diff options
Diffstat (limited to '18195.txt')
| -rw-r--r-- | 18195.txt | 2261 |
1 files changed, 2261 insertions, 0 deletions
diff --git a/18195.txt b/18195.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..ba2a4b0 --- /dev/null +++ b/18195.txt @@ -0,0 +1,2261 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Girl's Own Paper, Vol. VIII: No. 353, +October 2, 1886., 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: The Girl's Own Paper, Vol. VIII: No. 353, October 2, 1886. + +Author: Various + +Editor: Charles Peters + +Release Date: April 17, 2006 [EBook #18195] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE GIRL'S OWN PAPER *** + + + + +Produced by Susan Skinner and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + + +THE GIRL'S OWN PAPER + +VOL. VIII.--NO. 353. + +OCTOBER 2, 1886. + +Price One Penny. + + + + + +MERLE'S CRUSADE. + +BY ROSA NOUCHETTE CAREY, Author of "Aunt Diana," "For Lilias," etc. + +[Illustration: "'WHAT A PITY YOU STOPPED ME JUST THEN.'"] + + +CHAPTER I. + +THE VALLEY OF HUMILIATION. + +"Merle, I may be a little old-fashioned in my notions; middle-aged +people never adjust their ideas quite in harmony with you young folk, +but in my day we never paused to count fifty at a full stop." + +Aunt Agatha's voice startled me with its reproachful irritability. Well, +I had deserved that little sarcasm for I must confess that I had been +reading very carelessly. My favourite motto was ringing in my ears, +"_Laborare est orare_." + +Somehow the words had set themselves to resonant music in my brain; it +seemed as though I were chanting them inwardly all the time I was +climbing down the steep hill with Christiana and her boys. _Laborare est +orare._ And this is what I was reading on that still, snowy Sunday +afternoon: "But we will come again to this Valley of Humiliation. It is +the best and most fruitful piece of ground in all these parts. It is a +fat ground, and, as you see, consisteth much in meadows, and if a man +was to come here in the summertime as we do now, if he knew not anything +before thereof, and if he delighted himself in the sight of his eyes, he +might see that which would be delightful to him. Behold how green this +valley is, also how beautiful with lilies! I have known many labouring +men that have got good estates in this Valley of Humiliation." + +"Merle," observed Aunt Agatha, a little dryly, "we may as well leave off +there, for it seems that you and I are to have our estate among the +labouring men in this very valley." + +Aunt Agatha was a clever woman, and could say shrewd things sometimes, +but she never spoke a truer word than this; but my wits were no longer +wool-gathering. + +"What a pity you stopped me just then," I remarked, somewhat +sententiously; "we have missed the purest gem of the allegory. 'He that +is down need fear no fall; he that is low no pride.'" But here a hand +was lifted in protesting fashion. + +"Put the marker in the page, child, and spare me the rest; that is in +favour of your argument, not mine," for a weary discussion had been +waged between us for two whole hours--a discussion that had driven Aunt +Agatha exhausted to the couch, but which had only given me a tingling +feeling of excitement, such as a raw recruit might experience at the +sight of a battlefield. Aunt Agatha's ladylike ideas lay dead and +wounded round her while I had made that last impetuous charge. + +"I am of age, a free Englishwoman, living in a free country, and not all +the nineteenth century prejudices, though they are thick as dragons' +teeth, shall prevent me, Merle Fenton, of sane mind and healthy body, +from doing what I believe to be my duty." + +"Humph, I am rather doubtful of the sanity; I always told you that you +were too independent and strong-minded for a girl; but what is the use +of preaching to deaf ears?" continued Aunt Agatha, in a decidedly cross +voice, as she arranged the cushions comfortably. + +It was true that I was getting the best of the argument, and yet I was +sorry for Aunt Agatha. I felt how I was shocking all her notions of +decorum and propriety, and giving pain to the kindest and gentlest heart +in the world; but one cannot lead a new crusade without trampling on +some prejudices. I knew all my little world would shriek "fie," and "for +shame" into my ears, and all because I was bent on working out a new +theory. The argument had grown out of such a little thing. I had shown +Aunt Agatha an advertisement in the _Morning Post_, and announced my +intention of answering it in person the following morning. + +"NURSE.--Can any lady recommend a thoroughly conscientious superior +person to take charge of two children, baby eighteen months old? +Assistance given in the nursery. Must be a good, plain needlewoman. +Prince's Gate, S.W." + +To the last day of my life I do not think that I shall ever forget Aunt +Agatha's face when she read that advertisement. + +"You intend to offer yourself for this situation, Merle--to lose caste, +and take your place among menials? It is enough to make my poor brother +rise in his grave, and your poor, dear mother too, to think of a Fenton +stooping to such degradation." But I will forbear to transcribe all the +wordy avalanche of lady-like invective that was hurled at me, +accompanied by much wringing of hands. + +And yet the whole thing lay in a nut-shell. I, Merle Fenton, sound, +healthy, and aged two-and-twenty, being orphaned, penniless, and only +possessing one near relative in the world--Aunt Agatha--declined utterly +to be dependent for my daily bread and the clothes I wore on the +goodwill of her husband and my uncle by marriage, Ezra Keith. + +No, I was not good. I daresay I was self-willed, contradictory, and as +obstinate as a mule that will go every way but the right way, but, all +the same, I loved Aunt Agatha, my dead father's only sister, and I +detested Uncle Keith with a perfectly unreasonable detestation. + +Aunt Agatha had been a governess all her life. Certainly the Fenton +family had not much to boast of in the way of wealth. Pedigree and +poverty are not altogether pleasant yoke fellows. It may be comfortable +to one's feelings to know that a certain progenitor of ours made boots +at the time of the Conquest, though I am never quite sure in my mind +that they had bootmakers then; but my historical knowledge was always +defective. But a little money is also pleasant; indeed, if the pedigree +and the money came wooing to me, and I had to choose between them--well, +perhaps I had better hold my tongue on that subject; for what is the +good of shocking people unless one has a very good reason for doing so? + +My father's pedigree did not help him into good practice, and he died +young--a grave mistake, people tell me, for a professional man to +commit. My mother was very pretty and very helpless, but then she had a +pedigree, too, and, probably, that forbade her to soil her white hands. +She was a fine lady, with more heart than head, which she had lost most +unwisely to the handsome young doctor. After his death, she made futile +efforts for her child's sake, but the grinding wheel of poverty caught +the poor butterfly and crushed her to death. + +My poor, tender-hearted, unhappy mother! Well, the world is a cruel +place to these soft, unprotected natures. + +I should have fared badly but for Aunt Agatha; her hardly-earned savings +were all spent on my education. She was a clever, highly-educated woman, +and commanded good salaries, and out of this she contrived to board and +maintain me at a school until she married, and Uncle Keith promised that +I should share their home. + +I never could understand why Aunt Agatha married him. Perhaps she was +tired of the drudgery of teaching; at forty-five one may grow a little +weary of one's work. Perhaps she wanted a home for her old age, and was +tired of warming herself at other people's fires, and preferred a +chimney corner of her own; but, strange to say, she always scouted these +two notions with the utmost indignation. + +"I married your uncle, Merle," she would say, with great dignity, +"because he convinced me that he was the right person for me to marry. I +have no more idea than you how he contrived to instil this notion into +my head, for though I am a plain body and never had any beauty, I must +own I liked tall, good-looking men. But there, my dear, I lived +forty-five years in the world without three things very common in +women's lives--without beauty, without love, and without discontent." +And in this last clause she was certainly right. Aunt Agatha was the +most contented creature in the world. + +If Uncle Keith--for never, never would I call him Uncle Ezra, even had +he asked me as a personal favour to do so--if Uncle Keith had been rich +I could have understood the marriage better, being rather a mercenary +and far-sighted young person, but he had only a very small income. He +was managing clerk in some mercantile house, and, being a thrifty soul, +invested all his spare cash instead of spending it. + +Aunt Agatha had lived in grand houses all her life, but she was quite +content with the little cottage at Putney to which her husband took her. +They only kept one servant; but Aunt Agatha proved herself to be a +notable housekeeper. She arranged and rearranged the old-fashioned +furniture that had belonged to Uncle Keith's mother until she had made +quite a charming drawing-room; but that was just her way; she had clever +brains, and clever fingers, and to manipulate old materials into new +fashions was just play work to her. + +But for me, I am perfectly convinced that Aunt Agatha would have called +herself the happiest woman in the world, but my discontent leavened the +household. If three people elect to live together, the success of the +scheme demands that one of the three should not smile sourly on all +occasions. + +For two whole years I tried to be amiable when Uncle Keith was in the +room, and at last gave up the attempt in despair, baffled by my own evil +tempers, and yet I will say I was not a bad-tempered girl. I must have +had good in me or Aunt Agatha would not have been so fond of me. I call +that a real crucial test--other people's fondness for us. + +Why is it so difficult to get on with some folk, very worthy people in +their way? + +Why do some people invariably rub up one's fur until it bristles with +discomfort? Why do these same thoroughly estimable creatures bring a +sort of moral east wind with them, scarifying one's nerves? Surely it is +beneath the dignity of a human being to be rasped by a harsh, drawling +voice, or offended by trifling mannerisms. Uncle Keith was just like one +of my sums--you might add him up, subtract from him, divide or multiply +him, but he would never come right in the end; one always reckoned that +he was more or less than he was. He was a little, pale, washed-out +looking man, with sandy hair and prominent brown eyes. Being an old +bachelor when he married Aunt Agatha, he had very precise, formal ways, +and was methodical and punctual to a fault. Next to Uncle Keith, I hated +that white-faced watch of his. I hated the slow, ponderous way in which +he drew it from his pocket, and produced it for my special benefit. + +I have said that my detestation of Uncle Keith was somewhat +unreasonable. I must own I had no grave reasons for my dislike. Uncle +Keith had a good moral character; he was a steady church-goer, was +painstaking and abstemious; never put himself in a passion, or, indeed, +lost his temper for a minute; but how was a girl to tolerate a man who +spent five minutes scraping his boots before he entered his own door, +whatever the weather might be; who said, "Hir-rumph" (humph was what he +meant) before every sentence, booming at one like a great bee; who +always prefaced a lecture with a "my dear;" who would not read a paper +until it was warmed; who would burn every cinder before fresh coals were +allowed on the fire; who looked reproachfully at my crumbs (I crumbled +my bread purposely at last), and scooped them carefully in his hand for +the benefit of the birds, with the invariable remark, "Waste not, want +not," a saying I learnt to detest? + +I suppose if we are ever admitted into heaven we shall find very odd +people there; but perhaps they will have dropped their trying ways and +peculiarities, as the chrysalis drops its case, and may develop all +sorts of new prismatic glories. I once heard a lady say that she was +afraid the society there would be rather mixed; she was a very exclusive +person; but Solomon tells us that there is nothing new under the sun, so +I suppose we shall never be without our modern Pharisees and Sadducees. +The grand idea to me is that there will be room for all. I do not know +when the idea first came to me that it was a mean thing to live under a +man's roof, eating his bread and warming oneself at his fire, and all +the time despising him in one's heart. I only know that one day the idea +took possession of me, and, like an Eastern mustard seed, grew and +flourished. Soon after that Uncle Keith had rather a serious loss--some +mercantile venture in which he was interested had come to grief. I began +to notice small retrenchments in the household; certain little luxuries +were given up. Now and then Aunt Agatha grew a little grave as she +balanced her weekly accounts. One night I took myself to task. + +"What business have you, a strong, healthy, young woman," I observed to +myself, severely, "to be a burthen on these good folk? What is enough +for two may be a tight fit for three; it was that new mantle of yours, +Miss Merle, that has put out the drawing-room fire for three weeks, and +has shut up the sherry in the sideboard. Is it fair or right that Aunt +Agatha and Uncle Keith should forego their little comforts just because +an idle girl is on their hands?" + +I pondered this question heavily before I summoned courage to speak to +Aunt Agatha. To my surprise she listened to me very quietly, though her +soft brown eyes grew a little misty--I did so love Aunt Agatha's eyes. + +"Dear," she said, very gently, "I wish this could have been prevented; +but, for my husband's sake, I dare not throw cold water on your plan. I +cannot deny that he has had a heavy loss, and that we have to be very +careful. I would keep you with me if I could, Merle, for you are just +like my own child, but Ezra is not young;" and here Aunt Agatha's +forehead grew puckered with anxiety. + +"Oh, Aunt Agatha," I exclaimed, quite forgetting the gravity of my +proposition in sudden, childish annoyance, "how can you call Uncle +Keith, Ezra? It is such a hideous name." + +"Not to my ears," she answered, quite calmly; "a wife never thinks her +husband's name hideous. He loves to hear me say it, and I love to please +him, for though you may not believe it, Merle, I think there are very +few men to compare with your uncle." + +She could actually say this to my face, looking at me all the time with +those honest eyes! I could not forbear a little shrug at this, but she +turned the subject, placidly, but with much dignity. + +"I have been a working bee all my life, and have been quite contented +with my lot; if you could only follow my example, I should be perfectly +willing to let you go. I have thought once or twice lately that if +anything were to happen to me, you and your uncle would hardly be +comfortable together; you do not study him sufficiently; you have no +idea what he really is." + +I thought it better to remain silent. + +Aunt Agatha sighed a little as she went on. + +"I am not afraid of work for you, Merle, there is no life without +activity. 'The idle man,' as someone observes, 'spins on his own axis in +the dark.' 'A man of mere capacity undeveloped,' as Emerson says, 'is +only an organised daydream with a skin on it.' Just listen to this," +opening a book that lay near her. "'Action and enjoyment are contingent +upon each other. When we are unfit for work we are always incapable of +pleasure; work is the wooing by which happiness is won.'" + +"Yes, yes," I returned, rather impatiently, for Aunt Agatha, with all +her perfections, was too much given to proverbial and discursive +philosophy; "but to reduce this to practice, what work can I do in this +weary world?" + +"You cannot be a governess, not even a nursery governess, Merle," and +here Aunt Agatha looked at me very gently, as though she knew her words +must give me pain, and suddenly my cheeks grew hot and my eyelids +drooped. Alas! I knew too well what Aunt Agatha meant; this was a sore +point, the great difficulty and stumbling block of my young life. + +I had been well taught in a good school; I had had unusual advantages, +for Aunt Agatha was an accomplished and clever woman, and spared no +pains with me in her leisure hours; but by some freak of Nature, not +such an unusual thing as people would have us believe, from some want of +power in the brain--at least, so a clever man has since told me--I was +unable to master more than the rudiments of spelling. + +I know some people would laugh incredulously at this, but the fact will +remain. + +As a child I have lain sobbing on my bed, beaten down by a very anguish +of humiliation at being unable to commit the column of double syllables +to memory, and have only been comforted by Aunt Agatha's patience and +gentleness. + +At school I had a severer ordeal. For a long time my teachers refused to +admit my incapacity; they preferred attributing it to idleness, +stubbornness, and want of attention; even Aunt Agatha was puzzled by it, +for I was a quick child in other things, could draw very well for my +age, and could accomplish wonders in needlework, was a fair scholar in +history and geography, soon acquired a good French accent, and did some +of my lessons most creditably. + +But the construction of words baffle me to this day. I should be +unwilling to write the simplest letter without a dictionary lying +snugly near my hand. I have learned to look my misfortune in the face, +and to bear it with tolerable grace. With my acquaintances it is a +standing joke, with my nearest and dearest friends it is merely an +opportunity for kindly service and offers to write from my dictation, +but when I was growing into womanhood it was a bitter and most shameful +trial to me, one secretly lamented with hot tears and with a most +grievous sense of humiliation. + +"No," Aunt Agatha repeated, in the old pitying voice I knew so well, +"you cannot be even a nursery governess, Merle." + +"Nor a companion either," I exclaimed bitterly. "Old ladies want letters +written for them." + +"That is very true," she replied, shaking her head. + +"I could be a nurse in a hospital--in fact, that is what I should like, +but the training could not be afforded, it would be a pound a week, Aunt +Agatha, and there would be my uniform and other expenses, and I should +not get the smallest salary for at least two or three years." + +"I am afraid we must not think of that, Merle," and then I relapsed into +silence from sheer sadness of heart. I had always so longed to be +trained in a hospital, and then I could nurse wounded soldiers or little +children. I always loved little children. + +But this idea must be given up, and yet it would not have mattered in a +hospital if I had spelt "all-right" with one "l." I am quite sure my +bandages would have been considered perfect, and that would have been +more to the point. + +(_To be continued._) + + + + +THE AMATEUR CHURCH ORGANIST. + +BY THE HON. VICTORIA GROSVENOR. + + +We believe that young people generally have a desire to be useful. +Sometimes not an actually formulated desire, but a vague intention which +they mean some day shall have a practical issue, when and how they do +not quite know, or in what way. It is proposed in this article to point +out one means of eminent usefulness--_i.e._, that of amateur organ +playing in our churches. It is scarcely necessary to show what a large +field of good useful work is open to amateurs in this direction. We all +know that on the one hand parishes wholly agricultural--the other +suburban parishes in large towns--are utterly unable to pay for the +services of a professional player; while there is nothing so calculated +to lift up the heart of the congregations such as these are likely to +obtain, as good music. Would it not therefore be a pleasant duty for +anyone gifted with musical talent and leisure to qualify in the best +manner possible for this ennobling and helpful occupation? + +The intending organ-player must ascertain that he or she has a gift for +music, and this need not be of the highest order, as even a small +portion of the gift can be improved with care, and fostered into +usefulness. A first rate ear can be a snare to those who trust to it too +much--although it is undoubtedly the best of servants, if kept in its +proper sphere of work. A very ordinary measure of talent, supplemented +by calm and good sense, clear power of thought, and determined +perseverance, will be a good foundation to start with. Good sense and +attention have more to do with the good music of ordinary persons (as +opposed, we mean, to remarkably clever ones) than people are apt to +think. It was said of Mendelssohn that music was the _accident_ of his +being; and there are many of whom the same could be said, with this +meaning--_i.e._, that the powers which make them succeed in music would +enable them to succeed in other great things if attempted. + +We will therefore suppose the case of a young lady possessing a moderate +gift for music, desiring to improve it and herself, and to take up +organ playing with a view to real usefulness. She should first find out +whether her playing on the piano is perfectly correct, taking the +easiest possible music to exercise herself upon, and trying whether her +musical ear is competent to be her teacher in the matter of correctness. +If neither steady attention nor ear enable her to discover mistakes, she +had better consider that music is not the talent God has given her to +use to His glory. A musical ear may, however, be much improved by its +possessor. With even the smallest of voices she should join a choir or +madrigal society and learn to sing at sight. She should, when listening +to a musical performance, try to guess its key. She should endeavour to +know, without seeing, the sound and name of single notes on the piano, +practising herself with her eyes shut. It is good practice, also, to +take an easy chant or hymn tune, hitherto unknown, and try to get some +idea of its melody and harmony without playing it. When all this is +done, one of the most important tasks remains: that of mastering time in +all its branches. Slovenliness in this particular is fatal to all music, +above all to that for the organ, which is meant to guide and control. A +feeling for rhythm and a quick-sighted accurate knowledge of time, may +be much improved by playing with others, either duets on the piano, or +accompaniments to voice or instrument. The player should compel herself +to account for the time reason of every passage slowly, until she is +able to do so with rapidity and precision at sight. At this point it may +be well to begin lessons on the organ, taking great pains to become +familiar with the technical part of the instrument, the names of stops +and meaning of these names, mechanism and its use. Then will come the +careful practice of pedals, which are at first so absolutely bewildering +that amateurs are filled with despair at the apparent impossibilities +they are asked to face with hope. + +Into the teacher's work it is not our province to go; but we would ask +the learner to be armed with courage and perseverance, and to practise +patiently. Success is more than likely. + +We now proceed with advice to one possessed of some knowledge of +organ-playing and some acquaintance with its technical capabilities. +First, we should say--Play on all available instruments, as no two are +alike, and the stops are called by many different names, which must be +identified quickly as emergencies arise. Then acquire a knowledge of +harmony, specially useful in accompanying church music with dignity, and +enabling the player to fill in chords which the vocal score (or voice +parts) have left thin and ineffective. Volumes might be written on +accompaniments; but on this subject we would advise amateurs to consult +heart, head, and common sense, and we would recommend them to read Dr. +Bridge's "Organ Accompaniment," one of Novello's music primers, which +will open out to them many possibilities, on the use of which they must +decide for themselves according to their technical ability and the +effect they aim at. It may be they can only try to pull a few weak +voices through the singing allotted to them--in which case a strong, +steady accompaniment of the simplest description is the best. + +One word on voluntaries. These should be chosen with great care and the +deepest respect for the church and the instrument, and kept well within +the powers of the player. Amateurs do not as a rule obtain much control +of their nerves, and the greatest help in the world is given by the +knowledge that there is not a "difficult bit" coming. Voluntary books +are not quite to be trusted, as their selection often contains operatic +music very unfit for organ or church; but they generally contain some +pieces of a sacred and dignified character, which may be useful. It is +also dangerous for the inexperienced to plunge into easy arrangements of +unknown music, taking perhaps wrong views of the time, and sometimes +making the more experienced listener smile, if nothing worse, at the +curious rendering of some well-known air, jumbled up with its obbligato +accompaniment, the existence of which was entirely unknown to the poor +player. Every organist should possess a metronome, and carefully +ascertain with it the correct time of any music intended for use in +public. + +Finally, if every small action is to be done to the glory of God, how +much more the playing in His church! Let none take this noble work in +hand without a desire to give, in its degree, the best work that can be +given in absolute self-renunciation, humility, and reverence. + +[Illustration] + + + + +EVERY GIRL A BUSINESS WOMAN. + +A PRACTICAL GUIDE TO THE WORLD OF INDUSTRY AND THRIFT. + +BY JAMES MASON. + +PART I. + + +Every girl who is guided by common sense will aim at becoming a business +woman. That is to say, she will try to cultivate habits of order, +industry, perseverance, method, and punctuality, and will do her best to +learn how to conduct formal correspondence, how to keep accounts, how to +manage money, and what to do with savings. Besides this, she will make a +point of knowing something about the laws relating to domestic life--the +renting of houses and the employment of servants, for example--and she +will push her inquiries in every direction, so as to acquire not only +the right way of doing things, but the right way of forming a judgment +upon them. + +A wise girl will thus greatly increase her usefulness in the world. She +will be able to take part in the affairs of life with pleasure to +herself and without being a trouble and hindrance to her neighbours. + +Another advantage may be pointed out. There are always people trying to +get the better of those who know nothing, and their victims more often +than not are ladies. It is easy to fall a prey to rogues and sharpers if +one is ignorant of business, especially when nature has made women +kind-hearted and experience has not rendered them suspicious. As a +protection, there is nothing like being a business woman. + +Perhaps someone may say that "business woman" has a hard sound, and +stands for a character precise, selfish, and uninteresting. That is not +what we intend by it at all. Is a girl to be less loveable, less gentle, +less charming, whenever we cease to say of her, That girl, in regard to +all the ways of business, is a perfect simpleton? On the contrary, +business is a fine training-school for many virtues; and of all good +women, a good business woman may be reckoned the very best. + +Our articles are intended to be of use to two classes of girls. The +first consists of those who either have or are likely to have a little +money of their own, and need to know how to manage it and how to +regulate those affairs which money always brings in its train. By +ignorance of business many a useful life of this class as been marred. + +The second is made up of girls who have to earn their own living and +make their own way in the world. These have a special need to know +something about business. People as a rule are valuable in proportion to +their knowledge--those who know nothing being simply worth nothing. + +One great reason for the work of girls and women being poorly paid, is +that few know anything about either the principles or the practice of +the most ordinary business affairs. We shall try in these articles to +put girls in future on a better footing, and to make them in business +equal, at any rate, to any average men. In this way there is a good +chance of doubling their usefulness and value, and of more than doubling +their independence. + +Nothing is done all at once, and in business, as in everything else, if +you mean to build high you must begin low. A girl who wishes to be a +business woman must start with accumulating the same sort of knowledge +as an office-boy. We shall therefore try to deal with the subject simply +and from the very beginning. You may sometimes be tempted to say, "Oh, +we knew that before," but another girl may not have been so fortunate, +and her ignorance must be taken as our reason for pointing out what +appears to be familiar facts. + +We begin with the subject of business letters, and the first thing we +shall say about them is--Be very particular about their appearance. +There is a proverb, to be sure, warning us that appearances are +deceitful, but that proverb is only true occasionally; in general we may +safely draw an inference as to the writer from the look of her letter. +An ill-folded, clumsy, up-and-down-hill, blotted, greasy-looking letter +almost certainly comes from an untidy house and a stupid girl, whereas a +neat, carefully-written epistle suggests just as surely the opposite. + +In friendly letters our correspondents know something about us +beforehand, but in business we may be writing to perfect strangers, who +can only judge of us by the figure we cut on a sheet of note-paper. To +secure prompt attention and a polite reply, no plan works so well as +putting good taste into the appearance of letters. They are really a +part of ourselves, and a girl should as soon think of sending them +marked with carelessness to either a friend or a stranger as of going to +make a call in a patched frock, a faded hat, and gloves with holes. + +An indispensable point in a business letter is to have the meaning quite +clear. It must say exactly what the writer intends, leaving nothing to +be guessed at. + +And after clearness the next point is shortness. A brief letter makes +far more impression than a long one, besides which it usually gets +attended to at once. We have known a man open a lady's letter on a +matter of business, and, seeing it a long rigmarole, put it at once in +his pocket and let it lie there forgotten for a week. + +That long letters receive most notice is a mistake into which girls fall +very often, but she who aspires to be a real business woman must give +herself to the study of such short epistles as that of the officer who +sent in as his official report, "Sir,--I have the honour to inform you +that I have just shot a man who came to kill me.--Your obedient servant, +----." + +All letters should be headed with the address from which they were +written, the day of the month, and the year; in this way:-- + + 2, Ireland Avenue, + Stratford-on-Avon, 9th October, 1886. + +It is an irritating peculiarity with many people unaccustomed to +business to be careless on this point. Common sense suggests that they +should mend their ways, and by putting the date and a full address on +every letter, save their correspondents sometimes a good deal of +trouble. + +There is a short way, occasionally employed, of writing the date; for +example, 4 / 7 / 86; meaning the 4th day of the 7th month (July, that +is) of 1886. This contraction--which is improved by having the month put +in Roman figures (as, 4 / vii. / 86)--is handy now and again, but it +does not strike one as looking particularly well at the head of a +letter. + +Put the name of the person to whom the letter is written at the +beginning or the end. Long ago, when envelopes were not in use, this did +not matter so much, because the name of the person addressed could be +seen by turning to the postal direction; but nowadays the envelope +bearing the address is dropped into the waste-paper basket, and a second +address is required to give the letter completeness, and enable third +parties, perhaps, to understand it. + +As to how to begin, whether "Sir" or "Madam," or "Dear Sir" or "Dear +Madam," everyone may please herself, only taking note that the "Dear" +should be omitted when any special reason exists for being distant and +formal. Not, however, that the word when used in a business letter has +anything of an affectionate meaning. It is just one of the drops of oil +used to keep the machinery of human intercourse working smoothly. +Perhaps it originally crept in to soften the sharp effect of "Sir," +which sounds for all the world as if it would snap a correspondent's +head off. + +"Dear Sir" and "Dear Sirs" are both right, but "Dear Gentlemen" is not, +though there seems no reason against it. If you begin "Sir" you must not +end "I remain, dear sir." The beginning and the end should be all of a +piece, and in both places the same form of address should be used. + +In concluding a business letter you may say "yours respectfully," or +"your obedient servant," or "yours truly," or "yours faithfully," +according to the degree of intimacy existing between you and your +correspondent. But really there are no very nice distinctions to be +observed between such phrases, and their use may safely be left to every +girl's common sense and discretion. + +Take pains to sign your name always so that people can read it. Some, +out of pure affectation, conceal what they call themselves under a +scribble which none can read--"a hopeless puzzle of intemperate +scratches." How is a stranger, getting a letter signed in this way, to +know to whom to send a reply, unless, as is sometimes done, he cuts out +the signature, pastes it on the envelope, and adds the address? But +illegible signatures, it must be confessed, are more often a man's folly +than a woman's. + +Always, too, sign your name the same way: get into the habit of it. +Don't let it be to-day "Mary G. Snodham," and to-morrow "Mary Snodham," +and the day after "M. G. Snodham." If character comes out anywhere in +writing, it is in the signature, and it ought to be every day the same, +the same in words, the same in writing, and the same in flourishes--that +is to say, if there are any flourishes. + +When you send a Post Office order to anyone, however, you may make an +exception to this rule. It is a good plan to sign a letter accompanying +such an order with initials only. When this is done, should the letter +fall into the hands of dishonest people, the chances are considerably +reduced of their knowing the name of the sender so as to get payment of +the order. In getting the money for a Post Office order it is always +necessary, as perhaps you know, to tell at the post-office who sent it. + +When you (we shall call you Elizabeth Fisher) are asked to write a +letter in the name of another person (call her Janet Constable), how +should you sign it? Not, certainly, by just writing Janet Constable; +that would be highly improper. To put another person's name to any +letter or document whatever, even in fun, is not even to be dreamt +about. You must sign-- + + Yours truly, + _for_ JANET CONSTABLE, + ELIZABETH FISHER. + +Or, if you like it better-- + + Yours respectfully, + JANET CONSTABLE, + _p._ ELIZABETH FISHER. + +In this case the _p._ stands for _per_, and means that Janet Constable +signs the letter _by_ or _through_ you. You may write _per_ in full, if +you like. + +Sometimes you may have to write inquiring about the character of people +or their standing from a money point of view. In doing so, put the name +or names on a slip of paper and gum it at the foot of your letter, so +that it can be easily torn off. Your correspondent can then at once +destroy the slip, and should your letter or her reply afterwards be read +by other people, they will probably be none the wiser, for they will +only see in your letter an inquiry regarding the person or persons +"noted at foot," and in hers an answer about the person or persons +"about whom you inquire." + +All enclosures sent in a letter should be mentioned in a note in the +left-hand bottom corner after signing one's name. Thus:-- + + Enclosed: + Postal Order, 10s. 6d. + Recipe for cooking rattlesnakes. + Pattern: the Tullochgorum mantle. + +We have spoken about the clearness and brevity required in business +letters, but to the subject of style a few lines more may be devoted. +Business letters are of necessity dry and matter-of-fact, and in writing +them no time should be lost in hunting for fine expressions. They should +contain politeness, but light and airy sentences are worse than thrown +away. + +"Accuracy of expression," says Mr. George Seton, in his pleasant "Gossip +about Letters and Letter-writers," "as distinguished from looseness and +slovenliness of statement, is of the utmost consequence--not only with +the view of saving the time of one's correspondent, but also to prevent +what may prove a very serious misunderstanding. I have known many cases +of prolonged litigation which were chiefly owing to some doubtful or +equivocal expressions in the course of a business correspondence." + +There are many phrases peculiar to business letters--formal beginnings, +for example, such as-- + +"I am favoured with yours of 14th curt." + +"I duly received your favour of 19th inst." + +"I am in receipt of your lines of y'day, and note that, &c." + +"I beg to confirm my last respects of 25th ult." + +"I beg to confirm my letter of yesterday." + +These phrases and many others which will appear in the course of these +articles may seem formal enough, but we must not expect in business to +meet with the language of story-books. + +A common business term is "advice," used to mean information sent by +letter. For example: "I wait your advice as to the despatch of the +parcel." A funny misunderstanding of the word occurred recently, when a +provincial postmaster, new to his duties, in the United States, sent the +following communication to the Postmaster-General:-- + +"Seeing by the regulations that I am required to send you a letter of +advice, I must plead in excuse that I have been postmaster but a short +time; but I will say, if your office pays no better than mine, I advise +you to give it up." + +Every subject mentioned in a letter should have a separate paragraph. +Very formal, you may say. Perhaps; but it is also very clear. + +Always acknowledge receipt of business letters at the earliest possible +opportunity. If they come with money, an acknowledgment ought to be sent +by return of post, that is to say, by the first post after they arrive. +The same rule may safely be applied to letters coming with any enclosure +whatever. Sometimes delay may be of no consequence, but to answer at +once will at any rate get you the credit of courtesy. + +Of all business letters a copy should be kept. If you write few they may +be copied by hand into a book kept for the purpose, but if many the use +of a copying-press saves a great deal of monotonous labour, and secures +absolute accuracy besides. + +The way to use a copying-press is this. Write the letter with +copying-ink. Then put a sheet of oiled paper under the leaf of the +letter-book on which you wish to take the copy. Letter-books of thin +paper are sold for the purpose. Wet the leaf with a brush or soft +sponge. On the top of the wet leaf put a sheet of blotting paper, and on +the top of that another sheet of oiled paper. Then shut the book, put it +in the press, and give it a squeeze for a second to take off the +superfluous moisture. Take out the book, remove the blotting-paper and +the top sheet of oiled paper, and in their place put your letter face +downwards on the damp page. Shut the book, put it back into the +copying-press, give it a hard squeeze by means of the lever or screw, +leave it in from half a minute to a minute, and the whole thing is done; +an exact copy of the letter will be left in your letter-book. + +A letter being written and copied, has to be posted; but before being +posted it must be addressed. The address should be written neatly and +plainly, neither too high up nor too low down. + +To say, Be sure to put the direction on your letters is not unnecessary +advice. Thousands of letters are posted every year without any address +whatever. In the year ending 31st March, 1886, there were no fewer than +26,228 of them, and of this large number 1,620 contained cash and +cheques to the amount, in all, of L3,733 17s. 5d. + +Be sure, too, that your letters are properly fastened. On this subject, +hear Mr. George Seton. "There is," he says, "no real security in wafers, +and probably still less in adhesive envelopes, which are now in almost +universal use. Both may easily be loosened by the application of either +water or steam. The best mode of securing a letter is first to wafer it +and then seal it with wax. When, however, an adhesive envelope is used, +the proper course is to _damp_, rather than wet, _both_ sides of the +flap before pressing it down; and if the paper is very thick, the upper +side should be again damped after being pressed down." + +Insufficient and wrong addresses occasion a great deal of trouble to the +Post Office officials, and this trouble one of the present +Postmaster-General's predecessors remarks, with some pathos, "ought +scarcely to be given to make up for what generally arises from the +carelessness of the writers, without an additional charge." Last year, +through some fault in the addresses, no fewer than 12,822,067 letters, +postcards, newspapers, and parcels were received in the returned letter +offices. + +As an example of an insufficiently-addressed letter, we may mention one +the subject of a complaint made by a Mrs. Jones of Newmarket. She stated +that a letter had been posted to her, but had not reached her. It +appeared, however, on inquiry, that there were twenty-nine Mrs. Joneses +at the place, and that there was nothing in the address to help the +postman to decide between their several claims. + +When money or anything of value is sent through the post, the letter in +which it goes should be registered. By this means we can be almost +absolutely sure of its travelling safely. The fee for a registered +letter was at one time half-a-crown, and not so long ago was a shilling. +In 1878 it was reduced from 4d. to 2d. Not only has the fee been reduced +to what may be thought the lowest possible point, but registered letter +envelopes are now sold in different and convenient sizes. The Post +Office also undertakes to make good, under certain reasonable +conditions, up to L2 the value of any registered letter which it loses. + +If people who have these facilities for sending letters securely +provided for them choose to run the risk of loss, they deserve very +little sympathy if the chance goes against them. Last year an +unregistered letter containing a cheque was alleged to have been stolen +in the post. It was found, however, to have been duly delivered by being +pushed under the front door, and afterwards to have been torn in pieces +by some puppies inside the house. The fragments were in the end +discovered in the straw of the dog-kennel. Now, had the sender only +spent 2d. in registering this letter, a receipt would have been taken on +its delivery, and all chance of its falling into the paws of the +puppies would have been prevented. + +But it is wonderful what people, penny-wise and pound foolish, will +sometimes do to save 2d. A few years back the sealing-wax on a letter +was found to contain L1 10s. in gold coins. There could hardly be a more +stupid way of sending money. + +If coin, or watches, or jewellery are posted in letters or packets +without registration, and the fact is discovered, the Post Office people +bring into force a system of registration by compulsion, and on delivery +charge a fee of 8d. in addition to the ordinary postage. + +When coins are sent in a letter they should on no account be put in +loose, but should be packed so as to move about as little as possible. +The best way is to take a card, and, cutting quite through to the other +side, make a cross on it for each coin; then slip the coin into the +cross, so that it is held in its place by the tongues of cardboard, two +on each side. + +Who owns letters whilst they are in the post? In Great Britain the +ownership of a letter whilst it is in the post lies in the Queen, as +represented by her Postmaster-General and her Secretary of State. +"Neither the sender nor the person to whom it is sent can claim to +interfere with a letter whilst it is in the Post Office. Only the +warrant of a Secretary of State can stay its delivery." Once a letter is +dropped into a letter-box it is like a spoken word, it cannot be +recalled. + +After letters come postcards, which were introduced into this country in +October, 1870, and have proved a great convenience to many people, +saving them both time and money. By means of reply postcards you can +make sure of an answer from a correspondent without putting her to any +expense or to any trouble worth mentioning. + +The back of the postcard is for the message; nothing must be put on the +front except the address. This limitation of space is useful for the +cultivation of brevity; but those who have a great deal to say may +derive consolation from the fact that on the back of a postcard you can, +by writing small, easily put at least four hundred and sixty words! We +do not, however, say that such a performance, good enough for amusement, +would be like that of a woman of business. + +All business letters ought to be preserved. They should be folded neatly +longways and all of a size, and docketed, as it is called--that is to +say, the date and the name of the sender and his (or her) address, and +the subject, should be put on the back thus: + + 6th September, 1886. + MARTIN ROSE AND CO., + Liverpool. + Remittance, L10 19s. 2d. + +Do not, however, crowd these particulars together, as has been done here +for convenience in printing; leave a considerable space between the +first and second, and the third and fourth lines. When letters are +folded and docketed they should be tied up in the order of their dates, +or put away in pigeon holes under the different letters of the alphabet. +One can never tell when it may be necessary to refer to old letters on +matters of business, so it is prudent to keep them all. Doing so and +turning them over occasionally is also useful for giving us a humble +opinion of ourselves; we see by the light of additional experience how +we might often have managed things much better than we did. + +Besides letters and postcards, telegrams furnish another means of +communication. For a telegram sent to any place in the United Kingdom, +the charge is sixpence for the first twelve words, and a halfpenny for +every word after the first twelve. Addresses are charged for, so a +sixpennyworth of telegraphing does not represent a long message, but by +ingenuity--and a business woman is nothing without ingenuity--a few +words may be made to mean a great deal. The cost of a reply to a +telegram may be prepaid. + +About the newspaper post, the book post, and the parcel post, not much +need be said. Always be careful about wrappers. A great many newspapers +and books escape from their wrappers every day, and land in the returned +letter office. In sending parcels the packing is often a weak point; it +is not so much that people are either handless or stupid, they are just +thoughtless. "It must be borne in mind," says the Postmaster-General, +"although, of course, every care will be taken by the officers, that a +parcel with fragile or perishable contents must be several times handled +before it reaches its destination, and will probably have to be packed +with many others of a different kind and shape, or more weighty and +bulky. Eggs, butter, and fruit, especially delicate fruit, such as +grapes and peaches, should be placed in strong boxes and so placed as +not to shift. Fresh flowers should be carefully packed in strong boxes; +but cardboard boxes should not be used for the purpose, as they are +often reduced to pulp by the moisture which exudes from the contents. +Fish or game should be carefully packed in strong boxes, or hampers, or +in perforated boxes." + +Remember that some things are forbidden to be sent by post--live +animals, for instance. This prohibition is very little regarded by some +people. Last year, in Dublin alone, two hens, eight mice, and two +hedgehogs were stopped on their way through the post. One of the hens +which was addressed to a veterinary surgeon in London, was in bad +health, and though carefully attended to, died in the office. The rest +of the animals were given up alive to the senders. + +Certificates of the posting of parcels can be got at all post offices. +If you have any doubt about the trustworthiness of the person entrusted +with the posting of a parcel, instructions should be given to bring back +a receipt. A few months ago the Post Office was charged at Liverpool +with the non-delivery of a bottle of wine and a box of figs. It turned +out, however, that the missing goods had never come under its charge, +the person to whom the packet had been given to post having eaten the +figs and drunk the wine. + +Parcels can also be insured against loss and damage by the payment of a +small sum. Paying a penny insures to the extent of L5 and twopence to +the amount of L10. + +In order to understand the outs and ins of the Post Office--and it is a +subject with which every sensible person should be familiar--let a girl +invest sixpence in a copy of the Post Office Guide, a publication of +which an edition is issued every quarter. She will there find everything +necessary to be known about the posting of letters, postcards, +newspapers, book packets, and parcels to places in the United Kingdom, +or abroad, the sending of telegrams, the rates for money and postal +orders, and the regulations of the Savings Bank. To turn over its 300 +pages or so is decidedly interesting. One sees what a complicated +machinery is now employed for the convenience of the public, what +wonders--to speak of letters alone--can be done for a penny, and how +thousands of miles can be reduced to insignificance by the magic of +twopence-halfpenny. + +In the twelve months from the 31st of March, 1885, to the same day of +this year, the number of letters delivered in the United Kingdom was +1,403,547,900, giving an average of 38.6 to each person in the kingdom. +The total number of postcards was 171,290,000. Adding to the letters and +postcards the book-packets, newspapers, and parcels which passed through +the Post Office during the twelve months, we have a grand total of +2,091,183,822, which shows an average to each person of 57.5. + + + + +VARIETIES. + + +THE "WOMAN OF STENAY." + +"And so you have not heard the story of the 'Woman of Stenay'?" said a +Lorraine peasant. "It was in war-time, and she offered a barrel of wine +to a detachment of Austrians, saying-- + +"'You are thirsty, friends. Drink. You are welcome to all my store.' And +as she spoke she drank a cupful in their honour. + +"The soldiers accepted with pleasure, and in a few minutes four hundred +men were writhing on the ground in agony. + +"Then the 'Woman of Stenay' rose, and with her dying breath shrieked +out-- + +"'You are all poisoned! _Vive la France!_' + +"She then fell back a corpse." + +This is the legend of Lorraine, and the memory of its heroine is revered +by the peasantry as highly as that of Charlotte Corday. + + +SINGING SERVANTS. + +Tusser, in his "Points of Huswifry united to the Comforts of Husbandry," +published in 1570, recommends the country housewife to select servants +who sing at their work as being usually the most painstaking and the +best. He says-- + + "Such servants are oftenest painful and good + That sing in their labour, as birds in the wood." + + +A HINT FOR WORKERS.--St. Bernard has said that the more he prayed and +read his Bible the better he did his ordinary work and the more clearly +and regularly did he conduct his correspondence. An increase of private +devotion will be found not to lessen one's power of work or one's +efficiency in ordinary duties. + + +OUR OWN SELVES.--How can you learn self-knowledge? Never by meditation, +but best by action. Try to do your duty, and you will soon find what you +are worth. What is your duty? The exigency of the day.--_Goethe._ + + +USELESS ANXIETY.--I shall add to my list as the eighth deadly sin that +of anxiety of mind, and resolve not to be pining and miserable when I +ought to be grateful and happy.--_Sir Thomas Barnard._ + + +THE MOONLIGHT SONATA.--The "Moonlight Sonata" is an absurd title which +has for years been attached, both in Germany and England, to one of +Beethoven's sonatas. It is said to have been derived from the expression +of a German critic comparing the first movement to a boat wandering by +moonlight on the Lake of Lucerne. + + + + + +[Illustration: THE SHEPHERD'S FAIRY] + +THE SHEPHERD'S FAIRY + +A PASTORALE. + +BY DARLEY DALE, Author of "Fair Katherine," etc. + + +CHAPTER I. + +THE FAIRY'S ORIGIN. + +"Die Eifersucht ist eine Leidenschaft der mit Eifer sucht muss Leiden +schaffen."--_German Proverb._ + + +Very many years ago, in a valley a few miles from the coast, there stood +a French chateau, beautifully situated in a handsome park near the +Norman village of Carolles. The rich woodland scenery, the green +pastures with their large wild fences now laden with wild roses; the +shady lanes, whose banks will soon be covered with the long, bright +green fronds of the hartstongue, and the delicate drooping trichomanes; +the fine timber, and the picturesque farmhouses with their thatched +roofs nestling in the valleys--all tend to give a home-like English air +to the scenery of Normandy. And the district in which the Chateau de +Thorens stands possesses all these attractions for an English eye. Not +that any English people lived in the chateau; the De Thorens were +French, or rather Norman, to the backbone, descended from the great +duke, and proud as Lucifer of their birth. Pride and poverty are +generally supposed to go together; and though poor is perhaps hardly the +word to apply to people who could afford to live in the ease and luxury +which prevailed at Chateau de Thorens, yet for their rank the De Thorens +were not rich, and, consequently, after the fashion of many French +families, there were three generations of them now all living under the +ancestral roof. + +First there was the old baroness, a picturesque old lady with very white +hair and piercing black eyes, with whom we have very little to do; then +there was her eldest son, the present baron, for his father had been +dead some years, and his beautiful young wife, whom he was so +passionately fond of that he was jealous--dreadfully jealous--of her +love for her baby, a little girl a few months old; and, lastly, there +were the baron's three younger brothers, who with Pere Yvon, the +chaplain, made up the family party. The two younger brothers were mere +boys, still under Pere Yvon's charge, for he acted as tutor to them as +well as chaplain; but Leon de Thorens was a young man of +five-and-twenty, only a year or two younger than the baron. He was a +fine, handsome man, tall and thin, with his mother's fine black eyes and +small well-cut nose and mouth. He was of a bold, reckless nature, full +of animal spirits, the very life of the house when he was at home, which +was seldom, as he owned a yacht, in which he spent a great deal of his +time. He was his mother's favourite son, and both he and she had often +privately regretted that he was not the eldest. + +The baron was smaller and fairer than Leon, and not so handsome, though +there was a strong family likeness between the brothers. He was of a +quieter disposition, and his restlessness took an intellectual rather +than a physical form, his wanderings being confined to the shelves of +the valuable library which the chateau boasted, instead of extending +over the seas on which Leon spent so much of his time. The baron's +studious nature had endeared him very much to Pere Yvon, with whom he +was a prime favourite, and who had never shown him any of the severity +of which the other brothers often complained, but, on the contrary, had +erred on the opposite side with the baron, whose wishes had never been +crossed in any way, and who had grown up to think himself the one +important person in the world to whom the convenience of everyone else +must be sacrificed. + +For the first year of their married life the pretty baroness had +contributed as much as Pere Yvon to spoil her husband, whose every whim +she had humoured until her baby was born, and then, much to his +astonishment, the baron found that his beautiful, gentle wife had a will +of her own, and, what was still worse in his eyes, a large place in her +heart for someone else besides himself, and although that someone else +was only his infant daughter, the baron was jealous. + +In vain had he urged that the baby should be sent away to some peasant +to nurse until it was a year or two old, as he and all his brothers had +been, after a very common custom in French families. No, the baroness +would not hear of such a thing; she could not live without her baby, and +every moment she could spare she spent by its cradle. Indeed, so +infatuated was she with her new possession, whose every movement was a +delight to her, that she did not notice the baron became daily more and +more morose, and that an ominous frown had settled on his fine forehead, +while his mouth was closed with a determination that boded ill for his +wife and daughter. But the baroness lived so much in her child that she +did not observe the change in her husband; and as he never allowed the +baby to be brought into his presence, the baroness saw but little of him +except at meals, when all the others were present, and Leon's wild +spirits covered his brother's depression and silence. + +At last, one fine June morning, matters reached a climax, when the +family sat down to their one o'clock _dejeuner_. The baroness was late; +the first course was finished, and still she did not appear. + +"Where is Mathilde, Arnaut?" asked the old baroness. + +"I don't know," said the baron, sulkily. + +"I do," said Leon; "she is worshipping at the shrine of that precious +baby of yours, Arnaut. Why on earth don't you send it away till it is +old enough to amuse us?" + +"Go and tell Madame la Baronne the soup is already finished," said the +baron to a servant at his elbow; but he vouchsafed no further answer. + +"I think Arnaut has suggested that the baby should be sent away, but +Mathilde objects," remarked the old baroness. + +"Send it away without asking her, then. Give her a pug instead; it will +be much more amusing, and not half the trouble the baby is," said Leon. + +Here the servant returned to say madame would take her _dejeuner_ in the +nursery, as the nurse was out and she could not leave the baby. + +"Really, Mathilde is too absurd, when there are at least three or four +other servants in the house who could look after the baby as well as the +nurse," said the old baroness, helping herself to some omelette. + +"She is mad," muttered the baron, angrily. + +"Quite, all women are; there can be no doubt about that. Look here, +Arnaut, it is quite clear if you don't send that infant away, you might +just as well live _en garcon_, like me, as I foresee you won't have much +of Mathilde's society now," said Leon. + +"It does not require much foresight to predict that," said the baron, +bitterly. + +"Well, if Mathilde won't send it away, just hand it over to me the next +time I take a cruise, which will be as soon as ever there is wind enough +to fill my sails, and I'll place the child somewhere where there is no +fear of Mathilde getting it again till it is of a reasonable age," said +Leon. + +The idea of handing the baby over to the tender mercies of Leon struck +them all as so comic that a general laugh, in which all but the baron +joined, greeted this speech, which was forgotten as soon as it was +uttered by the speaker. + +A few days after Leon announced that he was going on board his yacht +that evening; a south wind was blowing, and he should take a cruise up +the Channel. Would the baron go with him? They were sure to have fine +weather, and it would be delightful at sea in this heat. The baron +declined the invitation, as he was a wretched sailor; but that evening, +when he and Leon were smoking after dinner, he said, suddenly, "Where +are you going, Leon?" + +"I don't know; it depends on the wind. I may run over to England, or I +may only go to the Channel Isles. I shall see." + +"Shall you touch anywhere?" + +"Oh, yes, I shall go ashore; I shan't take provisions for more than a +week. Why?" + +The baron looked round the verandah in which they were sitting to make +sure that they were alone, and having satisfied himself of this he leant +forward and said, in a half-whisper, "Tiens, Leon! Will you help me? I +am determined to stand it no longer; it is wearing my life out; I have +not a moment's peace. If I don't get rid of it I believe I shall go +mad." + +"What is it you are talking of? I'll help you if I can, but what is +wearing your life out?" said Leon. + +[Illustration: THE BARONESS.] + +"The baby, of course," said the baron. + +"The baby! Well, but what do you want me to do with that! I can't kill +it, you know." + +"Of course not, but you said in joke the other day you would take it +with you on one of your trips, and put it out to nurse. I wish to +heaven, Leon, you'd do it in reality. It is no use my sending it to +anyone near here; Mathilde would go after it the next day. My only +chance is to send it somewhere where it will be safe, of course, and +well looked after, but where Mathilde can't go after it, and as she +would go to the end of the world for it if she knew where it was, it +must go where she can't find it; she must not know where it is. No one, +indeed, need know but you, for as far as I am concerned the less I know +about it at present the better; it has spoilt all my happiness. Mathilde +is so wrapped up in that child she does not care a fig for me now; in +fact, I rarely see her. If you can only put that infant safely out of +our way for a year or two, I'll never forget it, Leon." + +"Are you in real sober earnest, Arnaut?" asked Leon, who, in his +astonishment, had risen to his feet, and was puffing away vigorously at +his cigar. + +"Of course I am. I am willing to pay handsomely for it, and I shall +depend upon you putting it where it will be well taken care of. As for +all the rest, I leave it to you to take it where you like--Australia if +you wish, only don't tell me where it is, or I might cut my own throat +by telling Mathilde if she makes a great scene, as she will when it is +gone. Will you do it, Leon?" + +"Whew!" whistled Leon. "I don't care for the work, for if anything +should happen to the child Mathilde would never forgive me nor you +either. However, if you insist, I think I could manage it, but as I am +going to start in two or three hours, there is not much time. I must go +down to the yacht and speak to my men first. If I may tell them I am +taking the child by your express wish I could manage it, I think. The +next difficulty is where to take it, but I have an idea about that, so +I'll be off now, and see what I can arrange. I shall ride, so I shall be +back in an hour." + +"Tell them anything you like, except not to let anyone know where you +leave the child," replied the baron, as Leon started on an errand which, +in spite of his protest to the contrary, was thoroughly after his own +heart; indeed, any mad freak such as this was quite in his line. + +Among his crew he had an English sailor who acted as carpenter, and, as +Leon often said, was worth two or three French sailors in a gale or an +emergency. He knew the Channel, too, as well as a pilot, and, indeed +often acted in that capacity; he was an honest, trustworthy man--at +least, so Leon thought; and as he rode over the hills to Carolles, he +decided to take this man into his confidence, and see if he could help +him; it was possible this Englishman knew of some of his own +countrywomen who would undertake the charge of the child. + +Accordingly, when he reached his yacht, Leon called for John Smith, and +had a long conversation with him in English, which he spoke fairly well, +the result of which was the carpenter, after a little thought, declared +he knew of a shepherd and his wife in Sussex who, he felt sure, would +undertake the charge of the child; his only fear was that they might +have some scruples about keeping the matter a secret, and might want to +know who the child was; but if Leon would leave this to him to arrange, +he could, he thought, manage it so that the shepherd should have no idea +to whom the child belonged, nor why it was put into his care. + +"Where does this good man live?" asked Leon. + +"About four or five miles from Brighton, sir. The wind is favourable; we +might run across in twenty-four hours or less if it lasts, and I think +it will; we shall have the tide with us going out if we start at ten +to-night," said the carpenter. + +"Well, that is settled. Now the next point is, who is to take care of it +on board? It must be fed; who of our men understands babies best?" + +"I can't undertake that, sir, but there's Pierre Legros, he has half a +dozen of his own, and when he is at home looks after them all I believe; +he ought to know all about it." + +"Call Pierre, then." + +Pierre Legros was accordingly called, and, on hearing what was required +of him, professed with pride his ability to act as nurse during the +voyage; and having commissioned him to lay in a stock of food for the +baby, about which Leon's ideas were exceedingly vague, Leon rode back to +the chateau. + +The baron was on the lookout for him, and was delighted to hear all was +arranged for the baby's removal. + +"I have not been idle since you have been gone. Luckily Mathilde has a +headache, so I have sent her to bed, and I sat with her till she was +asleep. My next care was to get rid of the nurse, so I have packed her +off to Brecy with one of the other servants for some medicine for +Mathilde, and the coast is clear to the nursery now. There is only one +of the housemaids with the baby, and when you are ready to start you +must lose something and require her to find it while I secure the child. +Lastly, I ordered the dogcart, and said I would drive you." + +"But how about the child?" interrupted Leon. + +"I am coming to that. Just as we are going to start, you must lose a +stick or a coat. I'll offer to go back for it, and meet you at the side +door; there is a staircase leading to the nursery close to it, down +which I shall come with the baby after I have sent the housemaid who is +guarding it to look for your stick. We shall be off and the baby on +board before it is missed, for the girl is sure to stay gossiping with +the other servants when we are off." + +"Well, I hope you'll succeed, but I confess I think this is the most +difficult part of the affair. However, there is no time to lose; you had +better order the dogcart at once, while I go and say good-bye to mother +and the boys. We must be off in twenty minutes," replied Leon. + +Half an hour later the brothers were seated in the dogcart, while the +old baroness, with a shawl thrown round her head, stood on the steps +under the portico to catch the last glimpse of her handsome Leon, with +her two younger boys by her side, and Pere Yvon and some of the servants +in the background. The groom had just let go of the horse's bridle when +Leon exclaimed-- + +"Wait a minute! I have forgotten my Malacca cane. I lent it to you the +other day, Arnaut. I must have it. Where shall I find it?" + +"So you did. Here, one of you boys, run into my--but no, you'll wake +Mathilde, I'll go myself. Here, Leon, take the reins, and drive round to +the side door; I'll meet you there," said the baron, descending from the +dogcart, and running into the house. + +(_To be continued._) + + + + +FASHIONABLE EMBROIDERY. + + +The fancy embroidery of the present day is of such varied character and +make that all would-be workers will find among the diversities of stitch +and material some description that suits their particular need and +ingenuity. + +A few years ago one embroidery alone claimed attention. This was the +celebrated crewel work, of which there is no fault to be found in the +execution and design of its higher grades, but which, like all fancy +work that becomes the rage and is cheapened and multiplied without any +regard to reason, degenerated to the most impossible designs and the +worst execution attainable. Thus crewel work passed away, and though the +best kinds are still to be met with, it is really superseded in modern +drawing-rooms by embroideries all originating in the present desire +after Oriental colouring and design, but of kinds distinctly +characteristic and individual. + +The work known as Leek embroidery recommends itself in many ways, it +being very reasonable in price, easily executed, and extremely rich and +handsome when finished. The foundation is Tussore silk, specially made +with the pattern to be embroidered upon it printed upon the foundation, +during its manufacture, and therefore indelible. The colouring of the +foundation is either cream, straw, pink, blue, green, or terra-cotta, +and the pattern is not printed in outline only, but filled up with +indications guiding the arrangement for the centres of flowers, veins of +leaves, and other distinguishing marks. To work the embroidery it is +necessary to line the Tussore with fine unbleached muslin, and to work +with Tussore silk and Japanese gold thread. The Tussore silk costs 1d. +the skein, and is dyed in every shade of Oriental colouring. Three to +four shades of a colour are used to work in a flower, and two shades of +green for the leaves. The stitch is crewel-stitch worked very close. No +shading about each leaf is necessary, but different greens are used for +different leaves, and thus a variety of colouring is attained without +trouble. Every part of the pattern, the bordering included, is worked, +and only the foundation left, showing where it forms the background to +the design. The gold thread is laid on as the finishing touch. It is +placed round all the chief parts of the design, and sewn on as an edging +with a couching stitch; that is to say, the gold thread is held tightly +stretched in its position with the left hand, while a stitch brought +from the back of the material is passed over it and put down to the back +again with the right hand. Lines of gold are used to mark out the border +pattern, and are fastened down with the couching stitch. When sewing on +the gold it is very important to keep it tightly stretched, as if put on +loosely it is not effective. If the work is at all puckered, iron it +with a warm but not hot iron on the wrong side before laying down the +gold thread. Leek embroidery is sold by the yard in strips, varying from +one inch to twelve inches in width, and costing from 6d. to 2s. the +yard. These strips are used for mantelpiece borders, table borders, +chair backs, and curtain bands, according to their width. They look best +mounted upon plush or velveteen, but are often mounted upon Liberty's +Oriental silks, or made up as perfectly plain bands. When used for chair +backs or for hanging firescreens the background should be handsome, and +either ruby or dark blue in colour, and the work arranged either +straight down its centre or crossing it in a number of diagonal lines. +This manner of making up is newer and more effective than merely laying +it on as an edging. Bands of unmounted Leek embroidery, simply lined +with twill, are much used for looping up summer curtains, and give +richness to the soft, creamy materials now employed for curtains. + +As dress trimmings Leek embroidery is good, the wide bands making a +waistcoat front and the narrow the cuff trimmings. To a velveteen winter +dress a waistcoat and cuffs so made are an admirable finish as long as +the embroidery is kept subdued by rich colours, and the gold carefully +put on, while for dinner dresses a broad panel of embroidery is carried +down the skirt, and the waistcoat cut low, and no trimming required for +the sleeves. + +Oriental embroidery cannot be made up in so many different ways as Leek +embroidery, but it is quite new, and aims at reproducing early Eastern +designs. The foundation material is surah silk, the silk sold in large +squares as Liberty's handkerchief being correct in colouring and +texture. Upon this foundation the patterns, which all consist of single +petalled flowers resembling single dahlias, sunflowers, or +chrysanthemums, are worked with Oriental silk, which are silks of a +thick make, but very soft and with a gloss on them similar to the gloss +on floss silk. The leaves surrounding the flowers are of the shape of +the jessamine, and to these are added tendrils and queer-looking bunches +of seed-vessels. + +There is little variety in the design, as the embroidery is entirely +executed in one stitch (that of a close herringbone), but there is great +variety and great scope for good shading in the colouring. Oriental +silks are all dyed in the shades of blues, yellow pinks, terra-cotta +reds, and brilliant yellows, to be seen in Eastern embroideries worked +before the introduction of aniline dyes, and the consequent lapse into +Imperial purples and magentas and royal blues. + +By a judicious use of good colours the same design can be so repeated as +to look entirely different. Thus, a spray of flowers worked upon an +orange-red ground, with cream, yellow, pink and pale blue colours, will +be quite distinct from the same spray laid upon sea-green silk, and +coloured with deep orange-reds and blues running from sky into navy +blue. + +As before mentioned, the only stitch used is herringboning, and the only +flowers single petalled ones; but the herringboning is done so closely +together that it looks like an interwoven stitch of double crossings, +and the flowers are all worked in their centres in a different silk to +that used on their tips, and therefore resemble double petalled flowers. +The tips of each petal are wider than the commencement, and the +herringboning is not taken along as a wide line of equal width, but as a +curved line running small, and widening out again several times if the +petal or seed-vessel is a long one. Each petal is worked separately, and +the silk is never dragged or drawn tightly, but is allowed to lie easily +over the foundation, and rather loosely, although the stitches follow +each other so closely that nothing of the foundation can be seen where +they are laid. The stems, long leaves, and large branches are worked as +closely as the petals in herringbone, but tendrils and sprays are more +opened out, and are given the look of single coral stitch as a variety. + +When shading a flower select two colours that are distinct in tone but +not jarring in their contrast; thus, cream-white used for the outer +petals can be finished with pale blue, yellow pink, pure orange, or pale +yellow for its centre petals; scarlet red outside petals with black +inner petals, bright blue outside petals with lemon yellow or +terra-cotta red inside petals, and every one of these colours are +allowable when working bunches of flowers scattered over the whole of a +five o'clock tea-cloth or fireplace curtains. + +The embroidery is used for table-cloths, mantel borders, and curtain +brackets, knitting bags, handkerchief cases, and as a trimming to +evening dresses. In all cases it requires a silk lining, and should be +worked with a muslin lining beneath it. Embroidering Breton +handkerchiefs is not a new description of fancy work, but it is still in +vogue; and when a lady has had sufficient patience to successfully +accomplish the feat of covering every portion of the handkerchief with +thick filoselle work, there is no doubt that she has produced a piece of +embroidery not only handsome and durable, but that will justly hand her +name down to posterity as a real worker, and not one who takes up the +whim of the hour and throws it on one side as soon as it bores her. The +squares made of these embroidered handkerchiefs are shown more +effectually when they are lined with quilted silk and used as +banner-screens than when they are bordered with wide plush and used as +table-cloths. The pattern in the latter case is never seen as a whole, +and the beauty of the work is often marred by water from flower vases +spilt over it, or wet teacups and saucers put down on it. The small +screens now so fashionable make another admirable place for mounting +Breton work. These screens are made of two compartments only, in height +about 41/2 feet. To each panel, 21/2 feet from the ground, a ledge +that can be put up or down is fixed, and that is used for holding a book +or a teacup. The panel below this ledge is merely filled with a little +curtain made of coloured Oriental silk, and arranged in very full folds. +The panel above the ledge, that is fully displayed to every eye, is +filled with the embroidery stretched quite tightly across it and +displayed to its full advantage. The back of the embroidery is +concealed with a satin or silk matching the little curtain beneath. Two +Breton handkerchiefs are required, one for each division, but they +should not be selected both of the same design. The little screens are +made of oak, mahogany, and ebonised wood. They are a simple framework, +an inch and a half square, and any working carpenter would make them to +order. + +Breton embroidery is too laborious for many people, and those whose time +is much occupied with household matters, and who cannot devote much of +it to the task of making their drawing-rooms pretty, we recommend to try +crazy patchwork in its place. We have lately seen this easy work carried +out most successfully, and used as mantel and table borders, covers for +footstools, and as the centres of small table-cloths. The work is one of +the least expensive that can be tried, and can be put down without +derangement of effect at any moment (a great point in its favour where +interruptions are frequent). Before commencing any piece of it, it is +better to accumulate all the oddments of ribbons, plush, velvet, silk, +and satin lying in the piece-drawer from dress trimmings or sent as +patterns from shops. The more plush and velvet obtainable, the greater +the effect produced, while the colouring should be of a vivid tone, but +excluding the bright aniline dyes already once referred to as being +unsuitable to blend with other shades. A strong piece of ticking is +required for the foundation, and on this the pieces are arranged. They +should be pinned on while the amalgamation of colouring is being tried, +and, when that is settled, basted on to the lining, the edges of soft +materials being turned under and secured with the basting lines. +Similarity in shape and size is to be avoided when placing the pieces, +and the effect aimed at that of the colouring of a kaleidoscope in its +variety and brightness. In order to obtain queer shapes and corners, it +is not necessary to carefully cut them out and fit them into their +various spaces; in fact, it is better not to do so, but to lay one +material partly over another, and by so doing make the desired form. The +embroidery is generally left until the pieces are basted down to the +lining, but now and again the scraps should be embroidered before they +are fixed down, this method being the least troublesome when fine silk +work is attempted, such as working flowers in shades of colour or +intricate designs, or following out the lines of stamped velvet or +brocade with couched-down cords and gold thread. Thin Oriental silks +require a thin muslin lining underneath them, and the embroidery +executed before they are tacked to the ticking, as unless this +precaution is taken they are apt to pucker and look uneven and poor. +When the patchwork scraps are all arranged, spare strands of filoselle +of any shades are used to cover over the basting threads with lines of +coral stitch, feather, chain, rope, and herringbone, while oddments of +silk cord, Japanese gold thread, very fine braids, etc., are sewn down +either as borderings to the securing lines or as forming designs and +figures on the patches themselves. Embroidery stitches of all kinds are +used to fill in the centres of the patches, and advantage is always +taken of any pattern on the patches either by filling it in entirely +with shaded silks, filling up its background with stars, crosses, or +dots, or by enclosing it within diagonal lines, or sewing spangles down +so as to cover it over. Every effort is made to enrich the patches by +the use of gold thread, spangles, gold lace, and silk cords, and when +the work is faithfully done, no one could guess it was devised out of +oddments and produced at a nominal cost. + +B. C. SAWARD. + + + + +ROMANCE. + +FOR VIOLIN AND PIANOFORTE. + +PROFESSOR SIR G. A. MACFARREN. + +[Music] + + + + +ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. + + +EDUCATIONAL. + +A. Z.--The part of a whole made by two-thirds of three-fourths is +one-half. Such books as those you name are not so appropriate for young +girls as very desirable, instructive, as well as interesting books, +although a girl of twenty-one might read one of such a kind once in a +way. There is an article by Dr. Green in the last two numbers of the +_Leisure Hour_ (published by the Religious Tract Society, 56, +Paternoster-row, London, E.C.), those for April and May, in which such +books as you require are recommended--history, biography, travels, +archaeology, geology, astronomy; Shakespeare, Milton, Elizabeth Barret +Browning, Longfellow, Tennyson, etc. Such books should occupy all your +leisure for reading, besides the study of household economy, nursing, +cookery, needlework, and cutting out. The first five years after leaving +the school-room should be devoted to such studies as these, not wasted +on the class of literature you specify. + +G. H. T.--Yes, there is a Kindergarten College and Practising School +established by the British and Foreign School Society. It is at 21, +Stockwell-road, S.W., and it is directed by the Misses Crombie. There +are ten such schools in London and eight in the provinces. Write for +papers, and all information will be supplied you direct from that or any +of the other schools. Had you given your address we could have given +that which is the nearest to you. We think your age would be suitable. +The answer you receive as to terms may decide you as to the way in which +your L20 may be required. Perhaps if you annoyed your cousin she would +not allow you to return home to sleep. Whether you could do so as well +as board at the college we could not say. "Look well before you leap." + + +ART. + +SHELTIE.--To ornament ginger jars, or any kind of earthenware, without +knowing how to draw or paint, first size it with ordinary glue-size, +melted over the fire; then cut bright scraps of chintz, or gaily-painted +cottons, into diamonds, squares, half-circles, triangles, etc., and +paste them to the jars, carefully covering every part of the jar with +the scraps laid closely together, but without making any set design. Let +the paste dry; then size the jar, and varnish with white hard varnish. + +FLEUR DES ALPES.--We fear there are no chances of a sale in London, as +the market for screen and fan painting is already so full. Besides, you +should take such work personally to shops and obtain trade orders. Would +it not be wiser and more easy to dispose of them at Geneva, which is +within your reach? Accept our best wishes. + +WOULD-BE PHOTOGRAPHER.--The reason that the object to be taken appears +upside down in the camera is this. Light travels in straight lines, and +rays coming through little crevices (such as are used in cameras), cross +each other, and become inverted. + + +MISCELLANEOUS. + +EFFIE.--The texts of Holy Scripture which you cannot find are to be +found as follows:--Psalm xciv. 22, and Gen. xvii. 8; Exodus xxix. 45; +Ezekiel xi. 20; Zechariah viii. 8; 2 Cor. vi. 16; Rev. xxi. 3, and in +other places. Your "Concordance" must be a very bad one. Your +handwriting is not formed, but promises well. + +GOWAN COBBAN.--We do not recommend publishers to our correspondents. All +three specimens of writing are legible, but No. 2 is careless and +unfinished. Why write a small "b" for a "v"? The latter has no tall +upper stroke. + +E. M.--The health of bride, bridegroom, bridesmaids, and respective +parents of the newly-married pair is drunk, but no others, as a rule. + +CORISANDE.--We could not possibly assist you in carrying out or devising +a method of revenge on the wrong-doer, nor do we think that even the +aggrieved parents of the injured friend would approve of the plan. If +you reprobate an ill-bred action, you cannot, consistently with your own +views of what is seemly and dignified, punish that action by following +suit, and doing what would be ill-bred yourself. Besides, as a +Christian, read Romans xii. 19. + +UNA MILDRED HITCHINGS (N.Z).--The 14th of February, 1809, was a Tuesday. +Many thanks for your nice letter. + +E. B. P. we think had better take more exercise, and avoid late suppers +and sitting up late, as it seems probable her digestion is weak. + +SEPIA.--Hairpins are not injurious to the hair except when the hair is +too tightly put up, when that certainly affects the nerves. We think +young people, as a rule, do not require stimulants unless under the +doctor's orders. We think oils are far easier to use than water-colours. + +MORNING DEWDROP.--We do not think the poetry worth much now, but it +shows that at fifteen you are thinking about good things in preference +to evil and idle things, and so we consider writing poetry, in many +cases, a good amusement. + +QUEENIE FOSTER should return the duplicate copy and ask for the right +one, and if enclosing stamps, as the surest way of getting it, she can +retain the duplicate. + +AN UNHAPPY ONE should not marry her widower on any account, if she feels +as unhappy as her letter portrays. She must not grow discouraged too +soon, but cultivate patience, and never minding. And should she finally +undertake the care of a ready-made family, she must be brave and +courteous, not rendering railing for railing, but, contrariwise, +blessing. Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good. + +HAWTHORN.--We know of nothing better than your present treatment. We are +much obliged by your kind offer, but we do not require any at present. + +IDONEA.--We should think your digestion was out of order. Read the +advice given by Medicus to "Working Girls," page 295, vol. vi. + +MYSOTIS.--Your nationality is that of your father, but you may adopt a +country; and if he be naturalised English, you become English too, or +you may legally become so yourself. Also, if you marry an Englishman you +become an Englishwoman, without going through the process of +naturalisation. Of course by blood you are half English, through your +maternal descent. + +OPHELIA.--We feel for "Ophelia" very sincerely; but she should rouse +herself, and not give way to morbid brooding over her troubles. Has she +no sacred duties to perform to those around her? No Lord and Master +above to serve and glorify, by submission to His dispensations? Has she +no blessed hope of a life beyond the grave? We could not insert your +verses. "All else" is not "gone," whoever was removed, when you have +"one that sticketh closer than a brother" to lean upon. Read St. John +xiv.; indeed, you had better study the whole Gospel, and set yourself +resolutely to devote yourself to others. + +MAY ELWIN.--Our publisher, Mr. Tarn, sent us your letter. We suppose you +thought him the editor. The writer of the poems you name is not one with +whom we are acquainted. + +MYSELF.--We cannot do better than refer you to the abuses of the Lord's +supper, to which St. Paul alludes in 1 Cor. ii. 21, 22, which answers +your question. Also see Hebrews x. 25, and 1 Cor. xiv. 40. Beware how +you trifle with sacred rites and sacraments. You had better look up the +whole of the text about Elders and their office in the New Testament +Epistles. Our Lord's promise is that where two or three are gathered +together He would be in their midst and bless them. You had better look +out the word communion in the dictionary, as it cannot refer to one +person alone; it is an act performed by a certain number of persons +together, more or less. Again, when the clergyman prays for his +congregation, is he not a mediator? And when you and your friends pray +for each other, are you not mediators? And this, without disparagement +to the doctrine that Christ is the great and chief Mediator, without +whose divine mediation all other would be useless. + +BRUNETTE.--The soul does not attain its highest state of bliss until it +be re-united to the body; but the soul of a believer in Christ (by which +we mean one of His faithful people, who loves, serves, and trusts in Him +and His atonement alone) will enter into a happy and sinless rest. He +has made "an everlasting covenant with them," not with those who deny +Him. Any mercy shown to such would be uncovenanted. See for yourself +what the Scriptures say. We know nothing more than what is revealed in +them. As to the heathen who have not heard the Gospel, they are "a law +unto themselves," and will be judged as such, not as those who rejected +Christ. + +ONE WANTING TO LEARN.--We are glad that you find the Sulhampstead +Question Society, which we recommended, so useful in helping forward +your education. We do not print our correspondents' letters. + +ROY.--We regret that we cannot accede to your request. It would +interfere with the general usefulness of our magazine if we were to +introduce the subject of politics into it. We do not even discuss vexed +questions of religious belief, because our paper is meant for persons of +all denominations, whose feelings should be respected. We limit our +teaching to the broad principles of our common Christianity. + +LOTTIE.--If in so feeble a state of health, you should obtain medical +advice. We could not prescribe for a perfect stranger. + +JUNE.--All the chief writers of this paper, with the artists and musical +composers, including ourselves, have already been represented, in a more +or less satisfactory manner. The story, "That Aggravating Schoolgirl," +appeared in the second volume, beginning at page 9. + +M. C. F.--We do not quite understand what you mean. Visiting cards +should never be sent by post, and if they be left at the house you +acknowledge them by calling in return. If people be at a distance from +you, you must take an opportunity of calling when near. You must answer +congratulations either by letter or a call. + +BIRCHBROOM.--St. Paul was a bachelor, and tells you so in 1 Cor. vii. +You will find many pretty designs for knitting in our paper. We do not +propose to keep any space specially for knitting recipes. You will find +one for a petticoat at page 41, vol. ii., in the number for October, +1880. + +NELLICA.--We thank you for your kind and grateful letter, and rejoice +that you enjoy our paper and are allowed to read it. You write a very +fair, legible handwriting. + +A HOTHOUSE PLANT.--Pampas grass must be bleached in a solution of +chloride of lime. You had better consult the chemist of whom you procure +the drug as to the proportion of water. Perhaps he would prepare it for +you. You write well, but use a bad pen--we mean an old, worn-out one. + +BEDWAEEN (Hyderabad).--We acknowledge your kind letter with our best +wishes and thanks. You do not ask any special question; but as you +regret a want of acquaintance with the rules of English grammar, we +recommend "The Handbook of the English Tongue," by Dr. Angus, published +at our office, 56, Paternoster-row, E.C.; address Mr. Tarn. + +AMELIA should take her "twopenny mulready envelope" to a shop where +stamps are sold for collections. This is the only plan, if not disposed +of to a private collector. We do not think she will make very much on +the sale. + +THE BIRD.--Kindly refer to the article in question, where all +information is already given. + +ORMONDE should call after all invitations, whether she accept them or +not. + +LILY WALKER.--The bridegroom presents the bride and bridesmaids with +their bouquets; but it is not needful that the latter should have them. +The health of the bride and bridegroom respectively are proposed by the +oldest friend of the family present; but other healths are no longer +drunk as a universal rule, we believe. + +ITALIA.--The competition papers are in no case returned. Your quotation +is very good, but is useless under the circumstances. + +DULCIE WESTON should consult a doctor and take a tonic. We should +decidedly object to cold baths in her case. They should be rather warmer +than tepid. + +DEWDROP.--When the right time comes for the hatching of silkworms, they +should be kept in the sun. Before that they should be kept cool, as +their coming out should be delayed until that of the new mulberry +leaves. The worms need not to be kept in the sun. + +BLUEBELL and DOLLY.--Many thanks for your kind letter. + +MAYFLOWER.--We should think, from the price you name, that you are +buying spirits of wine. Send your own bottle to an oilshop for +methylated spirits. But why not do this:--Get a small oil-lamp and +kettle, enough to boil a quart of water; when quite boiling it will be +enough for two gallons of cold water, and, using a sponge bath, you can +have a comfortable bath? + +GRACE should wear the backboard and faceboard, so often recommended by +us, for an hour every day while reading or learning her lessons. The +book could be set on a stand or shelf, and she could learn while walking +to and fro. + +GUELDER ROSE.--Some words and names have been given an arbitrary +pronunciation by that tyrant--the fashion of the day. There is a rule +for each class of society, by which all within those respective circles +is bound, unless its members wish to make themselves remarkable. Amongst +the "Upper Ten" the name Derby is pronounced "Darby," Shrewsbury as +"Shrowsbury," and clerk as "clark." Balmoral is "Bal-moral," the "mo" +chiefly accentuated. Writing fairly good. + +TRY AGAIN is thanked for her kind letter. That a competitor should not +be successful is no discredit to her work, because the number of papers +sent in is so enormous, none but the most remarkably perfect amongst the +good ones can be awarded even certificates, not to say prizes. + +COMING THRO' THE RYE.--You form your letters fairly well, but reverse +the heavy and light strokes. The down strokes should be heavy, and the +up strokes light. Also, if you did not make the ends of your final +letters in every word turn up like pig-tails, your writing would be +improved. Perhaps your handwriting may be formed, or begin to be so, at +sixteen. No children write running hands. + +ROSE.--No "gentlemen" presume to speak to girls in their own rank of +life without an introduction; it would be an insult. And as to proposing +to walk with you, as a stranger, if you have no father, brother, nor +uncle to warn him away, he deserves to be handed over to the police. But +men do not usually take such liberties unless they have had some +encouragement. Beware of looking at strange men in passing them. Look +away when they come near. + +EDITH.--Sage tea is good for cooling the face and healing the skin when +much sunburnt; but it should be used the same day. Lie on a sofa, and +lay the wet leaves over your face. + + + + +AUTUMN. + +[Illustration] + +BY HELEN MARION BURNSIDE. + + + The chestnut burrs are falling + On the shining dew-steeped lawn, + Where the swallows have been calling + To each other since the dawn; + For again the forest leaves, + And the upland's crown of sheaves, + Wear the fair pathetic glory, which so quickly is withdrawn. + + And a youthful pair goes straying, + As we used to do of old, + With the sunlight on them playing, + Through the elm trees' paling gold; + And I wonder as they go, + Pacing slowly to and fro, + Are they telling one another just such secrets as we told? + + In the cool and fragrant dunlight + Of the woodlands, wet with dew, + Looking out towards the sunlight + Here I stand--but where are you? + Where are summer's lusty leaves, + Where the swallows from the eaves, + And the hopes, and dreams, and longings that in those old days we knew? + + Many a spring has blossomed brightly + On the grave of a dead past, + Many a summer has tossed lightly + Her cast leaves upon the blast; + And as autumn fades away + Into winter's quiet grey, + Comes the hope: eternal springtide will give back my friend at last! + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Girl's Own Paper, Vol. VIII: No. +353, October 2, 1886., by Various + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE GIRL'S OWN PAPER *** + +***** This file should be named 18195.txt or 18195.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/1/8/1/9/18195/ + +Produced by Susan Skinner and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at http://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. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project +Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you +charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you +do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the +rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose +such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and +research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do +practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is +subject to the trademark license, especially commercial +redistribution. + + + +*** START: FULL LICENSE *** + +THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE +PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK + +To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free +distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work +(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project +Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project +Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at +http://gutenberg.org/license). + + +Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic works + +1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to +and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property +(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all +the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy +all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. +If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the +terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or +entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. + +1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be +used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who +agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few +things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works +even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See +paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement +and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. See paragraph 1.E below. + +1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" +or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the +collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an +individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are +located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from +copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative +works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg +are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project +Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by +freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of +this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with +the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by +keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project +Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. + +1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern +what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in +a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check +the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement +before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or +creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project +Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning +the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United +States. + +1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: + +1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate +access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently +whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the +phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project +Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, +copied or distributed: + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + +1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived +from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is +posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied +and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees +or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work +with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the +work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 +through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the +Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or +1.E.9. + +1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted +with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution +must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional +terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked +to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the +permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. + +1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this +work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. + +1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this +electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without +prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with +active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project +Gutenberg-tm License. + +1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, +compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any +word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or +distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than +"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version +posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org), +you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a +copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon +request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other +form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. + +1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, +performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works +unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. + +1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing +access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided +that + +- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from + the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method + you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is + owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he + has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the + Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments + must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you + prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax + returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and + sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the + address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to + the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." + +- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies + you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he + does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm + License. You must require such a user to return or + destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium + and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of + Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any + money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the + electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days + of receipt of the work. + +- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free + distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set +forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from +both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael +Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the +Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. + +1.F. + +1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable +effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread +public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm +collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain +"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or +corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual +property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a +computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by +your equipment. + +1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right +of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project +Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all +liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal +fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT +LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE +PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH F3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE +TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE +LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR +INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH +DAMAGE. + +1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a +defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can +receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a +written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you +received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with +your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with +the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a +refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity +providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to +receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy +is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further +opportunities to fix the problem. + +1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth +in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER +WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO +WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. + +1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied +warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. +If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the +law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be +interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by +the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any +provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. + +1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the +trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone +providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance +with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, +promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, +harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, +that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do +or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm +work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any +Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. + + +Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm + +Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of +electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers +including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists +because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from +people in all walks of life. + +Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the +assistance they need, is critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's +goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will +remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure +and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. +To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation +and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 +and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. + + +Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive +Foundation + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit +501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the +state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal +Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification +number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at +http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent +permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. + +The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. +Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered +throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at +809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email +business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact +information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official +page at http://pglaf.org + +For additional contact information: + Dr. Gregory B. Newby + Chief Executive and Director + gbnewby@pglaf.org + + +Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation + +Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide +spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of +increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be +freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest +array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations +($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt +status with the IRS. + +The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating +charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United +States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a +considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up +with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations +where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To +SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any +particular state visit http://pglaf.org + +While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we +have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition +against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who +approach us with offers to donate. + +International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make +any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from +outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. + +Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation +methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other +ways including checks, online payments and credit card donations. +To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate + + +Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. + +Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm +concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared +with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project +Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. + + +Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. +unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + http://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. |