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diff --git a/16638.txt b/16638.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..eae84f5 --- /dev/null +++ b/16638.txt @@ -0,0 +1,7882 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Golden Days for Boys and Girls, Vol. XIII, +Nov. 28, 1891, 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: Golden Days for Boys and Girls, Vol. XIII, Nov. 28, 1891 + +Author: Various + +Editor: James Elverson + +Release Date: September 4, 2005 [EBook #16638] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK GOLDEN DAYS *** + + + + +Produced by Louise Hope, Juliet Sutherland and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + GOLDEN DAYS + + For Boys and Girls + + + Vol. XIII--No. 1. November 28, 1891. + + Philadelphia: + JAMES ELVERSON, + Publisher. + + * * * * * + +[Transcriber's Note: +The notation "->" represents the pointing-finger symbol. Text +incorporated into advertising illustrations is shown in (parentheses); +where necessary, a brief description of the illustration is given in +{braces}. +The layout of the advertising pages is shown after all text, along +with a list of file names for major illustrations. Typographical errors +in the original, whether corrected or not, are listed at the end.] + + * * * * * + +SERVE YOURSELF AND YOUR FRIENDS WILL THINK MORE O' YOU. + You'll enjoy the good opinion + of YOUR friends if you use SAPOLIO + ->TRY A CAKE OF IT AND JUDGE FOR YOURSELVES. + + + FREE + +*For 30 Days.* Wishing to introduce our *CRAYON PORTRAITS* and at the +same time extend our business and make new customers, we have decided to +make this Special Offer: Send us a Cabinet Picture, Photograph, Tintype, +Ambrotype or Daguerotype of yourself or any member of your family, +living or dead and we will make you a CRAYON PORTRAIT FREE OF CHARGE, +provided you exhibit it to your friends as a sample of our work, and use +your influence in securing us future orders. Place name and address on +back of picture and it will be returned in perfect order. We make any +change in picture you wish, not interfering with the likeness. Refer to +any bank in Chicago. Address all mail to *THE CRESCENT CRAYON CO.* +Opposite New German Theatre, *CHICAGO, ILL.* P.S.--We will forfeit $100 +to anyone sending us photo and not receiving crayon picture *FREE* as +per this offer. This offer is bonafide. + + + 15 CENT PACKAGE OF GAMES + + The Best Collection Ever Sold for + Four Times the Amount. + +*Game of Authors*, 48 cards with directions. +*Set of Dominoes*, +*Chess Board*, with men. +*Checker Board*, with men. +*Fox and Geese Board*, with men. +*Nine Men Morris Board*, with men. +*Mystic Age Tablet*, tells age of any person. +*The Beautiful Language of Flowers.* +*Morse Telegraph Alphabet.* +*The Improved Game of Forfeit.* +*Parlor Tableaux*, +*Pantomine*, +*Shadow Pantomine*, +*Shadow Buff*, +*The Clarivoyant*, how to become a medium. +*Game of Fortune*, +*The Album Writers Friend*, 275 Select Autograph Album Verses (new). +*50 Choice Conundrums or Riddles*, with answers (new). +*Thirteen Magical Experiments*, +*Eleven Parlor Games*, +*Magic Music*, +*Order of the Whistle*, +*Game of Letters*, and many others. + +To introduce our goods and get new customers, we will send the whole +lot to any address, freight paid, on receipt of 15c.; 2 lots for 25c.; +5 lots, 50c. Stamps taken. *STAYNER & CO., Providence, R.I.* + + +*AGENTS* +make *100 PER CENT* and win *$748 CASH Prizes* +on my Corsets, Belts, Brushes and Medicines. +Sample free. Territory. *Dr. Bridgman*, 373 B'way, N.Y. + + +*PRINTING PRESS* +with *Type, Ink*, _Reglets_, *Cards*, _Roller_, and *Case*, +_complete_, for *$1.25.* +*GIANT* +Self-inker PRINTING PRESS *$5* +With Script type outfit, Pack Sample Visiting Cards & Catalogue, *6c.* +W.C. EVANS, *50 N. 9th St., Phila., Pa.* + + +*SEND* for free Catalogue of Books of Amusements, Speakers, Dialogues, +Gymnastics, Calisthenics, Fortune Tellers, Dream Books, Debates, Letter +Writers, etc. DICK & FITZGERALD, 18 Ann St., N.Y. + + +*$5 A DAY SURE!* *$2.15* samples *Free*. Horse owners buy *1* to *6*. +*20* other specialties. *Rein Holder Co.*, Holly, Mich. + + +[Illustration: +(PIMPLES +BLACK HEADS, +FLESH WORMS)] + +"MEDICATED CREAM" is the ONLY KNOWN, harmless, pleasant and absolutely +*SURE* and infallible cure. It positively and effectively removes ALL, +clean and completely IN A FEW DAYS ONLY, leaving the skin clear and +unblemished always, and clearing it of all muddiness and coarseness. It +is a true remedy to cure and NOT a paint or powder to cover up and hide +blemishes. Mailed in a plain, sealed wrapper for 30c., or 2 for 50c. by +George N. Stoddard, Druggist, 1226 Niagara St., Buffalo, N.Y. + + +*MOTHERS* +Be sure and use *"Mrs. Winslow's Soothing Syrup"* for your children +while *Teething*. + + +*FREE* +NEW SAMPLE BOOK of Silk Fringed, Envelope & Hidden Name CARDS, +348 Scrap pictures, Songs, Tricks, Games & how to make $10. a day. +Send 2c. for postage. CROWN CARD CO. CADIZ, OHIO. + + +*100 PARLOR GAMES*, all the latest. Fancy Parties described, Parlor +Magic, Tricks, Forfeits, Conundrums and many valuable hints on _How to +entertain Friends_. Price 25c. Ford Pub. Co., Albany, N.Y. + + +[Illustration: +(Ink Pad)] + +*PRINTING OUTFIT 15c* + +COMPLETE, 4 alphabets rubber type, typeholder, bottle Indelible Ink, +Ink Pad and Tweezers. Put up in neat box with directions for use. +Satisfaction guaranteed. Worth 50c. Best Linen Marker, Card Printer, +etc. Sets names in 1 minute, prints 500 cards an hour. Sent postpaid +15c; 2 for 25c. Cat. free. +R.H. INGERSOLL & BRO. 65 Cortlandt St. N.Y. City. + + +[Illustration: +(TEN)] + +cts. with name, or name, town & state, 15c. +Self-Inking Pen & pencil stamp + +[Illustration: +(NOT THE CHEAP KIND)] + +Our Pet printing outfit has 110 letters & figures & makes any name, only +15c. AGENTS LATEST GOODS. Stamps of all kinds. + +*Rubber Stamp Co.* Factory E 14, *New Haven, Conn*. + + +*1892* Sample Cards 2c. World Card Co. 31 Green Cin'ti D. + + +[Illustration] + +*Will Do It.* Our Beard Elixir will force a *Mustache* in 20 days +*Full Beard* in 30. Sample package, postpaid, 15c.; 2 for 25c.; +one dozen, 75 cents. Agents wanted. *Wesson Mfg. Co.*, 5 E St., +Providence, R.I. + + +*PILES* +*INSTANT RELIEF.* Cure in 15 days. Never returns. No purge. No salve. +No suppository. Remedy mailed free. Address J.H. REEVES, Box 3290, +New York City, N.Y. + + * * * * * + + Binding "Golden Days" + + Covers for Binding + + Volume XI, + + "GOLDEN DAYS," + +Stamped in gilt and black lines, will be sent by mail, +postage paid, to any address, on receipt of + + SIXTY CENTS. + +-> These covers can only be attached properly by a practical +book-binder. + +With the cover will be sent a handsome title-page and complete index. +Address. + + JAMES ELVERSON, Publisher, + PHILADELPHIA + + * * * * * + +BARNEY & BERRY + +[Illustration {Ice Skate}] + +CATALOGUE FREE. +Springfield, Mass. + + +32 +Page book of agent's sample cards. Just out. Finest ever issued. Send +2 cents for Postage to Mammoth Oleographs Free. Haverfield Pub. Co., +Cadiz, Ohio. + + + OLD COINS + WANTED + +*$13,338 Paid* + +For 149 Old Coins. Save all you get, coined before 1878, and +Send 2 stamps for illustrated list. Shows the highest prices paid. +W. Von Bergen, 87 Court St., Boston, Mass. + + +If you wish to advertise anything anywhere at any time, write to + GEO. P. ROWELL & CO. + No. 10 Spruce St., New York. + + + DRUNKENNESS + +Or the Liquor Habit, Positively Cured + by administering Dr. Haines' + Golden Specific. + +It can be given in a cup of coffee or tea, without the knowledge of the +person taking it; is absolutely harmless, and will effect a permanent +and speedy cure, whether the patient is a moderate drinker or an +alcoholic wreck. It never Fails. We *Guarantee* a complete cure in +every instance. 48 page book free. GOLDEN SPECIFIC CO., 185 Race St., +Cincinnati, O. + + + 500 SCRAP +PICTURES, AUTO. VERSES & RIDDLES +30 STYLES OF CARDS 2c. & PRESENT + FREE +PARDEE & CO., MONTOWESE, CONN. + + + GUNS + +DOUBLE +Breech-Loader +$7.99. +RIFLES $2.00 +PISTOLS 75c. + +WATCHES, BICYCLES. +All kinds cheaper than elsewhere. Before you buy, send stamp for +catalogue to +The Powell & Clement Co. +166 Main St., Cincinnati, O. + + +*YOUNG PEOPLE,* would you like to earn *$25 every week at home?* +Write us: we will tell you how. The *NOVELTY T.W. CO.*, Oswego, N.Y. + + + PLAYS--PLAYS + *For* +Amateur Theatricals, Temperance Plays, Drawing-Room Plays, Fairy Plays, +Ethiopian Plays, Guide Books, Speakers, Pantomimes, Charades, Jarley's +Wax Works, Burnt Cork, Theatrical Face Preparations, Wigs, Beards, +Moustaches and Paper Scenery. New Catalogues, containing many novelties, +full description and prices, sent FREE! FREE! + + *T. H. FRENCH, 28 West 23d St., N.Y.* +-> When writing, please mention this publication. + + + OPIUM +Morphine Habit Cured in 10 to 20 days. No pay till cured. +Dr. J. Stephens, Lebanon, Ohio. + + + CARDS +Send 2c. Stamp for Sample Book of all the FINEST and Latest Style Cards +for 1892. We sell GENUINE CARDS, NOT TRASH. UNION CARD CO., COLUMBUS, O. + + * * * * * + +STAMPS. + + +[Illustration: +(POSTAGE & REVENUE +BRITISH GUIANA +2 CENTS)] + +SEND FOR A COPY + +Of our *weekly* stamp paper free. It contains a list of cheap sets of +stamps that Cannot be Beat. We have every thing necessary to the stamp +collector, and solicit correspondence. + +_Good sheets, with best discount, sent on application._ + +*C. H. Mekeel Stamp and Publishing Co.*, +1007-1011 Locust St., St. Louis, Mo. + + +300 Mixed, Australian, etc., 10c.: *105 varieties* and *nice* album, +10c. New illustrated list free. Ag'ts wanted; 40 p.c. com. F.P. Vincent, +Chatham, N.Y. + + +STAMPS +5 var. Mexico free to all sending for my fine sheets. BIG DISCOUNT. +1500 Gummed Hinges, 10c. A.B. HUBBARD, Middleton, Conn. + + +50 +Fine Br. Honduras, S. America, Mexico, W.I., &c. 4c.; 10 C.A., 20c. +L.W. BISHOP, 338 9th Street, Brooklyn, N.Y. + + +STAMPS--Agents wanted for the _very best_ sheets at 40 per ct. com. +PUTNAM BROS., Lewiston, Me. + + +STAMPS--100 all diff., 15 c. Large album, 30c. Conrath Stamp & Pub. Co., +1334 La Salle St., St. Louis, Mo. + + +STAMPS--100 all diff., only 15c. Agents wanted. 33-1/3 per cent com. +List free. C.A. STEGMANN, 1825 Papin St., St. Louis, Mo. + + * * * * * + + Advertising Rates for "Golden Days." + +Single Insertions, 75c. per Agate line. +Four Insertions, 70c. per Agate line for each insertion. +Thirteen insertions, 65c. per Agate line for each insertion. +Twenty-six ", 60c. per Agate line for each insertion. +Fifty-two ", 50c. per Agate line for each insertion. + + _Eight Words average a line. Fourteen lines make one inch._ + + JAMES ELVERSON, Pubisher, + Philadelphia, Pa. + + * * * * * + +Children Cry for Pitcher's Castoria + + * * * * * + + *For Colds and Coughs* + +The best and most popular remedy is Ayer's Cherry Pectoral. It soothes +the mucous membrane, allays inflammation, softens and removes phlegm, +and induces repose. This preparation is recommended by physicians for +hoarseness, loss of voice, obstinate and dry cough, asthma, bronchitis, +consumption, and all complaints of the throat and lungs, and is +invariably successful wherever faithfully tried. + + *Ayer's Cherry Pectoral* + +Prepared by Dr. J.C. Ayer & Co., Lowell, Mass. Sold by all Druggists. + + * * * * * + +THE DOLLAR TYPEWRITER + +$1 + +THIS IS THE TYPE USED. ABCDEFGHI + +[Illustration: + (NEW YORK 007 2 +DEAR SIR. + THIS TYPEWRITER DOES THE SAME +QUALITY OF WORK AS A REMINGTON. +AND WILL WRITE 20 WORDS A MINUTE)] + +A perfect and practical Type Writing machine for only *ONE DOLLAR*. +Exactly like cut; regular Remington type; does the same quality of work; +takes a fools cap sheet. Complete with paper holder, automatic feed, +perfect type wheel & inking roll; uses copying ink. Size 3x4x9 inches; +weight, 12 oz; Satisfaction guaranteed; Circulars free; *AGENTS WANTED.* +Sent by express for *$1.00*; by mail, *15c.* extra for postage. +*R.H. INGERSOLL & BRO., 65 CORTLANDT ST., N.Y. CITY.* + + +MAGIC LANTERNS + +And STEREOPTICONS, all prices. Views illustrating every subject for +PUBLIC EXHIBITIONS, etc. + +-> A _profitable business for a man with small capital_. Also Lanterns +for Home Amusement. 220 page Catalogue _free_. + +McALLISTER, Optician, 49 Nassau St., N.Y. + + +*YOU* +WANT to make money fast! *90* Best Selling Articles in the world. +*1 Sample Free. N.A. MARSH, Detroit, Mich* + + + More + Money is Made + every year by *Agents* + working for us than by any + other company. Why don't + you make some of it? Our + circulars which we send *Free* + will tell you how. We will pay +salary or commission and furnish + outfit and *team* free to every + agent. We want you now. + Address + *Standard Silver Ware Co.* + Boston, Mass. + + +[Illustration {Ring}] +[Illustration {Fountain pen}] + +YOUR NAME on +25 LOVELY CARDS, 1 RING, 1 LACE PIN, 1 PATENT FOUNTAIN PEN, +1 FORGET-ME-NOT ALBUM, 400 Album Verses &c, with the New and Popular +Monthly, WAYSIDE GLEANINGS, THREE MONTHS FOR 10c. BIRD CARD CO., +CLINTONVILLE, CONN. + + +FREE TO BOYS AND GIRLS +UNDER 18 YEARS OF AGE. + +Worth $45. + +[Illustration] + +If any boy or girl under 18 wants an elegant High Grade Safety Bicycle, +[26 inch wheels], worth $45.00 they can obtain it free, without one cent +of money. We shall give away, on very easy conditions, 1000 or more. We +deliver Bicycle free anywhere in the U.S. If you want one write at once +to *WESTERN PEARL CO. 334 Dearborn St., Chicago, Ill.* + + +NEW CARDS + +Send 2c. stamp for the LARGEST SAMPLE BOOK of genuine hidden name, silk +fringe, envelope and calling cards ever offered. BUCKEYE CARD CO., +Laceyville, Ohio. + + +[Illustration: +(Singer)] + +MY WIFE +SAYS SHE CANNOT SEE HOW YOU DO IT FOR THE MONEY. + +$12 Buys a $65.00 Improved Oxford Singer Sewing Machine; perfect +working, reliable, finely finished, adapted to light and heavy work, +with a complete set of the latest improved attachments free. Each +machine guaranteed for 5 years. Buy direct from our factory, and save +dealers and agents profit. Send for FREE CATALOGUE. OXFORD MFG. COMPANY, +DEP'T X 30, CHICAGO, ILL. + + +WE SEND CARDS +NOT TRASH. Agents' Complete Outfit of nearly 50 New Styles for 2c. stamp +& A LOVELY PRESENT +FREE +ALLING BROS., DURHAM, CONN. + + +BICYCLES GIVEN AWAY! + +Special offer to Boys and Girls. Enclose stamp for information how to +get one without a cent of cost. + +E. SCHNEIDER & CO., 60 Water St., Cleveland, Ohio. + + +GOOD LADY +or GENTLEMAN WRITERS wanted +TO DO +Copying at home. Address G.D. SUPPLY CO., LIMA, O. + + +THE WALL PAPER MERCHANT + +PEATS +sells the best, the cheapest and does the largest business in +WALL PAPER + +Send *10c* to pay postage on samples, and his guide +*HOW TO PAPER* will be sent *Free.* +*63-65 W. Washington St., Chicago. Ill.* + + +CARDS! New Sample Book 2c. U.S. CARD CO. Cadiz, O + + +[Illustration {Eagle coin}: +(UNITED STATES OF AMERICA)] + +FOR YOU +*The Western +Banker and Bank +Clerk's Journal, +of Chicago*, +Feb. 15, 1891, says: +"We have daily inquiries from Banks and Merchants regarding Coins. +We would most respectfully refer all to the +*Numismatic Bank, Boston,* +a first-class house, whom we take pleasure in recommending." + +If you have any old Coins or Proofs coined before 1878, save them, as +they may be worth a fortune. One collector obtained in three days, +*$13,388, FOR 146 OLD COINS,* +and others have done nearly as well. + +Illustrated circular on rare Coins, free at office, or mailed for two +stamps. + +*Numismatic Bank*, 98 Court St., Boston, Mass. + + +[Illustration] + +2d hand BICYCLES +and all makes new, at low'st prices, easy payments no extra chg. Send +for cata & save money. Rouse, Hazard & Co., 34 G St. Peoria, Ill. + + +[Illustration] + +*25 Silk Fringe Envelope etc., Cards with* +NAME ON ALL ONLY SIX CENTS, AND BIG 32 PAGE SAMPLE BOOK FREE. +CAPITAL CARD CO., COLUMBUS, OHIO. + + +10 +CENTS (silver) pays for your address in the "Agents' Directory" for +*One Year.* Thousands of firms want addresses of persons to whom they +can mail papers, magazines, pictures, cards, &c. FREE as samples, and +our patrons receive bushels of mail. *Try it:* you will be *WELL +PLEASED* with the small investment. Address *T.D. CAMPBELL, D.574, +Boyleston, Indiana.* + + +30 NEW STYLES OF CARDS FOR 1892 AND AGENT'S MONEY MAKING OUTFIT TUTTLE +CO., NORTH HAVEN, CONN. *2c.* + + +EVERY one in need of information on the subject of advertising will do +well to obtain a copy of "Book for Advertisers," 368 pages, price one +dollar. Mailed, postage paid, on receipt of price. Contains a careful +compilation from the American Newspaper Directory of all the best papers +and class journals; gives the circulation rating of every one, and a +good deal of information about rates and other matters pertaining to the +business of advertising. Address ROWELL'S ADVERTISING BUREAU, 10 Spruce +St., N.Y. + + +CARDS +LATEST STYLES, Beveled Edge, Floral, Silk Fringe, Envelope and Calling +Cards. Finest Sample Book ever offered for 2c. stamp. NATIONAL CARD CO., +SCIO. O. + + +[Illustration: +(FUN)] + +To all persons who send 10 cts. silver within the next 30 days, we will +send a package containing all the following: 32 complete Love Stories by +popular authors, Set of Dominoes, 15 Portraits of Female Celebrities, +Dictionary of Dreams, 20 Popular Songs, 134 Conundrums, 276 Autograph +Album Selections, 67 Magical experiments, Lovers' Telegraph, Guide to +Flirtation, Golden Wheel Fortune Teller, Magic and Mystic Age Tables, +Game of Authors--43 pieces, with full directions--2 Morse Telegraph +Alphabets, 11 Parlor Games, Calendar for current year, Games of Shadow +Buff, Letters, etc., the Deaf and Dumb Alphabet. Send 10c silver at +once and receive this BIG BARGAIN. Address NASSAU CO, 58 & 60 Fulton +St., N.Y. + + +DEAFNESS & HEAD NOISES CURED +by Peck's Invisible Tubular Ear Cushions. Whispers heard. Successful +when all remedies fail. Sold only by F. Hiscox, 853 B'way, N.Y. Write +for book of proofs +FREE + + +[Illustration: +(BARNUM CALLIOPE)] + +A MUSICAL CART. +Something new for the children. It has a musical chime which will play +if the cart is drawn forward or pushed backward. The music is similar to +BARNUM'S CALLIOPE. The handle is three feet long, but is not shown here +for want of space. A nice Christmas present for only 50 cents. + +W.T. THOMSON, 69 Dearborn Street, Chicago, Ill. + + +A Handsome Holiday or Birthday Present. + +PHOTOGRAPH CAMERA +and complete Chemical Outfit, *$1*. Makes picture 2-1/2 X 2-1/2. +Sample Photos and Descriptive Circulars FREE. Address Glen Camera Co., +294 Broadway, New York. + + +PARKER +BREAD TOASTER + +[Illustration] + +Turns bread without removing from fire; no burnt hands. This can be sold +at every house. Nothing like it. Sold at sight. Boys and girls are +making $3.00 or $4.00 per day. +*Send us 15 cents for sample to THE CHAMPION SHELF MFG. CO., +Springfield, Ohio.* + + +SALESMEN +WANTED to sell our goods by sample to the wholesale and retail trade. +Liberal salary and expenses paid. Permanent position. Money advanced for +wages, advertising, etc. For full particulars and reference address +CENTENNIAL MFG. CO., CHICAGO, ILL. + + +[Illustration] + +MADAME PORTER'S +Cough Balsam +PLEASANT, RELIABLE, EFFECTUAL. + +SUCCESSFULLY USED for More than FIFTY Years. + +RUCKEL & HENDEL, N.Y. + + * * * * * + * * * * + * * * * * + + GOLDEN DAYS + FOR BOYS AND GIRLS + +(Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1891, by +James Elverson, in the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at +Washington, D.C.) + + VOL. XIII. + + JAMES ELVERSON, Publisher., + N.W. corner Ninth and Spruce Sts. + + PHILADELPHIA, NOVEMBER 28, 1891. + + TERMS + $3.00 Per Annum, In Advance. + + No. 1. + + * * * * * + * * * * + * * * * * + + THE YOUNG ENGINEER + + of + + The Tioga Iron Works. + + by ERNEST A. YOUNG + + + CHAPTER I. + + The Great Engine. + +Larry Kendall leaped out of bed and dressed with more than his customary +haste. His father's voice had called him upon this morning, which was a +most uncommon circumstance, for Mr. Kendall was usually off to his work +before his son had finished his morning dreams. + +"Must be that something is the matter," reasoned Larry, as he hurried +down stairs. + +He found his father seated at the breakfast table, but it was evident +that he had eaten nothing. + +His mother, sitting opposite in her accustomed place, looked paler than +usual, and there were dark circles under her eyes that indicated a +sleepless night. + +She did not look at Larry as the latter came in; but Mr. Kendall did so, +in a resolute way that showed his mind to have been thoroughly made up +to an important course. + +"I wish you to run the engine for me at the iron works for a few days," +were Mr. Kendall's first words, and they were enough to make Larry's +heart beat quick in anticipation. + +"I shall like that," he replied. + +Then, seeing none of his own enthusiasm reflected in the sad face of his +mother, he added: + +"Are you ill, father, or hurt?" + +"I am well," Mr. Kendall answered, and then was silent, making a +pretense of beginning to eat. + +"Your father thinks of going on a journey," Mrs. Kendall said, in +response to her son's puzzled look. + +Larry was keen enough to observe that, whatever the trouble might be, it +was something which they did not wish to discuss before him; and, while +he was naturally curious to learn the cause of his father's sudden +journey, he was too discreet to ask any questions about the matter. + +"Did you speak to Mr. Gardner about my running the engine?" he asked, as +he took his seat at the table. + +"No; that wasn't necessary. You have taken my place several times within +a year, when I have been away or ill, and you are always with me when +your school isn't keeping. I have told him more than once that you knew +about the engine as well as I did; and you know I have always taken +pains to explain everything, and to have you do all of the work at +times, when I was there to show you how." + +Larry's heart swelled with pride under these frankly spoken words. His +father was not much given to praising any one, and the boy had often +felt hurt that no word of acknowledgment ever came as a reward when he +had successfully done some difficult work. + +This made the praise which came now all the more inspiring. Mr. Gardner, +the superintendent, had frequently given his shoulder an approving tap, +and Joe Cuttle, the fireman, often said that "the lad could run the +engine as well as any man." But Mr. Kendall, who ought to have been the +first to observe and appreciate his son's success, seemed scarcely to +have given it a thought. + +"He may reason that I'll try harder if I think I'm not perfect than I +would if he praised me more," Larry often told himself, and now the +long-wished-for expression of confidence had come. + +[Illustration: +LARRY] + +[Illustration: +"I WANT YOU TO TAKE THIS FELLOW AWAY FROM THE ENGINE BEFORE WE'RE ALL +BLOWN OUT OF THE BUILDING TO PAY FOR HIS CARELESSNESS."] + +With so much to think about, Larry could eat but little breakfast, and +his appetite was not improved by the manifest distress of his mother and +the taciturnity of his father. + +"It is nearly six, Larry," reminded the latter, breaking the silence. + +"Yes, sir. I will go right along." + +He flung on his cap and buttoned up his coat, lingering at the door for +a parting word from his father. But none came. + +"What shall I say to Mr. Gardner?" Larry asked, unable to go without +breaking the silence. + +"You needn't say anything." + +"But he may ask why you didn't come. He always does, unless you give +notice the night before." + +"Your mother told you I was going away, and that is enough for you to +tell him. You needn't let it trouble you, anyway; just attend to your +duties and say nothing to anybody. Remember that it is a responsible +business to have full charge of a thousand-hose-power engine and nine +boilers, and something that not many boys of seventeen are trusted to +run even for a day or two at a time." + +"I know that, father, and that is why I wanted to know what to say to +the superintendent." + +"I have told you all you need to say, and more, unless you are asked." + +"All right, sir. I--I hope you will have good luck, father, +and--good-by." + +Mr. Kendall seemed not to have heard the parting wish of his son; he +certainly did not return the good-by. And mingled with the feeling of +satisfaction at being intrusted with the care of the great engine was a +sensation of vague uneasiness on account of his father's singular +behavior. + +The fireman was there before him, waiting to be let into the +boiler-room, for the engineer always kept the keys. + +He was a big, brawny Yorkshire Englishman, with a scar across one cheek, +and, to add to the ugliness of his face, he had only one good eye. Over +the other he always wore a green patch. + +"Hi, my lad, is thy feyther sick?" was Joe Cuttle's salutation as Larry +unlocked the door, and they went into the long boiler-room. + +"No, sir," was the reply, remembering his father's wish that he say, +nothing about the matter except to the superintendent. + +"I'm a little late," he continued, as he glanced at the steam gauges; +"so you will have to put on the draught and get up steam fast as you +can." + +"All right, Larry. I was waiting for thee this ten minutes," said +Cuttle. + +He clanged his shovel on the hard stone floor and rattled the furnace +doors, while Larry tried the steam-cocks and then let the water into the +glass gauges, as he had done many times before. + +Then he unlocked the door into the engine-room and left Joe to shovel in +the coal and regulate the draughts. + +The engine--or engines, for there were two of the same power whose +pistons turned the same great fly-wheel--glistened a welcome to Larry, +and it seemed to him that they looked brighter even than usual upon this +clear September morning. + +He began wiping them off with a handful of cotton waste, adding, if +possible, to the polished brightness of the powerful arms and cylinders; +but, before he had finished the work, a gruff voice caused him to look +up. + +"You, is it?" the voice questioned. + +The speaker was a young man of twenty-three, who was employed in the +works. Larry had seen him a great many times, for he was always +loitering about in the boiler and engine rooms when his father was +away. + +This was contrary to rules, yet Larry, being so much younger, disliked +to order the young man out. But as he saw him standing in the doorway, +then it occurred to him that, if his father was to be absent several +days, it might be better to put a stop to intrusion at once. + +"Yes, I'm on duty," Larry answered, resuming his work. + +Steve Croly coolly ascended the two or three steps to the floor of the +engine-room, and, picking up a piece of waste, began to rub the polished +cylinder-head which was nearest. + +Larry saw that the rag which Croly was using was making streaks on the +polished surface. + +"See what you're doing, Steve!" he cried, pointing at the oily smutch. + +"Why don't you have some clean waste round here, then?" Croly retorted. +"When I used to run an engine, I had something to clean it with, instead +of using waste after it was soaked full of oil." + +"You're not running this engine," said Larry, quietly. + +His heart was heating fast; so he was silent a moment before he spoke +again, as he did not wish to speak in an angry tone. + +"I think I could manage it about as well as any boy of your age," said +Croly. "It's mighty foolish to trust such an engine as this to a boy. I +heard some of the men talking about it with the super the last time your +old man was off, and I fancy he don't like it very well." + +"Perhaps you heard them say something about giving you the job," Larry +responded, with a faint smile. + +"It would look more sensible if they did," replied Croly, who had too +much self-conceit to see the point of a joke that was aimed at him. + +"Still," Larry answered, with more dignity, "since I _am_ allowed to run +the engine, I shall have to ask you to obey the rules against coming in +here, after this." + +"You mean that I can't come in to see the engine?" + +"Not without leave. My father wouldn't let you, and you know it. +Hereafter I wish you to keep out when I'm in charge." + +Steve Croly's cheeks flushed with anger. + +At that moment the hoarse roar of the whistle shook the air, telling +everybody in the busy town that it was time to go to work. + +It was not yet time to start the engine, but Croly sprang to the +valve-gear to let on the steam. + + +CHAPTER II. + +The One-Eyed Fireman. + +Larry divined the young man's purpose, and he needed no better evidence +that Steve Croly knew very little about an engine than this thoughtless +act. + +The youth reached the valve-gear at the same time, and the hands of both +grasped the wheel. + +"What are you going to do?" cried Larry, holding on with all his +strength, for the other was trying to turn the wheel. + +"I'm going to start the engine. Didn't you hear the whistle? What are +you waiting for?" snapped Croly. + +"That was the quarter-whistle; it isn't time to start up yet. And if it +was, you would blow out a couple of cylinder-heads for me by letting on +the steam in that style!" + +Larry's face was pale, partly because he thought that the other would +have succeeded in doing the mischief in spite of him. But the determined +face of the boy, coupled with his words, made Croly pause, although he +still allowed his hand to rest on the valve-gear of the great engine. + +"You think I don't know enough to start this machine, I suppose," he +said. + +"I think if you did know, you wouldn't try to blow out the +cylinder-heads to start with," Larry rejoined. + +"You're trying to bluff me now, but you ain't quite old enough to do it. +Just wait till the five-minute whistle blows, and see if I can't start +the machine. I know enough to know that if you let the steam into the +cylinder, she's got to start." + +"Something would start, that's certain," said Larry, drily. "But," he +continued, "I don't think you will let the steam on this time. Now, let +go!" + +"You're a pretty heavy man to put in as boss of this plant," replied +Steve. + +He let go of the valve-wheel, but did not step back. Larry divined that +the fellow intended to wait until he was momentarily away from the gear, +and then persist in his attempt to start the engine. + +"I told you to go out," he said, pointing at the door. + +"I'm going after the engine is started, and not before," persisted +Croly. + +"You know you have no right in this part of the works. They wouldn't +have me loafing in your department, and you must keep out of this!" + +"I don't try to send anybody away from my department." + +"You would if you had charge of it. In yours there is a foreman and +fifty or sixty men; in this there is only the fireman, under the +engineer, but the engineer is just as much a foreman as the boss of your +department is there." + +"You're a boy," sneered Croly, "and when the Tioga Iron Works has boys +put in as bosses, they'll have to turn off the men and run the whole +business with boys. That's all there is to it." + +"Would you come here if my father was in charge?" + +"It isn't likely I should." + +"Then you admit that you have no right here?" + +Croly was silent. It was plain enough to Larry what the matter was with +the young man. The truth was he had at some time been temporarily in +charge of a small portable or "donkey" engine, such as are used for +hoisting purposes in stone quarries and in other out-of-door work, and +he was incapable of recognizing the difference between the simple +construction of such a machine and the complicated work in the great +motive-power of the Tioga Iron Works. + +Larry was a slow-spoken boy, and correspondingly slow in making a +decision. But when his mind was really made up, he was equally slow to +change it. + +He looked at the clock, and then at his own watch. In one minute the +next whistle would blow, and then the engine must be started. + +The door leading to the boiler-room had been left open by Croly, and it +had glass panels, through which Joe Cuttle could be seen hard at work, +feeding the hungry furnaces. + +Larry dared not wait another moment. He stepped quickly to the door and +called out: + +"Joe, come here a moment!" + +"Yes, my lad." + +The furnace door closed with a clang. The fireman paused to pull at an +iron rod that was suspended against the wall, and the short, quick roar +of the five-minute whistle sounded. + +Larry had wheeled about the instant he saw Joe start in obedience to his +call, and he was in time to see Croly again in the act of seizing the +valve-gear. + +Without an instant's hesitation, he took hold of the wheel, and held it +firmly, at the same time calling: + +"Quick, Joe!" + +The big fireman appeared, and his single eye looked from the face of the +boy to that of Croly. + +"Did'st thee want me, lad?" he asked, in his gruff tones. + +"I want you to take this fellow away from the engine before we're all +blown out of the building to pay for his carelessness," Larry answered. + +Cuttle's one eye glared upon Steve Croly, and the latter retreated, with +a look of grim defiance. + +"He's away from the engine, lad," said Joe; "and, noo, what else +would'st have me do wi' him? A'll frowd him oot, if thou'd give the +wud." + +"If he will go out without help, all right; if not, you may boost him a +little, if you wish to, Joe," said Larry, who had resolved to get rid of +the dangerous loiterer, this time for good, if possible. + +"Git owd wi' thee!" ordered the big fireman, making a sudden and furious +feint of seizing the intruder. + +This was more than Steve Croly had bargained for. It was very well to +come in and attempt to defy a boy, of whom he was envious, but quite +another thing to face the powerful fireman, whose bare, brown arms and +single gleaming eye lent him a most formidable aspect. + +And so, without waiting to see how Larry went to work to set the great +engine in motion, Steve hurried down the steps and across the +boiler-room, not even looking back while he heard the fireman's heavy +boots clumping along the stone floor. + +Joe did not attempt to follow the other outside. He turned back, with a +grimace which was intended for a smile, but which made his face look +uglier than ever; and a moment after the whistle sent forth its final +roar, which was the signal for every man and boy in the vast works to be +in his place and to begin work. + +Then, with the same silent mirth distorting his features, the fireman +thrust his head into the engine-room and said: + +"He tho't he'd go, lad; and A doon't think he'll coom back in a hurry." + +Larry had started the great engine, and the silent, powerful strokes +told him that his father had left it in its accustomed perfect order. + +The young engineer was still agitated from his encounter with Croly, and +he well knew that this was not likely to be the end of it; but he could +not help but smile in response to Joe Cuttle's evident enjoyment of the +affair. + +"He didn't fancy having you put your grip onto him," said Larry, for the +big fireman relished a bit of flattery as well as any one. + +"Hi, but didn't he shuffle oot, though, when he heard me after him! A +thought ee'd jump oot his shoes the way he went." + +"He won't be likely to come here again, unless he is certain you are out +of the way." + +"Mayhap he'll bother thee again, though, when A's gone home. Thou'lt do +well to keep an eye on him." + +"I shall take care that he doesn't get in here again, and then I won't +have to be to the trouble to put him out." + +Joe Cuttle indulged in another of his silent fits of laughter and then +returned to his furnaces, which he had to feed pretty constantly while +the great engine was using the steam. + +The forenoon passed without further incident, and Larry was somewhat +relieved that he had not yet seen the superintendent. + +He feared that the latter might ask some questions about his father's +absence which it would be embarrassing not to answer. + +"Perhaps mother will tell me something about it when I get home," was +his thought, as he hurried along the narrow street which led to his +dwelling. + +But again he was disappointed. His dinner was ready when he came in, but +Mrs. Kendall only sat at the table in silence and attended to his wants. + +Larry felt as though he could not restrain the growing feeling of +apprehension caused by his mother's looks and strange reticence. They +were so unlike her usual cheerfulness when he came home from school or +the shop, and he could see that she had grown yet paler than when he +left her at the breakfast table in the morning. + +He had only a few minutes before he must return to the shop. Yet he +lingered at the door, cap in hand. + +"Mother, what is it?" he pleaded, as she glanced toward him. + +"Don't ask me now, Larry," she answered. + +Yet there was an irresolute quiver in her voice that told him that she +longed to give him her confidence. + +"I ought to know," he persisted. "I'm old enough to run the engine at +the works. Surely you and father ought to trust me to know what troubles +you. Father has gone?" + +"Yes, Larry." + +"When is he coming back?" + +"I don't know. He doesn't know himself. But I hope it will not be long +before we see him again." + +"The superintendent will ask me about it, and I don't like to act as if +my folks didn't trust me. If you can't trust me, he won't wish to." + +"Your father told you what to answer if you are questioned." + +"Mr. Gardner may be satisfied with that for a day or two, but if he +stays away longer than that--" + +"Well, well!" Mrs. Kendall interrupted, so impatiently that Larry was +silenced. "If he stays more than a day or two, and they want to know +more about it we'll see what can be done. Now hurry along, dear, and +don't worry." + +She reached up her lips and kissed him--for he was much the taller--and +then he hurried back to the shop with a heavy heart. + +As he entered the yard, he noticed a knot of the workmen near the +entrance, holding what appeared to be a very secret conference. + + +CHAPTER III. + +Larry in a Quandary. + +What lent the air of secrecy to the conference of the workmen was the +fact that they suddenly dispersed with significant winks and nods as +Larry approached. + +Another suspicious circumstance was the fact that all, or nearly all, +were hands who had been employed in the works only a few months. + +Early in the previous spring fifty or sixty of the Tioga Iron Company's +hands had gone out on a strike, and were promptly discharged, and a new +gang that appeared in town rather opportunely, as it seemed, were hired +to take their places. + +The most of those who were talking together so secretly were members of +this gang; and quite prominent among them was Steve Croly. + +Joe Cuttle was firing up, the red glare from the glowing furnaces +lighting up his homely face. + +"What were those men talking about out by the entrance just now?" Larry +asked, as Joe looked up. + +"What men, lad?" + +And the single eye was expressionless as it met the questioning glance +of the young engineer. + +"Steve Croly was one; most of them were the new hands." + +"He might be telling of them how he coom oot of here when A toald him to +goo," said the fireman, with his hideous grin. + +"Not very likely, Joe," Larry replied, as he passed on into the +engine-room. + +The boy was troubled and mystified now from a new cause. + +Joe Cuttle was one of the new men, and, although he had been uniformly +faithful, Larry was sure that he was standing in the doorway of the +fire-room when he first came inside the gates, and that Joe must have +seen those who were only a few yards distant conversing so +mysteriously. + +If he saw them, why did he try to evade the fact? + +It was this more than any other circumstance that made Larry uneasy. He +did not think the difficulty bore any relation to his encounter with +Steve Croly in the morning, for of course Joe would not try to withhold +any knowledge of that affair. + +Not until late in the afternoon did the superintendent visit the +engine-room. + +He was a short, brisk man, with small, alert eyes that had a faculty of +seeing more in one minute than most men could take in in half an hour. +His face was dark almost to swarthiness and his cheeks and chin were +smoothly shaven. + +He popped his head into the engine-room and called out: + +"Hi, there, Kendall! What's the word to-day? Eh, so it's the boy! Well, +come here." + +Larry came forward promptly; he knew this brisk gentleman liked him, +and, but for the mysterious trouble at home, he would have rather seen +him than not. + +"Your father under the weather to-day, Larry?" was his first question, +while his quick eye noted that the polished floor of the engine-room had +been freshly washed and that the engine itself was doing its ponderous +work with its accustomed silence. Even his ear would have detected a +wrong note in the click and whir of the mechanism, though he would not +have known how to repair the difficulty. + +"No," said Larry, in his slow manner. "Father was called away this +morning. I don't think he had time to send you any notice." + +"So he sent you, which is the next best thing." + +"Yes, sir, thank you." + +"I didn't know but he was here till I just looked in. So it appears that +you have kept the machinery running. By-the-way," and Mr. Gardner +stepped up the ascent from the boiler-room and closed the door between, +"does that one-eyed Joe stick to his post?" + +The superintendent pursed his lips half humorously as he asked the +question, but Larry felt sure that there was a serious purpose behind +his words. + +"Yes, sir. He was here before I was this morning." + +"And does he mind your orders just the same as he does when your father +is here?" + +"He has so far, sir." + +"That is right. Only you know some men don't fancy having a boy put in +as boss over them; and he is one of the new hands, and I didn't know but +he was cranky. Some of them are." + +Mr. Gardner pursed his smooth-shaven lips again and was gone. + +The moment the door closed after him, Larry wished he had told him of +the strange actions of the group of new hands whom he had seen outside +the entrance that noon. + +"But he may know more about it than I do. His eyes see about all there +is to see," the boy reasoned. + +And he gave the matter scarce another thought until the great whistle +delivered its parting roar that night. + +Although the six o'clock whistle was the signal for stopping the +machinery and for the workmen to go to their homes, the engineer had to +stay half an hour longer to see that the engine and boilers were left in +proper shape for the night; then, when the night watchman came at +half-past six, Larry could go home. + +But to-night, after firing up for the last time and blowing the whistle, +Joe Cuttle did not go directly home. + +Instead, he went out into the yard and sauntered out toward the further +end of the extensive works where the foundry was located. + +Larry, still distrustful, noticed this, and he wished then that he had +mentioned what he had seen that noon to the superintendent. + +He stood in the doorway and furtively watched Joe until the latter +disappeared beyond an angle of the building. Then he went in and +meditatively drew the water from the glass gauges, tested the safety +valve, wiped off the engine and finally locked the door of the +engine-room. + +His work was done for the day. It yet lacked ten minutes of the +half-hour, which would bring the night watchman, and he waited with his +feeling of uneasiness growing stronger every moment until the time was +up; and the watchman had not come. + +"He is usually ahead of time, instead of behindhand," Larry thought. + +He went to the door, and nearly collided with some one who was on the +point of entering at the same time. + +"How d' do, Larry?" was the off-hand salutation of the newcomer, who was +a short, stout man whom the boy recognized as Gideon Stark, a former +watchman in the works, who had of late been employed as a helper in the +moulding department. + +"Where is Jake?" Larry asked. + +"Sick," was the sententious reply. + +"And you're going to take his place to-night?" + +"I'm going to try." + +"Does Mr. Gardner know about it?" + +"I suppose so. Jake said he sent him word." + +"All right, then, if he knows. Only," and Larry looked at the man, +sharply, "you know the engineer can't leave till the watchman comes, and +you're not the watchman unless you're regularly hired." + +The short man scowled, and then, as though suddenly thinking a frown was +not the best passport for gaining good-will, he smiled, at the same time +taking out the big bunch of keys which the watchman usually carried. + +"I couldn't get them from anybody but Jake, could I?" + +"I suppose not." + +"Well, if your father has a right to send you to take his place when he +can't come, I think Jake can hire me to take his place when _he's_ sick. +That's about the size of it, my boy. But if you ain't satisfied, you +better go up and see the super. You know the kind of row he makes when +the hands follow him home to ask questions. He always says, if a man +can't think of enough to pester him about in the ten or twelve hours +he's around the works, they needn't try to follow him home with their +complaints." + +"I will go to supper, Gid," said Larry, quietly. + +But the man followed him to the door. + +"Your father sick?" he asked. + +"No." + +"Gone away?" + +"Yes." + +"Coming back in the morning?" + +"I don't know." + +Gid snapped his fingers and forgot himself so far again as to scowl. + +"Well, you're cross to-night; I'll say that for you, Larry," he +declared, bluntly, and then turned back into the boiler-room and shut +the door. + +"There is something wrong, and no mistake about it," was Larry's +conviction as he hurried home. + +He was not too deeply worried to eat--a healthy boy seldom is. His +mother was more cheerful than she had been at dinner-time; or, at least, +she made an effort to appear so. + +"Has everything gone well to-day, Larry?" she asked, as he rose from the +table. + +"As well as I could expect. There are one or two annoying fellows at the +works, and they're envious because the super lets me run the big engine. +They think I'm too young." + +"It is a responsible position, Larry, and it makes me proud of you to +feel that you fill it so well." + +"It isn't hard to do; only I have to keep my wits about me. It wouldn't +do to forget anything; and you know they say a boy _will_ forget." + +"All boys are not alike, Larry, and your father would not trust you +unless he felt sure you would always be careful." + +Larry could not rest at ease until he had assured himself that it was +all right to leave Gid in charge of the works for the night; and, +without telling his mother what his errand was, he went out to find Mr. +Gardner, the superintendent. + +The gentleman's house was half a mile distant and fully a mile from the +shops. + +Larry hurried thither. To his surprise, Belle, the superintendent's +daughter, came to the door. She was a sweet-faced girl, a year or two +older than Larry, although they had been in school together. + +"I was just going out," she said, after greeting him, "and so I answered +your ring. Did you wish to see my father?" + +"Yes, if you please," Larry answered. + +"Then you will have to wait, and I don't know how long. It was time for +him to be here an hour ago, and he is usually punctual; but he hasn't +come." + +She noticed, the troubled look on his face, and asked, a trifle +anxiously: + +"Anything the matter, Larry?" + +"I--I think not; but if he comes, you may tell him my errand. And I will +go back, and perhaps I may meet him." + +Larry explained about the watchman's absence, and then, with a deepening +foreboding at his heart, he hurried back toward the immense buildings of +the Tioga Iron Company. + +[TO BE CONTINUED.] + + + + + A VILLAGE HAMPDEN. + + by ANTONY E. ANDERSON. + + +It was Saturday evening, and the slender hands of the clock in the +village schoolhouse were just crossing each other in their eager haste +to tell the Berryville Literary Society that it was nearly ten o'clock, +and time to put out the lights. + +The girls had taken the hint when the clock struck the quarter-hour, and +they were chattering like a group of magpies in the darkest corner of +the room as they helped each other with their cloaks and wraps. + +The boys had already drawn their overcoat collars up to their ears. They +stood, solemnly and silently, near the door, each one ready to frame the +momentous question, "May I have the pleasure of seeing you home?" when +the girl of his choice should pass. Some of them looked nervous; others +had assumed an air of indifference, which deceived no one. + +John Hampden stroked his cap, wishing that girls weren't so slow about +getting ready. But he forgot the girls in a moment, and began to repeat, +under his breath, a few lines of the poem they had been reading that +evening: + + "Some village Hampden, that with dauntless breast, + The little tyrant of his fields withstood." + +He wondered who Hampden was, and what he had done to make him famous +enough to be mentioned in such a poem as Gray's Elegy. Probably a great +general, John decided, who had led vast armies to victory. + +John smiled to himself. There surely could not have been two persons +with the same name more utterly unlike, he thought, than the John +Hampden of the poem and John Hampden, the druggist's clerk--"a youth to +Fortune and to Fame unknown." + +Just then two girls stopped before him, and John woke from his dreams to +find that the schoolhouse was almost deserted, and that the janitor's +yawning little son had begun to put out the lights. + +The girls, no doubt, thought he had smiled at them, and John had +presence of mind enough left to accept the situation. He had meant to +walk home with Matilda Haines, but Matilda had disappeared. + +John felt that he hardly knew Margaret Shirley, she had been away in +Boston so long, and he hadn't even been introduced to the young girl +beside her. + +"Allow me to present Mr. Hampden, Celia--Mr. John Hampden," said +Margaret, as if in answer to his thought. "My cousin, Miss Kirke, from +Boston, Mr. Hampden." + +John felt a trifle afraid of Miss Kirke, she took the introduction so +smilingly and easily. John himself blushed and stammered, and felt more +uncomfortable than ever, when she said, laughingly: + +"How delightful to have one of Gray's heroes escort one home, right +after reading his poem! Of _course_, you are a direct descendant of this +famous John Hampden?" + +"I don't know," said John, awkwardly; "I'm afraid not. I don't even know +what he did. Mr. Carr didn't explain that passage very fully." + +"Oh, _nobody_ pretends to know all about the allusions in poetry. He +lived somewhere in England, in the dark ages, didn't he--and refused to +pay taxes, or something? I forget exactly what." + +John smiled. He had recovered a little from his embarrassment. + +"Why, old Mr. Hunt refuses to pay his taxes every year; but they make +him do it, just the same." + +The girls laughed. + +"Oh, but John Hampden protested against a great act of tyranny," said +Margaret. "He must have been very brave to do it, or Gray wouldn't have +put him in his poem." + +"Such a lovely poem!" sighed Miss Kirke. "I've heard that the author was +seven years writing it." + +"Seven years!" John echoed. "Well!" + +"He kept pruning it, and re-writing some of the verses," Margaret +explained. "He wanted to make it a perfect poem." + +"It's very fine," said John. Then he added, blushingly, "If I had any +fields to keep tyrants away from, I'd like to be a village Hampden +myself, even if I couldn't become famous like the other one." + +"Oh, I don't think one need take that line of the poem literally," said +Margaret. "I like to have poetry suggest things to me that are not found +in the mere words. That is why I'm so fond of Shakespeare--he admits of +so many interpretations. Perhaps," she went on, softly and timidly, "if +we keep the little tyrants of selfishness and wickedness away from our +hearts, we can all become village Hampdens. Such things are often harder +to drive away than human tyrants--don't you think so?" + +"Yes," replied John, gravely, "I'm sure it is true--though I've had no +contests with human tyrants." + +"I know what _my_ greatest tyrant is," said Celia Kirke, who had grown +serious with the others; "and whenever I see him trying to get into my +fields," she added, more lightly, "I shall 'off with his head' with +scant ceremony." + +As John walked home alone in the frosty night, he vowed half aloud to +the silent, listening stars that he _would_ be a "village Hampden," that +the tyrant within him should be laid low for all time. + +John had no need to mention the tyrant by name--he knew very well that +it was Carelessness with a capital C. How often had this little tyrant +brought him into trouble, and how often had his employer warned him to +break his bad habit before it was too late. + +What a pleasant, sensible girl Margaret Shirley was--not a bit spoiled +by her studies in Boston! + +Matilda Haines would have laughed more and talked more, but she would +never have given a second thought to the poem they had just read. John +was rather glad she had walked home with some one else that +evening--even though his old tyrant of Carelessness had brought about +this result. + +John Hampden saw a good deal of Margaret Shirley and her cousin that +winter at the meetings of the literary society, at choir practice, and +in Margaret's own home, where they often discussed the poems and essays +they were reading. + +Youth has a frank and sometimes harsh way of passing judgment upon +people. John had decided the first evening he met her that Celia Kirke +was a frivolous girl, but when he got to know her better, he found that +she could be as sensible as Margaret herself when occasion required it. + +They had confessed to one another what each one's particular tyrant was, +and had agreed to help each other to suppress him. Of course they had a +good deal of fun about it, but under it all there was a general feeling +that it was a serious matter they had undertaken. + +John really began to feel that he was getting to be master of his own +fields at last. He attended to his duties at the drug store with such +punctilious care that his employer, Mr. Wyatt, nodded approval more than +once. + +After all, John might become a safe druggist yet, if he didn't suffer +himself to lapse into his old ways. He did not stop to dream, as +formerly, when compounding pills, and he washed all his dingy bottles so +thoroughly that they began to shine like cut glass. + +"He would be a credit to the business," said old Mr. Wyatt, who always +spoke of his business as if it were spelled with a capital B, and +thought it the very finest business in the world for a man to be in. + +One afternoon in March Doctor Pratt came hurriedly into the store and +said to Mr. Wyatt: + +"Put up half a dozen of these powders, will you, Wyatt? Here's the full +prescription. Squire Shirley has got one of his acute attacks of +neuralgia again, and my medicine-chest was empty. I'll call for them in +fifteen minutes." + +Then the overworked little doctor jumped into his gig, and was off like +a flash. + +"You'd better do it, John," said Mr. Wyatt. "I can't see in this poor +light." + +"Very well, sir," said John. + +And, as he began to neatly fold the white slips of paper, he wondered if +the squire were really as ill as Doctor Pratt pretended he was. + +The good doctor was fond of making a fuss about trifles, to add to his +own importance. + +Margaret and Celia had been out driving that afternoon, for John had +seen them from the drug-store windows. + +If they had come home, they were probably rushing distracted about the +house, trying all the possible and impossible remedies they had ever +heard of to relieve him. John hoped they were not feeling too unhappy +about it--the squire would doubtless be all right in a few hours. + +John lived with his aunt, not far from Squire Shirley's, and, as he +passed the large brick mansion, he noticed that there were many lights +there that night. + +Usually there was a light only in the library so late as this. None of +the curtains had been drawn, which was certainly an unusual state of +affairs. + +A broad flood of light streamed from one of the front windows toward the +gate. A girlish, uncovered head was leaning dejectedly against the cold, +icy gate-post, and the light turned the fluffy blonde hair into a +shining aureole. + +"Miss Kirke!" John exclaimed, in amazement. "What is the matter? Is--is +Squire Shirley worse?" + +"Noth--nothing is the matter," faltered Celia, making a few +ineffectual dabs at her tear-swollen eyes with her handkerchief. "That +is--everything is the matter. They have given my uncle an over-dose of +opium. There was too much in the powders, the doctor says--a great deal +more than the prescription calls for. Doctor Pratt is with him now, and +they are trying to keep him awake. If he is allowed to go to sleep, he +will die. They are walking him back and forth, though he implores them +to let him sleep. I couldn't bear to see it any longer, it was too, too +dreadful! Oh, how _can_ people be so criminally careless?" + +John turned pale and leaned against the gate for support. Celia's face +became a mere blur before his eyes. What had he done--what _had_ he +done? For, at that moment, the conviction came with terrible force upon +him that he, and he alone, would be responsible for Squire Shirley's +death. + +He might blame the poor light--Doctor Pratt's miserable scrawl; but +these were but cowardly subterfuges. John _knew_ that he had been able +to decipher Doctor Pratt's handwriting well enough, but that he had been +thinking of something else while putting up the powders, and so had put +too much opium into them. + +Celia looked at his agitated face in wonder. Then she uttered a little +cry. + +"You--_you_ did it! It is your fault," she said. "And he was your +friend, and always spoke so well of you." + +Then she turned and walked swiftly toward the house. + +It was true he and Squire Shirley had become excellent friends that +winter, and the squire had only a few days before asked him if he +thought he should like law better than the drug business. + +He expected a vacancy in his office soon; in the meantime he had offered +to read a little law with John in the evenings. John had been more than +pleased, for circumstances had placed him in the drug store, not his own +inclinations. + +And now he had blotted out all his hopes for the future, and perhaps +killed his friend and benefactor at the same time, all because he had +lacked manliness enough to cure himself of his small and odious +besetting sin. + +John wandered like one distraught through the freezing slush and mud of +the country roads that night, feeling no fatigue and no discomfort. His +brain was on fire with horror and self-condemnation. + +It never occurred to him to ask himself how the law would look upon his +carelessness; he only knew that he was ruined and disgraced, and that he +had brought a crushing sorrow upon those who had trusted him and treated +him as a good and welcome friend. + +When daylight dawned upon John Hampden's haggard eyes he found himself +upon his own doorstep, his clothes smeared with frozen mud, his body +shivering and quaking in the grip of a dreadful chill. + +He had walked for hours at a breakneck pace, and he was so exhausted +that he could hardly lift his hand to fumble at the door-knob. + +His aunt opened the door for him. Her eyes were red, as if she had been +crying. She had been kneeling by a chair in the corner of the kitchen. + +"John, John!" she cried, opening her arms wide. + +"Don't touch me!" said John, in a hoarse voice. "You don't know what I +am--what I have done, Aunt Martha." + +"I know it all, John," said Aunt Martha, the tears gushing from her +pitying eyes. "How you must have suffered, my dear, dear boy! The +squire's daughter and niece were here at three o'clock this morning. +They thought you might be worried a good deal about it. The squire will +be all right in a few days." + +Without a word, John laid his tired head on Aunt Martha's motherly bosom +and wept like a child. So pillowed, he fell asleep, as he had done so +many a time in years gone by. + +John Hampden learned a lesson that night which he never forgot. He is +twice eighteen years old now, and his life has brought him much honor +and prosperity. + +If he has one fault, people say, it is that he is almost too inflexibly +exact in all his dealings--almost too conscientious and fearful lest he +should make a mistake, and so do another an injury, however slight. But, +they add, the world would be a happier place if more people were like +him in this respect. + + * * * * * + +--For several years a pair of storks built their nest annually in the +park of the Castle Ruheleben, in Berlin. A few years ago one of the +servants placed a ring, with the name of the place and date, on the leg +of the male bird, in order to be certain that the same bird returned +each year. Last spring the stork came back to its customary place, the +bearer of two rings. The second one bore the inscription: "India sends +greetings to Germany." + + + + + RIGGING AND RIGS. + + by W. J. GORDON. + + +Though steam is now the pride of the ocean, there are a few points in +which its advantages over sail have not been great enough to crowd out +the clippers, and in long voyages the sailing ship is far from +obsolete. + +A drawing of one of these clippers affords an opportunity for saying +something about a ship's rigging, and thereby meeting the wishes of a +large number of amateur sailors. + +Let it be clearly understood, however, that we are dealing with one +particular class of ship, and that all ships are not rigged exactly +alike. + +There is a general notion that a full-rigged ship is of the same pattern +all the world over, and this notion has been supported by the diagrams +usually published which have taken a war ship as an example. + +Now a man-of-war has an enormous crew compared to a merchant vessel, +and her rigging is set up accordingly. The things that are done on a +man-of-war in spar-drill make a merchant sailor's hair stand on end. + +The rigging of a merchantman is designed for a much smaller crew to get +along with, and in many respects differs from that of a full-rigged +man-of-war. + +Complicated as a ship's rigging may look, it becomes intelligible enough +when attacked in detail. There are three masts and the bowsprit, which +is simply the old bowmast that has gradually increased its angle until +it is now almost horizontal. + +These four spars are built into the ship, and all the other spars and +the rigging and sails are fixed on to them. + +The three masts, known also as the lower masts, are the foremast, +mainmast and mizzenmast, and each of these carries two masts +by way of continuations. Thus we have foretopmast, maintopmast and +mizzentopmast, and over them foretopgallantmast, maintopgallantmast +and mizzentopgallantmast. + +The part of the topgallantmast above the topgallant-rigging is +called the royal-mast or royal-pole, and the continuation above the +royal-rigging, if any, is the skysail-pole. Answering to the topmasts on +the three masts is the jibboom on the bowsprit, and in continuation of +that the flying-jibboom. + +The jibboom and flying-jibboom are generally in one spar, as are the +topgallantmast, royal-pole and skysail-pole, but sometimes they are +fitted into each other on much the same principle as a fishing-rod, and +in some of the newer ships, bowsprit, jibboom and flying-jibboom are all +one steel spar. + +Crossing the masts are the yards. On the mainmast we have, beginning +below, main-yard, lower maintopsail-yard, upper maintopsail-yard, lower +maintopgallantsail-yard, upper maintopgallantsail-yard, main royal-yard +and skysail-yard; on the foremast we have the fore-yard, then the +topsail-yards, topgallantsail-yards and royal; and on the mizzenmast we +have a similar series of yards, beginning with the mizzen or crossjack. + +Up to the close of the last century, in very old ships, there was +no sail hung on this lower yard of the mizzenmast, it having been +introduced only for setting the mizzen topsail; and instead of the gaff +spanker we now have there was a huge lateen sail which extended some +distance forward of the mast and worked under this yard. + +This lateen was the crossjack. When the gaff came in, the projecting +corner of the lateen disappeared so as to make room for the sail hanging +from this lower yard, and the yard took the name of the old lateen boom. + +As representing, then, the after half of this huge boom, we have the +modern gaff, set at the same angle as the boom used to be; and at the +foot of the sail hung on this gaff, now called a spencer or spanker, +from the original inventor, we have the spanker boom, the same sort of +thing as we should call the mainboom were the vessel a fore-and-aft +yacht. + +Each mast is held in its place by stays and backstays. The stays reach +from the mastheads to the centre line of the ship forward; and the +backstays come down to the sides of the ship, just behind the masts. + +The stays and backstays are named from the mast-head from which they +descend. Thus the forestay comes from the foremast-head to the bows; the +foretopmast-stay from the foretopmast-head to the bowsprit-head; the +foretopgallant-stay from the foretopgallant-rigging to the jibboom-head; +and the foreroyal-stay from the top of the royal mast to the end of the +flying-jibboom. + +From the bowsprit-head to the vessel's cutwater runs the bobstay, +generally of chain, which takes the pull of the foretopmast-stay; +and from the bowsprit-head there hangs the spar known as the +dolphin-striker, to give the purchase for continuing the pull of the +foretopgallant and foreroyal stays round to the cutwater; so that really +all the staying starts from the hull, as does the backstay-staying. + +Round the lower mastheads are platforms called tops; and round the +topmast-heads are skeleton platforms called crosstrees. These platforms +are required not only to take the lower ends of the topmast and +topgallant rigging, but also to enable the crew to strike and get up +the masts and yards and work the sails. The crosstrees are fitted with +outriggers pointing outward aft to enable the topgallant-backstays to +give a better support to the topgallantmast than they otherwise would +do. + +Besides stays and backstays, the masts have "shrouds" to +strengthen them. The topgallant shrouds come from the head of the +topgallant-rigging to the crosstrees, the topmast shrouds come from +the hounds just under the crosstrees to the top, and the main, fore or +mizzen shrouds, as the case may be, come from just under the tops to the +vessel's side. + +To take the pull off the tops, the shrouds are continued round to the +mast as "futtock" shrouds, on the same principle as the foretopmast-stay +finds its continuation in the bobstay. + +The shrouds are "rattled down;" that is to say, thin lines are fastened +across them to make a ladder for the men to go aloft. These lines are +the "rattle-lines" or "ratlines." The foremost shroud of the lower +rigging has only a "catch ratline;" that is, one ratline in about six +continued to the shroud that lies furthest forward. + +And this is one of the signs by which you can tell a man-of-war from +a merchantman, for in war-ships the catch ratline is on the aftermost +shroud instead of on the foremost. In a man-of-war, too, the +topgallant-rigging is never rattled down, as a Jacob's ladder leads from +the topgallantmast-head down to the crosstrees; but this Jacob's ladder +arrangement is found in many clippers. + +Another detail in which a man-of-war differs from a merchantman is in +the rigging of the bowsprit, the man-of-war generally having whiskers, +and the merchantman taking the pull of the shroud direct from the +forecastle along the catheads, the whiskers being the spars across the +bowsprit, which take the purchase of the bowsprit shrouds as the +dolphin-striker takes the purchase of the stays. + +On each mast the lower yard, lower topsail-yard, and lower +topgallantsail-yard do not hoist up and down; the others do. +The "lifts" by which the yard is hung and "topped" run from the +yardarms--the ends of the yards--to the head of the mast which the +yard crosses. + +From the yardarms also come the "braces," by means of which the yards +are swung so as to set the sails at the proper angle. These braces come +down to the ship's sides, or to the heads of the masts fore and aft of +those on which the yard is swung; all the mizzen-braces working on the +mainmast; the maintopgallant, mainroyal and skysail braces working on +the mizzenmast; and the foretopgallant and foreroyal braces working on +the mainmast, as is clearly shown in our illustration. The yards and +jibboom and flying-jibboom are fitted with foot-ropes for the men to +stand on. + +The sails on the lower yards are the foresail, mainsail and +crossjack, or, as they are often called, fore-course, main-course and +mizzen-course--the course being the sail, just as a sheet is a rope and +not a piece of canvas. Above the courses come the lower topsails, above +them the upper topsails, above them the lower topgallant-sails, then +the upper topgallant-sails, then the royals, and, on the mainmast, the +skysail, though sometimes there are skysails to all masts, and over the +main skysail comes a "scraper" or moon-raker. On the outer edges of the +plain-sails come the studding-sails spread on booms. + +[Illustration: +A FULL-RIGGED SHIP.] + +In our illustration the vessel has set her fore studding-sail, +her fore-topmast studding-sail and her fore-topgallant studding-sail-- +studding-sail being pronounced stu'nsail, just as topgallant-sail is +telescoped into topgantsail. + +A man-of-war sets her stu'nsails abaft the sail at their side; a +merchantman sets hers "before all"--that is, in front of the adjacent +sail, as shown in our illustration. + +That part of a square sail which is secured to the yard is the "head," +the lower part is the "foot," the outer edge is the "leech," the two +lower corners are the "clews," the middle of the sail when furled is the +"bunt." The "sheet" pulls the sail out to its full extent down to the +yard below, the clewlines and buntlines bring it up under the yard for +furling. + +The courses, having no yards below them, have both "tack" and "sheet," +the tack enabling the clew of the sail to be taken forward, and the +sheet enabling it to be taken aft. The clewlines for these sails are +double, and are called "clew-garnets." A glance at the picture will +show the clew-garnets and clewlines coming down to the corners and the +buntlines coming straight down the sails. + +The sails along the centre line of the ship are the fore-and-aft +sails; these are the triangular jibs, staysails and trysails, and the +trapezoidal spanker we have already mentioned, which sometimes has a +gaff topsail over it and a "ringtail" behind it, as shown in our figure. + +"Watersails," by the way, are not carried now; they used to be set below +the lower booms, but, as we have seen, there are now no lower booms, the +lower stu'nsails being triangular, like the staysails. + +These staysails take their names from the stays on which they run. +Working from the deck upward, the clipper we show is flying her mizzen +staysail, her mizzen topmast staysail, her mizzen topgallantmast +staysail and her mizzen royal staysail; and she has a similar series off +the main. But on the fore we have the head-sails. The extreme outer one +we cannot see; it comes down from the fore-royal and ends half-way down, +being a mere "kite;" it is called the "jib topsail." The outer one we +can see is the "flying-jib," on the flying-jibboom. Then come the "outer +jib" and the "inner jib" and the "foretopmast staysail." + +The "trysails" are gaff or jib-headed sails sometimes carried on the +fore and main, as the spanker is carried on the mizzen. The gaff is held +up by the throat and peak halliards, and kept in position by "vangs," +which come down to the rail as shown. The spanker is sheeted home not by +a sheet, but by an "outhaul," and kept in position not by a "brace," but +by the "sheet," and thereby differs from the square sails. + +It will be noticed how neat and clean the ship is. There is nothing +outside to catch the wash of the sea or check the speed. The boat's +davits and the dead-eyes of the lower rigging are all inside the +bulwarks. The cables have been unshackled and stowed in the lockers +below, and the hawse-pipes are all plugged; the anchors are all inboard, +and everything that could possibly act as a brake on her is removed. + +Several large vessels now have four masts, in which case they are called +"four-masters." When all the masts are square-rigged, the names are +bowmast, foremast, main and mizzen. If the aftermost mast is not +square-rigged, the order is foremast, main, mizzen and jigger. In some +four-masters the masts are named fore, first-main, second-main and +mizzen. + +Should the vessel be three-masted, and have yards only on the two +front masts, she is a "bark;" and, by-the-way, the spanker of a bark is +her "mizzen." Should she have yards only, as the foremast, she is a +"barkentine;" should she be a two-master, and have yards on both, she +is a "brig;" should she have yards on the foremast only, she is a +"brigantine." + +With regard to this, however, a few words of explanation are necessary. +A century or so ago, a favorite rig was the "snow," pronounced so as to +rhyme to "now." The snow was a bark with a lateen mizzen, or rather a +brig with the "driver," a lateen one, on a jigger mast, just a little +abaft the mainmast. + +When this jigger was abolished the sail retained its lateen shape, +got on to the mainmast, and became what we may call a main crossjack, +thereby rendering a square mainsail impossible. + +When the crossjack was replaced by a gaff, the larger vessels started +the square mainsail, and became "brigs," while the smaller kept the +spanker as their mainsail, and became "brigantines," so that a genuine +old brigantine is a brig without a square mainsail. + +Soon, however, vessels appeared with no yards at all on their mainmasts, +and these were called "hermaphrodite brigs," and were found to be so +handy that they crowded the old brigantines off the sea and took their +name. + +But here a qualification must come in. Perhaps you have seen a +two-masted vessel with yards on her foremast and none on her main. She +is a "topsail-schooner." In what does she differ from the brigantine? +The brigantine has a foremast of three spars from the old snow, and a +mainmast of two from the hermaphrodite; the topsail-schooner has both +foremast and mainmast of two spars, and the foresail on a gaff instead +of on a yard, and in other ways is different, but a glance at the +foremast is enough to distinguish her from a brigantine. + +A "three-masted schooner" has only lower masts and topmasts, and each +mast is rigged for fore-and-aft sails, but more often than not these +vessels carry yards at the fore and sometimes at the main. + +With the "ketch" begins what has been called the mast-and-a-half +division of sailing vessels. The tall mast is the mainmast, the short +mast is the mizzen; some ketches carry square sails on the main, some +carry a topsail on the mizzen--the distinctive mark of the ketch being +that the mizzen is a pole-mast and stepped in front of the stern-post. +If the mizzen be stepped abaft the stern-post the vessel becomes a +"dandy" or "yawl." + +In the cutter the mizzen is dispensed with, and in a sloop of the old +rig the difference between the two is that the cutter has two headsails, +the jib and foresail, while the sloop has but one, the foresail. + +Sometimes the sloop has a standing bowsprit, while the cutter has a +running one; but this distinction is not essential. Indeed, the words +cutter and sloop have begun to be used indiscriminately, except, +perhaps, that a cutter is for pleasure and a sloop for trade. + +In a spritsail rig the gaff is at the head of the sail, and works on the +mast in cheeks; the sprit runs diagonally across the sail, and is hung +on to the mast in what is practically a loop and lashing. + +This has also what looks like a mizzen, but it is fixed on to the rudder +and is known as a "jigger." Sometimes the jigger is triangular, like the +yawl's mizzen, but the shape makes no difference in the name. + +The lug is the old sail of the Norsemen. There are two kinds of lugs, +"dipping" and "standing." + +The dipping lug has a great part of the sail beyond the mast, so that +when a tack has to be made the sail has to be lowered, dipped round the +mast and rehoisted. + +The standing lug projects very little beyond this mast and does not +require to be lowered when tacking. + +Fishing boats are nearly all rigged with a dipping lug for the mainsail +and a standing lug for the mizzen, and they have also a jib, while some +of them carry topsails over the lugs. + +Luggers may carry any number of masts, but as a rule they have two; some +have a gaff mizzen. When the foot of the lug is lashed to a boom it is +said to be "balanced." + + + + + THE NORTH AVENUE ARCHINGTONS. + + by ANNA J. M'KEAG. + +When Mary Anne Smith returned for her second year at Mrs. Hosmer's +Seminary, both teachers and pupils were astonished at the change +in her appearance and manners which a summer at the seashore had +produced. + +The previous year she had been plain Mary Anne Smith, an energetic, +impulsive girl, whose most serious fault was a tendency to soiled +collars and buttonless shoes, but who was, on the whole, very +good-hearted and sincere. + +She had returned to school as Marie Antoinette Smythe, a fashionable +young lady. She discontinued her old, romping, laughing ways and became +as sedate as the gravest Senior. + +Even her old love for midnight "spreads" seemed to have departed. She +became fastidious about her personal appearance and exclusive in her +friendships. + +At first Mrs. Hosmer considered it a good thing that Marie was "toning +down," but before long she felt that it was really not a change for the +better. + +The schoolgirls were not slow in commenting about it. At the October +meeting of the Browning Circle--an association of a dozen girls, +originally instituted for purposes of literary improvement, but which +had lately degenerated into a "fancy-work society"--Marie was discussed +until her ears must have burned, if there is any truth in the old +saying. + +"Do you know, girls, that Marie Smith scarcely deigns to speak to me any +more," said Stella Gard. + +"Oh, that's nothing, Stella. I was her room-mate last year, and she +has conversed with me on just two occasions since she came back," +supplemented Anna Fergus. + +"What is the matter with her?" asked a "new girl." + +"Is it possible, my dear young friend," rejoined Anna, with mock +gravity, "that you don't know we have been sacrificed to the North +Avenue Archingtons?" + +The new girl looked bewildered, and Anna went on to explain: + +"It seems that last summer certain blue-blooded Archingtons, with malice +aforethought, left their patrician heights on North Avenue, on which +they had hitherto dwelt in solitary grandeur, and went to Cape May. +There they boarded at the same hotel with the Smith family, and deigned +to bestow a few smiles upon them. This so lifted up the heart of Marie +Smythe, formerly Mary Smith, that she no longer regards her humble +class-mates as fit associates for her. _Hinc illae lacrymae_, which +means, all you who don't know Latin, 'that's why I'm using my +handkerchief.'" + +"She told me," said little Zoe Binnex, interrupting Anna's nonsense, +"that Mrs. Archington had invited her mother to visit her." + +"I wish some of you were doomed to sit at the same table with her, as I +am," Anna went on, "and then you would wish the Archingtons at the +bottom of the sea. The way poor, patient Miss Sedgwick has to suffer! +Marie sits next her, you know, and while Miss Sedgwick ladles out the +soup, Marie ladles out the Archingtons. We have Papa North Avenue, with +his four millions, at breakfast; Mamma Archington, with her diamonds, at +dinner, and all the young Archingtons for supper." + +The ringing of the study-bell dispersed the members of the Browning +Circle. As Anna and Zoe passed Marie's door, they overheard a servant +requesting that young lady to go down to Mrs. Hosmer's study. + +"Perhaps Mrs. Hosmer thinks it is time to choke off some of those +Archingtons," whispered Anna. + +But Mrs. Hosmer had sent for Marie for a different purpose. + +A new pupil was coming, and, as Marie had no room-mate, was to be put +with her. + +"Oh, Mrs. Hosmer," protested Marie, "I'd much rather room alone." + +"I should be glad to gratify you," said her preceptress, "but it is +impossible. Yours is the only vacancy on the second floor, and, as she +is a delicate girl, I do not want to send her to the third." + +"Who is she?" Marie asked, seeing that she must yield to the inevitable. + +"Her name is Esther Jones. She is a very quiet little girl, inclined to +be nervous. I hope you will do all you can to make her happy and to keep +her from being homesick. She will come to-night." + +Marie was much vexed at the intrusion, as she chose to consider it. It +was so much nicer to room alone. + +How provoking that just as she was "getting into" a better circle, and +had succeeded in dropping her commonplace room-mate of last year, she +should have this nervous little Esther Jones forced upon her. + +The new girl was as plain as her name. She wore a woolen dress, heavy +shoes and an ordinary sailor hat. + +"Very countrified," was Marie's mental verdict, as she watched her +unpacking her trunk. + +She did not offer to assist the little stranger, who seemed much in awe +of her. + +A new girl who enters a boarding-school a month after the term has begun +is always to be pitied. + +The other girls all have their homesickness over by that time, and are +not apt to be so sympathetic with the newcomer as they would have been +earlier. They have formed their little coteries, and the new girl feels +herself "outside." + +With Esther this was especially true. Marie neglected her utterly, and +she had not confidence in herself to try to make other friends. She went +about with a dejected, homesick look that moved Mrs. Hosmer's heart. + +"I must make some other arrangement after Christmas," she thought. +"Esther doesn't seem happy where she is." + +If she had known how much of Esther's unhappiness was due to Marie's +unkindness, her indignation would have made itself felt. Marie meantime +poured forth her heart on cream note-paper to her friend Marguerite +Archington, bewailing the cruel fate which separated them, and doomed +her to the companionship of Esther Jones. + +Esther's natural timidity was increased by Marie's treatment. At first +she made feeble efforts to converse, but finding herself continually +repressed, gradually ceased from her endeavors to make friends with +Marie. + +Not only her timidity, but her nervousness, as well, grew on her. She +began to be startled at every sudden sound. + +Now Marie was a girl without "nerves," in the ordinary sense of the +word, and could not understand or sympathize with those who are +constituted differently. She really believed poor Esther's nervousness +to be affectation, and had no patience with it. + +"She's been coddled all her life, evidently," she reflected, "until now +she expects every one to pet her on account of her foolish nervous +tricks. She needs a process of hardening." + +If Marie had not really believed this, I do not think she would have put +into execution a plan which suggested itself to her the week before +Thanksgiving. + +It was a cruel scheme, and even though she assured herself that it was +really for Esther's good and that it would cure the nervousness, I think +she was at heart a little ashamed of herself all the time. + +[Illustration: +"WHAT WAS THAT BY THE TELESCOPE? A WHITE, TALL FIGURE STOOD BY THE +INSTRUMENT."] + +At the western end of the third floor there was a stairway leading up to +a room at the top of the building, which was occasionally used as an +observatory. + +A telescope was mounted there, but, as it was not very powerful, the +astronomy classes generally used one at the private residence of their +professor instead. + +The room, being so seldom used, had become a receptacle for old lumber +of all sorts. Girls are so fond of exercising their imagination that it +is not strange that they gradually invested the garret-like room at the +top of the house with the reputation of being "haunted." + +The ghost, who was said to walk up and down the old stairway and over +the creaking floor of the observatory, was thought to be that of a +certain Madame Leverrier, who had been teacher of French and astronomy +many years before, and had died in the school. + +It was said that at midnight the tall, white figure of the Frenchwoman +might be seen, peering through the telescope at the stars she had loved +so well. + +To-be-sure, no girl ever said she herself, had seen this sight, but she +had "heard about it from a last year's girl." + +So the girls got in the habit of walking very rapidly when they had +occasion to go past the stairway, which led up from a region occupied by +"trunk-rooms," and of avoiding that part of the house altogether after +night. + +Marie told Esther the story of the ghost, with many embellishments. She +did not confine herself to one telling, but continually referred to it, +with the desire of keeping the matter ever present in Esther's mind. + +She noticed that her quiet little room-mate, although she avowed her +non-belief in ghosts, looked frightened whenever the subject was +mentioned. + +One evening, toward the end of November, the two were seated by their +study-table, preparing the next day's lessons, when Marie suddenly +exclaimed that she had mislaid her astronomy. + +"Won't you go after it for me, Esther?" she said, in a kinder tone than +usual. + +"Certainly, Marie," replied Esther, glad to be called on for a service. +"Where do you think you left it?" + +"I know now exactly where it is. It's up in the observatory on the table +at the farther end of the room. I left it there last night when +Professor Gaskell took us up in study-hour. It was dreadfully stupid in +me." + +"I'd better take the lamp, hadn't I?" queried Esther, inwardly dismayed +at the prospect of ascending alone to those awful regions, and yet +unwilling to refuse so small a service. + +"Yes, take the lamp. You know there's no light in that end of the hall. +You're not afraid, are you?" + +"N-no, not really. I can't help thinking of those foolish stories the +girls tell, though I know there's nothing in them." + +Esther took up the lamp and started. She did not wish to appear cowardly +before her room-mate, though she really dreaded the short journey. + +As she walked past the dark trunk-rooms and up the uncarpeted stairs, +her heart beat fast at the "swish" of her own skirts on the boards. + +When she opened the observatory door, she couldn't help noticing how +very dark the room was, and how feebly the rays from her lamp +illuminated it. + +Instinctively she glanced toward the telescope to see that there was no +white figure behind it, and breathed a little more freely when she saw +that there was not. + +She searched a long time for the book, standing with her back to the +door. At last she found it under a pile of others. + +Glad to have accomplished her task, and inwardly peopling all the +shadowy corners of the room with ghostly visitants, she turned round to +begin her return journey, when-- + +What was that by the telescope? A white, tall figure stood by the +instrument. + +In vain reason told her it was a fanciful delusion. Her nervous +organization was no longer under the control of reason. Esther gave a +quick scream, and fell to the floor, fainting. + +In an instant a white sheet was thrown from the shoulders of the figure +by the telescope. + +"Esther, Esther! It's only I--Marie!" she cried. "I followed you up +stairs just to frighten you for fun. Do speak to me. Tell me I haven't +scared you to death!" + +After a little Esther regained consciousness, shuddering as she opened +her eyes and remembered where she was. + +"Take me away--take me away!" she begged, recognizing Marie. + +"I will have to bring help." + +"No, no; don't leave me alone a minute. I can walk if you will help me. +And bring the lamp. I can't go down those stairs in the dark. Don't go +away or that dreadful thing may come back." + +She shivered as she glanced toward the telescope. Marie was weeping +penitently. + +"Dear Esther," she said, "don't you see that it was only I. There is the +sheet on the floor. I didn't know it would make you faint. Only say you +forgive me, and I'll take any punishment Mrs. Hosmer chooses to give +me." + +"Oh, Marie, I know you didn't mean it, but I can never forget that awful +feeling when I felt myself falling. But help me away from this ghostly +place." + +Marie, frightened at the result of her heartless trick and really deeply +touched by Esther's distress, helped her to their room. + +Then, notwithstanding Esther's magnanimous offer to keep the whole +matter a secret, to Marie's credit be it said that she sent for Mrs. +Hosmer and confessed the whole thing. + +"Give me the hardest punishment you can, short of expulsion," said she. + +"You have done a great wrong," replied Mrs. Hosmer. "You deserve severe +punishment, but I shall not decide about that now. For the next few days +you may show your penitence by doing all you can to make up to this dear +child for your past great unkindness. She must stay in bed for a day or +two, and I shall have the doctor in shortly." + +Esther was ill for a week, during which time Marie nursed her devotedly. +She saw now her past conduct in its true light--her petty vanity, her +thoughtlessness and heartlessness. + +She fairly hated her old self, when, as the girls came in from time to +time, Esther uttered no word of complaint against her, nor alluded to +the cause of her illness in any way. + +But in some way or other a part of the story leaked out, and Marie was +the recipient of many an indignant glance, but she felt it was only what +she deserved. + +Mrs. Hosmer never said anything further about a punishment; probably she +saw that the girl was already sufficiently punished. Nevertheless a most +humiliating punishment did come, in a way most unexpected. + +The third evening after her fright, Esther was sitting up for the first +time since her illness. It was the night before Thanksgiving, and she +was feeling a little homesick in spite of Marie's efforts to entertain +her. + +"What will you give me for a piece of good news, my little girl?" said +Mrs. Hosmer, entering the room, and looking at Esther's pale cheeks +disapprovingly. + +"Oh, Mrs. Hosmer, is it anybody from home?" asked Esther, longingly. + +"Here, Marie, read her the name on this card, and see if she says she is +at home to visitors," replied Mrs. Hosmer, playfully. + +Marie took the card, and a moment after dropped it as though it had been +red-hot. + +This was what met her eyes: + + "Mrs. James Archington, + "44 North Avenue." + +"Grandma--it's grandma," cried Esther, delightedly. + + +At the December meeting of the Browning Circle the girls discussed Marie +Smythe once more. + +"It was the queerest thing," reported Anna Fergus, who knew the whole +story. "You see this Mrs. Archington is Esther's grandmother, and Marie +never knew it. She said so little to the poor girl that Esther had never +chanced to tell her. Talk about retributive justice, this is the most +direct piece of retribution I ever heard of. And the queerest part of it +is that Esther's grandmother is the _real_ North Avenue Archingtons, +while Marie's Cape May friends are a newly-rich family, who happen to +live on the same street with the others, but are not related to them at +all." + +"But, girls," said Zoe Binnix, "it's been a splendid thing for Marie, +even if it has been humiliating. I never saw a more completely changed +girl. She's quite dropped her fine-lady airs and subsided into a +sensible being. She's so good now that Esther doesn't want to change her +room, though Mrs. Hosmer told her she might." + +The girls were right in their opinion of Marie's change of character. +She grew up to be a sensible woman, singularly devoid of pretense or +affectation. + +In after years she used to say that the one thing which had kept her +from growing up silly and affected was her experience with the North +Avenue Archingtons. + + + + + [_This story began in No. 42_] + + PRIDE AND POVERTY: + + or, + + The Story of a Brave Boy. + + by JOHN RUSSELL CORYELL, + + Author of "Cast Adrift," "Andy Fletcher," + etc., etc., etc. + + + CHAPTER XXIII. + +It is not an uncommon occurrence for a rascal to overreach himself. It +is the thing Arthur Hoyt did when he refrained from shooting Harry and +resorted to the more cruel but longer device of starving him to death. + +If he had gone away from the cave within ten minutes of reaching it, he +would not have been seen by a lurking witness among the rocks. + +This person had been hurrying along the trail, more than ten minutes +behind Hoyt, and came upon him as he was toiling with the ponderous +boulders. + +At the instant of seeing him, the stranger darted behind a rock and +watched him with a deep interest. + +He kept himself hidden until Hoyt had gone, and then seemed for a moment +undecided whether to follow him or to investigate the reason of the +piling up of the stones in the cave. + +"I can follow him after I've taken a look," he muttered. + +With this determination he ran over to the cave and looked in and tried +to make out the meaning of the heap of stones. + +"Now, what in the world did he do that for?" he asked himself. "Well, +whatever he did it, for, it'll be worth my while to learn it, for I know +he'd never 'a taken all that trouble for nothing. He isn't the sort to +work like that for fun." + +So the newcomer went over to the pile and studied it; but making nothing +of it, owing to the care with which Harry had been covered up, he +doggedly set to work to remove and undo all that Hoyt had done. + +He had not gone far with his labors before he caught sight of something +that looked like a garment. He turned pale and hastened to satisfy his +fears. + +"He's murdered somebody and hid him here," he said. "I wonder--" he +stopped and leaned up against the pile; "but no, it couldn't be." + +Whatever it was that he felt could not be, evidently kept recurring to +him, as he worked with feverish haste, until he had uncovered so much of +the body as enabled him to feel it and to discover that it was still +warm. + +"Only just killed him, too!" he ejaculated. + +The horror of it stopped him for an instant, and then he returned to his +task with redoubled energy; so that he was undoing in seconds what Hoyt +had taken minutes to accomplish, being assisted to that end by a +strength that Hoyt had lacked. + +"Alive! Harry Wainwright!" + +It seemed as if the two discoveries had come together, and as if the +fact that it was Harry Wainwright had more interest for the toiler than +the fact that the discovered person was merely alive. + +And how the remaining stones and brush flew after the discovery! And as +soon as it was possible to do it, Harry was lifted to an upright +position, the gag taken out of his mouth and his bonds cut. + +"Bill Green!" was Harry's first exclamation. "How did you happen here?" + +"Oh, it's a long story! but anyhow, I'm glad I did come here." + +"It looks as if you had my existence in your charge," said Harry, his +half-jesting manner belied by the earnest way he caught the two hands of +the boy who had thus, for a second time, rescued him from a horrible +death. + +"Well, anyhow," replied Bill, "that fellow Hoyt don't seem to have any +chance against me. Now, isn't it wonderful? But let's get out of here." + +"Stop a minute," said Harry. "Let's put these things back just as they +were. I don't know but I'd better try to keep dead again." + +"All right," answered Bill, who was in a state of radiant happiness. +"Anything you say. Oh, but I'm glad to see you again, Harry! And I had +no more idea of finding you here than of finding a bag of diamonds." + +They put the stones and brush back as they had been placed by Hoyt, and +then Harry led the way to a secluded spot where they would not be seen, +even in the unlikely chance of anybody coming that way. + +"I'll make it as short as I can now," said Bill, "and you can ask +questions at any time when you happen to think of 'em, or I can tell you +the little details afterward, as they come to mind. Doesn't it seem +wonderful that I should happen to be here just at this particular +moment?" + +"Wonderful is no name for it," declared Harry; "and I haven't tried to +thank you. It's no use trying, Bill." + +"Of course it's no use trying, and you're not going to hurt my feelings +by doing it," rejoined Bill. "Well, it wasn't a bit wonderful, my being +here, when you come to know all about it. After you were gone that night +of the fire, I ran right to Mr. Dewey and told him all about it. My! +wasn't he mad?" + +"I know how he'd be likely to go on," said Harry, with a smile. + +"At first he was all for taking it out of Hoyt by giving him a sound +thumping; but, after awhile, he cooled down and began to think it all +over, and the end was, not to go into particulars now, that he set me to +watching Hoyt, so that if anything should turn up we might get some +evidence against him." + +"But your work?" queried Harry. + +"Mr. Dewey said he'd rather pay twice the wages I'd lose than miss a +chance of tripping up Arthur Hoyt. So I gave up everything and played +what they call shadow. I was mighty awkward about it at first, but after +awhile I got so I could follow him and he never suspect. Well, among +other things, I followed him to Mr. Mortimer's and listened to their +talk under the library window. I couldn't catch it all, but I caught +enough to make out that Mr. Mortimer had no idea that Hoyt was going to +make an end of you, and that he was terribly broken up about it. But +somehow it seemed that Hoyt had mixed him up in it so that it could be +made to look as if Mortimer had really killed you." + +"Oh, the villain!" exclaimed Harry. + +"Isn't he, though? He made Mortimer give him four hundred thousand +dollars of the money that had been stolen from your father--" + +"Did you find out how it had been stolen?" interrupted Harry, eagerly. + +"Not a word about that. Then, at the last, Hoyt made him give him some +shares in a mine, and said he was going to investigate the mine. I +expected that would end the shadowing, but Mr. Dewey said I was to keep +after him if it took all the money he had in the bank, and I guess it +did just that. The long and short of it being that Mr. Dewey gave me two +hundred dollars, and I was to follow Hoyt as far as the money would take +me, and Mr. Dewey was to look after mother and Beth." + +"What a friend he is!" cried Harry. "And you, too, Bill. I don't see why +I make such friends." + +"Don't you?" asked Bill. "Ah, well, I do! I followed Hoyt, and there +wouldn't have been any trouble at all if it hadn't been that he stopped +all along the way to have a good time spending his stolen money. I lost +my ticket by that time. You know you can't stop off on ordinary tickets, +and it cost me two tickets before I learned how to be ready for him. +But, anyhow, he stopped so often and led me such a chase that by the +time he had been a week in San Francisco I was teetotally broke." + +"And all that for me!" said Harry, gratefully. + +"Get out!" cried Bill. "I was having no end of a lark. Why, I was seeing +the world, Harry, and doing some good at the same time. But I was +stumped when he left San Francisco one day for Virginia City. Then I was +fixed and no mistake. I puzzled my brains over it until I just had to +steal rides on freight trains. I only minded one thing, and that was +that when I reached Virginia City I would possibly find him gone so I +couldn't trace him." + +"You had no money, so took your chances on the freight trains and +reached Virginia City at last?" said Harry, who was listening with both +interest and admiration. + +"Yes; and he was gone." + +"Oh, dear!" was Harry's fervent comment. "But you have pluck, Bill." + +"Bulldog kind," laughed Bill. "I know how to stick to a thing when I get +hold. I did to him. If he'd been the right sort, though, I'd never have +found him again. He's an awful gambler. Oh, he gambled everywhere he +stopped! He seemed to know just where to find the places. I'll bet +anything that he's lost a big pile of money. Anyhow, he'd gambled in +Virginia City till everybody in that line knew him, and it was from some +of them that I found out where he'd gone." + +"Then," said Harry, "the trouble was to get here yourself." + +"You bet! But I got here last night. The very first places I went to +were the gambling-houses, and mighty surprised I was to find he hadn't +been to any of them. I couldn't understand that." + +"Afraid I'd see him," suggested Harry. + +"Of course that was it. I couldn't find him last night, and I was afraid +he hadn't come here, after all; for there wasn't a sign of him having +been here. The next thing that occurred to me was the mine; but, to save +me, I couldn't remember the name, having only half heard it through the +window. All I could think of was that it was some kind of a gold mine, +and I groaned at that, for I'd been out here long enough to know that +they don't find much but silver here generally. However, I asked a man +if there were any gold mines around here, and he said no, and never was +and never would be." + +"That is true, I know, for my partner, Missoo--" + +"Your partner, Missoo!" cried Bill, his eyes starting in amazement. + +"Yes, my partner, Missoo," repeated Harry, wondering what was the +matter. + +"They don't happen to call you Gent out here, do they?" + +"That's my name." + +"Harry," said Bill, actually winking away a tear. "I'm the proudest chap +that ever walked to think that I know you. Will you shake hands?" + +Harry blushed as he gave him his hand, knowing that Bill must have heard +the story of the burning mine. + +Bill shook his hand as if he had never had such a treat before. + +"And you," said he, his eyes shining, "are Gent, that went down that +shaft. Harry, I don't believe there is another boy in the whole United +States would have done a thing like that. Won't Beth be glad you saved +her when I tell her that!" + +"Please don't say any more about that," pleaded Harry. "Tell me about +the gold mine." + +"Shake hands once more first," said Bill. "Think of having that to tell +Mr. Dewey! Oh, well, I won't say any more! About the gold mine. Oh, yes! +The man, after he had said there were no gold mines, told how some +Easterners had been let in for a salted mine, and how it was called Tiny +Hill Gold Mine even now, when it was as certain as fate that it had +nothing but silver in it. Well, I didn't need to be told that name +twice. I knew it was my mine, and I got the direction and went straight +for it; and there I found my man smoking a cigar in front of the cabin, +with a tough-looking specimen sitting on the door-sill." + +"Little Dick," observed Harry. + +"Little! Well, I wouldn't want him to get hold of me." + +"He did get hold of me," said Harry; and he related his recent adventure +with him. + +"Ah!" cried Bill; "now I understand! I followed them after a while, and +I was puzzled to know why Hoyt kept back all the time and let the other +man take the lead. It looked so much like some sort of mischief then +that I was wondering all the while what on earth it could be. But I +never suspected you had anything to do with it. If I'd only known you +and Gent were the same person! I wouldn't have had the courage even to +have thought of that thing, Harry; but if I could, I'd--" + +"You said you wouldn't speak of it again, Bill." + +"Well, where was I? Oh, yes! I kept well behind Hoyt, and when he sat +down and let the other man go on ahead, there was nothing for me to do +but to sit down, too. So I did, and we waited that way for a good while. +Then Little Dick, as you call him, came back and took Hoyt away with +him, and I could see that he was half-mad about something. I began to +have a hard time after that, for we left the trees and got among the +rocks, and, in fact, I lost them and lost my way, and I don't suppose I +should ever have found it again if I had not seen Little Dick going down +the mountain. I watched where he went, and then took the up road after +Hoyt; and that brought me here, and that's all. But if I never do it +again, Harry, I want to shake hands with you." + +Harry shook hands laughingly, for there was something whimsical in Bill +that put him in a laughing mood. He had never supposed Bill had so much +fun in him; and, perhaps, in the old days Bill had not known it, either. +But an honest life, and since then the thought that he was doing good +for the boy who had saved Beth's life, had had a very developing effect +on him. + +They talked a great deal more after that, each giving more details about +himself, but Bill insisting on hearing most about Harry, and what he had +done and where he had been, and his interest in Missoo was simply +intense. + +"You shall see him, to-night," promised Harry. "We will go down now, +keeping out of sight as much as we can, and I will take you right to his +room. He'll be wondering where I am. He said he'd like to see you." + +"See me!" cried Bill, pleasure and surprise about equally divided. "What +does he know about me?" + +"Why, I told him how you saved my life, of course." + +They walked down, and Harry led Bill to the house where Missoo was lying +in bed. He was much better, but was not able to go about, though he +chafed at the notion of Big Missouri being laid up with "a burnt spot on +his back." + +"I was gettin' lonesome, Gent," he said. "Who's yer friend?" and he eyed +Bill over carefully. + +"Did you ever hear me speak of Bill Green?" asked Harry. + +Missoo lifted himself up on his elbow and looked at Bill. + +"Not Bill Green, thet got ye outen thet burnin' mill?" he questioned, to +Bill's extravagant delight to think that the great, the famous Missoo +had actually kept his name in his memory. + +"The very same Bill Green," assured Harry. + +"Bill, shake!" said Missoo, briefly. And when he had shaken the hand of +the delighted Bill, he held it for a moment, and said to him, "Bill, +when ye saved the life o' thet thar Gent, ye saved my life, too, which +is wuthless, an' ye saved the lives o' twenty men, some o' them with +babbies, 'n some o' them with mothers. Shet up, Gent; I'm talkin'! Ye +saved the life, Bill, of a feller what's sand--emery sand, which is the +best kind--what's sand down to his toes. Bill, I'm proud to take ye by +the hand; 'n I bet ye've got sand yerself." + +"So he has, Missoo, as you'll understand, when I tell you his story some +day," replied Harry. + +"Why not now?" asked Missoo. + +Harry made a sign to Bill, and answered: + +"Because I want to talk about other things with him. You won't mind if +we talk before you, will you, Missoo?" + +"Mind ye a-talkin'! Thet's music to me, thet is, Gent," said the +admiring giant. + + + CHAPTER XXIV. + +Harry had a two-fold reason for not telling Missoo his adventure at that +time. He had not made up his mind yet as to his proper course, and he +knew that Missoo would become so excited that it would perhaps make him +ill; and he knew also that, if it should become known in the town that +Little Dick and Hoyt had done what they had, their lives would not be +safe for five minutes after they were caught. + +He had no wish to be the cause of so pronounced an example of "miners' +justice," and preferred to trust himself to legal law, as soon as he +could have Mr. Harmon to advise with him. + +The chances were that, if he were to return east now, Mr. Harmon would +be home by the time he reached there, if he were not already home. + +He talked this over with Bill, later, when Missoo was asleep, and Bill +agreed with him, but pointed out the necessity of getting away before +Hoyt should discover that he was alive, lest he should contrive in some +way to play him another trick; but to that Harry said Hoyt must discover +it soon, anyhow. + +Missoo was not by any means well, and it was considered desirable by the +doctor that he should remain in bed; but he could spare Harry, and, loth +as the latter was to leave him before he was fully recovered, he felt +that his safety and the interests of his sister, as well as of himself, +demanded his presence east as soon as possible. + +He put off speaking to Missoo until Bill had made every preparation for +leaving, which occupied two days; for, to avoid the chance of being seen +by Little Dick, Harry kept close in the house all the time. Moreover, he +had decided to go on horseback, as being safer from the observation of +Hoyt than the stage. + +He had not hoped, really, that it could be kept from the two would-be +murderers for a long time that he was still in existence; but he thought +that, by keeping out of sight, he might puzzle them as to his +intentions, and perhaps frighten them away from Buttercup. + +On the third day, and when everything was ready for departure at an +hour's notice, Bill suggested that he should run over to the Tiny Hill +and take a look at Hoyt and discover what he could. + +Harry opposed the plan as dangerous, but Bill laughed at that notion and +Harry finally agreed to it. + +So Bill went over there early in the morning and was back in a very +short time, his eyes telling Harry that something was amiss. + +"Gone--both of 'em gone," said Bill. "I was pretty sure of it the minute +I set eyes on the place--looked deserted, you know. But I waited a +little while and then skirmished around, and finally went right up and +knocked at the door. The knocking opened it, and the cabin was empty and +everything that was worth a cent had been taken. The stove was cold, and +I felt certain that they had been gone over two days." + +"Then, of course, they know I wasn't killed," replied Harry; "for Dick +would never leave the cabin alone so long if he were coming back at all. +Now what shall we do?" + +Well, the end of it was that they could not make up their minds what +would be the wisest thing to do; but Harry told Missoo that he intended +going East soon. + +There was evidently a big lump in the miner's throat when he tried to +answer Harry's announcement, and when he did speak it was to beg like a +child that Harry would stay anyhow until he was up out of bed and +walking around. + +"It won't be more'n a week, Gent," he said, pleadingly. + +In his uncertainty what to do, Harry decided to let his course wait on +Missoo's recovery, hoping that in the meantime something would occur to +help him decide. + +He was a good horseman, but Bill had had very little experience in that +way, and so the two went out on their horses every day, generally +accompanied by such of the miners as had the leisure and the inclination +to ride. + +This was an always acceptable escort to Harry, for he could not drive +away an uneasy feeling that danger lurked in every lonely place. There +were not many rides in the vicinity of the mines, but the mountain +trails would do better than no roads at all, and the parties used to go +stumbling and straggling over these. + +Once Harry dismounted near the cave and ran up to it and looked in; then +he was certain that his escape had been discovered, and it seemed +probable that it had happened on the same day or the next. + +The week passed by and Missoo was gaining his strength rapidly and was +sitting up every day. Harry, too, was gaining confidence in the absence +of any sign of danger, and two or three times went out riding with Bill +without anybody else. + +One day they started out alone, and Harry talked of soon being able to +start. + +"What do you think has become of Hoyt?" asked Bill. + +He had asked the same question a great many times, but hoped each time +to get a more satisfying answer. It was a question he could not answer +to his own satisfaction. + +"I wish I knew," Harry responded; "but anyhow we must make a start soon. +I wrote to Mr. Harmon that I would be there and he will be expecting me. +Besides, I shan't feel comfortable until that matter about the fire is +settled. That is the only hold Hoyt has on me now, and as soon as that +is gone he will be the one to feel uncomfortable." + +"You will have all the money you need out of the mine," said Bill. +"Hello! I thought none of the men were coming out to-day." + +He had heard the sound of hoofs behind, and he and Harry turned at the +same moment. They were then on the stage road, the only real road in the +neighborhood. + +Harry looked a long time at the party of five coming up behind them at a +trot, but could not make them out. + +"They look like strangers to me," he said, uneasily. + +"What shall we do?" asked Bill, quite as uneasy as Harry. + +"We might put spurs to the horses, but that would only carry us further +away from Buttercup. Don't act as if you were afraid of anything, Bill. +If they are after me, they can catch me; but it isn't likely they will +want you, so, if it comes to that, you make a bolt and never mind me." + +"Well, I guess!" answered Bill, indignantly. + +"Don't you see you can hurry back to Buttercup and call on the miners. +They will be after me like bloodhounds." + +"Hands up there!" came a sudden command from the rear. + +"Turn your horse's head the other way, Bill," whispered Harry, "and +throw up your hands. It'll only be an excuse to shoot, if you don't." + +They both faced suddenly about and threw up their hands. It was well, +apparently, that they did, for the whole party behind them had their +revolvers leveled. + +"That is the one on the gray horse," said a voice, unpleasantly familiar +to Harry. + +Arthur Hoyt came from behind the other horseman and pointed at Harry. + +"What do you want?" demanded Harry. + +"We want you, youngster," said a man who seemed the leader of the party, +"if your name is Henry Wainwright." + +"He can't deny it," said Hoyt, hurriedly. + +"I don't intend to," answered Harry, who was beginning to understand +this latest move of his enemy, and who had only one object in view, and +that to let Bill have a chance to get away. "My name is Henry +Wainwright. What if it is?" + +"I have a warrant for your arrest, on the charge of arson. So, if you +are disposed to be reasonable, you'll come along with us quietly; if +not, I'll clap on the bracelets." + +No attention was paid to Bill, who, finding himself unmolested, had let +his horse wander by the party, cropping the leaves from the bushes until +he was a few yards away, when he caught up the reins and was off like a +flash. + +Some of the party turned and fired a few shots in the air, but did not +pursue until they had waited for an order from their chief. + +"He'll alarm the town, and the men will pour out after us," Hoyt cried. + +"Let him," said the sheriff, contemptuously. "Alarm the town! You must +think they value boys at a high rate up here, mister. I thought, from +the way you talked, that a regiment wouldn't be too many. Why, he's a +lamb!" and the sheriff laughed, and so did his deputies. + +Hoyt gnawed his lip and glanced ominously at Harry, as if he had a mind +to shoot him where he stood. + +"I tell you," said Hoyt, "that the whole town will be after us." + +"Well, I can't help it," replied the sheriff. "If the whole county +comes, they can't have my two-thousand-dollar prisoner. I think they +know me even in Buttercup, mister." + +Hoyt was powerless to do anything, but Harry was certain that he saw a +desperate purpose written on his face, and he determined to be on his +guard if the men did come after him. + +Bill meanwhile was flying back over the five miles that lay between him +and Buttercup with all the speed he could obtain from his horse. + +He rode into the street at a full gallop, his hat lost and his hair +flying, and did not stop until he was at the door of the house where +Missoo lived. + +He was known by this time as one of Harry's friends, and it was +generally known that the two went riding together. To see him coming +back in such a fashion was sufficient to make them all wonder, and in +the first fear that Harry had met with an accident, there was a rush +after Bill all adown the street. + +"What's the matter?" "Where's Gent?" "Is he hurt?" were some of the most +prominent of the questions. + +"Where's Missoo?" asked Bill, in a loud voice. + +"Here he is," was the answer from the window of the house. "Whar's +Gent?" + +"They're taking him to Virginia City on a charge of arson, Missoo. +Hoyt's there!" + +Missoo understood in a moment, and lifted his hand to still the roar of +voices that rose on the announcement made by Bill. Silence came at once. +They all knew Missoo would waste no words then. + +"I know all about it, boys," he said. "Gent mustn't go ter Virginny +City, nohow. Bill, how many on 'em?" + +"Five." + +"Ten men ter go with me after Gent," continued Missoo. + +And Bill wondered at the stern, quiet way of the man. Every man there +was eager to go, and Missoo saw it. + +"All right, boys! Ev'ry man thet kin git a horse let him go. And a horse +fer me. No time ter spare. Quick!" + +In fifteen minutes a dozen of the best mounted, led by Missoo, who +should not have been out of his room, rode out of the town in the midst +of the wildest excitement. Fully fifty men straggled behind as best they +could, and perhaps half as many more followed on foot. + +"We'll bring him back, boys, if we have ter go ter Virginny City an' +razee the town," said Missoo. + +And the answer was a yell that made Bill sure that Missoo meant what he +said and was taken at his word by his followers. + + [TO BE CONTINUED.] + + + + + A PRINCE OF CEYLON. + + +Ceylon is so far away, and the Ceylonese so little known to civilized +people, that we are apt to imagine them as half-clad barbarians. But +they have adopted many modern customs which curiously intermingle with +their native habits. A recent traveler thus describes a native prince: + +"He wore black trowsers and a coat, a white waistcoat and a heavy, round +black cap. On his coat, at the sleeves as well as down the front, and on +his waistcoat, were numerous buttons, each one of gold, with a gleaming +diamond for a centre. Round his waist was a heavy gold girdle of massive +links, with two loops in front which went to form a watch-chain, long +enough and strong enough for his highness to hang himself with. The +third and fourth fingers of each hand were loaded with rings, set with +brilliants and precious stones. In the waistcoat pocket the top of a +cigarette case was showing, and, when he pulled it out for a smoke, +there was a big cluster of brilliants in the centre of the concave side. +His walking-stick had a gold cross-head, and on the other side his +initials were set with diamonds and rubies." + + + + + STORIES OF SCHOOL LIFE. + + +An old college man recalls two characteristic anecdotes about a +well-known Harvard professor, Sophocles, or "Sophy," as he was generally +called. He was an excellent teacher, but he had his favorites, whom he +would never allow to fail in recitation. One day the question under +discussion was the dark color of the water of a certain river. "Why was +the water dark?" said Sophocles. One pupil ventured, "Because it was so +deep." "That is not right. The next." "Because of the color of the mud;" +and so on, until he came to a favorite, when the question took this +form: "The reason is not known why the water was black, is it?" "No, +sir!" came the natural answer. "That is correct," from Sophocles, with +one of his blandest smiles. Another day a student was playing chess in +recitation-time, feeling certain that his name would not be called, as +the professor had a fixed habit of calling up the students in regular +order, and this student was at the tail of the class. But Sophocles saw +what was going on, out of the corner of his eye, and said, suddenly, +"Mr. Kew, what do you say to this question?" Mr. Kew at once arose and +promptly replied, "It is imperfect, because it is in the indefinite +tense," an answer which, in nine cases in ten, would have been correct. +"Not at all, sir," said Professor Sophocles, calmly, "it is an island in +the Aegean Sea!" + + +Professor Vierecke (four cornered) was connected with a celebrated +German university in a walled town, during war times. He was very severe +in his teaching methods, and the students determined to get even with +him. So three of them went outside the town one day, when they knew he +had gone into the country, and disguised themselves with white wigs and +spectacles so as to look exactly like him. Toward night they started to +return, about half an hour apart. At the gate of the town every one had +to give his name to the sentinel stationed there. The first student to +arrive gave his name as Einecke (one cornered); the second, half an hour +afterward, as Zweiecke (two cornered); the third as Dreicke (three +cornered). By this time the sentinel began to be very suspicious over +the fact that these elderly men, looking exactly alike, but with names +increasing in numerical value, should have passed into the city. There +must, he thought, be some plot hatching, and just as he had resolved to +report the affair to his superior officer a fourth old man, with white +hair and spectacles, came up to the gate. "Your name, sir?" asked the +sentinel. "Vierecke." "Ha!" cried the sentinel. "I arrest you as a spy!" +The professor vainly protested, told where he lived and his occupation, +but the circumstances were so suspicious that he was taken to prison, +where he was kept all night and part of the next day, to the intense +delight of the persecuted students. + + +A little six-years-old boy, just learning to spell words of three or +four letters, was poring over a book at home, which contained words much +beyond his capacity. After trying in vain to make them out, he looked up +and said, "Mamma, if I had glasses, I think I could read all these +words." His mother laughed and responded, "Only old folks use glasses." +The little fellow's face became very serious, and then he asked, +anxiously, "Why, mamma, do you think I'm too new?" + + +It is somewhat remarkable that schoolboys, who are always playing smart +tricks, do not quit trying, since they are almost invariably found out; +and this is not astonishing, since all teachers have been students and +cannot have wholly forgotten the tricks they tried on. In a certain Ohio +academy it was announced that a new teacher of mathematics was coming +the next day, and the boys prepared to initiate him. They went to a +narrow lane, up which he would probably come, and rigged up a +complicated apparatus to trip him up and shower him with flour. While +thus engaged, a young, dandified fellow came along and surprised them. +He was a stranger, and they imagined he came from a more advanced +college near by, which impression was heightened when he volunteered his +services and suggested many improvements in the "trap." When completed, +the boys and their new friend moved away some distance, to await the +result of the "initiation." Two hours passed in uncomfortable silence, +and then one of the leaders said, "I don't believe he'll come to-night." +"Oh, yes," said the stranger, pleasantly; "the truth is, he _has_ come." +"What!" cried the boys. "In fact," continued the young man, "I am +Professor Cheltenham, and I hope our relations will continue to be +agreeable. I am sorry to have disappointed you by coming by an earlier +train; but I am glad, because it has made us acquainted in a very +effective way!" You may imagine that the boys were amazed, and you will +believe that they tried no more tricks on the professor of mathematics. + + * * * * * + + GOLDEN DAYS + + ISSUED WEEKLY. + + +Our Subscription Price. + +Subscriptions to "Golden Days," $3.00 per annum, $1.50 per six +months, $1.00 per four months, all payable in advance. + +Single numbers, six cents each. We pay postage on all United States and +Canada subscriptions. + +TO THOSE WHO DESIRE TO GET UP CLUBS + +If you wish to get up a club for "GOLDEN DAYS," send us your +name, and we will forward you, _free of charge_, a number of specimen +copies of the paper, so that, with them, you can give your neighborhood +a good canvassing. + +OUR CLUB RATES. + +For $5 we will send two copies for one year to one address, or each copy +to a separate address. + +For $10 we will send four copies for one year to one address, or each +copy to a separate address. + +For $20 we will send eight copies to one address, or each copy to a +separate address. + +The party who sends us $20 for a club of eight copies (all sent at one +time) will be entitled to a copy for one year *free*. + +Getters-up of clubs of eight copies can afterward add single copies at +$2.50 each. + +Money should be sent to us either by Post Office Order or Registered +Letter, so as to provide as far as possible against its loss by mail. + +All communications, business or otherwise, must be addressed +to + + JAMES ELVERSON, + Publisher. + + * * * * * + + MEXICO AND THE MEXICANS. + + by W.B. HOLDEN. + + +Americans know but little of the great country that lies to the south of +us. They would consider it an evidence of ignorance if a Mexican had +never heard the name of one of the United States, yet not one American +in a hundred can name five of the twenty-seven States, which, with two +territories and a federal district, make up the great republic of +Mexico. As to size, an equal ignorance prevails. The average person +thinks that Mexico is about as large as Pennsylvania, and is surprised +to hear that it has one-fifth the area of the United States, including +Alaska. + +Here are some figures which may serve to show its size. It is six times +as large as Great Britain, more than three times as large as Germany, +and you could lose three countries as big as France inside it. Across +the top of it, where, like a great horn, it is fastened to the United +States, it is as long as Topeka is distant from New York city, and a +line drawn from the root of the horn at California, diagonally across it +to its tip at Guatemala, would be as long as the distance from New York +to Denver. This horn is about 150 miles wide at the bottom, or tip, and +1550 miles wide at its beginning, where it joins on to us. In its curve +it embraces the Gulf of Mexico, and the Pacific Ocean washes its other +side. + +It is true that Mexico is not thickly settled, the total population +being less than 12,000,000; but it has one city--the capital--containing +300,000, one of 100,000, and a number of cities of 25,000 inhabitants, +of which the ordinary American never heard the names. But Mexico has an +incomparable climate, and the land contains riches in minerals, precious +stones and agricultural resources, unsurpassed by any other country. + +Mexico is a land of different civilization from ours, and we know very +little about it. The ruling classes, numbering a few thousands, are +descendants of Spaniards, while the millions of people who are ruled are +descendants of the Aztecs. They are called Indians, but they have +nothing in common with our aborigines. They speak Spanish, but they have +their own tongues as well, and there are said to be a hundred dialects +in use. Some of the most striking men in Mexican history have come from +this class. Juarez was an Indian, and Diaz has Indian blood in his +veins. + +It is a land of many climates. Along the coast is the tropics, with all +their rich vegetation, malarial diseases, fevers and poisonous reptiles; +in the higher mountain regions, intense cold and fierce storms prevail, +while between the two, and often within a few hours ride of either, lies +the plateau which constitutes the greater part of Mexico, and there the +climate is like a balmy June day all the year round. Clear skies, +perpetual sunshine and pure air combine to give this favored region the +ideal climate of the world. + +This plateau is like a garden, and everything temperate or semi-tropical +grows with very little care. Yet Mexico does not figure as a great +agricultural country, because, like every other land where nature is +kind, man is lazy. Yet the people are picturesque, like all indolent +people. + +In every hamlet and town the traveler sees stout, handsome men, their +dark faces shrouded by great sombreros, the crowns of which come to a +point a foot above their heads, and the brims of which seem to be a foot +wide all around. + +These hats are gorgeous in their silver and gold trimmings. Some of them +have ropes of silver around them as thick as your finger. + +The clothes below them shine with silver buttons and braid. The +pantaloons of some of the men are striped, with silver buckles, while to +the waist of each, fastened by a leather belt filled with cartridges, +hangs a big silver-mounted revolver. + +The lower classes of the men of Mexico dress in cotton, but they wear +blankets of all the colors of the rainbow about their shoulders, and +they drape these around themselves in a way that adds dignity and grace +to their bearing. + +The women are as peculiar as the men, though their plumage is less gay. +Those of the wealthier classes are dressed in black. In the interior +cities of Mexico the better class of women wear no hats, and their heads +are either bare or covered with a black shawl, out of which their +olive-complexioned faces shine and their dark, lustrous eyes look at you +with a strange wonder. + +The Indian women are especially picturesque. They often wear dark-blue +cottons, and about their heads they drape a cotton shawl or reboso, so +that only the upper half of the face shows. Some of them wear bright-red +skirts and white waists, and many of them go barefooted. + +The future of this great republic is difficult to foresee. At present it +is in a transition state, and is not making very rapid progress, +according to our ideas. But great results are expected from the railroad +which now extends to the City of Mexico. + +As the "feeders" are gradually extended on either side it is believed +that many abandoned mines will be reopened, new ones discovered and a +great impetus given to agriculture and commerce. + +Just now, however, the railroad is chiefly of value to the tourist, who +can, by its means, visit with ease and comfort a land as strange in many +respects as ancient Egypt. + + + + + SOMETHING ABOUT COAL-TAR. + + by B. SHIPPEN, M.D. + + +Most people know and dislike the odor of coal-tar, which is distilled +from soft or bituminous coal in making gas, as well as in other +processes. + +It seems to have been first collected by a German, named Stauf, in 1741. +Of course there was no question of gas-making then, and the German, who +was more of an alchemist than a chemist, was looking for other things +than the coal-oil which he obtained. + +The coarse oil which Stauf procured had little in it to his eye, but it +contained, nevertheless, many bright and varied colors, delicate +perfumes, useful medicines and the sweetest product ever known to man. + +From coal-tar is derived benzine and naphtha, and colors--especially +purples--which are used in dyeing. From one ton of good cannel coal, +distilled in gas retorts, there comes ten thousand cubic feet of gas, +twenty-five gallons of ammoniacal liquor, thirty pounds of sulphate of +ammonium, thirteen hundred weight of coke and twelve gallons of +coal-tar. + +From this tar are produced a pound of benzine, a pound of toluene, a +pound and a half of phenol, six pounds of naphthalene, a small quantity +of a material called xylene and half a pound of anthracene, which is +used in dyeing. + +From benzine are derived fine shades of yellows, browns, oranges, blues, +violets and greens; from the toluene are obtained magentas and rich +blues; from phenol, beautiful reds; from naphthalene, reds, yellows and +blues; from xylene, brilliant scarlets, and from anthracene, yellows and +browns. + +Out of one pound weight of cannel coal can be produced dyes sufficient +to color the following lengths of flannel, three quarters of a yard +wide: Eight inches of magenta, two feet of violet, five feet of yellow, +three and a half feet of scarlet, two inches of orange and four inches +of Turkey red. + +There are immense varieties of these colors, and the best part about +them is that no illness comes to the hands employed in mixing or using +them, as is the case with some other dyes. + +Some years ago, quinine became very dear, but it had no equal as a +medicine for certain purposes, and so experiments were made to produce +artificial quinine by chemical means. In this way "kairene" and +"quinoline" were produced, at about half the price of quinine. But the +most important result of the search was the discovery of anti-pyrine, +which is extensively used in high fevers. + +Coal-tar is about the last substance from which a sweet perfume could be +expected, and yet it gives many. All the "extract of new-mown hay" now +comes from it. This lovely scent used to be produced, at great expense, +from scented grasses. Then there is the scent of vanilla, and the +growers of the vanilla bean have lost greatly in consequence. There is +also heliotrope perfume prepared from coal-tar, and other extracts for +scenting toilet soaps. + +But the most remarkable of all the products of coal-tar is _saccharine_, +which was first discovered by Fahlberg, a German, who was conducting +experiments in coal-tar under the direction of Professor Remsen, of the +Johns Hopkins University, in Baltimore. + +This substance is infinitely sweeter than any cane-sugar--more than two +hundred times as sweet--so that the smallest drop sweetens more than a +tablespoonful of sugar. But it does not nourish like cane or beet sugar, +while at the same time it is not injurious, and it preserves fruit +perfectly. + +Persons suffering from certain diseases, when sugar in any form cannot +be taken, can have their diet rendered much more acceptable by the use +of saccharine. The taste is very pure, and more quickly communicated to +the palate than that of cane-sugar. + +It seems wonderful that from a substance which, a generation ago, was +used only as wagon grease and for kindling fires, such colors, +medicines, perfumes and sweetness should be extracted! + + + + + BE SURE HOW YOU BEGIN. + + by GEORGE BIRDSEYE. + + "When once begun, + The work's half done," +So says the proverb old; + But even here, + You'll see it clear, +The truth is but half told; + For wisdom says + There are two ways, +One loses and one wins; + You'll find, young friends, + That all depends +Upon how one begins. + + If wrong begun, + And work half done, +So much the worse for you; + If right--go on + Until you've won +The goal you had in view. + In life you gaze + Upon the ways +Of virtue and of sin; + Be led by truth, + And in your youth +Be sure how you begin. + + + + + ECLIPSES AND HISTORICAL DATES. + + +In a total eclipse of the sun the point of the shadow cone, which is +constantly projected into space by the moon, touches a narrow strip of +the earth's surface, from which region alone the sun is totally +obscured. + +These total eclipses occur about three times in four years, but a total +eclipse for any given region does not occur oftener than once in two +hundred years. + +It is therefore possible when an eclipse of the sun is described in +connection with some remote historical event, and the hour is mentioned, +to fix the period of the occurrence exactly. + +Historical research is thus aided, and, to facilitate reference, +Professor Von Oppolzer, Viennese Astronomer Royal, has, with the aid of +ten assistants, fixed the date of 8000 eclipses of the sun and 5200 +eclipses of the moon, extending over a period from 1200 B.C. to 2163 +A.D., the calculations filling 242 thick folio volumes. + +Two applications of these data may be cited. The oldest recorded +eclipse, which occurred in China 4000 years ago, is mentioned in the +Chinese book "Schuking" as taking place in the early morning, in the +last month of harvest, in the fifth year of Emperor Tschung-hang's +reign. Other sources show that this reign was undoubtedly in the +twenty-second century B.C., and the only eclipse that would apply took +place on October 22, 2137 B.C. + +It is recorded that Christ suffered in the nineteenth year of Tiberias, +in which year the sun was darkened, Bithynia shaken and much of Nicea +laid in ruins. One writer mentions that a total eclipse of the sun, +lasting from the sixth to the ninth hour, occurred in the reign of +Tiberias, during full moon, and another adds that it occurred on the +14th day of the month. + +Now, an eclipse of the sun at full moon is impossible. Reference to +Oppolzer's work shows that the only total eclipse of the sun in that +region, between eight years before our reckoning and 59 A.D., took place +Thursday, November 24-29 A.D. + +This is not reconcilable with the scriptural account, which places the +crucifixion at the Jewish Easter. An eclipse of the moon, however, was +visible at Jerusalem on April 3, 33 A.D., so that it is most probable +that the ancient historians confused the two events, and that the +eclipse of the moon was the phenomenon which signalized the +crucifixion. + + + + + THE VOLUNTEER WRITER. + + by EFFIE ERSKINE. + +"To whom are you writing, Amos?" asked his mother, as she gave a loving +glance at the wasted form of the crippled boy, bent over his father's +desk. + +Amos Franklin had never known what it was to be straight or strong like +other boys. From infancy his legs had been crooked and his back bent, +while pain and disease had shrunken his frame until, at fourteen, he +looked no older than nine. But, as if to make amends, his mind was very +active and his intelligence far in advance of his years. + +"I will soon have finished, mother," he answered, with a smile, "and +then I will read it." + +His pen scratched away for a few minutes, and then he held up the sheet +and read this: + + "TO THE GIRL WITH THE BROKEN LEG:--I hope you will not fret or worry + too much over your misfortune, because it will not be many days + before you are out again, and in a short time be well and strong + as ever. You have many happy days before you, when you can romp and + run in the bright sunshine; and you must think of those days and not + of the present. I will write to you again, if you say so. + + "Your friend, + + "AMOS FRANKLIN." + +Mrs. Franklin listened to the reading of this letter with an amazed +look. + +"I don't understand it," she said. "Who is this girl, and where did you +hear about the accident?" + +"I don't know her name, or who she is," replied Amos, with a quiet +laugh. "But I know that in the three or four hundred patients in the big +hospital there _must_ be one girl with a broken leg, and they will give +it to her, and it will make her feel glad." + +Mrs. Franklin looked at Amos with a smile on her face, but without +speaking. + +"Then I have written," continued the little cripple, "three other +letters to boys and girls in the hospital, directing them to what I +think they're most likely to be laid up with. And I mean to watch the +papers hereafter for the 'casualty cases,' so that I can get their +names. That will be so much nicer, won't it?" + +Mrs. Franklin came over and stroked his hair affectionately. + +"Is this your own idea?" she asked. + +"Yes," he answered, brightly. "I got to thinking how lonesome the +children must be, even if the nurses are kind; and you know folks can't +always visit them. Then I knew no one would think of writing letters, +and it would be such a treat for them to know that a strange boy was +talking to them." + +"My dear son," murmured his mother, fondly. + +"Of course," he went on, "I'm not going to tell them that I'm an +invalid, because that would make them feel badly. And, then, I'm not in +the hospital; I'm home, and that makes all the difference in the +world." + +"It is an excellent idea," said Mrs. Franklin, cheerfully, but with +tears in her eyes. + +"Do you think so, really?" he asked, eagerly. "I am so glad, because, do +you know, mother, I have been getting so gloomy of late, thinking how +useless I am." + +"Amos!" she exclaimed, reproachfully. + +"Now, mother, I'm not complaining; but I know I am useless. I can never +earn my living by any kind of work, and I'm not talented enough to be an +artist or designer; but I thought if I could only do something to help +somebody, and all of a sudden it flashed upon me that there were boys +and girls worse off than I am, and I might make them happy. And you +think it will?" + +"Decidedly, I do. It is a noble thought, Amos, and I am proud of your +idea." + +"Then I will write some more," he said, simply. + +A week or two passed and Amos had a dozen little correspondents, who +each and all wanted to see him; but he gently evaded their requests, and +only wrote longer letters. + +"They must think I am well and strong," he said. + +Then one day there came a handsome carriage to the door, and a +gray-haired gentleman called on Amos. + +"I want to see my assistant," he said, in a deep, hearty voice. "I am +Doctor Parkerson. Where is the boy who has been helping me make my +little patients get well?" + +It was a proud moment for Amos when the great physician, whose name was +world-renowned, took him by the hand and thanked him. + +"You are a true philanthropist, my boy," he said, warmly. "Medicine and +care are well enough, but kind words and sympathy are great helps. And +you are a sufferer, yourself! Perhaps I can do something to make you +happy in return." + +And I am sure you would like to hear that he kept his word. + + + + + [_This Story began last week._] + + CAPTAIN CLYDE. + + A Tale of Adventure in the Caribbee Islands. + + by CHARLES H. HEUSTIS, + +Author of "The Trio Club," "The Trio Club Afloat," + "The Sloop Yacht Spray," "Facing his Accusers," + etc., etc. + + + CHAPTER IV. + + Uncle Ellis Cools Down. + +The moment that Clyde had locked the door on his uncle, he felt sorry +for it. It was a mistake to push his uncle. True, it was a gentle push, +and Mr. Ellis would probably have reeled through the doorway of his own +accord, but, for all that, it was an act of defiance. + +It was the first time that the boy had ever rebelled. He had stood much +from Mr. Ellis, and taken it all as a matter-of-course, but, for once, +his anger had got the better of him. + +It was a blunder, also, to throw out that insinuation about the ten +thousand dollars. Clyde realized this perfectly. He wished now that he +not done it, and would have recalled his hasty words had it been +possible. But the deed had been done, and the consequences of it, +whatever they might be, were sure to come. + +What was to be done now? Clyde asked himself this question as he stood +there before the bolted door, flushed with excitement. He looked at his +brother, who was almost as excited as he was, and had started to his +feet, only to remain there mute and motionless. It was all a mystery to +Ray, who now heard the reference to the ten thousand dollars for the +first time. + +But there was little time for thought. Uncle Ellis quickly recovered his +self control, and, a moment after the door had been bolted on him, was +knocking vigorously for admittance. + +His demand was not immediately obeyed, but it aroused Clyde to action, +if it did nothing else. The money was still lying on the table. What was +to be done with it? + +"Here, you rascals, let me in! Do you hear?" thundered the angry man. + +There was a vicious thump upon the door, which threatened serious +results if repeated many times. + +"Open this door, or I will break it down!" + +Clyde knew that his uncle could do this, if he made up his mind to it, +and the knowledge did not tend to increase his feeling of security. But +that money! + +He looked around the room hastily for a hiding place. The house was +heated in the winter by a furnace, and there was a register in the boys' +room. This would offer a safe depository. + +Quickly sweeping the money into his handkerchief, he tied the four +corners of it with a piece of twine that he carried in his pocket, and, +lifting the iron register from its bed, hung the little bundle in the +hole. + +It was the work of but an instant to make the twine fast so that money +and all would not roll down the tin pipe. There was little chance that +the hiding-place would be discovered. + +"I say! Are you going to let me in, or shall I break down the door?" +demanded the man on the outside again. + +Clyde did not know what to say, and so he said nothing. This perhaps +proved to be the wisest plan, for, after another vigorous thump at the +door, Uncle Ellis suddenly changed his policy. He no longer demanded +admittance; he asked it. + +"See here, you boys," he said, and his voice sunk from its high and +angry tones to a softer and lower key. "See here, you boys; I don't want +to hurt you. This is a mistake. I can come in there in about one minute +if I want to; and if I do have to break this door down, some one will +have to suffer for it. But if you will open it peacefully I will promise +not to touch you. I didn't intend to do that, anyway." + +Clyde looked at Ray, who was still mystified by the proceedings, and as +yet unable to comprehend why his uncle had so suddenly collapsed. + +"I think we shall have to do it, won't we?" he asked. + +Ray nodded his acquiescence. + +Clyde advanced cautiously to the door, and turned the key gingerly, as +if he still doubted his uncle's promise. Then he retreated quickly to +the table and sat down in a chair. Mr. Ellis opened the door and walked +in quietly. His face was still very pale, and Clyde noticed that his +fingers twitched nervously. It was evident that he was having a hard +time to control his feelings. + +"I did not expect this treatment when I came up here this evening," he +began. "I came up merely to see you, and to find out how you were +getting along. I thought perhaps I had been neglecting you boys of +late." + +Clyde looked at his brother in astonishment, and Ray returned his glance +with something like a smile playing around his lips. Such talk from +Uncle Ellis was unheard of. + +The younger brother did not pretend to account for it, but Clyde quickly +got an idea. Lycurgus Sharp, the lawyer, had advised Mr. Ellis to treat +the boys kindly, in order to get their forgiveness, should the guardian +prove to be short in his accounts. Could it be possible that the harsh +uncle had determined to adopt this plan? + +"I had very good intentions when I started," continued Mr. Ellis, trying +very hard to make his voice sound pleasant, "but when I saw you counting +that money I became excited. As I told you, sums of money have been +stolen from me of late, and I cannot account for their loss. This was +one of the things I wanted to talk to you about, and to get you to help +me find the thief. When I saw you with that money, I naturally supposed +that you had been helping yourselves occasionally." + +"You thought we couldn't have come by it honestly, because you never +gave us anything," suggested Clyde, who could not refrain from giving +his uncle this sly dig. + +Mr. Ellis smiled a dismal smile. + +"But I find I am mistaken," he went on, not attempting to reply to the +bit of sarcasm. "I am glad to know that you made that money honestly, +for I shall take your word for it." + +This was so much more than either of the boys had expected that they +began to look upon their uncle as an enigma hard to solve. + +"There is one thing that I would like to speak of," added Mr. Ellis; and +Clyde thought that his face suddenly became whiter, and that his fingers +twitched even more nervously than before. "May I sit down?" + +"Why, certainly," replied the boy, amazed at this mark of politeness. +"Excuse me for not offering you a chair. Take this rocker." + +And he dragged up his favorite chair and offered it to his guardian with +a bow. + +Mr. Ellis accepted it. + +"You made some reference when I was in here--in here before," continued +the latter, "to a certain ten thousand dollars. Will you tell me what +you meant?" + +It was Clyde's turn now to become nervous. He would have liked to have +escaped that, but he was in for it now. + +"I--I didn't mean to say what I did," he pleaded. + +"Yes, but you did say it, and I would like to have it explained." + +And Mr. Ellis clutched the arm of his chair with his right hand, and +hung on to it, while he tried to push the chair into a gentle rock with +one of his feet. + +Clyde looked his uncle straight in the eye. The latter avoided the +glance, and turned his attention to the floor. + +"To be perfectly plain with you, uncle," said Clyde, "I must tell you +that you have never cared to enlighten us about the property you hold in +trust. But I know all about it now, and I have discovered that something +like ten thousand dollars is missing." + +It was a bold speech, and Clyde was doubtful how it would be received. +But it did not bring out the angry storm that might have been expected. + +Instead, Mr. Ellis merely rose from his chair and began to pace the +floor uneasily. He put his hand to his heart as if there was pain there +that he wished to stifle. His steps were unsteady. + +Meanwhile Ray looked on in perfect astonishment. He stared at his +brother, then followed his uncle with open-mouthed wonder. + +[Illustration: +CLYDE DREW A CHAIR UP TO THE TABLE AND SAT DOWN. +"NOW," SAID THE BROKER, "GO ON."] + +"You have discovered _that_, have you?" said the latter, pausing for a +moment before the chair in which Clyde was sitting. "May I ask how such +a sum could be missing?" + +"When a man speculates in wheat, and buys for a rise in price, and the +price suddenly falls, he loses money, sometimes as much as ten thousand +dollars." + +Uncle Ellis staggered into his chair, and sat there nervously clutching +at the arms on both sides. + +"Do you dare to charge me with losing in speculation ten thousand +dollars that do not belong to me?" he gasped. + +"I have not made any charges, have I?" asked Clyde. + +He could not help pitying his uncle in spite of the fact that he +detested him. + +"I hope you _won't_ do it, either," and Mr. Ellis' voice sunk almost to +a whisper. "It is not so. What enemy could have told you this lie? It +certainly was not Mr. Sh--" Mr. Ellis cast a frightened glance at his +nephew and stopped short. "This is a very serious thing," he added, +impressively. "I trust you realize the enormity of what you are saying. +Since your father was drowned, I have been a father to you and Ray. I +have taken care of you in my house--" + +"In _our_ house, you mean," corrected Clyde. + +"Well, yes, have it so, if you like. I have tried to do my duty by you, +and this is what I get for it. I have watched over your interests and +have guarded the money left in trust with zealous care. This is +unexpected. Some enemy has been poisoning your mind against me. Believe +me, there is not a word of truth in it." + +"Then the money is intact, is it?" questioned Clyde. + +"Entirely so. See here; I will prove it to you. Since you have heard +these dreadful stories, I must clear myself. Should I take you to my +lawyer and let you read the will, show you just the amount of money left +and then let you see with your own eyes that everything is safe, would +you be satisfied?" + +"Certainly I would, uncle." + +"Very well; I shall do this to-morrow or next day. Meanwhile, you must +promise me that you will not talk about this to anybody. It would ruin +me should a whisper of such an outrageous charge get out. Will you +promise not to say anything until you have seen with your own eyes that +all is right?" + +"Yes, sir." + +"Very well; then you shall know all about it in a very little while." + +Uncle Ellis looked much relieved. A bit of color was coming back to his +cheek, and he rose to his feet with a little more steadiness. + +"I shall rely on you both to protect my good name," he said, in parting. +"Good-night." And he walked from the room. + +Ray drew a long sigh when he had gone. + +"Clyde, is it true," he asked, "that uncle has lost ten thousand +dollars?" + +"Yes, Ray. I wouldn't have believed it had I not heard him confess it +with his own lips. He took it from the money that father left us and +sunk it in speculating." + +"One more thing, Clyde. Why did you want to count the money we have? You +said it was for something very important." + +"And so it is. Ray, you and I have got lots of work ahead of us. But I +mustn't stop to tell you about it now. Uncle is not telling the truth, +and is up to something, I am sure. I must find out what it is. He won't +let the night pass without hatching up some scheme to pull the wool over +my eyes. You stay around here and keep watch, and if he leaves the house +I will follow him." + + + CHAPTER V. + + Uncle Ellis Seeks Advice. + +Clyde stole down the stairs carefully and listened at the head of the +flight leading from the hall. As he had suspected, Uncle Ellis was going +out. He had just taken his hat from the rack and was walking toward the +door. + +Clyde waited until his uncle had reached the street, and then followed. +The bright moon had gone behind a bank of clouds, but from the piazza he +could make out his uncle's form moving slowly up the street. + +The house faced on the avenue running at right angles to the water. It +was situated midway between two streets which crossed it and ran through +the heart of the town, but a short distance away. + +One of these streets Mr. Ellis turned into, and Clyde quickly took the +other one. He could move faster than his uncle, and by hurrying he could +reach the main street ahead of him. + +This he did, and was awaiting his uncle behind a door not far from the +post office. + +The post office was in a small building and occupied the lower floor. A +stairway next to the office ran to the second floor, and opening from +the hallway above was a small room, in which Mr. Lycurgus Sharp had his +office. There was a balcony in front of the lawyer's office. + +Mr. Lycurgus Sharp was hanging about the post office, talking politics, +when Mr. Ellis reached that point. + +Clyde was firmly convinced that his worthy uncle and the lawyer would be +in consultation before long, and he was also convinced that the topic of +conversation would be the ten thousand dollars. He was even more firmly +convinced that he was right when the two men came out of the post office +and walked up the stairs to the lawyer's room above. + +Clyde did not like the idea of playing the spy, but if his uncle was +engaged in a scheme to rob him, he certainly had a right to know it, +and, with no twinges of conscience, he stole up the stairs, and when all +was quiet he crawled out upon the balcony. + +The night was hot, and Mr. Sharp's window was partially raised, but +protected by a blind. + +"Those confounded boys have discovered everything," Clyde heard his +uncle say. "I would like to know how they did it. You haven't been +talking, have you?" + +"What! _Me_ talk? _Me_, did you say?" exclaimed Mr. Lycurgus Sharp, +dramatically. + +"Then how did they find out that I have been speculating?" demanded the +other, sharply. + +The lawyer shrugged his shoulders. + +"That's your lookout," he said, carelessly. "Perhaps they overheard us +talking this afternoon." + +"Great Scott! I hope not," cried Mr. Ellis, excitedly. "No, I don't +believe that! No one was around at the time. I think they must have +heard a rumor somewhere--where, I don't know, but would give a heap to +find out. If those boys get a notion like that they will spread it +everywhere, and I shall be ruined. What can I do to stop them off?" + +The lawyer shrugged his shoulders again. + +"I have promised to show them the will and explain where all the money +is," added Mr. Ellis. + +"Which you can't do," broke in the lawyer, abruptly. + +"Which is only a blind to gain time," the other frowned. "I am sorry I +ever got into this speculation now; but I am in it, and I have got to +make that money good, somehow. I can do it in time, I am sure; but if +these boys get to talking, I can't tell what will happen." + +"Well," said Mr. Sharp, "I suppose you must get rid of them for a time. +That is about what you are driving at, I apprehend?" + +"That's about the size of it, but how?" + +Mr. Sharp picked up a newspaper that was lying on his table and turned +to the shipping advertisements. + +"I see here," he said, "the advertisement of a vessel to sail to-morrow +for Australia." + +"What of that?" + +"What of that! Why, everything of that. Can't you see through a +barn-door, when the door is open for you?" + +"You mean, send the boys to Australia?" + +The lawyer nodded. + +"Could you want anything better? They would be gone a long time. You can +take them to New York to-morrow and ship them off in the afternoon. Put +them before the mast. Make sailors out of them." + +"Nobody would take them for sailors," remarked Mr. Ellis, doubtfully. + +"What of that? Go to the captain and tell him that you have two boys who +are wild. Tell him you don't want to send them to the reform school, but +would like to have them put under the discipline of a big ship. Pay him +to take them, and he will jump at the chance, and break them in for you, +I'll warrant." + +Clyde's cheeks burned with resentment. His heart was going like a +trip-hammer. Could it be possible that his uncle would lend himself to +such a villainous scheme? He could scarcely refrain from jumping through +the window and denouncing the plotters to their very faces. + +He did not have to wait long to discover his uncle's sentiments. + +"Sharp," said Mr. Ellis, "you have a great head. I do admire you, upon +my word! If I had one-half of your ability for villainy, I would have +been rich long ago." + +"Thank you," retorted the lawyer, coolly. "But you can bet that I never +used other people's money to speculate with." + +"The less said about that the better," replied the other. "I shall pull +out of this all right if I am given time. But now to business. How am I +going to get those boys aboard? They may suspect something." + +"Oh, well, if you haven't got any inventive faculty at all, you had +better quit, go down on your knees, ask your nephews' pardon, and live +happily ever after. To tell you plainly, that is just what I would do. +But if you are dead set on getting rid of them, why, I am paid to give +you advice, and here it is. You have promised to show them the will +to-morrow. Tell them that it is necessary to go to New York to see it. +There you can take them to some office for a blind, and, while you are +there, you can have a letter sent to you, or pretend to have, from an +old friend who is going to Australia and wants you to see him off. It +will be the easiest thing in the world to ask the boys to accompany you, +and, once aboard, you can lock them up, and there they are." + +"That's the talk. They shall be there," exclaimed the delighted +speculator. + +"Only they won't," thought Clyde, from his perch in front of the window. + +"Look here," said Mr. Ellis, nervously. "Since this thing has begun, I +am suspicious of everything. No one could have heard us, could they?" + +"The door is shut, as you see," replied the lawyer, "and I don't think +anybody saw us come up here." + +"The window is open," suggested Mr. Ellis. + +He got up from his chair and walked to the door. + +Clyde saw him open it and leave it open, then turn to the window as if +he meant to do the same thing with it. + +The boy was in a trap. It would never do to be caught there. To think +with him was to act. He stepped over the balcony and hung from the floor +by his hands. There was no one on the sidewalk beneath, and, letting go, +he dropped lightly to the ground, just as his uncle stepped out upon the +balcony above. + +He pulled himself into a shadow and stood motionless. + +Mr. Ellis was apparently suspicions. Perhaps he had heard something. At +all events, he looked down and up and in all directions without becoming +any wiser for it. + +The moment his head disappeared from sight, Clyde stole away. He was hot +with excitement and anger. + + + CHAPTER VI. + + Clyde and Ray Prisoners. + +James T. Leeds, broker, sat upon the veranda of the seaside hotel, with +his feet on the railing and his chair tilted back. + +He was at peace with himself and with all the world. In fact, the world +had been treating him nicely of late. His "flyers" in Wall Street and in +the wheat market had been successful. He had been making money rapidly, +and this is why he smiled as he lighted his cigar. + +Mr. Leeds liked the little seaside town, and was sure to drop in upon it +as soon as the warm weather set in. + +It was so near New York that he could reach the city in a few minutes. +He had expected to get a good deal of enjoyment out of the yacht that he +had bought, but, as we have already seen, it had proved a dismal +failure. + +He could not learn to manage it himself, and if the water was at all +rough the motion made him sick. So he had reluctantly come to the +conclusion that the water had no charms for him. + +Mr. Leeds was in the midst of a calculation of his profits of the next +day, should Erie Railroad stock jump up a couple of points, as he +confidently expected that it would do, when a boy, panting and red in +the face, suddenly appeared by his side. + +"Hullo, Clyde! What is the matter with you _now_?" he inquired. + +And his feet came down from off the railing and the legs of the chair +settled upon the plank with a thump. + +"I--I want to speak to you," panted the boy. + +"Well, speak away. I'm listening." + +Clyde shook his head. + +"No, not here," he said, with due regard to the danger of talking over +private matters where an unsuspected ear might be within hearing +distance. "This is very important." + +"It must be," said the broker, with a little laugh. "Well, come to my +room." + +The broker led the way to a room that looked out upon the water. + +Clyde walked to the window to see that there were no convenient porches, +and then drew a chair up to the table and sat down. + +"Now," said the broker, "go on." + +Clyde hesitated a moment. He really did not know how to begin. Finally +be got started: + +"Mr. Leeds, you said to-day that you had got tired of the yacht, did you +not?" + +"That's what I said," replied the broker. "Did you bring me up here to +tell me that?" + +"You said you were going to sell the Orion, did you not?" + +"No, I did not. I said I was going to smash her up. But I have thought +better of that. I'm going to load her up with pitch and anchor her off +in the stream and set fire to her. I am going to do that on the Fourth +of July, and have a celebration all to myself. Won't that be fun?" + +"I thought you would perhaps take her around to New York and sell her. +If you were going to do that--" + +"Oh, but I'm not going to do anything of the sort. I am not in the +yacht-selling business. I wouldn't be bothered with her. But what is all +this about, anyway?" + +"Well, then, to come to the point, I want to buy her." + +"_You_ want to buy her! Well, that _is_ a good one. Do you know what I +paid for the Orion?" + +"No, sir." + +"Well, she cost me just one thousand dollars. How much are you willing +to give for her?" + +Mr. Leeds looked at the well-worn garments of the would-be purchaser and +smiled. + +"What will you sell her for?" asked Clyde. + +"Come, now, is this a joke, or what?" grinned the broker. "Has your +uncle suddenly opened his heart, or have you come into possession of +your property?" + +"Neither," replied the boy, gravely, "but if you will sell me the yacht +on a note--" + +"On a note, eh? Well, isn't this rich? What is your note worth?" + +"Nothing, I know, Mr. Leeds; but it will be some day. I can't pay you +now, but when I am old enough to draw a note I will pay it." + +The broker looked at the boy steadily for a moment. + +"Clyde, something is up," he said. "What is it?" + +"It all comes out of that 'pointer' you gave me this afternoon. I am +going to leave home to escape being driven away." + +"Phew!" whistled the broker. "Tell me about it." + +And Clyde went over the whole story from beginning to end, and gave a +graphic description of the plot to send him to Australia. + +"Well, this is about the worst I ever heard," was Mr. Leeds' comment, +when the recital was finished. "I couldn't have believed your uncle +would have gone to such extremities. Well, we must block that game. We +can haul him into court and prove a conspiracy." + +"No," objected Clyde, "that wouldn't do at all. Of course, my uncle +would deny the whole thing, and then, when it had all blown over, off I +would go." + +"But what do you intend to do?" + +"I believe that my father is still alive. One of the men who was with +him thinks it is possible. I shall never be satisfied until I have made +an investigation, and I want to take him and go to the Caribbean Sea. I +thought if you would sell me the yacht on credit I would go." + +"Well, I won't sell the Orion," declared the broker. + +Clyde's hopeful countenance fell. + +"I said I wouldn't, and I won't. But you can have her, and everything +aboard of her--that is, if she is fit to go on such a cruise." + +Clyde's eyes filled with tears. + +"You are too good. I can't take it unless you will let me pay for it +when I can." + +"Nonsense! Don't talk that way. I never was good in my life, and I think +it won't hurt me any to do a little thing like that. The Orion is of no +use to me, and, unless you do take her, I shall run her on the rocks and +set her on fire, as sure as I am alive. But what are you going to do for +money? You can't go anywhere without money?" + +"Ray and I have got thirty dollars between us." + +"Thirty fiddlesticks! Here," and the broker pulled out a well-filled +pocket-book and counted out some bills--"here are three hundred dollars. +You will have to fit the yacht up for a long cruise. There! don't make +any objections. I owe you something for helping me out of a bad scrape +to-day. You can promise to pay me if you like, and, when you come into +possession of your property, you can do so. But never mind the note. It +isn't worth anything, anyway, and I can trust you, I'm sure. Now, who is +this man that you say will go with you?" + +"I don't know his name. Tom, the fisherman, calls him Old Ben. He was +the boatswain on my father's ship." + +"Well, I want to see him. Come with me." + +The two strolled over to the fisherman's cabin, where Tom and Ben were +found smoking their pipes and telling each other sea stories. It did not +take Mr. Leeds long to come to the point, and, when the whole story had +been repeated, the broker asked the fisherman whether the Orion could be +relied upon to make such a trip. + +"Well, there's a risk about it, of course," was the reply; "but the +Orion is a mighty fine boat--mighty fine. She would stand up before a +good stiff gale, and Old Ben, here, is just the man to handle her." + +"Well, then, Old Ben, will you go along and run her?" asked the broker. + +"Now, I ain't a holdin' out any promises that we will find the cap'n," +and the old salt shook his head. "It's my opinion that the chances is +all agin' it. But if the youngster wants to go, and as Tom says the boat +is a good one, why, I don't mind makin' the trip. It may be there is +something behind it all and that the cap'n is still alive; but, as I +said--" + +"I don't ask you to go for nothing, you understand," interrupted the +broker. + +He took out his pocket-book again and selected five twenty-dollar +bills. + +"You don't make more than twelve or fifteen dollars a month before the +mast. Here are one hundred dollars, and if you find the cap'n, there is +more for you." + +"Thankee, sir," said the boatswain, with a bob of the head. "But I +didn't expect that. I would have gone without it. Yes, I will go, and we +will find the cap'n, if he's in the land of the livin'. If he ain't, +why, then--he ain't; and that's all there is about it." + +"We shall have to get off in the morning; or, rather, as soon as +possible," said Clyde, delighted with the prospect. "My uncle will have +me in his clutches to-morrow, and if he gets hold of me there may be +trouble." + +"I think that is the best way," approved the broker. "You will need some +stores, but you cannot get them here. You will have to run in to New +York and take them aboard." + +"Yes, that's right," assented Old Ben. + +"And you had better take out papers that will allow you to cruise as a +yacht. I will have the Orion made over to Clyde, so he will be your +owner, and you will find him a good sailor as well." + +"If he is anything like his father, he will do," said the boatswain. +"Well, Tom and me will overhaul the yacht, and I will go aboard at once. +Just as soon as the cap'n boards us we will start." + +"That's the way I like to hear a man talk," commented the broker. "I +will go back to the hotel and turn the yacht over to Clyde, in writing, +and bring it to the Orion myself. Now, Clyde, go and get ready, and +return some time before morning." + +"I will be there!" + +And the happy boy sped away toward home with visions of all sorts of +adventures flitting before his imagination. + +He had found his father half a dozen times before he reached his room on +the third floor, and broke in on his brother with his face flushed with +excitement. + +"Get ready, Ray," he cried. + +"Get ready for what?" asked his surprised brother. + +"To go to sea. We are going on a long cruise." + +"Look here, Clyde Ellis, are you crazy?" + +"Not a bit of it," replied Clyde, cheerily. "Listen." + +And rapidly he detailed the occurrences of the day. Before he had quite +finished there was a step in the hall, and a moment later Uncle Ellis +appeared at the doorway. + +"Not gone to bed yet?" he asked. + +He seemed to be laboring under a heavy strain, and it was with +difficulty that he controlled himself. + +"Not yet," replied Clyde. + +And his heart sunk like the mercury in the thermometer upon the approach +of a cold wave, a presentiment of coming danger. + +"You have been out to-night?" queried the uncle. + +"Yes, sir." + +"Where have you been?" + +And his uncle eyed him sternly. + +"I have been over to the hotel." + +"Where else?" + +"Oh, around town a bit!" + +"I am almost afraid to trust you after what you told me this evening. +After I have shown you the will to-morrow, which I will do in New York, +I have no fears that you will talk; but, until then, I think it best to +keep you under my eye. To-morrow you shall know all." + +Clyde thought it very likely that his uncle would also be the wiser in +the morning, but he did not say so. + +Mr. Ellis pulled the key from the door and placed it in the lock on the +outside; then he stepped out and closed the door after him. The next +instant he had turned the key, and his retreating footsteps were heard +along the hallway. + +Clyde jumped to his feet and tried the door. It was firmly locked. + +He staggered back to the bed and threw himself upon it, burying his face +in his hands. + +"Trapped!" he cried, bitterly. "Just when everything is ready, we are +prisoners and there is no help for it!" + + [TO BE CONTINUED.] + + + + + [_This story began in No. 48._] + + KIDNAPPED: + + or, + + The Adventures of Jason Dilke. + + by J. W. DAVIDSON, + + Author of "Hardy & Co.," "Rob Archer's Trials," + "Limpy Joe," "Harry Irving's Pluck," + "Mind Before Muscle," "Squid," + etc., etc. + + + CHAPTER XVII--[Continued.] + +The Witch was not long in overhauling the Swan. Arno, seeing that escape +was out of the question, surrendered without a word. + +"It's no use trying to get away," he said to Jason, "and we may as well +yield without a struggle. There is nothing can outsail that schooner. +I've a great mind to throw that money overboard." + +"It wouldn't be of any use," replied Jason. "Perhaps they are following +us just to see who we are." + +Arno shook his head at this. + +"I think you'll find that Buxton is on board that vessel," he said, +looking steadily at the approaching craft. "Yes, there he is," he +continued, "though he doesn't know anything about the money." + +Immediately after the capture of the Swan, Judith, Sandy McDougall and +Shaky took possession of her, the latter having paid Buxton for the +trouble he had been to. Then the Witch bore away to the northward. + +Judith seemed overjoyed at seeing Arno again, all her resentment +apparently being swallowed up in the gratification she felt in once more +meeting with him. She clasped her great, strong arms about him, and held +him as though she feared losing him again. + +As for Sandy and Shaky, they paid no heed whatever to the two boys. As +soon as the Witch had left the sloop, they ran the latter in among the +islands and dropped anchor. + +Here they remained during the afternoon and night, the cabin of the +little vessel being given up to Judith, the men and boys sleeping in the +compartment in the bow. + +When morning came, they put to sea again and sailed down the coast. Arno +and Jason had little opportunity for conversation, so close was the +vigilance of Judith. + +It was considerably past noon when Sandy announced that the Petrel was +in sight, and then the little hatch in the deck forward of the mast was +raised, and Arno and Jason ordered to descend. + +Realizing how helpless they were, the two boys offered no resistance, +and they soon found themselves in complete darkness, save for a faint +glimmer of light that came through a little port-hole opened for +ventilation. + +"What's going to happen next?" asked Jason, throwing himself down upon +the blankets that had formed their bed the preceding night. + +"It's hard telling," replied Arno, creeping forward and peering through +the little opening. "I can see the Petrel, and Captain Dilke is at the +bow." + +At the mention of this name, Jason trembled, and shortly after Arno +announced that the schooner was close alongside. + +Then they heard the sail flapping, and knew that the sloop had been +brought up to the wind, and presently there was a shock, as though some +heavy body had bumped against the Swan. + +"It's all up with us," said Arno, leaving the little port-hole and +casting himself down beside his companion. + +The trampling of heavy feet sounded upon the deck, the sides of the +vessels grated together as they rose and fell with the motion of the +water, and down in the little hold of the sloop the two boys lay and +waited tremblingly. + + + CHAPTER XVIII. + + An Unexpected Catastrophe. + +If Captain Dilke feared that the Swan would endeavor to escape, he was +entirely mistaken. As the two vessels drew near together, he was greatly +surprised to see Sandy and Shaky instead of Arno and Jason. + +Sandy was at the tiller of the Swan and Martin held the wheel of the +Petrel. + +Stifling his curiosity, Captain Dilke gave his orders, and soon the two +vessels lay side by side, Shaky making the sloop fast to the schooner. + +Then Captain Dilke leaped on board the Swan, leaving Martin on the +Petrel, both vessels drifting with the wind. + +"How did you come in possession of this craft?" demanded Captain Dilke, +striding aft to where Sandy stood. + +The Scotchman made no answer, and Captain Dilke repeated his question. + +At this moment some one grasped him by the arm, and, turning, he met the +angry gaze of Judith. + +Vainly he strove to break away. Her arms were like bands of steel, and +pinioned his own close to his side. + +Then he was thrown to the deck, a handkerchief tied over his mouth by +the Scotchman and his arms and legs bound with a stout cord, rendering +his struggles utterly useless. + +After this he was half-dragged down the companion-way and left, lying +helpless, upon the cabin floor. + +While this was transpiring on board the Swan, Shaky had boarded the +Petrel. + +Martin greeted him surlily, as he came aft. + +"What's the row on the sloop?" asked Martin. "I heard a scuffle of some +kind, but couldn't see what was going on from here." + +"Nothing," replied Shaky, his grimacing and stammering having deserted +him entirely, "only a slight change in commanders. You are now under my +orders." + +At this Martin flushed angrily and took a step toward the man who had +addressed him with so much confidence. + +Then his face changed, his eyes dilated, his hands fell nervelessly by +his side. Fear took the place of anger. + +"You are--it can't be," he gasped, staring into the face of the man +before him. + +"You remember me, I see," replied the other, coolly. "They call me +Shaky; but you are right." + +"Does Captain Dilke know who you are?" asked Martin, whose bearing was +now one of abject humility. + +"Not yet; but he will know soon enough. Just at present he is in a +somewhat uncomfortable predicament. The last I saw of him, your wife and +Sandy were dragging him down into the cabin of the Swan." + +At this Martin's face turned fairly livid. + +"Is Judith on board?" he gasped. "I'll do anything you say, only be +merciful. It was so many years ago, and I have been sorry for it a +thousand times." + +"I see you are quite repentant now," smiled the man, whom we will still +call Shaky. "Here comes your wife now. We had a long tramp through from +your home to Whiting, though she stood the journey as well as any of +us." + +Martin looked up and saw Judith coming toward him, and he stood like a +guilty boy expecting the punishment which he knows he richly merits. + +Judith came and stood beside the two men. Martin's eyes were cast down, +and she made a number of swift movements with her hands, which Shaky +answered in like manner. Then he turned to Martin. + +"She wishes to know if you are willing to do as you are told. What +answer shall I make?" + +"Tell her that I will obey orders," replied Martin, without looking up. +"I will not struggle against fate." + +Shaky spelled this off rapidly with his fingers, and Judith smiled. + +It was like a ray of sunlight breaking through a cloud, and illumined +the dark face wonderfully. + +In a few moments the fastenings were cast off and the sloop and schooner +drifted apart, Sandy remaining on board the Swan, with the imprisoned +captain in the cabin and the two boys in the hold. + +The Petrel at once bore away, with Martin at the wheel and Shaky in +command, Judith descending into the little caboose to prepare food. + +The feelings of Captain Dilke, when he found himself alone in the cabin, +cannot be described. He struggled frantically with his bonds for a long +time, and at last succeeded in releasing one of his hands. It was now +only a question of time for him to free himself entirely, and soon he +found himself at liberty. + +What should he do next? He knew that several hours had passed since he +had been thrust into the cabin, and that it was now night, for no light +came through the bull's-eye in the deck. + +Groping his way cautiously up the companion-way, he tried the door. It +was fastened. And, even if it was unfastened, how could he escape the +men who stood guard on deck? + +Then he bethought himself of the passageway under the cabin-floor. He +would wait till a late hour, and then endeavor to escape by that way. + +Up to this time he had been so engrossed with thoughts of his own +freedom that he had quite forgotten the money which he believed the boys +had found. Now it came back to him with redoubled force. Long years of a +roving, reckless life had prepared him for almost every emergency. +Taking from his pocket a small folding lantern and a diminutive +spirit-lamp, he soon got it in working order. + +All this time the Swan had been rocking on the waves, but suddenly there +was a shock, and then she lay quiet and still. + +Patiently the prisoner waited. He heard the noise of feet upon the deck, +and then all was silent. + +"They have landed, and quitted the vessel," he muttered. "Now is my time +to escape." + +He struck a match and lighted his little lantern, looking at his watch +by its feeble rays. It was past ten o'clock. + +As rapidly as possible he searched the cabin thoroughly--the berths, the +locker for food, and the bunker for wood. + +Having satisfied himself that the money was not hidden in any of these, +he unfastened and raised the trap-door, and descended into the vacant +place below the floor. Almost creeping on his face, he moved along, +noticing at once that the ballast had been moved. + +Then the corner of the sack in which the money had been placed caught +his eye, and he unfastened the iron bars and moved them to one side. His +breath came quick and heavy. He had found the money! + +So intent was he in his searching that he had not noticed that the door +had closed in the cabin floor. In fact, the rattle of the iron bars as +he moved them had drowned the noise of its fall. + +His greedy eyes devoured the pile of gold exposed to view, and his hands +trembled, and a feeling of suffocation came over him, as he strove to +put the sack in condition for removal. + +This was finally accomplished, but his arms had grown so weak and +nerveless that he could not raise it. In striving to do so, he slipped +and crushed his little lantern, leaving himself in total darkness. + + + CHAPTER XIX. + + Captain Dilke's Fate--A Happy Wind-Up. + +The days had dragged by on leaden wings to the parents of Jason Dilke. +The mother was nearly bereft of reason, but the father, spite of grief +for his son and anxiety for his wife, gained in strength day by day. + +Every effort to find the boy in the vicinity of Old Orchard and to the +southward had been made. Liberal rewards were offered and advertisements +inserted in papers far and near. + +Jacob, the faithful old servitor, had been continually on the go, but +all without success. + +And yet the strength of Allan Dilke did not succumb. His face was white +and thin, but his eyes shone with a determined light. + +"We will hear from Arnold to-morrow," he would say, hopefully, at night. +"I know he is doing his utmost." + +But the morrow came, and still no word from the absent ones. The heart +of the mother had lost all hope, when one night there came a summons at +the door after the bereaved parents had retired. + +"It is Jason," said Allan Dilke, rising hastily and dressing, when the +servant had tapped upon the door and announced that visitors desired to +see him. + +"Show them into the drawing-room," he said, as he came forth in +dressing-gown and slippers. + +"But they are rough, sea-faring men, sir," replied the domestic. "Shall +I--" + +"Do as I bid you!" interrupted the master of the house, sternly. "No +room is too good for those who bring tidings of my son." + +A moment later two men stood before him in rough sailor garb. + +"We come to inform you that--" began one of them, who was no other than +Shaky, when Allan Dilke interrupted him. + +"If my son is with you," he said, firmly, "bring him to me. If he is +dead, tell me so!" + +Shaky at once left the room, and soon a little procession came slowly +in. Two men were carrying a helpless body, while a woman and boy +followed. + +A wail of anguish sounded. A woman with white face and streaming hair +knelt beside the slight figure which lay upon a sofa. + +"Dead! Is my boy dead?" she sobbed. "Twice we have been robbed. Once, so +many years ago, when our first-born was taken by the cruel sea, and +now--" + +She had spoken so hurriedly and with such an abandon of despair that +Allan Dilke had failed in trying to calm her. + +"The boy is not dead," said Shaky. "See, he is opening his eyes. He is +only exhausted." + +The mother fainted from excess of joy at this, and, when she had +recovered consciousness, Jason was sitting up. + +In the midst of their tears and caresses, Shaky spoke again. + +"It may not be a proper time to say what I am about to, but something +urges me on. Can you bear a revelation?" + +"We can bear anything now," replied Allan Dilke. "Our boy is restored to +us." + +"You lost another child, did you not?" queried Shaky. + +Allan Dilke made answer slowly: + +"We did, years ago. But why refer to it now?" + +"Because the boy is not dead," responded Shaky. "This is your son!" + +As he said this, he drew Arno toward them. The boy met the eyes of Allan +Dilke unflinchingly, while Jason exclaimed, joyously: + +"Good, good, good! Then we won't be parted." + +"Is this true?" asked Mr. Dilke, gravely. "Can you prove that he is my +son?" + +"As for proof," replied Shaky, "I had the honor of helping to steal him +away myself more than fifteen years ago, though I did it unwittingly. +You remember Bart Loring--that is my real name--and Martin Hoffman and +his wife Judith, the deaf mute? They stand before you. We have ample +proof." + +"And, if I may ask the question, Mr. Loring, what prompted you to commit +this deed? Who was the instigator?" + +Allan Dilke spoke these words slowly, like one in a dream; but the +answer of Shaky, or Bart Loring, came promptly: + +"Your brother, Arnold Dilke. He it was who kidnapped the boy I have the +happiness of returning to you to-night. I was a sailor at that time on +board your brother's vessel, and did not know till afterward who the +child was. I also learned later that you were robbed of a considerable +sum of money at the same time, though I had no hand in this. Fear of +being implicated in the robbery kept me silent, and I left this part of +the country shortly after. I prospered, but thoughts of the great wrong +done you haunted me continually, and when I returned, a few months ago, +I determined to right this matter at the first opportunity, if it could +be done. At this time I little thought he had stolen your second child, +and it was only by the merest chance that I met your brother on the +steamer. From that moment I entered into the matter heart and soul, and +have the pleasure of restoring two boys, instead of one." + +"And where is this loyal brother of mine, who came to me so repentant a +few years ago and begged for an opportunity to retrieve a wasted life?" +asked Allan Dilke, standing pale and erect, not noticing that his wife +had sunk down on the sofa beside Jason, and that one of her hands was +clasped in both those of Arno. + +"He is a prisoner in the little sloop not far from here," replied Shaky. +"McDougall here, Judith, the two boys and myself were on board a sloop +which I am told was stolen from you by your brother and presented to +Martin when the two latter personages overhauled us in the Petrel. I +sent the boys into the hold, and, when Arnold came on board, we tied him +hand and foot and put him in the cabin. I have not seen him since." + +"I will send my man with you to bring him here at once," said Allan +Dilke. "If he will promise to leave the country, never to return, I will +let him go free." + +Shaky, Sandy McDougall, Martin and Judith, accompanied by Jacob, left +the house, and then Allan Dilke turned to Arno. + +"Were you given to understand that this Martin and Judith were your +parents?" he asked. + +"Yes, sir; though I never could believe it. Once, I overheard Captain +Dilke talking to Martin about me, and I knew from what they said that +the captain was my uncle." + +The tones of the boy were respectful, yet confident, and Allan Dilke +smiled as he looked into the earnest eyes that met his. + +"I can see the Dilke blood shining in your eyes," he said. "Who knows +but what you are the son whom we have so long mourned as dead?" + +"I feel convinced that he is," replied Mrs. Dilke. "Something tells me +as plainly as words could do that he is our own flesh and blood." + +They were talking in this way, when footsteps were heard at the door. + +"The men have returned," said Allan Dilke, gravely, rising to his feet. +"Now I must meet my brother who has wronged me so deeply." + +Jacob entered the room, followed by Bart Loring, alias Jasper Leith, +alias Shaky, the latter carrying a bundle. + +"Your brother will trouble you no more," said he of the various +cognomens. "We searched the cabin of the sloop in vain; but beneath the +cabin floor, in a close compartment, we found him, his hands clutching a +great quantity of gold, but he was--dead!" + +As he spoke, he dropped the bundle upon the carpet. It fell heavily, +with a metallic chink, which denoted the character of its contents. + +Allan Dilke buried his face in his hands. + +"Let the dead past bury its dead," he said, solemnly. "He needs not my +mercy now." + +"And what will we do with the money?" asked he who had been known as +Shaky. + +"Divide it between this man McDougall, Judith and yourself," replied +Allan Dilke. "I want no portion of it, and I will provide for this brave +boy whether he be my son or not." + +From this day onward the recovery of Allan Dilke was rapid, and, after +the body of Captain Dilke had been consigned to the earth, Martin +produced proofs of Arno's true identity, which fully satisfied the happy +father and mother that their little family circle was complete. + +Martin was allowed to go free, and, in company with Judith, who was +exceedingly loth to part with Arno, betook himself to Grand Manan +Island, where he resides to this day, a reformed, repentant man. + + [THE END.] + + + + + A FLOCK OF GEESE. + + by W. BERT FOSTER. + + +[Illustration] + +"That Al Peck thinks he's _so_ smart," remarked Nat Bascom, coming into +the kitchen with a scowl of fearful proportions darkening his face. +"Just because he's got a flock of geese, and expects to make some money +on them Christmas. I wish I had some geese--or something, father. I'd +like to make some money as well as Al." + +Mr. Bascom looked up from the county paper, in which he had been reading +a political article, and said, curtly: + +"_You_ make money, Nat! You haven't a money-making bone in your body. +Wish you had. Last spring I gave you that plot of ground back of the +orchard to plant, and you let it grow up to weeds; and, a year ago, you +had that cosset lamb, and let the animal die. 'Most any other boy around +these parts would have made quite a little sum on either of them." + +"Oh, well, the weeds got the start of me on that ground, and you know +that lamb was weakly. Ma said it was," whined Nat. + +"It was after you had the care of it," reminded the elder Bascom. + +"Well, pa, can't I have some geese, same as Al Peck has?" at last +inquired Nat, desperately. + +"You may if you can catch them," answered his father, smiling grimly. +"If you can trap a flock of wild ones, I reckon you can have them. I +ain't going to waste any more money on your ventures." + +Nat flung out of the house in anything but a pleasant frame of mind and +went over to stare longingly at Alvin Peck's flock of geese, securely +penned behind his father's barn. + +Until recently, the two boys, who were about of an age, had been the +best of friends. But within a fortnight, Alvin's father had presented +his son with a flock of thirteen geese, to fatten for market, and Al +had, in Nat's eyes, put on the airs of a millionaire. + +Alvin Peck may have had some excuse for being proud of his geese, for +they were all fine, handsome birds, but, in his pride, he had filled +poor Nat's breast with envy. + +Nat wanted some Christmas money as well as his friend, and to hear Al +loudly boast of what he intended doing with _his_ was maddening. + +Gradually the seeds of discord sown between the two boys had sprouted +and taken root, and, being warmed and watered by Nat's jealousy and Al's +selfishness, were soon in a flourishing condition, and before +Thanksgiving the former chums refused even to speak to each other. + +This state of affairs made Nat secretly very lonely, for Alvin was the +only other boy within a number of miles, and, being without either +brother or sister, Nat was absolutely companionless. But his pride would +not allow him to go to his former friend and "make up." Even when Al's +dog Towser came over to visit the Bascom's Bose, Nat drove him home with +a club, thus increasing the enmity between him and Towser's master. + +This deplorable state of affairs continued to grow worse instead of +better as the holidays approached. One evening, a week or ten days +before Christmas, it commenced raining, but, becoming suddenly very cold +in the night, the rain turned to ice, and the following morning the +roofs, sheds, fences, trees--everything, in fact--was covered with a +coating of ice. With the beams of the rising sun shining over all, it +seemed a picture of fairy land. + +But Nat Bascom arose that morning with an uglier feeling against Al Peck +than ever. Donning his outside garments, he went out to assist his +father in feeding the cattle. + +The hay-stack behind the barn had a glittering coat of ice, and, as he +approached it, Nat discovered something else about it as well. Close to +the ground, on the lea of the stack, were a number of objects which Nat +quickly recognized as geese--thirteen of them. + +"They're those plaguey geese of Al Peck's!" exclaimed Nat, as one of the +birds stretched out its long neck at his approach and uttered a +threatening "honk! honk!" + +The geese tried to scuttle away as he came nearer, and then for the +first time Nat discovered that they, like the inanimate things about +them, were completely sheathed in ice; so much so, in fact, that they +could not use their wings. + +Nat stood still a moment and thought. + +"I know what I'll do," he said, aloud, "I'll put them in pound, same as +father did old Grayson's cattle last summer, and make Al pay me to get +them out." + +With this happy thought, he at once set about securing the geese. + +One end of an old shed near by had in former times been used by the +Bascoms for a hen-house, and there was still a low entrance through +which the fowls were wont to go in and out. + +Carefully, and so as not to alarm them, Nat drove the thirteen birds +into the shed and clapped a board over the opening. The geese objected +with continued cries to these proceedings, but they were too thoroughly +coated with ice to get away. + +"There, now, Mister Al Peck, I think I'll get even with you this time," +he said, in a tone of satisfaction. + +Hastening through the remainder of his chores, he started off in the +direction of the Peck place without saying a word about the matter to +either of his parents. + +As he approached Mr. Peck's barn, he beheld Al returning from the +direction of his goose-pen. + +"You needn't look for them, Al Peck," remarked Nat, with a malicious +grin, "for you can't find them. You ought to keep your old geese shut +up, if you don't want to lose them." + +"I haven't lost them," declared Al, with a somewhat puzzled expression +of countenance. + +"Oh, you haven't?" snapped Nat, angered at the other's apparent +coolness. "You needn't think you're going to get them back for nothing. +I found them all camped under our haystack this morning, and drove them +into the old hen-house. You've just got to pay me ten cents apiece for +them before I'll let them out. I bet you'll keep them to home after +this." + +Al opened his mouth and closed it again like a flash. He was evidently +surprised. + +Just then Mr. Peck appeared on the scene. Al repeated what Nat had said, +to his father's very evident amazement. + +"Why, I saw--" began the elder Peck, when Al interrupted him with a +gesture, and whispered something in his ear. + +A broad grin overspread Mr. Peck's face for a moment; then he said, with +becoming gravity: + +"I suppose you've got the rights of it, Nat, but seems to me it's a +rather mean trick." + +Nat had begun to think so, too, by this time, but he refused to listen +to the promptings of his better nature and said nothing. + +"We'll come right over with the team for them," said Mr. Peck. + +And he and Al at once harnessed up, and placing a large, strong coop in +the wagon, drove over to the Bascom place. + +"I should think you'd have your geese tame enough to drive," said Nat; +but the Pecks paid no attention to the remark. + +Mr. Peck pulled his cap well down over his eyes, put on a pair of gloves +and entered the hen-house. + +The ice had by this time melted from their backs and wings, and those +thirteen geese were the liveliest flock of birds imaginable. + +"Thirteen of them. All right!" said Mr. Peck, passing out the last +struggling bird to his son, who clapped it into the coop. + +A dollar and thirty cents was handed to Nat by Al's father, with the +cutting remark: + +"There's your money, young man! I hope you won't grow up to be as mean +as you bid fair to be now." + +Nat accepted the money, considerably shame-faced, and followed the Pecks +back to their place to see them unload the geese; but he was +disappointed, in that they were not unloaded, Al flinging some corn into +the coop, which was allowed to remain in the wagon. + +"Aren't you going to put them into the pen again?" inquired Nat, mildly. + +"They've never been in a pen, that I know of," replied Mr. Peck, with a +queer smile. + +"I don't believe they'd get along very well with any other geese," added +Al, reflecting his father's broad grin. + +"Why--" began Nat, at last beginning to believe that there was something +_very_ peculiar about the whole affair. + +"Why, it is just here!" explained Al. "They weren't my geese at all, +till I bought them of you. They were a flock of wild ones, that got +belated in the storm last evening, I suppose. I should think you'd have +known them by their call. For once in your life, Nat Bascom, you've +over-reached yourself. I shall clear as much as seventy-five cents on +each of those birds." + +Nat made for home at once, followed by shouts of laughter from the +Pecks, father and son. He felt as though everything stable in the world +had been knocked from under him. + +Although he never mentioned the matter to his father or mother, the +story reached them through other sources, for it soon spread throughout +the community, and neither Mr. nor Mrs. Bascom had the least sympathy +for him. + +All that winter the nickname of "Goose" clung to him, and perhaps the +jeers of his fellows did him some good; at least, it made a lasting +impression on his mind, and when he was tempted to perform a mean act +again, he could not fail to remember how he had once over-reached +himself. + + + + + DRAWN INTO THE WHIRLPOOL + + (_A Norway Boy's Adventure._) + + by DAVID KER. + +Under the lee of a small island on the northwest coast of Norway a young +fisher-lad lay sleeping in the boat in which he had been out all night, +unconscious of the grim face and cruel eye that watched him from the +thicket above with a look that boded him no good. Just then, two men +came pulling round the point behind which his boat was moored, and one +of them said to the other, loud enough to be heard by the hidden watcher +overhead, though not to wake the sleeper: + +"There's a rich Englishman come into Langeness, in his yacht, and he's +offered a big reward to any man that'll find out what those letters are +that are carved on the sea-king's grave." + +"Why don't he offer a reward for the moon?" laughed the other. "Does he +think any money can tempt men to go right into a whirlpool that would +swallow the stoutest boat in these seas like a biscuit?" + +"But they say that at the flood-tide you may go through it without harm, +if you start just at the right moment." + +"Aye! _if_ you do. But who would be fool enough to risk it?" + +Then they passed on, and their voices were lost in the distance. + +The moment their boat was out of sight, behind the rocks, a wild face +peered through the matted boughs overhead, and a bulky figure rose +stealthily from the bushes and crept downward toward the sleeping boy, +with a long knife in its hand. One quick slash cut the mooring-rope, and +the boat slowly drifted seaward with its slumbering occupant. + +"The current sets straight for the whirlpool," muttered the ruffian, +with a cruel laugh, "and, when he's missed, they'll think the _reward_ +tempted him. I'm quits at last with his father for the thrashing that he +gave me!" + +Only a few miles from the spot, a small rocky islet had sunk down into +the sea ages ago, creating by its fall one of the most dangerous +whirlpools in northern waters, known in Norway as the "Well of +Tuftiloe." + +In the midst of the whirl stood up one dark, pillar-shaped crag, the +sole remnant of the lost islet, which the Norsemen, believing it to be +some ancient hero's tomb, called "The Sea King's Grave." And, in fact, +passing yachtsmen had seen upon it from a distance, through their +telescopes, traces of rude carving, and something that looked like the +half-effaced letters of an old Runic inscription. But although the +whirlpool, like its big brother, the maelstrom, was believed to be +passable at certain states of the tide, no one had ever dared to try. + +The quickening motion of the current, as it bore the light boat swiftly +along, roused the boy at last, but it was too late. Being half asleep, +it was some minutes ere he realized what had befallen him or whither he +was going, and the first warning he had of this rush straight upon +certain destruction was the dull roar of the distant whirlpool, which, +the tide being now full ebb, was just at the height of its fury. + +Fully roused at last, Mads Nilssen seized his oars and pulled till they +seemed on the point of snapping; but all in vain. + +Faster and faster the boat was whirled along--nearer and nearer it drew +to the terrible ring of white foam that marked the deadly whirl. And now +he could see plainly the grim crag that kept watch over that ghastly +abyss, and now he almost touched its outermost eddy--and now he was +dragged into it and began to spin dizzily round in lessening circles +nearer and nearer to his doom. + +And all this while the dancing ripples sparkled gaily around him, the +sun shone gloriously in a cloudless sky, the white-winged sea-birds +soared rejoicingly overhead and seemed to mock him with their shrill +cries. + +It was hard to die amid all this brightness and beauty; but die he must, +for there was no way of escape. Even in this dire strait, however, with +the hungry waves leaping around him, the brave boy did not lose his +presence of mind. One faint chance was still left to him, and he seized +it. + +As the boat made its final whirl around the central crag before plunging +down into the depths below, he sprang upon the gunwale, and, exerting +all his wonderful agility, made a desperate leap that landed him on the +lowest ledge of the rock, bruised, bleeding, dizzy, but _saved_ for the +moment. In another instant the deserted boat had vanished forever into +the roaring gulf below. + +To all appearance the bold lad had escaped one death only to perish by +another more lingering and painful; but even now he did not despair. + +He remembered to have heard that just at full flood tide the whirlpool +was not dangerous, and he determined to watch for the subsiding of its +fury and then plunge in and take his chance of being able to swim ashore +or to fall in with a boat. + +But what should he do to fill up the long hours that lay between? He +felt that the dizzy dance of the whirling waters around him, and their +ceaseless roar, were already beginning to unstring his nerves and make +his brain reel; and he knew that if he could not find some way to +counteract their paralyzing influence, he must soon become helpless and +fall headlong into the abyss. + +Just then his eye caught the antique letters cut in the rock above him, +which no living soul but himself had ever seen so near, and the sight of +them gave him an idea. + +He knew nothing of the offered reward, but he _did_ know that there were +people who thought such things valuable and paid well for copies of +them. If he escaped it might be worth something, and meanwhile it would +divert his attention and keep him from losing his nerve. + +So, turning his back resolutely to the mad riot of circling waves, he +set himself to trace the letters with the point of his knife upon a +small metal match-box which he had in his pocket. + +It was a long task, but he completed it at last; and then he clambered +to the top of the rock, hoping that the sight of his figure standing out +against the sky might attract the notice of some passing fisherman. + +For a long time he watched and waited in vain, and he was just beginning +to think that he would have to try and save himself by swimming, after +all--for the hour of flood-tide was now drawing near and the violence of +the whirlpool was beginning to abate--when, far in the distance, he +suddenly descried a tiny white sail. + +No shout could be heard at such a distance; but the ready boy unwound +the red sash from his waist and waved it over his head till his arm +ached, and, after a pause of terrible anxiety, he at length saw the boat +alter her course and stand right for him. + +The skill with which the two men who handled her kept clear of the fatal +current by which Mads had been swept away, showed that both were +practical seamen, and, as he boat neared him, the boy's keen eye +recognized one of them as his own father. + +When the rescuers came near enough for a shout to be heard, the father +called out to his son to climb down the crag again and stand ready to +make a plunge when he gave the word, as the boat could not come too +near, for fear of being dashed against the rock. + +Just around the foot of the rock itself there was always a strong eddy, +which might suck down Mads even now, if he could not succeed in leaping +clear of it. + +For ten minutes or more the two sailors kept "standing off and on," till +the fury of the whirlpool should be completely spent, while the daring +boy, perched on the lowest ledge of the rock, waited and watched for the +signal. + +At length his father's powerful voice came rolling to him over the +water: + +"Now!" + +Mingling with the shout came the splash of Mads' plunge into the water. +Exerting all his strength, the active boy leaped far beyond the +treacherous eddy that would have sucked him down among the sunken rocks, +and in another moment he was safe in the boat, which turned and shot +away from the perilous spot as lightly as the sea birds overhead. + +A few days later the young hero received the reward that he had so +strangely won; and thus the would-be murderer, instead of destroying his +victim, actually helped him to earn more money than he had ever made in +his life. Nor did the villain go wholly unpunished, for the end of the +cut rope having been found and suspicion directed toward him, he had to +sneak away by night and never dared to show his face on that coast +again. + + + + + THE BLACK HOUND. + + by FRANCIS S. PALMER. + + +We first saw him on a snowy November morning. The Adirondack Lake, where +I was staying that autumn, was not yet frozen; but a few days before +there had been a light fall of snow, and on this morning the evergreens +were draped in a feathery shroud. While I was yet asleep my guide, Rufe, +had caught a glimpse of a deer, swimming near the shore. No hounds were +heard; and, after an early breakfast, Rufe and I got into our boat and +paddled along the water's edge to discover, if possible, the track of +dog or wolf, which would explain why the deer had taken to the water. + +As we came near the place where Rufe had seen the deer, we noticed a +slender, black animal crouching in the bushes. It proved to be a tall +hound, and, after some urging, he was persuaded to enter the boat. + +The reason for the deer's early bath was now apparent; but Rufe was +surprised that he did not hear the hound's barking, for, like all old +hunters, it was his habit, in the deerhounding season to step into the +open air and listen, at short intervals during the morning, for the +barking of hounds. + +This morning had been no exception to the rule; but neither before nor +after seeing the deer had Rufe heard the well-known baying of a +deerhound. + +We took the gaunt animal into our boat and carried him back to the +shanty. He proved to be half-famished and wholly exhausted, and, after a +hearty meal, lay in a comatose condition before the fire. He must have +had a long chase, probably coming from some neighboring lake, for Rufe, +who knew all the hounds on our lake, had never seen him before. + +When two or three days had passed and the black hound had recovered his +strength, Rufe took him into the woods with our own dog and put them +both upon the track of a deer. + +The black hound followed the track steadily, but he uttered no bark, +confining himself to a low, excited whimpering. Even when the game was +roused and the hot scent gave ardor to the pursuing dogs, the black +hound did not join in the frantic baying of his companion. + +The deer did not enter the lake at the runway where I was watching, but +with my spy-glass I saw it plunge into the water a quarter of a mile +away. A boat happened to be passing at the time and the deer was killed. +A moment later the black hound appeared on the shore. He could not have +been forty rods behind the deer, but no bark betrayed the eagerness of +his pursuit. I heard the baying of my own dog, as he slowly followed the +scent, away back among the wooded hills that rose on all sides of the +lake. + +This, then, was the reason why Rufe had heard no baying on the morning +when we had found the black hound. He was silent, and as swift as he was +silent. + +As I looked at him that evening, I noticed he did not have the long ears +and heavy jaws of the common American deer or foxhound. His long, sharp +nose and slender proportions indicated the blood of the Scotch +staghound, or that of some large breed of greyhound. + +But this cross had not made him more delicate or less fierce. Even Rufe +was afraid to handle him roughly, for, unless treated with every +consideration, the great hound snarled, and showed rows of savage teeth. +He ruled over the other dogs with a cool assumption of more aristocratic +breeding. + +The morning after the deer was driven to water and the black hound had +proved his swiftness and persistence, Rufe again went into the woods for +the purpose of starting deer with the two hounds, or "putting out the +dogs," as it is called; but this morning it was the guide's intention to +put the dogs on separate tracks. They differed too much in speed to be +useful when following the same deer. + +I took my station at my favorite stand, a runway which reaches the lake +where a deep, narrow bay collected the waters before they were +discharged into the river which flowed into the St. Lawrence. + +One side of this bay was nearly separated from the lake by a long, sharp +point of land, and near the bay's farther shore was a little island, a +green, bushy spot amid the blue waters. + +The bay was a favorite place for the pursued deer to take to the water +in their endeavor to baffle the hounds following their tracks, and from +my station on the long point I could watch and command the entire bay. + +Before daybreak Rufe had led the hounds into the wood, and it was not +much later when I pushed my light boat against the point, and sprang +ashore. + +It was a still, crisp, November morning, and the rising sun had not yet +melted the hoar-frost from the alder bushes that grew at the water's +edge. + +Gauzy wisps of mist hovered by the shores, and shrouded the evergreens +on the little island. The snow-sprinkled forest looked white and weird +through the veils of mist. + +Small flocks of ducks threaded their way across the foggy surface of the +bay, going from their resting-places on the river to feed among the wild +rice marshes of the lake. + +I built a small fire to deaden the morning chill, and amused myself by +aiming my shotgun at the passing ducks. + +The birds, in their low, drowsy flight, offered beautiful wing-shots, +and as I glanced along the polished gun-barrels, I imagined the sharp +explosion followed by the heavy fall of fat mallards into the water. + +But I fired in imagination only, for it would be a grave breach of +deer-hunting etiquette to discharge a gun at anything less important +than the antlered game. + +The sun rose higher, the mists disappeared and flying ducks no longer +relieved the monotony of my watch. The forest was seen more distinctly +and grew less weird and interesting. + +I was beginning to wish for a book to while away the long hours which +would elapse before the strict rules of custom would permit me to return +to the shanty, when I saw a deer jump from the bushes which bordered the +shores of the bay nearest the island. + +I knew the black hound's peculiarities, and was prepared for the +appearance of a deer, unushered by the baying of hounds, but I had not +expected the game to come so quickly, for Rufe had hardly had time to +start the dogs. + +Hidden in the bushes of the point, I watched the deer as it stood upon +the shore, and glanced its keen eyes around. + +The bay seemed devoid of enemies, and the animal plunged into the water +and swam toward the island. + +As yet I did not dare to move, for the deer was not more than forty rods +distant, and a glimpse of me would send it hurrying back to the shore. + +[Illustration: +"THE DOG DID NOT RELAX ITS HOLD, AND THE COMBATANTS +SEEMED BOUND TOGETHER."] + +The animal swam straight to the island and landed there. At my +hiding-place I waited for it to appear on the opposite side of the +island and swim across the bay. When it got well out into the open water +I could catch it with my boat. + +But the deer seemed contented to remain on the island, for it did not +again show itself. It evidently thought it could thus baffle the nose of +the pursuing hound, and escape the danger incurred by swimming across +the bay. I made up my mind that in order to capture the deer, I must in +some way get into the narrow channel between the island and the main +shore; but with the deer watching me from the island, this would be +almost impossible. + +Carefully I crept across the point to the spot where the skiff was +moored. My moccasins made no noise as I stepped into the boat. + +With silent paddle I propelled the little craft around the extremity of +the point, and again looked into the bay. + +Another actor had appeared upon the scene. At the spot where the game +had entered the water stood the black hound, sniffing the air for some +taint of the lost scent. + +A breeze from the island and crouching deer must have been wafted to his +keen nose, for I heard him give a whimper of satisfaction, and the next +instant he leaped into the water. + +A deerhound dreads going into the water, and the proceedings of the +black dog therefore surprised me. + +I let the boat float quietly. It was hidden against the dark background +of the point, and I decided to stay there until the hound should +frighten the deer into swimming across the bay. When I first saw the +deer I thought it to be a large doe, but, as it was swimming to the +island, I saw, with the aid of my glass, that it was a "spike-horn" +buck. + +These spike-horns are quite common, and do not seem to be a distinct +species of the deer family. They only differ as to their horns; instead +of the branching antlers of the ordinary buck, they carry sharp spikes +of horns from two to six inches long, varying with the age of the +animal. + +I watched the black hound swim directly to the island, and every moment +I expected to see the deer dash into the water on the opposite side. A +deer is a much faster swimmer than a dog, and, when both are in the +water, can easily escape. + +When the dog reached the island he shook himself, sniffed the hot scent +and then sprang forward, growling savagely. The deer must have been +taken completely by surprise. I saw it jump from the bushes and turn to +escape, but already the hound's teeth were fastened in its flank. + +Wheeling, the deer gored its pursuer, and the hound let go its hold. For +an instant the two faced each other. Then the dog sprang at its +opponent's throat, but was met by the sharp spikes of the buck. The +spikes were much more effective weapons than broad antlers, and again +the hound was tossed back. + +Made more wary by experience, the dog again darted in, and this time +caught the deer's neck, but not before the spikes had entered its black +sides. The dog did not relax its hold, and the combatants seemed bound +together. + +I saw the hound was in danger, and rowed rapidly toward the island. When +I got within shooting distance the deer had fallen to its knees, and I +dared not fire for fear a scattering buckshot should strike the hound. + +My boat grounded against the island, and, gun in hand, I sprang ashore. +But neither creature moved; the fight was over. The hound's sharp teeth +had done their work, and the buck's spike-horns, hardly less sharp, had +done theirs. As I stood watching them both animals expired. + +The next day two men drove over the rough wood-road, and stopped at the +shanty. One of them left their buck-board and stepped to the door to +speak to me. + +He was evidently an educated man, and I detected traces of a German +accent. + +"I hear that you found a tall, black hound," he began. "Such a dog left +my shanty on the Lower Saranac nearly a week ago. He looked a little +like a greyhound, and I never knew him to bark." + +I told him such a dog had been with me, and described the animal's +death. + +The stranger walked with me to the back of the shanty, where Rufe had +nailed the dog's pelt against the side of a shed. + +"Poor Wolfram!" he exclaimed. "Who would have expected that a hound from +the fiercest pack in the Black Forest should be killed by one of these +little Adirondack deer?" + +It was far to the nearest tavern, and the young man seemed so dismayed +at the dog's death that I urged him to spend the night in my shanty. In +this way I might satisfy my curiosity about the dog. + +The Bavarian--for he told me he was of that nationality--gladly accepted +my invitation; and, after he had dined off the venison which his hound +had pulled down, I asked him to explain the dog's peculiarities. + +"Both Wolfram and I," he said, "came from Bavaria. The family estate was +at the edge of the far-famed Black Forest, and my father, with his pack +of black hounds, killed many a wolf that lurked in the dark shadows of +the fir trees. But hunting was not a profitable business, and there was +nothing better for me, a younger son, to do than to become a soldier or +to emigrate. + +"While a mere lad I came to America, and, as an importer of German +goods, have been fairly successful. My inherited love of hunting has not +been lost, and I spend a part of each autumn in the Adirondacks. + +"A year ago, my brother, the present head of the family, sent me a pup +from his kennel of wolf-dogs. For the purpose of giving the poor animal +a change from city streets, I brought him to my cottage on Saranac Lake. +But I did not expect to hunt with the dog, for I supposed he had a +spirit above the game of this region. + +"Several days ago a deer was chased near my door, and Wolfram put after +it. We could not tell which way he had gone, for my father's wolf-dogs +were not taught to bark, as among the great firs of the Black Forest +horsemen can follow the chase, which seldom goes out of sight. + +"The day after the hound disappeared I set out to find him, and now you +tell me that one of the dogs which my father considered able to battle +with a wolf has been killed by the thrust of a deer's horn!" + + + + + AVERAGE + +A very common word, to-be-sure, and well understood as to its +application. But after fair translation of its old French +body--"aver"--into English, and only "horse" is found, and the word +becomes "horsage," the change tends to confusion. None the less, +"horsage" and "average" are identical, since in the old-time French an +"aver" was a horse. It was also a horse in the Scotch dictionaries, and +in one of Burns' poems, "A Dream," he alludes to a horse as a "noble +aiver." + +In olden times in Europe a tenant was bound to do certain work for the +lord of the manor--largely in carting grain and turf--horse-work; and in +the yearly settlement of accounts the just proportion of the large and +small work performed was estimated according to the work done by "avers" +(horses); hence our common word "average." + + + + + [_This Story began in No. 43._] + + LELIA'S HERO: + + or, + + "We Girls and Boys in Florida." + + by ELSIE LEIGH WHITTLESEY, + + Author of "My Brother and I," + "A Home in the Wilds," etc., etc. + + + CHAPTER XXIX. + + Gloomy Forebodings. + +"Oh, please, do hush, Bess! You chatter so I can't hear myself think," +said Lelia to Bess, one afternoon, about two weeks after their early +morning visit to the suffering turtles, as the dear innocent was telling +Phil some childish nonsense about a great snake Ben had once seen in the +swamp, that was as long as a ship's mast and had a mouth big enough to +swallow a giant. "We are going home to-morrow, and I don't see how you +can laugh and tell such horrid stories when _that's_ to happen to us so +soon." + +And she sighed dismally and looked out at the sea as if she never +expected to behold it again. + +"But I am not going home," replied Phil. "I'm going to stay with Mr. +Herdic, and he has promised to take Thad and me to Key West and the +sponging-grounds before we return home, or before Thad does, for _I_ +never expect to return to Oakdale." + +"Then only Uncle Aldis and Aunt Marion and Bess and I have got to go +home?" she replied. + +"That's all," said Phil, cheerfully. + +"Well, I think you might be sorry, or pretend that you are, anyway, if +only for look's sake," tartly rejoined Lelia, with another wandering +glance at the sea. + +"Oh, I am sorry!" said Phil, with honest quickness; "but still I'd +rather stay here than go back to Oakdale, where nobody likes me, and I'd +never amount to a hill of beans." + +"But _I_ liked you when you were at Oakdale," gravely reminded Lelia. + +And the tone in which she said it smote Phil to the heart. + +"So did I," calmly avowed Bess. "I did really, Phil." + +"No, you didn't!" sharply contradicted Lelia. "You never liked anybody +but yourself and your dear, lovely Rosy!" + +"I say I did!" stoutly declared Bess. "I liked Phil before I was born." + +And she nodded her little head complacently, as if this last were a +clincher that no one--not even Lelia--could have the hardihood to doubt. + +Phil burst out laughing, and Lelia flung down the book she was reading, +or trying lo read, when Bess began her marvelous "snake-story," and +stared at her cousin in speechless disgust. + +"I never did see such behaviors as those," said Bess, with awful gravity +and a marked consideration for the English language not common to her. + +"Such behaviors as those!" repeated Lelia, with peppery sarcasm. "My +goodness, Bess, how finely you talk, and how truthful you are this +afternoon!" + +"You shan't scorn at me," sturdily retorted Bess. "I will cry if you do, +and then Phil will take my part, and won't like you one bit." + +"As if I cared for your crying, or your being 'scorned at,' or Phil's +not liking me!" + +And Lelia sailed out of the room, crossed the piazza and ran down the +japonica-bordered path to the garden. + +Seating herself under a crape-myrtle tree, its pink blossoms glowing +amid the deep, glossy green of its leaves, like the blush of the sunset +on an April cloud, she rested her chin in the palm of her hand, and +looked, half-thoughtfully, half-defiantly, at the ground. + +So Phil was not going to return to Oakdale; he did not care for any of +his old friends; and this was gratitude. Yet what had he to be grateful +for? The debt was all on her side, and the affection, too, for that +matter; and the one, she thought, ought to balance the other. + +"Lelia!" + +Phil had contrived to elude Bess' fox-like vigilance, and when she was +busy with her tea-set, followed Lelia into the garden, to try and find +out what it was that had so mightily offended his old playmate. + +"Well?" she said, shortly. + +"I've something to give you," Phil began, in a business-like tone--"not +to give you, exactly, but to return to you." + +And he put in her hand the identical little white envelope she had given +him at Oakdale the evening before their departure for Florida. + +It was worn and soiled, and all its former freshness gone; but it +contained five crisp ten-dollar notes, every penny of Phil's small +earnings since he had been in Mr. Herdic's employ, and "squared accounts +between them," as he said, with a satisfied smile. + +Lelia was in one of her grand, womanly moods, and seemed to put her +childhood and childhood's tempers and jealousies away from her as one +might an outgrown garment. + +She looked as she did the day she had urged her uncle to befriend +Oakdale's "bad boy," and her hand closed over the envelope in a slow, +proud way, as if she hated, yet strangely valued, the few poor +bank-notes it held, hoarded, she knew, with so much self-denial and +miserly care, that "accounts might be squared between them," and Phil no +longer her debtor. + +"It's all there," he said, after an awkward pause, seeing that she did +not seem inclined to take any further notice of it. + +"Of course it is. Don't I know that?" + +"But you have not counted it." + +"No; but haven't you _said_ it was all there, and isn't that enough?" + +Phil unconsciously drew himself up, and a glad light shone in his eyes. +He was proud of her confidence in his word, and prouder still to feel +himself not altogether unworthy of her good opinion. + +"The time we have been here, and all the queer things that have happened +to us since we left Oakdale, seems like a dream," he said, presently--"a +strange, exciting dream." + +"Does it?" She looked up at him in undisguised surprise. "It does not +seem so to me; it is all real--as real as my life, as the sea, as the +earth--but that is because I am a girl, I suppose, and girls are not so +forgetful as boys are, so I've heard people say." + +You would never have thought her a child to look at her as she spoke. +Her eyes were so earnest, her voice so grave, her manner so composed and +considering. + +Her fun and prattle with Bess, her little quarrels and tart replies, her +generous, happy, winning, self-willed ways, were as if they had never +been, and in their place came resignation, reserve, pride and a +little--only a little--regret and sorrow. + +"I have something for you," she said, after another awkward +pause--"something that will help you to remember me when I am gone." + +"Then I shall not need it," said Phil, quickly. + +"Oh, yes, you will! You confess already that Florida, and all that's +happened to us since we've been here, seems like a dream--so how can I +hope to be remembered unless I leave some reminder of my naughty little +self with you? I asked Uncle Walter to get it made for me when we were +last at Jacksonville, and he did, and here it is, and it's yours to keep +always, if you care for it, Phil." + +She took from her pocket, carefully wrapped in pink tissue paper, a +purple velvet box, opened it and took from it a beautiful blue-and-gold +enameled locket, set round with pearls, and as perfect in every respect +as the jeweler's art could make it. + +"It has my picture in it. I thought you might like to have it, though +it's not much, and I am nobody in particular." + +"Nobody? Why, you are everybody to me, Lelia," he said, taking the +locket with a kind of reverent hesitancy and opening it with as much +care as if he feared it might fall to pieces in his grasp or vanish +entirely, like the enchanted ring in the fairy tale. + +The lovely little face it portrayed was Lelia's own, and when he had +looked at it for fully five minutes, with eyes expressive of the most +unbounded delight, he shut the glittering cases, replaced the locket in +its little velvet box, and said, very earnestly: + +"The money I borrowed, and it's now paid; but the picture is mine. +_Your_ gift, Lelia, and yours alone?" + +"Yes, I thought of it. My gift alone, and I'm glad if it pleases you." + +"Well, it does--lots, and I shall keep it as long as I live." + +"And this money," turning the envelope over in her hand, and regarding +it curiously "what shall I do with it, Phil?" + +"Oh, that's for you to say!" + +"So it is; and it's for me to say, also, that it is getting late, and I +want to see the sun 'set in the sea,' as Bess calls it, this last +evening of our stay at Cedar Keys. And there's Bess now, little plague +that she is!" turning to meet the flying figure that came tearing down +the garden path, with hair streaming in the wind, and sash untied and +trailing on the ground in dreadful disarray. + +Phil walked off, whistling, with the locket in his hand; and the last of +the many childish confidences that had taken place between Lelia and her +playfellow, preserver and hero was at an end. + + + CHAPTER XXX. + + The Wreck of the OspreyY. + +Thad, it was agreed, should remain a month longer with his Uncle Walter +at Cedar Keys before joining his parents, sister and cousin at Oakdale. +Mrs. Leigh's parting words to her brother was a tearful request that he +would take good care of her only son, and send him safely home to them +by the latter part of June, or the first of July, at the latest--a +request, of course, which Mr. Herdic solemnly promised to bear in mind; +for, however unfortunate he had been in his guardianship of girls, he +felt quite sure he could manage boys to his own satisfaction and that of +their mothers, and not only keep them out of mischief and danger, but +teach them at the same time something useful and proper for them to +know. + +So, one fine morning, two days after bidding his sister and her family +good-by, Uncle Walter, with his handsome nephew, Thaddeus, and sturdy +little Phil, set sail for Key West and the sponging-grounds, it being +their purpose to take passage to the latter place on some one of the +numerous fishing-crafts that were constantly passing to and fro between +Key West and the scene of the hardy sponge-gatherers' daily toil. + +The steamer Osprey was not a very fast sailer, but she was staunch and +trim, with fairly good cabin accommodations for a vessel of her size and +build. + +Mr. Herdic and his nephew had state-rooms on deck, while Phil's was +below; but he rarely occupied it, for he did not much like such close, +hot, dark quarters, when there was plenty of fresh air, light and space +to turn around in above. + +The morning of the second day out was unusually sultry, even for that +tropical latitude. There was not a breath of wind, nor a ripple on the +surface of the sea, but toward noon a breeze sprung up, which, before +dark, threatened to become a hurricane. + +Rain squalls were frequent, and vivid flashes of lightning and deafening +peals of thunder added to the wild uproar of the elements, and sent +Thad, trembling with fear, to his state-room, which he wished for the +time being was below, and not so uncomfortably near the straining and +creaking mast. + +But Phil really enjoyed it, and sat on the capstan, watching two +grizzled old sailors heave the lead with unmoved interest. + +"By the deep nine," sang out the elder of the two seamen, as he reeled +in his line and took a weather-wise look over his shoulder. + +"Just so," said Mr. Moore, the short, red-whiskered mate of the Osprey, +who stood by the skylight, with his lantern under his arm, carefully +directing the business of taking soundings. "We ought to make Largo +Light in an hour, if she keeps on at this rate." + +"Aye, aye, sir! But it's a rough night for knowing just where we are, or +the rate of speed she's making," responded the sailor, as he went +forward, followed by his companion, both drenched to the skin, and their +gray beards and brown faces wet with the pelting rain. + +The cargo of the Osprey was of a decidedly mixed character, consisting +mainly of cotton bales, coffee, "canned goods," small merchandise, and, +among the rest, a lot of cattle, a dozen or more horses and two mules, +which set up such a braying, bellowing and neighing, as the storm +increased in violence, and the ship began to roll heavily in the trough +of the sea, that the din raised was appalling, added to the wild +shrieking of the wind through the cordage and the rush and roar of the +towering waves. + +Besides Mr. Herdic and the two boys, there was only one other passenger +on board the Osprey--a small, middle aged man, evidently of Spanish +descent, dark, clean-shaven, nervous, and not remarkable for either +sociability or good manners. + +His name was Paul Casimer, his destination Havana, by the way of Key +West, and his wealth--if rumor was to be relied upon--considerable. + +Officers, passengers and crew, all told, were just nineteen souls, +counting the colored cook and cabin boy, the former of whom was +especially liked by Phil, for he was a good-natured fellow, with the +thickest lips, the kinkiest wool, and the biggest white, rolling eyes +that Phil had yet come across in all his Florida wanderings. + +The mate still stood by the skylight, with the lantern in his hand, when +Paul Casimer made his appearance on deck, wearing a long sea-coat that +reached to his heels, and with a slouch hat drawn low over his eyes and +violently pulled down at the back, to keep out the weather. + +"A rough night, Mr. Moore," he said, rather crabbedly. "What are our +soundings?" + +"Nine fathoms," answered the mate, with no very evident desire to be +communicative. + +"And little enough it is, too!" grumbled Mr. Casimer. "We will be on the +reefs the first you know, if you keep her going at this rate--twelve or +fourteen knots an hour, and the wind tight after us." + +Mr. Moore made no reply, and when he had made two or three turns of the +deck, with every appearance of having very little confidence in either +his legs or his stomach, Mr. Casimer sullenly retired, and Phil and the +mate were again alone. + +"Our friend, Don Casimer, seems to have a rather ugly twist in his +temper to-night," laughed the mate, as soon as the object of his remarks +had disappeared. "If a shark were to dine off him, it would not much +matter, for he's the sort of a fellow that hates himself and everybody +else. He's in the Cuba trade, and thinks-- Eh, by George, boy, look out, +or you'll be overboard! That was a thumper, and no mistake!" + +The tremendous wave that struck the ship, and jerked the word of caution +from the mate's lips, threw Phil violently against the nettings, +deluging the deck and sending a shower of blinding salt spray as high as +the smoke-stack. + +Phil righted with the ship--that is, he scrambled to his feet and shook +the brine from his eyes, as soon as the gallant little steamer got her +propeller again in the water, and had settled herself for another +shock. + +"I should say it was a thumper!" gasped Phil. "It seemed to walk on +board and grab at everything within its reach. It's got my hat, and +would have got me, if I had not clung for dear life to the nettings." + +"It's a way these heavy cross-seas have of introducing themselves, +lashed by such a wind as is blowing now," said Mr. Moore. "I think you +must have been cut out for a sailor, you take so kindly to the rough +side of a sailor's life." + +"Oh, I don't know!" replied Phil, diffidently. "I like the sea. I +haven't seen much of it, but what I have seen has been pretty rough--an +experience that I'd not like to live over again." + +He thought of Lelia, and the time they were adrift together in the +little pleasure-boat; of their awful landing in the cold, gray dawn of +the early morning, on that strange, lonely coast; of their subsequent +wanderings, hungry and weary in the swamp--but this was so different! + +He was on board a stout steamer, commanded by good, capable officers, +and really had no fear as to the vessel's safety, though it was blowing +a hurricane, and the locality a particularly dangerous one. + +While these reflections were passing through Phil's mind, Captain +Barrett, a coast-skipper of the old-time sort, approached them, his +rubber storm-suit glistening in the weird light of the lantern he +carried, his weather-beaten face wearing an anxious expression, and his +brows closely knit in a searching look leeward. + +"It's so confounded dark, and the mist and drizzle so thick, one can't +see the ship's bows; but we ought to make Largo Light soon, if I am not +far out in my reckoning. But you can't tell, in these chop seas, where +you are. The wind drives you ahead and the current pulls you back, and +the first thing you know you're on the rocks, and the deuce and all to +pay," remarked the captain, his sharp, gray eyes still searching the +rainy darkness. "I estimate our speed at fourteen knots--what say you, +Mr. Moore?" + +"Not so much. Twelve knots, I think a fair calculation." + +"Then we must be not far from Devil's Rock," said the captain, +thoughtfully. "According to my reckoning, we should have passed it an +hour ago; and the Devil's Rock it will prove, indeed, if we are so +unlucky as to strike it such a night as this." + +Phil, who was near enough to hear every word of the above conversation, +began to feel a little alarmed, in spite of himself. + +It was past midnight, the waves rolling mountains high and the ship +laboring heavily. He wondered if Mr. Herdic knew how hard it was +blowing, and, if he did, how it was possible for him to lie calmly in +his berth and listen, undisturbed, to the tumult raging on every hand +around him. + +"A light!" shouted the lookout, from the maintop. + +"Where away?" cried the captain. + +"Broad on our weather-beam." + +"Right you are!" was the quick response, just as there loomed through +the darkness a lurid red light, like the eye of some huge sea-monster, +that had reared its head above the boiling waves for a momentary view of +the wild scene. + +"That must be Largo Light," said the mate, somewhat doubtfully. + +"Yes," replied the captain, with a look of great relief. "Now we know +where we are, though it's not often I am so far out in my reckoning. +Tell Mr. Rolf to keep her close to the wind, and I'll go forward and +take a look at the chart." + +So saying, Captain Barrett went away to his cabin to consult his charts, +while the mate hurried to give his instructions to the man at the wheel. + +An hour passed--an hour of darkness, storm and gloom. + +Phil was beginning to feel very chilly in his wet clothes and started to +go below, when the ship suddenly seemed to rise in the middle and then +pitch forward again, with a dull, grating sound, the meaning of which he +knew only too well. + +"Breakers!" shouted the voice of the mate, from somewhere near the +companion-way. "We are on the reef!" + +As he spoke the red light went out, as if swallowed up by the angry sea, +and then they knew the nature of the false beacon that had lured them on +to destruction. + +Phil was making his way as fast as he could to Mr. Herdic's state-room, +when that gentleman himself appeared on deck, with Thad, half-dressed +and in a terrible state of excitement, following him. + +"What is it?" cried Uncle Walter. "What has happened?" + +"The ship has struck! The infernal wreckers, with their misleading false +lights, have brought us on the rocks," replied Captain Barrett, who +stood near, perfectly calm in the midst of the indescribable confusion +and the wild howlings of the storm. "Lower the life-boats, Mr. Moore, +and God be our trust, for it's every man for himself now; but steady! +Life is life, and he who saves his must be brave, cool and +stout-hearted. The rockets, boatswain. It may seem a vain hope, but help +may be nearer than we think." + +Two boats were lowered, but who got into them, or what became of them, +Phil did not know. In far less time than it takes to relate it, he had +pulled off his coat, vest and boots, put on a life-preserver and stood +heroically awaiting his fate, whatever it might be. + +He was pretty badly scared--there is no denying that--and he felt a +little weak in the knees; but when the struggle came, and the battle +waged was for life, he felt quite certain of making as brave a fight as +anybody. + +"Good-by, Mr. Herdic!" he said, extending his hand. "It's a chance if we +live to see each other again." + +"Good-by!" replied Mr. Herdic, in a choked voice; "and God be with and +care for you, my dear boy." + +Thad's deathly pale lips tried to form some intelligible sound, but +failed, and, with a kind of dumb entreaty, he put his arms around Phil's +neck, and dropped his head despairingly on the other's shoulder. + +"Lelia did better than this," thought Phil, but he was too generous to +say so, and when Thad sobbed out, "Will you stay by me, Phil?" he +answered, quickly, "Yes, I will, upon my honor!" + +In that moment of supreme peril, Thad seemed to prefer the help and +protection of his brave young enemy to that of his uncle--strong man and +good swimmer as was the latter. + +The boom of a minute gun rang out above the roar of the tempest, and a +second after a rocket went whizzing into the inky blackness, to burst +into a shower of blue fire and fall hissing into the sea. + +Another and another followed in quick succession; then came a mighty +crash. The mast went by the board, carrying with it four sailors who had +sought safety in the rigging. + +The vessel broached to, lying broadside on the reef, the waves making a +complete breach over her, and leaving her at the merciless sea. Thad +uttered an unearthly shriek, and clung to Phil, who, in turn, clung to +the iron grating of the companion-way. The cook had secured a mattress, +the cabin-boy a door, and Mr. Herdic--but Mr. Herdic was gone; so, too, +was Don Casimer, the captain, and Mr. Rolf. + +The doomed steamer broke in two amidships, and all her upper works +floated off, with such of her crew and passengers as had not already +been engulfed in the pitiless flood. + +The harsh rending asunder of strongly-riveted iron-plates, the surge and +jar and strain of breaking timbers, was the last sound Phil was +conscious of before he found himself thrown bodily into the sea, with +Thad held in such a way in his arms as to keep the poor boy from +grasping his neck, in his frantic struggles to keep his head above the +waves. + +Phil was stunned, breathless, half-strangled, bruised and beaten by he +did not know what; everything, it seemed to him--dead and drowning +bodies of men and cattle, boxes, furniture, spars, cotton-bales, pieces +of the wreck of every conceivable kind and shape, trunks and sea-chests. + +A portion of the saloon cabin floated within his reach; Phil clutched +it, but the succeeding wave tore it from his grasp, and he went down, +down, down to an awful depth. + +The roaring in his ears was maddening; his brain felt as if it were on +fire. How long did it take one to drown? Was there no end to the agony? +But Phil came up again, and so did a Florida steer right under him, +kicking, bellowing and plunging in its convulsive death-throes, like +some dying leviathan of the deep. + +Phil did not get out of its way, for he could not; but, just as the +animal was rolling upon him, a great wave lifted him high on its +foam-white crest and hurled him against a cotton-bale. + +He caught hold of it with the desperate strength of one fighting for +life, and held on with might and main. His companion, if not dead, was +utterly unconscious, for when Phil called to him he did not answer, and +lay a limp, lifeless weight on his shoulder. + +The gale appeared to be subsiding, for the cotton bale became more +steady, and the rain had ceased to fall some time before. + +The clouds broke away at last, and in the speck of blue peeped out a +star. Yet the swells were terrific, and carried them onward with fearful +velocity--where, only the All-seeing knew--and when the dawn appeared in +the east, exhausted, chilled to the heart, bruised and nearly naked, +Phil and his insensible companion were flung ashore like two poor +fragments of stranded sea-weed. He had just strength enough left to +crawl up out of reach of the breakers, and that was all. + +His grip on Thad's arm had not relaxed for a single second since the +time he seized it at the moment of the ship's final going to pieces. His +fingers seemed to have stiffened around it, and it was only by a sharp +effort that he was able to force them away. + +"Well, dead or alive," he murmured, "I stuck by him, as I said, upon my +word and honor, I would! Thad! you can't speak? Then over you go!" + +And Thad might have been a barrel by the way Phil rolled him about and +shook him up. + +"Thad!" + +This time, Phil got an answer--if a groan can be called such--and it +encouraged him mightily. + +"You are coming to?" + +Another groan. + +"You feel better?" + +"Yes," with ghastly faintness. + +"Any bones broken?" + +"No-o; I can't tell. Where are we?" + +The very question Lelia had asked him on a like terrible occasion. + +"That's more than I know." + +It was now broad daylight. + +Phil looked around him, and his countenance fell. They were on a barren +rock in the Gulf Stream. + + [TO BE CONTINUED.] + + * * * * * + + PUZZLEDOM. + + *No. 613.* + +Original contributions solicited from _all_. Puzzles containing obsolete +words will be received. Write contributions on one side of the paper, +and apart from all communications. Address "Puzzle Editor," GOLDEN DAYS, +Philadelphia, Pa. + + +ANSWERS TO LAST WEEK'S PUZZLES + +No. 1. Knee-pen-the (Nepenthe). + +No. 2. + + V + A F +V A N I L L A + F I N E E R + L E G E R + L E E W A Y +A R R A Y E R + Y E + R + +No. 3. This--'tis. + +No. 4. + +L I T H A N T H R A X + T R A C E R I E S + I R O N I S T + P R I E S + N A R + S + +No. 5. Water-melon. + +No. 6. + +C H A R I V A R I +H E B E T A T E +A B I L E N E +R E L U M E +I T E M S +V A N E +A T E +R E +I + +No. 7. Isinglass. + +No. 8. + + P + O O +A S L R L S A + R I I I I R + T G O G T + I I N N I I +C N S E S N C + T T + E + +No. 9. Alco-ran. + +No. 10. + + R A B + R E F E R + R U M O R E D +R E M O R A T E S +A F O R E T I M E +B E R A T T L E S + R E T I L E S + D E M E S + S E S + +No. 11. Con-cent-rate. + +No. 12. + + M + G A L + S A L I S + S A L I N E S + G A L I N G A L E +M A L I N G E R I N G + L I N G E R I N G + S E A R I N G + S L I N G + E N G + G + + +NEW PUZZLES. + +No. 1. CLASSICAL CHARADE. +(_By sound_.) + +"One more last glorious day for him," + Says the king of the blessed gods. +And he looked with love on the warrior grim, + While the world shakes as he nods. + +And well the hero fought that day + Around the god-built wall-- +Fought as a tigress fights at bay, + Roused by her young whelps' call. + +His brazen mail on his broad breast rang, + As before the host he came; +When there, through the foeman's _first all_ sprang + Like a lurid tongue of flame. + +But no mortal hands could have saved the town, + Or averted the fatal hour: +And from glory's fair ambrosial crown + Death _last_ that brightest flower. + +_Iowa City, Iowa._ Irish Foreman. + + +No. 2. INVERTED PYRAMID. + +_Across:_ 1. Tending to recede from the centre. 2. Hernias of the thigh. +3. A little volume (_Rare_). 4. A kind of woolen cloth. 5. Musical +syllable. 6. A letter. + +_Down_: 1. A letter. 2. A type measure. 3. A snare. 4. An old woman. 5. +A species of silk fabric. 6. One who deals in ice. 7. A genus of +quadrupeds. 8. Mexican trees. 9. To become. 10. A Roman weight. 11. A +letter. + +_Newark, N.J._ Joe Hootey. + + +No. 3. RIDDLE. + +When I was young, my parent old +I bore within my circling arms; + When I grew fat + I wore no hat. +But being old and pale and thin, +I wear a dainty, golden brim. + +_Madison, Wis._ C. Ash. + + +No. 4. DIAMOND. + +1. A letter. 2. A rod used by masons. 3. To hinder. 4. Patched (_Obs._) +5. Those who accomplish. 6. Nuptial. 7. Benzoinated (_Dunglison._) +8. To cut deeper. 9. To suffer. 10. Bad. 11. A letter. + +_Washington, D.C._ Eugene. + + +No. 5. APHERESIS. + + Sweetheart, good-by! +How quickly to _two_ loving hearts + The _ones_ seem to fly; +Though all unseen, time fast departs, + And, sweetheart, I +Must kiss thee once before I go, + And say good-by! + + Sweetheart, good-by! +Oh, love, thy cheeks with tears are wet, + You sadly sigh +That I--I may thee soon forget; + Love, I reply +By kissing such foolish doubts away, + And then good-by! + + Sweetheart, good-by! +One last look at thy fair, sweet face-- + Nay, do not cry-- +One lingering kiss, one sweet embrace. + Then, sweetheart, I +Must part with thee for one long day-- + Sweetheart, good-by! + +_Washington, D.C._ Guidon. + + +No. 6. PENTAGON. + +1. A letter. 2. A boy. 3. Put in tune. 4. Certain candlesticks. +5. Yellow dyeing matters. 6. Mocking. 7. One made a citizen. 8. Parts. +9. Faculty by which external objects are perceived. + +_Cincinnati, Ohio._ Green Wood. + + +No. 7. CHARADE. + +(_By sound_.) + +"I've cut my _one_! I've cut my _one_!" +Cried Mrs. Murphy's eldest son: +He nursed the _one_ and hopped about-- +His mother from the house ran out; +"Oh, _two_ the blissid saint presarve!" +The frightened widow cried; +"My darlin' b'y how did ye carve +Your _last_ so deep and wide?" +"Oh, mother dear! I came out here +To hoe the _totals_ without fear; +But fortune frowns against your son-- +His hoeing for this day is done." + +_Mexico, Mo._ Wanderoo. + + +No. 8. HALF SQUARE. + +1. Makes lawful. 2. Active principles of elaterium. 3. Followers of +Galen. 4. Repeats. 5. States of holding the best and third best cards +(_Whist_). 6. Certain minerals. 7. Costs. 8. Certain insects. 9. A river +of Mongolia. 10. A plural affix. 11. A letter. + +_Jefferson, O._ Majolica. + + +No. 9. ENIGMA. + +I'm first in the alehouse and third at the dram, +In midst of the breakfast, dividing the ham; +I'm first in the army, second in battle, +Unknown to the child, I'm found in his rattle; +I'm found in all waters, but never in wells; +I'm mixed up with witchcraft, but never in spells; +On lassies and ladies I wait all their lives, +But quit them the moment they call themselves wives; +Though strange contradictions in tales may be carried, +Where virtue prevails, I am found with the married; +With the grave and the gay I number my days, +I mix in their prayers and join in their praise; +I'm never in liquor--but once in the year, +Then with statesmen and gamblers and rakes I appear; +I'm not in this world, I'm not in the next, +But in the old saying, "between and betwixt;" +I mount with the atmosphere, taking the lead; +I visit the grave and am found with the dead; +I'm ancient as Noah, was first in the ark; +Unseen in the light, yet, I shine in the dark; +I shall last with the earth, with nature and man, +I was sketched with the draft and was found in the plan; +When nature and earth from existence are driven, +The angels will guard me eternal in heaven. + +------ A Lady Reader. + + +No. 10. NEWARK ICOSAHEDRON. + +1. To rest. 2. Small pieces of artillery (_Rare_). 3. Fixed deeply. +4. The girdle of a Jewish priest. 5. A constellation of the zodiac. +6. A long cloak extending from head to feet, worn by women. 7. To +counterfeit. 8. A genus of lamellibranchiate bivalves. 9. A state of +quiet or tranquility. 10. To throw back. 11. A sixpence. 12. Restrains. +13. A cave. + +_Stone, Ala._ R.E. Porter. + + +No. 11. CHARADE. + +Nothing purer than the _first_ was ever seen, +Or more lovely, colder, brighter, e'er I ween; +If you make a _second_ of me, surely then +With practice you might hit a dozen men; +Lo! _total_, with its leaves of darkest green, +In some gardens, in summer, may be seen. + +_Washington, D.C._ Waldemar. + +-> Answers will appear in our next issue; solvers in six weeks. + + +SOLVERS. + +Puzzles in *Puzzledom No. DCVII* were correctly solved by Stocles, +Helio, Carl, O.B.J., J. O'King, Rosalind, Charles Goodwin, Khaftan, +Legs, Joe-de-Joe, Marcellus, Hercules, Spider, Romulus, Dovey, Theo +Logy and Fred. E. Rick, Night, Windsor Boy, Claude Hopper, Janet, Goldey +and Pen Ledcil, Stanna, Addie Shun, Osceola, Flora Nightingale, Katie +O'Neill, Willie Wimple, Pantagrapher, Weesie, Lowell, May Le Hosmer and +Magnolia, Horace, Carrie Wilmer, Green Wood, Mary McK., John Watson, +Mary Roland, Rose Bourne, B. Gonia, Theresa, Brom Bones, Brig, +Herbie C., Cartoon, Dorio, Little Nell, R.E. Flect, Mary Pollard, +M.E.T., Joe King, Conpay, Eben E. Wood, Parus, Olive, V.I. Olin, +Irish Foreman, L'Allegro, Jejune, Tam O'Shanter and Beta. + +Complete List.--Stocles. + + + + +QUEER WRINKLES. + + +--The progress of the fall season is measured by the golden-rod. + +--Said an absent-minded school-teacher: +"I hear a quiet noise in the right-hand corner of the room. I know very +well who the guilty party is, but I will not mention his name. It is +Tommy Jones." + +--You can hail a street car, but you will be arrested if you stone one. + +--Mr. Gummey: "Why do you call your dog 'Hen?' Is it an abbreviation of +Henry?" +Mr. Glanders: "No; I call him 'Hen' because he is a setter." + +--The counterfeiter is satisfied if he can spend money as fast as he can +make it. + +--Baby choked in his sleep, one day, + Only a harmless choke, 'twould seem. +But Marjorie settled it in her way-- + I 'spect," she said, "he swallowed a dream." + +--No fiddler ever gets tired of his own music. + +--Benny: "Papa, I was playing with the sickle this morning, and I fell +down and cut a finger." +Papa: "Did you cry?" +Benny: "Nope, but Willie did." +Papa: "What did Willie cry for?" +Benny: "It was Willie's finger I cut." + +--One peculiarity of the skin on an animal is, that the fur side is the +near side to you. + +--Mr. Staggers: "What a gross man McJunkin is!" +Mr. Sumway: "Yes, but you ought to see his brother. He is a grocer." + +--It is the easiest thing in the world to borrow trouble and return a +visit. + +--"Now," said the professor, "I want you to illustrate the difference +between music and noise." +"Your own singing and somebody's else," replied the pupil, confidently. + +--"This is a regular sugar loaf," said the candy-store clerk, when +business was dull. + + * * * * * + +The Fierce Old Cat and the Clockwork Rat. + +[Illustration: +The boys wound it up and set it going around the room, and old Tom went +for it.] + +[Illustration: +A little rough handling loosened the spring which took pussy very much +by surprise--] + +[Illustration: +--and left the rat master of the situation.] + + * * * * * + * * * * + * * * * * + +[Illustration: +(Answers to Correspondents)] + +A.E.B.--Extract of witch-hazel is made by distilling the leaves of that +shrub, the scientific name of which is _Hamamelis virginica_. To do +this, it will be necessary to secure apparatus especially adapted to the +purpose. + +CARRIE N.--Polish the horns according to the directions given in Vol. 5, +No. 43. They are very ornamental, but there is no great demand for them. +You might be able to dispose of a pair or two among your friends. + +J.N.D.--Stamp dealers usually begin as collectors, and thus gain an +intimate knowledge of the various issues, colors, varieties and prices +of all the stamps issued. Numerous illustrated catalogues are issued by +the principal dealers in this country and Europe. + +J.H.S.--1. When recharging a battery it is only necessary to remove +any parts that may have decomposed and then add water. 2. The outfit +requisite for producing the electric light described in Nos. 1 and 2 of +the last volume will cost two or three dollars. + +OLD SUBSCRIBER.--Narrow shoulders may be strengthened and straightened +by judicious exercise, and by walking and sitting erect, throwing them +well back and never allowing them to droop. It is very doubtful, +however, if their breadth can be increased to any appreciable degree. + +H.B.--Vols. 1, 2, 3 and 4 of this paper cannot be furnished complete +either bound or unbound, but from 6 to 12, inclusive, they can be +supplied in either shape. A very limited number of bound copies of the +fifth volume remain to be sold at the usual rate of $4 each, but in its +unbound form it is incomplete, one number being out of print. + +E.F.W.--White ink is made by mixing flake white with gum arabic and +water. It should be sufficiently fluid to flow easily from the pen. +Another mixture, erroneously called white ink, but which is in reality +an etching fluid, and can only be used on colored paper, is made by +adding 1 part of muriatic acid to 20 parts of starch water. A steel pen +must be used. + +A.G.D.--1. There is but one way to improve the memory, and that is to +concentrate the mind upon but one subject at a time, never allowing it +to wander off to some other idea. At first, this is a difficult matter, +but in a comparatively short time the mind can be brought under control, +and the memory will, in many instances, become far more retentive than +ever before. 2. The growth of hair on the face cannot be checked, but +can be controlled by the regular use of a razor. + +UNUS PLURORUM.--Pilot charts may be obtained at all the branch +hydrographic offices in our large ports, but the coast survey charts +are not intended for general distribution. Every Congressman is allowed +a limited number, and may, if he pleases, distribute them among his +friends, and they are also furnished to schools, scientific +associations, libraries and the like, when application is made for any +special map. In all other cases they are for sale at stated figures, +varying according to the size of the chart desired. A catalogue of all +the maps issued by the Coast Survey is procurable from the chief of that +office in Washington, D.C. + +GEORGE C.W.--In mending crockery, one of the strongest cements for +the purpose, and one which is easily applied, is composed of lime +and the white of an egg. To use it, take a sufficient quantity of the +egg to mend one article at a time--easily gauged by the extent of the +break--shave off a small quantity of lime, and mix thoroughly. Apply +quickly to the edges and place firmly together, when it will soon become +set and strong. The reason for mixing a small quantity at once is that +it hardens very quickly and then becomes useless. + +TIGER TOM.--1. According to the game laws of California deer may be +shot, in some parts of that State during the months of July, August, +September and October, except in Siskiyou and Nevada Counties, where +the open season begins in August and ends on the last day of January. +Quail may be killed there in January, February, October, November and +December. 2. Each State makes its own laws regulating the term of +imprisonment for a specified crime. 3. One series of articles on making +traps for small game is out of print. The only numbers in print +containing such directions are 52, Vol. 6, and 1, Vol. 7. + +SAILOR.--The Philadelphia, Newark, Miantonomoh, Kearsarge, Concord, +Chicago, Atlanta, Yorktown, Boston, Bennington, Petrel, Baltimore, San +Francisco, Yantic, Thetis and Ranger are the United States war vessels +that are available at the present time, or could be put in commission in +the course of ninety days. A complete list and description of all the +vessels comprising our naval force can be obtained from the Secretary of +the Navy, Washington, D.C., but we cannot afford the space in which to +give in detail such a mass of measurements, the number of guns, etc., as +would be required to satisfy your wants. + +W.H.K.--1. John Greenleaf Whittier, popularly known as the "Quaker +Poet" and the "Bachelor Poet" resides at Amesbury, Mass. "Maud Muller," +"Barefoot Boy," "Cobbler Keezar's Vision," "Barbara Frietchie," "In +School Days" and "My Psalm" are the most popular of his short poems. +"Snow Bound," written in 1866, is undoubtedly the best of all his poems, +and is, in one sense, a memorial of his mother and sister, having been +written after their death. He was born near Haverhill, Mass., on +December 17, 1807. 2. Get a setting of bantam eggs from a local bird +dealer. + +CONSTANT READER.--1. All the foremost juvenile writers of the day are +engaged on GOLDEN DAYS; therefore, in our opinion, there are none better +or more popular. 2. The various officers in the United States navy rank +as follows: Rear admirals, commodores, captains, commanders, lieutenant +commanders, lieutenants (two grades), ensigns (two grades), and naval +cadets. Rear Admiral Walker is the head of that branch of the service at +the present time. 3. They were published in a magazine bearing his name. +4. See the naval pay-table in the Letter Box of No. 15, Vol. 12. + +A JAY.--1. Martin, the winner of the six-days' bicycle race at Madison +Square Garden, New York city, last October, rode for 127 hours of the +142 allotted to the race, covering 1466 6-10 miles during that time, +showing an average speed of 11-1/2 miles an hour. His record is the best +ever made, far exceeding any previous attempts in a six-days' match. +2. There are probably several bicycle clubs in your vicinity. Make +inquiries, and, if so, you should experience no difficulty in being +elected a member of any one of them. + +AN AZTEC PRINCE.--The largest tunnel in the world is that of St. +Gothard, on the railroad line between Lucerne and Milan. The summit of +this tunnel is 990 feet below the surface at Andermatt, and 6600 feet +beneath the peak at Kastelhorn of the St. Gothard group. The tunnel +itself is 26-1/2 feet wide, and 19 feet 10 inches from the floor to the +crown of the arched roof. Its length is 9-1/2 miles, while the Hoosac +Tunnel, on the Fitchburg Railway, is 4-1/2 miles long. The Mont Cenis +tunnel is one and five-eighths miles shorter than that of St. Gothard. + +IMPATIENT.--1. All communications intended for this paper should be +addressed to "James Elverson, Publisher of GOLDEN DAYS, Philadelphia, +Pa." If they contain queries intended for this department, that fact +should be indicated by writing in the lower left hand corner of the +envelope the words "Letter Box," and the real name of the writer in +addition to the assumed title, should be placed at the end. 2. A chapter +on polishing horns, bones, shells and stones was presented in Vol. 5, +No. 43. 3. Oiliness of the skin may be remedied by washing with water +containing a teaspoonful of borax or a tablespoonful of alcohol. + +W.M.R.--Boys ranging in age from fifteen to eighteen years, from any +part of the country, may enlist as naval apprentices on the U.S. +training-ships, but not on the school-ships Saratoga or St. Mary's, +which are, in reality, local institutions, supported by New York city +and Pennsylvania. An excellent idea of the requirements in either case +may be gained by reading the articles headed "The Nautical School of +New York City," in No. 35, Vol. 8, and "Uncle Sam's Ships," in No. 18, +Vol. 10. The school-ship boys serve but two years, while the naval +apprentices remain until they reach the age of twenty-one, unless sooner +discharged for misbehavior or disability. + +134.--1. In military or naval parlance, a ration is a portion or fixed +allowance of provisions, drink and forage, assigned to a soldier in the +army or a sailor in the navy, for his daily subsistence. Its component +parts are established by law, but may be varied by the Secretary of War +or of the Navy; or, when necessary, by the senior officer present in +command. The latter may also diminish the allowance, in case of +necessity, but of course the persons whose allowance is thus lessened +are reimbursed according to the scale of prices established at the time +of such diminution. 2. The regulation chest measurement required of a +seventeen-year-old applicant for admission on a training-ship is 29 +inches. + +F.B.H., MIDSHIPMAN and W.H.E.--1. As there are but two _schoolships_ +in the United States, and none but New York and Pennsylvania boys are +admitted on them, non-residents' applications for enlistment would not +be considered under any circumstances. Boys desiring to enter the U.S. +navy can do so by enlisting on a _training_ ship, which is a government +institution, and intended as a means of fitting our youth to perform the +duties of sailors and petty officers in the regular navy. The schoolship +boys, on the other hand, are trained for the merchant service. The Chief +of the Bureau of Equipment and recruiting, Navy Department, Washington, +D.C., is the one to whom all applications for enlistment on the training +ships should be made. 2. No premium is offered for U.S. pennies coined +in 1858. + +GENERAL NAPOLEON.--1. A graduate of the schoolship Saratoga might be +able to obtain an appointment as quartermaster on an ocean steamship +at a salary of about $30 per month. The other officers on these vessels +are shipped on the other side of the Atlantic, and have to show a +certificate of service before being appointed as mates or to any other +official position. The schoolship boys should experience but little +trouble in getting some minor berths on coastwise vessels or other +crafts sailing under American colors. The chief idea in establishing +the two schoolships, St. Mary's and Saratoga, was to fit boys for the +mercantile marine, and probably, if ever the trans-Atlantic liners sail +under our flag, they will be given appointments on them. 2. The pay of +the officers on steamship lines varies so greatly that no general +average can be given. + +CURIOUS READER.--1. There are several colleges in this country in +which poor boys are afforded an opportunity of putting into practice +legitimate plans for raising sufficient money to pay for tuition and +other expenses. This subject was treated of in a very interesting and +instructive article entitled "Working One's Way Through College," in No. +15 of the volume just ended. In it will be found many such plans, which +will prove of great benefit to those intending to thus gain a collegiate +training. 2. The Constitution does not require candidates for government +positions to possess a college education--in fact, comparatively few +heads of departments, commissioners, etc., are thus equipped. 3. There +are no "free trade" colleges in the United States. We do not know of the +existence of such institutions in any part of the world. + +L.G.C.H.--1. In soldering, the edges of the metals to be put together +must be perfectly clean, to insure which, as well as to counteract the +oxidization which most metals undergo when heated, a flux is used which +neutralizes these otherwise serious impediments, securing a firm joint. +Borax, rosin, sal-ammoniac, common salt, limestone, glass and several +other substances are used for this purpose, according to the nature of +the metal used. Rosin or oil is usually employed in soldering tin and +lead, while a mixture of muriate of zinc and sal-ammoniac is used with +steel. 2. A complete outfit for printing an amateur paper such as that +you describe will cost at least $200, and can be purchased from any +dealer in printing materials. 3. Construct the camera according to the +plans laid down in Vol. 9, No. 34. The cost of that issue will be 6 +cents, postage free. + +J.H.R.--Numerous articles on how to construct cabinets, bookcases, etc., +have been published in previous volumes of this paper. Among these are +the following: "How to Make a Refrigerator," "Cabinet-Making for +Beginners" and "Screens and How to Make Them." Nos. 35, 47 and 48, Vol. +5; "How to Make a Desk," "Hanging Bookshelves" and "Corner Cabinet," +Nos. 7, 15 and 22, Vol. 6; "Hanging Cabinet," No. 16, Vol. 7; "How to +Make an Amateur Carpenter's Bench," No. 36, Vol. 8; "How to Make a +Portable Bookcase," No. 2, Vol. 10, and "How to Make a Bookcase and +Cabinet," No. 8, Vol. 12. These numbers will cost six cents each, no +charge being made for postage. It is our intention to publish such +articles in this and succeeding volumes, whenever the opportunity is +presented of giving the boys novel and useful ideas in the "how to make" +line. + +M.S.S.--1. The sun's average distance from the earth is about 93,000,000 +miles. Since the orbit of the earth is elliptical, and the sun is +situated at one of its foci, the earth is nearly 3,000,000 miles further +from the sun in midsummer than it is in midwinter in the northern +hemisphere. In the southern hemisphere, these conditions are exactly +reversed. 2. U.S. Senators are elected by the legislatures of the States +they represent, while members of the National House or Representatives +are elected by the people. 3. It is not considered improper to write a +short message or letter on a half-sheet of paper; in fact, some styles +of writing paper consist of but a single sheet. 4. The use of a +moderately stiff tooth-brush, clean water and castile soap will keep +the teeth white and in good condition. Tooth-powders are injurious. +5. Nickel-plating should not be exposed to dampness, and must be kept +bright by wiping with a soft rag. + +CAPTAIN CHAP.--The total population of the earth is estimated at +1,480,000,000--of which Europe has 357,000,000; Asia, 826,000,000; +Africa, 164,000,000; America, 122,000,000; Australia, 3,500,000; the +Oceanic Islands, 7,500,000. The density of population is greatest in +Europe--Belgium standing at the head, followed by the Netherlands, Great +Britain and Ireland, Italy, Japan, the German Empire, China, British +India, Switzerland, France, Austria, Denmark, Portugal, Spain, West +Indies and the United States. More than one-fourth of the human race is +found in China and Japan, the former counting 350,000,000 and the latter +40,000,000; more than one-fifth is in India, 324,000,000, of which +286,000,000 belong to British India. The only one of the chief European +States that exceeds this country in population is Russia, with +93,000,000. The others range thus: German Empire, 49,000,000: +Austria-Hungary, 41,000,000; France, 38,000,000; Great Britain and +Ireland, 38,000,000; Italy, 30,000,000; and Spain, 17,000,000. + +LELIA and PHILIP.--1. A high-class eight-wheel passenger locomotive +engine costs about $8500. 2. The strength of a steam engine is commonly +marked by its horse-power. By one horse-power is meant a force strong +enough to raise up 33,000 pounds one foot high in a minute. James Watt, +the noted mechanician, engineer and scientist, famous as the improver, +and almost the inventor of the steam engine, established the horse-power +unit, and the figures were fixed in the following curious manner: He +found that the average horse of his district could raise 22,000 pounds +one foot a minute, and that this was the actual horse-power. At that +time, however, Watt was employed in the manufacture of engines, and +customers were so hard to find that it was necessary to offer extra +inducements. So, as a method of encouraging them, he offered to sell +engines reckoning 33,000 foot-pounds to a horse-power. Thus he was the +means of giving a false unit to one of the most important measurements +in the world, as, in reality, there are no horses to be found that can +keep at work raising 33,000 pounds one foot a minute. + +INEZ and C.A.S.H.--Miles Standish was a Puritan soldier, who came to New +England in the Mayflower in 1620. He was born in Lancashire, England, +about 1584, and served as a soldier in the Netherlands. He was chosen +captain of the New Plymouth settlers, though not a member of the church. +In stature he was small, possessed great energy, activity and courage, +and rendered important service to the early settlers by inspiring +Indians, disposed to be hostile, with awe for the English. In 1625, +Standish visited England as agent for the Plymouth Colony, and returned +with supplies the next year. His wife, Rose Standish, was one of the +victims of the famine and fever of 1621. Five years later, he settled at +Duxbury, Mass., where he lived the remainder of his days, administering +the office of magistrate, or assistant, until his death on October 8, +1656. A monument to his memory was erected several years ago on +Captain's Hill, in Duxbury. Longfellow has written a beautiful poem +describing the captain's second wooing, when he desired to make +Priscilla Mullens his wife, entitled the "Courtship of Miles Standish." + +DISTRICT COLUMBIA.--No vessel has ever been built that exceeded the +Great Eastern in size. Her dimensions were: Length, 680 feet, between +perpendiculars, or 692 feet upper deck; breadth, 83 feet, or 118 feet +over paddle-boxes: height of hull, 60 feet, or 70 feet to the top of the +bulwarks. The paddle-wheels were 56 feet in diameter by 13 feet in +depth, with 30 spokes in each wheel, and the coal-bunkers, to supply all +the engines, could contain 14,000 tons. Her propeller-shaft was 160 feet +long, with a screw propeller at one end 24 feet in diameter. She had 6 +masts, carrying 7000 yards of sail, as auxiliary to the steam power: +10 cables, some of which weighed 10 tons each. She had facilities for +accommodating 800 saloon passengers, 2000 second class, 1200 third class +and 400 officers and crew; or 5000 might have been placed on her, if +emigrants or troops. She was used for several purposes, serving as a +troop ship in 1861, as a passenger vessel, and then was permanently +chartered for laying the Atlantic cable, all of the passenger fittings +being removed in 1867. In this she proved a success, having been used, +not only for the laying of the cable named, but also for several other +important lines, in the Mediterranean, in the Red Sea, across the +Indian Ocean and elsewhere. Then she was laid up, and the last report +concerning her was that, after being run for a short time as a coal +ship, she was sold and broken up, having outlived her usefulness. The +enormous expense attendant upon the maintenance of such an ocean monster +proved a drawback to continued success from the day she was launched, at +Millwall, England, January 31, 1858. + +HARRY and JAY. Two exchange notices from one person are allowed in each +volume, thus giving all our readers an equal chance.--HENRY M.S. Your +query was answered in No. 51, Vol. 12, in its regular turn.--F.H.G. +Addresses of any description are never given in this department. +--BILLY. Commodore George Dewey is Chief of the Bureau of Equipment +and Recruiting, Navy Department. Washington, D.C.--INQUIS I. TIVE +"Electro-Motors and How to Make Them," No. 3. Vol. 12.--W.R. No +premium.--STUDENT. The book may be procured from a local dealer.--H.G.B. +It is supposed to be a reliable institution.--CHAS. McG 1. The course +pointed out is the only one to pursue. If you allow a false modesty to +deter you, nothing remains to be done but suffer. 2. The exchange notice +is too trivial.--WEEKLY BUYER. Stove trimmings are nickel-plated in +the regular way. Read the article on electro-plating in Vol. 11, No. +23.--EDWARD B. Selling cheap jewelry and novelties on the street corners +may net a living income in large cities to those who are experienced in +such work, usually called "faking." It is not at all probable that it +could be made a profitable calling in Texas.--X.Y.Z. Perpetual motion +stands at the head of the absolute impossibilities of life; therefore, +the government has never offered a prize for the solution of this +mythical problem.--RANGER. Nitro-glycerine is one of the most dangerous +explosives known; consequently, we cannot conscientiously describe its +manufacture in this place, thus jeopardizing the lives of thoughtless +persons who might attempt to make it if such a formula was furnished. +--E.C.S. If in first-class condition, the three-dollar gold-piece of +1878 might be sold for $3.40. + +-> Several communications have been received which will be answered next +week. + + * * * * * + +Not a Local Disease + +Because Catarrh affects your head, it is not therefore a local disease. +If it did not exist in your blood, it could not manifest itself in your +nose. The blood now in your brain is, before you finish reading this +article, back in your heart again, and soon distributed to your liver, +stomach, kidneys, and so on. Whatever impurities the blood does not +carry away, cause what we call diseases. Therefore, when you have +catarrh in the head, a snuff or other inhalant can at most give only +temporary relief. The only way to effect a cure is to attack the +disease in the blood, by taking a constitutional remedy like Hood's +Sarsaparilla, which eliminates all impurities and thus permanently cures +Catarrh. The success of Hood's Sarsaparilla as a remedy for Catarrh is +vouched for by many people it has cured. +N.B.--Be sure to get Hood's. + +Hood's Sarsaparilla + +Sold by all druggists, $1; six for $5. Prepared only by C.I. HOOD & CO., +Apothecaries, Lowell, Mass + +100 Doses One Dollar + +Sold by all druggists, $1; six for $5. Prepared only by C.I. HOOD & CO., +Apothecaries, Lowell, Mass + +100 Doses One Dollar + + * * * * * + +[Illustration: +(CUTICURA SOAP +For +BAD COMPLEXIONS +RED ROUGH HANDS +and +BABY HUMORS.)] + +BAD COMPLEXIONS, WITH PIMPLY, +blotchy, oily skin, Red, Rough Hands, with chaps, painful finger ends +and shapeless nails, and simple Baby Humors prevented and cured by +CUTICURA SOAP. A marvelous beautifier of world-wide celebrity, it is +simply incomparable as a Skin Purifying Soap, unequalled for the Toilet +and without a rival for the Nursery. Absolutely pure, delicately +medicated, exquisitely perfumed, CUTICURA SOAP produces the whitest, +clearest skin and softest hands, and prevents inflammation and clogging +of the pores, the cause of pimples, blackheads and most complexional +disfigurations, while it admits of no comparison with the best of other +skin soaps, and rivals in delicacy the most noted and expensive of +toilet and nursery soaps. Sale greater than the combined sales of all +other skin soaps. + +Sold throughout the world. Price, 25c. + +Send for "How to Cure Skin and Blood Diseases." + +Address *Potter Drug and Chemical Corporation*, +Proprietors, Boston, Mass. + + +Aching sides and back, weak kidneys, and rheumatism relieved in one +minute by the celebrated *Cuticura Anti-Pain Plaster*. 25c. + + +[Illustration: + +(GARLAND STOVES AND RANGES + +OVER 100 KINDS +AND SIZES +FROM $10.00 TO 75.00 + +THE GENUINE +ALL PURE IRON +TRADE MARK +BEWARE OF +IMITATIONS + +The World's Best)] + + +The Dancing Skeleton. + +A jointed figure of a skeleton. Dances to music and performs various +tricks. When placed in a chair or on a table it will begin to move, +stand up, lie down, &c., to the great astonishment of all. More fun than +a box of monkeys. Just the thing for social gatherings. Sample by mail, +*10 cents*, three for *25 cents*, one dozen *50 cents*. Stamps taken. +Address HOME NOVELTY Co., Providence. R.I. + + +*In Luck Certain.* + +After trying to sell books, pictures and wringers, and nearly every +contrivance imaginable, I became discouraged and thought there was no +chance for a poor man to earn a living. There was nothing to do on the +farm, and I could not get a job in town, when I happened to see how a +teacher made money selling platers, and thought I would try my luck. I +bought a $5 Lightning Plater from H.F. Delno & Co., Columbus, Ohio, and +from that day my luck seemed to change. I carried the plater from house +to house and plated knives, forks and spoons right before the folks, and +it is surprising how many want their things plated. I made $3.70 the +first day, and in one week $28. I can plate with nickel, silver or gold. +The work is fine, my customers are pleased and I am happy. I hope some +other fellow who is down on his luck will see this, and do as I have +done and get up in the world. + WILLIAM EVANS. + + * * * * * + +From Uncle Sam, El Dorado Springs, Mo. + +Our opinion of GOLDEN DAYS is very plain and straight as follows: It is +one of the purest publications to be found in the hands of the reading +young people of the present day. It is full of short sketches that are +interesting and instructive to the young and the old as well. The serial +stories are all perfectly pure and are very interesting, besides setting +good examples and morals for all who read them. I have read Golden Days +more or less for seven or eight years, and I unhesitatingly pronounce it +pure and instructive enough to be in the home circle of every family in +the reading world. One fine feature is the International Sunday-School +Lesson to be found in each number, about one week or so in advance of +the time when it is to be used, thus giving an opportunity for thorough +study. + + +From the Christian Advocate, Richmond, Va. + +Any boy's or girl's days must be golden who reads that charming paper, +published in Philadelphia, styled GOLDEN DAYS. The day it comes, and +every day after while its contents are not exhausted, will be golden +with the charming adventures, incidents of travel and thrilling stories +of childhood and youth. The children of every family should have it. +Parents cannot make a better investment than to subscribe for Golden +Days for their young folks. It is sent to any address for $6 per year. +James Elverson, Publisher, Philadelphia, Pa. + + +From The Argus, Ashton, Dakota. + +To the young people of Spink County who enjoy first class reading we can +truthfully recommend GOLDEN DAYS, published by James Elverson, +Philadelphia. It is a weekly publication, and filled with the purest of +reading matter, and yet the well-known desire of the young for stories +of adventure is not forgotten, for while the interest of the reader is +held by the power of the writers, yet there is nothing at any time that +could offend the most fastidious, while the youthful mind is led on to +emulate the good acts portrayed. Write for sample copies. + + +From the West Philadelphia Press. + +GOLDEN DAYS is far ahead of any weekly paper published in the United +States having for its object the culture and amusement of the youthful +mind. Now, in its Twelfth Volume, it exhibits every sign of strength, +permanency and progression. Mr. Elverson, the proprietor and editor, is +one of those men who believe it a duty to do what they can for their +race, and wisely he is doing for the "rising generation" a work which, +for him, is "a work of love." Aiming to benefit our youth, through +history, science, philosophy, geography, mechanics, etc., in a manner +easily comprehended, he has made his journal the efficient instrument of +his noble purpose. Could he see the anxiety on the faces of his young +friends awaiting the arrival of Golden Days by the mail or the news +agent, he would feel that his efforts to please them were not in vain, +and that the running of his great presses, day and night, at Ninth and +Spruce Streets, was indeed to them a gratification and blessing. + + +From the Teachers' Journal, York, Pa. + +GOLDEN DAYS.--One of the most perfectly beautiful weekly magazines for +boys and girls we have ever seen. It is published weekly and bound +monthly. You can get the four weeklies bound together, if you prefer. +Each monthly contains eighty large four-column pages, beautifully +illustrated, with illuminated covers and the very best reading matter +for the young. It is heartily indorsed by the best religious papers, and +should take the place in our households of the injurious stuff that will +find an entrance, if nothing better is supplied. + + +From the Maryland School Journal. + +GOLDEN DAYS (Elverson, Philadelphia) has fulfilled its promise, and is +in every respect a suitable weekly paper to put into the hands of young +boys and girls. We have carefully watched each number since the start, +and have seen in it nothing to censure and much to praise. + + +From the Michigan City Dispatch, Ind. + +We can unhesitatingly say that the Golden Days, published at +Philadelphia by James Elverson, is the finest publication for boys and +girls in America. The matter is first-class and of a high standard. If +you are not a subscriber send for a sample copy. + + +From the Gazette, Charlotte Court-House, Virginia. + +GOLDEN DAYS.--Of all the publications for little boys and girls, GOLDEN +DAYS stands most conspicuous to the front, while its columns abound with +stories and tales well calculated to entertain, amuse and please the +youthful reader. There is a moral in its articles well calculated to +make the young reader better for having read its columns. The +subscription price is $3 per year, two copies for $5. Send for specimen +copy, and you will be sure to take it. + + +From The Tribune, Maxwell, Iowa. + +Of all the publications for little boys and girls, GOLDEN DAYS stands +most conspicuous to the front, while its columns abound with stories and +tales well calculated to entertain, amuse and please the youthful +readers. There is moral in its articles well calculated to make the +young reader better for having read its columns. The subscription price +is $3 per year; two copies for $5. Send for specimen copy, and you will +be sure to take it. + +* * * * * + +Our Premium Knife! + +[Illustration: +(GOLDEN DAYS)] + +Ivory handle, beautifully finished, *Exactly as Illustrated*. +Made to our own order, and can *only* be had by subscribing to +"GOLDEN DAYS." + +-> We will make this Knife a Present to any one who sends us THREE +DOLLARS + +For One Year's Subscription to "Golden Days." + +-> The money must be sent *direct* to this office. Address +JAMES ELVERSON, Publisher "Golden Days," Phila., Pa. + +Special Notice.--WHEN TEN CENTS FOR REGISTERING IS SENT, we consider +ourselves responsible for the safe delivery, though we have sent several +thousand Knives without one in a thousand being lost. + + * * * * * + +Children Cry for Pitcher's Castoria. + + +DELICATE +CHILDREN +MADE STRONG BY +SCOTT'S EMULSION + + * * * * * + +Notices of Exchange. + +-> The publisher will positively take no responsibility concerning +exchanges effected by means of this department, neither will the +reliability of exchangers be guaranteed. To avoid any misunderstanding +in the matter, it would be advisable for those contemplating exchanging +to write for particulars to the addresses before sending the articles +desired. + +-> Exchange notices containing offers of or for _shot-guns, air-guns, +pistols, rifles, poisons, dangerous chemicals, animals, odd numbers of +papers, valueless coins and curiosities, birds' eggs_, or "offers," will +_not_ be inserted. + +Exchange Notices conforming with the above rules are inserted free of +charge. + +C. Willard, Box 707, Claremont, N.H., a volume of "Youth's Companion" +and a book for a volume of GOLDEN DAYS. + +G.H. Barker, Shickley, Neb., a collection of foreign and U.S. stamps for +a B-flat cornet or a silver watch. + +J.N. Dodd, Box 181, Middletown, Del., a $20 zither and a complete +printing outfit for a typewriter. + +G.J. Frick, 2903 Fairhill St., Philadelphia, Pa., a cornet, 6 volumes of +GOLDEN DAYS, a lot of books, a pair of opera glasses, a watch, a pair of +skates and 2 penknives for a clarionet, a bicycle or a "tuck-up" boat. + +U.M. Reymar, 132 Academy Ave., Middletown, N.Y., 3 vols. of GOLDEN DAYS, +3 books on athletic sports and other reading matter for a high-wheel +bicycle or a banjo. + +G.K. Mears, 128 West Jersey St., Elizabeth, N.J., a nickel-plated watch, +an album with 250 stamps, 9 books, a polyopticon and a 2-1/4 x 4 press +for a large self-inking press. + +P. McNabb, 2208 2d Ave., N.Y. city, a pair of 2-pound Indian clubs, a +pack of trick cards and 2 books on magic for dry plate holders for a 4x5 +camera. + +A.G. Randall, Tekonsha, Mich. a $20 typewriter for a watch, a photo +outfit, books, a magic lantern or gymnastic goods. + +G.A. Taylor, 469 Prospect St., Cleveland, Ohio, a self-inking press with +20 fonts of type, cabinet, leads and entire outfit for a Safety bicycle. + +L. Spatz, 10-1/2 Oswego St., Jersey City, N.J., a 48-inch bicycle, a +pair of skates, a camera, 2 albums and a few stamps for a Safety or a +58 or 60 inch Ordinary (city offers preferred). + +T. Fesmire, 802 Judson St., Phila., Pa., Vol. 10 or 11 GOLDEN DAYS for a +telegraph outfit (city offers preferred). + +R.B. Gedye, La Salle, Ill., a 5x8 self-inking press and outfit for a +watch or a Detective camera. + +C.F. Ball, Irwin, Pa., 4 vols. of "The Argosy" and 1 vol. of GOLDEN DAYS +for a snap-shot camera. + +H.V. Bisgood, Jr., 641 Prospect Ave., Buffalo, N.Y., a pair of patent +lever skates for a collection of stamps. + +W. Dorland, Hamden, N.J., a 52-inch bicycle for a screw-cutting lathe. + +J.D. Saurman, 202 E. Jacoby St., Norristown, Pa., a violin, bow and case +for a guitar or mandolin. + +C. Ehrlich, 332 E. 51st St., N.Y. city, a $50 gold-filled watch for a +52-inch Ordinary and a Safety. + +F.G. McNally, 47 Lincoln St., Lawrence, Mass., a small +hand-printing-press with a lot of type and 200 stamps for a scroll saw, +a pair of fencing foils or a pair of opera glasses. + +E.A. Snape, Box 240, Gordonsville, Va., a Kodak camera for 2 telegraph +keys and 2 sounders. + +C.E. Cluckner, Box 215, Buena Vista, Colo., 700 U.S. and foreign stamps +for a card press and outfit. + +C.W. Bennett, 51 Ashford St., Brooklyn, N.Y., a gold watch, a vol. of +"Once a Week" and a number of books for a collection of foreign and U.S. +stamps. + +D. Calhoun, 174_a_ 6th Ave., Brooklyn, N.Y., a $10 physical exerciser +and instruction book for a foot-power printing press. + +E.E. Bullinger, 336 E. 84th St., N.Y. city, a 13-1/2-foot canvas canoe +for best offer of sporting goods. + +C.M. Berger, 3342 Waterloo St., Phila., Pa., a telephone with 50 feet of +wire, a stamp album and a lot of books for a typewriter or a camera +worth at least $5. + +J.F. Phillips, Box 186, Catasauqua, Pa., a typewriter, 750 foreign +stamps, a combination square, rule and compass, a harmonica, a students' +lamp and a pair of skates for a scroll saw and outfit. + +C. Pierce, 740 N. 24th St., Phila., Pa., a 10-foot canoe for a scroll +saw (city offers only). + +R. Wilcox. Box 66, Chester, Conn., a lot of books for a Safety bicycle +lantern. + +S.L. Evans, 911 Bedford Ave., Brooklyn. N.Y., a scroll saw with outfit, +a pair of skates, a magnifying glass and a wood-carving outfit for a +collection of minerals, a desk or a cabinet. + +E.K. Hampton, 237 W. Decatur St., Decatur, Ill., an electric motor, a +1-cell bichromate battery, a pair of skates, an achromatic lens and 2 +fonts of type for a photo-camera lens, etc. + +H. Howard, 37 Howard St., Pittsfield, Mass., a 48-in. bicycle and a +fishing rod, with reel and line, for books and tools of any description. + +L. Jeffrey, N.W. cor. 5th and Federal Sts., Phila., Pa., a lot of +scientific works on all subjects and 6 grammars in 6 different +languages, with the dictionaries for each, for a camera and outfit or a +telescope. + +F.W. Fahnestock, 5 Main St., Cohoes, N.Y., a pair of foils, a pair of +opera glasses, a photo camera, a fountain pen, 3 electric batteries, +with lamp, and a pair of fencing foils, for a steam engine and boiler +worth $20. + +E.M. Evans, 340 S. 21st St., Phila., Pa., a scroll saw for a pair of +ball-bearing pedals or a club lamp. + +H.S. Clark, 34 Rookery Bldg., Chicago, Ill., a camera with rising front, +swing back, 3 double holders, tripod and carrying case, and a scroll +saw, with nickel-plated tilting table and emery wheel for a Detective +camera. + +S.F. Neely, Mount Ayr, Iowa, vols of GOLDEN DAYS, "Once a Week," +"Scientific American", "Home Magazine", "Home Journal", and 30 books for +a bicycle, a typewriter or books. + +F.H. Rouff, 303 S. Main St., Providence, R.I., Vols. 1, 2, 7, 8, 10 and +11 GOLDEN DAYS, and 2 vols. of "The Argosy" and some books for Vols. 3, +4 and 6 same paper. + +J.E. Woolverton, 123 Stockton St., Trenton, N.J., Vols. 9 and 10 GOLDEN +DAYS for Vol. 12, same paper. + + * * * * * + +_Any man_ that puts an article in reach of _over-worked women_ to +lighten her labor is certainly a _benefactor_. Cragin & Co. surely come +under this head in making Dobbin's Electric Soap so cheap that _all_ can +use it. _You_ give it a trial. + + +DONALD KENNEDY +Of Roxbury, Mass., says +Kennedy's Medical Discovery cures Horrid Old Sores, Deep Seated Ulcers +of *40* years standing, Inward Tumors, and every disease of the skin +except Thunder Humor, and Cancer that has taken root. Price $1.50. Sold +by every Druggist in the U.S. and Canada. + + +THE HARTFORD SAFETY. + +[Illustration] + +Price $100.00 +With Cushion Tires $105.00 + +Ball Bearings; interchangeable parts; guaranteed. Catalogues free. The +Hartford Cycle Co., Hartford, Conn. + + +THE WIZARD'S WONDERFUL CABINET! + +[Illustration: +(Prof. Dunsell's Wonderful Paper Trick), (Fire Eater), +(A Cure for Love)] + +Containing all of the following +--TRICKS--. + +The *Performing Skeleton* will dance to music, stand up, lie down and +perform various tricks. *Magic Trick Cards* used by all magicians; no +experience required to do the most perplexing tricks: The *Lightning +Trick Box*, neatest trick ever invented; you take off the cover and show +your friends that it is full of candy or rice; replace the cover and you +can assure your friends that it is empty; and taking off the cover, sure +enough, the candy has disappeared, or you can change it to a piece of +money. *A Cure for Love*, curious, queer, but funny; ladies hand them +to gentlemen; gentlemen to ladies, and have dollars' worth of fun. The +*Magic Nail*; a common nail is shown and then forced through the finger; +the nail is then withdrawn, given for examination and the finger shown +without a cut or scar. The *Fire Eater*, the great sensational trick of +the day; any person can apparently breathe fire and blow thousands of +brilliant sparks from the mouth. We send material enough for several +exhibitions. *Magic Bottle Imp*, a very amusing trick; it is a curiosity +and a brain puzzler; will stand as straight as a flag-staff and no one +can make it lie down, but when you take it down it goes like a sleepy +kitten; it causes heaps of fun. *Wonderful Paper Trick*; this trick can +be performed by any one; you produce the package of cigarette paper that +we furnish, and take a sheet and tear it in small pieces and roll it +into a ball; then unroll the ball, and there is the sheet of paper, +perfect in size and not torn in the slightest. It can be repeated many +times, as the book of leaves is a thick one. All the above tricks packed +in a neat box with full directions with every article, so that any one +can perform the tricks, and sent by mail, postpaid, for *25 cents*, +silver or stamps. +Address *Home Trick Co.*, 4. Eddy St., Providence, R.I. + + +600 SONGS, 30c. + +Including Comrades, Mary and John, Sweet Katie Connor, Little Fisher +Maiden, Rock-a-bye, Baby, Love's Old Sweet Song, In Old Madrid, That is +Love, Playmates, Leonore, etc., *all with WORDS AND MUSIC complete.* +A large book of 256 pages, containing all of above, mailed on receipt of +thirty cents, stamps or silver. Address +*B.M. TRIFET, 408 Wash. St., Boston, Mass.* + + * * * * * + +From The Herald, Cannonsburg, Pa. + +There are many excellent publications for boys and girls, and it is +quite difficult to make choice among them. For more than a long time we +have been a reader of GOLDEN DAYS, a large and handsome weekly paper +published in Philadelphia by James Elverson, and we have come to admire +it very much. No matter is found in GOLDEN DAYS that the most prudent +parent could object to, and then everything is presented in such an +attractive way that young folks are sure to read it and watch anxiously +for the mail that brings the next Issue. GOLDEN DAYS is also issued as a +monthly, and subscribers can have their choice of receiving the paper +weekly or getting each month's issues bound. The subscription price is +*$3* per annum. + + +From the Canton Press, Canton, Mo. + +The GOLDEN DAYS is pushing forward to a position in the field of +juvenile journalism that will make it the _ne plus ultra_. Its stories +sparkle with originality and interest, and its poems are the best. +Published at $3 a year by James Elverson, Philadelphia, Pa. Send for a +free sample copy. + + +From the Clifton and Lansdowne Times. + +GOLDEN DAYS.--We would like to be able to place this weekly journal in +the hands of every girl and boy in the county who cannot afford to +subscribe for or buy it from news agents. But the girls and boys of that +kind, we fear, are "too many for us." A sad fact, too, by-the-way, when +we reflect that a little thought and a bit of economy on the part of +themselves or their parents would do what it is not in our power to +accomplish. Nevertheless, they ought to know what GOLDEN DAYS is, +namely, a sixteen-page weekly journal, with finely-illustrated articles +on various subjects of interest to young people, embracing natural +history, philosophy and other branches of education, together with +pleasing, instructive and moral stories by the best authors. It is just +what is wanted for the youthful mind seeking for useful information, and +ready at the same time to enjoy what is entertaining and healthful. If +all girls and boys could peruse and profit by its columns every week, +they in time would grow up to be women and men, intelligent, patriotic +and influential in their lives; and lest any who may read these words +are ignorant--which is hardly possible--of the whereabouts of GOLDEN +DAYS, we gladly give the address, James Elverson, Ninth and Spruce +Streets, Philadelphia. + + +From the Cincinnati Suburban News. + +Twenty copies of the GOLDEN DAYS are sold weekly at Moore's book store. +The number ought to be forty, for it is the best juvenile publication we +know of. It is most beautifully illustrated, and the reading is of a +very high order, much of it historical and biographical. The price is +only six cents per week. + + +From the Pine Plains Register, N.Y. + +*The Best of All.*--Among the numerous publications for boys and girls, +there is one every family should have--namely, GOLDEN DAYS, published by +James Elverson, Philadelphia, Pa. It is filled with the choicest +stories, which improve the mind and elevate the morals, as well as +please the fancy. The tone of this publication is pure, and yet GOLDEN +DAYS is not in the least prosy or dull. Try it for awhile, and you will +not do without it. The price is $3 a year, but by special arrangements +with the publisher, it will be furnished in club with the Register at +$3.50 for both publications. + + +From the Juniata Herald. + +GOLDEN DAYS still comes up smiling every week to gladden the hearts of +our young folks. It is the best juvenile paper published, and is even +not a bad paper for old folks to read. That it is considered well worth +the subscription is evidenced by its rapidly increasing circulation and +popularity. While filled every week with intensely thrilling stories, +which rival Robinson Crusoe and the Swiss Family Robinson, it has no +tendency to corrupt the morals of the young, and can be given to them +without hesitation or fear. Send to the publisher, James Elverson, +Philadelphia, for a specimen copy. + + +From the Republican Journal, Belfast, Me. + +GOLDEN DAYS, the leading juvenile weekly (and monthly) continues to grow +in interest and circulation, and is a welcome visitor to homes over all +this broad land. The publisher's claim that it is "pure, instructive and +entertaining" will be conceded by all who read it. James Elverson, +publisher, Philadelphia. + + +From the News, Paris, Ky. + +James Elverson's GOLDEN DAYS, Ninth And Spruce Streets, Philadelphia, is +a handsome weekly publication of the healthiest kind of reading matter +for boys and girls. It furnishes quite a relief from the usual trashy +productions which are placed in reach of the youthful reader. The +pictorial features are far in advance of similar journals, and one +worthy feature which should recommend it to parents is that it contains +only the purest of reading. Nothing that would prove derogatory to the +best moral or religious life ever finds the light through colums its. + + +From the Standard, Belvidere, Ill. + +James Elverson, Philadelphia, publishes a handsomely illustrated and +interesting youth's paper called GOLDEN DAYS. It should find a welcome +in every home for the young folks, for the reading is wholesome, and +such literature should be encouraged by prompt subscriptions. If the +youngsters catch a glimpse of it they will find they need it as a +recreation after study hours. + + +From the Philadelphia Times. + +Of all illustrated Juvenile periodicals published in this country, none +is more deservedly popular than GOLDEN DAYS, published by James +Elverson, this city. It strikes that happy medium which appeals to the +masses of school children whose tastes have not been spoiled by +overstrained appeals to their fancy, and while it is bright and varied, +it aims to be instructive in a pleasant, homelike way. The monthly part, +made up of the four weekly parts, is quite a treasury of short stories, +pictures and puzzles. + + +From the Advocate, Tipton, Ind. + +GOLDEN DAYS fills a want that no other magazine attempts to supply. Pure +and interesting stories for summer reading is a special feature. Highly +illustrated. For sample copy, address James Elverson, Philadelphia. + + +From the News, Bloomfield, Ind. + +GOLDEN DAYS.--"To merit is to insure success" is certainly verified in +the publication of GOLDEN DAYS, by James Elverson, Philadelphia. This +admirable weekly for the youth of this great land is now well +established and has a large and well-deserved patronage. It is +supplanting a poisonous literature, and performing a wholesome mission +in this day when too much good seed cannot be sown by the friends of +humanity. Parents wishing to put valuable reading matter into the hands +of their children should subscribe. It is only $3 per annum, and can be +had weekly or monthly as may be desired. + + +From the Pipe of Peace, Genoa, Neb. + +GOLDEN DAYS fills a want that no other magazine attempts to supply. +Pure, clean, instructive and amusing, it furnishes reading matter, both +for young and old, which is not surpassed by any other publication. + +Published in attractive form, beautifully illustrated and in clear type, +the mechanical work is in keeping with the reading matter it contains. +Address for sample copies, James Elverson, Philadelphia, Pa. + + +From the Marietta Times, Marietta, Pa. + +The monthly part of GOLDEN DAYS is, as usual, replete with healthful and +interesting reading, in the shape of instalments of several captivating +serials by popular authors, short stories, natural history papers, +practical papers, poetry, puzzles, etc., profusely illustrated. James +Elverson, publisher, Philadelphia. + + +From the Advocate of Peace, Boston. + +GOLDEN DAYS.--"To merit is to insure success," is certainly verified in +the publication of GOLDEN DAYS, by James Elverson, Philadelphia. This +admirable weekly for the youth of this great land is now well +established, and has an increasingly large and well-deserved patronage. +Its readers are not treated with trashy matter, but with pictures and +puzzles and stories of thrilling adventure and useful knowledge. GOLDEN +DAYS is supplanting a poisonous literature, and performing a wholesome +mission in this day, when too much good seed cannot be sown by the +friends of humanity. + + * * * * * + +*Something That +YOU Want*! + +_Thousands have asked for it_. + +A HANDY BINDER! + +That will hold 52 "Golden Days." + +[Illustration] + +Heavy, embossed cloth covers, with flexible back. GOLDEN DAYS +stamped in gold letters on the outside. Full directions for inserting +papers go with each Binder. We will send the HANDY BINDER and a package +of Binder Pins to any address on receipt of *50 cents.* Every reader +should have one. + +Address JAMES ELVERSON, +Philadelphia, Pa. + + * * * * * + +[Illustration: +(The +Ready Binder +for binding +THREE MONTHS +of the +GOLDEN DAYS +*Price, 10 Cents.*) ] + +THIS BINDER is light, strong and handsome, and the weekly issues of +GOLDEN DAYS are held together by it in the convenient form of a +book, which can be kept lying on the reading-table. It is made of two +white wires joined together in the centre, with slides on either end for +pressing the wires together, thus holding the papers together by +pressure without mutilating them. We will furnish the Binders at Ten +Cents apiece, postage prepaid. Address JAMES ELVERSON, Publisher, +Philadelphia, Pa. + + * * * * * + +JUST OUT + +"Golden Days" Vol. XII + +Is a Magnificent Book of 832 pages. A perfect mine of everything that +will interest young people. It is + +Superbly +Illustrated! + +CONTAINING + +Over 400 Finely-executed Wood Engravings--making, without question, the + +Most Attractive +Book of the Season! + +-> This volume will be sent to any address, prepaid, on receipt of +price, $4.00. + +JAMES ELVERSON, +Publisher "GOLDEN DAYS," +Philadelphia + + * * * * * + * * * * + * * * * * + +Layout of Advertising Pages: + +inside front: + ++-------------------------------+-------------------------------+ +| Serve Yourself and... | For Colds and Coughs | ++-------------------------------+ | +| FREE for 30 days. | Ayer's Cherry Pectoral | ++---------------+---------------+---------------+---------------+ +| 15 Cent Pa.. | Barney & B.. | Dollar Type.. | Numismatic.. | +// // // // // +| PILES | STAMPS | PEATS +---------------+ ++---------------+ .... | WALL PAPER |Madame Porter's| +| Binding +---------------+---------------+ | +| "Golden Days" | Pitcher's Castoria | Cough Balsam | ++---------------+-------------------------------+---------------+ + + +inside back: + ++-------------------------------+---------------+---------------+ +| Not a Local Disease | Cuticura | Delicate Ch.. | +| Hood's Sarsaparilla | Soap +---------------+ ++---------------+---------------+ (Anti-Pain..) | (exchanges) | +| Garland |(testimonials) +---------------+ | +| Stoves | |(testimonials) | | ++---------------+ | | | +| Dancing Sk.. | +---------------+ | ++---------------+ | (exchanges) | | +|(testimonials) | | | | +// // // // // +| +---------------+---------------+ | +| | Our Premium Knife! | | +| +-------------------------------+ | +| | Pitcher's Castoria | | ++---------------+-------------------------------+---------------+ + + +back cover: + ++---------------+-------------------------------+---------------+ +| Kennedy's | The Wizard's Wonderful.. | Something | +| Medical Dis.. +---------------+---------------+ that you | ++---------------+ 600 Songs |(testimonials) | want | +| Hartford Sa.. +---------------+ | | ++---------------+(testimonials) | | | +|(testimonials) | | +---------------+ +// // // // // +| | | | This Binder | +| | +---------------+---------------+ +| | | "Golden Days" vol. XII | +| | | | +| | | Superbly Illustrated! | ++---------------+---------------+-------------------------------+ + + +[Illustrations: +Readers who are unable to use the fully illustrated html version of +this text may wish to view some individual images, located within the +"images" directory of the html file. The major illustrations, all named +in the form "picXX.jpg", are: + Front Cover pic01.jpg + _The Young Engineer_ 03 + _Rigging and Rigs_ 06 + _The North Avenue + Archingtons_ 09 + _Captain Clyde_ 11 + _A Flock of Geese_ 14 + _The Black Hound_ 15 + _The Fierce Old Cat and + the Clockwork Rat_ 18a, 18b, 18c ] + + +[Errata Noted by Transcriber: + +front advertising: + The Clarivoyant, how to become a medium. + _so in original_: Clairvoyant + + JAMES ELVERSON, Pubisher + _so in original_: Publisher + + 25 Silk Fringe Envelope etc., Cards with + _number obscured: could be 35 or 85_ + +The North Avenue Archingtons + ...Marie Smith scarcely deigns to speak to me any more... + _text reads_ scarely + +Stories of School Life + the third as Dreicke (three cornered) + _so in original_: Dreiecke ? + +puzzle solutions: + R E T I L E S + _text reads_ RUTILES + +testimonials: + ...ever finds the light through colums its. + _so in original_: ...its columns. ] + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Golden Days for Boys and Girls, Vol. +XIII, Nov. 28, 1891, by Various + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK GOLDEN DAYS *** + +***** This file should be named 16638.txt or 16638.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/6/3/16638/ + +Produced by Louise Hope, Juliet Sutherland 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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