, which +was the outside of the bubble, and the air which was inside mixes with +the air in the room." + +"Now do you suppose you can tell Papa all about it, when he comes home +to dinner?" asked Mamma. + +"Of course I can," said Tommie, proudly. "Haven't you just told me all +about it?" + + + + +A HORSE WHO WORE SNOW SHOES. + +Mr. Brown had to go to his camp at Pine Tree Valley, which is in the +midst of the mountains in California. + +His men were cutting down the giant trees, and piling them in readiness +for the Spring freshet, or floods of the river, when the snows melted. +Then they would slide them down the mountain sides to the little +villages below. + +There was a great deal of snow on the mountains, and Mr. Brown knew it +would be hard work climbing to the camp, but Lady Gray was strong, and +used to it. + +Lady Gray was Mr. Brown's pet horse, and carried him everywhere. She was +always happy when her master was in the saddle. + +But to-day the snow was very deep and soon Mr. Brown had to get off, +throw away the saddle, and lead her. They had to stop very often, and +lean against the trees and rocks for support, while they rested and +regained their breath. + +In places the snow was so deep and soft, that they sank above their +knees. Late in the afternoon they reached the camp nearly exhausted, and +it was several days before they were able to return. + +The snow was still deep and Mr. Brown knew he must go back on +snow-shoes, but he was afraid Lady Gray would have to be left behind. + +Finally one of the men suggested making her some snow-shoes. They cut +four round pieces of board, twelve inches across, and fastened them on +with rope. Lady Gray seemed to understand what they were for and tried +very hard to walk in them. + +She was very awkward at first and could hardly stand up, but by +practicing a little every day she was soon able to manage nicely. + +So Mr. Brown and Lady Gray both returned on snow-shoes, and how every +one did laugh when they saw them. + +But Lady Gray never could have done it if she had not tried. + + + + +THE ANGRY BOBOLINK. + + Pretty little bobolink + In your satin coat, + Trimmed with white across the neck + Black about the throat, + Why so angry do you seem? + Why so fierce your mien? + That you're scolding somebody + Plainly can be seen. + + "Don't you know," says bobolink, + As he shakes his head, + That my nest is hidden in + This soft grassy bed? + Somebody has come too near, + And I wish to say + There is no admittance here + Pass the other way. + + "If my gentle little wife + Sits so calm above, + It's because she knows I'll guard + This dear nest we love." + Fear not, pretty bobolink, + Sing your joyous song, + Never will I trouble you, + Sing, the whole day long. + + + + +HOW HIRAM SPENT HIS SHRIMP MONEY. + +"I wish my mother had a ring like those the ladies wear at the hotel," +said Hiram Green to himself one day. "There isn't one of those ladies as +pretty as my mother; she ought to wear rings too." + +Hiram was the son of a fisherman, but the fisherman had died when Hiram +was a little boy. Hiram's mother took in sewing and fancy work to earn +money to support herself and her son. He helped her what he could out of +school hours, and in vacation. He had two uncles who wad taught him how +to catch shrimps. With the money he earned by selling them he could buy +things for his own use or pleasure. He had a bank almost full of what he +called his "shrimp-money." He did not mean to count his money until the +bank was full. + +Now Hiram loved his mother more than anything else in the world. +Whenever he dreamed of being rich some time, as boys often do, it was +not for himself he wanted the money, but that his dear little mother +might drive in a carriage, drawn by a pair of horses with clanking +chains. + +The sight of the flashing gems on the hands of some of the summer +visitors at the fishing village in which he lived had added a new +article to the list of beautiful things his mother was some day to +own. He had heard that just one single diamond was sometimes worth five +hundred dollars or more. This had discouraged him very much. But one +day happening to pass a shop in the neighboring town he saw a number of +rings displayed in the window. Diamond rings which flashed and sparkled, +it seemed to him, just as those worn by the ladies in the hotels. He +stopped fascinated, ana pressed his face against the glass eagerly to +see if any prices were marked upon them. Imagine his surprise when he +saw upon the largest one a tag marked $4.75. He looked again to see +if he had not made a mistake. Perhaps it was $475.00. But no, he knew +enough about figures to see that he was right the first time. + +Home he went as fast as he could get there, and ran up into his bedroom. +Then, for the first time since he had begun to save his "shrimp-money" +he opened his bank and counted its contents. "Three dollars and +twenty-two cents!" he cried, "almost enough. I was going to buy +something for myself this time, but I'll have that ring before another +week." + +Hiram worked early and late for the next few days. He caught more +shrimps than he had ever caught in the same length of time, and sold +them readily. + +"I think there must be something you are wanting, very much, my boy," +said his mother. + +"Yes, there is," replied Hiram. + +At the end of the week he had the sum he desired. Hurrying to the shop +where he had seen the ring, before going inside he gave one hasty, +almost frightened look into the window. Could it be gone! No, there it +was flashing and sparkling as before. + +That evening, he placed it on his mother's finger. She looked at it in +surprise. "It is yours, mother," he cried, proudly, "your very own, I +bought it with my shrimp money. I was determined my mother should have a +ring as handsome as those ladies wear." + +"My dear boy," said his mother, while something as bright as the shining +stone flashed in her eyes, "Not one of those ladies can value their +rings as I shall value mine." + +Years afterwards Hiram learned that what he had bought for a diamond was +only a bit of glass. + +"Did you know it then, mother?" he asked. + +His mother nodded. "And you never told me." + +"It was brighter to me than any real diamond," she said, "the brightness +I saw flash in it was the unselfish love of my boy." + + + + +THE ANT'S HOUSE. + +"What a curious picture that is at the head of this story." That is what +I think I hear some of the "Little Ones" say. "What does it mean?" some +one asks. It looks like a procession of ants. That is just what it is. +A procession of ants all marching off to find a new home. Some one has +destroyed their old one. Let us hope no one did it on purpose. + +The ants are very busy and very nice little creatures. If their houses +are stepped upon, or injured so as to be useless the ants immediately go +to work to repair damages. They do not sit down and fuss about it first, +but I have no doubt they let each other know what they think. And how +do you suppose they do this? By touching each other with their tiny +feelers. + +After they have talked in this way, and decided what is to be done some +of them take the eggs from the ruins and carry them to a safe place. +Look carefully at the pictures, and you will see that almost every ant +is carrying an egg. They know that if they lose the eggs all the young +ants inside the eggs will be lost too. + +While ants do not seem to have a very keen sense of hearing, their sense +of smell is very strong. And where do you think it lies? In the same +little feelers with which they talk to each other. The first ant's +house seen in the round picture has been cut in two to show you how +wonderfully these little creatures can build. + +It was made by the ants that live in tropical countries. The house at +the back of the picture has not been disturbed. Does it not look as if +an architect had planned it? Ask some of the older people in your family +to tell you something more about ants. There is much more of interest in +regard to them than I have space to write you. + + + + +THE FOOLISH PUG. + + A pompous pug once thought that he + A dashing swell would try to be, + And on his neighbors one and all, + Sat out to make a stylish call. + + He wore a glass upon one eye, + And on his head a silk hat high; + A wide, stiff collar around his throat, + And last an English overcoat. + + So fine and splendid was his air + The very birds stood still to stare, + As walking on his two hind feet + He sauntered boldly down the street. + + But oh, alas! it comes to all + To learn that pride must have a fall, + And e'er the corner he had turned + Poor pug that bitter lesson learned. + + A saucy maid with one great whack, + Brought down her broom upon his back, + And as he raised a frightened wail + Another soused him from her pail. + + Poor pug! that night he sat and thought + Of all the trouble he had brought + Upon himself, because that he + A foolish dude had tried to be. + + + + +THE SILHOUETTE PARTY + +"Children," said Grandpa, one afternoon, "I am going to build a bonfire +this evening, to burn up this rubbish, so you may have a silhouette +party." + +"Why, what is a silhouette party?" asked Lucy, opening her eyes very +wide. + +"I know," said Ralph, "it is funny black pictures on something white." + +"That's right," laughed Grandpa. "Now you fly round and write your +friends and Grandma and I will get everything ready." + +When the young people arrived at half past seven, they found a blazing +fire, and in front of it was stretched a sheet between two large apple +trees. + +Quite a distance in front of the sheet were some seats, where Grandpa +told some of the children to sit, while the others took part in the +pictures. + +He then disappeared with them in a tent close by where Grandma was +waiting to dress them in their different costumes. Shouts of laughter +came from the tent as the children put on their odd dresses; indeed +there was so much fun that it took quite some time. + +When all was ready Grandpa came out and addressing the children who were +waiting said, "These are to be Mother Goose pictures, which you will +all know. You must guess whom they represent and the one who guesses +correctly the largest number will receive a prize." + +He threw a large pine knot on the fire, which burned up brightly, and +there the children saw a shadow on the sheet, a little bent figure with +a broom over its shoulder. + +"The old woman who swept the cob-webs out of the sky," cried some one. + +Following this, came a figure with a long cloak and tall peaked hat, +leading a dog. + +"Old Mother Hubbard," guessed another. + +Then came a boy and a girl carrying a pail. + +"Jack and Jill," chorused the children. + +After this a girl with a shepherd's crook. + +"Little Bo-peep," again was guessed. + +"Now," said Grandpa, "it is time the others had their turn at acting." + +So the exchange being made, the pictures continued. + +"Jack Horner," "Little Miss Muffet," "Old King Cole," and "Mary, who had +a little lamb," followed in quick succession. + +Then Grandpa announced that the pictures were over. + +"As we cannot decide who has guessed the largest number of pictures," +said he, "I will give you each a prize." And he passed them each a card. + +It proved to be a picture of Ralph and Lucy cut from black paper and +pasted on a white card. + +"These," said Grandpa, "are silhouette pictures too. Will you always +know what a silhouette picture is now?" + +"Oh yes," said the children. + + + + +THE SNOW BIRDS. + +It had snowed very hard. Ralph and Edward, who were visiting Grandma in +the country, had to stay in the house all day. + +When they went to bed it was still snowing, and every time they woke up +during the night, they could hear the wind sighing and whistling around +the house, and through he branches of the old pine tres. + +But the next morning the sun was shining brightly. Such a glorious day! +How the branches of the pine trees did sparkle. + +"It looks as if they had been sprinkled with gold dust and diamonds," +exclaimed Ralph. + +"Oh Grandma! Please do hurry breakfast. We are going out to build a +fort," cried the boys, bursting into the dining-room. + +Grandma smiled and told them to eat a good breakfast, for building a +fort was hard work. + +They were soon out in the snow, and what a splendid time they did have. + +The fort did not grow very fast, for they had to stop so often to +snow-ball each other. + +When Grandma called them in to dinner they wondered where the time had +gone since breakfast. + +After dinner, Ralph was looking out of the window, when he spied two +little birds cuddled up on a branch of a pine-tree. + +"Oh, Edward! come here," he called. "See those poor little birds. They +look half frozen and so hungry." + +"Poor little things," replied Edward. "Doesn't it make you feel mean to +think what a jolly time we had this morning out of the snow which has +covered up the places where they get their food?" + +"Let us get some food from Grandma and throw it out to them," said +Ralph. "Perhaps they will find it." + +The little birds were soon chirpping and flying about merrily and Ralph +said it sounded as if they kept saying, "thank you." + +Will not other little children be as kind as Ralph and Edward? + + + + +A KIND HEART. + +The day Ethel Brown was seven years old she had a tea party. + +Mrs. Brown had sent tiny cards of invitation to all the little girls on +the street to come and bring their dolls. She also sent one to Nellie +Day, her washer-woman's little girl, at Ethel's special request. + +"She is a nice little girl," said Ethel, "and doesn't ever go anywhere +like me. May I have her at my party?" + +"That is right, little daughter," said Mrs. Brown. "Always be kind to +those who have less pleasure than yourself. Of course she may come to +your party." + +They all arrived at four o'clock and looked very pretty in their white +dresses and bright ribbons, and the dolls looked nearly as pretty as the +little girls themselves. + +Ethel noticed that Nellie Day did not have a doll with her. "So," thought +she, "I will ask her to pour the tea and then she won't feel bad because +she hasn't one." + +The little girls talked and played games and Ethel's grown up sister +played on the piano and then they sang. + +"Now," said Mrs. Brown, coming into the room, "if you will choose +partners, Florence will play for you and you can march out to tea." + +During the confusion Ethel said to her mamma, "I shall ask Nellie to +pour the tea because she has not any doll." + +"Very well, dear," answered Mrs. Brown. + +But when they turned to find her, she was not with the others. + +"Where can she be?" exclaimed Ethel. + +And then began the search. Tea was delayed and they hunted the house +over for her. Finally Mrs. Brown went out on a side porch seldom used, +and there she found the little girl. + +The child had brought a cushion to sit on, and clasped tightly in her +arms were three of Ethel's dolls. Mrs. Brown persuaded her to come in +with the promise that she might keep the dolls. + +So Ethel rang the bell, and they all marched in to tea again, with +Nellie Day leading the line, holding her three dollies. + +"Mamma," said Ethel, as the little girls were going home, "may I give +Nellie Day the dolls? I have so many and she has not one." + +"Yes indeed," replied Mrs. Brown, as she kissed her little daughter. "I am +sure it will make her very happy." + +And Nellie Day went home that night, the happiest little girl in the +town. + + + + +TOWSER TALKS. + +I am not a big dog and I don't know very much, but I know more than I +used to. The reason why I know more than I used to is because I asked +Carlo some questions once. I asked him what made him so gaunt and thin +and why he had such an enquiring expression on his face and such a hump +on the top of his head. He didn't answer right away, and--I noticed the +enquiring expression vanished. He looked quite decided. Then something +happened,--I don't know exactly what, but Mary, the cook, told the +butler that it made her dizzy just to look on. And then Carlo said:-- + +"One reason why I am gaunt and thin is because I am not a little +up-start of a pug,--of no earthly use under Heaven, and nothing to do +but waddle around and accumulate fat. + +"The reason I have an enquiring expression on my face is because I am +ever on the outlook to anticipate my master's will and do his slightest +bidding. + +"As for the hump on the top of my head, that is a mark given by the +Creator only to dogs that have intellect. Pray that yours may grow!" + +That is all he said, but it was enough for one day and has furnished me +food for thought ever since. + + + + +JUST AS SHE PLEASED. + +"Now, children, I am tired of you; I am going down stairs for the rest +of the morning," and Polly started to leave the nursery. + +"Put your dolls away before you go," said Nurse, "I don't want them left +in the middle of the floor." + +"I won't. I did not put them there." Polly tossed her head and ran +quickly out of the room. + +Nurse had baby in her lap and could not run after her. + +The little girl went to the kitchen, but cook was cross and said she +would not have Polly bothering her. + +Then she went to the library hoping to find her Uncle Edward, but he was +not there. + +She wandered from room to room and could find nothing to amuse her. + +She wanted to go back into the nursery, but she had told a lie when she +said she had not put the dolls on the floor, and she was afraid to. + +She felt lonesome and a few tears ran down her face. + +At that moment Uncle Edward entered the room, and, seeing the doleful +little face, took her in his arms, tossing her into the air. + +As he did so, he knocked over a vase which fell to the floor, broken. + +"Oh! see what you have done," cried Polly. + +"I don't care. I shall say I didn't do it," replied Uncle Edward. + +"Oh! But that would be a lie," said Polly. + +"Well, who put the dolls on the nursery floor?" + +"Nurse must have told you. But I am sorry," and Polly began to cry +again. + +"There, there!" said Uncle Edward. "We will go up and tell Nurse we are +sorry." + +They went up to the nursery but Nurse and baby had gone and the dolls +were still on the floor. + +Polly wanted to play circus and Uncle Edward made believe he was the +elephant and gave the dollies a ride. He kicked so once that black Diana +fell off and broke her neck. + +After a while Nurse came in with baby and interrupted the frolic. + +When Polly told her she was sorry because she had told a lie, Nursie +said she would forgive her and Polly promised not to do so again. + + + + +THE WORKING TOOLS OF INSECTS. + +I wonder if you know that the smallest insects you see about you have +tools given them to do their work with. There is a little fly called +a saw-fly, because it has a saw to work with. It is really a very much +nicer saw than you could make, if you were ever so old. + +The fly uses it to make places where the eggs will be safe. What is more +strange, it has a sort of homemade glue which fastens them where they +are laid. + +Some insects have cutting instruments that work just as your scissors +do. The poppy-bee is one of them, whose work is wonderful. This bee has +a boring tool, too. Its nest is usually made in old wood. This borer +cleans out the nest ready for use. When all is ready the insect cuts out +pieces of leaves to line the nest and to make the cells. These linings +are out in the shape of the cells. You, would be surprised to see the +care taken to have every piece of just the right size, so that it will +fit. When they are fitted, the pieces are nicely fastened together and +put into the nest. + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Cinderella; or, The Little Glass +Slipper and Other Stories, by Anonymous + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK CINDERELLA AND OTHERS *** + +***** This file should be named 1599.txt or 1599.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/1/5/9/1599/ + +Produced by Dianne Bean + +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. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project +Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you +charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you +do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the +rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose +such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and +research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do +practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is +subject to the trademark license, especially commercial +redistribution. + + + +*** START: FULL LICENSE *** + +THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE +PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK + +To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free +distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work +(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project +Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project +Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at +http://gutenberg.org/license). + + +Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic works + +1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to +and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property +(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all +the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy +all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. +If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the +terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or +entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. + +1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be +used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who +agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few +things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works +even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See +paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement +and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. See paragraph 1.E below. + +1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" +or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the +collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an +individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are +located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from +copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative +works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg +are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project +Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by +freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of +this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with +the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by +keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project +Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. + +1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern +what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in +a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check +the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement +before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or +creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project +Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning +the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United +States. + +1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: + +1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate +access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently +whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the +phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project +Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, +copied or distributed: + +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 + +1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived +from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is +posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied +and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees +or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work +with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the +work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 +through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the +Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or +1.E.9. + +1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted +with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution +must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional +terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked +to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the +permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. + +1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this +work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. + +1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this +electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without +prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with +active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project +Gutenberg-tm License. + +1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, +compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any +word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or +distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than +"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version +posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org), +you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a +copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon +request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other +form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. + +1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, +performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works +unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. + +1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing +access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided +that + +- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from + the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method + you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is + owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he + has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the + Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments + must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you + prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax + returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and + sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the + address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to + the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." + +- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies + you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he + does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm + License. You must require such a user to return or + destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium + and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of + Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any + money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the + electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days + of receipt of the work. + +- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free + distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set +forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from +both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael +Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the +Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. + +1.F. + +1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable +effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread +public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm +collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain +"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or +corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual +property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a +computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by +your equipment. + +1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right +of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project +Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all +liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal +fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT +LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE +PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH F3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE +TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE +LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR +INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH +DAMAGE. + +1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a +defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can +receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a +written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you +received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with +your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with +the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a +refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity +providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to +receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy +is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further +opportunities to fix the problem. + +1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth +in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER +WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO +WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. + +1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied +warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. +If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the +law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be +interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by +the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any +provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. + +1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the +trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone +providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance +with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, +promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, +harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, +that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do +or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm +work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any +Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. + + +Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm + +Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of +electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers +including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists +because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from +people in all walks of life. + +Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the +assistance they need, is critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's +goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will +remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure +and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. +To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation +and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 +and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. + + +Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive +Foundation + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit +501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the +state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal +Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification +number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at +http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent +permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. + +The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. +Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered +throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at +809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email +business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact +information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official +page at http://pglaf.org + +For additional contact information: + Dr. Gregory B. Newby + Chief Executive and Director + gbnewby@pglaf.org + + +Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation + +Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide +spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of +increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be +freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest +array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations +($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt +status with the IRS. + +The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating +charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United +States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a +considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up +with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations +where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To +SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any +particular state visit http://pglaf.org + +While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we +have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition +against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who +approach us with offers to donate. + +International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make +any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from +outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. + +Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation +methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other +ways including checks, online payments and credit card donations. +To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate + + +Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. + +Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm +concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared +with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project +Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. + + +Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. +unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + http://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. |