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diff --git a/19399-h/19399-h.htm b/19399-h/19399-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..0a6473d --- /dev/null +++ b/19399-h/19399-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,8015 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> + +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> + <head> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=iso-8859-1" /> + <title> + The Project Gutenberg eBook of St. Nicholas Vol. 5 No. 3, by Various. + </title> + <style type="text/css"> +/*<![CDATA[ XML blockout */ +<!-- + p { margin-top: .75em; + text-align: justify; + margin-bottom: .75em; + } + h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6 { + text-align: center; /* all headings centered */ + clear: both; + } + hr { width: 33%; + margin-top: 2em; + margin-bottom: 2em; + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; + clear: both; + } + + table {margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;} + + body{margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; + } + + .pagenum { /* uncomment the next line for invisible page numbers */ + /* visibility: hidden; */ + position: absolute; + left: 92%; + font-size: smaller; + text-align: right; + } /* page numbers */ + + + .blockquot{margin-left: 5%; margin-right: 10%;} + + + + .center {text-align: center; text-indent:0;} + .smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} + + + .caption {font-weight: bold;} + + .figcenter {margin: auto; text-align: center;} + .figleft {float: left; clear: left; margin-left: 0; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: + 1em; margin-right: 1em; padding: 0; text-align: center;} + + + .footnotes {border: dashed 1px;} + .footnote {margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; font-size: 0.9em;} + .footnote .label {position: absolute; right: 84%; text-align: right;} + .fnanchor {vertical-align: super; font-size: .8em; text-decoration: none;} + +.small { font-size: 90%; } +.center { text-align: center; } +.vlouter { width: 100%; border-top: 1px black solid; + border-bottom: 1px black solid; padding-top: 0.25em; + padding-bottom: 0.25em; } +.volumeline { width: 100%; border-top: 1px black solid; + border-bottom: 1px black solid; padding-top: 0.25em; + padding-bottom: 0.25em; } +.volumeleft { float:left; width:33%; text-align:left; } +.volumeright { float:right; text-align:right; width:33%; } + + // --> + /* XML end ]]>*/ + </style> + </head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of St. Nicholas Magazine for Boys and Girls, +Vol. 5, January 1878, No. 3, by Various + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: St. Nicholas Magazine for Boys and Girls, Vol. 5, January 1878, No. 3 + +Author: Various + +Editor: Mary Mapes Dodge + +Release Date: September 28, 2006 [EBook #19399] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ST. NICHOLAS MAGAZINE *** + + + + +Produced by Juliet Sutherland, Paul Ereaut and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + +</pre> + + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 261px;"> +<img src="images/illus-0122-1.jpg" width="261" height="400" alt="TWO WAYS OF CARRYING THE MAIL. [See Letter-Box.]" title="TWO WAYS OF CARRYING THE MAIL. [See Letter-Box.]" /> +<span class="caption">TWO WAYS OF CARRYING THE MAIL.<br /> [See Letter-Box.]<br /><br /><br /></span> +</div> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_169" id="Page_169">[Pg 169]</a></span></p> + +<h1>ST. NICHOLAS.</h1> + +<div class="vlouter"> +<div class="volumeline"> +<div class="volumeleft">VOL. V.</div> +<div class="volumeright">No. 3.</div> +<div class="center">JANUARY, 1878.</div> +<div class="spacer"><!-- empty for spacing purposes --></div> +</div> +</div> + +<div class="center"> +<br /><span class="small">[Copyright, 1878, by Scribner & Co.]</span> +</div> + +<div class='center'> +<br /> +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="4" summary="contents"> +<tr><td align='left'><a href="#THE_RAVENS_AND_THE_ANGELS"><b>THE RAVENS AND THE ANGELS.</b></a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><a href="#HOW_THE_PONY_WAS_TAKEN"><b>HOW THE PONY WAS TAKEN.</b></a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><a href="#MERRY_MIKE"><b>MERRY MIKE.</b></a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><a href="#AN_AGREEABLE_GUEST"><b>AN AGREEABLE GUEST.</b></a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><a href="#NEW-YEAR_CARD"><b>NEW-YEAR CARD.</b></a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><a href="#HOW_KITTY_GOT_HER_NEW_HAT"><b>HOW KITTY GOT HER NEW HAT.</b></a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><a href="#THE_STORK_AND_THE_CRANE_A_FABLE"><b>THE STORK AND THE CRANE: A FABLE.</b></a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><a href="#WINTER_FIRE-FLIES."><b>WINTER FIRE-FLIES.</b></a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><a href="#THE_ARMS_OF_GREAT_BRITAIN"><b>THE ARMS OF GREAT BRITAIN.</b></a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><a href="#UNDER_THE_LILACS"><b>UNDER THE LILACS.</b></a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><a href="#Chapter_IV"><b> Chapter IV.</b></a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><a href="#Chapter_V"><b> Chapter V.</b></a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><a href="#Chapter_VI"><b> Chapter VI.</b></a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><a href="#MUSIC_ON_ALL_FOURS"><b>MUSIC ON ALL FOURS.</b></a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><a href="#A_LETTER_TO_AMERICAN_BOYS"><b>A LETTER TO AMERICAN BOYS.</b></a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><a href="#ANNIE_AND_THE_BALLS"><b>ANNIE AND THE BALLS.</b></a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><a href="#A_MODERN_WILLIAM_TELL"><b>A MODERN WILLIAM TELL.</b></a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><a href="#THE_KING_AND_THE_THREE_TRAVELERS"><b>THE KING AND THE THREE TRAVELERS.</b></a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><a href="#SOMETHING_IN_THE_OLD_CLOTHES_LINE"><b>SOMETHING IN THE OLD CLOTHES LINE.</b></a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><a href="#TOMMYS_DREAM_OR_THE_GEOGRAPHY_DEMON"><b>TOMMY'S DREAM; OR, THE GEOGRAPHY DEMON.</b></a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><a href="#THE_TOWER_MOUNTAIN"><b>THE TOWER MOUNTAIN</b></a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><a href="#HOW_TO_MAKE_AN_ICE-BOAT"><b>HOW TO MAKE AN ICE-BOAT.</b></a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><a href="#DEBBYS_CHRISTMAS"><b>DEBBY'S CHRISTMAS.</b></a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><a href="#THE_COOLEST_MAN_IN_RUSSIA"><b>THE COOLEST MAN IN RUSSIA.</b></a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><a href="#SKATING"><b>SKATING</b></a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><a href="#THREE_SMART_LITTLE_FOXES"><b>THREE SMART LITTLE FOXES.</b></a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><a href="#JACK-IN-THE-PULPIT"><b>JACK-IN-THE-PULPIT.</b></a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><a href="#THE_LETTER-BOX"><b>THE LETTER-BOX.</b></a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><a href="#THE_RIDDLE-BOX"><b>THE RIDDLE-BOX.</b></a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><a href="#ANSWERS_TO_PUZZLES_IN_DECEMBER_NUMBER"><b>ANSWERS TO PUZZLES IN DECEMBER NUMBER.</b></a></td></tr> +</table><br /><br /></div> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<h2><a name="THE_RAVENS_AND_THE_ANGELS" id="THE_RAVENS_AND_THE_ANGELS"></a>THE RAVENS AND THE ANGELS.</h2> + +<h5>(<i>A Story of the Middle Ages.</i>)</h5> + +<h4><span class="smcap">By the Author of "Chronicles of the Schönberg-Cotta Family."</span><br /><br /></h4> + +<p class="center">I.</p> + +<p>In those old days, in that old city, they called +the cathedral—and they thought it—the house of +God. The cathedral was the Father's house for +all, and therefore it was loved and honored, and +enriched with lavish treasures of wealth and work, +beyond any other father's house.</p> + +<p>The cathedral was the Father's house, and, +therefore, close to its gates might nestle the poor +dwellings of the poor,—too poor to find a shelter +anywhere besides; because the central life and joy +of the house of God was the suffering, self-sacrificing +Son of Man; and dearer to Him, now and +forever, as when He was on earth, was the feeblest +and most fallen human creature He had redeemed +than the most glorious heavenly constellation of +the universe He had made.</p> + +<p>And so it happened that when Berthold, the +stone-carver, died, Magdalis, his young wife, and +her two children, then scarcely more than babes, +Gottlieb and little Lenichen, were suffered to make +their home in the little wooden shed which had +once sheltered a hermit, and which nestled into +the recess close to the great western gate of the +minster.</p> + +<p>Thus, while inside from the lofty aisles pealed +forth, night and day, the anthems of the choir, +close outside, night and day, rose also, even more +surely to God, the sighs of a sorrowful woman and +the cries of little children whom all her toil could +hardly supply with bread. Because, He hears the +feeblest wail of want, though it comes not from a +dove or even from a harmless sparrow, but a young +raven. And He does not heed the sweetest anthem +of the fullest choir, if it is a mere pomp of +sound. Because, while the best love of His meanest +creatures is precious to Him, the second-best of His +loftiest creatures is intolerable to Him. He heeds +the shining of the drops of dew and the rustling of +the blades of grass. But from creatures who can +love he cannot accept the mere outside offering +of creatures which can only make a pleasant sound.</p> + +<p>All this, or such as this, the young mother Magdalis +taught her babes as they could bear it.</p> + +<p>For they needed such lessons.</p> + +<p>The troubles of the world pressed on them very +early, in the shape little children can understand—little +hands and feet nipped with frost, hunger and +darkness and cold.</p> + +<p>Not that the citizens of that city were hypocrites, +singing the praises of God, whilst they let His +dear Lazaruses vainly crave at His gates for their +crumbs.</p> + +<p>But Magdalis was very tender and timid, and a +little proud; proud not for herself, but for her +husband and his babes. And she was also feeble +in health. She was an orphan herself, and she had +married, against the will of her kindred in a far-off +city, the young stone-carver, whose genius they did +not appreciate, whose labor and skill had made life +so rich and bright to them while he lived, and +whose early death had left them all so desolate.</p> + +<p>For his dear sake, she would not complain. For +herself it had been easier to die, and for his babes +she would not bring the shame of beggary on +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_170" id="Page_170">[Pg 170]</a></span>them. Better for them to enter into this life +maimed of strength, she thought, by meager food, +than tainted with the taint of beggary.</p> + +<p>Rather, she thought, would their father himself +have seen them go hungry to bed than deserve +that the fingers of other children should be pointed +scornfully at them as "the little beggars by the +church door," the door of the church in which she +gloried to think there were stones of his carving.</p> + +<p>So she toiled on, carving for sale little devotional +symbols—crosses, and reliquaries, and lilies and +lambs—with the skill she had learnt from him, +and teaching the little ones, as best she could, to +love and work and suffer. Teaching them only, +perhaps, not quite enough to hope. For the lamp +of hope burnt low in her own heart, and therefore +her patience, not being enough the patience of +hope, lacked something of sweetness. It never +broke downward into murmurs, but it too seldom +soared upward into praise.</p> + +<p>So it happened that one frosty night, about +Christmas-tide, little Gottlieb lay awake, very +hungry, on the ledge of the wall, covered with +straw, which served him for a bed.</p> + +<p>It had once been the hermit's bed. And very +narrow Gottlieb thought it must have been for the +hermit, for more than once he had been in peril of +falling over the side, in his restless tossings. He +supposed the hermit was too good to be restless, or +perhaps too good for the dear angels to think it +good for him to be hungry, as they evidently did +think it good for Gottlieb and Lenichen, or they +would be not good angels at all, not even as kind +as the ravens which took the bread to Elijah when +they were told. For the dear Heavenly Father +had certainly told the angels always to take care of +little children.</p> + +<p>The more Gottlieb lay awake and tossed and +thought, the further off the angels seemed.</p> + +<p>For, all the time, under the pillow lay one precious +crust of bread, the last in the house until his +mother should buy the loaf to-morrow.</p> + +<p>He had saved it from his supper in an impulse +of generous pity for his little sister, who so often +awoke, crying with hunger, and woke his poor +mother, and would not let her go to sleep again.</p> + +<p>He had thought how sweet it would be, when +Lenichen awoke the next morning, to appear suddenly, +as the angels do, at the side of the bed +where she lay beside her mother, and say:</p> + +<p>"Dear Lenichen! See, God has sent you this +bit of bread as a Christmas gift."</p> + +<p>For the next day was Christmas Eve.</p> + +<p>This little plan made Gottlieb so happy that at +first it felt as good to him as eating the bread.</p> + +<p>But the happy thought, unhappily, did not long +content the hungry animal part of him, which +craved, in spite of him, to be filled; and, as the +night went on, he was sorely tempted to eat the +precious crust—his very own crust—himself.</p> + +<p>"Perhaps it was ambitious of me, after all," he +said to himself, "to want to seem like a blessed +angel, a messenger of God, to Lenichen. Perhaps, +too, it would not be true. Because, after all, it +would not be exactly God who sent the crust, but +only me."</p> + +<p>And with the suggestion, the little hands which +had often involuntarily felt for the crust, brought it +to the hungry little mouth.</p> + +<p>But at that moment it opportunely happened +that his mother made a little moan in her sleep, +which half awakened Lenichen, who murmured, +sleepily, "Little mother, mother, bread!"</p> + +<p>Whereupon, Gottlieb blushed at his own ungenerous +intention, and resolutely pushed back the +crust under the pillow. And then he thought it +must certainly have been the devil who had tempted +him to eat, and he tried to pray.</p> + +<p>He prayed the "Our Father" quite through, +kneeling up softly in bed, and lingering fondly, but +not very hopefully, on the "Give us our daily +bread."</p> + +<p>And then again he fell into rather melancholy +reflections how very often he had prayed that same +prayer and been hungry, and into distracting speculations +how the daily bread could come, until at +last he ventured to add this bit of his own to his +prayers:</p> + +<p>"Dear, holy Lord Jesus, you were once a little +child, and know what it feels like. If Lenichen +and I are not good enough for you to send us +bread by the blessed angels, do send us some by +the poor ravens. We would not mind at all, if they +came from you, and were your ravens, and brought +us real bread. And if it is wrong to ask, please +not to be displeased, because I am such a little +child, and I don't know better, and I want to go to +sleep!"</p> + +<p>Then Gottlieb lay down again, and turned his +face to the wall, where he knew the picture of the +Infant Jesus was, and forgot his troubles and fell +asleep.</p> + +<p>The next morning he was awaked, as so often, +by Lenichen's little bleat; and he rose triumphantly, +and took his crust to her bedside.</p> + +<p>Lenichen greeted him with a wistful little smile, +and put up her face for a kiss; but her reception +of the crust was somewhat disappointing.</p> + +<p>She wailed a little because it was "hard and +dry," and when Gottlieb moistened it with a few +drops of water, she took it too much, he felt, as a +mere common meal, a thing of course, and her +natural right.</p> + +<p>He had expected that, in some way, the hungry +hours it had cost him would have been kneaded<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_171" id="Page_171">[Pg 171]</a></span> +into it, and made it a kind of heavenly manna +for her.</p> + +<p>To him it had meant hunger, and heroism, and +sleepless hours of endurance. It seemed strange +that to Lenichen it should seem nothing more than +a hard, dry, common crust.</p> + +<p>But to the mother it was much more.</p> + +<p>She understood all; and, because she understood +so much, she said little.</p> + +<p>She only smiled, and said he looked more than +ever like his father; and as he sat musing rather +sadly while she was dressing, and Lenichen had +fallen asleep again, she pointed to the little peaceful +sleeping face, the flaxen hair curling over the +dimpled arm, and she said:</p> + +<p>"That is thy thanks—just that the little one is +happy. The dear Heavenly Father cares more, I +think, for such thanks than for any other; just to +see the flowers grow, just to hear the birds sing to +their nestlings, just to see His creatures good and +happy, because of His gifts. Those are about the +best thanks for Him and for us."</p> + +<p>But Gottlieb looked up inquiringly.</p> + +<p>"Yet He likes us to say 'Thank you,' too? Did +you not say all the Church services, all the beautiful +cathedral itself, is just the people's 'Thank you' +to God? Are we not going to church just to say +'Thank you,' to-day?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, darling," she said. "But the 'thank you' +we <i>mean</i> to say is worth little unless it is just the +blossom and fragrance of the love and content +always in the heart. God cares infinitely for our +loving Him, and loves us to thank Him if we do. +He does not care at all for the thanks without the +love, or without the content."</p> + +<p>And as she spoke these words, Mother Magdalis +was preaching a little sermon to herself also, which +made her eyes moisten and shine.</p> + +<p>So she took courage, and contrived to persuade +the children and herself that the bread-and-water +breakfast that Christmas Eve morning had something +quite festive about it.</p> + +<p>And when they had finished with a grace which +Gottlieb sang, and Lenichen lisped after him, she +told him to take the little sister on his knee and +sing through his songs and hymns, while she +arrayed herself in the few remnants of holiday +dress left her.</p> + +<p>And as she cleaned and arranged the tiny room, +her heart was lighter than it had been for a long +time.</p> + +<p>"I ought to be happy," she said to herself, "with +music enough in my little nest to fill a church."</p> + +<p>When Gottlieb had finished his songs, and was +beginning them over again, there was a knock at +the door, and the face of old Hans, the dwarf, appeared +at the door, as he half opened it.</p> + +<p>"A good Christmas to thee and thy babes, +Mother Magdalis! Thy son is born indeed with a +golden spoon in his mouth," croaked old Hans in +his hoarse, guttural voice.</p> + +<p>The words grated on Magdalis. Crooked Hans' +jokes were apt to be as crooked as his temper and +his poor limbs, and to give much dissatisfaction, +hitting on just the sore points no one wanted to +be touched.</p> + +<p>She felt tempted to answer sharply, but the sweet +Christmas music had got into her heart, and she +only said, with tears starting to her eyes:</p> + +<p>"If he was, neighbor, all the gold was lost and +buried long ago."</p> + +<p>"Not a bit of it!" rejoined Hans. "Didn't I +hear the gold ring this very instant? The lad has +gold in his mouth, I say! Give him to me, and +you shall see it before night."</p> + +<p>She looked up reproachfully, the tears fairly falling +at what she thought such a cruel mockery from +Hans, who knew her poverty, and had never had +from her or hers the rough words he was too used +to from every one.</p> + +<p>"The golden days are over for me," was all she +said.</p> + +<p>"Nay! They have yet to begin," he replied. +"Your Berthold left more debtors than you know, +Frau Magdalis. And old Hans is one of them. +And Hans never forgets a debt, black or white. +Let the lad come with me, I say. I know the +choir-master at the cathedral. And I know he +wants a fine high treble just such as thy Gottlieb's, +and will give anything for it. For if he does not +find one, the Cistercians at the new convent will +draw away all the people, and we shall have no +money for the new organ. They have a young +Italian, who sings like an angel, there; and the +young archduchess is an Italian, and is wild about +music, and lavishes her gifts wherever she finds it +good."</p> + +<p>Magdalis looked perplexed and troubled.</p> + +<p>"To sell the child's voice seems like selling part +of himself, neighbor," she said at length; "and +to sell God's praises seems like selling one's own +soul."</p> + +<p>"Well, well! Those are thy proud burgher +notions," said Hans, a little nettled. "If the +Heavenly Father pleases to give thee and the little +ones a few crumbs for singing His matins and +evensong, it is no more than He does for the +robins, or, for that matter, for the very ravens, +such as me, that croak to Him with the best voice +they have."</p> + +<p>At these words, Gottlieb, who had been listening +very attentively, gently set little Lenichen down, +and, drawing close to Hans, put his little hand confidingly +in his.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_172" id="Page_172">[Pg 172]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I will go with neighbor Hans, mother!" he +said, decisively. "The dear Lord himself has sent +him."</p> + +<p>"Thou speakest like a prophet," said the mother, +smiling tenderly at his oracular manner, "a prophet +and a king in one. Hast thou had a vision? Is +thy will indeed the law of the land?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, mother," he said, coloring, "the dear +Lord Jesus has made it quite plain. I asked Him, +if we were not good enough for Him to send us an +angel, to send us one of His ravens, and He has +sent us Hans!"</p> + +<p>Hans laughed, but not the grim, hoarse laugh +which was habitual to him, and which people compared +to the croaking of a raven; it was a hearty, +open laugh, like a child's, and he said:</p> + +<p>"Let God's raven lead thee, then, my lad, and +the mother shall see if we don't bring back the +bread and meat."</p> + +<p>"I did not ask for meat," said Gottlieb, gravely, +"only for bread."</p> + +<p>"The good God is wont to give more than we +either desire or deserve," croaked Hans, "when +He sets about giving at all."<br /><br /></p> + + +<p class="center">II.</p> + +<p>There was no time to be lost.</p> + +<p>The services of the day would soon begin, and +Hans had set his heart on Gottlieb's singing that +very day in the cathedral.</p> + +<p>The choir-master's eyes sparkled as he listened +to the boy; but he was an austere man, and would +not utter a word to make the child think himself of +value.</p> + +<p>"Not bad raw material," he said, "but very +raw. I suppose thou hast never before sung a note +to any one who understood music?"</p> + +<p>"Only for the mother and the little sister," the +child replied in a low, humbled tone, beginning to +fear the raven would bring no bread after all, "and +sometimes in the litanies and the processions."</p> + +<p>"Sing no more for babes and nurses, and still +less among the beggars in the street-processions," +pronounced the master, severely. "It strains and +vulgarizes the tone. And, with training, I don't +know but that, after all, we might make something +of thee—in time, in time."</p> + +<p>Gottlieb's anxiety mastered his timidity, and he +ventured to say:</p> + +<p>"Gracious lord! if it is a long time, how can +we all wait? I thought it would be to-day! The +mother wants the bread to-day."</p> + +<p>Something in the child's earnest face touched the +master, and he said, more gently:</p> + +<p>"I did not say you might not <i>begin</i> to-day. You +must begin this hour, this moment. Too much +time has been lost already."</p> + +<p>And at once he set about the first lesson, scolding +and growling about the child setting his teeth +like a dog, and mincing his words like a fine lady, +till poor Gottlieb's hopes more than once sank +very low.</p> + +<p>But, at the end of a quarter of an hour's practice, +the artist in the choir-master entirely overcame +the diplomatist.</p> + +<p>He behaved like a madman. He took the child +in his arms and hugged him, like a friendly bear; +he set him on the table and made him sing one +phrase again and again, walking round and round +him, and rubbing his hands and laughing with +delight; and, finally, he seized him and bore him +in triumph to the kitchen, and said to his housekeeper:</p> + +<p>"Ursula, bring out the finest goose and the best +preserves and puddings you have. We must feast +the whole choir, and, may be, the dean and chapter. +The archduke and the young archduchess will +be here at Easter. But we shall be ready for them. +Those beggarly Cistercians haven't a chance. The +lad has the voice of an angel, and the ear—the ear—well, +an ear as good as my own."</p> + +<p>"The child may well have the voice of an angel," +scolded old Ursula; "he is like to be among the +angels soon enough."</p> + +<p>For the hope, and the fear, and the joy had +quite overcome the child, enfeebled as he was by +meager fare; his lips were quite pale, and his +cheeks.</p> + +<p>Moreover, the last order of the choir-master had +not been quite re-assuring to him. The fat goose +and the puddings were good, indeed; but he would +have preferred his mother and Lenichen being +feasted in his honor, rather than the choir and the +chapter.</p> + +<p>And besides, though little more than seven years +old, he was too much of a boy quite to enjoy his +position on the master's shoulder. He felt it too +babyish to be altogether honorable to the protector +of Lenichen and incipient bread-winner of the +family. And, therefore, he was relieved when he +found himself once more safely on the ground.</p> + +<p>But when Ursula set before him a huge plate of +bread and meat, his manly composure all but gave +way. It was more of an approach to a feast than +any meal he had ever participated in, and he was +nearly choked with repressed tears of gratitude.</p> + +<p>It was so evident <i>now</i> that Hans was altogether +an orthodox and accredited raven!</p> + +<p>At first, as the child sat mute and wondering +before the repast, with a beautiful look of joy and +prayer in his blue eyes, Ursula thought he was saying +his grace, and respected his devotion. But as +the moments passed on, and still he did not attempt +to eat, she became impatient.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_173" id="Page_173">[Pg 173]</a></span></p> + +<p>"There is a time for everything," she murmured, +at length. "That will do for thy grace! Now +quick to the food! Thou canst finish the grace, +if thou wilt, in music, in the church by and by."</p> + +<p>But then the child took courage, and said:</p> + +<p>"The ravens—that is, the good God—surely do +not mean all this for me. Dear, gracious lady, let +me run with the plate to the mother and Lenichen; +and I will be back again in two minutes, and sing +all day, if the master likes."<br /><br /></p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 400px;"> +<img src="images/illus-0123-1.jpg" width="400" height="290" alt="THE CHOIR-MASTER IS DELIGHTED WITH HIS NEW PUPIL." title="THE CHOIR-MASTER IS DELIGHTED WITH HIS NEW PUPIL." /> +<span class="caption">THE CHOIR-MASTER IS DELIGHTED WITH HIS NEW PUPIL.</span> +</div> + +<p>Ursula was much moved at the child's filial love, +and also at his politeness.</p> + +<p>"The little one has discrimination," she said to +herself. "One can see he is of a good stock. He +recognizes that I am no peasant, but the daughter +of a good burgher house."</p> + +<p>And, in spite of the remonstrances of her master, +she insisted on giving the lad his way.</p> + +<p>"I will accompany him, myself," said she.</p> + +<p>And, without further delay or parley, she walked +off, under the very eyes of the master, with the +boy, and also with a considerable portion of his +own dinner, in addition to the plate she had already +set before Gottlieb.</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>A very joyful and miraculous intervention it +seemed to Mother Magdalis when Gottlieb re-entered +the hermit's cell, under the stately convoy +of the choir-master's housekeeper, and with food +enough to feed the frugal little household for a +week.</p> + +<p>The two women greeted each other ceremoniously +and courteously, as became two German +housewives of good burgher stock.</p> + +<p>"The little lad has manners worthy of a burgo-master," +said Ursula. "We shall see him with the +gold chain and the fur robes yet,—his mother a +proud woman."</p> + +<p>With which somewhat worldly benediction, she +left the little family to themselves, conjuring Gottlieb +to return in less than an hour, for the master +was not always as manageable as this morning.</p> + +<p>And when they were alone, Gottlieb was not +ashamed to hide his tears on his mother's heart.</p> + +<p>"See, darling mother!" he said, "the dear +Savior did send the raven! Perhaps, one day, +He will make us good enough for Him to send the +angels."</p> + +<p>Then the simple family all knelt down and +thanked God from their hearts, and Gottlieb added +one especial bit of his own of praise and prayer +for his kind Hans, of whom, on account of his<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_174" id="Page_174">[Pg 174]</a></span> +grim face and rough voice, he had stood in some +dread.</p> + +<p>"Forgive me, dear Lord Jesus," he said, "that +I did not know how good he was!"</p> + +<p>And when they had eaten their hasty Christmas +feast, and the mother was smoothing his hair and +making the best of his poor garments, Gottlieb +said, looking up gravely in her face:</p> + +<p>"Who knows, mother, if Hans is only a raven +now, that the good God may not make him, his +very self, the angel?"</p> + +<p>"Perhaps God is making Hans into the angel +even now," replied the mother.</p> + +<p>And she remembered for a long time the angelic +look of love and devotion in the child's eyes.</p> + +<p>For she knew very well the cathedral choir was +no angelic host.</p> + +<p>She knew she was not welcoming her boy that +morning to a haven, but launching him on a voyage +of many perils. But she knew, also, that it is only +by such perils, and through such voyages, that +men, that saints, are made.</p> + +<p class="center">(<i>To be continued.</i>)</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="HOW_THE_PONY_WAS_TAKEN" id="HOW_THE_PONY_WAS_TAKEN"></a>HOW THE PONY WAS TAKEN.</h2> + +<h3><span class="smcap">By C. W.</span></h3> + + +<p>One morning, last August, Jimmie Wood was +sitting on the gate-post making a willow whistle, +when a remarkable wagon, drawn by a lean, gray +horse, came up over the hill. The wagon looked +like a big black box with a window in it. In front +was a man driving, and this man seemed rather +peculiar too. He had a long, pointed mustache +and very curly hair. He was not a cigar and candy +peddler, nor a patent medicine man, nor a machine +agent, for Jim could recognize any of these in a +minute. The curly-haired man stopped directly in +front of the gate.</p> + +<p>"Good morning," said he.</p> + +<p>"Morning," answered Jim, shutting up his knife.</p> + +<p>"My name's Leatherbee," continued the curly-haired +man.</p> + +<p>"Is it?" said Jim, unconcernedly, and then slid +off the gate-post and started for the house.</p> + +<p>"Hi boy!"</p> + +<p>Jim turned quickly.</p> + +<p>"Ask your pa whether he wouldn't like to have +his house took!" called out the stranger.</p> + +<p>Jim nodded, and went across the grass-plot +meditating upon what the man meant by proposing +to take the house. His father was in the sitting-room +writing a letter.</p> + +<p>"Papa," said Jim, leaning up against the table, +"there's a man out there in the road that wants to +take the house."</p> + +<p>"Wants to take the house!" exclaimed Mr. +Wood, making a blot in his astonishment.</p> + +<p>"Yes," continued Jim, "and he has the funniest-looking +wagon you ever saw in your life."</p> + +<p>"Ah!" said Mr. Wood, "I understand now; +he wants to take some photographs, I suppose. +Well, tell him I don't want any," and Mr. Wood +went on with his letter, while Jim proceeded across +the front yard again. He noticed his pony over in +the orchard. A thought struck him, and he +wheeled around and went back in the sitting-room +again in some haste.</p> + +<p>"Papa," said he, "can't I have the pony +taken?"</p> + +<p>"She wont stand still long enough," answered +Mr. Wood, sealing up his letter.</p> + +<p>"But, papa, can't the man try?" pleaded Jim.</p> + +<p>Mr. Wood thought for a minute. Then said:</p> + +<p>"Yes. He may try."</p> + +<p>Jim galloped across the front yard in a second.</p> + +<p>"Well?" said the curly-haired man, raising his +eyebrows.</p> + +<p>"Papa doesn't want the house taken," said Jim, +with some dignity. "But can you take my pony +over there in the orchard?"</p> + +<p>The man looked at Baby, who was calmly +crunching harvest apples under the trees.</p> + +<p>"Purty little beast," he said, getting out of his +wagon and leading his horse up to the fence.</p> + +<p>"Can you take her?" asked Jim again, anxiously.</p> + +<p>"Course I kin," answered Mr. Leatherbee. He +then tied his horse to the fence and lifted his apparatus +out of the wagon, and arranged it in the +orchard. The pony immediately kicked up her +heels and trotted off to a far-away corner. Mr. +Wood came out of the house and talked to the +photographer, while Jim, after chasing around for +some time trying to catch the pony, went to the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_175" id="Page_175">[Pg 175]</a></span> +stable and put a quart of oats in a measure. As +soon as Baby spied that round, yellow box under +Jim's arm, she trotted up to him with a gentle +neigh. He caught her by the fore-top and led her +to where Mr. Leatherbee was standing.</p> + +<p>"Jest put her there," said he, pointing to a place +under a big tree. Jim led her to the place and +held her while Mr. Leatherbee made all his arrangements.</p> + +<p>"Now we're ready," said he.</p> + +<p>Baby looked pleased at this announcement, but +waved her tail wildly.</p> + +<p>Mr. Wood smiled.</p> + +<p>"Tell Baby to keep perfectly quiet," said he to +Jim, "and ask her to lower her chin a little, cast a +pleasant expression around her eyes, and breathe +gently."</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 400px;"> +<img src="images/illus-0124-1.jpg" width="400" height="262" alt=""THE PONY STOOD QUIETLY EATING."" title=""THE PONY STOOD QUIETLY EATING."" /> +<span class="caption">"THE PONY STOOD QUIETLY EATING."</span> +</div> + +<p>Mr. Leatherbee laughed at this. So did Jim; +for it was exactly what the photographer always +told him when he had his picture taken.</p> + +<p>The pony thought this all very pleasant, but she +wanted the oats, and, consequently, was trying to +thrust her nose through Jim's back in her efforts to +get at the measure.</p> + +<p>The photographer looked despairing.</p> + +<p>"Here, I'll fix it," said Mr. Wood, stepping up +to the pony. "No, Jim, stand back; Mr. Leatherbee, +are you ready?"</p> + +<p>"Yes," answered Mr. Leatherbee, with one +hand on the velvet that covered his camera.</p> + +<p>Mr. Wood poured the oats on the ground and +let go of the pony's head. For a while Baby +grabbed the oats up in great haste, but finally she +stood with her nose to the ground quietly eating. +Mr. Leatherbee drew away the velvet from the +camera, and looked at his watch for some breathless +minutes. Then he slipped the velvet on again, +and said:</p> + +<p>"That's all right."</p> + +<p>Jim drew a long sigh.</p> + +<p>"Will it be good, do you think?" he asked, +anxiously.</p> + +<p>"Not a doubt of it," said Mr. Leatherbee, in +such a cheerful tone that Jim immediately made +up his mind that the pony should have an extra +quart of oats all winter for her fine behavior. He +expected the picture would be done right away, +but Mr. Leatherbee said he would have to send the +plates to Poughkeepsie to his partner, and the pictures +would come soon by the mail. Mr. Leatherbee +then put all his apparatus in his wagon again, +and jogged on as he had come.</p> + +<p>For the next four days Jimmie went to the post-office +about every two hours.</p> + +<p>"Expectin' a love-letter?" said old Mr. Halloway, +the postmaster. At this all the loafers who +were sitting on the counter laughed loudly. Jim +made up his mind that Mr. Halloway was a very +unpleasant old gentleman, and vowed all sorts of +threats against him. His revengeful plans melted +away, however, when Mr. Halloway handed him a +big envelope, and said: "Here, Bub, yer letter's +come."</p> + +<p>Jim tore it open, and six photographs dropped +out all alike, all representing Baby eating under a +tree. He privately showed one to her that afternoon. +She evidently thought it very handsome, +for she delicately chewed it up out of Jim's hand, to +his great amazement. He says nothing about this +when telling how the pony's picture was taken.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_176" id="Page_176">[Pg 176]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="MERRY_MIKE" id="MERRY_MIKE"></a>MERRY MIKE.</h2> + +<h4><span class="smcap">By Fleta Forrester.</span></h4> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 398px;"> +<img src="images/illus-0125-1.jpg" width="398" height="400" alt="Merry Mike" title="Merry Mike" /> +</div> + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary=""> +<tr><td align='left'> +Merry Mike, from his door, bounded out to his play,<br /> +With his head in his hat, on a blustering day;<br /> +When the wind, of a sudden, came frolicking down,<br /> +And lifted Mike's hat from his little round crown.<br /> +"He-he!" said Mike, and he said "Ho-ho!<br /> +Do you call that funny, I'd like to know?"<br /> +</td></tr> +</table></div> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 396px;"> +<img src="images/illus-0125-2.jpg" width="396" height="400" alt="Merry Mike" title="Merry Mike" /> +</div> + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary=""> +<tr><td align='left'> +Then he made up his mind to return to the house,<br /> +But the merry wind pushed itself under his blouse;<br /> +And it roared and it roared, as he puffed and he ran,<br /> +Till it just knocked over this queer little man.<br /> +"Ho-ho!" said Mike, and he said "He-he!<br /> +I'll get up again, Old Wind, you'll see!"<br /> +</td></tr> +</table></div> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_177" id="Page_177">[Pg 177]</a></span></p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 347px;"> +<img src="images/illus-0126-1.jpg" width="347" height="400" alt="Merry Mike" title="Merry Mike" /> +</div> + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary=""> +<tr><td align='left'> +Then the wind, with a flurry of bluster and racket,<br /> +Went crowding and crowding right under his jacket;<br /> +And it lifted him off from his two little feet,<br /> +And it carried him bodily over the street.<br /> +Mike laughed "He-he!" and he laughed "Ho-ho!<br /> +Do you call this flying, I'd like to know?"<br /> +</td></tr> +</table></div> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 357px;"> +<img src="images/illus-0126-2.jpg" width="357" height="400" alt="Merry Mike" title="Merry Mike" /> +</div> + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary=""> +<tr><td align='left'> +But the wind with its antics was plainly not through,<br /> +For fiercer and fiercer and fiercer it blew,<br /> +Till making one effort of fury intense<br /> +It carried Mike neatly right over a fence.<br /> +Mike said "Ho-ho!" and "He-he!" together,<br /> +"Do you think I am naught but a little hen's-feather?"<br /> +</td></tr> +</table></div> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_178" id="Page_178">[Pg 178]</a></span></p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 359px;"> +<img src="images/illus-0127-1.jpg" width="359" height="400" alt="Merry Mike" title="Merry Mike" /> +</div> + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary=""> +<tr><td align='left'> +He met there a somewhat discouraged old cow,<br /> +That had blown thither too, though she failed to see how;<br /> +And he smiled and said, "Make yourself easy, my friend—<br /> +Only keep your mind quiet, and things'll soon mend!"<br /> +And he laughed "He-he!" and he laughed "Ho-ho!<br /> +The wind is just playing, old cow, you know!"<br /> +</td></tr> +</table></div> + + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 351px;"> +<img src="images/illus-0127-2.jpg" width="351" height="400" alt="Merry Mike" title="Merry Mike" /> +</div> + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary=""> +<tr><td align='left'> +As he scampered off home, what above should he see<br /> +But the roof of a shed, that had lodged in a tree;<br /> +So he laughed and he laughed, till his sides they did ache,<br /> +For he said, "This is better nor wedding nor wake!"<br /> +And he roared "Ho-ho!" and he roared "He-he!"<br /> +For he was as tickled as tickled could be.<br /> +</td></tr> +</table></div> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_179" id="Page_179">[Pg 179]</a></span></p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 364px;"> +<img src="images/illus-0128-1.jpg" width="364" height="400" alt="Merry Mike" title="Merry Mike" /> +</div> + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary=""> +<tr><td align='left'> +"That boy," say the terrified folks of the town,<br /> +"He would laugh just the same if the sky tumbled down!"<br /> +"Indeed, an' I would," fancied Mike, with a grin,<br /> +"For I might get a piece with a lot of stars in!"<br /> +And he chuckled "He-he!" and he chuckled "Ho-ho!"<br /> +The very idea delighted him so!<br /> +</td></tr> +</table></div> +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 350px;"> +<img src="images/illus-0129-1.jpg" width="350" height="400" alt="Merry Mike" title="Merry Mike" /> +</div> + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary=""> +<tr><td align='left'> +His father complained to the priest, "Now, I say,<br /> +Mike never stops laughing, by night or by day!"<br /> +"Let him laugh," spoke the priest; "he will change by and by,<br /> +And 't is better to laugh than to grumble or cry!<br /> +It's the way with the lad; let him laugh, if he like;<br /> +And be glad you've a son that's as merry as Mike!"<br /> +</td></tr> +</table></div> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_180" id="Page_180">[Pg 180]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="AN_AGREEABLE_GUEST" id="AN_AGREEABLE_GUEST"></a>AN AGREEABLE GUEST.</h2> + +<h3><span class="smcap">By Susan A. Brown.</span></h3> + + +<p>The longest visit that we read of in modern +days was one which Dr. Isaac Watts made at +Lord Abney's in the Isle of Wight. He went to +spend a fortnight, but they made him so happy +that he remained a beloved and honored guest for +<i>forty years</i>.</p> + +<p>Few of us would care to make so long a visit as +that, but it might be worth the while for us all to +try and learn the secret of making ourselves agreeable +and welcome guests. To have "a nice time" +when one is visiting is delightful, but to leave behind +us a pleasant impression is worth a great deal +more.</p> + +<p>An agreeable guest is a title which any one may +be proud to deserve. A great many people, with +the best intentions and the kindest hearts, never +receive it, simply because they have never considered +the subject, and really do not know how to +make their stay in another person's home a pleasure +instead of an inconvenience. If you are one +of these thoughtless ones, you may be sure that, +although your friends are glad to see you happy, +and may enjoy your visit on that account, your +departure will be followed with a sigh of relief, as +the family settle down to their usual occupations, +saying, if not thinking, that they are glad the visit +is over.</p> + +<p>A great many different qualities and habits go to +make up the character of one whom people are +always glad to see, and these last must be proved +while we are young, if we expect to wear them +gracefully. A young person whose presence in the +house is an inconvenience and a weariness at fifteen, +is seldom a welcome visitor in after-life.</p> + +<p>The two most important characteristics of a +guest are tact and observation, and these will lead +you to notice and do just what will give pleasure to +your friends in their different opinions and ways of +living. Apply in its best sense the maxim—"When +you are in Rome, do as the Romans do."</p> + +<p>Unless you have some good reason for not doing +so, let your friends know the day, and, if possible, +the hour when you expect to arrive. Surprises are +very well in their way, but there are few households +in which it is quite convenient to have a friend +drop in without warning for a protracted visit. If +they know that you are coming, they will have the +pleasure of preparing for you and looking forward +to your arrival, and you will not feel that you are +disturbing any previous arrangements which they +have made for the day.</p> + +<p>Let your friends know, if possible, soon after you +arrive, about how long you mean to stay with them, +as they might not like to ask the question, and +would still find it convenient to know whether your +visit is to have a duration of three days or three +weeks. Take with you some work that you have +already begun, or some book that you are reading, +that you may be agreeably employed when your +hostess is engaged with her own affairs, and not be +sitting about idle, as if waiting to be entertained, +when her time is necessarily taken up with something +else. Make her feel that, for a small part at +least of every day, no one needs to have any responsibility +about amusing you.</p> + +<p>A lady who is charming as a guest and as a +hostess once said to me: "I never take a nap in +the afternoon when I am at home, but I do when +I am visiting, because I know what a relief it has +sometimes been to me to have company lie down +for a little while, after dinner."</p> + +<p>Try, without being too familiar, to make yourself +so much like one of the family that no one +shall feel you to be in the way; and, at the same +time, be observant of those small courtesies and +kindnesses which all together make up what the +world agrees to call good manners.</p> + +<p>Regulate your hours of rising and retiring by the +customs of the house. Do not keep your friends +sitting up until later than usual, and do not be +roaming about the house an hour or two before +breakfast. If you choose to rise at an early hour, +remain in your own room until near breakfast-time, +unless you are very sure that your presence in the +parlor will not be unwelcome. Write in large letters, +in a prominent place in your mind, "BE +PUNCTUAL." A visitor has no excuse for keeping +a whole family waiting, and it is unpardonable +negligence not to be prompt at the table. Here is +a place to test good manners, and any manifestation +of ill-breeding here will be noticed and remembered. +Do not be too ready to express your likes +and dislikes for the various dishes before you. The +wife of a certain United States Senator once visiting +acquaintances at some distance from her native +wilds, made a lasting impression upon the family +by remarking at the breakfast-table that "she +should starve before she would eat mush," and +that she "never heard of cooking mutton before +she came East."</p> + +<p>If you are tempted to go to the other extreme, +and sacrifice truth to politeness, read Mrs. Opie's<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_181" id="Page_181">[Pg 181]</a></span> +"Tale of Potted Sprats," and you will not be likely +to be insincere again.</p> + +<p>It is well to remember that some things which +seem of very little importance to you may make an +unpleasant impression upon others, in consequence +of a difference in early training. The other day +two young ladies were heard discussing a gentleman +who had a great many pleasant qualities. +"Yes," said one, "he <i>is</i> very handsome, but he +<i>does</i> eat pie with his knife." Take care that no +trifle of that kind is recalled when people are +speaking of you.</p> + +<p>Keep your own room in order, and do not scatter +your belongings all over the house. If your +friends are orderly, it will annoy them to see your +things out of place; and if they are not, their own +disorder will be enough without adding yours.</p> + +<p>Make up your mind to be entertained with what +is designed to entertain you. If your friends invite +you to join them in an excursion, express your +pleasure and readiness to go, and do not act as +though you were conferring a favor instead of receiving +one. No visitors are so wearisome as those +who do not meet half way whatever proposals are +made for their pleasure. Be contented to amuse +yourself quietly in the house, or to join in any outside +gayeties to which you are invited, and show by +your manner that you enjoy both.</p> + +<p>If games are proposed, do not say that you will +not play, or "would rather look on;" but join with +the rest, and do the best you can. Never let a +foolish feeling of pride, lest you should not make so +good an appearance as the others, prevent your +trying.</p> + +<p>If you are not skillful, you will at least show that +you are good-natured, and that you do not think +yourself modest when you are only proud.</p> + +<p>If you have any skill in head or fingers, you will +never have a better time to use it than when you +are visiting; only, whatever you do, do well, and +do not urge your offers of assistance after you see +that it is not really desired. Mrs. Poyser, who is +one of George Eliot's best characters, says: "Folks +as have no mind to be o' use have allays the luck +to be out o' the road when there's anything to be +done." If you do not find any place to be useful, +you may be tolerably sure that it is your own +fault.</p> + +<p>I heard a gentleman say of a young lady whose +small affectations were undergoing a sharp criticism, +"Well, whatever you may say of her, she is +certainly more ready to make herself useful than +any other young lady who visits here. If I lose my +glasses, or mislay the newspaper, or want a stitch +taken, she is always ready." And I shall never +forget the impression which a young lady made +upon me, as I saw her sit idly rocking backward +and forward, complacently surveying the young +friends she was visiting as they were hurrying to +finish peeling a basket of peaches.</p> + +<p>While visiting, remember that you meet many +who are strangers to you, and do not seem to you +especially attractive, but who may still be dear and +valued friends of the family; and be cautious about +making criticisms upon them. Be friendly and +cordial toward those whom you meet, and try to +show that you are ready to like them. Whatever +peculiarities you may observe, either in the family +or its guests, which strike you as amusing, be careful +that you do not sin against the law of love, by +repeating little things, to their disadvantage, which +you have found out while you were admitted to the +sanctuary of the home.</p> + +<p>Do not ask questions which people would rather +not answer, and be careful not to speak of anything +which will bring up painful recollections, or +be likely to cause unpleasant forebodings. The +old proverb expresses this in few words: "Never +mention a rope in the family of a man who has +been hanged."</p> + +<p>If your own home is in any way better and handsomer +than your friends', do not say anything +which may seem like making invidious comparisons, +or allow them to see that you miss any of +the conveniences to which you have been accustomed.</p> + +<p>Be careful about making any unnecessary work +for others, and do not ask even the servants to do +for you anything which you ought to do for yourself. +The family had their time filled up before +you came, and, do what you will, you are an extra +one, and will make some difference.</p> + +<p>Provide yourself, before you leave home, with +whatever small supplies you are likely to need, so +that you need not be borrowing ink, pens, paper, +envelopes, postage-stamps, etc.</p> + +<p>It may seem unnecessary to speak of the need of +taking due care of the property of others, but having +just seen a young lady leaning forward with +both elbows upon the open pages of a handsome +volume which was resting upon her knees, I venture +to suggest that you do not leave any marred +wall, or defaced book, or ink-stains, or mark of a +wet tumbler, to remind your friends of your visit +long after it has ended.</p> + +<p>Do not forget, when you go away, to express +your appreciation of the kindness which has been +shown you, and when you reach home inform your +friends by letter of your safe arrival.</p> + +<p>If you follow faithfully these few suggestions, you +will probably be invited to go again; and if you do +not thank <span class="smcap">St. Nicholas</span> for telling you these plain +truths, perhaps the friends whom you visit will be +duly grateful.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_182" id="Page_182">[Pg 182]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="NEW-YEAR_CARD" id="NEW-YEAR_CARD"></a>NEW-YEAR CARD.</h2> + +<h3>(Drawn by Miss <span class="smcap">L. Greenaway</span>.)</h3> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 265px;"> +<img src="images/illus-0129-2.jpg" width="265" height="400" alt="I send my serving-maiden With New-Year letter laden." title="I send my serving-maiden With New-Year letter laden." /> +<span class="caption">I send my serving-maiden<br /> With New-Year letter laden.</span> +</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="HOW_KITTY_GOT_HER_NEW_HAT" id="HOW_KITTY_GOT_HER_NEW_HAT"></a>HOW KITTY GOT HER NEW HAT.</h2> + +<h3><span class="smcap">By E. P. W.</span></h3> + + +<p>It was all because of Polly, and this was the +way of it.</p> + +<p>Ma had gone 'cross lots to Aunt Mari's, to stay +till milking-time, to see the new things Aunt Mari +had brought from Boston, and Polly and I were +alone at home. Polly is our hired help, and she is +Irish, and has got red hair, but she's as good as +gold; and I am Kitty, my Pa's little chatterbox.</p> + +<p>Polly was in the buttery, washing the dinner-dishes, +and I was on the kitchen floor, playing with +Queen Victoria, our old yellow cat, trying to teach +her to stand on her hind-legs and beg, like Johnny +Dane's dog. But Vic was cross, and wouldn't +learn; and when I boxed her ears, she scratched +me on my chin, and bounced over my shoulder, +and was off to the barn in less than no time.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_183" id="Page_183">[Pg 183]</a></span></p> + +<p>You needn't suppose I cried, because I didn't, +for I shall be ten years old next July. I don't ever +cry any more; only when I have the earache, and +then I can't help it. Except the other day when +Tom stepped on my Rachel Tryphena, and jammed +her forehead in, I did. But Tom's going to buy +her a new head with the money he gets from selling +Jake Lawrence some of his guinea-hen's eggs, +so I don't mind about that now. I was just thinking +how much better I should feel if I'd had a +chance to pull old Vic's tail, when Polly called, +"What yer doin', honey!" and said if I would +come and wipe the plates for her, that by and by, +when she had "set the sponge" for to-morrow's +baking, she would take her sewing and sit under +the maple-tree, and tell me a story.</p> + +<p>I like Polly's stories, and I like wiping dishes, +too, sometimes—and I can do them first-rate, if +I'm <i>not</i> but nine years old, and never let one drop, +neither! So Polly gave me a towel, and we both +wiped with all our might and main, and 'most as +quick as you can say Jack Robinson, we had them +piled in shining rows on the kitchen dresser. Then +I did twelve and a half rows on the suspenders I +was knitting for Pa's birthday, while Polly finished +the rest of her work.</p> + +<p>About four o'clock it was all done, and the table +set for supper, and everything; so Polly got her +needle and thread, and the pink calico she was +making into an apron, and we went out through +the front entry.</p> + +<p>As we were passing the closet door, I saw Pa's +new green umbrella, that he had bought when he +was in town the day before, hanging inside, and I +thought it would be a good thing for us to carry +it out with us, because the sun was so piping hot +that afternoon; so I asked Polly if we mightn't. +She said, "To be shure, darlint," and reached it +down for me.</p> + +<p>You know our big maple-tree grows close by the +front gate, and stretches its branches all around, +across the fence and into the road; and it's always +cool under it, no matter how hot the sun shines +everywhere else. Polly settled herself on the bench +at the foot of the tree, and I climbed up and sat +on the gate-post, where I could see along the road +as far as the turning by Deacon Stiles's, and clear +to the five-acre lot, where Tom and Jed were hoeing +corn.</p> + +<p>Then Polly sewed, and told a story about a +beautiful maiden in a lonely tower, and an old +banshee that went about nights, howling, and +knocking at folks' windows.</p> + +<p>And she talked about when she was a little girl +in Ireland, and how she and her sisters and Pat +Maloney used to wade together in the river, that +wasn't so very much bigger than our "crick."</p> + +<p>And then she folded her hands on her work, and +gazed away into the lower meadow, where we could +spy a spot of white moving against the green, that +was Pat's shirt, with Pat inside of it, mowing, and +began to tell what a fine "b'y" Pat was (Aunt +Mari's Pat is the one), and how he had raked and +scraped and gone without things ever since he had +been in America, so as to save enough money to +buy a snug little home over here for his old mother, +and get her everything she wants before she dies.</p> + +<p>But just as Polly was saying that <i>she</i> was laying +by her money, too, and that when the old woman +had come she had promised to go and live with +them, all at once I heard an awful racket, and +looked toward the road, and oh cricky! what do +you think I saw? Tearing round Deacon Stiles's +corner, lickety-split, was a span of horses and a +buggy, with the reins dragging in the dust, and +the buggy spinning from one side of the road to +the other, and in it was a lady with great wide-open +eyes, and a face as white as a sheet, clutching a +little girl in her arms like death!</p> + +<p>I knew right off that it was the lady who was +staying at Judge Gillis's, in the village, because I +had seen her and her little girl in meeting, Sunday; +but my heart flew into my throat and almost +choked me, and at first I couldn't speak a word. +Then I screamed, "Polly! <i>Polly</i>!"</p> + +<p>Polly jumped as if she was shot—for, if you will +believe it, she had been so busy thinking of Pat +that she hadn't heard a sound—and got to the +gate in two leaps, scattering her spools and scissors +and pieces of pink calico on the grass. When she +saw the horses, she stood stock-still for a minute, +and stared with all her eyes. Then she gave a +screech like a wild Indian, and stooped and grabbed +Pa's umbrella from where I had thrown it on the +ground, and rushing into the middle of the road, +she opened and shut it as fast as she could work +her arms, and shouted as loud as she could yell!</p> + +<p>At that the horses slacked up a bit. The road is +pretty narrow, and they didn't seem to know how +to get past the frightful-looking creature that was +blocking their way of a sudden, with a big green +thing flippety-flopping before her.</p> + +<p>Anyhow, they went slower and slower, till they +got to the beginning of our fence, when they tried +to turn. Then Polly dropped the umbrella, and +ran and caught them by the bridles, and brought +them to a dead stop.</p> + +<p>They were shaking from top to toe, and their +glossy black breasts were streaked and spotted with +foam. Polly stroked and patted their necks, and +said, "Be aisy now, me b'ys—be aisy!" and led +them to the hitching-post and made them fast. +Then she lifted out the little girl, whose beautiful +sky-blue hat was all smashed in at the crown, and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_184" id="Page_184">[Pg 184]</a></span> +taking the poor lady in her arms as tender as +though she was a baby, sat her on the bench under +the maple. The lady lay back so white and still +that I thought she was going to faint, like Miss +Clarissa Lovett, that boarded with us last summer, +did once, because of Tom's putting a mouse in +her work-box.</p> + +<p>Polly was dreadfully scart, and fanned her with +a breadth of her new apron.</p> + +<p>"Run, darlint," said she to me, "run for yer +life and fetch a dipper of water!"</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 400px;"> +<img src="images/illus-0130-1.jpg" width="400" height="318" alt=""RUSHING INTO THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD, SHE RAPIDLY OPENED AND SHUT THE UMBRELLA."" title=""RUSHING INTO THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD, SHE RAPIDLY OPENED AND SHUT THE UMBRELLA."" /> +<span class="caption">"RUSHING INTO THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD, SHE RAPIDLY OPENED AND SHUT THE UMBRELLA."</span> +</div> + +<p>But the lady smiled, and said: "No, don't, my +dear. I shall be better presently."</p> + +<p>And sure enough she was, and in a little while +she let Polly help her to the house; and when she +had drunk a tumbler of water, and had lain on the +sitting-room lounge for a spell, she appeared as +smart as ever.</p> + +<p>The horses were some new ones of Judge Gillis's, +she said, and were very skittish. The judge was +going to drive her to Mrs. Colonel Givens's, a mile +beyond the village; but as he was stepping into the +buggy he noticed there was no whip, so he went to +the barn to get one. While he was gone, the +horses shied at something and started "two-forty."</p> + +<p>"And, you good, noble girl, but for you we +certainly should have been killed," she ended, +squeezing Polly's hand.</p> + +<p>Polly grew as red as fire, and said she "must be +afther a-seein' about supper."</p> + +<p>At that moment Ma came in the kitchen-way, +and, hearing voices in the sitting-room, walked in, +very much surprised, because the sitting-room was +generally kept shut, on account of the flies and the +new window-shades.</p> + +<p>She was more surprised on hearing what had +been going on, and said the lady must stay to +supper, and that afterward Pa would drive her into +the village. And she blew the horn for Tom, and +told him to saddle Jerry and ride to Judge Gillis's +and say to the folks that the lady and little girl +were all right, and at our house, and that Pa would +bring them home after supper.</p> + +<p>Then Ma hurried to the pantry to open some of +her best preserve-jars, and Polly to the barn to milk +the cows, and I was left to entertain the lady.</p> + +<p>I couldn't think how to, exactly, and I thought +it wouldn't do for her to talk, being still so pale; +so I laid the photograph-album on the corner of +the table nearest to her, and asked her little girl<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_185" id="Page_185">[Pg 185]</a></span> +if she didn't want to go to the barn and see my +four cunning little Maltese kittens.</p> + +<p>"Yes, I would, dear," said the lady. "Go with +the little girl."</p> + +<p>So she put her hand in mine, and we scampered +down the hill to the barn as tight as we could go.</p> + +<p>We were not very long getting acquainted when +we were alone together, and the little girl talked as +much as I did.</p> + +<p>I asked her what her name was, and she said, +"Jessie."</p> + +<p>"That's a real pretty name," said I. "Mine's +Kitty."</p> + +<p>"Why, is it?" said she. "I've got a cousin +Kitty. But she isn't near as nice as <i>you</i> are."</p> + +<p>And with that we both laughed, and felt as if we +had lived next door to each other all our lives.</p> + +<p>I showed her the four kittens, and she said they +were perfectly lovely, but liked most the one with a +white breast and a sweet dot of a white nose. I +told her she might have it for hers as quick as it +was old enough to leave its mother. But she has +never sent for it since. I guess she must have forgotten.</p> + +<p>When she had seen the guinea-pigs, and Tom's +rabbits, and fed them all they would eat, we clambered +into the hay-mow, and had a fine time playing +on the hay, till the supper-horn blew.</p> + +<p>There was no end of goodies for supper, but +Jessie's Ma didn't eat scarcely a thing. But she +drank two tumblers of Daisy's milk, and said she +hadn't tasted anything so delicious in a year. But +Jessie and I could eat, and Tom too,—after he had +spilt a cup of tea and a pitcher of water, and +knocked a piece of pie under the table. He said, +when Jessie and her Ma had gone, that the lady's +black eyes "discombobolated" him so that he had +more than half a mind to dive under the table +himself.</p> + +<p>Soon as we were through supper, Pa brought up +the horses (which Tom had driven to the barn, and +watered and fed), for it was growing late, and the +lady wanted to be home before dark. I put on +Jessie's hat for her, and tried to straighten the +crown, and pin on the long white feather, that was +broken in two in the middle.</p> + +<p>"It's 'most spoilt," I said. "Isn't it a pity?"</p> + +<p>"Poh! I don't care," said Jessie. "I've got +three more at home, prettier'n this."</p> + +<p>"Why-e-e-e! " said I. "Truly honest?"</p> + +<p>"Why, yes!" said Jessie. "How many've you?"</p> + +<p>"Just a horrid old Leghorn!" said I. "And +it's been pressed over and over, and the trimmings +washed, and I can't bear it!"</p> + +<p>And I was telling her about the chip jockey hat +that Sally Carroll's aunt bought her for a birthday +present, when the buggy came to the door.</p> + +<p>"Come, say good-bye to the little girl, my love," +said the lady, smiling down at me.</p> + +<p>Jessie threw her arms around my neck and whispered +that I was the best girl she ever knew, and +that she should write me a letter when she got to +Boston, and hopped in.</p> + +<p>The lady shook hands with Ma, and thanked her +for being so kind, and then turned to Polly and +said, softly:</p> + +<p>"You good Polly, I <i>must</i> do something for you. +Wont you let me?"—and put her hand in her +pocket.</p> + +<p>I never saw Polly so mad but once before, and +that was when Tom chucked Queen Victoria into +the churn, because she wouldn't let him have but +a quarter of an apple-pie to take to school. I mean +Polly wouldn't. She walked into the buttery, and +banged the door behind her as hard as ever she +could.</p> + +<p>The lady didn't say anything, but her cheeks +were rather pink, and she bent and kissed me as if +to hide them. Then Pa helped her into the buggy, +and they drove away.</p> + +<p>The next week, Jed went to the grist-mill, the +other end of the village, with some buckwheat to +be ground, and, calling at the post-office coming +home, he found an express-box from Boston, with +"Miss Mary Ann Murphy, Redfield, Massachusetts," +printed on it in large black letters. He +knew that was Polly's name, he said; and never +having heard tell of but one Mary Ann Murphy in +these parts, he hoisted it into the wagon.</p> + +<p>Polly was washing by the kitchen-door as he +rattled in at the gate.</p> + +<p>"Hullo, there!" he sang out. "Here's a box +that's a-wantin' Miss Mary Ann Murphy!"</p> + +<p>"Git along wid yer nonsinse!" Polly said, scrubbing +at one of Tom's blue gingham shirts. For +Jed is such a fellow for fooling that you never can +be sure when to believe him, and Polly thought it +was a box of starch, or else of soap, that Ma had +ordered from the grocery, and that Jed was only +trying to get her to come and lug it into the +house for him, so he could drive straight on to +the barn.</p> + +<p>Ma had set me to picking currants for jelly that +morning, and I was getting over the vegetable-garden +fence with a heaping pail on each arm when +Jed spoke. In a minute, one pail was this side of +the fence, and one was rolling along the path the +other side, and I was in the wagon, reading the big +black letters!</p> + +<p>"Oh, Polly, <i>'t is</i>!" I hollered. "True's you +live and breathe, a box from Boston! Oh, hurry +up!"</p> + +<p>Polly stopped short in "The Wearing of the +Green," that she had commenced to sing at the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_186" id="Page_186">[Pg 186]</a></span> +top of her voice, and whirled about, her mouth +and eyes as round as three pepper-box covers.</p> + +<p>"Heh!" said she.</p> + +<p>"An express-box for Polly, Jed?" called Ma, +sticking her head from the kitchen-window. "You +don't say so! Fetch it right in here." And Ma +whisked the clothes-basket from before the door.</p> + +<p>Jed threw the lines on Jerry's back, and shouldered +me and the box, and dumped us both on the +kitchen-floor.</p> + +<p>"There you be, marm!" he said. "Want I +should open it? Them nails appear to be driv' in +pretty tight." For Jed was on tenter-hooks to +know what was in it.</p> + +<p>"No, I guess not," said Ma. "I'm afraid Jerry +wont stand. Polly and I can open it."</p> + +<p>"Oh, bless your soul and body, marm, he'll +stand!" said Jed. "Best hoss I ever see fer that."</p> + +<p>But Ma wouldn't hear to his losing the time; so +Jed had to make himself scarce, looking mournfuller +than when his grandmother died last spring.</p> + +<p>"Come, here's the hatchet, Polly! Be a little +spry!" Ma said. For Polly stood with her arms +akimbo, and didn't budge an inch.</p> + +<p>"Shure, an' who sint it?" she asked. And that +was the only word she had spoken.</p> + +<p>"Why, I don't know," said Ma. "But I can +imagine. Can't you?"</p> + +<p>Polly marched to her tub, her head high in the +air.</p> + +<p>"I wont tech the ould thing!" said she.</p> + +<p>"Then I will for you," said Ma, and had it open +in a jiffey.</p> + +<p>Underneath the cover was a piece of paper, with +this written on it:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>Will Polly please accept these few articles in token that she forgives +me for having justly offended her by offering <i>pay</i> for a service +which <i>can never be paid for</i>?</p> + +<p style="text-align: right"><span class="smcap">Mrs. E. G. Edson.</span></p></div> + +<p>When she heard that, Polly wasn't quite so +riled. She said Jessie's Ma was a <i>rale</i> lady, anyway, +and she might as well see what she had sent. +So, wiping her hands on her apron, she planted +herself in the door-way, while Ma went to work to +empty the box.</p> + +<p>First, there were six calico dress-patterns,—one +purple, sprinkled with little black rings, and +another pink, with a criggly vine running through +it, and a black-striped white one, and the rest +mixed colors.</p> + +<p>Then beneath were three more dresses, of some +sheeny stuff,—<i>alapaca</i>, Ma called it,—black, purple +and brown, that took every inch of dander out of +Polly. She wiped her hands extra clean, and came +and twisted them this way and that, and crinkled +them and smoothed them, and puckered the ends +into folds, and laying them across the ironing-table, +backed toward the wall with her head cocked +sideways, and her eyes squinted together like Mr. +Green's, the portrait-painter, when he looks at +pictures.</p> + +<p>"Shure, the Quane 'u'd be proud to wear thim!" +she said; and said she should have the purple for +a wedding-gown.</p> + +<p>Then, besides, there was a red and black plaid +shawl, and a whole piece of white muslin, such as +you buy by the yard mostly, and a work-box, with +cases of scissors and needles, and spools of thread +and sewing-silk. And last was a bandbox tied with +string, and that, Ma said, Polly must open.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 333px;"> +<img src="images/illus-0131-1.jpg" width="333" height="400" alt=""I LOOKED IN ONE OF POLLY'S BRIGHT MILK-PANS."" title=""I LOOKED IN ONE OF POLLY'S BRIGHT MILK-PANS."" /> +<span class="caption">"I LOOKED IN ONE OF POLLY'S BRIGHT MILK-PANS."</span> +</div> + +<p>So Polly pulled a pin from her belt and puttered +at the knot till I 'most had a fit. For Ma wont +ever have a string cut; she says it is a sinful waste. +I thought it never would untie. Polly's fingers +were all thumbs, and twice she dropped the pin. +But it did—all knots do if you pick at them long +enough—and in the box was a splendiferous bonnet, +with green ribbon bows and three pink roses.</p> + +<p>"Well, I declare!" said Ma. "What more can +you want, Polly?"</p> + +<p>Polly put the bandbox on the floor, and the bonnet +on her head, and started for the sitting-room +looking-glass.</p> + +<p>"Sakes alive! Here's another!" Ma said, and +held up by one of its bows the sweetest little hat +you ever laid eyes on! It was light straw, trimmed +with black velvet and blue silk, and had white +daisies fastened to the velvet. Pinned to one of the +streamers was a slip of paper, and on it was written, +"For Kitty."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_187" id="Page_187">[Pg 187]</a></span></p> + +<p>I just squealed! It was all I could do! To +think of that beautiful little hat being for <i>me</i>, Kitty +Hazel! Why, I never counted on having anything +half so fine, unless I got to be the Grand Mogul, +or something of that sort!</p> + +<p>"The lady is very kind, I'm sure," said Ma, +seeming as pleased as could be. "Try it on, child. +You can squeal afterward." And she set it on my +head.</p> + +<p>I ran and looked in one of Polly's bright milk-pans +that were sunning outside the door, and I +hardly knew myself!</p> + +<p>"Aint you smart!" said I, nodding to the girl +in the pan. She smiled and nodded back, and +looked so jolly that I came near turning a summer-set, +new hat and all!</p> + +<p>I wore it to meeting the next Sunday, with my +new blue cambric; and I tell you what it is—it's +enough sight easier to be good in an old hat than +it is in a new one! I tried not to feel stuck-up, +and I kept saying to myself: "Kitty Hazel, you're +the same girl that sat here last Sunday, with an +old Leghorn on. <i>You</i> aint any different!"</p> + +<p>But it wasn't much use; for whenever I'd raise +my eyes there was Phil Gillis smiling at me from +the judge's pew, and opposite were Dave and Aggie +Stebbins, staring as though they had never seen +the like of me before, and every now and then old +Deacon Pettengil, who sits in front of us, would +turn and peer at me through his green spectacles +so funny that once I nearly giggled.</p> + +<p>This all happened last summer, but my hat is as +pretty now as it ever was. Ma says she should +have supposed the blue would have faded some by +this time—blue is such a poor color to wear; but it +hasn't a bit. When it does, I shall take it off, and +have it for a sash for Rachel Tryphena, and the +hat will be 'most as nice as it is now.</p> + +<p style="text-align: right"><span class="smcap">Kitty Hazel.</span></p> + +<p>N.B.—I asked Polly how she thought of the +umbrella. She said that when she was visiting her +sister, that works for a dress-maker in Boston, she +saw a picture of an old lady who was chased by a +mad bull, and just as the bull was coming at her +like sixty, the old lady turned and opened her umbrella +square in his face. Polly said she always +thought it was so cute of the old lady, and had +meant to do the same when a mad bull chased <i>her</i>, +if she had an umbrella with her. She said it all +popped into her head when she saw the horses.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="THE_STORK_AND_THE_CRANE_A_FABLE" id="THE_STORK_AND_THE_CRANE_A_FABLE"></a>THE STORK AND THE CRANE: A FABLE.</h2> + +<h3><span class="smcap">By Howard Pyle.</span></h3> + + +<p>A Stork and a Crane once frequented the same +marsh. The Stork was a quiet, dignified individual, +with a philosophical countenance. One would +never have thought, from his deeply reflective look, +of the number of frogs and pollywogs, eels and +small fish, that had disappeared in his meditative +mouth. For the Stork was like many another +philosopher, and in spite of his supernaturally wise +external appearance, inside he was just as selfish, +and just as voracious, as all the rest of his kind.</p> + +<p>Although he never mentioned the subject, he +was secretly very proud to recall the former grandeur +of his ancestors, one of whom, in old Greek +days, had been a famous king over the frogs, eels, +and snakes, in a Spartan marsh.</p> + +<p>The Crane was a lively little fellow, and not at all +philosophical. He ate his dinner without moralizing +over it, and felt thankful when he had enough. +He had not a particle of aristocratic blood in his +veins, and, in consequence, rather ridiculed the +possession of that indescribable material by the +Stork. Ridicule as he would, however, he was +really secretly proud of his acquaintance with the +other, and used to say to his friends and relatives +sometimes:</p> + +<p>"There is no one in the world that more despises +pretentiousness than myself. One only too frequently +hears an animal boast of its aristocratic +acquaintances. <i>I</i> never do that. Now, there is +John Stork, of one of our highest families, and +although I am not only on friendly but intimate +terms with him, and even have been invited to call +upon his estimable family, and make the acquaintance +of Miss Stork (I have never had an opportunity +to do so yet), one never hears <i>me</i> boast of +his friendship and intimacy."</p> + +<p>To tell the truth, the conversations he held with +the philosophical Stork were frequently so deep, +that he found himself floundering beyond his depth. +For instance, "Do you always stand upon one +leg?" said he, one day.</p> + +<p>The Stork reflected so long over this question<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_188" id="Page_188">[Pg 188]</a></span> +that the Crane thought he had gone to sleep. +Finally, however, the philosopher said:</p> + +<p>"No; I do not. I always stand upon the other."</p> + +<p>The Crane meditated for a space over this, but +as it was completely beyond his comprehension, he +gave the matter up and changed the subject. His +respect for the Stork's wisdom was vastly increased +by such conversations, for one often takes for wisdom +what one cannot understand.</p> + +<p>These two friends, however, did not always dwell +together in perfect amity. The Stork was so proud +that he frequently galled his humbler companion, +and bitter disputes often arose. It was under the +influence of such a feeling that the Crane burst +forth one day:</p> + +<p>"And what are you that you should boast? +You have blue blood in your veins, indeed! Perhaps +it is that blue blood that makes you so sluggish +and stupid."</p> + +<p>The Stork meditated a long while over this +speech; finally, he said:</p> + +<p>"When you accuse me of sluggishness and +stupidity you judge by external appearances, and, +consequently, by deductive logic. Beside, you do +not take collateral matter into the case from which +you draw your inference. You have never seen +me when my physical energies have been aroused, +consequently, your conclusion is both hollow and +baseless—Q. E. D."</p> + +<p>The Crane was rather taken aback by this speech, +and, not comprehending it, he felt somewhat humbled. +At length he said:</p> + +<p>"<i>I</i> am no philosopher, but as they say 'the +proof of the pudding is in the eating of it,' I am +willing at any time to run a foot-race with you, and +so prove who is the more agile."</p> + +<p>"I do not know," answered the Stork, meditatively, +"whether my family would altogether +approve of my entering into the lists with such a +vulgar creature as yourself." Here he shut one +eye, and looked reflectively with the other at a frog +that sat on a tussock near by. "Still, I recollect +that one of my ancestors proved his valor upon a +turbulent duckling once, so I see no logical reason +why I should not compete with you."</p> + +<p>And so the matter was settled.</p> + +<p>All was hubbub and excitement among the birds +when the coming race was announced. The racecourse +was so constructed that the larger birds +stood upon one side, and the smaller birds and +animals upon the other. This was so arranged, +chiefly at the request of a deputy of frogs, because, +at a mass meeting once, an albatross had eaten +twenty-seven of these animals in a fit of absent-mindedness, +as he said. Still the frogs desired to +prevent the recurrence of so painful a scene.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 400px;"> +<img src="images/illus-0132-1.jpg" width="400" height="210" alt=""THE STORK WAS AHEAD!"" title=""THE STORK WAS AHEAD!"" /> +<span class="caption">"THE STORK WAS AHEAD!"</span> +</div> + +<p>The Cassowary was chosen director of the race, +chiefly because he was a famous traveler as well as +a pedestrian himself, and so was a judge of such +matters. He was the same of whom the Gander, the +poet-laureate, had written the poem commencing—</p> + + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary=""> +<tr><td align='left'> +"It was a noble cassowary,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">On the plains of Timbuctoo,</span><br /> +That gobbled up a missionary<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Body, bones, and hymn-book too."</span><br /> +</td></tr> +</table></div> + +<p>All were assembled. The champions stood neck +to neck, while the spectators looked on, breathless +with excitement.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_189" id="Page_189">[Pg 189]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Go!" cried the Cassowary, and they went.</p> + +<p>For a long time they continued neck and neck, +and the excitement rose to fever heat. At this +juncture a mouse attempted to cross the racecourse, +and was instantly devoured by an owl, who +acted as police of the course. At length the two +racers re-appeared coming toward the grand stand,—that +is, the place where the Cassowary stood with +the signal-gun or, rather, pistol. The shouts and +cries became more agitated and violent; there was +no doubt about it,—<i>the Stork was ahead</i>! It was +in vain that the gallant little Crane strained every +sinew; the Stork came into the stand a good three +lengths ahead of his adversary. Bang! went the +pistol, and the Stork had won. His adherents +crowded around him cheering vociferously, and +raising him aloft upon their shoulders above the +crowd. Even the Cassowary came forward and +shook hands with him.</p> + +<p>"Recollect, hereafter," said the successful Stork +to the poor Crane, who stood dejectedly to one +side, "not to scorn and undervalue qualities in any +one, because they are not flaunted in the eyes of +the world."</p> + +<p>The Crane's adherents maintained that it was a +foul start, while the Stork's friends answered that +when two birds ran a race, it could not well be anything +else.</p> + +<p>The frogs, the mice, and most of the small birds, +were divided among the successful betters; and, +altogether, it was a day of rejoicing, except to the +frogs, the mice, and most of the small birds.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_190" id="Page_190">[Pg 190]</a></span></p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<h2><a name="WINTER_FIRE-FLIES." id="WINTER_FIRE-FLIES."></a>WINTER FIRE-FLIES.</h2> + +<h3><span class="smcap">By Mrs. W. N. Clarke.</span></h3> + + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary="poem"> +<tr><td align='left'> +One by one appearing<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">In their lower sky,</span><br /> +Come a host uncounted<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Like the stars on high,</span><br /> +Flashing lights uncertain,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Ever changing place,—</span><br /> +Tricksy constellations<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">That we cannot trace!</span><br /><br /> + +Throbbing through the elm-tree<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Little heart of fire!—</span><br /> +One in lonely longing<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Rises ever higher;</span><br /> +Flits across the darkness,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Like a shooting star,</span><br /> +While the changeless heavens<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Calmly shine afar.</span><br /><br /> + +When the flames are lighting<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">All the chimney dark,</span><br /> +When the green wood hisses,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">And the birchen bark</span><br /> +In the blaze doth redden,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Glow and snap and curl,</span><br /> +Fire-flies, freed from prison,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Merrily dance and whirl.</span><br /><br /> + +Children on the hearth-stone,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Peering up the flue,</span><br /> +See a mimic welkin,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Lights that twinkle through,</span><br /> +Sparks that flash and flicker,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Little short-lived stars,</span><br /> +On the sooty darkness<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Glowing red as Mars!</span><br /><br /> + +Eager eyes a-watching<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Fain would have them pause.</span><br /> +Catch these fire-flies—can you?—<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">In a web of gauze!</span><br /> +Ever upward flying<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Toward the chimney's crown—</span><br /> +Up to meet the snow-flakes<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">As they flutter down!</span> +</td></tr> +</table></div> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="THE_ARMS_OF_GREAT_BRITAIN" id="THE_ARMS_OF_GREAT_BRITAIN"></a>THE ARMS OF GREAT BRITAIN.</h2> + +<h3><span class="smcap">By Susan Archer Weiss.</span></h3> + + +<p>My young readers have doubtless often observed +upon familiar objects, such as books, china and +steelware, etc., the device of a lion and a horse +(sometimes represented as a unicorn) supporting +between them a shield, surmounted by a crown. +On the shield are certain divisions called "quarterings," +in one of which you will observe two lions +and a horse. Attached to the whole is the motto, +<i>Dieu et mon droit</i>,—French words, whose meaning +is, "God and my right."</p> + +<p>If you inquire, you will be told that this device +is the "coat-of-arms" of Great Britain,—as the +eagle, shield and olive branch is that of the United +States,—and that all articles thus marked are of +British manufacture.</p> + +<p>In old times the national symbol of England was +the rose, of Scotland the thistle, of Ireland the +shamrock, or clover. When England claimed Ireland +and Scotland, these three were united on the +British royal shield, as we find them in the time of +Queen Elizabeth. On a victory over France, the +symbol of France, a unicorn, was also added, the +unicorn wearing a chain, to denote the subjection +of France to England. This explains the nursery +rhyme which you have no doubt often heard—</p> + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary=""> +<tr><td align='left'> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;"> +"The lion and the unicorn fighting for the crown;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">The lion whipped the unicorn all around the town."</span> +<br /> +</td></tr> +</table></div> + + +<p>The sovereignty of Great Britain is by law +hereditary, but sometimes there are disputes and +wars for possession of the crown, and it passes +into a new family. Thus some of the kings and +queens of Great Britain have belonged to the +family of Plantagenet, others to that of Tudor, +and still others to the Stuarts. George the First +of England was of a family named Guelph, and +all the sovereigns of Great Britain succeeding him, +down to Queen Victoria, have been of this family +and name.</p> + +<p>When a new sovereign succeeds to the crown, +he has a right to place his own family coat-of-arms +on the royal shield of Great Britain. George the +First did this. The two lions and the white horse, +which you see on one of the quarterings, is the +coat-of-arms of the Guelphs, who were dukes of +Brunswick and Hanover in Germany. It is therefore +called the arms of the House of Brunswick, +and it is about this that I now design to tell you.</p> + +<p>In order to begin at the beginning, we must go +far back into past ages—almost to the time when +our Savior was upon earth. At that period the +whole northern portion of Europe was inhabited by +wild and barbarous tribes who had never heard of +Christ, but were Pagans and worshiped imaginary +gods, of whom Woden was chief. Among these +races were the Saxons, a fair-haired, fair-complexioned +people, of great size and strength, who +inhabited that portion of country now known as +north Germany. They have never been permanently +driven out of this country, which is to this +day occupied by their descendants, the Germans. +This latter name signifies a "war-like people."</p> + +<p>Now, according to the pagan belief, the god +Woden had a favorite white or light-gray horse, +created by magic art, and upon which he bestowed +the power of assisting and protecting warriors. This +horse was regarded as sacred, and shared in the +worship given to Woden. The pagan priests had<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_191" id="Page_191">[Pg 191]</a></span> +no temples; the art of building was unknown to +them; but, instead, their religious ceremonies were +performed in thick groves of oak which were set +apart for the purpose. In these gloomy woods +the priests reared beautiful white horses, which no +man was ever permitted to mount, and which, being +from their birth solemnly dedicated to Woden, +were believed to be gifted by him with the power +of foretelling events by means of certain signs and +motions. Before going into battle these sacred +steeds were consulted, and occasionally one was +sacrificed to Woden or to his white horse, and the +bloody head was then mounted upon a pole, and +borne aloft in the van of the Saxon army, they believing +that it possessed the power of vanquishing +the enemy and protecting themselves. We read +in history that when the great emperor, Charlemagne, +conquered the northern countries, one of +the Saxon leaders, named Wittikind, refused to +submit to him, and that, in consequence, many +bloody battles were fought, wherein the Saxons +bore in their van a tall pole surmounted by a +wooden horse's head. This was their ensign; and +when they afterward became more civilized, they +retained the same emblem,—a white horse painted +upon a black ground,—which remains to this day +the standard or banner of the little kingdom of +Saxony.</p> + +<p>In the year 861,—just about one thousand years +ago,—Bruno, the son of a Saxon king, founded a +city in Saxony which he called after himself, +Brunonis Vicus, now known as Brunswick. He +retained as the standard of Brunswick the white +horse of Saxony, and thus it remained until the +end of the three succeeding centuries. About that +time the reigning prince of Brunswick was a certain +Henry Guelph, a leader in the Crusades, noted for +his strength and daring, which acquired for him +the title of "Henry the Lion." This prince refused +to own allegiance to the great Emperor of Germany, +Frederic Barbarossa. He declared himself +independent, and as a token of defiance set up a +great stone lion in Brunswick, and had the same +symbol placed upon his standard, two lions supporting +a shield beneath the white horse.</p> + +<p>Thus you now know the origin of the Brunswick +coat-of-arms. But how came the banner of a small +German country to be adopted on the arms of +Great Britain? This I will now explain.</p> + +<p>About the year 1650, the then reigning Duke of +Brunswick, afterward also Elector of Hanover, married +the granddaughter of King James the First +of England. Their eldest son was named George +Louis. When, on the death of Queen Anne, the +English were in want of a successor, they looked +about among those nearest of kin to the royal +family, and decided to choose this great-grandson +of King James I. Thus it was that George Louis +Guelph—a Saxon-German—came to be King +George the First of England, and this was how +the "lion-and-horse" arms of Brunswick and Hanover +came to be also part of the arms of Great +Britain. His successors were George the Second, +George the Third (against whose rule the American +colonies rebelled), George the Fourth, William, +and lastly Victoria, the present queen, who +is granddaughter to George the Third. Thus you +understand how Queen Victoria is descended from +the princes of Brunswick,—how she happens to be +of German instead of English blood,—and why +her name is Guelph.</p> + +<p>Now, whenever you look upon "The lion and +the unicorn fighting for the crown," you will +reflect how strange it is that this great and +enlightened Christian nation should bear on its +proud standard a symbol of pagan superstition. +You will think of the bold Crusader, Henry the +Lion; of Wittikind, the brave Saxon duke who, +after a twenty years' resistance, was finally conquered +and baptized into Christianity; of the wild, +half-clad Saxons, with their bloody horse-head +ensign; of the Druid priests, who sacrificed human +beings as well as white horses; and so, far back +to the god Woden himself, who was probably +merely some great hero or warrior who lived in a +period so remote that we have no record of it in +history.</p> + +<p>And yet, while you are wondering at England +and her relic of Woden-worship, shall I tell you that +here, in America, we too possess relics of this very +pagan god to which some people accord a superstitious +regard? Look on the threshold, or above the +door of some cottage or cabin, and you will see +nailed there a common horse-shoe as a protection +against evil. Examine your grown-up sister's watch-chain, +and you will find attached to it a tiny gold +horse-shoe, studded with diamond nail-heads, which +some friend has given her as a "charm" to secure +"good luck." These are simply remnants of the +old pagan Woden-worship which we inherit from +our English ancestors, who are partly descended +from the Saxons, as you have probably learned +from your school history. And the word Wednesday +is a corruption of Woden's-Day, a name given +by our Saxon ancestors to the fourth day of the +week in honor of their god.</p> + +<p>When I was recently in Germany, I noticed upon +the gable-end of every cottage and farm-house in +Brunswick and Hanover a curious ornament, consisting +of two horses' heads, roughly carved in wood, +mounted upon poles, and placed above the entrance-doors, +in the form of a cross. This was first done +by order of Wittikind, who, upon professing Christianity, +changed the pagan symbols above the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_192" id="Page_192">[Pg 192]</a></span> +doors of dwellings to the sign of Christianity—the cross. The +ignorant peasants do not know the origin of the custom, but will +tell you that the crossed-heads are placed there "to keep out evil +spirits, and to bring good luck to the house."</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 278px;"> +<img src="images/illus-039.jpg" width="278" height="400" alt="ENTRANCE GATE TO THE OLD CASTLE OF THE DUKES OF BRUNSWICK." title="ENTRANCE GATE TO THE OLD CASTLE OF THE DUKES OF BRUNSWICK." /> +<span class="caption">ENTRANCE GATE TO THE OLD CASTLE OF THE DUKES OF BRUNSWICK.</span> +</div> + +<p>I saw in Brunswick the great stone lion which Henry Guelph +placed there seven hundred years ago; and in Hanover, the old +palace in which George the First was born, with the lion and +the horse above the entrance. Once, too, in the Hartz mountains, +I visited a grand-looking ancient castle of the old dukes +of Brunswick, in which was born the wife of George the Second +of England. It stood on the summit of a lofty precipice, up which +we had to climb; then crossing a deep moat by a narrow bridge, +we entered through a great arched gate-way, surmounted by the +Brunswick coat-of-arms, cut in the stone wall. The moat was dry, +and ivy and tall trees growing in it far below, thrust the tips of +their branches over the walls. I stopped and took a sketch of +the old gate-way, which I here present my young readers.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_193" id="Page_193">[Pg 193]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="UNDER_THE_LILACS" id="UNDER_THE_LILACS"></a>UNDER THE LILACS.</h2> + +<h4><span class="smcap">By Louisa M. Alcott.</span></h4> + +<h3><a name="Chapter_IV" id="Chapter_IV"></a><span class="smcap">Chapter IV.</span></h3> + +<h4>HIS STORY.</h4> + + +<p>"I ran away from a circus," began Ben, but +got no further, for Bab and Betty gave a simultaneous +bounce of delight, and both cried out at +once—</p> + +<p>"We've been to one! It was splendid!"</p> + +<p>"You wouldn't think so if you knew as much +about it as I do," answered Ben, with a sudden +frown and wriggle, as if he still felt the smart of +the blows he had received. "We don't call it +splendid; do we, Sancho?" he added, making a +queer noise, which caused the poodle to growl and +bang the floor irefully with his tail, as he lay close +to his master's feet, getting acquainted with the +new shoes they wore.</p> + +<p>"How came you there?" asked Mrs. Moss, +rather disturbed at the news.</p> + +<p>"Why, my father was the 'Wild Hunter of the +Plains.' Didn't you ever see or hear of him?" +said Ben, as if surprised at her ignorance.</p> + +<p>"Bless your heart, child, I haven't been to a +circus this ten years, and I'm sure I don't remember +what or who I saw then," answered Mrs. Moss, +amused, yet touched by the son's evident admiration +for his father.</p> + +<p>"Didn't <i>you</i> see him?" demanded Ben, turning +to the little girls.</p> + +<p>"We saw Indians and tumbling men, and the +Bounding Brothers of Borneo, and a clown and +monkeys, and a little mite of a pony with blue +eyes. Was he any of them?" answered Betty, +innocently.</p> + +<p>"Pooh! he didn't belong to that lot. He +always rode two, four, six, eight horses to oncet, +and I used to ride with him till I got too big. <i>My</i> +father was A No. 1, and didn't do anything but +break horses and ride 'em," said Ben, with as much +pride as if his parent had been a President.</p> + +<p>"Is he dead?" asked Mrs. Moss.</p> + +<p>"I don't know. Wish I did," and poor Ben +gave a gulp as if something rose in his throat and +choked him.</p> + +<p>"Tell us all about it, dear, and may be we can +find out where he is," said Ma, leaning forward to +pat the shiny dark head that was suddenly bent +over the dog.</p> + +<p>"Yes, ma'am, I will, thank y'," and with an +effort the boy steadied his voice and plunged into +the middle of his story.</p> + +<p>"Father was always good to me, and I liked +bein' with him after granny died. I lived with her +till I was seven, then father took me, and I was +trained for a rider. You jest oughter have seen +me when I was a little feller all in white tights, and +a gold belt, and pink riggin', standin' on father's +shoulder, or hangin' on to old General's tail, and +him gallopin' full pelt, or father ridin' three horses +with me on <i>his</i> head wavin' flags, and every one +clappin' like fun."</p> + +<p>"Oh, weren't you scared to pieces?" asked +Betty, quaking at the mere thought.</p> + +<p>"Not a bit. I liked it."</p> + +<p>"So should I!" cried Bab, enthusiastically.</p> + +<p>"Then I drove the four ponies in the little +chariot, when we paraded," continued Ben, and I +sat on the great ball up top of the grand car +drawed by Hannibal and Nero. But I <i>didn't</i> like +that, 'cause it was awful high and shaky, and the +sun was hot, and the trees slapped my face, and +my legs ached holdin' on."</p> + +<p>"What's hanny bells and neroes?" demanded +Betty.</p> + +<p>"Big elephants. Father never let 'em put me +up there, and they didn't darst till he was gone; +then I had to, else they'd 'a' thrashed me."</p> + +<p>"Didn't any one take your part?" asked Mrs. +Moss.</p> + +<p>"Yes'm, 'most all the ladies did; they were very +good to me, 'specially 'Melia. She vowed she +wouldn't go on in the Tunnymunt act if they +didn't stop knockin' me round when I wouldn't +help old Buck with the bears. So they had to +stop it, 'cause she led first rate, and none of the +other ladies rode half as well as 'Melia."</p> + +<p>"Bears! oh, do tell about them!" exclaimed +Bab, in great excitement, for at the only circus she +had seen the animals were her delight.</p> + +<p>"Buck had five of 'em, cross old fellers, and he +showed 'em off. I played with 'em once, jest for +fun, and he thought it would make a hit to have +me show off instead of him. But they had a way +of clawin' and huggin' that wasn't nice, and you +couldn't never tell whether they were good-natured +or ready to bite your head off. Buck was all over +scars where they'd scratched and bit him, and I +wasn't going to do it, and I didn't have to, owin' +to Miss St. John's standin' by me like a good one."</p> + +<p>"Who <i>was</i> Miss St. John?" asked Mrs. Moss, +rather confused by the sudden introduction of new +names and people.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_194" id="Page_194">[Pg 194]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Why, she was 'Melia,—Mrs. Smithers, the +ring-master's wife. His name wasn't Montgomery +any more'n hers was St. John. They all change +'em to something fine on the bills, you know. +Father used to be Señor Jose Montebello, and I +was Master Adolphus Bloomsbury after I stopped +bein' a flying Coopid and a Infant Progidy."</p> + +<p>Mrs. Moss leaned back in her chair to laugh at +that, greatly to the surprise of the little girls, who +were much impressed with the elegance of these +high-sounding names.</p> + +<p>"Go on with your story, Ben, and tell why you +ran away and what became of your Pa," she said, +composing herself to listen, really interested in the +child.</p> + +<p>"Well, you see, father had a quarrel with old +Smithers and went off sudden last fall, just before +the tenting season was over. He told me he was +goin' to a great ridin' school in New York, and +when he was fixed he'd send for me. I was to +stay in the museum and help Pedro with the trick +business. He was a nice man and I liked him, +and 'Melia was good to see to me, and I didn't +mind for awhile. But father didn't send for me, +and I began to have horrid times. If it hadn't +been for 'Melia and Sancho I would have cut away +long before I did."</p> + +<p>"What did you have to do?"</p> + +<p>"Lots of things, for times was dull and I was +smart. Smithers said so, anyway, and I had to +tumble up lively when he gave the word. I didn't +mind doin' tricks or showing off Sancho, for father +trained him and he always did well with me. But +they wanted me to drink gin to keep me small, and +I wouldn't, 'cause father didn't like that kind of +thing. I used to ride tip-top, and that just suited +me till I got a fall and hurt my back; but I had to +go on all the same, though I ached dreadful, and +used to tumble off, I was so dizzy and weak."</p> + +<p>"What a brute that man must have been! +Why didn't 'Melia put a stop to it?" asked Mrs. +Moss, indignantly.</p> + +<p>"She died, ma'am, and then there was no one +left but Sanch, so I run away."</p> + +<p>Then Ben fell to patting his dog again, to hide +the tears he could not keep from coming at the +thought of the kind friend he had lost.</p> + +<p>"What did you mean to do?"</p> + +<p>"Find father; but I couldn't, for he wasn't at +the ridin' school, and they told me he had gone +out West to buy mustangs for a man who wanted +a lot. So then I was in a fix, for I couldn't go to +father, didn't know jest where he was, and I +wouldn't sneak back to Smithers to be abused. +Tried to make 'em take me at the ridin' school, +but they didn't want a boy, and I traveled along +and tried to get work. But I'd have starved if it +hadn't been for Sanch. I left him tied up when I +ran off, for fear they'd say I stole him. He's a +very valuable dog, ma'am, the best trick dog I ever +see, and they'd want him back more than they +would me. He belongs to father, and I hated to +leave him, but I did. I hooked it one dark night, +and never thought I'd see him ag'in. Next mornin' +I was eatin' breakfast in a barn miles away and +dreadful lonesome, when he came tearin' in, all mud +and wet, with a great piece of rope draggin'. He'd +gnawed it, and came after me and wouldn't go +back or be lost; and I'll never leave him again; +will I, dear old feller?"</p> + +<p>Sancho had listened to this portion of the tale +with intense interest, and when Ben spoke to him +he stood straight up, put both paws on the boy's +shoulders, licked his face with a world of dumb +affection in his yellow eyes, and gave a little whine +which said as plainly as words—</p> + +<p>"Cheer up, little master; fathers may vanish +and friends die, but <i>I</i> never will desert you."</p> + +<p>Ben hugged him close and smiled over his curly, +white head, at the little girls who clapped their +hands at the pleasing tableau, and then went to +pat and fondle the good creature, assuring him +that they entirely forgave the theft of the cake and +the new dinner-pail. Inspired by these endearments +and certain private signals given by Ben, +Sancho suddenly burst away to perform all his best +antics with unusual grace and dexterity.</p> + +<p>Bab and Betty danced about the room with rapture, +while Mrs. Moss declared she was almost +afraid to have such a wonderfully intelligent animal +in the house. Praises of his dog pleased Ben more +than praises of himself, and when the confusion +had subsided he entertained his audience with a +lively account of Sancho's cleverness, fidelity, and +the various adventures in which he had nobly borne +his part.</p> + +<p>While he talked Mrs. Moss was making up her +mind about him, and when he came to an end of +his dog's perfections, she said, gravely:</p> + +<p>"If I can find something for you to do, would +you like to stay here awhile?"</p> + +<p>"Oh yes, ma'am, I'd be glad to!" answered +Ben, eagerly; for the place seemed home-like +already, and the good woman almost as motherly +as the departed Mrs. Smithers.</p> + +<p>"Well, I'll step over to the Judge's to-morrow +to see what he says. Shouldn't wonder if he'd +take you for a chore-boy, if you are as smart as +you say. He always has one in the summer, and +I haven't seen any round yet. Can you drive cows?"</p> + +<p>"Hope so;" and Ben gave a shrug, as if it was +a very unnecessary question to put to a person who +had driven four calico ponies in a gilded chariot.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_195" id="Page_195">[Pg 195]</a></span></p> + +<p>"It mayn't be as lively as riding elephants and +playing with bears, but it is respectable, and I +guess you'll be happier switching Brindle and Buttercup +than being switched yourself," said Mrs. +Moss, shaking her head at him with a smile.</p> + +<p>"I guess I will, ma'am," answered Ben, with +sudden meekness, remembering the trials from +which he had escaped.</p> + +<p>Very soon after this, he was sent off for a good +night's sleep in the back bedroom, with Sancho to +watch over him. But both found it difficult to slumber +till the racket overhead subsided, for Bab insisted +on playing she was a bear and devouring poor +Betty in spite of her wails, till their mother came +up and put an end to it by threatening to send +Ben and his dog away in the morning if the girls +"didn't behave and be as still as mice."</p> + +<p>This they solemnly promised, and they were soon +dreaming of gilded cars and moldy coaches, run-away +boys and dinner-pails, dancing dogs and +twirling tea-cups.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 310px;"> +<img src="images/illus-0134-1.jpg" width="310" height="400" alt="BEN AT THE WELL." title="BEN AT THE WELL." /> +<span class="caption">BEN AT THE WELL.</span> +</div> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h3><a name="Chapter_V" id="Chapter_V"></a><span class="smcap">Chapter V.</span></h3> + +<h4>BEN GETS A PLACE.</h4> + + +<p>When Ben awoke next morning, he looked about +him for a moment half bewildered, because there +was neither a canvas tent, a barn roof, nor the blue +sky above him, but a neat white ceiling, where +several flies buzzed sociably together, while from +without came, not the tramping of horses, the twitter +of swallows, or the chirp of early birds, but the +comfortable cackle of hens and the sound of two +little voices chanting the multiplication table.</p> + +<p>Sancho sat at the open window watching the old +cat wash her face, and trying to imitate her with his +great ruffled paw, so awkwardly that Ben laughed, +and Sanch, to hide his confusion at being caught, +made one bound from chair to bed and licked his +master's face so energetically that the boy dived +under the bedclothes to escape from the rough +tongue.</p> + +<p>A rap on the floor from below made both jump +up, and in ten minutes a shiny-faced lad and a +lively dog went racing down-stairs—one to say, +"Good-morning, ma'am," the other to wag his tail +faster than ever tail wagged before, for ham frizzled +on the stove, and Sancho was fond of it.</p> + +<p>"Did you rest well?" asked Mrs. Moss, nodding +at him, fork in hand.</p> + +<p>"Guess I did! Never saw such a bed. I'm +used to hay and a horse-blanket, and lately nothing +but sky for a cover and grass for my feather bed," +laughed Ben, grateful for present comforts and +making light of past hardships.</p> + +<p>"Clean, sweet corn-husks aint bad for young +bones, even if they haven't got more flesh on +them than yours have," answered Mrs. Moss, giving +the smooth head a motherly stroke as she went by.</p> + +<p>"Fat aint allowed in our profession, ma'am. +The thinner the better for tight-ropes and tumblin'; +likewise bareback-ridin' and spry jugglin'. Muscle's +the thing, and there you are."</p> + +<p>Ben stretched out a wiry little arm with a clenched +fist at the end of it, as if he were a young Hercules +ready to play ball with the stove if she gave him +leave. Glad to see him in such good spirits, she +pointed to the well outside, saying pleasantly:</p> + +<p>"Well, then, just try your muscle by bringing +in some fresh water."</p> + +<p>Ben caught up a pail and ran off, ready to be +useful; but while he waited for the bucket to fill +down among the mossy stones, he looked about +him, well pleased with all he saw,—the small brown +house with a pretty curl of smoke rising from its +chimney, the little sisters sitting in the sunshine, +green hills and newly planted fields far and near, +a brook dancing through the orchard, birds singing +in the elm avenue, and all the world as fresh and +lovely as early summer could make it.</p> + +<p>"Don't you think it's pretty nice here?" asked +Bab, as his eye came back to them after a long +look, which seemed to take in everything, brightening +as it roved.</p> + +<p>"Just the nicest place that ever was. Only +needs a horse round somewhere to be complete," +answered Ben, as the long well-sweep came up<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_196" id="Page_196">[Pg 196]</a></span> +with a dripping bucket at one end, an old grind-stone +at the other.</p> + +<p>"The Judge has three, but he's so fussy about +them he wont even let us pull a few hairs out of old +Major's tail to make rings of," said Betty, shutting +her arithmetic, with an injured expression.</p> + +<p>"Mike lets <i>me</i> ride the white one to water when +the Judge isn't 'round. It's such fun to go jouncing +down the lane and back. I do love horses!" cried +Bab, bobbing up and down on the blue bench to +imitate the motion of white Jenny.</p> + +<p>"I guess you are a plucky sort of a girl," and +Ben gave her an approving look as he went by, +taking care to slop a little water on Mrs. Puss, who +stood curling her whiskers and humping up her +back at Sancho.</p> + +<p>"Come to breakfast!" called Mrs. Moss, and for +about twenty minutes little was said as mush and +milk vanished in a way that would have astonished +even Jack the Giant-killer with his leather bag.</p> + +<p>"Now, girls, fly round and get your chores done +up; Ben, you go chop me some kindlings; and +I'll make things tidy. Then we can all start off at +once," said Mrs. Moss, as the last mouthful vanished, +and Sancho licked his lips over the savory +scraps that fell to his share.</p> + +<p>Ben fell to chopping so vigorously that chips flew +wildly all about the shed, Bab rattled the cups +into her dish-pan with dangerous haste, and Betty +raised a cloud of dust "sweeping-up," while mother +seemed to be everywhere at once. Even Sanch, +feeling that his fate was at stake, endeavored to +help in his own somewhat erratic way,—now frisking +about Ben at the risk of getting his tail chopped +off, then trotting away to poke his inquisitive nose +into every closet and room whither he followed +Mrs. Moss in her "flying round" evolutions; next +dragging off the mat so Betty could brush the +door-steps, or inspecting Bab's dish-washing by +standing on his hind-legs to survey the table with +a critical air. When they drove him out he was +not the least offended, but gayly barked Puss up a +tree, chased all the hens over the fence, and carefully +interred an old shoe in the garden, where the +remains of a mutton-bone were already buried.</p> + +<p>By the time the others were ready, he had worked +off his superfluous spirits and trotted behind the +party like a well-behaved dog accustomed to go out +walking with ladies. At the cross-roads they separated, +the little girls running on to school, while +Mrs. Moss and Ben went up to the Squire's big +house on the hill.</p> + +<p>"Don't you be scared, child. I'll make it all +right about your running away; and if the Squire +gives you a job, just thank him for it, and do your +best to be steady and industrious; then you'll get +on, I haven't a doubt," she whispered, ringing the +bell at a side-door on which the word "Allen" +shone in bright letters.</p> + +<p>"Come in!" called a gruff voice, and feeling +very much as if he were going to have a tooth out, +Ben meekly followed the good woman, who put on +her pleasantest smile, anxious to make the best +possible impression.</p> + +<p>A white-headed old gentleman sat reading a +paper, and peered over his glasses at the new-comers +with a pair of sharp eyes, saying in a testy +tone, which would have rather daunted any one +who did not know what a kind heart he had under +his capacious waistcoat:</p> + +<p>"Good-morning, ma'am! What's the matter +now? Young tramp been stealing your chickens?"</p> + +<p>"Oh dear no, sir!" exclaimed Mrs. Moss, as if +shocked at the idea. Then, in a few words, she +told Ben's story, unconsciously making his wrongs +and destitution so pathetic by her looks and tones, +that the Squire could not help being interested, +and even Ben pitied himself as if he was somebody +else.</p> + +<p>"Now then, boy, what can you do?" asked the +old gentleman, with an approving nod to Mrs. +Moss as she finished, and such a keen glance from +under his bushy brows that Ben felt as if he was +perfectly transparent.</p> + +<p>"'Most anything, sir, to get my livin'."</p> + +<p>"Can you weed?"</p> + +<p>"Never did, but I can learn, sir."</p> + +<p>"Pull up all the beets and leave the pigweed, +hey? Can you pick strawberries?"</p> + +<p>"Never tried anything but eatin' 'em, sir."</p> + +<p>"Not likely to forget that part of the job. Can +you ride a horse to plow?"</p> + +<p>"Guess I could, sir!"—and Ben's eyes began to +sparkle, for he dearly loved the noble animals who +had been his dearest friends lately.</p> + +<p>"No antics allowed. My horse is a fine fellow, +and I'm very particular about him."</p> + +<p>The Squire spoke soberly, but there was a twinkle +in his eye, and Mrs. Moss tried not to smile, for the +Squire's horse was a joke all over the town, being +about twenty years old, and having a peculiar gait +of his own, lifting his fore-feet very high; with a +great show of speed, though never going out of a +jog-trot. The boys used to say he galloped before +and walked behind, and made all sorts of fun of the +big, Roman-nosed beast who allowed no liberties +to be taken with him.</p> + +<p>"I'm too fond of horses to hurt 'em, sir. As +for riding, I aint afraid of anything on four legs. +The King of Morocco used to kick and bite like +fun, but I could manage him first-rate."</p> + +<p>"Then you'd be able to drive cows to pasture, +perhaps?"</p> + +<p>"I've driven elephants and camels, ostriches<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_197" id="Page_197">[Pg 197]</a></span> +and grizzly bears, and mules, and six yellow ponies +all to onct. May be I could manage cows if I tried +hard," answered Ben, endeavoring to be meek and +respectful when scorn filled his soul at the idea of +not being able to drive a cow.</p> + +<p>The Squire liked him all the better for the droll +mixture of indignation and amusement betrayed by +the fire in his eyes and the sly smile round his lips; +and being rather tickled by Ben's list of animals, +he answered, gravely:</p> + +<p>"We don't raise elephants and camels much +round here. Bears used to be plenty, but folks got +tired of them. Mules are numerous, but we have +the two-legged kind, and as a general thing prefer +Shanghae fowls to ostriches."</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 400px;"> +<img src="images/illus-0135-1.jpg" width="400" height="248" alt="THE VISIT TO THE SQUIRE." title="THE VISIT TO THE SQUIRE." /> +<span class="caption">THE VISIT TO THE SQUIRE.</span> +</div> + +<p>He got no farther, for Ben laughed out so infectiously +that both the others joined him, and somehow +that jolly laugh seemed to settle matters better +than words. As they stopped, the Squire tapped +on the window behind him, saying, with an attempt +at the former gruffness:</p> + +<p>"We'll try you on cows awhile. My man will +show you where to drive them, and give you some +odd jobs through the day. I'll see what you are +good for, and send you word to-night. Mrs. Moss, +the boy can sleep at your house, can't he?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, indeed, sir. He can go on doing it, and +come up to his work just as well as not. I can see +to him then, and he wont be a care to any one," +said Mrs. Moss, heartily.</p> + +<p>"I'll make inquiries concerning your father, +boy; meantime mind what you are about, and +have a good report to give when he comes for +you," returned the Squire, with a warning wag of +a stern fore-finger.</p> + +<p>"Thank y', sir. I will, sir. Father'll come just +as soon as he can, if he isn't sick or lost," murmured +Ben, inwardly thanking his stars that he +had not done anything to make him quake before +that awful finger, and resolving that he never +would.</p> + +<p>Here a red-headed Irishman came to the door, +and stood eying the boy with small favor while the +Squire gave his orders.</p> + +<p>"Pat, this lad wants work. He's to take the +cows and go for them. Give him any light jobs +you have, and let me know if he's good for anything."</p> + +<p>"Yis, your honor. Come out o' this, b'y, till I +show ye the bastes," responded Pat; and, with a +hasty good-bye to Mrs. Moss, Ben followed his new +leader, sorely tempted to play some naughty trick +upon him in return for his ungracious reception.</p> + +<p>But in a moment he forgot that Pat existed, for +in the yard stood the Duke of Wellington, so named +in honor of his Roman nose. If Ben had known +anything about Shakspeare he would have cried, +"A horse, a horse!—my kingdom for a horse!" +for the feeling was in his heart, and he ran up to +the stately animal without a fear. Duke put back<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_198" id="Page_198">[Pg 198]</a></span> +his ears and swished his tail as if displeased for a +moment; but Ben looked straight in his eyes, gave +a scientific stroke to the iron-gray nose, and uttered +a chirrup which made the ears prick up as if recognizing +a familiar sound.</p> + +<p>"He'll nip ye, if ye go botherin' that way. +L'ave him alone, and attind to the cattle as his +honor tould ye," commanded Pat, who made a +great show of respect toward Duke in public, and +kicked him brutally in private.</p> + +<p>"I aint afraid! You wont hurt me, will you, +old feller? See there now!—he knows I'm a +friend, and takes to me right off," said Ben, with +an arm around Duke's neck, and his own cheek +confidingly laid against the animal's, for the intelligent +eyes spoke to him as plainly as the little +whinny which he understood and accepted as a +welcome.</p> + +<p>The Squire saw it all from the open window, and +suspecting from Pat's face that trouble was brewing, +called out:</p> + +<p>"Let the lad harness Duke, if he can. I'm +going out directly, and he may as well try that as +anything."</p> + +<p>Ben was delighted, and proved himself so brisk +and handy that the roomy chaise stood at the door +in a surprisingly short time, with a smiling little +ostler at Duke's head when the Judge came out.</p> + +<p>His affection for the horse pleased the old gentleman, +and his neat way of harnessing suited as well; +but Ben got no praise except a nod and a brief +"All right, boy," as the equipage went creaking +and jogging away.</p> + +<p>Four sleek cows filed out of the barn-yard when +Pat opened the gate, and Ben drove them down +the road to a distant pasture where the early grass +awaited their eager cropping. By the school they +went, and the boy looked pityingly at the black, +brown and yellow heads bobbing past the windows +as a class went up to recite, for it seemed a hard +thing to the liberty-loving lad to be shut up there +so many hours on a morning like that.</p> + +<p>But a little breeze that was playing truant round +the steps did Ben a service without knowing it, for +a sudden puff blew a torn leaf to his feet, and seeing +a picture he took it up. It evidently had fallen +from some ill-used history, for the picture showed +some queer ships at anchor, some oddly dressed +men just landing, and a crowd of Indians dancing +about on the shore. Ben spelt out all he could +about these interesting personages, but could not +discover what it meant, because ink evidently had +deluged the page, to the new reader's great disappointment.</p> + +<p>"I'll ask the girls; may be they will know," +said Ben to himself as, after looking vainly for more +stray leaves, he trudged on, enjoying the bobolink's +song, the warm sunshine, and a comfortable sense +of friendliness and safety, which soon set him to +whistling as gayly as any blackbird in the meadow.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h3><a name="Chapter_VI" id="Chapter_VI"></a><span class="smcap">Chapter VI.</span></h3> + +<h4>A CIRCULATING LIBRARY.</h4> + + +<p>After supper that night, Bab and Betty sat in +the old porch playing with Josephus and Belinda, +and discussing the events of the day, for the appearance +of the strange boy and his dog had been +a most exciting occurrence in their quiet lives. +They had seen nothing of him since morning, as +he took his meals at the Squire's, and was at work +with Pat in a distant field when the children passed. +Sancho had stuck closely to his master, evidently +rather bewildered by the new order of things, and +bound to see that no harm happened to Ben.</p> + +<p>"I wish they'd come. It's sun-down, and I +heard the cows mooing, so I know they have gone +home," said Betty, impatiently; for she regarded +the new comer in the light of an entertaining book, +and wished to read on as fast as possible.</p> + +<p>"I'm going to learn the signs he makes when +he wants Sancho to dance; then we can have fun +with him whenever we like. He's the dearest dog +I ever saw" answered Bab, who was fonder of +animals than her sister.</p> + +<p>"Ma said—Ow, what's that!" cried Betty, with +a start as something bumped against the gate outside, +and in a moment Ben's head peeped over the +top as he swung himself up to the iron arch, in the +middle of which was the empty lantern frame.</p> + +<p>"Please to locate, gentlemen; please to locate. +The performance is about to begin with the great +Flyin' Coopid act, in which Master Bloomsbury +has appeared before the crowned heads of Europe. +Pronounced by all beholders the most remarkable +youthful progidy agoin'. Hooray! here we are!"</p> + +<p>Having rattled off the familiar speech in Mr. +Smithers's elegant manner, Ben began to cut up +such capers that even a party of dignified hens, +going down the avenue to bed, paused to look on +with clucks of astonishment, evidently fancying +that salt had set him to fluttering and tumbling as +it did them. Never had the old gate beheld such +antics, though it had seen gay doings in its time; +for of all the boys who had climbed over it, not one +had ever stood on his head upon each of the big +balls which ornamented the posts, hung by his +heels from the arch, gone round and round like a +wheel with the bar for an axis, played a tattoo with +his toes while holding on by his chin, walked about +the wall on his hands, or closed the entertainment +by festooning himself in an airy posture over the +side of the lantern frame, and kissing his hand to +the audience, as a well-bred Cupid is supposed to +do on making his bow.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_199" id="Page_199">[Pg 199]</a></span></p> + +<p>The little girls clapped and stamped enthusiastically, +while Sancho, who had been calmly surveying +the show, barked his approval as he leaped up +to snap at Ben's feet.</p> + +<p>"Come down and tell what you did up at the +Squire's. Was he cross? Did you have to work +hard? Do you like it?" asked Bab, when the +noise had subsided.</p> + +<p>"It's cooler up here," answered Ben, composing +himself in the frame, and fanning his hot face +with a green spray broken from the tall bushes +rustling odorously all about him. "I did all sorts +of jobs. The old gentleman wasn't cross; he gave +me a dime, and I like him first-rate. But I just +<i>hate</i> "Carrots"; he swears at a feller, and fired a +stick of wood at me. Guess I'll pay him off when +I get a chance."</p> + +<p>Fumbling in his pocket to show the bright dime, +he found the torn page, and remembered the thirst +for information which had seized him in the morning.</p> + +<p>"Look here, tell me about this, will you? What +are these chaps up to? The ink has spoilt all but +the picture and this bit of reading. I want to know +what it means. Take it to 'em, Sanch."</p> + +<p>The dog caught the leaf as it fluttered to the +ground, and carrying it carefully in his mouth, +deposited it at the feet of the little girls, seating +himself before them with an air of deep interest. +Bab and Betty picked it up and read it aloud in +unison, while Ben leaned from his perch to listen +and learn.</p> + +<p>"'When day dawned land was visible. A pleasant +land it was. There were gay flowers, and tall +trees with leaves and fruit such as they had never +seen before. On the shore were unclad, copper-colored +men, gazing with wonder at the Spanish +ships. They took them for great birds, the white +sails for their wings, and the Spaniards for superior +beings brought down from heaven on their backs.'"</p> + +<p>"Why, that's Columbus finding San Salvador. +Don't you know about <i>him</i>?" demanded Bab, as +if she were one of the "superior beings," and intimately +acquainted with the immortal Christopher.</p> + +<p>"No, I don't. Who was he anyway? I s'pose +that's him paddlin' ahead; but which of the +Injuns is Sam Salvindoor?" asked Ben, rather +ashamed of his ignorance, but bent on finding out +now he had begun.</p> + +<p>"My gracious! twelve years old and not know +your Quackenbos," laughed Bab, much amused, +but rather glad to find that she could teach the +"whirligig boy" something, for she considered +him a remarkable creature.</p> + +<p>"I don't care a bit for your quackin' boss, whoever +he is. Tell about this fine feller with the +ships; I like <i>him</i>," persisted Ben.</p> + +<p>So Bab, with frequent interruptions and hints +from Betty, told the wonderful tale in a simple +way, which made it easy to understand, for she +liked history, and had a lively tongue of her own.</p> + +<p>"I'd like to read some more. Would my ten +cents buy a book?" asked Ben, anxious to learn a +little since Bab laughed at him.</p> + +<p>"No, indeed! I'll lend you mine when I'm +not using it, and tell you all about it," promised +Bab, forgetting that she did not know "all about +it" herself yet.</p> + +<p>"I don't have any time only evenings, and then +may be you'll want it," begun Ben, in whom the +inky page had roused a strong curiosity.</p> + +<p>"I do get my history in the evening, but you +could have it mornings, before school."</p> + +<p>"I shall have to go off early, so there wont be +any chance. Yes, there will,—I'll tell you how to +do it: Let me read while I drive up the cows. +Squire likes 'em to eat slow along the road, so's to +keep the grass short and save mowin'. Pat said +so, and I could do history instead of loafin' round!" +cried Ben, full of this bright idea.</p> + +<p>"How will I get my book back in time to recite?" +asked Bab, prudently.</p> + +<p>"Oh, I'll leave it on the window-sill, or put it +inside the door as I go back. I'll be real careful, +and just as soon as I earn enough, I'll buy you a +new one and take the old one. Will you?"</p> + +<p>"Yes; but I'll tell you a nicer way to do. +Don't put the book on the window, 'cause teacher +will see you; or inside the door, 'cause some one +may steal it. You put it in my cubby-house, right +at the corner of the wall nearest the big maple. +You'll find a cunning place between the roots that +stick up under the flat stone. That's my closet, +and I keep things there. It's the best cubby of all, +and we take turns to have it."</p> + +<p>"I'll find it, and that'll be a first-rate place," +said Ben, much gratified.</p> + +<p>"I could put my reading-book in sometimes, if +you'd like it. There's lots of pretty stories in it +and pictures," proposed Betty, rather timidly, for +she wanted to share the benevolent project, but +had little to offer, not being as good a scholar as +bright Bab.</p> + +<p>"I'd like a 'rithmetic better. I read tip-top, +but I aint much on 'rithmetic; so, if you can spare +yours, I might take a look at it. Now I'm going +to earn wages, I ought to know about addin' 'em +up, and so on," said Ben, with the air of a Vanderbilt +oppressed with the care of millions.</p> + +<p>"I'll teach you that. Betty doesn't know much +about sums. But she spells splendidly, and is +always at the head of her class. Teacher is real +proud of her, 'cause she never misses, and spells +hard, fussy words, like <i>chi-rog-ra-phy</i> and <i>bron-chi-tis</i> +as easy as anything."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_200" id="Page_200">[Pg 200]</a></span></p> + +<p>Bab quite beamed with sisterly pride, and Betty +smoothed down her apron with modest satisfaction, +for Bab seldom praised her, and she liked it very +much.</p> + +<p>"I never went to school, so that's the reason I +aint smart. I can write, though, better'n some of +the boys up at school. I saw lots of names on the +shed door. See here now," and scrambling down, +Ben pulled out a cherished bit of chalk and flourished +off ten letters of the alphabet, one on each of +the dark stone slabs that paved the walk.</p> + +<p>"Those are beautiful! I can't make such curly +ones. Who taught you to do it?" asked Bab, as +she and Betty walked up and down admiring them.</p> + +<p>"Horse blankets," answered Ben, soberly.</p> + +<p>"What!" cried both girls, stopping to stare.</p> + +<p>"Our horses all had their names on their blankets, +and I used to copy 'em. The wagons had +signs, and I learned to read that way after father +taught me my letters off the red and yellow posters. +First word I knew was lion, 'cause I was always +goin' to see old Jubal in his cage. Father was real +proud when I read it right off. I can draw one, +too."</p> + +<p>Ben proceeded to depict an animal intended to +represent his lost friend; but Jubal would not have +recognized his portrait, since it looked much more +like Sancho than the king of the forest. The children +admired it immensely, however, and Ben gave +them a lesson in natural history which was so interesting +that it kept them busy and happy till bedtime; +for the boy described what he had seen +in such lively language, and illustrated in such a +droll way, it was no wonder they were charmed.</p> + +<p class="center">(<i>To be continued.</i>)</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="MUSIC_ON_ALL_FOURS" id="MUSIC_ON_ALL_FOURS"></a>MUSIC ON ALL FOURS.</h2> + +<h3><span class="smcap">By Josephine Pollard.</span></h3> + + + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary=""> +<tr><td align='left'> +A Pussy-cat and a Black-and-Tan<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Were shut in a room together,</span><br /> +And, after a season of quiet, began<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">To talk of the change in the weather,</span><br /> +And new spring fashions, and after that<br /> +They had a sort of musical chat.<br /> +Said Puss: "To me it is quite absurd—<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">But tastes and opinions vary;</span><br /> +And some have declared that no beast or bird<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Can sing like the small canary,—</span><br /> +Who, if it be true as I've heard it told,<br /> +Is really worth more than its weight in gold!"<br /><br /> +Said the Black-and-Tan, with a pensive smile:<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">"I've wanted to call attention</span><br /> +To this bit of scandal for quite a while,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">And, if not amiss, to mention</span><br /> +That my daily allowance of bark and w(h)ine<br /> +Has greatly improved this voice of mine."<br /> +"It has," said Puss, with a comic grin;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">"The words of truth you have spoken;</span><br /> +A name for ourselves we must strive to win<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">At once, now the ice is broken;</span><br /> +For one or two doses of catnip tea<br /> +Have had a wondrous effect on me!<br /> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_201" id="Page_201">[Pg 201]</a></span><br /> +"'Twas only the other night I strayed<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Where a silvery moonbeam slanted,</span><br /> +And gave such a beautiful serenade<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">You'd have thought the place enchanted.</span><br /> +It roused the neighborhood to a pitch<br /> +Of praise, or envy—I can't tell which."<br /> +Said the Black-and-Tan, "Why shouldn't we try<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">To sing a duet together?"</span><br /> +Said the Puss, "I see no reason why<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">We can't; and we'll show them whether</span><br /> +To birds and bipeds alone belong<br /> +The gift of singing a pleasing song!"<br /> +</td></tr> +</table><br /></div> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 400px;"> +<img src="images/illus-0136-1.jpg" width="400" height="319" alt="THE DUET." title="THE DUET." /> +<span class="caption">THE DUET.</span> +<br /><br /></div> + + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary=""> +<tr><td align='left'> +They sang—and they sang; but oh, my dears!<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">If you had been anywhere near them,</span><br /> +You'd have shut your eyes and stopped your ears,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">And wished that you couldn't hear them.</span><br /> +'Twas a brilliant effort, upon my word,<br /> +And nearly killed the canary-bird.<br /> +The Pussy-cat and the Black-and-Tan<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">With the music were so delighted,</span><br /> +They will give a concert as soon as they can,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">And perhaps we may be invited.</span><br /> +"Bow-wow!" "Miaow!" I'm sorry, you know,<br /> +I've another engagement—and cannot go! +</td></tr> +</table></div> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_202" id="Page_202">[Pg 202]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="A_LETTER_TO_AMERICAN_BOYS" id="A_LETTER_TO_AMERICAN_BOYS"></a>A LETTER TO AMERICAN BOYS.</h2> + +<h3><span class="smcap">By George MacDonald.</span></h3> + + +<p>My dear Cousins: Shall I really be talking +to you as I sit here in my study with the river +Thames now flowing, now ebbing, past my window? +I am uttering no word, I am only writing; +and you are not listening, not reading, for it will +be a long time ere what I am now thinking shall +reach you over the millions of waves that swell and +sink between us. And yet I shall in very truth be +talking to you.</p> + +<p>In like manner, with divine differences, God +began to talk to us ages before we were born: +I will not say before we began to be, for, in a +sense, that very moment God thought of us we +began to exist, for what God thinks of, <i>is</i>. We +have been lying for ages in his heart without knowing +it. But now we have begun to know it. We +are here, with a great beginning, and before us an +end so great that there is no end to it. But we +must take heed, for, else, the very greatness will +turn to confusion and terror.</p> + +<p>Shall I explain what made me begin my letter +to you just this way?—I was sitting in my room, +as I am now, thinking what I should say to you. +And as I sat thinking after something worth saying +and fit to say, my room spoke to me,—that is, out +of its condition and appearance came a thought +into my mind. And that you may understand how +it came, and how it was what it was, I will first +show you what my room at this moment is like. +For the thought had nothing to do with the sun +outside, or the shining river, or the white-sailed +boats, neither with the high wind that is tossing +the rosy hawthorn-bloom before my windows, or +with the magnolia trained up the wall and looking +in at one of them: it had to do only with the inside +of the room.</p> + +<p>It is a rather long room. The greater part has +its walls filled with books, and I am sitting at one +end quite surrounded by them. But when I lift +my eyes, I look to the other end, and into the +heart of a stage for acting upon, filling all the +width and a third part of the length of the room. +It is surrounded with curtains, but those in front +of it are withdrawn, and there the space of it lies +before me, a bare, empty hollow of green and blue +and red, which to-morrow evening will be filled +with group after group of moving, talking, shining, +acting men and women, boys and girls. It looked +to me like a human heart, waiting to be filled with +the scenes of its own story,—with this difference, +that the heart itself will determine of what sort +those groups shall be. Then there grew up in my +mind the following little parable, which, to those +who do not care to understand it, will be dark,—but +to those who desire to know its meaning, may +give light:</p> + +<p>There was once a wise man to whom was granted +the power to send forth his thoughts in shapes that +other people could see. And, as he walked abroad +in the world, he came upon some whom his wisdom +might serve. One day, having, in a street of the +city where he dwelt, rescued from danger a boy +about ten years of age, he went with him to his +mother, and begged that he might take him to his +house for a week. When they heard his name, +the parents willingly let their son go with him. +And he taught him many things, and the boy loved +and trusted him.</p> + +<p>When the boy was asleep in bed, the wise man +would go to his room at midnight, and lay his ear +to his ear, and hearken to his dreams. Then he +would stand and spread out his arms over him and +look up. And the boy would smile, and his sleep +was the deeper.</p> + +<p>Once, just an hour after the sage had thus visited +him, the boy woke, and found himself alone in the +middle of the night. He could not get to sleep +again, and grew so restless that he rose and went +down the stair. The moon shone in at every western +window, and his way was "now in glimmer +and now in gloom." On the first landing he saw +a door wide open, which he had never seen open +till now. It was the door of the wizard's room. +Within, all was bright with moonlight, and the boy +first peeped, then stepped in, and peered timidly +about him.</p> + +<p>The farther end of the room was hidden by a curtain +stretched quite across it, and, curious to see +what was behind, he approached it. But ere he +reached it, the curtain slowly divided in the midst +and, drawn back to each side, revealed a place with +just light enough in it from the moonshine to show +that it was a dungeon. In the middle of it, upon +the floor, sat a prisoner, with fetters to his feet, and +manacles to his hands; an iron collar was round +his neck, and a chain from the collar had its last +link in an iron staple deep fixed in the stone floor. +His head was sunk on his bosom, and he sat abject +and despairing.</p> + +<p>"What a wicked man he must be!" thought +the boy, and was turning to run away in terror, +when the man lifted his head, and his look caught<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_203" id="Page_203">[Pg 203]</a></span> +and held him. For he saw a pale, worn, fierce +countenance, which, somehow, through all the +added years, and all the dirt that defiled it, he +recognized as his own. For a moment the prisoner +gazed at him mournfully; then a wild passion of +rage and despair seized him; he dragged and tore +at his chains, raved and shrieked, and dashed himself +on the ground like one mad with imprisonment. +For a time he lay exhausted, then half rose and +sat as before, gazing helplessly upon the ground.</p> + +<p>By and by a spider came creeping along the bar +of his fetters. He put out his hand, and, with the +manacle on his wrist, crushed it, and smiled. Instantly +through the gloom came a strong, clear, +yet strangely sweet voice—and the very sweetness +had in it something that made the boy think of +fire. And the voice said:</p> + +<p>"So! in the midst of misery, thou takest delight +in destruction! Is it not well thou art chained? +If thou wast free, thou wouldst in time destroy the +world. Tame thy wild beast, or sit there till I +tame him."</p> + +<p>The prisoner peered and stared through the dusk, +but could see no one; he fell into another fit of +furious raving, but not a hair-breadth would one +link of chain yield to his wildest endeavor.</p> + +<p>"Oh, my mother!" he cried, as he sank again +into the grave of exhaustion.</p> + +<p>"Thy mother is gone from thee," said the voice, +"outworn by thine evil ways. Thou didst choose +to have thyself and not thy mother, and there thou +hast thyself, and she is gone. I only am left to care +for thee—not with kisses and sweet words, but with +a dungeon. Unawares to thyself thou hast forged +thine own chains, and riveted them upon thy limbs. +Not Hercules could free thee or himself from such +imprisonment."</p> + +<p>The man burst out weeping, and cried with +sobs:</p> + +<p>"What then am I to do, for the burden of them +is intolerable?"</p> + +<p>"What I will tell thee," said the voice; "for so +shall thy chains fall from thee."</p> + +<p>"I will do it," said the man.</p> + +<p>"Thy prison is foul," said the voice.</p> + +<p>"It is," answered the prisoner.</p> + +<p>"Cleanse it, then."</p> + +<p>"How can I cleanse it when I cannot move?"</p> + +<p>"Cannot move! Thy hands were upon thy face +a moment gone—and now they are upon the floor! +Near one of those hands lies a dead mouse; yonder +is an open window. Cast the dead thing out +into the furnace of life, that it may speedily make +an end thereof."</p> + +<p>With sudden obedient resolve the prisoner made +the endeavor to reach it. The chain pulled the +collar hard, and the manacle wrenched his wrist; +but he caught the dead thing by the tail, and with +a fierce effort threw it; out of the window it flew +and fell—and the air of his dungeon seemed already +clearer.</p> + +<p>After a silence, came the voice again:</p> + +<p>"Behind thee lies a broom," it said; "reach +forth and take it, and sweep around thee as far as +thy chains will yield thee scope."</p> + +<p>The man obeyed, and, as he swept, at every +stroke he reached farther. At length,—how it +came he could not tell, for his chains hung heavy +upon him still,—he found himself sweeping the +very foot of the walls.</p> + +<p>A moment more, and he stood at the open window, +looking out into the world. A dove perched +upon the window-sill, and walked inquiringly in; +he caught it in his hands, and looked how to close +the window, that he might secure its company. +Then came the voice:</p> + +<p>"Wilt thou, a prisoner, make of thyself a +jailer?"</p> + +<p>He opened his hands, and the dove darted +into the sunlight. There it fluttered and flashed +for a moment, like a bird of snow; then re-entered, +and flew into his very hands. He stroked +and kissed it. The bird went and came, and was +his companion.</p> + +<p>Still, his chains hung about him, and he sighed +and groaned under their weight.</p> + +<p>"Set thee down," said the voice, "and polish +thine irons."</p> + +<p>He obeyed, rubbing link against link busily with +his hands. And thus he labored—as it seemed to +the boy in the vision—day after day, until at last +every portion within his reach, of fetter, and chain, +and collar, glittered with brightness.</p> + +<p>"Go to the window," then said the voice, "and +lay thee down in the sunshine."</p> + +<p>He went and lay down, and fell asleep. When +he awoke, he began to raise himself heavily; but, +lo! the sun had melted all the burnished parts of +his bonds, the rest dropped from him, and he +sprung to his feet. For very joy of lightness, he +ran about the room like a frolicking child. Then +said the voice once more:</p> + +<p>"Now carve thee out of the wall the figure of a +man, as perfect as thou canst think and make it."</p> + +<p>"Alas!" said the prisoner to himself, "I know +not how to carve or fashion the image of anything."</p> + +<p>But as he said it, he turned with a sigh to find +among the fragments of his fetters what piece of +iron might best serve him for a chisel. To work +he set, and many and weary were the hours he +wrought, for his attempts appeared to him nothing +better than those of a child, and again and ever +again as he carved, he had to change his purpose,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_204" id="Page_204">[Pg 204]</a></span> +and cut away what he had carved; for the thing +he wrought would not conform itself to the thing +he thought, and it seemed he made no progress in +the task that was set him. But he did not know +that it was because his thought was not good enough +to give strength and skill to his hand,—that it +seemed too good for his hand to follow.</p> + +<p>One night he wrought hard by the glimmer of +his wretched lamp, until, overwearied, he fell fast +asleep, and slept like one dead. When he awoke, +lo! a man of light, lovely and grand, who stood +where he had been so wearily carving the unresponsive +stone! He rose and drew nigh. Behold, +it was an opening in the wall, through which his freedom +shone! The man of light was the door into +the universe. And he darted through the wall.</p> + +<p>As he vanished from his sight, the boy felt the +wind of the morning lave his forehead; but with +the prisoner vanished the vision; he was alone, +with the moon shining through the windows. Too +solemn to be afraid, he crept back to his bed, and +fell fast asleep.</p> + +<p>In the morning, he knew there had come to him +what he now took for a strange dream, but he remembered +little of it, and thought less about it, +and the same day the wizard took him home.</p> + +<p>His mother was out when he arrived, and he +had not been in five minutes before it began to +rain. It was holiday-time, and there were no lessons, +and the school-room looked dismal as a new +street. He had not a single companion, and the +rain came down with slow persistence. He tried +to read, but could not find any enjoyment in it. +His thoughts grew more and more gloomy, until +at last his very soul was disquieted within him. +When his mother came home and sought him in +the school-room, she found him lying on the floor, +sullen and unkind. Although he knew her step +as she entered, he never looked up; and when she +spoke to him, he answered like one aggrieved.</p> + +<p>"I am sorry you are unhappy," said his mother, +sweetly. "I did not know you were to be home +to-day. Come with me to my room."</p> + +<p>He answered his mother insolently:</p> + +<p>"I don't want to go with you. I only want to +be left alone."</p> + +<p>His mother turned away, and, without another +word, left the room.</p> + +<p>The cat came in, went up to him purring, and +rubbed herself against him. He gave her such a +blow that she flew out again, in angry fright, with +her back high above her head. And the rain +rained faster, and the wind began to blow, and the +misery settled down upon his soul like lead. At +last he wept with his face on the floor, quite overmastered +by the most contemptible of all passions—self-pity.</p> + +<p>Again the voice of his mother came to him. +The wizard had in the meantime come to see her, +and had just left her.</p> + +<p>"Get up, my boy," she said, in a more commanding +tone than he had ever heard from her +before.</p> + +<p>With her words the vision returned upon him, +clear, and plain, and strong. He started in terror, +almost expecting to hear the chains rattle about +him.</p> + +<p>"Get up, and make the room tidy. See how +you have thrown the books about!" said his +mother.</p> + +<p>He dared not disobey her. He sprung to his +feet, and as he reduced the little chaos around him +to order, first calmness descended, and then shame +arose. As he fulfilled her word, his mother stood +and looked on. The moment he had finished, he +ran to her, threw his arms about her neck, burst +into honest, worthy tears, and cried:</p> + +<p>"Mother!"</p> + +<p>Then, after a while, he sobbed out:</p> + +<p>"I am sorry I was so cross and rude to my +mother."</p> + +<p>She kissed him, and put her arms around him, +and with his mind's eye he saw the flap of the +white dove's wing. She took him by the hand and +led him to the window. The sun was shining, and +a grand rainbow stood against the black curtain +of the receding cataract.</p> + +<p>"Come, my child," she said; "we will go out +together."</p> + +<p>It was long years ere the boy understood <i>all</i> the +meanings of the vision. I doubt if he understands +them all yet. But he will one day. And I can +say no more for the wisest of the readers, or for +the writer himself, of this parable.</p> + +<p>The Father of all the boys on earth and in +heaven be with the boys of America! and when +they grow up, may they and the men of England +understand, and love, and help each other! +Amen! Your friend,</p> + + +<p style="text-align: right"><span class="smcap">George MacDonald.</span><br /> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_205" id="Page_205">[Pg 205]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="ANNIE_AND_THE_BALLS" id="ANNIE_AND_THE_BALLS"></a>ANNIE AND THE BALLS.</h2> + +<h4>(<i>A Story for the Kindergarten Children.</i>)</h4> + +<h3><span class="smcap">By H. E. H.</span></h3> + + +<p>Little Annie had been quite ill, and her +mamma thought best to keep her at home from +the Kindergarten; but she was now almost well +again, and had been promised she should return +to her little companions in two more days. Two +days seems a long time to a little girl, and Annie +seemed so sadly to miss all the pretty amusements +of the Kindergarten, that mamma tried to think +what she could do to interest her. At last a very +bright thought came into her head, and she ran +into the hall and whispered it to papa, who was +just putting on his hat and coat to go out.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 404px;"> +<img src="images/illus-060.png" width="404" height="400" alt="The colored balls" title="The colored balls" /> +<span class="caption">The colored balls</span> +</div> + +<p>He came back very soon, and brought Annie a +box with the Kindergarten colored balls in it.</p> + +<p>"Oh!" she cried, "now I can play Kindergarten +with my dolls, for they are really growing up +quite ignorant, especially Arabella Louisa, who +asked me, only yesterday, to cut her apple into +three halves."</p> + +<p>All the little stools in the house were soon collected +and brought to the nursery, where they were +placed in true Kindergarten fashion, and the dolls +seated on them with heels together and toes turned +out. Rosie was there with her beautiful golden +curls, her bright blue eyes, and arms and hands +which would move quite as Alice could move her +own. Then there were four younger children, and +even old Peggy—the rag-baby—was made to sit up +very stiff and straight with the aid of a little string, +and the lesson began.</p> + +<p>Annie took out the yellow ball and asked the +babies to point out something in the room the same +color. Rosie managed, with a little help from her +teacher, to raise her kid arm and point with her +dainty finger to the canary-bird.</p> + +<p>"Point to something round like the ball," said +little Annie, and Arabella Louisa made herself very +cross-eyed looking down at her gold beads, but was +too bashful to speak. Next Annie brought out the +purple ball and laid it down. Then the red and +green ones came out, and, lastly, the orange and +blue. Now the teacher began to look very dull, +even duller than her scholars; her eyelids began +to droop, and she spoke very slowly, and said: +"Children,—can—you—count—the—balls?" but +not hearing any answer, she looked up and found +they had all disappeared, and that she was no +longer in the nursery. Before her was a beautiful<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_206" id="Page_206">[Pg 206]</a></span> +green field dotted all over with buttercups and +daisies. After she had stepped around carefully +on the soft grass and smelt the flowers, she heard +some one call her name, and, looking up, she saw +a beautiful castle standing quite alone by itself in +the air, while a little fairy in a yellow, gauzy dress +beckoned her to come up.</p> + +<p>"Oh!" thought Annie, "how I should like to +go and make her a pretty courtesy, but I have no +wings and cannot fly!"</p> + +<p>The kind fairy seeing the sad look on the little +girl's face, cried out: "Wait a minute till we get +our fairy pipe."</p> + +<p>Annie could but wonder of what use a pipe would +be, but she had been taught to be patient and wait +until things were explained to her; so she stood +very quiet, and soon saw the fairy in yellow come +floating down to the earth. Behind her came +another little creature all in red, and still behind +her a third in a beautiful blue dress. Between +them they carried a long pipe, much like the one +Roger, the gardener, smoked; and when they were +in front of the little girl they began to blow through +it very hard, and Annie soon found herself inside a +a large soap-bubble, and felt that she was gently +floating upward in her fairy balloon. When she +reached the castle she touched the thin wall with +her fingers and it melted away, and left her standing +in Fairy Land!</p> + +<p>Her three companions—the fairy in yellow, the +one in red, and the one in blue—crowded around +her, and cried "Welcome!" three times. Then they +made a place for three more, who tried to smile and +say "Welcome!" also, but could only look very +sad and wipe a tiny tear from their little eyes.</p> + +<p>Now, Annie was a kind little girl, and she asked +them in her gentlest voice what made them sad, +and they all replied: "Oh, we want some dresses +so badly; these are only our little skirts made out +of cobwebs."</p> + +<p>"What color do you want?" said Annie.</p> + +<p>"Well," said the first, "<i>I</i> want one of green, +like the beautiful grass and the leaves of the trees."</p> + +<p>"Ah!" sighed Annie, "if I could <i>only</i> remember +how our teacher told us to make green, but I +am afraid I have forgotten."</p> + +<p>Away ran one of the fairies, and soon came back +with a little white cap, which she placed upon Annie's +head, saying: "This is our thinking-cap," and +as soon as it touched the child's brown curls, she +cried: "I've thought! If you mix yellow and +blue together it will make green; but how can we +do it?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, <i>we</i> know!" all the six cried together, and +they brought a lily filled with dew, and the fairy +with the yellow dress and the one with the blue +dress dipped their little skirts in it, and they stirred +the dew around with a tiny wand, and took out a +lovely green robe, which was put on the fairy who +had chosen that color, and she began to smile very +sweetly.</p> + +<p>Now, the next one stepped up, and said: "<i>I</i> +want a dress of purple like the beautiful sweet +violets which grow in our little gardens."</p> + +<p>As Annie still had the thinking-cap on, she +quickly told them that red and blue must be mixed +together, and another lily was brought and the red +and blue dresses dipped in it; and after some stirring, +out came a beautiful purple frock, and the +fairy who had chosen this smiled even more sweetly +than the other one.</p> + +<p>Now, Annie turned to the last one and asked her +what color she wanted, and she replied: "<i>I</i> want +a dress of orange."</p> + +<p>"I do not need the cap this time," said Annie, +"for I remember that red and yellow will make +orange."</p> + +<p>So a third lily was brought by the fairies, and +when the red and yellow dresses were dipped in it, +out came one of an orange color, and the fairy who +put this on really laughed aloud. Then taking +hold of hands, all the little things began to dance +gayly around Annie, who was quite tired from her +long journey, and had asked permission to lie on +the soft bed of moss.</p> + +<p>She noticed that wherever the red fairy went the +green one followed close behind. The blue fairy +and the one with the orange dress kept close together +with their arms around each other, and the +yellow and purple fairies kissed, and seemed to say +such very pretty things of each other that Annie +thought they must be the <i>complementary</i> colors that +she had heard her mother talk about. Just now it +grew quite dark, and as Annie looked up at the +clouds she felt a rain-drop on her cheek, and looking +at her companions she saw that every drop +clung to their clothing, and looked like beautiful +diamonds and pearls. The shower lasted only a +little while, and then the sun came out, and the +fairies all called out: "Good-by, kind Lady Annie, +we are wanted now away up in the sky!" and they +floated up one above the other, and stretched themselves +out quite long, and arched their bodies very +gracefully; and as Annie turned her face away +from where the sun was setting, she saw in the +opposite direction a beautiful rainbow, and she +knew why the fairies had been called away.</p> + +<p>"Annie! Annie!!"</p> + +<p>"Why, that is my name," thought the little girl; +and she gave a jump and opened her eyes, and can +you believe me, she was back in the nursery, the +balls were lying on the floor just as she had left +them, and the dolls were all staring at her with +their round glass eyes.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_207" id="Page_207">[Pg 207]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="A_MODERN_WILLIAM_TELL" id="A_MODERN_WILLIAM_TELL"></a>A MODERN WILLIAM TELL.</h2> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 400px;"> +<img src="images/illus-0138-1.jpg" width="400" height="320" alt="A MODERN WILLIAM TELL." title="A MODERN WILLIAM TELL." /> +</div> + +<h5>"HERE, GRANDPA, LET'S PLAY WILLIAM TELL. I'LL BE MR. TELL, AND YOU MAY PLAY YOU'RE MY SON,<br /> AND STAND OVER THERE +BY THE MIRROR WHILE I SHOOT THIS APPLE OFF YOUR HEAD."</h5> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="THE_KING_AND_THE_THREE_TRAVELERS" id="THE_KING_AND_THE_THREE_TRAVELERS"></a>THE KING AND THE THREE TRAVELERS.</h2> + +<h4><span class="smcap">By Arlo Bates.</span></h4> + + +<p>Three travelers, who had been found asleep in +the royal park, were once brought before King +Jollimon. In answer to inquiries, they said that +they were story-tellers, who earned their living by +relating those tales and legends of which the inhabitants +of Jolliland are so extravagantly fond.</p> + +<p>"If that be so," said the king, "and if you can +tell stories worth hearing, you are indeed welcome. +The court story-teller has just been banished for +presuming to tell the same story twice, and his +place is unfilled. It would be a right royal idea to +have three story-tellers instead of one."</p> + +<p>So the three travelers, after having been refreshed +with food and drink, were bidden to seat +themselves at the august feet of King Jollimon, +that they might prove their power to please the +royal fancy by strange and unheard tales.</p> + +<p>They were all old and withered; and the first +had a crooked back, the second a crooked nose, +and the third a crooked mouth. He of the crooked +back began, and told the tale of</p> + + +<h4><span class="smcap">The Raven Maiden.</span></h4> + +<p>There once lived a young and accomplished +prince called Orca. His father was king over all +the country and the neighboring provinces, and +Orca was his only heir.</p> + +<p>The prince was a daring hunter, and went often<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_208" id="Page_208">[Pg 208]</a></span> +to the royal forests, sometimes in company with +the lords of the court, but oftener alone. For it so +happened that the gamekeeper had a young +daughter, Sipelie, who was as fair as the morning, +and as modest as she was fair; and the prince, +having seen her, of course fell over head and ears +in love with her, forgetting all differences of wealth +and station. As for Sipelie, having no mother to +tell her better, although she took good care to wait +a modest while before showing it, she gave away +her whole heart to him. Nor was this so much to +be wondered at, for Orca was every inch a prince, +and a fine, manly fellow beside. And so I warrant +there was billing and cooing enough at the gamekeeper's +lodge, for when the prince came the gamekeeper +kept discreetly in the background, and +Sipelie had no brothers or sisters to be in the way.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 400px;"> +<img src="images/illus-0139-1.jpg" width="400" height="341" alt="THE CROOKED-BACKED TRAVELER TELLS A STORY TO THE KING." title="THE CROOKED-BACKED TRAVELER TELLS A STORY TO THE KING." /> +<span class="caption">THE CROOKED-BACKED TRAVELER TELLS A STORY TO THE KING.</span> +</div> + +<p>But the course of true love is never without its +rapids, and it was not long before Orca's visits to +Sipelie began to be talked about among the nobles. +So at last the news came to the ears of the Lady +Ildea, the prime minister's daughter, who hoped to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_209" id="Page_209">[Pg 209]</a></span> +win Prince Orca herself. The Lady Ildea's temper +was certainly none of the best, nor was her beauty +at all to be compared with that of the gamekeeper's +daughter. She had long laid siege to the heart of +the prince, and she was now convinced that it was +only on account of the peasant maiden that she +made so little progress.</p> + +<p>The Lady Ildea was not unskilled in magic, and +by consultation with divers not very respectable +spirits, she found means to transform the beautiful +Sipelie into a raven. Thus it happened that when +the prince went as usual to visit his beloved, he +found the cottage empty, and no living thing in +sight but a raven, which croaked dolorously from +a neighboring tree. When the gamekeeper appeared, +in answer to Prince Orca's eager questions, +he could only say that his daughter was missing. +Together, the two men searched the whole night +for the lost maiden; but neither then, nor in any +after search, could a trace of Sipelie be discovered.</p> + +<p>It is needless to speak of the gamekeeper's grief, +or the prince's despair. Both refused to be comforted, +and the unhappy prince became so pale and +thin that it was pitiful to see.</p> + +<p>In all his grief and anguish, the Lady Ildea +showed a deep sympathy, encouraging him to tell +her all his woes, and if she could not comfort him, +she at least wept for him, and that was something.</p> + +<p>And so it went on until the prince was taken +violently ill. The wise men gathered about his +bed, and at last concluded, after many long and +tedious days of consultation, that his sickness was +caused by an evil influence, which they ascribed to +a raven that had been noticed fluttering continually +about the palace windows. They farther announced +that the prince could only be cured by +the juice of certain wild herbs, which were exceedingly +rare, and which only grew in wild and dangerous +places in the mountains. Messengers were +dispatched throughout the whole country in search +of the precious herbs, but the third day a bundle +of the plants was found on the ledge of the prince's +window. No one knew whence they came, nor +did any one notice that the raven sat on a distant +tree, and watched until the herbs were taken +in, but then flew silently away, to return no more.</p> + +<p>The prince now rapidly recovered, and was soon +able to go again into the open air. The lady Ildea +had been most attentive throughout his illness, and +on the first day on which he went to the hunt, she +rode by his side. She was outwardly calm enough, +but inwardly she was not at all at ease. Only one +day remained of the duration of the magic spell +which ensnared Sipelie, and Prince Orca had not yet +forgotten the peasant maiden, or bound himself to +Ildea. As they followed the hounds through the +pleasant forest, the sharp eyes of the lady espied a +raven fluttering along from branch to branch, always +keeping near the prince.</p> + +<p>She pointed it out to her companion, saying, +"Do you see the bird of ill omen? It is the same +which brought you illness. Now is your time to +destroy it."</p> + +<p>Prince Orca raised his bow, but lowered it again, +for something within stayed his hand, and he said: +"Let the poor blackamoor live. I have been too +near death myself to feel like harming it."</p> + +<p>"If you do not care for yourself," said Lady +Ildea, "others do. It might bring you harm +again." And with unerring aim she sent an arrow +flying through the air. The raven fell, uttering a +last mournful cry. But Lady Ildea was not satisfied. +Hastily dismounting, she ran through the +grass to where the bird lay, and found the body of +the maiden Sipelie, pierced to the heart, and covered +with blood. Horror-struck, she turned away, +but at that instant she trod upon an adder, which +suddenly darted its fangs into her foot, inflicting a +mortal wound.</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>"And served her right," quoth King Jollimon, +as the crooked-backed man ended. "The prince +is left to bury the dead, I suppose. Well, I've +heard worse tales, I'm sorry to say; but I generally +hear better ones. What have you to tell?" he +added, nodding to the man with the crooked nose.</p> + +<p>"Mine is a fable, and very instructive," said he; +"And the moral——"</p> + +<p>"Moral me no morals," interrupted King Jollimon. +"Tell your fable, if you please; but I'll +draw my own moral as mild as I please."</p> + +<p>Thus admonished, he of the crooked nose told +the tale of</p> + + +<h4><span class="smcap">The Wise Cat.</span></h4> + +<p>A certain cat set out to seek his fortune, and +traveled through the whole world. At last he came +to a country where a cat had never been seen before. +The inhabitants were at first frightened by +the strange monster, but having observed Puss +killing the mice with which the country was overrun, +they plucked up courage, and approaching +him, requested that he should follow them before +the king. Puss complied willingly enough, and +the end of the matter was that he was installed +rat-catcher to the king, and a large salary bestowed +upon him. The faithfulness with which Puss discharged +his duties raised him high in the royal +regard, and a circumstance soon occurred which +advanced him still further. The king took his +naps by an open window, and had a plate of cherries +placed beside him that he might eat them +when he awoke. A crow from the neighboring +forest constantly stole the fruit, nor had all the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_210" id="Page_210">[Pg 210]</a></span> +efforts of the king's servants succeeded in destroying +the bird. The cat, however, concealed himself +in the window-hangings, and pounced upon the +unlucky marauder, and broke his neck. The king +was full of gratitude, and ordered that Puss's salary +be increased. Soon after, a bear came and ravaged +the king's flocks. His majesty commanded Puss +to kill him. "I can only do what I am able," +pleaded the cat; but the king insisted. While +Puss was coming, Bruin attacked the store of a +swarm of bees, and was stung to death. "You +have done as I knew you would, my dear cat," said +the king, and would listen to no explanations. The +cat received the Order of the Royal Shoe-string.</p> + +<p>Next an elephant came and ravaged the crops. +The king sent the cat to attack him. "Alas! I +can only do what I am able," again pleaded the cat, +but there was no moving the king. While the cat +was coming, the elephant fell into a pit and was +killed.</p> + +<p>"You have done as I knew you would," said the +king once more; and the cat received the Order +of the Royal Penknife, and the care of the Royal +Shoe-brush.</p> + +<p>A great army marched to subdue the kingdom. +The king gave himself no uneasiness. "Have we +not the cat here?" he asked. "My dear, go and +put these troublesome fellows to flight."</p> + +<p>"Alas! your majesty," said the unfortunate cat, +"I can but do as I am able, and luck will turn at +last;" but the king was stubborn as ever. And +while the cat was coming, a band of the enemy fell +upon him and destroyed him; and they overthrew +all the kingdom. The king was taken prisoner +and compelled to feed cats all his life. "That ungrateful +cat!" he continually exclaimed.</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>"And do you call that a fable?" asked King +Jollimon. "I should have let you tell the moral, +that there might have been some good to it. Come, +you fellow," he said to the crooked-mouthed man, +"speak quickly. I long to hear another tale, that +I may forget this."</p> + +<p>And this tale was that of</p> + + +<h4><span class="smcap">Hans and Peter.</span></h4> + +<p>Hans and Peter met one fine morning on the +way to market. Hans was large and stout; the +world always went easily with him; he troubled +himself as little as possible about the cares of life, +and seemed to grow plumper every day.</p> + +<p>Peter, on the other hand, was thin and slim. +He was continually worrying himself about some +trifle, and his face grew more and more care-worn +every day.</p> + +<p>"Good morrow, friend Peter," said plump Hans, +in a hearty tone of cheer.</p> + +<p>"Good-day, neighbor!" answered Peter, solemnly.</p> + +<p>"Why are you so downcast?" asked Hans.</p> + +<p>"Downcast! Have you no troubles," retorted +Peter, "that you cannot understand why people +look downcast?"</p> + +<p>"I?" said jovial Hans. "I've only one trouble +in the world, and that does not trouble me. My +wife complains because I have become so stout."</p> + +<p>"Happy man!" exclaimed Peter. "My friends +complain because I am so thin."</p> + +<p>"My friends say it makes me move too slowly," +said Hans.</p> + +<p>"My wife upbraids me," returned Peter, "because +I move so very quickly."</p> + +<p>"Suppose we change bodies!" said they both in +a breath. And they changed.</p> + +<p>Again, in a few months, Hans and Peter met +one fine morning; and Hans was again large and +stout, while Peter had become thin and slim.</p> + +<p>"What have you done to my body?" asked Hans.</p> + +<p>"What have you done to my body?" asked +Peter.</p> + +<p>"I was puzzled at first," said Hans, "to know +whether I was Hans or Peter; but it soon came +right."</p> + +<p>"At first," returned Peter, "I knew not whether +I was Peter or Hans, but as you say, it soon came +right."</p> + +<p>"Then the difference," remarked Hans, "is not +<i>my</i> body."</p> + +<p>"Nor <i>my</i> body," put in Peter.</p> + +<p>"But," said they both, "ourselves!"</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>"Worse and worse," said King Jollimon, at the +conclusion of the remarkable legend. "If there +were four of you, I shudder to think what a bad +story the fourth one would tell!"</p> + +<p>"It is because we did not know your majesty's +taste," said the man with the crooked back. "If +you would hear us once more, we should please +you better."</p> + +<p>"I have heard enough," said the king; but +upon second thought he consented that they should +try again.</p> + +<p>And first the crooked-backed man told the tale of</p> + + +<h4><span class="smcap">The Egg-Shell.</span></h4> + +<p>A boy once met a magician, who gave him an +egg-shell, telling him to place it in his mouth, but +on no account to break it. The boy was as foolish +as boys usually are, so he instantly obeyed him, +without at all stopping to think what the consequences +might be. Immediately his head swelled +up like an enormous balloon, so that the wind +nearly blew him away. He managed to catch hold +of a post and save himself from this fate, and a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_211" id="Page_211">[Pg 211]</a></span> +crowd began to gather around his head. His body +was quite out of sight underneath, and only the +huge head was to be seen.</p> + +<p>As everybody stood staring at the wonderful +sight, a fly lit on the boy's cheek. He could not +reach it himself, for his arms would not reach a +tenth part of the way to his chin; so he asked one +of the bystanders to kill the troublesome insect. +The boy's voice was so smothered by the egg-shell +that it was long before he could make himself understood; +but at last the man got an idea of what +was wanted, and aimed a severe blow at the fly. +The insect flew away unharmed, but the boy started +so suddenly that he bit the egg-shell in two, and +his head collapsed to its natural size. So there was +a little boy in the middle of the place, holding on +by a post, and a crowd of people looking at him +from a distance.</p> + +<p>"What a disappointment!" said the boy's +mother. "He was fast becoming remarkable! But +then, what a sum his hats would have cost! After +all, it is best as it is."</p> + +<p>"And besides," added a neighbor, "how could +you have got at him to punish him?"</p> + +<p>"To be sure!" answered the mother.</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>"This is better than the first, because it is +shorter," said the king; and the man with a crooked +nose began the story of</p> + + +<h4><span class="smcap">The Crooked-Nosed Philosopher.</span></h4> + +<p>"There was once a man," he said, "with a nose +so long that it reached half way round his head, +and thus the point was continually behind him. +This not unnaturally caused him a great deal of +trouble, but in the end was the means of his good +fortune, as you shall hear. For once, as he sat +reading, he felt something on the end of his nose, +and turning round his head he saw a fly sitting on +the point of it."</p> + +<p>"Saw a fly on the point!" interrupted King +Jollimon. "What do you take me for, that you +thus try to impose such stories on me? Can a man +see what is behind him?"</p> + +<p>"Certainly, if he turns round," answered the +traveler, quite unmoved.</p> + +<p>"If he turns round!" repeated the king, in a +rage, "can one see the back of his head? I have +turned round, but I never could see my back."</p> + +<p>"That is because your majesty always looks +away from it," replied the other. "If you would +turn round and look toward the back of your head, +you would undoubtedly see it."</p> + +<p>"Do you presume to dispute with me?" screamed +his majesty, getting very red in the face. He felt +sure he was right, but he could not answer the +traveler's argument. "Do you presume to dispute +with me?" he repeated. "Get out of my sight, +and if one of you three vagabonds, with your trumpery +stories, is found in all the kingdom of Jolliland +by sunset to-morrow, I'll have every man of you +beheaded three times over. A man see his back, +indeed!"</p> + +<p>And thus it happened that the tale of "The +Crooked-Nosed Philosopher" was never concluded, +which was the greater pity, since, if the end was +like the beginning, it must have been a very marvelous +tale.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="SOMETHING_IN_THE_OLD_CLOTHES_LINE" id="SOMETHING_IN_THE_OLD_CLOTHES_LINE"></a>SOMETHING IN THE OLD CLOTHES LINE.</h2> + +<h4><span class="smcap">By Paul Fort.</span></h4> + + +<p>When I look at pictures of people of old times, +I often think what a curious thing it is that the +only apparent difference between them and the +people of the present day is to be seen in their +clothes.</p> + +<p>If we could take a dozen or so of ancient Greeks +and Romans; some gentlemen and ladies of the +middle ages; a party of our great-grandfathers +and mothers, and some nice people who are now +living in the next street, and were to dress all the +women in calico frocks and sun-bonnets, and all +the men in linen coats and trousers and broad +straw hats, with their hair cut short; and were +then to jumble them all up together, and make +them keep their tongues quiet, it would be very +difficult, if not impossible, for a committee, unacquainted +with any of the party, to pick out the +ancients, the middle-agers, or the moderns.</p> + +<p>Lady Jane Grey, or Cornelia, the mother of the +Gracchi, or Helen of Troy, would not look unlike +the other women in sun-bonnets and calico frocks; +and while there would be a greater difference in +the men, whose nationality might show more +strongly, Christopher Columbus, Nero, and Marco<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_212" id="Page_212">[Pg 212]</a></span> +Bozzaris would be pretty much the same kind of +fellows as the other men of the party.</p> + +<p>It is certainly a fact that there are a great many +more points of strong resemblance between the +people of past ages and ourselves than most of us +suppose. It is often very surprising, when reading +of the domestic life of the past, to see how precisely +similar, in some respects, it was to our own. And, +as I have said, the people looked, with the exception +of their clothes, very much as we do—meaning +by "we" the people of the present day, all over +the world.</p> + +<p>In 1876, at the Centennial Exposition, I saw +a marble bust—life size—which was a portrait +of a lady of ancient Rome. There was only the +head and neck, the hair was dressed very plainly, +and it was astonishing how well that bust would +have answered for the portrait of a lady of Thirty-fourth +street, New York, or the wife of a gentleman +in Springfield, Ohio. The head and face were just +such a head and face as I had often seen, and the +countenance even seemed familiar to me.</p> + +<p>But dress makes all the difference in the world. +Had I met that lady attired in her flowing Roman +garments, with her golden head-dress and her sandaled +feet, I should have had no thought of Thirty-fourth +street, or Springfield, Ohio.</p> + +<p>And so down the whole line of ages you can tell, +pretty nearly, when a man or a woman lived, if you +can but get an idea of his or her clothes.</p> + +<p>The next thing which strikes most of us when +looking at the pictures of old-time people, is a feeling +of wonder how they ever could have been willing +to make such scarecrows of themselves.</p> + +<p>To be sure, we are willing to admire the flowing +robes of Greece and Rome, although we feel quite +sure that our style of dress is much more sensible, +and we have an admiration for a soldier clad in +armor, as well as for the noblemen and gentry who +figured, some hundreds of years ago, in their splendid +velvets and laces, their feathers and cocked +hats, and their diamond-hilted swords.</p> + +<p>But, as a rule, the garments of our ancestors +appear very ridiculous to us. If we did not have +good reasons for belief to the contrary, we should +be very apt to consider them a set of fools.</p> + +<p>It even seems a little wonderful that people +should be able to invent such curious fashions of +dressing themselves.</p> + +<p>Think, for instance, of the wife of Jean Van +Eyck, a celebrated old Dutch painter, who was +willing to dress her hair so that she looked like a +cat, and, moreover, had her portrait taken in that +style, so that future generations might see what a +guy she was!</p> + +<p>Yes, the picture painted over five hundred years +ago hangs to-day in the Academy of Bruges, and +the staidest little Belgians laugh when they look at +it. You may see it yourselves some day, but, if +not, you can at least enjoy this excellent copy, +which has been engraved for <span class="smcap">St. Nicholas</span> from +a photograph of the painting. If you look at +her face, you will see that in feature she is very +much like an ordinary woman of the present day. +There is nothing at all distinctive about her countenance. +As far as that is concerned, she might +just as well have lived now as at any other time.</p> + +<p>But if she were to appear in an ordinary evening +company dressed in the style in which you see her +in the picture, the difference between her and the +other ladies would be very striking, to say the least.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 303px;"> +<img src="images/illus-0140-1.jpg" width="303" height="400" alt="THE WOMAN WHO LOOKED LIKE A CAT." title="THE WOMAN WHO LOOKED LIKE A CAT." /> +<span class="caption">THE WOMAN WHO LOOKED LIKE A CAT.</span> +</div> + +<p>The curious methods of dress in olden times were +so many, and were of such infinite variety, that I +cannot even allude to them in a little article like +this; but you cannot look at very many pictures +of the people of by-gone days without seeing some +costume which will appear quite funny, if not absolutely +absurd.</p> + +<p>You need not go very far back either. What +could be queerer than the high coat-collars of some +of your great-grandfathers, which came up under +their ears, while their throats were wrapped in fold +after fold of long cravats—or else encircled by a +hard, stiff stock,—and the hind-buttons of their +coats were away up in the middle of their backs!</p> + +<p>But perhaps your great-grandmothers, with the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_213" id="Page_213">[Pg 213]</a></span> +waists of their gowns just under their arms, with +their funny long mittens and their great calash +bonnets, were just as queer as their husbands.</p> + +<p>Now the question comes very naturally to us: +Why did these people, as well as the people who +came before them, dress in such ridiculous fashions? +We know that many of them were very sensible +folk, who knew how to do many things as well as +we can do them, and some things a great deal better. +Mentally and physically the most of them are +not surpassed by the people who live now. Then +why did not they know enough to dress sensibly +and becomingly as we do?</p> + +<p>In reply to this I will say that your great-grandfather +and your great-grandmother, unless they +belonged to some religious sect which regulated +the clothes of its members, would have dressed exactly +as your father and mother now do, if it had +been the fashion in their day.</p> + +<p>And if you had seen their portraits, dressed in +clothes of the present day (which, had those old +people worn them, would have been out of fashion +long before you were born), you would have thought +they looked perfectly ridiculous.</p> + +<p>The truth of the matter is, that with a great +many of us the attractive and desirable qualities of +clothes depend entirely upon their relations to the +current styles or fashions. We think everything +unbecoming and ugly excepting those styles; and +no matter how absurd the present fashion may be, +there are not ten persons out of a thousand who, +when they become used to them, do not admire +them and follow them to the extent of their ability.</p> + +<p>There are few of you who are not old enough to +remember fashions of dress, which at one time you +and every one else considered very stylish and becoming, +and which now would make a perfect +fright of any one who would be bold enough to +wear them.</p> + +<p>Indeed, were a fine lady to make her appearance +in the streets of one of our large cities dressed in the +hoops and wide skirts in which she was so fashionable +and attractive a few years ago, the street boys +would hoot her, and she might walk about all day +without meeting a single person who would think +that there was anything whatever to be said in +favor of such a costume.</p> + +<p>Of course, some fashions are uglier and more +absurd than others, and it is not strange that we +wonder how sensible people could have endured +them; but if these very styles were to become +fashionable again, most of us would adopt them.</p> + +<p>If, in a few years, it should become the fashion +for ladies to dress their hair like that of the good +wife of Jean Van Eyck, I feel quite certain that +nearly all the fashionable ladies you know would go +about looking very much like cats. This may seem +a libelous assertion; but if you will keep a watch +on the fashions, I think you will find I am correct, +provided the Van Eyck style comes up.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_214" id="Page_214">[Pg 214]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="TOMMYS_DREAM_OR_THE_GEOGRAPHY_DEMON" id="TOMMYS_DREAM_OR_THE_GEOGRAPHY_DEMON"></a>TOMMY'S DREAM; OR, THE GEOGRAPHY DEMON.</h2> + +<h4><span class="smcap">By Laura E. Richards.</span></h4> + + + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary=""> +<tr><td align='left'> +<span class="smcap">I hate</span> my geography lesson!<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">It's nothing but nonsense and names;</span><br /> +To bother me so every morning,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">It's really the greatest of shames.</span><br /> +The brooks, they flow into the rivers,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">And the rivers flow into the sea;</span><br /> +I hope, for my part, they enjoy it,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">But what does it matter to me?</span><br /> +Of late, even more I've disliked it,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">And more disagreeable it seems,</span><br /> +Ever since the sad evening last winter,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">When I had that most frightful of dreams.</span><br /> +I thought that a great horrid monster<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Stood suddenly there in my room—</span><br /> +A frightful Geography Demon,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Enveloped in darkness and gloom;</span><br /> +His body and head like a mountain,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">A volcano on top for a hat;</span><br /> +His arms and his legs were like rivers,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">With a brook round his neck for cravat.</span><br /> +He laid on my poor trembling shoulder<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">His fingers, cold, clammy and long;</span><br /> +And fixing his red eyes upon me,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">He roared forth this horrible song:</span><br /> +"Come! come! rise and come<br /> +Away to the banks of the Muskingum!<br /> +It flows o'er the plains of Timbuctoo,<br /> +With the peak of Teneriffe just in view.<br /> +And the cataracts leap in the pale moonshine,<br /> +As they dance o'er the cliffs of Brandywine.<br /> +"Flee! flee! rise and flee<br /> +Away to the banks of the Tombigbee!<br /> +We'll pass by Alaska's flowery strand,<br /> +Where the emerald towers of Pekin stand;<br /> +We'll pass them by, and will rest awhile<br /> +On Michillimackinac's tropic isle;<br /> +While the apes of Barbary frisk around,<br /> +And the parrots crow with a lovely sound.<br /> +"Hie! hie! rise and hie<br /> +Away to the banks of the Yang-tze-ki!<br /> +There the giant mountains of Oshkosh stand,<br /> +And the icebergs gleam through the falling sand;<br /> +ts on the palm-tree high,<br /> +And the cannibals feast on bad-boy pie.<br /> +"Go! go! rise and go<br /> +Away to the banks of the Hoang-ho<br /> +There the Chickasaw sachem makes his tea,<br /> +And the kettle boils and waits for thee.<br /> +We'll smite thee, ho! and we'll lay thee low,<br /> +On the beautiful banks of the Hoang-ho!"<br /> +These terrible words were still sounding<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Like trumpets and drums through my head,</span><br /> +When the monster clutched tighter my shoulder,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">And dragged me half out of the bed.</span><br /> +In terror, I clung to the bed-post;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">But the faithless bed-post, it broke.</span><br /> +I screamed out aloud in my anguish,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">And suddenly—well, I awoke.</span><br /> +He was gone. But I cannot forget him,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">The fearful Geography Sprite.</span><br /> +He has my first thought in the morning,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">He has my last shudder at night.</span><br /> +Do you blame me for hating my lesson?<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Is it strange that it frightful should seem?</span><br /> +Or that I more and more should abhor it<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Since I had that most horrible dream?</span><br /> +</td></tr> +</table></div> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="THE_TOWER_MOUNTAIN" id="THE_TOWER_MOUNTAIN"></a>THE TOWER MOUNTAIN</h2> + +<h4><span class="smcap">By Gustavus Frankenstein.</span><br /><br /></h4> + +<p class="center">II.</p> + + +<p>When I reached the crowd of monkeys who +were making such a noise and were evidently in +such trouble, I soon saw what was the matter. A +very large monkey had his claws fastened in the +back of a much smaller one, and was biting him in +the shoulder—the little fellow shrieking, and the +others dreadfully excited, yet hesitating to come to +the rescue.</p> + +<p>What are monkeys compared to a man? I rushed +in, seized the ruffian by the throat, which loosened +his hold upon the weaker party, and hurling him +with all my force against the ground, broke his +ugly skull upon the rock on which it struck.</p> + +<p>Then, such a yell of delight as went up from +that motley monkey crew! It was simply indescribable. +This was immediately followed by an +immense amount of jabbering, as they gathered in +little groups, no doubt discussing the merits of the +action and the valor of the hero. Doubtless the +monkey I had slain was a great tyrant over the +others, by reason of his superior size and strength, +and they were congratulating one another upon +their deliverance from his hated rule.</p> + +<p>His last victim—poor little fellow!—I raised from +the ground, washed his wounds, and, gathering +some plantain-leaves, placed them carefully over +the lacerated flesh, and bound them on snugly and +firmly with strips of palm-leaf.</p> + +<p>The little creature looked at me very affectionately, +evincing by his expression the deepest gratitude.</p> + +<p>As he was in a very sad plight indeed, I nursed +and petted him until quite late in the afternoon, +his companions not far off observing my movements +with great interest. At last I said to the +wounded monkey:</p> + +<p>"Now, little fellow, go your way in peace. Take +care of yourself, and you will get well. Good-bye!"</p> + +<p>I took my basket and started up the hill. Occasionally +I looked back to see what he was doing,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_215" id="Page_215">[Pg 215]</a></span> +and each time his gaze was fixed on me; and when +I had entirely lost sight of him, I began to regret +that I had not taken him with me and cared for +him until he should get well.</p> + +<p>Pippity, as I returned, was overjoyed to see me. +He had certainly grown anxious at my long absence.</p> + +<p>"Pippity," I said, "I shall not go down again +into the valley for a long time. We have had +cocoa-nuts enough lately; let us enjoy that which +is around us."</p> + +<p>But, after a couple of months had passed away, +knowing that Pippity was very fond of the cocoa-nuts +(and I, too, liked very much the milk they +contained), I determined to go and get some more.</p> + +<p>I was getting the nuts down from the trees as +best I could, when, all at once, I was surprised at +their falling around me fast and thick, and on looking +up, there was a little monkey throwing them +down! At first, I thought he was throwing them +at me; but he stopped when he saw me looking +up, and I went on gathering and putting them in +the basket. Not one of them that had been thrown +down had hit me, so I concluded that the monkey +had no evil design, but that, on the contrary, he +was trying to do me a good turn.</p> + +<p>"That's a pretty good sort of monkey," I +thought, "and I wouldn't mind meeting him any +time I come down. He has saved me to-day considerable +trouble."</p> + +<p>Then, up the mountain I went, and got back +home quite early, which seemed to surprise Pippity +not a little.</p> + +<p>The next time I went down, the same thing happened +again; and so on for a number of times.</p> + +<p>Once, after taking up my basket and starting for +home, I noticed a little monkey (I thought it was +the very one that had so kindly thrown me the +cocoa-nuts) following me at some distance. The +next trip I made, this occurred again, and this time +the monkey kept following me nearer and nearer, +until, finally, I heard at my heels a slight squeal, +and on looking around there was the little creature.</p> + +<p>"Why, monkey!" I exclaimed, "what in the +world do you want?"</p> + +<p>He stood there, trembling somewhat, I thought; +but quickly he leaped on my back, and put his +arms around my neck. I was a little frightened, +at first; but, taking hold of his hands, I gently +loosened his hold and brought him around in front +of me, when, holding him out to view, I saw a scar +on his shoulder.</p> + +<p>"Oh! it's you, is it?" I cried. "Then it's you +who have been throwing me the cocoa-nuts all this +time. It's plain you haven't forgotten a favor." +I set him on the ground. "Go, join your comrades, +and, whenever you feel disposed to throw +me cocoa-nuts, I shall always accept the kindness +as a very great favor."</p> + +<p>But monkey wouldn't go and join his comrades, +and persisted in following me. I did not want to +speak unkind words or use harsh measures toward +him, although I tried everything I could think of +to induce him to leave me; but all my efforts to +get rid of him failed. He followed me home.</p> + +<p>Pippity was a little surprised to see two individuals +instead of one approaching, and eyed the stranger +with much curiosity.</p> + +<p>After we had partaken of refreshments, I addressed +our guest in the following words:</p> + +<p>"Monkey, since you have followed me, and +seem inclined to join our society, I shall not object +to your remaining, provided you behave yourself +properly; and I have no doubt that my worthy +friend to whom I have had the high honor of introducing +you, will heartily second me in any effort +looking toward your comfort and general well-being. +You may make this your home, if it so +pleases you. If you want to leave us to-morrow, go. +If you would like to remain with us until death +shall us three part, you are welcome."</p> + +<p>I was curious to see how Pippity would treat the +new-comer. It was to be expected that he would +show some signs of jealousy, but his was a noble +nature, and scorned to descend to such mean conduct. +He and the monkey were almost immediately +on the best of terms, at which I was much +pleased, for I would not for a moment have endured +any quarreling in my household.</p> + +<p>When our cocoa-nuts were nearly all gone, I +went down for some more. It was not long after +this that, one fine day, the monkey was missing. +Neither did he come back the next day. About +noon, I said to Pippity:</p> + +<p>"Pippity, we have but few cocoa-nuts left. To-morrow +I shall go down and get another supply; +and who knows but I may meet our friend the +monkey? Although he was at any time at liberty +to leave us if he liked, yet I confess I have a desire +to know what has become of him. Perhaps some +accident has befallen him."</p> + +<p>While I was yet speaking, a cocoa-nut rolled into +our house.</p> + +<p>"Why, what's that?" I exclaimed; and, looking +out, there was the little monkey, just without +the entrance, in the very act of throwing a cocoa-nut +into the cavern! Going toward him, I saw +him catch one thrown to him by another monkey.</p> + +<p>Now, here was a most singular performance, +and one which certainly demanded investigation. +Where did the second monkey get <i>his</i> cocoa-nut? +I went toward him, and found that he caught a +cocoa-nut thrown to him by a third monkey about +fifteen feet beyond him.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_216" id="Page_216">[Pg 216]</a></span></p> + +<p>As the nuts kept coming all the time, the sight +was highly interesting.</p> + +<p>To ascertain the true state of the case I went +farther; found a fourth monkey, then a fifth, then +a sixth; and as I proceeded I left one monkey only +to find another farther on, all about fifteen feet one +from the other, some perched on rocks, some on +trees, forming a zigzag line down the mountain, +all busily catching and throwing the cocoa-nuts in +the most remarkably systematic fashion, There +must have been sixty monkeys or more engaged in +this delightful occupation.</p> + +<p>I went back and found a large pile of the fruit +in our house; and thinking we had enough for a +long time to come, I would have liked to be able +to make our little monkey understand that we +wanted no more. The parrot had learned to discover +my wishes very well, but with the monkey I +supposed it would be a matter of some difficulty to +make him comprehend me. He seemed to divine +my thoughts, however, or else his own good sense +came to his aid, for, almost immediately, he gave +a little shriek, which the next monkey took up, and +which went along the line until the sounds died +away in the distance. After this a few more nuts +rolled into the house, then the throwing and catching +ceased, and the monkeys which had been in +sight disappeared, with the exception of our little +friend, who sprang, all elasticity and animation, +into our domicile.</p> + +<p>"Now, come, my little friend, sit up and have +something to eat," I said. "You must be hungry +after the expenditure of so much energy. We had +given you up for lost; but now, after this evidence +of your good-will toward us, we are satisfied that +you really intend to remain with us."</p> + +<p>I wished the monkey was able to relate to us how +he managed to assemble so many of his friends, +and to get them to act with such perfect accord; +and how, in the first place, he could make them +understand what he wished them to do. Of course, +not being able to talk, he could give us no explanation +of how the thing was brought about. I could +therefore only form an opinion in the matter, +which was as follows:</p> + +<p>Our little friend was undoubtedly a great favorite +with his fellows, and although he was as gentle as +a kitten he was not without power, and his companions +were ever ready to serve him out of sheer +good-will. When, therefore, after he had been rescued +from the ferocious monkey, his appreciation of +a kind action naturally enkindled in him a desire to +return the favor in some way, he threw me the +cocoa-nuts from the trees; and, although I believe +that from the first he felt an ardent desire to be +near his benefactor, his natural modesty prevented +his thrusting himself upon me without considerable +preliminary skirmishing. His fellow monkeys, +keenly sensible of his noble qualities, and happy in +having got rid of the odious despot who had so +long oppressed them, were only too glad to aid him +in any reasonable and honorable project which +might benefit the hero who had slain their hated +ruler. But by what queer signs and by what sort +of jabbering our little monkey had made his +wishes known to his companions, only he and they +knew.</p> + +<p>I now took occasion to tell our four-handed friend +that he must have a name.</p> + +<p>"'Grilly' you shall be called," I said; "and, +although you cannot utter our names, common +politeness requires that you be informed of them. +There is Pippity, the parrot, and here am I, Frank, +the man."</p> + +<p>As Pippity was a good scholar, while Grilly yet +remained uneducated, it was a source of grief to +me that the monkey continued in his deplorable +ignorance in the midst of such enlightened society.</p> + +<p>What was to be done?</p> + +<p>Talk he could not. There was not the slightest +use in making any effort in that direction, because +nature had failed to furnish him with the organs +needed for speaking articulately.</p> + +<p>I had noticed frequently, when going down into +the valley, a certain rock which fell in pieces by +splitting off in smooth plates; and another kind +which lay scattered about in small fragments that +would make marks like chalk-marks. This substance +was of a reddish color, and, on the purplish +surface of the thin slabs of the harder rock, it +made very clear, distinct lines.</p> + +<p>On one of these slabs I wrote the alphabet in +large letters, and began by teaching Pippity his +A B C's. The next step was to instruct Grilly how +to hold the pencil. Taking his hand in mine, I +guided it in making the letters. He was rather +slow at first in comprehending the science or acquiring +the knack of tracing the letters; but continued +application will accomplish wonders even +with a monkey; and in a few weeks' time Grilly +would make any letter at command. I got Pippity +to call out the alphabet while Grilly wrote. Thus +they taught each other—Pippity addressing the +monkey's ear, and Grilly appealing to the parrot's +eye.</p> + +<p>After they were thus well grounded in the alphabet, +I made them spell short and familiar words. +I would spell the words to Pippity, and he would +repeat them in a loud, clear voice to Grilly, whose +province of course it was to write them in a bold, +legible hand, whilst the parrot kept his eye sharply +on the writing; and if, perchance, the monkey +should make a mistake, it was expected of him to +call out immediately—"Error!"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_217" id="Page_217">[Pg 217]</a></span></p> + +<p>As Pippity had a great many phrases and a vast +number of nouns at command, and began pretty +rapidly to comprehend the science of English orthography, +he was soon able to give out the words +to Grilly without my help; though he did make +some funny mistakes, for which, however, the poor +bird was in no way responsible, but which made +me laugh at him nevertheless.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 286px;"> +<img src="images/illus-083.jpg" width="286" height="400" alt="TEACHING GRILLY TO WRITE." title="TEACHING GRILLY TO WRITE." /> +<span class="caption">TEACHING GRILLY TO WRITE.</span> +</div> + +<p>It may seem strange to some that a monkey +could be taught to write. With such persons I +will hold no argument. All I have to say is: Get +a monkey, and try it.</p> + +<p>Grilly as well as Pippity became in course of +time quite a fine scholar, and he, too, learned the +names of the plants and many other objects which +we found in our dominions. The two agreed very +well, and the one furnished what the other lacked. +The parrot could talk but not write; the monkey +could write but not talk.</p> + +<p>But it occurs to me that two such extraordinary +characters deserve description.</p> + +<p>First come, first served. The external appearance +of Pippity was gorgeous in the extreme. His +wings, green, red-spotted, were tipped with golden +yellow, while the most delicate flush of iridescent +colors suffused his back, neck and breast; his toes +in pairs, two forward and two back, like those of +all other parrots; a bill and tongue exactly formed +for speech; eyes in observation keen; and a bearing +dignified and commanding.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_218" id="Page_218">[Pg 218]</a></span></p> + +<p>Grilly, of course, had not so gay an exterior; yet +he had a handsome clothing of soft, fine hair; a +gentle, intelligent eye; a head exceedingly well +formed, round and full, with prominent forehead; +handsome moustache and full stylish whiskers; an +expression winning and full of animation; a carriage +elegant and graceful; and, withal, he was +astonishingly expert with tail and hands and feet.</p> + +<p>The time now coursed smoothly and happily +along, Pippity entertaining us with his lively prattle, +and Grilly, full of his antics and his learning, +affording a never-failing fund of amusement. Nor +did he ever omit, when the supply of cocoa-nuts +was about exhausted, to go down and assemble his +tribe, who forthwith took their places up the height, +passed the nuts one to another, and, when they +deemed we had enough, dispersed to their own +wild homes of sylvan shade.</p> + +<p>One day Grilly was amusing himself turning +over some stones that lay in a little heap in one +corner of our vast chamber. I had always thought +it strange that they were the only loose stones to be +found either in the cavern or in the neighborhood, +but had never troubled myself any further about +them. Seeing Grilly busy with them, I thought I +would join him in his work or sport, and in a little +time we had the pile reduced to the floor. There, +I saw, was a square slab, having on it certain characters +and a drawing of a serpent held firmly in +the talons of a condor. These symbols excited my +curiosity not a little, and I noticed that the stone, +which was about three feet square, was loosely resting +in its place. I managed to pry it up, and +found a dark cavity beneath. It was nearly square, +but of its depth I could not judge, owing to the +darkness. To satisfy myself on this point, I got a +very long stem of one of those gigantic grasses that +grow in the tropics, and, letting it down, found the +hole to be about forty feet deep. I felt a great +desire to descend into this pit, but dared not venture +for fear of the foul and deadly air that might have +to be encountered below. Such things as matches, +of course, we had not, nor any fire whatever. +I therefore delayed the experiment for several +days, with the expectation that the air would improve +considerably in that time. Then, by bracing +my hands and feet against the sides, I descended +slowly, and found the air good enough to breathe +freely, which emboldened me to go to the bottom. +There was just light enough to perceive that on +one side was an opening about six feet in height, +and somewhat more than a foot in width; and I +could see rough steps leading down a slight descent. +I followed them cautiously, until I came to +a level place, which I found to be a passage about +three feet wide and higher than I could reach.</p> + +<p>It was so dark here that I could no longer see, +when, feeling the rock on either side, I came to a +place where there was a recess about three feet +above the floor of the passage. Raising myself +into this recess, I found it to be about four feet in +height. This led back a considerable distance,—how +far I never discovered,—and as I was groping +about, being obliged to stoop all the time, I stumbled +over something that rolled and rattled like a +bone. I felt for it, and found it to be one, and +with it were a number of others. As far as I +could judge in the darkness, they were the skeleton +of a human being.</p> + +<p>How came these there? Was this a tomb?</p> + +<p>I felt about for more relics, going hither and +thither in the earnestness of quest, but found no +more.</p> + +<p>I had now been in this dungeon upward of an +hour, and felt inclined to return as speedily as possible +to the daylight. I searched for the place +where I had got up from the narrow passage. I +groped this way and that; and this had to be done +with precaution, for who could tell where I might +not step off suddenly and fall to some great depth? +Yet I could find nothing that promised to lead me +to the passage by which I had come.</p> + +<p>Where was I? What was I to do? Remaining +still would never do; to keep moving, moving, was +the only course to pursue. I had, I knew not how, +emerged from that low-roofed recess, and stood +now in what seemed to be a vast chamber where +there were neither sides nor roof. I hallooed that +I might hear the echo from its walls, and perhaps +in that way find them. I was startled, almost +frightened, at the solemn mocking sounds that +reverberated through the lonely cavern. I grew +fearful of my own voice.</p> + +<p>At last I sank down exhausted, and slept. I +awoke, and groped about once more. This occurred +again and again. How often I lay down to +sleep I cannot tell. Sometimes I thought of the +skeleton I had stumbled over, and wondered if my +bones, too, would here find their resting-place. +Then I thought of the grand, lofty mountain overhead. +What a stupendous monument! But what +would I not have given for deliverance from it!</p> + +<p class="center">(<i>To be continued.</i>)<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_219" id="Page_219">[Pg 219]</a></span></p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 400px;"> +<img src="images/illus-086.png" width="400" height="568" alt="THE HOUSE THAT JACK BUILT BY OUR JAPANESE ARTIST" title="THE HOUSE THAT JACK BUILT BY OUR JAPANESE ARTIST" /> +<span class="caption">THE HOUSE THAT JACK BUILT BY OUR JAPANESE ARTIST</span> +</div> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_220" id="Page_220">[Pg 220]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="HOW_TO_MAKE_AN_ICE-BOAT" id="HOW_TO_MAKE_AN_ICE-BOAT"></a>HOW TO MAKE AN ICE-BOAT.</h2> + +<h4><span class="smcap">By J. H. Hubbard.</span></h4> + + +<p>The sport of sailing on the ice has within a few +years attracted considerable attention on our northern +rivers and lakes, and seems likely to increase. +It is an amusement well adapted to big boys, being +exciting, requiring skill, and certainly not more +dangerous than skating. It is even more fascinating +than yachting, without the danger which +always attends the latter pursuit. A small ice-boat +that a boy can build will sail ten to twenty miles an +hour with a good wind. Some large ones, strange +as it may seem, can sail, with a wind on the beam, +actually faster than the wind which is blowing. This +fact is attested by the highest scientific authorities.</p> + +<p>Having seen some unsuccessful attempts at ice-boats +by boys in various places, I propose to tell +you how to build one, at a small expense, that will +sail well, and give you a great deal of sport.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 400px;"> +<img src="images/illus-087.png" width="400" height="449" alt="FIG. 1." title="FIG. 1." /> +<span class="caption">FIG. 1.</span> +</div> + +<p>The directions and measurements here given are<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_221" id="Page_221">[Pg 221]</a></span> +the result of careful experiments and some failures. +Fig. 1 is an elevation, Fig. 2 a ground-plan of the +frame, and Fig. 3 a section of a runner. Get +a spruce plank, A, 12 feet long, 6 inches wide, 2 +inches thick. This is the backbone of the structure. +Cut near one end of it a hole two inches +square to receive the foot of the mast.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 592px;"> +<img src="images/illus-088a.png" width="592" height="400" alt="Fig. 2." title="Fig. 2." /> +<span class="caption">Fig. 2.</span> +</div> + +<p>Take two oak cross-bars, E E, 8 feet long, 4 inches +deep, 2 inches thick. The cross-bars are bolted +to A, one foot apart, the forward one a foot from +mast-hole. This distance is best.</p> + +<p>Next get one oak plank, C, 16 inches long, 3-1/2 +inches deep, 2 inches thick.</p> + +<p>The hard-wood piece, D, is for tiller, 4 feet long, +2 inches wide, 1 inch thick. This is to be set into +the top of plank C, and fastened there with screws. +To each end of it is attached a rope, which runs +over a sheave fastened to the cross-bar, C D, and +the ropes, <i>l l</i>, constitute the steering apparatus. +Two boards, F F, each 11 feet long, 8 inches wide, +7/8-inch thick, are planed, and the edges matched +together, at the stern. They are nailed to the +plank, A, and the cross-bars, E E, as shown in Fig. +2. Four blocks, each 3 inches thick, must be put +under them where they lie over the cross-bars. A +board a foot long, 7/8-inch thick, must also be put +under F F at the stern.</p> + +<p>Six slats, G G, as long as may be needed, 2 +inches wide, 7/8-inch thick, are nailed over A, and +under F F.</p> + +<p>The mast is a natural spruce stick, 13 feet long, +shaved down to 3-1/2 inches at butt, 2-1/2 inches at +the top.</p> + +<p>The boom is 13-1/2 feet long, 2 inches thick at each +end, and a little thicker in the middle. It is fastened +to the mast by an iron eye, screwed into the +mast, and a hook in the end of the boom. The +sprit is 10 feet long, 1-1/2 inches diameter, shaved +to 3/4-inch for 2 inches at each end.</p> + +<p>The iron collar, <i>i</i>, through which the mast is +inserted loosely, stands two feet above the top of +plank, A. It is supported by three iron braces, <i>h h h</i>, +and is bolted to the tops of them. The braces +are 3/4-inch round iron, and bolted to the frame as +shown.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 374px;"> +<img src="images/illus-088b.png" width="374" height="200" alt="Fig. 3." title="Fig. 3." /> +<span class="caption">Fig. 3.</span> +</div> + +<p>The hind-runner block, C, is fastened to A by a +strong iron, <i>m</i>, as shown in Fig. 1. It allows the +runner to rock up and +down, and to be turned +sidewise by the tiller. +A must be plated with +iron top and bottom +where <i>m</i> goes through, +that the runner may not +"wobble."</p> + +<p>The construction of the runners, J J J, must be +attended to with the greatest care, as upon these, +in a great measure, will depend the success of your +boat. Get a square bar of cast steel, 6 feet long, +cut off 22 inches for third runner, and divide the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_222" id="Page_222">[Pg 222]</a></span> +rest in halves, across. Shape two forward runners +and one hind one as shown in Fig. 1. The +bearing surface is a right-angled edge, as shown in +Fig. 3. This sharp edge holds the ice firmly without +much friction. Holes are bored two inches up +into the cross-bars, near their ends, and the runners +driven in and fastened with rivets. After the +runners are forged, they should be finished with a +file and emery paper if not perfectly smooth. The +front turn must be long and gradual like a skate, +two-thirds the length, however, flat on the ice. +The running edges should not be too sharp. They +will project 2-1/2 or three inches below the bottom +of the wood.</p> + +<p>For the sail get twenty yards, three-quarters of a +yard wide, of heavy drilling. The dimensions are: +Head, 5 feet; foot, 13 feet; foreleach, 10 feet; +afterleach, 14-1/2 feet. Make these measurements +on a floor, and mark the outlines with a chalk-line. +Cut the after-breadth first, and the others to match. +Lap the breadths 1 inch. Allow an inch all around +for a hem. The breadths should be basted before +stitching. Put two rows of stitching where the +breadths lap. Look out for puckering. Put a +narrow hem clear around the sail. Then stitch a +3/8-inch rope around the hem. Make a loop at +the peak to put the end of sprit into. Draw the +rope tight along the boom, and fasten it through a +hole in the end. Fasten the throat of sail tight to +the top of the mast. Cut a number of short pieces +of heavy twine, and lace the sail, at intervals of a +foot, to the boom and mast. Fasten a becket or +loop of rope at a suitable position on the mast, to +set the heel of the sprit into. Rig main-sheet over +two sheaves, as shown; it brings less strain on the +boom, and clears the skipper's head in tacking. +Make a good, large wooden cleat to belay it to.</p> + +<p>The cost of materials will be about as follows:</p> + +<p> +Boards, plank and mast $5.00<br /> +Iron work 6.00<br /> +Twenty yards Drilling 2.75<br /> +Four single-sheave galvanized<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">pulley-blocks at 35 c 1.40</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">(May be omitted by using leather straps.)</span><br /> +Ropes, etc. 85<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 21.5em;">______</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">Total $16.00</span><br /> +</p> + +<p>A boat built as above will sail nearly as close to +the wind as a good cat-boat. It is managed much +the same. Don't turn too short in coming about. +Jibe when you like without fear of capsizing. Your +boat will carry three persons in a light wind,—more +if it blows fresh. Rig it neatly, and try to +make a finished thing all through. Your ice-boat +will then be more than a boy's plaything, and will +be admired by old and young.</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 683px;"> +<img src="images/illus-091.png" width="683" height="400" alt="The unsmiling child" title="The unsmiling child" /> +</div> + + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary=""> +<tr><td align='left'> +There once was a man with a child<br /> +Who, the neighbors said, never had smiled;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 3em;">But the father said, "See!</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 3em;">Smile in this way, like me,</span><br /> +And then folks will know when you've smiled."<br /> +</td></tr> +</table></div> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_223" id="Page_223">[Pg 223]</a></span></p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="DEBBYS_CHRISTMAS" id="DEBBYS_CHRISTMAS"></a>DEBBY'S CHRISTMAS.</h2> + +<h4><span class="smcap">By Ella A. Drinkwater.</span></h4> + + +<p>Most young people's Christmas commences the +night before; so did Debby's. She had just settled +down in Blanket street, and fallen into the sleep of +tired, healthy girlhood, when she was aroused by +her mother's irritable voice screaming up the stairway.</p> + +<p>"Debby! Debby!" she called. "Get up quick +and help me pick these turkeys. Your father's +made up his mind to sell them dead weight, and +we've got to pick them to-night, so he can take +them to the hotel early in the morning. Do you +<i>hear</i> me, Debby?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, ma'am," answered Debby, scrambling +out of her warm nest to the square of rag carpet +before her bed.</p> + +<p>Four minutes later she felt her way down-stairs +and opened the kitchen door into a room +filled with steam, and the peculiar smell of scalded +fowls.</p> + +<p>"There's seven to do," her mother said, bending +over the brass kettle on the stove to draw from +it a dripping turkey. "Yours are all scalded. Go +to work."</p> + +<p>Debby buttoned on a large apron, seated herself +with a tin pan in her lap containing a turkey, and +then began quickly to pluck off its feathers, laying +them to dry on a religious newspaper spread on the +table beside her.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Blanchard soon sat down at the other side +of the table, and began to pick and talk as fast as +fingers and tongue would allow.</p> + +<p>What did possess Mr. Blanchard to change his +mind, and give them so much extra trouble, she +could not conceive; and selling them to Tate, too, +when he might have made a quarter of a cent more +a pound if he had let Morris have them. And then +those hoop-poles! He might have made she +didn't know how much if he had taken her advice, +and kept them a week longer.</p> + +<p>As for the potatoes, they had turned out so +small, and the corn was so short in the ear, that +the land only knew where the money to get them all +something to wear was to come from. Not that +<i>she</i> cared for dress, for hadn't she worn the same +bonnet and shawl to church until she was ashamed +to show her face there? As for the sewing society, +she was a master hand at cutting and planning, +and she could go as well as not, too, now that +Debby was quite old enough to take care of the +baby, and get the supper ready for her father and +the boys; but not a step was she going to sit next +Mrs. Williams with her black silk, and Mrs. White +with her handsome alpaca, although their husbands' +farms were no larger than Mr. Blanchard's; +and for the life of her she could not understand +why <i>she</i> should not dress as well when she worked +twice as hard as they did.</p> + +<p>To all of which Debby listened with a sinking +heart and great sobs in her throat, wondering why +they should be such an unhappy family when every +one around them appeared so glad.</p> + +<p>Did it really make people so happy, this Christmas-day +that they talked so much about in Sunday-school? +That was a beautiful hymn that they +sung last Sunday; she repeated one verse softly to +herself while the stream of her mother's talk ran on:</p> + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary=""> +<tr><td align='left'> +"Jesus is our childhood's pattern,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Day by day, like us, he grew;</span><br /> +He was little, weak and helpless,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Tears and smiles, like us, he knew;</span><br /> +And he feeleth for our sadness,<br /> +And he shareth in our gladness."<br /> +</td></tr> +</table></div> + +<p>With a comforted feeling she pushed back her +hair with her feathery hand, heartily wishing that +all the people who ate their turkeys would be comfortable, +and have clothes to wear and go to sewing +societies whenever they liked.</p> + +<p>The clock ticked loudly, the fire died away while +Mrs. Blanchard enlarged upon the trials of her +life, and, despite the refrain in her heart—</p> + + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary=""> +<tr><td align='left'> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;"> +"And he feeleth for our sadness,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">And he shareth in our gladness"—</span> +<br /> +</td></tr> +</table></div> + +<p>Debby's eyes were as heavy with tears as with +sleepiness when the last plump turkey lay on the +table plucked of his feathers, just as the clock was +striking eleven.</p> + +<p>"Go to bed, child, and I'll clear up the mess," +her mother said, when Debby sprang up and +straightened herself with a long sigh. "I'm sure +your father ought to give you something for keeping +out of your bed so late, when he is sleeping as +innocent as the baby this minute, I'll warrant."</p> + +<p>As Debby had a way of only thinking her replies, +her answer was to wash her hands at the sink and +run upstairs with joyful feet, thinking, "How +<i>splendid</i> it will be if he gives me some money; +then I can spend it at the Fair to-morrow night."</p> + +<p>But even rose-colored visions could not keep the +weary child awake; she was not conscious of touching +the pillow, and thought of nothing until the +clock striking six awoke her to remember, with a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_224" id="Page_224">[Pg 224]</a></span> +thrill, that it was Christmas-day,—the day of the +Fair.</p> + +<p>But there would be no presents or merry greetings +in her home, for she could not remember ever +hearing either father or mother wish any of the +family "Merry Christmas!" and a little candy on +that day was among the dimmest pictures of her +childhood.</p> + +<p>"I'll make the fire, so that mother can sleep +a little longer," she decided, lighting her candle, +and beginning to dress with shivering alacrity. +"And I'll be as helpful as I can all day, and +perhaps father <i>will</i> give me some of the turkey +money."</p> + +<p>With shaking fingers she kindled the wood fire, +and had the kettle boiling and the griddle heated +for the cakes, when her mother came out of the +bedroom, asking her what had wakened her so +early, and telling her to dress the baby while she +finished getting the breakfast ready.</p> + +<p>Debby willingly brought the screaming baby out +to the fire, where she washed and dressed him, +soothing him with many motherly little airs. Sam +and Jim ran down-stairs to hover over the red-hot +stove; the father came in, bringing the pail of milk, +stamping his feet, his beard white with his frozen +breath; then they all sat down to breakfast by +candle-light, and no one would have supposed, +from their conversation, that they had ever heard +of Christmas-day.</p> + +<p>Immediately after breakfast Mr. Blanchard hurried +away to dispose of his turkeys, taking the boys +with him; Mrs. Blanchard heated the brick oven +preparatory to a morning's baking, and Debby flew +about as busily as the bee she represented, washing +dishes, making beds, peeling vegetables, and tending +the baby, lightening her labor with the thought +of the money her father might possibly give her.</p> + +<p>When it was time for him to return, she determined +to keep in sight, as a kind of hint that some +of the money should be given to her; not that she +would ask him for it,—her askings were only for +favors to the boys, made in much fear and inward +shrinking; but she would just wait around and +remind him by her presence that she had helped +pick the turkeys.</p> + +<p>But, with no understanding of the feverish anxiety +that filled the heart of the little maiden who +was moving briskly about the pleasant kitchen +dishing up the dinner, Mr. Blanchard threw open +the door with a chuckle. "Took every one of +them and paid the money down," he announced, +coming to the fire. "Got more than I expected, +too, for his scales made them weigh more than +ours, so I gained just thirty cents."</p> + +<p>Debby thought that her heart stopped beating +while she stood bewildered in the middle of the +floor with a dish of potatoes in her hand, waiting +to hear her father say that the extra money should +be hers; but he merely asked if dinner were ready, +and why she moved so slowly; guessed that sitting +up so late made her lazy.</p> + +<p>All her castles built of ice-cream, candy, pin-cushions, +and fancy needle-books, fell to the ground +with a crash as she set the dish on the table, leaving +her with no appetite for dinner, not even for +the first pumpkin-pie of the season.</p> + +<p>She sat at the table absently tasting the savory +pork stew, believing that no one else was ever as +miserable as she, and that she should never feel +like laughing again, when suddenly she remembered +that she had twenty-four cents change left +from the dollar that her father gave her to buy +school-books, and she would—yes—she would give +it to him as she was starting for the Fair, and perhaps +he would say that she might keep it.</p> + +<p>So she was all ready to laugh when Jim asked if +the little boys in the big cities wore muzzles like the +dog he had seen in town this morning, and when +her mother asked if she would take pie, her "yes" +was emphatic; for a world of trouble had rolled off +her heart, and she was her hopeful self again.</p> + +<p>After the dinner-dishes were washed, and the +baby trotted away to dream-land, Debby stole up to +her room to look over the dress she was to wear in +the evening; as the ruffles in neck and wrists were +fresh, she found there was nothing for her to do +but brush it and lay it out on the bed. Still she +lingered with an undefined feeling that it was +Christmas-day everywhere else, and if she could +only——</p> + +<p>All the week, while seeing and hearing about +the presents the school-girls were making, she had +been full of vague longings to do something for +some one; but she had neither money nor material, +and was not at all sure how a present from her +would be received by her father and mother. +"Perhaps I might make a pin-ball," she thought, +beginning to search through the old chest of +drawers that stood at the foot of her bed.</p> + +<p>In the lowest drawer were odds and ends that +she had been collecting for years, and from one +corner, carefully wrapped up, she drew a square of +black cloth in which was worked in wool a bunch +of rose-buds, pink, white and yellow, surrounded +by their green leaves. A lady who had boarded +with them the last summer had begun it for a pair +of slippers, but after making two or three mistakes +on it, had given it to Debby.</p> + +<p>"I wonder if I could make it into a cushion for +mother?" soliloquized Debby, turning it around in +her red fingers. "Mrs. Williams said old flannel +was good to stuff them with, and I can bind it +with——" she leaned forward and picked among<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_225" id="Page_225">[Pg 225]</a></span> +her bunch of faded ribbons. "There is nothing +nice enough," she sighed; "but this green will +<i>have</i> to do."</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 315px;"> +<img src="images/illus-0142-1.jpg" width="315" height="400" alt="DEBBY AND THE ICE-CREAM [SEE PAGE 227.]" title="DEBBY AND THE ICE-CREAM [SEE PAGE 227.]" /> +<span class="caption">DEBBY AND THE ICE-CREAM<br /> [SEE PAGE 227.]</span> +</div> + +<p>Wrapping herself in a quilt she sat down on the +rounded top of a hair-covered trunk, close to the +frosty window, and cutting the cloth in the shape +of a diamond, she sewed it together like a bag, +filled it with flannel, and hurriedly stitched on the +faded green ribbon as a binding.</p> + +<p>These rosebuds were a wonderful work of art to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_226" id="Page_226">[Pg 226]</a></span> +Debby, and one of her great treasures; it would +have been a "perfectly lovely cushion," she thought, +if the binding had only been new and the silk with +which she stitched it green instead of blue; and it +was <i>so</i> delightful to make presents. Next year she +would have a present for every one in the house; +she wondered why she had never thought of it +before.</p> + + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary=""> +<tr><td align='left'> +"And He feeleth for our sadness,<br /> +And He shareth in our gladness,"<br /> +</td></tr> +</table></div> + +<p>sprang from her heart to her lips, and she hummed +it over and over all the three-quarters of an hour +that she was at work. When the cushion was finished, +she held it out in different positions, trying +to decide in which it would look best when she should +present it; and then she ran down-stairs, possessed +with such a variety of feelings that she could scarcely +speak when she opened the kitchen door.</p> + +<p>Her mother was ironing, with her back toward +her. Debby was glad that no one else was there.</p> + +<p>"I've made you a Christmas present, mother," +she said, timidly, laying it on the ironing-board.</p> + +<p>"So <i>that's</i> what you have been doing in the cold +so long," her mother answered, without pausing in +her work. "Miss Holmes was a beautiful hand +with her needle, and how she did fuss over that! +But you might just as well have made it some other +day; I was in no hurry for it. Put it in my bureau-drawer, +and come and mend these blankets your +father has just brought in. He thinks that we have +so little to do that we can sew for the horses right +in the midst of everything."</p> + +<p>So Debby laid the cushion away, glad that it had +met with no worse reception, and sat down in a corner +near the stove to mend the coarse, dirty horse-blankets. +She usually disliked it exceedingly; but +her little attempt at making Christmas presents had +so warmed her heart, and her head was so full of +the Fair, that it did not now seem so uncongenial, +and she was really surprised when the last stitch +was taken.</p> + +<p>"You are almost as handy with your needle as +your mother," her father said, throwing the blankets +over his shoulder to carry them to the barn.</p> + +<p>"Now spring to, child, and set the table," her +mother added, "and I'll rest a few minutes, for I +feel as if every bone in my body was broken."</p> + +<p>While Debby sewed, the bright sunlight on the +green field of wheat and the brown, ridged field of +corn-stubble visible through the one large window, +had faded quickly away; and as she paused a +moment to pick some shreds off her dress and +glance out at the weather, all she could see was the +dim outline of the woods, the dark forms of the +hills rising behind them, and the cold, black wind-clouds +piled high above them all.</p> + +<p>Tea was ready and over at last, and then Mrs. +Blanchard said, while she tried to quiet the screaming +baby:</p> + +<p>"Go and get ready for the Fair, child, and I will +wash the dishes. I have a dreadful sideache, and +I expect this young one will cry for an hour or two. +But 'every dog must have his day,' and yours will +be short enough."</p> + +<p>With the cloud on her heart that always followed +her mother's gloomy sayings, Debby went slowly +up to her room to array herself in her last year's +blue merino. But it was a pleasant figure to look +upon that she tiptoed up to the glass to survey, and +a round rosy face, with a little frown over the right +eyebrow, that looked out at her with wistful eyes.</p> + +<p>Drawing on hood and shawl, she went down-stairs +and stood before her father with the money +in her hand. He was seated at the table, bending +over a large account-book, with Debby's frown +deepened at the corner of his bushy eyebrow, and +his fingers in his ears to shut out the baby's cries +that reached him from the bedroom. As soon as +she caught sight of what he was doing, Debby's +hopes fell, for reckoning up the yearly expenses +always made him cross for a week.</p> + +<p>"Where are you off to now?" he asked, glancing +up at her.</p> + +<p>"To the Fair. The boys are there to come home +with me. And here," her voice faltering, "is the +change from the school-books."</p> + +<p>"Don't stay late," he replied, turning away and +dropping the precious money into his vest-pocket.</p> + +<p>With a bursting heart, Debby stumbled out into +the windy starlight and walked rapidly along the +rough road, with her mittened fingers in her mouth +to prevent her crying aloud.</p> + +<p>How bitterly she wished she had never heard of +the Fair! She was ashamed to go back into the +house with no reason for returning, yet the thought +of attending the Fair with no money to spend was +torturing to her.</p> + +<p>"There's Debby! Merry Christmas! Ride +with us! Jump in, Debby!" called several voices, +as a wagon full of boys and girls stopped beside +her.</p> + +<p>"I don't want to; I'd rather walk," answered +Debby, swallowing her sobs.</p> + +<p>"<i>Walk</i>, then!" replied Harry Williams, snapping +his whip. "I guess you got a switch in your +stocking this morning!"</p> + +<p>Laughing thoughtlessly, the party rattled past +her, leaving her crying harder than before. But a +walk full of dread comes to an end some time, and +Debby soon found herself at the entrance to the +Fair.</p> + +<p>Slipping in behind a group of men, she stood +confused by the light and noise.</p> + +<p>It was a grand and exciting scene to the little<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_227" id="Page_227">[Pg 227]</a></span> +country maiden, this long, low room, trimmed with +evergreens and flags, and illuminated by all the +lamps in the neighborhood.</p> + +<p>A table extended across each of three sides of +the room. One, used for a supper-table, was filled +with people eating and drinking noisily; on another +was displayed the handiwork of the sewing society +for the past year; and the third, which appeared +the most attractive, was laden with cake, confectionery, +and ice-cream.</p> + +<p>Debby rubbed her swollen eyes, and was gazing +about her in admiring astonishment, when her +neighbor, Annie Williams, shouted "Merry Christmas" +in her ear.</p> + +<p>"Oh! Thank you," replied the startled Debby.</p> + +<p>"Come and take off your things," suggested +Annie. "You may put them with mine behind +the apron and necktie end of the table. Mother +tends that, you know."</p> + +<p>Annie tucked the wraps carefully away, and then +drew Debby through the crowd over to the stove, +screened off in the corner behind the supper-table, +where the good aunties of the village were heating +their faces and spotting their Sunday dresses while +cooking oysters and making coffee for the benefit +of the church. But these ladies looked so annoyed +by seeing the girls stand around the stove that +Debby hurried away. Possibly they thought that +the church would not be benefited by Debby's +warming her fingers and toes.</p> + +<p>Elbowing their way back, with arms clasped +around each other's waist, they encountered and +stepped on the toes of a big German boy, who convulsed +them by pointing down at them with both +forefingers, exclaiming: "See the two craz-z-z-y! +See the two craz-z-z-y!" And Debby's laugh was +as light-hearted as if she could buy everything in +the room, and her mother had nineteen silk dresses.</p> + +<p>"Now come and get some ice-cream," urged +Annie, as they were pushed toward it. "I have +had three saucers, and think it is lovely. I ought +to be a judge, don't you think so?"</p> + +<p>"Not now," said Debby, hastily. "I want to +look at the needle-books your mother made."</p> + +<p>"It's pokey over there! But I'll humor you, +because it is Christmas," laughed Annie.</p> + +<p>So they dodged under elbows, and slipped between +young men and their sweethearts, until they +reached the other end of the room, where Debby +admired pen-holders with spiders and mice on them, +cushions representing the old lady who lived in a +shoe, and needle-books made like wheelbarrows, +wondering if there had been anything at the Centennial +more beautiful than these. But when a +group of girls claimed Annie's attention, she eagerly +seized the opportunity to slip away and sit on the +bench behind Mrs. Williams's table.</p> + +<p>"Tired so soon?" inquired Mrs. Williams, kindly. +"But why didn't your mother come?"</p> + +<p>"She didn't have—I don't mean—I mean she +didn't speak of coming," stammered Debby, with +burning cheeks.</p> + +<p>"Never mind," replied Mrs. Williams, "you will +have a good time, I know; and you must be sure +to ride home with us."</p> + +<p>Soothed by her sympathetic words, Debby almost +forgot her troubles, and sat watching the moving +picture with great amusement, until she espied her +brothers helping Mr. Williams pass the saucers of +cream.</p> + +<p>"Oh, I hope they wont be tempted to <i>take</i> any," +she thought, her heart full of a wordless prayer for +them. But her anxiety was soon relieved by seeing +Sam forcing his way toward her with a plate of +cream.</p> + +<p>"He gave it to me for helping," he whispered; +"but you take it. Jim ate his right up."</p> + +<p>"Eat it yourself, Sammy," she said, drawing +back the hand she had stretched out for it. "I +don't care so <i>very</i> much about it, because I am +older, you know."</p> + +<p>"Don't you, now, 'truly, truly, black and bluely, +lay me down and cut me in twoly?'" he asked, +with the air of a magistrate about to "swear" a +witness.</p> + +<p>"I would very much rather you should eat it," +evaded Debby.</p> + +<p>"Then I will," he answered, brightly, "for I <i>do</i> +want it awfully."</p> + +<p>"Eat it, then; but don't be tempted to take +any," she cautioned.</p> + +<p>"Catch me taking—I'm not a thief!" and he +hastened away.</p> + +<p>Debby was thirteen years old, but she could have +cried for that ice-cream.</p> + +<p>"Oh, <i>here</i> you are at last!" cried Annie, running +up to her a few minutes afterward. "I +couldn't imagine where you had got to. Now, just +read my letter," placing a tiny sheet of pink paper +in her hand. "That box all trimmed up at the +end of the candy-table is the post-office," she explained, +"and we give them five cents and ask for +a letter. Just read mine."</p> + +<p>Debby read, written in a large, clear hand:</p> + +<p class="blockquot"> +"And shouldst thou ask my judgment of that which hath most profit in the world, +For answer take thou this: The prudent penning of a letter."<br /> +</p> + +<p>"It's lovely!" was Debby's comment. "If I +should have one, I wonder what it would be!"</p> + +<p>"I'll run and get you one," volunteered Annie.</p> + +<p>"No, no!" cried Debby, in terror. "I have no +money to pay for it."</p> + +<p>"Have you spent it all so soon?" asked Annie,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_228" id="Page_228">[Pg 228]</a></span> +curiously. "But we must go now and get our ice-cream; +for, do you know, Mr. James has promised +to treat all our class. So come along, for the more +we eat the richer the church will grow."</p> + +<p>"No," refused Debby, shaking off Annie's hand, +"I wont do any such thing," and she shrank back +into her corner.</p> + +<p>"How queerly you act! You wont do anything +I ask you," pouted Annie, turning away.</p> + +<p>"I couldn't take it," Debby excused to herself. +"I want it so much that I'd feel like a beggar in +taking it from him. Annie can't understand, because +she has bought it for herself, and will only +eat it now for fun. I wish there was something for +me to do."</p> + +<p>Her thought was scarcely finished before it was +answered by Mrs. White, in the handsome alpaca +Debby's mother so admired.</p> + +<p>"What am I to do with this child?" she asked, +stopping before Mrs. Williams with a sleeping baby +in her arms. "Phil wants me to go to supper with +him, but what can I do?"</p> + +<p>"I'll hold her," said Debby, eagerly. "I have +a nice quiet place here."</p> + +<p>"Much obliged, I'm sure," answered Mrs. White, +placing the baby carefully in her arms.</p> + +<p>With something to take care of, Debby grew so +comfortable that when Mrs. White returned from +supper she begged to keep the baby longer.</p> + +<p>"Every one is so busy here that I'd like to have +something to do, too," she said, arranging a paper +so as to shade the baby's eyes from the light, +remembering with a throb of gratitude the oranges +Mrs. White sent her when she was sick last fall.</p> + +<p>"If you don't really care to run about, it would +be a great favor to me," returned Mrs. White, "for +there are so many people here that I shall not see +again for a year, and I want to speak to them all. +But a baby is not the most convenient article to +carry in a crowd."</p> + +<p>The handsome alpaca disappeared, and Debby +kept her guard for an hour, watching the young +people who visited the post-office or joked over the +neckties and aprons.</p> + +<p>"Here's an industrious young lady who has had +no supper," declared a bald-headed old gentleman, +stopping before her with a large bell in his hand.</p> + +<p>"I've had my supper," quickly answered Debby.</p> + +<p>"I don't remember counting you at the table," +he replied, wiping the perspiration from his forehead +as he passed on, loudly ringing the bell.</p> + +<p>"I didn't tell a story," sighed Debby, "for I've +had my supper; but I'd like people to think I'd +had it here. It looks so nice to sit at the table," +she added, catching a glimpse of Annie's blue ribbons +as she sat at the table next her brother.</p> + +<p>"How thoughtless I <i>have</i> been!" cried Mrs. +White, returning in a fluster. "I forgot all about +you; you must be tired to death."</p> + +<p>"Only a little tired," said Debby, "and I am so +glad to do anything for you."</p> + +<p>"Well, you must come and see me," invited +Mrs. White, with her mouth full of pins, as she +rolled the baby into a large shawl, "and perhaps I +can find something for you to read."</p> + +<p>But when Debby stood up she felt more stiff and +tired than she had acknowledged, and, fearing that +she had stayed too late, she hurried on her wraps, +and with much persuasion induced her brothers to +go home with her.</p> + +<p>"It wouldn't do us any good to stay and see the +auction," she reasoned, closing the door upon the +noisy scene with a heart lighter than when she had +entered it. "Now let us see how fast we can trot +home in the moonlight."</p> + +<p>Giving a hand to each of the boys, they walked +swiftly toward the little red farm-house, where, +although their parents had retired, a lamp and +a bright fire awaited them.</p> + +<p>The kitchen seemed very quiet after the hubbub +they had left, with the clock on the stroke of nine +and the cat asleep in the wood-box.</p> + +<p>There were three pieces of pumpkin-pie on the +table, left as a lunch for them, and these they ate, +talking in whispers; and then Debby unfastened +the boys' neckties, and followed them upstairs, too +tired and sleepy to be very glad or very sorry about +anything.</p> + +<p>But as she snuggled down under the blankets, +with the "merry din" still ringing in her ears, she +thought:</p> + +<p>"I have not made much Christmas for any one +to-day, but, when I'm grown-up, <i>wont</i> I make +Merry Christmas for little girls!"</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 318px;"> +<img src="images/illus-100.png" width="318" height="100" alt="Chapter end decoration." title="Chapter end decoration." /> +</div> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_229" id="Page_229">[Pg 229]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="THE_COOLEST_MAN_IN_RUSSIA" id="THE_COOLEST_MAN_IN_RUSSIA"></a>THE COOLEST MAN IN RUSSIA.</h2> + +<h3>(<i>An Old Soldier's Reminiscence.</i>)</h3> + +<h4><span class="smcap">By David Ker.</span></h4> + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 222px;"> +<img src="images/illus-0143-1.jpg" width="222" height="400" alt="Drop capital I." title="Drop capital I." /> +</div> + + +<p>'ve seen many a brave man in my time, sure enough," said old Ivan +Starikoff, removing his short pipe to puff out a volume of smoke from +beneath his long white moustache. "Many and many a one have I seen; for, +thank Heaven, the children of holy Russia are never wanting in <i>that</i> +way; but all of them put together wouldn't make one such man as our old +colonel, Count Pavel Petrovitch<a name="FNanchor_1_1" id="FNanchor_1_1"></a><a href="#Footnote_1_1" class="fnanchor">[1]</a> Severin. It wasn't only that he faced +danger like a man,—all the others did that,—but he never +seemed to know that there <i>was</i> any danger at all. It was as good as a +re-enforcement of ten battalions to have him among us in the thick of a +fight, and to see his grand, tall figure drawn up to its full height, +and his firm face and keen gray eye turned straight upon the smoke of +the enemy's line, as if defying them to hurt him. And when the very +earth was shaking with the cannonade, and balls were flying thick as +hail, and the hot, stifling smoke closed us in like the shadow of death, +with a flash and a roar breaking through it every now and then, and the +whole air filled with the rush of the shot, like the wind sweeping +through a forest in autumn,—then Petrovitch would light a +cigarette and hum a snatch of a song, as coolly as if he were at a +dinner-party in the English Club at Moscow. And it really seemed as if +the bullets ran away from <i>him</i>, instead of his running from them; for +he never got hit. But if he saw any of us beginning to waver, he would +call out cheerily: 'Never fear, lads—remember what the song says!' +For in those days we had an old camp-song that we were fond of singing, +and the chorus of it was this:</p> + + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary=""> +<tr><td align='left'> +"'Then fear not swords that brightly shine,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Nor towers that grimly frown;</span><br /> +For God shall march before our line,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">And tread our foemen down.'</span><br /> +</td></tr> +</table></div> + +<p>"He said this so often, that at last he got the +nickname among us of 'Ne-Boisya' (Don't fear), +and he deserved it, if ever man did yet. Why, +Father Nikolai Pavlovitch himself (the Emperor +Nicholas) gave him the Cross of St. George<a name="FNanchor_2_2" id="FNanchor_2_2"></a><a href="#Footnote_2_2" class="fnanchor">[2]</a> with +his own hand (the St. George from the emperor's +own hand—think of that!) at the siege of Varna, +in the year '28. You see, our battery had been terribly +cut up by the Turkish fire, so at last there +were only about half a dozen of us left on our feet. +It was as hot work as I ever was in,—shot pelting, +earth-works crumbling, gabions crashing, guns and +gun-carriages tumbling over together, men falling +on every side like leaves, till, all at once, a shot +went slap through our flag-staff, and down came +the colors!</p> + +<p>"Quick as lightning, Pavel Petrovitch was up on +the parapet, caught the flag as it fell, and <i>held</i> it, +right in the face of all the Turkish guns, while I +and another man spliced the pole with our belts. +You may think how the unbelievers let fly at him +when they saw him standing there on the top of +the breastwork, just as if he'd been set up for a +mark; and all at once I saw one fellow (an Albanian +by his dress, and you know what deadly shots +<i>they</i> are) creep along to the very angle of the wall, +and take steady aim at him!</p> + +<p>"I made a spring to drag the colonel down (I was +his servant, you know, and whoever hurt him hurt +<i>me</i>); but before I could reach him I saw the flash +of the Albanian's piece, and Pavel Petrovitch's cap +went spinning into the air, with a hole right through +it just above the forehead. And what do you think +the colonel did? Why, he just snapped his fingers +at the fellow, and called out to him, in some jibber-jabber +tongue only fit to talk to a Turk in:</p> + +<p>"'Can't you aim better than that, you fool? If +<i>I</i> were your officer, I'd give you thirty lashes for +wasting the government ammunition!'</p> + +<p>"Well, as I said, he got the St. George, and of +course everbody congratulated him, and there was +a great shaking of hands, and giving of good +wishes, and drinking his health in <i>mavro tchai</i>,—that's +a horrid mess of eggs, and scraped cheese, +and sour milk, and Moldavian wine, which these +Danube fellows have the impudence to call 'black +tea,' as if it was anything like the good old tea that +we Russians drink at home! (I've always thought, +for my part, that tea ought to grow in Russia; for +it's a shame that those Chinese idolaters should +have such grand stuff all to themselves.)</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_230" id="Page_230">[Pg 230]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Well, just in the height of the talk, Pavel +Petrovitch takes the cross off his neck, and holds +it out in his hand—just so—and says:</p> + +<p>"'Well, gentlemen, you say I'm the coolest man +in the regiment, but perhaps everybody wouldn't +agree with you. Now, just to show that I want +nothing but fair play, if I ever meet my match in +that way, I'll give him this cross of mine!'</p> + +<p>"Now, among the officers who stood around him +was a young fellow who had lately joined—a quiet, +modest lad, quite a boy to look at, with light curly +hair, and a face as smooth as any lady's. But +when he heard what the colonel said, he looked up +suddenly, and there came a flash from his clear +blue eyes like the sun striking a bayonet. And +then I thought to myself:</p> + +<p>"'It wont be an easy thing to match Pavel +Petrovitch; but if it <i>can</i> be done, here's the man +to do it!'</p> + +<p>"I think that campaign was the hardest I ever +served. Before I was enlisted, I had often heard it +said that the Turks had no winter; but I had +always thought that this was only a 'yarn,' though, +indeed, it would be only a just judgment upon the +unbelievers to lose the finest part of the whole +year. But when I went down there I found it true, +sure enough. Instead of a good, honest, cracking +frost to freshen everything up, as our proverb says,</p> + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary=""> +<tr><td align='left'> +"'Na zimni kholod<br /> +Vsiaki molod'—<br /> +</td></tr> +</table></div> + + +<p>(in winter's cold every one is young), it was all chill, +sneaking rain, wetting us through and through, +and making the hill-sides so slippery that we could +hardly climb them, and turning all the low grounds +into a regular lake of mud, through which it was a +terrible job to drag our cannon. Many a time in +after days, when I've heard spruce young cadets at +home, who had never smelt powder in their lives, +talking big about 'glorious war' and all that, I've +said to myself, 'Aha, my fine fellows! if you had +been where <i>I</i> have, marching for days and days +over ankles in mud, with nothing to eat but stale +black bread, so hard that you had to soak it before +you could get it down; and if you'd had to drink +water through which hundreds of horses had just +been trampling; and to scramble up and down +steep hills under a roasting sun, with your feet so +swollen and sore that every step was like a knife +going into you; and to lie all night in the rain, +longing for the sun to rise that you might dry +yourself a bit,—perhaps <i>then</i> you wouldn't talk +quite so loud about "glorious war!"</p> + +<p>"However, we drove the Turks across the Balkans +at last, and got down to Yamboli, a little town +at the foot of the mountains, which commands +the high-road to Adrianople. And there the unbelievers +made a stand, and fought right well. I +<i>will</i> say that for 'em; for they knew that if +Adrianople were lost, all was over. But God +fought for us, and we beat them; though, indeed, +with half our men sick, and our clothes all in rags, +and our arms rusted, and our powder mixed with +sand by those rogues of army-contractors, it was a +wonder that we could fight at all.</p> + +<p>"Toward afternoon, just as the enemy were beginning +to give way, I saw Pavel Petrovitch (who +was a general by this time) looking very hard at a +mortar-battery about a hundred yards to our right; +and all at once he struck his knee fiercely with his +hand, and shouted:</p> + +<p>"'What do the fellows mean by firing like that? +They might as well pelt the Turks with potatoes! +<i>I</i>'ll soon settle them! Here, Vanya (Ivan)!'</p> + +<p>"Away he went, I after him; and he burst into +the battery like a storm, and roared out:</p> + +<p>"'Where's the blockhead who commands this +battery?'</p> + +<p>"A young officer stepped forward and saluted; +and who should this be but the light-haired lad +with the blue eyes, whom I had noticed that night +at Varna.</p> + +<p>"'Well, you wont command it to-morrow, my +fine fellow, for I'll have you turned out this very +day. Do you know that not a single shell that +you've thrown since I've been watching you has +exploded at all?'</p> + +<p>"'With your excellency's leave,' said the young +fellow, respectfully, but pretty firmly too, 'the +fault is none of mine. These fuses are ill-made, +and will not burn down to the powder.'</p> + +<p>"'Fuses!' roared the general. 'Don't talk to +<i>me</i> of fuses; I'm too old for that rubbish! Isn't +it enough for you to bungle your work, but you +must tell me a lie into the bargain?'</p> + +<p>"At the word 'lie,' the young officer's face seemed +to turn red-hot all in a moment, and I saw his +hand clench as if he would drive his fingers through +the flesh. He made one stride to the heap of +bomb-shells, and, taking one up in his arms, struck +a match on it.</p> + +<p>"'Now,' said he, quietly, 'your excellency can +judge for yourself. I'm going to light this fuse; if +your excellency will please to stand by and watch +it burn, you will see whether I have "lied" or not.'</p> + +<p>"The general started, as well he might. Not that +he was afraid—you may be pretty sure of <i>that</i>; but +to hear this quiet, bashful lad, who looked as if he +had nothing in him, coolly propose to hold a lighted +shell in his arms to see if it would go off, and ask +<i>him</i> to stand by and watch it, was enough to startle +anybody. However, he wasn't one to think twice +about accepting a challenge; so he folded his arms +and stood there like a statue. The young officer +lighted the fuse, and it began to burn.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_231" id="Page_231">[Pg 231]</a></span></p> + +<p>"As for me and the other men, you may fancy +what <i>we</i> felt like. Of course, we couldn't run while +our officers were standing their ground; but we +knew that if the shell <i>did</i> go off, it would blow +every man of us to bits, and it wasn't pleasant to +have to stand still and wait for it. I saw the men +set their teeth hard as the flame caught the fuse; +and as for me, I wished with all my heart and soul +that if there <i>were</i> any good fuses in the heap, this +might turn out to be one of the bad ones!</p> + +<p>"But no—it burned away merrily enough, and +came down, and down, and down, nearer and +nearer to the powder! The young officer never +moved a muscle, but stood looking steadily at the +general, and the general at him. At last, the red +spark got close to the metal of the shell; and then +I shut my eyes, and prayed God to receive my soul.</p> + +<p>"Just at that moment, I heard the man next me +give a quick gasp, as if he had just come up from +a plunge under water; and I opened my eyes again +just in time to see the fuse <i>out</i>, and the young +officer letting drop the shell at the general's feet, +without a word.</p> + +<p>"For a moment, the general stood stock still, +looking as if he didn't quite know whether to +knock the young fellow down, or to hug him in +his arms like a son; but, at last, he held out his +hand to him, saying:</p> + +<p>"'Well, it's a true proverb, that every one meets +his match some day; and I've met mine to-day, +there's no denying it. There's the St. George for +you, my boy, and right well you deserve it; for if +I'm "the coolest man in the regiment," you're the +coolest in all Russia!'</p> + +<p>"And so said all the rest, when the story got +abroad; and the commander-in-chief himself, the +great Count Diebitsch, sent for the lad, and said a +few kind words to him that made his face flush up +like a young girl's. But in after days he became +one of the best officers we ever had; and I've seen +him, with my own eyes, complimented by the +emperor himself, in presence of the whole army. +And from that day forth, the whole lot of us, +officers and men alike, never spoke of him by any +other name but <i>Khladnokrovni</i> ('the cool-blooded +one')."</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Note.</span>—Two other versions of this story, differing somewhat in +detail, are current in the Russian army; but the one in the text is the +more probable, as well as the more generally received.</p> + +<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_1_1" id="Footnote_1_1"></a><a href="#FNanchor_1_1"><span class="label">[1]</span></a> Indecipherable footnote in original text.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_2_2" id="Footnote_2_2"></a><a href="#FNanchor_2_2"><span class="label">[2]</span></a> The highest Russian decoration.</p></div></div> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="SKATING" id="SKATING"></a>SKATING</h2> + +<h4><span class="smcap">By Theodore Winthrop.</span></h4> + +<h5>[Never before printed.]</h5> + + + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary=""> +<tr><td align='left'> +A BOUNDING gallop is good<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Over wide plains;</span><br /> +A wild free sail is good<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">'Mid gales and rains;</span><br /> +A dashing dance is good<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Broad halls along,</span><br /> +Clasping and whirling on<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Through the gay throng.</span><br /> +But better than these,<br /> +When the great lakes freeze,<br /> +By the clear sharp light<br /> +Of a starry night,<br /> +O'er the ice spinning<br /> +With a long free sweep,<br /> +Cutting and ringing<br /> +Forward we keep!<br /> +On 'round and around,<br /> +With a sharp clear sound,<br /> +To fly like a fish in the sea!—<br /> +Ah, this is the sport for me!<br /> +</td></tr> +</table></div> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_232" id="Page_232">[Pg 232]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="THREE_SMART_LITTLE_FOXES" id="THREE_SMART_LITTLE_FOXES"></a>THREE SMART LITTLE FOXES.</h2> + + +<p>There were once three little foxes who lived in a hole in a bank. It +was a large, comfortable hole, and these three little foxes (two of them +were brothers and one was a sister) could lie down and put their heads +out of the hole, and see what was going on in the neighborhood.</p> + +<p>One afternoon one of the brother foxes slipped out by himself for a +little walk, and when he came back he called the other two, and said: +"Oh, come here! I will show you something, and tell you all about it."</p> + +<p>So they all lay down close together, and looked out of the hole.</p> + +<p>"Now then," said the brother fox who had been out, "you see that +fence down there?"</p> + +<p>"Oh yes," said his brother and sister.</p> + +<p>"Well, on the other side of that fence is a splendid chicken-yard. I +went down there and saw it myself. I peeped through the fence. And +in that yard there is a row of chicken-coops, all with chickens in."</p> + +<p>"Oh!" said the others. They began to feel hungry already.</p> + +<p>"Yes, all with chickens in, and I heard a little girl say that the row +of coops was called Pullet Row, Chicken Avenue, and that all the houses +were taken. The first coop had an old hen and eleven little puffy chickens +in it, and the second one held a whole lot of small chickens who were +big enough to take care of themselves; and the next coop had in it an +old rooster who had hurt his foot, and who had to be shut up. I think +it's funny that neither mother nor father ever found out this splendid +chicken-yard, so near us too! As soon as it gets to be a little dark we +must go down there and get some of those chickens."</p> + +<p>"All right," said the sister fox; "we'll go, and I'll take the first coop +with the little chickens."</p> + +<p>"And I'll take the coop with the young chickens who are big enough +to take-care of themselves," said one of the brother foxes.</p> + +<p>"I'll take the big old rooster," said the other brother fox. "I like +lots of chickens when I eat any."</p> + +<p>At the back of the hole the old Mother Fox was lying down. Her +children thought she was asleep, but she was not, and she heard all that +they had been talking about.</p> + +<p>She now came forward and said: "That is certainly a very nice place +that you see down there, and you, my son, were very smart, no doubt, +to discover it. But when you go down there, this evening, take a look +at a small house near the chicken-yard. A dog lives there—a big black<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_233" id="Page_233">[Pg 233]</a></span> +and white fellow—named Bruce. He is let into the chicken-yard every +night at dark. If you think that he wont see you, when you go inside, +or that he can't run fast enough to catch you, it might be a very good +idea for you to go down there this evening and get some chickens."</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 354px;"> +<img src="images/illus-0144-1.jpg" width="354" height="400" alt="THE THREE SMART LITTLE FOXES." title="THE THREE SMART LITTLE FOXES." /> +<span class="caption">THE THREE SMART LITTLE FOXES.</span> +</div> + +<p>The three little foxes looked at each other, and concluded that they +would not go. It was a long time after that before they were heard to +boast of being smarter than their father and mother.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_234" id="Page_234">[Pg 234]</a></span></p> +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 377px;"> +<img src="images/illus-0145-1.jpg" width="377" height="400" alt="Jack in the pulpit." title="Jack in the pulpit." /> +</div> + +<h2><a name="JACK-IN-THE-PULPIT" id="JACK-IN-THE-PULPIT"></a>JACK-IN-THE-PULPIT.</h2> + + +<p>Happy 1878! Happy New Year to all Jack's +little friends! And now let us begin our year's +talk with something about</p> + +<h4>A GARDEN IN WINTER.</h4> + +<p>Deacon Green took a ride early last month, +my dears, and he tells me of a wonderful garden +which he saw from a window as he went whirling +by on a railroad.</p> + +<p>Can you guess what was growing in a garden in +December?</p> + +<p>No, it was not in a Southern State; so your +guess of oranges isn't right—though they tell me +that oranges do grow in winter-time in Florida.</p> + +<p>It was a garden of Christmas-trees, set out in +even rows, and looking as spruce and gay and +happy as if they knew that they were almost old +enough to hold a candle in each of their thousand +hands, and a bright gift or token of good-will on +each of their thousand arms. I fancy that the gardener +who has his mind filled with the care of a +garden of Christmas-trees must be a very cheery, +kind-hearted fellow indeed. Don't you?</p> + + +<h4>OVENS IN THE FIELDS.</h4> + +<p>In Mecklenburg, Northern Germany, as I'm +told, fuel is scarce and dear: and, as the peasants +are very poor, they take an odd way to save wood. +It is this:</p> + +<p>Each village has one or two large ovens in which +the baking for a number of people can be done at +one time. These ovens look from a little distance +as if they were small hillocks, and they are built in +the open fields. Why they are placed away from +the village I was not told; but I would like to +know. They have very much the look of underground +dairy-cellars, and are built of great stones +covered with turf. One or two men can go into an +oven quite comfortably.</p> + +<p>In each oven a great fire is made, to heat the +stones, and when these are hot enough the fire and +ashes are swept out, and the bread is put in to +bake. Then a stone door is put over the mouth +until it is time to take out the loaves. There is no +chimney or opening, and the heat stays in well—even +for some time after the bread has been taken +out; so that it is no strange thing for a belated +traveler to use the shelter or warmth of one of these +empty ovens on some cold and stormy night when +far from his home.</p> + +<p>So much for fire-places out-of-doors. Now for a +word about</p> + + +<h4>PERSIAN STOVES.</h4> + +<p>I've just heard of the queer way the Persians +have of keeping themselves warm in their houses +during cold weather. They place in the middle of +the room a pan of burning charcoal under a sort +of table or frame which holds up a large wadded +quilt that reaches the floor on all sides, like a tent. +This must look almost like keeping the fire warm. +Then the family sit around the droll stove, with +their legs and arms under the quilt; and when they +wish to go to sleep, they put themselves half under +the quilt, and so keep nice and warm until the +morning. That's easy enough for Persians to do, +because, as I'm told, they never undress at night, +but just roll themselves in coverings and lie down +anywhere.</p> + +<p>Perhaps you would not find such arrangements +in your homes quite as comfortable as soft beds +and cozy blankets in well-warmed rooms. However, +the Persian winter is not as cold as ours, I +suppose.</p> + + +<h4>LIGHT THROUGH METAL.</h4> + +<p>Here's an odd thing! My wise old wide-awake +friend the owl tells me that a Yale College professor +has found out a way to make a layer of metal so +thin that it will readily show the color of a light-beam +sent through it. That professor will be +showing us how to see through a mill-stone next, +may be.</p> + + +<h4>GOOD AS AN EXPERIMENT.</h4> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>Dear Jack: I have a little friend, called Jack, too, who is generally +the most sweet-tempered boy I know. But one day he came to +play in my rooms, as usual, for I always keep his toys there, in repair +and order. He soon grew tired of them, and came to me for a story. +I was busy with reading, and refused, telling him to wait until I had +leisure. Then he grew impatient, and put my book down with a +coaxing "<i>Please</i>, Fred." I could not humor him then, and gently +told him to stop. Then—I am sorry to say it—he became very angry, +and gave me a blow in my face. Now, Jack, don't pass your sentence +yet—remember, it was the first and <i>only</i> act of that kind. But +guess what I did.</p> + +<p>I stooped over him and kissed him, saying: "Is this my little +boy?" He looked at me and went into a corner—ashamed and +weeping. Was not that a sweet victory? I wish some little sisters or +brothers would try it. You may believe me this is truth. Some +future day I will tell you how I made him some toys.—Yours,</p> + + +<p style="text-align: right"><span class="smcap">Fred.</span><br /></p> +</div> + +<h4>EDIBLE NESTS.</h4> + +<p>Did you ever hear of such an article of food as +bird's-nest soup? Well, this soup does not take its +name from its looks, as bird's-nest pudding gets its +title, but it is actually made from real birds'-nests.</p> + +<p>In the island of Java, I'm told, there is a species<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_235" id="Page_235">[Pg 235]</a></span> +of sea-swallow which makes a nest much like that +of our chimney-swallow, and fastens it to the rocky +walls of caves. These nests are made almost entirely +of a glue-like substance, mixed with a little +grass or hair and a few sticks, and they are carefully +gathered and sent to China, where they are sold +as food.</p> + +<p>The nests are soaked in water until the glue +becomes soft, when the sticks and straws are picked +out and thrown away. The jelly which remains is +then dried and preserved, to be used in making +the bird's-nest soup. This is considered a great +delicacy, and the nests are sold in the Chinese +markets for twenty-five dollars a pound. Of course, +at this price, none but rich folks can indulge in +them, and they are therefore a very fashionable +dish. Although they are usually made into soup, +they are sometimes cooked in other ways.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 355px;"> +<img src="images/illus-0146-1.jpg" width="355" height="400" alt="JAVA SEA-SWALLOWS AND NESTS." title="JAVA SEA-SWALLOWS AND NESTS." /> +<span class="caption">JAVA SEA-SWALLOWS AND NESTS.</span> +</div> + +<p>It's my opinion that the nest of the chimney-swallow +might be used as food in the same way; +for although it has more sticks and hay in it than +the edible nest, there is a good deal of glue, too, +and each nest might yield quite a large pot of soup. +If the time shall ever come when our own country +will have as many people in it as there are in +China at the present time, many things little +thought of now will be turned to use as articles +of food. But at present there is no need of robbing +the birds; so let them keep cheerful while +they may, poor dears!</p> + + +<h4>BIRD RAILROAD-TRAVELERS.</h4> + +<p>Now that we're talking about birds'-nests, I +may as well tell you some news that has come to +me all the way from East Cosham, in Hampshire, +England.</p> + +<p>On a small piece of frame-work under a third-class +"smoking" carriage on the London and +South-Western Railway, a water-wagtail built her +nest and reared a young and thriving family of +four. The train traveled regularly about forty miles +a day, and the station-master at East Cosham says +that, during every absence of it, the male bird +kept close to the spot, awaiting with great anxiety +the return of his wayfaring family.</p> + +<p>Now, in my opinion, that water-wagtail mother +made a queer choice for her home-place. But if +the little ones get no other advantage from it, they +are sure to be well trained. What do you think +about it, my chicks?<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_236" id="Page_236">[Pg 236]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="THE_LETTER-BOX" id="THE_LETTER-BOX"></a>THE LETTER-BOX.</h2> + + +<p>The following is Dr. J. G. Holland's answer to his "Double +Riddle," published in our last number:</p> + + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary=""> +<tr><td align='left'> +La, man! I see your little game:<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">'Tis "la" itself in song or aria</span><br /> +That piercing dear Maria's name<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Transforms it to <i>Malaria</i>.</span><br /> +And "la" itself, as all men know,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Raises the <i>sol</i> to <i>si</i> and <i>do</i>.</span><br /> +</td></tr> +</table></div> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p><span class="smcap">Dear St. Nicholas</span>: I have made up a nice little story, and I +want you to know it. It is called "Laziness."</p> + +<p>Once upon a time there was a little boy and his name was James. +He was very lazy. One day he was going out to play when his +mother called him back. "James," said she, "I went up to your +room to make your bed, for the maid was too busy, and your room is +very disorderly. Unless you promise to keep it in order, and have it +in order by next week, I will send you from home. I am very sorry +to say this; but it must be said. Now you may go; that is all I +wanted you for." Next week came very soon, and the room was +still in disorder. The mother went up and looked in; she threw herself +on her knees, and prayed that Heaven would not let her send +her boy away. James went away, and his mother never saw him +again.</p> + +<p>Now, children, learn a lesson from this, and don't be driven from +home by laziness.</p> + +<p>I am eleven years old, and I want you to give my love to Jack-in-the-Pulpit +and the School-mistress.</p> + + +<p style="text-align: right"><span class="smcap">Jennie Moore.</span><br /></p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p><span class="smcap">The Blind-clerk's Puzzle.</span></p> + +<p>This is what the "Blind-clerk" made of the puzzling address that +M. B. T. gave in a letter to Jack-in-the-Pulpit, published last month:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"Servant Girl, No. 40 Queen's parade, London."</p></div> + +<p>And that turned out to be the right address, too. Another friend says +that this same blind-clerk once had referred to him a letter addressed +like this:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"To my uncle tom, london."</p></div> + +<p>That was too much. The letter never reached "my uncle tom."</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p><span class="smcap">Dear St. Nicholas</span>: I have taken <span class="smcap">St. Nicholas</span> for several +years, and like it better every year. I often read over the old numbers, +and find many things that seem almost new to me. One of +these was "John Spooner's Human Menagerie," in the number for +April, 1875, and I have been trying to get up a "menagerie" like +John's. I can make most of the wonderful living curiosities, but I +do not know how to make a curtain that will "go up with a flourish." +I have made one to draw sideways, but I want one to go up. Please +inform me how to construct it.—Yours truly,</p> + + +<p style="text-align: right"><span class="smcap">Fred R. Martin.</span><br /> +</p> + +<p>Here is a tolerably easy way to make a stage-curtain that will +"go up with a flourish," and come down either quickly or slowly, +as may be wished. It is easily kept in order, and readily repaired +when damaged.</p> + +<p>Above the stage, at the front, set up a stout cross-beam. Let the +curtain be of some opaque stuff that will fold well. Fasten its upper +edge firmly to the front of the cross-beam. Weight the lower edge of +the curtain with a long roller some inches wider than the curtain. +Sew to the curtain, on its wrong side, perpendicular rows of rings +set at suitable distances apart, and in level lines across. The more +rows, the more evenly will the curtain fold. Tie a strong thin cord +about the roller in a line with each perpendicular row of rings, and +pass each cord through its proper rings. On the bottom of the cross-beam +above the several rows of rings, fasten large smooth rings to +be used instead of pullies. Pass the cords up through the large +rings, and gather them at one end of the beam. Then fasten the +ends of the cords to a rope, taking care while doing this that the +curtain is down, and hanging properly, and that all the cords are +drawn equally tense. There should be a stout pin or hook at the side +of the curtain, to which the rope is to be fastened when the curtain +is drawn up. Take notice that the cords are of different lengths and +must be free from knots. The curtain should not touch the stage, +and may be kept in place by fixing the ends of the roller in iron rings +or between pegs.</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p><span class="smcap">Two Ways of Carrying the Mail.</span></p> + +<p>The frontispiece to this number of <span class="smcap">St. Nicholas</span> shows how the +mails were carried in winter over the Rocky Mountains and the +Sierra Nevada before the Union Pacific Railroad was finished (1869), +and how they are carried now. In 1867, to the perils of the snow +and wind and of mountain travel, were added dangers from desperadoes, +white as well as red, so that mail deliveries were few and far +between, and very irregular, while too often both the carriers and +their packs were lost. Slow as the old way was, however, the snow +sometimes makes the new way even slower. In spite of miles and +miles of snow-sheds and snow-fences, and ever so many steam snow-plows, +the railroad is blocked now and then until a way can be dug +through huge heaps of drift. Thus, sometimes, whole days are lost +on the steam road, when a man might be speeding and coasting on +his queer foot-gear, over the snow-crust like the wind, to reach the +destination perhaps a week ahead of the snorting snowed-up monster. +However, year by year, as sheds and fences and other preventions +are multiplied, railroad delays caused by snow become fewer +and fewer.</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>Georgetown, D. C.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Dear St. Nicholas</span>: I was so much pleased with the little figure +of a nun in the November number, that I made eight like it. I have +been taking the <span class="smcap">St. Nicholas</span> ever since it came out, and think it +gets nicer every time it is published. I am not quite seven years old, +but I composed all of this letter.</p> + + +<p style="text-align: right"><span class="smcap">John Wm. Mitchell.</span><br /> +</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p><span class="smcap">My Very Dear St. Nicholas</span>: We really don't know what we +should do without you. We took the "Young Folks" for a great +many years, and have taken you ever since you were first established.</p> + +<p>We went, a short time ago, to see a man who swallowed swords for +a profession. Now, can any of our <span class="smcap">St. Nicholas</span> friends tell us +whether he really swallowed them or not, and explain how it is +done? +—Your loving friends and devoted readers,</p> + + +<p style="text-align: right"><span class="smcap">Fannie Chandler</span>,<br /></p> +<p style="text-align: right"><span class="smcap">Mary White.</span><br /></p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>Painesville, Ohio.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Dear St. Nicholas</span>: My children learn the names of English +kings and queens, the books of the Old Testament in their order, and +other matters of importance to remember, through having found and +committed to memory certain rhymes containing them. I have seen +several embodying the books of the New Testament, but they all +have been too difficult or long for children to learn. I inclose an +easy one, written for my own children which may prove useful to +your large family of young folks.</p> + + +<p style="text-align: right">W.<br /> +<br /><br /></p> + +<h3><span class="smcap">BOOKS OF THE NEW TESTAMENT.</span></h3> + + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary=""> +<tr><td align='left'> +In the New Testament we find<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Matthew and Mark leading,</span><br /> +With St. Luke and St. John<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">The books next succeeding.</span><br /> +Acts and Romans have place<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Before Corinthians and Galatians;</span><br /> +In them we can trace<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Good news for all nations.</span><br /> +Ephesians and Philippians<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">In order are next;</span><br /> +Colossians, Thessalonians,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">With hard names and good text.</span><br /> +Timothy, Titus, and Philemon<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Fill up some pages,</span><br /> +And with Hebrews continue<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">The lessons of ages.</span><br /> +James, Peter, and John<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Finish then the good story</span><br /> +With Jude, and Revelations<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">To add to its glory.</span><br /> +</td></tr> +</table></div> +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p style="text-align: right">Mount Desert.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Dear St. Nicholas</span>: I have seen a good many receipts for candy +in the "Letter-Box," but not one for chocolate creams. Here is one +I have tried a great many times, and it has always been successful:</p> + +<p>Two cups of sugar to half a cup of boiling water. Put on the +stove, and let it boil ten minutes. Grate a quarter of a square of +Baker's chocolate. Place this on the top of a steaming-kettle; leave<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_237" id="Page_237">[Pg 237]</a></span> +it there until soft. Meanwhile, take off the cream and beat it until +perfectly white. Roll into little round balls, and dip them in the +chocolate. Put the balls into a dish, and set them away to cool.</p> + +<p>Hoping you will print this receipt, I remain your devoted admirer,</p> + +<p style="text-align: right"><span class="smcap">Caroline G. Blodget</span>.</p> + +<p>P. S.—The sugar must be powdered.</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p><span class="smcap">Mollie</span>.—We do not know. One always has to make sure, too, +that no speck of envy lurks in the wish to have justice done.</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>A friend sends us the following Kindergarten song:</p> + +<h4>THE TIME TABLE</h4> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 692px;"> +<img src="images/illus-113.png" width="692" height="400" alt="THE TIME-TABLE." title="THE TIME-TABLE." /> +</div> + + + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary=""> +<tr><td align='left'> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">One, two, three!</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Now please listen to me:</span><br /> +A minute is sixty seconds long;<br /> +Sixty minutes to an hour belong.<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">One, two, three!</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Learning is easy, you see.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Four, five, six!</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">'Tis easy as picking up sticks.</span><br /> +Twenty-four hours make one long day;<br /> +Seven days in a week we say.<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">One, two, three!</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Learning is easy, you see.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Seven, eight, nine!</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Never cry or whine.</span><br /> +The years are only twelve months long;<br /> +There is no time for doing wrong.<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">One, two, three!</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Learning is easy, you see.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Tick, tack, tock!</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Only look at the clock.</span><br /> +He works away the whole day long,<br /> +And every hour he sings a song.<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Ding, dong, ding!</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">So we'll work and sing.</span><br /> +</td></tr> +</table></div> +<p style="text-align: right"><span class="smcap">A. E. L.</span></p> + + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p style="text-align: right">Elizabeth, N. J.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">My Dear St. Nicholas</span>: Would you please tell me something +about the Drawing Classes of the School of Design at the Cooper +Institute; and what forms have to be gone through before a pupil +can enter; and how old a pupil has to be? Good-by, dear <span class="smcap">St. +Nicholas</span>.—Your faithful reader,</p> + +<p style="text-align: right"><span class="smcap">Sarah D. O.</span><br /><br /></p> + +<p>The "Woman's Art School" of the Cooper Union, about which +Sarah D. O. makes inquiry, is for pupils between the ages of sixteen +and thirty-five.</p> + +<p>Applications for admission should be made, personally or in writing, +to the Principal, Mrs. Sarah N. Carter, giving a responsible +written reference as to character, fitness, etc.</p> + +<p>The free school holds session from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. There is a +"paying" class that meets three times a week in the afternoon, under +the charge of the first assistant in drawing of the "Woman's Art +School" and of the clerk of the school, and the general superintendence +of the principal. But the "paying" class is only for those who +wish to study art merely as an accomplishment.</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p><span class="smcap">Dear St. Nicholas</span>: I thought you would like to hear about a +little girl who is very fond of you. She always took <span class="smcap">St. Nicholas</span> +until last autumn, then the times were so hard we were unable to get +it for her; so she has read and re-read the old ones. Mamma has +been sick a great deal for two years, and Agnes, who is ten years +old and the oldest of the family, has learned to do a great many +things. She can make bread, biscuit, pies and cake,—but her chief +accomplishment is toast-making. Last fall, when berries were ripe, +she picked and dried some currants, raspberries and blackberries, and +put them carefully away. Ever since, when any one is sick, she +puts some of her berries in a cup and cooks them nicely; then she +makes such a nice piece of toast, so delicate, never scorched or raw. +She has no fruit-closet of delicacies to go to, but the common things +she has are so nicely prepared that they become luxurious, and often +make mamma think of Bayard Taylor's little rhymes about mush and +milk, a couplet of which reads:</p> + + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary=""> +<tr><td align='left'> +"And common things that seem most nigh,<br /> +Both purse and heart may satisfy."<br /> +</td></tr> +</table></div> + +<p>Her little brother, eighteen months old, claims much of her care, +and in return loves her as much as he does mamma. He calls her +Tee, and misses her sadly if she is out of sight an hour.</p> + +<p>When Agnes was three years old, she said one day:</p> + +<p>"Papa, how I love you!"</p> + +<p>"What makes you love him? See how homely he is," teasingly +answered mamma.</p> + +<p>The little one took a good look at papa, and throwing her arms +around his neck again, she said:</p> + +<p>"Well, he's pretty in his heart."</p> + +<p>Mamma thinks the little girl who can be so thoughtful for ever-tired +mamma, so kind to the sick, and so tender of little baby +brother, must be pretty in her heart.</p> + +<p style="text-align: right"><span class="smcap">Agnes's Mother</span>.</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>Here is an enigma made by a little girl eight years of age:</p> + +<h4><span class="smcap">Cross-word Enigma</span>.</h4> + + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary=""> +<tr><td align='left'> +My first is in spin, but not in weave;<br /> +My second in part, but not in leave;<br /> +My third is in rain, but not in storm;<br /> +My fourth in chilly, but not in warm;<br /> +My fifth in hen, but not in coop;<br /> +My whole is a country of Europe.<br /> +</td></tr> +</table></div> + +<p>Answer: Spain.</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p style="text-align: right">Easton, Md.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Dear St. Nicholas</span>: Will you please tell me from which of +Shakspeare's plays the following quotation is taken?</p> + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary=""> +<tr><td align='left'> +"Sweet are the uses of adversity,<br /> +Which, like the toad, ugly and venomous,<br /> +Wears yet a precious jewel in his head."<br /> +</td></tr> +</table></div> + + +<p>—Yours truly,</p> + +<p style="text-align: right"><span class="smcap">Mary H. Wilson</span>.</p> + +<p>The quotation is from "As You Like It," Act II., Scene 1.; and +the whole passage reads:</p> + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary=""> +<tr><td align='left'> +"Sweet are the uses of adversity,<br /> +Which, like the toad, ugly and venomous,<br /> +Wears yet a precious jewel in his head;<br /> +And this our life, exempt from public haunt,<br /> +Finds tongues in trees, books in the running brooks,<br /> +Sermons in stones, and good in everything."<br /> +</td></tr> +</table></div> + +<p>The beauty is marred, and the aptness of the illustration is lost sight +of, by omitting the second half of this admirable sentence; therefore +we quote it entire.</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p style="text-align: right">"Fairfax," San Rafael, Cal.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Dear St. Nicholas</span>: I have seen letters from San Francisco, +Oakland, and other places in California, but I do not think any one +has written to you from San Rafael, a beautiful little town near San +Francisco.</p> + +<p>"Fairfax" is about three miles from the town. The ride here is +very pleasant, especially in winter and spring time, when the hills are +green and the wild flowers are in bloom.</p> + +<p>The house resembles the old Fairfax house in Virginia, called +Greenway Court, except that this is perhaps more rambling and the +other lacks our wide-spreading bay-trees. It faces the garden and +orchard, and beyond these is the hill, a mine of wonder and beauty.</p> + +<p>We all enjoy climbing that hill and looking for ferns. In some +parts we hardly dare step, for fear of crushing something beautiful. +We look down upon a bank of green moss, and find snowy, shell-like +fungi, so delicate that we hold our breath lest they should float away. +Farther on are orange-colored ones, and some shaped like callas, +translucent, and in color a pale pink carnelian. Wandering on, we +enter a grove of pine-trees, in the midst of which a spring is bubbling +up, and the ground is covered with a carpet of ferns, mosses, and +wild flowers. By the time we are ready to go home, our baskets are +well filled; and then, after we get home, we have the delight of +arranging the flowers and ferns, examining the fungi with the microscope, +and preparing imposing baskets of specimens to send to two +delightful members of the Academy of Science in San Francisco, who +are making fungi a specialty in their researches.</p> + +<p>One day last summer my brother came running into the house,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_238" id="Page_238">[Pg 238]</a></span> +saying, in a very loud whisper, "There's a deer in the creek! +There's a deer in the creek!" We all rushed out in time to see +Uncle George, up to his waist in water, struggling with an immense +buck. The dogs were there, too, barking as loudly as they could. +It was very exciting. My sympathies were entirely with the deer, +who made a noble fight before he was conquered. Deer are plentiful +around here. Often we are awakened by the baying of the deer-hounds, +and we can see the hunting parties on their horses galloping +over the hill, and the dogs running to and fro.</p> + +<p>The boys catch a good many large fish in our creek, and my uncle +once caught a ten-pound salmon-trout that was very pretty; it had +two delicate pink bands running along its sides.</p> + +<p>The hills are crimson, a little before Christmas, with a holly peculiar +to California; and we have many merry excursions in a wagon +that we children call our "chariot," in which we go to gather holly +for our Christmas festivities.</p> + +<p>I have written too much, and yet I would like to tell more, our +days are so full of pleasant change.—Your affectionate reader,</p> + +<p style="text-align: right"><span class="smcap">May D. Bigelow</span> (fifteen years old).</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>Answers to Puzzles in the November Number were received, +previous to November 18, from Annie Longfellow, "Bess," "Isola," +"Bessie and her Cousin," "Helen of Troy," W. M. B., Nessie E. +Stevens, "Winnie," Florence L. Turrill, James J. Ormsbee, Annie +Forbush and Emma Elliott, Grace G. Chandler, Carrie Speiden and +Mary F. Speiden, F. A. G. Cameron, Fred M. Pease, Geo. J. Fiske, +Geo. Herbert White, "Sidonie," Louise Gilman, Clelia Duel Mosher, +Mamie L. Holbrook, Ellie Hewitt, Fannie W., "Croghan, Jr.," +Anna E. Mathewson, Eddie Bryan, and Allie Bertram.</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<h3>BOOKS RECEIVED.</h3> + +<p>Aunt Jo's Scrap-Bag, Vol. IV. (My Girls, etc.), published by +Messrs. Roberts Brothers, Boston, is the fourth book in this deservedly +popular series of short stories by Miss Louisa M. Alcott. The tales +are full of freshness, humor, and wholesome thought, with inimitable +touches of playful fancy and tenderness such as have established Miss +Alcott's loving rule over the hearts of her readers. Boys as well as +girls will find plenty to enjoy in these twelve delightful scraps from +Aunt Jo's bag, and,—but readers of <span class="smcap">St. Nicholas</span> need no recommendation +to them of anything that Miss Alcott has written. There +are some pretty illustrations to the book, and the price is one dollar.</p> + +<p>From the same publishers we have received also: <span class="smcap">Tom, a Home-Story</span>, +by George L. Chaney, illustrated, $1.25; <span class="smcap">A Great Emergency, +and Other Tales</span>, by Juliana Horatia Ewing, illustrated, +$1.25; <span class="smcap">Jolly Good Times at School—Also Some Times not +quite so Jolly</span>, by P. Thorne, illustrated, $1.25.</p> + +<p>A new book by the author of "Helen's Babies" is now to be obtained. +It is called <span class="smcap">Budge and Toddie, their Haps and Mishaps</span>, +and is an illustrated edition of "Other People's Children." The designs +are by Lucy G. Morse.</p> + +<p>Boys will be glad to hear of a good book, <span class="smcap">Every-day Experiences +at Eton</span>, by a present Eton boy, published by George R. Lockwood, +of New York. It is a hearty and amusing story, giving, with very +slight exaggeration, a faithful account of life in the English public-school +at Eton.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Spenser for Children</span>, published by Chatto & Windus, of London; +Scribner, Armstrong & Co., New York. A beautiful book, +illustrated with several fine colored plates, and relating in simple +prose the chief incidents of Spenser's great poem.</p> + +<p>From Messrs. Baker, Pratt & Co., New York, we have <span class="smcap">Lilliput +Land; or, The Children's Peep-Show</span>. This is a collection of +serials, short stories, poems, music, and pictures, adapted to interest +and instruct young folks. It is edited by the author of "Lilliput +Levee." Price, $1.25.</p> + +<p>Messrs. Porter & Coates, Philadelphia, send us <span class="smcap">Happy Days</span>, a +very pleasant book, full of pictures, tales and verses, for boys and +girls. Several of the articles are by well-known writers, and the +contents, as a whole, are bright, wholesome, and entertaining.</p> + +<p>From the American Tract Society, New York, we have received +<span class="smcap">Dolly's New Shoes, and Some of the Places they Went to</span>, +price 30 cents, postage 2 cents; <span class="smcap">Daughters of Armenia</span>, by Mrs. +S. A. Wheeler, Missionary in Turkey, price 90 cents, postage 6 cents; +<span class="smcap">Almost a Man</span>, by S. Annie Frost, with illustrations by Arthur Burdett +Frost, price $1, postage 8 cents; <span class="smcap">Grace Ashleigh's Life-Work</span>, +illustrated, price $1, postage 8 cents; and <span class="smcap">Dear Old Stories +told Once More</span>, forty Bible stories, in large type, and with illustrations +by "Faith Latimer."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_239" id="Page_239">[Pg 239]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="THE_RIDDLE-BOX" id="THE_RIDDLE-BOX"></a>THE RIDDLE-BOX.</h2> + + +<h4><b>DOUBLE ACROSTIC.</b></h4> + +<p>The initials read downward and the finals upward will give the +names of two countries in Europe.</p> + +<p>1. A beam of light. 2. To join. 3. To pillage. 4. An article of +food. 5. What merchants write. 6. An insect.</p> + +<p style="text-align: right">A. R.</p> + + +<h4><b>HOUR-GLASS PUZZLE.</b></h4> + +<p><span class="smcap">Across</span>: 1. Calls. 2. A number. 3. A consonant. 4. A river. +5. Wounds. <span class="smcap">Diagonals</span>: Sharpens and transmits. <span class="smcap">Central</span>: Interior.</p> + +<p style="text-align: right">CYRIL DEANE.</p> + + +<h4><b>DECAPITATIONS.</b></h4> + +<p>1. Behead a kind of nut, and leave a kind of grain. 2. Behead a +small stream, and leave a bird. 3. Behead another bird, and leave a +gardener's implement. 4. Behead a musical instrument, and leave +another musical instrument. 5. Behead a carpenter's tool, and leave +a narrow passage. 6. Behead part of a wagon, and leave a part of +the body. 7. Behead another part of the body, and leave a tree. +8. Behead an edible fish, and leave the defeat of an army. 9. Behead +a dried fruit, and leave an ancient alphabetic letter.</p> + +<p style="text-align: right">ISOLA.</p> + + +<h4><b>DIAGONAL PUZZLE.</b></h4> + +<p>Diagonals, from left to right, a part of the year. Seven words. +Fill the blanks in the sentence with appropriate words; and written +under each other in the order given, they will give the diagonal.</p> + +<p>As —— is more abundant than —— in this season when Love —— +her altar fires anew, may this joy go through the —— year, bearing +you constant ——; so that, looking back at its close, you can say: +"1878 —— to have been one prolonged ——."</p> + +<p style="text-align: right">J. R.</p> + + +<h4><b>DOUBLE-PUZZLE.</b></h4> + +<h5><span class="smcap">Central Syncopations</span>.</h5> + +<p>1. Syncopate mad, and leave what soldiers often make. 2. Syncopate +part of a house, and leave to move. 3. Syncopate speed, and +leave anger. 4. Syncopate to soak, and leave a gait. 5. Syncopate +a river, and leave a rank. 6. Syncopate a particle, and leave a laugh. +7. Syncopate openings, and leave farming implements. 8. Syncopate +baked clay, and leave fastenings.</p> + +<p>The letters that have been syncopated, read downward, will make +two words which you must find in the following</p> + +<h5><span class="smcap">Cross-word Enigma</span>.</h5> + + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary=""> +<tr><td align='left'> +1. In brook, but not in sea;<br /> +2. In slave, but not in free;<br /> +3. In lose, but not in find;<br /> +4. In heed, but not in mind;<br /> +5. In barn, but not in shed;<br /> +6. In black, but not in red;<br /> +7. In hill, but not in mound;<br /> +8. In held, but not in bound.<br /> +What's the answer?—can you say?<br /> +'Tis something boys much like to play.<br /> +</td></tr> +</table></div> + +<p style="text-align: right">CYRIL DEANE.</p> + + +<h4><b>GEOGRAPHICAL TRANSPOSITIONS.</b></h4> + +<p>1. —— —— a good post at ——. 2. Did you notice the carved + —— in that old cathedral door in — —? 3. —— —— with pleasure +from Geneva, for ——. 4. I took great —— to witness these national +games, when in ——. 5. I found —— gold in a mine in ——. 6. I +could stand —— in the entrance to the cave in ——. 7. I have —— +interest in —— than in any other foreign city.</p> + + +<p style="text-align: right">B.</p> + +<h4><b>OMNIBUS WORD.</b></h4> + +<p>In a word of five letters find: 1st. An hour-glass puzzle, the central +letters of which, read downward, signify to perform again; horizontally, +a symbol often used in writing, a beverage, a vowel, a performance, +to provide. 2d. A word-square containing a unit, a vehicle, +an epoch. 3d. Words to each of which one letter may be prefixed +so as to form another word: a preposition, an animal; a verb, a +weed; a study, a vehicle; a part of the body, a sign of sorrow. +4th. Words to fill appropriately the blanks in each stanza below, by +prefixing a letter to the first word, when found to form the second, +and by prefixing a letter to the second to form the third:</p> + + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary=""> +<tr><td align='left'> +I would not heed so small an ——,<br /> +When dealing with one of his ——,<br /> +Or of my temper leave a ——.<br /> +We asked him in; he sat and ——<br /> +Of the ripe fruit at such a ——,<br /> +He lowered well the heaped up ——.<br /> +</td></tr> +</table></div> +<p style="text-align: right">H. H. D.</p> + + +<h4><b>ACCIDENTAL HIDINGS.</b></h4> + +<p>In these quotations find five girls' names, without transposing +any letters.</p> + +<p> +"Of such as wandering near her secret bower,<br /> +Molest her ancient solitary reign."—<i>Gray.</i><br /> +</p> + +<p> +"Where olive-leaves were twinkling in every wind that blew,<br /> +There sat beneath the pleasant shade a damsel of Peru."—<i>Bryant.</i><br /> +</p> + +<p> +"Slowly she raised her form of grace;<br /> +Her eyes no ray conceptive flung."—<i>Hogg.</i><br /> +</p> + +<p> +"Stainless worth,<br /> +Such as the sternest age of virtue saw."—<i>Bryant.</i><br /> +</p> + + +<h4><b>PERSPECTIVE-CROSS PUZZLE.</b></h4> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 400px;"> +<img src="images/illus-118.png" width="400" height="517" alt="Perspective-cross puzzle." title="Perspective-cross puzzle." /> +</div> + +<p>Each of the horizontal words is formed of five letters, excepting +No. 6, which has but three. Of the perpendiculars, Nos. 16, 17 and +18 have ten letters each; No. 12 has three letters; and each of the +other perpendiculars has five letters. The slanting words have each +three letters. Each corner letter serves for every word that radiates +from or to its corner.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Meanings of the Different Words</span>.—<i>Horizontals</i>: 1, Sublime; +2, an engraving; 3, to trench; 4, occurrence; 5, a certain form +of glass; 6, a kind of fish; 7, large; 8, a yard; 9, concise. <i>Perpendiculars</i>: +10, An article of dress; 11, solemn; 12, hitherto; 13, to +make sure; 14, a Turkish institution; 15, to establish; 16, magical; +17, advancement; 18, tractable. <i>Diagonals</i>: 19, Sarcastic; 20, to +jump; 21, did meet; 22, a wooden fastening; 23, a part of the body; +24, a hammock; 25, a girl's name.</p> + +<p style="text-align: right">H. H. D.</p> + + +<h4><b>EASY SQUARE WORD.</b></h4> + +<p>1. An instrument for measuring time. 2. A title among the ancient +Peruvians. 3. Sour. 4. To load.</p> + +<p style="text-align: right">PLUTO.</p> + + +<h4><b>NUMERICAL ENIGMA.</b></h4> + +<p>When we went to the 123456 789, the others had contrived to +123456789 us in picking nuts.</p> + +<p style="text-align: right">CYRIL DEANE.</p> + + +<h4><b>FRAME PUZZLE.</b></h4> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 200px;"> +<img src="images/illus-119.png" width="200" height="220" alt="Frame puzzle" title="Frame puzzle" /> +</div> + +<p>Make the frame of four words of nine letters each, so that there +shall be the same letter of the alphabet at each of the four corners +where the words intersect. That letter being indicated (o, in this +puzzle), gives the clue.</p> + +<p>Upper horizontal line, a pigeon; lower horizontal line, a kind of +grain. Left perpendicular line, without a name; right perpendicular +line, without fragrance.</p> + +<p style="text-align: right">B.</p> + + +<h4><b>CHARADE.</b></h4> + + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary=""> +<tr><td align='left'> +My first of Roman origin you see,<br /> +Whose purport illustrates the century;<br /> +Means light for blind men; restless as a sprite;<br /> +The sailor's trust; the prelate's dear delight.<br /> +My second heads a small but mighty band,<br /> +Whose power pervades and elevates the land:<br /> +Indefinite enough, yet, once defined,<br /> +It is a thing no language leaves behind.<br /> +My third consoles, and cheers in anguish deep,<br /> +And oft, like great Macbeth, hath "murdered sleep."<br /> +Dear to the maiden's heart when dry and dead,<br /> +Its beauty and its bloom forever fled.<br /> +Yet even then what lips its charm rehearse!<br /> +What poets chant it in their genial verse!<br /> +My whole how soft, how silent and how fleet!<br /> +Female, yet masculine, its aspect sweet.<br /> +Tinted as fair as clouds that deck the sky,<br /> +Or stainless as the snows that round us lie;<br /> +Bright as the saffron tints of dawning light,<br /> +Or darker than the stormy depths of night.<br /> +A prince's bride; the treasure of a lad;<br /> +And yet biographer it never had.<br /> +For he who writes its life must ever use<br /> +Volumes to celebrate each separate muse.<br /> +Fierce, fond, and treacherous, full of songs and wails,<br /> +The hero of a thousand fights and tales;<br /> +The love of ladies and the scorn of men;<br /> +The shame of England's arms. Oh guess me then!<br /> +</td></tr> +</table></div> + +<p style="text-align: right">ROSE TERRY COOKE.<br /><br /></p> + + +<h4><b>WORDS ENIGMATICALLY EXPRESSED.</b></h4> + +<p>These are a source of great amusement, whether written or acted. +To illustrate the latter, you will, for instance, throw your muff under +the table, and ask, "What word does that represent?" Perhaps +some one will suggest "Muffin." "No—'fur-below.'" Tie your +handkerchief tightly around the neck of some statuette—"Artichoke"—etc. +In writing or speaking a sentence to illustrate a word, +the most ridiculous will sometimes provoke the most mirth. We will +give an illustration of one pretty far-fetched, but allowable: "Mister, +please come here and make this shell stand up on edge"—"Circumstantial +(Sir-come-stan'-shell)." "I encountered the doctor to-day"—("Metaphysician". +With this introduction, I propose a few words +for your consideration.</p> + +<p>1. Put an extremity into a jar. 2. Young ladies from Missouri. +3. A cow's tail in fly-time. 4. That young sow cost twenty-one shillings +sterling. 5. A sham head-dress. 6. Victims to corns. 7. Oxidized +iron on a weapon. 8. "Where's the prisoner, Pat?" "Sure, +your honor, he's taking his breakfast." 9. "Come and cut our hair." +10. Deviate, fish. 11. A goat. 12. Four.</p> + +<p style="text-align: right">AUNT SUE.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_240" id="Page_240">[Pg 240]</a></span></p> + + +<h4><b>PICTORIAL CHRISTMAS PUZZLE.</b></h4> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 824px;"> +<img src="images/illus-0147-1.jpg" width="824" height="350" alt="PICTORIAL CHRISTMAS PUZZLE." title="PICTORIAL CHRISTMAS PUZZLE." /> +<span class="caption">PICTORIAL CHRISTMAS PUZZLE.</span> +</div> + +<p>The puzzle is an Anagram Enigma, rather difficult, and meant +for experienced puzzle-workers. The answer is the first line of a well-known +couplet relating to Christmas.</p> + +<p>Each of the numerals underneath the pictures represents a letter +belonging to that word of the answer indicated by the numeral,—(thus, +3 indicates a letter of the third word; 7, a letter of the seventh +word, etc.),—and each collection of numerals represents a word which +will describe the picture above it.</p> + +<p>To solve the puzzle, find a word to describe each picture containing +as many letters as there are numerals beneath the picture. After all +the seven words have been thus found, select from them and group +together all the letters that in the numbering beneath the pictures are +designated by the same numeral (for, as already stated, all the letters +bearing the same numeral belong to that word of the answer which is +indicated by the numeral), and each group of these letters must be +transposed to form the word of the answer which corresponds with +the numeral of the group.</p> + +<p>Thus, the word "hay" has three letters and will describe the first +picture. After words have been found to describe the other pictures, +the selection must begin, and "h," the first letter of "hay," should +be placed in a group with all the other letters bearing the numeral 7 +in the numbering beneath the pictures; "a" should be grouped with +all the other letters designated by 2, and "y" with all those designated +by 3; and so on.</p> + +<p>When all the letters have been properly separated and grouped, +transpose all those letters belonging to group No. 1 into a word to +form the first word of the answer; those belonging to group No. 2 into +the second word of the answer, etc.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h3><a name="ANSWERS_TO_PUZZLES_IN_DECEMBER_NUMBER" id="ANSWERS_TO_PUZZLES_IN_DECEMBER_NUMBER"></a>ANSWERS TO PUZZLES IN DECEMBER NUMBER.</h3> + +<p><span class="smcap">Chess Puzzle.</span>—Begin at the word "Bind." The stanza reads:</p> + + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary=""> +<tr><td align='left'> +"Bind me, ye woodbines, in your twines;<br /> +Curl me about, ye gadding vines;<br /> +And oh, so close your circles lace,<br /> +That I may never leave this place;<br /> +But lest your fetters prove too weak,<br /> +Ere I your silken bondage break,<br /> +Do you, O brambles, chain me too,<br /> +And, courteous briars, nail me through."—<span class="smcap">Marvell.</span><br /> +</td></tr> +</table></div> + +<p>(Quoted by Elia in essay entitled "Blakesmoor in H—— shire.")</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Easy Numerical Enigma.</span>—Lowell. L, lo, low, owe, we, well, ell.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">A Plea for Santa Claus.</span>—Merry Christmas. Take the third +letter from the beginning of each line, and read downward.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Magic Domino Square.</span>—The diagram shows one method of +arranging the dominoes. But the puzzle can be solved by two or +three other arrangements.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 308px;"> +<img src="images/illus-121.png" width="308" height="302" alt="Magic Domino Square." title="Magic Domino Square." /> +</div> + +<p><span class="smcap">Broken Words.</span>—1. Inquires—in quires. 2. Western—we stern. +3. Ashantee—a shanty.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Pictorial Quadruple Acrostic.</span>—Stalagmites, Stalactites, Natural +Cave, Underground, 1. SNUfferS. 2. TANgenT. 3. ATDA. +3. LaUrEL. 4. AuRoRA. 5. GGAC. 6. MeaL RaT. 7. IOdide +CuprI. 8. TrUAnT. 9 ENVelopE. 10. SpaDES. +<span class="smcap">Christmas Enigma.</span>—"He has more business than an English +oven at Christmas."</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Authors' Names.</span>—1. Mulock (mew, loch). 2. Edgeworth (edge worth). 3. Thackeray (T hack ray). 4. Carlyle (Carl isle). 5. Charles +Reade (Charles read). 6. Ruskin (rusk inn). 7. Gaskell (gas K ell). +8. Hale. 9. Macaulay (Mac awl ay). 10. Victor Hugo (victor hug O). +11. Prescott (press cot). 12. Whitney (whit neigh). 13. Braddon +(brad don). 14. Alcott (Al cot). 15. Disraeli (D Israel I). 16. Rossetti +(Rose Ettie).</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">A Rimless Wheel.</span>.-1. Parapet. 2. Manakin. 3. Fanatic. 4. +Rubadub. 1<i>a</i>, par; 1<i>b</i>, pet; 2<i>a</i>, man; 2<i>b</i>, kin; 3<i>a</i>, fan; 3<i>b</i>, tic; +4<i>a</i>, rub; 4<i>b</i>, dub.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Diagonal Puzzle.</span>—Santa Claus. St. Nicholas, pAtronizes, +coNfidence, conTribute, compArable, reconCiles, immacuLate, legitimAte, +miraculoUs, schoolboyS.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Proverb Puzzle.</span>—"Christmas comes but once a year." Car, +sabots, chimney, mouse, trace.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Sextuple Acrostic.</span>—Mopes, Abaft, Larva, Enter.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Easy Diamond Puzzle.</span>—R, Dog, Robin, Gig, N.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Numerical Enigmas.</span>—1. Winsome—win some. 2. Sailor—sail +or. 3. Wind-flowers—wind flowers. 4. Whip-poor-will—whip poor +Will. 5. Parents—Pa rents. 6. To-morrow—Tom or row. 7. Wellfare—Well! farewell.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 300px;"> +<img src="images/illus-121a.png" width="300" height="343" alt="Numerical Enigmas." title="Numerical Enigmas." /> +</div> + +<p><span class="smcap">Answer to Tree Puzzle in jack-in-the-Pulpit</span>.—The above +diagram shows one way of arranging nineteen trees in nine straight +rows and yet have five trees in each row. The lines show the rows.</p> + +<p>For names of solvers of November puzzles, see "Letter-Box," page 236.</p> + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of St. Nicholas Magazine for Boys and +Girls, Vol. 5, January 1878, No. 3, by Various + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ST. 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