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diff --git a/28395.txt b/28395.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..5c4eab4 --- /dev/null +++ b/28395.txt @@ -0,0 +1,2577 @@ +Project Gutenberg's Harper's Young People, March 2, 1880, 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: Harper's Young People, March 2, 1880 + An Illustrated Weekly + +Author: Various + +Release Date: March 24, 2009 [EBook #28395] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK HARPER'S YOUNG PEOPLE, MAR 2, 1880 *** + + + + +Produced by Annie McGuire + + + + + + + + +[Illustration: HARPER'S + +YOUNG PEOPLE + +AN ILLUSTRATED WEEKLY.] + + + * * * * * + +VOL. I.--NO. 18. PUBLISHED BY HARPER & BROTHERS, NEW YORK. PRICE FOUR +CENTS. + +Tuesday, March 2, 1880. Copyright, 1880, by HARPER & BROTHERS. $1.50 per +Year, in Advance. + + * * * * * + + + + +[Illustration: PASSING THE BATTERIES.] + + + + +A HUNTING ADVENTURE. + + +I had been travelling in the interior of Africa, in company with a +Portuguese ivory trader, for several weeks, greatly enjoying the wild +and exciting life we were compelled to lead. The exercise had steadied +and braced my nerves, which before setting out were in a shattered +condition from the effects of a severe and long attack of fever. +Constant practice had also made me an expert shot and a successful +hunter. Indeed, if one only knew how to handle a gun, and went to work +with proper precaution, the amazing abundance of animal life everywhere +to be met with could not fail in making him more or less of a sportsman. + +In hunting the large game, such as the lion, the elephant, and the +rhinoceros, there was always a spice of danger, and I had in two or +three several instances found myself in positions of extreme peril, from +which nothing but presence of mind or good fortune brought me safely +out. But the danger incurred only lent additional charms to the pursuit; +while a proud feeling of exultation would steal over the heart when, +thinking that an insignificant and feeble man should be more than a +match for such huge creatures in spite of their gigantic strength. + +One day, in our several canoes, we were paddling up a broad river; on +either bank stretched an apparently impenetrable forest, many of the +trees of which approached to the very water's edge, while the ends of +creepers fell into, and huge plants actually raised their heads out of, +the river itself. From the branches of the trees curious-looking monkeys +gazed inquisitively at us, chattering to each other as if inquiring what +business we had in invading their domains; numbers of brilliantly +colored birds hovered on the wing, making the air resound with their +varied and peculiar notes; the gentle gazelle would timidly approach to +slake his thirst at the water; the noble lion would stalk out in all his +majesty for the same purpose, while ever and anon, now close to the +canoes, now yards away, a loud snort would startle us, and the huge ugly +head of a hippopotamus would be thrust above the surface. + +Journeying thus by water is a pleasant and restful change from the +everlasting tramp, tramp, through the forest, which, although enjoyable, +sometimes becomes a little wearisome. This particular day of which I +speak made the third we had thus progressed without any startling +adventure occurring to interrupt our voyage; it was not, however, to +have so peaceful a close as the other two. + +When within some few miles of the spot where we intended camping for the +night, as our larder was low, I told the trader I would land and procure +some fresh meat for supper, and that I would meet him before long at the +trysting-place. My canoe was accordingly directed to the shore. Taking +with me four of the natives, to carry my spare gun and what game I might +shoot, I plunged into the forest. + +I did not go very far from the banks of the river, for, as the day was +drawing to a close, I was in hopes of meeting with plenty of game on +their way to the water; so I followed the course of the stream toward +our camping-place. + +The sudden plunge from the dazzling brilliancy of the sun to the solemn +gloom of the forest made it almost impossible to see anything clearly +until my eyes got accustomed to the peculiar light; so I was perforce +obliged for a short time to grope my way cautiously along. + +My four attendants followed: one, a lad, bearing my spare gun; two armed +with long lances; and the fourth--whom I always called Nacko, and who +was one of the best native hunters I have ever known, active, brave, and +cool in the presence of danger--carrying a gun of his own, which he +could use with something like skill. + +Nacko always kept close to my heels, for I think he looked upon himself +as my shield and guardian, and thought his protection necessary to +insure my safety; otherwise I should run into danger, and come to +inevitable grief. His coolness and courage had on more than one critical +occasion aided me very materially. + +After a quarter of an hour's trampling through grass and bush and +prickly thorn, a fine deer offered himself as a target to my rifle; he +was on his way to the river, when, hearing our approach, he stopped to +listen, and in so doing turned his shoulder toward me. Lifting my rifle, +I took quick aim, and fired. The noble beast sprang into the air, and +then, falling forward on his knees, gave a few convulsive struggles, and +lay perfectly still. + +Leaving two of the natives to convey the carcass to the boat, I pushed +on with the others, hoping to get another shot. I had not proceeded far, +when Nacko expressed his opinion that there were lions in the +neighborhood. + +"What leads you to think so, Nacko?" I inquired. + +Before he could reply there was a rustling in the foliage, and a +graceful gazelle bounded into view, evidently fleeing from some pursuer. +Quick as thought my gun was at my shoulder, and in an instant he was +rolling over. + +Then, and only then, I became aware that his pursuer was close at hand, +as the roar of a lion fell upon my ear. I began quickly to reload my +rifle, but before I had rammed down the bullet a large lion sprang on +the body, while a lioness with her half-grown cub followed at his heels. + +With his two fore-paws placed on the body of the gazelle, the lion stood +erect, and turned his face in our direction. No sooner did he see us +than he gave utterance to a savage roar, but seemed uncertain what to +do--whether to keep possession of the slaughtered prey or attack the +new. Meanwhile the lioness crouched, growling, down by the side of the +dead body, while the cub licked the blood trickling from the wound. + +I never stirred, but kept my eyes fixed upon the lion, telling the lad +with the spare gun to be ready to hand it to me when I should require +it. Nacko stood prepared for what might follow. + +For a minute we stood thus. I was unwilling to lose the gazelle, but +hesitated to fire at the lion, for, even should I be fortunate enough to +kill him, there would be the lioness to contend with. I determined to +run the risk. + +Taking a steady aim, I fired. The explosion was followed by a terrific +roar. The bullet had not touched a vital part; I had only succeeded in +dangerously wounding him. I had now an angry and formidable foe to +encounter. + +Throwing down my empty rifle, I put my hand behind me to receive the +other from the boy. He was a few steps from me, and before he could +place it within my reach, I saw the lion making ready for the fatal +spring. + +"Fire, Nacko," I cried, as the animal bounded into the air. + +Swift as thought the flame leaped from his barrel. I heard the thud of +the bullet on the body of the lion, but it could not check the impetus +of his spring, and in another moment I was hurled violently to the +ground, and for a moment lay stunned by the shock. + +A dead heavy weight upon my body and legs soon brought me back to +consciousness. Opening my eyes, I found my face within an inch or two of +the lion's. + +Nacko, seeing me knocked over, had thrown his own gun to the ground and +picked up the spare one, and was now approaching to give the lion his +_coup de grace_. The animal watched the hunter's motions, but was +unwilling, or too badly wounded, to leave me and attack him. + +The bold black approached within six paces of the foe, and aiming behind +his ear, fired. A shuddering quiver ran through the mighty frame; I felt +a sudden relief from the oppressive weight which confined me to the +ground as the lion rolled over, dead. + +Nacko assisted me to my feet, running his hands over my body to +ascertain if any bones were broken; but with the exception of several +severe bruises, and a feeling of general soreness all over my body, I +was unhurt. We looked round for the lioness and her cub; they were +nowhere to be seen, and must have decamped during my encounter with the +lion, for which I felt not a little thankful, as I had no wish for +another such encounter. + + + + +BIDDY O'DOLAN. + +BY MRS. ZADEL B. GUSTAFSON. + + +CHAPTER II. + +Mrs. Brown was not quite so bad as her word, for she did not take away +Biddy's doll every night when Biddy could not give her extra pay. Of +course there were many nights when Biddy could not do this, even with +Charley's help. She had, in the first place, to pay for her straw, her +soup, and her bread. Whenever she had earned more than enough for this, +Mrs. Brown had always tried to get it away from her on some pretense or +other. Biddy had a brave heart; she had never been afraid of the rough +old woman, and often had her own way. + +If you should use your soft little hands to do coarse and heavy work, it +would not be long before they would get out of shape, and become covered +with a thick skin. They might still be very good and dear little hands +inside, but they would not so quickly feel the softness of mamma's +cheek. All the pleasure of the sense of touch, which you would then find +had been great and of many kinds, would be lost to you. So it was with +Biddy's heart. She had never had any of the little pleasures, the good +times, little hopes and plans, to which all children have a perfect +right. Her hard, friendless, cheerless life had made the outside of +Biddy's brave little heart tough, just as hard, unfit work would toughen +your little hands. But the doll had made a difference to Biddy in every +way. She had done all she could for her doll. She loved it. She had made +it a dress from a piece of her own. She had been beaten again and again +for its sake. Almost more than you would be willing to do for your doll, +is it not? But it had done and was doing a thousand times more for +Biddy, because Biddy had what the doll had _not_--life. + +Mrs. Brown sometimes forgot to torment Biddy about the doll, and at +other times she seemed to feel too stupid and dull to care about it. But +she remembered quite often enough, and got away all Biddy's money, and +gave Biddy many a scare and heart-ache about it. At last the +hard-hearted old woman went too far, as cruel people are pretty sure to +do in the end. + +About four months had passed since Biddy first found her doll. The warm +winds, the green buds, and singing-birds of spring had come, when one +night Mrs. Brown took the doll away from Biddy, and told her that unless +she could bring her at least two dollars by the close of the week, she +should never see it again. + +That night Biddy lay awake a long while thinking over what she could do. +It was late in the night when she whispered to Charley that she had made +up her mind, and wanted to see him somewhere in the morning, and tell +him her plan. Charley answered that he would watch for her in the Bowery +near a jewelry shop where they had often stopped to look at the pretty +things in the window. He said he would be there about half past eight +o'clock. After this was settled, Biddy fell asleep. + +In the morning the children met as they had agreed, and walked slowly +down the Bowery for a block or two, while Biddy told her plan to +Charley. + +"I can't tell ye all I've been thinkin'," said Biddy; "I feels all +stirred up with thinkin', like the soup when Grumpy puts the stick in +it. I never slept at all till I thinked it out as how I'd do jist one +thing." + +"Yis, yis," said Charley, eagerly. + +"I'll find a home for Dolly an' me," said Biddy; "I'll begin an' never +stop till I gits it." + +"Ye'll find a home?" asked Charley. He was a good deal puzzled. + +"Yis," said Biddy; "I telled ye my mind's made up. I'll look at every +man as I meets, an' I'll ax the first one as I likes the looks of to +take me an' try me. Some of 'em'll be wantin' a girl, _sure_." + +Charley continued to look so astonished that Biddy explained: "'Most +every one wants a girl to do chores, an' sweep, an' dust, an' make +fires, an'--an' sich. I've seen lots o' girls no better nor me sweepin' +in the big houses, with cloths on their heads." + +"Ye know all them things?" said Charley. + +"An' if I don't, can't I be teached?" said Biddy, almost angrily. This +question seemed to make everything quite sure. + +"Now I'm goin' to begin," said Biddy. + +[Illustration: "BLESS ME! IF IT ISN'T PHIL KENNEDY."] + +She darted away, and ran back to the place where she and Charley had +met. Charley slowly followed. He held his unsold papers under his arm, +and stopped by the jewelry window. Biddy had taken her stand on the +corner just opposite. A gentleman with a closed umbrella in his hand, +which he used as a cane, was coming down the Bowery toward them. He did +not seem to notice either of the children; his head was down as if he +was thinking. At the same instant another man, with his Ulster coat +flying back, came swiftly from a cross street, and taking the first +gentleman by the arm, said, so loud that both the children heard it: +"Bless me! if it isn't Phil Kennedy! How odd this is! The first day for +an age when I'm not thinking of and hunting for you, Phil, I find you." + +"But I'm very busy; you really must not keep me," said the one called +Phil Kennedy. He smiled as he spoke. Biddy saw the smile. She did not +wait an instant; she stepped up close in front of him. "Does yer missus +be wantin' a girl?" + +Both men looked down at her. The man in the Ulster laughed. "Get along, +you little drab!" said he, in the same loud voice as before. + +Biddy did not move, or take her eyes from Phil Kennedy's face. The +fingers of her hands were twisting together as on the day when she had +first begged Mrs. Brown for her doll. Biddy did not know she was doing +anything with her hands. + +"Be off, I say!" said the man in the Ulster. He spoke very sharply this +time. It was like a blow from a cane. + +"Can you read?" said Phil Kennedy to Biddy. He was feeling in his vest +pocket as he asked this question, and drew out a card. + +"I knows 'em as can," said Biddy. + +He gave her the card. "Get some one to tell you what is on it," said he, +"and come to the place it says--let me see--can you come to-morrow +morning about this time?" + +Biddy took the card. "Will _ye_ be there?" said Biddy. + +"Yes, my little girl, I will." He smiled at her as he spoke. Biddy +crossed her hands over the bag she carried, and walked away without a +word. + +"I see you are just the same," said the man in the Ulster. He looked +vexed. "Who'd believe you'd give that thankless little beggar your card, +while some of your best friends don't know where to find you!" + +"Thankfulness is better than politeness," said Phil Kennedy. "She can be +taught to be polite. If you had looked at her, you would have seen that +she thanked me." + +The two men then walked away. + +Charley had not looked round at Biddy and the gentlemen once. He had +looked steadily into the window, which had on it, in large letters, +"Jewelry and Diamonds." His heart beat very fast; he hardly noticed the +gems that flashed and sparkled in the trays and boxes. But when the men +had passed on, he turned and looked up and down the street, and after a +moment saw Biddy sitting on the lower steps of a wholesale store. He +hurried up to her. Biddy had been crying a little, but her eyes were +shining with hope. She held the card to Charley. + +"I axed 'em in there," said she, "an' they telled me as it's the place +where a very nice gentleman have his home, an' it's his name is on it, +too; an' they axed me how ever did _I_ gits _that_ gentleman's card. +An', oh, Charley, do ye thinks as his missus'll be wantin' me? An', oh, +_do_ ye think ye can hook away my dolly from Grumpy?" + +Biddy stopped for breath. Charley looked up at the windows of the store, +as if he were trying with all his might to see just how they were made; +then he looked back toward the Bowery again. + +"How queer ye look!" said Biddy. + +Then for the first time Biddy thought of what Charley might be thinking. +She rose quickly from the steps. + +"Here, ye take the card," said she. "I'll mebbe lose 'em, or _she_'ll be +after gittin' it. An' ye shall go with me in the mornin'; an' if I gits +a home, I'll speak for _ye_. Do ye mind that, Charley? They'll be after +wantin' of a boy as much as a girl; an' I can give ye a fust-rate +riccommend, so I can." + +Biddy made him take the card, and punched him once or twice to make sure +of his attention. + +"Did ye look at him, Charley?" she asked as they walked along. "Did ye +mind the two kind eyes of him? The minute ever he looked at me I warn't +a bit afeard; an' I felt as I could work my fingers to the bone for +him." + +Biddy went the next day to the place written on the card Mr. Phil +Kennedy had given her. She teased and coaxed Charley a long time before +she could get him to go with her, for he was very bashful, and hung back +all the way. While she stood at the foot of the steps, looking up to be +sure about the number, Mr. Phil Kennedy himself came to the door, and +called her in. He looked just as kind and smiling as on the day before, +and Biddy bobbed her curly head up and down, to show him how glad she +was. She was so eager that she did not think to say "Good-morning"; but +she cried out, in a glad, piping voice, "Here's Charley, sir; an' the +best boy ye can ever see! If ye wants a boy to take care of the furniss +an' fetch the coal; an' he can run of errants faster nor me; an' he +mended me doll. Charley--" + +While Biddy talked she kept making little springs and jumps at Charley, +who kept edging away, so that Biddy was likely to get half way down the +block, when all at once Charley turned, and showed his speed by running +out of sight very quickly indeed. Biddy looked as if she was going to +run after him; but Mr. Phil Kennedy, who stood laughing in his doorway, +called after her, and Biddy came back. He led her through the hall, into +a very pleasant room. There was an open fire, a bright rug in front of +it, a mocking-bird in a cage in the window, and a beautiful lady sitting +in an arm-chair, with her feet on a cushion. The lady was pale; her +hands were thin and white; there were crutches beside her chair; but she +looked as if she were very happy; and when she smiled at Biddy, Biddy +could not have told why she felt as if her heart was filling her whole +body. + +"Let her sit here near me, Phil," said the lady. Then, when Biddy was +seated between them, they asked her a great many questions, and Biddy +answered them all as well as she knew how. Both spoke so kindly, +sometimes the lady and sometimes the gentleman, and seemed to care so +much to know all about her, that Biddy took a new interest in her own +story, and told it very well. Like the stories of thousands of other +friendless children, Biddy's story was very simple. She didn't know +where she was born. She had never seen her parents. She didn't know if +she had any brothers or sisters; she did know she had never seen any. +She had never been at school. She had never slept on a real bed only +when she was in the hospital. She had had a "reel good time" in the +hospital. A little girl had given her some flowers. She had a friend; +his name was Charley; and if they wanted a boy to do things, he was the +best boy. He had mended her doll. She wanted a home for her doll. Grumpy +wouldn't let her have her doll; that was why she wanted a home. And if +they would let her bring her doll, she would do all she could, and try +hard to please them. + +When Biddy came to the end of her story, Mr. Phil Kennedy said: + +"This lady is my sister. She is the only near friend I have in the +world, Biddy. If you come to live with us, we will take good care of +you, and you must take good care of her. She is lame, and can only walk +a very little. You must watch, and learn to save her trouble. She will +teach you the things she wants to have you do, but you must not make her +tell you the same things over and over again." + +Biddy sat very still, and when Mr. Kennedy paused, she waited for him to +speak more. He seemed to think for a few minutes very deeply, then he +said: + +"After you have learned what you are to do, Biddy, I shall want you to +help me find some other little girl who has no friends, and needs a home +just as you do, and I can perhaps find a home for her too. I have heard +all you have said about Charley. There are reasons why I can not help +him just at this time. But I promise you that I will remember about him, +and will see what I can do for him as soon as I can. Now, Biddy"--and +Mr. Kennedy smiled, with a very merry look--"what wages do you think we +ought to pay you?" + +Biddy did not seem to even hear this question, she was so much +interested in the other things Mr. Kennedy had said; and the moment he +stopped speaking she asked if she might really have her doll, and when +they had satisfied her on this point, she told them Charley would bring +it. Then she seemed to suddenly feel how great a change had come in her +life. She jumped down from her chair, looked round the room, her breath +coming quick, then at her new friends. + +"Oh, it's _home_ it'll be! An' if ye'll let me begin," she cried, "I'll +try to be so good, so I will!" + +[TO BE CONTINUED.] + + + + +[Illustration] + +HELPING HIMSELF TO CAKE. + +BY M. E. + + + Fast asleep fell Madeline, + Fairy-book held in one hand, + In the other slice of cake-- + Slept, and drifted to the land + Where the spirits of the dreams + Many wondrous visions keep-- + Visions that are only seen + When the eyes are closed in sleep. + + Dreamed the little Madeline + That she was a princess fair, + Beautiful as that proud maid + Famous for her golden hair. + And at splendid feast she sat, + And a prince sat by her side, + Handsome as the prince who won + "Sleeping Beauty" for his bride; + + Dreamed a cake--a wedding cake-- + She dispensed to courtly throng, + Cutting it with knife of gold, + While the "Blue Bird" sang a song. + Largest piece received the prince, + And he whispered, "This is bliss," + As he kissed her hand and gave + Ring of diamond with the kiss. + + But ere long the dream grew dim, + Feast and courtiers vanished quite, + Diamond ring and lover too + Softly faded from her sight; + And the only prince she saw + (She was once more wide-awake) + Was a little prince of mice + Nibbling at her slice of cake. + + + + +VIA BRINDISI. + +BY HARLAN H. BALLARD. + + +We left India in a bag of leather. Dark and narrow it was, but greater +messengers than Postal Cards have to wait a while in darkness before the +time comes for them to tell their message. Flowers have to--so do +butterflies. + +Do not think from this that I was lonely. Oh no. I rode next to a grand +Letter in white, and not far from a portly Circular in buff. However, as +he was not of my clasp, I shunned him. The Letter, on the contrary, +charmed me; he seemed so self-contained, so wrapped up in his own +thoughts. Besides, he bore a crest and a monogram and a superscription +to be proud of. He was quite reserved; but before we passed Aden his +angularity had so far worn off that I learned that he was commissioned +to bear a message to a dainty young lady in the southwest of England. +What the message was I could only guess. Letters are not nearly so frank +about such matters as _I_ have been taught to consider proper. Still, it +must have been something very delightful, for one could tell from his +crest and monogram that the Letter had been sent by a person of gentle +blood, and in fact he told me that his master was a handsome young man +in a military coat. Moreover, he said that this young man had given him +a very warm pressure of the hand at parting (which had left a deep +impression on him), and had even touched him lightly to his lips. + +Possibly you have never reflected upon the fact that Postal Cards and +Letters have any feelings. But wait. Perhaps one of our race is waiting +at this very moment to undeceive you. After the right one comes along +and tells you his message, you will know thenceforward that we are quite +alive, and have great power over the affections. + +Post-office clerks have no sentiment. All along the way they handled us +as rudely as if we had been mere blank pieces of pasteboard. One or two +of them coolly stared at me till I was very red in the face, and then +turned me over and stared again, until I felt as if I were getting read +in my back. I am told that such rudeness is not uncommon. As if this +were not enough, the fellow then laid me upon my back, and picking up a +heavy instrument, struck me a violent blow in the face. It was as if I +had been stamped upon, and I carry the marks of it to this day. Why he +did it, I do not know, unless it was because I was a foreigner. + +The gentleman for whom I was travelling was a student, and I was +carrying a glad message to an old chum of his in Massachusetts. I lived +with this student some weeks before he sent me on my errand. As I lay in +a pigeon-hole of his desk, I often saw him get out his books and study. +He sometimes read them aloud. He liked Horace best of all. He would +light a cigar, put his feet on the desk, and read Satires as if he were +very happy indeed. I soon became fond of Horace too. I liked to listen +to his queer stories of life in Rome, of his love of country life, and +of his dear friends Virgil and Maecenas. + +My favorite story was the "Trip on a Canal-Boat." I used to picture to +myself the jolly poet sitting by the prow of the quaint boat, watching +the twinkling lights alongshore; and listening to the loud songs and +rude jests of the barge-men. So when I learned that I was to be sent on +a long journey, you may believe it was no small comfort to me to learn +that I was to go "_via_ Brindisi." I was to visit the very town to which +the poet had travelled so long ago. Perhaps between here and Rome I +might even catch a glimpse of the old canal. Fortunately there was a +little crack in the side of the bag where I lay, and I managed to get a +peep of the town. I could not see anything which satisfied me much. +Brindisi is not what Brundusium was. When Virgil died there, when Caesar +marched against it with golden eagles, when Antony threatened there the +man who afterward became Augustus, it was a great city. It had an +excellent harbor, strong fortifications, and sixty thousand inhabitants. +Now it is nothing. + +I can not tell you of all the interesting places I passed on my way. In +fact, I hardly know myself where I did go, for I slept most of the time, +and when awake, my bruised head ached so badly that I did not care to be +curious. + +In fact, until I reached Brindisi I had only once attempted to peep out. +I did wish to view the Suez Canal. But for that I should have been +obliged to go around the Cape of Storms. To be sure, in that case I +might have caught a glimpse of Table Mountain and its vaporous +"table-cloth," and have seen the rocky isle where Napoleon was caged. +But that would have been small compensation for the tedious voyage. So I +regarded the Suez Canal as in some sort a friend, and I tried to see it. +But the vulgar yellow Circular I told you of edged himself directly in +front of me, and hid the view completely. I had no more remarkable +adventures until we reached the Post-office in London. I did not suffer +at all on the Channel, though my courtly friend the Letter and his pages +were all quite distressed. He was unkind enough to say that my escape +was probably due to the fact that I had nothing inside. I excused the +discourtesy, under the circumstances, and was heartily sorry to part +from him at London. Here I was taken out and given a breath of fresh +air. But here, also, I suffered. Another clerk seized me, and struck me +a violent blow on the breast. He certainly left a red mark upon me. I +think that I shall not recover from my ill-treatment. + +I have lived long enough to reach the one to whom I was sent, and to +give him glad congratulations on his-- But, there! I almost told my +secret. It is my greatest fault. + +[Illustration] + +My life is nearly over. I meant to tell you of Bombay, its race-course, +its fine harbor which gives it its name, its wealthy Parsees, and good +Sir Jamsetjee Jejeebhoy, but I am too much worn out. I have had my face +photographed for you. You can see my scars. You must not turn me over +and read my glad message. That would not be fair. I too have a +superscription. I have been of use. I have been told that after my death +I may live again; that I may, perhaps, live in white, and become a grand +Letter. I may even get a monogram and a crest. It is not impossible. +Other messengers of glad tidings die and live again. Flowers do--and +butterflies. + + + + +POP'S IDEA OF FUN. + +BY MRS. FRANK McCARTHY. + + +Only this morning Pop punched me in the ribs, and winked, and whispered +behind his hand, "Any more sprees on hand, Bob?" I was disgusted, and +didn't say anything. If he'd been a boy of my size just then, things +would have been different; but Pop is a kind of man it isn't pleasant to +offend. I smiled in a sickly way, but I was never more disgusted in my +life. Any more sprees! I should think not. I'll leave it to any one if +his kind of sprees pay. "Count me in for the next racket, Bob," he said +at the breakfast table, and then he winked again. I declare I was that +sick I let my buckwheat cake get cold. + +Here's the way it was. We live in a nobby kind of place, you see. Almost +everybody owns his own house and grounds, and spends all his spare time +in fixing up. Most of the gentlemen go over to New York to business +every day, but before they go, and after they come back, they're always +fussing around, making little alterations, and what they call +improvements. It makes 'em awful mad if the place is out of order the +seventieth part of an inch. The ladies raise flowers, fix baskets and +roses, and all that kind of gimcracks, and the men go pottering about, +making more fuss over their plots of ground than a big farmer out West +does over his thousands of acres. Well, we boys get together sometimes +and arrange everything to suit ourselves. In a single night it'll be +like a transformation scene at a pantomime--maybe not so pretty, but +every bit as funny. Fun! We've laughed ready to split our sides to see +the poor old barber come limping up for his pole in front of the +doctor's, and the doctor go blustering down there for his hitching post; +a lot of paving-stones against the door of the real-estate office, and +the cows and chickens running loose about town. + +But this particular lark was what we called a specialty. Only gates were +to be touched, and these were to undergo a regular tribulation. The +weather was about right--muggy--and the mud in some places knee-deep. We +arranged all the preliminaries at recess, and Tom Jones was to go around +about nine o'clock and let us know if the coast was clear; but he wasn't +to give our regular call--all the place knows that. It goes something in +this way, "Ki-yuah-yuah, yoo-o," with a prolonged howl at the end. We +always drop it when anything secret's on hand. It was agreed upon that +Tom Jones should go to each house, if all was right, and have a coughing +and sneezing spell that wouldn't arouse suspicion; then we were to creep +out, when the folks were gone to bed, and go to work. And it happened to +be work that time, you'd better believe! + +We were all sitting around the table when the clock struck nine. Pop had +his spectacles on, and was reading an editorial to ma, the girls were +busy with their lessons, and I had finished my last example, when all at +once we heard a terrible coughing and sneezing out in the street. That +was the worst of Tom Jones--he always overdid his part. If he'd had +pneumonia, whooping-cough, asthma, and bronchitis, and been hired to go +round with a cough medicine to cure 'em, he couldn't have turned himself +further inside out. Of course Pop began to notice it, and ma looked up +in alarm. "Why," said ma, "that boy's got a terrible cold!" + +"Fearful!" said Pop, with a queer twist of his under lip; and when Tom +Jones, like a big donkey, went across the street to Jim Clancy's house, +and began the whole thing over again, Pop wanted to know why that boy's +cold was like the paper he held in his hand. We all gave it up, and Pop +said because it was _periodical_. Ma and the girls looked mystified, but +I was afraid then he'd tumbled to something, and couldn't help getting +red, to save my life. That's the worst of my plagued skin--it's so thin +the blood shows right through it. + +There were no more of the boys' houses in our avenue, and pretty soon we +all went to bed. I slept in the little room on the second floor off the +hall; it was an easy thing to climb out the window, and down by the +Virginia creeper to the front garden. I went around to our place of +meeting, and there they all were. The wind had sprung up pretty brisk, +and there was a thin coating of ice over the mud; but that was all the +better for the gates we wanted to bury. We owed a grudge to old Jake Van +Couter, and we made up our minds he'd have a nice time getting his gate +back. The miserable old caboodle was rusty, and nearly tore our nails +off, but we got it loose at last, and hauled it off to a marshy lot, +where we sunk it in the mud. Then we changed the doctor's gate to the +judge's, and to avert suspicion we took our own gates off with the rest. +We were getting pretty well tired out and ready for home, and had laid +my gate up against a neighboring fence, when who should be standing +right there in the shadow of the wall but Pop! We were all so +thunder-struck that we didn't move, and to my surprise Pop began to +laugh and beckon to the boys to come closer. They were not to be caught +by that bait, and stood off pretty considerably, when Pop whispered over +to us, in quite a jolly tone of voice: "Don't be afraid, boys. I like to +see you enjoy yourselves. I was a boy once myself. Bless your hearts! I +like fun yet as well as anybody." + +Then he laughed ready to split, bent himself double, and we all began to +feel easy, and laugh too. Tom Jones said he wished _his_ father was like +mine, and Pop began to encourage us to do more. We were so spurred on by +him that we hardly left a gate in the place where it belonged, Pop going +along with us, acting as a kind of scout, he said, and seeing that +nobody was near to disturb us. Once or twice he gave a signal of alarm, +and we all crouched down as still as mice, Pop stiller than any of us. I +never was so dumfounded in my life, for I'd never seen Pop very jolly +that way before. The boys were delighted with him; they all agreed to +make him president of our club, and Pop said he'd take the position when +he got back from the Legislature. + +Well, we'd come to the conclusion the place was completely done, and Jim +Clancy proposed we should go home. Jim had torn his hands rather badly +with Uncle Jake's gate, and didn't feel very good, when suddenly Pop +said: + +"Yes, boys, of course we'll go home pretty soon, when we're through, you +know; but we must put _all the gates back in their places again first_!" + +We all looked at each other aghast for a minute. "Back again!" cried the +fellows. "Well, I guess not!" "Not much!" "Hardly!" and all sorts of +derisive refusals went round. + +Pop stood among us, whirling his cane, smiling all the time, and said: +"Oh, yes you will, boys, when you think of it a minute. You've had your +fun, you know; but it won't do to go too far. I'm a justice of the +peace, you see, and this innocent little racket comes under the head of +'malicious mischief.' You could all be sent to jail; and no matter how +badly I'd feel, I'd have to act under the law. There's where it is, you +see; people are so hard on boys they won't let them enjoy themselves. +It's too bad; but never mind, we've had our fun anyway. Now let's get to +work in earnest. Here, we'll begin with this gate. Lift it up there, +Jim; hold on the other side, Bobby, my boy. Now we have it--all +together." And as true as you live, we actually found ourselves walking +along with the gate between us. From that gate we went to another, and +another. I don't know how it was, but we just plodded along, and did +what Pop said. He was laughing, and joking, and flourishing his cane; +but, oh, how tired we were! How our hands and our feet and our hearts +ached, and how sickening it all was! The most sickening of anything was +to hear Pop laugh and carry on all the time, as if this was the cream of +the joke. I tell you, we were all mad enough; and when we got to old +Jake Van Couter's, we just rebelled. We all hated Jake, anyhow; and Tom +Jones he stood right out in the road, and said Jake was a mean old +curmudgeon; and then Pop got hold of Tom before we knew it, and down +came his cane with a whack. + +"Now, boys," says Pop, "fun's fun, and I'm as fond of it as anybody, but +I don't see any use of spoiling a good time in this kind of way. Jake +couldn't put that gate back, to save his life, and it goes to my heart +to hear hard words against the poor old man. He's bent double with +rheumatism, he's old and he's poor, and he's no subject for your fun. +Take a fellow like me if you want fun. I don't mind it. Do what you like +to me, but spare poor old _Jake_." + +Well, we just looked at one another in mute disgust, but we didn't care +to dispute any further with Pop. We plunked along that nasty old +freezing road, and we yanked Uncle Jake's gate out of the mud, and +carried it half a mile, our nails hanging off, and tears of rage and +mortification rolling down our cheeks, with Pop laughing like a good one +all the while, declaring that he didn't see how anybody _could_ be so +hard on boys; they _would_ have their fun, and for his part he thought +it did them good, and it took him back to his youth again; he hadn't had +such a spree for many a year. + +We groaned and looked at each other, and each of us dropped off silently +and gloomily at our separate doors. A whole month has gone by without a +proposition for fun of any kind, and I'll leave it to anybody if it +ain't enough to disgust a fellow to have Pop winking at me behind his +hand, and telling me to count him in for the next racket. + + + + +ALMOST TIME! + + + Almost time for the pretty white daisies + Out of their sleep to awaken at last, + And over the meadows, with grasses and clover, + To bud and to blossom, and grow so fast. + Almost time for the buttercups yellow, + The ferns and the flowers, the roses and all, + To waken from slumber, and merrily hasten + To gladden our hearts at the spring's first call. + + Almost time for the skies to grow bluer, + And breezes to soften, and days to grow long; + For eyes to grow brighter, and hearts to grow gladder, + And Earth to rejoice in her jubilant song. + Almost time for the sweetest of seasons: + Nearer it comes with each new-born day, + And soon the smile of the beautiful spring-time + Winter's cold shadows will chase away! + + + + +REMARKABLE ANIMALS. + + +Australia and Tasmania possess many specimens of strange animal life; +even in the latter, or Van Diemen's Land, are found several species +which exist only on that small bit of the earth's surface. Tasmania, +which is separated from the southern extremity of Australia by a strait +about one hundred and forty miles in width, was first discovered in +1633, by Abel Tasman, a famous Dutch navigator, who supposed it to be a +portion of Australia, then known as New Holland. The celebrated Captain +Cook visited it one hundred and fifty years later; but it was not until +about 1800, when Captain Flinders, exploring the southern coast of +Australia, discovered the strait, that Tasmania was known to be an +island. As Mr. Bass, surgeon of a British ship which had cruised in +those waters, had already affirmed that such a strait existed, Captain +Flinders named it Bass Strait in his honor. + +At the beginning of this century a few tribes of natives were the sole +human inhabitants of Tasmania, but about 1803 a party of English +military, with a gang of convicts under their charge, came from New +South Wales and formed a settlement, which is now a flourishing English +town called Hobart Town. Sheep-raising is now the principal industry of +this island, and large exports of wool are made yearly. + +The scenery of Tasmania is very picturesque. Grand basaltic headlands +tower along the coast, while inland are lofty mountains, broad lakes, +untrodden jungles, and wide-spreading plains covered with rich and +luxuriant vegetation. + +Australia and Tasmania are the residence of the curious family of +animals with pouches, called Marsupialia, from _marsupium_, signifying a +purse or bag. One variety of this species, the opossum, is found in the +United States, and a few live in South America and Mexico, but in the +Australian regions are more than seventy different kinds of these +singular creatures. The leader of them all is the great kangaroo, which +stands about five feet high when resting upon its hind-feet and +haunches. When running it springs from the ground in an erect position, +holding its short fore-arms tight to its chest, like a professional +runner, and it will go as far as sixteen feet at one jump. From twenty +to thirty species of kangaroos are found in Australia and the +surrounding islands. + +A member of the Marsupialia family which does not exist out of the small +island of Tasmania is the zebra-wolf, the most savage and destructive of +all the marsupials. This ferocious beast is about the size of the +largest kind of sheep-dog. Its short fur is of a yellowish-brown color, +and its back and sides are handsomely marked with black stripes. It is a +fleet runner, propelling itself with its hind-legs, which are jointed +like those of a kangaroo, although it goes on all fours. Its gait is a +succession of quick springs--a peculiarity of nearly all the animals of +Tasmania. + +[Illustration: EMU AND ZEBRA WOLVES.] + +The zebra-wolf is very troublesome to the sheep-raising farmers, and +constant watch is required to prevent its depredations on the flocks and +herds. It inhabits caverns and rocks in the deep and almost impenetrable +glens in the neighborhood of the high mountain ranges, from whence it +sallies forth at night to scour the great grassy plains in search of +food. It preys on the brush kangaroo, the great emu, and any small birds +or beasts it can capture. + +Another strange beast is the porcupine ant-eater, or Tasmanian hedgehog. +It is much larger than the English hedgehog, and can not roll itself +into a ball. Its back is covered with very stout spines protruding from +a coat of thick gray fur, and in place of a mouth it has a round bill +about two inches long. One of these strange creatures was once presented +to an English lady living at Hobart Town. For safety she placed it at +the bottom of a deep wooden churn until better lodgings could be +provided. Shortly after, on going to look at her captive, she found it +clinging by its long claws to the top of the churn, with its funny +little head peeping over. The bill gave an indescribably droll +expression to its queer pursed-up face, while its bright eyes peered +restlessly about from their furry nooks. There was something so pitiful, +pleading, and helpless in the expression of the little creature, that +the lady, fearing she could not make it happy in captivity, at once set +it free in her garden. It immediately began to burrow, casting up a +circular ridge of earth, beneath which in a moment it vanished, and +never was seen again. + +The duck-bill is a near kinsman of the porcupine ant-eater. It is a +mole-like quadruped, with a large bill like a duck's. It spends most of +its time in the water, but lives in a burrow on the shore. Its feet are +very curious, as they can be changed at the pleasure of their owner. +When in the water they are webbed like a duck's, but if the creature +comes on shore, the web shrinks, and leaves long sharp claws ready for +burrowing. + +There is also a small, clumsy, inoffensive animal called the wombat, +which is never found outside of these Australian regions. Its head +resembles that of a badger. It has very small eyes, short legs, and its +fat, squab body is covered with coarse gray hair. It lives in rocky +places and mountain gullies, and feeds on the roots of plants. It is +easily tamed, and makes a very affectionate pet. Some English children +living in Tasmania once had a pet wombat. It became so mischievous, +however, that they determined to carry it back to its native forest. But +the wombat having tasted the comforts of civilized life, had no desire +to dig for its living again. Three times it was carried away, the last +time to a wood beyond a deep river; but every time, when night came, a +well-known scratching was heard at the door, and the wombat presented +itself, drenched and weary, but determined not to suffer banishment from +its comfortable home. Its master, touched by so much attachment, at +length allowed it to remain, and it passed the rest of its days in +peace. + +The kangaroo-rat and kangaroo-mouse, the opossum-mouse, the flying +opossum, and some other odd little creatures, inhabit Tasmania. They are +all marsupials, having a pouch for their little ones, and jumping on +their hind-feet like a kangaroo. + +An enormous bird is found in the Australian countries, called the emu. +In its habits and general appearance it resembles the ostrich, although +it does not possess the exquisite plumage of that bird. The long +drooping feathers of the emu are brownish-black in color, and covered +with hairy fibres. A full-grown bird is five or six feet in height. It +never flies, but, like the ostrich, is a very swift runner, and as it is +very shy, is difficult to capture. Its nest is a hole scraped in the +ground, where it lays six or seven dark green eggs. Emus are much hunted +by the Bushmen, as a fine clear oil is prepared from the skin, which is +highly prized for its medicinal qualities. + +Many varieties of remarkable and beautiful birds are found in Australia +and Tasmania: the lyre-bird, with its wonderful tail feathers; the odd +owl-like "morepoke," which screams its own name through the forest +solitudes all night long; glistening bronze-winged pigeons; strange and +gorgeous parrots; and others, to describe which would fill a large +volume. In this locality are nearly a hundred species of birds and +beasts not found in any other portion of the world, and they are all, +with scarcely a single exception, the oddest and strangest of existing +creatures. + + + + +[Illustration: A RIDE IN THE PARK.--DRAWN BY P. DE LUGE.] + + + + +NED'S SNOW-HOUSE. + +A True Story. + + +Little Ned Bancroft stood by the window, and as he looked at the +fast-falling snow and the sidewalks deeply covered, he thought, "What a +fine time I shall have this afternoon shovelling snow, for it is Friday, +and I shall have no lesson to learn!" + +His mamma then called to him, "Come, Ned, it is nearly nine o'clock; you +must start for school." + +So off he trudged, delighted with the idea of battling the storm, his +feet well protected with high rubber boots, and his hands covered with +warm mittens made by his loving grandmamma. + +Ned was an only child, the pride of his papa and mamma, and the great +pet of aunties and uncles. As for grandmamma, she never tired of kissing +his sweet round little face. + +Not long after he had gone to school it stopped snowing, and men with +large shovels were seen in the streets, pulling the door-bells, and +asking, "Want your snow shovelled?" + +Mrs. Bancroft engaged one of these men, and ordered him, before cleaning +the sidewalk, to clear up the back yard by shovelling the snow into a +pile in one corner, as Jane wanted to hang out the clothes. + +When Ned came home to lunch, he saw with delight the great mound of snow +the man had made, and he resolved to make a house in it when school was +over. + +His aunt Lou, who lived in New York, came in on her way to grandmamma's +while Ned and his mamma were eating their lunch, and Ned heard auntie +ask his mother to go with her, and mamma consented, and he heard her +say, "I will not get home before six o'clock." How well he remembered +this remark, some hours afterward, we shall see, but at the moment he +paid little heed to it, as his mind was full of the afternoon's sport. +He kissed them good-by as he left the table, and was soon back at +school, which was only a few blocks off. + +Ned was only ten years old, but his mother had taught him to be careful +with his books and toys, and put them in their proper places when he had +done with them. + +When school was out he ran home, put his spelling-book on the shelf in +his little room, took out his shovel from the box where he kept his +playthings, and went into the yard. + +He began to work immediately, digging out a hole in the bottom of the +pile of snow, which was to be his house. His shovel was small, and it +took a long while to make a place large enough to creep into. But he +enjoyed the sport, tossing each shovelful of snow as high as he could, +and across the yard. + +For a short time he had a companion, Eva Roslyn, a little girl who lived +next door, who peeped through a crack in the fence, and could just see +him at work. + +"Didn't I throw that shovelful high, Eva?" he called out. + +"Oh, I can hardly see you," said Eva. "I wish you would cut this hole +larger, Ned." + +"I will some day," replied Ned. "But run and ask your mother to let you +come in here and help me dig out my house." + +"Well," said Eva, and went in-doors, and up stairs to her mamma, whom +she found in the parlor talking with a lady who had brought her little +girl to play with Eva. + +Eva and her friend were soon busy with their dolls and baby-house, and +poor Ned was entirely forgotten. He had by this time made his house just +large enough to allow him to get inside. He said to himself, "I will try +it myself before Eva comes," and bending his head quite low, crept into +the hole. + +The stooping position was very uncomfortable, and he thought, "I must +make my house higher inside," and moved slightly backward, intending to +get out. Suddenly he found himself unable to stir, and entirely +surrounded with darkness: his house had caved in, and the poor boy was +deeply buried in the snow. + +The brave little fellow, although terribly frightened, began at once to +consider what was best for him to do. He thought there were three ways +in which he might get released from his imprisonment. He had seen the +clothes hanging on the lines; Jane would come out to take them down, and +when she did, he would call to her for help. If she didn't hear him, +then--oh, how well he remembered the hour!--mamma would be home at six +o'clock. He knew she always closed her blinds before lighting the gas; +he would call to her as loud as he could, and she might hear him. But he +began to wonder a little how long should he have to wait. If neither +Jane nor mamma heard him, he must then wait for papa, who would surely +not sit down to dinner without searching for his little son. He thought +of Eva, but didn't expect any assistance from her, because he knew when +she came to the door and didn't see him in the yard she would return +home. + +Then he happened to remember what his teacher had told the class in +school that very day--that any one would soon smother to death unless he +could have fresh air to breathe, and he thought, "I shall soon use all +the air in here. If I could only make a little hole to let in some fresh +air from outside!" He felt very tightly packed in, his chin resting on +his knees, and his back almost bent double. He tried so hard to change +his position, but could at first only move backward and forward the +fingers of his right hand; this he continued to do until he could +slightly move his arm. He worked with it until at last he felt the cold +air blowing upon his hand. How cold it felt! but he kept it outside, +making as much motion with it as he could, hoping Jane would see it when +she came out for the clothes, and wondering what it was, would come to +his relief. + +But he found it impossible to hold his little hand out long, for it +began to ache and grow stiff; so he pulled it in, and comforted himself +with the ray of light that came through the hole, and the thought of the +fresh air he now had to breathe. + +He hadn't once called out loudly for help, as most boys would naturally +have done, for, as we have seen, he was thoughtful as well as brave, and +knew that if he cried out now, when no one was near, he might not have +any strength left to call to Jane when she came out, or to his mother +when she opened the window. + +How slowly the time passed! The small ray of light was getting dim, his +courage began to fail, when the sound of an opening door came to his +ears. It must be Jane, he thought, and his heart beat faster with hope. + +Out she came, singing loudly, + + "'Now, Rory, be aisy,' sweet Kathleen would cry, + Reproof on her lip, but a smile in her eye," + +and poor little Ned's smothered voice was not heard as he called, "Jane! +Jane! come and help me; I'm under the snow!" + +It seemed to him but a minute before all was still again; the clothes +were taken from the line, and Jane was back in her warm kitchen, without +a thought of suffering Ned. + +One of his three hopes had failed, but Ned took courage. It must be +nearly six now, for hardly any light was coming in through the hole, and +mamma would soon open the window to close the blinds. How still he kept, +listening for every sound! and at last his heart gave a thump. + +"Surely that was the window opening." Not a second did he lose. "Mamma! +mamma! I'm here under the snow; do come here!" he called, with all his +strength, over and over again. It is no wonder that the tears began to +fall thick and fast from Ned's eyes as the window closed, and the +dreadful still darkness was around him, and the hope of making mamma +hear him lost. + +Now he had only to wait for papa, and our little hero stopped his sobs, +fearing he might lose one sound of those expected welcome steps. He +would try to be as patient as possible, not a doubt entering his mind of +papa's finding him. + +Mrs. Bancroft had come home, and after taking off her cloak and bonnet, +as usual closed her blinds, entirely unconscious of the little voice +appealing to her for help. She thought her boy was sitting in the +library learning his lesson, or was perhaps listening to one of Jane's +Irish stories in the kitchen, Jane being very fond of him: she had been +his nurse when he was a baby. Yet mamma was rather surprised that Ned +had not run up stairs to see her after the long afternoon's absence. + +She went down stairs to meet Mr. Bancroft, whom she heard opening the +front door; they walked together into the library, papa saying, "Where's +Ned?" + +"He must be in the kitchen," said Mrs. Bancroft. "I've not seen him +since I came home at six o'clock." + +Mr. Bancroft went into the hall, calling aloud, "Ned, where are you?" + +How joyfully would Ned have answered could he have heard papa's dear +cheerful voice! + +There was no response, and Mrs. Bancroft rang the library bell. "Jane, +send Master Ned up stairs," she said, as Jane made her appearance. + +"Sure I've not seen him the whole afternoon, ma'am." + +Mrs. Bancroft looked at her husband with an alarmed face, saying, "Where +can the child be? He never staid out so late before." + +After searching every room in the house, they went to the front door, +looking in vain up and down the street. Mr. Bancroft then went to the +houses of several neighbors whose little boys had often played with Ned, +but none had seen him since school-time. + +The parents were now truly frightened, for Ned had never been in the +habit of going anywhere without permission; but now they thought he must +have strayed away, and some accident befallen him. + +"Oh, Edward," said Mrs. Bancroft, the tears falling from her eyes, "what +shall we do to find our boy?" + +Dreading to alarm her, Mr. Bancroft didn't mention his fears, but with a +heavy heart put on his hat, and again went into the street, his wife +returning to the library convulsed with sobs. + +Where could he go but to the nearest station-house, thought Ned's +anxious father, and started thither; but when he reached the corner of +the street he turned round again, disliking the idea of going far from +the house where it was most natural to see the boy. + +"I will go back and examine his playthings. He has always been an +orderly child. I can easily tell whether he has used any of them this +afternoon." + +Once more he entered the door, and went directly to Ned's room. The +spelling-book was in its place, but his overcoat and hat were not to be +found. The box of playthings was next examined. It was open, showing Ned +had been there, and his little shovel was missing. + +Why he immediately went into the yard, Mr. Bancroft could afterward +never tell. It must have been a good fairy that led him to the back +door, where he stood a few seconds looking out into the darkness, +longing for a sight of the little face which always welcomed him home. + +It must have been the same fairy that moved him to walk to the back of +the yard, where a black spot in the snow attracted his attention. His +heart gave a leap: it was Ned's shovel. And what was that faint moaning +sound that came to his ears? Was Eva in any distress in the next yard? +He listened. + +"Papa! oh, papa! I'm here, under the snow!" + +"Ned, my boy, where are you?" + +"Here, papa, under the snow." + +With the same little shovel the father now worked with all his might, +cheering his child by the continued sound of his voice, saying, "Papa +will take you out in a minute. Be a brave boy. Papa will soon get you." + +Mrs. Bancroft, who was waiting in-doors, heard, as she thought, persons +talking in the yard, and opened the library window, when her husband +called to her: "Send some one here to help me! Be quick; Ned is here +under the snow." + +Jane overheard, and rushed out with her coal shovel, and began to dig +with the strength and energy of a man, and crying, "Me darlint, me +darlint, is it here ye are?" + +When at last the brave little fellow felt the loving arms of his father +tight about him, he simply whispered, "Oh, papa, I'm so glad you came!" + +Can any of my young readers imagine with what happiness both father and +mother kissed and hugged their cold and stiff little darling? They +carried him with gentle hands into the house, and hurriedly sent Jane +for the doctor, as poor Ned was now quite exhausted. + +When old Dr. Gray looked down at the child he said little, but with a +serious face administered stimulants, and with his own hands assisted in +rubbing back life into the almost frozen body of our young hero. + +If Ned had been many minutes longer buried in the snow, this story could +never have had such a cheerful ending. + + + + +AN HONEST MINER. + + +If you go into a mining district in Cornwall, England, you will see, not +far from the mine works, rows of neat little cottages; most of them are +extremely clean in the interior, and here the miners may be found seated +at comfortable fires, frequently reading, or in the summer evenings +working in their little gardens or in the potato fields. Frequently they +become experienced floriculturists, and at the flower shows that occur +annually in several of the Cornish towns they often carry off the +prizes. + +A pleasing anecdote is recorded of the honesty of a poor Cornish miner. +There lived at St. Ives a lady named Prudence Worth, whose charity was +remarkable. A miner living at Camborne had his goods seized for rent, +which he could not pay. He had heard of the many good deeds done by +"Madam" Worth, as she was usually called, and he determined to apply to +her for assistance. He said: + +"Madam, I am come to you in great trouble. My goods are seized for rent, +and they will be sold if I can not get the money immediately." + +"Where do you live?" inquired Mrs. Worth. + +"In Camborne, and I work in Stray Park Mine." + +"I know nothing of you," observed the lady, "and you may be a drunkard, +or an impostor." + +"Madam," replied the miner, with energy, "as I live, I am neither; and +if you will lend me the money, I will return it in four months." + +The money was lent, the period of four months elapsed, and, true to his +promise, the poor miner, notwithstanding that bad luck had attended him, +had managed to get the amount borrowed together, and set off on foot +with it. Arriving at Hayle River, he found the tide coming up, but to +save a journey of three miles round by St. Erith Bridge, he resolved to +cross the water, which appeared to him shallow enough for this purpose. +The poor fellow had, however, miscalculated the depth, and was drowned. +When the body was brought to shore, his wife said that he had left home +with three guineas in his pocket for Madam Worth. Search was made in his +pockets, and no money was found, but some one observed that his right +hand was firmly clinched. It was opened, and found to contain the three +guineas. + + + + +[Illustration] + +BABY. + +BY K. M. M. + + + What are you looking at, Baby dear, + With your wide-open serious eyes, + That were made from the depths of heaven's own blue, + Stolen away from the skies? + + What do you think of this great wide world + That you gaze on with such surprise? + I should like to know, if you only could tell, + You look so grave and so wise. + + The professor himself, who has studied for years, + Has not half so sage an air + As this baby of ours when he sits all alone + In the lap of the great arm-chair. + + And what are you talking of, all by yourself, + In those words which none of us know?-- + We forget so soon the language of heaven, + In this work-a-day world below. + + But teach us those accents strange and sweet + That you've learned from the angels above, + For we must become like this little child + E'er we enter God's kingdom of love. + + + + +KNITTED SCARF. + + +[Illustration: Fig. 1--KNITTED SCARF. [SEE FIG. 2.]] + +[Illustration: Fig. 2.--DETAIL OF SCARF, FIG. 1.] + +Little girls who like to knit will be glad to know how to make this +pretty scarf. It is knitted with two threads, one of white and the other +of chinchilla zephyr worsted, and wooden needles, crosswise, in rounds +going back and forth. Strands of worsted are knotted in the ends for +fringe. Begin the scarf with a thread of white and a thread of +chinchilla worsted, cast on 27 st. (stitch), and knit as follows: 1st +round.--(Slip the first st. of each round, and carry the working thread +to the wrong side, slipping it through between both needles; the last +st. is always knit off plain with both threads, catching them together. +This will not be referred to further.) Lay the chinchilla worsted on the +needle from the front to the wrong side, knit the next st. plain with +the white thread, * carry the chinchilla thread underneath the needle +and over the white thread to the front, lay the white thread on the +needle from the front to the wrong side, purl the next st. with the +chinchilla worsted, lay the latter on the needle from the front to the +wrong side, carry the white thread underneath the chinchilla thread to +the next st., and knit this plain, and repeat from *. 2d round.--Lay the +chinchilla thread on the needle from the front to the wrong side, purl +the next st. which appears purled on this side, together with the thread +thrown over, with the white thread, * lay the white thread on the needle +from the front to the wrong side, carry the chinchilla thread underneath +the white thread to the next st., and knit this plain together with the +thread thrown over, carry the white thread from the wrong side to the +front underneath the needle, and over the chinchilla thread, lay the +latter on the needle from the front to the wrong side, purl the next st. +together with the thread thrown over, with white worsted, and repeat +from *. 3d and 4th rounds.--Like the 1st and 2d rounds, but in the 3d +round always purl the st. which appear purled on the working side, and +knit plain those which look as if knit plain. Repeat always the 1st to +4th rounds, transposing the design (see Fig. 2). Finally, cast off the +st. loosely with both threads. + + + + +BISHOP HATTO. + + +The story goes that there once lived in Germany, in a handsome, spacious +palace, a selfish, fat old Bishop. His table was always spread with the +choicest dainties, and he drank in abundance wine of the very best; he +slept long and soundly, and looked so comfortable and happy and fat that +the people whispered to each other, "How grand it must be to be a +Bishop!" + +One summer, in the neighborhood where the Bishop lived, the rain came +down in such torrents, and continued so long, that the grain was utterly +ruined, and when autumn arrived, there was none to be gathered. "What +shall we do," said the poor fathers and mothers, "when the long winter +comes, and we have no food to give our children?" + +Winter arrived, bringing the cold winds and the snow and the frost. The +little ones begged for bread, and the poor mothers were compelled to say +the bread was all gone. + +"Let us go to the Bishop," at last said the poor pining creatures. +"Surely he will help us. He has far more food than he needs, and it is +useless our starving here when he has plenty." + +Very soon from his palace window the Bishop saw numbers of the poor +people flocking to his gates, and he thought to himself: "So they want +my corn; but they shall not have it; and the sooner they find out their +mistake, the better." So he sent them all away. The next day others +came. Still the Bishop refused, but still the people persevered in +calling out for food at his gates. + +At last, wearied with their cries, but still unmoved by their pitiable +condition, the Bishop announced that on a certain day his large barn +should be open for any one to enter who chose, and that when the place +was full, as much food should be given them as would last all the +winter. + +At last the day came, and for a time forgetting their hunger, the women +and children, as well as the men, both old and young, crowded up to the +barn door. + +The Bishop watched them, with a smile on his deceitful old face, until +the place was quite full; then he fastened the door securely, and +actually set fire to the barn, and burned it to the ground. As he +listened to the cries of agony, he said to himself, "How much better it +will be for the country when all these _rats_," as he called the poor +sufferers, "are killed, because while they were living they only +consumed the corn!" + +Having done this, he went to his palace, and sat down to his dainty +supper, chuckling to himself to think how cleverly he had disposed of +the "rats." + +The next morning, however, his face wore a different expression, when +his eye fell upon the spot where the night before had hung a likeness of +himself. There was the frame, but the picture had gone: it had been +eaten by the rats. + +At this the wicked Bishop was frightened. He thought of the poor dying +people he had spoken of as rats the day before, and he turned cold and +trembled. As he stood shivering, a man from the farm ran up in terror, +exclaiming that the rats had eaten all the corn that had been stored in +the granaries. + +Scarcely had the man finished speaking when another messenger arrived, +pale with fear, and bringing tidings more terrible still. He said ten +thousand rats were coming fast to the palace, and told the Bishop to fly +for his life, adding a prayer that his master might be forgiven for the +crime he had committed the day before. + +"The rats shall not find me," said Bishop Hatto, for that was his name. +"I will go shut myself up in my strong tower on the Rhine. No rats can +reach me there; the walls are high, and the stream around is so strong +the rats would soon be washed away if they attempted to cross the +water." + +So off he started, crossed the Rhine, and shut himself up in his tower. +He fastened every window securely, locked and barred the doors, and gave +strict injunctions that no one should be allowed to leave the tower or +to enter it. Hoping that all danger was over, he lay down, closed his +eyes, and tried to sleep. But it was all in vain; he still shook with +fear. Then, all at once, a shrill scream startled him. On opening his +eyes he saw the cat on his pillow. She too was terrified, and her eyes +glared, for she knew the rats were close upon them. + +Up jumped the Bishop, and from his barred window he saw the black cloud +of rats swiftly approaching. They had crossed the deep current, and were +marching in such a direct line toward his hiding-place that they might +have been taken for a well-marshalled army. Not by dozens or scores, but +by thousands and thousands, the creatures were seen. Never before had +there been such a sight. + + "Down on his knees the Bishop fell, + And faster and faster his beads did he tell, + As louder and louder, drawing near, + The gnawing of their teeth he could hear. + + "And in at the windows, and in at the door, + And through the walls helter-skelter they pour, + And down from the ceiling and up through the floor, + From the right and the left, from behind and before, + From within and without, from above and below, + And all at once to the Bishop they go. + + "They have whetted their teeth against the stones, + And now they pick the Bishop's bones. + They gnawed the flesh from every limb, + For they were sent to do judgment on him." + +Such was the horrible fate of Bishop Hatto; and whether it be perfectly +true or not, it is a striking illustration of the folly, as well as the +cruelty, of selfishness. + + + + +[Illustration: FUN IN THE WOODS.] + + + + +[Illustration: OUR POST-OFFICE BOX.] + + + FULTON WELLS, CALIFORNIA. + + I am assistant teacher here in Little Lake district. I have a class + of seven boys, among whom I am dividing the year's subscription of + YOUNG PEOPLE. The "Parrot Story" I read aloud in school, and am now + doing the same with the "Brave Swiss Boy." I read a chapter in the + morning, and those who are tardy lose the story till they can + borrow the paper. Every number is sewed, and the leaves neatly cut, + and the boys are much pleased with the charming little paper and + the beautiful stories. The story about the "Flower that Grew in a + Cellar" left them hushed and thoughtful for several minutes + afterward. The puzzles and "Wiggles" are all discussed, but none of + the boys dare send answers for fear they "wouldn't be right." A + great California owl flew into the school-room the other night + through the top of a lowered window, and staid all day perched up + over our heads, with his great soft dark eyes shut, and his chin + comfortably settled in his beautiful feathers. We have made + "Tombolas," and they are very funny. We are so glad you are + publishing this paper; it is just what we needed. + + JENNIE R. BUSH. + + * * * * * + + PORTLAND, OREGON, _January 21_. + + My brother Henry and I have just picked a bunch of willow "pussies" + for our mamma. + + CLARA TEAL. + + * * * * * + + PALMYRA, MISSOURI. + + I am six years old. I see a good many little girls write letters to + YOUNG PEOPLE. I like the paper first-rate, and so does brother + Will. He is a big boy thirteen years old, and can skate. We are + having a very warm winter here in Missouri, and not much ice. + + GERTIE COURTRIGHT. + + * * * * * + + GALT, CALIFORNIA, _February 4_. + + The other day we had a snow-storm. It was the first time I ever saw + snow. We have a large garden, and there are a great many birds in + it. Last summer there was a bird's nest in the ivy, and now the + little birds which were born there are coming back. We have + beautiful flowers in California, but I would like to see some of + the Eastern flowers. I am eight years old. + + GENEVIEVE. + + * * * * * + + SAG HARBOR, LONG ISLAND. + + I am ten years old, and am visiting my grandma. She lives by the + sea-shore. We had a hard snow-storm the other day, and the tide + came nearly up to the seats of our boat-house, and the next day it + was away down to the eel-grass. My aunt teaches school in the + village, and the tide was up to the railroad track, so she had to + ride home. What makes the tide so high and then so low? Grandma + says the day it was so high the wind was east, and the next day it + was west, and it blew very hard. + + BERTHA A. F. + + * * * * * + + BRIDGEPORT, CONNECTICUT. + + I could not tell you how happy YOUNG PEOPLE makes my brother and + me. We can not wait for the week to go by. We haven't any pets + except our little brother Maxwell, who is three years old. He is so + funny and full of mischief that we would rather have him than all + the other pets in the world. He talks as funny as the baby that + wanted Daisy to come back, but my brother Jimmie and I can always + understand every word he says, even when mamma can not. He is + almost three years old. + + PAUL S. + + * * * * * + + JAMAICA PLAIN, MASSACHUSETTS. + + I am nine years old. I have a cat. She is three years old. There is + a strange cat comes in our cellar. I gave her some milk, and she + would not drink it. She runs away from me. I have a tool-box, and + have been making some easels to-day. + + ARTHUR N. B. + + * * * * * + + SCRANTON, PENNSYLVANIA. + + There are a great many coal mines near where I live. Six little + girls, including myself, went down in one of them once with the + superintendent, who explained to us how they mined coal. We girls + each took a miner's pick and knocked off a piece of coal, so that + we could say we had mined some ourselves. I take YOUNG PEOPLE, and + I like it ever so much. + + M. H. A. + + * * * * * + + PROVINCETOWN, MASSACHUSETTS. + + I have a cunning little kitten, and its name is Pinafore. It will + eat ice-cream as fast as I can give it to it. We have had lots of + snow here, and I go out sliding 'most all the time when I am not in + school. + + ABBIE C. PUTNAM. + + * * * * * + + LEWISBURG, PENNSYLVANIA. + + When I read Harry P. H.'s letter about his kitten that eats + peanuts, I thought I would tell you about a dog I know. His name is + Sport, and he lives at my grandfather's farm, not far from here. As + soon as he sees me he runs toward me, and wags his tail, and jumps + up and down. He follows me everywhere. I give him corn and apples + to eat, and he jumps to take them from my fingers. When he is very + hungry he will always eat corn and apples. Do all dogs like such + things? + + W. A. LEWIS. + + * * * * * + + FORT PREBLE, PORTLAND, MAINE. + + I live in a fort by the sea-shore. Our post takes HARPER'S WEEKLY, + and I read the YOUNG PEOPLE, which comes with it. We have splendid + boating and fishing. We catch cod-fish, mackerel, cunners, and + lobsters. We catch the lobsters in nets. I have two pet pigeons, + and two kittens exactly alike. Their names are Spunk and Pluck. + Spunk will run up my knee when I hold out a piece of meat. + + CAMPBELL P. HAMILTON. + + * * * * * + + WEST TROY, NEW YORK. + + I would like to know what to do with my parrot. He talks, sings, + and whistles very nice, but he picks his feathers all out, and + looks almost naked. I had a canary, but it died two years ago. It + was almost twenty years old. Can any little boy or girl tell me + what to do for my parrot? + + NELLIE R. + + * * * * * + +H. L. MURRAY.--A big, strong Newfoundland dog will be the best to +harness in your little carriage. Newfoundland dogs are very wise and +gentle, and, if treated kindly, are easily trained. + + * * * * * + +CHARLEY D. M.--The trouble with your fish probably comes from the want +of air in the water. If you will make a reed or elder-bush squirt-gun, +closing the lower end, and making a number of small holes near the +bottom, you can use it for forcing air into the tank. This will make the +water "alive," and your fish will flourish. It will be well also to put +two or three fresh-water crabs and snails and a little vegetation into +the tank. + + * * * * * + +T. H. KNOX.--An owl, or an owl's head, would make a good badge for your +literary society. You can buy very pretty owls' heads under glass, +arranged to wear as a scarf-pin. They are not expensive. Or if you wish +something original, a small gold eagle's quill would be appropriate. + + * * * * * + +FRED C. S.--The United States government has never offered to purchase +cancelled stamps. + + * * * * * + +I. U.--Sheep have front teeth, or nippers, only on the lower jaw, the +upper having instead a firm fibrous pad. There are eight of these +nippers in a full-grown sheep. There are six grinders, or back teeth, on +each side of both the upper and lower jaws. + + * * * * * + +EDITH J. P.--You will find information about gold-fish in YOUNG PEOPLE +No. 6. + + * * * * * + +ZELLA T.--The origin of April-fools' Day is unknown. It is observed as a +season of practical jokes in nearly every country. Even the Hindoos have +a festival terminating on the 31st of March, during which they aim to +send their friends on all manner of absurd errands, and enjoy a laugh at +their disappointment. In Italy and France the victims of practical jokes +of the 1st of April are called "April-fish." + + * * * * * + +B. H. T.--If you wish to keep the skin of your greyhound very soft and +delicate, feed it on bread and milk, sugar, cake, crackers, and dainty +food of any kind. It will eat meat fast enough, if you allow it to do +so, and a little beef, cut very fine, will make it stronger and do it +good. Always give it plenty of fresh water. + + * * * * * + +SADIE E. P.--The saw-fish (_Pristis antiquorum_) is most plentiful in +tropical seas, although a few species are found in the arctic regions. +Its weapon is a flat prolongation of the head, and has on either edge +hard tooth-like projections. One species is found all along our coast, +from New England to Florida. It has no other common name. + + * * * * * + +GORDON C.--Your theory that the peeking and the scolding noise made by a +canary are simply to show its affection for its friends, and really a +sign of pleasure, is very pretty, but we are not sure it is right. It is +true that a canary will not often act in that way when approached by a +stranger, for a new voice frightens it, and makes it shrink into a +corner of its cage, but it will show a great deal of fight, and peck +vigorously, when disturbed by a familiar finger. But either way, if it +is loving or enraged, a canary is always the same dear downy little pet, +and deserves the tenderest care and affectionate treatment. + + * * * * * + +A. H. SPEAR.--Peter Minuit--more correctly Minnewit--was born at Wesel, +Holland, some time during the later part of the sixteenth century. He +was appointed third Director-General of New Netherland in 1625--Cornelis +May having been the first and William Verhulst the second--and arrived +at Manhattan the following May. To him belongs the honor of having +purchased Manhattan Island from the Indians, as up to this period (1626) +the Dutch had possessed it only by right of occupation. Minuit opened +negotiations with the native proprietors, and purchased the entire +island for the Dutch West India Company "for the value of sixty +guilders"--about twenty-four dollars of our present currency. He died at +Fort Christiana, Delaware, in 1641. + + * * * * * + +A. L. W., Washington Territory, sends a neat "Wiggle," which we are +sorry came too late to be printed. + + * * * * * + +DORSEY COATE.--Many thanks for your pretty valentine. + + * * * * * + +MARY N. C., Cuba.--The beautiful little moth which flew on your table +while you were writing, and which you inclose, resembles the _Deiopeia +bella_, which lives on the mouse-ear of our Northern fields. The size +and markings are precisely the same, but the cross-bars on the +fore-wings of the Northern moth are buff, while those of its Cuban +cousin are delicate pink. + + * * * * * + +ANNA M. M., AND AGNES AND WILLIE, Scotland.--We are very glad to learn +from your neatly written letters that little folks in Scotland derive so +much pleasure from reading the "American stories in YOUNG PEOPLE." + + * * * * * + +Pretty favors are acknowledged from Frederick Helzel, Nicholas P. G., +Tillie F. Weishampel, George H. F., John B. Maxwell, F. L. W., Eddie S., +Randall Goodnough, E. G. B., Carrie L. Holman, Jay H. Maltby, Lollie +E. W., Mamie Evans, S. G. McKnight, Bennie B. H., L. S. R., Willie +B. M., T. S. March, F. V. Griffin, Alfred Opdyke, Henry R. C., J. B. +Tanner, George N. M., M. H. V., Mary B. R., Florence E. I., Carrie +Pelham, Flora, Ross, and Sallie, Freddie Haggerty. + + * * * * * + +Correct answers to puzzles received from Paul Sterling, G. J. D., Birdie +A. Randolph, Mabel Lowell, Abby H. Vail, Laura B. Wallis, Chester +Fernald, William F. B., Nena Crommelin, Amy S. Turner, Willie H. +Spiller, Maggie M. Mather, Georgie M. Hollenbeck, S. V. B., Lillie M. +Jones. John R. Glen, Mary M. Smith, M. Willie, J. Rector, J. M. Wolfe, +N. L. Collamor, E. S. May, Harry C. M., "Phoenix," Belle F., Maud +Miller, Chesly B. H., S. Birdie Dorman, Philip P. Cruger, Dorsey E. C., +B. F. H., "Hartley." + + * * * * * + +No. 1. + +ENIGMA. + + My first is in cistern, but not in well. + My second is in write, but not in spell. + My third is in note, but not in bill. + My fourth is in factory, not in mill. + My fifth is in window, but not in door. + My sixth is in ceiling, not in floor. + My seventh is in wrong, but not in right. + My eighth is in dark, but not in light. + My ninth is in true, but not in false. + My tenth is in slide, but not in waltz. + My whole is a large city in the United States. + + W. F. C. + + * * * * * + +No. 2. + +GEOGRAPHICAL DOUBLE ACROSTIC. + +An island off the coast of Massachusetts. A city in Ireland. A city in +Cochin China. A river in New York State. A city in Italy. One of the +United States. A river in the Northwestern United States. A city in +Kentucky. A lake in North America. Answer--a city in the United States, +and the State of which it is the capital. + + SADIE (twelve years). + + * * * * * + +No. 3. + +ENIGMA. + + My first is in carriage, but not in gig. + My second is in false, but not in wig. + My third is in laughter, but not in mirth. + My fourth is in girdle, but not in girth. + My fifth is in sad, but not in merry. + My sixth is in pear, and also in cherry. + My whole lies under-ground. + + C. L. + + * * * * * + +No. 4. + +WORD SQUARE. + +First, a firm, hard substance of dull white color. Second, elliptical. +Third, an iron pin. Fourth, a girl's name. + + WILLIAM F. B. + + * * * * * + +No. 5. + +DIAMOND PUZZLE. + +A consonant. A beverage. Bright. A part of the head. A consonant. + + M. L. + + * * * * * + +No. 6. + +NUMERICAL CHARADE. + + I am composed of 14 letters. + My 5, 1, 7 is a kind of meat. + My 11, 12, 6, 8 is dug from the earth. + My 12, 4, 3 belongs to a boat. + My 6, 14, 10, 4 is a girl's name. + My 2, 9, 13, 8 is part of a bird. + My whole was a great man. + + FANNIE (10 years). + + * * * * * + +ANSWER TO PUZZLE PICTURE IN No. 14. + +S-wine. S-tag; W-easel. G-oats. D-rill. B-ear. B-oar. M-ink. F-ox. + + * * * * * + +ANSWERS TO PUZZLES IN No. 15. + +No. 1. + +Guitar. + +No. 2. + + Z + P E A + Z E B R A + A R T + A + +No. 3. + +Franklin. + +No. 4. + +Photogen and Nycteris. + +No. 5. + + G ri P + R u E + A i R + N ea R + T r Y + +Grant, Perry. + +No. 6. + + F L A W + L I N E + A N O N + W E N T + + + + +ADVERTISEMENTS. + + + + +HARPER'S YOUNG PEOPLE. + +HARPER'S YOUNG PEOPLE will be issued every Tuesday, and may be had at +the following rates--_payable in advance, postage free_: + + SINGLE COPIES $0.04 + ONE SUBSCRIPTION, _one year_ 1.50 + FIVE SUBSCRIPTIONS, _one year_ 7.00 + +Subscriptions may begin with any Number. When no time is specified, it +will be understood that the subscriber desires to commence with the +Number issued after the receipt of order. + +Remittances should be made by POST-OFFICE MONEY ORDER or DRAFT, to avoid +risk of loss. + +ADVERTISING. + +The extent and character of the circulation of HARPER'S YOUNG PEOPLE +will render it a first-class medium for advertising. A limited number of +approved advertisements will be inserted on two inside pages at 75 cents +per line. + + Address + HARPER & BROTHERS, + Franklin Square, N. Y. + + + + +CANDY + +Send one, two, three, or five dollars for a sample box, by express, of +the best Candies in America, put up elegantly and strictly pure. Refers +to all Chicago. Address + + C. F. GUNTHER, + Confectioner, + 78 MADISON STREET, CHICAGO. + + + + +=BLUME'S BEAUTIFUL BALLADS=--"Shining Curls of Gold," "Rambling o'er the +Hill," "Four-Leaf Clover," "Buttercups and Daisies," "Pink Domino" +Waltz, Dodworth's "Five-step," "Don't Get Weary" Galop. Each 35c., +mailed. =FREDERICK BLUME, 861 Broadway.= + + + + +The Child's Book of Nature. + + * * * * * + + The Child's Book of Nature, for the Use of Families and Schools: + intended to aid Mothers and Teachers in Training Children in the + Observation of Nature. In Three Parts. Part I. Plants. Part II. + Animals. Part III. Air, Water, Heat, Light, &c. By WORTHINGTON + HOOKER, M.D. Illustrated. The Three Parts complete in One Volume, + Small 4to, Half Leather, $1.31; or, separately, in Cloth, Part I., + 53 cents; Part II., 56 cents; Part III., 56 cents. + + * * * * * + +A beautiful and useful work. It presents a general survey of the kingdom +of nature in a manner adapted to attract the attention of the child, and +at the same time to furnish him with accurate and important scientific +information. While the work is well suited as a class-book for schools, +its fresh and simple style cannot fail to render it a great favorite for +family reading. + +The Three Parts of this book can be had in separate volumes by those who +desire it. This will be advisable when the book is to be used in +teaching quite young children, especially in schools. + + * * * * * + +Published by HARPER & BROTHERS, New York. + +_Sent by mail, postage prepaid, to any part of the United States, on +receipt of the price._ + + + + +CHILDREN'S + +PICTURE-BOOKS. + +Square 4to, about 800 pages each, beautifully printed on Tinted Paper, +embellished with many Illustrations, bound in Cloth, $1.50 per volume. + +The Children's Picture-Book of Sagacity of Animals. + + With Sixty Illustrations by HARRISON WEIR. + +The Children's Bible Picture-Book. + + With Eighty Illustrations, from Designs by STEINLE, OVERBECK, VEIT, + SCHNORR, &c. + +The Children's Picture Fable-Book. + + Containing One Hundred and Sixty Fables. With Sixty Illustrations + by HARRISON WEIR. + +The Children's Picture-Book of Birds. + + With Sixty-one Illustrations by W. HARVEY. + +The Children's Picture-Book of Quadrupeds and other Mammalia. + + With Sixty-one Illustrations by W. HARVEY. + + * * * * * + +Published by HARPER & BROTHERS, New York. + +_Sent by mail, postage prepaid, to any part of the United States, on +receipt of the price._ + + + + +BOOKS FOR YOUNG MEN. + + * * * * * + +Character. + + Character. By SAMUEL SMILES. 12mo, Cloth, $1.00. + +It is, in design and execution, more like his "Self-Help" than any +of his other works. Mr. Smiles always writes pleasantly, but he +writes best when he is telling anecdotes, and using them to enforce +a moral that he is too wise to preach about, although he is not +afraid to state it plainly. By means of it "Self-Help" at once +became a standard book, and "Character" is, in its way, quite as +good as "Self-Help." It is a wonderful storehouse of anecdotes and +biographical illustrations.--_Examiner_, London. + + * * * * * + +Self-Help. + + Self-Help; with Illustrations of Character, Conduct, and + Perseverance. By SAMUEL SMILES. New Edition, Revised and Enlarged. + 12mo, Cloth, $1.00. + +The writings of Samuel Smiles are a valuable aid in the education of +boys. His style seems to have been constructed entirely for their +tastes; his topics are admirably selected, and his mode of communicating +excellent lessons of enterprise, truth, and self-reliance might be +called insidious and ensnaring if these words did not convey an idea +which is only applicable to lessons of an opposite character and +tendency taught in the same attractive style. The popularity of this +book, "Self-Help," abroad has made it a powerful instrument of good, and +many an English boy has risen from its perusal determined that his life +will be moulded after that of some of those set before him in this +volume. It was written for the youth of another country, but its wealth +of instruction has been recognized by its translation into more than one +European language, and it is not too much to predict for it a popularity +among America boys.--_N. Y. World._ + + * * * * * + +Thrift. + + Thrift. By SAMUEL SMILES. 12mo, Cloth, $1.00. + +The mechanic, farmer, apprentice, clerk, merchant, and a large circle of +readers outside of these classes will find in the volume a wide range of +counsel and advice, presented in perspicuous language, and marked +throughout by vigorous good sense; and who, while deriving from it +useful lessons for the guidance of their personal affairs, will also be +imbibing valuable instruction in an important branch of political +economy. We wish it could be placed in the hands of all our +youth--especially those who expect to be merchants, artisans, or +farmers.--_Christian Intelligencer_, N. Y. + +In this useful and sensible work, which should be in the hands of all +classes of readers, especially of those whose means are slender, the +author does for private economy what Smith and Ricardo and Bastiat have +done for national economy. * * * The one step which separates +civilization from savagery--which renders civilization possible--is +labor done in excess of immediate necessity. * * * To inculcate this +most necessary and most homely of all virtues, we have met with no +better teacher than this book.--_N. Y. World._ + + * * * * * + +Published by HARPER & BROTHERS, New York. + +_Sent by mail, postage prepaid, to any part of the United States, on +receipt of the price._ + + + + +[Illustration: MORE WILLING THAN ABLE.] + + + + +PERPETUAL MOTION. + + +Tommy was only ten years of age, but still he was determined to obtain +it. At last, one day, he ran into his father's office in ecstasies, and +shouted, "Hurrah! Pop, I've got it!" + +"Got what, my son?" + +"Perpetual motion!" cried Tommy. "I've been watching it for the last +half hour, and it works bully!" Then grasping "Pop" by the hand, "Come +up in the garret and see it." + +His father went up, and, sure enough, there was perpetual motion--that +is, as long as there was any life left in the dog and that piece of +roast beef hung to his tail. + + + + +THE SOAPBOXTICON, OR HOME-MADE MAGIC LANTERN. + + +Would you like to have a magic lantern? Very well: I will tell you how +to make it. In the first place you must procure a burning-glass, such as +you can get at any toy store for a few cents; or you may, perhaps, have +the glass out of an old telescope. You also want a soap box (or any +other kind of square box), a cigar box, and a piece of white muslin or +linen as large as a pocket-handkerchief. Make a hole in the cigar box to +fit your magnifying-glass, and put the glass into it. Now look at Fig. +1, and see how the cigar box is placed inside the soap box. Stretch the +muslin over the opposite side of the soap box (from which, of course, +you have removed the bottom), and tack it to the edges of the box. Put a +lighted candle in the cigar box as represented in the illustration, and +if you hold a drawing or a photograph opposite the glass in the cigar +box, it will be reflected on the muslin stretched over the end of the +soap box, and you have a magic lantern. + +[Illustration: Fig. 1 is the perspective view; Fig. 2 is the back view; +Fig. 3 is the side view (or section); Fig. 4 is the front view, showing +the picture.] + +One thing more. By looking at Fig. 1 you will see that there are two +bars and a cross-bar to hold the picture. These can easily be fixed, and +will save you the trouble of holding the picture in your hand, and will +be more steady. By carefully looking at the different drawings, you will +soon see how to make one yourself. + + * * * * * + +=A Brave Princess.=--In one of the Sandwich Islands, in the South Seas, +is a volcanic mountain with a huge lake of ever-burning fire. This was +the reputed abode of the goddess Pele and her fiery companions, the +worship of whom was the central superstition of the islanders. The young +Princess Kapiolani was converted to Christianity through the teaching of +the missionaries. Grieving for the ignorance and misery of her people, +she resolved to visit the burning mountain of Kilauea, and dare the +dreaded Pele to do her worst. There a priestess met her, threatened her +with the displeasure of the goddess if she persisted, and prophesied +that she and her followers would miserably perish. In defiance of this +threat, she and her Christian followers went down to the edge of the +burning lake, and, standing erect, she thus spoke: "Jehovah is my God. +He kindled these fires. I fear not Pele. If I perish by the anger of +Pele, then you may fear the power of Pele; but if I trust in Jehovah, +and He should save me from the wrath of Pele, then you must fear and +serve the Lord Jehovah." + + + + +CHARADE. + + +FIRST. + + I am rocked in the arms of the sea, + Or tossed on the flowing main; + Then fold my white wings in some peaceful bay, + And am bound to the earth with a chain. + +SECOND. + + There's a fruit with its hue of gold + From the land of the tropical sun; + _I_ make it a cooling draught to hold + To the lips of the thirsty one. + +WHOLE. + + With the tread of many feet, + And the changeless roll of the drum, + With a deadly volley my foe to greet, + Mid the flash of steel, I come. + + + + +[Illustration: "WILL IT RING, MAMMA, IF I PULL?"] + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's Harper's Young People, March 2, 1880, by Various + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK HARPER'S YOUNG PEOPLE, MAR 2, 1880 *** + +***** This file should be named 28395.txt or 28395.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/2/8/3/9/28395/ + +Produced by Annie McGuire + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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