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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/16123-8.txt b/16123-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..d9e0ed3 --- /dev/null +++ b/16123-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,6072 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of St. Nicholas Magazine for Boys and Girls, +Vol. 5, Nov 1877-Nov 1878, by Various + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: St. Nicholas Magazine for Boys and Girls, Vol. 5, Nov 1877-Nov 1878 + Scribner's Illustrated + +Author: Various + +Editor: Mary Mapes Dodge + +Release Date: June 23, 2005 [EBook #16123] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ST. NICHOLAS MAGAZINE *** + + + + +Produced by Juliet Sutherland, Lesley Halamek and the +Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + + +[Illustration: A BRAVE GIRL.] + +[See Letter-Box.] + + * * * * * + + + + +ST. NICHOLAS. + + + + + * * * * * + +VOL. V. JUNE, 1878. No. 8. + +[Copyright, 1878, by Scribner & Co.] + + * * * * * + + + + + + +A TRIUMPH. + +BY CELIA THAXTER. + + + Little Roger up the long slope rushing + Through the rustling corn, + Showers of dewdrops from the broad leaves brushing + In the early morn, + + At his sturdy little shoulder bearing + For a banner gay, + Stem of fir with one long shaving flaring + In the wind away! + + Up he goes, the summer sunshine flushing + O'er him in his race, + Sweeter dawn of rosy childhood blushing + On his radiant face. + + If he can but set his standard glorious + On the hill-top low, + Ere the sun climbs the clear sky victorious, + All the world aglow! + + So he presses on with childish ardor, + Almost at the top! + Hasten, Roger! Does the way grow harder? + Wherefore do you stop? + + From below the corn-stalks tall and slender + Comes a plaintive cry-- + Turns he for an instant from the splendor + Of the crimson sky, + + Wavers, then goes flying toward the hollow, + Calling loud and clear: + "Coming, Jenny! Oh, why did you follow? + Don't you cry, my dear!" + + Small Janet sits weeping 'mid the daisies; + "Little sister sweet, + Must you follow Roger?" Then he raises + Baby on her feet, + + Guides her tiny steps with kindness tender, + Cheerfully and gay, + All his courage and his strength would lend her + Up the uneven way, + + Till they front the blazing East together; + But the sun has rolled + Up the sky in the still Summer weather, + Flooding them with gold. + + All forgotten is the boy's ambition, + Low the standard lies, + Still they stand, and gaze--a sweeter vision + Ne'er met mortal eyes. + + That was splendid; Roger, that was glorious, + Thus to help the weak; + Better than to plant your flag victorious + On earth's highest peak! + + + + + + +ONE SATURDAY. + +BY SARAH WINTER KELLOGG. + + +It was an autumn day in the Indian summer time,--that one Saturday. +The Grammar Room class of Budville were going nutting; that is, eight +of them were going,--"our set," as they styled themselves. Besides the +eight of "our set," Bob Trotter was going along as driver, to take +care of the horses and spring wagon on arrival at the woods, while the +eight were taking care of the nutting and other fun. Bob was fourteen +and three months, but he was well-grown. Beside, he was very handy at +all kinds of work, as he ought to have been, considering that he had +been kept at work since his earliest recollection, to the detriment of +his schooling. + +It had been agreed that the boys were to pay for the team, while the +girls were to furnish the lunch. In order to economize space, it was +arranged that all the contributions to the lunch should be sent on +Friday to Mrs. Hooks, Clara of that surname undertaking to pack it all +into one large basket. + +It was a trifle past seven o'clock Saturday morning when Bob Trotter +drove up to Mr. Hooks's to take in Clara, she being the picnicker +nearest his starting point. He did not know that she was a put +off-er. She was just trimming a hat for the ride when Bob's wagon was +announced. She hadn't begun her breakfast, though all the rest of the +family had finished the meal, while the lunch which should have been +basketed the previous night was scattered over the house from the +parlor center-table to the wood-shed. + +Clara opened a window and called to Bob that she would be ready in +a minute. Then she appealed to everybody to help her. There was a +hurly-burly, to be sure. She asked mamma to braid her hair; little +brother to bring her blue hair-ribbon from her bureau drawer; little +Lucy to bring a basket for the prospective nuts; big brother to get +the inevitable light shawl which mamma would be sure to make her take +along. She begged papa to butter some bread for her, and cut her steak +into mouthfuls to facilitate her breakfast, while the maid was put to +collecting the widely scattered lunch. Mamma put baby, whom she was +feeding, off her lap--he began to scream; little brother left his +doughnut on a chair--the cat began to eat it; little Lucy left her +doll on the floor--big brother stepped on its face, for he did not +leave his book, but tried to read as he went to get the light shawl; +papa laid down his cigar to prepare the put-offer's breakfast--it went +out; the maid dropped the broom--the wind blew the trash from the +dust-pan over the swept floor. Clara continued to trim the hat. As she +was putting in the last pin, mamma reached the tip end of the hair, +and called for the ribbon to tie the braid. "Here 'tis," said little +brother. "Mercy!" cried Clara, "he's got my new blue sash, stringing +it along through all the dust. Goose! do you think I could wear that +great long wide thing on my hair?" Little brother said "Scat!" and +rushed to the rescue of his doughnut, while Lucy came in dragging the +clothes-basket, and big brother entered with mamma's black lace shawl. + +"Well, you told me to get a light one," he replied to Clara's +impatient remonstrance, while Lucy whimpered that they wouldn't have +enough nuts if the clothes-basket wasn't taken along. + +However, when Bob Trotter had secured Clara Hooks, the other girls +were quickly picked up, and so were the four boys, for Bob was brisk +and so were his horses. Dick Hart was the last called for. He had been +ready since quarter past six, and with his forehandedness had worried +his friends as effectually as the put-offer had hers. When the wagon +at last appeared with its load of fun and laughter, he felt too +ill-humored to return the merry greetings. + +"A pretty time to be coming around!" he grumbled, climbing to his +seat. "I've been waiting three hours." + +"You houghtn't to 'ave begun to wait so hearly," said Bob, who +had some peculiarities of pronunciation derived from his English +parentage. + +"It would be better for you to keep quiet," Dick retorted. "You ought +to have your wages cut, coming around here after nine o'clock. We +ought to be out to the woods this minute." + +"'Taint no fault of mine that we haint," said Bob, touching up his +horses. + +"Whose fault is it, if it isn't yours?" Dick asked. + +Clara Hooks was blushing. + +"Let the sparrer tell who killed Cock Robin," was Bob's enigmatical +reply. + +"What's he talking about?" said Julius Zink. + +"I dunno, and he don't either," replied Dick. + +"He doesn't know that or anything else," said Sarah Ketchum. + +It was not possible for Sarah to hear a dispute and not become an open +partisan. + +"I know a lady when I see 'er," said Bob. + +"You don't," said Dick, warmly. "You can't parse horse. I heard you +try at school once." + +"I can curry him," said Bob. + +"You said horse was an article." + +"So he is, and a very useful harticle." + +One of the girls nudged her neighbor, and in a loud whisper intimated +her opinion that Bob was getting the better of Dick. At this Dick grew +warmer and more boisterous, maintaining that the boys ought not to pay +Bob the stipulated price since they were so late in starting. + +"Hif folks haint ready I can't 'elp it," said Bob. + +"Who wasn't ready?" demanded Constance Faber. "You didn't wait for me, +I know." + +"And you didn't wait for me or Mat Snead," added Sarah Ketchum, +"because we walked down to meet the wagon." + +Clara Hooks's face had grown redder and redder during the +investigation; but if Clara _was_ a put-offer, she was not a coward or +a sneak. + +"He waited for me," she now said, "but I think it's mean to tell it +wherever he goes." + +"I haint told it nowheres." + +"You just the same as told; you hinted." + +"Wouldn't 'ave 'inted ef they hadn't kept slappin' at me," was Bob's +defense, which did not go far toward soothing the mortified Clara. + +Not all of this party were pert talkers. Two were modest: Valentine +Duke and Mat Snead. These sat together, forming what the others called +the Quaker settlement, from the silence which prevailed in it. The +silence was now broken by a remark from Valentine Duke irrelevant to +any preceding. + +"Nuts are plentier at Hawley's Grove than at Crow Roost," he jerked, +out, and then locked up again. + +"Say we go there, then," said Kit Pott. + +"Let's take the vote on it. Those in favor of Hawley's say aye." + +The ayes came storming out, as though each was bound to be the first +and loudest. + +"Contrary, no," continued the self-made president; and Bob Trotter +voted solidly "No!" + +"We didn't ask you to vote," said Dick, returning to his quarrel. + +Dick was constitutionally and habitually pugnacious, but he had such +a cordial way of forgiving everybody he injured that people couldn't +stay mad with him. Indeed, he was quite a favorite. + +"I'm the other side of the 'ouse," Bob answered Dick. "You can't carry +this hidee through without my 'elp." + +"We hired you to take us to the woods." + +"You 'ired me and my wagin and them harticles--whoa!" (Bob's +"harticles" stopped)--"to take you to Crow Roost. You didn't 'ire me +for 'Awley's, and I haint goin' ther' without a new contract." + +"What difference is it to you where we go?" Dick demanded. "You belong +to us for the day." + +"Four miles further and back,--height miles makes a difference to the +harticles." + +Murmurs of disapproval rendered Dick bold. + +"Suppose we say you've _got_ to take us to Hawley's," he said, warmly. + +"Suppose you do," said Bob, coolly. + +"I'd like to know what you'd say about it," said Dick, warmly. + +"Say it and I'll let you know," said Bob, coolly,--so very coolly that +Dick was cooled. + +A timely prudence enforced a momentary silence. He forebore taking a +position he might not be able to hold. "Say, boys, shall we _make_ him +take us to the grove?" + +Bob smiled. Val Duke smiled, too, in his unobtrusive way, and +suggested modestly, "We ought to pay extra for extra work." + +"Pay him another quarter and be done with it," said Kit Pott. + +Beside being good-natured, Kit didn't enjoy the stopping there in the +middle of the road. + +"It's mighty easy to pay out other people's money," sneered Dick, +resenting it that Kit seemed going over to the enemy. + +Kit's face was aflame. His father had refused him any money to +contribute toward the picnic expenses, and here was Dick taunting him +with it before all the girls. + +"You boys teased me to come along because you didn't know where to +find the nuts," said Kit. + +The girls began to nudge each other, making whimpered explanations and +commentaries, agreeing that is was mean in Dick to mind Kit, and Clara +Hooks spoke up boldly; + +"I wanted Kit to come along because he's pleasant and isn't forever +quarreling." + +"Oh!" Dick sneered more moderately, "we all know you like Kit Pott. +You and he had better get hitched; then, you'd be pot-hooks." + +This set everybody to laughing, even Dirk's adversary, Bob Trotter. + +"Pretty bright!" said Julius Zink. + +"Bright, but not pretty," said Mat Snead, blushing at the sound of her +voice. + +"Hurrah! Mat's waked up," said Julius. + +"It's the first time she's spoken since we started," said Sarah +Ketchum. + +"This isn't the first time you've spoken," Mat quietly retorted, +blushing over again. + +Everybody laughed again, even Sarah Ketchum. + +"Sarah always puts in her oar when there's any water," said Constance +Faber. + +"I want to know how long we're to sit here, standing in the middle of +the road," said Julius. + +Again everybody laughed. When grammar-school boys and girls are on +a picnic, a thing needn't be very witty or very funny to make them +laugh. From the ease with which this party exploded into laughter, +it may be perceived that in spite of the high words and the pop-gun +firing, there was no deep-seated ill-humor among them. + +"To Crow Roost and be done with it!" said Dick. + +"All right," assented several voices. + +"Crow Roost, Bob, by the lightning express," said Dick, with +enthusiasm. + +"But, as you were so particular," said Sarah to Bob, "we're going to +be, too. We aint going to give you any lunch unless you pay for it." + +"Not a mouthful," said Clara. + +"Not even a crumb," said Constance. + +Nobody saw any dismay in Bob's face. + +I don't intend to tell you about all the sayings and all the laughter +of those boys and girls on their way to Crow Roost. They wouldn't like +to have me, and you wouldn't. Bob Trotter ran over a good many grubs +and way-side stumps, and at every jolt Constance screamed, and Dick +scolded and then laughed. Mat Snead spoke three words. She and +Valentine had been sitting as though in profound meditation for some +forty minutes, when he said: "Quite a ride!" + +"Very; no, quite," she answered, in confusion. + +Sarah Ketchum said everything that Mat didn't say. She was Mat's +counterpart. + +All grew enthusiastic as they approached the woods, and when the wagon +stopped they poured over the side in an excited way. + +"What shall we do with the lunch-basket?" + +"Leave it in the wagon," said Sarah Ketchum, whose counsel, Kit said, +was as free as the waters of the school pump. + +Clara objected to leaving it. Bob would eat everything up. "Let's take +it along." + +"Why, no," said Julius. + +He was the largest of the boys, and, according to the knightly code, +he remembered the carrying of the basket would devolve upon him. + +"Yes, we must carry it along," Sarah Ketchum insisted. "Bob sha'n't +have a chance at that basket if I have to carry it around on my back." + +Constance, too, said, "Take it along." + +"It's easy enough for you girls to insist on having the basket toted +around," said Dick, "because girls can't carry anything when there are +boys along; but suppose you were a poor little fellow like Jule." + +"I wont have to climb the trees with it on my back, will I?" said +Julius. "I'll tell you," he continued, lowering his tone--Bob had +heard all the preceding remarks--"we'll hang our basket on a hickory +limb. It will be safe from hogs, and the leaves will hide it from +Bob." + +This proposition was approved, and the basket was carried off a short +distance and slyly swung into a sapling. Then the eight went scurrying +through the woods, leaving Bob with the horses. Wherever they saw a +lemon-tinted tree-top against the sky or crowded into one of those +fine autumn bouquets a clump of trees can make, there rushed a squad +of boys, each with his basket, followed by a squad of girls, each with +her basket. + +But in a very short time the girls were tired and the boys hungry. All +agreed to go back to the lunch. So back they hurried, the nuts rolling +about over the bottoms of the baskets. Julius had the most nuts; he +had eleven. Mat had the smallest number; she had one. + +[Illustration: "'I BELIEVE SHE'S GONE DRY,' SAID KIT."] + +"I hope you girls brought along lots of goodies," said Dick. "Seems to +me I never was so hungry in my life." + +"I believe boys are always hungry," said Sarah Ketchum. + +Val Duke was leading the party. He got along faster than the others, +because he wasn't turning around every minute to say something. He +made an electrifying announcement: + +"A cow's in the basket!" + +"Gee-whiz!" said Dick, rushing at the cow. "Thunder!" said Julius, and +he gathered a handful of dried leaves and hurled them at the beast. +Kit said "Ruination!" and threw his cap. Clara said "Begone!" and +flapped her handkerchief in a scaring way. Sarah Ketchum said, "Shew! +Scat!" and pitched a small tree-top. It hit Dick and Valentine. +Constance said "Wretch!" and didn't throw anything. Mat didn't say +anything and threw her hickory-nut. Val threw his basket, and hung +it on the cow's horn. She shook it off walked away a few yards, then +turned and stared at the party. + +"Lunch is gone, every smitch of it!" said Kit. + +"Hope it'll kill her dead!" said Sarah Ketchum. + +"We'd better have left it in the wagon. Bob couldn't have eaten it +all," said Clara. + +"I wish Jule had taken it along," said Dick. + +"I wish Dick had taken it along," said Julius. + +"But what're we going to do?" said Constance. + +"We might buy something if anybody lived about here." + +"There isn't any money." + +"Dick might give his note, with the rest of us as indorsers," said +Julius. + + +"We might play tramps and beg something." + +"But nobody lives around here." + +"Hurrah!" said Dick, who had been prowling about among the slain. +"Here's a biscuit, and here's a half loaf of bread." + +"But they're all mussed and dirty," said Sarah. + +"You might pare them," Mat suggested. + +"Yes, peel them like potatoes," said Julius. + +"But what are these among so many? The days of miracles are past." + +"What shall we do?" said one and another. + +"Milk the cow," said Mat. + +Boys and girls clapped their hands with enthusiasm, and cried +"Splendid!" "Capital!" etc. + +"I'll milk her," said Dick. "Hand me that cup. I'm obliged to the cow +for not eating it." + +The cow happened to be a gentle animal, so she did not run away at +Dick's approach, yet she seemed determined that he should not get into +milking position. She kept her broad, white-starred face toward him, +and her large, liquid eyes on his, turning, turning, turning, as he +tried over and over to approach her flanks, while the others stood +watching in mute expectancy. + +"Give her some feed," said Mat. + +"Feed! I shouldn't think she could bear the sight of anything more +after all that lunch," said Dick. "Beside, there isn't any feed about +here." + +Somebody suggested that Bob Trotter had brought some hay and corn +for his horses. Dick proposed that Julius should go for some. Julius +proposed that Dick should go. Valentine offered to bring it, and +brought it--some corn in a basket. + +"Suke! Suke, Bossy! Suke, Bossy! Suke!" Dick yelled as though the cow +had been two hundred feet off instead of ten. He held out the basket. +She came forward, sniffed at the corn, threw up her lip and took a +bite. Dick set the basket under her nose and hastened to put himself +in milking position. But that was the end of it. He could not milk a +drop. + +"I can't get the hang of the thing," he said. + +"Let me try," said Kit. + +Dick gave way, and Kit pulled and squeezed and tugged and twisted, +while the others shouted with laughter. + +"I believe she's gone dry," said Kit, very red in the face. At this +the laughers laughed anew. + +"Some of you who are so good at laughing had better try." + +Kit set the cup on a stump and retired. + +Sarah Ketchum tried to persuade everybody else to try, but the other +boys were afraid of failure and the girls were afraid of the cow. +Sarah said if somebody would hold the animal's head so that it +couldn't hook, she'd milk--she knew she could. But nobody offered to +take the cow by the horns; so everything came to a stand-still except +Sarah's talking and the cow's eating. Then Bob Trotter came in sight, +all his pockets standing out with nuts. They called him. Sarah Ketchum +explained the situation and asked him if he could milk. + +"I do the milkin' at 'ome," Bob replied. + +"Wont you please milk this cow for us? We don't know how, and we want +the milk for dinner." + +There came a comical look into Bob's face, but he said nothing. The +eight knew what his thoughts must be. + +"We oughtn't to have said that you couldn't have any of our lunch," +said Sarah Ketchum. + +"We didn't really mean it," said Clara. "When lunch-time came we would +have given you lots of good things." + +"That's so," said Dick. "Sarah told us an hour ago that she meant to +give you her snow-ball cake because she felt compuncted." + +By this time Bob had approached the cow. He spoke some kind words +close to her broad ear, and gently stroked her back and flanks. Then +he set to work in the proper way, forcing the milk in streams into the +cup, the boys watching with admiration Bob's ease and expertness, Dick +wondering why he couldn't do what seemed so easy. In a few seconds the +cup was filled. + +"Now, what're you going to do?" said Bob. "This wont be a taste +around." + +"You might milk into our hats," said Julius. + +"I've got a thimble in my pocket," said Sarah Ketchum. + +"Do stop your nonsense," said Constance; "it's a very serious +question--a life and death matter. We're a company of Crusoes." + +But the boys couldn't stop their nonsense immediately. Dick remarked +that if the cow had not licked out the jelly-bowl and then kicked it +to pieces it might have been utilized. Then some one remembered a +tin water-pail at the wagon. This was brought, and Bob soon had it +two-thirds filled with milk. Then the question arose as to how they +were all to be served with just that quart-cup and two spoons. They +were to take turns, two eating at a time. + +"I don't want to eat with Jule," Dick said. "He eats too fast." + +The young people paired off, leaving out Bob. Then they all looked at +him in a shame-faced, apologetic way. + +"You needn't mind me," said Bob, interpreting their glances. "I don't +want to heat with none of you. I've got some wittals down to the +wagon." + +"Why, what have you got?" said Sarah Ketchum. She felt cheap, and so +did the others. + +"Some boiled heggs and some happles and some raw turnups," said Bob. + +Eight mouths watered at this catalogue. Sarah Ketchum whispered: + + "For a generous slice of turnip, + I'd lay me down and die." + +"I don't keer for nothing but a hegg and a happle, myself," said Bob. +"May be you folks would heat the hother things. There's a good lot of +happles." + +The eight protested that they could do with the milk and bread, but +urged the milk on Bob. + +"No, I thank you," he said. + +"He's mad at us yet," Mat whispered. + +"Look here," said Sarah Ketchum to Bob, "if you don't eat some of this +milk, none of us will. We'll give it to the cow." + +"No, we won't do that," Julius said: "we'll hold you and make you +drink it. If you have more apples than you wish, we'll be glad of +some; but we aren't going to take them unless you'll take your share +of the milk." + +"And we'll get mad at you again," said Clara. + +"I'll drink hall the milk necessary to a make-hup," said Bob. + +When the lunch was eaten, Mat said she didn't think they ought to have +milked the cow. The folks would be so disappointed when they came to +milk her at night. May be a lot of poor children were depending on the +milking for their supper. Val, too, showed that his conscience was +disturbed. + +"You needn't worry," said Dick. "They'll get this milk back from the +lunch she stole." + +"But they couldn't help her stealing." + +"And I couldn't help milking her," said Dick. + +At this there was a burst of laughter. Then Mat wrote on a scrap of +paper: "This cow has been milked to save some boys and girls from +starvation. The owner can get pay for the milk by calling at Mr. +Snead's, Poplar street, Budville." + +"Who'll tie it on her tail?" asked Mat. + +"I will," said Val, promptly, glad to ease his conscience. + +And this he did with a piece of blue ribbon from Mat Snead's hat. + + + + + + +MRS. PETER PIPER'S PICKLES. + +BY E. MÜLLER. + + +[Illustration: Two crows.] + +"There's nothing in that bush," said one old crow to another old crow, +as they flew slowly along the beach. + +"No, nothing worth looking at," answered the other old crow, and then +they alighted on a dead tree and complained that the egg season was +over. + +That was because they were fond of sandpipers' eggs, and there were +none in that bush. No eggs were there, to be sure, but there sat Mrs. +Peter Sandpiper, talking to two fine young sandpipers, just hatched. + +"Nothing worth looking at!" said she, indignantly. "Well, anything but +a crow would have more sense! Nothing in this bush, indeed! Pe-tweet, +pe-tweet!" + +[Illustration: "TANGLED IN THE LONG GRASS."] + +And truly she might well be angry at any one snubbing those young ones +of hers. Their eyes were so bright, their legs were so slim, and their +beaks so sharp that it was delightful to see them. And they turned out +their toes so gracefully that, the first time they went to the sea to +bathe, everyone said Mrs. Peter Sandpiper had reason to be proud of +her children. But just as soon as they could run they got into all +sorts of troubles, and vexed Mrs. Sandpiper out of her wits. + +[Illustration: "THEY TURNED OUT THEIR TOES SO GRACEFULLY."] + +"Such a pair of young pickles I never hatched before!" said she to +Mrs. Kingfisher, who came to gossip one day. + +"Well, well, my dear," said Mrs. Kingfisher, "boys will be boys; +by the time they are grown up they will be all right. Now, my dear +Pinlegs was just such--" + +[Illustration: "OH, MY! HE'S GOING BACKWARDS!"] + +But Mrs. Sandpiper had to fly off, to see what Pipsy Sandpiper was +doing, and keep Nipsy Sandpiper from swallowing a June beetle twice +too big for him. They were great trials. They were always eating the +wrong kind of bugs, and having indigestion and headaches. They were +forever getting their legs tangled up in long wet grass, and screaming +for Mrs. Peter Sandpiper to come help them out, and at night they +chirped in their sleep and disturbed Mrs. Sandpiper dreadfully by +kicking each other. At last she said she could stand it no longer; +they must take care of themselves. So she cried "Pe-tweet, good-by," +and then she flew away, leaving Pipsy and Nipsy alone by the sea to +take care of themselves. + +[Illustration: "THIS IS TWICE AS DEEP AS YOU WERE IN."] + +It was quite a trouble at first, for Mamma Sandpiper had always helped +them to bugs and worms, one apiece, turn about, so all was fair. But +now Pipsy always wanted the best of everything, and Nipsy, being good +tempered, had to eat what his brother left. One day bugs were very +scarce, and both little Sandpipers were so hungry that they could have +eaten a whole starfish--if he had come out of his shelter. Suddenly +Nipsy, who was a trifle near sighted, said he saw a large beetle +coming along the beach. They ran quickly to meet it. But what in +the world was it! It had legs; oh, such legs! They were larger than +Pipsy's and Nipsy's put together. Its back was like a huge shell, and +its eyes were dreadful. The little sandpipers looked at each other in +terror. + +[Illustration: "THERE, IN THE TWILIGHT, HE SAW A LONELY FIGURE +STANDING ON ONE LEG."] + +But a mild little voice from the creature relieved them. + +"I beg your pardon," said he. "Let me introduce myself. C. Crab, Esq., +of Oyster Bay." + +"Oh, ah! Indeed!" said Pipsy. "Glad to know you, I'm sure." + +"I think I must have lost my way," said C. Crab, Esq. "Could you +oblige me by telling me if you see any boys near?" + +"Any boys?" said Pipsy and Nipsy, looking at each other. "Never saw +one in my life. What do they look like? Have they many legs? Are they +fat? Are they good to eat?" asked both the hungry little sandpipers. + +"They are creatures," said the crab, with a groan,--"creatures a +thousand times larger than we are. They have strings. They tie up +legs and pull. They throw stones. If you ever see a boy, run for your +life." + +"Good gracious me!" cried both the little sandpipers. "How very +dreadful!" + +But there were no boys in sight; so C. Crab grew sociable, and offered +to show them a place where bugs were plenty. "Just get on my back," +said he, "and I'll have you there in no time." + +So they got on his back. It was very wet and slippery, but they held +on with their toes, while C. Crab gave himself a heave and started. + +"Oh, my!" exclaimed Nipsy. "He's going backward!" + +"He actually is!" cried Pipsy. "At this rate we'll get there day +before yesterday, wont we?" + +"Surely," said Nipsy. "How very horrid of him when we are so hungry! +What a slow coach!" + +"Let's jump off quick, or he'll take us clear into last week!" cried +the silly sandpipers, and then they skipped off and ran down the beach +in the opposite direction. C. Crab called to them, but it was no use, +so he went on his way. But as for the sandpipers, they went on getting +into trouble. The day was hot, and after they had run some distance, +they stepped into the water to cool off. Nipsy stepped in first, but +the water was up to his breast and it frightened him, so he stepped +out again. + +"Pooh!" said Pipsy. "You're afraid, YOU are! Look at me!" + +Then he jumped in, and only his head stuck out. + +"This is twice as deep as you were in!" he cried, turning up his bill, +and rolling his eyes. + +"You're sitting down, _you_ are!" cried Nipsy, in scorn. + +"I'm not," said Pipsy. + +"You are. I can see your toes all doubled up, even if the water _is_ +muddy," said Nipsy, and rushed at him to punish him for bragging. + +They both rolled under the water, and then out on the shore, dripping +wet and very angry with each other. + +Pipsy went home to the old bush and was very miserable. He wanted +something to eat, and did not know where to find anything. Nipsy went +high up the beach, and found a lot of young hedge-crickets. But he did +not half enjoy them. They were fat and smooth, and he was hungry, but +crickets had no flavor without Pipsy to help eat them. But he was +angry at him yet. + +"He must come to me," he said, sternly, to the cricket he was eating. + +The cricket said nothing, being half-way down his throat, and pretty +soon Nipsy could stand his feelings no longer. Catching up the +largest, smoothest, softest cricket, he ran down to the shore as fast +as his legs could carry him. There, in the twilight, he saw a lonely +figure standing on one leg. + +"Pipsy!" he cried. + +"Nipsy!" cried Pipsy. + +And they flew to each other. + +"Here's a glorious fat cricket for you." + +"Forgive me, Nipsy," said his brother. + +And then they were happy. + +[Illustration: Blossoms.] + + + + + + +UNDER THE LILACS. + +BY LOUISA M. ALCOTT. + + +CHAPTER XIV. + +SOMEBODY GETS LOST. + + +Putting all care behind them, the young folks ran down the hill, with +a very lively dog gamboling beside them, and took a delightfully +tantalizing survey of the external charms of the big tent. But people +were beginning to go in, and it was impossible to delay when they came +round to the entrance. + +Ben felt that now "his foot was on his native heath," and the superb +air of indifference with which he threw down his dollar at the +ticket-office, carelessly swept up the change, and strolled into the +tent with his hands in his pockets, was so impressive that even big +Sam repressed his excitement and meekly followed their leader, as he +led them from cage to cage, doing the honors as if he owned the whole +concern. Bab held tight to the tail of his jacket, staring about her +with round eyes, and listening with little gasps of astonishment or +delight to the roaring of lions, the snarling of tigers, the chatter +of the monkeys, the groaning of camels, and the music of the very +brass band shut up in a red bin. + +Five elephants were tossing their hay about in the middle of the +menagerie, and Billy's legs shook under him as he looked up at the big +beasts whose long noses and small, sagacious eyes filled him with awe. +Sam was so tickled by the droll monkeys that they left him before the +cage and went on to see the zebra, "striped just like Ma's muslin +gown," Bab declared. But the next minute she forgot all about him in +her raptures over the ponies and their tiny colts, especially one mite +of a thing who lay asleep on the hay, such a miniature copy of its +little mouse-colored mamma that one could hardly believe it was alive. + +"Oh, Ben, I _must_ feel of it!--the cunning baby horse!" and down went +Bab inside the rope to pat and admire the pretty creature, while its +mother smelt suspiciously at the brown hat, and baby lazily opened one +eye to see what was going on. + +"Come out of that, it isn't allowed!" commanded Ben, longing to do the +same thing, but mindful of the proprieties and his own dignity. + +Bab reluctantly tore herself away to find consolation in watching the +young lions, who looked so like big puppies, and the tigers washing +their faces just as puss did. + +"If I stroked 'em, wouldn't they purr?" she asked, bent on enjoying +herself, while Ben held her skirts lest she should try the experiment. + +"You'd better not go to patting them, or you'll get your hands clawed +up. Tigers do purr like fun when they are happy, but these fellers +never are, and you'll only see 'em spit and snarl," said Ben, leading +the way to the humpy camels, who were peacefully chewing their cud and +longing for the desert, with a dreamy, far-away look in their mournful +eyes. + +Here, leaning on the rope, and scientifically chewing a straw while he +talked, Ben played showman to his heart's content till the neigh of a +horse from the circus tent beyond reminded him of the joys to come. + +"We'd better hurry along and get good seats before folks begin to +crowd. I want to sit near the curtain and see if any of Smithers's lot +are 'round." + +"I aint going way off there; you can't see half so well, and that big +drum makes such a noise you can't hear yourself think," said Sam, who +had rejoined them. + +So they settled in good places where they could see and hear all that +went on in the ring and still catch glimpses of white horses, bright +colors, and the glitter of helmets beyond the dingy red curtains. Ben +treated Bab to peanuts and pop-corn like an indulgent parent, and she +murmured protestations of undying gratitude with her mouth full, as +she sat blissfully between him and the congenial Billy. + +Sancho, meantime, had been much excited by the familiar sights and +sounds, and now was greatly exercised in his doggish mind at the +unusual proceeding of his master; for he was sure that they ought to +be within there, putting on their costumes, ready to take their turn. +He looked anxiously at Ben, sniffed disdainfully at the strap as if to +remind him that a scarlet ribbon ought to take its place, and poked +peanut shells about with his paw as if searching for the letters with +which to spell his famous name. + +"I know, old boy, I know; but it can't be done. We've quit the +business and must just look on. No larks for us this time, Sanch, so +keep quiet and behave," whispered Ben, tucking the dog away under the +seat with a sympathetic cuddle of the curly head that peeped out from +between his feet. + +"He wants to go and cut up, don't he?" said Billy, "and so do you, I +guess. Wish you were going to. Wouldn't it be fun to see Ben showing +off in there?" + +"I'd be afraid to have him go up on a pile of elephants and jump +through hoops like these folks," answered Bab, poring over her +pictured play-bill with unabated relish. + +"Done it a hundred times, and I'd just like to show you what I can +do. They don't seem to have any boys in this lot; shouldn't wonder if +they'd take me if I asked 'em," said Ben, moving uneasily on his seat +and casting wistful glances toward the inner tent where he knew he +would feel more at home than in his present place. + +[Illustration: AT THE CIRCUS.] + +"I heard some men say that it's against the law to have small boys +now; it's so dangerous and not good for them, this kind of thing. If +that's so, you're done for. Ben," observed Sam, with his most grown-up +air, remembering Ben's remarks on "fat boys." + +"Don't believe a word of it, and Sanch and I could go this minute and +get taken on, I'll bet. We are a valuable couple, and I could prove it +if I chose to," began Ben, getting excited and boastful. + +"Oh, see, they're coming!--gold carriages and lovely horses, and flags +and elephants, and everything!" cried Bab, giving a clutch at Ben's +arm as the opening procession appeared headed by the band, tooting and +banging till their faces were as red as their uniforms. + +Round and round they went till every one had seen their fill, then the +riders alone were left caracoling about the ring with feathers flying, +horses prancing, and performers looking as tired and indifferent as if +they would all like to go to sleep then and there. + +"How splendid!" sighed Bab, as they went dashing out, to tumble off +almost before the horses stopped. + +"That's nothing! You wait till you see the bare-back riding and the +'acrobatic exercises,'" said Ben, quoting from the play-bill, with the +air of one who knew all about the feats to come, and could never be +surprised any more. + +"What are 'crowbackic exercises?'" asked Billy, thirsting for +information. + +"Leaping and climbing and tumbling; you'll see--George! what a +stunning horse!" and Ben forgot everything else to feast his eyes +on the handsome creature who now came pacing in to dance, upset and +replace chairs, kneel, bow, and perform many wonderful or graceful +feats, ending with a swift gallop while the rider sat in a chair on +its back fanning himself, with his legs crossed, as comfortably as you +please. + +"That, now, is something like," and Ben's eyes shone with admiration +and envy as the pair vanished, and the pink and silver acrobats came +leaping into the ring. + +The boys were especially interested in this part, and well they +might be; for strength and agility are manly attributes which lads +appreciate, and these lively fellows flew about like India rubber +balls, each trying to outdo the other, till the leader of the acrobats +capped the climax by turning a double somersault over five elephants +standing side by side. + +"There, sir, how's that for a jump?" asked Ben, rubbing his hands with +satisfaction as his friends clapped till their palms tingled. + +"We'll rig up a spring-board and try it," said Billy, fired with +emulation. + +"Where'll you get your elephants?" asked Sam, scornfully, for +gymnastics were not in his line. + +"You'll do for one," retorted Ben, and Billy and Bab joined in his +laugh so heartily that a rough-looking man who sat behind them, +hearing all they said, pronounced them a "jolly set," and kept his eye +on Sancho, who now showed signs of insubordination. + +"Hullo, that wasn't on the bill!" cried Ben, as a parti-colored clown +came in, followed by half a dozen dogs. + +"I'm so glad; now Sancho will like it. There's a poodle that might +be his ownty donty brother--the one with the blue ribbon," said Bab, +beaming with delight as the dogs took their seats in the chairs +arranged for them. + +Sancho did like it only too well, for he scrambled out from under the +seat in a great hurry to go and greet his friends, and, being sharply +checked, set up and begged so piteously that Ben found it very hard +to refuse and order him down. He subsided for a moment, but when the +black spaniel, who acted the canine clown, did something funny and was +applauded, Sancho made a dart as if bent on leaping into the ring to +outdo his rival, and Ben was forced to box his ears and put his feet +on the poor beast, fearing he would be ordered out if he made any +disturbance. + +Too well trained to rebel again, Sancho lay meditating on his wrongs +till the dog act was over, carefully abstaining from any further sign +of interest in their tricks, and only giving a sidelong glance at the +two little poodles who came out of a basket to run up and down stairs +on their fore paws, dance jigs on their hind legs, and play various +pretty pranks to the great delight of all the children in the +audience. If ever a dog expressed by look and attitude, "Pooh! I could +do much better than that, and astonish you all, if I was only allowed +to," that dog was Sancho, as he curled himself up and affected to turn +his back on an unappreciative world. + +"It's too bad, when he knows more than all those chaps put together. +I'd give anything if I could show him off as I used to. Folks always +liked it, and I was ever so proud of him. He's mad now because I had +to cuff him, and wont take any notice of me till I make up," said Ben, +regretfully eyeing his offended friend, but not daring to beg pardon +yet. + +More riding followed, and Bab was kept in a breathless state by the +marvelous agility and skill of the gauzy lady who drove four horses at +once, leaped through hoops, over banners and bars, sprang off and on +at full speed, and seemed to enjoy it all so much it was impossible to +believe that there could be any danger or exertion in it. + +Then two girls flew about on the trapeze, and walked on a tight rope, +causing Bab to feel that she had at last found her sphere, for, young +as she was, her mother often said: + +"I really don't know what this child is fit for, except mischief, like +a monkey." + +"I'll fix the clothes-line when I get home, and show Ma how nice it +is. Then, may be, she'll let me wear red and gold trousers, and climb +round like these girls," thought the busy little brain, much excited +by all it saw on that memorable day. + +Nothing short of a pyramid of elephants with a glittering gentleman in +a turban and top boots on the summit would have made her forget this +new and charming plan. But that astonishing spectacle and the prospect +of a cage of Bengal tigers with a man among them, in imminent danger +of being eaten before her eyes, entirely absorbed her thoughts till, +just as the big animals went lumbering out, a peal of thunder caused +considerable commotion in the audience. Men on the highest seats +popped their heads through the openings in the tent-cover and reported +that a heavy shower was coming up. Anxious mothers began to collect +their flocks of children as hens do their chickens at sunset; timid +people told cheerful stories of tents blown over in gales, cages upset +and wild beasts let loose. Many left in haste, and the performers +hurried to finish as soon as possible. + +"I'm going now before the crowd comes, so I can get a lift home. I see +two or three folks I know, so I'm off;" and, climbing hastily down, +Sam vanished without further ceremony. + +"Better wait till the shower is over. We can go and see the animals +again, and get home all dry, just as well as not," observed Ben, +encouragingly, as Billy looked anxiously at the billowing canvas over +his head, the swaying posts before him, and heard the quick patter of +drops outside, not to mention the melancholy roar of the lion which +sounded rather awful through the sudden gloom which filled the strange +place. + +"I wouldn't miss the tigers for anything. See, they are pulling in the +cart now, and the shiny man is all ready with his gun. Will he shoot +any of them, Ben?" asked Bab, nestling nearer with a little shiver of +apprehension, for the sharp crack of a rifle startled her more than +the loudest thunder-clap she ever heard. + +"Bless you, no, child; it's only powder to make a noise and scare 'em. +I wouldn't like to be in his place, though; father says you can never +trust tigers as you can lions, no matter how tame they are. Sly +fellers, like cats, and when they scratch it's no joke, I tell you," +answered Ben, with a knowing wag of the head, as the sides of the cage +rattled down, and the poor, fierce creatures were seen leaping and +snarling as if they resented this display of their captivity. + +Bab curled up her feet and winked fast with excitement as she watched +the "shiny man" fondle the great cats, lie down among them, pull open +their red mouths, and make them leap over him or crouch at his feet as +he snapped the long whip. When he fired the gun and they all fell as +if dead, she with difficulty suppressed a small scream and clapped her +hands over her ears; but poor Billy never minded it a bit, for he was +pale and quaking with the fear of "heaven's artillery" thundering over +head, and as a bright flash of lightning seemed to run down the tall +tent-poles he hid his eyes and wished with all his heart that he was +safe with mother. + +"'Fraid of thunder, Bill?" asked Ben, trying to speak stoutly, while a +sense of his own responsibilities began to worry him, for how was Bab +to be got home in such a pouring rain. + +"It makes me sick; always did. Wish I hadn't come," sighed Billy, +feeling, all too late, that lemonade and "lozengers" were not the +fittest food for man, or a stifling tent the best place to be in on a +hot July day, especially in a thunder-storm. + +"I didn't ask you to come; _you_ asked _me_; so it isn't my fault," +said Ben, rather gruffly, as people crowded by without pausing to hear +the comic song the clown was singing in spite of the confusion. + +"Oh, I'm _so_ tired," groaned Bab, getting up with a long stretch of +arms and legs. + +"You'll be tireder before you get home, I guess. Nobody asked _you_ to +come, anyway;" and Ben gazed dolefully round him wishing he could see +a familiar face or find a wiser head than his own to help him out of +the scrape he was in. + +"I said I wouldn't be a bother, and I wont. I'll walk right home this +minute, I aint afraid of thunder, and the rain wont hurt these old +clothes. Come along," cried Bab, bravely, bent on keeping her word, +though it looked much harder after the fun was all over than before. + +"My head aches like fury. Don't I wish old Jack was here to take me +back," said Billy, following his companions in misfortune with sudden +energy, as a louder peal than before rolled overhead. + +"You might as well wish for Lita and the covered wagon while you are +about it, then we could all ride," answered Ben, leading the way to +the outer tent, where many people were lingering in hopes of fair +weather. + +"Why, Billy Barton, how in the world did you get here?" cried a +surprised voice, as the crook of a cane caught the boy by the collar +and jerked him face to face with a young farmer, who was pushing along +followed by his wife and two or three children. + +"Oh, Uncle Eben, I'm so glad you found me! I walked over, and it's +raining, and I don't feel well. Let me go with you, can't I?" asked +Billy, casting himself and all his woes upon the strong arm that had +laid hold of him. + +"Don't see what your mother was about to let you come so far alone, +and you just over scarlet fever. We are as full as ever we can be, but +we'll tuck you in somehow," said the pleasant-faced woman, bundling up +her baby, and bidding the two little lads "keep close to father." + +"I didn't come alone. Sam got a ride, and can't you tuck Ben and Bab +in too? They aint very big, either of them," whispered Billy, anxious +to serve his friends now that he was provided for himself. + +"Can't do it, anyway. Got to pick up mother at the corner, and that +will be all I can carry. It's lifting a little; hurry along, Lizzie, +and let us get out of this as quick as possible," said Uncle Eben, +impatiently; for going to a circus with a young family is not an easy +task, as every one knows who has ever tried it. + +"Ben, I'm real sorry there isn't room for you. I'll tell Bab's mother +where she is, and may be some one will come for you," said Billy, +hurriedly, as he tore himself away, feeling rather mean to desert the +others, though he could be of no use. + +"Cut away and don't mind us. I'm all right, and Bab must do the best +she can," was all Ben had time to answer before his comrade was +hustled away by the crowd pressing round the entrance with much +clashing of umbrellas and scrambling of boys and men, who rather +enjoyed the flurry. + +"No use for us to get knocked about in that scrimmage. We'll wait a +minute and then go out easy. It's a regular rouser, and you'll be as +wet as a sop before we get home. Hope you'll like that?" added Ben, +looking out at the heavy rain pouring down as if it never meant to +stop. + +"Don't care a bit," said Bab, swinging on one of the ropes with a +happy-go-lucky air, for her spirits were not extinguished yet, and +she was bound to enjoy this exciting holiday to the very end. "I like +circuses so much! I wish I lived here all the time, and slept in a +wagon, as you did, and had these dear little colties to play with." + +"It wouldn't be fun if you didn't have any folks to take care of you," +began Ben, thoughtfully looking about the familiar place where the men +were now feeding the animals, setting their refreshment tables, or +lounging on the hay to get such rest as they could before the evening +entertainment. Suddenly he started, gave a long look, then turned to +Bab, and thrusting Sancho's strap into her hand, said, hastily: "I see +a fellow I used to know. May be he can tell me something about father. +Don't you stir till I come back." + +Then he was off like a shot, and Bab saw him run after a man with a +bucket who had been watering the zebra. Sancho tried to follow, but +was checked with an impatient: + +"No, you can't go! What a plague you are, tagging around when people +don't want you." + +Sancho might have answered, "So are you," but, being a gentlemanly +dog, he sat down with a resigned expression to watch the little colts, +who were now awake and seemed ready for a game of bo-peep behind their +mammas. Bab enjoyed their funny little frisks so much that she tied +the wearisome strap to a post and crept under the rope to pet the tiny +mouse-colored one who came and talked to her with baby whinneys and +confiding glances of its soft, dark eyes. + +Oh, luckless Bab! why did you turn your back? Oh, too accomplished +Sancho! why did you neatly untie that knot and trot away to confer +with the disreputable bull-dog who stood in the entrance beckoning +with friendly wavings of an abbreviated tail? Oh, much afflicted Ben! +why did you delay till it was too late to save your pet from the +rough man who set his foot upon the trailing strap and led poor Sanch +quickly out of sight among the crowd. + +"It _was_ Bascum, but he didn't know anything. Why, where's Sanch?" +said Ben, returning. + +A breathless voice made Bab turn to see Ben looking about him with as +much alarm in his hot face as if the dog had been a two years' child. + +"I tied him--he's here somewhere--with the ponies," stammered Bab, in +sudden dismay, for no sign of a dog appeared as her eyes roved wildly +to and fro. + +Ben whistled, called and searched in vain, till one of the lounging +men said, lazily: + +"If you are looking after the big poodle you'd better go outside; I +saw him trotting off with another dog." + +Away rushed Ben, with Bab following, regardless of the rain, for both +felt that a great misfortune had befallen them. But, long before this, +Sancho had vanished, and no one minded his indignant howls as he was +driven off in a covered cart. + +"If he is lost I'll never forgive you; never, never, never!" and Ben +found it impossible to resist giving Bab several hard shakes which +made her yellow braids fly up and down like pump handles. + +"I'm dreadful sorry. He'll come back--you said he always did," pleaded +Bab, quite crushed by her own afflictions, and rather scared to see +Ben look so fierce, for he seldom lost his temper or was rough with +the little girls. + +"If he doesn't come back, don't you speak to me for a year. Now, I'm +going home." And, feeling that words were powerless to express his +emotions, Ben walked away, looking as grim as a small boy could. + +A more unhappy little lass is seldom to be found than Bab was, as she +pattered after him, splashing recklessly through the puddles, and +getting as wet and muddy as possible, as a sort of penance for her +sins. For a mile or two she trudged stoutly along, while Ben marched +before in solemn silence, which soon became both impressive and +oppressive because so unusual, and such a proof of his deep +displeasure. Penitent Bab longed for just one word, one sign of +relenting; and when none came, she began to wonder how she could +possibly bear it if he kept his dreadful threat and did not speak to +her for a whole year. + +But presently her own discomfort absorbed her, for her feet were +wet and cold as well as very tired; pop-corn and peanuts were not +particularly nourishing food, and hunger made her feel faint; +excitement was a new thing, and now that it was over she longed to +lie down and go to sleep; then the long walk with a circus at the +end seemed a very different affair from the homeward trip with a +distracted mother awaiting her. The shower had subsided into a dreary +drizzle, a chilly east wind blew up, the hilly road seemed to lengthen +before the weary feet, and the mute, blue flannel figure going on +so fast with never a look or sound, added the last touch to Bab's +remorseful anguish. + +Wagons passed, but all were full, and no one offered a ride. Men and +boys went by with rough jokes on the forlorn pair, for rain soon made +them look like young tramps. But there was no brave Sancho to resent +the impertinence, and this fact was sadly brought to both their minds +by the appearance of a great Newfoundland dog who came trotting after +a carriage. The good creature stopped to say a friendly word in his +dumb fashion, looking up at Bab with benevolent eyes, and poking his +nose into Ben's hand before he bounded away with his plumy tail curled +over his back. + +Ben started as the cold nose touched his fingers, gave the soft head a +lingering pat, and watched the dog out of sight through a thicker mist +than any the rain made. But Bab broke down; for the wistful look +of the creature's eyes reminded her of lost Sancho, and she sobbed +quietly as she glanced back longing to see the dear old fellow jogging +along in the rear. + +Ben heard the piteous sound and took a sly peep over his shoulder, +seeing such a mournful spectacle that he felt appeased, saying to +himself as if to excuse his late sternness: + +"She _is_ a naughty girl, but I guess she is about sorry enough now. +When we get to that sign-post I'll speak to her, only I wont forgive +her till Sanch comes back." + +But he was better than his word; for, just before the post was +reached, Bab, blinded by tears, tripped over the root of a tree, and, +rolling down the bank, landed in a bed of wet nettles. Ben had her +out in a jiffy, and vainly tried to comfort her; but she was past +any consolation he could offer, and roared dismally as she wrung her +tingling hands, with great drops running over her cheeks almost as +fast as the muddy little rills ran down the road. + +"Oh dear, oh dear! I'm all stinged up, and I want my supper; and my +feet ache, and I'm cold, and everything is _so_ horrid!" wailed the +poor child lying on the grass, such a miserable little wet bunch that +the sternest parent would have melted at the sight. + +"Don't cry so, Babby; I was real cross, and I'm sorry. I'll forgive +you right away now, and never shake you any more," cried Ben, so full +of pity for her tribulations that he forgot his own, like a generous +little man. + +"Shake me again, if you want to; I know I was very bad to tag and lose +Sanch. I never will any more, and I'm so sorry, I don't know what to +do," answered Bab, completely bowed down by this magnanimity. + +"Never mind; you just wipe up your face and come along, and we'll tell +Ma all about it, and she'll fix us as nice as can be. I shouldn't +wonder if Sanch got home now before we did," said Ben, cheering +himself as well as her by the fond hope. + +"I don't believe _I_ ever shall, I'm so tired my legs wont go, and the +water in my boots makes them feel dreadfully. I wish that boy would +wheel me a piece. Don't you s'pose he would?" asked Bab, wearily +picking herself up as a tall lad trundling a barrow came out of a yard +near by. + +"Hullo, Joslyn!" said Ben, recognizing the boy as one of the "hill +fellows" who come to town Saturday nights for play or business. + +"Hullo, Brown," responded the other, arresting his squeaking progress +with signs of surprise at the moist tableau before him. + +"Where goin'?" asked Ben with masculine brevity. + +"Got to carry this home, hang the old thing!" + +"Where to?" + +"Batchelor's, down yonder," and the boy pointed to a farm-house at the +foot of the next hill. + +"Goin' that way, take it right along." + +"What for?" questioned the prudent youth, distrusting such unusual +neighborliness. + +"She's tired, wants a ride; I'll leave it all right, true as I live +and breathe," explained Ben, half ashamed yet anxious to get his +little responsibility home as soon as possible, for mishaps seemed to +thicken. + +"Ho, _you_ couldn't cart her all that way! she's most as heavy as a +bag of meal," jeered the taller lad, amused at the proposition. + +"I'm stronger than most fellers of my size. Try, if I aint," and Ben +squared off in such scientific style that Joslyn responded with sudden +amiability: + +"All right, let's see you do it." + +Bab huddled into her new equipage without the least fear, and Ben +trundled her off at a good pace, while the boy retired to the shelter +of the barn to watch their progress, glad to be rid of an irksome +errand. + +At first, all went well, for the way was down hill, and the wheel +squeaked briskly round and round; Bab smiled gratefully upon her +bearer, and Ben "went in on his muscle with a will," as he expressed +it. But presently the road grew sandy, began to ascend, and the load +seemed to grow heavier with every step. + +"I'll get out now. It's real nice, but I guess I _am_ too heavy," said +Bab, as the face before her got redder and redder, and the breath +began to come in puffs. + +"Sit still. He said I couldn't. I'm not going to give in with him +looking on," panted Ben, and pushed gallantly up the rise, over the +grassy lawn to the side gate of the Batchelors' door-yard, with his +head down, teeth set, and every muscle of his slender body braced to +the task. + +"Did ever ye see the like of that now? Ah, ha! + + 'The streets were so wide, + and the lanes were so narry, + He brought his wife home + on a little wheelbarry,'" + +sung a voice with an accent which made Ben drop his load and push back +his hat, to see Pat's red head looking over the fence. + +To have his enemy behold him then and there was the last bitter drop +in poor Ben's cup of humiliation. A shrill approving whistle from the +hill was some comfort, however, and gave him spirit to help Bab out +with composure, though his hands were blistered and he had hardly +breath enough to issue the command: + +"Go along home, and don't mind him." + +"Nice childer, ye are, runnin' off this way, settin' the women +disthracted, and me wastin' me time comin' after ye when I'd be +milkin' airly so I'd get a bit of pleasure the day," grumbled Pat, +coming up to untie the Duke, whose Roman nose Ben had already +recognized, as well as the roomy chaise standing before the door. + +"Did Billy tell you about us?" asked Bab, gladly following toward this +welcome refuge. + +"Faith he did, and the Squire sint me to fetch ye home quiet and aisy. +When ye found me, I'd jist stopped here to borry a light for me pipe. +Up wid ye, b'y, and not be wastin' me time stramashin' afther a +spalpeen that I'd like to lay me whip over," said Pat, gruffly, as Ben +came along, having left the barrow in the shed. + +"Don't you wish you could? You needn't wait for me; I'll come when I'm +ready," answered Ben, dodging round the chaise, bound not to mind Pat, +if he spent the night by the road-side in consequence. + +"Bedad, and I wont then. It's lively ye are; but four legs is better +than two, as ye'll find this night, me young mon!" + +With that he whipped up and was off before Bab could say a word to +persuade Ben to humble himself for the sake of a ride. She lamented +and Pat chuckled, both forgetting what an agile monkey the boy was, +and as neither looked back, they were unaware that Master Ben was +hanging on behind among the straps and springs, making derisive +grimaces at his unconscious foe through the little glass in the +leathern back. + +At the lodge gate Ben jumped down to run before with whoops of naughty +satisfaction, which brought the anxious waiters to the door in a +flock; so Pat could only shake his fist at the exulting little rascal +as he drove away, leaving the wanderers to be welcomed as warmly as if +they were a pair of model children. + +Mrs. Moss had not been very much troubled after all; for Cy had told +her that Bab went after Ben, and Billy had lately reported her safe +arrival among them, so, mother-like, she fed, dried, and warmed the +runaways, before she scolded them. + +Even then, the lecture was a mild one, for when they tried to tell the +adventures which to them seemed so exciting, not to say tragical, the +effect astonished them immensely, as their audience went into gales of +laughter, especially at the wheelbarrow episode, which Bab insisted on +telling, with grateful minuteness, to Ben's confusion. Thorny shouted, +and even tender-hearted Betty forgot her tears over the lost dog to +join in the familiar melody when Bab mimicked Pat's quotation from +Mother Goose. + +"We must not laugh any more, or these naughty children will think they +have done something very clever in running away," said Miss Celia, +when the fun subsided, adding soberly, "I _am_ displeased, but I will +say nothing, for I think Ben is already punished enough." + +"Guess I am," muttered Ben, with a choke in his voice as he glanced +toward the empty mat where a dear curly bunch used to lie with a +bright eye twinkling out of the middle of it. + + + + +CHAPTER XV. + +BEN'S RIDE. + + +Great was the mourning for Sancho, because his talents and virtues +made him universally admired and beloved. Miss Celia advertised, +Thorny offered rewards, and even surly Pat kept a sharp look-out for +poodle dogs when he went to market; but no Sancho or any trace of him +appeared. Ben was inconsolable, and sternly said it served Bab right +when the _dog_-wood poison affected both face and hands. Poor Bab +thought so, too, and dared ask no sympathy from him, though Thorny +eagerly prescribed plantain leaves, and Betty kept her supplied with +an endless succession of them steeped in cream and pitying tears. This +treatment was so successful that the patient soon took her place in +society as well as ever, but for Ben's affliction there was no cure, +and the boy really suffered in his spirits. + +[Illustration: BEN AND LITA AT THE BROOK.] + +"I don't think it's fair that I should have so much trouble--first +losing father and then Sanch. If it wasn't for Lita and Miss Celia, +I don't believe I could stand it," he said, one day, in a fit of +despair, about a week after the sad event. + +"Oh, come now, don't give up so, old fellow. We'll find him if he's +alive, and if he isn't I'll try and get you another as good," +answered Thorny, with a friendly slap on the shoulder, as Ben sat +disconsolately among the beans he had been hoeing. + +"As if there ever could be another half as good!" cried Ben, indignant +at the idea; "or as if I'd ever try to fill his place with the best +and biggest dog that ever wagged a tail! No, sir, there's only one +Sanch in all the world, and if I can't have him I'll never have a dog +again." + +"Try some other sort of a pet, then. You may have any of mine you +like. Have the peacocks; do now," urged Thorny, full of boyish +sympathy and good-will. + +"They are dreadful pretty, but I don't seem to care about 'em, thank +you," replied the mourner. + +"Have the rabbits, all of them," which was a handsome offer on +Thorny's part, for there were a dozen at least. + +"They don't love a fellow as a dog does; all they care for is stuff to +eat and dirt to burrow in. I'm sick of rabbits." And well he might be, +for he had had the charge of them ever since they came, and any boy +who has ever kept bunnies knows what a care they are. + +"So am I! Guess we'll have an auction and sell out. Would Jack be a +comfort to you? If he will, you may have him. I'm so well now, I can +walk, or ride anything," added Thorny, in a burst of generosity. + +"Jack couldn't be with me always, as Sanch was, and I couldn't keep +him if I had him." + +Ben tried to be grateful, but nothing short of Lita would have healed +his wounded heart, and she was not Thorny's to give, or he would +probably have offered her to his afflicted friend. + +"Well, no, you couldn't take Jack to bed with you, or keep him up in +your room, and I'm afraid he would never learn to do anything clever. +I do wish I had something you wanted, I'd so love to give it to you." + +He spoke so heartily and was so kind that Ben looked up, feeling that +he had given him one of the sweetest things in the world--friendship; +he wanted to tell him so, but did not know how to do it, so caught up +his hoe and fell to work, saying, in a tone Thorny understood better +than words: + +"You are real good to me--never mind, I wont worry about it; only it +seems extra hard coming so soon after the other----" + +He stopped there, and a bright drop fell on the bean leaves, to shine +like dew till Ben saw clearly enough to bury it out of sight in a +great hurry. + +"By Jove! I'll find that dog, if he is out of the ground. Keep your +spirits up, my lad, and we'll have the dear old fellow back yet." + +With which cheering prophecy Thorny went off to rack his brains as to +what could be done about the matter. + +Half an hour afterward, the sound of a hand-organ in the avenue roused +him from the brown study into which he had fallen as he lay on +the newly mown grass of the lawn. Peeping over the wall, Thorny +reconnoitered, and, finding the organ a good one, the man a +pleasant-faced Italian, and the monkey a lively animal, he ordered +them all in, as a delicate attention to Ben, for music and monkey +together might suggest soothing memories of the past, and so be a +comfort. + +In they came by way of the Lodge, escorted by Bab and Betty, full +of glee, for hand-organs were rare in those parts, and the children +delighted in them. Smiling till his white teeth shone and his black +eyes sparkled, the man played away while the monkey made his pathetic +little bows, and picked up the pennies Thorny threw him. + +"It is warm, and you look tired. Sit down and I'll get you some +dinner," said the young master, pointing to the seat which now stood +near the great gate. + +With thanks in broken English the man gladly obeyed, and Ben begged to +be allowed to make Jacko equally comfortable, explaining that he knew +all about monkeys and what they liked. So the poor thing was freed +from his cocked hat and uniform, fed with bread and milk, and allowed +to curl himself up in the cool grass for a nap, looking so like a +tired little old man in a fur coat that the children were never weary +of watching him. + +Meantime, Miss Celia had come out, and was talking Italian to Giacomo +in a way that delighted his homesick heart. She had been to Naples, +and could understand his longing for the lovely city of his birth, so +they had a little chat in the language which is all music, and the +good fellow was so grateful that he played for the children to dance +till they were glad to stop, lingering afterward as if he hated to set +out again upon his lonely, dusty walk. + +"I'd rather like to tramp round with him for a week or so. Could make +enough to live on as easy as not, if I only had Sanch to show off," +said Ben, as he was coaxing Jacko into the suit which he detested. + +"You go wid me, yes?" asked the man, nodding and smiling, well pleased +at the prospect of company, for his quick eye and what the boys let +fall in their talk showed him that Ben was not one of them. + +"If I had my dog I'd love to," and with sad eagerness Ben told the +tale of his loss, for the thought of it was never long out of his +mind. + +"I tink I see droll dog like he, way off in New York. He do leetle +trick wid letter, and dance, and go on he head, and many tings to +make laugh," said the man, when he had listened to a list of Sanch's +beauties and accomplishments. + +"Who had him?" asked Thorny, full of interest at once. + +"A man I not know. Cross fellow what beat him when he do letters bad. + +"Did he spell his name?" cried Ben, breathlessly. + +"No, that for why man beat him. He name Generale, and he go spell +Sancho all times, and cry when whip fall on him. Ha! yes! that name +true one, not Generale?" and the man nodded, waved his hands and +showed his teeth, almost as much excited as the boys. + +"It's Sanch! let's go and get him, now, right off!" cried Ben, in a +fever to be gone. + +"A hundred miles away, and no clue but this man's story? We must wait +a little, Ben, and be sure before we set out," said Miss Celia, ready +to do almost anything, but not so certain as the boys. "What sort of +a dog was it? A large, curly, white poodle, with a queer tail?" she +asked of Giacomo. + +"No, Signorina mia, he no curly, no wite, he black, smooth dog, littel +tail, small, so," and the man held up one brown finger with a gesture +which suggested a short, wagging tail. + +"There, you see how mistaken we were. Dogs are often named Sancho, +especially Spanish poodles, for the original Sancho was a Spaniard, +you know. This dog is not ours, and I'm so sorry." + +The boys faces had fallen dismally as their hope was destroyed; but +Ben would not give up, for him there was and could be only one Sancho +in the world, and his quick wits suggested an explanation which no one +else thought of. + +"It may be my dog--they color 'em as we used to paint over trick +horses. I told you he was a valuable chap, and those that stole him +hide him that way, else he'd be no use, don't you see, because we'd +know him." + +"But the black dog had no tail," began Thorny, longing to be +convinced, but still doubtful. + +Ben shivered as if the mere thought hurt him, as he said, in a grim +tone: + +"They might have cut Sanch's off." + +"Oh, no! no! they mustn't, they wouldn't!" + +"How could any one be so wicked?" cried Bab and Betty, horrified at +the suggestion. + +"You don't know what such fellows would do to make all safe, so +they could use a dog to earn their living for 'em," said Ben, with +mysterious significance, quite forgetting in his wrath that he had +just proposed to get his own living in that way himself. + +"He no your dog? Sorry I not find him for you. Addio, signorina! +Grazia, signor! Buon giorno, buon giorno," and, kissing his hand, the +Italian shouldered organ and monkey, ready to go. + +Miss Celia detained him long enough to give him her address, and beg +him to let her know if he met poor Sanch in any of his wanderings, for +such itinerant showmen often cross each other's paths. Ben and Thorny +walked to the school-corner with him, getting more exact information +about the black dog and his owner, for they had no intention of giving +it up so soon. + +That very evening, Thorny wrote to a boy cousin in New York giving +all the particulars of the case, and begging him to hunt up the man, +investigate the dog, and see that the police made sure that everything +was right. Much relieved by this performance, the boys waited +anxiously for a reply, and when it came found little comfort in it. +Cousin Horace had done his duty like a man, but regretted that he +could only report a failure. The owner of the black poodle was a +suspicious character, but told a straight story, how he had bought +the dog from a stranger, and exhibited him with success till he was +stolen. Knew nothing of his history and was very sorry to lose him, +for he was a remarkably clever beast. + +"I told my dog man to look about for him, but he says he has probably +been killed, with ever so many more, so there is an end of it, and I +call it a mean shame." + +"Good for Horace! I told you he'd do it up thoroughly and see the +end of it," said Thorny, as he read that paragraph in the deeply +interesting letter. + +"May be the end of _that_ dog, but not of mine. I'll bet he ran away, +and if it _was_ Sanch he'll come home. You see if he doesn't," cried +Ben, refusing to believe that all was over. + +"A hundred miles off? Oh, he couldn't find you without help, smart as +he is," answered Thorny, incredulously. + +Ben looked discouraged, but Miss Celia cheered him up again by saying: + +"Yes, he could. My father had a friend who kept a little dog in Paris, +and the creature found her in Milan and died of fatigue next day. That +was very wonderful, but true, and I've no doubt that if Sanch _is_ +alive he will come home. Let us hope so, and be happy while we wait." + +"We will!" said the boys, and day after day looked for the wanderer's +return, kept a bone ready in the old place if he should arrive at +night, and shook his mat to keep it soft for his weary bones when he +came. But weeks passed, and still no Sanch. + +Something else happened, however, so absorbing that he was almost +forgotten for a time, and Ben found a way to repay a part of all he +owed his best friend. + +Miss Celia went off for a ride one afternoon, and an hour afterward, +as Ben sat in the porch reading, Lita dashed into the yard with the +reins dangling about her legs, the saddle turned round, and one side +covered with black mud, showing that she had been down. For a minute, +Ben's heart stood still, then he flung away his book, ran to the +horse, and saw at once by her heaving flanks, dilated nostrils and wet +coat, that she must have come a long way and at full speed. + +"She has had a fall, but isn't hurt or frightened," thought the boy, +as the pretty creature rubbed her nose against his shoulder, pawed the +ground and champed her bit, as if she tried to tell him all about the +disaster, whatever it was. + +"Lita, where's Miss Celia?" he asked, looking straight into the +intelligent eyes, which were troubled but not wild. + +Lita threw up her head and neighed loud and clear as if she called her +mistress, and turning, would have gone again if Ben had not caught the +reins and held her. + +"All right, we'll find her;" and, pulling off the broken saddle, +kicking away his shoes, and ramming his hat firmly on, Ben was up like +a flash, tingling all over with a sense of power as he felt the bare +back between his knees, and caught the roll of Lita's eye as she +looked round with an air of satisfaction. + +"Hi, there! Mrs. Moss! Something has happened to Miss Celia, and I'm +going to find her. Thorny is asleep; tell him easy, and I'll come back +as soon as I can." + +Then, giving Lita her head, he was off before the startled woman had +time to do more than wring her hands and cry out: + +"Go for the Squire! Oh, what shall we do?" + +As if she knew exacty what was wanted of her, Lita went back the way +she had come, as Ben could see by the fresh, irregular tracks that cut +up the road where she had galloped for help. For a mile or more they +went, then she paused at a pair of bars which were let down to allow +the carts to pass into the wide hay-fields beyond. On she went again +cantering across the new-mown turf toward a brook, across which she +had evidently taken a leap before; for, on the further side, at a +place where cattle went to drink, the mud showed signs of a fall. + +"You were a fool to try there, but where is Miss Celia?" said Ben, +who talked to animals as if they were people, and was understood much +better than any one not used to their companionship would imagine. + +Now Lita seemed at a loss, and put her head down as if she expected to +find her mistress where she had left her, somewhere on the ground. +Ben called, but there was no answer, and he rode slowly along the +brook-side, looking far and wide with anxious eyes. + +"May be she wasn't hurt, and has gone to that house to wait," thought +the boy, pausing for a last survey of the great, sunny field, which +had no place of shelter in it but one rock on the other side of the +little stream. As his eye wandered over it, something dark seemed +to blow out from behind it, as if the wind played in the folds of a +skirt, or a human limb moved. Away went Lita, and in a moment Ben +had found Miss Celia, lying in the shadow of the rock, so white and +motionless he feared that she was dead. He leaped down, touched her, +spoke to her, and receiving no answer, rushed away to bring a little +water in his leaky hat to sprinkle in her face, as he had seen them +do when any of the riders got a fall in the circus, or fainted from +exhaustion after they left the ring, where "do or die" was the motto +all adopted. + +In a minute, the blue eyes opened, and she recognized the anxious face +bending over her, saying faintly, as she touched it: + +"My good little Ben, I knew you'd find me--I sent Lita for you--I'm so +hurt I couldn't come." + +"Oh, where? What shall I do? Had I better run up to the house?" asked +Ben, overjoyed to hear her speak, but much dismayed by her seeming +helplessness, for he had seen bad falls, and had them, too. + +"I feel bruised all over, and my arm is broken, I'm afraid. Lita tried +not to hurt me. She slipped, and we went down. I came here into the +shade, and the pain made me faint, I suppose. Call somebody, and get +me home." + +Then, she shut her eyes, and looked so white that Ben hurried away +and burst upon old Mrs. Paine, placidly knitting at the end door, so +suddenly that, as she afterward said, "it sca't her like a clap o' +thunder." + +"Aint a man nowheres around. All down in the big medder gettin' in +hay," was her reply to Ben's breathless demand for "everybody to come +and see to Miss Celia." + +He turned to mount, for he had flung himself off before Lita stopped, +but the old lady caught his jacket and asked half a dozen questions in +a breath. + +"Who's your folks? What's broke? How'd she fall? Where is she? Why +didn't she come right here? Is it a sunstroke?" + +As fast as words could tumble out of his mouth Ben answered, and then +tried to free himself, but the old lady held on while she gave her +directions, expressed her sympathy, and offered her hospitality with +incoherent warmth. + +"Sakes alive! poor dear! Fetch her right in. Liddy, get out the +camphire, and Melissy, you haul down a bed to lay her on. Falls is +dretful uncert'in things; shouldn't wonder if her back was broke. +Father's down yender, and he and Bijah will see to her. You go call +'em, and I'll blow the horn to start 'em up. Tell her we'll be pleased +to see her, and it wont make a mite of trouble." + +Ben heard no more, for as Mrs. Paine turned to take down the tin horn +he was up and away. + +Several long and dismal toots sent Lita galloping through the grassy +path as the sound of the trumpet excites a war-horse, and "father and +Bijah," alarmed by the signal at that hour, leaned on their rakes to +survey with wonder the distracted-looking little horseman approaching +like a whirlwind. + +"Guess likely grandpa's had 'nother stroke. Told 'em to send over +soon's ever it come," said the farmer calmly. + +"Shouldn't wonder ef suthing was afire some'r's," conjectured the +hired man, surveying the horizon for a cloud of smoke. + +Instead of advancing to meet the messenger, both stood like statues in +blue overalls and red flannel shirts, till the boy arrived and told +his tale. + +"Sho, that's bad," said the farmer, anxiously. + +"That brook always was the darndest place," added Bijah, then both +men bestirred themselves helpfully, the former hurrying to Miss Celia +while the latter brought up the cart and made a bed of hay to lay her +on. + +"Now then, boy, you go for the doctor. My women folks will see to +the lady, and she'd better keep quiet up yender till we see what the +matter is," said the farmer, when the pale girl was lifted in as +carefully as four strong arms could do it. "Hold on," he added, as Ben +made one leap to Lita's back. "You'll have to go to Berryville. Dr. +Mills is a master hand for broken bones and old Dr. Babcock aint. +'Tisn't but about three mile from here to his house, and you'll fetch +him 'fore there's any harm done waitin'." + +"Don't kill Lita," called Miss Celia from the cart, as it began to +move. + +But Ben did not hear her, for he was off across the fields, riding as +if life and death depended upon his speed. + +"That boy will break his neck!" said Mr. Paine, standing still +to watch horse and rider go over the wall as if bent on instant +destruction. + +"No fear for Ben, he can ride anything, and Lita was trained to leap," +answered Miss Celia, falling back on the hay with a groan, for she had +involuntarily raised her head to see her little squire dash away in +gallant style. + +"I should hope so; regular jockey, that boy. Never see anything like +it out of a race-ground," and farmer Paine strode on, still following +with his eye the figures that went thundering over the bridge, up the +hill, out of sight, leaving a cloud of dust behind. + +Now that his mistress was safe, Ben enjoyed that wild ride mightily, +and so did the bay mare; for Lita had good blood in her, and proved it +that day by doing her three miles in a wonderfully short time. People +jogging along in wagons and country carry-alls, stared amazed as the +reckless pair went by. Women, placidly doing their afternoon sewing at +the front windows, dropped their needles to run out with exclamations +of alarm, sure some one was being run away with; children playing by +the roadside scattered like chickens before a hawk, as Ben passed with +a warning whoop, and baby-carriages were scrambled into door-yards +with perilous rapidity at his approach. + +But when he clattered into town, intense interest was felt in this +bare-footed boy on the foaming steed, and a dozen voices asked, "Who's +killed?" as he pulled up at the doctor's gate. + +"Jest drove off that way; Mrs. Flynn's baby's in a fit," cried a stout +lady from the piazza, never ceasing to rock, though several passers-by +paused to hear the news, for she was a doctor's wife, and used to the +arrival of excited messengers from all quarters at all hours of the +day and night. + +Deigning no reply to any one, Ben rode away, wishing he could leap a +yawning gulf, scale a precipice, or ford a raging torrent, to prove +his devotion to Miss Celia, and his skill in horsemanship. But no +dangers beset his path, and he found the doctor pausing to water +his tired horse at the very trough where Bab and Sancho had been +discovered on that ever-memorable day. The story was quickly told, +and, promising to be there as soon as possible, Dr. Mills drove on to +relieve baby Flynn's inner man, a little disturbed by a bit of soap +and several buttons, upon which he had privately lunched while his +mamma was busy at the wash-tub. + +Ben thanked his stars, as he had already done more than once, that +he knew how to take care for a horse; for he delayed by the +watering-place long enough to wash out Lita's mouth with a handful of +wet grass, to let her have one swallow to clear her dusty throat, and +then went slowly back over the breezy hills, patting and praising the +good creature for her intelligence and speed. She knew well enough +that she had been a clever little mare, and tossed her head, arched +her glossy neck, and ambled daintily along, as conscious and +coquettish as a pretty woman, looking round at her admiring rider to +return his compliments by glances of affection, and caressing sniffs +of a velvet nose at his bare feet. + +Miss Celia had been laid comfortably in bed by the farmer's wife and +daughters, and, when the doctor arrived, bore the setting of her arm +bravely. No other serious damage appeared, and bruises soon heal, so +Ben was sent home to comfort Thorny with a good report, and ask the +squire to drive up in his big carry-all for her the next day, if she +was able to be moved. + +Mrs. Moss had been wise enough to say nothing, but quietly made what +preparations she could, and waited for tidings. Bab and Betty were +away berrying, so no one had alarmed Thorny, and he had his afternoon +nap in peace,--an unusually long one, owing to the stillness which +prevailed in the absence of the children; and when he awoke he lay +reading for a while before he began to wonder where every one was. +Lounging out to see, he found Ben and Lita reposing side by side on +the fresh straw in the loose box, which had been made for her in the +coach-house. By the pails, sponges and curry-combs lying about, it was +evident that she had been refreshed by a careful washing and rubbing +down, and my lady was now luxuriously resting after her labors, with +her devoted groom half asleep close by. + +"Well, of all queer boys you are the queerest, to spend this hot +afternoon fussing over Lita, just for the fun of it!" cried Thorny, +looking in at them with much amusement. + +"If you knew what we'd been doing you'd think I ought to fuss over +her, and both of us had a right to rest!" answered Ben, rousing up as +bright as a button; for he longed to tell his thrilling tale, and had +with difficulty been restrained from bursting in on Thorny as soon as +he arrived. + +He made short work of the story, but was quite satisfied with the +sensation it produced; for his listener was startled, relieved, +excited and charmed, in such rapid succession, that he was obliged to +sit upon the meal chest and get his breath before he could exclaim, +with an emphatic demonstration of his heels against the bin: + +"Ben Brown, I'll never forget what you've done for Celia this day, or +say 'bow-legs' again as long as I live!" + +"George! I felt as if I had _six_ legs when we were going the pace. We +were all one piece, and had a jolly spin, didn't we, my beauty?" and +Ben chuckled as he took Lita's head in his lap, while she answered +with a gusty sigh that nearly blew him away. + +"Like the fellow that brought the good news from Ghent to Aix," said +Thorny, surveying the recumbent pair with great admiration. + +"What fellow?" asked Ben, wondering if he didn't mean Sheridan, of +whose ride he had heard. + +"Don't you know that piece? I spoke it at school. Give it to you now; +see if it isn't a rouser." + +And, glad to find a vent for his excitement, Thorny mounted the +meal-chest, to thunder out that stirring ballad with such spirit that +Lita pricked up her ears, and Ben gave a shrill "Hooray!" as the last +verse ended, + + "And all I remember is friends flocking round, + As I sat with his head 'twixt my knees on the ground, + And no voice but was praising this Roland of mine, + As I poured down his throat our last measure of wine, + Which (the burgesses voted by common consent) + Was no more than his due who brought good news from Ghent." + +(_To be continued_.) + + + + + + +MASTER MONTEZUMA. + +(_With Illustrations copied from Mexican Hieroglyphics_.) + +By C.C. HASKINS. + +[Note.--Montezuma II., the last of the Aztec (or native Mexican) +emperors, was born about 1480. He was taken prisoner by Hernando +Cortes, the commander of the Spanish army which conquered Mexico, and, +in the hope of quelling an insurrection which had arisen among his +former subjects, he consented to address them from the walls of his +prison. Stung by the apparent desertion of their leader to the cause +of the enemy, the Mexicans assaulted him with stones and other +missiles. He was struck on the temple by one of the stones, and died +from the effects in a few days. The illustrations are true copies of +old Mexican pictures, which appeared originally in the "Collection +of Mendoza," a work frequently referred to by all writers on ancient +Mexico.--C.C.H.] + + +The Emperor Montezuma was a great man, and historians have recorded +much about him, but of his earlier life, when he was plain Master +Montezuma, comparatively little is known of this rising young +gentleman. + +Master M. commenced his earthly career as a crying baby, in the +year "one cane," which, when properly figured down according to the +Gregorian calendar, would be about the year of our Lord 1480. + +No sooner had Master M. reached the fourth day of his existence, than +the nurse, under instructions from his anxious mamma, took off what +few clothes the poor boy had on, and repairing to the baptismal font +in the yard, sprinkled cold water upon his naked breast and lips, +presented his credentials in the shape of offerings to propitiate the +gods of war, agriculture, etc., whose names you will find further +along in this history, repeated a prayer in which "the Lord was +implored to wash away the sin that was given him before the foundation +of the world, so that the child might be born anew," and told the +three little boys who sat near by, what Master M.'s name was to be. +The three little boys left off eating their parched corn, and boiled +beans, repeated the name, and the little baby was christened. + +Now, if Master M. had been a girl--which he was not--the offerings +would have been a mat, a spinning machine and a broom, all of which +would have been buried under the _metate_, the stone where corn was +ground. As it was, the offerings were implements of war, articles of +metal, pottery, etc., and these were buried, as near as they could +guess at the location, where they either hoped or feared there might +some day be a battle with their enemies. + +When Master M. had eaten and slept and kicked and cried for sixteen +days longer, his parents took him to the priest, and to the teacher, +and promised that he should be instructed by these worthy gentlemen in +war, politics, religion, and other branches of general education. They +promised that he should be an Alfalqui, or priest, and should also +serve in the army as a soldier. In that little, wiggling baby, that +seemed all fists and mouth, it was impossible to foresee the future +Emperor of Mexico, whose name has since become familiar to the +civilized world. + +Young Master M. worried along pretty well, and up to six years of +age had done nothing remarkable. At this age he was granted one and +one-half rolls at a meal, and commenced doing little errands and +picking up scattered beans and corn in the Tianquez, which is what the +Mexicans called the market-place. + +The restless spirit of a military chieftain now began to show itself +in the embryo warrior, and, by the time he had reached his eighth +year, discipline became necessary to curb his growing inclination to +despotism. He was fast becoming one of that class of boys who think +"it's too bad to be good all the time." In the second picture see the +scalding tears! Whether Master M. is sorry that he has done wrong, or +whether he only fears being pricked with those terrible thorns of the +aloe with which he is threatened, or is crying because he is cold, who +shall tell? It is hard, sometimes, to tell what eight-year-old boys +are crying for, whether they live in the United States or in Mexico. + +Master M. may have been better than most boys, and it may be that +his father was a better driver than leader for his little ones. Some +fathers are. In any event, when Master M. was ten years old there +came another opportunity for weeping and wailing, and Master M. was +submitted to the mortification of lying on the damp ground all day +while he listened to a parental lecture; and this, too, after he was +twelve years old! + +Then Master M. reformed, and became an industrious, faithful boy. I +have sometimes questioned whether he wasn't hungry, and if he had been +better fed whether he would not have done better. At fourteen years of +age they gave him two rolls at a meal, and he was instructed in the +art of fishing with a net. You can tell how old the boy is by the +number of round marks in the picture, and the person who is speaking +is denoted by a tongue in front of the mouth. + +When his fifteenth year came, Master M. found he would have plenty to +do. After this, old Mr. M. had no trouble with him. It is curious--the +more we have to do, the less liable we are to do something we should +not, and--let us all study on that half an hour, some day, and see +what we can make of it. + +[Illustration: MASTER MONTEZUMA'S PARENTS TAKE HIM TO THE PRIEST AND +THE TEACHER.] + +He had two teachers, the priest and the military professor. It seemed +as if everything was to be learned. There was arithmetic, he learned +to make figures. A round, blue dot stands for one. + +Five of them make five, and ooooo-o (five and one) is six, and in that +way it runs up to ten. If he wanted to say "twenty" he made a flag, +and for forty he made two flags. + +Just imagine such a multiplication table as this: Five times four is +one flag. Flag times flag is one plume. Flag times plume is one purse! +Let's see; a purse, then, would equal 8,000. Yes, and if he wanted to +write 4,000 he would draw only half a purse. All the examples in their +arithmetic were worked by such tables as these. + +Then there were lessons in time. He had to learn that five days make a +week, four weeks make a month, and eighteen months make a year; and as +all that footed up only three hundred and sixty days, they threw in +what they called the five unlucky days that belonged to no month, to +fill up before they commenced a new year. And then he found another +arrangement for doing what we do with our leap-year, for, once in +fifty-two years they put in twelve and one-half extra days, which is +something like setting the clock ahead when you find it is too slow by +the town bell or the fire alarm. + +[Illustration: MASTER MONTEZUMA MUST BE PUNISHED.] + +He learned that this kind of calendar had been in use a long time, and +was the result of careful study and calculation by the wise priests of +the olden time; and, when he wanted to know how long, he counted up +the bundles of reeds which represented centuries, and found that +it had been in use over four hundred years. And all this, you must +remember, was before San Salvador was discovered by Columbus. Then he +had to study all about the naming of the years and the cycles. How, if +this year was "one rabbit," next year would be "two cane," the third +"three flint," the next "four house," and these four elements, +representing air, water, fire, earth, would be thus repeated up to +thirteen, and then they would commence at one again, so that the +fourteenth year would be "one cane," etc., and in four of these cycles +of thirteen they would reach a cycle of fifty-two years, or, as they +called it, a "bundle," and as the twelve and one-half days additional +would end one cycle of fifty-two years at midday, and the next at +midnight, they bundled two of these together and called it "an old +age." The number fifty-two was an unlucky number, and these old +Mexicans believed that at the end of a cycle of that number of years, +at some time, the world would be depopulated, the sun put out, and, +after death and darkness had reigned awhile, it would all begin afresh +with a new race of people. + +[Illustration: MASTER MONTEZUMA IS TAUGHT HOW TO FISH.] + +So, when a cycle or bundle was completed, all fires were extinguished +and not rekindled during the five unlucky days. Household goods which +could no longer be of any service, dishes, household articles, etc., +were broken; every one gave up all hope, and abandoned himself to +despair while awaiting the expected ruin. + +[Illustration: MASTER MONTEZUMA IS TALKED TO BY HIS FATHER.] + +On the evening of the fifth day of sorrow, the priests gathered the +people together in a procession and marched to a temple, about two +leagues from the city. Here they would sit like bumps on a log until +midnight, and then, when the constellation which we call the Pleiades +came exactly overhead, the danger was over. Two sticks were rubbed +together over the breast of a captive who had been selected for the +sacrifice, until fire was produced by the friction, the funeral pile +was lighted, the body burned, and messengers, many of whom could run +long distances, at the rate of seven or eight miles an hour, would +light their torches and spread the joyful news of danger averted, +while carrying the "new fire" into all parts of the empire. Then would +follow a regular old-fashioned frolic, something like a centennial,--a +jollification few had ever seen and most would see but once in a +life-time. There must be no drunkenness, however; that was a high +crime, in some instances punished by death. If the intemperate party, +man or woman, was over seventy years of age, however, no notice was +taken of it,--they were old, and had rights and privileges not granted +to younger members of the community. + +[Illustration: CARRYING THE BRIDE.] + +Master M. had much to learn about deities. At the head of these stood +one, infinite, supreme ruler, "the unknown God," and next beneath him +came Tezcatlipoca, the "son of the world," supposed to be the creator +of the earth, Huitzilopotchli was the god of war, a sort of Mars, but +with very much more name. Then there was the god of air, Quetzatcoatl, +who controlled vegetation, metals, and the politics of the country. +Here is something Master M. was taught to believe of him: + +When this god, whom we will call Q, was on earth, vegetation was so +wonderfully prolific that a single ear of corn was all a man could +carry. Everything the people needed grew spontaneously. Cotton grew +more beautifully tinted than the dyers of the present time could color +it. Richest perfumes loaded temperate breezes, and everywhere the +gaudiest-colored birds filled the air with most entrancing harmonies. +Q had some little difficulty, however, with the rest of the gods, and +was obliged to leave his little paradise. When he embarked in his +wizard snake-skin canoe on the shore of the gulf, he told his friends +that his descendents would one day return and bless the land as he had +done, and that they would be like him,--tall, fine looking, with dark +hair, white skins, and flowing beards. Alas! this belief was in no +small degree the cause of their ruin; for the invading Spaniards quite +nearly answered this description of Q's descendants. + +[Illustration: THE WEDDING OF MONTEZUMA.] + +There were thirteen of the principal deities, as Master M. learned, +each of whom required sacrifices more or less horrible. For instance, +there was the "soul of the world," I forget his other name. He must +be propitiated now and then. A year before the fatal day, a tall, +beautiful, well-formed, unblemished captive was selected to play the +part of this god for one year. He must have all these qualifications +to make the resemblance as perfect as possible. He was now treated +as a god. Everything he could wish, everything it was thought could +possibly conduce to his pleasure, comfort, or happiness, was furnished +without stint. He slept on the softest of couches in the most gorgeous +of chambers; his raiment was profuse and expensive, and the whole +surroundings were, as far as possible, in keeping with his high and +holy estate. Birds and music, flowers and rare perfumes pleased every +sense, and everything, save liberty, was his. This happy-go-lucky sort +of life continued until the day fixed for the sacrifice. Then joy gave +way to sadness, pain, death! Stripped of his costly raiment, he was +taken by a procession of priests to a royal barge, thence across a +lake to a temple about a league from the city, where, as he mounted +the weary steps of the huge edifice, he flung aside the garlands of +flowers and broke the musical instruments which had been a joy to him +in his past days. At the summit of the temple, in full view of the +assembled multitude below, he was barbarously put to death by a +priest, in order to propitiate the cruel god to whom the temple +was dedicated. And Master M. was taught that the moral of all this +savagery was, that human joys are transitory, and the partition +between sorrow and happiness is a very thin one, or words to that +effect. + +Master M. learned that there were many other inferior gods, each of +which had festivals, sacrifices, etc., proportioned to his rank and +power; that nearly every hour of the day was dedicated to some god or +other; but I cannot tell you all he learned of these strange deities. + +[Illustration: A PEACE-OFFERING IN THE YEAR ONE RABBIT.] + +He studied the history of the temples, and learned why they were four +or five stories high with the stairs on the outside, and why he had to +go entirely round the temple to find the next flight of stairs as he +went up or down; and why each story was smaller than the next lower, +and learned that some of these buildings were over one hundred feet +square and as many feet high, and had towers forty or fifty feet high +on their summits; and all about the everlasting fire which burned on +the tops of these temples, and that there were so many of these that +the whole country for miles around was always brilliantly illuminated. + +I must pass over a long period in the life of Master M. with the mere +remark that he graduated in both his military and religious classes +with the highest honors, and acquitted himself to the most perfect +satisfaction of both the alfalquis, or priests, and the teachcauhs, +which is nearly the same as our word teachers. + +Master M. had, for a long time, cherished a hope that some day he +might press the throne as king of Mexico. So, like the Yorkshire lad +who begged salt of a stranger eating eggs near him, so as to have +the salt ready in case any one _should_ ask him to accept an egg, he +prepared himself fully for the possible emergency, and became not only +a military general, but a leading alfalqui. + +And then he married. I have not room to give you the whole picture, +but here is the way it was done. + +A lady whose position in society required her to negotiate the match, +having previously made all the necessary arrangements, one evening, +hoisted the happy damsel on her back, and accompanied by four young +women (I have drawn only one) each bearing a torch, headed the joyous +procession and marched to the house of Master M., where she dropped +her cargo of precious humanity. Then the alfalqui asked them if they +were mutually agreed on matrimony, and of course, they said "yes," +when he proceeded to tie their clothes together. Then two old +patriarchs and two good old grandmothers (one of each of which I have +copied for you) delivered little sermons suited to the occasion. The +new couple walked seven times round a blazing fire, partook of a feast +with their friends, heard a final sort of a "ninety-ninthly and to +conclude" parting word from the four old people, and then, just as all +married people do, went to housekeeping, and having their own way as +much as possible. One thing they could not do. There was no law +of divorce to appeal to then; death was the only judge who could +entertain the question of separation. + +[Illustration: PROTECTING THE GRAIN FROM RATS, IN THE YEAR ONE +RABBIT.] + +Master M. will now disappear, to re-appear as the Emperor. In the +year "ten rabbits," or A.D. 1502, the monarch died, and the electoral +college selected Master M. to supply his place. In the household of +each monarch there was an electoral board of four nobles, whose duty +it was, on the death of the ruler, to elect his successor from among +the sons and nephews of the crown. Having done this, and so notified +the successor, they selected four nobles to fill their own places, +and vacated their electoral chairs. Master M. when waited upon to be +notified of his election to fill his uncle's place, was very busy +sweeping down the stairs in the great temple dedicated to the god of +war! + +Four years after becoming emperor, Montezuma, to appease the gods, +made a sacrifice of a young gentleman captive by transfixing him with +arrows. This, you see, was in the year "one rabbit." It is recorded +that in this year the rats overran the country so completely that +the inhabitants had to stand guard at night with blazing torches to +prevent their devouring the grain sown in the fields. + +With the last picture, I take pleasure in introducing to you Master M. +in his new position as Emperor of Mexico, seated in the royal halls. + +For further particulars, read "The Conquest of Mexico," by Prescott. + +[Illustration: THE EMPEROR MONTEZUMA, SEATED IN THE ROYAL HALLS.] + + + + + + +A LONG JOURNEY. + +BY JOSEPHINE POLLARD. + + "We sail to-day," said the captain gay, + As he stepped on board the boat that lay + So high and dry, "Come now, be spry; + We'll land, at Jerusalem by and by!" + + Away they sailed, and each craft they hailed; + While down in the cabin they bailed and bailed; + For the sea was rough, and they had to luff + And tack, till the captain cried out "Enough!" + + They stopped at Peru, this jolly crew, + And went to Paris and Timbuctoo; + And after a while they found the Nile, + And watched the sports of the crocodile. + + They called on the Shah, and the mighty Czar, + And on all the crowned heads near and far; + Shook hands with the Cid--they really did! + And lunched on top of the pyramid! + + To Afric's strand, or northern land, + They steer as the captain gives command; + And fly so fast that the slender mast + Goes quivering, shivering in the blast! + + Then on to the ground with a sudden bound, + Leaps Jack--'t was a mercy he wasn't drowned! + The sail is furled, the anchor hurled, + "We've been," cry the children, "all round the world!" + + By billows tossed, by tempests crossed, + Yet never a soul on board was lost! + Though the boat be a sieve, I do not grieve, + They sail on the ocean of "Make-believe." + + + + + + +THE LITTLE RED CANAL-BOAT. + +BY M.A. EDWARDS. + + +The morning sun had not mounted high enough in the sky to send +his rays into Greta's room, when she was awakened by a noise. She +listened. It was the sound of a boat grating against the side of the +canal. Who could be coming to their back door so early? She sprang out +of bed, and ran quickly to the open window. A disappointment awaited +her. It was only her father's boat, which the maid-servant Charlotte +was pushing along, slowly making her way to the landing-stairs. + +"Where have you been so early, Charlotte?" called out Greta. + +"Are you there, youngsters?" said Charlotte, looking up at the two +bright faces at the window; for the little Amelia had been roused by +her sister's wild jump from the bed, and had also run to the window. + +"Bad Charlotte, to wake us so early!" cried Amelia. + +Charlotte laughed. "You wouldn't think me bad, Minchen, if you knew +all the good things I've been buying at market. Have you forgotten +your cousins are coming to-day, all the way from over the sea? I'm +sure they'll be hungry enough." + +"What you got?" asked Amelia (usually called Minchen). + +"Fine Beemster cheese, sweet butter, fresh salad, and plenty of fruit. +And there are lots of good things at the bottom of the basket. I'll +leave you to find out what they are." And Charlotte made the boat +fast, and carried the heavy basket into the house. + +It was not necessary for Charlotte to remind these little girls of +the cousins who lived in the city of New York, in the far-off land of +America. For the last month little else had been talked of in the Van +Schaick mansion besides the expected visit of the Chester family. Mrs. +Van Schaick and Mrs. Chester were sisters, and this was but the second +visit the latter had paid her old Holland home since her marriage. On +the first visit her children were not with her; but now Mr. Chester +was coming, and the two boys. Many were the wild speculations the +girls indulged in with regard to Americans,--what they would look +like, and what they would say and do. + +Great, then, was their surprise, when the travelers arrived, to find +that their aunt Chester was very like their mother in appearance and +dress. Mr. Chester did not in the least resemble their father, but he +was not unlike many other men they had seen, and he did not dress in +wild-beast skins. As for the boys, Greta poured her tale of woe into +the ears of the sympathizing Charlotte. "They are just like English +boys!" she said, contemptuously. Greta had often seen English boys, +and there was nothing uncommon about them. + +This was soon forgotten, however, when Greta discovered what pleasant +companions the boys were, and that they could put the Dutch words +together almost as correctly as Greta herself. Will Chester, who had +reached the dignified age of thirteen, had felt much troubled at the +thought that he would have "only girls" to play with at Zaandam, +especially as Greta was a year younger than himself. But when the two +girls, instead of bringing forward their dolls and tea-sets with +which to entertain their visitors, produced from their treasures +two good-sized toy canal-boats, fully equipped with everything a +canal-boat needed, he admitted to himself that girls who liked to sail +boats might be good for something. + +Secretly, however, he thought that a canal-boat was a poor kind of +vessel to have, and wished his cousins owned such beautiful ships as +he and Martin had; for among the last things bought before leaving +New York were two little sailing-vessels--the "America" and the +"Columbus." Mr. Chester said Holland was full of water, and these were +proper toys to take there. + +The two canal-boats, being precisely alike, were distinguished from +each other only by their names. Greta's had "Wilhelmina" painted on +the side in black letters, while Minchen's had "Gouda" in red letters. +They were similar to American canal-boats in shape, and of a dark +red-brown color. Will thought them stumpy and heavy-looking; and he +did not admire the red sails with crooked gaffs, and smiled at the +blue pennants, stretched out on stiff frames that turned with the +wind. But when Greta showed him a tiny windlass on the deck, by means +of which she easily raised and lowered the mast, he came to the +conclusion that a Dutch canal-boat was not to be despised. + +"I do this when we pass under bridges," she explained. + +"Where are your mules for drawing your boat?" + +"My boat sails!" she said, proudly. "If there is no wind, I drag it +along myself. That is the way we do in our country." + +[Illustration: "CHARLOTTE WAS PUSHING THE BOAT ALONG, MAKING HER WAY +TO THE LANDING-STAIRS."] + +The American vessels were now unpacked and displayed. When the girls +saw these sharp-prowed, graceful ships, with their tapering masts +and pretty sails, their eyes glistened, and they declared that never +before had they seen anything so lovely. Their, pride in their +canal-boats suffered a woful downfall. The boys proposed to try all +the vessels on the canal at the back of the house, but Greta objected. + +"Mother never lets us go there to sail our boats," she said. "It is +a dirty place, and she is afraid we will fall in. But there is a +beautiful stream by the mill where we are going to-morrow, and there +we can try our boats, and see which goes the fastest." + +"Let us take a walk, then," said Martin. "I want to look at this queer +place." + +The Van Shaicks lived in Zaandam, and it is indeed a queer place to +American eyes. It is a large town, with but two streets, one on each +side of the Zaan River; but these two extend for a long distance, and +are crossed at frequent intervals by canals, so that Martin soon got +tired counting the little bridges the children passed over in their +walk. Will was not quite sure whether the brick-paved street was all +road-way or all sidewalk. + +"I don't see any carriages," he said, after studying this matter for +some time. + +"People don't ride much here," said Greta. "There are plenty of +carriages in Amsterdam." + +"How do you get about, then?" + +"On our feet and in boats. Look at our fine river, and there are ever +so many canals! What do we want with carriages?" + +"It must be jolly going everywhere in boats," said Will. "I should +like that!" + +"We have some very pretty boats," said Greta, much pleased. "Oh! +wouldn't you like to go fishing? I'll ask father to take us some day +soon. I saw a net in the market-boat this morning." + +"Well, if that isn't funny!" cried Martin, with a burst of laughter. +Will joined in the laugh, and Greta looked around in vain to discover +the cause of their merriment. + +"Looking-glasses on the _outside_ of the houses!" explained Martin, +pointing to one opposite. "I guess they're put there for the girls to +look in as they walk along," he added, mischievously. "They can't wait +to get home to admire themselves." + +Sure enough, there was a mirror outside the window, set at such an +angle that the persons inside the house could see who was passing up +and down the street. And there was a mirror on the next house, and the +next. + +"Why, they are on all the houses!" said Will. + +"To be sure!" said Greta. "What is there funny in that? And the girls +don't look in them any more than the boys, Mr. Martin. Don't you ever +want to know what is going on in the street?" + +"Of course I do." + +"How are you going to do it without the looking-glass to tell you?" + +"Use my own eyes, to be sure!" + +"Whose eyes do you use when you look in a glass?" said Greta. + +Martin looked puzzled, and had no reply ready; and Will thought his +cousin Greta very clever, although she was a girl, and a year younger +than himself. + +But Martin soon recovered his composure. + +"What lots of flowers!" was his next comment. "They are everywhere, +except in this brick pavement, and nothing could grow here, it is so +clean." + +"And such pretty houses in the gardens!" said Will. + +"But they are so small," said Martin, "It would take a dozen of them +to make a New York house." + +"My goodness!" said Greta, turning her head back as far as she could, +and looking at the sky. "How do you ever see up to their roofs?" + +"Divide Martin's twelve by four, and you will come nearer the truth," +said Will, laughing. "But, at any rate, the houses are pretty--painted +green and yellow, with red-tiled roofs." + +The next thing the boys observed was the loneliness of the streets. In +America a town of twelve thousand inhabitants would have more of an +air of bustle, they said. Will liked the quiet, "for a change," as he +expressed it, and because it made him feel, somehow, as if he owned +the place. Martin declared it to be his opinion that the people kept +out of the streets for fear that their shoes would soil them, and that +accounted for the almost spotless cleanliness everywhere. + +The streets were not deserted, however; for, at intervals, there were +row-boat ferries across the river, and occasionally a man or woman +would be seen in one of these boats. + +There were also a number of children, and some women, in the streets. +These apparently belonged to the poorer classes. Hats and bonnets were +scarce among them, though all the women, and many of the little girls, +had on close-fitting muslin caps. They wore short, loose sacques, and +short dress skirts, made up without trimmings. The boys were dressed +in jackets and baggy trousers. All wore clumsy wooden shoes. + +The Van Schaick family followed the French fashions, as we do in +America; the difference between the two countries being that here +every one attempts to follow the prevailing style, while in Holland +this change of fashion is confined to the wealthy; the middle and +lower classes preserving the same style of costume from generation to +generation. + +A good many of the children in the street were carrying painted iron +or stone buckets, with a tea-kettle on the top. After proceeding some +distance up the street, Will and Martin saw some of them coming out of +a basement door-way, still with the buckets in their hands; but clouds +of steam were issuing from the tea-kettle spouts! + +"What place is that?" asked Will. + +"It is the fire-woman's," said Greta. + +"And who and what may she be? I have heard of water-women, sometimes +called mermaids, but never before did I hear of a fire-woman." + +"She don't _live_ in fire," said Greta; "she _sells_ it. What do the +poor people in your country do in summer without a fire-woman? Come +and look in." + +[Illustration: AT THE FIRE-WOMAN'S.] + +By this time they had reached the place. Over the door was the sign +"_Water en vuur te koop_."[1] It was not necessary for the children to +go inside. They could see the whole apartment through the wide-open +door-way. An old woman stood by a stove, or great oven, with a pair +of tongs, taking up pieces of burning peat and dropping them into +the buckets of the children, and then filling their tea-kettles with +boiling water from great copper tanks on the stove. For this each +child paid her a Dutch cent, which is less than half of one of ours. + + [Footnote 1: "Water and fire to sell."] + +"I understand it," said Will, after they had stood at the door some +time, amused at the scene. "This saves poor people the expense of a +fire in the summer-time. They send here for hot water to make their +tea." + +"Yes," said Greta, "and for the burning peat which cooks the potatoes +and the sausage for their supper." + +"Why don't they use coal?" asked Martin. "It is ever so much better." + +"No, the peat answers their purpose much better," said Will. "It burns +slowly, and gives out a good deal of heat for a long time." + +"And the smell of it is so delicious," added Greta. + +A little further on; the children came out on an open space, which +gave them a good view of the surrounding flat country, and of the +wind-mills that stand about Zaandam--a forest of towers. It was a +marvelous sight. Hundreds of giant arms were beating the air, as if +guarding the town from invisible enemies. + +Greta was proud and pleased that her cousins were so impressed with +the great numbers of towers and the myriads of gigantic whirling +spokes. + +"My father says there is nothing grander than this in all Holland," +she said. "There are four hundred of them, and more, but you can't +see them all from here. Do you see that mill over yonder? That is my +father's, and we are going there to-morrow." + +The boys could not distinguish one tower from another at that +distance. + +"What kind of mill is it?" asked Will. + +"A flour-mill." + +"Are all these flour-mills?" + +"Oh no! There are saw-mills, colza-oil mills, mustard-mills, +flax-mills, and other kinds I don't remember." + +It was now nearly supper-time, and the little group returned home. + +The next morning, the whole party--four grown-up people, four +youngsters, and four boats (the "Wilhelmina," the "Gouda," the +"America," and the "Columbus")--were all taken up the Zaan River in a +row-boat for about three miles, and then up a small stream to the mill +where they were to spend the day. + +The first thing in order was the inspection of the mill, which was +unlike anything they had ever seen in America. The tower was of brick. +It was three stories high, over a basement. In the basement were the +stables and wagon-house; over this was the granary, and flour and meal +store; above this were the bolting-rooms, the ground wheat running +through spouts to the store-rooms below. On the next floor above were +the mill-stones, and the simple machinery that turned them. And, above +all, at the very top of the tower, was the main shaft of the great +wings outside. These wings caught the winds, and compelled them +to work the machinery with such force as to make the strong tower +tremble. There were balconies around the first and third stories of +the mill. It was quite a picturesque object standing among low trees +on a pretty, quiet stream, the banks of which were higher and more +uneven than was usual in that part of the country. + +The miller lived in a small house near the mill with his wife and his +little daughter Hildegarde, the latter of whom was near Greta's age. + +The boys did not take as much interest in the miller's house as their +parents took; but when they were shown into a large outer room, and +were told it was the cow-stable, they had no words with which to +express their astonishment. They would have said it was the show-room +of the place. There was not a speck on the whitewashed walls; the pine +ceiling was so clean it fairly glistened; there were crisp, white +muslin curtains at the windows. The raised earthen floor was covered +with pure white sand, arranged in fancy designs. There were some small +round tables standing about, and on them were ornaments of china and +silver, and a variety of knick-knacks. + +During the summer the cows were in the pasture day and night, but in +the winter they occupied this room. Then the tables were removed, but +the place was kept very neatly. This was necessary, for the stable +adjoined the house, and the party passed into the barn through a door +in the cow-stable. + +All except the two boys. Will hung back and motioned to Martin not to +go into the barn. + +"I am tired of this sort of thing," he said. "Let us go and sail our +boats." + +"Very well," said Martin, "I'll call the girls." + +"No," said Will; "there are too many of them. They'll only be in the +way. They'll have a good time together, and we'll have some fun by +ourselves." + +Martin seldom dissented from Will's decisions, so the two boys went +back into the house to get their ships, and passed out of another +door to the bridge and across the stream. They had gone but a short +distance when Martin, who had seemed very thoughtful, stopped opposite +the mill. + +"There is a man in the balcony," he said. "I'll ask him to call to +the girls to come. It isn't fair to go without them. You know Greta +thought _so_ much of sailing her boat with ours." + +"Nonsense," said Will. "She has got other company now. I don't believe +they know how to manage their boats, and we will have to help them. +Girls always have to be taken care of." + +"But," persisted Martin, "you said that Greta was real smart and a +first-rate fellow--girl, I mean." + +"She is well enough for girls' plays; but what can she know about +boats? Come along!" + +Martin said no more, and the boys proceeded for some distance up the +stream. + +"If we go around that bend," said Will, "we will be out of sight of +the mill, and can have our own fun." + +Around the bend they found a bridge, and a little way above this the +stream widened into a large pool, the banks of which were shaded by +willows. There they launched the schooner "America" and the sloop +"Columbus" with appropriate ceremonies. The sails and the rudders were +properly set for a trip across the pool. The ships bent gracefully to +the breeze, and went steadily on their course, the little flags waving +triumphantly from the mast-heads. They moved so gracefully and behaved +so beautifully that Martin expressed his sorrow that the girls were +not there to see them. Will made no reply, but he felt a twinge of +remorse as he remembered how Greta had looked forward to this sail as +a great event. He tried to quiet his conscience with the consideration +that it was much better for her not to be there; for she would +certainly have felt mortified at the contrast between their pretty +vessels and the poor canal-boats. + +The boys crossed the bridge, and were ready for the arrival of their +vessels in the foreign port. Then they started them on the return +voyage and recrossed the bridge to receive them at home. + +This was done several times, but at last there was an accident. Will's +schooner, the "America," from some unknown cause, took a wrong tack +when near the middle of the pool, and going too far up, got aground +upon a tiny, grassy island. She swayed about for a minute, and the +boys hoped she would float off, but soon the masts ceased to quiver. +The "America" had quietly moored herself on the island as if she +intended to remain there forever. What was to be done? The longest +pole to be found would not reach the island from either bank, or from +the bridge, and the pool was deep. Will began to think it was a pretty +bad case. + +[Illustration: THE BOYS WITH THEIR BOATS.] + +"What a beauty!" "Isn't it just lovely!" "Pretty! pretty! pretty!" + +These exclamations came respectively from Greta, Hildegarde, and +Minchen, and had reference to the "Columbus," which was gliding up +to the bank where the boys stood, with its sails gleaming in the +sunshine, while it dipped and courtesied on the little waves. The +girls were coming around the bend. Greta and Minchen had their +canal-boats, and Hildegarde carried a great square of gingerbread. + +"That's the most beautiful thing I ever saw!" cried Greta. In her +admiration of the vessel, she had forgotten her wounded dignity. For +she had arranged with Hildegarde that, after giving the boys their +share of gingerbread, they should walk proudly and silently away. + +As Greta had broken the compact by speaking, Hildegarde entered upon +an explanation: "We have been down the stream looking for you--" +But here she was interrupted by a frown from Greta, who suddenly +recollected the slight that had been put upon them. + +"Naughty boys to run away!" said little Minchen. "You sha'n't see my +boat sail!" + +"My ship is aground on that island," said Will, willing to change the +subject. "I have no way of getting her off. I wonder if the boat we +came in is too large to be got up here." + +"The boat was taken back to Zaandam," said Hildegarde, "and our boat +is away, too." + +"The 'America' will have to stay where she is, then," said Will, +trying to speak cheerfully. + +"Pretty ship is lost! Too bad!" said Minchen, pityingly. Then +brightly: "I'll give you mine!-_may be_," she added in a doubtful +tone, as her glance fell lovingly upon the boat she was hugging under +her arm. + +Meantime, Greta had been studying the situation. She now turned to +Will. "I can get your ship off," she said. "Take care of my boat till +I come back, and don't sail her on any account. I wont be gone long." + +She handed her boat to Will, and was around the bend in an instant; +and it was not very long before the anxious group heard the sound of +her rapid footsteps returning. Will thought she had gone to the mill +to get some one to help them, but she came back alone, and all she +brought with her was a large ball of cord. + +Martin and Minchen asked her twenty questions while she made her +preparations, but she would not reveal her plans, although it was +evident from the way she went to work that she had a very clear idea +of what she intended to accomplish. + +In the first place, she said the whole party must go further up the +bank, so as to get above the "America," which was on the lower edge of +the little island. When they had gone far enough, she tied one end of +the cord to the rudder-post of her canal-boat. Then she turned the +cunning little windlass, and slowly up went the mast to its full +height. The next thing was to unfurl the sail, set it properly, and +set the rudder,--all of which she did deftly and correctly, making +Will feel ashamed of what he had said about the ignorance of girls. + +She placed the boat on the water. The sail filled, and off went the +"Wilhelmina" with a slow, true, steady motion, her red sail glowing in +the sunshine, and her stiff little pennant standing straight out in +the wind. As the boat crossed the pool, Greta played out the cord +carefully, so as not to impede its motion. When it reached the other +side and had gently grounded on the shelving shore, Greta gave the +line into Will's hand. + +"If you will hold this," she said, "I will go across the bridge." + +"Don't trouble yourself to do that," said Will, "I will go over." + +"No," said Greta, "I wish to go. I am captain of my own craft, and I +know how to manage my 'Wilhelmina.'" + +"I had no idea she was so pretty," said Will. "She is a true, stanch +little sailer." + +"She don't show off until she is on the water," said Greta, smiling, +"and then she sails like a real boat. Do you know what I am going to +do when I get to the other side?" + +"I can guess. You will send your boat back to me from below the island +while I hold this end of the cord. That will bring the line around my +ship and pull her off." + +"I thought of that, but it is too risky. If anything should go wrong +with my boat, the line might get tangled; or there might be too great +a strain, and the ship would come off with a jerk and be tumbled +bottom upward into the water. I intend to untie the cord from the +boat, and you and I must walk slowly down toward the 'America,'--I on +that side, and you on this. We must hold the cord low so as to catch +the mast under the sail, if we can." + +"All right," said Will. + +Greta walked quickly down the bank, across the bridge, and up the +other side until she reached the "Wilhelmina." Placing the boat on the +bank for safety, she took the cord off, and, holding it firmly, walked +slowly down toward the island. Will did the same on his side of the +pool. The cord went skimming over the surface of the water, then it +passed above the tops of the long grass on the island. This brought +the line on a level with the top-sail. This would not do; for a +pressure up there might capsize the schooner. Both of the workers saw +that they must slacken the line a little to get it into the proper +place. Now was the critical time; if the line was too much slackened +it might slip under the vessel and upset it that way. Gently they +lowered it until it lay against the mainmast below the sail. + +"Take care!" screamed Will to Greta. + +"Go slow!" screamed Greta to Will. + +Gently they pulled against the schooner, and, inch by inch, she +floated off into the open water. + +"Hurrah!" shouted Will, as the "America" gave herself a little shake, +and, catching the wind, sailed slowly and somewhat unsteadily for the +home port, which, however, she reached in safety. "Wind up the cord!" +shouted Greta, just in time to prevent Will's throwing it aside. He +wondered what further use she had for the cord. It might go to the +bottom of the pool for aught he cared, now that the ship was safe. But +he wound it up as directed. It would have been quite a grief to the +thrifty little Dutch girl if so much fine cord had been wasted. + +Thus ignominiously came in the stately ship "America," which Will had +set afloat with such pride! And it is doubtful whether she would +have come in at all, but for the stanch Dutch canal-boat that he had +regarded with a good deal of disdain. + +If Will had been a girl, he would have exhausted the complimentary +adjectives of the Dutch language in praise of his cousin; but being a +boy, he only said, "Thank you, Greta." + +The children remained at the pool until called to dinner; and after +that meal, they went back again and stayed until it was time to return +to Zaandam, so fascinated were they with sailing their vessels. These +changed hands so often that it was sometimes difficult to tell who had +charge of any particular boat, and a good deal of confusion was the +result. In justice to the "America," it must be stated that she cut no +more capers, and was the admiration of all. + +Will had his faults, and one of these was the very high estimate +he placed on his own opinions. But he was generous-hearted, and he +admitted to himself that Greta had shown more cleverness than he in +the "America" affair. "She was _quicker_, anyway," he thought. "It +is likely that plan would have occurred to me after a time, but she +thought of it first. And it was good of her to help me; for she knew +that I went away so as not to play with her." It was not pleasant to +him to know that a girl had shown herself superior to him in anything +he considered his province; but he magnanimously forgave her for this, +and he said to Martin, after they were in bed that night: + +"I've pretty much made up my mind to give my schooner to Greta. I +believe she thinks it the prettiest thing ever made." + +"If you do that," said Martin, "I'll give my sloop to Minchen." + +This plan was carried out, and the girls were more delighted than if +they had had presents of diamonds. But they insisted that the boys +should accept their canal-boats in exchange, the result of which +was that the Chesters, on their return to America, produced quite a +sensation among their schoolmates. For American-built vessels could be +bought in many stores in New York, but a Dutch canal-boat, with a red +sail, and a mast that was raised and lowered by a windlass, was not to +be found in all the city. + + + + + + +THE BUTTERFLY CHASE. + +BY ELLIS GRAY. + + + Dear little butterfly, + Lightly you flutter by, + On golden wing. + Drops of sweet honey sip, + Deep from the clover tip, + Then upward spring. + + Over the meadow grass + Swift as a fairy pass, + Blithesome and gay; + Toy with the golden-rod, + Make the blue asters nod-- + Off and away! + + Butterfly's dozing now, + Golden wings closing now,-- + Softly he swings. + Tiny hands fold him fast, + Gently unclose at last,-- + Fly, golden wings! + + Quick! for he's after you, + With joyous laughter new,-- + Mischievous boy! + Swift you must flutter by; + He wants you, butterfly, + For a new toy! + + + +[Illustration] + + + +HOW TO MAKE A TELEPHONE. + +BY M.F. + + +What is a telephone? + +Up go a hundred hands of the brightest and sharpest of the readers of +ST. NICHOLAS, and a hundred confident voices reply: + +"An instrument to convey sounds by means of electricity." + +Good. That shows you have some definite idea of it; but, after all, +that answer is not the right one. The telephone does not convey sound. + +"What does its name mean, then?" do you ask? + +Simply, that it is a far-sounder; but that does not necessarily imply +that it _carries_ sounds afar. Strictly speaking, the telephone only +changes sound-waves into waves of electricity and back again. When +two telephones are connected by means of a wire, they act in this +way,--the first telephone changes the sound-waves it receives into +electric impulses which travel along the wire until they reach the +second telephone, here they are changed back to sound-waves exactly +like those received by the first telephone. Accordingly, the listener +in New York seems to hear the very tones of his friend who is speaking +at the other end of the line, say, in Boston. + +Still you don't see how. + +It is not surprising, for in this description several scientific facts +and principles are involved; and all boys and girls cannot be expected +to know much about the laws of sound and electricity. Perhaps a little +explanation may make it clearer. + +The most of you probably know that sound is produced by rapid motion. +Put your finger on a piano wire that is sounding, and you will feel +the motion, or touch your front tooth with a tuning-fork that is +singing; in the last case you will feel very distinctly the raps made +by the vibrating fork. Now, a sounding body will not only jar another +body which touches it, but it will also give its motion to the air +that touches it; and when the air-motions or air-waves strike the +sensitive drums of our ears, these vibrate, and we _hear_ the sound. + +You all have heard the windows rattle when it thunders loudly, or when +cannons have been fired near-by. The sound waves in the air fairly +shake the windows; and, sometimes, when the windows are closed, so +that the air-waves cannot pass readily, the windows are shattered by +the shock. Fainter sounds act less violently, yet similarly. Every +time you speak, your voice sets everything around you vibrating in +unison, though ever so faintly. + +Thus, from your every-day experience you have proof of two important +facts,--first, sound is caused by rapid motion; second, sound-waves +give rise to corresponding motion. Both these facts are involved in +the speaking telephone, which performs a twofold office,--that of the +ear on the one hand, that of our vocal organs on the other. + +To serve as an ear, the telephone must be able to take up quickly and +nicely the sound-waves of the air. A tightened drum-head will do that; +or better, a strip of goldbeaters'-skin drawn tightly over a ring +or the end of a tube. But these would not help Professor Bell, the +inventor of the telephone we shall describe, since he wanted an ear +that would translate the waves of sound into waves of electricity, +which would travel farther and faster than sound-waves could. + +Just when Mr. Bell was thinking how he could make the instrument he +wanted, an important discovery in magnetism was made known to him--a +discovery that helped him wonderfully. You know that if you hold a +piece of iron close to a magnet the magnet will pull it, and the +closer the iron comes to the magnet the harder it is pulled. Now, some +one experimenting with a magnet having a coil of silk-covered wire +around it, found that when a piece of iron was moved in front of the +magnet and close to it without touching, the motion would give rise to +electric waves in the coil of wire, which waves could be transmitted +to considerable distances. + +This was just what Mr. Bell wanted. He said to himself, "The sound +of my voice will give motion to a thin plate of iron as well as to a +sheet of goldbeaters'-skin; and if I bring this vibrating plate +of iron close to a magnet, the motion will set up in it waves of +electricity answering exactly to the sound-waves which move the iron +plate." + +So far, good. But something more was wanted. The instrument must not +only translate sound-waves into electric impulses, but change these +back again into sound-waves; it must not only hear, but also _speak!_ + +You remember our first fact in regard to sound: it is caused by +motion. All that is needed to make anything speak is to cause it to +move so as to give rise to just such air-waves as the voice makes. Mr. +Bell's idea was to make the iron plate of his sound-receiver speak. + +He reasoned in this way: From the nature of the magnet it follows that +when waves of electricity are passed through the wire coil around the +magnet, the strength of the magnet must vary with the force of the +electric impulses. Its pull on the plate of iron near it must vary in +the same manner. The varying pull on the plate must make it move, +and this movement must set the air against the plate in motion in +sound-waves corresponding exactly with the motion setting up the +electric waves in the first place; in other words, the sound-motion in +one telephone must be exactly reproduced as sound-waves in a similar +instrument joined to it by wire. + +Experiment proved the reasoning correct; and thus the +speaking-telephone was invented. But it took a long time to find +the simplest and best way to make it. At last, however, Mr. Bell's +telephone was perfected in the form illustrated below. Fig. 1 shows +the inner structure of the instrument. A is the spool carrying the +coil of wire; B, the magnet; C, the diaphragm; E, the case; F, F, the +wires leading from the coil, and connecting at the end of the handle +with the ground and line wires. Fig. 2 shows how a telephone looks on +the outside. + +[Illustration: BELL'S TELEPHONE. Fig. 1 and Fig. 2] + +So much for description. You will understand it better, perhaps, if +you experiment a little. You can easily make a pair for yourself, rude +and imperfect, it is true, but good enough for all the tests you may +want to apply. + +For each you will want: (1) a straight magnet; (2) a coil of +silk-covered copper wire; (3) a thin plate of soft iron; (4) a box to +hold the first three articles. You will also want as much wire as you +can afford, to connect the instruments, and two short pieces of wire +to connect your telephones with the ground. (Two wires between the +instruments would make the ground-wires unnecessary, but this would +use up too much wire.) The magnet and the coil you will have to buy +from some dealer in electrical apparatus. They need not cost much. A +small cigar-box will answer for the case. + +[Illustration: Fig. 3. A "CIGAR-BOX" TELEPHONE.] + +In one end of the box cut a round hole, say, three inches across. +Against this hole fasten a disk of thin sheet-iron for the vibrator or +"diaphragm." For a mouth-piece use a small can, such as ground spices +come in, or even a round paper box. + +Now, on the inside of the box, place the magnet, the end carrying the +coil almost touching the middle of the diaphragm, and fix it firmly. +Then, to the ends of the copper wire of the main coil fasten two +wires,--one for the line, the other for the "ground-wire." + +This done, you will have an instrument (or rather two of them) very +much like Fig. 3. A is the mouth-piece; B, the diaphragm; C, the coil; +D, the magnet; E, E, the wires. + +The receiving and sending instruments are precisely alike, each +answers for both purposes; but there must be two, since one must +always be hearing while the other is speaking. + +When you speak into the mouth-piece of one telephone, the sound of +your voice causes the "diaphragm" to vibrate in front of the magnet. +The vibrations cause the magnet's pull upon the diaphragm to vary in +force, which variation is answered by electrical waves in the coil and +over the wires connected with it. At the other end of the wire the +pull of the magnet of the speaking telephone is varied exactly in +proportion to the strength of the electric impulses that come over the +wire; the varying pull of the magnet sets the diaphragm in motion, +and that sets the air in motion in waves precisely like those of the +distant voice. When those waves strike the listener's ear, he _seems_ +to hear the speaker's exact tones, and so, substantially, he does +hear them. The circumstance that electric waves, and not sound-waves, +travel over the wires, does not change the quality of the resulting +sound in the least. + +I think you now understand Bell's telephone. + +The telephones of Edison, Gray, and others, involve different +principles and are differently constructed. + +One invention very often leads to another, and the telephone already +has an offspring not less wonderful than itself. It is called the +speaking-phonograph. It was invented by Mr. Edison, one of the +gentlemen, just mentioned. + +Evidently, Mr. Edison said to himself: "The telephone hears and +speaks; why not make it write in its own way; then its record could +be kept, and any time after, the instrument might read aloud its own +writing." Like a great genius as he is, Mr. Edison went to work in the +simplest way to make the sound-recorder he wanted. You know how the +diaphragm of the telephone vibrates when spoken to? Mr. Edison took +away from the telephone all except the mouth-piece and the diaphragm, +fastened a point of metal, which we will call a "style," to the center +of the diaphragm, and then contrived a simple arrangement for making +a sheet of tin-foil pass in front of the style. When the diaphragm is +still, the style simply scratches a straight line along the foil. When +a sound is made, however, and the diaphragm set to vibrating, the mark +of the style is not a simple scratch, but an impression varying in +depth according to the diaphragm's vibration. And that is how the +phonograph writes. To the naked eye, the record of the sound appears +to be simply a line of pin points or dots, more or less close to each +other; but, under a magnifier, it is seen to be far more complicated. + +Now for the reading. The impression on the foil exactly records the +vibrations of the diaphragm, and those vibrations exactly measure the +sound-waves which caused the vibrations. The reading simply reverses +all this. The strip of foil is passed again before the diaphragm, +the point of the style follows the groove it made at first, and +the diaphragm follows the style in all its motions. The original +vibrations are thus exactly reproduced, setting up sound-waves in +the air precisely like those which first set the machine in motion. +Consequently, the listener hears a minutely exact echo of what the +instrument heard; it might have heard it a minute, or an hour, or a +year, or a thousand years before, had the phonograph been in use so +long. + +What a wonderful result is that! As yet, the phonograph has not been +put to any practical use; indeed, it is scarcely in operation yet, and +a great deal must be done to increase the delicacy of its hearing and +the strength of its voice. It mimics any and every sort of sound with +marvelous fidelity, but weakly. Its speech is like that of a person +a long way off, or in another room. But its possibilities are almost +infinite. + + + + + + +ONLY A DOLL! + +BY SARAH O. JEWETT. + + +[Illustration: "Polly, my dolly!"] + + Polly, my dolly! why don't you grow? + Are you a dwarf, my Polly? + I'm taller and taller every day; + How high the grass is!--do you see that? + The flowers are growing like weeds, they say; + The kitten is growing into a cat! + Why don't you grow, my dolly? + + Here is a mark upon the wall. + Look for yourself, my Polly! + I made it a year ago, I think. + I've measured you very often, dear, + But, though you've plenty to eat and drink, + You haven't grown a bit for a year. + Why don't you grow, my dolly? + + Are you never going to try to talk? + You're such a silent Polly! + Are you never going to say a word? + It isn't hard; and oh! don't you see + The parrot is only a little bird, + But he can chatter so easily. + You're quite a dunce, my dolly! + + Let's go and play by the baby-house: + You are my dearest Polly! + There are other things that do not grow; + Kittens can't talk, and why should you? + You are the prettiest doll I know; + You are a darling--that is true! + Just as you are, my dolly! + + + + + + +DAB KINZER: A STORY OF A GROWING BOY. + +BY WILLIAM O. STODDARD. + + +Between the village and the inlet, and half a mile from the great +"bay," lay the Kinzer farm. Beyond the bay was a sand-bar, and beyond +that the Atlantic Ocean; for all this was on the southerly shore of +Long Island. + +The Kinzer farm had lain right there--acre for acre, no more, no +less--on the day when Hendrik Hudson, long ago, sailed the good ship +"Half-Moon" into New York Bay. But it was not then known to any one +as the Kinzer farm. Neither was there then, as now, any bright and +growing village crowding up on one side of it, with a railway station +and a post-office. Nor was there, at that time, any great and busy +city of New York, only a few hours' ride away, over on the island of +Manhattan. The Kinzers themselves were not there then; but the bay and +the inlet, with the fish and the crabs, and the ebbing and flowing +tides, were there, very much the same, before Hendrik Hudson and his +brave Dutchmen knew anything whatever about that corner of the world. + +The Kinzer farm had always been a reasonably "fat" one, both as to +size and quality, and the good people who lived on it had generally +been of a somewhat similar description. It was, therefore, every +way correct and becoming for Dabney Kinzer's widowed mother and his +sisters to be the plump and hearty beings they were, and all the more +discouraging to poor Dabney that no amount of regular and faithful +eating seemed to make him resemble them at all in that respect. + +Mrs. Kinzer excused his thinness to her neighbors, to be sure, on the +ground that he was "such a growing boy;" but, for all that, he caught +himself wondering, now and then, if he would never be done with that +part of his trials. For rapid growth has its trials. + +"The fact is," he said to himself, one day, as he leaned over the +north fence, "I'm more like Ham Morris's farm than I am like ours. His +farm is bigger than ours, all 'round; but it's too big for its fences, +just as I'm too big for my clothes. Ham's house is three times as +large as ours, but it looks as if it had grown too fast. It hasn't +any paint, to speak of, nor any blinds. It looks a good deal as if +somebody'd just built it there and then forgot it and gone off and +left it out-of-doors." + +Dabney's four sisters had all come into the world before him, but he +was as tall as any of them, and was frequently taken by strangers for +a good two years older than he really was. + +It was sometimes very hard for him, a boy of fifteen, to live up to +what was expected of those two extra years. + +Mrs. Kinzer still kept him in roundabouts; but they did not seem to +hinder his growth at all, if that was her object in so doing. + +There was no such thing, however, as keeping the four girls in +roundabouts, of any kind; and, what between them and their mother, the +pleasant and tidy little Kinzer homestead, with its snug parlor and +its cozy bits of rooms and chambers, seemed to nestle away, under the +shadowing elms and sycamores, smaller and smaller with every year that +came. + +It was a terribly tight fit for such a family, anyway; and, now that +Dabney was growing at such a rate, there was no telling what they +would all come to. But Mrs. Kinzer came, at last, to the rescue, and +she summoned her eldest daughter, Miranda, to her aid. + +A very notable woman was the widow. When the new railway cut off part +of the old farm, she had split up the slice of land between the iron +track and the village into "town lots," and had sold them all off by +the time the railway company paid her for the "damage" it had done the +property. + +The whole Kinzer family gained visibly in plumpness that +year,--except, perhaps, Dabney. + +Of course, the condition and requirements of Ham Morris and his big +farm, just over the north fence, had not escaped such a pair of eyes +as those of the widow, and the very size of his great barn of a house +finally settled his fate for him. + +A large, quiet, unambitious, but well brought up and industrious young +man was Hamilton Morris, and he had not the least idea of the good in +store for him for several months after Mrs. Kinzer decided to marry +him to her daughter Miranda. But all was soon settled. Dab, of course, +had nothing to do with the wedding arrangements, and Ham's share was +somewhat contracted. Not but what he was at the Kinzer house a good +deal; nor did any of the other girls tell Miranda how very much he was +in the way. He could talk, however, and one morning, about a fortnight +before the day appointed, he said to Miranda and her mother: + +"We can't have so very much of a wedding; your house is so small, and +you've chocked it so full of furniture. Right down nice furniture it +is, too; but there's so much of it. I'm afraid the minister'll have to +stand out in the front yard." + +"The house'll do for this time," replied Mrs. Kinzer. "There 'll be +room enough for everybody. What puzzles me is Dab." + +"What about Dab?" asked Ham. + +"Can't find a thing to fit him," said Dab's mother. "Seems as if he +were all odd sizes, from head to foot." + +"Fit him!" exclaimed Ham. "Oh, you mean ready-made goods! Of course +you can't. He'll have to be measured by a tailor, and have his new +suit built for him." + +"Such extravagance!" emphatically remarked Mrs. Kinzer. + +"Not for rich people like you, and for a wedding," replied Ham; "and +Dab's a growing boy. Where is he now? I'm going to the village, and +I'll take him right along with me." + +There seemed to be no help for it; but that was the first point +relating to the wedding concerning which Ham Morris was permitted to +have exactly his own way. His success made Dab Kinzer a fast friend of +his for life, and that was something. + +There was also something new and wonderful to Dabney himself in +walking into a tailor's shop, picking out cloth to please himself, and +being so carefully measured all over. He stretched and swelled himself +in all directions, to make sure nothing should turn out too small. At +the end of it all, Ham said to him: + +"Now, Dab, my boy, this suit is to be a present from me to you, on +Miranda's account." + +Dab colored and hesitated for a moment; but it seemed all right, he +thought, and so he came frankly out with: + +"Thank you, Ham. You always was a prime good fellow. I'll do as much +for you some day. Tell you what I'll do, then. I'll have another suit +made, right away, of this other cloth, and have the bill for that one +sent to our folks." + +"Do it!" exclaimed Ham. "Do it! You've your mother's orders for that. +She's nothing to do with my gift." + +"Splendid!" almost shouted Dab. "Oh, but don't I hope they'll fit!" + +"Vit?" said the tailor. "Vill zay vit? I dell you zay vit you like a +knife. You vait und zee." + +Dab failed to get a very clear idea of what the fit would be, but it +made him almost hold his breath to think of it. + +After the triumphant visit to the tailor, there was still a necessity +for a call upon the shoe-maker, and that was a matter of no small +importance. Dab's feet had always been a mystery and a trial to him. +If his memory contained one record darker than another, it was the +endless history of his misadventures with boots and shoes. He and +leather had been at war from the day he left his creeping clothes +until now. But now he was promised a pair of shoes that would be sure +to fit. + +So the question of Dab's personal appearance at the wedding was all +arranged between him and Ham; and Miranda smiled more sweetly than +ever before upon the latter, after she had heard her usually silent +brother break out so enthusiastically about him as he did that +evening. + +It was a good thing for that wedding that it took place in fine summer +weather, for neither kith, kin, nor acquaintances had been slighted in +the invitations, and the Kinzers were one of the "oldest families." + +To have gathered them all under the roof of that house, without either +stretching it out wider or boiling the guests down, would have been +out of the question, and so the majority, with Dabney in his new +clothes to keep them countenance, stood or sat in the cool shade of +the grand old trees during the ceremony, which was performed near the +open door, and were afterward served with the wedding refreshments, in +a style that spoke volumes for Mrs. Kinzer's good management, as well +as for her hospitality. + +The only drawback to Dab's happiness that day was that his +acquaintances hardly seemed to know him. He had had almost the same +trouble with himself when he looked in the glass that morning. + +Ordinarily, his wrists were several inches through his coat sleeves, +and his ankles made a perpetual show of his stockings. His neck, too, +seemed usually to be holding his head as far as possible from his coat +collar, and his buttons had no favor to ask of his button-holes. + +Now, even as the tailor had promised, he had received his "first +fit." He seemed to himself, to tell the truth, to be covered up in a +prodigal waste of nice cloth. Would he ever, ever grow too big for +such a suit of clothes as that? It was a very painful thought, and he +did his best to put it away from him. + +Still, it was a little hard to have a young lady, whom he had known +before she began to walk, remark to him: "Excuse me, sir, but can you +tell me if Mr. Dabney Kinzer is here?" + +"No, Jenny Walters," sharply responded Dab, "he isn't here." + +"Why, Dabney!" exclaimed the pretty Jenny, "is that you? I declare, +you've scared me out of a year's growth." + +"I wish you'd scare me, then," said Dab. "Then my clothes would stay +fitted." + +Everything had been so well arranged beforehand, thanks to Mrs. +Kinzer, that the wedding had no chance at all except to go off well. +Ham Morris was rejoiced to find how entirely he was relieved of every +responsibility. + +"Don't worry about your house, Hamilton," the widow said to him the +night before. "We'll go over there as soon as you and Miranda get +away, and it'll be all ready for you by the time you get back." + +"All right," said Ham. "I'll be glad to have you take the old place in +hand. I've only tried to live in a corner of it. You don't know how +much room there is. I don't, I must say." + +Dabney had longed to ask her if she meant to have it moved over to the +Kinzer side of the north fence, but he had doubts as to the propriety +of it, and just then the boy came in from the tailor's with his bundle +of new clothes. + + + + +CHAPTER II. + + +Hamilton Morris was a very promising young man, of some thirty +summers. He had been an "orphan" for a dozen years, and the wonder was +that he should so long have lived alone in the big square-built house +his father left him. At all events, Miranda Kinzer was just the wife +for him. + +Miranda's mother had seen that at a glance, the moment her mind +was settled about the house. As to that and his great, spreading, +half-cultivated farm, all either of them needed was ready money and +management. + +These were blessings Ham was now made reasonably sure of, on his +return from his wedding trip, and he was likely to appreciate them. + +As for Dabney Kinzer, he was in no respect overcome by the novelty and +excitement of the wedding. All the rest of the day he devoted himself +to such duties as were assigned him, with a new and grand idea +steadily taking shape in his mind. He felt as if his brains, too, were +growing. Some of his mother's older and more intimate friends remained +with her all day, probably to comfort her for the loss of Miranda, +and two or three of them, Dab knew, would stay to tea, so that his +services would be in demand to see them safely home. + +All day long, moreover, Samantha and Keziah and Pamela seemed to find +themselves wonderfully busy, one way and another, so that they paid +even less attention than usual to any of the ins and outs of their +brother. + +Dabney was therefore able, with little difficulty, to take for himself +whatever of odd time he might require for putting his new idea into +execution. + +Mrs. Kinzer herself noticed the rare good sense with which her son +hurried through with his dinner and slipped away, leaving her in +undisturbed possession of the table and her lady guests, and neither +she nor either of the girls had a thought of following him. + +If they had done so, they might have seen him draw a good-sized bundle +out from under the lilac-thicket in the back yard, and hurry down +through the garden. + +A few minutes more and Dabney appeared on the fence of the old +cross-road leading down to the shore. There he sat, eying one +passer-by after another, till he suddenly sprang from his perch, +exclaiming: "That's just the chap. Why, they'll fit him, and that's +more'n they ever did for me." + +Dab would probably have had to search along the coast for miles +before he could have found a human being better suited to his present +charitable purposes than the boy who now came so lazily down the road. + +There was no doubt about his color, or that he was all over of about +the same shade of black. His old tow trousers and calico shirt +revealed the shining fact in too many places to leave room for a +question, and shoes he had none. + +"Dick," said Dabney, "was you ever married?" + +"Married!" exclaimed Dick, with a peal of very musical laughter. "Is I +married? No! Is you?" + +"No," replied Dabney, "but I was mighty near it, this morning." + +"Dat so?" asked Dick, with another show of his white teeth. "Done ye +good, den. Nebber seen ye look so nice afore." + +"You'd look nicer'n I do, if you were only dressed up," said Dab. +"Just you put on these." + +"Golly!" exclaimed the black boy. But he seized the bundle Dab threw +him, and he had it open in a twinkling. "Anyt'ing in de pockets?" he +asked. + +"Guess not," said Dab; "but there's lots of room." + +"Say dar was!" exclaimed Dick. "But wont dese t'ings be warm!" + +It was quite likely, for the day was not a cool one, and Dick never +seemed to think of pulling off what he had on before getting into his +unexpected present. Coat, vest, and trousers, they were all pulled on +with more quickness than Dab had ever seen the young African display +before. + +"I's much obleeged to ye, Mr. Kinzer," said Dick, very proudly, as he +strutted across the road. "On'y I dasn't go back fru de village." + +"What'll you do, then?" asked Dab. + +"S'pose I'd better go a-fishin'," said Dick. "Will de fish bite?" + +"Oh, the clothes wont make any odds to them," said Dabney. "I must go +back to the house." + +And so he did, while Dick, on whom the cast-off garments of his white +friend were really a pretty good fit, marched on down the road, +feeling grander than he ever had before in all his life. + +"That'll be a good thing to tell Ham Morris when he and Miranda come +home again," muttered Dab, as he re-entered the house. + +Late that evening, when Dabney returned from his final duties as +escort to his mother's guests, she rewarded him with more than he +could remember ever receiving of motherly commendation. + +"I've been really quite proud of you, Dabney," she said to him, as +she laid her plump hand on the collar of his new coat and kissed him. +"You've behaved like a perfect gentleman." + +"Only, mother," exclaimed Keziah, "he spent too much of his time with +that sharp-tongued little Jenny Walters." + +"Never mind, Kezi," said Dab. "She didn't know who I was till I told +her. I'm going to wear a label with my name on it, when I go over to +the village, to-morrow." + +"And then you'll put on your other suit in the morning," said Mrs. +Kinzer, "You must keep this for Sundays and great occasions." + +When the morning came, Dabney Kinzer was a more than usually early +riser, for he felt that he had waked up to a very important day. + +"Dabney," exclaimed his mother, when he came in to breakfast, "did I +not tell you to put on your other suit?" + +"So I have, mother," replied Dab; "this is my other suit." + +"That!" exclaimed Mrs. Kinzer. + +"So it is!" cried Keziah. + +"So it isn't," added Samantha. "Mother, that's not what he had on +yesterday." + +"He's been trading again," mildly suggested Pamela. + +"Dabney," said Mrs. Kinzer, "what does this mean?" + +"Mean!" replied Dabney, "Why, these are the clothes you told me to +buy. The lot I wore yesterday were a present from Ham Morris. He's a +splendid fellow. I'm glad he got the best of the girls." + +That was a bad thing for Dabney to say, just then, for it was resented +vigorously by the remaining three. As soon as quiet was restored, +however, Mrs, Kinzer remarked: + +"I think Hamilton should have consulted me about it; but it's too late +now. Anyhow, you may go and put on your other clothes." + +"My wedding suit?" asked Dab. + +"No, indeed! I mean your old ones; those you took off night before +last." + +"Dunno where they are," slowly responded Dab. + +"Don't know where they are?" repeated a chorus of four voices. + +"No," said Dab. "Bill Lee's black boy had 'em on all yesterday +afternoon, and I reckon he's gone a-fishing again to-day. They fit him +a good sight better'n they ever did me." + +If Dabney had expected a storm to come from his mother's end of the +table, he was pleasantly mistaken, and his sisters had it all to +themselves for a moment. Then, with an admiring glance at her son, the +thoughtful matron remarked: + +"Just like his father, for all the world. It's no use, girls. Dabney's +a growing boy in more ways than one. Dabney, I shall want you to go +over to the Morris house with me after breakfast. Then you may hitch +up the ponies, and we'll do some errands around the village." + +[Illustration: DAB GIVES DICK HIS OLD CLOTHES.] + +Dab Kinzer's sisters looked at one another in blank astonishment, +and Samantha would have left the table if she had only finished her +breakfast. + +Pamela, as being nearest to Dab in age and sympathy, gave a very +admiring look at her brother's second "good fit," and said nothing. + +Even Keziah finally admitted, in her own mind, that such a change in +Dabney's appearance might have its advantages. But Samantha inwardly +declared war. + +The young hero himself was hardly used to that second suit as yet, and +felt anything but easy in it. + +"I wonder," he said to himself, "what Jenny Walters would think of me +now? Wonder if she'd know me?" + +Not a doubt of it. But, after he had finished his breakfast and gone +out, his mother remarked: + +"It's really all right, girls. I almost fear I've been neglecting +Dabney. He isn't a little boy any more." + +"He isn't a man yet," exclaimed Samantha, "and he talks slang +dreadfully." + +"But then he does grow so!" remarked Keziah. + +"Mother," said Pamela, "couldn't you get Dab to give Dick the slang, +along with the old clothes?" + +"We'll see about it," replied Mrs. Kinzer. + +It was very plain that Dabney's mother had begun to take in a new idea +about her son. It was not the least bit in the world unpleasant to +find out that he was "growing in more ways than one," and it was quite +likely that she had indeed kept him too long in roundabouts. + + + + +CHAPTER III. + + +Dick Lee had been more than half right about the village being a +dangerous place for him with such an unusual amount of clothing over +his ordinary uniform. + +The very dogs, every one of whom was an old acquaintance, barked at +him on his way home that night; and, proud as were his ebony father +and mother, they yielded to his earnest entreaties, first, that he +might wear his present all the next day, and, second, that he might +betake himself to the "bay," early in the morning, and so keep out of +sight "till he got used to it." + +The fault with Dab Kinzer's old suit, after all, had lain mainly in +its size rather than its materials, for Mrs. Kinzer was too good a +manager to be really stingy. + +Dick succeeded in reaching the boat-landing without falling in with +any one who seemed disposed to laugh at him; but there, right on the +wharf, was a white boy of about his own age, and he felt a good deal +like backing out. + +"Nebber seen him afore, either," said Dick to himself. "Den I guess I +aint afeard ob him." + +The stranger was a somewhat short and thick-set but bright and +active-looking boy, with a pair of very keen, greenish-gray eyes. But, +after all, the first word he spoke to poor Dick was: + +"Hullo, clothes! where are you going with all that boy?" + +"I knowed it! I knowed it!" groaned Dick. But he answered, as sharply +as he knew how: "I's goin' a-fishin'. Any ob youah business?" + +"Where'd you learn to fish?" the stranger asked. "Down South? Didn't +know they had any there." + +"Nebbah was down Souf," was the surly reply. + +"Father run away, did he?" + +"He nebber was down dar, nudder." + +"Nor his father?" + +"'T aint no business o' your'n," said Dick; "but we's allers lived +right heah on dis bay." + +"Guess not," replied the white boy, knowingly. + +But Dick was right, for his people had been slaves among the very +earliest Dutch settlers, and had never "lived South" at all. He was +now busily getting one of the boats ready to push off; but his white +tormentor went at him again with-- + +"Well, then, if you've lived here so long, you must know everybody." + +"Reckon I do." + +"Are there any nice fellows around here? Any like me?" + +"De nicest young genelman 'round dis bay," replied Dick, "is Mr. Dab +Kinzer. But he aint like you. Not nuff to hurt 'im." + +"Dab Kinzer!" exclaimed the stranger. "Where did he get his name?" + +"In de bay, I spect," said Dick, as he shoved his boat off. "Caught +'im wid a hook." + +"Anyhow," said the strange boy to himself, "that's probably the sort +of fellow my father would wish me to associate with. Only it's likely +he's very ignorant." + +And he walked away toward the village with the air of a man who had +forgotten more than the rest of his race were ever likely to find out. + +At all events, Dick Lee had managed to say a good word for his +benefactor, little as he could guess what might be the consequences. + +Meantime, Dab Kinzer, when he went out from breakfast, had strolled +away to the north fence, for a good look at the house which was +thenceforth to be the home of his favorite sister. He had seen it +before, every day since he could remember; but it seemed to have a +fresh and almost mournful interest for him just now. + +"Hullo!" he exclaimed, as he leaned against the fence. "Putting up +ladders? Oh yes, I see! That's old Tommy McGrew, the house-painter. +Well, Ham's house needs a new coat as badly as I did. Sure it'll fit, +too. Only it aint used to it any more'n I am." + +"Dabney!" + +It was his mother's voice, and Dab felt like "minding" very promptly +that morning. + +"Dabney, my boy, come here to the gate." + +"Ham's having his house painted," he remarked, as he joined his +mother. + +"Is he?" she said. "We'll go and see about it." + +As they drew nearer, however, Dabney discovered that carpenters +as well as painters were plying their trade in and about the old +homestead. There were window-sashes piled here and blinds there, a new +door or so ready for use, with bundles of shingles, and other signs of +approaching "renovation." + +"Going to fix it all over," remarked Dab. + +"Yes," replied his mother; "it'll be as good as new. It was well +built, and will bear mending." + +When they entered the house, it became more and more evident that the +"shabby" days of the Morris mansion were numbered. There were men at +work in almost every room. + +Ham's wedding trip would surely give plenty of time, at that rate, and +his house would be "all ready for him" on his return. + +There was nothing wonderful to Dabney in the fact that his mother went +about inspecting work and giving directions. He had never seen her do +anything else, and he had the greatest confidence in her knowledge and +ability. + +Dabney noticed, too, before they left the place, that all the +customary farm-work was going ahead with even more regularity and +energy than if the owner himself had been present. + +"Ham's farm'll look like ours, one of these days, at this rate," he +said to his mother. + +"I mean it shall," she replied, somewhat sharply. "Now go and get out +the ponies, and we'll do the rest of our errands." + +If they had only known it, at that very moment Ham and his blooming +bride were setting out for a drive at the fashionable watering-place +where they had made the first stop in their wedding tour. + +"Ham?" said Miranda, "it seems to me as if we were a thousand miles +from home." + +"We shall be further before we get nearer," said Ham. + +"But I wonder what they are doing there,--mother and the girls and +dear little Dabney?" + +"Little Dabney!" exclaimed Ham. "Why, Miranda, do you think Dab is a +baby yet?" + +"No, not a baby. But------" + +"Well, he's a boy, that's a fact; but he'll be as tall as I am in +three years." + +"Will he ever be fat?" + +"Not till after he gets his full length," said Ham. "We must have him +at our house a good deal, and feed him up. I've taken a liking to +Dab." + +"Feed him up!" said Miranda, with some indignation. "Do you think we +starve him?" + +"No; but how many meals a day does he get?" + +"Three, of course, like the rest of us; and he never misses one of +them." + +"I suppose not," said Ham, "I never miss a meal myself, if I can help +it. But don't you think three meals a day is rather short allowance +for a boy like Dab?" + +Miranda thought a moment, but then she answered, positively: "No, I +don't. Not if he does as well at each one of them as Dab is sure to." + +"Well," said Ham, "that was in his old clothes, that were too tight +for him. Now he's got a good loose fit, with plenty of room, you don't +know how much more he may need. No, Miranda, I'm going to have an eye +on Dabney." + +"You're a dear, good fellow, anyway," said Miranda, "and I hope +mother'll have the house all ready for us when we get back." + +"She will," replied Ham. "I shall hardly be easy till I see what she +has done with it." + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + + +"That's him!" + +Dab was standing by the ponies, in front of a store in the village. +His mother was making some purchases in the store, and Dab was +thinking how the Morris house would look when it was finished, and it +was at him the old farmer was pointing in answer to a question which +had just been asked. + +The questioner was the sharp-eyed boy who had bothered poor Dick Lee +that morning. + +At that moment, however, a young lady--quite young--came tripping +along the sidewalk, and was stopped by Dab Kinzer with: + +"There, Jenny Walters, I forgot my label!" + +"Why, Dabney, is that you? How you startled me! Forgot your label?" + +"Yes," said Dab; "I'm in another new suit to-day, and I want to have a +label with my name on it. You'd have known me, then." + +"But I know you now," exclaimed Jenny. "Why, I saw you yesterday." + +"Yes, and I told you it was me. Can you read, Jenny?" + +"Why, what a question!" + +"Because, if you can't, it wont do me any good to wear a label." + +"Dabney Kinzer," exclaimed Jenny. "There's another thing you ought to +get?" + +"What's that?" + +"Some good manners," said the little lady, snappishly. "Think, of your +stopping me in the street to tell me I can't read." + +"Then you mustn't forget me so quick," said Dab. "If you meet my old +clothes anywhere you must call 'em Dick Lee. They've had a change of +name." + +"So, he's in them, is he? I don't doubt they look better than they +ever did before." + +And Jenny walked proudly away, leaving her old playmate feeling as +if he had had a little the worst of it. That was often the way with +people who stopped to talk with Jenny Walters, and she was not as much +of a favorite as she otherwise might have been. + +Hardly had she disappeared before Dab was confronted by the strange +boy. + +"Is your name Dabney Kinzer?" said he. + +"Yes, I believe so." + +"Well, I'm Mr. Ford Foster, of New York." + +"Come over here to buy goods?" suggested Dab. "Or to get something to +eat?" + +Ford Foster was apparently of about Dab's age, but a full head less in +height, so that there was more point in the question than there seemed +to be, but he treated it as not worthy of notice, and asked: "Do you +know of a house to let anywhere about here?" + +"House to let?" suddenly exclaimed the voice of Mrs. Kinzer, behind +him, much to Dab's surprise. "Are you asking about a house? Whom for?" + +If Ford Foster had been ready to "chaff" Dick Lee, or even Dab Kinzer, +he knew enough to speak respectfully to the portly and business-like +lady now before him. + +[Illustration: "IS YOUR NAME DABNEY KINZER?"] + +"Yes, madam," he said, with a ceremonious bow. "I wish to report to my +father that I've found an acceptable house in this vicinity." + +"You do!" + +Mrs. Kinzer was reading the young gentleman through and through as she +spoke, but she followed her exclamation with a dozen questions, and +then wound up with: + +"Go right home, then, and tell your father the only good house to let +in this neighborhood will be ready for him next week, and he'd better +see me at once. Get into the buggy, Dabney." + +"A very remarkable woman!" muttered Ford Foster to himself as they +drove away. "I must make some more inquiries." + +"Mother," said Dabney, "you wouldn't let 'em have Ham's house?" + +"No, indeed; but I don't mean to have our own stand empty." And, with +that, a great deal of light began to break in on Dabney's mind. + +"That's it, is it?" he said to himself, as he touched up the ponies. +"Well, there'll be room enough for all of us there, and no mistake. +But what'll Ham say?" + +It was not till late the next day, however, that Ford Foster completed +his inquiries. He took the afternoon train for the city, satisfied +that, much as he knew before he came, he had actually learned a good +deal more which was valuable. + +He was almost the only person in the car. Trains going toward the city +were apt to be thinly peopled at that time of day, but the empty cars +had to be taken along all the same, for the benefit of the crowds who +would be coming out, later in the afternoon and in the evening. The +railway company would have made more money with full loads both ways, +but it was well they did not have one on that precise train. Ford had +turned over the seat in front of him, and stretched himself out with +his feet on it. It was almost like lying down for a boy of his length, +but it was the very best position he could have taken if he had known +what was coming. + +Known what was coming? + +Yes, there was a pig coming. + +That was all, but it was quite enough, considering what that pig was +about to do. He was going where he chose, just then, and he chose not +to turn out for the railway train. + +"What a whistle!" Ford Foster had just exclaimed. "It sounds more like +the squeal of an iron pig than anything else. I----" + +But at that instant there came a great jolt and a shock, and Ford +found himself suddenly tumbled, all in a heap, on the seat where his +feet had been. Then came bounce after bounce and the sound of breaking +glass, and then a crash. + +"Off the track!" shouted Ford, as he sprang to his feet. "I wouldn't +have missed it for anything, but I do hope nobody's killed." + +In the tremendous excitement of the moment he could hardly have told +how he got out of that car, but it did not seem ten seconds till +he was standing beside the conductor and engineer, looking at the +battered engine as it lay on its side in a deep ditch. The baggage +car, just behind it, was broken all to pieces, but the passenger cars +did not seem to have suffered very much, and nobody was badly hurt, as +the engineer and fireman had jumped off in time. + +"This train'll never get in on time," said Ford to the conductor, a +little later. "How'll I get to the city?" + +"Well," replied the railway man, who was not in the best of humors, "I +don't suppose the city could do without you overnight. The junction +with the main road is only two miles ahead, and if you're a good +walker you may catch a train there." + +Some of the other passengers, none of whom were very much hurt, had +made the same discovery, and in a few minutes more there was a long, +straggling procession of uncomfortable people marching by the side +of the railway track, under the hot sun, The conductor was right, +however, and nearly all of them managed to make the two miles to the +junction in time. + +Mr. Ford Foster was among the very first to arrive, and he was likely +to reach home in very fair season in spite of the pig. + +As for his danger, he had hardly thought of that, and he would not +have missed so important an adventure for anything he could think of, +just then. + +It was to a great, pompous, stylish, crowded, "up-town +boarding-house," that Ford's return was to take him. There was no +wonder at all that wise people should wish to get out of such a place +in such hot weather. Still, it was the sort of a home Ford Foster had +been best acquainted with all his life, and it was partly owing to +that that he had become so prematurely "knowing." + +He knew too much, in fact, and was only too well aware of it. He had +filled his head with an unlimited stock of boarding-house information, +as well as with a firm persuasion that there was little more to be +had,--unless, indeed, it might be scraps of such outside, knowledge as +he had now been picking up over on Long Island. + +In one of the great "parlor chambers" of the boarding-house, at about +eight o'clock that evening, a middle-aged gentleman and lady, with a +fair, sweet-faced girl of about nineteen, were sitting near an open +window, very much as if they were waiting for somebody. + +Such a kindly, motherly lady! She was one of those whom no one can +help liking, after seeing her smile once, or hearing her speak. +Whatever may have been his faults or short-comings, Ford Foster could +not have put in words what he thought about his mother. And yet he +had no difficulty in expressing his respect for his father, or his +unbounded admiration for his pretty sister Annie. + +"Oh, husband!" exclaimed Mrs. Foster, "are you sure none of them were +injured?" + +"So the telegraphic report said. Not a bone broken of anybody but the +pig that got in the way." + +"But how I wish he would come!" groaned Annie. "Have you any idea, +papa, how he can get home?" + +"Not clearly," said her father, "but you can trust Ford not to miss +any opportunity. He's just the boy to look out for himself in an +emergency." + +Ford Foster's father took very strongly after the son in whose ability +he expressed so much confidence. He had just such a square, active, +bustling sort of body, several sizes larger, with just such keen, +penetrating, greenish-gray eyes. Anybody would have picked him out, at +a glance, for a lawyer, and a good one. + +That was exactly what he was, and if any one had become acquainted +with either son or father, there would have been no difficulty +afterward in identifying the other. + +It required a good deal more than the telegraphic report of the +accident or even her husband's assurances, to relieve the motherly +anxiety of good Mrs. Foster, or even to drive away the shadows from +the face of Annie. + +No doubt if Ford himself had known the state of affairs, they would +have been relieved earlier; for even while they were talking about him +he was already in the house. It had not so much as occurred to him +that his mother would hear of the accident to the pig and the railway +train until he himself should tell her, and so, he had made sure of +his supper down-stairs, before reporting himself. He might not have +done it, perhaps, but he had come in through the lower way, by the +area door, and that of the dining-room had stood temptingly wide open +with some very eatable things ready on the table. + +That had been too much for Ford, after his car-ride and his smash-up +and his long walk. But now, at last, up he came, brimful of new and +wonderful experiences, to be more than a little astonished by the +manner and enthusiasm of his welcome. + +"Why, mother!" he exclaimed, when he got a chance for a word, "you and +Annie couldn't have said much more if I'd been the pig himself." + +"The pig?" said Annie. + +"Yes, the pig that stopped us. He and the engine wont go home to their +families to-night." + +"Don't make fun of it, Ford," said his mother, gently; "it's too +serious a matter." + +Just then his father broke in, almost impatiently, with, "Well, Ford, +my boy, have you done your errand, or shall I have to see about it +myself? You've been gone two days." + +"Thirty-seven hours and a half, father," replied Ford, taking out his +watch. "I've kept an exact account of my expenses. We've saved the +cost of advertising." + +"And spent it on railroading," said his father, with a laugh. + +"But, Ford," asked Annie, "did you find a house?--a good one?" + +"Yes," added Mrs. Foster, "now I'm sure you're safe, I do want to hear +about the house." + +"It's all right, mother," said Ford, confidently. "The very house you +told me to hunt for. Neither too large nor too small, and it's in +apple-pie order." + +There were plenty of questions to answer now, but Ford was every way +equal to the occasion. His report, in fact, compelled his father to +look at him with an expression of face which very clearly meant, "That +boy resembles me. I was just like him at his age. He'll be just like +me at mine." + +There was really very good reason to approve of the manner in which +the young gentleman had performed his errand in the country, and +Mr. Foster promptly decided to go over, in a day or two, and settle +matters with Mrs Kinzer. + +(_To be continued_.) + + + +[Illustration: MAKING READY FOR A CRUISE.] + + + +HOW WILLY WOLLY WENT A-FISHING. + +BY S.C. STONE. + + + One day, on going fishing + Was Willy Wolly bent; + And, as it chanced a holiday, + Why, Willy Wolly went. + +[Illustration: Willy Wolly going fishing.] + + Now, Willy Wolly planned, you see, + To catch a speckled trout; + But caught a very different fish + From what he had laid out! + + In view of all the fishes,-- + Who much enjoyed the joke, + With many a joyous wriggle + And finny punch and poke,-- + + Young Willy Wolly, leaping + A fence with dire design, + Had carelessly left swinging + His fishing-hook and line. + +[Illustration: Willy Wolly caught himself.] + + How Willy Wolly did it, + He really could not tell, + But instantly he had his fish + Exceeding fast and well! + + He hooked the struggling monster + Securely in the sleeve; + And, all at once, he found it time + His pleasant sport to leave;-- + + 'T was not a very gamy fish + For one so large and strong, + That Willy Wolly, blubbering, + Helped carefully along. + + The giggling fishes crowded to + The river bank to look, + As Willy Wolly, captive, led + Himself with line and hook! + +[Illustration: Mother unhooks Willy Wolly.] + + When Willy Wolly went, you see, + To catch a speckled trout, + Why, Willy Wolly caught _himself!_ + And so the joke is out. + + His mother saved that barbèd hook, + And sternly bid him now + No more to dare a-fishing go, + Until he has learned how! + + + + + + +CRUMBS FROM OLDER READING. + +BY JULIA E. SARGENT. + + +III.--THOMAS CARLYLE. + + +"Shakespeare says we are creatures that look +before and after. The more surprising, then, that +we do not look around a little, and see what is +passing under our very eyes." + +So writes Thomas Carlyle. + +Although he politely says "we," when speaking +of people in general, that part of the "we" known +as Thomas Carlyle certainly keeps his eyes wide +open. So wide, indeed, that much that is disagreeable +comes under his notice, as always will +be the case with those who choose to see everything. + +I once watched the round, red sun as it crimsoned +the sparkling waters in which it seemed +already sinking. When, at last, I turned my +dazzled eyes away, all over lake and sky I saw +dancing black suns. Perhaps it is through dwelling +long on one idea that Carlyle sees only spots +of blackness on what others call clear sky. The +great want of that foggy, smoky city where he lives +is pure, health-giving light, and this we also miss +in his writings, which, like London, have not +enough sunshine. + +But, whatever people may say, when Carlyle +speaks the world is quite ready to listen. + +Who is Thomas Carlyle? + +He is a Scotchman, a philosopher, an essayist, +an historian, a biographer, and an octogenarian. + +What has he done to be so famous? + +He has written twenty books. But you might +live to be an octogenarian yourself without meeting +twenty persons who would have read them all. It +would not be a hard matter, though, to find those +who have read one of his books twenty times; +perhaps this very green-covered book with "Sartor +Resartus" on the back. + +What does it mean, and what is it all about? + +It means "The Tailor Re-tailored," and Carlyle +says it is a book about clothes. But you need not +look for fashion-plates; there are none there. You +will hear nothing about new costumes; for this +book is full of Carryle's own thoughts, clothed in +such words that you will surely enjoy the book. + +Hear how he tells us that nothing that we do is +really "of no matter," as we so often think: + +"I say, there is not a red Indian hunting by +Lake Winnepeg can quarrel with his squaw but the +whole world must smart for it: will not the price +of beaver rise?" + +You think it would not make much difference if +the price of beaver should rise? Let us look at +the matter. First, Mr. B. Woods, the trader, must +pay a larger price for his beaver, and therefore +must sell for more to the firm of Bylow & Selhi. +These shrewd gentlemen do not intend to lose on +their purchase, so they pay a less sum to Mr. +Maycup, the manufacturer. This reduction in his +income causes Mr. Maycup to curtail family expenses. +So his subscription to ST. NICHOLAS is +discontinued, and the youthful Maycups are overwhelmed +with grief, because of that unfortunate +quarrel which raised the price of beaver. + +But why should the price change because of that? + +Really, Mr. Carlyle should answer you. Perhaps +the Indian in his quarrel forgets to set his traps, or +the whole neighborhood may become so interested +in the little affair that beavers are forgotten. + +"Were it not miraculous could I stretch forth +my hand and clutch the sun? Yet thou seest me +daily stretch forth my hand and clutch many a +thing and swing it hither and thither. Art thou a +grown baby, then, to fancy that the miracle lies in +miles of distance, or in pounds avoirdupois of +weight; and not to see that the true miracle lies +in this, that I can stretch forth my hand at all?" + +What is it that Carlyle thinks so wonderful? +See how quietly my hand rests on this table. Why +should it move any more than the table on which +it rests? Is not Carlyle right when he calls every +movement of my hand a wonder? You never +thought of it before? That is as Carlyle says: +"We do not look around a little and see what is +passing under our very eyes." + +It was this great old man whose hand brushed +the clinging mud from a crust of bread, and placed +it on the curbstone, for some dog or pigeon, saying, +"My mother taught me never to waste anything." + +Here is a word for those who are always planning +what great things they will do--who think so much +_about_ doing that no time is left _for_ the doing: + +"The end of man is an action, and not a +thought, though it were the noblest." + +Now, for our final crumb, comes a well-clothed +thought that I like better than quarreling Indians +or familiar wonders. It is the reason why selfish +people are never really happy. Carlyle thinks they +have only themselves to blame, for he says: + +"Always there is a black spot in our sunshine; +it is even, as I said, _the shadow of ourselves_." + + + + + + +[Illustration: "JACK-IN-THE-PULPIT."] + + +JACK-IN-THE-PULPIT. + + +Hurrah for June!--bright, rosy June! "Joy +rises in me like a summer's morn!" as one of +those pleasant people, the poets, has said. + +Let everybody be glad! But most of all, you, +my youngsters! The month properly belongs to +you. Don't I know? Wasn't it set apart by +Romulus, ages and ages ago, especially for the +young people, or "Juniores," as they then were +called? And hasn't their name stuck to it ever +since? Yes, indeed! So, be as merry as you can, +my chicks; but, with all your fun and frolic, be +thankful, and make June weather all about you. +June time--any time--is full of joy when hearts, +brimming over with thankfulness, carry cheer to +other hearts, making + + "A noise like of a hidden brook + In the leafy month of June, + That to the sleeping woods all night + Singeth a quiet tune,"-- + +like the little stream that bubbles by the foot of our meadow. + +Now to business. First comes a letter about + + A ROPE OF EGGS. + + Brooklyn, N.Y. + + My Dear Jack-in-the-Pulpit: I know about a rope of eggs, and I + will tell you. It is in Japan. The eggs are plaited and twisted + into ropes made from straw, and so it is safe and easy to handle + them. Just think how queer it would seem to buy eggs by the yard! + + AMY M. + + +CONVERSATION BY FISTICUFFS. + +After being flurried by clouds of paragrams about sphygmographs, +and phonographs, and pneumatic telegraphs, and scores of other +extraordinary scientific ways of communication, I'm not in the least +surprised to learn that ants converse by one tapping another's head. + +I'm told that an Englishman named Jesse once put a small caterpillar +near an ants' nest, and watched. Soon an ant seized it; but the +caterpillar was too heavy to be moved by one ant alone, so away he ran +until he met another ant. They stopped for a few moments, during which +each tapped the other's head with his feelers in a very lively manner. +Then they both hurried off to the caterpillar, and together dragged it +home. + + + A HORSE THAT LOVED TEA. + + Roxbury, Mass. + + Dear Jack-in-the-Pulpit: This is a true story of Mary's horse. He + was just as black as a coal all over, except a pretty white star + on his forehead. + + Once in two or three weeks Mary had him take tea with her and her + little brother and sisters. She went to the stable where he lived + with Kate and Nell, two pretty twin ponies, and said to him: + + "Come, Jack! Don't you want some, tea?" + + At that, he came right up to her, and found out the buttons on + her dress, and tried to pull them off, and then untied her apron + strings. + + "Now, Jack," Mary said, "tea is all ready. Come along!"--and he + followed her along the walk to the back door and up the three + steps into the house. + + What a clatter his iron shoes made along the entry to the + dining-room! + + Harry and Annie and Fanny rushed out, crying: + + "Oh, mamma! Here's Jack coming to tea!" + + Then mamma filled a large bowl with tea, put in plenty of milk and + three or four pieces of white sugar (for Jack had a sweet tooth), + and cut a slice of bread into pieces, and put them on a plate, + with a doughnut or piece of gingerbread. And Mary said: + + "Now, Jack, come up to the table!" + + You see, he was too big to sit in a chair; but he came close up to + the table and stood there, and drank his tea without slopping any + over, and ate up his bread and cake. And when he had done, what + do you think he did? Why, he went up to the piano that stood in a + corner of the room and smelled the keys, and looked round at Mary. + That was to ask her to play him a tune before he went home. + + Then she said, "Oh, you dear Jack! I know what you want!" And she + sat down and played some merry tune, while he pricked up his ears + and put his nose down close to her fingers, he was so pleased. + Then he rubbed her shoulder with his nose, and Mary played another + tune for him. + + "Now, Jack," mamma said, "you've had a nice time; but you must + go back to your stable. Kate and Nell will miss you if you stay + longer." + + Then Mary opened the dining-room door, and Jack followed her down + the long entry and out to the stable, just like a dog.--Yours + truly, + + B.P. + + +TONGUES WHICH CARRY TEETH. + +You've heard of folks with biting tongues, I dare say, and very +disagreeable they are, no doubt, though, of course, they do not +actually bite with their tongues. However, there really is an +unpleasant fellow whose tongue carries twenty-six thousand eight +hundred teeth! A capital one for biting, you'd suppose. He is nothing +but a slug, though, and his army of teeth only scrape, not bite, I'm +told. Then, too, there is a sort of cousin of his, a periwinkle, who +has a long ribbon-like tongue, armed with six hundred crosswise rows +of hooks, about seven in a row. + +You can make sure of these surprising facts, my dears, with the aid of +patience and a microscope. + + +DIZZY DISTANCES. + +The other day, one of the school-children said to a chum, "The Little +Schoolma'am told us this morning that some parts of the ocean are more +than four miles deep!" + +That's easy to say, thought I, but try to think it, my dear! Fix on +a place four miles away from you, and then imagine every bit of that +distance stretching down under you, instead of straight before you. +Perhaps in this way you may gain an idea of the depth of the ocean; +but just consider the height of the air--which, I'm told, is a sort +of envelope about the earth--more than nine times the depth of the +ocean! Yet, what a wee bit of a way toward the moon would those +thirty-six miles take us! And from the earth to the moon is only a +very little step on the long way to the sun. + +Oh dear! Let's stop and take a breath! Why did I begin talking of such +dizzy distances? + + +LAND THAT INCREASES IN HEIGHT. + +Here is a letter in answer to the Little School-ma'am's question which +I passed over to you in April, and it raises such startling ideas, +that, may be, you'd do well to look farther into the matter: + + DEAR JACK: We suppose that the Little Schoolma'am and her writers + on Greenland will concede its accidental discovery by Gunnbjorn, + as narrated by Cyrus Martin, Jr., in his "Vikings in America" [ST. + NICHOLAS, Vol. III., page 586]. We have always thought Iceland + appropriately named, and Greenland the reverse. + + And now about that question of temperature. If portions of + Greenland are colder than formerly, may it not be because less + heat comes through its crust from subterranean fires, as well + as because the surface is constantly gaining in height, as some + report?--Very truly yours, + + NED AND WILL WHITFORD. + + +THE ANGERED GOOSE. + +The picture of which you here have an engraving formed at first a kind +of panel of a wall, and occupied a space beneath one of the cartoons +of Raphael, the great Italian painter, whose grand picture of "The +Transfiguration" is thought to be his chief work. This panel-picture, +also, was painted by Raphael, as some say, though others think it may +be the work of one of his pupils. + +[Illustration: THE ANGERED GOOSE.] + +A curious thing about the picture is this: the goose is so excited, +and scolding its tortoise so angrily for going slowly, that it has +forgotten its own wings, when, if it would only use them, it could fly +to its journey's end long before the tortoise could crawl there. Now, +there are other two-legged geese who let themselves get angered and +excited easily, and so lose many chances of serving others and helping +themselves. Perhaps you may know some of them. + +That is what the Deacon says; but, for my part, I never knew a goose +that _hadn't_ two legs. + + +A CITY UNDER THE WATER. + +In past ages, as the Deacon once told some of his older boys in my +hearing, the people of some parts of Europe used to live above the +surfaces of lakes, in huts built on spiles driven into the water. + +Well, now I hear that some one has found, under the water of Lake +Geneva, a whole town, with about two hundred stone houses, a large +public square, and a high tower; and, from the looks of the town, the +shape of the houses, and the way the stones are cut, some say that the +place must have been built more than two thousand years ago! + +Now, I can understand how men were able to live in the way the Deacon +described, but it strikes me that this other story has something in it +that's harder to swallow than water. + +Who ever heard of men living in cities under the water, as if they +were fishes? + + +REFLECTION. + + The Red School-house. + + My Dear Jack-in-the-Pulpit: Many thanks for putting into your + April sermon the picture and letter which I sent to you. Now, I + must let you know about the explanations that some of your bright + chicks have given. + + Arnold Guyot Cameron, S.E.S., O.C. Turner, Louise G. Hinsdale, and + the partners E.K.S. and M.G.V. guessed the right word, which is + "Reflection"; and, of course, it needed some "reflection" to find + it out. The lady in the picture is absorbed in "reflection" upon + something she has been reading in her book; but, besides this, + the water is represented as sending back a "reflection" of nearly + every other object in the picture. + + Several others of your youngsters wrote, but they were not so + fortunate in their attempts. "Mignon" suggests the word "Heads," + for the reason that the guessing has given employment to many + heads. John F. Wyatt thinks that "Beautiful" is the word. Alfred + Whitman, C.H. Payne, and Nellie Emerson, though writing from three + places far apart, agree in giving the word "Reverie" as their + notion of the right one. George A. Mitchell thinks it is "Study"; + Arthur W. James guesses "Meditation"; and Hallie quietly hints + "Calm." "P.," however, believes that the word is "Misrepresented," + which he inclines to write, "Miss represented." But Nathalie + B. Conkling puts forward the exclamation "Alas!" as the proper + solution, spelling it "A lass." + + Now, puns are not always good wit, and these two are not puns of + the best kind; but they, as well as the other guesses, show that + your chicks have lively minds, able to see a thing from more than + one point of view, even although their conjectures do not hit the + very center of the mark in every instance. I am much obliged + to them all for their letters, and to you, dear Jack, for your + kindness.--Sincerely your friend, + + THE LITTLE SCHOOLMA'AM. + + + + + + +"FIDDLE-DIDDLE-DEE!" + + +Little Davie ran through the garden,--a great slice of bread and +butter in one hand, and his spelling-book in the other. He was going +to study his lesson for to-morrow. + +You could not imagine a prettier spot than Davie's "study," as he +called it. It was under a great oak-tree, that stood at the edge of a +small wood. The little boy sat down on one of the roots and opened his +book. + +[Illustration: The Little Brown Wren.] + +"But first," thought he, "I'll finish my bread and butter." + +So he let his book drop, and, as he ate, he began to sing a little +song with which his mother sometimes put the baby to sleep. This is +the way the song began: + + "I bought a bird, and my bird pleased me; + I tied my bird behind a tree; + Bird said----" + +"Fiddle-diddle-dee!" sang something, or somebody, behind the oak. +Davie looked a little frightened, for that was just what he was about +to sing in his song. But he jumped up and ran around to the other side +of the tree. And there was a little brown wren, and it had a little +golden thread around its neck, and the thread was tied to a root of +the big tree. + +"Hello!" said Davie, "was that you?" + +Now, of course Davie had not expected the wren to answer him. But the +bird turned her head on one side, and, looking up at Davie, said: + +[Illustration: The Little Bantam Hen.] + +"Yes, of course it was me! Who else did you suppose it could be?" + +"Oh yes!" said Davie, very much astonished. "Oh yes, of course! But I +thought you only did it in the song!" + +"Well," said the wren, "were not you singing the song, and am not I in +the song, and what else could I do?" + +"Yes, I suppose so," said Davie. + +"Well, go, then," said the wren, "and don't bother me." + +Davie felt very queer. He stopped a moment, but soon thought that he +must do as he was bid, and he began to sing again: + + "I bought a hen, and my hen pleased me; + I tied my hen behind a tree; + Hen said----" + +"Shinny-shack! shinny-shack!" interrupted another voice, so loudly +that Davie's heart gave a great thump, as he turned around. There, +behind the wren, stood a little Bantam hen, and around her neck was a +little golden cord that fastened her to the wren's leg. + +[Illustration: The Speckled Guinea-Hen.] + +"I suppose that was you?" said Davie. + +"Yes, indeed," replied the hen. "I know when my time comes in, in a +song. But it was provoking for you to call me away from my chicks." + +"I?" cried Davie. "I didn't call you!" + +"Oh, indeed!" said the Bantam. "It wasn't you, then, who were singing +'Tied my hen,' just now! Oh no, not you!" + +"I'm sorry," said Davie. "I didn't mean to." + +"Well, go on, then," said the little hen, "and don't bother." + +Davie was so full of wonder that he did not know what to think of it +all. He went back to his seat, and sang again: + + "I had a guinea, and my guinea pleased me; + I tied my guinea behind a tree----" + +[Illustration: The Duck.] + +But here he stopped, with his mouth wide open; for up a tiny brown +path that led into the wood, came a little red man about a foot +high, dressed in green, and leading by a long yellow string a plump, +speckled guinea-hen! The little old man came whistling along until he +reached the Bantam, when he fastened the yellow string to her leg, and +went back again down the path, and disappeared among the trees. + +Davie looked and wondered. Presently, the guinea stretched out her +neck and called to him in a funny voice: + +"Why in the world don't you go on? Do you think I want to wait all day +for my turn to come?" + +Davie began to sing again: "Guinea said----" + +"Pot-rack! pot-rack!" instantly squeaked the speckled guinea-hen. + +Davie jumped up. He was fairly frightened now. But his courage soon +came back. "I'm not afraid," he said to himself; "I'll see what the +end of this song will be!"--and he began to sing again: + + "I bought a duck, and my duck pleased me; + I tied my duck behind a tree; + Duck said----" + +"Quack! quack!" came from around the oak. But Davie went on: + +[Illustration: The Dog.] + + "I bought a dog, and the dog pleased me; + I tied my dog behind a tree; + Dog said----" + +"Bow-wow!" said a little curly dog, as Davie came around the spreading +roots of the tree. There stood a little short-legged duck tied to the +guinea's leg, and to the duck's leg was fastened the wisest-looking +Scotch terrier, with spectacles on his nose and a walking-cane in his +paw. + +The whole group looked up at Davie, who now felt perfectly confident +He sat down on a stone close by, and continued his song: + + "I had a horse, and my horse pleased me; + I tied my horse behind a tree." + +Davie stopped and looked down the little brown path. Then he clapped +his hands in great delight; for there came the little old man +leading by a golden bridle a snow-white pony, no bigger than Davie's +Newfoundland dog. + +"Sure enough, it is a boy!" said the pony, as the old man tied his +bridle to the dog's hind leg, and then hurried away. "I thought so! +Boys are always bothering people." + +[Illustration: The Horse.] + +"Who are you, and where did you all come from?" asked delighted Davie. + +"Why," said the pony, "we belong to the court of Her Majesty the Queen +of the Fairies. But, of course, when the song in which any of the +court voices are wanted, is sung, they all have to go." + +"I'm sure I'm very sorry," said Davie. "But why haven't I ever seen +you all before?" + +"Because," said the pony, "you have never sung the song down here +before." And then he added: "Don't you think, now that we are all +here, you'd better sing the song right end first, and be done with +it?" + +"Oh, certainly!" cried Davie, "certainly!" beginning to sing. + +If you could but have heard that song! As Davie sang, each fowl or +animal took up its part, and sang it, with its own peculiar tone and +manner, until they all joined in. + + "I had a horse, and my horse pleased me; + I tied my horse behind a tree. + Horse said, 'Neigh! neigh!' + Dog said, 'Bow-wow!' + Duck said, 'Quack! quack!' + Guinea said, 'Pot-rack! pot-rack!' + Hen said, 'Shinny-shack! shinny-shack!' + Bird said, 'Fiddle-diddle-dee!'" + +Davie was overjoyed. He thought he would sing it all over again. But +just then he was sure that his mother called him. + +[Illustration: All in Procession.] + +"Wait a minute!" he said to his companions. "Wait a minute! I'm coming +back! Oh, it's just like a fairy-tale!" he cried to himself, as he +bounded up the garden-walk. "I wonder what mother'll think?" + +But his mother said she had not called him, and so he ran back as fast +as his legs would carry him. + +But they were all gone. His speller lay on the ground, open at the +page of his lesson; a crumb or two of bread was scattered about; but +not a sign of the white pony and the rest of the singers. + +"Well," said Davie, as he picked up his book, "I guess I wont sing it +again, for I bothered them so. But I wish they had stayed a little +longer." + + + + + + +THE LETTER-BOX. + +A BRAVE GIRL. + + +One summer day, in Union square, New York City, a beautiful deed was +done, which our frontispiece tells so well as almost to leave no need +of words. A poor blind man started to cross the street just as a car +was rapidly approaching. He heard it coming, and, growing confused, +stood still--his poor, blind face turned helplessly, pathetically +up, as if imploring aid. Men looked on heedlessly, regardless of his +danger, or the voiceless appeal in his sightless eyes. + +Suddenly, from among the passers-by, a young girl sprang to his side, +between him and the great horses which were so near they almost +touched her, laid her dainty hand on his, and led him safely over the +street, and with gentle words that brought a smile to his withered old +face, set him safely on his way. + +It was a brave, kindly act, and one may be sure it was neither the +first nor the last, of the brave girl who did it. + + * * * * * + +If Charles Dudley Warner had never been a boy, it would have been +impossible for him to write the very interesting little volume he +calls "Being a Boy," for it is evident that he knows well, from +experience, all that he writes about. It may be that many of our +young readers have seen this book, for it has already reached several +editions; but if there are any of them who have not read it, and who +take an interest in the life of boys who are born, and brought up, and +have fun, and drive oxen, and go fishing, and turn grindstones, and +eat pumpkin-pie, and catch wood-chucks, all on a New England farm, +they would do well to get the book and read it. + +If any of those who read it are boys on a farm in New England, they +will see themselves, as if they looked in a mirror; and if any of them +are city boys or girls, or live in the South or West, or anywhere in +the world but in New England, they will see what sort of times some of +the smartest and brightest men in our country had, before they grew up +to be governors, book-writers, and other folks of importance. + +There is a particular reason why readers of ST. NICHOLAS should see +this book, for in it they will meet with some old friends. + + * * * * * + + Williamsburgh, L.I. + +DEAR ST. NICHOLAS: I read in the May "Letter-Box" your answer to +Stella G. about long and short words. It reminded me of what I read +once about Count Von Moltke, the great German general. The writer +described him as "the wonderful silent man who knows how to hold his +tongue in eight different languages."--Yours truly, + +Willie, M.D. + + * * * * * + + Santa Fé, N.M. + +DEAR ST. NICHOLAS: The donkeys here are called "burros." They are very +tame, and do not get frightened at anything. A few days ago, the boys +in our school tied a bunch of fire crackers to the tail of one, and +fired them off. We all thought he would be very frightened at the +noise, but he just walked off and began eating grass. My brother Barry +had one of these little burros, when we were in Texas, and every +evening he would go to a lady's house for something to eat, although +he had more than he could eat at home; and if she did not come to the +window soon, he would bray as loudly as he could, and she would have +to come out and give him something, even if it was only a lump of +sugur. Good-bye,--From, your affectionate friend, + +Bessie Hatch. + + * * * * * + + Coldwater, N.Y. + +DEAR ST. NICHOLAS: Having read in the March number an account of the +"Great Eastern," I thought perhaps your readers would like to hear +something of the history of her captain, which I read a short time +ago. + +When he was a little boy, he went to sea. As he left home, his mother +said: "Wherever you are, Jamie, whether on sea or land, remember +to acknowledge your God. Promise me that you will kneel down every +morning and night and say your prayers, no matter whether the sailors +laugh at you or not." + +Jamie gave his promise, and soon he was on shipboard, bound for India. +They had a good captain; and, as several of the sailors were religious +men, no one laughed at the boy when he knelt down to pray. + +On the return voyage, however, some of the former sailors having run +away, their places were filled by others, and one of these proved to +be a very bad fellow. When he saw little Jamie kneeling down, this +wicked sailor went up to him, and, giving him a sound box on the ear, +said, "None of that here, sir!" + +Another seaman, who saw this, although he himself swore sometimes, was +indignant that the child should be so cruelly treated. He told the man +to come up on deck and he would give him a thrashing. The challenge +was accepted, and the well-deserved beating was duly bestowed. Both +then returned to the cabin, and the swearing man said, "Now, Jamie, +say your prayers, and if he dares to touch you, I will give him +another dressing." + +The next night, Jamie was tempted to say his prayers in his hammock. +The moment that the friendly sailor saw Jamie get into his hammock +without first saying his prayers, he hurried to the spot and, dragging +him out, said, "Kneel down at once, sir! Do you think I am going to +fight for you, and you not say your prayers, you young rascal?" During +the whole voyage back to London this same sailor watched over the +boy as if he were his father, and every night saw that he said his +prayers. + +Jamie soon began to be industrious, and during his spare hours studied +his books; he learned all about ropes and rigging, and became familiar +with latitude and longitude. Some years after, he became captain +of the "Great Eastern." On returning to England after a successful +voyage, Queen Victoria bestowed upon him the honor of knighthood, and +the world now knows him as Sir James Anderson. + +MABEL R. + + * * * * * + +B.P.R.--Perhaps the little book called "Album Leaves," by Mr. George +Houghton, published by Estes & Lauriat, will help you to some verses +suitable to be writen (sic) in autograph albums. + + * * * * * + + Mobile, Ala. + +DEAR ST. NICHOLAS: The "that" question in your recent numbers brings +to mind some "thats" I had when I went to school long years ago, and +which some of your young grammarians may never have seen. I would like +to have them, especially C.P.S., of Chicago, parse them. + +E.S.F. + + Now that is a word which may often be joined, + For that that may be doubled is clear to the mind, + And that that that is right, is as plain to the view + As that that that that we use is rightly used too; + And that that that that that line has in it, is right, + And accords with good grammar, is plain in our sight. + + * * * * * + +DEAR ST. NICHOLAS: I want to tell you about my aunt Hattie. She is +only nine years older than I am, being twenty-one, and seems more like +a sister than an aunt. When she was about fifteen she was thrown from +her pony and hurt her spine, so that she hasn't taken a step since. + +But in spite of her great suffering she is the brightest, happiest +one in the house, brimful and running over with fun and spirits. +Papa calls her our sunbeam, and no one can grumble when they see how +patiently and cheerfully she bears her pain. Her bright face and merry +laugh will cure the worst case of "blues." She wants me to tell you +how much she enjoys ST. NICHOLAS. It is a great comfort to her, and +helps to pass away many an hour of pain and loneliness when I am at +school and mamma is busy. She says she doesn't know what she could do +without it. + +Auntie says you must make allowance for what I say of her as I am a +partial judge; but she _is_ the dearest, best auntie in the world, and +I'm not the only one who thinks so. Everybody loves her, and I shall +be satisfied if I ever learn to be half as good and patient and +unselfish as she is. I don't see how she can be so good and patient +and happy when she has to lie still year after year and suffer so +much, I should get cross and fret about it, for I can't bear to be +sick a day. But she never thinks of her own troubles, but is so afraid +she will make us care or trouble. When the pain is very bad she likes +to hear music or poetry. It soothes her better than anything else. +Whittier's poem on "Patience," is a favorite with her, and so is Mrs. +Browning's "Sleep."--Ever your true friend, + +ALLIE BERTRAM. + + * * * * * + + Salem, Mass. + +DEAR ST. NICHOLAS: I want to tell you about my little turtle. I got +him up in the country last summer, and have had him about six months. +I keep him in a bowl of water, with a shell in it. In summer I feed +him with flies, and in winter I give him pieces of cooked meat about +the size of a fly. My turtle's shell is nearly round, and he is small +enough to be put in a tumbler, and then he can turn round as he likes. +I named him "Two-forty" (a funny name), because, when you put him +down, he stands still, looks around a minute, and then starts off on a +run,--Your friend and reader, + +JOHNNY P. WILLIS. + + * * * * * + + Camp Grant, Arizona. + +DEAR ST. NICHOLAS: Your coming every month fills us with delight. We +cannot wait to read you separately, so mamma reads you aloud after the +lamps are lighted, the first evening you are here. Papa lays aside his +pen to listen, just like any boy, and so we all enjoy your pages at +once. I have one little sister, but no brother. We live in camp, in +far-away Arizona; and, although the "buck-board" brings the mail in +every other day, it takes a long while for a letter to come from the +East. + +There is a pet deer here. He comes out to "guard mounting" on the +parade-ground, and trots after the band when the guard passes in +review. Every one is kind to him; even the dogs know they must not +chase him.--Your true friend, + +MOLLIE GORDON. + + * * * * * + + New Brunswick, N.J. + +DEAR ST. NICHOLAS: I would like to tell you of the nice times that the +country children have, although they have no parks. In summer they can +go on picnics, and they have a nice garden to play in. And most of the +children have little gardens of their own to plant things in,--one for +flowers and the other for vegetables. Then, in the winter-time, they +can go coasting, sliding and skating; then, last but not least, +sleigh-riding on the lovely, pure white snow. + +I, for one, would not be a city child. If I lived in the city, I +could not have my old pet hen. Good-by, dear ST. NICHOLAS.--From your +friend-- + +MATHILDE WEYER. + +P.S.--I have a cat by the name of Pussy Hiawatha. + + * * * * * + + Covington, Ohio. + +DEAR ST. NICHOLAS: Would you like to know how I came to get you? I +worked for you. My brother made a bank for me out of a cigar-box, and +said if I put ten cents into it every week, I could begin taking you +in November. That was in March. Sometimes, I could not get the ten +cents, but I made it up the next week, and more, too, if I could; and +before July, I had more than enough to pay for you. After that, I +saved nearly enough to buy me a suit of clothes. I am working for you +for another year. My age is twelve.--From your constant reader, + +W.H. PERRY. + + * * * * * + +The following is sent to us from Josie C.H., aged eleven years, as her +own composition: + +SOME THINGS WHICH WE EXPECT IN YEARS TO COME. + +Some boys, when they go to school, expect to learn. When they are a +little older, they expect to go to college; and then, to learn trades +and professions, and to become men. The farmer, when he plants his +seed in the spring, expects a harvest. The merchant, when he buys his +goods, expects to sell them at a profit. The student expects to become +a lawyer, minister, etc. All boys expect to become men. We often +expect things that never happen, but what we expect we cannot always +get; yet we can try for them, which is a good rule to go by. + + * * * * * + +THE TRUE STORY OF "MARY'S LITTLE LAMB." + + Saratoga Springs, N.Y. + +DEAR ST. NICHOLAS: I want to tell you what I read lately in a +newspaper about Mary and her lamb. Mary herself is now a delightful +old lady of threescore and ten, and this is her story: + +"I was nine years old, and we lived on a farm. I used to go out to the +barn every morning with father, to see the cows and sheep. One cold +day, we found that during the night twin lambs had been born. You know +that sheep will often disown one of twins, and this morning one poor +little lamb was pushed out of the pen into the yard. It was almost +starved, and almost frozen, and father told me I might have it if I +could keep it alive. So I took it into the house, wrapped it in a +blanket, and fed it on peppermint and milk all day. When night came, I +could not bear to leave it, for fear it would die. So mother made me +up a little bed on the settle, and I nursed the poor little thing all +night, feeding it with a spoon, and by morning it could stand. After +this, we brought it up by hand, until it learned to love me very much, +and would stay with me wherever I went, unless it was tied. I used, +before going to school in the morning, to see that the lamb was all +right, and securely fastened for the day. + +"Well, one morning, when my brother Nat and I were all ready, the lamb +could not be found, and, supposing that it had gone out to pasture +with the cows, we started on. I used to be very fond of singing, and +the lamb would follow the sound of my voice. This morning, after we +had gone some distance, I began to sing, and the lamb hearing me, +followed, and overtook us before we got to school. As it happened, we +were early; so I went in very quietly, and took the lamb into my seat, +where it went to sleep, and I covered it up with my shawl. When +the teacher and the rest of the scholars came, they did not notice +anything amiss, and all was quiet until my spelling-class was called. +Hardly had I taken my place when the patter of little hoofs was heard +coming down the aisle, and the lamb stood beside me ready for its +word. Of course, the children all laughed, and the teacher laughed +too, and the poor creature had to be turned out-of-doors. But it kept +coming back, and at last had to be tied in the wood-shed until school +was out. Now, that day, there was a young man in the school, John +Roulston by name, who had come as a spectator. He was a Boston boy and +son of a riding-school master, and was fitting for Harvard College. He +was very much pleased over what he saw in our school, and a few days +after gave us the first three verses of the song. How or when it got +into print, I don't know. + +"I took great care of my pet, and would curl its long wool over a +stick, Finally, it was killed by an angry cow. I have a pair of little +stockings, knitted of yarn spun from the lamb's wool, the heels +of which have been raveled out and given away piecemeal as +mementoes."--Yours truly, + +J.M.D. + + * * * * * + + Bolinas, Cal. + +DEAR ST. NICHOLAS: Were the "Arabian Nights" written by an Englishman +or translated from the Arabic? In either case can you tell us the name +of the author?--Yours sincerely, + +ESTHER R. DE PERSE AND JIMMIE MOORE. + + +The "Arabian Nights" were collected and translated into English by +Edward William Lane, an Englishman; but no one ever has found out +where or by whom the tales were first told. On page 42 of ST. NICHOLAS +for November, 1874 (the first number), is an article on the subject by +Mr. Donald G. Mitchell, which you would do well to read. + + * * * * * + + Geneva, Switzerland. + +DEAR ST. NICHOLAS: Perhaps some of your American readers have visited +this far-away city, and even attended school here. Pupils come here +for schooling from all parts of the world,--from America, Cuba, +England, Germany, Russia, Greece, and even from Egypt. But many of the +ST. NICHOLAS children never have been here; so I will tell them about +the country and the people. + +In the first place, Switzerland is a republic, with president and +vice-president, as in the United States, but chosen every year. +Switzerland is made up of twenty-two cantons, or states, each of which +has two representatives; and, besides these, there are 128 members of +the National Assembly, and seven members of the Federal Council, each +of which last is chosen once in three years. The country is only +one-third as large as the State of New York, being 200 miles long and +156 broad; and two-thirds of it is composed of lofty mountains or deep +ravines. The people are apparently such lovers of law and order as to +need no rulers at all. I think there must be propriety in the air they +breathe. They have honest faces, and honesty beams out of their clear +blue eyes. The school-boy even, instead of stopping to throw stones or +climb fences or wrestle with another boy, walks along to school, at +eight o'clock in the morning, with his square hair-covered satchel on +his back, as orderly as if he were the teacher setting an example to +his pupils. The laborers, in blouse-frocks of blue or gray homespun, +make no noise, no confusion. All is done quietly, orderly and +correctly; each one knows his duty and does it. + +Although Berne is the capital, Geneva is the largest city; and I think +if you could see it as it is, with grand snow-capped mountains at both +sides, the clear blue lake,--not always blue, for sometimes it is +green, and then the blue Rhone can be distinctly seen flowing through +it,--the pretty green parks and gardens, clean streets, and oddly +dressed people, you would think, as I do, that it is a very nice place +to be in. + +There are several little steamers which ply on the lake, and +numberless little sail and row boats, and beautiful white swans, with +tiny olive-colored cygnets, swimming and diving for food. On the +banks of the rapid river, which leaves the lake at the city, are the +wash-houses--a great curiosity. But my letter is getting too long, so +I must stop.--Yours truly, + +S.H. REDFIELD. + + * * * * * + + Easton, Pa. + +DEAR ST. NICHOLAS: I send you an acrostic which I have made, and I +hope you will print it.--Yours truly, + +B. + + ACROSTIC. + + My first has a heart that has ne'er throbbed with pity; + My next has strong arms, but ne'er strikes for the right; + My third has a head, but is not wise or witty; + My fourth, a neat foot, but in country or city + Is never seen walking, by day or by night; + My fifth, with a mouth that is surely capacious + Enough for a lion, is never voracious. + Guess from these five initials my whole, if you can; + 'Tis a path ever used, yet untrodden by man. + +_Ans._ Orbit. Oak, Reel, Barrel, Iambic, Tunnel. + + * * * * * + +CITY CHILDREN'S COUNTRY REST. + + Brooklyn, E.D. + +DEAR ST. NICHOLAS: Here is news to do your heart good. Last summer, a +Brooklyn lady, who herself has been bed-ridden and in pain for many +years, felt very sorry for the children of the tenement houses, who +are unable to get relief or a chance to enjoy the fresh air and bright +sunlight of the country. She longed to help them, and said so to +Mr. P., a clergyman in northern Pennsylvania. He spoke of it to his +congregation, and asked them if they would invite some of the poor +city children to visit their farm-houses and cottages for a week or +so; and they gladly said they would, and told him he might bring along +as many as he could get to come. This generous reply he told to the +lady, and she let others know, and the result was that, although late +in the season, more than sixty children from the poorest neighborhoods +of Brooklyn--pale, deformed, city-worn, and ill-fed--spent a happy +fortnight in the country. + +The children were ferreted out, and their parents persuaded. They were +then taken to the railroad depot, and there given in charge of Mr. P., +who went with them, and sorted them among his people; and, when the +time was up, brought them back, and turned them over to us at the +depot. Then we took them to their homes. The total expense of carrying +all the children there and back in three lots was about $180, and more +money could have been had if it had been wanted. In fact, the minute +the subject was broached every hearer wanted to help. The railroad +company charged only half fares, and the employés got to know Mr. P. +and his batches of children, and did all they could to make things +easy and cheerful for them. + +I can fancy how glad you would have been, dear old ST. NICHOLAS, to +see the happy, hearty, bright-eyed boys and girls that came home in +place of the pale-faced, dead-and-alive children that left two weeks +before! They talked of nothing but the good times they had had. One +little fellow, thinking to surprise us, said, "I seen a cow!" All of +them fared well, and particularly enjoyed the "good country milk." +When they came back, many wore better clothes than they had gone +in, and all were laden with good things for the home folks. One boy +carried under each arm a "live" chicken,--special gifts for his +mother! + +Now, if some of your readers in the country follow the example of +these Pennsylvania people, they will know what it is to be downright +happy; for every person who has had anything to do with this +enterprise feels happy about it, and longs to do it again, and more +besides.--Yours truly, + +C.B. + + * * * * * + +ANSWERS TO MR. CRANCH'S POETICAL CHARADES, published on page 406 +of the April number, were received, before April 18, from Neils E. +Hansen, C.W.W., Arnold Guyot Cameron, Helen and Frank Diller, "Sadie," +"Marshall," Emma Lathers, Arthur W. James, Louise G. Hinsdale, Ada C. +Okell, E.K.S. and M.G.V., "Sunnyside Seminary," "Persephone," M.W.C., +Genevieve Allis and Kittie Brewster, Florence Stryker, "Cosey Club," +Mary and Willie Johnson, and Jeanie A. Christie. + +ERRATUM.--The answer to No. 23 in "Presidential Discoveries" is "More" +(Sir Thomas), not "William Henry," as given in the May number. + +ANSWERS TO PUZZLES in the April number were received, before April +18, from R.H. Marr, Grace Sumner, "Prebo," Marion Abbot, Maxwell W. +Turner, Willie W. Cooper, "Cosey Club," Samuel J. Holmes, "Three +Sisters," Charles G. Todd, W.M., M.E. Adams, Mamie G.A., W. Thomas, +Jeanie A. Christie, T. Bowdoin, Robert M. Webb, Allie Bertram, Willie +Wilkins, Maggie Simon, Kitty P. Norton, M.W. Collet, Jay Benton, +"Kaween," Morris M. Turk, Leonie Giraud, Catherine Cook, Willie B. +Dess, Willie Cline, Frances M. Griffitts, Nellie J. Towle, "Isola," +Mary C. Warren, Florence I. Turrill, Charles Fritts, "Angeline," Sam +Cruse, John V.L. Pierson, "Ollie;" Tillie Powles and May Roys; Tyler +Redfield, Grace A. Jarvis, Bennie Swift; Sarah Duffield and "No Name" +and Constance F. Grand-Pierre; "Romeo and Juliet," "Jupiter," O.C. +Turner, Jessie D. Worstell, Melly Woodward, R. Townsend McKeever, +Eleanor N. Hughes, Ben Merrill; Annie and Lucy Wollaston; William +Eichelberger and John Cress; "Clover-leaf and Pussy-willow," Alice +Getty, Herbert D. Utley; Bertha and Carl Heferstein and Estella +Lohmeyer; C. Speiden and M.F. Speiden; Angeline O., May Filton, +"Winnie," Maggie J. Gemmill, Jennie McClure, "X.Y.Z.," Neils E. +Hansen, Clara B. Dunster, Bessie L. Barnes, Willie B. McLean, Bessie +T., Lauretta V. Whyte, Hattie M. Heath; Charles W. Hutchins and Abbie +F. Hutchins; Belle Murray, Harry A. Garfield; Helen and Frank Diller; +Gertrude A. Pocock, Helena W. Chamberlain, "Al Kihall," Wm. F. Tort, +"Lizzie and Anna," Kittie Tuers, Taylor Goshorn, Emma Lathers, +"Marshall," Arthur W. James, Otto A. Dreier, "O.K.," Ada B. Raymond, +"Seymour-Ct.," "Three Cousins," "Hallie," Alice Lanigan, Alfred +Whitman, "Golden Eagle;" E.K.S. and M.G.V.; H.B. Ayers, Fred +Chittenden; William McKinley Cobb and Howell Cobb, Jr.; Katie Hackett +and Helen Titus; "35 E. 38th St.," W.D. Utley, Mary Lewis Darlington, +Louisa L. Richards, James Barton Longacre, Nellie Emerson, Chas. +B. Ebert, Jennie A. Carr, W.H. Wetmore, Mattie Olmsted; Arthur W. +Hodgman, E.H. Hoeber, A.H. Peirce; Kittie Brewster and Genevieve +Allis; Fannie B. Bates, Louise Egleston, Florence Stryker, Hattie +H. Doyle, Mattie Doyle, Mabel Chester, Alice N. Dunn. A.R., Mary F. +Johnson, M. Alice Chase, Alice Anderson, Bessie T. Hosmer, "Heath Hill +Club," Anna E, Mathewson, I. Sturges, Addie B. Tiemann, Harriet A. +Clark, Clarence H. Young, B.P. Emery, Victor C. Sanborn, "Persephone," +Eddie Vultee; "M.," Staten Island; Fred M. Pease, Cyrus C. Clarke, +Geo. J. Fiske; and George H. Nisbett, of London, England. + +Correct solutions of all the puzzles were received from Arnold Guyot +Cameron, "Bessie and her Cousin," Louise G. Hinsdale, Lucy C. Johnson; +and L.M. and Eddie Waldo. + + + + + +THE RIDDLE-BOX. + +=EASY BEHEADINGS.= + + +The whole, most animals possess; behead it, and transpose, and there +will appear an emblem of grief; behead again, and see what all men +have; behead and curtail, and find an article. J.F.S. + + +=ACCIDENTAL HIDINGS.= + +Find concealed in the following quotations three names for + + METRICAL COMPOSITIONS. + + "As hope and fear alternate chase + Our course through life's uncertain race."--_Scott_. + + "Trained to the chase, his eagle eye + The ptarmigan in snow could spy."--_Scott_. + + "Well-dressed, well-bred, + Well-equipaged, is ticket good enough."--_Cowper_. + +Find concealed in the following quotations three names for + +PORTIONS OF TIME. + + "From better habitations spurned, + Reluctant dost thou rove."--_Goldsmith_. + + "As ever ye heard the greenwood dell + On morn of June one warbled swell."--_Queen's Wake_. + + "Each spire, each tower and cliff sublime, + Was hooded in the wreathy rime."--_Hogg_. + + +=MELANGE.= + +1. Behead a plant, and leave a friend. 2. Curtail the plant, and give +a pungent spice. 3. Syncopate the plant, and find an envelope. 4. +Behead the spice, and leave affection. 5. Syncopate and transpose the +friend, and find learning. 6. Behead the envelope, and leave above. +7. Syncopate and transpose the envelope, and give the inner part. 8. +Transpose above, and find to ramble. 9. Syncopate to ramble, and leave +a wild animal. ISOLA. + + + =EASY CLASSICAL ACROSTIC.= + + My first is in deaf, but not in hear; + My second in doe, and also in deer; + My third is in May, but not in June; + My fourth is in song, but not in tune; + My fifth is in house, and also in shed; + My sixth is in cot, but not in bed; + My seventh is in chair, but not in stool; + My eighth is in lake, but not in pool; + My ninth is in pencil, and also in ink; + My tenth is in blue, but not in pink; + My eleventh is in dish, but not in pan; + My whole was a Greek and a well-spoken man. + ANNAN. + + +=ENIGMA.= + +I am a common adage frequently used by good housewives, and am +composed of twenty-two letters. + +My 9 15 3 8 16 22 is pertaining to the place of birth. My 10 20 19 14 +are things used to cook with. My 6 1 5 is a domestic animal. My 11 21 +is a preposition. My 18 17 13 12 is to appear. My 7 4 2 is a pronoun. +BESSIE. + +=ANAGRAMS.= + +Each anagram is formed from a single word, and a clue to the meaning +of that word is given after its anagram. + +1. A dry shop; rambling composition. 2. I clean rum; belonging to +number. 3. Poet in dread; the act of making inroads. 4. Oxen are set; +clears from blame. 5. Gin danger; displacing. + +CYRIL DEANE. + + +=PICTORIAL PUZZLE.= + +[Illustration: What animal, besides the dog and cat is to be found in +the above picture?] + + +=EASY DIAMOND PUZZLE.= + +1, A vowel. 2. A fairy. 3. Change. 4. Not many. 5. A consonant. + +WILLIE F. + + +=CHARADE.= + +I. + +My first, a god once worshiped, now fills a lowly place, Though +sometimes raised to favor by the wayward human race. + +II. + +My second, a bold captain, leads a goodly company, Whose numbers march +in columns, like knights of chivalry. They serve us at our bidding, +yet we are in their power, And the weapons that they carry may wound +us in an hour. It grandly leads the ages, as their cycles onward roll, +But stoops to lend its presence to my shadowy, fearful whole. It lives +in ancient romance, it floats upon the air, And flower-deck'd May +without it would not be half so fair. + +III. + +My third holds humble office, a servant at your will, But an +instrument of torture if 'tis not used with skill. Beauty before her +mirror studies its use with care, And deigns, perchance, to choose it +an ornament to wear. + +IV. + +Consider, all ye people, what my strange whole may be; 'Tis gloomy, +dark and awful, and full of mystery. Ponder the tales of ages, of +human sin and woe, Turn to historic pages, if you its name would know. +E'en kings their heads have rested, a-weary of the crown, Upon its +curious couches, though not of silk or down. The stately seven-hilled +city may boast her ancient birth, But this was old and hoary ere she +had place on earth. Some tremble when they see it; some its secrets +would explore, And, peering through its shadows, they seek its mystic +lore. + +A.M.W. + + +=NUMERICAL PUZZLE.= + +A boy named 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 thought it singular he should become +such a monster as a 1 2 3 4 6 7 8 9 10 by dropping the first letter of +his surname. + +C.D. + + +=FOUR-LETTER SQUARE-WORD.= + +The base is a title. Fill the blanks in the following sentence +with words which can be arranged in order, as they come, to form a +word-square: + +The (1)---- made an (2)---- of his minstrel, and yet he himself could +not tell one (3)---- from another, or distinguish a dirge from a +(4)----. + +B. + + +=EASY CROSS-WORD ENIGMA.= + + 1. In road, but not in street; + 2. In hunger, not in eat; + 3. In inn, but not in tavern; + 4. In grot, but not in cavern. + +The whole is the name of one of the United States. + +R.L. M'D. + + +=METAGRAM.= + +Whole, (1) I am to beat; change my head, and I become, in succession, +(2) stouter, (3) final, (4) substance, (5) to sprinkle, (6) to rend, +and (7) a terrier of a much prized kind. + +A.C. CRETT. + + +=EASY ACROSTIC.= + + My first is in can, but not in may; + My second in opera, not in play; + My third is in shine, but not in bright; + My fourth is in string, but not in kite; + My fifth is in tea, but not in coffee; + My sixth in candy, also in taffy; + My seventh is in rain, but not in hail; + My eighth is in bucket, but not in pail; + My ninth is in ice, but not in snow; + My tenth is in run, but not in go; + My eleventh is in hop, but not in run; + My twelfth in powder, but not in gun; + My thirteenth is in bell, but not in ring; + My fourteenth is in scream, but not in sing. + My whole is a noted city of Europe. + + GOLD ELSIE. + + +=BLANK WORD-SYNCOPATIONS.= + +Fill the first blank, in each sentence, with a certain word; the +second, with a word taken out of the word chosen for the first blank; +and the third with the letters of that word which remain after filling +the second blank. + + 1. On the ---- we first played ----, and then we all began to + ----. 2. While ---- on the wharf, we saw a vessel come into ----, + which made us ---- again. 3. The game of ---- I will ---- you + play, if you will show me the ---- to the fair. + + CYRIL DEANE. + + +=CHARADE.= + + My first embodies all despair; + My second fain my first would flee, + Yet, flying to my whole, full oft + Flies but to life-long misery. + Still Holy Writ doth plainly show; + My whole, though causing, cureth woe. + +M. O'B D. + + +=TRANSPOSITIONS OF PROPER NAMES.= + + 1. At ----, Fla., may be obtained ---- ---- for washing purposes. + 2. Are not the public ---- small in the State of ----? + 3. In ---- you may not see ---- ---- ----, though you certainly + will see many in Pennsylvania. + 4. Amid the mountains of ---- there is doubtless many a ---- ----. + 5. Having occasion to visit the city of ----, to my surprise I ---- + ---- except a few worn-out ---- ----. + 6. If you wish to find or to ---- ---- -trees, you need not go to----. + 7. When in ---- City I saw an old ---- ----, which was quite a relic. + 8. In the city of ---- the cooks surely know how to ---- ----. + 9. ----, my brother, ---- the falsehood by giving it a flat ----. + 10. My aunt ---- planted a rose-bush ---- ---- ---- allotted to + fruit trees. + + W. + + +=SQUARE-WORD.= + +1. Sour fruit. 2. Imaginary. 3. To immerse. 4. A large bird. 5. +Unconscious rest. + +B. + + +=ADDITIONS.= + +1. Add some liquor to a spirit, and make to fix on a stake. 2. Add +something belonging to animals to the animals themselves, and make a +lantern. 3. Add sharp to a girl's name, and make a kind of cloth. 4. +Add an era to a vegetable, and make a boy-servant. 5. Add a boy's name +to a cave, and make a foreign country. 6. Add anger to a serpent, and +make to long after. + +CYRIL DEANE. + + +=LABYRINTH.= + +[Illustration: Trace a way to the center of this labyrinth without +crossing a line.] + + * * * * * + +ANSWERS TO PUZZLES IN MAY NUMBER. + + * * * * * + +HOUR-GLASS PUZZLE.--Centrals: Greyhound. Across: Alligator. 2. +Adoring. 3. Enemy. 4. Dye. 5. H. 6. Pop. 7. Elude. 8. Evangel. 9. +Amendable. + +BLANK APOCOPES.--1. Rafters, raft. 2. Rushlight, rush. 3. Larder, +lard. 4. Scarlet, scar. + + FRAME PUZZLE.-- + + F G + R R + H E A D B A N D + + G D + + R U + + C H A P L A I N + N T + T E + + +EASY BEHEADINGS.--1. Beat, eat. 2. Candy, Andy. 3. She, he; your, +our. 4. Table, able. 5. Pink, ink. 6. Scent, cent. 7. Brain, rain. 8. +Orange, range. 9. Skate, Kate. 10. Helm, elm. 11. Crow, row. 12. Hash, +ash. 13. Bowl, owl. 14. Scare, care. 15. Brush, rush. + +EASY TRIPLE ACROSTIC.--Primals, Crow; centrals, Bear; finals, Gnat, 1. +ComBinG. 2. ReverbEratioN. 3. OmAhA. 4. WoRsT. + +HIDDEN FRENCH SENTENCE.--Ma ville de pierre,--"My city of stone," +or "My city of Peter;" _i.e._. St. "Peter's-burg." ["Pierre" means +"Peter" as well as "stone."] + +PICTORIAL ANAGRAM PROVERB .--"It is good to be merry and wise." + +THREE EASY SQUARE-WORDS.-- + + I.--P O E II.--F I R III.--L A W + O R E I R E A G E + E E L R E D W E D + + +EASY ENIGMA.--Diamond. + +REVERSIBLE DOUBLE DIAMOND AND CONCEALED WORD-SQUARE. Perpendiculars, +Revel; horizontals, Lever. Word-square: 1. Ten. 2. Eve. 3. Net. + +EASY SYNCOPATIONS.--1. Brass, bass. 2. Bread, bead. 3. Chart, cart. 4. +Clove, cove. 5. Crane, cane. 6. Farce, face. 7. Heart, hart. 8. Horse, +hose. 9. Mouse, muse. 10. Peony, pony. + +PICTORIAL TRANSPOSTION PUZZLES.--1. Entitles (ten tiles). Raja (ajar). +3. Palm (lamp). 4. Satyr (trays). 5. Causer (saucer). + +EASY SQUARE-WORD.--1. Balm. 2. Aloe. 3. Lore. 4. Meek. + +EASY DIAMOND.--1. W. 2. Nag. 3. Water. 4. Gem. 5. R. + +[For the names of those who sent answers to puzzles in the April +number, see the "Letter-Box," page 574.] + + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of St. Nicholas Magazine for Boys and +Girls, Vol. 5, Nov 1877-Nov 1878, by Various + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ST. NICHOLAS MAGAZINE *** + +***** This file should be named 16123-8.txt or 16123-8.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/1/2/16123/ + +Produced by Juliet Sutherland, Lesley Halamek and the +Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: St. Nicholas Magazine for Boys and Girls, Vol. 5, Nov 1877-Nov 1878 + Scribner's Illustrated + +Author: Various + +Editor: Mary Mapes Dodge + +Release Date: June 23, 2005 [EBook #16123] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ST. NICHOLAS MAGAZINE *** + + + + +Produced by Juliet Sutherland, Lesley Halamek and the +Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + +</pre> + + +<p class="center1"> + <span style="color: #ffffff"><a name="bravegirl">.</a></span> +<img src="images/512.jpg" width="600" alt="A brave girl." border="0" /><br /> +A BRAVE GIRL.</p> + + + <br /><br /><br /><hr /><br /><br /><br /> + + + + +<h1>ST. NICHOLAS.</h1> + + + + + <br /><br /><br /><hr /> +<h4> +VOL. V. +JUNE, 1878. + No. 8.</h4> +<h5> +[Copyright, 1878, by Scribner & Co.]</h5> + + <hr /><br /> +<p class="center2">[Transcriber's Note: The Original had no Table of Contents; <br/> +I have added one for ease of navigation.<br /> +The main Title is the Link.]</p> +<br /><br /> + <h3><u>CONTENTS</u></h3> + +<table width="100%" align="center" summary="Contents" border="0"> +<tr> +<td width="80%" valign="top"><br /> +<a href="#triumph">A TRIUMPH.</a><br /> +<span class="indentc2a">BY CELIA THAXTER.</span> +</td> +<td class="right" width="20%" valign="top"> +PAGE<br /> + 513 +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td width="80%" valign="top"> + <a href="#Saturday">ONE SATURDAY</a><br /> +<span class="indentc2a">BY SARAH WINTER KELLOGG.</span> +</td> +<td class="right" width="20%" valign="top"> +514 +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td width="80%" valign="top"> +<a href="#pickles">MRS. PETER PIPER'S PICKLES.</a><br /> +<span class="indentc2a">BY E. MÜLLER.</span> +</td> +<td class="right" width="20%" valign="top"> +519 +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td width="80%" valign="top"> +<a href="#lilacs">UNDER THE LILACS.</a> (Serial)<br /> +<span class="indentc3a">CHAPTER XIV.-SOMEBODY GETS LOST.</span><br /> +<span class="indentc3a">CHAPTER XV.-BEN'S RIDE.</span><br /> +<span class="indentc2a">BY LOUISA M. ALCOTT.</span> +</td> +<td class="right" width="20%" valign="top"> +523 +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td width="80%" valign="top"> +<a href="#Montezuma">MASTER MONTEZUMA.</a><br /> +(<i>With Illustrations copied from Mexican Hieroglyphics</i>.)<br /> +<span class="indentc2a">By C.C. HASKINS.</span> + +</td> +<td class="right" width="20%" valign="top"> +535 +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td width="80%" valign="top"> +<a href="#journey">A LONG JOURNEY.</a><br /> +<span class="indentc2a">BY JOSEPHINE POLLARD.</span> +</td> +<td class="right" width="20%" valign="top"> +540 +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td width="80%" valign="top"> +<a href="#red">THE LITTLE RED CANAL-BOAT.</a><br /> +<span class="indentc2a">BY M.A. EDWARDS.</span> +</td> +<td class="right" width="20%" valign="top"> +541 +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td width="80%" valign="top"> +<a href="#butterfly">THE BUTTERFLY CHASE.</a><br /> +<span class="indentc2a">BY ELLIS GRAY.</span> +</td> +<td class="right" width="20%" valign="top"> +548 +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td width="80%" valign="top"> +<a href="#telephone">HOW TO MAKE A TELEPHONE.</a><br /> +<span class="indentc2a">BY M.F.</span> +</td> +<td class="right" width="20%" valign="top"> +549 +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td width="80%" valign="top"> +<a href="#doll">ONLY A DOLL!</a><br /> +<span class="indentc2a">BY SARAH O. JEWETT.</span> +</td> +<td class="right" width="20%" valign="top"> +552 +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td width="80%" valign="top"> +<a href="#Kinzer">DAB KINZER: A STORY OF A GROWING BOY.</a> (Serial)<br /> +<span class="indentc3a">Chapters I, II, III, IV</span><br /> +<span class="indentc2a">BY WILLIAM O. STODDARD.</span> +</td> +<td class="right" width="20%" valign="top"> +553 +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td width="80%" valign="top"> +<a href="#Willy">HOW WILLY WOLLY WENT A-FISHING.</a><br /> +<span class="indentc2a">BY S.C. STONE.</span> +</td> +<td class="right" width="20%" valign="top"> +562 +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td width="80%" valign="top"> +<a href="#crumbs">CRUMBS FROM OLDER READING.</a><br /> +<span class="indentc2a">BY JULIA E. SARGENT.</span><br /> +<span class="indentc3a">III.--THOMAS CARLYLE.</span> +</td> +<td class="right" width="20%" valign="top"> +565 +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td width="80%" valign="top"> +<a href="#566">JACK-IN-THE-PULPIT.</a> (Letter-Box)<br /> + <span class="indentc2a">A ROPE OF EGGS.</span><br /> + <span class="indentc2a">CONVERSATION BY FISTICUFFS.</span><br /> + <span class="indentc2a">A HORSE THAT LOVED TEA.</span><br /> + <span class="indentc2a">TONGUES WHICH CARRY TEETH.</span><br /> + <span class="indentc2a">DIZZY DISTANCES.</span><br /> + <span class="indentc2a">LAND THAT INCREASES IN HEIGHT.</span><br /> + <span class="indentc2a">THE ANGERED GOOSE.</span><br /> + <span class="indentc2a">A CITY UNDER THE WATER.</span><br /> + <span class="indentc2a">REFLECTION.</span> +</td> +<td class="right" width="20%" valign="top"> +566 +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td width="80%" valign="top"> +<a href="#fiddle">"FIDDLE-DIDDLE-DEE!"</a> +</td> +<td class="right" width="20%" valign="top"> +568 +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td width="80%" valign="top"> +<a href="#Letter-Box">THE LETTER-BOX.</a> (Dear St. Nicholas)<br /> + <span class="indentc2a">A BRAVE GIRL.</span><br /> + <span class="indentc2a">LETTERS...</span><br /> + <span class="indentc2a">SOME THINGS WHICH WE EXPECT IN YEARS TO COME.</span><br /> + <span class="indentc2a">THE TRUE STORY OF "MARY'S LITTLE LAMB".</span><br /> + <span class="indentc2a">LETTERS...</span><br /> + <span class="indentc2a">ACROSTIC.</span><br /> + <span class="indentc2a">CITY CHILDREN'S COUNTRY REST.</span><br /> + <span class="indentc2a">ANSWERS TO MR. CRANCH'S POETICAL CHARADES received from...</span><br /> + <span class="indentc2a">ERRATUM.--</span><br /> + <span class="indentc2a">ANSWERS TO PUZZLES in the April number were received...</span><br /> + <span class="indentc2a">CORRECT SOLUTIONS of all the puzzles were received from...</span> +</td> +<td class="right" width="20%" valign="top"> +572 +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td width="80%" valign="top"> +<a href="#Riddle-Box">THE RIDDLE-BOX.</a><br /> + <span class="indentc2a">EASY BEHEADINGS.</span><br /> + <span class="indentc2a">ACCIDENTAL HIDINGS.</span><br /> + <span class="indentc3a">METRICAL COMPOSITIONS.</span><br /> + <span class="indentc3a">PORTIONS OF TIME.</span><br /> + <span class="indentc2a">MELANGE.</span><br /> + <span class="indentc2a">EASY CLASSICAL ACROSTIC.</span><br /> + <span class="indentc2a">ENIGMA.</span><br /> + <span class="indentc2a">ANAGRAMS.</span><br /> + <span class="indentc2a">PICTORIAL PUZZLE.</span><br /> + <span class="indentc2a">EASY DIAMOND PUZZLE.</span><br /> + <span class="indentc2a">CHARADE.</span><br /> + <span class="indentc2a">NUMERICAL PUZZLE.</span><br /> + <span class="indentc2a">FOUR-LETTER SQUARE-WORD.</span><br /> + <span class="indentc2a">EASY CROSS-WORD ENIGMA.</span><br /> + <span class="indentc2a">METAGRAM.</span><br /> + <span class="indentc2a">EASY ACROSTIC.</span><br /> + <span class="indentc2a">BLANK WORD-SYNCOPATIONS.</span><br /> + <span class="indentc2a">CHARADE.</span><br /> + <span class="indentc2a">TRANSPOSITIONS OF PROPER NAMES.</span><br /> + <span class="indentc2a">SQUARE-WORD.</span><br /> + <span class="indentc2a">ADDITIONS.</span><br /> + <span class="indentc2a">LABYRINTH.</span><br /> +</td> +<td class="right" width="20%" valign="top"> +574 +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td width="80%" valign="top"> +<a href="#answers">ANSWERS TO PUZZLES IN MAY NUMBER.</a> +</td> +<td class="right" width="20%" valign="top"> +576 +</td></tr></table> +<br /><hr /><br /><br /> + +<h3><u>LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS</u></h3> + +<table width="100%" align="center" summary="illustrations" border="0"> +<tr> +<td class="illus" width="90%" valign="top"><br /> +<a href="#bravegirl">A BRAVE GIRL.</a> +</td> +<td class="right" width="10%" valign="top"> +PAGE<br /> +<i>Frontispiece</i><br /> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="illus" width="90%" valign="top"> +<a href="#cow">"I BELIEVE SHE'S GONE DRY," SAID KIT.</a> +</td> +<td class="right" width="10%" valign="top"> +518 +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="illus" width="90%" valign="top"> +<a href="#pickles">TWO CROWS.</a> +</td> +<td class="right" width="10%" valign="top"> +519 +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="illus" width="90%" valign="top"> +<a href="#520">THEY TURNED OUT THEIR TOES SO GRACEFULLY.</a> +</td> +<td class="right" width="10%" valign="top"> +519 +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="illus" width="90%" valign="top"> +<a href="#such">TANGLED IN THE LONG GRASS.</a> +</td> +<td class="right" width="10%" valign="top"> +520 +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="illus" width="90%" valign="top"> +<a href="#time">OH, MY! HE'S GOING BACKWARDS!</a> +</td> +<td class="right" width="10%" valign="top"> +520 +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="illus" width="90%" valign="top"> +<a href="#deep">THIS IS TWICE AS DEEP AS YOU WERE IN.</a> +</td> +<td class="right" width="10%" valign="top"> +521 +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="illus" width="90%" valign="top"> +<a href="#twilight">THERE, IN THE TWILIGHT, HE SAW A LONELY FIGURE STANDING ON ONE LEG.</a> +</td> +<td class="right" width="10%" valign="top"> +521 +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="illus" width="90%" valign="top"> +<a href="#circus">AT THE CIRCUS.</a> +</td> +<td class="right" width="10%" valign="top"> +524 +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="illus" width="90%" valign="top"> +<a href="#Ben">BEN AND LITA AT THE BROOK.</a> +</td> +<td class="right" width="10%" valign="top"> +529 +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="illus" width="90%" valign="top"> +<a href="#teacher">MASTER MONTEZUMA'S PARENTS TAKE HIM TO THE PRIEST AND THE TEACHER.</a> +</td> +<td class="right" width="10%" valign="top"> +536 +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="illus" width="90%" valign="top"> +<a href="#punished">MASTER MONTEZUMA MUST BE PUNISHED.</a> +</td> +<td class="right" width="10%" valign="top"> +537 +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="illus" width="90%" valign="top"> +<a href="#fish">MASTER MONTEZUMA IS TAUGHT HOW TO FISH.</a> +</td> +<td class="right" width="10%" valign="top"> +537 +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="illus" width="90%" valign="top"> +<a href="#father">MASTER MONTEZUMA IS TALKED TO BY HIS FATHER.</a> +</td> +<td class="right" width="10%" valign="top"> +537 +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="illus" width="90%" valign="top"> +<a href="#bride">CARRYING THE BRIDE.</a> +</td> +<td class="right" width="10%" valign="top"> +538 +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="illus" width="90%" valign="top"> +<a href="#wedding">THE WEDDING OF MONTEZUMA.</a> +</td> +<td class="right" width="10%" valign="top"> +538 +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="illus" width="90%" valign="top"> +<a href="#peace">A PEACE-OFFERING IN THE YEAR ONE RABBIT.</a> +</td> +<td class="right" width="10%" valign="top"> +539 +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="illus" width="90%" valign="top"> +<a href="#grain">PROTECTING THE GRAIN FROM RATS, IN THE YEAR ONE RABBIT.</a> +</td> +<td class="right" width="10%" valign="top"> +539 +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="illus" width="90%" valign="top"> +<a href="#halls">THE EMPEROR MONTEZUMA, SEATED IN THE ROYAL HALLS.</a> +</td> +<td class="right" width="10%" valign="top"> +540 +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="illus" width="90%" valign="top"> +<a href="#Charlotte">CHARLOTTE WAS PUSHING THE BOAT ALONG, MAKING HER WAY TO THE LANDING-STAIRS.</a> +</td> +<td class="right" width="10%" valign="top"> +542 +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="illus" width="90%" valign="top"> +<a href="#fire-woman">AT THE FIRE-WOMAN'S.</a> +</td> +<td class="right" width="10%" valign="top"> +544 +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="illus" width="90%" valign="top"> +<a href="#boats">THE BOYS WITH THEIR BOATS.</a> +</td> +<td class="right" width="10%" valign="top"> +546 +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="illus" width="90%" valign="top"> +<a href="#telephone12">BELL'S TELEPHONE. Fig. 1 and Fig. 2</a> +</td> +<td class="right" width="10%" valign="top"> +550 +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="illus" width="90%" valign="top"> +<a href="#551">Fig. 3. A "CIGAR-BOX" TELEPHONE.</a> +</td> +<td class="right" width="10%" valign="top"> +551 +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="illus" width="90%" valign="top"> +<a href="#552">"POLLY, MY DOLLY! WHY DON'T YOU GROW?"</a> +</td> +<td class="right" width="10%" valign="top"> +552 +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="illus" width="90%" valign="top"> +<a href="#Dick">DAB GIVES DICK HIS OLD CLOTHES.</a> +</td> +<td class="right" width="10%" valign="top"> +556 +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="illus" width="90%" valign="top"> +<a href="#Dabney">"IS YOUR NAME DABNEY KINZER?"</a> +</td> +<td class="right" width="10%" valign="top"> +559 +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="illus" width="90%" valign="top"> +<a href="#cruise">MAKING READY FOR A CRUISE.</a> +</td> +<td class="right" width="10%" valign="top"> +561 +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="illus" width="90%" valign="top"> +<a href="#fishing">WILLY WOLLY GOING FISHING.</a> +</td> +<td class="right" width="10%" valign="top"> +562 +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="illus" width="90%" valign="top"> +<a href="#fence">WILLY WOLLY CAUGHT HIMSELF.</a> +</td> +<td class="right" width="10%" valign="top"> +563 +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="illus" width="90%" valign="top"> +<a href="#mother">MOTHER UNHOOKS WILLY WOLLY.</a> +</td> +<td class="right" width="10%" valign="top"> +564 +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="illus" width="90%" valign="top"> +<a href="#566">"JACK-IN-THE-PULPIT."</a> +</td> +<td class="right" width="10%" valign="top"> +566 +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="illus" width="90%" valign="top"> +<a href="#goose">THE ANGERED GOOSE.</a> +</td> +<td class="right" width="10%" valign="top"> +567 +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="illus" width="90%" valign="top"> +<a href="#wren">THE LITTLE BROWN WREN.</a> +</td> +<td class="right" width="10%" valign="top"> +568 +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="illus" width="90%" valign="top"> +<a href="#hen">THE LITTLE BANTAM HEN.</a> +</td> +<td class="right" width="10%" valign="top"> +568 +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="illus" width="90%" valign="top"> +<a href="#guinea">THE SPECKLED GUINEA-HEN.</a> +</td> +<td class="right" width="10%" valign="top"> +569 +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="illus" width="90%" valign="top"> +<a href="#duck">THE DUCK.</a> +</td> +<td class="right" width="10%" valign="top"> +569 +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="illus" width="90%" valign="top"> +<a href="#dog">THE DOG.</a> +</td> +<td class="right" width="10%" valign="top"> +570 +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="illus" width="90%" valign="top"> +<a href="#horse">THE HORSE.</a> +</td> +<td class="right" width="10%" valign="top"> +570 +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="illus" width="90%" valign="top"> +<a href="#all">ALL IN PROCESSION.</a> +</td> +<td class="right" width="10%" valign="top"> +571 +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="illus" width="90%" valign="top"> +<a href="#puzzle">PICTORIAL PUZZLE.</a> +</td> +<td class="right" width="10%" valign="top"> +575 +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="illus" width="90%" valign="top"> +<a href="#labyrinth">LABYRINTH.</a> +</td> +<td class="right" width="10%" valign="top"> +576 +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="illus" width="90%" valign="top"> + +</td> +<td class="right" width="10%" valign="top"> + +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="illus" width="90%" valign="top"> + +</td> +<td class="right" width="10%" valign="top"> + +</td></tr></table> +<br /><hr /><br /><br /><br /><br /> +<h2>A <a name="triumph">TRIUMPH</a>.</h2> + +<h3>BY CELIA THAXTER.</h3> + +<p class="indent"> + Little Roger up the long slope rushing<br /> + Through the rustling corn,<br /> + Showers of dewdrops from the broad leaves brushing<br /> + In the early morn,<br /><br /> + + At his sturdy little shoulder bearing<br /> + For a banner gay,<br /> + Stem of fir with one long shaving flaring<br /> + In the wind away!<br /><br /> + + Up he goes, the summer sunshine flushing<br /> + O'er him in his race,<br /> + Sweeter dawn of rosy childhood blushing<br /> + On his radiant face.<br /><br /> + + If he can but set his standard glorious<br /> + On the hill-top low,<br /> + Ere the sun climbs the clear sky victorious,<br /> + All the world aglow!<br /><br /> + + So he presses on with childish ardor,<br /> + Almost at the top!<br /> + Hasten, Roger! Does the way grow harder?<br /> + Wherefore do you stop?<br /><br /> + + From below the corn-stalks tall and slender<br /> + Comes a plaintive cry—<br /> + Turns he for an instant from the splendor<br /> + Of the crimson sky,<br /><br /> + + Wavers, then goes flying toward the hollow,<br /> + Calling loud and clear:<br /> + "Coming, Jenny! Oh, why did you follow?<br /> + Don't you cry, my dear!"<br /><br /> + + Small Janet sits weeping 'mid the daisies;<span class="page1"><a name="514">[Page 514]</a></span><br /> + "Little sister sweet,<br /> + Must you follow Roger?" Then he raises<br /> + Baby on her feet,<br /><br /> + + Guides her tiny steps with kindness tender,<br /> + Cheerfully and gay,<br /> + All his courage and his strength would lend her<br /> + Up the uneven way,<br /><br /> + + Till they front the blazing East together;<br /> + But the sun has rolled<br /> + Up the sky in the still Summer weather,<br /> + Flooding them with gold.<br /><br /> + + All forgotten is the boy's ambition,<br /> + Low the standard lies,<br /> + Still they stand, and gaze—a sweeter vision<br /> + Ne'er met mortal eyes.<br /><br /> + + That was splendid; Roger, that was glorious,<br /> + Thus to help the weak;<br /> + Better than to plant your flag victorious<br /> + On earth's highest peak!</p><br /> + +<br /><br /><br /><hr class="short" /><br /><br /><br /> + + + + +<h2>ONE <a name="Saturday">SATURDAY</a></h2> + +<h3>BY SARAH WINTER KELLOGG.</h3> + +<p> +It was an autumn day in the Indian summer +time,—that one Saturday. The Grammar Room +class of Budville were going nutting; that is, eight +of them were going,—"our set," as they styled +themselves. Besides the eight of "our set," Bob +Trotter was going along as driver, to take care +of the horses and spring wagon on arrival at the +woods, while the eight were taking care of the +nutting and other fun. Bob was fourteen and +three months, but he was well-grown. Beside, he +was very handy at all kinds of work, as he ought to +have been, considering that he had been kept at +work since his earliest recollection, to the detriment +of his schooling.</p> +<p> +It had been agreed that the boys were to pay for +the team, while the girls were to furnish the lunch. +In order to economize space, it was arranged that +all the contributions to the lunch should be sent on +Friday to Mrs. Hooks, Clara of that surname +undertaking to pack it all into one large basket.</p> +<p> +It was a trifle past seven o'clock Saturday morning +when Bob Trotter drove up to Mr. Hooks's to +take in Clara, she being the picnicker nearest his +starting point. He did not know that she was a +put off-er. She was just trimming a hat for the +ride when Bob's wagon was announced. She +hadn't begun her breakfast, though all the rest of +the family had finished the meal, while the lunch +which should have been basketed the previous +night was scattered over the house from the parlor +center-table to the wood-shed.</p> +<p> +Clara opened a window and called to Bob that +she would be ready in a minute. Then she appealed +to everybody to help her. There was a +hurly-burly, to be sure. She asked mamma to +braid her hair; little brother to bring her blue +hair-ribbon from her bureau drawer; little Lucy to +bring a basket for the prospective nuts; big brother +to get the inevitable light shawl which mamma +would be sure to make her take along. She +begged papa to butter some bread for her, and cut +her steak into mouthfuls to facilitate her breakfast, +while the maid was put to collecting the widely +scattered lunch. Mamma put baby, whom she +was feeding, off her lap—he began to scream;<span class="page1"><a name="515">[Page 515]</a></span> +little brother left his doughnut on a chair—the cat +began to eat it; little Lucy left her doll on the +floor—big brother stepped on its face, for he did +not leave his book, but tried to read as he went to +get the light shawl; papa laid down his cigar to +prepare the put-offer's breakfast—it went out; the +maid dropped the broom—the wind blew the trash +from the dust-pan over the swept floor. Clara +continued to trim the hat. As she was putting in +the last pin, mamma reached the tip end of the +hair, and called for the ribbon to tie the braid. +"Here 'tis," said little brother. "Mercy!" cried +Clara, "he's got my new blue sash, stringing it +along through all the dust. Goose! do you think +I could wear that great long wide thing on my +hair?" Little brother said "Scat!" and rushed to +the rescue of his doughnut, while Lucy came in +dragging the clothes-basket, and big brother entered +with mamma's black lace shawl.</p> +<p> +"Well, you told me to get a light one," he +replied to Clara's impatient remonstrance, while +Lucy whimpered that they wouldn't have enough +nuts if the clothes-basket wasn't taken along.</p> +<p> +However, when Bob Trotter had secured Clara +Hooks, the other girls were quickly picked up, and +so were the four boys, for Bob was brisk and so +were his horses. Dick Hart was the last called +for. He had been ready since quarter past six, +and with his forehandedness had worried his friends +as effectually as the put-offer had hers. When +the wagon at last appeared with its load of fun and +laughter, he felt too ill-humored to return the +merry greetings.</p> +<p> +"A pretty time to be coming around!" he +grumbled, climbing to his seat. "I've been waiting +three hours."</p> +<p> +"You houghtn't to 'ave begun to wait so hearly," +said Bob, who had some peculiarities of pronunciation +derived from his English parentage.</p> +<p> +"It would be better for you to keep quiet," +Dick retorted. "You ought to have your wages +cut, coming around here after nine o'clock. We +ought to be out to the woods this minute."</p> +<p> +"'Taint no fault of mine that we haint," said +Bob, touching up his horses.</p> +<p> +"Whose fault is it, if it isn't yours?" Dick asked.</p> +<p> +Clara Hooks was blushing.</p> +<p> +"Let the sparrer tell who killed Cock Robin," +was Bob's enigmatical reply.</p> +<p> +"What's he talking about?" said Julius Zink.</p> +<p> +"I dunno, and he don't either," replied Dick.</p> +<p> +"He doesn't know that or anything else," said +Sarah Ketchum.</p> +<p> +It was not possible for Sarah to hear a dispute +and not become an open partisan.</p> +<p> +"I know a lady when I see 'er," said Bob.</p> +<p> +"You don't," said Dick, warmly. "You can't +parse horse. I heard you try at school once."</p> +<p> +"I can curry him," said Bob.</p> +<p> +"You said horse was an article."</p> +<p> +"So he is, and a very useful harticle."</p> +<p> +One of the girls nudged her neighbor, and in a +loud whisper intimated her opinion that Bob was +getting the better of Dick. At this Dick grew +warmer and more boisterous, maintaining that the +boys ought not to pay Bob the stipulated price +since they were so late in starting.</p> +<p> +"Hif folks haint ready I can't 'elp it," said Bob.</p> +<p> +"Who wasn't ready?" demanded Constance +Faber. "You didn't wait for me, I know."</p> +<p> +"And you didn't wait for me or Mat Snead," +added Sarah Ketchum, "because we walked down +to meet the wagon."</p> +<p> +Clara Hooks's face had grown redder and redder +during the investigation; but if Clara <i>was</i> a put-offer, +she was not a coward or a sneak.</p> +<p> +"He waited for me," she now said, "but I think +it's mean to tell it wherever he goes."</p> +<p> +"I haint told it nowheres."</p> +<p> +"You just the same as told; you hinted."</p> +<p> +"Wouldn't 'ave 'inted ef they hadn't kept +slappin' at me," was Bob's defense, which did not +go far toward soothing the mortified Clara.</p> +<p> +Not all of this party were pert talkers. Two +were modest: Valentine Duke and Mat Snead. +These sat together, forming what the others called +the Quaker settlement, from the silence which prevailed +in it. The silence was now broken by a +remark from Valentine Duke irrelevant to any +preceding.</p> +<p> +"Nuts are plentier at Hawley's Grove than at Crow +Roost," he jerked, out, and then locked up again.</p> +<p> +"Say we go there, then," said Kit Pott.</p> +<p> +"Let's take the vote on it. Those in favor of +Hawley's say aye."</p> +<p> +The ayes came storming out, as though each +was bound to be the first and loudest.</p> +<p> +"Contrary, no," continued the self-made president; +and Bob Trotter voted solidly "No!"</p> +<p> +"We didn't ask you to vote," said Dick, returning +to his quarrel.</p> +<p> +Dick was constitutionally and habitually pugnacious, +but he had such a cordial way of forgiving +everybody he injured that people couldn't stay +mad with him. Indeed, he was quite a favorite.</p> +<p> +"I'm the other side of the 'ouse," Bob answered +Dick. "You can't carry this hidee through without +my 'elp."</p> +<p> +"We hired you to take us to the woods."</p> +<p> +"You 'ired me and my wagin and them harticles—whoa!" +(Bob's "harticles" stopped)—"to take +you to Crow Roost. You didn't 'ire me for 'Awley's, +and I haint goin' ther' without a new contract."</p> +<p> +"What difference is it to you where we go?"<span class="page1"><a name="516">[Page 516]</a></span> +Dick demanded. "You belong to us for the day."</p> +<p> +"Four miles further and back,—height miles +makes a difference to the harticles."</p> +<p> +Murmurs of disapproval rendered Dick bold.</p> +<p> +"Suppose we say you've <i>got</i> to take us to Hawley's," +he said, warmly.</p> +<p> +"Suppose you do," said Bob, coolly.</p> +<p> +"I'd like to know what you'd say about it," +said Dick, warmly.</p> +<p> +"Say it and I'll let you know," said Bob, coolly,—so +very coolly that Dick was cooled.</p> +<p> +A timely prudence enforced a momentary silence. +He forebore taking a position he might not be able +to hold. "Say, boys, shall we <i>make</i> him take us +to the grove?"</p> +<p> +Bob smiled. Val Duke smiled, too, in his +unobtrusive way, and suggested modestly, "We +ought to pay extra for extra work."</p> +<p> +"Pay him another quarter and be done with it," +said Kit Pott.</p> +<p> +Beside being good-natured, Kit didn't enjoy the +stopping there in the middle of the road.</p> +<p> +"It's mighty easy to pay out other people's +money," sneered Dick, resenting it that Kit seemed +going over to the enemy.</p> +<p> +Kit's face was aflame. His father had refused +him any money to contribute toward the picnic +expenses, and here was Dick taunting him with it +before all the girls.</p> +<p> +"You boys teased me to come along because +you didn't know where to find the nuts," said Kit.</p> +<p> +The girls began to nudge each other, making +whimpered explanations and commentaries, agreeing +that is was mean in Dick to mind Kit, and Clara +Hooks spoke up boldly;</p> +<p> +"I wanted Kit to come along because he's +pleasant and isn't forever quarreling."</p> +<p> +"Oh!" Dick sneered more moderately, "we all +know you like Kit Pott. You and he had better +get hitched; then, you'd be pot-hooks."</p> +<p> +This set everybody to laughing, even Dirk's adversary, +Bob Trotter.</p> +<p> +"Pretty bright!" said Julius Zink.</p> +<p> +"Bright, but not pretty," said Mat Snead, blushing +at the sound of her voice.</p> +<p> +"Hurrah! Mat's waked up," said Julius.</p> +<p> +"It's the first time she's spoken since we +started," said Sarah Ketchum.</p> +<p> +"This isn't the first time you've spoken," Mat +quietly retorted, blushing over again.</p> +<p> +Everybody laughed again, even Sarah Ketchum.</p> +<p> +"Sarah always puts in her oar when there's any +water," said Constance Faber.</p> +<p> +"I want to know how long we're to sit here, +standing in the middle of the road," said Julius.</p> +<p> +Again everybody laughed. When grammar-school +boys and girls are on a picnic, a thing +needn't be very witty or very funny to make them +laugh. From the ease with which this party +exploded into laughter, it may be perceived that in +spite of the high words and the pop-gun firing, +there was no deep-seated ill-humor among them.</p> +<p> +"To Crow Roost and be done with it!" said Dick.</p> +<p> +"All right," assented several voices.</p> +<p> +"Crow Roost, Bob, by the lightning express," +said Dick, with enthusiasm.</p> +<p> +"But, as you were so particular," said Sarah to +Bob, "we're going to be, too. We aint going to +give you any lunch unless you pay for it."</p> +<p> +"Not a mouthful," said Clara.</p> +<p> +"Not even a crumb," said Constance.</p> +<p> +Nobody saw any dismay in Bob's face.</p> +<p> +I don't intend to tell you about all the sayings +and all the laughter of those boys and girls on +their way to Crow Roost. They wouldn't like to +have me, and you wouldn't. Bob Trotter ran +over a good many grubs and way-side stumps, and +at every jolt Constance screamed, and Dick scolded +and then laughed. Mat Snead spoke three words. +She and Valentine had been sitting as though in +profound meditation for some forty minutes, when +he said: "Quite a ride!"</p> +<p> +"Very; no, quite," she answered, in confusion.</p> +<p> +Sarah Ketchum said everything that Mat didn't +say. She was Mat's counterpart.</p> +<p> +All grew enthusiastic as they approached the +woods, and when the wagon stopped they poured +over the side in an excited way.</p> +<p> +"What shall we do with the lunch-basket?"</p> +<p> +"Leave it in the wagon," said Sarah Ketchum, +whose counsel, Kit said, was as free as the waters +of the school pump.</p> +<p> +Clara objected to leaving it. Bob would eat +everything up. "Let's take it along."</p> +<p> +"Why, no," said Julius.</p> +<p> +He was the largest of the boys, and, according +to the knightly code, he remembered the carrying +of the basket would devolve upon him.</p> +<p> +"Yes, we must carry it along," Sarah Ketchum +insisted. "Bob sha'n't have a chance at that +basket if I have to carry it around on my back."</p> +<p> +Constance, too, said, "Take it along."</p> +<p> +"It's easy enough for you girls to insist on +having the basket toted around," said Dick, "because +girls can't carry anything when there are +boys along; but suppose you were a poor little +fellow like Jule."</p> +<p> +"I wont have to climb the trees with it on my +back, will I?" said Julius. "I'll tell you," he continued, +lowering his tone—Bob had heard all the +preceding remarks—"we'll hang our basket on a +hickory limb. It will be safe from hogs, and the +leaves will hide it from Bob."</p> +<p> +This proposition was approved, and the basket<span class="page1"><a name="517">[Page 517]</a></span> +was carried off a short distance and slyly swung +into a sapling. Then the eight went scurrying +through the woods, leaving Bob with the horses. +Wherever they saw a lemon-tinted tree-top against +the sky or crowded into one of those fine autumn +bouquets a clump of trees can make, there rushed +a squad of boys, each with his basket, followed by +a squad of girls, each with her basket.</p> +<p> +But in a very short time the girls were tired and +the boys hungry. All agreed to go back to the +lunch. So back they hurried, the nuts rolling +about over the bottoms of the baskets. Julius had +the most nuts; he had eleven. Mat had the +smallest number; she had one.</p> + +<p> +"I hope you girls brought along lots of goodies," +said Dick. "Seems to me I never was so hungry +in my life."</p> +<p> +"I believe boys are always hungry," said Sarah +Ketchum.</p> +<p> +Val Duke was leading the party. He got along +faster than the others, because he wasn't turning +around every minute to say something. He made +an electrifying announcement:</p> +<p> +"A cow's in the basket!"</p> +<p> +"Gee-whiz!" said Dick, rushing at the cow. +"Thunder!" said Julius, and he gathered a handful +of dried leaves and hurled them at the beast. +Kit said "Ruination!" and threw his cap. Clara +said "Begone!" and flapped her handkerchief in +a scaring way. Sarah Ketchum said, "Shew! +Scat!" and pitched a small tree-top. It hit Dick +and Valentine. Constance said "Wretch!" and +didn't throw anything. Mat didn't say anything +and threw her hickory-nut. Val threw his basket, +and hung it on the cow's horn. She shook it off +walked away a few yards, then turned and stared +at the party.</p> +<p> +"Lunch is gone, every smitch of it!" said Kit.</p> +<p> +"Hope it'll kill her dead!" said Sarah Ketchum.</p> +<p> +"We'd better have left it in the wagon. Bob +couldn't have eaten it all," said Clara.</p> +<p> +"I wish Jule had taken it along," said Dick.</p> +<p> +"I wish Dick had taken it along," said Julius.</p> +<p> +"But what're we going to do?" said Constance.</p> +<p> +"We might buy something if anybody lived +about here."</p> +<p> +"There isn't any money."</p> +<p> +"Dick might give his note, with the rest of us +as indorsers," said Julius.</p> +<p> +"We might play tramps and beg something."<span class="page1"><a name="518">[Page 518]</a></span></p> +<p> +"But nobody lives around here."</p> +<p> +"Hurrah!" said Dick, who had been prowling +about among the slain. "Here's a biscuit, and +here's a half loaf of bread."</p> +<p> +"But they're all mussed and dirty," said Sarah.</p> +<p> +"You might pare them," Mat suggested.</p> +<p> +"Yes, peel them like potatoes," said Julius.</p> +<p> +"But what are these among so many? The +days of miracles are past."</p> +<p> +"What shall we do?" said one and another.</p> +<p> +"Milk the cow," said Mat.</p> +<p> +Boys and girls clapped their hands with enthusiasm, +and cried "Splendid!" "Capital!" etc.</p> +<p> +"I'll milk her," said Dick. "Hand me that +cup. I'm obliged to the cow for not eating it."</p> +<p> +The cow happened to be a gentle animal, so she +did not run away at Dick's approach, yet she +seemed determined that he should not get into +milking position. She kept her broad, white-starred +face toward him, and her large, liquid eyes +on his, turning, turning, turning, as he tried over +and over to approach her flanks, while the others +stood watching in mute expectancy.</p> +<p> +"Give her some feed," said Mat.</p> +<p> +"Feed! I shouldn't think she could bear the +sight of anything more after all that lunch," said +Dick. "Beside, there isn't any feed about here."</p> +<p> +Somebody suggested that Bob Trotter had +brought some hay and corn for his horses. Dick +proposed that Julius should go for some. Julius +proposed that Dick should go. Valentine offered +to bring it, and brought it—some corn in a basket.</p> +<p> +"Suke! Suke, Bossy! Suke, Bossy! Suke!" +Dick yelled as though the cow had been two +hundred feet off instead of ten. He held out the +basket. She came forward, sniffed at the corn, +threw up her lip and took a bite. Dick set the +basket under her nose and hastened to put himself +in milking position. But that was the end of it. +He could not milk a drop.</p> +<p> +"I can't get the hang of the thing," he said.</p> +<p> +"Let me try," said Kit.</p> +<p> +Dick gave way, and Kit pulled and squeezed +and tugged and twisted, while the others shouted +with <a name="cow">laughter</a>.</p> +<p class="center1"> +<img src="images/010.jpg" width="600" alt="'I believe she's gone dry,' said Kit." border="0" /> +'I BELIEVE SHE'S GONE DRY,' SAID KIT.</p> +<p> +"I believe she's gone dry," said Kit, very red in +the face. At this the laughers laughed anew.</p> +<p> +"Some of you who are so good at laughing had +better try."</p> +<p> +Kit set the cup on a stump and retired.</p> +<p> +Sarah Ketchum tried to persuade everybody +else to try, but the other boys were afraid of failure +and the girls were afraid of the cow. Sarah said +if somebody would hold the animal's head so that +it couldn't hook, she'd milk—she knew she could. +But nobody offered to take the cow by the horns; +so everything came to a stand-still except Sarah's +talking and the cow's eating. Then Bob Trotter +came in sight, all his pockets standing out with +nuts. They called him. Sarah Ketchum explained +the situation and asked him if he could milk.</p> +<p> +"I do the milkin' at 'ome," Bob replied.</p> +<p> +"Wont you please milk this cow for us? We +don't know how, and we want the milk for dinner."</p> +<p> +There came a comical look into Bob's face, but +he said nothing. The eight knew what his thoughts +must be.</p> +<p> +"We oughtn't to have said that you couldn't +have any of our lunch," said Sarah Ketchum.</p> +<p> +"We didn't really mean it," said Clara. +"When lunch-time came we would have given you +lots of good things."</p> +<p> +"That's so," said Dick. "Sarah told us an +hour ago that she meant to give you her snow-ball +cake because she felt compuncted."</p> +<p> +By this time Bob had approached the cow. He +spoke some kind words close to her broad ear, and +gently stroked her back and flanks. Then he +set to work in the proper way, forcing the milk +in streams into the cup, the boys watching with +admiration Bob's ease and expertness, Dick wondering +why he couldn't do what seemed so easy. +In a few seconds the cup was filled.</p> +<p> +"Now, what're you going to do?" said Bob. +"This wont be a taste around."</p> +<p> +"You might milk into our hats," said Julius.</p> +<p> +"I've got a thimble in my pocket," said Sarah +Ketchum.</p> +<p> +"Do stop your nonsense," said Constance; "it's +a very serious question—a life and death matter. +We're a company of Crusoes."</p> +<p> +But the boys couldn't stop their nonsense immediately. +Dick remarked that if the cow had not +licked out the jelly-bowl and then kicked it to +pieces it might have been utilized. Then some one +remembered a tin water-pail at the wagon. This +was brought, and Bob soon had it two-thirds filled +with milk. Then the question arose as to how +they were all to be served with just that quart-cup +and two spoons. They were to take turns, two +eating at a time.</p> +<p> +"I don't want to eat with Jule," Dick said. +"He eats too fast."</p> +<p> +The young people paired off, leaving out Bob. +Then they all looked at him in a shame-faced, +apologetic way.</p> +<p> +"You needn't mind me," said Bob, interpreting +their glances. "I don't want to heat with none of +you. I've got some wittals down to the wagon."</p> +<p> +"Why, what have you got?" said Sarah Ketchum. +She felt cheap, and so did the others.</p> +<p> +"Some boiled heggs and some happles and +some raw turnups," said Bob.</p> +<p> +Eight mouths watered at this catalogue. Sarah <span class="page1"><a name="519">[Page 519]</a></span> +Ketchum whispered:</p><br /> + +<p class="indent"> +"For a generous slice of turnip, +I'd lay me down and die."</p><br /> + +<p> +"I don't keer for nothing but a hegg and a +happle, myself," said Bob. "May be you folks +would heat the hother things. There's a good lot +of happles."</p> +<p> +The eight protested that they could do with the +milk and bread, but urged the milk on Bob.</p> +<p> +"No, I thank you," he said.</p> +<p> +"He's mad at us yet," Mat whispered.</p> +<p> +"Look here," said Sarah Ketchum to Bob, "if +you don't eat some of this milk, none of us will. +We'll give it to the cow."</p> +<p> +"No, we won't do that," Julius said: "we'll +hold you and make you drink it. If you have +more apples than you wish, we'll be glad of some; +but we aren't going to take them unless you'll take +your share of the milk."</p> +<p> +"And we'll get mad at you again," said Clara.</p> +<p> +"I'll drink hall the milk necessary to a make-hup," +said Bob.</p> +<p> +When the lunch was eaten, Mat said she didn't +think they ought to have milked the cow. The +folks would be so disappointed when they came to +milk her at night. May be a lot of poor children +were depending on the milking for their supper. +Val, too, showed that his conscience was disturbed.</p> +<p> +"You needn't worry," said Dick. "They'll +get this milk back from the lunch she stole."</p> +<p> +"But they couldn't help her stealing."</p> +<p> +"And I couldn't help milking her," said Dick.</p> +<p> +At this there was a burst of laughter. Then +Mat wrote on a scrap of paper: <span style="font-size:0.9em; font-weight:bold">"This cow has +been milked to save some boys and girls from +starvation. The owner can get pay for the milk by +calling at Mr. Snead's, Poplar street, Budville."</span></p> +<p> +"Who'll tie it on her tail?" asked Mat.</p> +<p> +"I will," said Val, promptly, glad to ease his +conscience.</p> +<p> +And this he did with a piece of blue ribbon from +Mat Snead's hat.</p> + +<br /><br /><br /><hr class="short" /><br /><br /><br /> + + + + +<h2>MRS. PETER PIPER'S <a name="pickles">PICKLES</a>.</h2> + +<h3>BY E. MÜLLER.</h3> + +<img src="images/full0009-1.jpg" width="144" height="192" alt="Two crows" border="0" align="left" hspace="2" /> + +<p><br /> +HERE'S nothing in that +bush," said one old crow +to another old crow, as +they flew slowly along +the beach.</p> +<p> +"No, nothing worth +looking at," answered +the other old crow, and +then they alighted on a +dead tree and complained +that the egg +season was over.</p> +<p> +That was because they were fond of sandpipers' +eggs, and there were none in that bush. No eggs +were there, to be sure, but there sat Mrs. Peter +Sandpiper, talking to two fine young sandpipers, +just hatched.</p> +<p> +"Nothing worth looking at!" said she, indignantly. +"Well, anything but a crow would have +more sense! Nothing in this bush, indeed! Pe-tweet, +pe-tweet!"</p> + +<p> +And truly she might well be angry at any one +snubbing those young ones of hers. Their eyes +were so bright, their legs were so slim, and their +beaks so sharp that it was delightful to see them. +And they turned out their toes so gracefully that, +the first time they went to the sea to bathe, everyone +said Mrs. Peter Sandpiper had reason to be +proud of her children. But just as soon as they +could run they got into all sorts of troubles, and<span class="page1"><a name="520">[Page 520]</a></span> +vexed Mrs. Sandpiper out of her wits.</p> + +<p class="center1"> +<img src="images/015a.png" width="600" alt="They turned out their toes so gracefully." border="0" /><br /><br />"THEY TURNED OUT THEIR TOES SO GRACEFULLY."<br /><br /></p> + + +<p> +"Such a pair of young pickles I never hatched +before!" said she to Mrs. Kingfisher, who came to +gossip one day.</p> +<p> +"Well, well, my dear," said Mrs. Kingfisher, +"boys will be boys; by the time they are grown +up they will be all right. Now, my dear Pinlegs +was just <a name="such">such</a>—"</p> + +<div class="figright" style="295px"> +<img src="images/014b.png" width="295" alt="Tangled in the long grass." /><br />TANGLED IN THE LONG GRASS</div> + + +<p> +But Mrs. Sandpiper had to fly off, to see what +Pipsy Sandpiper was doing, and keep Nipsy Sandpiper +from swallowing a June beetle twice too +big for him. They were great trials. They +were always eating the wrong kind of bugs, and +having indigestion and headaches. They were +forever getting their legs tangled up in long wet +grass, and screaming for Mrs. Peter Sandpiper to +come help them out, and at night they chirped +in their sleep and disturbed Mrs. Sandpiper dreadfully +by kicking each other. At last she said she +could stand it no longer; they must take care of +themselves. So she cried "Pe-tweet, good-by," +and then she flew away, leaving Pipsy and Nipsy +alone by the sea to take care of themselves.</p> +<span class="page1"><a name="521">[Page 521]</a></span> + +<p> +It was quite a trouble at first, for Mamma Sandpiper +had always helped them to bugs and +worms, one apiece, turn about, so all was fair. +But now Pipsy always wanted the best of everything, +and Nipsy, being good tempered, had to +eat what his brother left. One day bugs were +very scarce, and both little Sandpipers were so +hungry that they could have eaten a whole starfish—if +he had come out of his shelter. Suddenly +Nipsy, who was a trifle near sighted, said he saw a +large beetle coming along the beach. They ran +quickly to meet it. But what in the world was it! +It had legs; oh, such legs! They were larger +than Pipsy's and Nipsy's put together. Its back +was like a huge shell, and its eyes were dreadful. +The little sandpipers looked at each other in terror.</p> + +<p> +But a mild little voice from the creature relieved <span class="page1"><a name="522">[Page 522]</a></span> +them.</p> +<p> +"I beg your pardon," said he. "Let me introduce +myself. C. Crab, Esq., of Oyster Bay."</p> +<p> +"Oh, ah! Indeed!" said Pipsy. "Glad to +know you, I'm sure."</p> +<p> +"I think I must have lost my way," said C. +Crab, Esq. "Could you oblige me by telling me +if you see any boys near?"</p> +<p> +"Any boys?" said Pipsy and Nipsy, looking at +each other. "Never saw one in my life. What +do they look like? Have they many legs? Are +they fat? Are they good to eat?" asked both the +hungry little sandpipers.</p> +<p> +"They are creatures," said the crab, with a +groan,—"creatures a thousand times larger than +we are. They have strings. They tie up legs +and pull. They throw stones. If you ever see a +boy, run for your life."</p> +<p> +"Good gracious me!" cried both the little sandpipers. +"How very dreadful!"</p> +<p> +But there were no boys in sight; so C. Crab +grew sociable, and offered to show them a place +where bugs were plenty. "Just get on my back," +said he, "and I'll have you there in no <a name="time">time</a>."</p> + +<p class="center1"> +<img src="images/015b.png" width="600" alt="Oh, my! He's going backwards!" border="0" /><br /><br /> +"OH, MY! HE'S GOING BACKWARDS!"<br /><br /></p> +<p> +So they got on his back. It was very wet and +slippery, but they held on with their toes, while C. +Crab gave himself a heave and started.</p> + +<p> +"Oh, my!" exclaimed Nipsy. "He's going +backward!"</p> + +<p> +"He actually is!" cried Pipsy. "At this rate +we'll get there day before yesterday, wont we?"</p> +<p> +"Surely," said Nipsy. "How very horrid of him +when we are so hungry! What a slow coach!"</p> +<p> +"Let's jump off quick, or he'll take us clear into +last week!" cried the silly sandpipers, and then +they skipped off and ran down the beach in the +opposite direction. C. Crab called to them, but it +was no use, so he went on his way. But as for the +sandpipers, they went on getting into trouble. +The day was hot, and after they had run some +distance, they stepped into the water to cool off. +Nipsy stepped in first, but the water was up to his +breast and it frightened him, so he stepped out +again.</p> +<p> +"Pooh!" said Pipsy. "You're afraid, YOU are! +Look at me!"</p> +<p> +Then he jumped in, and only his head stuck +<a name="deep">out</a>.</p> +<p class="center1"> +<img src="images/016a.png" width="600" alt="Twice as deep as you were in." border="0" /><br /><br />"THIS IS TWICE AS DEEP AS YOU WERE IN."<br /><br /></p> + +<p> +"This is twice as deep as you were in!" he +cried, turning up his bill, and rolling his eyes.</p> +<p> +"You're sitting down, <i>you</i> are!" cried Nipsy, +in scorn.</p> +<p> +"I'm not," said Pipsy.</p> +<p> +"You are. I can see your toes all doubled up, +even if the water <i>is</i> muddy," said Nipsy, and rushed +at him to punish him for bragging.</p> +<p> +They both rolled under the water, and then out +on the shore, dripping wet and very angry with +each other.</p> +<p> +Pipsy went home to the old bush and was very +miserable. He wanted something to eat, and did +not know where to find anything. Nipsy went +high up the beach, and found a lot of young +hedge-crickets. But he did not half enjoy them. +They were fat and smooth, and he was hungry, +but crickets had no flavor without Pipsy to help eat +them. But he was angry at him yet.</p> +<p> +"He must come to me," he said, sternly, to the +cricket he was <a name="twilight">eating</a>.</p> +<p class="center1"> +<img src="images/016b.png" width="600" alt="There, in the twilight, he saw a lonely figure standing on one leg." border="0" /><br /><br />"THERE, IN THE TWILIGHT, HE SAW A LONELY FIGURE STANDING ON ONE LEG." +<br /><br /></p> +<p> +The cricket said nothing, being half-way down +his throat, and pretty soon Nipsy could stand his +feelings no longer. Catching up the largest, +smoothest, softest cricket, he ran down to the shore +as fast as his legs could carry him. There, in the +twilight, he saw a lonely figure standing on one leg.</p> +<p> +"Pipsy!" he cried.</p> +<p> +"Nipsy!" cried Pipsy.</p> +<p> +And they flew to each other.</p> +<p> +"Here's a glorious fat cricket for you."</p> +<p> +"Forgive me, Nipsy," said his brother.</p> +<p> +And then they were happy.</p><br /><br /> + +<p class="center"> +<img src="images/full0012-1.jpg" width="331" height="146" alt="blossoms" border="0" /></p> + +<br /><br /><hr class="short" /><br /><br /><br /> + + <span class="page1"><a name="523">[Page 523]</a></span> + +<h2>UNDER THE <a name="lilacs">LILACS</a>.</h2> + +<h3>BY LOUISA M. ALCOTT.</h3> + + + + + +<h4>CHAPTER XIV.</h4> + +<h4>SOMEBODY GETS LOST.</h4> + +<p> +Putting all care behind them, the young folks +ran down the hill, with a very lively dog gamboling +beside them, and took a delightfully tantalizing +survey of the external charms of the big tent. But +people were beginning to go in, and it was impossible +to delay when they came round to the +entrance.</p> +<p> +Ben felt that now "his foot was on his native +heath," and the superb air of indifference with +which he threw down his dollar at the ticket-office, +carelessly swept up the change, and strolled into +the tent with his hands in his pockets, was so +impressive that even big Sam repressed his excitement +and meekly followed their leader, as he led +them from cage to cage, doing the honors as if he +owned the whole concern. Bab held tight to the +tail of his jacket, staring about her with round +eyes, and listening with little gasps of astonishment +or delight to the roaring of lions, the snarling of +tigers, the chatter of the monkeys, the groaning +of camels, and the music of the very brass band +shut up in a red bin.</p> +<p> +Five elephants were tossing their hay about in +the middle of the menagerie, and Billy's legs shook +under him as he looked up at the big beasts whose +long noses and small, sagacious eyes filled him +with awe. Sam was so tickled by the droll monkeys +that they left him before the cage and went on to +see the zebra, "striped just like Ma's muslin gown," +Bab declared. But the next minute she forgot all +about him in her raptures over the ponies and their +tiny colts, especially one mite of a thing who lay +asleep on the hay, such a miniature copy of its +little mouse-colored mamma that one could hardly +believe it was alive.</p> +<p> +"Oh, Ben, I <i>must</i> feel of it!—the cunning baby +horse!" and down went Bab inside the rope to pat +and admire the pretty creature, while its mother +smelt suspiciously at the brown hat, and baby lazily +opened one eye to see what was going on.</p> +<p> +"Come out of that, it isn't allowed!" commanded +Ben, longing to do the same thing, but +mindful of the proprieties and his own dignity.</p> +<p> +Bab reluctantly tore herself away to find consolation +in watching the young lions, who looked so +like big puppies, and the tigers washing their faces +just as puss did.</p> +<p> +"If I stroked 'em, wouldn't they purr?" she +asked, bent on enjoying herself, while Ben held her +skirts lest she should try the experiment.</p> +<p> +"You'd better not go to patting them, or you'll +get your hands clawed up. Tigers do purr like +fun when they are happy, but these fellers never +are, and you'll only see 'em spit and snarl," said +Ben, leading the way to the humpy camels, who +were peacefully chewing their cud and longing for +the desert, with a dreamy, far-away look in their +mournful eyes.</p> +<p> +Here, leaning on the rope, and scientifically chewing +a straw while he talked, Ben played showman +to his heart's content till the neigh of a horse from +the circus tent beyond reminded him of the joys +to come.</p> +<p> +"We'd better hurry along and get good seats +before folks begin to crowd. I want to sit near the +curtain and see if any of Smithers's lot are 'round."</p> +<p> +"I aint going way off there; you can't see half +so well, and that big drum makes such a noise you +can't hear yourself think," said Sam, who had +rejoined them.</p> +<p> +So they settled in good places where they could +see and hear all that went on in the ring and still +catch glimpses of white horses, bright colors, and the +glitter of helmets beyond the dingy red curtains. +Ben treated Bab to peanuts and pop-corn like an +indulgent parent, and she murmured protestations +of undying gratitude with her mouth full, as she sat +blissfully between him and the congenial Billy.</p> +<p> +Sancho, meantime, had been much excited by +the familiar sights and sounds, and now was greatly +exercised in his doggish mind at the unusual proceeding +of his master; for he was sure that they +ought to be within there, putting on their costumes, +ready to take their turn. He looked anxiously at +Ben, sniffed disdainfully at the strap as if to remind +him that a scarlet ribbon ought to take its place, +and poked peanut shells about with his paw as if +searching for the letters with which to spell his +famous name.</p> +<p> +"I know, old boy, I know; but it can't be done. +We've quit the business and must just look on. +No larks for us this time, Sanch, so keep quiet and +behave," whispered Ben, tucking the dog away +under the seat with a sympathetic cuddle of the +curly head that peeped out from between his feet.</p> +<p> +"He wants to go and cut up, don't he?" said +Billy, "and so do you, I guess. Wish you were +going to. Wouldn't it be fun to see Ben showing +off in there?"</p> +<p> +"I'd be afraid to have him go up on a pile of<span class="page1"><a name="524">[Page 524]</a></span> +elephants and jump through hoops like these folks," +answered Bab, poring over her pictured play-bill +with unabated relish.</p> +<p> +"Done it a hundred times, and I'd just like to +show you what I can do. They don't seem to have +any boys in this lot; shouldn't wonder if they'd +take me if I asked 'em," said Ben, moving uneasily +on his seat and casting wistful glances toward the +inner tent where he knew he would feel more at +home than in his present <a name="circus">place</a>.</p> +<p class="center1"> +<img src="images/102.jpg" width="600" alt="At the circus" border="0" /><br /><br /> +"AT THE CIRCUS"</p> +<p> +"I heard some men say that it's against the law +to have small boys now; it's so dangerous and not +good for them, this kind of thing. If that's so, +you're done for. Ben," observed Sam, with his most +grown-up air, remembering Ben's remarks on "fat +boys."</p> +<p> +"Don't believe a word of it, and Sanch and I +could go this minute and get taken on, I'll bet. +We are a valuable couple, and I could prove it +if I chose to," began Ben, getting excited and +boastful.</p> +<p> +"Oh, see, they're coming!—gold carriages and +lovely horses, and flags and elephants, and everything!" +cried Bab, giving a clutch at Ben's arm +as the opening procession appeared headed by the +band, tooting and banging till their faces were as +red as their uniforms.</p> +<p> +Round and round they went till every one had +seen their fill, then the riders alone were left caracoling +about the ring with feathers flying, horses +prancing, and performers looking as tired and +indifferent as if they would all like to go to sleep +then and there.</p> +<p> +"How splendid!" sighed Bab, as they went +dashing out, to tumble off almost before the horses +stopped.</p> +<p> +"That's nothing! You wait till you see the bare-back +riding and the 'acrobatic exercises,'" said Ben, +quoting from the play-bill, with the air of one who +knew all about the feats to come, and could never +be surprised any more.</p> +<p> +"What are 'crowbackic exercises?'" asked +Billy, thirsting for information.</p> +<p> +"Leaping and climbing and tumbling; you'll +see—George! what a stunning horse!" and +Ben forgot everything else to feast his eyes on the +handsome creature who now came pacing in to +dance, upset and replace chairs, kneel, bow, and +perform many wonderful or graceful feats, ending +with a swift gallop while the rider sat in a chair +on its back fanning himself, with his legs crossed, +as comfortably as you please.</p> +<p> +"That, now, is something like," and Ben's eyes +shone with admiration and envy as the pair vanished, +and the pink and silver acrobats came leaping into +the ring.</p> +<p> +The boys were especially interested in this part, +and well they might be; for strength and agility +are manly attributes which lads appreciate, and +these lively fellows flew about like India rubber +balls, each trying to outdo the other, till the leader +of the acrobats capped the climax by turning a +double somersault over five elephants standing side +by side.</p> +<p> +"There, sir, how's that for a jump?" asked +Ben, rubbing his hands with satisfaction as his +friends clapped till their palms tingled.</p> +<p> +"We'll rig up a spring-board and try it," said +Billy, fired with emulation.</p> +<p> +"Where'll you get your elephants?" asked Sam,<span class="page1"><a name="525">[Page 525]</a></span> +scornfully, for gymnastics were not in his line.</p> +<p> +"You'll do for one," retorted Ben, and Billy and +Bab joined in his laugh so heartily that a rough-looking +man who sat behind them, hearing all they +said, pronounced them a "jolly set," and kept his +eye on Sancho, who now showed signs of insubordination.</p> +<p> +"Hullo, that wasn't on the bill!" cried Ben, +as a parti-colored clown came in, followed by half a +dozen dogs.</p> +<p> +"I'm so glad; now Sancho will like it. There's +a poodle that might be his ownty donty brother—the +one with the blue ribbon," said Bab, beaming +with delight as the dogs took their seats in the +chairs arranged for them.</p> +<p> +Sancho did like it only too well, for he scrambled +out from under the seat in a great hurry to go and +greet his friends, and, being sharply checked, set +up and begged so piteously that Ben found it very +hard to refuse and order him down. He subsided +for a moment, but when the black spaniel, who +acted the canine clown, did something funny and +was applauded, Sancho made a dart as if bent on +leaping into the ring to outdo his rival, and Ben +was forced to box his ears and put his feet on the +poor beast, fearing he would be ordered out if he +made any disturbance.</p> +<p> +Too well trained to rebel again, Sancho lay +meditating on his wrongs till the dog act was over, +carefully abstaining from any further sign of interest +in their tricks, and only giving a sidelong glance at +the two little poodles who came out of a basket to +run up and down stairs on their fore paws, dance +jigs on their hind legs, and play various pretty +pranks to the great delight of all the children in +the audience. If ever a dog expressed by look and +attitude, "Pooh! I could do much better than +that, and astonish you all, if I was only allowed +to," that dog was Sancho, as he curled himself up +and affected to turn his back on an unappreciative +world.</p> +<p> +"It's too bad, when he knows more than all +those chaps put together. I'd give anything if I +could show him off as I used to. Folks always +liked it, and I was ever so proud of him. He's +mad now because I had to cuff him, and wont +take any notice of me till I make up," said Ben, +regretfully eyeing his offended friend, but not +daring to beg pardon yet.</p> +<p> +More riding followed, and Bab was kept in a +breathless state by the marvelous agility and skill +of the gauzy lady who drove four horses at once, +leaped through hoops, over banners and bars, +sprang off and on at full speed, and seemed to +enjoy it all so much it was impossible to believe +that there could be any danger or exertion in it.</p> +<p> +Then two girls flew about on the trapeze, and +walked on a tight rope, causing Bab to feel that +she had at last found her sphere, for, young as she +was, her mother often said:</p> +<p> +"I really don't know what this child is fit for, +except mischief, like a monkey."</p> +<p> +"I'll fix the clothes-line when I get home, and +show Ma how nice it is. Then, may be, she'll let +me wear red and gold trousers, and climb round +like these girls," thought the busy little brain, +much excited by all it saw on that memorable day.</p> +<p> +Nothing short of a pyramid of elephants with a +glittering gentleman in a turban and top boots on +the summit would have made her forget this new +and charming plan. But that astonishing spectacle +and the prospect of a cage of Bengal tigers with a +man among them, in imminent danger of being +eaten before her eyes, entirely absorbed her +thoughts till, just as the big animals went lumbering +out, a peal of thunder caused considerable +commotion in the audience. Men on the highest +seats popped their heads through the openings in +the tent-cover and reported that a heavy shower +was coming up. Anxious mothers began to collect +their flocks of children as hens do their chickens +at sunset; timid people told cheerful stories of +tents blown over in gales, cages upset and wild +beasts let loose. Many left in haste, and the performers +hurried to finish as soon as possible.</p> +<p> +"I'm going now before the crowd comes, so I +can get a lift home. I see two or three folks I +know, so I'm off;" and, climbing hastily down, +Sam vanished without further ceremony.</p> +<p> +"Better wait till the shower is over. We can +go and see the animals again, and get home all +dry, just as well as not," observed Ben, encouragingly, +as Billy looked anxiously at the billowing +canvas over his head, the swaying posts before +him, and heard the quick patter of drops outside, +not to mention the melancholy roar of the lion +which sounded rather awful through the sudden +gloom which filled the strange place.</p> +<p> +"I wouldn't miss the tigers for anything. See, +they are pulling in the cart now, and the shiny +man is all ready with his gun. Will he shoot any +of them, Ben?" asked Bab, nestling nearer with a +little shiver of apprehension, for the sharp crack of +a rifle startled her more than the loudest thunder-clap +she ever heard.</p> +<p> +"Bless you, no, child; it's only powder to make +a noise and scare 'em. I wouldn't like to be in +his place, though; father says you can never trust +tigers as you can lions, no matter how tame they +are. Sly fellers, like cats, and when they scratch +it's no joke, I tell you," answered Ben, with a +knowing wag of the head, as the sides of the cage +rattled down, and the poor, fierce creatures were +seen leaping and snarling as if they resented this<span class="page1"><a name="526">[Page 526]</a></span> +display of their captivity.</p> +<p> +Bab curled up her feet and winked fast with +excitement as she watched the "shiny man" +fondle the great cats, lie down among them, +pull open their red mouths, and make them +leap over him or crouch at his feet as he snapped +the long whip. When he fired the gun and they +all fell as if dead, she with difficulty suppressed a +small scream and clapped her hands over her ears; +but poor Billy never minded it a bit, for he was +pale and quaking with the fear of "heaven's +artillery" thundering over head, and as a bright +flash of lightning seemed to run down the tall +tent-poles he hid his eyes and wished with all his +heart that he was safe with mother.</p> +<p> +"'Fraid of thunder, Bill?" asked Ben, trying to +speak stoutly, while a sense of his own responsibilities +began to worry him, for how was Bab to be +got home in such a pouring rain.</p> +<p> +"It makes me sick; always did. Wish I hadn't +come," sighed Billy, feeling, all too late, that +lemonade and "lozengers" were not the fittest +food for man, or a stifling tent the best place to be +in on a hot July day, especially in a thunder-storm.</p> +<p> +"I didn't ask you to come; <i>you</i> asked <i>me</i>; so +it isn't my fault," said Ben, rather gruffly, as +people crowded by without pausing to hear the +comic song the clown was singing in spite of the +confusion.</p> +<p> +"Oh, I'm <i>so</i> tired," groaned Bab, getting up +with a long stretch of arms and legs.</p> +<p> +"You'll be tireder before you get home, I guess. +Nobody asked <i>you</i> to come, anyway;" and Ben +gazed dolefully round him wishing he could see a +familiar face or find a wiser head than his own to +help him out of the scrape he was in.</p> +<p> +"I said I wouldn't be a bother, and I wont. +I'll walk right home this minute, I aint afraid of +thunder, and the rain wont hurt these old clothes. +Come along," cried Bab, bravely, bent on keeping +her word, though it looked much harder after the +fun was all over than before.</p> +<p> +"My head aches like fury. Don't I wish old +Jack was here to take me back," said Billy, following +his companions in misfortune with sudden +energy, as a louder peal than before rolled overhead.</p> +<p> +"You might as well wish for Lita and the +covered wagon while you are about it, then we +could all ride," answered Ben, leading the way to +the outer tent, where many people were lingering +in hopes of fair weather.</p> +<p> +"Why, Billy Barton, how in the world did you +get here?" cried a surprised voice, as the crook of +a cane caught the boy by the collar and jerked him +face to face with a young farmer, who was pushing +along followed by his wife and two or three +children.</p> +<p> +"Oh, Uncle Eben, I'm so glad you found me! +I walked over, and it's raining, and I don't feel +well. Let me go with you, can't I?" asked Billy, +casting himself and all his woes upon the strong +arm that had laid hold of him.</p> +<p> +"Don't see what your mother was about to let +you come so far alone, and you just over scarlet +fever. We are as full as ever we can be, but we'll +tuck you in somehow," said the pleasant-faced +woman, bundling up her baby, and bidding the +two little lads "keep close to father."</p> +<p> +"I didn't come alone. Sam got a ride, and +can't you tuck Ben and Bab in too? They aint +very big, either of them," whispered Billy, anxious +to serve his friends now that he was provided for +himself.</p> +<p> +"Can't do it, anyway. Got to pick up mother +at the corner, and that will be all I can carry. It's +lifting a little; hurry along, Lizzie, and let us get +out of this as quick as possible," said Uncle Eben, +impatiently; for going to a circus with a young +family is not an easy task, as every one knows who +has ever tried it.</p> +<p> +"Ben, I'm real sorry there isn't room for you. +I'll tell Bab's mother where she is, and may be +some one will come for you," said Billy, hurriedly, +as he tore himself away, feeling rather mean to +desert the others, though he could be of no use.</p> +<p> +"Cut away and don't mind us. I'm all right, +and Bab must do the best she can," was all Ben +had time to answer before his comrade was hustled +away by the crowd pressing round the entrance +with much clashing of umbrellas and scrambling +of boys and men, who rather enjoyed the flurry.</p> +<p> +"No use for us to get knocked about in that +scrimmage. We'll wait a minute and then go out +easy. It's a regular rouser, and you'll be as wet +as a sop before we get home. Hope you'll like +that?" added Ben, looking out at the heavy rain +pouring down as if it never meant to stop.</p> +<p> +"Don't care a bit," said Bab, swinging on one +of the ropes with a happy-go-lucky air, for her +spirits were not extinguished yet, and she was +bound to enjoy this exciting holiday to the very +end. "I like circuses so much! I wish I lived +here all the time, and slept in a wagon, as you did, +and had these dear little colties to play with."</p> +<p> +"It wouldn't be fun if you didn't have any folks +to take care of you," began Ben, thoughtfully looking +about the familiar place where the men were +now feeding the animals, setting their refreshment +tables, or lounging on the hay to get such rest as +they could before the evening entertainment. +Suddenly he started, gave a long look, then turned +to Bab, and thrusting Sancho's strap into her +hand, said, hastily: "I see a fellow I used to know.<span class="page1"><a name="527">[Page 527]</a></span> +May be he can tell me something about father. +Don't you stir till I come back."</p> +<p> +Then he was off like a shot, and Bab saw him +run after a man with a bucket who had been watering +the zebra. Sancho tried to follow, but was +checked with an impatient:</p> +<p> +"No, you can't go! What a plague you are, +tagging around when people don't want you."</p> +<p> +Sancho might have answered, "So are you," but, +being a gentlemanly dog, he sat down with a +resigned expression to watch the little colts, who +were now awake and seemed ready for a game of +bo-peep behind their mammas. Bab enjoyed their +funny little frisks so much that she tied the wearisome +strap to a post and crept under the rope to +pet the tiny mouse-colored one who came and +talked to her with baby whinneys and confiding +glances of its soft, dark eyes.</p> +<p> +Oh, luckless Bab! why did you turn your back? +Oh, too accomplished Sancho! why did you neatly +untie that knot and trot away to confer with the +disreputable bull-dog who stood in the entrance +beckoning with friendly wavings of an abbreviated +tail? Oh, much afflicted Ben! why did you delay +till it was too late to save your pet from the rough +man who set his foot upon the trailing strap and +led poor Sanch quickly out of sight among the +crowd.</p> +<p> +"It <i>was</i> Bascum, but he didn't know anything. +Why, where's Sanch?" said Ben, returning.</p> +<p> +A breathless voice made Bab turn to see Ben +looking about him with as much alarm in his hot +face as if the dog had been a two years' child.</p> +<p> +"I tied him—he's here somewhere—with the +ponies," stammered Bab, in sudden dismay, for no +sign of a dog appeared as her eyes roved wildly to +and fro.</p> +<p> +Ben whistled, called and searched in vain, till +one of the lounging men said, lazily:</p> +<p> +"If you are looking after the big poodle you'd +better go outside; I saw him trotting off with +another dog."</p> +<p> +Away rushed Ben, with Bab following, regardless +of the rain, for both felt that a great misfortune +had befallen them. But, long before this, Sancho +had vanished, and no one minded his indignant +howls as he was driven off in a covered cart.</p> +<p> +"If he is lost I'll never forgive you; never, +never, never!" and Ben found it impossible to resist +giving Bab several hard shakes which made her +yellow braids fly up and down like pump handles.</p> +<p> +"I'm dreadful sorry. He'll come back—you +said he always did," pleaded Bab, quite crushed +by her own afflictions, and rather scared to see +Ben look so fierce, for he seldom lost his temper or +was rough with the little girls.</p> +<p> +"If he doesn't come back, don't you speak to +me for a year. Now, I'm going home." And, +feeling that words were powerless to express his +emotions, Ben walked away, looking as grim as a +small boy could.</p> +<p> +A more unhappy little lass is seldom to be found +than Bab was, as she pattered after him, splashing +recklessly through the puddles, and getting as wet +and muddy as possible, as a sort of penance for her +sins. For a mile or two she trudged stoutly along, +while Ben marched before in solemn silence, which +soon became both impressive and oppressive because +so unusual, and such a proof of his deep displeasure. +Penitent Bab longed for just one word, one sign of +relenting; and when none came, she began to +wonder how she could possibly bear it if he kept +his dreadful threat and did not speak to her for a +whole year.</p> +<p> +But presently her own discomfort absorbed her, +for her feet were wet and cold as well as very tired; +pop-corn and peanuts were not particularly nourishing +food, and hunger made her feel faint; +excitement was a new thing, and now that it was +over she longed to lie down and go to sleep; then +the long walk with a circus at the end seemed a +very different affair from the homeward trip with a +distracted mother awaiting her. The shower had +subsided into a dreary drizzle, a chilly east wind +blew up, the hilly road seemed to lengthen before +the weary feet, and the mute, blue flannel figure +going on so fast with never a look or sound, added +the last touch to Bab's remorseful anguish.</p> +<p> +Wagons passed, but all were full, and no one +offered a ride. Men and boys went by with rough +jokes on the forlorn pair, for rain soon made them +look like young tramps. But there was no brave +Sancho to resent the impertinence, and this fact +was sadly brought to both their minds by the +appearance of a great Newfoundland dog who +came trotting after a carriage. The good creature +stopped to say a friendly word in his dumb fashion, +looking up at Bab with benevolent eyes, and +poking his nose into Ben's hand before he bounded +away with his plumy tail curled over his back.</p> +<p> +Ben started as the cold nose touched his fingers, +gave the soft head a lingering pat, and watched +the dog out of sight through a thicker mist than +any the rain made. But Bab broke down; for the +wistful look of the creature's eyes reminded her of +lost Sancho, and she sobbed quietly as she glanced +back longing to see the dear old fellow jogging +along in the rear.</p> +<p> +Ben heard the piteous sound and took a sly peep +over his shoulder, seeing such a mournful spectacle +that he felt appeased, saying to himself as if to +excuse his late sternness:</p> +<p> +"She <i>is</i> a naughty girl, but I guess she is about +sorry enough now. When we get to that sign-post <span class="page1"><a name="528">[Page 528]</a></span> +I'll speak to her, only I wont forgive her till Sanch +comes back."</p> +<p> +But he was better than his word; for, just before +the post was reached, Bab, blinded by tears, tripped +over the root of a tree, and, rolling down the bank, +landed in a bed of wet nettles. Ben had her out in +a jiffy, and vainly tried to comfort her; but she was +past any consolation he could offer, and roared dismally +as she wrung her tingling hands, with great +drops running over her cheeks almost as fast as the +muddy little rills ran down the road.</p> +<p> +"Oh dear, oh dear! I'm all stinged up, and I +want my supper; and my feet ache, and I'm cold, +and everything is <i>so</i> horrid!" wailed the poor child +lying on the grass, such a miserable little wet bunch +that the sternest parent would have melted at the +sight.</p> +<p> +"Don't cry so, Babby; I was real cross, and I'm +sorry. I'll forgive you right away now, and never +shake you any more," cried Ben, so full of pity for +her tribulations that he forgot his own, like a generous +little man.</p> +<p> +"Shake me again, if you want to; I know I was +very bad to tag and lose Sanch. I never will any +more, and I'm so sorry, I don't know what to do," +answered Bab, completely bowed down by this +magnanimity.</p> +<p> +"Never mind; you just wipe up your face and +come along, and we'll tell Ma all about it, and +she'll fix us as nice as can be. I shouldn't wonder +if Sanch got home now before we did," said Ben, +cheering himself as well as her by the fond hope.</p> +<p> +"I don't believe <i>I</i> ever shall, I'm so tired my +legs wont go, and the water in my boots makes +them feel dreadfully. I wish that boy would wheel +me a piece. Don't you s'pose he would?" asked +Bab, wearily picking herself up as a tall lad trundling +a barrow came out of a yard near by.</p> +<p> +"Hullo, Joslyn!" said Ben, recognizing the boy +as one of the "hill fellows" who come to town +Saturday nights for play or business.</p> +<p> +"Hullo, Brown," responded the other, arresting +his squeaking progress with signs of surprise at the +moist tableau before him.</p> +<p> +"Where goin'?" asked Ben with masculine +brevity.</p> +<p> +"Got to carry this home, hang the old thing!"</p> +<p> +"Where to?"</p> +<p> +"Batchelor's, down yonder," and the boy pointed +to a farm-house at the foot of the next hill.</p> +<p> +"Goin' that way, take it right along."</p> +<p> +"What for?" questioned the prudent youth, +distrusting such unusual neighborliness.</p> +<p> +"She's tired, wants a ride; I'll leave it all right, +true as I live and breathe," explained Ben, half +ashamed yet anxious to get his little responsibility +home as soon as possible, for mishaps seemed to +thicken.</p> +<p> +"Ho, <i>you</i> couldn't cart her all that way! she's +most as heavy as a bag of meal," jeered the taller +lad, amused at the proposition.</p> +<p> +"I'm stronger than most fellers of my size. +Try, if I aint," and Ben squared off in such scientific +style that Joslyn responded with sudden +amiability:</p> +<p> +"All right, let's see you do it."</p> +<p> +Bab huddled into her new equipage without +the least fear, and Ben trundled her off at a good +pace, while the boy retired to the shelter of the +barn to watch their progress, glad to be rid of an +irksome errand.</p> +<p> +At first, all went well, for the way was down hill, +and the wheel squeaked briskly round and round; +Bab smiled gratefully upon her bearer, and Ben +"went in on his muscle with a will," as he expressed +it. But presently the road grew sandy, began to +ascend, and the load seemed to grow heavier with +every step.</p> +<p> +"I'll get out now. It's real nice, but I guess I +<i>am</i> too heavy," said Bab, as the face before her got +redder and redder, and the breath began to come +in puffs.</p> +<p> +"Sit still. He said I couldn't. I'm not going +to give in with him looking on," panted Ben, and +pushed gallantly up the rise, over the grassy lawn +to the side gate of the Batchelors' door-yard, with +his head down, teeth set, and every muscle of his +slender body braced to the task.</p> +<p> +"Did ever ye see the like of that now? Ah, ha!</p> + +<p class="indent"> +'The streets were so wide, and the lanes were so narry,<br /> +He brought his wife home on a little wheelbarry,'"</p> + +<p> +sung a voice with an accent which made Ben drop +his load and push back his hat, to see Pat's red +head looking over the fence.</p> +<p> +To have his enemy behold him then and there +was the last bitter drop in poor Ben's cup of humiliation. +A shrill approving whistle from the hill +was some comfort, however, and gave him spirit to +help Bab out with composure, though his hands +were blistered and he had hardly breath enough to +issue the command:</p> +<p> +"Go along home, and don't mind him."</p> +<p> +"Nice childer, ye are, runnin' off this way, settin' +the women disthracted, and me wastin' me +time comin' after ye when I'd be milkin' airly so +I'd get a bit of pleasure the day," grumbled Pat, +coming up to untie the Duke, whose Roman nose +Ben had already recognized, as well as the roomy +chaise standing before the door.</p> +<p> +"Did Billy tell you about us?" asked Bab, gladly +following toward this welcome refuge.</p> +<p> +"Faith he did, and the Squire sint me to fetch +ye home quiet and aisy. When ye found me, I'd jist<span class="page1"><a name="529">[Page 529]</a></span> +stopped here to borry a light for me pipe. Up wid +ye, b'y, and not be wastin' me time stramashin' +afther a spalpeen that I'd like to lay me whip +over," said Pat, gruffly, as Ben came along, having +left the barrow in the shed.</p> +<p> +"Don't you wish you could? You needn't wait +for me; I'll come when I'm ready," answered Ben, +dodging round the chaise, bound not to mind Pat, +if he spent the night by the road-side in consequence.</p> +<p> +"Bedad, and I wont then. It's lively ye are; +but four legs is better than two, as ye'll find this +night, me young mon!"</p> +<p> +With that he whipped up and was off before Bab +could say a word to persuade Ben to humble himself +for the sake of a ride. She lamented and Pat +chuckled, both forgetting what an agile monkey +the boy was, and as neither looked back, they were +unaware that Master Ben was hanging on behind +among the straps and springs, making derisive +grimaces at his unconscious foe through the little +glass in the leathern back.</p> +<p> +At the lodge gate Ben jumped down to run +before with whoops of naughty satisfaction, which +brought the anxious waiters to the door in a flock; +so Pat could only shake his fist at the exulting little +rascal as he drove away, leaving the wanderers to +be welcomed as warmly as if they were a pair of +model children.</p> +<p> +Mrs. Moss had not been very much troubled +after all; for Cy had told her that Bab went after +Ben, and Billy had lately reported her safe arrival +among them, so, mother-like, she fed, dried, +and warmed the runaways, before she scolded +them.</p> +<p> +Even then, the lecture was a mild one, for when +they tried to tell the adventures which to them +seemed so exciting, not to say tragical, the effect +astonished them immensely, as their audience went +into gales of laughter, especially at the wheelbarrow +episode, which Bab insisted on telling, with grateful +minuteness, to Ben's confusion. Thorny shouted, +and even tender-hearted Betty forgot her tears +over the lost dog to join in the familiar melody +when Bab mimicked Pat's quotation from Mother +Goose.</p> +<p> +"We must not laugh any more, or these naughty +children will think they have done something very +clever in running away," said Miss Celia, when the +fun subsided, adding soberly, "I <i>am</i> displeased, +but I will say nothing, for I think Ben is already +punished enough."</p> +<p> +"Guess I am," muttered Ben, with a choke in +his voice as he glanced toward the empty mat +where a dear curly bunch used to lie with a bright +eye twinkling out of the middle of it.</p> + + +<br /><br /><br /><hr class="short" /><br /><br /><br /> + +<h4>CHAPTER XV.</h4> + +<h4>BEN'S RIDE.</h4> + +<p> +Great was the mourning for Sancho, because +his talents and virtues made him universally admired +and beloved. Miss Celia advertised, Thorny +offered rewards, and even surly Pat kept a sharp +look-out for poodle dogs when he went to market; +but no Sancho or any trace of him appeared. Ben +was inconsolable, and sternly said it served Bab +right when the <i>dog</i>-wood poison affected both face +and hands. Poor Bab thought so, too, and +dared ask no sympathy from him, though Thorny +eagerly prescribed plantain leaves, and Betty kept +her supplied with an endless succession of them +steeped in cream and pitying tears. This treatment +was so successful that the patient soon took +her place in society as well as ever, but for Ben's +affliction there was no cure, and the boy really +suffered in his spirits.</p> + +<p> +"I don't think it's fair that I should have so +much trouble—first losing father and then Sanch. +If it wasn't for Lita and Miss Celia, I don't believe +I could stand it," he said, one day, in a fit of +despair, about a week after the sad event.</p> +<p> +"Oh, come now, don't give up so, old fellow. +We'll find him if he's alive, and if he isn't I'll try +and get you another as good," answered Thorny, +with a friendly slap on the shoulder, as Ben sat +disconsolately among the beans he had been<span class="page1"><a name="530">[Page 530]</a></span> +hoeing.</p> +<p> +"As if there ever could be another half as good!" +cried Ben, indignant at the idea; "or as if I'd ever +try to fill his place with the best and biggest dog +that ever wagged a tail! No, sir, there's only one +Sanch in all the world, and if I can't have him I'll +never have a dog again."</p> +<p> +"Try some other sort of a pet, then. You may +have any of mine you like. Have the peacocks; do +now," urged Thorny, full of boyish sympathy and +good-will.</p> +<p> +"They are dreadful pretty, but I don't seem to +care about 'em, thank you," replied the mourner.</p> +<p> +"Have the rabbits, all of them," which was a +handsome offer on Thorny's part, for there were a +dozen at least.</p> +<p> +"They don't love a fellow as a dog does; all +they care for is stuff to eat and dirt to burrow in. +I'm sick of rabbits." And well he might be, for +he had had the charge of them ever since they +came, and any boy who has ever kept bunnies +knows what a care they are.</p> +<p> +"So am I! Guess we'll have an auction and +sell out. Would Jack be a comfort to you? If he +will, you may have him. I'm so well now, I can +walk, or ride anything," added Thorny, in a burst +of generosity.</p> +<p> +"Jack couldn't be with me always, as Sanch +was, and I couldn't keep him if I had him."</p> +<p> +Ben tried to be grateful, but nothing short of +Lita would have healed his wounded heart, and +she was not Thorny's to give, or he would probably +have offered her to his afflicted friend.</p> +<p> +"Well, no, you couldn't take Jack to bed with +you, or keep him up in your room, and I'm afraid +he would never learn to do anything clever. I do +wish I had something you wanted, I'd so love to +give it to you."</p> +<p> +He spoke so heartily and was so kind that Ben +looked up, feeling that he had given him one of +the sweetest things in the world—friendship; he +wanted to tell him so, but did not know how to do +it, so caught up his hoe and fell to work, saying, in +a tone Thorny understood better than words:</p> +<p> +"You are real good to me—never mind, I wont +worry about it; only it seems extra hard coming so +soon after the other——"</p> +<p> +He stopped there, and a bright drop fell on the +bean leaves, to shine like dew till Ben saw clearly +enough to bury it out of sight in a great hurry.</p> +<p> +"By Jove! I'll find that dog, if he is out of the +ground. Keep your spirits up, my lad, and we'll +have the dear old fellow back yet."</p> +<p> +With which cheering prophecy Thorny went off +to rack his brains as to what could be done about +the matter.</p> +<p> +Half an hour afterward, the sound of a hand-organ +in the avenue roused him from the brown +study into which he had fallen as he lay on the +newly mown grass of the lawn. Peeping over the +wall, Thorny reconnoitered, and, finding the organ +a good one, the man a pleasant-faced Italian, and +the monkey a lively animal, he ordered them all +in, as a delicate attention to Ben, for music and +monkey together might suggest soothing memories +of the past, and so be a comfort.</p> +<p> +In they came by way of the Lodge, escorted by +Bab and Betty, full of glee, for hand-organs were +rare in those parts, and the children delighted in +them. Smiling till his white teeth shone and his +black eyes sparkled, the man played away while +the monkey made his pathetic little bows, and +picked up the pennies Thorny threw him.</p> +<p> +"It is warm, and you look tired. Sit down and +I'll get you some dinner," said the young master, +pointing to the seat which now stood near the +great gate.</p> +<p> +With thanks in broken English the man gladly +obeyed, and Ben begged to be allowed to make +Jacko equally comfortable, explaining that he knew +all about monkeys and what they liked. So +the poor thing was freed from his cocked hat and +uniform, fed with bread and milk, and allowed to +curl himself up in the cool grass for a nap, looking +so like a tired little old man in a fur coat that the +children were never weary of watching him.</p> +<p> +Meantime, Miss Celia had come out, and was +talking Italian to Giacomo in a way that delighted +his homesick heart. She had been to Naples, and +could understand his longing for the lovely city of +his birth, so they had a little chat in the language +which is all music, and the good fellow was so +grateful that he played for the children to dance +till they were glad to stop, lingering afterward as +if he hated to set out again upon his lonely, dusty +walk.</p> +<p> +"I'd rather like to tramp round with him for a +week or so. Could make enough to live on as easy +as not, if I only had Sanch to show off," said Ben, as +he was coaxing Jacko into the suit which he detested.</p> +<p> +"You go wid me, yes?" asked the man, nodding +and smiling, well pleased at the prospect of +company, for his quick eye and what the boys let +fall in their talk showed him that Ben was not one +of them.</p> +<p> +"If I had my dog I'd love to," and with sad +eagerness Ben told the tale of his loss, for the +thought of it was never long out of his mind.</p> +<p> +"I tink I see droll dog like he, way off in New +York. He do leetle trick wid letter, and dance, +and go on he head, and many tings to make laugh," +said the man, when he had listened to a list of +Sanch's beauties and accomplishments.</p> +<p> +"Who had him?" asked Thorny, full of interest<span class="page1"><a name="531">[Page 531]</a></span> +at once.</p> +<p> +"A man I not know. Cross fellow what beat +him when he do letters bad.</p> +<p> +"Did he spell his name?" cried Ben, breathlessly.</p> +<p> +"No, that for why man beat him. He name +Generale, and he go spell Sancho all times, and +cry when whip fall on him. Ha! yes! that name +true one, not Generale?" and the man nodded, +waved his hands and showed his teeth, almost as +much excited as the boys.</p> +<p> +"It's Sanch! let's go and get him, now, right +off!" cried Ben, in a fever to be gone.</p> +<p> +"A hundred miles away, and no clue but this +man's story? We must wait a little, Ben, and be +sure before we set out," said Miss Celia, ready to do +almost anything, but not so certain as the boys. +"What sort of a dog was it? A large, curly, +white poodle, with a queer tail?" she asked of +Giacomo.</p> +<p> +"No, Signorina mia, he no curly, no wite, he +black, smooth dog, littel tail, small, so," and the +man held up one brown finger with a gesture which +suggested a short, wagging tail.</p> +<p> +"There, you see how mistaken we were. Dogs +are often named Sancho, especially Spanish poodles, +for the original Sancho was a Spaniard, you know. +This dog is not ours, and I'm so sorry."</p> +<p> +The boys faces had fallen dismally as their hope +was destroyed; but Ben would not give up, for +him there was and could be only one Sancho in +the world, and his quick wits suggested an explanation +which no one else thought of.</p> +<p> +"It may be my dog—they color 'em as we used +to paint over trick horses. I told you he was a +valuable chap, and those that stole him hide him +that way, else he'd be no use, don't you see, +because we'd know him."</p> +<p> +"But the black dog had no tail," began Thorny, +longing to be convinced, but still doubtful.</p> +<p> +Ben shivered as if the mere thought hurt him, as +he said, in a grim tone:</p> +<p> +"They might have cut Sanch's off."</p> +<p> +"Oh, no! no! they mustn't, they wouldn't!"</p> +<p> +"How could any one be so wicked?" cried Bab +and Betty, horrified at the suggestion.</p> +<p> +"You don't know what such fellows would do to +make all safe, so they could use a dog to earn their +living for 'em," said Ben, with mysterious significance, +quite forgetting in his wrath that he had +just proposed to get his own living in that way +himself.</p> +<p> +"He no your dog? Sorry I not find him for +you. Addio, signorina! Grazia, signor! Buon +giorno, buon giorno," and, kissing his hand, the +Italian shouldered organ and monkey, ready to go.</p> +<p> +Miss Celia detained him long enough to give him +her address, and beg him to let her know if he met +poor Sanch in any of his wanderings, for such +itinerant showmen often cross each other's paths. +Ben and Thorny walked to the school-corner with +him, getting more exact information about the +black dog and his owner, for they had no intention +of giving it up so soon.</p> +<p> +That very evening, Thorny wrote to a boy cousin +in New York giving all the particulars of the case, +and begging him to hunt up the man, investigate +the dog, and see that the police made sure that +everything was right. Much relieved by this performance, +the boys waited anxiously for a reply, +and when it came found little comfort in it. Cousin +Horace had done his duty like a man, but regretted +that he could only report a failure. The owner of +the black poodle was a suspicious character, but +told a straight story, how he had bought the dog +from a stranger, and exhibited him with success +till he was stolen. Knew nothing of his history and +was very sorry to lose him, for he was a remarkably +clever beast.</p> +<p> +"I told my dog man to look about for him, but +he says he has probably been killed, with ever so +many more, so there is an end of it, and I call it a +mean shame."</p> +<p> +"Good for Horace! I told you he'd do it up +thoroughly and see the end of it," said Thorny, as +he read that paragraph in the deeply interesting +letter.</p> +<p> +"May be the end of <i>that</i> dog, but not of mine. +I'll bet he ran away, and if it <i>was</i> Sanch he'll +come home. You see if he doesn't," cried Ben, +refusing to believe that all was over.</p> +<p> +"A hundred miles off? Oh, he couldn't find +you without help, smart as he is," answered Thorny, +incredulously.</p> +<p> +Ben looked discouraged, but Miss Celia cheered +him up again by saying:</p> +<p> +"Yes, he could. My father had a friend who +kept a little dog in Paris, and the creature found +her in Milan and died of fatigue next day. That +was very wonderful, but true, and I've no doubt +that if Sanch <i>is</i> alive he will come home. Let us +hope so, and be happy while we wait."</p> +<p> +"We will!" said the boys, and day after day +looked for the wanderer's return, kept a bone ready +in the old place if he should arrive at night, and +shook his mat to keep it soft for his weary bones +when he came. But weeks passed, and still no +Sanch.</p> +<p> +Something else happened, however, so absorbing +that he was almost forgotten for a time, and Ben +found a way to repay a part of all he owed his best +friend.</p> +<p> +Miss Celia went off for a ride one afternoon, and +an hour afterward, as Ben sat in the porch reading,<span class="page1"><a name="532">[Page 532]</a></span> +Lita dashed into the yard with the reins dangling +about her legs, the saddle turned round, and one +side covered with black mud, showing that she had +been down. For a minute, Ben's heart stood still, +then he flung away his book, ran to the horse, and +saw at once by her heaving flanks, dilated nostrils +and wet coat, that she must have come a long +way and at full speed.</p> +<p> +"She has had a fall, but isn't hurt or frightened," +thought the boy, as the pretty creature rubbed her +nose against his shoulder, pawed the ground and +champed her bit, as if she tried to tell him all +about the disaster, whatever it was.</p> +<p> +"Lita, where's Miss Celia?" he asked, looking +straight into the intelligent eyes, which were +troubled but not wild.</p> +<p> +Lita threw up her head and neighed loud and +clear as if she called her mistress, and turning, +would have gone again if Ben had not caught the +reins and held her.</p> +<p> +"All right, we'll find her;" and, pulling off the +broken saddle, kicking away his shoes, and ramming +his hat firmly on, Ben was up like a flash, +tingling all over with a sense of power as he felt +the bare back between his knees, and caught the +roll of Lita's eye as she looked round with an air of +satisfaction.</p> +<p> +"Hi, there! Mrs. Moss! Something has happened +to Miss Celia, and I'm going to find her. +Thorny is asleep; tell him easy, and I'll come +back as soon as I can."</p> +<p> +Then, giving Lita her head, he was off before the +startled woman had time to do more than wring +her hands and cry out:</p> +<p> +"Go for the Squire! Oh, what shall we do?"</p> +<p> +As if she knew exacty what was wanted of her, +Lita went back the way she had come, as Ben +could see by the fresh, irregular tracks that cut up +the road where she had galloped for help. For a +mile or more they went, then she paused at a +pair of bars which were let down to allow the carts +to pass into the wide hay-fields beyond. On she +went again cantering across the new-mown turf +toward a brook, across which she had evidently +taken a leap before; for, on the further side, at a +place where cattle went to drink, the mud showed +signs of a fall.</p> +<p> +"You were a fool to try there, but where is Miss +Celia?" said Ben, who talked to animals as if they +were people, and was understood much better than +any one not used to their companionship would +<a name="Ben">imagine</a>.</p> + +<div class="figright"> +<img src="images/030.jpg" width="325" alt="Ben and Lita at the brook." /> +<br />BEN AND LITA AT THE BROOK.</div> +<p> +Now Lita seemed at a loss, and put her head +down as if she expected to find her mistress where +she had left her, somewhere on the ground. Ben +called, but there was no answer, and he rode +slowly along the brook-side, looking far and wide +with anxious eyes.</p> +<p> +"May be she wasn't hurt, and has gone to that +house to wait," thought the boy, pausing for a last +survey of the great, sunny field, which had no +place of shelter in it but one rock on the other side +of the little stream. As his eye wandered over it, +something dark seemed to blow out from behind +it, as if the wind played in the folds of a skirt, or a +human limb moved. Away went Lita, and in a +moment Ben had found Miss Celia, lying in the +shadow of the rock, so white and motionless he +feared that she was dead. He leaped down, +touched her, spoke to her, and receiving no answer, +rushed away to bring a little water in his leaky hat +to sprinkle in her face, as he had seen them do +when any of the riders got a fall in the circus, or +fainted from exhaustion after they left the ring, +where "do or die" was the motto all adopted.</p> +<p> +In a minute, the blue eyes opened, and she recognized +the anxious face bending over her, saying +faintly, as she touched it:</p> +<p> +"My good little Ben, I knew you'd find me—I +sent Lita for you—I'm so hurt I couldn't come."</p> +<p> +"Oh, where? What shall I do? Had I better +run up to the house?" asked Ben, overjoyed to +hear her speak, but much dismayed by her seeming +helplessness, for he had seen bad falls, and had +them, too.</p> +<p> +"I feel bruised all over, and my arm is broken, +I'm afraid. Lita tried not to hurt me. She +slipped, and we went down. I came here into the +shade, and the pain made me faint, I suppose. +Call somebody, and get me home."</p> +<p> +Then, she shut her eyes, and looked so white that +Ben hurried away and burst upon old Mrs. Paine, +placidly knitting at the end door, so suddenly that, +as she afterward said, "it sca't her like a clap o' +thunder."</p> +<p> +"Aint a man nowheres around. All down in +the big medder gettin' in hay," was her reply to +Ben's breathless demand for "everybody to come +and see to Miss Celia."</p> +<p> +He turned to mount, for he had flung himself off +before Lita stopped, but the old lady caught his +jacket and asked half a dozen questions in a breath.</p> +<p> +"Who's your folks? What's broke? How'd +she fall? Where is she? Why didn't she come +right here? Is it a sunstroke?"</p> +<p> +As fast as words could tumble out of his mouth +Ben answered, and then tried to free himself, but +the old lady held on while she gave her directions, +expressed her sympathy, and offered her hospitality +with incoherent warmth.</p> +<p> +"Sakes alive! poor dear! Fetch her right in. +Liddy, get out the camphire, and Melissy, you +haul down a bed to lay her on. Falls is dretful +uncert'in things; shouldn't wonder if her back was<span class="page1"><a name="533">[Page 533]</a></span> +broke. Father's down yender, and he and Bijah +will see to her. You go call 'em, and I'll blow the +horn to start 'em up. Tell her we'll be pleased to +see her, and it wont make a mite of trouble."</p> +<p> +Ben heard no more, for as Mrs. Paine turned to +take down the tin horn he was up and away.</p> +<p> +Several long and dismal toots sent Lita galloping +through the grassy path as the sound of the trumpet +excites a war-horse, and "father and Bijah," alarmed +by the signal at that hour, leaned on their rakes to +survey with wonder the distracted-looking little +horseman approaching like a whirlwind.</p> +<p> +"Guess likely grandpa's had 'nother stroke. +Told 'em to send over soon's ever it come," said +the farmer calmly.</p> +<p> +"Shouldn't wonder ef suthing was afire some'r's," +conjectured the hired man, surveying the horizon for +a cloud of smoke.</p> +<p> +Instead of advancing to meet the messenger, +both stood like statues in blue overalls and red +flannel shirts, till the boy arrived and told his +tale.</p> +<p> +"Sho, that's bad," said the farmer, anxiously.</p> +<p> +"That brook always was the darndest place," +added Bijah, then both men bestirred themselves +helpfully, the former hurrying to Miss Celia while +the latter brought up the cart and made a bed of +hay to lay her on.</p> +<p> +"Now then, boy, you go for the doctor. My +women folks will see to the lady, and she'd better +keep quiet up yender till we see what the matter +is," said the farmer, when the pale girl was lifted +in as carefully as four strong arms could do it. +"Hold on," he added, as Ben made one leap to +Lita's back. "You'll have to go to Berryville. +Dr. Mills is a master hand for broken bones and old +Dr. Babcock aint. 'Tisn't but about three mile +from here to his house, and you'll fetch him 'fore +there's any harm done waitin'."</p> +<p> +"Don't kill Lita," called Miss Celia from the cart, +as it began to move.</p> +<p> +But Ben did not hear her, for he was off across +the fields, riding as if life and death depended upon +his speed.</p> +<p> +"That boy will break his neck!" said Mr. Paine, +standing still to watch horse and rider go over the +wall as if bent on instant destruction.</p> +<p> +"No fear for Ben, he can ride anything, and +Lita was trained to leap," answered Miss Celia, +falling back on the hay with a groan, for she had +involuntarily raised her head to see her little squire +dash away in gallant style.</p> +<p> +"I should hope so; regular jockey, that boy. +Never see anything like it out of a race-ground," +and farmer Paine strode on, still following with his +eye the figures that went thundering over the +bridge, up the hill, out of sight, leaving a cloud of +dust behind.</p> +<p> +Now that his mistress was safe, Ben enjoyed that +wild ride mightily, and so did the bay mare; for +Lita had good blood in her, and proved it that day +by doing her three miles in a wonderfully short +time. People jogging along in wagons and country +carry-alls, stared amazed as the reckless pair went +by. Women, placidly doing their afternoon sewing +at the front windows, dropped their needles to run +out with exclamations of alarm, sure some one +was being run away with; children playing by the +roadside scattered like chickens before a hawk, as +Ben passed with a warning whoop, and baby-carriages +were scrambled into door-yards with perilous +rapidity at his approach.</p> +<p> +But when he clattered into town, intense interest +was felt in this bare-footed boy on the foaming +steed, and a dozen voices asked, "Who's killed?" +as he pulled up at the doctor's gate.</p> +<p> +"Jest drove off that way; Mrs. Flynn's baby's +in a fit," cried a stout lady from the piazza, never +ceasing to rock, though several passers-by paused +to hear the news, for she was a doctor's wife, and +used to the arrival of excited messengers from all +quarters at all hours of the day and night.</p> +<p> +Deigning no reply to any one, Ben rode away, +wishing he could leap a yawning gulf, scale a +precipice, or ford a raging torrent, to prove his +devotion to Miss Celia, and his skill in horsemanship. +But no dangers beset his path, and he found +the doctor pausing to water his tired horse at the +very trough where Bab and Sancho had been discovered +on that ever-memorable day. The story +was quickly told, and, promising to be there as +soon as possible, Dr. Mills drove on to relieve +baby Flynn's inner man, a little disturbed by a +bit of soap and several buttons, upon which he had +privately lunched while his mamma was busy at +the wash-tub.</p> +<p> +Ben thanked his stars, as he had already done +more than once, that he knew how to take care +for a horse; for he delayed by the watering-place +long enough to wash out Lita's mouth with a handful +of wet grass, to let her have one swallow to +clear her dusty throat, and then went slowly back +over the breezy hills, patting and praising the +good creature for her intelligence and speed. She +knew well enough that she had been a clever +little mare, and tossed her head, arched her glossy +neck, and ambled daintily along, as conscious and +coquettish as a pretty woman, looking round at +her admiring rider to return his compliments by +glances of affection, and caressing sniffs of a velvet +nose at his bare feet.</p> +<p> +Miss Celia had been laid comfortably in bed by +the farmer's wife and daughters, and, when the +doctor arrived, bore the setting of her arm bravely.<span class="page1"><a name="534">[Page 534]</a></span> +No other serious damage appeared, and bruises +soon heal, so Ben was sent home to comfort Thorny +with a good report, and ask the squire to drive up +in his big carry-all for her the next day, if she was +able to be moved.</p> +<p> +Mrs. Moss had been wise enough to say nothing, +but quietly made what preparations she could, and +waited for tidings. Bab and Betty were away +berrying, so no one had alarmed Thorny, and he +had his afternoon nap in peace,—an unusually long +one, owing to the stillness which prevailed in the +absence of the children; and when he awoke he lay +reading for a while before he began to wonder +where every one was. Lounging out to see, he +found Ben and Lita reposing side by side on the +fresh straw in the loose box, which had been made +for her in the coach-house. By the pails, sponges +and curry-combs lying about, it was evident that +she had been refreshed by a careful washing and +rubbing down, and my lady was now luxuriously +resting after her labors, with her devoted groom +half asleep close by.</p> +<p> +"Well, of all queer boys you are the queerest, +to spend this hot afternoon fussing over Lita, just +for the fun of it!" cried Thorny, looking in at +them with much amusement.</p> +<p> +"If you knew what we'd been doing you'd think +I ought to fuss over her, and both of us had a right +to rest!" answered Ben, rousing up as bright as a +button; for he longed to tell his thrilling tale, and +had with difficulty been restrained from bursting in +on Thorny as soon as he arrived.</p> +<p> +He made short work of the story, but was quite +satisfied with the sensation it produced; for his +listener was startled, relieved, excited and charmed, +in such rapid succession, that he was obliged to sit +upon the meal chest and get his breath before he +could exclaim, with an emphatic demonstration of +his heels against the bin:</p> +<p> +"Ben Brown, I'll never forget what you've done +for Celia this day, or say 'bow-legs' again as long +as I live!"</p> +<p> +"George! I felt as if I had <i>six</i> legs when we +were going the pace. We were all one piece, and +had a jolly spin, didn't we, my beauty?" and Ben +chuckled as he took Lita's head in his lap, while +she answered with a gusty sigh that nearly blew +him away.</p> +<p> +"Like the fellow that brought the good news +from Ghent to Aix," said Thorny, surveying the +recumbent pair with great admiration.</p> +<p> +"What fellow?" asked Ben, wondering if he +didn't mean Sheridan, of whose ride he had heard.</p> +<p> +"Don't you know that piece? I spoke it at +school. Give it to you now; see if it isn't a rouser."</p> +<p> +And, glad to find a vent for his excitement, +Thorny mounted the meal-chest, to thunder out +that stirring ballad with such spirit that Lita pricked +up her ears, and Ben gave a shrill "Hooray!" as +the last verse ended,</p> + +<p class="indent"> +"And all I remember is friends flocking round,<br /> +As I sat with his head 'twixt my knees on the ground,<br /> +And no voice but was praising this Roland of mine,<br /> +As I poured down his throat our last measure of wine,<br /> +Which (the burgesses voted by common consent)<br /> +Was no more than his due who brought good news from Ghent."</p> + +<p class="center"> +(<i>To be continued</i>.)</p> +<br /><br /><br /> +<p class="center"> +<img src="images/full0024-1.jpg" width="358" height="203" alt="Blossoms with birds" border="0" /></p> +<br /><br /><br /><hr class="short" /><br /><br /><br /> + + <span class="page1"><a name="535">[Page 535]</a></span> + +<h2>MASTER <a name="Montezuma">MONTEZUMA</a>.</h2> + +<h4>(<i>With Illustrations copied from Mexican Hieroglyphics</i>.)</h4> + +<h3>By C.C. Haskins.</h3> + +<p class="note"> +[Note.—Montezuma II., the last of the Aztec (or native Mexican) emperors, +was born about 1480. He was taken prisoner by Hernando +Cortes, the commander of the Spanish army which conquered +Mexico, and, in the hope of quelling an insurrection which +had arisen among +his former subjects, he consented to address them from the +walls of his prison. Stung by the apparent desertion of their +leader to the +cause of the enemy, the Mexicans assaulted him with stones and +other missiles. He was struck on the temple by one of the stones, +and died from the effects in a few days. The illustrations are true +copies of old Mexican pictures, which appeared originally in the +"Collection of Mendoza," a work frequently referred to by all writers +on ancient Mexico.—C.C.H.]</p> + +<p> +The Emperor Montezuma was a great man, +and historians have recorded much about him, but +of his earlier life, when he was plain Master Montezuma, +comparatively little is known of this rising +young gentleman.</p> +<p> +Master M. commenced his earthly career as a +crying baby, in the year "one cane," which, when +properly figured down according to the Gregorian +calendar, would be about the year of our Lord 1480.</p> +<p> +No sooner had Master M. reached the fourth +day of his existence, than the nurse, under instructions +from his anxious mamma, took off what few +clothes the poor boy had on, and repairing to the +baptismal font in the yard, sprinkled cold water +upon his naked breast and lips, presented his credentials +in the shape of offerings to propitiate the +gods of war, agriculture, etc., whose names you +will find further along in this history, repeated a +prayer in which "the Lord was implored to wash +away the sin that was given him before the foundation +of the world, so that the child might be born +anew," and told the three little boys who sat near +by, what Master M.'s name was to be. The three +little boys left off eating their parched corn, and +boiled beans, repeated the name, and the little +baby was christened.</p> +<p> +Now, if Master M. had been a girl—which he +was not—the offerings would have been a mat, a +spinning machine and a broom, all of which would +have been buried under the <i>metate</i>, the stone where +corn was ground. As it was, the offerings were +implements of war, articles of metal, pottery, etc., +and these were buried, as near as they could guess +at the location, where they either hoped or feared +there might some day be a battle with their +enemies.</p> +<p> +When Master M. had eaten and slept and kicked +and cried for sixteen days longer, his parents took +him to the priest, and to the teacher, and promised +that he should be instructed by these worthy +gentlemen in war, politics, religion, and other +branches of general education. They promised +that he should be an Alfalqui, or priest, and should +also serve in the army as a soldier. In that little, +wiggling baby, that seemed all fists and mouth, it +was impossible to foresee the future Emperor of +Mexico, whose name has since become familiar to +the civilized world.</p> +<p> +Young Master M. worried along pretty well, and +up to six years of age had done nothing remarkable. +At this age he was granted one and one-half rolls at +a meal, and commenced doing little errands and +picking up scattered beans and corn in the Tianquez, +which is what the Mexicans called the +market-place.</p> +<p> +The restless spirit of a military chieftain now +began to show itself in the embryo warrior, and, by +the time he had reached his eighth year, discipline +became necessary to curb his growing inclination +to despotism. He was fast becoming one of that +class of boys who think "it's too bad to be good +all the time." In the second picture see the scalding +tears! Whether Master M. is sorry that he +has done wrong, or whether he only fears being +pricked with those terrible thorns of the aloe with +which he is threatened, or is crying because he is +cold, who shall tell? It is hard, sometimes, to tell +what eight-year-old boys are crying for, whether +they live in the United States or in Mexico.</p> +<p> +Master M. may have been better than most +boys, and it may be that his father was a better +driver than leader for his little ones. Some fathers +are. In any event, when Master M. was ten years +old there came another opportunity for weeping +and wailing, and Master M. was submitted to the +mortification of lying on the damp ground all day +while he listened to a parental lecture; and this, +too, after he was twelve years old!</p> + +<p> +Then Master M. reformed, and became an industrious, +faithful boy. I have sometimes questioned +whether he wasn't hungry, and if he had +been better fed whether he would not have done +better. At fourteen years of age they gave him two +rolls at a meal, and he was instructed in the art of +fishing with a net. You can tell how old the boy +is by the number of round marks in the picture, +and the person who is speaking is denoted by a +tongue in front of the mouth.</p> + +<p> +When his fifteenth year came, Master M. found +he would have plenty to do. After this, old Mr. +M. had no trouble with him. It is curious—the<span class="page1"><a name="536">[Page 536]</a></span> +more we have to do, the less liable we are to do +something we should not, and—let us all study on +that half an hour, some day, and see what we can +make of <a name="teacher"></a>it.</p> +<p class="center1"> +<img src="images/041.png" width="495" alt="Master Montezuma's parents take him to the priest and the teacher" border="0" /><br /><br />MASTER MONTEZUMA'S PARENTS TAKE HIM TO THE PRIEST AND THE TEACHER. +</p> +<p> +He had two teachers, the priest and the military +professor. It seemed as if everything was to be +learned. There was arithmetic, he learned to +make figures. A round, blue dot stands for one.</p> +<p> +Five of them make five, and ooooo-o (five and one) +is six, and in that way it runs up to ten. If he +wanted to say "twenty" he made a flag, and for +forty he made two flags.</p> +<p> +Just imagine such a multiplication table as this: +Five times four is one flag. Flag times flag is one +plume. Flag times plume is one purse! Let's +see; a purse, then, would equal 8,000. Yes, and +if he wanted to write 4,000 he would draw only +half a purse. All the examples in their arithmetic +were worked by such tables as these.</p> +<p> +Then there were lessons in time. He had to +learn that five days make a week, four weeks make +a month, and eighteen months make a year; and +as all that footed up only three hundred and sixty +days, they threw in what they called the five unlucky +days that belonged to no month, to fill up +before they commenced a new year. And then +he found another arrangement for doing what we +do with our leap-year, for, once in fifty-two years +they put in twelve and one-half extra days, which +is something like setting the clock ahead when +you find it is too slow by the town bell or the fire +<a name="punished">alarm</a>.</p> + +<div class="figleft" style="300px"> +<img src="images/042.png" width="300" alt="Master Montezuma must be punished." /><br />MASTER MONTEZUMA MUST BE PUNISHED.</div> + +<p> +He learned that this kind of calendar had been +in use a long time, and was the result of careful +study and calculation by the wise priests of the +olden time; and, when he wanted to know how +long, he counted up the bundles of reeds which +represented centuries, and found that it had been +in use over four hundred years. And all this, you +must remember, was before San Salvador was discovered<span class="page1"><a name="537">[Page 537]</a></span> +by Columbus. Then he had to study all about +the naming of the years and the cycles. +How, if this year was "one rabbit," +next year would be "two cane," the +third "three flint," the next "four +house," and these four elements, representing +air, water, fire, earth, would be +thus repeated up to thirteen, and then +they would commence at one again, +so that the fourteenth year would be +"one cane," etc., and in four of these +cycles of thirteen they would reach a +cycle of fifty-two years, or, as they +called it, a "bundle," and as the +twelve and one-half days additional +would end one cycle of fifty-two years +at midday, and the next at midnight, +they bundled two of these together +and called it "an old <a name="fish">age</a>."</p> + +<div class="figright" style="width:350px"> +<img src="images/042c.png" width="350" alt="Master Montezuma is taught how to fish." /><br />MASTER MONTEZUMA IS TAUGHT HOW TO FISH.</div> + +<p> +The number +fifty-two was an unlucky number, and these +old Mexicans believed that at the end of a cycle +of that number of years, at some time, the world +would be depopulated, the sun put out, and, after +death and darkness had reigned awhile, it would +all begin afresh with a new race of people.</p> + +<p> +So, when a cycle or bundle was completed, all +fires were extinguished and not rekindled during +the five unlucky days. Household goods which +could no longer be of any service, dishes, household +articles, etc., were broken; every one gave up +all hope, and abandoned himself to despair while +awaiting the expected ruin.</p> + +<p> +On the evening of the fifth day of sorrow, the +priests gathered the people together in a procession +and marched to a temple, about two leagues from +the <a name="father">city</a>.</p> + +<div class="figright" style="width:300px"> +<img src="images/042b.png" width="300" alt="Master Montezuma is talked to by his father." /><br />MASTER MONTEZUMA IS TALKED TO BY HIS FATHER.</div> + +<p> +Here they would sit like bumps on a log +until midnight, and then, when the constellation +which we call the Pleiades came exactly overhead, +the danger was over. Two sticks were rubbed +together over the breast of a captive who had been +selected for the sacrifice, until fire was produced +by the friction, the funeral pile was lighted, the +body burned, and messengers, many of whom could +run long distances, at the rate of seven or eight +miles an hour, would light their torches and spread +the joyful news of danger averted, while carrying +the "new fire" into all parts of the empire. Then +would follow a regular old-fashioned frolic, something +like a centennial,—a jollification few had ever +seen and most would see but once in a life-time. +There must be no drunkenness, however; that was +a high crime, in some instances punished by death. +If the intemperate party, man or woman, was over +seventy years of age, however, no notice was taken +of it,—they were old, and had rights and privileges +not granted to younger members of the community.</p> + +<p> +Master M. had much to learn about deities. At +the head of these stood one, infinite, supreme ruler, +"the unknown God," and next beneath him came<span class="page1"><a name="538">[Page 538]</a></span> +Tezcatlipoca, the "son of the world," supposed to +be the creator of the <a name="bride">earth</a>. </p> +<div class="figleft"> +<img src="images/043a.png" width="285" height="274" alt="Carrying the bride." /><br />CARRYING THE BRIDE.</div> + +<p> +Huitzilopotchli was +the god of war, a sort of Mars, but with very much +more name. Then there was the god of air, Quetzatcoatl, +who controlled vegetation, metals, and the +politics of the country. Here is something Master +M. was taught to believe of him:</p> +<p> +When this god, whom we will call Q, was on +earth, vegetation was so wonderfully prolific that +a single ear of corn was all a man could carry. +Everything the people needed grew spontaneously. +Cotton grew more beautifully tinted than the dyers +of the present time could color it. Richest perfumes +loaded temperate breezes, and everywhere +the gaudiest-colored birds filled the air with most +entrancing harmonies. Q had some little difficulty, +however, with the rest of the gods, and was obliged +to leave his little paradise. When he embarked in +his wizard snake-skin canoe on the shore of the +gulf, he told his friends that his descendents would +one day return and bless the land as he had done, +and that they would be like him,—tall, fine looking, +with dark hair, white skins, and flowing beards. +Alas! this belief was in no small degree the cause +of their ruin; for the invading Spaniards quite +nearly answered this description of Q's <a name="wedding">descendants</a>.</p> +<p class="center1"> +<img src="images/043b.png" width="600" alt="The wedding of Montezuma." border="0" /><br /><br />THE WEDDING OF MONTEZUMA.<br /><br /></p> + + +<p> +There were thirteen of the principal deities, as +Master M. learned, each of whom required sacrifices +more or less horrible. For instance, there was the +"soul of the world," I forget his other name. He +must be propitiated now and then. A year before +the fatal day, a tall, beautiful, well-formed, unblemished +captive was selected to play the part of this +god for one year. He must have all these qualifications +to make the resemblance as perfect as +possible. He was now treated as a god. Everything +he could wish, everything it was thought +could possibly conduce to his pleasure, comfort, or +happiness, was furnished without stint. He slept +on the softest of couches in the most gorgeous of +chambers; his raiment was profuse and expensive, +and the whole surroundings were, as far as possible, +in keeping with his high and holy estate. Birds +and music, flowers and rare perfumes pleased every +sense, and everything, save liberty, was his. This +happy-go-lucky sort of life continued until the day +fixed for the sacrifice. Then joy gave way to sadness, +pain, death! Stripped of his costly raiment, +he was taken by a procession of priests to a royal +barge, thence across a lake to a temple about a +league from the city, where, as he mounted the +weary steps of the huge edifice, he flung aside the +garlands of flowers and broke the musical instruments +which had been a joy to him in his past days. +At the summit of the temple, in full view of the +assembled multitude below, he was barbarously put +to death by a priest, in order to propitiate the +cruel god to whom the temple was dedicated. And +Master M. was taught that the moral of all this +savagery was, that human joys are transitory, and +the partition between sorrow and happiness is a<span class="page1"><a name="539">[Page 539]</a></span> +very thin one, or words to that effect.</p> + +<p> +Master M. learned that there were many other +inferior gods, each of which had festivals, sacrifices, +etc., proportioned to his rank and power; that +nearly every hour of the day was dedicated to some +god or other; but I cannot tell you all he learned +of these strange <a name="peace">deities</a>.</p> +<div class="figleft" style="width:225px"> +<img src="images/044.png" width="225" alt="A peace-offering in the year one rabbit." /><br /> +A PEACE-OFFERING IN THE YEAR ONE RABBIT.</div> +<p> +He studied the history of the temples, and learned +why they were four or five stories high with the +stairs on the outside, and why he had to go entirely +round the temple to find the next flight of stairs as +he went up or down; and why each story was +smaller than the next lower, and learned that some +of these buildings were over one hundred feet +square and as many feet high, and had towers forty +or fifty feet high on their summits; and all about +the everlasting fire which burned on the tops of +these temples, and that there were so many of these +that the whole country for miles around was always +brilliantly illuminated.</p> +<p> +I must pass over a long period in the life of +Master M. with the mere remark that he graduated +in both his military and religious classes with the +highest honors, and acquitted himself to the most +perfect satisfaction of both the alfalquis, or priests, +and the teachcauhs, which is nearly the same as +our word teachers.</p> +<p> +Master M. had, for a long time, cherished a hope +that some day he might press the throne as king +of Mexico. So, like the Yorkshire lad who begged +salt of a stranger eating eggs near him, so as to +have the salt ready in case any one <i>should</i> ask him +to accept an egg, he prepared himself fully for the +possible emergency, and became not only a military +general, but a leading alfalqui.</p> +<p> +And then he married. I have not room to give +you the whole picture, but here is the way it was +done.</p> + +<p> +A lady whose position in society required her to +negotiate the match, having previously made all +the necessary arrangements, one evening, hoisted +the happy damsel on her back, and accompanied +by four young women (I have drawn only one) each +bearing a torch, headed the joyous procession and +marched to the house of Master M., where she +dropped her cargo of precious humanity. Then +the alfalqui asked them if they were mutually +agreed on matrimony, and of course, they said +"yes," when he proceeded to tie their clothes +together. Then two old patriarchs and two good +old grandmothers (one of each of which I have +copied for you) delivered little sermons suited to +the occasion. The new couple walked seven times +round a blazing fire, partook of a feast with their +friends, heard a final sort of a "ninety-ninthly +and to conclude" parting word from the four old +people, and then, just as all married people do, +went to housekeeping, and having their own way +as much as possible. One thing they could not do. +There was no law of divorce to appeal to then; +death was the only judge who could entertain the +question of <a name="grain">separation</a>.</p> +<div class="figright" style="width:300px"> +<img src="images/045.png" width="300" alt="Protecting the grain from rats, in the year one rabbit." /><br />PROTECTING THE GRAIN FROM RATS, IN THE YEAR ONE RABBIT.</div> + +<p> +Master M. will now disappear, to re-appear as +the Emperor. In the year "ten rabbits," or A.D. +1502, the monarch died, and the electoral college +selected Master M. to supply his place. In the +household of each monarch there was an electoral +board of four nobles, whose duty it was, on the +death of the ruler, to elect his successor from +among the sons and nephews of the crown. Having<span class="page1"><a name="540">[Page 540]</a></span> +done this, and so notified the successor, they +selected four nobles to fill their own places, and +vacated their electoral chairs. Master M. when +waited upon to be notified of his election to fill his +uncle's place, was very busy +sweeping down the stairs in +the great temple dedicated +to the god of war!</p> +<p> +Four years after becoming +emperor, Montezuma, +to appease the gods, made +a sacrifice of a young gentleman +captive by transfixing +him with arrows. This, you +see, was in the year "one rabbit." It is recorded that in this year +the rats overran the country so completely that +the inhabitants had to stand guard at night with +blazing torches to prevent their devouring the +grain sown in the fields.</p> +<p> +With the last picture, I +take pleasure in introducing +to you Master M. in his +new position as Emperor of +Mexico, seated in the royal +halls.</p> +<p> +For further particulars, +read "The Conquest of +Mexico," by <a name="halls">Prescott</a>.</p> + +<p class="center1"> +<img src="images/104.jpg" width="600" alt="The emperor Montezuma, seated in the royal halls." border="0" /><br /><br /> +THE EMPEROR MONTEZUMA, SEATED IN THE ROYAL HALLS.</p> + + +<br /><br /><br /><hr class="short" /><br /><br /><br /> + + + +<h2>A LONG <a name="journey">JOURNEY</a>.</h2> + +<h3>BY JOSEPHINE POLLARD.</h3> + +<p class="indent"> +"We sail to-day," said the captain gay,<br /> +As he stepped on board the boat that lay<br /> +So high and dry, "Come now, be spry;<br /> +We'll land, at Jerusalem by and by!"<br /><br /> + +Away they sailed, and each craft they hailed;<br /> +While down in the cabin they bailed and bailed;<br /> +For the sea was rough, and they had to luff<br /> +And tack, till the captain cried out "Enough!"<br /><br /> + +They stopped at Peru, this jolly crew,<br /> +And went to Paris and Timbuctoo;<br /> +And after a while they found the Nile,<br /> +And watched the sports of the crocodile.<br /><br /> + +They called on the Shah, and the mighty Czar,<br /> +And on all the crowned heads near and far;<br /> +Shook hands with the Cid—they really did!<br /> +And lunched on top of the pyramid!<br /><br /> + +To Afric's strand, or northern land,<br /> +They steer as the captain gives command;<br /> +And fly so fast that the slender mast<br /> +Goes quivering, shivering in the blast!<br /><br /> + +Then on to the ground with a sudden bound,<br /> +Leaps Jack—'t was a mercy he wasn't drowned!<br /> +The sail is furled, the anchor hurled,<br /> +"We've been," cry the children, "all round the world!"<br /><br /> + +By billows tossed, by tempests crossed,<br /> +Yet never a soul on board was lost!<br /> +Though the boat be a sieve, I do not grieve,<br /> +They sail on the ocean of "Make-believe."</p><br /> + + +<br /><br /><br /><hr class="short" /><br /><br /><br /> + + <span class="page1"><a name="541">[Page 541]</a></span> + +<h2>THE LITTLE <a name="red">RED</a> CANAL-BOAT.</h2> + +<h3>BY M.A. EDWARDS.</h3> + +<p> +The morning sun had not mounted high enough +in the sky to send his rays into Greta's room, when +she was awakened by a noise. She listened. It +was the sound of a boat grating against the side of +the canal. Who could be coming to their back +door so early? She sprang out of bed, and ran +quickly to the open window. A disappointment +awaited her. It was only her father's boat, which +the maid-servant Charlotte was pushing along, +slowly making her way to the landing-stairs.</p> +<p> +"Where have you been so early, Charlotte?" +called out Greta.</p> +<p> +"Are you there, youngsters?" said Charlotte, +looking up at the two bright faces at the window; +for the little Amelia had been roused by her sister's +wild jump from the bed, and had also run to the +window.</p> +<p> +"Bad Charlotte, to wake us so early!" cried +Amelia.</p> +<p> +Charlotte laughed. "You wouldn't think me +bad, Minchen, if you knew all the good things I've +been buying at market. Have you forgotten your +cousins are coming to-day, all the way from over +the sea? I'm sure they'll be hungry enough."</p> +<p> +"What you got?" asked Amelia (usually called +Minchen).</p> +<p> +"Fine Beemster cheese, sweet butter, fresh +salad, and plenty of fruit. And there are lots of +good things at the bottom of the basket. I'll leave +you to find out what they are." And Charlotte +made the boat fast, and carried the heavy basket +into the house.</p> +<p> +It was not necessary for Charlotte to remind +these little girls of the cousins who lived in the city +of New York, in the far-off land of America. For +the last month little else had been talked of in the +Van Schaick mansion besides the expected visit of +the Chester family. Mrs. Van Schaick and Mrs. +Chester were sisters, and this was but the second +visit the latter had paid her old Holland home since +her marriage. On the first visit her children were +not with her; but now Mr. Chester was coming, +and the two boys. Many were the wild speculations +the girls indulged in with regard to Americans,—what +they would look like, and what they +would say and do.</p> +<p> +Great, then, was their surprise, when the travelers +arrived, to find that their aunt Chester was +very like their mother in appearance and dress. +Mr. Chester did not in the least resemble their +father, but he was not unlike many other men they +had seen, and he did not dress in wild-beast skins. +As for the boys, Greta poured her tale of woe into +the ears of the sympathizing Charlotte. "They +are just like English boys!" she said, contemptuously. +Greta had often seen English boys, and +there was nothing uncommon about them.</p> +<p> +This was soon forgotten, however, when Greta +discovered what pleasant companions the boys +were, and that they could put the Dutch words +together almost as correctly as Greta herself. Will +Chester, who had reached the dignified age of thirteen, +had felt much troubled at the thought that he +would have "only girls" to play with at Zaandam, +especially as Greta was a year younger than himself. +But when the two girls, instead of bringing +forward their dolls and tea-sets with which to entertain +their visitors, produced from their treasures +two good-sized toy canal-boats, fully equipped with +everything a canal-boat needed, he admitted to +himself that girls who liked to sail boats might be +good for something.</p> +<p> +Secretly, however, he thought that a canal-boat +was a poor kind of vessel to have, and wished his +cousins owned such beautiful ships as he and Martin +had; for among the last things bought before +leaving New York were two little sailing-vessels—the +"America" and the "Columbus." Mr. Chester +said Holland was full of water, and these were +proper toys to take there.</p> +<p> +The two canal-boats, being precisely alike, were +distinguished from each other only by their names. +Greta's had "Wilhelmina" painted on the side in +black letters, while Minchen's had "Gouda" in red +letters. They were similar to American canal-boats +in shape, and of a dark red-brown color. +Will thought them stumpy and heavy-looking; +and he did not admire the red sails with crooked +gaffs, and smiled at the blue pennants, stretched +out on stiff frames that turned with the wind. But +when Greta showed him a tiny windlass on the +deck, by means of which she easily raised and +lowered the mast, he came to the conclusion that a +Dutch canal-boat was not to be despised.</p> +<p> +"I do this when we pass under bridges," she +explained.</p> +<p> +"Where are your mules for drawing your boat?"</p> +<p> +"My boat sails!" she said, proudly. "If there +is no wind, I drag it along myself. That is the +way we do in our <a name="Charlotte">country</a>."</p> +<p class="center1"> +<img src="images/105.jpg" width="500" alt="Charlotte was pushing the boat along, making her way to the landing-stairs." border="0" /><br /> +"CHARLOTTE WAS PUSHING THE BOAT ALONG, MAKING HER WAY TO THE LANDING-STAIRS."</p> +<p> +The American vessels were now unpacked and +displayed. When the girls saw these sharp-prowed, +graceful ships, with their tapering masts and pretty<span class="page1"><a name="542">[Page 542]</a></span> +sails, their eyes glistened, and they declared that +never before had they seen anything so lovely. +Their, pride in their canal-boats suffered a woful +downfall. The boys proposed to try all the vessels +on the canal at the back of the house, but Greta +objected.</p> +<p> +"Mother never lets us go there to sail our boats," +she said. "It is a dirty place, and she is afraid we +will fall in. But there is a beautiful stream by the +mill where we are going to-morrow, and there we +can try our boats, and see which goes the fastest."</p> +<p> +"Let us take a walk, then," said Martin. "I +want to look at this queer place."</p> +<p> +The Van Shaicks lived in Zaandam, and it is +indeed a queer place to American eyes. It is a +large town, with but two streets, one on each side<span class="page1"><a name="543">[Page 543]</a></span> +of the Zaan River; but these two extend for a long +distance, and are crossed at frequent intervals by +canals, so that Martin soon got tired counting the +little bridges the children passed over in their walk. +Will was not quite sure whether the brick-paved +street was all road-way or all sidewalk.</p> +<p> +"I don't see any carriages," he said, after studying +this matter for some time.</p> +<p> +"People don't ride much here," said Greta. +"There are plenty of carriages in Amsterdam."</p> +<p> +"How do you get about, then?"</p> +<p> +"On our feet and in boats. Look at our fine +river, and there are ever so many canals! What +do we want with carriages?"</p> +<p> +"It must be jolly going everywhere in boats," +said Will. "I should like that!"</p> +<p> +"We have some very pretty boats," said Greta, +much pleased. "Oh! wouldn't you like to go +fishing? I'll ask father to take us some day soon. +I saw a net in the market-boat this morning."</p> +<p> +"Well, if that isn't funny!" cried Martin, with +a burst of laughter. Will joined in the laugh, +and Greta looked around in vain to discover the +cause of their merriment.</p> +<p> +"Looking-glasses on the <i>outside</i> of the houses!" +explained Martin, pointing to one opposite. "I +guess they're put there for the girls to look in as +they walk along," he added, mischievously. "They +can't wait to get home to admire themselves."</p> +<p> +Sure enough, there was a mirror outside the window, +set at such an angle that the persons inside +the house could see who was passing up and down +the street. And there was a mirror on the next +house, and the next.</p> +<p> +"Why, they are on all the houses!" said Will.</p> +<p> +"To be sure!" said Greta. "What is there +funny in that? And the girls don't look in them +any more than the boys, Mr. Martin. Don't you +ever want to know what is going on in the street?"</p> +<p> +"Of course I do."</p> +<p> +"How are you going to do it without the looking-glass +to tell you?"</p> +<p> +"Use my own eyes, to be sure!"</p> +<p> +"Whose eyes do you use when you look in a +glass?" said Greta.</p> +<p> +Martin looked puzzled, and had no reply ready; +and Will thought his cousin Greta very clever, +although she was a girl, and a year younger than +himself.</p> +<p> +But Martin soon recovered his composure.</p> +<p> +"What lots of flowers!" was his next comment. +"They are everywhere, except in this brick pavement, +and nothing could grow here, it is so clean."</p> +<p> +"And such pretty houses in the gardens!" said +Will.</p> +<p> +"But they are so small," said Martin, "It +would take a dozen of them to make a New York +house."</p> +<p> +"My goodness!" said Greta, turning her head +back as far as she could, and looking at the sky. +"How do you ever see up to their roofs?"</p> +<p> +"Divide Martin's twelve by four, and you will +come nearer the truth," said Will, laughing. "But, +at any rate, the houses are pretty—painted green +and yellow, with red-tiled roofs."</p> +<p> +The next thing the boys observed was the loneliness +of the streets. In America a town of twelve +thousand inhabitants would have more of an air of +bustle, they said. Will liked the quiet, "for a +change," as he expressed it, and because it made +him feel, somehow, as if he owned the place. +Martin declared it to be his opinion that the people +kept out of the streets for fear that their shoes +would soil them, and that accounted for the almost +spotless cleanliness everywhere.</p> +<p> +The streets were not deserted, however; for, at +intervals, there were row-boat ferries across the +river, and occasionally a man or woman would be +seen in one of these boats.</p> +<p> +There were also a number of children, and some +women, in the streets. These apparently belonged +to the poorer classes. Hats and bonnets were +scarce among them, though all the women, and +many of the little girls, had on close-fitting muslin +caps. They wore short, loose sacques, and short +dress skirts, made up without trimmings. The +boys were dressed in jackets and baggy trousers. +All wore clumsy wooden shoes.</p> +<p> +The Van Schaick family followed the French +fashions, as we do in America; the difference +between the two countries being that here every +one attempts to follow the prevailing style, while in +Holland this change of fashion is confined to the +wealthy; the middle and lower classes preserving +the same style of costume from generation to +generation.</p> +<p> +A good many of the children in the street were +carrying painted iron or stone buckets, with a tea-kettle +on the top. After proceeding some distance +up the street, Will and Martin saw some of them +coming out of a basement door-way, still with the +buckets in their hands; but clouds of steam were +issuing from the tea-kettle spouts!</p> +<p> +"What place is that?" asked Will.</p> +<p> +"It is the fire-woman's," said Greta.</p> +<p> +"And who and what may she be? I have heard +of water-women, sometimes called mermaids, but +never before did I hear of a fire-woman."</p> +<p> +"She don't <i>live</i> in fire," said Greta; "she <i>sells</i> +it. What do the poor people in your country do +in summer without a fire-woman? Come and +look <a name="fire-woman">in</a>."</p> + +<p class="center1"> +<img src="images/106.jpg" width="600" alt="At the fire-woman's." border="0" /><br />AT THE FIRE-WOMAN'S. +</p> +<p> +<a name="f1">By</a> this time they had reached the place. Over +the door was the sign "<i>Water en vuur te koop</i>."<sup><a href="#footnote1" title="Water and fire to sell.">1</a></sup> <span class="page1"><a name="544">[Page 544]</a></span> +It was not necessary for the children to go inside. +They could see the whole apartment through the +wide-open door-way. An old woman stood by a +stove, or great oven, with a pair of tongs, taking +up pieces of burning peat and dropping them into +the buckets of the children, and then filling their +tea-kettles with boiling water from great copper +tanks on the stove. For this each child paid her +a Dutch cent, which is less than half of one of +ours.</p> + +<p> +"I understand it," said Will, after they had +stood at the door some time, amused at the scene. +"This saves poor people the expense of a fire in +the summer-time. They send here for hot water +to make their tea."</p> +<p> +"Yes," said Greta, "and for the burning peat +which cooks the potatoes and the sausage for their +supper."</p> +<p> +"Why don't they use coal?" asked Martin. "It +is ever so much better."</p> +<p> +"No, the peat answers their purpose much +better," said Will. "It burns slowly, and gives +out a good deal of heat for a long time."</p> +<p> +"And the smell of it is so delicious," added +Greta.</p> +<p> +A little further on; the children came out on an +open space, which gave them a good view of the +surrounding flat country, and of the wind-mills that +stand about Zaandam—a forest of towers. It was +a marvelous sight. Hundreds of giant arms were +beating the air, as if guarding the town from +invisible enemies.</p> +<p> +Greta was proud and pleased that her cousins +were so impressed with the great numbers of towers +and the myriads of gigantic whirling spokes.</p> +<p> +"My father says there is nothing grander than +this in all Holland," she said. "There are four +hundred of them, and more, but you can't see +them all from here. Do you see that mill over +yonder? That is my father's, and we are going +there to-morrow."</p> +<p> +The boys could not distinguish one tower from +another at that distance.</p> +<p> +"What kind of mill is it?" asked Will.<span class="page1"><a name="545">[Page 545]</a></span></p> +<p> +"A flour-mill."</p> +<p> +"Are all these flour-mills?"</p> +<p> +"Oh no! There are saw-mills, colza-oil mills, +mustard-mills, flax-mills, and other kinds I don't +remember."</p> +<p> +It was now nearly supper-time, and the little +group returned home.</p> +<p> +The next morning, the whole party—four grown-up +people, four youngsters, and four boats (the +"Wilhelmina," the "Gouda," the "America," and +the "Columbus")—were all taken up the Zaan +River in a row-boat for about three miles, and then +up a small stream to the mill where they were to +spend the day.</p> +<p> +The first thing in order was the inspection of the +mill, which was unlike anything they had ever seen +in America. The tower was of brick. It was three +stories high, over a basement. In the basement +were the stables and wagon-house; over this was +the granary, and flour and meal store; above this +were the bolting-rooms, the ground wheat running +through spouts to the store-rooms below. On the +next floor above were the mill-stones, and the +simple machinery that turned them. And, above +all, at the very top of the tower, was the main shaft +of the great wings outside. These wings caught +the winds, and compelled them to work the machinery +with such force as to make the strong tower +tremble. There were balconies around the first +and third stories of the mill. It was quite a picturesque +object standing among low trees on a +pretty, quiet stream, the banks of which were +higher and more uneven than was usual in that +part of the country.</p> +<p> +The miller lived in a small house near the mill +with his wife and his little daughter Hildegarde, +the latter of whom was near Greta's age.</p> +<p> +The boys did not take as much interest in the +miller's house as their parents took; but when they +were shown into a large outer room, and were told +it was the cow-stable, they had no words with which +to express their astonishment. They would have +said it was the show-room of the place. There was +not a speck on the whitewashed walls; the pine +ceiling was so clean it fairly glistened; there were +crisp, white muslin curtains at the windows. The +raised earthen floor was covered with pure white +sand, arranged in fancy designs. There were some +small round tables standing about, and on them +were ornaments of china and silver, and a variety +of knick-knacks.</p> +<p> +During the summer the cows were in the pasture +day and night, but in the winter they occupied this +room. Then the tables were removed, but the +place was kept very neatly. This was necessary, +for the stable adjoined the house, and the party +passed into the barn through a door in the cow-stable.</p> +<p> +All except the two boys. Will hung back and +motioned to Martin not to go into the barn.</p> +<p> +"I am tired of this sort of thing," he said. "Let +us go and sail our boats."</p> +<p> +"Very well," said Martin, "I'll call the girls."</p> +<p> +"No," said Will; "there are too many of them. +They'll only be in the way. They'll have a good +time together, and we'll have some fun by ourselves."</p> +<p> +Martin seldom dissented from Will's decisions, so +the two boys went back into the house to get their +ships, and passed out of another door to the bridge +and across the stream. They had gone but a short +distance when Martin, who had seemed very +thoughtful, stopped opposite the mill.</p> +<p> +"There is a man in the balcony," he said. "I'll +ask him to call to the girls to come. It isn't fair +to go without them. You know Greta thought <i>so</i> +much of sailing her boat with ours."</p> +<p> +"Nonsense," said Will. "She has got other +company now. I don't believe they know how to +manage their boats, and we will have to help them. +Girls always have to be taken care of."</p> +<p> +"But," persisted Martin, "you said that Greta +was real smart and a first-rate fellow—girl, I mean."</p> +<p> +"She is well enough for girls' plays; but what +can she know about boats? Come along!"</p> +<p> +Martin said no more, and the boys proceeded for +some distance up the stream.</p> +<p> +"If we go around that bend," said Will, "we +will be out of sight of the mill, and can have our +own fun."</p> +<p> +Around the bend they found a bridge, and a little +way above this the stream widened into a large +pool, the banks of which were shaded by willows. +There they launched the schooner "America" +and the sloop "Columbus" with appropriate ceremonies. +The sails and the rudders were properly +set for a trip across the pool. The ships bent +gracefully to the breeze, and went steadily on their +course, the little flags waving triumphantly from +the mast-heads. They moved so gracefully and +behaved so beautifully that Martin expressed his +sorrow that the girls were not there to see them. +Will made no reply, but he felt a twinge of remorse +as he remembered how Greta had looked forward +to this sail as a great event. He tried to quiet his +conscience with the consideration that it was much +better for her not to be there; for she would certainly +have felt mortified at the contrast between +their pretty vessels and the poor canal-boats.</p> +<p> +The boys crossed the bridge, and were ready for +the arrival of their vessels in the foreign port. +Then they started them on the return voyage and +recrossed the bridge to receive them at home.</p> +<p> +This was done several times, but at last there was<span class="page1"><a name="546">[Page 546]</a></span> +an accident. Will's schooner, the "America," from +some unknown cause, took a wrong tack when near +the middle of the pool, and going too far up, got +aground upon a tiny, grassy island. She swayed +about for a minute, and the boys hoped she would +float off, but soon the masts ceased to quiver. The +"America" had quietly moored herself on the +island as if she intended to remain there forever. +What was to be done? The longest pole to be +found would not reach the island from either bank, +or from the bridge, and the pool was deep. Will +began to think it was a pretty bad <a name="boats">case</a>.</p> + +<p class="center1"> +<img src="images/107.jpg" width="500" alt="The boys with their boats." border="0" /><br /> +THE BOYS WITH THEIR BOATS.</p> + +<p> +"What a beauty!" "Isn't it just lovely!" +"Pretty! pretty! pretty!"</p> +<p> +These exclamations came respectively from Greta, +Hildegarde, and Minchen, and had reference to the +"Columbus," which was gliding up to the bank +where the boys stood, with its sails gleaming in the +sunshine, while it dipped and courtesied on the little +waves. The girls were coming around the bend. +Greta and Minchen had their canal-boats, and +Hildegarde carried a great square of gingerbread.</p> +<p> +"That's the most beautiful thing I ever saw!" +cried Greta. In her admiration of the vessel, she +had forgotten her wounded dignity. For she had +arranged with Hildegarde that, after giving the<span class="page1"><a name="547">[Page 547]</a></span> +boys their share of gingerbread, they should walk +proudly and silently away.</p> +<p> +As Greta had broken the compact by speaking, +Hildegarde entered upon an explanation: "We +have been down the stream looking for you—" +But here she was interrupted by a frown from +Greta, who suddenly recollected the slight that had +been put upon them.</p> +<p> +"Naughty boys to run away!" said little Minchen. +"You sha'n't see my boat sail!"</p> +<p> +"My ship is aground on that island," said Will, +willing to change the subject. "I have no way of +getting her off. I wonder if the boat we came in +is too large to be got up here."</p> +<p> +"The boat was taken back to Zaandam," said +Hildegarde, "and our boat is away, too."</p> +<p> +"The 'America' will have to stay where she +is, then," said Will, trying to speak cheerfully.</p> +<p> +"Pretty ship is lost! Too bad!" said Minchen, +pityingly. Then brightly: "I'll give you mine!-<i>may +be</i>," she added in a doubtful tone, as her glance +fell lovingly upon the boat she was hugging under +her arm.</p> +<p> +Meantime, Greta had been studying the situation. +She now turned to Will. "I can get your ship +off," she said. "Take care of my boat till I come +back, and don't sail her on any account. I wont +be gone long."</p> +<p> +She handed her boat to Will, and was around +the bend in an instant; and it was not very long +before the anxious group heard the sound of her +rapid footsteps returning. Will thought she had +gone to the mill to get some one to help them, but +she came back alone, and all she brought with her +was a large ball of cord.</p> +<p> +Martin and Minchen asked her twenty questions +while she made her preparations, but she would +not reveal her plans, although it was evident from +the way she went to work that she had a very clear +idea of what she intended to accomplish.</p> +<p> +In the first place, she said the whole party must +go further up the bank, so as to get above the +"America," which was on the lower edge of the little +island. When they had gone far enough, she tied +one end of the cord to the rudder-post of her canal-boat. +Then she turned the cunning little windlass, +and slowly up went the mast to its full height. The +next thing was to unfurl the sail, set it properly, +and set the rudder,—all of which she did deftly +and correctly, making Will feel ashamed of what +he had said about the ignorance of girls.</p> +<p> +She placed the boat on the water. The sail +filled, and off went the "Wilhelmina" with a slow, +true, steady motion, her red sail glowing in the +sunshine, and her stiff little pennant standing +straight out in the wind. As the boat crossed the +pool, Greta played out the cord carefully, so as +not to impede its motion. When it reached the +other side and had gently grounded on the shelving +shore, Greta gave the line into Will's hand.</p> +<p> +"If you will hold this," she said, "I will go +across the bridge."</p> +<p> +"Don't trouble yourself to do that," said Will, +"I will go over."</p> +<p> +"No," said Greta, "I wish to go. I am captain +of my own craft, and I know how to manage my +'Wilhelmina.'"</p> +<p> +"I had no idea she was so pretty," said Will. +"She is a true, stanch little sailer."</p> +<p> +"She don't show off until she is on the water," +said Greta, smiling, "and then she sails like a real +boat. Do you know what I am going to do when I +get to the other side?"</p> +<p> +"I can guess. You will send your boat back to +me from below the island while I hold this end of +the cord. That will bring the line around my ship +and pull her off."</p> +<p> +"I thought of that, but it is too risky. If anything +should go wrong with my boat, the line might +get tangled; or there might be too great a strain, +and the ship would come off with a jerk and be +tumbled bottom upward into the water. I intend +to untie the cord from the boat, and you and I must +walk slowly down toward the 'America,'—I on +that side, and you on this. We must hold the cord +low so as to catch the mast under the sail, if we +can."</p> +<p> +"All right," said Will.</p> +<p> +Greta walked quickly down the bank, across the +bridge, and up the other side until she reached the +"Wilhelmina." Placing the boat on the bank for +safety, she took the cord off, and, holding it firmly, +walked slowly down toward the island. Will did +the same on his side of the pool. The cord went +skimming over the surface of the water, then it +passed above the tops of the long grass on the +island. This brought the line on a level with the +top-sail. This would not do; for a pressure up +there might capsize the schooner. Both of the +workers saw that they must slacken the line a little +to get it into the proper place. Now was the critical +time; if the line was too much slackened it might +slip under the vessel and upset it that way. Gently +they lowered it until it lay against the mainmast +below the sail.</p> +<p> +"Take care!" screamed Will to Greta.</p> +<p> +"Go slow!" screamed Greta to Will.</p> +<p> +Gently they pulled against the schooner, and, +inch by inch, she floated off into the open water.</p> +<p> +"Hurrah!" shouted Will, as the "America" +gave herself a little shake, and, catching the wind, +sailed slowly and somewhat unsteadily for the home +port, which, however, she reached in safety. +"Wind up the cord!" shouted Greta, just in<span class="page1"><a name="548">[Page 548]</a></span> +time to prevent Will's throwing it aside. He wondered +what further use she had for the cord. It +might go to the bottom of the pool for aught he +cared, now that the ship was safe. But he wound +it up as directed. It would have been quite a grief +to the thrifty little Dutch girl if so much fine cord +had been wasted.</p> +<p> +Thus ignominiously came in the stately ship +"America," which Will had set afloat with such +pride! And it is doubtful whether she would have +come in at all, but for the stanch Dutch canal-boat +that he had regarded with a good deal of +disdain.</p> +<p> +If Will had been a girl, he would have exhausted +the complimentary adjectives of the Dutch language +in praise of his cousin; but being a boy, he only +said, "Thank you, Greta."</p> +<p> +The children remained at the pool until called to +dinner; and after that meal, they went back again +and stayed until it was time to return to Zaandam, +so fascinated were they with sailing their vessels. +These changed hands so often that it was sometimes +difficult to tell who had charge of any particular +boat, and a good deal of confusion was the +result. In justice to the "America," it must be +stated that she cut no more capers, and was the +admiration of all.</p> +<p> +Will had his faults, and one of these was the +very high estimate he placed on his own opinions. +But he was generous-hearted, and he admitted to +himself that Greta had shown more cleverness than +he in the "America" affair. "She was <i>quicker</i>, +anyway," he thought. "It is likely that plan +would have occurred to me after a time, but she +thought of it first. And it was good of her to help +me; for she knew that I went away so as not to +play with her." It was not pleasant to him to know +that a girl had shown herself superior to him in +anything he considered his province; but he magnanimously +forgave her for this, and he said to +Martin, after they were in bed that night:</p> +<p> +"I've pretty much made up my mind to give my +schooner to Greta. I believe she thinks it the +prettiest thing ever made."</p> +<p> +"If you do that," said Martin, "I'll give my +sloop to Minchen."</p> +<p> +This plan was carried out, and the girls were +more delighted than if they had had presents of +diamonds. But they insisted that the boys should +accept their canal-boats in exchange, the result of +which was that the Chesters, on their return to +America, produced quite a sensation among their +schoolmates. For American-built vessels could be +bought in many stores in New York, but a Dutch +canal-boat, with a red sail, and a mast that was +raised and lowered by a windlass, was not to be +found in all the city.</p> + +<p class="footnote"> +<a href="#f1">Footnote</a> <a name="footnote1">1</a>: "Water and fire to sell."</p> + +<br /><br /><br /><hr class="short" /><br /><br /><br /> + +<h2>THE <a name="butterfly">BUTTERFLY</a> CHASE</h2> + +<h3>BY ELLIS GRAY.</h3> + +<p class="indent2"> +Dear little butterfly,<br /> +Lightly you flutter by,<br /> + On golden wing.<br /> +Drops of sweet honey sip,<br /> +Deep from the clover tip,<br /> + Then upward spring.<br /><br /> + +Over the meadow grass<br /> +Swift as a fairy pass,<br /> + Blithesome and gay;<br /> +Toy with the golden-rod,<br /> +Make the blue asters nod—<br /> + Off and away!<br /><br /> + +Butterfly's dozing now,<br /> +Golden wings closing now,—<br /> + Softly he swings.<br /> +Tiny hands fold him fast,<br /> +Gently unclose at last,—<br /> + Fly, golden wings!<br /><br /> + +Quick! for he's after you,<br /> +With joyous laughter new,—<br /> + Mischievous boy!<br /> +Swift you must flutter by;<br /> +He wants you, butterfly,<br /> + For a new toy!</p><br /> + +<br /><br /><br /><hr class="short" /><br /><br /><br /> + +<span class="page1"><a name="549">[Page 549]</a></span> +<p class="center"> +<img src="images/full0039-1.jpg" width="321" height="163" alt="decoration" border="0" /></p> + +<br /><br /><br /> + +<h2>HOW TO MAKE A <a name="telephone">TELEPHONE</a>.</h2> + +<h3>BY M.F.</h3> +<p> +What is a telephone?</p> +<p> +Up go a hundred hands of the brightest and +sharpest of the readers of ST. NICHOLAS, and a +hundred confident voices reply:</p> +<p> +"An instrument to convey sounds by means of +electricity."</p> +<p> +Good. That shows you have some definite idea +of it; but, after all, that answer is not the right +one. The telephone does not convey sound.</p> +<p> +"What does its name mean, then?" do you ask?</p> +<p> +Simply, that it is a far-sounder; but that does +not necessarily imply that it <i>carries</i> sounds afar. +Strictly speaking, the telephone only changes sound-waves +into waves of electricity and back again. +When two telephones are connected by means of a +wire, they act in this way,—the first telephone +changes the sound-waves it receives into electric +impulses which travel along the wire until they +reach the second telephone, here they are changed +back to sound-waves exactly like those received by +the first telephone. Accordingly, the listener in +New York seems to hear the very tones of his +friend who is speaking at the other end of the line, +say, in Boston.</p> +<p> +Still you don't see how.</p> +<p> +It is not surprising, for in this description several +scientific facts and principles are involved; and all +boys and girls cannot be expected to know much +about the laws of sound and electricity. Perhaps +a little explanation may make it clearer.</p> +<p> +The most of you probably know that sound is +produced by rapid motion. Put your finger on a +piano wire that is sounding, and you will feel the +motion, or touch your front tooth with a tuning-fork +that is singing; in the last case you will feel +very distinctly the raps made by the vibrating fork. +Now, a sounding body will not only jar another +body which touches it, but it will also give its +motion to the air that touches it; and when the +air-motions or air-waves strike the sensitive drums +of our ears, these vibrate, and we <i>hear</i> the sound.</p> +<p> +You all have heard the windows rattle when it +thunders loudly, or when cannons have been fired +near-by. The sound waves in the air fairly shake +the windows; and, sometimes, when the windows +are closed, so that the air-waves cannot pass readily, +the windows are shattered by the shock. Fainter +sounds act less violently, yet similarly. Every time +you speak, your voice sets everything around you +vibrating in unison, though ever so faintly.</p> +<p> +Thus, from your every-day experience you have +proof of two important facts,—first, sound is caused +by rapid motion; second, sound-waves give rise to +corresponding motion. Both these facts are involved +in the speaking telephone, which performs +a twofold office,—that of the ear on the one hand, +that of our vocal organs on the other.</p> +<p> +To serve as an ear, the telephone must be able +to take up quickly and nicely the sound-waves of +the air. A tightened drum-head will do that; or +better, a strip of goldbeaters'-skin drawn tightly +over a ring or the end of a tube. But these would +not help Professor Bell, the inventor of the telephone +we shall describe, since he wanted an ear +that would translate the waves of sound into waves +of electricity, which would travel farther and faster +than sound-waves could.</p> +<p> +Just when Mr. Bell was thinking how he could +make the instrument he wanted, an important discovery +in magnetism was made known to him—a +discovery that helped him wonderfully. You know +that if you hold a piece of iron close to a magnet +the magnet will pull it, and the closer the iron +comes to the magnet the harder it is pulled. Now, +some one experimenting with a magnet having a +coil of silk-covered wire around it, found that when +a piece of iron was moved in front of the magnet +and close to it without touching, the motion would +give rise to electric waves in the coil of wire, which<span class="page1"><a name="550">[Page 550]</a></span> +waves could be transmitted to considerable distances.</p> +<p> +This was just what Mr. Bell wanted. He said to +himself, "The sound of my voice will give motion +to a thin plate of iron as well as to a sheet of goldbeaters'-skin; +and if I bring this vibrating plate of +iron close to a magnet, the motion will set up in it +waves of electricity answering exactly to the sound-waves +which move the iron plate."</p> +<p> +So far, good. But something more was wanted. +The instrument must not only translate sound-waves +into electric impulses, but change these back +again into sound-waves; it must not only hear, +but also <i>speak!</i></p> +<p> +You remember our first fact in regard to sound: +it is caused by motion. All that is needed to make +anything speak is to cause it to move so as to give +rise to just such air-waves as the voice makes. +Mr. Bell's idea was to make the iron plate of his +sound-receiver speak.</p> +<p> +He reasoned in this way: From the nature of the +magnet it follows that when waves of electricity are +passed through the wire coil around the magnet, +the strength of the magnet must vary with the +force of the electric impulses. Its pull on the plate +of iron near it must vary in the same manner. The +varying pull on the plate must make it move, and +this movement must set the air against the plate in +motion in sound-waves corresponding exactly with +the motion setting up the electric waves in the first +place; in other words, the sound-motion in one +telephone must be exactly reproduced as sound-waves +in a similar instrument joined to it by wire.</p> +<p> +Experiment proved the reasoning correct; and +thus the speaking-telephone was invented. But it +took a long time to find the simplest and best way +to make it. At last, however, Mr. Bell's telephone +was perfected in the form illustrated below. Fig. 1 +shows the inner structure of the instrument. A is +the spool carrying the coil of wire; B, the magnet; +C, the diaphragm; E, the case; F, F, the wires leading +from the coil, and connecting at the end of the +handle with the ground and line wires. Fig. 2 +shows how a telephone looks on the <a name="telephone12">outside</a>.</p> +<p class="center1"> +<img src="images/109.jpg" width="400" alt="Bell's telephone. Fig. 1 and Fig. 2" border="0" /><br /><br />BELL'S TELEPHONE. +</p> +<p> +So much for description. You will understand +it better, perhaps, if you experiment a little. You +can easily make a pair for yourself, rude and imperfect, +it is true, but good enough for all the tests +you may want to apply.</p> +<p> +For each you will want: (1) a straight magnet; +(2) a coil of silk-covered copper wire; (3) a thin +plate of soft iron; (4) a box to hold the first three +articles. You will also want as much wire as you +can afford, to connect the instruments, and two +short pieces of wire to connect your telephones with +the ground. (Two wires between the instruments +would make the ground-wires unnecessary, but this +would use up too much wire.) The magnet and +the coil you will have to buy from some dealer in +electrical apparatus. They need not cost much.<span class="page1"><a name="551">[Page 551]</a></span> +A small cigar-box will answer for the case.</p> +<div class="figleft"> +<img src="images/063.png" width="300" alt="A 'cigar-box' telephone." border="0" /><br />A 'CIGAR-BOX' TELEPHONE.</div> + +<p> +In one end of the box cut a round hole, say, +three inches across. Against this hole fasten a +disk of thin sheet-iron for the vibrator or "diaphragm." +For a mouth-piece use a small can, +such as ground spices come in, or even a round +paper box.</p> +<p> +Now, on the inside of the box, place the magnet, +the end carrying the coil almost touching the middle +of the diaphragm, and fix it firmly. Then, to +the ends of the copper wire of the main coil fasten +two wires,—one for the line, the other for the +"ground-wire."</p> +<p> +This done, you will have an instrument (or +rather two of them) very much like Fig. 3. A is +the mouth-piece; B, the diaphragm; C, the coil; +D, the magnet; E, E, the wires.</p> +<p> +The receiving and sending instruments are precisely +alike, each answers for both purposes; but +there must be two, since one must always be hearing +while the other is speaking.</p> +<p> +When you speak into the mouth-piece of one +telephone, the sound of your voice causes the +"diaphragm" to vibrate in front of the magnet. +The vibrations cause the magnet's pull upon the +diaphragm to vary in force, which variation is +answered by electrical waves in the coil and over +the wires connected with it. At the other end of +the wire the pull of the magnet of the speaking +telephone is varied exactly in proportion to the +strength of the electric impulses that come over +the wire; the varying pull of the magnet sets the +diaphragm in motion, and that sets the air in motion +in waves precisely like those of the distant voice. +When those waves strike the listener's ear, he <i>seems</i> +to hear the speaker's exact tones, and so, substantially, +he does hear them. The circumstance that +electric waves, and not sound-waves, travel over the +wires, does not change the quality of the resulting +sound in the least.</p> +<p> +I think you now understand Bell's telephone.</p> +<p> +The telephones of Edison, Gray, and others, involve +different principles and are differently constructed.</p> +<p> +One invention very often leads to another, and +the telephone already has an offspring not less +wonderful than itself. It is called the speaking-phonograph. +It was invented by Mr. Edison, one +of the gentlemen, just mentioned.</p> +<p> +Evidently, Mr. Edison said to himself: "The +telephone hears and speaks; why not make it write +in its own way; then its record could be kept, and +any time after, the instrument might read aloud its +own writing." Like a great genius as he is, Mr. +Edison went to work in the simplest way to make +the sound-recorder he wanted. You know how the +diaphragm of the telephone vibrates when spoken +to? Mr. Edison took away from the telephone +all except the mouth-piece and the diaphragm, +fastened a point of metal, which we will call a +"style," to the center of the diaphragm, and then +contrived a simple arrangement for making a sheet +of tin-foil pass in front of the style. When the +diaphragm is still, the style simply scratches a +straight line along the foil. When a sound is +made, however, and the diaphragm set to vibrating, +the mark of the style is not a simple scratch, but +an impression varying in depth according to the +diaphragm's vibration. And that is how the phonograph +writes. To the naked eye, the record of the +sound appears to be simply a line of pin points or +dots, more or less close to each other; but, under +a magnifier, it is seen to be far more complicated.</p> +<p> +Now for the reading. The impression on the +foil exactly records the vibrations of the diaphragm, +and those vibrations exactly measure the sound-waves +which caused the vibrations. The reading +simply reverses all this. The strip of foil is passed +again before the diaphragm, the point of the style +follows the groove it made at first, and the diaphragm +follows the style in all its motions. The +original vibrations are thus exactly reproduced, +setting up sound-waves in the air precisely like those +which first set the machine in motion. Consequently, +the listener hears a minutely exact echo of +what the instrument heard; it might have heard it +a minute, or an hour, or a year, or a thousand years +before, had the phonograph been in use so long.</p> +<p> +What a wonderful result is that! As yet, the +phonograph has not been put to any practical use; +indeed, it is scarcely in operation yet, and a great +deal must be done to increase the delicacy of its +hearing and the strength of its voice. It mimics +any and every sort of sound with marvelous fidelity, +but weakly. Its speech is like that of a person a +long way off, or in another room. But its possibilities +are almost infinite.</p> + +<br /><br /><br /><hr class="short" /><br /><br /><br /> + +<span class="page1"><a name="552">[Page 552]</a></span> + +<h2>ONLY A <a name="doll">DOLL</a>!</h2> + +<h3>BY SARAH O. JEWETT.</h3> +<p class="center"> +<img src="images/110.jpg" width="450" alt="Dolly" border="0" /><br /></p> + +<p class="indent1"> +Polly, my dolly! why don't you grow?<br /> + Are you a dwarf, my Polly?<br /> +I'm taller and taller every day;<br /> + How high the grass is!—do you see that?<br /> +The flowers are growing like weeds, they say;<br /> + The kitten is growing into a cat!<br /> + Why don't you grow, my dolly?<br /><br /> + +Here is a mark upon the wall.<br /> + Look for yourself, my Polly!<br /> +I made it a year ago, I think.<br /> + I've measured you very often, dear,<br /> +But, though you've plenty to eat and drink,<br /> + You haven't grown a bit for a year.<br /> + Why don't you grow, my dolly?<br /><br /> + +Are you never going to try to talk?<br /> + You're such a silent Polly!<br /> +Are you never going to say a word?<br /> + It isn't hard; and oh! don't you see<br /> +The parrot is only a little bird,<br /> + But he can chatter so easily.<br /> + You're quite a dunce, my dolly!<br /><br /> + +Let's go and play by the baby-house:<br /> + You are my dearest Polly!<br /> +There are other things that do not grow;<br /> + Kittens can't talk, and why should you?<br /> +You are the prettiest doll I know;<br /> + You are a darling—that is true!<br /> + Just as you are, my dolly!</p><br /> + + +<br /><br /><br /><hr class="short" /><br /><br /><br /> + +<span class="page1"><a name="553">[Page 553]</a></span> + +<h2>DAB <a name="Kinzer">KINZER</a>: A STORY OF A GROWING BOY.</h2> + +<h3>BY WILLIAM O. STODDARD.</h3> +<br /> +<p> +Between the village and the inlet, and half a mile +from the great "bay," lay the Kinzer farm. +Beyond the bay was a sand-bar, and beyond that +the Atlantic Ocean; for all this was on the southerly +shore of Long Island.</p> +<p> +The Kinzer farm had lain right there—acre for +acre, no more, no less—on the day when Hendrik +Hudson, long ago, sailed the good ship "Half-Moon" +into New York Bay. But it was not then +known to any one as the Kinzer farm. Neither +was there then, as now, any bright and growing +village crowding up on one side of it, with a railway +station and a post-office. Nor was there, at +that time, any great and busy city of New York, +only a few hours' ride away, over on the island +of Manhattan. The Kinzers themselves were not +there then; but the bay and the inlet, with the fish +and the crabs, and the ebbing and flowing tides, +were there, very much the same, before Hendrik +Hudson and his brave Dutchmen knew anything +whatever about that corner of the world.</p> +<p> +The Kinzer farm had always been a reasonably +"fat" one, both as to size and quality, and the +good people who lived on it had generally been of +a somewhat similar description. It was, therefore, +every way correct and becoming for Dabney Kinzer's +widowed mother and his sisters to be the +plump and hearty beings they were, and all the +more discouraging to poor Dabney that no amount +of regular and faithful eating seemed to make him +resemble them at all in that respect.</p> +<p> +Mrs. Kinzer excused his thinness to her neighbors, +to be sure, on the ground that he was "such +a growing boy;" but, for all that, he caught himself +wondering, now and then, if he would never +be done with that part of his trials. For rapid +growth has its trials.</p> +<p> +"The fact is," he said to himself, one day, as he +leaned over the north fence, "I'm more like Ham +Morris's farm than I am like ours. His farm is +bigger than ours, all 'round; but it's too big for +its fences, just as I'm too big for my clothes. +Ham's house is three times as large as ours, but it +looks as if it had grown too fast. It hasn't any +paint, to speak of, nor any blinds. It looks a good +deal as if somebody'd just built it there and then +forgot it and gone off and left it out-of-doors."</p> +<p> +Dabney's four sisters had all come into the world +before him, but he was as tall as any of them, and +was frequently taken by strangers for a good two +years older than he really was.</p> +<p> +It was sometimes very hard for him, a boy of +fifteen, to live up to what was expected of those +two extra years.</p> +<p> +Mrs. Kinzer still kept him in roundabouts; but +they did not seem to hinder his growth at all, if +that was her object in so doing.</p> +<p> +There was no such thing, however, as keeping +the four girls in roundabouts, of any kind; and, +what between them and their mother, the pleasant +and tidy little Kinzer homestead, with its snug +parlor and its cozy bits of rooms and chambers, +seemed to nestle away, under the shadowing elms +and sycamores, smaller and smaller with every +year that came.</p> +<p> +It was a terribly tight fit for such a family, anyway; +and, now that Dabney was growing at such +a rate, there was no telling what they would all +come to. But Mrs. Kinzer came, at last, to the +rescue, and she summoned her eldest daughter, +Miranda, to her aid.</p> +<p> +A very notable woman was the widow. When +the new railway cut off part of the old farm, she +had split up the slice of land between the iron track +and the village into "town lots," and had sold them +all off by the time the railway company paid her +for the "damage" it had done the property.</p> +<p> +The whole Kinzer family gained visibly in plumpness +that year,—except, perhaps, Dabney.</p> +<p> +Of course, the condition and requirements of +Ham Morris and his big farm, just over the north +fence, had not escaped such a pair of eyes as those +of the widow, and the very size of his great barn +of a house finally settled his fate for him.</p> +<p> +A large, quiet, unambitious, but well brought up +and industrious young man was Hamilton Morris, +and he had not the least idea of the good in store +for him for several months after Mrs. Kinzer decided +to marry him to her daughter Miranda. But all +was soon settled. Dab, of course, had nothing to +do with the wedding arrangements, and Ham's +share was somewhat contracted. Not but what he +was at the Kinzer house a good deal; nor did any +of the other girls tell Miranda how very much he +was in the way. He could talk, however, and one +morning, about a fortnight before the day appointed, +he said to Miranda and her mother:</p> +<p> +"We can't have so very much of a wedding; +your house is so small, and you've chocked it so +full of furniture. Right down nice furniture it is, +too; but there's so much of it. I'm afraid the +minister'll have to stand out in the front yard."</p> +<p> +"The house'll do for this time," replied Mrs.<span class="page1"><a name="554">[Page 554]</a></span> +Kinzer. "There 'll be room enough for everybody. +What puzzles me is Dab."</p> +<p> +"What about Dab?" asked Ham.</p> +<p> +"Can't find a thing to fit him," said Dab's +mother. "Seems as if he were all odd sizes, from +head to foot."</p> +<p> +"Fit him!" exclaimed Ham. "Oh, you mean +ready-made goods! Of course you can't. He'll +have to be measured by a tailor, and have his new +suit built for him."</p> +<p> +"Such extravagance!" emphatically remarked +Mrs. Kinzer.</p> +<p> +"Not for rich people like you, and for a wedding," +replied Ham; "and Dab's a growing boy. +Where is he now? I'm going to the village, and +I'll take him right along with me."</p> +<p> +There seemed to be no help for it; but that was +the first point relating to the wedding concerning +which Ham Morris was permitted to have exactly +his own way. His success made Dab Kinzer a fast +friend of his for life, and that was something.</p> +<p> +There was also something new and wonderful to +Dabney himself in walking into a tailor's shop, +picking out cloth to please himself, and being so +carefully measured all over. He stretched and +swelled himself in all directions, to make sure +nothing should turn out too small. At the end +of it all, Ham said to him:</p> +<p> +"Now, Dab, my boy, this suit is to be a present +from me to you, on Miranda's account."</p> +<p> +Dab colored and hesitated for a moment; but it +seemed all right, he thought, and so he came +frankly out with:</p> +<p> +"Thank you, Ham. You always was a prime +good fellow. I'll do as much for you some day. +Tell you what I'll do, then. I'll have another +suit made, right away, of this other cloth, and have +the bill for that one sent to our folks."</p> +<p> +"Do it!" exclaimed Ham. "Do it! You've +your mother's orders for that. She's nothing to +do with my gift."</p> +<p> +"Splendid!" almost shouted Dab. "Oh, but +don't I hope they'll fit!"</p> +<p> +"Vit?" said the tailor. "Vill zay vit? I dell +you zay vit you like a knife. You vait und zee."</p> +<p> +Dab failed to get a very clear idea of what the fit +would be, but it made him almost hold his breath +to think of it.</p> +<p> +After the triumphant visit to the tailor, there was +still a necessity for a call upon the shoe-maker, and +that was a matter of no small importance. Dab's +feet had always been a mystery and a trial to him. +If his memory contained one record darker than +another, it was the endless history of his misadventures +with boots and shoes. He and leather +had been at war from the day he left his creeping +clothes until now. But now he was promised a +pair of shoes that would be sure to fit.</p> +<p> +So the question of Dab's personal appearance at +the wedding was all arranged between him and +Ham; and Miranda smiled more sweetly than ever +before upon the latter, after she had heard her +usually silent brother break out so enthusiastically +about him as he did that evening.</p> +<p> +It was a good thing for that wedding that it took +place in fine summer weather, for neither kith, kin, +nor acquaintances had been slighted in the invitations, +and the Kinzers were one of the "oldest +families."</p> +<p> +To have gathered them all under the roof of that +house, without either stretching it out wider or boiling +the guests down, would have been out of the +question, and so the majority, with Dabney in his +new clothes to keep them countenance, stood or +sat in the cool shade of the grand old trees during +the ceremony, which was performed near the open +door, and were afterward served with the wedding +refreshments, in a style that spoke volumes for +Mrs. Kinzer's good management, as well as for her +hospitality.</p> +<p> +The only drawback to Dab's happiness that day +was that his acquaintances hardly seemed to know +him. He had had almost the same trouble with +himself when he looked in the glass that morning.</p> +<p> +Ordinarily, his wrists were several inches through +his coat sleeves, and his ankles made a perpetual +show of his stockings. His neck, too, seemed +usually to be holding his head as far as possible +from his coat collar, and his buttons had no favor +to ask of his button-holes.</p> +<p> +Now, even as the tailor had promised, he had +received his "first fit." He seemed to himself, to +tell the truth, to be covered up in a prodigal waste +of nice cloth. Would he ever, ever grow too big +for such a suit of clothes as that? It was a very +painful thought, and he did his best to put it away +from him.</p> +<p> +Still, it was a little hard to have a young lady, +whom he had known before she began to walk, +remark to him: "Excuse me, sir, but can you tell +me if Mr. Dabney Kinzer is here?"</p> +<p> +"No, Jenny Walters," sharply responded Dab, +"he isn't here."</p> +<p> +"Why, Dabney!" exclaimed the pretty Jenny, +"is that you? I declare, you've scared me out of +a year's growth."</p> +<p> +"I wish you'd scare me, then," said Dab. +"Then my clothes would stay fitted."</p> +<p> +Everything had been so well arranged beforehand, +thanks to Mrs. Kinzer, that the wedding had +no chance at all except to go off well. Ham Morris +was rejoiced to find how entirely he was relieved of +every responsibility.</p> +<p> +"Don't worry about your house, Hamilton," the <span class="page1"><a name="555">[Page 555]</a></span> +widow said to him the night before. "We'll go +over there as soon as you and Miranda get away, +and it'll be all ready for you by the time you get +back."</p> +<p> +"All right," said Ham. "I'll be glad to have +you take the old place in hand. I've only tried to +live in a corner of it. You don't know how much +room there is. I don't, I must say."</p> +<p> +Dabney had longed to ask her if she meant to +have it moved over to the Kinzer side of the north +fence, but he had doubts as to the propriety of it, +and just then the boy came in from the tailor's +with his bundle of new clothes.</p> + + + +<h4>CHAPTER II.</h4> + +<p> +Hamilton Morris was a very promising young +man, of some thirty summers. He had been an +"orphan" for a dozen years, and the wonder was +that he should so long have lived alone in the big +square-built house his father left him. At all events, +Miranda Kinzer was just the wife for him.</p> +<p> +Miranda's mother had seen that at a glance, the +moment her mind was settled about the house. +As to that and his great, spreading, half-cultivated +farm, all either of them needed was ready money +and management.</p> +<p> +These were blessings Ham was now made reasonably +sure of, on his return from his wedding trip, +and he was likely to appreciate them.</p> +<p> +As for Dabney Kinzer, he was in no respect overcome +by the novelty and excitement of the wedding. +All the rest of the day he devoted himself +to such duties as were assigned him, with a new +and grand idea steadily taking shape in his mind. +He felt as if his brains, too, were growing. Some +of his mother's older and more intimate friends +remained with her all day, probably to comfort her +for the loss of Miranda, and two or three of them, +Dab knew, would stay to tea, so that his services +would be in demand to see them safely home.</p> +<p> +All day long, moreover, Samantha and Keziah +and Pamela seemed to find themselves wonderfully +busy, one way and another, so that they paid even +less attention than usual to any of the ins and outs +of their brother.</p> +<p> +Dabney was therefore able, with little difficulty, +to take for himself whatever of odd time he might +require for putting his new idea into execution.</p> +<p> +Mrs. Kinzer herself noticed the rare good sense +with which her son hurried through with his dinner +and slipped away, leaving her in undisturbed +possession of the table and her lady guests, and +neither she nor either of the girls had a thought +of following him.</p> +<p> +If they had done so, they might have seen him +draw a good-sized bundle out from under the lilac-thicket +in the back yard, and hurry down through +the garden.</p> +<p> +A few minutes more and Dabney appeared on +the fence of the old cross-road leading down to the +shore. There he sat, eying one passer-by after +another, till he suddenly sprang from his perch, +exclaiming: "That's just the chap. Why, they'll +fit him, and that's more'n they ever did for me."</p> +<p> +Dab would probably have had to search along +the coast for miles before he could have found a +human being better suited to his present charitable +purposes than the boy who now came so lazily +down the road.</p> +<p> +There was no doubt about his color, or that he +was all over of about the same shade of black. +His old tow trousers and calico shirt revealed the +shining fact in too many places to leave room for a +question, and shoes he had none.</p> +<p> +"Dick," said Dabney, "was you ever married?"</p> +<p> +"Married!" exclaimed Dick, with a peal of very +musical laughter. "Is I married? No! Is you?"</p> +<p> +"No," replied Dabney, "but I was mighty near +it, this morning."</p> +<p> +"Dat so?" asked Dick, with another show of +his white teeth. "Done ye good, den. Nebber +seen ye look so nice afore."</p> +<p> +"You'd look nicer'n I do, if you were only +dressed up," said Dab. "Just you put on these."</p> +<p> +"Golly!" exclaimed the black boy. But he +seized the bundle Dab threw him, and he had it +open in a twinkling. "Anyt'ing in de pockets?" +he asked.</p> +<p> +"Guess</p> not," said Dab; "but there's lots of +room." +<p> +"Say dar was!" exclaimed Dick. "But wont +dese t'ings be warm!"</p> +<p> +It was quite likely, for the day was not a cool +one, and Dick never seemed to think of pulling off +what he had on before getting into his unexpected +present. Coat, vest, and trousers, they were all +pulled on with more quickness than Dab had ever +seen the young African display before.</p> +<p> +"I's much obleeged to ye, Mr. Kinzer," said +Dick, very proudly, as he strutted across the road. +"On'y I dasn't go back fru de village."</p> +<p> +"What'll you do, then?" asked Dab.</p> +<p> +"S'pose I'd better go a-fishin'," said Dick. +"Will de fish bite?"</p> +<p> +"Oh, the clothes wont make any odds to them," +said Dabney. "I must go back to the house."</p> +<p> +And so he did, while Dick, on whom the cast-off +garments of his white friend were really a pretty +good fit, marched on down the road, feeling grander +than he ever had before in all his life.</p> +<p> +"That'll be a good thing to tell Ham Morris +when he and Miranda come home again," muttered +Dab, as he re-entered the house.</p> +<p> +Late that evening, when Dabney returned from <span class="page1"><a name="556">[Page 556]</a></span> +his final duties as escort to his mother's guests, she +rewarded him with more than he could remember +ever receiving of motherly commendation.</p> +<p> +"I've been really quite proud of you, Dabney," +she said to him, as she laid her plump hand on the +collar of his new coat and kissed him. "You've +behaved like a perfect gentleman."</p> +<p> +"Only, mother," exclaimed Keziah, "he spent +too much of his time with that sharp-tongued little +Jenny Walters."</p> +<p> +"Never mind, Kezi," said Dab. "She didn't +know who I was till I told her. I'm going +to wear a label with my name on it, when I +go over to the village, to-morrow."</p> +<p> +"And then you'll put on your other suit in +the morning," said Mrs. Kinzer, "You must +keep this for Sundays and great occasions."</p> +<p> +When the morning came, Dabney Kinzer +was a more than usually early riser, for he +felt that he had waked up to a very important +day.</p> +<p> +"Dabney," exclaimed his mother, when +he came in to breakfast, "did I not tell you +to put on your other suit?"</p> +<p> +"So I have, mother," replied Dab; "this +is my other suit."</p> +<p> +"That!" exclaimed Mrs. Kinzer.</p> +<p> +"So it is!" cried Keziah.</p> +<p> +"So it isn't," added Samantha. "Mother, +that's not what he had on yesterday."</p> +<p> +"He's been trading again," mildly suggested +Pamela.</p> +<p> +"Dabney," said Mrs. Kinzer, "what does +this mean?"</p> +<p> +"Mean!" replied Dabney, "Why, these +are the clothes you told me to buy. The +lot I wore yesterday were a present from +Ham Morris. He's a splendid fellow. I'm +glad he got the best of the girls."</p> +<p> +That was a bad thing for Dabney to say, just +then, for it was resented vigorously by the remaining +three. As soon as quiet was restored, however, +Mrs, Kinzer remarked:</p> +<p> +"I think Hamilton should have consulted me +about it; but it's too late now. Anyhow, you may +go and put on your other clothes."</p> +<p> +"My wedding suit?" asked Dab.</p> +<p> +"No, indeed! I mean your old ones; those +you took off night before last."</p> +<p> +"Dunno where they are," slowly responded Dab.</p> +<p> +"Don't know where they are?" repeated a +chorus of four voices.</p> +<p> +"No," said Dab. "Bill Lee's black boy had +'em on all yesterday afternoon, and I reckon he's +gone a-fishing again to-day. They fit him a good +sight better'n they ever did me."</p> +<p> +If Dabney had expected a storm to come from +his mother's end of the table, he was pleasantly +mistaken, and his sisters had it all to themselves +for a moment. Then, with an admiring glance at +her son, the thoughtful matron remarked:</p> +<p> +"Just like his father, for all the world. It's no +use, girls. Dabney's a growing boy in more ways +than one. Dabney, I shall want you to go over to +the Morris house with me after breakfast. Then +you may hitch up the ponies, and we'll do some +errands around the <a name="Dick">village</a>."</p> +<p class="center1"> +<img src="images/111.jpg" width="500" alt="Dab gives dick his old clothes." border="0" /> +<br />DAB GIVES DICK HIS OLD CLOTHES.</p> +<p> +Dab Kinzer's sisters looked at one another in +blank astonishment, and Samantha would have left +the table if she had only finished her breakfast.</p> +<p> +Pamela, as being nearest to Dab in age and +sympathy, gave a very admiring look at her +brother's second "good fit," and said nothing.</p> +<p> +Even Keziah finally admitted, in her own mind, +that such a change in Dabney's appearance might +have its advantages. But Samantha inwardly declared +war.</p> +<p> +The young hero himself was hardly used to that +second suit as yet, and felt anything but easy in it.</p> +<p> +"I wonder," he said to himself, "what Jenny +Walters would think of me now? Wonder if she'd +know me?"</p> +<p> +Not a doubt of it. But, after he had finished his +breakfast and gone out, his mother remarked:</p> +<p> +"It's really all right, girls. I almost fear I've +been neglecting Dabney. He isn't a little boy <span class="page1"><a name="557">[Page 557]</a></span> +any more."</p> +<p> +"He isn't a man yet," exclaimed Samantha, +"and he talks slang dreadfully."</p> +<p> +"But then he does grow so!" remarked Keziah.</p> +<p> +"Mother," said Pamela, "couldn't you get Dab +to give Dick the slang, along with the old clothes?"</p> +<p> +"We'll see about it," replied Mrs. Kinzer.</p> +<p> +It was very plain that Dabney's mother had +begun to take in a new idea about her son. It was +not the least bit in the world unpleasant to find out +that he was "growing in more ways than one," +and it was quite likely that she had indeed kept +him too long in roundabouts.</p> + + + +<h4>CHAPTER III.</h4> + +<p> +Dick Lee had been more than half right about +the village being a dangerous place for him with +such an unusual amount of clothing over his ordinary +uniform.</p> +<p> +The very dogs, every one of whom was an old +acquaintance, barked at him on his way home +that night; and, proud as were his ebony father +and mother, they yielded to his earnest entreaties, +first, that he might wear his present all the next +day, and, second, that he might betake himself to +the "bay," early in the morning, and so keep out +of sight "till he got used to it."</p> +<p> +The fault with Dab Kinzer's old suit, after all, +had lain mainly in its size rather than its materials, +for Mrs. Kinzer was too good a manager to be +really stingy.</p> +<p> +Dick succeeded in reaching the boat-landing +without falling in with any one who seemed disposed +to laugh at him; but there, right on the +wharf, was a white boy of about his own age, and +he felt a good deal like backing out.</p> +<p> +"Nebber seen him afore, either," said Dick to +himself. "Den I guess I aint afeard ob him."</p> +<p> +The stranger was a somewhat short and thick-set +but bright and active-looking boy, with a pair of +very keen, greenish-gray eyes. But, after all, the +first word he spoke to poor Dick was:</p> +<p> +"Hullo, clothes! where are you going with all +that boy?"</p> +<p> +"I knowed it! I knowed it!" groaned Dick. +But he answered, as sharply as he knew how: +"I's goin' a-fishin'. Any ob youah business?"</p> +<p> +"Where'd you learn to fish?" the stranger +asked. "Down South? Didn't know they had +any there."</p> +<p> +"Nebbah was down Souf," was the surly reply.</p> +<p> +"Father run away, did he?"</p> +<p> +"He nebber was down dar, nudder."</p> +<p> +"Nor his father?"</p> +<p> +"'T aint no business o' your'n," said Dick; +"but we's allers lived right heah on dis bay."</p> +<p> +"Guess not," replied the white boy, knowingly.</p> +<p> +But Dick was right, for his people had been +slaves among the very earliest Dutch settlers, and +had never "lived South" at all. He was now +busily getting one of the boats ready to push off; +but his white tormentor went at him again with—</p> +<p> +"Well, then, if you've lived here so long, you +must know everybody."</p> +<p> +"Reckon I do."</p> +<p> +"Are there any nice fellows around here? Any +like me?"</p> +<p> +"De nicest young genelman 'round dis bay," +replied Dick, "is Mr. Dab Kinzer. But he aint +like you. Not nuff to hurt 'im."</p> +<p> +"Dab Kinzer!" exclaimed the stranger. "Where +did he get his name?"</p> +<p> +"In de bay, I spect," said Dick, as he shoved +his boat off. "Caught 'im wid a hook."</p> +<p> +"Anyhow," said the strange boy to himself, +"that's probably the sort of fellow my father +would wish me to associate with. Only it's likely +he's very ignorant."</p> +<p> +And he walked away toward the village with the +air of a man who had forgotten more than the rest +of his race were ever likely to find out.</p> +<p> +At all events, Dick Lee had managed to say a +good word for his benefactor, little as he could +guess what might be the consequences.</p> +<p> +Meantime, Dab Kinzer, when he went out from +breakfast, had strolled away to the north fence, for +a good look at the house which was thenceforth to +be the home of his favorite sister. He had seen it +before, every day since he could remember; but it +seemed to have a fresh and almost mournful interest +for him just now.</p> +<p> +"Hullo!" he exclaimed, as he leaned against +the fence. "Putting up ladders? Oh yes, I see! +That's old Tommy McGrew, the house-painter. +Well, Ham's house needs a new coat as badly as I +did. Sure it'll fit, too. Only it aint used to it +any more'n I am."</p> +<p> +"Dabney!"</p> +<p> +It was his mother's voice, and Dab felt like +"minding" very promptly that morning.</p> +<p> +"Dabney, my boy, come here to the gate."</p> +<p> +"Ham's having his house painted," he remarked, +as he joined his mother.</p> +<p> +"Is he?" she said. "We'll go and see about it."</p> +<p> +As they drew nearer, however, Dabney discovered +that carpenters as well as painters were plying their +trade in and about the old homestead. There were +window-sashes piled here and blinds there, a new +door or so ready for use, with bundles of shingles, +and other signs of approaching "renovation."</p> +<p> +"Going to fix it all over," remarked Dab.</p> +<p> +"Yes," replied his mother; "it'll be as good as +new. It was well built, and will bear mending."</p> +<p> +When they entered the house, it became more <span class="page1"><a name="558">[Page 558]</a></span> +and more evident that the "shabby" days of the +Morris mansion were numbered. There were men +at work in almost every room.</p> +<p> +Ham's wedding trip would surely give plenty of +time, at that rate, and his house would be "all +ready for him" on his return.</p> +<p> +There was nothing wonderful to Dabney in the +fact that his mother went about inspecting work +and giving directions. He had never seen her do +anything else, and he had the greatest confidence +in her knowledge and ability.</p> +<p> +Dabney noticed, too, before they left the place, +that all the customary farm-work was going ahead +with even more regularity and energy than if the +owner himself had been present.</p> +<p> +"Ham's farm'll look like ours, one of these +days, at this rate," he said to his mother.</p> +<p> +"I mean it shall," she replied, somewhat sharply. +"Now go and get out the ponies, and we'll do the +rest of our errands."</p> +<p> +If they had only known it, at that very moment +Ham and his blooming bride were setting out for a +drive at the fashionable watering-place where they +had made the first stop in their wedding tour.</p> +<p> +"Ham?" said Miranda, "it seems to me as if we +were a thousand miles from home."</p> +<p> +"We shall be further before we get nearer," said +Ham.</p> +<p> +"But I wonder what they are doing there,—mother +and the girls and dear little Dabney?"</p> +<p> +"Little Dabney!" exclaimed Ham. "Why, +Miranda, do you think Dab is a baby yet?"</p> +<p> +"No, not a baby. But———"</p> +<p> +"Well, he's a boy, that's a fact; but he'll be +as tall as I am in three years."</p> +<p> +"Will he ever be fat?"</p> +<p> +"Not till after he gets his full length," said Ham. +"We must have him at our house a good deal, +and feed him up. I've taken a liking to Dab."</p> +<p> +"Feed him up!" said Miranda, with some indignation. +"Do you think we starve him?"</p> +<p> +"No; but how many meals a day does he get?"</p> +<p> +"Three, of course, like the rest of us; and he +never misses one of them."</p> +<p> +"I suppose not," said Ham, "I never miss a +meal myself, if I can help it. But don't you think +three meals a day is rather short allowance for a +boy like Dab?"</p> +<p> +Miranda thought a moment, but then she answered, +positively: "No, I don't. Not if he does +as well at each one of them as Dab is sure to."</p> +<p> +"Well," said Ham, "that was in his old clothes, +that were too tight for him. Now he's got a good +loose fit, with plenty of room, you don't know how +much more he may need. No, Miranda, I'm going +to have an eye on Dabney."</p> +<p> +"You're a dear, good fellow, anyway," said +Miranda, "and I hope mother'll have the house +all ready for us when we get back."</p> +<p> +"She will," replied Ham. "I shall hardly be +easy till I see what she has done with it."</p> + + + +<h4>CHAPTER IV.</h4> + +<p> +"That's him!"</p> +<p> +Dab was standing by the ponies, in front of a +store in the village. His mother was making some +purchases in the store, and Dab was thinking how +the Morris house would look when it was finished, +and it was at him the old farmer was pointing in +answer to a question which had just been asked.</p> +<p> +The questioner was the sharp-eyed boy who had +bothered poor Dick Lee that morning.</p> +<p> +At that moment, however, a young lady—quite +young—came tripping along the sidewalk, and +was stopped by Dab Kinzer with:</p> +<p> +"There, Jenny Walters, I forgot my label!"</p> +<p> +"Why, Dabney, is that you? How you startled +me! Forgot your label?"</p> +<p> +"Yes," said Dab; "I'm in another new suit to-day, +and I want to have a label with my name on +it. You'd have known me, then."</p> +<p> +"But I know you now," exclaimed Jenny. +"Why, I saw you yesterday."</p> +<p> +"Yes, and I told you it was me. Can you read, +Jenny?"</p> +<p> +"Why, what a question!"</p> +<p> +"Because, if you can't, it wont do me any good +to wear a label."</p> +<p> +"Dabney Kinzer," exclaimed Jenny. "There's +another thing you ought to get?"</p> +<p> +"What's that?"</p> +<p> +"Some good manners," said the little lady, +snappishly. "Think, of your stopping me in the +street to tell me I can't read."</p> +<p> +"Then you mustn't forget me so quick," said +Dab. "If you meet my old clothes anywhere you +must call 'em Dick Lee. They've had a change +of name."</p> +<p> +"So, he's in them, is he? I don't doubt they +look better than they ever did before."</p> +<p> +And Jenny walked proudly away, leaving her old +playmate feeling as if he had had a little the worst +of it. That was often the way with people who +stopped to talk with Jenny Walters, and she was +not as much of a favorite as she otherwise might +have been.</p> +<p> +Hardly had she disappeared before Dab was +confronted by the strange boy.</p> +<p> +"Is your name Dabney Kinzer?" said he.</p> +<p> +"Yes, I believe so."</p> +<p> +"Well, I'm Mr. Ford Foster, of New York."</p> +<p> +"Come over here to buy goods?" suggested +Dab. "Or to get something to eat?"</p> +<p> +Ford Foster was apparently of about Dab's age,<span class="page1"><a name="559">[Page 559]</a></span> +but a full head less in height, so that there was +more point in the question than there seemed to +be, but he treated it as not worthy of notice, and +asked: "Do you know of a house to let anywhere +about here?"</p> +<p> +"House to let?" suddenly exclaimed the voice +of Mrs. Kinzer, behind him, much to Dab's surprise. +"Are you asking about a house? Whom for?"</p> +<p> +If Ford Foster had been ready to "chaff" Dick +Lee, or even Dab Kinzer, he knew enough to speak +respectfully to the portly and business-like lady +now before <a name="Dabney">him</a>.</p> +<p class="center1"> +<img src="images/112.jpg" width="600" alt="Is your name Dabney Kinzer?" border="0" /><br />"IS YOUR NAME DABNEY KINZER?" +</p> +<p> +"Yes, madam," he said, with a ceremonious +bow. "I wish to report to my father that I've +found an acceptable house in this vicinity."</p> +<p> +"You do!"</p> +<p> +Mrs. Kinzer was reading the young gentleman +through and through as she spoke, but she followed +her exclamation with a dozen questions, and then +wound up with:</p> +<p> +"Go right home, then, and tell your father the +only good house to let in this neighborhood will be +ready for him next week, and he'd better see me +at once. Get into the buggy, Dabney."</p> +<p> +"A very remarkable woman!" muttered Ford +Foster to himself as they drove away. "I must +make some more inquiries."</p> +<p> +"Mother," said Dabney, "you wouldn't let 'em +have Ham's house?"</p> +<p> +"No, indeed; but I don't mean to have our +own stand empty." And, with that, a great deal +of light began to break in on Dabney's mind.</p> +<p> +"That's it, is it?" he said to himself, as he +touched up the ponies. "Well, there'll be room +enough for all of us there, and no mistake. But +what'll Ham say?"</p> +<p> +It was not till late the next day, however, that +Ford Foster completed his inquiries. He took the +afternoon train for the city, satisfied that, much as +he knew before he came, he had actually learned +a good deal more which was valuable.</p> +<p> +He was almost the only person in the car. +Trains going toward the city were apt to be thinly +peopled at that time of day, but the empty cars +had to be taken along all the same, for the benefit +of the crowds who would be coming out, later in +the afternoon and in the evening. The railway +company would have made more money with full +loads both ways, but it was well they did not have +one on that precise train. Ford had turned over +the seat in front of him, and stretched himself out +with his feet on it. It was almost like lying down<span class="page1"><a name="560">[Page 560]</a></span> +for a boy of his length, but it was the very best +position he could have taken if he had known what +was coming.</p> +<p> +Known what was coming?</p> +<p> +Yes, there was a pig coming.</p> +<p> +That was all, but it was quite enough, considering +what that pig was about to do. He was going +where he chose, just then, and he chose not to turn +out for the railway train.</p> +<p> +"What a whistle!" Ford Foster had just exclaimed. +"It sounds more like the squeal of an +iron pig than anything else. I——"</p> +<p> +But at that instant there came a great jolt and a +shock, and Ford found himself suddenly tumbled, +all in a heap, on the seat where his feet had been. +Then came bounce after bounce and the sound of +breaking glass, and then a crash.</p> +<p> +"Off the track!" shouted Ford, as he sprang to +his feet. "I wouldn't have missed it for anything, +but I do hope nobody's killed."</p> +<p> +In the tremendous excitement of the moment he +could hardly have told how he got out of that car, +but it did not seem ten seconds till he was standing +beside the conductor and engineer, looking at the +battered engine as it lay on its side in a deep ditch. +The baggage car, just behind it, was broken all to +pieces, but the passenger cars did not seem to have +suffered very much, and nobody was badly hurt, as +the engineer and fireman had jumped off in time.</p> +<p> +"This train'll never get in on time," said Ford +to the conductor, a little later. "How'll I get to +the city?"</p> +<p> +"Well," replied the railway man, who was not +in the best of humors, "I don't suppose the city +could do without you overnight. The junction +with the main road is only two miles ahead, and if +you're a good walker you may catch a train there."</p> +<p> +Some of the other passengers, none of whom were +very much hurt, had made the same discovery, and +in a few minutes more there was a long, straggling +procession of uncomfortable people marching by +the side of the railway track, under the hot sun, +The conductor was right, however, and nearly all +of them managed to make the two miles to the +junction in time.</p> +<p> +Mr. Ford Foster was among the very first to +arrive, and he was likely to reach home in very fair +season in spite of the pig.</p> +<p> +As for his danger, he had hardly thought of that, +and he would not have missed so important an +adventure for anything he could think of, just then.</p> +<p> +It was to a great, pompous, stylish, crowded, +"up-town boarding-house," that Ford's return was +to take him. There was no wonder at all that wise +people should wish to get out of such a place in +such hot weather. Still, it was the sort of a home +Ford Foster had been best acquainted with all his +life, and it was partly owing to that that he had +become so prematurely "knowing."</p> +<p> +He knew too much, in fact, and was only too +well aware of it. He had filled his head with an +unlimited stock of boarding-house information, as +well as with a firm persuasion that there was little +more to be had,—unless, indeed, it might be scraps +of such outside, knowledge as he had now been +picking up over on Long Island.</p> +<p> +In one of the great "parlor chambers" of the +boarding-house, at about eight o'clock that evening, +a middle-aged gentleman and lady, with a fair, +sweet-faced girl of about nineteen, were sitting near +an open window, very much as if they were waiting +for somebody.</p> +<p> +Such a kindly, motherly lady! She was one of +those whom no one can help liking, after seeing +her smile once, or hearing her speak. Whatever +may have been his faults or short-comings, Ford +Foster could not have put in words what he thought +about his mother. And yet he had no difficulty +in expressing his respect for his father, or his unbounded +admiration for his pretty sister Annie.</p> +<p> +"Oh, husband!" exclaimed Mrs. Foster, "are +you sure none of them were injured?"</p> +<p> +"So the telegraphic report said. Not a bone +broken of anybody but the pig that got in the way."</p> +<p> +"But how I wish he would come!" groaned +Annie. "Have you any idea, papa, how he can +get home?"</p> +<p> +"Not clearly," said her father, "but you can +trust Ford not to miss any opportunity. He's just +the boy to look out for himself in an emergency."</p> +<p> +Ford Foster's father took very strongly after the +son in whose ability he expressed so much confidence. +He had just such a square, active, bustling +sort of body, several sizes larger, with just such +keen, penetrating, greenish-gray eyes. Anybody +would have picked him out, at a glance, for a lawyer, +and a good one.</p> +<p> +That was exactly what he was, and if any one +had become acquainted with either son or father, +there would have been no difficulty afterward in +identifying the other.</p> +<p> +It required a good deal more than the telegraphic +report of the accident or even her husband's assurances, +to relieve the motherly anxiety of good Mrs. +Foster, or even to drive away the shadows from the +face of Annie.</p> +<p> +No doubt if Ford himself had known the state of +affairs, they would have been relieved earlier; for +even while they were talking about him he was +already in the house. It had not so much as occurred +to him that his mother would hear of the +accident to the pig and the railway train until he +himself should tell her, and so, he had made sure +of his supper down-stairs, before reporting himself.<span class="page1"><a name="561">[Page 561]</a></span> +He might not have done it, perhaps, but he had +come in through the lower way, by the area door, +and that of the dining-room had stood temptingly +wide open with some very eatable things ready on +the table.</p> +<p> +That had been too much for Ford, after his +car-ride and his smash-up and his long walk. But +now, at last, up he came, brimful of new and +wonderful experiences, to be more than a little +astonished by the manner and enthusiasm of his +welcome.</p> +<p> +"Why, mother!" he exclaimed, when he got a +chance for a word, "you and Annie couldn't have +said much more if I'd been the pig himself."</p> +<p> +"The pig?" said Annie.</p> +<p> +"Yes, the pig that stopped us. He and the +engine wont go home to their families to-night."</p> +<p> +"Don't make fun of it, Ford," said his mother, +gently; "it's too serious a matter."</p> +<p> +Just then his father broke in, almost impatiently, +with, "Well, Ford, my boy, have you done your +errand, or shall I have to see about it myself? +You've been gone two days."</p> +<p> +"Thirty-seven hours and a half, father," replied +Ford, taking out his watch. "I've kept an exact +account of my expenses. We've saved the cost of +advertising."</p> +<p> +"And spent it on railroading," said his father, +with a laugh.</p> +<p> +"But, Ford," asked Annie, "did you find a +house?—a good one?"</p> +<p> +"Yes," added Mrs. Foster, "now I'm sure +you're safe, I do want to hear about the house."</p> +<p> +"It's all right, mother," said Ford, confidently. +"The very house you told me to hunt for. Neither +too large nor too small, and it's in apple-pie order."</p> +<p> +There were plenty of questions to answer now, +but Ford was every way equal to the occasion. His +report, in fact, compelled his father to look at him +with an expression of face which very clearly meant, +"That boy resembles me. I was just like him at +his age. He'll be just like me at mine."</p> +<p> +There was really very good reason to approve +of the manner in which the young gentleman had +performed his errand in the country, and Mr. +Foster promptly decided to go over, in a day or +two, and settle matters with Mrs Kinzer.</p> +<p class="center"> +(<i>To be <a name="cruise">continued</a></i>.)</p> + + + +<hr class="short" /><br /> +<p class="center1"> +<img src="images/081.png" width="600" alt="Making ready for a cruise." border="0" /><br />MAKING READY FOR A CRUISE. +</p> + +<br /><br /><br /><hr class="short" /><br /><br /><br /> + +<span class="page1"><a name="562">[Page 562]</a></span> +<h2>HOW <a name="Willy">WILLY</a> WOLLY WENT A-FISHING.</h2> + +<h3>BY S.C. STONE.</h3> +<br /><br /> +<p class="indent3"> + One day, on going fishing<br /> + Was Willy Wolly bent;<br /> + And, as it chanced a holiday,<br /> + Why, Willy Wolly <a name="fishing">went</a>.</p><br /> + +<p class="center"> +<img src="images/082.png" width="500" alt="Willy Wolly going fishing." border="0" /> +</p> +<br /><br /> +<p class="indent3"> + Now, Willy Wolly planned, you see,<br /> + To catch a speckled trout;<br /> + But caught a very different fish<br /> + From what he had laid out!<br /><br /> + + In view of all the fishes,—<br /> + Who much enjoyed the joke,<br /> + With many a joyous wriggle<br /> + And finny punch and poke,—<br /><br /> + + Young Willy Wolly, leaping<span class="page1"><a name="563">[Page 563]</a></span><br /> + A fence with dire design,<br /> + Had carelessly left swinging<br /> + His fishing-hook and <a name="fence">line</a>.</p><br /> + +<p class="center"> +<img src="images/083.png" width="500" alt="Willy Wolly caught himself." border="0" /></p> + +<p class="indent3"> + How Willy Wolly did it,<br /> + He really could not tell,<br /> + But instantly he had his fish<br /> + Exceeding fast and well!<br /><br /> + + He hooked the struggling monster<br /> + Securely in the sleeve;<br /> + And, all at once, he found it time<br /> + His pleasant sport to leave;—<br /><br /> + + 'T was not a very gamy fish<span class="page1"><a name="564">[Page 564]</a></span><br /> + For one so large and strong,<br /> + That Willy Wolly, blubbering,<br /> + Helped carefully along.<br /><br /> + + The giggling fishes crowded to<br /> + The river bank to look,<br /> + As Willy Wolly, captive, led<br /> + Himself with line and <a name="mother">hook</a>!</p><br /> +<br /> +<p class="center"> +<img src="images/084.png" width="525" alt="Mother unhooks Willy Wolly." border="0" /></p> + +<p class="indent3"> + When Willy Wolly went, you see, <br /> + To catch a speckled trout,<br /> + Why, Willy Wolly caught <i>himself!</i><br /> + And so the joke is out.<br /><br /> + + His mother saved that barbèd hook,<br /> + And sternly bid him now<br /> + No more to dare a-fishing go,<br /> + Until he has learned how!</p><br /> + + + +<br /><br /><br /><hr class="short" /><br /><br /><br /> + +<span class="page1"><a name="565">[Page 565]</a></span> + +<h2><a name="crumbs">CRUMBS</a> FROM OLDER READING.</h2> + +<h3>BY JULIA E. SARGENT.</h3> + +<h4>III.—THOMAS CARLYLE.</h4> +<br /> +<p> +"Shakespeare says we are creatures that look +before and after. The more surprising, then, that +we do not look around a little, and see what is +passing under our very eyes."</p> +<p> +So writes Thomas Carlyle.</p> +<p> +Although he politely says "we," when speaking +of people in general, that part of the "we" known +as Thomas Carlyle certainly keeps his eyes wide +open. So wide, indeed, that much that is disagreeable +comes under his notice, as always will +be the case with those who choose to see everything.</p> +<p> +I once watched the round, red sun as it crimsoned +the sparkling waters in which it seemed +already sinking. When, at last, I turned my +dazzled eyes away, all over lake and sky I saw +dancing black suns. Perhaps it is through dwelling +long on one idea that Carlyle sees only spots +of blackness on what others call clear sky. The +great want of that foggy, smoky city where he lives +is pure, health-giving light, and this we also miss +in his writings, which, like London, have not +enough sunshine.</p> +<p> +But, whatever people may say, when Carlyle +speaks the world is quite ready to listen.</p> +<p> +Who is Thomas Carlyle?</p> +<p> +He is a Scotchman, a philosopher, an essayist, +an historian, a biographer, and an octogenarian.</p> +<p> +What has he done to be so famous?</p> +<p> +He has written twenty books. But you might +live to be an octogenarian yourself without meeting +twenty persons who would have read them all. It +would not be a hard matter, though, to find those +who have read one of his books twenty times; +perhaps this very green-covered book with "Sartor +Resartus" on the back.</p> +<p> +What does it mean, and what is it all about?</p> +<p> +It means "The Tailor Re-tailored," and Carlyle +says it is a book about clothes. But you need not +look for fashion-plates; there are none there. You +will hear nothing about new costumes; for this +book is full of Carryle's own thoughts, clothed in +such words that you will surely enjoy the book.</p> +<p> +Hear how he tells us that nothing that we do is +really "of no matter," as we so often think:</p> +<p> +"I say, there is not a red Indian hunting by +Lake Winnepeg can quarrel with his squaw but the +whole world must smart for it: will not the price +of beaver rise?"</p> +<p> +You think it would not make much difference if +the price of beaver should rise? Let us look at +the matter. First, Mr. B. Woods, the trader, must +pay a larger price for his beaver, and therefore +must sell for more to the firm of Bylow & Selhi. +These shrewd gentlemen do not intend to lose on +their purchase, so they pay a less sum to Mr. +Maycup, the manufacturer. This reduction in his +income causes Mr. Maycup to curtail family expenses. +So his subscription to ST. NICHOLAS is +discontinued, and the youthful Maycups are overwhelmed +with grief, because of that unfortunate +quarrel which raised the price of beaver.</p> +<p> +But why should the price change because of that?</p> +<p> +Really, Mr. Carlyle should answer you. Perhaps +the Indian in his quarrel forgets to set his traps, or +the whole neighborhood may become so interested +in the little affair that beavers are forgotten.</p> +<p> +"Were it not miraculous could I stretch forth +my hand and clutch the sun? Yet thou seest me +daily stretch forth my hand and clutch many a +thing and swing it hither and thither. Art thou a +grown baby, then, to fancy that the miracle lies in +miles of distance, or in pounds avoirdupois of +weight; and not to see that the true miracle lies +in this, that I can stretch forth my hand at all?"</p> +<p> +What is it that Carlyle thinks so wonderful? +See how quietly my hand rests on this table. Why +should it move any more than the table on which +it rests? Is not Carlyle right when he calls every +movement of my hand a wonder? You never +thought of it before? That is as Carlyle says: +"We do not look around a little and see what is +passing under our very eyes."</p> +<p> +It was this great old man whose hand brushed +the clinging mud from a crust of bread, and placed +it on the curbstone, for some dog or pigeon, saying, +"My mother taught me never to waste anything."</p> +<p> +Here is a word for those who are always planning +what great things they will do—who think so much +<i>about</i> doing that no time is left <i>for</i> the doing:</p> +<p> +"The end of man is an action, and not a +thought, though it were the noblest."</p> +<p> +Now, for our final crumb, comes a well-clothed +thought that I like better than quarreling Indians +or familiar wonders. It is the reason why selfish +people are never really happy. Carlyle thinks they +have only themselves to blame, for he says:</p> +<p> +"Always there is a black spot in our sunshine; +it is even, as I said, <i>the shadow of ourselves</i>."</p> + +<br /><br /><br /><hr class="short" /><br /><br /><br /> + +<span class="page1"><a name="566">[Page 566]</a></span> +<p class="center"> +<img src="images/086.png" width="450" alt="Jack-in-the-pulpit" border="0" /></p> +<h4>JACK-IN-THE-PULPIT.</h4> +<p> +Hurrah for June!—bright, rosy June! "Joy +rises in me like a summer's morn!" as one of +those pleasant people, the poets, has said.</p> +<p> +Let everybody be glad! But most of all, you, +my youngsters! The month properly belongs to +you. Don't I know? Wasn't it set apart by +Romulus, ages and ages ago, especially for the +young people, or "Juniores," as they then were +called? And hasn't their name stuck to it ever +since? Yes, indeed! So, be as merry as you can, +my chicks; but, with all your fun and frolic, be +thankful, and make June weather all about you. +June time—any time—is full of joy when hearts, +brimming over with thankfulness, carry cheer to +other hearts, making</p> + +<p class="indent1"> + "A noise like of a hidden brook<br /> + In the leafy month of June,<br /> + That to the sleeping woods all night<br /> + Singeth a quiet tune,"—</p><br /> + +<p> +like the little stream that bubbles by the foot of +our meadow.</p> +<br /> +<p> +Now to business. First comes a letter about</p> + + +<h4>A ROPE OF EGGS.</h4> +<p class="indentq"> +<span class="outdent" style="float: right;">Brooklyn, N.Y.</span><br /> +My Dear Jack-in-the-Pulpit: I know about a rope of eggs, +and I will tell you. It is in Japan. The eggs are plaited and twisted +into ropes made from straw, and so it is safe and easy to handle them. +Just think how queer it would seem to buy eggs by the yard!<br /> + +<span class="outdent" style="float: right;">AMY M.</span></p> + +<br /><br /> + +<h4>CONVERSATION BY FISTICUFFS.</h4> +<p> +After being flurried by clouds of paragrams +about sphygmographs, and phonographs, and +pneumatic telegraphs, and scores of other extraordinary +scientific ways of communication, I'm not +in the least surprised to learn that ants converse +by one tapping another's head.</p> +<p> +I'm told that an Englishman named Jesse once +put a small caterpillar near an ants' nest, and +watched. Soon an ant seized it; but the caterpillar +was too heavy to be moved by one ant alone, so +away he ran until he met another ant. They +stopped for a few moments, during which each +tapped the other's head with his feelers in a very +lively manner. Then they both hurried off to the +caterpillar, and together dragged it home.</p> + +<br /><br /> + +<h4>A HORSE THAT LOVED TEA.</h4> +<p class="indentq"> +<span class="outdent" style="float: right;">Roxbury, Mass.</span> + +Dear Jack-in-the-Pulpit: This is a true story of Mary's horse. +He was just as black as a coal all over, except a pretty white star on +his forehead.</p> +<p class="indentq"> +Once in two or three weeks Mary had him take tea with her and +her little brother and sisters. She went to the stable where he lived +with Kate and Nell, two pretty twin ponies, and said to him:</p> +<p class="indentq"> +"Come, Jack! Don't you want some, tea?"</p> +<p class="indentq"> +At that, he came right up to her, and found out the buttons on her +dress, and tried to pull them off, and then untied her apron strings.</p> +<p class="indentq"> +"Now, Jack," Mary said, "tea is all ready. Come along!"—and +he followed her along the walk to the back door and up the three +steps into the house.</p> +<p class="indentq"> +What a clatter his iron shoes made along the entry to the +dining-room!</p> +<p class="indentq"> +Harry and Annie and Fanny rushed out, crying:</p> +<p class="indentq"> +"Oh, mamma! Here's Jack coming to tea!"</p> +<p class="indentq"> +Then mamma filled a large bowl with tea, put in plenty of milk +and three or four pieces of white sugar (for Jack had a sweet tooth), +and cut a slice of bread into pieces, and put them on a plate, with a +doughnut or piece of gingerbread. And Mary said:</p> +<p class="indentq"> +"Now, Jack, come up to the table!"</p> +<p class="indentq"> +You see, he was too big to sit in a chair; but he came close up to +the table and stood there, and drank his tea without slopping any +over, and ate up his bread and cake. And when he had done, what +do you think he did? Why, he went up to the piano that stood in a +corner of the room and smelled the keys, and looked round at Mary. +That was to ask her to play him a tune before he went home.</p> +<p class="indentq"> +Then she said, "Oh, you dear Jack! I know what you want!" +And she sat down and played some merry tune, while he pricked up +his ears and put his nose down close to her fingers, he was so pleased. +Then he rubbed her shoulder with his nose, and Mary played another +tune for him.</p> +<p class="indentq"> +"Now, Jack," mamma said, "you've had a nice time; but you +must go back to your stable. Kate and Nell will miss you if you +stay longer."</p> +<p class="indentq"> +Then Mary opened the dining-room door, and Jack followed her +down the long entry and out to the stable, just like a dog.—Yours +truly, <span class="outdent" style="float: right;">B.P.</span></p> + +<br /><br /> + + +<h4>TONGUES WHICH CARRY TEETH.</h4> +<p> +You've heard of folks with biting tongues, I +dare say, and very disagreeable they are, no doubt, +though, of course, they do not actually bite with +their tongues. However, there really is an unpleasant +fellow whose tongue carries twenty-six +thousand eight hundred teeth! A capital one for +biting, you'd suppose. He is nothing but a slug, +though, and his army of teeth only scrape, not bite, +I'm told. Then, too, there is a sort of cousin of +his, a periwinkle, who has a long ribbon-like +tongue, armed with six hundred crosswise rows of +hooks, about seven in a row.</p> +<p> +You can make sure of these surprising facts, my +dears, with the aid of patience and a microscope.</p> +<br /><br /> + +<h4>DIZZY DISTANCES.</h4> +<p> +The other day, one of the school-children said +to a chum, "The Little Schoolma'am told us this +morning that some parts of the ocean are more +than four miles deep!"</p> +<p> +That's easy to say, thought I, but try to think +it, my dear! Fix on a place four miles away from +you, and then imagine every bit of that distance +stretching down under you, instead of straight +before you. Perhaps in this way you may gain an +idea of the depth of the ocean; but just consider +the height of the air—which, I'm told, is a sort of +envelope about the earth—more than nine times +the depth of the ocean! Yet, what a wee bit of a<span class="page1"><a name="567">[Page 567]</a></span> +way toward the moon would those thirty-six miles +take us! And from the earth to the moon is only +a very little step on the long way to the sun.</p> +<p> +Oh dear! Let's stop and take a breath! Why +did I begin talking of such dizzy distances?</p> +<br /><br /> + +<h4>LAND THAT INCREASES IN HEIGHT.</h4> +<p> +Here is a letter in answer to the Little School-ma'am's +question which I passed over to you in +April, and it raises such startling ideas, that, may +be, you'd do well to look farther into the matter:</p> + +<p class="indentq"> +DEAR JACK: We suppose that the Little Schoolma'am and her +writers on Greenland will concede its accidental discovery by Gunnbjorn, +as narrated by Cyrus Martin, Jr., in his "Vikings in America" +[ST. NICHOLAS, Vol. III., page 586]. We have always thought +Iceland appropriately named, and Greenland the reverse.</p> +<p class="indentq"> +And now about that question of temperature. If portions of +Greenland are colder than formerly, may it not be because less heat +comes through its crust from subterranean fires, as well as because +the surface is constantly gaining in height, as some report?—Very +truly yours, <span class="outdent" style="float: right;">NED AND WILL WHITFORD.</span></p> + +<br /><br /> + +<h4>THE ANGERED GOOSE.</h4> +<p> +The picture of which you here have an engraving +formed at first a kind of panel of a wall, +and occupied a space beneath one of the cartoons +of Raphael, the great Italian painter, whose grand +picture of "The Transfiguration" is thought to be +his chief work. This panel-picture, also, was +painted by Raphael, as some say, though others +think it may be the work of one of his <a name="goose">pupils</a>.</p> + +<p class="center"> +<img src="images/113.jpg" width="600" alt="The angered goose." border="0" /><br /> +"THE ANGERED GOOSE."</p> + +<p> +A curious thing about the picture is this: the +goose is so excited, and scolding its tortoise so +angrily for going slowly, that it has forgotten its +own wings, when, if it would only use them, it +could fly to its journey's end long before the tortoise +could crawl there. Now, there are other +two-legged geese who let themselves get angered +and excited easily, and so lose many chances of +serving others and helping themselves. Perhaps +you may know some of them.</p> +<p> +That is what the Deacon says; but, for my part, +I never knew a goose that <i>hadn't</i> two legs.</p> + +<br /><br /> +<h4>A CITY UNDER THE WATER.</h4> +<p> +In past ages, as the Deacon once told some of his +older boys in my hearing, the people of some parts +of Europe used to live above the surfaces of lakes, +in huts built on spiles driven into the water.</p> +<p> +Well, now I hear that some one has found, under +the water of Lake Geneva, a whole town, with +about two hundred stone houses, a large public +square, and a high tower; and, from the looks of +the town, the shape of the houses, and the way the +stones are cut, some say that the place must have +been built more than two thousand years ago!</p> +<p> +Now, I can understand how men were able to +live in the way the Deacon described, but it strikes +me that this other story has something in it that's +harder to swallow than water.</p> +<p> +Who ever heard of men living in cities under the +water, as if they were fishes?</p> +<br /><br /> + +<h4>REFLECTION.</h4> + +<p class="indentq"> +<span class="outdent" style="float: right;">The Red School-house.</span></p><br /> +<p class="indentq"> +MY DEAR JACK-IN-THE-PULPIT: Many thanks for putting into +your April sermon the picture and letter which I sent to you. Now, +I must let you know about the explanations that some of your bright +chicks have given.</p> +<p class="indentq"> +Arnold Guyot Cameron, S.E.S., O.C. Turner, Louise G. Hinsdale, +and the partners E.K.S. and M.G.V. guessed the right word, +which is "Reflection"; and, of course, it needed some "reflection" +to find it out. The lady in the picture is absorbed in "reflection" +upon something she has been reading in her book; but, besides this, +the water is represented as sending back a "reflection" of nearly +every other object in the picture.</p> +<p class="indentq"> +Several others of your youngsters wrote, but they were not so +fortunate in their attempts. "Mignon" suggests the word "Heads," +for the reason that the guessing has given employment to many +heads. John F. Wyatt thinks that "Beautiful" is the word. Alfred +Whitman, C.H. Payne, and Nellie Emerson, though writing from +three places far apart, agree in giving the word "Reverie" as their +notion of the right one. George A. Mitchell thinks it is "Study"; +Arthur W. James guesses "Meditation"; and Hallie quietly hints +"Calm." "P.," however, believes that the word is "Misrepresented," +which he inclines to write, "Miss represented." But +Nathalie B. Conkling puts forward the exclamation "Alas!" as the +proper solution, spelling it "A lass."</p> +<p class="indentq"> +Now, puns are not always good wit, and these two are not puns of +the best kind; but they, as well as the other guesses, show that your +chicks have lively minds, able to see a thing from more than one +point of view, even although their conjectures do not hit the very +center of the mark in every instance. I am much obliged to them +all for their letters, and to you, dear Jack, for your +kindness.—Sincerely +your friend, <span class="outdent" style="float: right;">THE LITTLE SCHOOLMA'AM.</span></p> + +<br /><br /><br /><hr class="short" /><br /><br /><br /> + +<span class="page1"><a name="568">[Page 568]</a></span> + +<h2>"<a name="fiddle">FIDDLE</a>-DIDDLE-DEE!"</h2> + +<p> +Little Davie ran through the garden,—a great slice of bread and butter +in one hand, and his spelling-book in the other. He was going to study +his lesson for to-morrow.</p> + +<div class="figleft"> +<img src="images/089a.png" width="275" alt="The Wren" /></div> +<p>You could not imagine a prettier spot than Davie's "study," as he <a name="wren">called</a> +it. It was under a great oak-tree, that +stood at the edge of a small wood. The +little boy sat down on one of the roots +and opened his book.</p> + +<p> +"But first," thought he, "I'll finish +my bread and butter."</p> +<p> +So he let his book drop, and, as he +ate, he began to sing a little song with +which his mother sometimes put the +baby to sleep. This is the way the song began:</p> + +<p class="indent3a"> +"I bought a bird, and my bird pleased me;<br /> +I tied my bird behind a tree;<br /> +Bird said——"</p> + +<p> +"Fiddle-diddle-dee!" sang something, or somebody, behind the oak. +Davie looked a little frightened, for that was just what he was about to +sing in his song. But he jumped up and ran around to the other side +of the tree. And there was a little brown wren, and it had a little golden +thread around its neck, and the thread was tied to a root of the big tree.</p> +<p> +"Hello!" said Davie, "was that you?"</p> +<p> +Now, of course Davie had not expected the wren to answer him. But +the bird turned her head on one side, and, looking up at Davie, <a name="hen">said</a>:</p> +<div class="figright"> +<img src="images/089b.png" width="260" alt="The Hen" /> +</div> +<p> +"Yes, of course it was me! Who +else did you suppose it could be?"</p> +<p> +"Oh yes!" said Davie, very much +astonished. "Oh yes, of course! But +I thought you only did it in the song!"</p> +<p> +"Well," said the wren, "were not you +singing the song, and am not I in the +song, and what else could I do?"</p> +<div class="figleft"> +<img src="images/090a.png" width="275" alt="The Guinea-Hen" /></div> +<p> +"Yes, I suppose so," said Davie.</p> +<p> +"Well, go, then," said the wren, "and don't bother me."</p> + +<p> +Davie felt very queer. He stopped a moment, but soon thought <a name="guinea">that</a> +he must do as he was bid, and he began<span class="page1"><a name="569">[Page 569]</a></span> +to sing again:</p> + +<p class="indent3a"> +"I bought a hen, and my hen pleased me;<br /> +I tied my hen behind a tree;<br /> +Hen said——"</p> + +<p> +"Shinny-shack! shinny-shack!" interrupted +another voice, so loudly that +Davie's heart gave a great thump, as he +turned around. There, behind the wren, stood a little Bantam hen, and +around her neck was a little golden cord that fastened her to the wren's leg.</p> +<p> +"I suppose that was you?" said Davie.</p> +<p> +"Yes, indeed," replied the hen. "I know when my time comes in, in +a song. But it was provoking for you to call me away from my chicks."</p> +<p> +"I?" cried Davie. "I didn't call you!"</p> +<p> +"Oh, indeed!" said the Bantam. "It wasn't you, then, who were singing +'Tied my hen,' just now! Oh no, not you!"</p> +<p> +"I'm sorry," said Davie. "I didn't mean to."</p> +<p> +"Well, go on, then," said the little hen, "and don't bother."</p> +<p> +Davie was so full of wonder that he did not know what to think of it +all. He went back to his seat, and sang again:</p> + +<p class="indent3a"> +"I had a guinea, and my guinea pleased me;<br /> +I tied my guinea behind a tree——"</p> +<div class="figright"> +<img src="images/090b.png" width="275" alt="The Duck" /> +</div> +<p> +But here he stopped, with his mouth wide open; for up a tiny <a name="duck">brown</a> + + + +path that led into the wood, came a little +red man about a foot high, dressed in +green, and leading by a long yellow +string a plump, speckled guinea-hen! +The little old man came whistling along +until he reached the Bantam, when he +fastened the yellow string to her leg, +and went back again down the path, +and disappeared among the trees.</p> +<p> +Davie looked and wondered. Presently, the guinea stretched out her +neck and called to him in a funny voice:</p> +<p> +"Why in the world don't you go on? Do you think I want to wait +all day for my turn to come?"</p> +<p> +Davie began to sing again: "Guinea said——"</p> + +<div class="figright"> +<img src="images/091a.png" width="275" alt="The Dog" /> +</div> +<p> +"Pot-rack! pot-rack!" instantly squeaked the speckled guinea-<a name="dog">hen</a>.</p> +<p> + +Davie jumped up. He was fairly<span class="page1"><a name="570">[Page 570]</a></span> +frightened now. But his courage soon +came back. "I'm not afraid," he said +to himself; "I'll see what the end of +this song will be!"—and he began to +sing again:</p> + +<p class="indent3a"> +"I bought a duck, and my duck pleased me;<br /> +I tied my duck behind a tree;<br /> +Duck said——"</p> + +<p> +"Quack! quack!" came from around the oak. But Davie went on:</p> + +<p class="indent3a"> +"I bought a dog, and the dog pleased me;<br /> +I tied my dog behind a tree;<br /> +Dog said——"</p> + +<p> +"Bow-wow!" said a little curly dog, as Davie came around the spreading +roots of the tree. There stood a little short-legged duck tied to the +guinea's leg, and to the duck's leg was fastened the wisest-looking Scotch +terrier, with spectacles on his nose and a walking-cane in his paw.</p> +<p> +The whole group looked up at Davie, who now felt perfectly confident +He sat down on a stone close by, and continued his song:</p> + +<p class="indent3a"> +"I had a horse, and my horse pleased me;<br /> +I tied my horse behind a tree."</p> + +<p> +Davie stopped and looked down the little brown path. Then he clapped +his hands in great delight; for there came the little old man leading by a +golden bridle a snow-white pony, no bigger than Davie's Newfoundland dog.</p> +<p> +"Sure enough, it is a boy!" said the pony, as the old man tied his +bridle to the dog's hind leg, and then hurried away. "I thought so! +Boys are always bothering <a name="horse">people</a>."</p> +<div class="figleft"> +<img src="images/091b.png" width="275" alt="The Horse" /> +</div> +<p> +"Who are you, and where did you +all come from?" asked delighted Davie.</p> +<p> +"Why," said the pony, "we belong +to the court of Her Majesty the Queen +of the Fairies. But, of course, when +the song in which any of the court +voices are wanted, is sung, they all +have to go."</p> +<p> +"I'm sure I'm very sorry," said Davie. "But why haven't I ever seen +you all before?"</p> +<p> +"Because," said the pony, "you have never sung the song down here +before." And then he added: "Don't you think, now that we are all here,<span class="page1"><a name="571">[Page 571]</a></span> +you'd better sing the song right end first, and be done with it?"</p> +<p> +"Oh, certainly!" cried Davie, "certainly!" beginning to sing.</p> +<p> +If you could but have heard that song! As Davie sang, each fowl +or animal took up its part, and sang it, with its own peculiar tone and +manner, until they all joined in.</p> + +<p class="indent3a"> +"I had a horse, and my horse pleased me;<br /> +I tied my horse behind a tree.<br /> +Horse said, 'Neigh! neigh!'<br /> +Dog said, 'Bow-wow!'<br /> +Duck said, 'Quack! quack!'<br /> +Guinea said, 'Pot-rack! pot-rack!'<br /> +Hen said, 'Shinny-shack! shinny-shack!'<br /> +Bird said, 'Fiddle-diddle-dee!'"</p><br /> + +<p> +Davie was overjoyed. He thought he would sing it all over again. +But just then he was sure that his mother called <a name="all">him</a>.</p> +<p class="center"> +<img src="images/092.png" width="600" alt="The Wren, the Hen, the Guinea, the Duck, the Dog, and the Horse" border="0" /></p> + +<p> +"Wait a minute!" he said to his companions. "Wait a minute! I'm +coming back! Oh, it's just like a fairy-tale!" he cried to himself, as he +bounded up the garden-walk. "I wonder what mother'll think?"</p> +<p> +But his mother said she had not called him, and so he ran back as +fast as his legs would carry him.</p> +<p> +But they were all gone. His speller lay on the ground, open at the +page of his lesson; a crumb or two of bread was scattered about; but +not a sign of the white pony and the rest of the singers.</p> +<p> +"Well," said Davie, as he picked up his book, "I guess I wont sing it +again, for I bothered them so. But I wish they had stayed a little longer."</p> + +<br /><br /><br /><hr class="short" /><br /><br /><br /> + +<span class="page1"><a name="572">[Page 572]</a></span> + +<h2>THE <a name="Letter-Box">LETTER-BOX.</a></h2> + +<h3>A BRAVE GIRL.</h3> + +<p> +One summer day, in Union square, New York City, a beautiful +deed was done, which our frontispiece tells so well as almost to leave +no need of words. A poor blind man started to cross the street just +as a car was rapidly approaching. He heard it coming, and, growing +confused, stood still—his poor, blind face turned helplessly, +pathetically up, as if imploring aid. Men looked on heedlessly, +regardless of his danger, or the voiceless appeal in his sightless eyes.</p> +<p> +Suddenly, from among the passers-by, a young girl sprang to his +side, between him and the great horses which were so near they +almost touched her, laid her dainty hand on his, and led him safely +over the street, and with gentle words that brought a smile to his +withered old face, set him safely on his way.</p> +<p> +It was a brave, kindly act, and one may be sure it was neither the +first nor the last, of the brave girl who did it.</p> + + <hr class="short" /> +<p> +If Charles Dudley Warner had never been a boy, it would have +been impossible for him to write the very interesting little volume he +calls "Being a Boy," for it is evident that he knows well, from +experience, all that he writes about. It may be that many of our +young readers have seen this book, for it has already reached several +editions; but if there are any of them who have not read it, and who +take an interest in the life of boys who are born, and brought up, and +have fun, and drive oxen, and go fishing, and turn grindstones, and +eat pumpkin-pie, and catch wood-chucks, all on a New England +farm, they would do well to get the book and read it.</p> +<p> +If any of those who read it are boys on a farm in New England, +they will see themselves, as if they looked in a mirror; and if any of +them are city boys or girls, or live in the South or West, or anywhere +in the world but in New England, they will see what sort of times +some of the smartest and brightest men in our country had, before +they grew up to be governors, book-writers, and other folks of importance.</p> +<p> +There is a particular reason why readers of ST. NICHOLAS should +see this book, for in it they will meet with some old friends.</p> + + <hr class="short" /> + +<p><span style="float: right"> +Williamsburgh, L.I.</span> +<br /> + +DEAR ST. NICHOLAS: I read in the May "Letter-Box" your +answer to Stella G. about long and short words. It reminded me of +what I read once about Count Von Moltke, the great German general. +The writer described him as "the wonderful silent man who +knows how to hold his tongue in eight different languages."—Yours +truly,<br /> +<span style="float: right; font-size: 0.8em"> +WILLIE, M.D.</span></p><br /> + + <hr class="short" /> + +<p><span style="float: right"> +Santa Fé, N.M.</span> +<br /> + +DEAR ST. NICHOLAS: The donkeys here are called "burros." +They are very tame, and do not get frightened at anything. A few +days ago, the boys in our school tied a bunch of fire crackers to the +tail of one, and fired them off. We all thought he would be very +frightened at the noise, but he just walked off and began eating grass. +My brother Barry had one of these little burros, when we were in +Texas, and every evening he would go to a lady's house for something +to eat, although he had more than he could eat at home; and +if she did not come to the window soon, he would bray as loudly as +he could, and she would have to come out and give him something, +even if it was only a lump of sugur. Good-bye,—From, your affectionate +friend,<br /> +<span style="float: right; font-size: 0.8em"> +BESSIE HATCH.</span></p><br /> + + <hr class="short" /> + +<p><span style="float: right"> +Coldwater, N.Y.</span> +<br /> + +DEAR ST. NICHOLAS: Having read in the March number an account +of the "Great Eastern," I thought perhaps your readers would +like to hear something of the history of her captain, which I read a +short time ago.</p> +<p> +When he was a little boy, he went to sea. As he left home, his +mother said: "Wherever you are, Jamie, whether on sea or land, +remember to acknowledge your God. Promise me that you will kneel +down every morning and night and say your prayers, no matter +whether the sailors laugh at you or not."</p> +<p> +Jamie gave his promise, and soon he was on shipboard, bound for +India. They had a good captain; and, as several of the sailors were +religious men, no one laughed at the boy when he knelt down to pray.</p> +<p> +On the return voyage, however, some of the former sailors having +run away, their places were filled by others, and one of these proved +to be a very bad fellow. When he saw little Jamie kneeling down, +this wicked sailor went up to him, and, giving him a sound box on +the ear, said, "None of that here, sir!"</p> +<p> +Another seaman, who saw this, although he himself swore sometimes, +was indignant that the child should be so cruelly treated. He +told the man to come up on deck and he would give him a thrashing. +The challenge was accepted, and the well-deserved beating was duly +bestowed. Both then returned to the cabin, and the swearing man +said, "Now, Jamie, say your prayers, and if he dares to touch you, +I will give him another dressing."</p> +<p> +The next night, Jamie was tempted to say his prayers in his hammock. +The moment that the friendly sailor saw Jamie get into his +hammock without first saying his prayers, he hurried to the spot and, +dragging him out, said, "Kneel down at once, sir! Do you think I +am going to fight for you, and you not say your prayers, you young +rascal?" During the whole voyage back to London this same sailor +watched over the boy as if he were his father, and every night saw +that he said his prayers.</p> +<p> +Jamie soon began to be industrious, and during his spare hours +studied his books; he learned all about ropes and rigging, and became +familiar with latitude and longitude. Some years after, he became +captain of the "Great Eastern." On returning to England after a +successful voyage, Queen Victoria bestowed upon him the honor of +knighthood, and the world now knows him as Sir James Anderson.<br /> +<span style="float: right; font-size: 0.8em"> +MABEL R.</span></p><br /> + + <hr class="short" /> +<p> +B.P.R.—Perhaps the little book called "Album Leaves," by Mr. +George Houghton, published by Estes & Lauriat, will help you to +some verses suitable to be writen (sic) in autograph albums.</p> + + <hr class="short" /> + +<p><span style="float: right"> +Mobile, Ala.</span> +<br /> + +DEAR ST. NICHOLAS: The "that" question in your recent numbers +brings to mind some "thats" I had when I went to school long +years ago, and which some of your young grammarians may never +have seen. I would like to have them, especially C.P.S., of Chicago, +parse them.<br /> +<span style="float: right; font-size: 0.8em"> +E.S.F.</span></p><br /> + +<p class="indent1"> +Now that is a word which may often be joined,<br /> +For that that may be doubled is clear to the mind,<br /> +And that that that is right, is as plain to the view<br /> +As that that that that we use is rightly used too;<br /> +And that that that that that line has in it, is right,<br /> +And accords with good grammar, is plain in our sight.</p> + + + <hr class="short" /> +<p> +DEAR ST. NICHOLAS: I want to tell you about my aunt Hattie. +She is only nine years older than I am, being twenty-one, and seems more +like a sister than an aunt. When she was about fifteen she +was thrown from her pony and hurt her spine, so that she hasn't +taken a step since.</p> +<p> +But in spite of her great suffering she is the brightest, happiest +one in the house, brimful and running over with fun and spirits. +Papa calls her our sunbeam, and no one can grumble when they see +how patiently and cheerfully she bears her pain. Her bright face +and merry laugh will cure the worst case of "blues." She wants +me to tell you how much she enjoys ST. NICHOLAS. It is a great +comfort to her, and helps to pass away many an hour of pain and +loneliness when I am at school and mamma is busy. She says she +doesn't know what she could do without it.</p> +<p> +Auntie says you must make allowance for what I say of her as I +am a partial judge; but she <i>is</i> the dearest, best auntie in the world, +and I'm not the only one who thinks so. Everybody loves her, and +I shall be satisfied if I ever learn to be half as good and patient and +unselfish as she is. I don't see how she can be so good and patient +and happy when she has to lie still year after year and suffer so +much, I should get cross and fret about it, for I can't bear to be sick +a day. But she never thinks of her own troubles, but is so afraid +she will make us care or trouble. When the pain is very bad she +likes to hear music or poetry. It soothes her better than anything +else. Whittier's poem on "Patience," is a favorite with her, and +so is Mrs. Browning's "Sleep."—Ever your true friend,<br /> +<span style="float: right; font-size: 0.8em"> +ALLIE BERTRAM.</span></p><br /> + + <hr class="short" /> + +<p><span style="float: right"> +Salem, Mass.</span> +<br /> + +DEAR ST. NICHOLAS: I want to tell you about my little turtle. I +got him up in the country last summer, and have had him about six +months. I keep him in a bowl of water, with a shell in it. In summer +I feed him with flies, and in winter I give him pieces of cooked +meat about the size of a fly. My turtle's shell is nearly round, and +he is small enough to be put in a tumbler, and then he can turn +round as he likes. I named him "Two-forty" (a funny name), +because, when you put him down, he stands still, looks around a +minute, and then starts off on a run,—Your friend and reader,<br /> +<span style="float: right; font-size: 0.8em"> +JOHNNY P. WILLIS.</span></p><br /> + + <hr class="short" /> + +<p><span style="float: right"> +Camp Grant, Arizona.</span> +<br /> + +DEAR ST. NICHOLAS: Your coming every month fills us with +delight. We cannot wait to read you separately, so mamma reads +you aloud after the lamps are lighted, the first evening you are here. +Papa lays aside his pen to listen, just like any boy, and so we all +enjoy your pages at once. I have one little sister, but no brother.<span class="page1"><a name="573">[Page 573]</a></span> +We live in camp, in far-away Arizona; and, although the "buck-board" +brings the mail in every other day, it takes a long while for a +letter to come from the East.</p> +<p> +There is a pet deer here. He comes out to "guard mounting" on +the parade-ground, and trots after the band when the guard passes in +review. Every one is kind to him; even the dogs know they must +not chase him.—Your true friend,<br /> +<span style="float: right; font-size: 0.8em"> +MOLLIE GORDON.</span></p><br /> + + <hr class="short" /> + +<p><span style="float: right"> +New Brunswick, N.J.</span> +<br /> + +DEAR ST. NICHOLAS: I would like to tell you of the nice times +that the country children have, although they have no parks. In +summer they can go on picnics, and they have a nice garden to play +in. And most of the children have little gardens of their own to plant +things in,—one for flowers and the other for vegetables. Then, in +the winter-time, they can go coasting, sliding and skating; then, last +but not least, sleigh-riding on the lovely, pure white snow.</p> +<p> +I, for one, would not be a city child. If I lived in the city, I could +not have my old pet hen. Good-by, dear ST. NICHOLAS.—From +your friend—<br /> +<span style="float: right; font-size: 0.8em"> +MATHILDE WEYER.</span></p><br /> +<p> +P.S.—I have a cat by the name of Pussy Hiawatha.</p> + + <hr class="short" /> + +<p><span style="float: right"> +Covington, Ohio.</span> +<br /> + +DEAR ST. NICHOLAS: Would you like to know how I came to get +you? I worked for you. My brother made a bank for me out of a +cigar-box, and said if I put ten cents into it every week, I could +begin taking you in November. That was in March. Sometimes, I +could not get the ten cents, but I made it up the next week, and +more, too, if I could; and before July, I had more than enough to +pay for you. After that, I saved nearly enough to buy me a suit of +clothes. I am working for you for another year. My age is twelve. +—From your constant reader, <br /> +<span style="float: right; font-size: 0.8em"> +W.H. PERRY.</span></p><br /> + + <hr class="short" /> +<p> +The following is sent to us from Josie C.H., aged eleven years, as +her own composition:</p> + +<h4>SOME THINGS WHICH WE EXPECT IN YEARS TO COME.</h4> +<p> +Some boys, when they go to school, expect to learn. When they +are a little older, they expect to go to college; and then, to learn +trades and professions, and to become men. The farmer, when he +plants his seed in the spring, expects a harvest. The merchant, when +he buys his goods, expects to sell them at a profit. The student expects +to become a lawyer, minister, etc. All boys expect to become +men. We often expect things that never happen, but what we expect +we cannot always get; yet we can try for them, which is a good +rule to go by.</p> + + <hr class="short" /> + +<h4>THE TRUE STORY OF "MARY'S LITTLE LAMB."</h4> + +<p><span style="float: right"> +Saratoga Springs, N.Y.</span> +<br /> + +DEAR ST. NICHOLAS: I want to tell you what I read lately in a +newspaper about Mary and her lamb. Mary herself is now a delightful +old lady of threescore and ten, and this is her story:</p> +<p> +"I was nine years old, and we lived on a farm. I used to go out +to the barn every morning with father, to see the cows and sheep. +One cold day, we found that during the night twin lambs had been +born. You know that sheep will often disown one of twins, and this +morning one poor little lamb was pushed out of the pen into the +yard. It was almost starved, and almost frozen, and father told me +I might have it if I could keep it alive. So I took it into the house, +wrapped it in a blanket, and fed it on peppermint and milk all day. +When night came, I could not bear to leave it, for fear it would die. +So mother made me up a little bed on the settle, and I nursed the +poor little thing all night, feeding it with a spoon, and by morning it +could stand. After this, we brought it up by hand, until it learned to +love me very much, and would stay with me wherever I went, unless +it was tied. I used, before going to school in the morning, to see +that the lamb was all right, and securely fastened for the day.</p> +<p> +"Well, one morning, when my brother Nat and I were all ready, +the lamb could not be found, and, supposing that it had gone out to +pasture with the cows, we started on. I used to be very fond of singing, +and the lamb would follow the sound of my voice. This morning, +after we had gone some distance, I began to sing, and the lamb +hearing me, followed, and overtook us before we got to school. As it +happened, we were early; so I went in very quietly, and took the +lamb into my seat, where it went to sleep, and I covered it up with +my shawl. When the teacher and the rest of the scholars came, they +did not notice anything amiss, and all was quiet until my +spelling-class +was called. Hardly had I taken my place when the patter of +little hoofs was heard coming down the aisle, and the lamb stood beside +me ready for its word. Of course, the children all laughed, and the +teacher laughed too, and the poor creature had to be turned +out-of-doors. +But it kept coming back, and at last had to be tied in the +wood-shed until school was out. Now, that day, there was a young +man in the school, John Roulston by name, who had come as a spectator. +He was a Boston boy and son of a riding-school master, and +was fitting for Harvard College. He was very much pleased over +what he saw in our school, and a few days after gave us the first three +verses of the song. How or when it got into print, I don't know.</p> +<p> +"I took great care of my pet, and would curl its long wool over a +stick, Finally, it was killed by an angry cow. I have a pair of little +stockings, knitted of yarn spun from the lamb's wool, the heels of +which have been raveled out and given away piecemeal as +mementoes."—Yours +truly, <br /> +<span style="float: right; font-size: 0.8em"> +J.M.D.</span></p><br /> + + <hr class="short" /> + +<p><span style="float: right"> +Bolinas, Cal.</span> +<br /> + +DEAR ST. NICHOLAS: Were the "Arabian Nights" written by an +Englishman or translated from the Arabic? In either case can you +tell us the name of the author?—Yours sincerely,<br /> +<span style="float: right; font-size: 0.8em"> +ESTHER R. DE PERSE AND JIMMIE MOORE.</span></p> +<br /> +<p> +The "Arabian Nights" were collected and translated into English +by Edward William Lane, an Englishman; but no one ever has found +out where or by whom the tales were first told. On page 42 of ST. +NICHOLAS for November, 1874 (the first number), is an article on the +subject by Mr. Donald G. Mitchell, which you would do well to read.</p> + + <hr class="short" /> + +<p><span style="float: right"> +Geneva, Switzerland.</span> +<br /> + +DEAR ST. NICHOLAS: Perhaps some of your American readers +have visited this far-away city, and even attended school here. Pupils +come here for schooling from all parts of the world,—from America, +Cuba, England, Germany, Russia, Greece, and even from Egypt. +But many of the ST. NICHOLAS children never have been here; so I +will tell them about the country and the people.</p> +<p> +In the first place, Switzerland is a republic, with president and vice-president, +as in the United States, but chosen every year. Switzerland +is made up of twenty-two cantons, or states, each of which has +two representatives; and, besides these, there are 128 members of the +National Assembly, and seven members of the Federal Council, each +of which last is chosen once in three years. The country is only +one-third +as large as the State of New York, being 200 miles long and +156 broad; and two-thirds of it is composed of lofty mountains or +deep ravines. The people are apparently such lovers of law and +order as to need no rulers at all. I think there must be propriety in +the air they breathe. They have honest faces, and honesty beams +out of their clear blue eyes. The school-boy even, instead of stopping +to throw stones or climb fences or wrestle with another boy, +walks along to school, at eight o'clock in the morning, with his +square hair-covered satchel on his back, as orderly as if he were the +teacher setting an example to his pupils. The laborers, in +blouse-frocks +of blue or gray homespun, make no noise, no confusion. All +is done quietly, orderly and correctly; each one knows his duty and +does it.</p> +<p> +Although Berne is the capital, Geneva is the largest city; and I +think if you could see it as it is, with grand snow-capped mountains +at both sides, the clear blue lake,—not always blue, for sometimes it +is green, and then the blue Rhone can be distinctly seen flowing +through it,—the pretty green parks and gardens, clean streets, and +oddly dressed people, you would think, as I do, that it is a very nice +place to be in.</p> +<p> +There are several little steamers which ply on the lake, and +numberless +little sail and row boats, and beautiful white swans, with tiny +olive-colored cygnets, swimming and diving for food. On the banks +of the rapid river, which leaves the lake at the city, are the +wash-houses—a +great curiosity. But my letter is getting too long, so I +must stop.—Yours truly,<br /> +<span style="float: right; font-size: 0.8em"> +S.H. REDFIELD.</span></p><br /> + + <hr class="short" /> + +<p><span style="float: right"> +Easton, Pa.</span> +<br /> + +DEAR ST. NICHOLAS: I send you an acrostic which I have made, +and I hope you will print it.—Yours truly,<br /> +<span style="float: right; font-size: 0.8em"> +B.</span></p> +<br /> + +<h4>ACROSTIC.</h4> +<p class="indent1"> +My first has a heart that has ne'er throbbed with pity;<br /> + My next has strong arms, but ne'er strikes for the right;<br /> +My third has a head, but is not wise or witty;<br /> +My fourth, a neat foot, but in country or city<br /> + Is never seen walking, by day or by night;<br /> +My fifth, with a mouth that is surely capacious<br /> +Enough for a lion, is never voracious.<br /> +Guess from these five initials my whole, if you can;<br /> +'Tis a path ever used, yet untrodden by man.</p> + +<p class="indent"> +<i>Ans.</i> Orbit. Oak, Reel, Barrel, Iambic, Tunnel.</p> + + <hr class="short" /> + +<h4>CITY CHILDREN'S COUNTRY REST.</h4> + +<p><span style="float: right"> +Brooklyn, E.D.</span> +<br /> + +DEAR ST. NICHOLAS: Here is news to do your heart good. Last +summer, a Brooklyn lady, who herself has been bed-ridden and in pain +for many years, felt very sorry for the children of the tenement houses, +who are unable to get relief or a chance to enjoy the fresh air and +bright sunlight of the country. She longed to help them, and said +so to Mr. P., a clergyman in northern Pennsylvania. He spoke of +it to his congregation, and asked them if they would invite some of +the poor city children to visit their farm-houses and cottages for a +week or so; and they gladly said they would, and told him he might +bring along as many as he could get to come. This generous reply<span class="page1"><a name="574">[Page 574]</a></span> +he told to the lady, and she let others know, and the result was that, +although late in the season, more than sixty children from the poorest +neighborhoods of Brooklyn—pale, deformed, city-worn, and +ill-fed—spent +a happy fortnight in the country.</p> +<p> +The children were ferreted out, and their parents persuaded. They +were then taken to the railroad depot, and there given in charge of +Mr. P., who went with them, and sorted them among his people; +and, when the time was up, brought them back, and turned them +over to us at the depot. Then we took them to their homes. The +total expense of carrying all the children there and back in three lots +was about $180, and more money could have been had if it had been +wanted. In fact, the minute the subject was broached every hearer +wanted to help. The railroad company charged only half fares, and +the employés got to know Mr. P. and his batches of children, and +did all they could to make things easy and cheerful for them.</p> +<p> +I can fancy how glad you would have been, dear old ST. NICHOLAS, +to see the happy, hearty, bright-eyed boys and girls that came home +in place of the pale-faced, dead-and-alive children that left two weeks +before! They talked of nothing but the good times they had had. +One little fellow, thinking to surprise us, said, "I seen a cow!" All +of them fared well, and particularly enjoyed the "good country +milk." When they came back, many wore better clothes than they +had gone in, and all were laden with good things for the home folks. +One boy carried under each arm a "live" chicken,—special gifts for +his mother!</p> +<p> +Now, if some of your readers in the country follow the example of +these Pennsylvania people, they will know what it is to be downright +happy; for every person who has had anything to do with this enterprise +feels happy about it, and longs to do it again, and more +besides.—Yours truly, <br /> +<span style="float: right; font-size: 0.8em"> +C.B.</span></p><br /> + + <hr class="short" /> +<p class="note"> +ANSWERS TO MR. CRANCH'S POETICAL CHARADES, published on +page 406 of the April number, were received, before April 18, from +Neils E. Hansen, C.W.W., Arnold Guyot Cameron, Helen and +Frank Diller, "Sadie," "Marshall," Emma Lathers, Arthur W. +James, Louise G. Hinsdale, Ada C. Okell, E.K.S. and M.G.V., +"Sunnyside Seminary," "Persephone," M.W.C., Genevieve Allis +and Kittie Brewster, Florence Stryker, "Cosey Club," Mary and +Willie Johnson, and Jeanie A. Christie.</p> +<p class="note"> +ERRATUM.—The answer to No. 23 in "Presidential Discoveries" +is "More" (Sir Thomas), not "William Henry," as given in the +May number.</p> +<p class="note"> +ANSWERS TO PUZZLES in the April number were received, before +April 18, from R.H. Marr, Grace Sumner, "Prebo," Marion Abbot, +Maxwell W. Turner, Willie W. Cooper, "Cosey Club," Samuel J. +Holmes, "Three Sisters," Charles G. Todd, W.M., M.E. Adams, +Mamie G.A., W. Thomas, Jeanie A. Christie, T. Bowdoin, Robert +M. Webb, Allie Bertram, Willie Wilkins, Maggie Simon, Kitty P. +Norton, M.W. Collet, Jay Benton, "Kaween," Morris M. Turk, +Leonie Giraud, Catherine Cook, Willie B. Dess, Willie Cline, Frances +M. Griffitts, Nellie J. Towle, "Isola," Mary C. Warren, Florence I. +Turrill, Charles Fritts, "Angeline," Sam Cruse, John V.L. Pierson, +"Ollie;" Tillie Powles and May Roys; Tyler Redfield, Grace A. +Jarvis, Bennie Swift; Sarah Duffield and "No Name" and Constance +F. Grand-Pierre; "Romeo and Juliet," "Jupiter," O.C. Turner, +Jessie D. Worstell, Melly Woodward, R. Townsend McKeever, +Eleanor N. Hughes, Ben Merrill; Annie and Lucy Wollaston; William +Eichelberger and John Cress; "Clover-leaf and Pussy-willow," +Alice Getty, Herbert D. Utley; Bertha and Carl Heferstein and +Estella Lohmeyer; C. Speiden and M.F. Speiden; Angeline O., +May Filton, "Winnie," Maggie J. Gemmill, Jennie McClure, +"X.Y.Z.," Neils E. Hansen, Clara B. Dunster, Bessie L. Barnes, +Willie B. McLean, Bessie T., Lauretta V. Whyte, Hattie M. Heath; +Charles W. Hutchins and Abbie F. Hutchins; Belle Murray, Harry +A. Garfield; Helen and Frank Diller; Gertrude A. Pocock, Helena +W. Chamberlain, "Al Kihall," Wm. F. Tort, "Lizzie and Anna," +Kittie Tuers, Taylor Goshorn, Emma Lathers, "Marshall," Arthur +W. James, Otto A. Dreier, "O.K.," Ada B. Raymond, "Seymour-Ct.," +"Three Cousins," "Hallie," Alice Lanigan, Alfred Whitman, +"Golden Eagle;" E.K.S. and M.G.V.; H.B. Ayers, Fred Chittenden; +William McKinley Cobb and Howell Cobb, Jr.; Katie Hackett +and Helen Titus; "35 E. 38th St.," W.D. Utley, Mary Lewis +Darlington, Louisa L. Richards, James Barton Longacre, Nellie +Emerson, Chas. B. Ebert, Jennie A. Carr, W.H. Wetmore, Mattie +Olmsted; Arthur W. Hodgman, E.H. Hoeber, A.H. Peirce; Kittie +Brewster and Genevieve Allis; Fannie B. Bates, Louise Egleston, +Florence Stryker, Hattie H. Doyle, Mattie Doyle, Mabel Chester, +Alice N. Dunn. A.R., Mary F. Johnson, M. Alice Chase, Alice +Anderson, Bessie T. Hosmer, "Heath Hill Club," Anna E, Mathewson, +I. Sturges, Addie B. Tiemann, Harriet A. Clark, Clarence H. +Young, B.P. Emery, Victor C. Sanborn, "Persephone," Eddie Vultee; +"M.," Staten Island; Fred M. Pease, Cyrus C. Clarke, Geo. +J. Fiske; and George H. Nisbett, of London, England.</p> +<p class="note"> +Correct solutions of all the puzzles were received from Arnold Guyot +Cameron, "Bessie and her Cousin," Louise G. Hinsdale, Lucy C. +Johnson; and L.M. and Eddie Waldo.</p> + +<br /><br /><br /><hr class="short" /><br /><br /><br /> + + +<h2>THE <a name="Riddle-Box">RIDDLE-BOX</a>.</h2> + + +<h4>EASY BEHEADINGS.</h4> + +<p> +The whole, most animals possess; behead it, and transpose, and +there will appear an emblem of grief; behead again, and see what all +men have; behead and curtail, and find an article.<br /> +<span style="float: right; font-size: 0.8em">J.F.S.</span></p><br /> + + +<h4>ACCIDENTAL HIDINGS.</h4> +<p> +Find concealed in the following quotations three names for</p> + + + <h5>METRICAL COMPOSITIONS.</h5> +<p class="indent2"> + "As hope and fear alternate chase<br /> + Our course through life's uncertain race."—<i>Scott</i>.</p> +<p class="indent2"> + "Trained to the chase, his eagle eye<br /> + The ptarmigan in snow could spy."—<i>Scott</i>.</p> +<p class="indent2"> + "Well-dressed, well-bred,<br /> + Well-equipaged, is ticket good enough."—<i>Cowper</i>.</p><br /> + +<p> +Find concealed in the following quotations three names for</p> + +<h5>PORTIONS OF TIME.</h5> +<p class="indent2"> + "From better habitations spurned,<br /> + Reluctant dost thou rove."—<i>Goldsmith</i>.</p> +<p class="indent2"> + "As ever ye heard the greenwood dell<br /> + On morn of June one warbled swell."—<i>Queen's Wake</i>.</p> +<p class="indent2"> + "Each spire, each tower and cliff sublime,<br /> + Was hooded in the wreathy rime."—<i>Hogg</i>.</p><br /> + + +<h4>MELANGE.</h4> +<p> +1. Behead a plant, and leave a friend. 2. Curtail the plant, and +give a pungent spice. 3. Syncopate the plant, and find an envelope. +4. Behead the spice, and leave affection. 5. Syncopate and transpose +the friend, and find learning. 6. Behead the envelope, and leave +above. 7. Syncopate and transpose the envelope, and give the inner +part. 8. Transpose above, and find to ramble. 9. Syncopate to +ramble, and leave a wild animal. <span style="float: right; font-size: 0.8em">ISOLA.</span></p> + +<br /> + +<h4>EASY CLASSICAL ACROSTIC.</h4> +<p class="indent2"> +My first is in deaf, but not in hear;<br /> +My second in doe, and also in deer;<br /> +My third is in May, but not in June;<br /> +My fourth is in song, but not in tune;<br /> +My fifth is in house, and also in shed;<br /> +My sixth is in cot, but not in bed;<br /> +My seventh is in chair, but not in stool;<br /> +My eighth is in lake, but not in pool;<br /> +My ninth is in pencil, and also in ink;<br /> +My tenth is in blue, but not in pink;<br /> +My eleventh is in dish, but not in pan;<br /> +My whole was a Greek and a well-spoken man.<br /> +<span style="float: right; font-size: 0.8em">ANNAN.</span></p><br /> + + + +<h4>ENIGMA.</h4> +<p> +I am a common adage frequently used by good housewives, and +am composed of twenty-two letters.</p> +<p> +My 9 15 3 8 16 22 is pertaining to the place of birth. My 10 20 19 +14 are things used to cook with. My 6 1 5 is a domestic animal. My +11 21 is a preposition. My 18 17 13 12 is to appear. My 7 4 2 is a +pronoun.<br /> +<span style="float: right; font-size: 0.8em">BESSIE.</span></p><br /> + +<span class="page1"><a name="575">[Page 575]</a></span> +<h4>ANAGRAMS.</h4> +<p> +Each anagram is formed from a single word, and a clue to the +meaning of that word is given after its anagram.</p> +<p> +1. A dry shop; rambling composition. 2. I clean rum; belonging +to number. 3. Poet in dread; the act of making inroads. +4. Oxen are set; clears from blame. 5. Gin danger; displacing.<br /> + +<span style="float: right; font-size: 0.8em">CYRIL DEANE.</span></p><br /> + +<p class="center"> +<span style="font-size: 1.3em; font-weight: bold;"><a name="puzzle">PICTORIAL</a> PUZZLE</span><br /> +<img src="images/114.jpg" width="400" alt="Pictorial Puzzle" border="0" /><br />What animal, besides the dog and the cat, is to be found in the above picture? +</p> + +<br /> +<h4>EASY DIAMOND PUZZLE.</h4> +<p class="indent"> +1. A vowel. 2. A fairy. 3. Change. 4. Not many. 5. A consonant.<br /> + +<span style="float: right; font-size: 0.8em">WILLIE F.</span></p><br /> + + +<h4>CHARADE.</h4> + +<h5>I.</h5> +<p class="indent1"> +My first, a god once worshiped, now fills a lowly place,<br /> +Though sometimes raised to favor by the wayward human race.</p> + +<h5>II.</h5> +<p class="indent1"> +My second, a bold captain, leads a goodly company,<br /> +Whose numbers march in columns, like knights of chivalry.<br /> +They serve us at our bidding, yet we are in their power,<br /> +And the weapons that they carry may wound us in an hour.<br /> +It grandly leads the ages, as their cycles onward roll,<br /> +But stoops to lend its presence to my shadowy, fearful whole.<br /> +It lives in ancient romance, it floats upon the air,<br /> +And flower-deck'd May without it would not be half so fair.</p> + +<h5>III.</h5> +<p class="indent1"> +My third holds humble office, a servant at your will,<br /> +But an instrument of torture if 'tis not used with skill.<br /> +Beauty before her mirror studies its use with care,<br /> +And deigns, perchance, to choose it an ornament to wear.</p> + +<h5>IV.</h5> +<p class="indent1"> +Consider, all ye people, what my strange whole may be;<br /> +'Tis gloomy, dark and awful, and full of mystery.<br /> +Ponder the tales of ages, of human sin and woe,<br /> +Turn to historic pages, if you its name would know.<br /> +E'en kings their heads have rested, a-weary of the crown,<br /> +Upon its curious couches, though not of silk or down.<br /> +The stately seven-hilled city may boast her ancient birth,<br /> +But this was old and hoary ere she had place on earth.<br /> +Some tremble when they see it; some its secrets would explore,<br /> +And, peering through its shadows, they seek its mystic lore.<br /> + +<span style="float: right; font-size: 0.8em">A.M.W.</span></p><br /> + + + +<h4>NUMERICAL PUZZLE.</h4> +<p class="indent"> +A boy named 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 thought it singular he should +become such a monster as a 1 2 3 4 6 7 8 9 10 by dropping the first +letter of his surname.<br /> + +<span style="float: right; font-size: 0.8em">C.D.</span></p><br /> + + + +<h4>FOUR-LETTER SQUARE-WORD.</h4> +<p> +The base is a title. Fill the blanks in the following sentence with +words which can be arranged in order, as they come, to form a +word-square:</p> +<p> +The (1)—— made an (2)—— of his minstrel, and yet he himself +could not tell one (3)—— from another, or distinguish a dirge from a +(4)——.<br /> + +<span style="float: right; font-size: 0.8em">B.</span></p><br /> + + +<h4>EASY CROSS-WORD ENIGMA.</h4> + +<p class="indent3"> +1. In road, but not in street;<br /> +2. In hunger, not in eat;<br /> +3. In inn, but not in tavern;<br /> +4. In grot, but not in cavern.</p> + +<p class="indent1"> +The whole is the name of one of the United States. <br /> + +<span style="float: right; font-size: 0.8em">R.L. M'D.</span></p><br /> + + +<h4>METAGRAM.</h4> +<p> +Whole, (1) I am to beat; change my head, and I become, in succession, +(2) stouter, (3) final, (4) substance, (5) to sprinkle, (6) to +rend, and (7) a terrier of a much prized kind.<br /> + +<span style="float: right; font-size: 0.8em">A.C. CRETT.</span></p><br /> + + +<h4>EASY ACROSTIC.</h4> + +<p class="indent2"> +My first is in can, but not in may;<br /> +My second in opera, not in play;<br /> +My third is in shine, but not in bright;<br /> +My fourth is in string, but not in kite;<br /> +My fifth is in tea, but not in coffee;<br /> +My sixth in candy, also in taffy;<br /> +My seventh is in rain, but not in hail;<br /> +My eighth is in bucket, but not in pail;<br /> +My ninth is in ice, but not in snow;<br /> +My tenth is in run, but not in go;<br /> +My eleventh is in hop, but not in run;<br /> +My twelfth in powder, but not in gun;<br /> +My thirteenth is in bell, but not in ring;<br /> +My fourteenth is in scream, but not in sing.<br /> +My whole is a noted city of Europe. <br /> + +<span style="float: right; font-size: 0.8em">GOLD ELSIE.</span></p><br /> + + + +<h4>BLANK WORD-SYNCOPATIONS.</h4> +<p> +Fill the first blank, in each sentence, with a certain word; the +second, with a word taken out of the word chosen for the first blank; +and the third with the letters of that word which remain after filling +the second blank.</p> + +<p> +1. On the —— we first played ——, and then we all began to ——. +2. While —— on the wharf, we saw a vessel come into ——, which +made us —— again. +3. The game of —— I will —— you play, if you will show me the +—— to the fair.<br /> + +<span style="float: right; font-size: 0.8em">CYRIL DEANE.</span></p><br /> + + + +<h4>CHARADE.</h4> + +<p class="indent2"> +My first embodies all despair;<br /> +My second fain my first would flee,<br /> +Yet, flying to my whole, full oft<br /> +Flies but to life-long misery.<br /> +Still Holy Writ doth plainly show;<br /> +My whole, though causing, cureth woe.<br /> + + +<span style="float: right; font-size: 0.8em">M. O'B.D.</span></p><br /> + + +<h4>TRANSPOSITIONS OF PROPER NAMES.</h4> + +<p class="indent"> +1. At ——, Fla., may be obtained —— —— for washing purposes.<br /> +2. Are not the public —— small in the State of ——?<br /> +3. In —— you may not see —— —— ——, though you certainly +will see many in Pennsylvania.<br /> +4. Amid the mountains of —— there is doubtless many a —— ——.<br /> +5. Having occasion to visit the city of ——, to my surprise I —— +—— except a few worn-out —— ——.<br /> +6. If you wish to find or to —— —— -trees, you need not go to——.<br /> +7. When in —— City I saw an old —— ——, which was quite a relic.<br /> +8. In the city of —— the cooks surely know how to —— ——.<br /> +9. ——, my brother, —— the falsehood by giving it a flat ——.<br /> +10. My aunt —— planted a rose-bush —— —— —— allotted to +fruit trees.<br /> + +<span style="float: right; font-size: 0.8em">W.</span></p><br /> + + + +<h4>SQUARE-WORD.</h4> +<p class="indent"> +1. Sour fruit. 2. Imaginary. 3. To immerse. 4. A large bird. +5. Unconscious rest. <br /> + +<span style="float: right; font-size: 0.8em">B.</span></p><br /> + + +<h4>ADDITIONS.</h4> +<p> +1. Add some liquor to a spirit, and make to fix on a stake. 2. Add +something belonging to animals to the animals themselves, and make +a lantern. 3. Add sharp to a girl's name, and make a kind of cloth. +4. Add an era to a vegetable, and make a boy-servant. 5. Add a +boy's name to a cave, and make a foreign country. 6. Add anger to +a serpent, and make to long after.<br /> + +<span style="float: right; font-size: 0.8em">CYRIL DEANE.</span></p><br /> + +<span class="page1"><a name="576">[Page 576]</a></span> +<h4><a name="labyrinth">LABYRINTH</a>.</h4> +<p class="center1"> +<img src="images/illus-102-500.jpg" width="500" height="627" alt="Labyrinth" border="0" /><br /><br /> + +"Trace a way to the center of this labyrinth without crossing a line."</p> + + <br /><br /><br /><hr class="short" /><br /><br /><br /> + +<h4><a name="answers">ANSWERS</a> TO PUZZLES IN MAY NUMBER.</h4> +<p class="note1"> +HOUR-GLASS PUZZLE.—Centrals: Greyhound. Across: Alligator. +2. Adoring. 3. Enemy. 4. Dye. 5. H. 6. Pop. 7. Elude. +8. Evangel. 9. Amendable.</p> +<p class="note1"> +BLANK APOCOPES.—1. Rafters, raft. 2. Rushlight, rush. 3. Larder, +lard. 4. Scarlet, scar.</p> +<p class="note1"> +FRAME PUZZLE.—</p> +<p class="center"> +<img src="images/wordsquare1.jpg" width="200" height="214" alt="Wordsquare" border="0" /> +</p> + +<p class="note1"> +EASY BEHEADINGS.—1. Beat, eat. 2. Candy, Andy. 3. She, he; +your, our. 4. Table, able. 5. Pink, ink. 6. Scent, cent. 7. Brain, +rain. 8. Orange, range. 9. Skate, Kate. 10. Helm, elm. 11. Crow, +row. 12. Hash, ash. 13. Bowl, owl. 14. Scare, care. 15. Brush, rush.</p> +<p class="note1"> +EASY TRIPLE ACROSTIC.—Primals, Crow; centrals, Bear; finals, +Gnat, 1. ComBinG. 2. ReverbEratioN. 3. OmAhA. 4. WoRsT.</p> +<p class="note1"> +HIDDEN FRENCH SENTENCE.—Ma ville de pierre,—"My city of +stone," or "My city of Peter;" <i>i.e.</i>. St. "Peter's-burg." ["Pierre" +means "Peter" as well as "stone."]</p> +<p class="note1"> +PICTORIAL ANAGRAM PROVERB PUZZLE.—"It is good to be merry +and wise."</p> +<p class="note1"> +THREE EASY SQUARE-WORDS.—</p> + +<table width="60%" border="0" summary="square-words"> +<tr> + <td class="right1" rowspan="3" valign="top" width="15%">1—</td> + <td class="right1" width="6%">P</td> + <td class="right1" width="6%">O</td> + <td class="right1" width="6%">E</td> + <td class="right1" rowspan="3" valign="top" width="15%">2—</td> + <td class="right1" width="6%">F</td> + <td class="right1" width="6%">I</td> + <td class="right1" width="6%">R</td> + <td class="right1" rowspan="3" valign="top" width="15%">3—</td> + <td class="right1" width="6%">L</td> + <td class="right1" width="6%">A</td> + <td class="right1" width="6%">W</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="right1">O</td> + <td class="right1">R</td> + <td class="right1">E</td> + <td class="right1">I </td> + <td class="right1">R</td> + <td class="right1">E</td> + <td class="right1">A</td> + <td class="right1">G</td> + <td class="right1">E</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="right1">E</td> + <td class="right1">E</td> + <td class="right1">L</td> + <td class="right1">R</td> + <td class="right1">E</td> + <td class="right1">D</td> + <td class="right1">W</td> + <td class="right1">E</td> + <td class="right1">D</td> +</tr> +</table> + + +<p class="note1"> +EASY ENIGMA.—Diamond.</p> + +<p class="note1"> +REVERSIBLE DOUBLE DIAMOND AND CONCEALED WORD-SQUARE.<br /> +Perpendiculars, Revel; horizontals, Lever. Word-square: 1. Ten. +2. Eve. 3. Net.</p> +<p class="note1"> +EASY SYNCOPATIONS.—1. Brass, bass. 2. Bread, bead. 3. Chart, +cart. 4. Clove, cove. 5. Crane, cane. 6. Farce, face. 7. Heart, hart. +8. Horse, hose. 9. Mouse, muse. 10. Peony, pony.</p> +<p class="note1"> +PICTORIAL TRANSPOSTION PUZZLES.—1. Entitles (ten tiles). +Raja (ajar). 3. Palm (lamp). 4. Satyr (trays). 5. Causer (saucer).</p> +<p class="note1"> +EASY SQUARE-WORD.—1. Balm. 2. Aloe. 3. Lore. 4. Meek.</p> +<p class="note1"> +EASY DIAMOND.—1. W. 2. Nag. 3. Water. 4. Gem. 5. R.</p> +<p class="center1"> +[For the names of those who sent answers to puzzles in the April number, see the "Letter-Box," page 574.]</p> + +<br /><br /><br /><hr class="short" /><br /><br /><br /> + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of St. Nicholas Magazine for Boys and +Girls, Vol. 5, Nov 1877-Nov 1878, by Various + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ST. 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diff --git a/16123-h/images/illus-102-500.jpg b/16123-h/images/illus-102-500.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..4122cd5 --- /dev/null +++ b/16123-h/images/illus-102-500.jpg diff --git a/16123-h/images/wordsquare1.jpg b/16123-h/images/wordsquare1.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..e0cf78f --- /dev/null +++ b/16123-h/images/wordsquare1.jpg diff --git a/16123.txt b/16123.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..8a4f413 --- /dev/null +++ b/16123.txt @@ -0,0 +1,6072 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of St. Nicholas Magazine for Boys and Girls, +Vol. 5, Nov 1877-Nov 1878, by Various + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: St. Nicholas Magazine for Boys and Girls, Vol. 5, Nov 1877-Nov 1878 + Scribner's Illustrated + +Author: Various + +Editor: Mary Mapes Dodge + +Release Date: June 23, 2005 [EBook #16123] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ST. NICHOLAS MAGAZINE *** + + + + +Produced by Juliet Sutherland, Lesley Halamek and the +Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + + +[Illustration: A BRAVE GIRL.] + +[See Letter-Box.] + + * * * * * + + + + +ST. NICHOLAS. + + + + + * * * * * + +VOL. V. JUNE, 1878. No. 8. + +[Copyright, 1878, by Scribner & Co.] + + * * * * * + + + + + + +A TRIUMPH. + +BY CELIA THAXTER. + + + Little Roger up the long slope rushing + Through the rustling corn, + Showers of dewdrops from the broad leaves brushing + In the early morn, + + At his sturdy little shoulder bearing + For a banner gay, + Stem of fir with one long shaving flaring + In the wind away! + + Up he goes, the summer sunshine flushing + O'er him in his race, + Sweeter dawn of rosy childhood blushing + On his radiant face. + + If he can but set his standard glorious + On the hill-top low, + Ere the sun climbs the clear sky victorious, + All the world aglow! + + So he presses on with childish ardor, + Almost at the top! + Hasten, Roger! Does the way grow harder? + Wherefore do you stop? + + From below the corn-stalks tall and slender + Comes a plaintive cry-- + Turns he for an instant from the splendor + Of the crimson sky, + + Wavers, then goes flying toward the hollow, + Calling loud and clear: + "Coming, Jenny! Oh, why did you follow? + Don't you cry, my dear!" + + Small Janet sits weeping 'mid the daisies; + "Little sister sweet, + Must you follow Roger?" Then he raises + Baby on her feet, + + Guides her tiny steps with kindness tender, + Cheerfully and gay, + All his courage and his strength would lend her + Up the uneven way, + + Till they front the blazing East together; + But the sun has rolled + Up the sky in the still Summer weather, + Flooding them with gold. + + All forgotten is the boy's ambition, + Low the standard lies, + Still they stand, and gaze--a sweeter vision + Ne'er met mortal eyes. + + That was splendid; Roger, that was glorious, + Thus to help the weak; + Better than to plant your flag victorious + On earth's highest peak! + + + + + + +ONE SATURDAY. + +BY SARAH WINTER KELLOGG. + + +It was an autumn day in the Indian summer time,--that one Saturday. +The Grammar Room class of Budville were going nutting; that is, eight +of them were going,--"our set," as they styled themselves. Besides the +eight of "our set," Bob Trotter was going along as driver, to take +care of the horses and spring wagon on arrival at the woods, while the +eight were taking care of the nutting and other fun. Bob was fourteen +and three months, but he was well-grown. Beside, he was very handy at +all kinds of work, as he ought to have been, considering that he had +been kept at work since his earliest recollection, to the detriment of +his schooling. + +It had been agreed that the boys were to pay for the team, while the +girls were to furnish the lunch. In order to economize space, it was +arranged that all the contributions to the lunch should be sent on +Friday to Mrs. Hooks, Clara of that surname undertaking to pack it all +into one large basket. + +It was a trifle past seven o'clock Saturday morning when Bob Trotter +drove up to Mr. Hooks's to take in Clara, she being the picnicker +nearest his starting point. He did not know that she was a put +off-er. She was just trimming a hat for the ride when Bob's wagon was +announced. She hadn't begun her breakfast, though all the rest of the +family had finished the meal, while the lunch which should have been +basketed the previous night was scattered over the house from the +parlor center-table to the wood-shed. + +Clara opened a window and called to Bob that she would be ready in +a minute. Then she appealed to everybody to help her. There was a +hurly-burly, to be sure. She asked mamma to braid her hair; little +brother to bring her blue hair-ribbon from her bureau drawer; little +Lucy to bring a basket for the prospective nuts; big brother to get +the inevitable light shawl which mamma would be sure to make her take +along. She begged papa to butter some bread for her, and cut her steak +into mouthfuls to facilitate her breakfast, while the maid was put to +collecting the widely scattered lunch. Mamma put baby, whom she was +feeding, off her lap--he began to scream; little brother left his +doughnut on a chair--the cat began to eat it; little Lucy left her +doll on the floor--big brother stepped on its face, for he did not +leave his book, but tried to read as he went to get the light shawl; +papa laid down his cigar to prepare the put-offer's breakfast--it went +out; the maid dropped the broom--the wind blew the trash from the +dust-pan over the swept floor. Clara continued to trim the hat. As she +was putting in the last pin, mamma reached the tip end of the hair, +and called for the ribbon to tie the braid. "Here 'tis," said little +brother. "Mercy!" cried Clara, "he's got my new blue sash, stringing +it along through all the dust. Goose! do you think I could wear that +great long wide thing on my hair?" Little brother said "Scat!" and +rushed to the rescue of his doughnut, while Lucy came in dragging the +clothes-basket, and big brother entered with mamma's black lace shawl. + +"Well, you told me to get a light one," he replied to Clara's +impatient remonstrance, while Lucy whimpered that they wouldn't have +enough nuts if the clothes-basket wasn't taken along. + +However, when Bob Trotter had secured Clara Hooks, the other girls +were quickly picked up, and so were the four boys, for Bob was brisk +and so were his horses. Dick Hart was the last called for. He had been +ready since quarter past six, and with his forehandedness had worried +his friends as effectually as the put-offer had hers. When the wagon +at last appeared with its load of fun and laughter, he felt too +ill-humored to return the merry greetings. + +"A pretty time to be coming around!" he grumbled, climbing to his +seat. "I've been waiting three hours." + +"You houghtn't to 'ave begun to wait so hearly," said Bob, who +had some peculiarities of pronunciation derived from his English +parentage. + +"It would be better for you to keep quiet," Dick retorted. "You ought +to have your wages cut, coming around here after nine o'clock. We +ought to be out to the woods this minute." + +"'Taint no fault of mine that we haint," said Bob, touching up his +horses. + +"Whose fault is it, if it isn't yours?" Dick asked. + +Clara Hooks was blushing. + +"Let the sparrer tell who killed Cock Robin," was Bob's enigmatical +reply. + +"What's he talking about?" said Julius Zink. + +"I dunno, and he don't either," replied Dick. + +"He doesn't know that or anything else," said Sarah Ketchum. + +It was not possible for Sarah to hear a dispute and not become an open +partisan. + +"I know a lady when I see 'er," said Bob. + +"You don't," said Dick, warmly. "You can't parse horse. I heard you +try at school once." + +"I can curry him," said Bob. + +"You said horse was an article." + +"So he is, and a very useful harticle." + +One of the girls nudged her neighbor, and in a loud whisper intimated +her opinion that Bob was getting the better of Dick. At this Dick grew +warmer and more boisterous, maintaining that the boys ought not to pay +Bob the stipulated price since they were so late in starting. + +"Hif folks haint ready I can't 'elp it," said Bob. + +"Who wasn't ready?" demanded Constance Faber. "You didn't wait for me, +I know." + +"And you didn't wait for me or Mat Snead," added Sarah Ketchum, +"because we walked down to meet the wagon." + +Clara Hooks's face had grown redder and redder during the +investigation; but if Clara _was_ a put-offer, she was not a coward or +a sneak. + +"He waited for me," she now said, "but I think it's mean to tell it +wherever he goes." + +"I haint told it nowheres." + +"You just the same as told; you hinted." + +"Wouldn't 'ave 'inted ef they hadn't kept slappin' at me," was Bob's +defense, which did not go far toward soothing the mortified Clara. + +Not all of this party were pert talkers. Two were modest: Valentine +Duke and Mat Snead. These sat together, forming what the others called +the Quaker settlement, from the silence which prevailed in it. The +silence was now broken by a remark from Valentine Duke irrelevant to +any preceding. + +"Nuts are plentier at Hawley's Grove than at Crow Roost," he jerked, +out, and then locked up again. + +"Say we go there, then," said Kit Pott. + +"Let's take the vote on it. Those in favor of Hawley's say aye." + +The ayes came storming out, as though each was bound to be the first +and loudest. + +"Contrary, no," continued the self-made president; and Bob Trotter +voted solidly "No!" + +"We didn't ask you to vote," said Dick, returning to his quarrel. + +Dick was constitutionally and habitually pugnacious, but he had such +a cordial way of forgiving everybody he injured that people couldn't +stay mad with him. Indeed, he was quite a favorite. + +"I'm the other side of the 'ouse," Bob answered Dick. "You can't carry +this hidee through without my 'elp." + +"We hired you to take us to the woods." + +"You 'ired me and my wagin and them harticles--whoa!" (Bob's +"harticles" stopped)--"to take you to Crow Roost. You didn't 'ire me +for 'Awley's, and I haint goin' ther' without a new contract." + +"What difference is it to you where we go?" Dick demanded. "You belong +to us for the day." + +"Four miles further and back,--height miles makes a difference to the +harticles." + +Murmurs of disapproval rendered Dick bold. + +"Suppose we say you've _got_ to take us to Hawley's," he said, warmly. + +"Suppose you do," said Bob, coolly. + +"I'd like to know what you'd say about it," said Dick, warmly. + +"Say it and I'll let you know," said Bob, coolly,--so very coolly that +Dick was cooled. + +A timely prudence enforced a momentary silence. He forebore taking a +position he might not be able to hold. "Say, boys, shall we _make_ him +take us to the grove?" + +Bob smiled. Val Duke smiled, too, in his unobtrusive way, and +suggested modestly, "We ought to pay extra for extra work." + +"Pay him another quarter and be done with it," said Kit Pott. + +Beside being good-natured, Kit didn't enjoy the stopping there in the +middle of the road. + +"It's mighty easy to pay out other people's money," sneered Dick, +resenting it that Kit seemed going over to the enemy. + +Kit's face was aflame. His father had refused him any money to +contribute toward the picnic expenses, and here was Dick taunting him +with it before all the girls. + +"You boys teased me to come along because you didn't know where to +find the nuts," said Kit. + +The girls began to nudge each other, making whimpered explanations and +commentaries, agreeing that is was mean in Dick to mind Kit, and Clara +Hooks spoke up boldly; + +"I wanted Kit to come along because he's pleasant and isn't forever +quarreling." + +"Oh!" Dick sneered more moderately, "we all know you like Kit Pott. +You and he had better get hitched; then, you'd be pot-hooks." + +This set everybody to laughing, even Dirk's adversary, Bob Trotter. + +"Pretty bright!" said Julius Zink. + +"Bright, but not pretty," said Mat Snead, blushing at the sound of her +voice. + +"Hurrah! Mat's waked up," said Julius. + +"It's the first time she's spoken since we started," said Sarah +Ketchum. + +"This isn't the first time you've spoken," Mat quietly retorted, +blushing over again. + +Everybody laughed again, even Sarah Ketchum. + +"Sarah always puts in her oar when there's any water," said Constance +Faber. + +"I want to know how long we're to sit here, standing in the middle of +the road," said Julius. + +Again everybody laughed. When grammar-school boys and girls are on +a picnic, a thing needn't be very witty or very funny to make them +laugh. From the ease with which this party exploded into laughter, +it may be perceived that in spite of the high words and the pop-gun +firing, there was no deep-seated ill-humor among them. + +"To Crow Roost and be done with it!" said Dick. + +"All right," assented several voices. + +"Crow Roost, Bob, by the lightning express," said Dick, with +enthusiasm. + +"But, as you were so particular," said Sarah to Bob, "we're going to +be, too. We aint going to give you any lunch unless you pay for it." + +"Not a mouthful," said Clara. + +"Not even a crumb," said Constance. + +Nobody saw any dismay in Bob's face. + +I don't intend to tell you about all the sayings and all the laughter +of those boys and girls on their way to Crow Roost. They wouldn't like +to have me, and you wouldn't. Bob Trotter ran over a good many grubs +and way-side stumps, and at every jolt Constance screamed, and Dick +scolded and then laughed. Mat Snead spoke three words. She and +Valentine had been sitting as though in profound meditation for some +forty minutes, when he said: "Quite a ride!" + +"Very; no, quite," she answered, in confusion. + +Sarah Ketchum said everything that Mat didn't say. She was Mat's +counterpart. + +All grew enthusiastic as they approached the woods, and when the wagon +stopped they poured over the side in an excited way. + +"What shall we do with the lunch-basket?" + +"Leave it in the wagon," said Sarah Ketchum, whose counsel, Kit said, +was as free as the waters of the school pump. + +Clara objected to leaving it. Bob would eat everything up. "Let's take +it along." + +"Why, no," said Julius. + +He was the largest of the boys, and, according to the knightly code, +he remembered the carrying of the basket would devolve upon him. + +"Yes, we must carry it along," Sarah Ketchum insisted. "Bob sha'n't +have a chance at that basket if I have to carry it around on my back." + +Constance, too, said, "Take it along." + +"It's easy enough for you girls to insist on having the basket toted +around," said Dick, "because girls can't carry anything when there are +boys along; but suppose you were a poor little fellow like Jule." + +"I wont have to climb the trees with it on my back, will I?" said +Julius. "I'll tell you," he continued, lowering his tone--Bob had +heard all the preceding remarks--"we'll hang our basket on a hickory +limb. It will be safe from hogs, and the leaves will hide it from +Bob." + +This proposition was approved, and the basket was carried off a short +distance and slyly swung into a sapling. Then the eight went scurrying +through the woods, leaving Bob with the horses. Wherever they saw a +lemon-tinted tree-top against the sky or crowded into one of those +fine autumn bouquets a clump of trees can make, there rushed a squad +of boys, each with his basket, followed by a squad of girls, each with +her basket. + +But in a very short time the girls were tired and the boys hungry. All +agreed to go back to the lunch. So back they hurried, the nuts rolling +about over the bottoms of the baskets. Julius had the most nuts; he +had eleven. Mat had the smallest number; she had one. + +[Illustration: "'I BELIEVE SHE'S GONE DRY,' SAID KIT."] + +"I hope you girls brought along lots of goodies," said Dick. "Seems to +me I never was so hungry in my life." + +"I believe boys are always hungry," said Sarah Ketchum. + +Val Duke was leading the party. He got along faster than the others, +because he wasn't turning around every minute to say something. He +made an electrifying announcement: + +"A cow's in the basket!" + +"Gee-whiz!" said Dick, rushing at the cow. "Thunder!" said Julius, and +he gathered a handful of dried leaves and hurled them at the beast. +Kit said "Ruination!" and threw his cap. Clara said "Begone!" and +flapped her handkerchief in a scaring way. Sarah Ketchum said, "Shew! +Scat!" and pitched a small tree-top. It hit Dick and Valentine. +Constance said "Wretch!" and didn't throw anything. Mat didn't say +anything and threw her hickory-nut. Val threw his basket, and hung +it on the cow's horn. She shook it off walked away a few yards, then +turned and stared at the party. + +"Lunch is gone, every smitch of it!" said Kit. + +"Hope it'll kill her dead!" said Sarah Ketchum. + +"We'd better have left it in the wagon. Bob couldn't have eaten it +all," said Clara. + +"I wish Jule had taken it along," said Dick. + +"I wish Dick had taken it along," said Julius. + +"But what're we going to do?" said Constance. + +"We might buy something if anybody lived about here." + +"There isn't any money." + +"Dick might give his note, with the rest of us as indorsers," said +Julius. + + +"We might play tramps and beg something." + +"But nobody lives around here." + +"Hurrah!" said Dick, who had been prowling about among the slain. +"Here's a biscuit, and here's a half loaf of bread." + +"But they're all mussed and dirty," said Sarah. + +"You might pare them," Mat suggested. + +"Yes, peel them like potatoes," said Julius. + +"But what are these among so many? The days of miracles are past." + +"What shall we do?" said one and another. + +"Milk the cow," said Mat. + +Boys and girls clapped their hands with enthusiasm, and cried +"Splendid!" "Capital!" etc. + +"I'll milk her," said Dick. "Hand me that cup. I'm obliged to the cow +for not eating it." + +The cow happened to be a gentle animal, so she did not run away at +Dick's approach, yet she seemed determined that he should not get into +milking position. She kept her broad, white-starred face toward him, +and her large, liquid eyes on his, turning, turning, turning, as he +tried over and over to approach her flanks, while the others stood +watching in mute expectancy. + +"Give her some feed," said Mat. + +"Feed! I shouldn't think she could bear the sight of anything more +after all that lunch," said Dick. "Beside, there isn't any feed about +here." + +Somebody suggested that Bob Trotter had brought some hay and corn +for his horses. Dick proposed that Julius should go for some. Julius +proposed that Dick should go. Valentine offered to bring it, and +brought it--some corn in a basket. + +"Suke! Suke, Bossy! Suke, Bossy! Suke!" Dick yelled as though the cow +had been two hundred feet off instead of ten. He held out the basket. +She came forward, sniffed at the corn, threw up her lip and took a +bite. Dick set the basket under her nose and hastened to put himself +in milking position. But that was the end of it. He could not milk a +drop. + +"I can't get the hang of the thing," he said. + +"Let me try," said Kit. + +Dick gave way, and Kit pulled and squeezed and tugged and twisted, +while the others shouted with laughter. + +"I believe she's gone dry," said Kit, very red in the face. At this +the laughers laughed anew. + +"Some of you who are so good at laughing had better try." + +Kit set the cup on a stump and retired. + +Sarah Ketchum tried to persuade everybody else to try, but the other +boys were afraid of failure and the girls were afraid of the cow. +Sarah said if somebody would hold the animal's head so that it +couldn't hook, she'd milk--she knew she could. But nobody offered to +take the cow by the horns; so everything came to a stand-still except +Sarah's talking and the cow's eating. Then Bob Trotter came in sight, +all his pockets standing out with nuts. They called him. Sarah Ketchum +explained the situation and asked him if he could milk. + +"I do the milkin' at 'ome," Bob replied. + +"Wont you please milk this cow for us? We don't know how, and we want +the milk for dinner." + +There came a comical look into Bob's face, but he said nothing. The +eight knew what his thoughts must be. + +"We oughtn't to have said that you couldn't have any of our lunch," +said Sarah Ketchum. + +"We didn't really mean it," said Clara. "When lunch-time came we would +have given you lots of good things." + +"That's so," said Dick. "Sarah told us an hour ago that she meant to +give you her snow-ball cake because she felt compuncted." + +By this time Bob had approached the cow. He spoke some kind words +close to her broad ear, and gently stroked her back and flanks. Then +he set to work in the proper way, forcing the milk in streams into the +cup, the boys watching with admiration Bob's ease and expertness, Dick +wondering why he couldn't do what seemed so easy. In a few seconds the +cup was filled. + +"Now, what're you going to do?" said Bob. "This wont be a taste +around." + +"You might milk into our hats," said Julius. + +"I've got a thimble in my pocket," said Sarah Ketchum. + +"Do stop your nonsense," said Constance; "it's a very serious +question--a life and death matter. We're a company of Crusoes." + +But the boys couldn't stop their nonsense immediately. Dick remarked +that if the cow had not licked out the jelly-bowl and then kicked it +to pieces it might have been utilized. Then some one remembered a +tin water-pail at the wagon. This was brought, and Bob soon had it +two-thirds filled with milk. Then the question arose as to how they +were all to be served with just that quart-cup and two spoons. They +were to take turns, two eating at a time. + +"I don't want to eat with Jule," Dick said. "He eats too fast." + +The young people paired off, leaving out Bob. Then they all looked at +him in a shame-faced, apologetic way. + +"You needn't mind me," said Bob, interpreting their glances. "I don't +want to heat with none of you. I've got some wittals down to the +wagon." + +"Why, what have you got?" said Sarah Ketchum. She felt cheap, and so +did the others. + +"Some boiled heggs and some happles and some raw turnups," said Bob. + +Eight mouths watered at this catalogue. Sarah Ketchum whispered: + + "For a generous slice of turnip, + I'd lay me down and die." + +"I don't keer for nothing but a hegg and a happle, myself," said Bob. +"May be you folks would heat the hother things. There's a good lot of +happles." + +The eight protested that they could do with the milk and bread, but +urged the milk on Bob. + +"No, I thank you," he said. + +"He's mad at us yet," Mat whispered. + +"Look here," said Sarah Ketchum to Bob, "if you don't eat some of this +milk, none of us will. We'll give it to the cow." + +"No, we won't do that," Julius said: "we'll hold you and make you +drink it. If you have more apples than you wish, we'll be glad of +some; but we aren't going to take them unless you'll take your share +of the milk." + +"And we'll get mad at you again," said Clara. + +"I'll drink hall the milk necessary to a make-hup," said Bob. + +When the lunch was eaten, Mat said she didn't think they ought to have +milked the cow. The folks would be so disappointed when they came to +milk her at night. May be a lot of poor children were depending on the +milking for their supper. Val, too, showed that his conscience was +disturbed. + +"You needn't worry," said Dick. "They'll get this milk back from the +lunch she stole." + +"But they couldn't help her stealing." + +"And I couldn't help milking her," said Dick. + +At this there was a burst of laughter. Then Mat wrote on a scrap of +paper: "This cow has been milked to save some boys and girls from +starvation. The owner can get pay for the milk by calling at Mr. +Snead's, Poplar street, Budville." + +"Who'll tie it on her tail?" asked Mat. + +"I will," said Val, promptly, glad to ease his conscience. + +And this he did with a piece of blue ribbon from Mat Snead's hat. + + + + + + +MRS. PETER PIPER'S PICKLES. + +BY E. MUeLLER. + + +[Illustration: Two crows.] + +"There's nothing in that bush," said one old crow to another old crow, +as they flew slowly along the beach. + +"No, nothing worth looking at," answered the other old crow, and then +they alighted on a dead tree and complained that the egg season was +over. + +That was because they were fond of sandpipers' eggs, and there were +none in that bush. No eggs were there, to be sure, but there sat Mrs. +Peter Sandpiper, talking to two fine young sandpipers, just hatched. + +"Nothing worth looking at!" said she, indignantly. "Well, anything but +a crow would have more sense! Nothing in this bush, indeed! Pe-tweet, +pe-tweet!" + +[Illustration: "TANGLED IN THE LONG GRASS."] + +And truly she might well be angry at any one snubbing those young ones +of hers. Their eyes were so bright, their legs were so slim, and their +beaks so sharp that it was delightful to see them. And they turned out +their toes so gracefully that, the first time they went to the sea to +bathe, everyone said Mrs. Peter Sandpiper had reason to be proud of +her children. But just as soon as they could run they got into all +sorts of troubles, and vexed Mrs. Sandpiper out of her wits. + +[Illustration: "THEY TURNED OUT THEIR TOES SO GRACEFULLY."] + +"Such a pair of young pickles I never hatched before!" said she to +Mrs. Kingfisher, who came to gossip one day. + +"Well, well, my dear," said Mrs. Kingfisher, "boys will be boys; +by the time they are grown up they will be all right. Now, my dear +Pinlegs was just such--" + +[Illustration: "OH, MY! HE'S GOING BACKWARDS!"] + +But Mrs. Sandpiper had to fly off, to see what Pipsy Sandpiper was +doing, and keep Nipsy Sandpiper from swallowing a June beetle twice +too big for him. They were great trials. They were always eating the +wrong kind of bugs, and having indigestion and headaches. They were +forever getting their legs tangled up in long wet grass, and screaming +for Mrs. Peter Sandpiper to come help them out, and at night they +chirped in their sleep and disturbed Mrs. Sandpiper dreadfully by +kicking each other. At last she said she could stand it no longer; +they must take care of themselves. So she cried "Pe-tweet, good-by," +and then she flew away, leaving Pipsy and Nipsy alone by the sea to +take care of themselves. + +[Illustration: "THIS IS TWICE AS DEEP AS YOU WERE IN."] + +It was quite a trouble at first, for Mamma Sandpiper had always helped +them to bugs and worms, one apiece, turn about, so all was fair. But +now Pipsy always wanted the best of everything, and Nipsy, being good +tempered, had to eat what his brother left. One day bugs were very +scarce, and both little Sandpipers were so hungry that they could have +eaten a whole starfish--if he had come out of his shelter. Suddenly +Nipsy, who was a trifle near sighted, said he saw a large beetle +coming along the beach. They ran quickly to meet it. But what in +the world was it! It had legs; oh, such legs! They were larger than +Pipsy's and Nipsy's put together. Its back was like a huge shell, and +its eyes were dreadful. The little sandpipers looked at each other in +terror. + +[Illustration: "THERE, IN THE TWILIGHT, HE SAW A LONELY FIGURE +STANDING ON ONE LEG."] + +But a mild little voice from the creature relieved them. + +"I beg your pardon," said he. "Let me introduce myself. C. Crab, Esq., +of Oyster Bay." + +"Oh, ah! Indeed!" said Pipsy. "Glad to know you, I'm sure." + +"I think I must have lost my way," said C. Crab, Esq. "Could you +oblige me by telling me if you see any boys near?" + +"Any boys?" said Pipsy and Nipsy, looking at each other. "Never saw +one in my life. What do they look like? Have they many legs? Are they +fat? Are they good to eat?" asked both the hungry little sandpipers. + +"They are creatures," said the crab, with a groan,--"creatures a +thousand times larger than we are. They have strings. They tie up +legs and pull. They throw stones. If you ever see a boy, run for your +life." + +"Good gracious me!" cried both the little sandpipers. "How very +dreadful!" + +But there were no boys in sight; so C. Crab grew sociable, and offered +to show them a place where bugs were plenty. "Just get on my back," +said he, "and I'll have you there in no time." + +So they got on his back. It was very wet and slippery, but they held +on with their toes, while C. Crab gave himself a heave and started. + +"Oh, my!" exclaimed Nipsy. "He's going backward!" + +"He actually is!" cried Pipsy. "At this rate we'll get there day +before yesterday, wont we?" + +"Surely," said Nipsy. "How very horrid of him when we are so hungry! +What a slow coach!" + +"Let's jump off quick, or he'll take us clear into last week!" cried +the silly sandpipers, and then they skipped off and ran down the beach +in the opposite direction. C. Crab called to them, but it was no use, +so he went on his way. But as for the sandpipers, they went on getting +into trouble. The day was hot, and after they had run some distance, +they stepped into the water to cool off. Nipsy stepped in first, but +the water was up to his breast and it frightened him, so he stepped +out again. + +"Pooh!" said Pipsy. "You're afraid, YOU are! Look at me!" + +Then he jumped in, and only his head stuck out. + +"This is twice as deep as you were in!" he cried, turning up his bill, +and rolling his eyes. + +"You're sitting down, _you_ are!" cried Nipsy, in scorn. + +"I'm not," said Pipsy. + +"You are. I can see your toes all doubled up, even if the water _is_ +muddy," said Nipsy, and rushed at him to punish him for bragging. + +They both rolled under the water, and then out on the shore, dripping +wet and very angry with each other. + +Pipsy went home to the old bush and was very miserable. He wanted +something to eat, and did not know where to find anything. Nipsy went +high up the beach, and found a lot of young hedge-crickets. But he did +not half enjoy them. They were fat and smooth, and he was hungry, but +crickets had no flavor without Pipsy to help eat them. But he was +angry at him yet. + +"He must come to me," he said, sternly, to the cricket he was eating. + +The cricket said nothing, being half-way down his throat, and pretty +soon Nipsy could stand his feelings no longer. Catching up the +largest, smoothest, softest cricket, he ran down to the shore as fast +as his legs could carry him. There, in the twilight, he saw a lonely +figure standing on one leg. + +"Pipsy!" he cried. + +"Nipsy!" cried Pipsy. + +And they flew to each other. + +"Here's a glorious fat cricket for you." + +"Forgive me, Nipsy," said his brother. + +And then they were happy. + +[Illustration: Blossoms.] + + + + + + +UNDER THE LILACS. + +BY LOUISA M. ALCOTT. + + +CHAPTER XIV. + +SOMEBODY GETS LOST. + + +Putting all care behind them, the young folks ran down the hill, with +a very lively dog gamboling beside them, and took a delightfully +tantalizing survey of the external charms of the big tent. But people +were beginning to go in, and it was impossible to delay when they came +round to the entrance. + +Ben felt that now "his foot was on his native heath," and the superb +air of indifference with which he threw down his dollar at the +ticket-office, carelessly swept up the change, and strolled into the +tent with his hands in his pockets, was so impressive that even big +Sam repressed his excitement and meekly followed their leader, as he +led them from cage to cage, doing the honors as if he owned the whole +concern. Bab held tight to the tail of his jacket, staring about her +with round eyes, and listening with little gasps of astonishment or +delight to the roaring of lions, the snarling of tigers, the chatter +of the monkeys, the groaning of camels, and the music of the very +brass band shut up in a red bin. + +Five elephants were tossing their hay about in the middle of the +menagerie, and Billy's legs shook under him as he looked up at the big +beasts whose long noses and small, sagacious eyes filled him with awe. +Sam was so tickled by the droll monkeys that they left him before the +cage and went on to see the zebra, "striped just like Ma's muslin +gown," Bab declared. But the next minute she forgot all about him in +her raptures over the ponies and their tiny colts, especially one mite +of a thing who lay asleep on the hay, such a miniature copy of its +little mouse-colored mamma that one could hardly believe it was alive. + +"Oh, Ben, I _must_ feel of it!--the cunning baby horse!" and down went +Bab inside the rope to pat and admire the pretty creature, while its +mother smelt suspiciously at the brown hat, and baby lazily opened one +eye to see what was going on. + +"Come out of that, it isn't allowed!" commanded Ben, longing to do the +same thing, but mindful of the proprieties and his own dignity. + +Bab reluctantly tore herself away to find consolation in watching the +young lions, who looked so like big puppies, and the tigers washing +their faces just as puss did. + +"If I stroked 'em, wouldn't they purr?" she asked, bent on enjoying +herself, while Ben held her skirts lest she should try the experiment. + +"You'd better not go to patting them, or you'll get your hands clawed +up. Tigers do purr like fun when they are happy, but these fellers +never are, and you'll only see 'em spit and snarl," said Ben, leading +the way to the humpy camels, who were peacefully chewing their cud and +longing for the desert, with a dreamy, far-away look in their mournful +eyes. + +Here, leaning on the rope, and scientifically chewing a straw while he +talked, Ben played showman to his heart's content till the neigh of a +horse from the circus tent beyond reminded him of the joys to come. + +"We'd better hurry along and get good seats before folks begin to +crowd. I want to sit near the curtain and see if any of Smithers's lot +are 'round." + +"I aint going way off there; you can't see half so well, and that big +drum makes such a noise you can't hear yourself think," said Sam, who +had rejoined them. + +So they settled in good places where they could see and hear all that +went on in the ring and still catch glimpses of white horses, bright +colors, and the glitter of helmets beyond the dingy red curtains. Ben +treated Bab to peanuts and pop-corn like an indulgent parent, and she +murmured protestations of undying gratitude with her mouth full, as +she sat blissfully between him and the congenial Billy. + +Sancho, meantime, had been much excited by the familiar sights and +sounds, and now was greatly exercised in his doggish mind at the +unusual proceeding of his master; for he was sure that they ought to +be within there, putting on their costumes, ready to take their turn. +He looked anxiously at Ben, sniffed disdainfully at the strap as if to +remind him that a scarlet ribbon ought to take its place, and poked +peanut shells about with his paw as if searching for the letters with +which to spell his famous name. + +"I know, old boy, I know; but it can't be done. We've quit the +business and must just look on. No larks for us this time, Sanch, so +keep quiet and behave," whispered Ben, tucking the dog away under the +seat with a sympathetic cuddle of the curly head that peeped out from +between his feet. + +"He wants to go and cut up, don't he?" said Billy, "and so do you, I +guess. Wish you were going to. Wouldn't it be fun to see Ben showing +off in there?" + +"I'd be afraid to have him go up on a pile of elephants and jump +through hoops like these folks," answered Bab, poring over her +pictured play-bill with unabated relish. + +"Done it a hundred times, and I'd just like to show you what I can +do. They don't seem to have any boys in this lot; shouldn't wonder if +they'd take me if I asked 'em," said Ben, moving uneasily on his seat +and casting wistful glances toward the inner tent where he knew he +would feel more at home than in his present place. + +[Illustration: AT THE CIRCUS.] + +"I heard some men say that it's against the law to have small boys +now; it's so dangerous and not good for them, this kind of thing. If +that's so, you're done for. Ben," observed Sam, with his most grown-up +air, remembering Ben's remarks on "fat boys." + +"Don't believe a word of it, and Sanch and I could go this minute and +get taken on, I'll bet. We are a valuable couple, and I could prove it +if I chose to," began Ben, getting excited and boastful. + +"Oh, see, they're coming!--gold carriages and lovely horses, and flags +and elephants, and everything!" cried Bab, giving a clutch at Ben's +arm as the opening procession appeared headed by the band, tooting and +banging till their faces were as red as their uniforms. + +Round and round they went till every one had seen their fill, then the +riders alone were left caracoling about the ring with feathers flying, +horses prancing, and performers looking as tired and indifferent as if +they would all like to go to sleep then and there. + +"How splendid!" sighed Bab, as they went dashing out, to tumble off +almost before the horses stopped. + +"That's nothing! You wait till you see the bare-back riding and the +'acrobatic exercises,'" said Ben, quoting from the play-bill, with the +air of one who knew all about the feats to come, and could never be +surprised any more. + +"What are 'crowbackic exercises?'" asked Billy, thirsting for +information. + +"Leaping and climbing and tumbling; you'll see--George! what a +stunning horse!" and Ben forgot everything else to feast his eyes +on the handsome creature who now came pacing in to dance, upset and +replace chairs, kneel, bow, and perform many wonderful or graceful +feats, ending with a swift gallop while the rider sat in a chair on +its back fanning himself, with his legs crossed, as comfortably as you +please. + +"That, now, is something like," and Ben's eyes shone with admiration +and envy as the pair vanished, and the pink and silver acrobats came +leaping into the ring. + +The boys were especially interested in this part, and well they +might be; for strength and agility are manly attributes which lads +appreciate, and these lively fellows flew about like India rubber +balls, each trying to outdo the other, till the leader of the acrobats +capped the climax by turning a double somersault over five elephants +standing side by side. + +"There, sir, how's that for a jump?" asked Ben, rubbing his hands with +satisfaction as his friends clapped till their palms tingled. + +"We'll rig up a spring-board and try it," said Billy, fired with +emulation. + +"Where'll you get your elephants?" asked Sam, scornfully, for +gymnastics were not in his line. + +"You'll do for one," retorted Ben, and Billy and Bab joined in his +laugh so heartily that a rough-looking man who sat behind them, +hearing all they said, pronounced them a "jolly set," and kept his eye +on Sancho, who now showed signs of insubordination. + +"Hullo, that wasn't on the bill!" cried Ben, as a parti-colored clown +came in, followed by half a dozen dogs. + +"I'm so glad; now Sancho will like it. There's a poodle that might +be his ownty donty brother--the one with the blue ribbon," said Bab, +beaming with delight as the dogs took their seats in the chairs +arranged for them. + +Sancho did like it only too well, for he scrambled out from under the +seat in a great hurry to go and greet his friends, and, being sharply +checked, set up and begged so piteously that Ben found it very hard +to refuse and order him down. He subsided for a moment, but when the +black spaniel, who acted the canine clown, did something funny and was +applauded, Sancho made a dart as if bent on leaping into the ring to +outdo his rival, and Ben was forced to box his ears and put his feet +on the poor beast, fearing he would be ordered out if he made any +disturbance. + +Too well trained to rebel again, Sancho lay meditating on his wrongs +till the dog act was over, carefully abstaining from any further sign +of interest in their tricks, and only giving a sidelong glance at the +two little poodles who came out of a basket to run up and down stairs +on their fore paws, dance jigs on their hind legs, and play various +pretty pranks to the great delight of all the children in the +audience. If ever a dog expressed by look and attitude, "Pooh! I could +do much better than that, and astonish you all, if I was only allowed +to," that dog was Sancho, as he curled himself up and affected to turn +his back on an unappreciative world. + +"It's too bad, when he knows more than all those chaps put together. +I'd give anything if I could show him off as I used to. Folks always +liked it, and I was ever so proud of him. He's mad now because I had +to cuff him, and wont take any notice of me till I make up," said Ben, +regretfully eyeing his offended friend, but not daring to beg pardon +yet. + +More riding followed, and Bab was kept in a breathless state by the +marvelous agility and skill of the gauzy lady who drove four horses at +once, leaped through hoops, over banners and bars, sprang off and on +at full speed, and seemed to enjoy it all so much it was impossible to +believe that there could be any danger or exertion in it. + +Then two girls flew about on the trapeze, and walked on a tight rope, +causing Bab to feel that she had at last found her sphere, for, young +as she was, her mother often said: + +"I really don't know what this child is fit for, except mischief, like +a monkey." + +"I'll fix the clothes-line when I get home, and show Ma how nice it +is. Then, may be, she'll let me wear red and gold trousers, and climb +round like these girls," thought the busy little brain, much excited +by all it saw on that memorable day. + +Nothing short of a pyramid of elephants with a glittering gentleman in +a turban and top boots on the summit would have made her forget this +new and charming plan. But that astonishing spectacle and the prospect +of a cage of Bengal tigers with a man among them, in imminent danger +of being eaten before her eyes, entirely absorbed her thoughts till, +just as the big animals went lumbering out, a peal of thunder caused +considerable commotion in the audience. Men on the highest seats +popped their heads through the openings in the tent-cover and reported +that a heavy shower was coming up. Anxious mothers began to collect +their flocks of children as hens do their chickens at sunset; timid +people told cheerful stories of tents blown over in gales, cages upset +and wild beasts let loose. Many left in haste, and the performers +hurried to finish as soon as possible. + +"I'm going now before the crowd comes, so I can get a lift home. I see +two or three folks I know, so I'm off;" and, climbing hastily down, +Sam vanished without further ceremony. + +"Better wait till the shower is over. We can go and see the animals +again, and get home all dry, just as well as not," observed Ben, +encouragingly, as Billy looked anxiously at the billowing canvas over +his head, the swaying posts before him, and heard the quick patter of +drops outside, not to mention the melancholy roar of the lion which +sounded rather awful through the sudden gloom which filled the strange +place. + +"I wouldn't miss the tigers for anything. See, they are pulling in the +cart now, and the shiny man is all ready with his gun. Will he shoot +any of them, Ben?" asked Bab, nestling nearer with a little shiver of +apprehension, for the sharp crack of a rifle startled her more than +the loudest thunder-clap she ever heard. + +"Bless you, no, child; it's only powder to make a noise and scare 'em. +I wouldn't like to be in his place, though; father says you can never +trust tigers as you can lions, no matter how tame they are. Sly +fellers, like cats, and when they scratch it's no joke, I tell you," +answered Ben, with a knowing wag of the head, as the sides of the cage +rattled down, and the poor, fierce creatures were seen leaping and +snarling as if they resented this display of their captivity. + +Bab curled up her feet and winked fast with excitement as she watched +the "shiny man" fondle the great cats, lie down among them, pull open +their red mouths, and make them leap over him or crouch at his feet as +he snapped the long whip. When he fired the gun and they all fell as +if dead, she with difficulty suppressed a small scream and clapped her +hands over her ears; but poor Billy never minded it a bit, for he was +pale and quaking with the fear of "heaven's artillery" thundering over +head, and as a bright flash of lightning seemed to run down the tall +tent-poles he hid his eyes and wished with all his heart that he was +safe with mother. + +"'Fraid of thunder, Bill?" asked Ben, trying to speak stoutly, while a +sense of his own responsibilities began to worry him, for how was Bab +to be got home in such a pouring rain. + +"It makes me sick; always did. Wish I hadn't come," sighed Billy, +feeling, all too late, that lemonade and "lozengers" were not the +fittest food for man, or a stifling tent the best place to be in on a +hot July day, especially in a thunder-storm. + +"I didn't ask you to come; _you_ asked _me_; so it isn't my fault," +said Ben, rather gruffly, as people crowded by without pausing to hear +the comic song the clown was singing in spite of the confusion. + +"Oh, I'm _so_ tired," groaned Bab, getting up with a long stretch of +arms and legs. + +"You'll be tireder before you get home, I guess. Nobody asked _you_ to +come, anyway;" and Ben gazed dolefully round him wishing he could see +a familiar face or find a wiser head than his own to help him out of +the scrape he was in. + +"I said I wouldn't be a bother, and I wont. I'll walk right home this +minute, I aint afraid of thunder, and the rain wont hurt these old +clothes. Come along," cried Bab, bravely, bent on keeping her word, +though it looked much harder after the fun was all over than before. + +"My head aches like fury. Don't I wish old Jack was here to take me +back," said Billy, following his companions in misfortune with sudden +energy, as a louder peal than before rolled overhead. + +"You might as well wish for Lita and the covered wagon while you are +about it, then we could all ride," answered Ben, leading the way to +the outer tent, where many people were lingering in hopes of fair +weather. + +"Why, Billy Barton, how in the world did you get here?" cried a +surprised voice, as the crook of a cane caught the boy by the collar +and jerked him face to face with a young farmer, who was pushing along +followed by his wife and two or three children. + +"Oh, Uncle Eben, I'm so glad you found me! I walked over, and it's +raining, and I don't feel well. Let me go with you, can't I?" asked +Billy, casting himself and all his woes upon the strong arm that had +laid hold of him. + +"Don't see what your mother was about to let you come so far alone, +and you just over scarlet fever. We are as full as ever we can be, but +we'll tuck you in somehow," said the pleasant-faced woman, bundling up +her baby, and bidding the two little lads "keep close to father." + +"I didn't come alone. Sam got a ride, and can't you tuck Ben and Bab +in too? They aint very big, either of them," whispered Billy, anxious +to serve his friends now that he was provided for himself. + +"Can't do it, anyway. Got to pick up mother at the corner, and that +will be all I can carry. It's lifting a little; hurry along, Lizzie, +and let us get out of this as quick as possible," said Uncle Eben, +impatiently; for going to a circus with a young family is not an easy +task, as every one knows who has ever tried it. + +"Ben, I'm real sorry there isn't room for you. I'll tell Bab's mother +where she is, and may be some one will come for you," said Billy, +hurriedly, as he tore himself away, feeling rather mean to desert the +others, though he could be of no use. + +"Cut away and don't mind us. I'm all right, and Bab must do the best +she can," was all Ben had time to answer before his comrade was +hustled away by the crowd pressing round the entrance with much +clashing of umbrellas and scrambling of boys and men, who rather +enjoyed the flurry. + +"No use for us to get knocked about in that scrimmage. We'll wait a +minute and then go out easy. It's a regular rouser, and you'll be as +wet as a sop before we get home. Hope you'll like that?" added Ben, +looking out at the heavy rain pouring down as if it never meant to +stop. + +"Don't care a bit," said Bab, swinging on one of the ropes with a +happy-go-lucky air, for her spirits were not extinguished yet, and +she was bound to enjoy this exciting holiday to the very end. "I like +circuses so much! I wish I lived here all the time, and slept in a +wagon, as you did, and had these dear little colties to play with." + +"It wouldn't be fun if you didn't have any folks to take care of you," +began Ben, thoughtfully looking about the familiar place where the men +were now feeding the animals, setting their refreshment tables, or +lounging on the hay to get such rest as they could before the evening +entertainment. Suddenly he started, gave a long look, then turned to +Bab, and thrusting Sancho's strap into her hand, said, hastily: "I see +a fellow I used to know. May be he can tell me something about father. +Don't you stir till I come back." + +Then he was off like a shot, and Bab saw him run after a man with a +bucket who had been watering the zebra. Sancho tried to follow, but +was checked with an impatient: + +"No, you can't go! What a plague you are, tagging around when people +don't want you." + +Sancho might have answered, "So are you," but, being a gentlemanly +dog, he sat down with a resigned expression to watch the little colts, +who were now awake and seemed ready for a game of bo-peep behind their +mammas. Bab enjoyed their funny little frisks so much that she tied +the wearisome strap to a post and crept under the rope to pet the tiny +mouse-colored one who came and talked to her with baby whinneys and +confiding glances of its soft, dark eyes. + +Oh, luckless Bab! why did you turn your back? Oh, too accomplished +Sancho! why did you neatly untie that knot and trot away to confer +with the disreputable bull-dog who stood in the entrance beckoning +with friendly wavings of an abbreviated tail? Oh, much afflicted Ben! +why did you delay till it was too late to save your pet from the +rough man who set his foot upon the trailing strap and led poor Sanch +quickly out of sight among the crowd. + +"It _was_ Bascum, but he didn't know anything. Why, where's Sanch?" +said Ben, returning. + +A breathless voice made Bab turn to see Ben looking about him with as +much alarm in his hot face as if the dog had been a two years' child. + +"I tied him--he's here somewhere--with the ponies," stammered Bab, in +sudden dismay, for no sign of a dog appeared as her eyes roved wildly +to and fro. + +Ben whistled, called and searched in vain, till one of the lounging +men said, lazily: + +"If you are looking after the big poodle you'd better go outside; I +saw him trotting off with another dog." + +Away rushed Ben, with Bab following, regardless of the rain, for both +felt that a great misfortune had befallen them. But, long before this, +Sancho had vanished, and no one minded his indignant howls as he was +driven off in a covered cart. + +"If he is lost I'll never forgive you; never, never, never!" and Ben +found it impossible to resist giving Bab several hard shakes which +made her yellow braids fly up and down like pump handles. + +"I'm dreadful sorry. He'll come back--you said he always did," pleaded +Bab, quite crushed by her own afflictions, and rather scared to see +Ben look so fierce, for he seldom lost his temper or was rough with +the little girls. + +"If he doesn't come back, don't you speak to me for a year. Now, I'm +going home." And, feeling that words were powerless to express his +emotions, Ben walked away, looking as grim as a small boy could. + +A more unhappy little lass is seldom to be found than Bab was, as she +pattered after him, splashing recklessly through the puddles, and +getting as wet and muddy as possible, as a sort of penance for her +sins. For a mile or two she trudged stoutly along, while Ben marched +before in solemn silence, which soon became both impressive and +oppressive because so unusual, and such a proof of his deep +displeasure. Penitent Bab longed for just one word, one sign of +relenting; and when none came, she began to wonder how she could +possibly bear it if he kept his dreadful threat and did not speak to +her for a whole year. + +But presently her own discomfort absorbed her, for her feet were +wet and cold as well as very tired; pop-corn and peanuts were not +particularly nourishing food, and hunger made her feel faint; +excitement was a new thing, and now that it was over she longed to +lie down and go to sleep; then the long walk with a circus at the +end seemed a very different affair from the homeward trip with a +distracted mother awaiting her. The shower had subsided into a dreary +drizzle, a chilly east wind blew up, the hilly road seemed to lengthen +before the weary feet, and the mute, blue flannel figure going on +so fast with never a look or sound, added the last touch to Bab's +remorseful anguish. + +Wagons passed, but all were full, and no one offered a ride. Men and +boys went by with rough jokes on the forlorn pair, for rain soon made +them look like young tramps. But there was no brave Sancho to resent +the impertinence, and this fact was sadly brought to both their minds +by the appearance of a great Newfoundland dog who came trotting after +a carriage. The good creature stopped to say a friendly word in his +dumb fashion, looking up at Bab with benevolent eyes, and poking his +nose into Ben's hand before he bounded away with his plumy tail curled +over his back. + +Ben started as the cold nose touched his fingers, gave the soft head a +lingering pat, and watched the dog out of sight through a thicker mist +than any the rain made. But Bab broke down; for the wistful look +of the creature's eyes reminded her of lost Sancho, and she sobbed +quietly as she glanced back longing to see the dear old fellow jogging +along in the rear. + +Ben heard the piteous sound and took a sly peep over his shoulder, +seeing such a mournful spectacle that he felt appeased, saying to +himself as if to excuse his late sternness: + +"She _is_ a naughty girl, but I guess she is about sorry enough now. +When we get to that sign-post I'll speak to her, only I wont forgive +her till Sanch comes back." + +But he was better than his word; for, just before the post was +reached, Bab, blinded by tears, tripped over the root of a tree, and, +rolling down the bank, landed in a bed of wet nettles. Ben had her +out in a jiffy, and vainly tried to comfort her; but she was past +any consolation he could offer, and roared dismally as she wrung her +tingling hands, with great drops running over her cheeks almost as +fast as the muddy little rills ran down the road. + +"Oh dear, oh dear! I'm all stinged up, and I want my supper; and my +feet ache, and I'm cold, and everything is _so_ horrid!" wailed the +poor child lying on the grass, such a miserable little wet bunch that +the sternest parent would have melted at the sight. + +"Don't cry so, Babby; I was real cross, and I'm sorry. I'll forgive +you right away now, and never shake you any more," cried Ben, so full +of pity for her tribulations that he forgot his own, like a generous +little man. + +"Shake me again, if you want to; I know I was very bad to tag and lose +Sanch. I never will any more, and I'm so sorry, I don't know what to +do," answered Bab, completely bowed down by this magnanimity. + +"Never mind; you just wipe up your face and come along, and we'll tell +Ma all about it, and she'll fix us as nice as can be. I shouldn't +wonder if Sanch got home now before we did," said Ben, cheering +himself as well as her by the fond hope. + +"I don't believe _I_ ever shall, I'm so tired my legs wont go, and the +water in my boots makes them feel dreadfully. I wish that boy would +wheel me a piece. Don't you s'pose he would?" asked Bab, wearily +picking herself up as a tall lad trundling a barrow came out of a yard +near by. + +"Hullo, Joslyn!" said Ben, recognizing the boy as one of the "hill +fellows" who come to town Saturday nights for play or business. + +"Hullo, Brown," responded the other, arresting his squeaking progress +with signs of surprise at the moist tableau before him. + +"Where goin'?" asked Ben with masculine brevity. + +"Got to carry this home, hang the old thing!" + +"Where to?" + +"Batchelor's, down yonder," and the boy pointed to a farm-house at the +foot of the next hill. + +"Goin' that way, take it right along." + +"What for?" questioned the prudent youth, distrusting such unusual +neighborliness. + +"She's tired, wants a ride; I'll leave it all right, true as I live +and breathe," explained Ben, half ashamed yet anxious to get his +little responsibility home as soon as possible, for mishaps seemed to +thicken. + +"Ho, _you_ couldn't cart her all that way! she's most as heavy as a +bag of meal," jeered the taller lad, amused at the proposition. + +"I'm stronger than most fellers of my size. Try, if I aint," and Ben +squared off in such scientific style that Joslyn responded with sudden +amiability: + +"All right, let's see you do it." + +Bab huddled into her new equipage without the least fear, and Ben +trundled her off at a good pace, while the boy retired to the shelter +of the barn to watch their progress, glad to be rid of an irksome +errand. + +At first, all went well, for the way was down hill, and the wheel +squeaked briskly round and round; Bab smiled gratefully upon her +bearer, and Ben "went in on his muscle with a will," as he expressed +it. But presently the road grew sandy, began to ascend, and the load +seemed to grow heavier with every step. + +"I'll get out now. It's real nice, but I guess I _am_ too heavy," said +Bab, as the face before her got redder and redder, and the breath +began to come in puffs. + +"Sit still. He said I couldn't. I'm not going to give in with him +looking on," panted Ben, and pushed gallantly up the rise, over the +grassy lawn to the side gate of the Batchelors' door-yard, with his +head down, teeth set, and every muscle of his slender body braced to +the task. + +"Did ever ye see the like of that now? Ah, ha! + + 'The streets were so wide, + and the lanes were so narry, + He brought his wife home + on a little wheelbarry,'" + +sung a voice with an accent which made Ben drop his load and push back +his hat, to see Pat's red head looking over the fence. + +To have his enemy behold him then and there was the last bitter drop +in poor Ben's cup of humiliation. A shrill approving whistle from the +hill was some comfort, however, and gave him spirit to help Bab out +with composure, though his hands were blistered and he had hardly +breath enough to issue the command: + +"Go along home, and don't mind him." + +"Nice childer, ye are, runnin' off this way, settin' the women +disthracted, and me wastin' me time comin' after ye when I'd be +milkin' airly so I'd get a bit of pleasure the day," grumbled Pat, +coming up to untie the Duke, whose Roman nose Ben had already +recognized, as well as the roomy chaise standing before the door. + +"Did Billy tell you about us?" asked Bab, gladly following toward this +welcome refuge. + +"Faith he did, and the Squire sint me to fetch ye home quiet and aisy. +When ye found me, I'd jist stopped here to borry a light for me pipe. +Up wid ye, b'y, and not be wastin' me time stramashin' afther a +spalpeen that I'd like to lay me whip over," said Pat, gruffly, as Ben +came along, having left the barrow in the shed. + +"Don't you wish you could? You needn't wait for me; I'll come when I'm +ready," answered Ben, dodging round the chaise, bound not to mind Pat, +if he spent the night by the road-side in consequence. + +"Bedad, and I wont then. It's lively ye are; but four legs is better +than two, as ye'll find this night, me young mon!" + +With that he whipped up and was off before Bab could say a word to +persuade Ben to humble himself for the sake of a ride. She lamented +and Pat chuckled, both forgetting what an agile monkey the boy was, +and as neither looked back, they were unaware that Master Ben was +hanging on behind among the straps and springs, making derisive +grimaces at his unconscious foe through the little glass in the +leathern back. + +At the lodge gate Ben jumped down to run before with whoops of naughty +satisfaction, which brought the anxious waiters to the door in a +flock; so Pat could only shake his fist at the exulting little rascal +as he drove away, leaving the wanderers to be welcomed as warmly as if +they were a pair of model children. + +Mrs. Moss had not been very much troubled after all; for Cy had told +her that Bab went after Ben, and Billy had lately reported her safe +arrival among them, so, mother-like, she fed, dried, and warmed the +runaways, before she scolded them. + +Even then, the lecture was a mild one, for when they tried to tell the +adventures which to them seemed so exciting, not to say tragical, the +effect astonished them immensely, as their audience went into gales of +laughter, especially at the wheelbarrow episode, which Bab insisted on +telling, with grateful minuteness, to Ben's confusion. Thorny shouted, +and even tender-hearted Betty forgot her tears over the lost dog to +join in the familiar melody when Bab mimicked Pat's quotation from +Mother Goose. + +"We must not laugh any more, or these naughty children will think they +have done something very clever in running away," said Miss Celia, +when the fun subsided, adding soberly, "I _am_ displeased, but I will +say nothing, for I think Ben is already punished enough." + +"Guess I am," muttered Ben, with a choke in his voice as he glanced +toward the empty mat where a dear curly bunch used to lie with a +bright eye twinkling out of the middle of it. + + + + +CHAPTER XV. + +BEN'S RIDE. + + +Great was the mourning for Sancho, because his talents and virtues +made him universally admired and beloved. Miss Celia advertised, +Thorny offered rewards, and even surly Pat kept a sharp look-out for +poodle dogs when he went to market; but no Sancho or any trace of him +appeared. Ben was inconsolable, and sternly said it served Bab right +when the _dog_-wood poison affected both face and hands. Poor Bab +thought so, too, and dared ask no sympathy from him, though Thorny +eagerly prescribed plantain leaves, and Betty kept her supplied with +an endless succession of them steeped in cream and pitying tears. This +treatment was so successful that the patient soon took her place in +society as well as ever, but for Ben's affliction there was no cure, +and the boy really suffered in his spirits. + +[Illustration: BEN AND LITA AT THE BROOK.] + +"I don't think it's fair that I should have so much trouble--first +losing father and then Sanch. If it wasn't for Lita and Miss Celia, +I don't believe I could stand it," he said, one day, in a fit of +despair, about a week after the sad event. + +"Oh, come now, don't give up so, old fellow. We'll find him if he's +alive, and if he isn't I'll try and get you another as good," +answered Thorny, with a friendly slap on the shoulder, as Ben sat +disconsolately among the beans he had been hoeing. + +"As if there ever could be another half as good!" cried Ben, indignant +at the idea; "or as if I'd ever try to fill his place with the best +and biggest dog that ever wagged a tail! No, sir, there's only one +Sanch in all the world, and if I can't have him I'll never have a dog +again." + +"Try some other sort of a pet, then. You may have any of mine you +like. Have the peacocks; do now," urged Thorny, full of boyish +sympathy and good-will. + +"They are dreadful pretty, but I don't seem to care about 'em, thank +you," replied the mourner. + +"Have the rabbits, all of them," which was a handsome offer on +Thorny's part, for there were a dozen at least. + +"They don't love a fellow as a dog does; all they care for is stuff to +eat and dirt to burrow in. I'm sick of rabbits." And well he might be, +for he had had the charge of them ever since they came, and any boy +who has ever kept bunnies knows what a care they are. + +"So am I! Guess we'll have an auction and sell out. Would Jack be a +comfort to you? If he will, you may have him. I'm so well now, I can +walk, or ride anything," added Thorny, in a burst of generosity. + +"Jack couldn't be with me always, as Sanch was, and I couldn't keep +him if I had him." + +Ben tried to be grateful, but nothing short of Lita would have healed +his wounded heart, and she was not Thorny's to give, or he would +probably have offered her to his afflicted friend. + +"Well, no, you couldn't take Jack to bed with you, or keep him up in +your room, and I'm afraid he would never learn to do anything clever. +I do wish I had something you wanted, I'd so love to give it to you." + +He spoke so heartily and was so kind that Ben looked up, feeling that +he had given him one of the sweetest things in the world--friendship; +he wanted to tell him so, but did not know how to do it, so caught up +his hoe and fell to work, saying, in a tone Thorny understood better +than words: + +"You are real good to me--never mind, I wont worry about it; only it +seems extra hard coming so soon after the other----" + +He stopped there, and a bright drop fell on the bean leaves, to shine +like dew till Ben saw clearly enough to bury it out of sight in a +great hurry. + +"By Jove! I'll find that dog, if he is out of the ground. Keep your +spirits up, my lad, and we'll have the dear old fellow back yet." + +With which cheering prophecy Thorny went off to rack his brains as to +what could be done about the matter. + +Half an hour afterward, the sound of a hand-organ in the avenue roused +him from the brown study into which he had fallen as he lay on +the newly mown grass of the lawn. Peeping over the wall, Thorny +reconnoitered, and, finding the organ a good one, the man a +pleasant-faced Italian, and the monkey a lively animal, he ordered +them all in, as a delicate attention to Ben, for music and monkey +together might suggest soothing memories of the past, and so be a +comfort. + +In they came by way of the Lodge, escorted by Bab and Betty, full +of glee, for hand-organs were rare in those parts, and the children +delighted in them. Smiling till his white teeth shone and his black +eyes sparkled, the man played away while the monkey made his pathetic +little bows, and picked up the pennies Thorny threw him. + +"It is warm, and you look tired. Sit down and I'll get you some +dinner," said the young master, pointing to the seat which now stood +near the great gate. + +With thanks in broken English the man gladly obeyed, and Ben begged to +be allowed to make Jacko equally comfortable, explaining that he knew +all about monkeys and what they liked. So the poor thing was freed +from his cocked hat and uniform, fed with bread and milk, and allowed +to curl himself up in the cool grass for a nap, looking so like a +tired little old man in a fur coat that the children were never weary +of watching him. + +Meantime, Miss Celia had come out, and was talking Italian to Giacomo +in a way that delighted his homesick heart. She had been to Naples, +and could understand his longing for the lovely city of his birth, so +they had a little chat in the language which is all music, and the +good fellow was so grateful that he played for the children to dance +till they were glad to stop, lingering afterward as if he hated to set +out again upon his lonely, dusty walk. + +"I'd rather like to tramp round with him for a week or so. Could make +enough to live on as easy as not, if I only had Sanch to show off," +said Ben, as he was coaxing Jacko into the suit which he detested. + +"You go wid me, yes?" asked the man, nodding and smiling, well pleased +at the prospect of company, for his quick eye and what the boys let +fall in their talk showed him that Ben was not one of them. + +"If I had my dog I'd love to," and with sad eagerness Ben told the +tale of his loss, for the thought of it was never long out of his +mind. + +"I tink I see droll dog like he, way off in New York. He do leetle +trick wid letter, and dance, and go on he head, and many tings to +make laugh," said the man, when he had listened to a list of Sanch's +beauties and accomplishments. + +"Who had him?" asked Thorny, full of interest at once. + +"A man I not know. Cross fellow what beat him when he do letters bad. + +"Did he spell his name?" cried Ben, breathlessly. + +"No, that for why man beat him. He name Generale, and he go spell +Sancho all times, and cry when whip fall on him. Ha! yes! that name +true one, not Generale?" and the man nodded, waved his hands and +showed his teeth, almost as much excited as the boys. + +"It's Sanch! let's go and get him, now, right off!" cried Ben, in a +fever to be gone. + +"A hundred miles away, and no clue but this man's story? We must wait +a little, Ben, and be sure before we set out," said Miss Celia, ready +to do almost anything, but not so certain as the boys. "What sort of +a dog was it? A large, curly, white poodle, with a queer tail?" she +asked of Giacomo. + +"No, Signorina mia, he no curly, no wite, he black, smooth dog, littel +tail, small, so," and the man held up one brown finger with a gesture +which suggested a short, wagging tail. + +"There, you see how mistaken we were. Dogs are often named Sancho, +especially Spanish poodles, for the original Sancho was a Spaniard, +you know. This dog is not ours, and I'm so sorry." + +The boys faces had fallen dismally as their hope was destroyed; but +Ben would not give up, for him there was and could be only one Sancho +in the world, and his quick wits suggested an explanation which no one +else thought of. + +"It may be my dog--they color 'em as we used to paint over trick +horses. I told you he was a valuable chap, and those that stole him +hide him that way, else he'd be no use, don't you see, because we'd +know him." + +"But the black dog had no tail," began Thorny, longing to be +convinced, but still doubtful. + +Ben shivered as if the mere thought hurt him, as he said, in a grim +tone: + +"They might have cut Sanch's off." + +"Oh, no! no! they mustn't, they wouldn't!" + +"How could any one be so wicked?" cried Bab and Betty, horrified at +the suggestion. + +"You don't know what such fellows would do to make all safe, so +they could use a dog to earn their living for 'em," said Ben, with +mysterious significance, quite forgetting in his wrath that he had +just proposed to get his own living in that way himself. + +"He no your dog? Sorry I not find him for you. Addio, signorina! +Grazia, signor! Buon giorno, buon giorno," and, kissing his hand, the +Italian shouldered organ and monkey, ready to go. + +Miss Celia detained him long enough to give him her address, and beg +him to let her know if he met poor Sanch in any of his wanderings, for +such itinerant showmen often cross each other's paths. Ben and Thorny +walked to the school-corner with him, getting more exact information +about the black dog and his owner, for they had no intention of giving +it up so soon. + +That very evening, Thorny wrote to a boy cousin in New York giving +all the particulars of the case, and begging him to hunt up the man, +investigate the dog, and see that the police made sure that everything +was right. Much relieved by this performance, the boys waited +anxiously for a reply, and when it came found little comfort in it. +Cousin Horace had done his duty like a man, but regretted that he +could only report a failure. The owner of the black poodle was a +suspicious character, but told a straight story, how he had bought +the dog from a stranger, and exhibited him with success till he was +stolen. Knew nothing of his history and was very sorry to lose him, +for he was a remarkably clever beast. + +"I told my dog man to look about for him, but he says he has probably +been killed, with ever so many more, so there is an end of it, and I +call it a mean shame." + +"Good for Horace! I told you he'd do it up thoroughly and see the +end of it," said Thorny, as he read that paragraph in the deeply +interesting letter. + +"May be the end of _that_ dog, but not of mine. I'll bet he ran away, +and if it _was_ Sanch he'll come home. You see if he doesn't," cried +Ben, refusing to believe that all was over. + +"A hundred miles off? Oh, he couldn't find you without help, smart as +he is," answered Thorny, incredulously. + +Ben looked discouraged, but Miss Celia cheered him up again by saying: + +"Yes, he could. My father had a friend who kept a little dog in Paris, +and the creature found her in Milan and died of fatigue next day. That +was very wonderful, but true, and I've no doubt that if Sanch _is_ +alive he will come home. Let us hope so, and be happy while we wait." + +"We will!" said the boys, and day after day looked for the wanderer's +return, kept a bone ready in the old place if he should arrive at +night, and shook his mat to keep it soft for his weary bones when he +came. But weeks passed, and still no Sanch. + +Something else happened, however, so absorbing that he was almost +forgotten for a time, and Ben found a way to repay a part of all he +owed his best friend. + +Miss Celia went off for a ride one afternoon, and an hour afterward, +as Ben sat in the porch reading, Lita dashed into the yard with the +reins dangling about her legs, the saddle turned round, and one side +covered with black mud, showing that she had been down. For a minute, +Ben's heart stood still, then he flung away his book, ran to the +horse, and saw at once by her heaving flanks, dilated nostrils and wet +coat, that she must have come a long way and at full speed. + +"She has had a fall, but isn't hurt or frightened," thought the boy, +as the pretty creature rubbed her nose against his shoulder, pawed the +ground and champed her bit, as if she tried to tell him all about the +disaster, whatever it was. + +"Lita, where's Miss Celia?" he asked, looking straight into the +intelligent eyes, which were troubled but not wild. + +Lita threw up her head and neighed loud and clear as if she called her +mistress, and turning, would have gone again if Ben had not caught the +reins and held her. + +"All right, we'll find her;" and, pulling off the broken saddle, +kicking away his shoes, and ramming his hat firmly on, Ben was up like +a flash, tingling all over with a sense of power as he felt the bare +back between his knees, and caught the roll of Lita's eye as she +looked round with an air of satisfaction. + +"Hi, there! Mrs. Moss! Something has happened to Miss Celia, and I'm +going to find her. Thorny is asleep; tell him easy, and I'll come back +as soon as I can." + +Then, giving Lita her head, he was off before the startled woman had +time to do more than wring her hands and cry out: + +"Go for the Squire! Oh, what shall we do?" + +As if she knew exacty what was wanted of her, Lita went back the way +she had come, as Ben could see by the fresh, irregular tracks that cut +up the road where she had galloped for help. For a mile or more they +went, then she paused at a pair of bars which were let down to allow +the carts to pass into the wide hay-fields beyond. On she went again +cantering across the new-mown turf toward a brook, across which she +had evidently taken a leap before; for, on the further side, at a +place where cattle went to drink, the mud showed signs of a fall. + +"You were a fool to try there, but where is Miss Celia?" said Ben, +who talked to animals as if they were people, and was understood much +better than any one not used to their companionship would imagine. + +Now Lita seemed at a loss, and put her head down as if she expected to +find her mistress where she had left her, somewhere on the ground. +Ben called, but there was no answer, and he rode slowly along the +brook-side, looking far and wide with anxious eyes. + +"May be she wasn't hurt, and has gone to that house to wait," thought +the boy, pausing for a last survey of the great, sunny field, which +had no place of shelter in it but one rock on the other side of the +little stream. As his eye wandered over it, something dark seemed +to blow out from behind it, as if the wind played in the folds of a +skirt, or a human limb moved. Away went Lita, and in a moment Ben +had found Miss Celia, lying in the shadow of the rock, so white and +motionless he feared that she was dead. He leaped down, touched her, +spoke to her, and receiving no answer, rushed away to bring a little +water in his leaky hat to sprinkle in her face, as he had seen them +do when any of the riders got a fall in the circus, or fainted from +exhaustion after they left the ring, where "do or die" was the motto +all adopted. + +In a minute, the blue eyes opened, and she recognized the anxious face +bending over her, saying faintly, as she touched it: + +"My good little Ben, I knew you'd find me--I sent Lita for you--I'm so +hurt I couldn't come." + +"Oh, where? What shall I do? Had I better run up to the house?" asked +Ben, overjoyed to hear her speak, but much dismayed by her seeming +helplessness, for he had seen bad falls, and had them, too. + +"I feel bruised all over, and my arm is broken, I'm afraid. Lita tried +not to hurt me. She slipped, and we went down. I came here into the +shade, and the pain made me faint, I suppose. Call somebody, and get +me home." + +Then, she shut her eyes, and looked so white that Ben hurried away +and burst upon old Mrs. Paine, placidly knitting at the end door, so +suddenly that, as she afterward said, "it sca't her like a clap o' +thunder." + +"Aint a man nowheres around. All down in the big medder gettin' in +hay," was her reply to Ben's breathless demand for "everybody to come +and see to Miss Celia." + +He turned to mount, for he had flung himself off before Lita stopped, +but the old lady caught his jacket and asked half a dozen questions in +a breath. + +"Who's your folks? What's broke? How'd she fall? Where is she? Why +didn't she come right here? Is it a sunstroke?" + +As fast as words could tumble out of his mouth Ben answered, and then +tried to free himself, but the old lady held on while she gave her +directions, expressed her sympathy, and offered her hospitality with +incoherent warmth. + +"Sakes alive! poor dear! Fetch her right in. Liddy, get out the +camphire, and Melissy, you haul down a bed to lay her on. Falls is +dretful uncert'in things; shouldn't wonder if her back was broke. +Father's down yender, and he and Bijah will see to her. You go call +'em, and I'll blow the horn to start 'em up. Tell her we'll be pleased +to see her, and it wont make a mite of trouble." + +Ben heard no more, for as Mrs. Paine turned to take down the tin horn +he was up and away. + +Several long and dismal toots sent Lita galloping through the grassy +path as the sound of the trumpet excites a war-horse, and "father and +Bijah," alarmed by the signal at that hour, leaned on their rakes to +survey with wonder the distracted-looking little horseman approaching +like a whirlwind. + +"Guess likely grandpa's had 'nother stroke. Told 'em to send over +soon's ever it come," said the farmer calmly. + +"Shouldn't wonder ef suthing was afire some'r's," conjectured the +hired man, surveying the horizon for a cloud of smoke. + +Instead of advancing to meet the messenger, both stood like statues in +blue overalls and red flannel shirts, till the boy arrived and told +his tale. + +"Sho, that's bad," said the farmer, anxiously. + +"That brook always was the darndest place," added Bijah, then both +men bestirred themselves helpfully, the former hurrying to Miss Celia +while the latter brought up the cart and made a bed of hay to lay her +on. + +"Now then, boy, you go for the doctor. My women folks will see to +the lady, and she'd better keep quiet up yender till we see what the +matter is," said the farmer, when the pale girl was lifted in as +carefully as four strong arms could do it. "Hold on," he added, as Ben +made one leap to Lita's back. "You'll have to go to Berryville. Dr. +Mills is a master hand for broken bones and old Dr. Babcock aint. +'Tisn't but about three mile from here to his house, and you'll fetch +him 'fore there's any harm done waitin'." + +"Don't kill Lita," called Miss Celia from the cart, as it began to +move. + +But Ben did not hear her, for he was off across the fields, riding as +if life and death depended upon his speed. + +"That boy will break his neck!" said Mr. Paine, standing still +to watch horse and rider go over the wall as if bent on instant +destruction. + +"No fear for Ben, he can ride anything, and Lita was trained to leap," +answered Miss Celia, falling back on the hay with a groan, for she had +involuntarily raised her head to see her little squire dash away in +gallant style. + +"I should hope so; regular jockey, that boy. Never see anything like +it out of a race-ground," and farmer Paine strode on, still following +with his eye the figures that went thundering over the bridge, up the +hill, out of sight, leaving a cloud of dust behind. + +Now that his mistress was safe, Ben enjoyed that wild ride mightily, +and so did the bay mare; for Lita had good blood in her, and proved it +that day by doing her three miles in a wonderfully short time. People +jogging along in wagons and country carry-alls, stared amazed as the +reckless pair went by. Women, placidly doing their afternoon sewing at +the front windows, dropped their needles to run out with exclamations +of alarm, sure some one was being run away with; children playing by +the roadside scattered like chickens before a hawk, as Ben passed with +a warning whoop, and baby-carriages were scrambled into door-yards +with perilous rapidity at his approach. + +But when he clattered into town, intense interest was felt in this +bare-footed boy on the foaming steed, and a dozen voices asked, "Who's +killed?" as he pulled up at the doctor's gate. + +"Jest drove off that way; Mrs. Flynn's baby's in a fit," cried a stout +lady from the piazza, never ceasing to rock, though several passers-by +paused to hear the news, for she was a doctor's wife, and used to the +arrival of excited messengers from all quarters at all hours of the +day and night. + +Deigning no reply to any one, Ben rode away, wishing he could leap a +yawning gulf, scale a precipice, or ford a raging torrent, to prove +his devotion to Miss Celia, and his skill in horsemanship. But no +dangers beset his path, and he found the doctor pausing to water +his tired horse at the very trough where Bab and Sancho had been +discovered on that ever-memorable day. The story was quickly told, +and, promising to be there as soon as possible, Dr. Mills drove on to +relieve baby Flynn's inner man, a little disturbed by a bit of soap +and several buttons, upon which he had privately lunched while his +mamma was busy at the wash-tub. + +Ben thanked his stars, as he had already done more than once, that +he knew how to take care for a horse; for he delayed by the +watering-place long enough to wash out Lita's mouth with a handful of +wet grass, to let her have one swallow to clear her dusty throat, and +then went slowly back over the breezy hills, patting and praising the +good creature for her intelligence and speed. She knew well enough +that she had been a clever little mare, and tossed her head, arched +her glossy neck, and ambled daintily along, as conscious and +coquettish as a pretty woman, looking round at her admiring rider to +return his compliments by glances of affection, and caressing sniffs +of a velvet nose at his bare feet. + +Miss Celia had been laid comfortably in bed by the farmer's wife and +daughters, and, when the doctor arrived, bore the setting of her arm +bravely. No other serious damage appeared, and bruises soon heal, so +Ben was sent home to comfort Thorny with a good report, and ask the +squire to drive up in his big carry-all for her the next day, if she +was able to be moved. + +Mrs. Moss had been wise enough to say nothing, but quietly made what +preparations she could, and waited for tidings. Bab and Betty were +away berrying, so no one had alarmed Thorny, and he had his afternoon +nap in peace,--an unusually long one, owing to the stillness which +prevailed in the absence of the children; and when he awoke he lay +reading for a while before he began to wonder where every one was. +Lounging out to see, he found Ben and Lita reposing side by side on +the fresh straw in the loose box, which had been made for her in the +coach-house. By the pails, sponges and curry-combs lying about, it was +evident that she had been refreshed by a careful washing and rubbing +down, and my lady was now luxuriously resting after her labors, with +her devoted groom half asleep close by. + +"Well, of all queer boys you are the queerest, to spend this hot +afternoon fussing over Lita, just for the fun of it!" cried Thorny, +looking in at them with much amusement. + +"If you knew what we'd been doing you'd think I ought to fuss over +her, and both of us had a right to rest!" answered Ben, rousing up as +bright as a button; for he longed to tell his thrilling tale, and had +with difficulty been restrained from bursting in on Thorny as soon as +he arrived. + +He made short work of the story, but was quite satisfied with the +sensation it produced; for his listener was startled, relieved, +excited and charmed, in such rapid succession, that he was obliged to +sit upon the meal chest and get his breath before he could exclaim, +with an emphatic demonstration of his heels against the bin: + +"Ben Brown, I'll never forget what you've done for Celia this day, or +say 'bow-legs' again as long as I live!" + +"George! I felt as if I had _six_ legs when we were going the pace. We +were all one piece, and had a jolly spin, didn't we, my beauty?" and +Ben chuckled as he took Lita's head in his lap, while she answered +with a gusty sigh that nearly blew him away. + +"Like the fellow that brought the good news from Ghent to Aix," said +Thorny, surveying the recumbent pair with great admiration. + +"What fellow?" asked Ben, wondering if he didn't mean Sheridan, of +whose ride he had heard. + +"Don't you know that piece? I spoke it at school. Give it to you now; +see if it isn't a rouser." + +And, glad to find a vent for his excitement, Thorny mounted the +meal-chest, to thunder out that stirring ballad with such spirit that +Lita pricked up her ears, and Ben gave a shrill "Hooray!" as the last +verse ended, + + "And all I remember is friends flocking round, + As I sat with his head 'twixt my knees on the ground, + And no voice but was praising this Roland of mine, + As I poured down his throat our last measure of wine, + Which (the burgesses voted by common consent) + Was no more than his due who brought good news from Ghent." + +(_To be continued_.) + + + + + + +MASTER MONTEZUMA. + +(_With Illustrations copied from Mexican Hieroglyphics_.) + +By C.C. HASKINS. + +[Note.--Montezuma II., the last of the Aztec (or native Mexican) +emperors, was born about 1480. He was taken prisoner by Hernando +Cortes, the commander of the Spanish army which conquered Mexico, and, +in the hope of quelling an insurrection which had arisen among his +former subjects, he consented to address them from the walls of his +prison. Stung by the apparent desertion of their leader to the cause +of the enemy, the Mexicans assaulted him with stones and other +missiles. He was struck on the temple by one of the stones, and died +from the effects in a few days. The illustrations are true copies of +old Mexican pictures, which appeared originally in the "Collection +of Mendoza," a work frequently referred to by all writers on ancient +Mexico.--C.C.H.] + + +The Emperor Montezuma was a great man, and historians have recorded +much about him, but of his earlier life, when he was plain Master +Montezuma, comparatively little is known of this rising young +gentleman. + +Master M. commenced his earthly career as a crying baby, in the +year "one cane," which, when properly figured down according to the +Gregorian calendar, would be about the year of our Lord 1480. + +No sooner had Master M. reached the fourth day of his existence, than +the nurse, under instructions from his anxious mamma, took off what +few clothes the poor boy had on, and repairing to the baptismal font +in the yard, sprinkled cold water upon his naked breast and lips, +presented his credentials in the shape of offerings to propitiate the +gods of war, agriculture, etc., whose names you will find further +along in this history, repeated a prayer in which "the Lord was +implored to wash away the sin that was given him before the foundation +of the world, so that the child might be born anew," and told the +three little boys who sat near by, what Master M.'s name was to be. +The three little boys left off eating their parched corn, and boiled +beans, repeated the name, and the little baby was christened. + +Now, if Master M. had been a girl--which he was not--the offerings +would have been a mat, a spinning machine and a broom, all of which +would have been buried under the _metate_, the stone where corn was +ground. As it was, the offerings were implements of war, articles of +metal, pottery, etc., and these were buried, as near as they could +guess at the location, where they either hoped or feared there might +some day be a battle with their enemies. + +When Master M. had eaten and slept and kicked and cried for sixteen +days longer, his parents took him to the priest, and to the teacher, +and promised that he should be instructed by these worthy gentlemen in +war, politics, religion, and other branches of general education. They +promised that he should be an Alfalqui, or priest, and should also +serve in the army as a soldier. In that little, wiggling baby, that +seemed all fists and mouth, it was impossible to foresee the future +Emperor of Mexico, whose name has since become familiar to the +civilized world. + +Young Master M. worried along pretty well, and up to six years of +age had done nothing remarkable. At this age he was granted one and +one-half rolls at a meal, and commenced doing little errands and +picking up scattered beans and corn in the Tianquez, which is what the +Mexicans called the market-place. + +The restless spirit of a military chieftain now began to show itself +in the embryo warrior, and, by the time he had reached his eighth +year, discipline became necessary to curb his growing inclination to +despotism. He was fast becoming one of that class of boys who think +"it's too bad to be good all the time." In the second picture see the +scalding tears! Whether Master M. is sorry that he has done wrong, or +whether he only fears being pricked with those terrible thorns of the +aloe with which he is threatened, or is crying because he is cold, who +shall tell? It is hard, sometimes, to tell what eight-year-old boys +are crying for, whether they live in the United States or in Mexico. + +Master M. may have been better than most boys, and it may be that +his father was a better driver than leader for his little ones. Some +fathers are. In any event, when Master M. was ten years old there +came another opportunity for weeping and wailing, and Master M. was +submitted to the mortification of lying on the damp ground all day +while he listened to a parental lecture; and this, too, after he was +twelve years old! + +Then Master M. reformed, and became an industrious, faithful boy. I +have sometimes questioned whether he wasn't hungry, and if he had been +better fed whether he would not have done better. At fourteen years of +age they gave him two rolls at a meal, and he was instructed in the +art of fishing with a net. You can tell how old the boy is by the +number of round marks in the picture, and the person who is speaking +is denoted by a tongue in front of the mouth. + +When his fifteenth year came, Master M. found he would have plenty to +do. After this, old Mr. M. had no trouble with him. It is curious--the +more we have to do, the less liable we are to do something we should +not, and--let us all study on that half an hour, some day, and see +what we can make of it. + +[Illustration: MASTER MONTEZUMA'S PARENTS TAKE HIM TO THE PRIEST AND +THE TEACHER.] + +He had two teachers, the priest and the military professor. It seemed +as if everything was to be learned. There was arithmetic, he learned +to make figures. A round, blue dot stands for one. + +Five of them make five, and ooooo-o (five and one) is six, and in that +way it runs up to ten. If he wanted to say "twenty" he made a flag, +and for forty he made two flags. + +Just imagine such a multiplication table as this: Five times four is +one flag. Flag times flag is one plume. Flag times plume is one purse! +Let's see; a purse, then, would equal 8,000. Yes, and if he wanted to +write 4,000 he would draw only half a purse. All the examples in their +arithmetic were worked by such tables as these. + +Then there were lessons in time. He had to learn that five days make a +week, four weeks make a month, and eighteen months make a year; and as +all that footed up only three hundred and sixty days, they threw in +what they called the five unlucky days that belonged to no month, to +fill up before they commenced a new year. And then he found another +arrangement for doing what we do with our leap-year, for, once in +fifty-two years they put in twelve and one-half extra days, which is +something like setting the clock ahead when you find it is too slow by +the town bell or the fire alarm. + +[Illustration: MASTER MONTEZUMA MUST BE PUNISHED.] + +He learned that this kind of calendar had been in use a long time, and +was the result of careful study and calculation by the wise priests of +the olden time; and, when he wanted to know how long, he counted up +the bundles of reeds which represented centuries, and found that +it had been in use over four hundred years. And all this, you must +remember, was before San Salvador was discovered by Columbus. Then he +had to study all about the naming of the years and the cycles. How, if +this year was "one rabbit," next year would be "two cane," the third +"three flint," the next "four house," and these four elements, +representing air, water, fire, earth, would be thus repeated up to +thirteen, and then they would commence at one again, so that the +fourteenth year would be "one cane," etc., and in four of these cycles +of thirteen they would reach a cycle of fifty-two years, or, as they +called it, a "bundle," and as the twelve and one-half days additional +would end one cycle of fifty-two years at midday, and the next at +midnight, they bundled two of these together and called it "an old +age." The number fifty-two was an unlucky number, and these old +Mexicans believed that at the end of a cycle of that number of years, +at some time, the world would be depopulated, the sun put out, and, +after death and darkness had reigned awhile, it would all begin afresh +with a new race of people. + +[Illustration: MASTER MONTEZUMA IS TAUGHT HOW TO FISH.] + +So, when a cycle or bundle was completed, all fires were extinguished +and not rekindled during the five unlucky days. Household goods which +could no longer be of any service, dishes, household articles, etc., +were broken; every one gave up all hope, and abandoned himself to +despair while awaiting the expected ruin. + +[Illustration: MASTER MONTEZUMA IS TALKED TO BY HIS FATHER.] + +On the evening of the fifth day of sorrow, the priests gathered the +people together in a procession and marched to a temple, about two +leagues from the city. Here they would sit like bumps on a log until +midnight, and then, when the constellation which we call the Pleiades +came exactly overhead, the danger was over. Two sticks were rubbed +together over the breast of a captive who had been selected for the +sacrifice, until fire was produced by the friction, the funeral pile +was lighted, the body burned, and messengers, many of whom could run +long distances, at the rate of seven or eight miles an hour, would +light their torches and spread the joyful news of danger averted, +while carrying the "new fire" into all parts of the empire. Then would +follow a regular old-fashioned frolic, something like a centennial,--a +jollification few had ever seen and most would see but once in a +life-time. There must be no drunkenness, however; that was a high +crime, in some instances punished by death. If the intemperate party, +man or woman, was over seventy years of age, however, no notice was +taken of it,--they were old, and had rights and privileges not granted +to younger members of the community. + +[Illustration: CARRYING THE BRIDE.] + +Master M. had much to learn about deities. At the head of these stood +one, infinite, supreme ruler, "the unknown God," and next beneath him +came Tezcatlipoca, the "son of the world," supposed to be the creator +of the earth, Huitzilopotchli was the god of war, a sort of Mars, but +with very much more name. Then there was the god of air, Quetzatcoatl, +who controlled vegetation, metals, and the politics of the country. +Here is something Master M. was taught to believe of him: + +When this god, whom we will call Q, was on earth, vegetation was so +wonderfully prolific that a single ear of corn was all a man could +carry. Everything the people needed grew spontaneously. Cotton grew +more beautifully tinted than the dyers of the present time could color +it. Richest perfumes loaded temperate breezes, and everywhere the +gaudiest-colored birds filled the air with most entrancing harmonies. +Q had some little difficulty, however, with the rest of the gods, and +was obliged to leave his little paradise. When he embarked in his +wizard snake-skin canoe on the shore of the gulf, he told his friends +that his descendents would one day return and bless the land as he had +done, and that they would be like him,--tall, fine looking, with dark +hair, white skins, and flowing beards. Alas! this belief was in no +small degree the cause of their ruin; for the invading Spaniards quite +nearly answered this description of Q's descendants. + +[Illustration: THE WEDDING OF MONTEZUMA.] + +There were thirteen of the principal deities, as Master M. learned, +each of whom required sacrifices more or less horrible. For instance, +there was the "soul of the world," I forget his other name. He must +be propitiated now and then. A year before the fatal day, a tall, +beautiful, well-formed, unblemished captive was selected to play the +part of this god for one year. He must have all these qualifications +to make the resemblance as perfect as possible. He was now treated +as a god. Everything he could wish, everything it was thought could +possibly conduce to his pleasure, comfort, or happiness, was furnished +without stint. He slept on the softest of couches in the most gorgeous +of chambers; his raiment was profuse and expensive, and the whole +surroundings were, as far as possible, in keeping with his high and +holy estate. Birds and music, flowers and rare perfumes pleased every +sense, and everything, save liberty, was his. This happy-go-lucky sort +of life continued until the day fixed for the sacrifice. Then joy gave +way to sadness, pain, death! Stripped of his costly raiment, he was +taken by a procession of priests to a royal barge, thence across a +lake to a temple about a league from the city, where, as he mounted +the weary steps of the huge edifice, he flung aside the garlands of +flowers and broke the musical instruments which had been a joy to him +in his past days. At the summit of the temple, in full view of the +assembled multitude below, he was barbarously put to death by a +priest, in order to propitiate the cruel god to whom the temple +was dedicated. And Master M. was taught that the moral of all this +savagery was, that human joys are transitory, and the partition +between sorrow and happiness is a very thin one, or words to that +effect. + +Master M. learned that there were many other inferior gods, each of +which had festivals, sacrifices, etc., proportioned to his rank and +power; that nearly every hour of the day was dedicated to some god or +other; but I cannot tell you all he learned of these strange deities. + +[Illustration: A PEACE-OFFERING IN THE YEAR ONE RABBIT.] + +He studied the history of the temples, and learned why they were four +or five stories high with the stairs on the outside, and why he had to +go entirely round the temple to find the next flight of stairs as he +went up or down; and why each story was smaller than the next lower, +and learned that some of these buildings were over one hundred feet +square and as many feet high, and had towers forty or fifty feet high +on their summits; and all about the everlasting fire which burned on +the tops of these temples, and that there were so many of these that +the whole country for miles around was always brilliantly illuminated. + +I must pass over a long period in the life of Master M. with the mere +remark that he graduated in both his military and religious classes +with the highest honors, and acquitted himself to the most perfect +satisfaction of both the alfalquis, or priests, and the teachcauhs, +which is nearly the same as our word teachers. + +Master M. had, for a long time, cherished a hope that some day he +might press the throne as king of Mexico. So, like the Yorkshire lad +who begged salt of a stranger eating eggs near him, so as to have +the salt ready in case any one _should_ ask him to accept an egg, he +prepared himself fully for the possible emergency, and became not only +a military general, but a leading alfalqui. + +And then he married. I have not room to give you the whole picture, +but here is the way it was done. + +A lady whose position in society required her to negotiate the match, +having previously made all the necessary arrangements, one evening, +hoisted the happy damsel on her back, and accompanied by four young +women (I have drawn only one) each bearing a torch, headed the joyous +procession and marched to the house of Master M., where she dropped +her cargo of precious humanity. Then the alfalqui asked them if they +were mutually agreed on matrimony, and of course, they said "yes," +when he proceeded to tie their clothes together. Then two old +patriarchs and two good old grandmothers (one of each of which I have +copied for you) delivered little sermons suited to the occasion. The +new couple walked seven times round a blazing fire, partook of a feast +with their friends, heard a final sort of a "ninety-ninthly and to +conclude" parting word from the four old people, and then, just as all +married people do, went to housekeeping, and having their own way as +much as possible. One thing they could not do. There was no law +of divorce to appeal to then; death was the only judge who could +entertain the question of separation. + +[Illustration: PROTECTING THE GRAIN FROM RATS, IN THE YEAR ONE +RABBIT.] + +Master M. will now disappear, to re-appear as the Emperor. In the +year "ten rabbits," or A.D. 1502, the monarch died, and the electoral +college selected Master M. to supply his place. In the household of +each monarch there was an electoral board of four nobles, whose duty +it was, on the death of the ruler, to elect his successor from among +the sons and nephews of the crown. Having done this, and so notified +the successor, they selected four nobles to fill their own places, +and vacated their electoral chairs. Master M. when waited upon to be +notified of his election to fill his uncle's place, was very busy +sweeping down the stairs in the great temple dedicated to the god of +war! + +Four years after becoming emperor, Montezuma, to appease the gods, +made a sacrifice of a young gentleman captive by transfixing him with +arrows. This, you see, was in the year "one rabbit." It is recorded +that in this year the rats overran the country so completely that +the inhabitants had to stand guard at night with blazing torches to +prevent their devouring the grain sown in the fields. + +With the last picture, I take pleasure in introducing to you Master M. +in his new position as Emperor of Mexico, seated in the royal halls. + +For further particulars, read "The Conquest of Mexico," by Prescott. + +[Illustration: THE EMPEROR MONTEZUMA, SEATED IN THE ROYAL HALLS.] + + + + + + +A LONG JOURNEY. + +BY JOSEPHINE POLLARD. + + "We sail to-day," said the captain gay, + As he stepped on board the boat that lay + So high and dry, "Come now, be spry; + We'll land, at Jerusalem by and by!" + + Away they sailed, and each craft they hailed; + While down in the cabin they bailed and bailed; + For the sea was rough, and they had to luff + And tack, till the captain cried out "Enough!" + + They stopped at Peru, this jolly crew, + And went to Paris and Timbuctoo; + And after a while they found the Nile, + And watched the sports of the crocodile. + + They called on the Shah, and the mighty Czar, + And on all the crowned heads near and far; + Shook hands with the Cid--they really did! + And lunched on top of the pyramid! + + To Afric's strand, or northern land, + They steer as the captain gives command; + And fly so fast that the slender mast + Goes quivering, shivering in the blast! + + Then on to the ground with a sudden bound, + Leaps Jack--'t was a mercy he wasn't drowned! + The sail is furled, the anchor hurled, + "We've been," cry the children, "all round the world!" + + By billows tossed, by tempests crossed, + Yet never a soul on board was lost! + Though the boat be a sieve, I do not grieve, + They sail on the ocean of "Make-believe." + + + + + + +THE LITTLE RED CANAL-BOAT. + +BY M.A. EDWARDS. + + +The morning sun had not mounted high enough in the sky to send +his rays into Greta's room, when she was awakened by a noise. She +listened. It was the sound of a boat grating against the side of the +canal. Who could be coming to their back door so early? She sprang out +of bed, and ran quickly to the open window. A disappointment awaited +her. It was only her father's boat, which the maid-servant Charlotte +was pushing along, slowly making her way to the landing-stairs. + +"Where have you been so early, Charlotte?" called out Greta. + +"Are you there, youngsters?" said Charlotte, looking up at the two +bright faces at the window; for the little Amelia had been roused by +her sister's wild jump from the bed, and had also run to the window. + +"Bad Charlotte, to wake us so early!" cried Amelia. + +Charlotte laughed. "You wouldn't think me bad, Minchen, if you knew +all the good things I've been buying at market. Have you forgotten +your cousins are coming to-day, all the way from over the sea? I'm +sure they'll be hungry enough." + +"What you got?" asked Amelia (usually called Minchen). + +"Fine Beemster cheese, sweet butter, fresh salad, and plenty of fruit. +And there are lots of good things at the bottom of the basket. I'll +leave you to find out what they are." And Charlotte made the boat +fast, and carried the heavy basket into the house. + +It was not necessary for Charlotte to remind these little girls of +the cousins who lived in the city of New York, in the far-off land of +America. For the last month little else had been talked of in the Van +Schaick mansion besides the expected visit of the Chester family. Mrs. +Van Schaick and Mrs. Chester were sisters, and this was but the second +visit the latter had paid her old Holland home since her marriage. On +the first visit her children were not with her; but now Mr. Chester +was coming, and the two boys. Many were the wild speculations the +girls indulged in with regard to Americans,--what they would look +like, and what they would say and do. + +Great, then, was their surprise, when the travelers arrived, to find +that their aunt Chester was very like their mother in appearance and +dress. Mr. Chester did not in the least resemble their father, but he +was not unlike many other men they had seen, and he did not dress in +wild-beast skins. As for the boys, Greta poured her tale of woe into +the ears of the sympathizing Charlotte. "They are just like English +boys!" she said, contemptuously. Greta had often seen English boys, +and there was nothing uncommon about them. + +This was soon forgotten, however, when Greta discovered what pleasant +companions the boys were, and that they could put the Dutch words +together almost as correctly as Greta herself. Will Chester, who had +reached the dignified age of thirteen, had felt much troubled at the +thought that he would have "only girls" to play with at Zaandam, +especially as Greta was a year younger than himself. But when the two +girls, instead of bringing forward their dolls and tea-sets with +which to entertain their visitors, produced from their treasures +two good-sized toy canal-boats, fully equipped with everything a +canal-boat needed, he admitted to himself that girls who liked to sail +boats might be good for something. + +Secretly, however, he thought that a canal-boat was a poor kind of +vessel to have, and wished his cousins owned such beautiful ships as +he and Martin had; for among the last things bought before leaving +New York were two little sailing-vessels--the "America" and the +"Columbus." Mr. Chester said Holland was full of water, and these were +proper toys to take there. + +The two canal-boats, being precisely alike, were distinguished from +each other only by their names. Greta's had "Wilhelmina" painted on +the side in black letters, while Minchen's had "Gouda" in red letters. +They were similar to American canal-boats in shape, and of a dark +red-brown color. Will thought them stumpy and heavy-looking; and he +did not admire the red sails with crooked gaffs, and smiled at the +blue pennants, stretched out on stiff frames that turned with the +wind. But when Greta showed him a tiny windlass on the deck, by means +of which she easily raised and lowered the mast, he came to the +conclusion that a Dutch canal-boat was not to be despised. + +"I do this when we pass under bridges," she explained. + +"Where are your mules for drawing your boat?" + +"My boat sails!" she said, proudly. "If there is no wind, I drag it +along myself. That is the way we do in our country." + +[Illustration: "CHARLOTTE WAS PUSHING THE BOAT ALONG, MAKING HER WAY +TO THE LANDING-STAIRS."] + +The American vessels were now unpacked and displayed. When the girls +saw these sharp-prowed, graceful ships, with their tapering masts +and pretty sails, their eyes glistened, and they declared that never +before had they seen anything so lovely. Their, pride in their +canal-boats suffered a woful downfall. The boys proposed to try all +the vessels on the canal at the back of the house, but Greta objected. + +"Mother never lets us go there to sail our boats," she said. "It is +a dirty place, and she is afraid we will fall in. But there is a +beautiful stream by the mill where we are going to-morrow, and there +we can try our boats, and see which goes the fastest." + +"Let us take a walk, then," said Martin. "I want to look at this queer +place." + +The Van Shaicks lived in Zaandam, and it is indeed a queer place to +American eyes. It is a large town, with but two streets, one on each +side of the Zaan River; but these two extend for a long distance, and +are crossed at frequent intervals by canals, so that Martin soon got +tired counting the little bridges the children passed over in their +walk. Will was not quite sure whether the brick-paved street was all +road-way or all sidewalk. + +"I don't see any carriages," he said, after studying this matter for +some time. + +"People don't ride much here," said Greta. "There are plenty of +carriages in Amsterdam." + +"How do you get about, then?" + +"On our feet and in boats. Look at our fine river, and there are ever +so many canals! What do we want with carriages?" + +"It must be jolly going everywhere in boats," said Will. "I should +like that!" + +"We have some very pretty boats," said Greta, much pleased. "Oh! +wouldn't you like to go fishing? I'll ask father to take us some day +soon. I saw a net in the market-boat this morning." + +"Well, if that isn't funny!" cried Martin, with a burst of laughter. +Will joined in the laugh, and Greta looked around in vain to discover +the cause of their merriment. + +"Looking-glasses on the _outside_ of the houses!" explained Martin, +pointing to one opposite. "I guess they're put there for the girls to +look in as they walk along," he added, mischievously. "They can't wait +to get home to admire themselves." + +Sure enough, there was a mirror outside the window, set at such an +angle that the persons inside the house could see who was passing up +and down the street. And there was a mirror on the next house, and the +next. + +"Why, they are on all the houses!" said Will. + +"To be sure!" said Greta. "What is there funny in that? And the girls +don't look in them any more than the boys, Mr. Martin. Don't you ever +want to know what is going on in the street?" + +"Of course I do." + +"How are you going to do it without the looking-glass to tell you?" + +"Use my own eyes, to be sure!" + +"Whose eyes do you use when you look in a glass?" said Greta. + +Martin looked puzzled, and had no reply ready; and Will thought his +cousin Greta very clever, although she was a girl, and a year younger +than himself. + +But Martin soon recovered his composure. + +"What lots of flowers!" was his next comment. "They are everywhere, +except in this brick pavement, and nothing could grow here, it is so +clean." + +"And such pretty houses in the gardens!" said Will. + +"But they are so small," said Martin, "It would take a dozen of them +to make a New York house." + +"My goodness!" said Greta, turning her head back as far as she could, +and looking at the sky. "How do you ever see up to their roofs?" + +"Divide Martin's twelve by four, and you will come nearer the truth," +said Will, laughing. "But, at any rate, the houses are pretty--painted +green and yellow, with red-tiled roofs." + +The next thing the boys observed was the loneliness of the streets. In +America a town of twelve thousand inhabitants would have more of an +air of bustle, they said. Will liked the quiet, "for a change," as he +expressed it, and because it made him feel, somehow, as if he owned +the place. Martin declared it to be his opinion that the people kept +out of the streets for fear that their shoes would soil them, and that +accounted for the almost spotless cleanliness everywhere. + +The streets were not deserted, however; for, at intervals, there were +row-boat ferries across the river, and occasionally a man or woman +would be seen in one of these boats. + +There were also a number of children, and some women, in the streets. +These apparently belonged to the poorer classes. Hats and bonnets were +scarce among them, though all the women, and many of the little girls, +had on close-fitting muslin caps. They wore short, loose sacques, and +short dress skirts, made up without trimmings. The boys were dressed +in jackets and baggy trousers. All wore clumsy wooden shoes. + +The Van Schaick family followed the French fashions, as we do in +America; the difference between the two countries being that here +every one attempts to follow the prevailing style, while in Holland +this change of fashion is confined to the wealthy; the middle and +lower classes preserving the same style of costume from generation to +generation. + +A good many of the children in the street were carrying painted iron +or stone buckets, with a tea-kettle on the top. After proceeding some +distance up the street, Will and Martin saw some of them coming out of +a basement door-way, still with the buckets in their hands; but clouds +of steam were issuing from the tea-kettle spouts! + +"What place is that?" asked Will. + +"It is the fire-woman's," said Greta. + +"And who and what may she be? I have heard of water-women, sometimes +called mermaids, but never before did I hear of a fire-woman." + +"She don't _live_ in fire," said Greta; "she _sells_ it. What do the +poor people in your country do in summer without a fire-woman? Come +and look in." + +[Illustration: AT THE FIRE-WOMAN'S.] + +By this time they had reached the place. Over the door was the sign +"_Water en vuur te koop_."[1] It was not necessary for the children to +go inside. They could see the whole apartment through the wide-open +door-way. An old woman stood by a stove, or great oven, with a pair +of tongs, taking up pieces of burning peat and dropping them into +the buckets of the children, and then filling their tea-kettles with +boiling water from great copper tanks on the stove. For this each +child paid her a Dutch cent, which is less than half of one of ours. + + [Footnote 1: "Water and fire to sell."] + +"I understand it," said Will, after they had stood at the door some +time, amused at the scene. "This saves poor people the expense of a +fire in the summer-time. They send here for hot water to make their +tea." + +"Yes," said Greta, "and for the burning peat which cooks the potatoes +and the sausage for their supper." + +"Why don't they use coal?" asked Martin. "It is ever so much better." + +"No, the peat answers their purpose much better," said Will. "It burns +slowly, and gives out a good deal of heat for a long time." + +"And the smell of it is so delicious," added Greta. + +A little further on; the children came out on an open space, which +gave them a good view of the surrounding flat country, and of the +wind-mills that stand about Zaandam--a forest of towers. It was a +marvelous sight. Hundreds of giant arms were beating the air, as if +guarding the town from invisible enemies. + +Greta was proud and pleased that her cousins were so impressed with +the great numbers of towers and the myriads of gigantic whirling +spokes. + +"My father says there is nothing grander than this in all Holland," +she said. "There are four hundred of them, and more, but you can't +see them all from here. Do you see that mill over yonder? That is my +father's, and we are going there to-morrow." + +The boys could not distinguish one tower from another at that +distance. + +"What kind of mill is it?" asked Will. + +"A flour-mill." + +"Are all these flour-mills?" + +"Oh no! There are saw-mills, colza-oil mills, mustard-mills, +flax-mills, and other kinds I don't remember." + +It was now nearly supper-time, and the little group returned home. + +The next morning, the whole party--four grown-up people, four +youngsters, and four boats (the "Wilhelmina," the "Gouda," the +"America," and the "Columbus")--were all taken up the Zaan River in a +row-boat for about three miles, and then up a small stream to the mill +where they were to spend the day. + +The first thing in order was the inspection of the mill, which was +unlike anything they had ever seen in America. The tower was of brick. +It was three stories high, over a basement. In the basement were the +stables and wagon-house; over this was the granary, and flour and meal +store; above this were the bolting-rooms, the ground wheat running +through spouts to the store-rooms below. On the next floor above were +the mill-stones, and the simple machinery that turned them. And, above +all, at the very top of the tower, was the main shaft of the great +wings outside. These wings caught the winds, and compelled them +to work the machinery with such force as to make the strong tower +tremble. There were balconies around the first and third stories of +the mill. It was quite a picturesque object standing among low trees +on a pretty, quiet stream, the banks of which were higher and more +uneven than was usual in that part of the country. + +The miller lived in a small house near the mill with his wife and his +little daughter Hildegarde, the latter of whom was near Greta's age. + +The boys did not take as much interest in the miller's house as their +parents took; but when they were shown into a large outer room, and +were told it was the cow-stable, they had no words with which to +express their astonishment. They would have said it was the show-room +of the place. There was not a speck on the whitewashed walls; the pine +ceiling was so clean it fairly glistened; there were crisp, white +muslin curtains at the windows. The raised earthen floor was covered +with pure white sand, arranged in fancy designs. There were some small +round tables standing about, and on them were ornaments of china and +silver, and a variety of knick-knacks. + +During the summer the cows were in the pasture day and night, but in +the winter they occupied this room. Then the tables were removed, but +the place was kept very neatly. This was necessary, for the stable +adjoined the house, and the party passed into the barn through a door +in the cow-stable. + +All except the two boys. Will hung back and motioned to Martin not to +go into the barn. + +"I am tired of this sort of thing," he said. "Let us go and sail our +boats." + +"Very well," said Martin, "I'll call the girls." + +"No," said Will; "there are too many of them. They'll only be in the +way. They'll have a good time together, and we'll have some fun by +ourselves." + +Martin seldom dissented from Will's decisions, so the two boys went +back into the house to get their ships, and passed out of another +door to the bridge and across the stream. They had gone but a short +distance when Martin, who had seemed very thoughtful, stopped opposite +the mill. + +"There is a man in the balcony," he said. "I'll ask him to call to +the girls to come. It isn't fair to go without them. You know Greta +thought _so_ much of sailing her boat with ours." + +"Nonsense," said Will. "She has got other company now. I don't believe +they know how to manage their boats, and we will have to help them. +Girls always have to be taken care of." + +"But," persisted Martin, "you said that Greta was real smart and a +first-rate fellow--girl, I mean." + +"She is well enough for girls' plays; but what can she know about +boats? Come along!" + +Martin said no more, and the boys proceeded for some distance up the +stream. + +"If we go around that bend," said Will, "we will be out of sight of +the mill, and can have our own fun." + +Around the bend they found a bridge, and a little way above this the +stream widened into a large pool, the banks of which were shaded by +willows. There they launched the schooner "America" and the sloop +"Columbus" with appropriate ceremonies. The sails and the rudders were +properly set for a trip across the pool. The ships bent gracefully to +the breeze, and went steadily on their course, the little flags waving +triumphantly from the mast-heads. They moved so gracefully and behaved +so beautifully that Martin expressed his sorrow that the girls were +not there to see them. Will made no reply, but he felt a twinge of +remorse as he remembered how Greta had looked forward to this sail as +a great event. He tried to quiet his conscience with the consideration +that it was much better for her not to be there; for she would +certainly have felt mortified at the contrast between their pretty +vessels and the poor canal-boats. + +The boys crossed the bridge, and were ready for the arrival of their +vessels in the foreign port. Then they started them on the return +voyage and recrossed the bridge to receive them at home. + +This was done several times, but at last there was an accident. Will's +schooner, the "America," from some unknown cause, took a wrong tack +when near the middle of the pool, and going too far up, got aground +upon a tiny, grassy island. She swayed about for a minute, and the +boys hoped she would float off, but soon the masts ceased to quiver. +The "America" had quietly moored herself on the island as if she +intended to remain there forever. What was to be done? The longest +pole to be found would not reach the island from either bank, or from +the bridge, and the pool was deep. Will began to think it was a pretty +bad case. + +[Illustration: THE BOYS WITH THEIR BOATS.] + +"What a beauty!" "Isn't it just lovely!" "Pretty! pretty! pretty!" + +These exclamations came respectively from Greta, Hildegarde, and +Minchen, and had reference to the "Columbus," which was gliding up +to the bank where the boys stood, with its sails gleaming in the +sunshine, while it dipped and courtesied on the little waves. The +girls were coming around the bend. Greta and Minchen had their +canal-boats, and Hildegarde carried a great square of gingerbread. + +"That's the most beautiful thing I ever saw!" cried Greta. In her +admiration of the vessel, she had forgotten her wounded dignity. For +she had arranged with Hildegarde that, after giving the boys their +share of gingerbread, they should walk proudly and silently away. + +As Greta had broken the compact by speaking, Hildegarde entered upon +an explanation: "We have been down the stream looking for you--" +But here she was interrupted by a frown from Greta, who suddenly +recollected the slight that had been put upon them. + +"Naughty boys to run away!" said little Minchen. "You sha'n't see my +boat sail!" + +"My ship is aground on that island," said Will, willing to change the +subject. "I have no way of getting her off. I wonder if the boat we +came in is too large to be got up here." + +"The boat was taken back to Zaandam," said Hildegarde, "and our boat +is away, too." + +"The 'America' will have to stay where she is, then," said Will, +trying to speak cheerfully. + +"Pretty ship is lost! Too bad!" said Minchen, pityingly. Then +brightly: "I'll give you mine!-_may be_," she added in a doubtful +tone, as her glance fell lovingly upon the boat she was hugging under +her arm. + +Meantime, Greta had been studying the situation. She now turned to +Will. "I can get your ship off," she said. "Take care of my boat till +I come back, and don't sail her on any account. I wont be gone long." + +She handed her boat to Will, and was around the bend in an instant; +and it was not very long before the anxious group heard the sound of +her rapid footsteps returning. Will thought she had gone to the mill +to get some one to help them, but she came back alone, and all she +brought with her was a large ball of cord. + +Martin and Minchen asked her twenty questions while she made her +preparations, but she would not reveal her plans, although it was +evident from the way she went to work that she had a very clear idea +of what she intended to accomplish. + +In the first place, she said the whole party must go further up the +bank, so as to get above the "America," which was on the lower edge of +the little island. When they had gone far enough, she tied one end of +the cord to the rudder-post of her canal-boat. Then she turned the +cunning little windlass, and slowly up went the mast to its full +height. The next thing was to unfurl the sail, set it properly, and +set the rudder,--all of which she did deftly and correctly, making +Will feel ashamed of what he had said about the ignorance of girls. + +She placed the boat on the water. The sail filled, and off went the +"Wilhelmina" with a slow, true, steady motion, her red sail glowing in +the sunshine, and her stiff little pennant standing straight out in +the wind. As the boat crossed the pool, Greta played out the cord +carefully, so as not to impede its motion. When it reached the other +side and had gently grounded on the shelving shore, Greta gave the +line into Will's hand. + +"If you will hold this," she said, "I will go across the bridge." + +"Don't trouble yourself to do that," said Will, "I will go over." + +"No," said Greta, "I wish to go. I am captain of my own craft, and I +know how to manage my 'Wilhelmina.'" + +"I had no idea she was so pretty," said Will. "She is a true, stanch +little sailer." + +"She don't show off until she is on the water," said Greta, smiling, +"and then she sails like a real boat. Do you know what I am going to +do when I get to the other side?" + +"I can guess. You will send your boat back to me from below the island +while I hold this end of the cord. That will bring the line around my +ship and pull her off." + +"I thought of that, but it is too risky. If anything should go wrong +with my boat, the line might get tangled; or there might be too great +a strain, and the ship would come off with a jerk and be tumbled +bottom upward into the water. I intend to untie the cord from the +boat, and you and I must walk slowly down toward the 'America,'--I on +that side, and you on this. We must hold the cord low so as to catch +the mast under the sail, if we can." + +"All right," said Will. + +Greta walked quickly down the bank, across the bridge, and up the +other side until she reached the "Wilhelmina." Placing the boat on the +bank for safety, she took the cord off, and, holding it firmly, walked +slowly down toward the island. Will did the same on his side of the +pool. The cord went skimming over the surface of the water, then it +passed above the tops of the long grass on the island. This brought +the line on a level with the top-sail. This would not do; for a +pressure up there might capsize the schooner. Both of the workers saw +that they must slacken the line a little to get it into the proper +place. Now was the critical time; if the line was too much slackened +it might slip under the vessel and upset it that way. Gently they +lowered it until it lay against the mainmast below the sail. + +"Take care!" screamed Will to Greta. + +"Go slow!" screamed Greta to Will. + +Gently they pulled against the schooner, and, inch by inch, she +floated off into the open water. + +"Hurrah!" shouted Will, as the "America" gave herself a little shake, +and, catching the wind, sailed slowly and somewhat unsteadily for the +home port, which, however, she reached in safety. "Wind up the cord!" +shouted Greta, just in time to prevent Will's throwing it aside. He +wondered what further use she had for the cord. It might go to the +bottom of the pool for aught he cared, now that the ship was safe. But +he wound it up as directed. It would have been quite a grief to the +thrifty little Dutch girl if so much fine cord had been wasted. + +Thus ignominiously came in the stately ship "America," which Will had +set afloat with such pride! And it is doubtful whether she would +have come in at all, but for the stanch Dutch canal-boat that he had +regarded with a good deal of disdain. + +If Will had been a girl, he would have exhausted the complimentary +adjectives of the Dutch language in praise of his cousin; but being a +boy, he only said, "Thank you, Greta." + +The children remained at the pool until called to dinner; and after +that meal, they went back again and stayed until it was time to return +to Zaandam, so fascinated were they with sailing their vessels. These +changed hands so often that it was sometimes difficult to tell who had +charge of any particular boat, and a good deal of confusion was the +result. In justice to the "America," it must be stated that she cut no +more capers, and was the admiration of all. + +Will had his faults, and one of these was the very high estimate +he placed on his own opinions. But he was generous-hearted, and he +admitted to himself that Greta had shown more cleverness than he in +the "America" affair. "She was _quicker_, anyway," he thought. "It +is likely that plan would have occurred to me after a time, but she +thought of it first. And it was good of her to help me; for she knew +that I went away so as not to play with her." It was not pleasant to +him to know that a girl had shown herself superior to him in anything +he considered his province; but he magnanimously forgave her for this, +and he said to Martin, after they were in bed that night: + +"I've pretty much made up my mind to give my schooner to Greta. I +believe she thinks it the prettiest thing ever made." + +"If you do that," said Martin, "I'll give my sloop to Minchen." + +This plan was carried out, and the girls were more delighted than if +they had had presents of diamonds. But they insisted that the boys +should accept their canal-boats in exchange, the result of which +was that the Chesters, on their return to America, produced quite a +sensation among their schoolmates. For American-built vessels could be +bought in many stores in New York, but a Dutch canal-boat, with a red +sail, and a mast that was raised and lowered by a windlass, was not to +be found in all the city. + + + + + + +THE BUTTERFLY CHASE. + +BY ELLIS GRAY. + + + Dear little butterfly, + Lightly you flutter by, + On golden wing. + Drops of sweet honey sip, + Deep from the clover tip, + Then upward spring. + + Over the meadow grass + Swift as a fairy pass, + Blithesome and gay; + Toy with the golden-rod, + Make the blue asters nod-- + Off and away! + + Butterfly's dozing now, + Golden wings closing now,-- + Softly he swings. + Tiny hands fold him fast, + Gently unclose at last,-- + Fly, golden wings! + + Quick! for he's after you, + With joyous laughter new,-- + Mischievous boy! + Swift you must flutter by; + He wants you, butterfly, + For a new toy! + + + +[Illustration] + + + +HOW TO MAKE A TELEPHONE. + +BY M.F. + + +What is a telephone? + +Up go a hundred hands of the brightest and sharpest of the readers of +ST. NICHOLAS, and a hundred confident voices reply: + +"An instrument to convey sounds by means of electricity." + +Good. That shows you have some definite idea of it; but, after all, +that answer is not the right one. The telephone does not convey sound. + +"What does its name mean, then?" do you ask? + +Simply, that it is a far-sounder; but that does not necessarily imply +that it _carries_ sounds afar. Strictly speaking, the telephone only +changes sound-waves into waves of electricity and back again. When +two telephones are connected by means of a wire, they act in this +way,--the first telephone changes the sound-waves it receives into +electric impulses which travel along the wire until they reach the +second telephone, here they are changed back to sound-waves exactly +like those received by the first telephone. Accordingly, the listener +in New York seems to hear the very tones of his friend who is speaking +at the other end of the line, say, in Boston. + +Still you don't see how. + +It is not surprising, for in this description several scientific facts +and principles are involved; and all boys and girls cannot be expected +to know much about the laws of sound and electricity. Perhaps a little +explanation may make it clearer. + +The most of you probably know that sound is produced by rapid motion. +Put your finger on a piano wire that is sounding, and you will feel +the motion, or touch your front tooth with a tuning-fork that is +singing; in the last case you will feel very distinctly the raps made +by the vibrating fork. Now, a sounding body will not only jar another +body which touches it, but it will also give its motion to the air +that touches it; and when the air-motions or air-waves strike the +sensitive drums of our ears, these vibrate, and we _hear_ the sound. + +You all have heard the windows rattle when it thunders loudly, or when +cannons have been fired near-by. The sound waves in the air fairly +shake the windows; and, sometimes, when the windows are closed, so +that the air-waves cannot pass readily, the windows are shattered by +the shock. Fainter sounds act less violently, yet similarly. Every +time you speak, your voice sets everything around you vibrating in +unison, though ever so faintly. + +Thus, from your every-day experience you have proof of two important +facts,--first, sound is caused by rapid motion; second, sound-waves +give rise to corresponding motion. Both these facts are involved in +the speaking telephone, which performs a twofold office,--that of the +ear on the one hand, that of our vocal organs on the other. + +To serve as an ear, the telephone must be able to take up quickly and +nicely the sound-waves of the air. A tightened drum-head will do that; +or better, a strip of goldbeaters'-skin drawn tightly over a ring +or the end of a tube. But these would not help Professor Bell, the +inventor of the telephone we shall describe, since he wanted an ear +that would translate the waves of sound into waves of electricity, +which would travel farther and faster than sound-waves could. + +Just when Mr. Bell was thinking how he could make the instrument he +wanted, an important discovery in magnetism was made known to him--a +discovery that helped him wonderfully. You know that if you hold a +piece of iron close to a magnet the magnet will pull it, and the +closer the iron comes to the magnet the harder it is pulled. Now, some +one experimenting with a magnet having a coil of silk-covered wire +around it, found that when a piece of iron was moved in front of the +magnet and close to it without touching, the motion would give rise to +electric waves in the coil of wire, which waves could be transmitted +to considerable distances. + +This was just what Mr. Bell wanted. He said to himself, "The sound +of my voice will give motion to a thin plate of iron as well as to a +sheet of goldbeaters'-skin; and if I bring this vibrating plate +of iron close to a magnet, the motion will set up in it waves of +electricity answering exactly to the sound-waves which move the iron +plate." + +So far, good. But something more was wanted. The instrument must not +only translate sound-waves into electric impulses, but change these +back again into sound-waves; it must not only hear, but also _speak!_ + +You remember our first fact in regard to sound: it is caused by +motion. All that is needed to make anything speak is to cause it to +move so as to give rise to just such air-waves as the voice makes. Mr. +Bell's idea was to make the iron plate of his sound-receiver speak. + +He reasoned in this way: From the nature of the magnet it follows that +when waves of electricity are passed through the wire coil around the +magnet, the strength of the magnet must vary with the force of the +electric impulses. Its pull on the plate of iron near it must vary in +the same manner. The varying pull on the plate must make it move, +and this movement must set the air against the plate in motion in +sound-waves corresponding exactly with the motion setting up the +electric waves in the first place; in other words, the sound-motion in +one telephone must be exactly reproduced as sound-waves in a similar +instrument joined to it by wire. + +Experiment proved the reasoning correct; and thus the +speaking-telephone was invented. But it took a long time to find +the simplest and best way to make it. At last, however, Mr. Bell's +telephone was perfected in the form illustrated below. Fig. 1 shows +the inner structure of the instrument. A is the spool carrying the +coil of wire; B, the magnet; C, the diaphragm; E, the case; F, F, the +wires leading from the coil, and connecting at the end of the handle +with the ground and line wires. Fig. 2 shows how a telephone looks on +the outside. + +[Illustration: BELL'S TELEPHONE. Fig. 1 and Fig. 2] + +So much for description. You will understand it better, perhaps, if +you experiment a little. You can easily make a pair for yourself, rude +and imperfect, it is true, but good enough for all the tests you may +want to apply. + +For each you will want: (1) a straight magnet; (2) a coil of +silk-covered copper wire; (3) a thin plate of soft iron; (4) a box to +hold the first three articles. You will also want as much wire as you +can afford, to connect the instruments, and two short pieces of wire +to connect your telephones with the ground. (Two wires between the +instruments would make the ground-wires unnecessary, but this would +use up too much wire.) The magnet and the coil you will have to buy +from some dealer in electrical apparatus. They need not cost much. A +small cigar-box will answer for the case. + +[Illustration: Fig. 3. A "CIGAR-BOX" TELEPHONE.] + +In one end of the box cut a round hole, say, three inches across. +Against this hole fasten a disk of thin sheet-iron for the vibrator or +"diaphragm." For a mouth-piece use a small can, such as ground spices +come in, or even a round paper box. + +Now, on the inside of the box, place the magnet, the end carrying the +coil almost touching the middle of the diaphragm, and fix it firmly. +Then, to the ends of the copper wire of the main coil fasten two +wires,--one for the line, the other for the "ground-wire." + +This done, you will have an instrument (or rather two of them) very +much like Fig. 3. A is the mouth-piece; B, the diaphragm; C, the coil; +D, the magnet; E, E, the wires. + +The receiving and sending instruments are precisely alike, each +answers for both purposes; but there must be two, since one must +always be hearing while the other is speaking. + +When you speak into the mouth-piece of one telephone, the sound of +your voice causes the "diaphragm" to vibrate in front of the magnet. +The vibrations cause the magnet's pull upon the diaphragm to vary in +force, which variation is answered by electrical waves in the coil and +over the wires connected with it. At the other end of the wire the +pull of the magnet of the speaking telephone is varied exactly in +proportion to the strength of the electric impulses that come over the +wire; the varying pull of the magnet sets the diaphragm in motion, +and that sets the air in motion in waves precisely like those of the +distant voice. When those waves strike the listener's ear, he _seems_ +to hear the speaker's exact tones, and so, substantially, he does +hear them. The circumstance that electric waves, and not sound-waves, +travel over the wires, does not change the quality of the resulting +sound in the least. + +I think you now understand Bell's telephone. + +The telephones of Edison, Gray, and others, involve different +principles and are differently constructed. + +One invention very often leads to another, and the telephone already +has an offspring not less wonderful than itself. It is called the +speaking-phonograph. It was invented by Mr. Edison, one of the +gentlemen, just mentioned. + +Evidently, Mr. Edison said to himself: "The telephone hears and +speaks; why not make it write in its own way; then its record could +be kept, and any time after, the instrument might read aloud its own +writing." Like a great genius as he is, Mr. Edison went to work in the +simplest way to make the sound-recorder he wanted. You know how the +diaphragm of the telephone vibrates when spoken to? Mr. Edison took +away from the telephone all except the mouth-piece and the diaphragm, +fastened a point of metal, which we will call a "style," to the center +of the diaphragm, and then contrived a simple arrangement for making +a sheet of tin-foil pass in front of the style. When the diaphragm is +still, the style simply scratches a straight line along the foil. When +a sound is made, however, and the diaphragm set to vibrating, the mark +of the style is not a simple scratch, but an impression varying in +depth according to the diaphragm's vibration. And that is how the +phonograph writes. To the naked eye, the record of the sound appears +to be simply a line of pin points or dots, more or less close to each +other; but, under a magnifier, it is seen to be far more complicated. + +Now for the reading. The impression on the foil exactly records the +vibrations of the diaphragm, and those vibrations exactly measure the +sound-waves which caused the vibrations. The reading simply reverses +all this. The strip of foil is passed again before the diaphragm, +the point of the style follows the groove it made at first, and +the diaphragm follows the style in all its motions. The original +vibrations are thus exactly reproduced, setting up sound-waves in +the air precisely like those which first set the machine in motion. +Consequently, the listener hears a minutely exact echo of what the +instrument heard; it might have heard it a minute, or an hour, or a +year, or a thousand years before, had the phonograph been in use so +long. + +What a wonderful result is that! As yet, the phonograph has not been +put to any practical use; indeed, it is scarcely in operation yet, and +a great deal must be done to increase the delicacy of its hearing and +the strength of its voice. It mimics any and every sort of sound with +marvelous fidelity, but weakly. Its speech is like that of a person +a long way off, or in another room. But its possibilities are almost +infinite. + + + + + + +ONLY A DOLL! + +BY SARAH O. JEWETT. + + +[Illustration: "Polly, my dolly!"] + + Polly, my dolly! why don't you grow? + Are you a dwarf, my Polly? + I'm taller and taller every day; + How high the grass is!--do you see that? + The flowers are growing like weeds, they say; + The kitten is growing into a cat! + Why don't you grow, my dolly? + + Here is a mark upon the wall. + Look for yourself, my Polly! + I made it a year ago, I think. + I've measured you very often, dear, + But, though you've plenty to eat and drink, + You haven't grown a bit for a year. + Why don't you grow, my dolly? + + Are you never going to try to talk? + You're such a silent Polly! + Are you never going to say a word? + It isn't hard; and oh! don't you see + The parrot is only a little bird, + But he can chatter so easily. + You're quite a dunce, my dolly! + + Let's go and play by the baby-house: + You are my dearest Polly! + There are other things that do not grow; + Kittens can't talk, and why should you? + You are the prettiest doll I know; + You are a darling--that is true! + Just as you are, my dolly! + + + + + + +DAB KINZER: A STORY OF A GROWING BOY. + +BY WILLIAM O. STODDARD. + + +Between the village and the inlet, and half a mile from the great +"bay," lay the Kinzer farm. Beyond the bay was a sand-bar, and beyond +that the Atlantic Ocean; for all this was on the southerly shore of +Long Island. + +The Kinzer farm had lain right there--acre for acre, no more, no +less--on the day when Hendrik Hudson, long ago, sailed the good ship +"Half-Moon" into New York Bay. But it was not then known to any one +as the Kinzer farm. Neither was there then, as now, any bright and +growing village crowding up on one side of it, with a railway station +and a post-office. Nor was there, at that time, any great and busy +city of New York, only a few hours' ride away, over on the island of +Manhattan. The Kinzers themselves were not there then; but the bay and +the inlet, with the fish and the crabs, and the ebbing and flowing +tides, were there, very much the same, before Hendrik Hudson and his +brave Dutchmen knew anything whatever about that corner of the world. + +The Kinzer farm had always been a reasonably "fat" one, both as to +size and quality, and the good people who lived on it had generally +been of a somewhat similar description. It was, therefore, every +way correct and becoming for Dabney Kinzer's widowed mother and his +sisters to be the plump and hearty beings they were, and all the more +discouraging to poor Dabney that no amount of regular and faithful +eating seemed to make him resemble them at all in that respect. + +Mrs. Kinzer excused his thinness to her neighbors, to be sure, on the +ground that he was "such a growing boy;" but, for all that, he caught +himself wondering, now and then, if he would never be done with that +part of his trials. For rapid growth has its trials. + +"The fact is," he said to himself, one day, as he leaned over the +north fence, "I'm more like Ham Morris's farm than I am like ours. His +farm is bigger than ours, all 'round; but it's too big for its fences, +just as I'm too big for my clothes. Ham's house is three times as +large as ours, but it looks as if it had grown too fast. It hasn't +any paint, to speak of, nor any blinds. It looks a good deal as if +somebody'd just built it there and then forgot it and gone off and +left it out-of-doors." + +Dabney's four sisters had all come into the world before him, but he +was as tall as any of them, and was frequently taken by strangers for +a good two years older than he really was. + +It was sometimes very hard for him, a boy of fifteen, to live up to +what was expected of those two extra years. + +Mrs. Kinzer still kept him in roundabouts; but they did not seem to +hinder his growth at all, if that was her object in so doing. + +There was no such thing, however, as keeping the four girls in +roundabouts, of any kind; and, what between them and their mother, the +pleasant and tidy little Kinzer homestead, with its snug parlor and +its cozy bits of rooms and chambers, seemed to nestle away, under the +shadowing elms and sycamores, smaller and smaller with every year that +came. + +It was a terribly tight fit for such a family, anyway; and, now that +Dabney was growing at such a rate, there was no telling what they +would all come to. But Mrs. Kinzer came, at last, to the rescue, and +she summoned her eldest daughter, Miranda, to her aid. + +A very notable woman was the widow. When the new railway cut off part +of the old farm, she had split up the slice of land between the iron +track and the village into "town lots," and had sold them all off by +the time the railway company paid her for the "damage" it had done the +property. + +The whole Kinzer family gained visibly in plumpness that +year,--except, perhaps, Dabney. + +Of course, the condition and requirements of Ham Morris and his big +farm, just over the north fence, had not escaped such a pair of eyes +as those of the widow, and the very size of his great barn of a house +finally settled his fate for him. + +A large, quiet, unambitious, but well brought up and industrious young +man was Hamilton Morris, and he had not the least idea of the good in +store for him for several months after Mrs. Kinzer decided to marry +him to her daughter Miranda. But all was soon settled. Dab, of course, +had nothing to do with the wedding arrangements, and Ham's share was +somewhat contracted. Not but what he was at the Kinzer house a good +deal; nor did any of the other girls tell Miranda how very much he was +in the way. He could talk, however, and one morning, about a fortnight +before the day appointed, he said to Miranda and her mother: + +"We can't have so very much of a wedding; your house is so small, and +you've chocked it so full of furniture. Right down nice furniture it +is, too; but there's so much of it. I'm afraid the minister'll have to +stand out in the front yard." + +"The house'll do for this time," replied Mrs. Kinzer. "There 'll be +room enough for everybody. What puzzles me is Dab." + +"What about Dab?" asked Ham. + +"Can't find a thing to fit him," said Dab's mother. "Seems as if he +were all odd sizes, from head to foot." + +"Fit him!" exclaimed Ham. "Oh, you mean ready-made goods! Of course +you can't. He'll have to be measured by a tailor, and have his new +suit built for him." + +"Such extravagance!" emphatically remarked Mrs. Kinzer. + +"Not for rich people like you, and for a wedding," replied Ham; "and +Dab's a growing boy. Where is he now? I'm going to the village, and +I'll take him right along with me." + +There seemed to be no help for it; but that was the first point +relating to the wedding concerning which Ham Morris was permitted to +have exactly his own way. His success made Dab Kinzer a fast friend of +his for life, and that was something. + +There was also something new and wonderful to Dabney himself in +walking into a tailor's shop, picking out cloth to please himself, and +being so carefully measured all over. He stretched and swelled himself +in all directions, to make sure nothing should turn out too small. At +the end of it all, Ham said to him: + +"Now, Dab, my boy, this suit is to be a present from me to you, on +Miranda's account." + +Dab colored and hesitated for a moment; but it seemed all right, he +thought, and so he came frankly out with: + +"Thank you, Ham. You always was a prime good fellow. I'll do as much +for you some day. Tell you what I'll do, then. I'll have another suit +made, right away, of this other cloth, and have the bill for that one +sent to our folks." + +"Do it!" exclaimed Ham. "Do it! You've your mother's orders for that. +She's nothing to do with my gift." + +"Splendid!" almost shouted Dab. "Oh, but don't I hope they'll fit!" + +"Vit?" said the tailor. "Vill zay vit? I dell you zay vit you like a +knife. You vait und zee." + +Dab failed to get a very clear idea of what the fit would be, but it +made him almost hold his breath to think of it. + +After the triumphant visit to the tailor, there was still a necessity +for a call upon the shoe-maker, and that was a matter of no small +importance. Dab's feet had always been a mystery and a trial to him. +If his memory contained one record darker than another, it was the +endless history of his misadventures with boots and shoes. He and +leather had been at war from the day he left his creeping clothes +until now. But now he was promised a pair of shoes that would be sure +to fit. + +So the question of Dab's personal appearance at the wedding was all +arranged between him and Ham; and Miranda smiled more sweetly than +ever before upon the latter, after she had heard her usually silent +brother break out so enthusiastically about him as he did that +evening. + +It was a good thing for that wedding that it took place in fine summer +weather, for neither kith, kin, nor acquaintances had been slighted in +the invitations, and the Kinzers were one of the "oldest families." + +To have gathered them all under the roof of that house, without either +stretching it out wider or boiling the guests down, would have been +out of the question, and so the majority, with Dabney in his new +clothes to keep them countenance, stood or sat in the cool shade of +the grand old trees during the ceremony, which was performed near the +open door, and were afterward served with the wedding refreshments, in +a style that spoke volumes for Mrs. Kinzer's good management, as well +as for her hospitality. + +The only drawback to Dab's happiness that day was that his +acquaintances hardly seemed to know him. He had had almost the same +trouble with himself when he looked in the glass that morning. + +Ordinarily, his wrists were several inches through his coat sleeves, +and his ankles made a perpetual show of his stockings. His neck, too, +seemed usually to be holding his head as far as possible from his coat +collar, and his buttons had no favor to ask of his button-holes. + +Now, even as the tailor had promised, he had received his "first +fit." He seemed to himself, to tell the truth, to be covered up in a +prodigal waste of nice cloth. Would he ever, ever grow too big for +such a suit of clothes as that? It was a very painful thought, and he +did his best to put it away from him. + +Still, it was a little hard to have a young lady, whom he had known +before she began to walk, remark to him: "Excuse me, sir, but can you +tell me if Mr. Dabney Kinzer is here?" + +"No, Jenny Walters," sharply responded Dab, "he isn't here." + +"Why, Dabney!" exclaimed the pretty Jenny, "is that you? I declare, +you've scared me out of a year's growth." + +"I wish you'd scare me, then," said Dab. "Then my clothes would stay +fitted." + +Everything had been so well arranged beforehand, thanks to Mrs. +Kinzer, that the wedding had no chance at all except to go off well. +Ham Morris was rejoiced to find how entirely he was relieved of every +responsibility. + +"Don't worry about your house, Hamilton," the widow said to him the +night before. "We'll go over there as soon as you and Miranda get +away, and it'll be all ready for you by the time you get back." + +"All right," said Ham. "I'll be glad to have you take the old place in +hand. I've only tried to live in a corner of it. You don't know how +much room there is. I don't, I must say." + +Dabney had longed to ask her if she meant to have it moved over to the +Kinzer side of the north fence, but he had doubts as to the propriety +of it, and just then the boy came in from the tailor's with his bundle +of new clothes. + + + + +CHAPTER II. + + +Hamilton Morris was a very promising young man, of some thirty +summers. He had been an "orphan" for a dozen years, and the wonder was +that he should so long have lived alone in the big square-built house +his father left him. At all events, Miranda Kinzer was just the wife +for him. + +Miranda's mother had seen that at a glance, the moment her mind +was settled about the house. As to that and his great, spreading, +half-cultivated farm, all either of them needed was ready money and +management. + +These were blessings Ham was now made reasonably sure of, on his +return from his wedding trip, and he was likely to appreciate them. + +As for Dabney Kinzer, he was in no respect overcome by the novelty and +excitement of the wedding. All the rest of the day he devoted himself +to such duties as were assigned him, with a new and grand idea +steadily taking shape in his mind. He felt as if his brains, too, were +growing. Some of his mother's older and more intimate friends remained +with her all day, probably to comfort her for the loss of Miranda, +and two or three of them, Dab knew, would stay to tea, so that his +services would be in demand to see them safely home. + +All day long, moreover, Samantha and Keziah and Pamela seemed to find +themselves wonderfully busy, one way and another, so that they paid +even less attention than usual to any of the ins and outs of their +brother. + +Dabney was therefore able, with little difficulty, to take for himself +whatever of odd time he might require for putting his new idea into +execution. + +Mrs. Kinzer herself noticed the rare good sense with which her son +hurried through with his dinner and slipped away, leaving her in +undisturbed possession of the table and her lady guests, and neither +she nor either of the girls had a thought of following him. + +If they had done so, they might have seen him draw a good-sized bundle +out from under the lilac-thicket in the back yard, and hurry down +through the garden. + +A few minutes more and Dabney appeared on the fence of the old +cross-road leading down to the shore. There he sat, eying one +passer-by after another, till he suddenly sprang from his perch, +exclaiming: "That's just the chap. Why, they'll fit him, and that's +more'n they ever did for me." + +Dab would probably have had to search along the coast for miles +before he could have found a human being better suited to his present +charitable purposes than the boy who now came so lazily down the road. + +There was no doubt about his color, or that he was all over of about +the same shade of black. His old tow trousers and calico shirt +revealed the shining fact in too many places to leave room for a +question, and shoes he had none. + +"Dick," said Dabney, "was you ever married?" + +"Married!" exclaimed Dick, with a peal of very musical laughter. "Is I +married? No! Is you?" + +"No," replied Dabney, "but I was mighty near it, this morning." + +"Dat so?" asked Dick, with another show of his white teeth. "Done ye +good, den. Nebber seen ye look so nice afore." + +"You'd look nicer'n I do, if you were only dressed up," said Dab. +"Just you put on these." + +"Golly!" exclaimed the black boy. But he seized the bundle Dab threw +him, and he had it open in a twinkling. "Anyt'ing in de pockets?" he +asked. + +"Guess not," said Dab; "but there's lots of room." + +"Say dar was!" exclaimed Dick. "But wont dese t'ings be warm!" + +It was quite likely, for the day was not a cool one, and Dick never +seemed to think of pulling off what he had on before getting into his +unexpected present. Coat, vest, and trousers, they were all pulled on +with more quickness than Dab had ever seen the young African display +before. + +"I's much obleeged to ye, Mr. Kinzer," said Dick, very proudly, as he +strutted across the road. "On'y I dasn't go back fru de village." + +"What'll you do, then?" asked Dab. + +"S'pose I'd better go a-fishin'," said Dick. "Will de fish bite?" + +"Oh, the clothes wont make any odds to them," said Dabney. "I must go +back to the house." + +And so he did, while Dick, on whom the cast-off garments of his white +friend were really a pretty good fit, marched on down the road, +feeling grander than he ever had before in all his life. + +"That'll be a good thing to tell Ham Morris when he and Miranda come +home again," muttered Dab, as he re-entered the house. + +Late that evening, when Dabney returned from his final duties as +escort to his mother's guests, she rewarded him with more than he +could remember ever receiving of motherly commendation. + +"I've been really quite proud of you, Dabney," she said to him, as +she laid her plump hand on the collar of his new coat and kissed him. +"You've behaved like a perfect gentleman." + +"Only, mother," exclaimed Keziah, "he spent too much of his time with +that sharp-tongued little Jenny Walters." + +"Never mind, Kezi," said Dab. "She didn't know who I was till I told +her. I'm going to wear a label with my name on it, when I go over to +the village, to-morrow." + +"And then you'll put on your other suit in the morning," said Mrs. +Kinzer, "You must keep this for Sundays and great occasions." + +When the morning came, Dabney Kinzer was a more than usually early +riser, for he felt that he had waked up to a very important day. + +"Dabney," exclaimed his mother, when he came in to breakfast, "did I +not tell you to put on your other suit?" + +"So I have, mother," replied Dab; "this is my other suit." + +"That!" exclaimed Mrs. Kinzer. + +"So it is!" cried Keziah. + +"So it isn't," added Samantha. "Mother, that's not what he had on +yesterday." + +"He's been trading again," mildly suggested Pamela. + +"Dabney," said Mrs. Kinzer, "what does this mean?" + +"Mean!" replied Dabney, "Why, these are the clothes you told me to +buy. The lot I wore yesterday were a present from Ham Morris. He's a +splendid fellow. I'm glad he got the best of the girls." + +That was a bad thing for Dabney to say, just then, for it was resented +vigorously by the remaining three. As soon as quiet was restored, +however, Mrs, Kinzer remarked: + +"I think Hamilton should have consulted me about it; but it's too late +now. Anyhow, you may go and put on your other clothes." + +"My wedding suit?" asked Dab. + +"No, indeed! I mean your old ones; those you took off night before +last." + +"Dunno where they are," slowly responded Dab. + +"Don't know where they are?" repeated a chorus of four voices. + +"No," said Dab. "Bill Lee's black boy had 'em on all yesterday +afternoon, and I reckon he's gone a-fishing again to-day. They fit him +a good sight better'n they ever did me." + +If Dabney had expected a storm to come from his mother's end of the +table, he was pleasantly mistaken, and his sisters had it all to +themselves for a moment. Then, with an admiring glance at her son, the +thoughtful matron remarked: + +"Just like his father, for all the world. It's no use, girls. Dabney's +a growing boy in more ways than one. Dabney, I shall want you to go +over to the Morris house with me after breakfast. Then you may hitch +up the ponies, and we'll do some errands around the village." + +[Illustration: DAB GIVES DICK HIS OLD CLOTHES.] + +Dab Kinzer's sisters looked at one another in blank astonishment, +and Samantha would have left the table if she had only finished her +breakfast. + +Pamela, as being nearest to Dab in age and sympathy, gave a very +admiring look at her brother's second "good fit," and said nothing. + +Even Keziah finally admitted, in her own mind, that such a change in +Dabney's appearance might have its advantages. But Samantha inwardly +declared war. + +The young hero himself was hardly used to that second suit as yet, and +felt anything but easy in it. + +"I wonder," he said to himself, "what Jenny Walters would think of me +now? Wonder if she'd know me?" + +Not a doubt of it. But, after he had finished his breakfast and gone +out, his mother remarked: + +"It's really all right, girls. I almost fear I've been neglecting +Dabney. He isn't a little boy any more." + +"He isn't a man yet," exclaimed Samantha, "and he talks slang +dreadfully." + +"But then he does grow so!" remarked Keziah. + +"Mother," said Pamela, "couldn't you get Dab to give Dick the slang, +along with the old clothes?" + +"We'll see about it," replied Mrs. Kinzer. + +It was very plain that Dabney's mother had begun to take in a new idea +about her son. It was not the least bit in the world unpleasant to +find out that he was "growing in more ways than one," and it was quite +likely that she had indeed kept him too long in roundabouts. + + + + +CHAPTER III. + + +Dick Lee had been more than half right about the village being a +dangerous place for him with such an unusual amount of clothing over +his ordinary uniform. + +The very dogs, every one of whom was an old acquaintance, barked at +him on his way home that night; and, proud as were his ebony father +and mother, they yielded to his earnest entreaties, first, that he +might wear his present all the next day, and, second, that he might +betake himself to the "bay," early in the morning, and so keep out of +sight "till he got used to it." + +The fault with Dab Kinzer's old suit, after all, had lain mainly in +its size rather than its materials, for Mrs. Kinzer was too good a +manager to be really stingy. + +Dick succeeded in reaching the boat-landing without falling in with +any one who seemed disposed to laugh at him; but there, right on the +wharf, was a white boy of about his own age, and he felt a good deal +like backing out. + +"Nebber seen him afore, either," said Dick to himself. "Den I guess I +aint afeard ob him." + +The stranger was a somewhat short and thick-set but bright and +active-looking boy, with a pair of very keen, greenish-gray eyes. But, +after all, the first word he spoke to poor Dick was: + +"Hullo, clothes! where are you going with all that boy?" + +"I knowed it! I knowed it!" groaned Dick. But he answered, as sharply +as he knew how: "I's goin' a-fishin'. Any ob youah business?" + +"Where'd you learn to fish?" the stranger asked. "Down South? Didn't +know they had any there." + +"Nebbah was down Souf," was the surly reply. + +"Father run away, did he?" + +"He nebber was down dar, nudder." + +"Nor his father?" + +"'T aint no business o' your'n," said Dick; "but we's allers lived +right heah on dis bay." + +"Guess not," replied the white boy, knowingly. + +But Dick was right, for his people had been slaves among the very +earliest Dutch settlers, and had never "lived South" at all. He was +now busily getting one of the boats ready to push off; but his white +tormentor went at him again with-- + +"Well, then, if you've lived here so long, you must know everybody." + +"Reckon I do." + +"Are there any nice fellows around here? Any like me?" + +"De nicest young genelman 'round dis bay," replied Dick, "is Mr. Dab +Kinzer. But he aint like you. Not nuff to hurt 'im." + +"Dab Kinzer!" exclaimed the stranger. "Where did he get his name?" + +"In de bay, I spect," said Dick, as he shoved his boat off. "Caught +'im wid a hook." + +"Anyhow," said the strange boy to himself, "that's probably the sort +of fellow my father would wish me to associate with. Only it's likely +he's very ignorant." + +And he walked away toward the village with the air of a man who had +forgotten more than the rest of his race were ever likely to find out. + +At all events, Dick Lee had managed to say a good word for his +benefactor, little as he could guess what might be the consequences. + +Meantime, Dab Kinzer, when he went out from breakfast, had strolled +away to the north fence, for a good look at the house which was +thenceforth to be the home of his favorite sister. He had seen it +before, every day since he could remember; but it seemed to have a +fresh and almost mournful interest for him just now. + +"Hullo!" he exclaimed, as he leaned against the fence. "Putting up +ladders? Oh yes, I see! That's old Tommy McGrew, the house-painter. +Well, Ham's house needs a new coat as badly as I did. Sure it'll fit, +too. Only it aint used to it any more'n I am." + +"Dabney!" + +It was his mother's voice, and Dab felt like "minding" very promptly +that morning. + +"Dabney, my boy, come here to the gate." + +"Ham's having his house painted," he remarked, as he joined his +mother. + +"Is he?" she said. "We'll go and see about it." + +As they drew nearer, however, Dabney discovered that carpenters +as well as painters were plying their trade in and about the old +homestead. There were window-sashes piled here and blinds there, a new +door or so ready for use, with bundles of shingles, and other signs of +approaching "renovation." + +"Going to fix it all over," remarked Dab. + +"Yes," replied his mother; "it'll be as good as new. It was well +built, and will bear mending." + +When they entered the house, it became more and more evident that the +"shabby" days of the Morris mansion were numbered. There were men at +work in almost every room. + +Ham's wedding trip would surely give plenty of time, at that rate, and +his house would be "all ready for him" on his return. + +There was nothing wonderful to Dabney in the fact that his mother went +about inspecting work and giving directions. He had never seen her do +anything else, and he had the greatest confidence in her knowledge and +ability. + +Dabney noticed, too, before they left the place, that all the +customary farm-work was going ahead with even more regularity and +energy than if the owner himself had been present. + +"Ham's farm'll look like ours, one of these days, at this rate," he +said to his mother. + +"I mean it shall," she replied, somewhat sharply. "Now go and get out +the ponies, and we'll do the rest of our errands." + +If they had only known it, at that very moment Ham and his blooming +bride were setting out for a drive at the fashionable watering-place +where they had made the first stop in their wedding tour. + +"Ham?" said Miranda, "it seems to me as if we were a thousand miles +from home." + +"We shall be further before we get nearer," said Ham. + +"But I wonder what they are doing there,--mother and the girls and +dear little Dabney?" + +"Little Dabney!" exclaimed Ham. "Why, Miranda, do you think Dab is a +baby yet?" + +"No, not a baby. But------" + +"Well, he's a boy, that's a fact; but he'll be as tall as I am in +three years." + +"Will he ever be fat?" + +"Not till after he gets his full length," said Ham. "We must have him +at our house a good deal, and feed him up. I've taken a liking to +Dab." + +"Feed him up!" said Miranda, with some indignation. "Do you think we +starve him?" + +"No; but how many meals a day does he get?" + +"Three, of course, like the rest of us; and he never misses one of +them." + +"I suppose not," said Ham, "I never miss a meal myself, if I can help +it. But don't you think three meals a day is rather short allowance +for a boy like Dab?" + +Miranda thought a moment, but then she answered, positively: "No, I +don't. Not if he does as well at each one of them as Dab is sure to." + +"Well," said Ham, "that was in his old clothes, that were too tight +for him. Now he's got a good loose fit, with plenty of room, you don't +know how much more he may need. No, Miranda, I'm going to have an eye +on Dabney." + +"You're a dear, good fellow, anyway," said Miranda, "and I hope +mother'll have the house all ready for us when we get back." + +"She will," replied Ham. "I shall hardly be easy till I see what she +has done with it." + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + + +"That's him!" + +Dab was standing by the ponies, in front of a store in the village. +His mother was making some purchases in the store, and Dab was +thinking how the Morris house would look when it was finished, and it +was at him the old farmer was pointing in answer to a question which +had just been asked. + +The questioner was the sharp-eyed boy who had bothered poor Dick Lee +that morning. + +At that moment, however, a young lady--quite young--came tripping +along the sidewalk, and was stopped by Dab Kinzer with: + +"There, Jenny Walters, I forgot my label!" + +"Why, Dabney, is that you? How you startled me! Forgot your label?" + +"Yes," said Dab; "I'm in another new suit to-day, and I want to have a +label with my name on it. You'd have known me, then." + +"But I know you now," exclaimed Jenny. "Why, I saw you yesterday." + +"Yes, and I told you it was me. Can you read, Jenny?" + +"Why, what a question!" + +"Because, if you can't, it wont do me any good to wear a label." + +"Dabney Kinzer," exclaimed Jenny. "There's another thing you ought to +get?" + +"What's that?" + +"Some good manners," said the little lady, snappishly. "Think, of your +stopping me in the street to tell me I can't read." + +"Then you mustn't forget me so quick," said Dab. "If you meet my old +clothes anywhere you must call 'em Dick Lee. They've had a change of +name." + +"So, he's in them, is he? I don't doubt they look better than they +ever did before." + +And Jenny walked proudly away, leaving her old playmate feeling as +if he had had a little the worst of it. That was often the way with +people who stopped to talk with Jenny Walters, and she was not as much +of a favorite as she otherwise might have been. + +Hardly had she disappeared before Dab was confronted by the strange +boy. + +"Is your name Dabney Kinzer?" said he. + +"Yes, I believe so." + +"Well, I'm Mr. Ford Foster, of New York." + +"Come over here to buy goods?" suggested Dab. "Or to get something to +eat?" + +Ford Foster was apparently of about Dab's age, but a full head less in +height, so that there was more point in the question than there seemed +to be, but he treated it as not worthy of notice, and asked: "Do you +know of a house to let anywhere about here?" + +"House to let?" suddenly exclaimed the voice of Mrs. Kinzer, behind +him, much to Dab's surprise. "Are you asking about a house? Whom for?" + +If Ford Foster had been ready to "chaff" Dick Lee, or even Dab Kinzer, +he knew enough to speak respectfully to the portly and business-like +lady now before him. + +[Illustration: "IS YOUR NAME DABNEY KINZER?"] + +"Yes, madam," he said, with a ceremonious bow. "I wish to report to my +father that I've found an acceptable house in this vicinity." + +"You do!" + +Mrs. Kinzer was reading the young gentleman through and through as she +spoke, but she followed her exclamation with a dozen questions, and +then wound up with: + +"Go right home, then, and tell your father the only good house to let +in this neighborhood will be ready for him next week, and he'd better +see me at once. Get into the buggy, Dabney." + +"A very remarkable woman!" muttered Ford Foster to himself as they +drove away. "I must make some more inquiries." + +"Mother," said Dabney, "you wouldn't let 'em have Ham's house?" + +"No, indeed; but I don't mean to have our own stand empty." And, with +that, a great deal of light began to break in on Dabney's mind. + +"That's it, is it?" he said to himself, as he touched up the ponies. +"Well, there'll be room enough for all of us there, and no mistake. +But what'll Ham say?" + +It was not till late the next day, however, that Ford Foster completed +his inquiries. He took the afternoon train for the city, satisfied +that, much as he knew before he came, he had actually learned a good +deal more which was valuable. + +He was almost the only person in the car. Trains going toward the city +were apt to be thinly peopled at that time of day, but the empty cars +had to be taken along all the same, for the benefit of the crowds who +would be coming out, later in the afternoon and in the evening. The +railway company would have made more money with full loads both ways, +but it was well they did not have one on that precise train. Ford had +turned over the seat in front of him, and stretched himself out with +his feet on it. It was almost like lying down for a boy of his length, +but it was the very best position he could have taken if he had known +what was coming. + +Known what was coming? + +Yes, there was a pig coming. + +That was all, but it was quite enough, considering what that pig was +about to do. He was going where he chose, just then, and he chose not +to turn out for the railway train. + +"What a whistle!" Ford Foster had just exclaimed. "It sounds more like +the squeal of an iron pig than anything else. I----" + +But at that instant there came a great jolt and a shock, and Ford +found himself suddenly tumbled, all in a heap, on the seat where his +feet had been. Then came bounce after bounce and the sound of breaking +glass, and then a crash. + +"Off the track!" shouted Ford, as he sprang to his feet. "I wouldn't +have missed it for anything, but I do hope nobody's killed." + +In the tremendous excitement of the moment he could hardly have told +how he got out of that car, but it did not seem ten seconds till +he was standing beside the conductor and engineer, looking at the +battered engine as it lay on its side in a deep ditch. The baggage +car, just behind it, was broken all to pieces, but the passenger cars +did not seem to have suffered very much, and nobody was badly hurt, as +the engineer and fireman had jumped off in time. + +"This train'll never get in on time," said Ford to the conductor, a +little later. "How'll I get to the city?" + +"Well," replied the railway man, who was not in the best of humors, "I +don't suppose the city could do without you overnight. The junction +with the main road is only two miles ahead, and if you're a good +walker you may catch a train there." + +Some of the other passengers, none of whom were very much hurt, had +made the same discovery, and in a few minutes more there was a long, +straggling procession of uncomfortable people marching by the side +of the railway track, under the hot sun, The conductor was right, +however, and nearly all of them managed to make the two miles to the +junction in time. + +Mr. Ford Foster was among the very first to arrive, and he was likely +to reach home in very fair season in spite of the pig. + +As for his danger, he had hardly thought of that, and he would not +have missed so important an adventure for anything he could think of, +just then. + +It was to a great, pompous, stylish, crowded, "up-town +boarding-house," that Ford's return was to take him. There was no +wonder at all that wise people should wish to get out of such a place +in such hot weather. Still, it was the sort of a home Ford Foster had +been best acquainted with all his life, and it was partly owing to +that that he had become so prematurely "knowing." + +He knew too much, in fact, and was only too well aware of it. He had +filled his head with an unlimited stock of boarding-house information, +as well as with a firm persuasion that there was little more to be +had,--unless, indeed, it might be scraps of such outside, knowledge as +he had now been picking up over on Long Island. + +In one of the great "parlor chambers" of the boarding-house, at about +eight o'clock that evening, a middle-aged gentleman and lady, with a +fair, sweet-faced girl of about nineteen, were sitting near an open +window, very much as if they were waiting for somebody. + +Such a kindly, motherly lady! She was one of those whom no one can +help liking, after seeing her smile once, or hearing her speak. +Whatever may have been his faults or short-comings, Ford Foster could +not have put in words what he thought about his mother. And yet he +had no difficulty in expressing his respect for his father, or his +unbounded admiration for his pretty sister Annie. + +"Oh, husband!" exclaimed Mrs. Foster, "are you sure none of them were +injured?" + +"So the telegraphic report said. Not a bone broken of anybody but the +pig that got in the way." + +"But how I wish he would come!" groaned Annie. "Have you any idea, +papa, how he can get home?" + +"Not clearly," said her father, "but you can trust Ford not to miss +any opportunity. He's just the boy to look out for himself in an +emergency." + +Ford Foster's father took very strongly after the son in whose ability +he expressed so much confidence. He had just such a square, active, +bustling sort of body, several sizes larger, with just such keen, +penetrating, greenish-gray eyes. Anybody would have picked him out, at +a glance, for a lawyer, and a good one. + +That was exactly what he was, and if any one had become acquainted +with either son or father, there would have been no difficulty +afterward in identifying the other. + +It required a good deal more than the telegraphic report of the +accident or even her husband's assurances, to relieve the motherly +anxiety of good Mrs. Foster, or even to drive away the shadows from +the face of Annie. + +No doubt if Ford himself had known the state of affairs, they would +have been relieved earlier; for even while they were talking about him +he was already in the house. It had not so much as occurred to him +that his mother would hear of the accident to the pig and the railway +train until he himself should tell her, and so, he had made sure of +his supper down-stairs, before reporting himself. He might not have +done it, perhaps, but he had come in through the lower way, by the +area door, and that of the dining-room had stood temptingly wide open +with some very eatable things ready on the table. + +That had been too much for Ford, after his car-ride and his smash-up +and his long walk. But now, at last, up he came, brimful of new and +wonderful experiences, to be more than a little astonished by the +manner and enthusiasm of his welcome. + +"Why, mother!" he exclaimed, when he got a chance for a word, "you and +Annie couldn't have said much more if I'd been the pig himself." + +"The pig?" said Annie. + +"Yes, the pig that stopped us. He and the engine wont go home to their +families to-night." + +"Don't make fun of it, Ford," said his mother, gently; "it's too +serious a matter." + +Just then his father broke in, almost impatiently, with, "Well, Ford, +my boy, have you done your errand, or shall I have to see about it +myself? You've been gone two days." + +"Thirty-seven hours and a half, father," replied Ford, taking out his +watch. "I've kept an exact account of my expenses. We've saved the +cost of advertising." + +"And spent it on railroading," said his father, with a laugh. + +"But, Ford," asked Annie, "did you find a house?--a good one?" + +"Yes," added Mrs. Foster, "now I'm sure you're safe, I do want to hear +about the house." + +"It's all right, mother," said Ford, confidently. "The very house you +told me to hunt for. Neither too large nor too small, and it's in +apple-pie order." + +There were plenty of questions to answer now, but Ford was every way +equal to the occasion. His report, in fact, compelled his father to +look at him with an expression of face which very clearly meant, "That +boy resembles me. I was just like him at his age. He'll be just like +me at mine." + +There was really very good reason to approve of the manner in which +the young gentleman had performed his errand in the country, and +Mr. Foster promptly decided to go over, in a day or two, and settle +matters with Mrs Kinzer. + +(_To be continued_.) + + + +[Illustration: MAKING READY FOR A CRUISE.] + + + +HOW WILLY WOLLY WENT A-FISHING. + +BY S.C. STONE. + + + One day, on going fishing + Was Willy Wolly bent; + And, as it chanced a holiday, + Why, Willy Wolly went. + +[Illustration: Willy Wolly going fishing.] + + Now, Willy Wolly planned, you see, + To catch a speckled trout; + But caught a very different fish + From what he had laid out! + + In view of all the fishes,-- + Who much enjoyed the joke, + With many a joyous wriggle + And finny punch and poke,-- + + Young Willy Wolly, leaping + A fence with dire design, + Had carelessly left swinging + His fishing-hook and line. + +[Illustration: Willy Wolly caught himself.] + + How Willy Wolly did it, + He really could not tell, + But instantly he had his fish + Exceeding fast and well! + + He hooked the struggling monster + Securely in the sleeve; + And, all at once, he found it time + His pleasant sport to leave;-- + + 'T was not a very gamy fish + For one so large and strong, + That Willy Wolly, blubbering, + Helped carefully along. + + The giggling fishes crowded to + The river bank to look, + As Willy Wolly, captive, led + Himself with line and hook! + +[Illustration: Mother unhooks Willy Wolly.] + + When Willy Wolly went, you see, + To catch a speckled trout, + Why, Willy Wolly caught _himself!_ + And so the joke is out. + + His mother saved that barbed hook, + And sternly bid him now + No more to dare a-fishing go, + Until he has learned how! + + + + + + +CRUMBS FROM OLDER READING. + +BY JULIA E. SARGENT. + + +III.--THOMAS CARLYLE. + + +"Shakespeare says we are creatures that look +before and after. The more surprising, then, that +we do not look around a little, and see what is +passing under our very eyes." + +So writes Thomas Carlyle. + +Although he politely says "we," when speaking +of people in general, that part of the "we" known +as Thomas Carlyle certainly keeps his eyes wide +open. So wide, indeed, that much that is disagreeable +comes under his notice, as always will +be the case with those who choose to see everything. + +I once watched the round, red sun as it crimsoned +the sparkling waters in which it seemed +already sinking. When, at last, I turned my +dazzled eyes away, all over lake and sky I saw +dancing black suns. Perhaps it is through dwelling +long on one idea that Carlyle sees only spots +of blackness on what others call clear sky. The +great want of that foggy, smoky city where he lives +is pure, health-giving light, and this we also miss +in his writings, which, like London, have not +enough sunshine. + +But, whatever people may say, when Carlyle +speaks the world is quite ready to listen. + +Who is Thomas Carlyle? + +He is a Scotchman, a philosopher, an essayist, +an historian, a biographer, and an octogenarian. + +What has he done to be so famous? + +He has written twenty books. But you might +live to be an octogenarian yourself without meeting +twenty persons who would have read them all. It +would not be a hard matter, though, to find those +who have read one of his books twenty times; +perhaps this very green-covered book with "Sartor +Resartus" on the back. + +What does it mean, and what is it all about? + +It means "The Tailor Re-tailored," and Carlyle +says it is a book about clothes. But you need not +look for fashion-plates; there are none there. You +will hear nothing about new costumes; for this +book is full of Carryle's own thoughts, clothed in +such words that you will surely enjoy the book. + +Hear how he tells us that nothing that we do is +really "of no matter," as we so often think: + +"I say, there is not a red Indian hunting by +Lake Winnepeg can quarrel with his squaw but the +whole world must smart for it: will not the price +of beaver rise?" + +You think it would not make much difference if +the price of beaver should rise? Let us look at +the matter. First, Mr. B. Woods, the trader, must +pay a larger price for his beaver, and therefore +must sell for more to the firm of Bylow & Selhi. +These shrewd gentlemen do not intend to lose on +their purchase, so they pay a less sum to Mr. +Maycup, the manufacturer. This reduction in his +income causes Mr. Maycup to curtail family expenses. +So his subscription to ST. NICHOLAS is +discontinued, and the youthful Maycups are overwhelmed +with grief, because of that unfortunate +quarrel which raised the price of beaver. + +But why should the price change because of that? + +Really, Mr. Carlyle should answer you. Perhaps +the Indian in his quarrel forgets to set his traps, or +the whole neighborhood may become so interested +in the little affair that beavers are forgotten. + +"Were it not miraculous could I stretch forth +my hand and clutch the sun? Yet thou seest me +daily stretch forth my hand and clutch many a +thing and swing it hither and thither. Art thou a +grown baby, then, to fancy that the miracle lies in +miles of distance, or in pounds avoirdupois of +weight; and not to see that the true miracle lies +in this, that I can stretch forth my hand at all?" + +What is it that Carlyle thinks so wonderful? +See how quietly my hand rests on this table. Why +should it move any more than the table on which +it rests? Is not Carlyle right when he calls every +movement of my hand a wonder? You never +thought of it before? That is as Carlyle says: +"We do not look around a little and see what is +passing under our very eyes." + +It was this great old man whose hand brushed +the clinging mud from a crust of bread, and placed +it on the curbstone, for some dog or pigeon, saying, +"My mother taught me never to waste anything." + +Here is a word for those who are always planning +what great things they will do--who think so much +_about_ doing that no time is left _for_ the doing: + +"The end of man is an action, and not a +thought, though it were the noblest." + +Now, for our final crumb, comes a well-clothed +thought that I like better than quarreling Indians +or familiar wonders. It is the reason why selfish +people are never really happy. Carlyle thinks they +have only themselves to blame, for he says: + +"Always there is a black spot in our sunshine; +it is even, as I said, _the shadow of ourselves_." + + + + + + +[Illustration: "JACK-IN-THE-PULPIT."] + + +JACK-IN-THE-PULPIT. + + +Hurrah for June!--bright, rosy June! "Joy +rises in me like a summer's morn!" as one of +those pleasant people, the poets, has said. + +Let everybody be glad! But most of all, you, +my youngsters! The month properly belongs to +you. Don't I know? Wasn't it set apart by +Romulus, ages and ages ago, especially for the +young people, or "Juniores," as they then were +called? And hasn't their name stuck to it ever +since? Yes, indeed! So, be as merry as you can, +my chicks; but, with all your fun and frolic, be +thankful, and make June weather all about you. +June time--any time--is full of joy when hearts, +brimming over with thankfulness, carry cheer to +other hearts, making + + "A noise like of a hidden brook + In the leafy month of June, + That to the sleeping woods all night + Singeth a quiet tune,"-- + +like the little stream that bubbles by the foot of our meadow. + +Now to business. First comes a letter about + + A ROPE OF EGGS. + + Brooklyn, N.Y. + + My Dear Jack-in-the-Pulpit: I know about a rope of eggs, and I + will tell you. It is in Japan. The eggs are plaited and twisted + into ropes made from straw, and so it is safe and easy to handle + them. Just think how queer it would seem to buy eggs by the yard! + + AMY M. + + +CONVERSATION BY FISTICUFFS. + +After being flurried by clouds of paragrams about sphygmographs, +and phonographs, and pneumatic telegraphs, and scores of other +extraordinary scientific ways of communication, I'm not in the least +surprised to learn that ants converse by one tapping another's head. + +I'm told that an Englishman named Jesse once put a small caterpillar +near an ants' nest, and watched. Soon an ant seized it; but the +caterpillar was too heavy to be moved by one ant alone, so away he ran +until he met another ant. They stopped for a few moments, during which +each tapped the other's head with his feelers in a very lively manner. +Then they both hurried off to the caterpillar, and together dragged it +home. + + + A HORSE THAT LOVED TEA. + + Roxbury, Mass. + + Dear Jack-in-the-Pulpit: This is a true story of Mary's horse. He + was just as black as a coal all over, except a pretty white star + on his forehead. + + Once in two or three weeks Mary had him take tea with her and her + little brother and sisters. She went to the stable where he lived + with Kate and Nell, two pretty twin ponies, and said to him: + + "Come, Jack! Don't you want some, tea?" + + At that, he came right up to her, and found out the buttons on + her dress, and tried to pull them off, and then untied her apron + strings. + + "Now, Jack," Mary said, "tea is all ready. Come along!"--and he + followed her along the walk to the back door and up the three + steps into the house. + + What a clatter his iron shoes made along the entry to the + dining-room! + + Harry and Annie and Fanny rushed out, crying: + + "Oh, mamma! Here's Jack coming to tea!" + + Then mamma filled a large bowl with tea, put in plenty of milk and + three or four pieces of white sugar (for Jack had a sweet tooth), + and cut a slice of bread into pieces, and put them on a plate, + with a doughnut or piece of gingerbread. And Mary said: + + "Now, Jack, come up to the table!" + + You see, he was too big to sit in a chair; but he came close up to + the table and stood there, and drank his tea without slopping any + over, and ate up his bread and cake. And when he had done, what + do you think he did? Why, he went up to the piano that stood in a + corner of the room and smelled the keys, and looked round at Mary. + That was to ask her to play him a tune before he went home. + + Then she said, "Oh, you dear Jack! I know what you want!" And she + sat down and played some merry tune, while he pricked up his ears + and put his nose down close to her fingers, he was so pleased. + Then he rubbed her shoulder with his nose, and Mary played another + tune for him. + + "Now, Jack," mamma said, "you've had a nice time; but you must + go back to your stable. Kate and Nell will miss you if you stay + longer." + + Then Mary opened the dining-room door, and Jack followed her down + the long entry and out to the stable, just like a dog.--Yours + truly, + + B.P. + + +TONGUES WHICH CARRY TEETH. + +You've heard of folks with biting tongues, I dare say, and very +disagreeable they are, no doubt, though, of course, they do not +actually bite with their tongues. However, there really is an +unpleasant fellow whose tongue carries twenty-six thousand eight +hundred teeth! A capital one for biting, you'd suppose. He is nothing +but a slug, though, and his army of teeth only scrape, not bite, I'm +told. Then, too, there is a sort of cousin of his, a periwinkle, who +has a long ribbon-like tongue, armed with six hundred crosswise rows +of hooks, about seven in a row. + +You can make sure of these surprising facts, my dears, with the aid of +patience and a microscope. + + +DIZZY DISTANCES. + +The other day, one of the school-children said to a chum, "The Little +Schoolma'am told us this morning that some parts of the ocean are more +than four miles deep!" + +That's easy to say, thought I, but try to think it, my dear! Fix on +a place four miles away from you, and then imagine every bit of that +distance stretching down under you, instead of straight before you. +Perhaps in this way you may gain an idea of the depth of the ocean; +but just consider the height of the air--which, I'm told, is a sort +of envelope about the earth--more than nine times the depth of the +ocean! Yet, what a wee bit of a way toward the moon would those +thirty-six miles take us! And from the earth to the moon is only a +very little step on the long way to the sun. + +Oh dear! Let's stop and take a breath! Why did I begin talking of such +dizzy distances? + + +LAND THAT INCREASES IN HEIGHT. + +Here is a letter in answer to the Little School-ma'am's question which +I passed over to you in April, and it raises such startling ideas, +that, may be, you'd do well to look farther into the matter: + + DEAR JACK: We suppose that the Little Schoolma'am and her writers + on Greenland will concede its accidental discovery by Gunnbjorn, + as narrated by Cyrus Martin, Jr., in his "Vikings in America" [ST. + NICHOLAS, Vol. III., page 586]. We have always thought Iceland + appropriately named, and Greenland the reverse. + + And now about that question of temperature. If portions of + Greenland are colder than formerly, may it not be because less + heat comes through its crust from subterranean fires, as well + as because the surface is constantly gaining in height, as some + report?--Very truly yours, + + NED AND WILL WHITFORD. + + +THE ANGERED GOOSE. + +The picture of which you here have an engraving formed at first a kind +of panel of a wall, and occupied a space beneath one of the cartoons +of Raphael, the great Italian painter, whose grand picture of "The +Transfiguration" is thought to be his chief work. This panel-picture, +also, was painted by Raphael, as some say, though others think it may +be the work of one of his pupils. + +[Illustration: THE ANGERED GOOSE.] + +A curious thing about the picture is this: the goose is so excited, +and scolding its tortoise so angrily for going slowly, that it has +forgotten its own wings, when, if it would only use them, it could fly +to its journey's end long before the tortoise could crawl there. Now, +there are other two-legged geese who let themselves get angered and +excited easily, and so lose many chances of serving others and helping +themselves. Perhaps you may know some of them. + +That is what the Deacon says; but, for my part, I never knew a goose +that _hadn't_ two legs. + + +A CITY UNDER THE WATER. + +In past ages, as the Deacon once told some of his older boys in my +hearing, the people of some parts of Europe used to live above the +surfaces of lakes, in huts built on spiles driven into the water. + +Well, now I hear that some one has found, under the water of Lake +Geneva, a whole town, with about two hundred stone houses, a large +public square, and a high tower; and, from the looks of the town, the +shape of the houses, and the way the stones are cut, some say that the +place must have been built more than two thousand years ago! + +Now, I can understand how men were able to live in the way the Deacon +described, but it strikes me that this other story has something in it +that's harder to swallow than water. + +Who ever heard of men living in cities under the water, as if they +were fishes? + + +REFLECTION. + + The Red School-house. + + My Dear Jack-in-the-Pulpit: Many thanks for putting into your + April sermon the picture and letter which I sent to you. Now, I + must let you know about the explanations that some of your bright + chicks have given. + + Arnold Guyot Cameron, S.E.S., O.C. Turner, Louise G. Hinsdale, and + the partners E.K.S. and M.G.V. guessed the right word, which is + "Reflection"; and, of course, it needed some "reflection" to find + it out. The lady in the picture is absorbed in "reflection" upon + something she has been reading in her book; but, besides this, + the water is represented as sending back a "reflection" of nearly + every other object in the picture. + + Several others of your youngsters wrote, but they were not so + fortunate in their attempts. "Mignon" suggests the word "Heads," + for the reason that the guessing has given employment to many + heads. John F. Wyatt thinks that "Beautiful" is the word. Alfred + Whitman, C.H. Payne, and Nellie Emerson, though writing from three + places far apart, agree in giving the word "Reverie" as their + notion of the right one. George A. Mitchell thinks it is "Study"; + Arthur W. James guesses "Meditation"; and Hallie quietly hints + "Calm." "P.," however, believes that the word is "Misrepresented," + which he inclines to write, "Miss represented." But Nathalie + B. Conkling puts forward the exclamation "Alas!" as the proper + solution, spelling it "A lass." + + Now, puns are not always good wit, and these two are not puns of + the best kind; but they, as well as the other guesses, show that + your chicks have lively minds, able to see a thing from more than + one point of view, even although their conjectures do not hit the + very center of the mark in every instance. I am much obliged + to them all for their letters, and to you, dear Jack, for your + kindness.--Sincerely your friend, + + THE LITTLE SCHOOLMA'AM. + + + + + + +"FIDDLE-DIDDLE-DEE!" + + +Little Davie ran through the garden,--a great slice of bread and +butter in one hand, and his spelling-book in the other. He was going +to study his lesson for to-morrow. + +You could not imagine a prettier spot than Davie's "study," as he +called it. It was under a great oak-tree, that stood at the edge of a +small wood. The little boy sat down on one of the roots and opened his +book. + +[Illustration: The Little Brown Wren.] + +"But first," thought he, "I'll finish my bread and butter." + +So he let his book drop, and, as he ate, he began to sing a little +song with which his mother sometimes put the baby to sleep. This is +the way the song began: + + "I bought a bird, and my bird pleased me; + I tied my bird behind a tree; + Bird said----" + +"Fiddle-diddle-dee!" sang something, or somebody, behind the oak. +Davie looked a little frightened, for that was just what he was about +to sing in his song. But he jumped up and ran around to the other side +of the tree. And there was a little brown wren, and it had a little +golden thread around its neck, and the thread was tied to a root of +the big tree. + +"Hello!" said Davie, "was that you?" + +Now, of course Davie had not expected the wren to answer him. But the +bird turned her head on one side, and, looking up at Davie, said: + +[Illustration: The Little Bantam Hen.] + +"Yes, of course it was me! Who else did you suppose it could be?" + +"Oh yes!" said Davie, very much astonished. "Oh yes, of course! But I +thought you only did it in the song!" + +"Well," said the wren, "were not you singing the song, and am not I in +the song, and what else could I do?" + +"Yes, I suppose so," said Davie. + +"Well, go, then," said the wren, "and don't bother me." + +Davie felt very queer. He stopped a moment, but soon thought that he +must do as he was bid, and he began to sing again: + + "I bought a hen, and my hen pleased me; + I tied my hen behind a tree; + Hen said----" + +"Shinny-shack! shinny-shack!" interrupted another voice, so loudly +that Davie's heart gave a great thump, as he turned around. There, +behind the wren, stood a little Bantam hen, and around her neck was a +little golden cord that fastened her to the wren's leg. + +[Illustration: The Speckled Guinea-Hen.] + +"I suppose that was you?" said Davie. + +"Yes, indeed," replied the hen. "I know when my time comes in, in a +song. But it was provoking for you to call me away from my chicks." + +"I?" cried Davie. "I didn't call you!" + +"Oh, indeed!" said the Bantam. "It wasn't you, then, who were singing +'Tied my hen,' just now! Oh no, not you!" + +"I'm sorry," said Davie. "I didn't mean to." + +"Well, go on, then," said the little hen, "and don't bother." + +Davie was so full of wonder that he did not know what to think of it +all. He went back to his seat, and sang again: + + "I had a guinea, and my guinea pleased me; + I tied my guinea behind a tree----" + +[Illustration: The Duck.] + +But here he stopped, with his mouth wide open; for up a tiny brown +path that led into the wood, came a little red man about a foot +high, dressed in green, and leading by a long yellow string a plump, +speckled guinea-hen! The little old man came whistling along until he +reached the Bantam, when he fastened the yellow string to her leg, and +went back again down the path, and disappeared among the trees. + +Davie looked and wondered. Presently, the guinea stretched out her +neck and called to him in a funny voice: + +"Why in the world don't you go on? Do you think I want to wait all day +for my turn to come?" + +Davie began to sing again: "Guinea said----" + +"Pot-rack! pot-rack!" instantly squeaked the speckled guinea-hen. + +Davie jumped up. He was fairly frightened now. But his courage soon +came back. "I'm not afraid," he said to himself; "I'll see what the +end of this song will be!"--and he began to sing again: + + "I bought a duck, and my duck pleased me; + I tied my duck behind a tree; + Duck said----" + +"Quack! quack!" came from around the oak. But Davie went on: + +[Illustration: The Dog.] + + "I bought a dog, and the dog pleased me; + I tied my dog behind a tree; + Dog said----" + +"Bow-wow!" said a little curly dog, as Davie came around the spreading +roots of the tree. There stood a little short-legged duck tied to the +guinea's leg, and to the duck's leg was fastened the wisest-looking +Scotch terrier, with spectacles on his nose and a walking-cane in his +paw. + +The whole group looked up at Davie, who now felt perfectly confident +He sat down on a stone close by, and continued his song: + + "I had a horse, and my horse pleased me; + I tied my horse behind a tree." + +Davie stopped and looked down the little brown path. Then he clapped +his hands in great delight; for there came the little old man +leading by a golden bridle a snow-white pony, no bigger than Davie's +Newfoundland dog. + +"Sure enough, it is a boy!" said the pony, as the old man tied his +bridle to the dog's hind leg, and then hurried away. "I thought so! +Boys are always bothering people." + +[Illustration: The Horse.] + +"Who are you, and where did you all come from?" asked delighted Davie. + +"Why," said the pony, "we belong to the court of Her Majesty the Queen +of the Fairies. But, of course, when the song in which any of the +court voices are wanted, is sung, they all have to go." + +"I'm sure I'm very sorry," said Davie. "But why haven't I ever seen +you all before?" + +"Because," said the pony, "you have never sung the song down here +before." And then he added: "Don't you think, now that we are all +here, you'd better sing the song right end first, and be done with +it?" + +"Oh, certainly!" cried Davie, "certainly!" beginning to sing. + +If you could but have heard that song! As Davie sang, each fowl or +animal took up its part, and sang it, with its own peculiar tone and +manner, until they all joined in. + + "I had a horse, and my horse pleased me; + I tied my horse behind a tree. + Horse said, 'Neigh! neigh!' + Dog said, 'Bow-wow!' + Duck said, 'Quack! quack!' + Guinea said, 'Pot-rack! pot-rack!' + Hen said, 'Shinny-shack! shinny-shack!' + Bird said, 'Fiddle-diddle-dee!'" + +Davie was overjoyed. He thought he would sing it all over again. But +just then he was sure that his mother called him. + +[Illustration: All in Procession.] + +"Wait a minute!" he said to his companions. "Wait a minute! I'm coming +back! Oh, it's just like a fairy-tale!" he cried to himself, as he +bounded up the garden-walk. "I wonder what mother'll think?" + +But his mother said she had not called him, and so he ran back as fast +as his legs would carry him. + +But they were all gone. His speller lay on the ground, open at the +page of his lesson; a crumb or two of bread was scattered about; but +not a sign of the white pony and the rest of the singers. + +"Well," said Davie, as he picked up his book, "I guess I wont sing it +again, for I bothered them so. But I wish they had stayed a little +longer." + + + + + + +THE LETTER-BOX. + +A BRAVE GIRL. + + +One summer day, in Union square, New York City, a beautiful deed was +done, which our frontispiece tells so well as almost to leave no need +of words. A poor blind man started to cross the street just as a car +was rapidly approaching. He heard it coming, and, growing confused, +stood still--his poor, blind face turned helplessly, pathetically +up, as if imploring aid. Men looked on heedlessly, regardless of his +danger, or the voiceless appeal in his sightless eyes. + +Suddenly, from among the passers-by, a young girl sprang to his side, +between him and the great horses which were so near they almost +touched her, laid her dainty hand on his, and led him safely over the +street, and with gentle words that brought a smile to his withered old +face, set him safely on his way. + +It was a brave, kindly act, and one may be sure it was neither the +first nor the last, of the brave girl who did it. + + * * * * * + +If Charles Dudley Warner had never been a boy, it would have been +impossible for him to write the very interesting little volume he +calls "Being a Boy," for it is evident that he knows well, from +experience, all that he writes about. It may be that many of our +young readers have seen this book, for it has already reached several +editions; but if there are any of them who have not read it, and who +take an interest in the life of boys who are born, and brought up, and +have fun, and drive oxen, and go fishing, and turn grindstones, and +eat pumpkin-pie, and catch wood-chucks, all on a New England farm, +they would do well to get the book and read it. + +If any of those who read it are boys on a farm in New England, they +will see themselves, as if they looked in a mirror; and if any of them +are city boys or girls, or live in the South or West, or anywhere in +the world but in New England, they will see what sort of times some of +the smartest and brightest men in our country had, before they grew up +to be governors, book-writers, and other folks of importance. + +There is a particular reason why readers of ST. NICHOLAS should see +this book, for in it they will meet with some old friends. + + * * * * * + + Williamsburgh, L.I. + +DEAR ST. NICHOLAS: I read in the May "Letter-Box" your answer to +Stella G. about long and short words. It reminded me of what I read +once about Count Von Moltke, the great German general. The writer +described him as "the wonderful silent man who knows how to hold his +tongue in eight different languages."--Yours truly, + +Willie, M.D. + + * * * * * + + Santa Fe, N.M. + +DEAR ST. NICHOLAS: The donkeys here are called "burros." They are very +tame, and do not get frightened at anything. A few days ago, the boys +in our school tied a bunch of fire crackers to the tail of one, and +fired them off. We all thought he would be very frightened at the +noise, but he just walked off and began eating grass. My brother Barry +had one of these little burros, when we were in Texas, and every +evening he would go to a lady's house for something to eat, although +he had more than he could eat at home; and if she did not come to the +window soon, he would bray as loudly as he could, and she would have +to come out and give him something, even if it was only a lump of +sugur. Good-bye,--From, your affectionate friend, + +Bessie Hatch. + + * * * * * + + Coldwater, N.Y. + +DEAR ST. NICHOLAS: Having read in the March number an account of the +"Great Eastern," I thought perhaps your readers would like to hear +something of the history of her captain, which I read a short time +ago. + +When he was a little boy, he went to sea. As he left home, his mother +said: "Wherever you are, Jamie, whether on sea or land, remember +to acknowledge your God. Promise me that you will kneel down every +morning and night and say your prayers, no matter whether the sailors +laugh at you or not." + +Jamie gave his promise, and soon he was on shipboard, bound for India. +They had a good captain; and, as several of the sailors were religious +men, no one laughed at the boy when he knelt down to pray. + +On the return voyage, however, some of the former sailors having run +away, their places were filled by others, and one of these proved to +be a very bad fellow. When he saw little Jamie kneeling down, this +wicked sailor went up to him, and, giving him a sound box on the ear, +said, "None of that here, sir!" + +Another seaman, who saw this, although he himself swore sometimes, was +indignant that the child should be so cruelly treated. He told the man +to come up on deck and he would give him a thrashing. The challenge +was accepted, and the well-deserved beating was duly bestowed. Both +then returned to the cabin, and the swearing man said, "Now, Jamie, +say your prayers, and if he dares to touch you, I will give him +another dressing." + +The next night, Jamie was tempted to say his prayers in his hammock. +The moment that the friendly sailor saw Jamie get into his hammock +without first saying his prayers, he hurried to the spot and, dragging +him out, said, "Kneel down at once, sir! Do you think I am going to +fight for you, and you not say your prayers, you young rascal?" During +the whole voyage back to London this same sailor watched over the +boy as if he were his father, and every night saw that he said his +prayers. + +Jamie soon began to be industrious, and during his spare hours studied +his books; he learned all about ropes and rigging, and became familiar +with latitude and longitude. Some years after, he became captain +of the "Great Eastern." On returning to England after a successful +voyage, Queen Victoria bestowed upon him the honor of knighthood, and +the world now knows him as Sir James Anderson. + +MABEL R. + + * * * * * + +B.P.R.--Perhaps the little book called "Album Leaves," by Mr. George +Houghton, published by Estes & Lauriat, will help you to some verses +suitable to be writen (sic) in autograph albums. + + * * * * * + + Mobile, Ala. + +DEAR ST. NICHOLAS: The "that" question in your recent numbers brings +to mind some "thats" I had when I went to school long years ago, and +which some of your young grammarians may never have seen. I would like +to have them, especially C.P.S., of Chicago, parse them. + +E.S.F. + + Now that is a word which may often be joined, + For that that may be doubled is clear to the mind, + And that that that is right, is as plain to the view + As that that that that we use is rightly used too; + And that that that that that line has in it, is right, + And accords with good grammar, is plain in our sight. + + * * * * * + +DEAR ST. NICHOLAS: I want to tell you about my aunt Hattie. She is +only nine years older than I am, being twenty-one, and seems more like +a sister than an aunt. When she was about fifteen she was thrown from +her pony and hurt her spine, so that she hasn't taken a step since. + +But in spite of her great suffering she is the brightest, happiest +one in the house, brimful and running over with fun and spirits. +Papa calls her our sunbeam, and no one can grumble when they see how +patiently and cheerfully she bears her pain. Her bright face and merry +laugh will cure the worst case of "blues." She wants me to tell you +how much she enjoys ST. NICHOLAS. It is a great comfort to her, and +helps to pass away many an hour of pain and loneliness when I am at +school and mamma is busy. She says she doesn't know what she could do +without it. + +Auntie says you must make allowance for what I say of her as I am a +partial judge; but she _is_ the dearest, best auntie in the world, and +I'm not the only one who thinks so. Everybody loves her, and I shall +be satisfied if I ever learn to be half as good and patient and +unselfish as she is. I don't see how she can be so good and patient +and happy when she has to lie still year after year and suffer so +much, I should get cross and fret about it, for I can't bear to be +sick a day. But she never thinks of her own troubles, but is so afraid +she will make us care or trouble. When the pain is very bad she likes +to hear music or poetry. It soothes her better than anything else. +Whittier's poem on "Patience," is a favorite with her, and so is Mrs. +Browning's "Sleep."--Ever your true friend, + +ALLIE BERTRAM. + + * * * * * + + Salem, Mass. + +DEAR ST. NICHOLAS: I want to tell you about my little turtle. I got +him up in the country last summer, and have had him about six months. +I keep him in a bowl of water, with a shell in it. In summer I feed +him with flies, and in winter I give him pieces of cooked meat about +the size of a fly. My turtle's shell is nearly round, and he is small +enough to be put in a tumbler, and then he can turn round as he likes. +I named him "Two-forty" (a funny name), because, when you put him +down, he stands still, looks around a minute, and then starts off on a +run,--Your friend and reader, + +JOHNNY P. WILLIS. + + * * * * * + + Camp Grant, Arizona. + +DEAR ST. NICHOLAS: Your coming every month fills us with delight. We +cannot wait to read you separately, so mamma reads you aloud after the +lamps are lighted, the first evening you are here. Papa lays aside his +pen to listen, just like any boy, and so we all enjoy your pages at +once. I have one little sister, but no brother. We live in camp, in +far-away Arizona; and, although the "buck-board" brings the mail in +every other day, it takes a long while for a letter to come from the +East. + +There is a pet deer here. He comes out to "guard mounting" on the +parade-ground, and trots after the band when the guard passes in +review. Every one is kind to him; even the dogs know they must not +chase him.--Your true friend, + +MOLLIE GORDON. + + * * * * * + + New Brunswick, N.J. + +DEAR ST. NICHOLAS: I would like to tell you of the nice times that the +country children have, although they have no parks. In summer they can +go on picnics, and they have a nice garden to play in. And most of the +children have little gardens of their own to plant things in,--one for +flowers and the other for vegetables. Then, in the winter-time, they +can go coasting, sliding and skating; then, last but not least, +sleigh-riding on the lovely, pure white snow. + +I, for one, would not be a city child. If I lived in the city, I +could not have my old pet hen. Good-by, dear ST. NICHOLAS.--From your +friend-- + +MATHILDE WEYER. + +P.S.--I have a cat by the name of Pussy Hiawatha. + + * * * * * + + Covington, Ohio. + +DEAR ST. NICHOLAS: Would you like to know how I came to get you? I +worked for you. My brother made a bank for me out of a cigar-box, and +said if I put ten cents into it every week, I could begin taking you +in November. That was in March. Sometimes, I could not get the ten +cents, but I made it up the next week, and more, too, if I could; and +before July, I had more than enough to pay for you. After that, I +saved nearly enough to buy me a suit of clothes. I am working for you +for another year. My age is twelve.--From your constant reader, + +W.H. PERRY. + + * * * * * + +The following is sent to us from Josie C.H., aged eleven years, as her +own composition: + +SOME THINGS WHICH WE EXPECT IN YEARS TO COME. + +Some boys, when they go to school, expect to learn. When they are a +little older, they expect to go to college; and then, to learn trades +and professions, and to become men. The farmer, when he plants his +seed in the spring, expects a harvest. The merchant, when he buys his +goods, expects to sell them at a profit. The student expects to become +a lawyer, minister, etc. All boys expect to become men. We often +expect things that never happen, but what we expect we cannot always +get; yet we can try for them, which is a good rule to go by. + + * * * * * + +THE TRUE STORY OF "MARY'S LITTLE LAMB." + + Saratoga Springs, N.Y. + +DEAR ST. NICHOLAS: I want to tell you what I read lately in a +newspaper about Mary and her lamb. Mary herself is now a delightful +old lady of threescore and ten, and this is her story: + +"I was nine years old, and we lived on a farm. I used to go out to the +barn every morning with father, to see the cows and sheep. One cold +day, we found that during the night twin lambs had been born. You know +that sheep will often disown one of twins, and this morning one poor +little lamb was pushed out of the pen into the yard. It was almost +starved, and almost frozen, and father told me I might have it if I +could keep it alive. So I took it into the house, wrapped it in a +blanket, and fed it on peppermint and milk all day. When night came, I +could not bear to leave it, for fear it would die. So mother made me +up a little bed on the settle, and I nursed the poor little thing all +night, feeding it with a spoon, and by morning it could stand. After +this, we brought it up by hand, until it learned to love me very much, +and would stay with me wherever I went, unless it was tied. I used, +before going to school in the morning, to see that the lamb was all +right, and securely fastened for the day. + +"Well, one morning, when my brother Nat and I were all ready, the lamb +could not be found, and, supposing that it had gone out to pasture +with the cows, we started on. I used to be very fond of singing, and +the lamb would follow the sound of my voice. This morning, after we +had gone some distance, I began to sing, and the lamb hearing me, +followed, and overtook us before we got to school. As it happened, we +were early; so I went in very quietly, and took the lamb into my seat, +where it went to sleep, and I covered it up with my shawl. When +the teacher and the rest of the scholars came, they did not notice +anything amiss, and all was quiet until my spelling-class was called. +Hardly had I taken my place when the patter of little hoofs was heard +coming down the aisle, and the lamb stood beside me ready for its +word. Of course, the children all laughed, and the teacher laughed +too, and the poor creature had to be turned out-of-doors. But it kept +coming back, and at last had to be tied in the wood-shed until school +was out. Now, that day, there was a young man in the school, John +Roulston by name, who had come as a spectator. He was a Boston boy and +son of a riding-school master, and was fitting for Harvard College. He +was very much pleased over what he saw in our school, and a few days +after gave us the first three verses of the song. How or when it got +into print, I don't know. + +"I took great care of my pet, and would curl its long wool over a +stick, Finally, it was killed by an angry cow. I have a pair of little +stockings, knitted of yarn spun from the lamb's wool, the heels +of which have been raveled out and given away piecemeal as +mementoes."--Yours truly, + +J.M.D. + + * * * * * + + Bolinas, Cal. + +DEAR ST. NICHOLAS: Were the "Arabian Nights" written by an Englishman +or translated from the Arabic? In either case can you tell us the name +of the author?--Yours sincerely, + +ESTHER R. DE PERSE AND JIMMIE MOORE. + + +The "Arabian Nights" were collected and translated into English by +Edward William Lane, an Englishman; but no one ever has found out +where or by whom the tales were first told. On page 42 of ST. NICHOLAS +for November, 1874 (the first number), is an article on the subject by +Mr. Donald G. Mitchell, which you would do well to read. + + * * * * * + + Geneva, Switzerland. + +DEAR ST. NICHOLAS: Perhaps some of your American readers have visited +this far-away city, and even attended school here. Pupils come here +for schooling from all parts of the world,--from America, Cuba, +England, Germany, Russia, Greece, and even from Egypt. But many of the +ST. NICHOLAS children never have been here; so I will tell them about +the country and the people. + +In the first place, Switzerland is a republic, with president and +vice-president, as in the United States, but chosen every year. +Switzerland is made up of twenty-two cantons, or states, each of which +has two representatives; and, besides these, there are 128 members of +the National Assembly, and seven members of the Federal Council, each +of which last is chosen once in three years. The country is only +one-third as large as the State of New York, being 200 miles long and +156 broad; and two-thirds of it is composed of lofty mountains or deep +ravines. The people are apparently such lovers of law and order as to +need no rulers at all. I think there must be propriety in the air they +breathe. They have honest faces, and honesty beams out of their clear +blue eyes. The school-boy even, instead of stopping to throw stones or +climb fences or wrestle with another boy, walks along to school, at +eight o'clock in the morning, with his square hair-covered satchel on +his back, as orderly as if he were the teacher setting an example to +his pupils. The laborers, in blouse-frocks of blue or gray homespun, +make no noise, no confusion. All is done quietly, orderly and +correctly; each one knows his duty and does it. + +Although Berne is the capital, Geneva is the largest city; and I think +if you could see it as it is, with grand snow-capped mountains at both +sides, the clear blue lake,--not always blue, for sometimes it is +green, and then the blue Rhone can be distinctly seen flowing through +it,--the pretty green parks and gardens, clean streets, and oddly +dressed people, you would think, as I do, that it is a very nice place +to be in. + +There are several little steamers which ply on the lake, and +numberless little sail and row boats, and beautiful white swans, with +tiny olive-colored cygnets, swimming and diving for food. On the +banks of the rapid river, which leaves the lake at the city, are the +wash-houses--a great curiosity. But my letter is getting too long, so +I must stop.--Yours truly, + +S.H. REDFIELD. + + * * * * * + + Easton, Pa. + +DEAR ST. NICHOLAS: I send you an acrostic which I have made, and I +hope you will print it.--Yours truly, + +B. + + ACROSTIC. + + My first has a heart that has ne'er throbbed with pity; + My next has strong arms, but ne'er strikes for the right; + My third has a head, but is not wise or witty; + My fourth, a neat foot, but in country or city + Is never seen walking, by day or by night; + My fifth, with a mouth that is surely capacious + Enough for a lion, is never voracious. + Guess from these five initials my whole, if you can; + 'Tis a path ever used, yet untrodden by man. + +_Ans._ Orbit. Oak, Reel, Barrel, Iambic, Tunnel. + + * * * * * + +CITY CHILDREN'S COUNTRY REST. + + Brooklyn, E.D. + +DEAR ST. NICHOLAS: Here is news to do your heart good. Last summer, a +Brooklyn lady, who herself has been bed-ridden and in pain for many +years, felt very sorry for the children of the tenement houses, who +are unable to get relief or a chance to enjoy the fresh air and bright +sunlight of the country. She longed to help them, and said so to +Mr. P., a clergyman in northern Pennsylvania. He spoke of it to his +congregation, and asked them if they would invite some of the poor +city children to visit their farm-houses and cottages for a week or +so; and they gladly said they would, and told him he might bring along +as many as he could get to come. This generous reply he told to the +lady, and she let others know, and the result was that, although late +in the season, more than sixty children from the poorest neighborhoods +of Brooklyn--pale, deformed, city-worn, and ill-fed--spent a happy +fortnight in the country. + +The children were ferreted out, and their parents persuaded. They were +then taken to the railroad depot, and there given in charge of Mr. P., +who went with them, and sorted them among his people; and, when the +time was up, brought them back, and turned them over to us at the +depot. Then we took them to their homes. The total expense of carrying +all the children there and back in three lots was about $180, and more +money could have been had if it had been wanted. In fact, the minute +the subject was broached every hearer wanted to help. The railroad +company charged only half fares, and the employes got to know Mr. P. +and his batches of children, and did all they could to make things +easy and cheerful for them. + +I can fancy how glad you would have been, dear old ST. NICHOLAS, to +see the happy, hearty, bright-eyed boys and girls that came home in +place of the pale-faced, dead-and-alive children that left two weeks +before! They talked of nothing but the good times they had had. One +little fellow, thinking to surprise us, said, "I seen a cow!" All of +them fared well, and particularly enjoyed the "good country milk." +When they came back, many wore better clothes than they had gone +in, and all were laden with good things for the home folks. One boy +carried under each arm a "live" chicken,--special gifts for his +mother! + +Now, if some of your readers in the country follow the example of +these Pennsylvania people, they will know what it is to be downright +happy; for every person who has had anything to do with this +enterprise feels happy about it, and longs to do it again, and more +besides.--Yours truly, + +C.B. + + * * * * * + +ANSWERS TO MR. CRANCH'S POETICAL CHARADES, published on page 406 +of the April number, were received, before April 18, from Neils E. +Hansen, C.W.W., Arnold Guyot Cameron, Helen and Frank Diller, "Sadie," +"Marshall," Emma Lathers, Arthur W. James, Louise G. Hinsdale, Ada C. +Okell, E.K.S. and M.G.V., "Sunnyside Seminary," "Persephone," M.W.C., +Genevieve Allis and Kittie Brewster, Florence Stryker, "Cosey Club," +Mary and Willie Johnson, and Jeanie A. Christie. + +ERRATUM.--The answer to No. 23 in "Presidential Discoveries" is "More" +(Sir Thomas), not "William Henry," as given in the May number. + +ANSWERS TO PUZZLES in the April number were received, before April +18, from R.H. Marr, Grace Sumner, "Prebo," Marion Abbot, Maxwell W. +Turner, Willie W. Cooper, "Cosey Club," Samuel J. Holmes, "Three +Sisters," Charles G. Todd, W.M., M.E. Adams, Mamie G.A., W. Thomas, +Jeanie A. Christie, T. Bowdoin, Robert M. Webb, Allie Bertram, Willie +Wilkins, Maggie Simon, Kitty P. Norton, M.W. Collet, Jay Benton, +"Kaween," Morris M. Turk, Leonie Giraud, Catherine Cook, Willie B. +Dess, Willie Cline, Frances M. Griffitts, Nellie J. Towle, "Isola," +Mary C. Warren, Florence I. Turrill, Charles Fritts, "Angeline," Sam +Cruse, John V.L. Pierson, "Ollie;" Tillie Powles and May Roys; Tyler +Redfield, Grace A. Jarvis, Bennie Swift; Sarah Duffield and "No Name" +and Constance F. Grand-Pierre; "Romeo and Juliet," "Jupiter," O.C. +Turner, Jessie D. Worstell, Melly Woodward, R. Townsend McKeever, +Eleanor N. Hughes, Ben Merrill; Annie and Lucy Wollaston; William +Eichelberger and John Cress; "Clover-leaf and Pussy-willow," Alice +Getty, Herbert D. Utley; Bertha and Carl Heferstein and Estella +Lohmeyer; C. Speiden and M.F. Speiden; Angeline O., May Filton, +"Winnie," Maggie J. Gemmill, Jennie McClure, "X.Y.Z.," Neils E. +Hansen, Clara B. Dunster, Bessie L. Barnes, Willie B. McLean, Bessie +T., Lauretta V. Whyte, Hattie M. Heath; Charles W. Hutchins and Abbie +F. Hutchins; Belle Murray, Harry A. Garfield; Helen and Frank Diller; +Gertrude A. Pocock, Helena W. Chamberlain, "Al Kihall," Wm. F. Tort, +"Lizzie and Anna," Kittie Tuers, Taylor Goshorn, Emma Lathers, +"Marshall," Arthur W. James, Otto A. Dreier, "O.K.," Ada B. Raymond, +"Seymour-Ct.," "Three Cousins," "Hallie," Alice Lanigan, Alfred +Whitman, "Golden Eagle;" E.K.S. and M.G.V.; H.B. Ayers, Fred +Chittenden; William McKinley Cobb and Howell Cobb, Jr.; Katie Hackett +and Helen Titus; "35 E. 38th St.," W.D. Utley, Mary Lewis Darlington, +Louisa L. Richards, James Barton Longacre, Nellie Emerson, Chas. +B. Ebert, Jennie A. Carr, W.H. Wetmore, Mattie Olmsted; Arthur W. +Hodgman, E.H. Hoeber, A.H. Peirce; Kittie Brewster and Genevieve +Allis; Fannie B. Bates, Louise Egleston, Florence Stryker, Hattie +H. Doyle, Mattie Doyle, Mabel Chester, Alice N. Dunn. A.R., Mary F. +Johnson, M. Alice Chase, Alice Anderson, Bessie T. Hosmer, "Heath Hill +Club," Anna E, Mathewson, I. Sturges, Addie B. Tiemann, Harriet A. +Clark, Clarence H. Young, B.P. Emery, Victor C. Sanborn, "Persephone," +Eddie Vultee; "M.," Staten Island; Fred M. Pease, Cyrus C. Clarke, +Geo. J. Fiske; and George H. Nisbett, of London, England. + +Correct solutions of all the puzzles were received from Arnold Guyot +Cameron, "Bessie and her Cousin," Louise G. Hinsdale, Lucy C. Johnson; +and L.M. and Eddie Waldo. + + + + + +THE RIDDLE-BOX. + +=EASY BEHEADINGS.= + + +The whole, most animals possess; behead it, and transpose, and there +will appear an emblem of grief; behead again, and see what all men +have; behead and curtail, and find an article. J.F.S. + + +=ACCIDENTAL HIDINGS.= + +Find concealed in the following quotations three names for + + METRICAL COMPOSITIONS. + + "As hope and fear alternate chase + Our course through life's uncertain race."--_Scott_. + + "Trained to the chase, his eagle eye + The ptarmigan in snow could spy."--_Scott_. + + "Well-dressed, well-bred, + Well-equipaged, is ticket good enough."--_Cowper_. + +Find concealed in the following quotations three names for + +PORTIONS OF TIME. + + "From better habitations spurned, + Reluctant dost thou rove."--_Goldsmith_. + + "As ever ye heard the greenwood dell + On morn of June one warbled swell."--_Queen's Wake_. + + "Each spire, each tower and cliff sublime, + Was hooded in the wreathy rime."--_Hogg_. + + +=MELANGE.= + +1. Behead a plant, and leave a friend. 2. Curtail the plant, and give +a pungent spice. 3. Syncopate the plant, and find an envelope. 4. +Behead the spice, and leave affection. 5. Syncopate and transpose the +friend, and find learning. 6. Behead the envelope, and leave above. +7. Syncopate and transpose the envelope, and give the inner part. 8. +Transpose above, and find to ramble. 9. Syncopate to ramble, and leave +a wild animal. ISOLA. + + + =EASY CLASSICAL ACROSTIC.= + + My first is in deaf, but not in hear; + My second in doe, and also in deer; + My third is in May, but not in June; + My fourth is in song, but not in tune; + My fifth is in house, and also in shed; + My sixth is in cot, but not in bed; + My seventh is in chair, but not in stool; + My eighth is in lake, but not in pool; + My ninth is in pencil, and also in ink; + My tenth is in blue, but not in pink; + My eleventh is in dish, but not in pan; + My whole was a Greek and a well-spoken man. + ANNAN. + + +=ENIGMA.= + +I am a common adage frequently used by good housewives, and am +composed of twenty-two letters. + +My 9 15 3 8 16 22 is pertaining to the place of birth. My 10 20 19 14 +are things used to cook with. My 6 1 5 is a domestic animal. My 11 21 +is a preposition. My 18 17 13 12 is to appear. My 7 4 2 is a pronoun. +BESSIE. + +=ANAGRAMS.= + +Each anagram is formed from a single word, and a clue to the meaning +of that word is given after its anagram. + +1. A dry shop; rambling composition. 2. I clean rum; belonging to +number. 3. Poet in dread; the act of making inroads. 4. Oxen are set; +clears from blame. 5. Gin danger; displacing. + +CYRIL DEANE. + + +=PICTORIAL PUZZLE.= + +[Illustration: What animal, besides the dog and cat is to be found in +the above picture?] + + +=EASY DIAMOND PUZZLE.= + +1, A vowel. 2. A fairy. 3. Change. 4. Not many. 5. A consonant. + +WILLIE F. + + +=CHARADE.= + +I. + +My first, a god once worshiped, now fills a lowly place, Though +sometimes raised to favor by the wayward human race. + +II. + +My second, a bold captain, leads a goodly company, Whose numbers march +in columns, like knights of chivalry. They serve us at our bidding, +yet we are in their power, And the weapons that they carry may wound +us in an hour. It grandly leads the ages, as their cycles onward roll, +But stoops to lend its presence to my shadowy, fearful whole. It lives +in ancient romance, it floats upon the air, And flower-deck'd May +without it would not be half so fair. + +III. + +My third holds humble office, a servant at your will, But an +instrument of torture if 'tis not used with skill. Beauty before her +mirror studies its use with care, And deigns, perchance, to choose it +an ornament to wear. + +IV. + +Consider, all ye people, what my strange whole may be; 'Tis gloomy, +dark and awful, and full of mystery. Ponder the tales of ages, of +human sin and woe, Turn to historic pages, if you its name would know. +E'en kings their heads have rested, a-weary of the crown, Upon its +curious couches, though not of silk or down. The stately seven-hilled +city may boast her ancient birth, But this was old and hoary ere she +had place on earth. Some tremble when they see it; some its secrets +would explore, And, peering through its shadows, they seek its mystic +lore. + +A.M.W. + + +=NUMERICAL PUZZLE.= + +A boy named 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 thought it singular he should become +such a monster as a 1 2 3 4 6 7 8 9 10 by dropping the first letter of +his surname. + +C.D. + + +=FOUR-LETTER SQUARE-WORD.= + +The base is a title. Fill the blanks in the following sentence +with words which can be arranged in order, as they come, to form a +word-square: + +The (1)---- made an (2)---- of his minstrel, and yet he himself could +not tell one (3)---- from another, or distinguish a dirge from a +(4)----. + +B. + + +=EASY CROSS-WORD ENIGMA.= + + 1. In road, but not in street; + 2. In hunger, not in eat; + 3. In inn, but not in tavern; + 4. In grot, but not in cavern. + +The whole is the name of one of the United States. + +R.L. M'D. + + +=METAGRAM.= + +Whole, (1) I am to beat; change my head, and I become, in succession, +(2) stouter, (3) final, (4) substance, (5) to sprinkle, (6) to rend, +and (7) a terrier of a much prized kind. + +A.C. CRETT. + + +=EASY ACROSTIC.= + + My first is in can, but not in may; + My second in opera, not in play; + My third is in shine, but not in bright; + My fourth is in string, but not in kite; + My fifth is in tea, but not in coffee; + My sixth in candy, also in taffy; + My seventh is in rain, but not in hail; + My eighth is in bucket, but not in pail; + My ninth is in ice, but not in snow; + My tenth is in run, but not in go; + My eleventh is in hop, but not in run; + My twelfth in powder, but not in gun; + My thirteenth is in bell, but not in ring; + My fourteenth is in scream, but not in sing. + My whole is a noted city of Europe. + + GOLD ELSIE. + + +=BLANK WORD-SYNCOPATIONS.= + +Fill the first blank, in each sentence, with a certain word; the +second, with a word taken out of the word chosen for the first blank; +and the third with the letters of that word which remain after filling +the second blank. + + 1. On the ---- we first played ----, and then we all began to + ----. 2. While ---- on the wharf, we saw a vessel come into ----, + which made us ---- again. 3. The game of ---- I will ---- you + play, if you will show me the ---- to the fair. + + CYRIL DEANE. + + +=CHARADE.= + + My first embodies all despair; + My second fain my first would flee, + Yet, flying to my whole, full oft + Flies but to life-long misery. + Still Holy Writ doth plainly show; + My whole, though causing, cureth woe. + +M. O'B D. + + +=TRANSPOSITIONS OF PROPER NAMES.= + + 1. At ----, Fla., may be obtained ---- ---- for washing purposes. + 2. Are not the public ---- small in the State of ----? + 3. In ---- you may not see ---- ---- ----, though you certainly + will see many in Pennsylvania. + 4. Amid the mountains of ---- there is doubtless many a ---- ----. + 5. Having occasion to visit the city of ----, to my surprise I ---- + ---- except a few worn-out ---- ----. + 6. If you wish to find or to ---- ---- -trees, you need not go to----. + 7. When in ---- City I saw an old ---- ----, which was quite a relic. + 8. In the city of ---- the cooks surely know how to ---- ----. + 9. ----, my brother, ---- the falsehood by giving it a flat ----. + 10. My aunt ---- planted a rose-bush ---- ---- ---- allotted to + fruit trees. + + W. + + +=SQUARE-WORD.= + +1. Sour fruit. 2. Imaginary. 3. To immerse. 4. A large bird. 5. +Unconscious rest. + +B. + + +=ADDITIONS.= + +1. Add some liquor to a spirit, and make to fix on a stake. 2. Add +something belonging to animals to the animals themselves, and make a +lantern. 3. Add sharp to a girl's name, and make a kind of cloth. 4. +Add an era to a vegetable, and make a boy-servant. 5. Add a boy's name +to a cave, and make a foreign country. 6. Add anger to a serpent, and +make to long after. + +CYRIL DEANE. + + +=LABYRINTH.= + +[Illustration: Trace a way to the center of this labyrinth without +crossing a line.] + + * * * * * + +ANSWERS TO PUZZLES IN MAY NUMBER. + + * * * * * + +HOUR-GLASS PUZZLE.--Centrals: Greyhound. Across: Alligator. 2. +Adoring. 3. Enemy. 4. Dye. 5. H. 6. Pop. 7. Elude. 8. Evangel. 9. +Amendable. + +BLANK APOCOPES.--1. Rafters, raft. 2. Rushlight, rush. 3. Larder, +lard. 4. Scarlet, scar. + + FRAME PUZZLE.-- + + F G + R R + H E A D B A N D + + G D + + R U + + C H A P L A I N + N T + T E + + +EASY BEHEADINGS.--1. Beat, eat. 2. Candy, Andy. 3. She, he; your, +our. 4. Table, able. 5. Pink, ink. 6. Scent, cent. 7. Brain, rain. 8. +Orange, range. 9. Skate, Kate. 10. Helm, elm. 11. Crow, row. 12. Hash, +ash. 13. Bowl, owl. 14. Scare, care. 15. Brush, rush. + +EASY TRIPLE ACROSTIC.--Primals, Crow; centrals, Bear; finals, Gnat, 1. +ComBinG. 2. ReverbEratioN. 3. OmAhA. 4. WoRsT. + +HIDDEN FRENCH SENTENCE.--Ma ville de pierre,--"My city of stone," +or "My city of Peter;" _i.e._. St. "Peter's-burg." ["Pierre" means +"Peter" as well as "stone."] + +PICTORIAL ANAGRAM PROVERB .--"It is good to be merry and wise." + +THREE EASY SQUARE-WORDS.-- + + I.--P O E II.--F I R III.--L A W + O R E I R E A G E + E E L R E D W E D + + +EASY ENIGMA.--Diamond. + +REVERSIBLE DOUBLE DIAMOND AND CONCEALED WORD-SQUARE. Perpendiculars, +Revel; horizontals, Lever. Word-square: 1. Ten. 2. Eve. 3. Net. + +EASY SYNCOPATIONS.--1. Brass, bass. 2. Bread, bead. 3. Chart, cart. 4. +Clove, cove. 5. Crane, cane. 6. Farce, face. 7. Heart, hart. 8. Horse, +hose. 9. Mouse, muse. 10. Peony, pony. + +PICTORIAL TRANSPOSTION PUZZLES.--1. Entitles (ten tiles). Raja (ajar). +3. Palm (lamp). 4. Satyr (trays). 5. Causer (saucer). + +EASY SQUARE-WORD.--1. Balm. 2. Aloe. 3. Lore. 4. Meek. + +EASY DIAMOND.--1. W. 2. Nag. 3. Water. 4. Gem. 5. R. + +[For the names of those who sent answers to puzzles in the April +number, see the "Letter-Box," page 574.] + + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of St. Nicholas Magazine for Boys and +Girls, Vol. 5, Nov 1877-Nov 1878, by Various + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ST. NICHOLAS MAGAZINE *** + +***** This file should be named 16123.txt or 16123.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/1/2/16123/ + +Produced by Juliet Sutherland, Lesley Halamek and the +Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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