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diff --git a/43434-0.txt b/43434-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..d4dc848 --- /dev/null +++ b/43434-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,2012 @@ +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 43434 *** + +[Illustration: HARPER'S YOUNG PEOPLE + +AN ILLUSTRATED WEEKLY.] + + * * * * * + +VOL. II.--NO. 56. PUBLISHED BY HARPER & BROTHERS, NEW YORK. PRICE FOUR +CENTS. + +Tuesday, November 23, 1880. Copyright, 1880, by HARPER & BROTHERS. $1.50 +per Year, in Advance + + * * * * * + + + + +[Illustration: LITTLE SAMUEL.--[SEE NEXT PAGE.]] + +THE BOYHOOD OF SAMUEL. + +BY THE REV. BRADFORD K. PEIRCE, D.D. + + +A long time ago--more than three thousand years--a little boy was born +to a loving mother. She was a Jewess, and in those days it was the +custom to be called by only one name. Her name was Hannah, or Anna. She +lived with the father of her little boy in a mountain village six or +eight miles north of the city of Jerusalem. + +Hannah was a tender-hearted woman, and as good as she was gentle. She +longed to have a little boy who might grow up and be trained to be a +teacher of the true God among the people around her, who were very +ignorant and wicked in those days. So she prayed, and God heard her +prayer. Upon the birth of the little fellow she named him Samuel, which +means _Asked of God_. So happy and grateful to God was this Jewish +mother that she wrote a wonderful song, which has been preserved all +these years, and may be still read in the Bible. + +When her boy was two or three years old she carried him to the place +where the people of the country met to worship God, where was the great +tent called the Tabernacle, with its different coverings, of which we +are told in the second book of the Bible, and where the priest of God +and those that assisted him lived. Here she left him, with many warm +kisses and tears, that he might be taught by these religious men, and be +fitted to become in after-years a prophet or teacher of the true God. +His school had no vacations; but once a year regularly his mother came +to see him, bringing him a new, rich mantle as a gift of love, and a +proper robe for one who assisted in public worship, although a child, to +wear. + +Every one saw that he was a remarkable boy. The old priest loved him as +a son. The blessed God in heaven also loves children, and knows how to +express His love to them so that they will understand it. He sometimes +intimates to them, when He is about to call them to some great work, +that they are by-and-by to become His ministers. Many a little fellow as +young as Samuel has felt in his mind, he hardly knew how or why, that he +would some time be a preacher of the Gospel. + +When Samuel was about twelve years of age this wonderful thing happened +to him. He had a little room by himself within the great tent where the +people worshipped. The aged priest, whose name was Eli, had another +quite near to him. In the night, while the lamps were still burning in +the Tabernacle, and he had fallen asleep on his bed, he was suddenly +awaked by a voice calling him by name. He supposed, of course, it was +Eli calling, and he hurried to the old man's chamber, saying, as he +entered, "Here am I." + +"I did not call you," said Eli; "go, lie down again." + +He had hardly dropped into slumber once more, when the same voice awaked +him again: "Samuel, Samuel," it said. + +He ran again to the room of Eli, and said, "Here am I; for thou didst +call me." + +The old man thought, probably, that he was disturbed by terrifying +dreams, and said to him, "I called not, my son; lie down again." + +A third time the voice called. It is wonderful that the lad was not +affrighted. But if one loves God and does right, there is nothing that +can harm him. The open-faced child of the Tabernacle, obeying without +hesitation, although answering twice in vain, hastened to the chamber of +Eli with his ready and filial response, "Here am I; for thou didst call +me." + +The aged minister then knew that it was not a human voice, but the voice +of God. He said to the child, "Go, lie down, and if the voice is heard +again, say, 'Speak, Lord, for Thy servant heareth.'" + +He went alone to his chamber and to his bed in the silence of the night, +and once more the voice came, so sweet and gentle as not to terrify him, +"Samuel, Samuel." + +"Speak, Lord," he answered, as he sat up on his bed, "for Thy servant +heareth." + +Then God gave him a message to his master, and to the people, and made +him at this early age a teacher and a prophet of the Lord. + +It was just at this moment, when the boy sits up, solemnly, with his +eyes wide-opened, listening to the Divine voice, that the great English +painter Sir Joshua Reynolds, in his well-known picture, represents the +prophet-child. It is at this moment that his wondering and prayerful +face is caught by the artist in the beautiful picture which is given in +this paper. + +God does not now speak audibly in the sleeping-rooms of little fellows; +but when they kneel, night by night, by their bedsides, and say, "Speak, +Lord, for Thy servant heareth," He comes into their minds and leads and +teaches them just as if He called them by name. There is no prayer goes +up to Heaven more readily heard or answered than the simple words of a +sincere, praying child. + + + + +[Begun in HARPER'S YOUNG PEOPLE No. 53, November 2.] + +THE BOY-GENERAL. + +BY EDWARD CARY. + +CHAPTER IV. + + +When the courier who brought the news that Lafayette had landed again in +Boston was introduced to the presence of General Washington, those who +were standing by saw tears of joy run down the cheeks of the veteran +soldier; and when Lafayette came to him, bearing the glad tidings that +ships and men and money were on their way from France to aid in the +common cause, the happiness of Washington was beyond words. And well it +might be. The help the French had sent the year before was of little +use. The country had again fallen into a weary and grumbling mood. The +army had shrunken until it was the mere ghost of an army. There was no +money in the Treasury. Washington wrote to Lafayette that he had not +enough cash at his disposal, or in the whole army, to pay one messenger +to ride fifty miles. And here came back the dearly loved friend from +France, whose zeal and talent had won from the French government +promises of the most generous help. No wonder that the brave American +commander welcomed Lafayette with a heart filled with gratitude and +love. + +The young Marquis resumed his old place at the head of the advance guard +of chosen troops. He had brought back from France a thousand little +gifts for his old corps--badges for the soldiers, swords for the +officers, a bright new silken flag for each battalion--kindly proofs of +the affection with which he had constantly remembered them. + +The French fleet, and an army under the Count de Rochambeau, followed +quickly after Lafayette, and great efforts were made to agree upon a +common plan for the campaign. Unluckily only a part of the fleet came at +first, and this part got shut up by a larger English fleet at Newport, +and was of little value, except that the English ships which were +watching it could not ravage the American coasts. + +Just at this moment happened one of those little incidents which +sometimes have great effect. Washington had gone from near New York over +to Connecticut to hold a meeting with the French commanders. On his way +back he turned off his road to show to Lafayette the forts at West Point +on the Hudson River, of which he was quite proud, and which had been +laid out by an intimate friend of Lafayette's. Benedict Arnold, who was +in command at West Point, had just arranged to betray the post to the +English. Major André, an English officer, had been sent up to close the +bargain. On his way back to New York he was captured as a spy, and all +the papers on his person were sent to General Arnold, whose treason no +one suspected. Arnold received them a half-hour before he expected +General Washington. Had he not looked for Washington's arrival he could +have released André, and carried out his wicked plan. Instead, he fled +straightway to the British camp; so that Washington's love for +Lafayette, which made him wish to show him the forts at West Point, was, +in this curious fashion, a means of saving the American cause. Had the +British captured West Point, and cut off the Eastern from the Central +and Southern States, the Americans might easily have been subdued. + +The year 1780 passed without any events of importance. But early in 1781 +Washington sent Lafayette south into Virginia with a couple of thousand +men to capture an English garrison at Portsmouth, near the mouth of the +Chesapeake Bay. This he was to do with the help of a French fleet, which +was to arrive there at the same time. But an English fleet got ahead of +the French fleet, and beat it in a sea-battle off Cape Henry. Lafayette +was about to return, when Washington wrote him to stay and try to +protect the State of Virginia, which the British were about to overrun. +Lafayette staid, of course, but he had a hard time of it. His troops had +not expected to remain, and were inclined to desert and go home, the +more because they were very badly clothed. Lafayette borrowed $10,000 in +his own name, and got them new clothing and shoes. Then he issued an +order telling them that he was about to start on a dangerous business, +and any man who was afraid to go with him would be sent back. That put a +stop to desertion. + +Meanwhile, Lord Cornwallis, the ablest General the British had in +America, made his appearance with an army much stronger than +Lafayette's. He was "a cool, active" man, and was bent on capturing the +young Frenchman. Lafayette drew back slowly before him, trying to +deceive him as to his real strength. + +At last Cornwallis had pushed the little army of Americans away +northward to the foot of the mountains, and wrote to New York, "The boy +can not now escape me." But marching all night by a back road through +the woods, and leaving his baggage and tents and heavy guns behind him, +Lafayette appeared to the astonished eyes of the British commander in a +strong position, from which he could not be driven. Just at this point +Lafayette got some more men from Washington's camp and from Virginia, +and then commenced one of the most remarkable campaigns ever known. +Lafayette, still much weaker than Cornwallis, was so active, and +appeared so confident, that the English slowly withdrew toward the +coast. Always seeming anxious to fight, yet never risking a general +battle, Lafayette followed Cornwallis until he got him into the village +of Yorktown, between the York River and the James River. There the +British felt safe, thinking that they could at any time get to New York +by water, or with a few more men could sally out and drive Lafayette +from Virginia. + +But Lafayette expected a French fleet off the coast, and contented +himself with carefully watching his enemy, and writing to Washington to +hasten south with his army and make the capture of the British certain. +At last the French fleet came, and poor Cornwallis, with all his skill +and courage, was surrounded. He could hardly believe his eyes, and tried +in one way and another to break through; but it was of no use. The +French landed in large force, and their commanders urged Lafayette to +take Yorktown by storm. They appealed to his love of fame. He had foiled +Cornwallis, and shut him up in Yorktown: he ought to have the glory of +his capture. But the humane young hero put aside this temptation, and +refused to waste his men's lives in a venture which might not succeed. +He knew that Cornwallis could not escape, and that when Washington +arrived with his army the British would have to surrender, with little +or no bloodshed--so admirably combined in his character were courage, +prudence, and kindness. At last Washington came, with Count de +Rochambeau and a large army, and Cornwallis on the 19th of October was +compelled to lay down his arms. And this practically ended the war, +although it was not until two years after that peace was declared, and +the United States were acknowledged to be free and independent. + +Lafayette sailed for France on the 23d December, 1781. He had the proud +satisfaction of knowing that the greatest victory of the war which had +made a nation free had been due to the aid he had got from his own +country, and to the patience, fortitude, and genius with which he had +himself commanded in the last campaign. + +From on board the ship on the eve of sailing he wrote to his beloved +Washington: "Adieu, my dear General. I know your heart so well that I am +sure that no distance can change your attachment for me. With the same +sincerity I assure you that my tenderness, my respect, my gratitude for +you are beyond all expression; that at the moment of quitting you I feel +more than ever the force of those bonds of friendship which bind me +forever to you; and that the dearest wish of my heart is to show you by +my zeal and my services how great are my respect and my affection." + +[TO BE CONTINUED.] + + + + +HOW CHINESE CHILDREN LOVE THEIR PARENTS. + + +In the Chow Dynasty (about three thousand years ago) there was a man +named Laou Lai-tsze. When he was seventy years of age he used to put on +bright and many-colored clothes, and then he would play about like a +child. Sometimes he would carry water into the hall, and pretend to +stumble, and fall flat on the ground; and then he would cry, and run up +to his parents' side to please the old people, and all to make them +forget, for a time at least, their own great age. + + * * * * * + +There was once a man named Han. When he was a boy he misbehaved himself +very often, and his mother used to beat him with a bamboo rod. One day +he cried after the beating, and his mother was greatly surprised, and +said, "I have beaten you many a time, and you have never cried before; +why do you cry to-day?" + +"Oh, mother," he replied, "you used to _hurt_ me when you flogged me; +but now I weep because you are not strong enough to hurt me." + +"It makes one weep," says the Chinese moralist, "even to read this +story." Who does not long to have the dear vanished hand back again, and +the still voice speaking again, if even to punish and reprove? + + * * * * * + +About eighteen hundred years ago there was a man named Ong, who, when a +child, lost his father, and lived alone with his mother. Civil war broke +out, and he carried his mother off on his back to escape the confusion. +Many a time, when he was out searching for some food for his mother, he +met the banditti, who seized him and threatened to drag him off. But he +wept, and told them of his old mother at home depending on him; and even +these rough robbers had not the heart to kill him. + + * * * * * + +About eighteen hundred years ago there was a man named Mao, who +entertained a friend, one Koh, and kept him to spend the night. Early on +the following morning Mao killed a fowl for breakfast, and Mr. Koh +flattered himself that it was for _him_. But no! it was for Mao's old +mother; and Mao and Koh sat down to nothing but greens and rice. When +Koh saw this he rose up from the table, bowed low to Mao, and said, +"Well done, illustrious man!" + + + + +[Illustration] + +"HAPPY ORPHANS." + +BY CORA A. D. WYCKOFF. + + + A hundred little chicks or more, + Downy, soft, and yellow, + Were peeping out their discontent + In voices far from mellow. + I looked around in wonderment-- + No mothers were at hand + To gather 'neath their outstretched wings + The doleful little band; + + And as I gazed, a small wee voice + From one chick seemed to say: + "Perhaps you think we like it, + This fine new-fangled way; + But it's very disagreeable, + For, strange as it may seem, + We never had a mother-- + They hatched us out by steam; + + "And they call us 'Happy Orphans,' + When we're ready all to weep, + For no answering cluck comes back to us, + Though we peep, and peep, and peep. + They say it's scientific, + And I've no doubt it is true, + But I would rather have a mother-- + Now really wouldn't you!" + +[Illustration] + + + + +[Begun in No. 46 of HARPER'S YOUNG PEOPLE, September 14.] + +WHO WAS PAUL GRAYSON? + +BY JOHN HABBERTON, +AUTHOR OF "HELEN'S BABIES." + +CHAPTER XI. + +THE TRIAL. + + +"What do you think was the counterfeiter's excuse for running away?" +asked Sam Wardwell of Canning Forbes, on meeting him at the Post-office, +to which both boys had been sent by their parents. + +"I give it up," said Canning, who had not the slightest taste for +guessing. + +"He said he would have come back and given himself up after court had +met and adjourned, but he didn't want to be tried now." + +"He wanted to wait for some new evidence in his defense, perhaps," +suggested Canning. + +"New grandfather!" ejaculated Sam, very contemptuously. "He wanted to +stay in jail here, doing nothing, for the next six months, rather than +go to the Penitentiary and work hard. That's what my father says." + +"Perhaps your father is right," said Canning; "but what does he think of +Paul?" + +"What does he think?" answered Sam: "why, just what everybody else +thinks; he thinks Paul is the greatest boy that ever was, and he says he +wishes I would be just like him." + +"Well, why don't you?" asked Canning. + +"How can I?" said Sam, in an aggrieved tone. "I can't do just as I +please, as Paul can, and I haven't got any great mystery to keep me up, +as everybody knows Paul has." + +"Didn't you ever have a great mystery?" asked Canning. + +"Never but once," said Sam; "that was when I hooked a big package of +loaf-sugar out of father's store, and had to keep finding new places to +hide it in until it was eaten up." + +"I suppose that mystery helped keep you up?" suggested Canning. + +"Well, you see-- Oh, look! there comes father; I suppose he's wondering +why I don't bring his letters. Good-by;" and Sam got away from that very +provoking question as fast as possible. + +As for the other boys, they simply sat on the sidewalk opposite old Mrs. +Battle's, and worshipped the house, from which their hero had not been +successfully coaxed to come out. In spite of Paul's caution to Benny, +and the promises that he received in return, the deputy had talked so +enthusiastically about Paul to all the men he met, that the story sped +about town that Paul had done as much toward recapturing the prisoner as +the officer had. This story might have been spoiled had Benny acted +according to the spirit of his promise, but the little fellow had been +so elated by the looks that people gave him, as he marched with Paul and +the counterfeiter through the street, that he could not bear to +deliberately rob himself of his fame, as of course he would do as soon +as Paul's story had been told. So Benny refused to be seen; he went to +bed very early, and before breakfast he had hidden himself in the unused +attic of his mother's cottage, where he nursed his glory until he felt +that he was simply starving for something to eat. + +And all this while his fictitious valor was nowhere in the eyes of the +populace, for Mr. Morton himself had gone out immediately after +breakfast, and had himself given Paul's version of the affair to every +one, besides giving Benny a fair share of the credit for the +tender-heartedness displayed by the two boys toward the captive, so that +when Benny finally entered the world again he found he had lost some +hours of praise to which he was honestly entitled. As for Paul, the +teacher begged every one to say nothing at all to him about it. The boy +was somewhat peculiar, he said; the affair had made a very painful +impression upon him, and any one who really admired him could best prove +it by treating him just as before, and not reminding him in any way of +Laketon's most famous day. + +Mr. Morton had not yet decided whether to open his school again, and the +boys, although they would have been sorry to have him go away from +Laketon, hoped he would not decide before court opened, for now that the +counterfeiter had been mixed up in some way with two of their own +number, the boys with one accord determined that they would have to +attend the trial; indeed, it seemed to some of them that the trial could +not go on without them, for did they not know the two boys who had +helped bring the prisoner back from the woods? They thought they did. + +When the day for the trial came, and the Sheriff opened the court-room, +the doors of which had been kept locked because of the immense crowd +that threatened to fill the house in advance of the hour for the +session, he was surprised to find seventeen boys in the front seats of +the gallery. On questioning them, he learned that most of them had +entered through a window before sunrise, and that two had slept in the +gallery all night. He was about to remove the entire party, but the boys +begged so hard to be allowed to remain, and they reminded him so +earnestly that they all were particular friends of Paul, that the +Sheriff, who once had been a boy himself, relented and let them remain. + +It was about six in the afternoon, according to the boys, but only a +quarter before ten by the court-house clock, when the front doors were +opened and the crowd poured in. Within the next five minutes any boy in +that front gallery row could have sold his seat for a dollar, but not a +boy flinched from what he considered a public duty, although every one +knew just what to do with a dollar if he could get it. Soon the lawyers +flocked in by the Judge's door, and grouped themselves about the table +inside the rail, and at five minutes before ten his honor the Judge +entered and took his seat. Then the Sheriff allowed Mr. Morton and Paul +to enter by the Judge's door, because they were unable to get through +the crowd in front. At sight of Paul the whole front row of the gallery +burst into a storm of hand-clapping. + +The Judge rapped vigorously with his little mallet, and exclaimed, "Mr. +Sheriff, preserve order. The court is now open." + +[Illustration: THE SHERIFF ENFORCES ORDER.] + +The Sheriff, first giving chairs in the lawyers' circle to Paul and the +teacher, because there were no other seats vacant, went down in front of +the gallery, and shouted to the boys that if they made any more +disturbance he would throw them all out of the window and break their +heads on the pavement below. + +No lighter threat would have been of any avail, for a more restless set +of boys than they were during the next half-hour never was seen. It +seemed to them that the trial never would begin; lawyers talked to the +Judge about all sorts of things, and the Judge looked over papers as +leisurely as if time were eternity; but finally his honor said, + +"Mr. Sheriff, bring in John Doe." + +Every one in the front row of the gallery stood up, two or three minutes +later, as Ned Johnston, who sat where he could look through the open +door by which the Judge had entered, signaled that the prisoner was +coming. Many other people stood up when the Sheriff and the prisoner +entered, for all were curious to have a good look at the man whom but +few of them had seen. The Sheriff placed John Doe in the prisoners' box, +where, to the great disgust of the boys, only the back of a head and two +shoulders could be seen from the gallery. His honor nodded at the clerk, +and the clerk arose, cleared his throat, and said, + +"John Doe, stand up." + +The prisoner obeyed; and as his head was slightly turned, so as to face +the clerk, the boys had a fair view of it. It did not seem a bad face; +indeed, it was rather handsome and pleasing, although there was a steady +twitching of the lips that prevented its looking exactly the same from +first to last. + +"John Doe," said the clerk, turning over some of the sheets of a very +bulky document he held in his hand, "a Grand Jury appointed by this +Court has found a true bill of indictment against you for passing +counterfeit money, to wit, a five-dollar note purporting to have been +issued by the Founders' National Bank of Mechanics' Valley, State of +Pennsylvania, the same note having been offered in payment for goods +purchased from Samuel Wardwell, a merchant doing business in this town +of Laketon, and for passing similar bills upon other persons herein +resident. Are you guilty or not guilty?" + +"Guilty," answered the prisoner. + +A sensation ran through the house, and at least half a dozen of the +fifty or more citizens who had hoped to be drawn on the jury whispered +to their neighbors that it was a shameful trick to appeal to the Judge's +sympathy, and get off with a light sentence; but they hoped that his +honor would not be taken in by any such hypocritical nonsense. + +"John Doe," said his honor, solemnly, "I have been informed by an old +acquaintance of yours of your entire history. You are well born and well +bred; you had promising prospects in life, and a family that you should +have been proud of. But you gambled; you fell from bad to worse; and a +bullet aimed at you by an officer of the law, in the discharge of his +duty, struck and killed your loving, suffering wife. Such of your family +as remains to you would honor any one, even the highest man in the land, +and I am assured that you are sincerely desirous of forsaking evil +courses and devoting your life to this--family. Old friends, classmates +of yours, who are held in high respect wherever they are known, are +ready and willing to assist you to regain your lost manhood; so in +consideration of your plea, your professions of penitence, and the +responsibilities which your misdeeds have increased instead of lessened, +I sentence you to confinement in the county jail for the shortest period +allowed by the law covering your offense, to wit, six months. Sheriff, +remove the prisoner." + +The prisoner bowed to the Judge, and then looked toward Mr. Morton and +Paul. He tried hard to preserve his composure as the Sheriff led him +through the lawyers' circle and toward the Judge's door, but somehow his +eyes filled with tears. Perhaps this was the reason that Paul, in spite +of Mr. Morton's hand on his arm, sprang from his chair, threw his arms +around the prisoner's neck, and exclaimed, + +[Illustration: "FATHER!"] + +"Father!" + +[TO BE CONTINUED.] + + + + +THE SCHOOL-BOY'S VISION. + +BY MARY D. BRINE. + + + There's the bell for "recess over," time for stupid books again; + But how _can_ a fellow study with Thanksgiving on his brain? + When I read of Turks and Turkey, little heed to them I pay, + While my mind is full of visions of the near Thanksgiving-day. + + I can only hear the "gobble" of a turkey, fat and nice, + Which, my grandpa writes, is waiting to be _gobbled_ in a trice, + Just as soon as Sis and I and all the family are able + To be off and spend Thanksgiving round the dear old farm-house table. + + _That's_ a study, now, of Turkey that a fellow likes, I'm sure, + But put it in geography, and that I can't endure; + It has a different flavor somehow on the dear old farm, + And "cramming" then or "stuffing" never does one any harm. + + Now there's a class in spelling: Bobby White has tripped on "skates," + And that's something _I_ don't do. I remember how my mates + And I went off together, with our skates upon our feet, + For a race across the mill-pond, and 'twas only _I_ who beat. + + Oh, Thanksgiving-day is jolly on the dear old farm, and so + It knocks study in the head for a week before we go; + And I pity any fellow, be he black, or white, or brown, + Whose grandpapa and grandma are not living--_out of town_. + + Well, I s'pose I _ought_ to study while my book before me lies, + But it's hard upon a fellow now to have to shut his eyes + Upon such charming visions. Did you speak, sir? can I tell + Where Turkey is? Oh yes, sir, I have learned _that_ lesson well. + +[Illustration: THIS IS NOT INTENDED TO SHOW HOW OUR PRECIOUS BOY LOOKED +AFTER HIS THANKSGIVING DINNER, BUT HOW HE SAID HE FELT.] + + + + +AN ANCIENT WEDDING. + + +A Frankish noble named Sigismer, who lived A.D. 600, was to marry a +Visigothic princess. A Roman soldier saw their wedding, and gave the +following description of it in a letter to a friend: + +"As you are so fond of beholding war and armor, it would have been a +great pleasure for you if you had seen the royal youth Sigismer dressed +as a bridegroom, according to the custom of his people, walking to his +father-in-law's house. His horse was decorated with brilliant housings, +and other horses went before and behind him all glittering with precious +stones. The bridegroom, however, did not ride, for it was considered +more becoming that he should go on foot among his comrades, dressed in +bright purple, with ornaments of red gold and white silk, while his +hair, complexion, and skin were in keeping with these ornaments. But the +appearance of his comrades was formidable even in peace: their feet up +to the ankles were incased in rough boots, above which their shins, +knees, and thighs were bare. Besides these, they wore a short +tight-fitting tunic of many colors, which did not reach down to the +knees. The sleeves reached only to the elbows, the bright green tunic +contrasting sharply with the ruddy limbs. Their swords were suspended by +straps from their shoulders, and stuck close to their fur-clad hips. The +same dress which serves them for ornament serves also for defense. In +the right hand they carried barbed lances and battle-axes, which can +also be used as missiles; and in the left a shield, with a snow-white +rim and yellow boss. This shield is evidence of the wealth of its owner, +as well as of the skill of its maker. Altogether everything was so +arranged that the whole seemed to be not merely a bridal procession, but +a military one also." + + + + +HOW TO BUILD AN ICE-BOAT. + + +It is now time, boys, to house your canvas canoe, and put your miniature +sloop and steam-yacht out of commission. No doubt you have become quite +nautical in your habits the past season, and it seems a pity that you +should be obliged to give up being a jolly tar, with your blue shirt and +tarpaulin, just because the weather is a little cooler, and the wind +inclined to be rather fresh. + +But there is no necessity for becoming a thorough landlubber. Why not +have a boat for the winter--an ice-boat; not one in miniature, but one +that you can sail in yourself? The construction is simple enough. With a +few tools, the aid of your friends the carpenter and blacksmith, and +last, but not least, a little ingenuity, you may continue to scud over +the "briny," and not forget all your nauticalities. + +[Illustration: WORKING PLANS FOR AN ICE-BOAT.] + +Perhaps you remember that model ice-boat at the Centennial, the _Whiff_. +Yours need not be as large nor as elaborate, but it will serve your +purpose. The principal parts of the hull consist of eight pieces in all, +and straight at that, viz., keel, runner plank, mast bench, two side +boards, and three runners. That certainly don't look like a great +undertaking. Now look at the drawings on the plate, and see what is to +be done, and then how to do it. As in all boats, the keel (K) comes +first, made of white pine, twelve feet long, one and three-quarter +inches thick, and four inches deep; runner plank (RP), of pine, seven +feet in length, six inches wide, and one and a half inches thick; mast +bench (MB), three feet long, six inches wide, and one inch thick; side +boards (SB), seven feet long, three inches deep, and one inch thick. +Runners and rudder to be made of ash, the former two feet long, five +inches deep, and one inch thick; the latter twenty-one inches long, four +and a half inches deep, and one inch thick. Let your carpenter get the +timber for you, and see that it is all well-seasoned, free from knots +and checks, and straight-grained. + +When you have all your pieces nicely planed, be careful to follow your +dimensions, lengths, etc., and don't saw off an inch too much. Now for +the keel and bowsprit. Measure off from the right-hand end of the keel +four feet six inches on the under edge; then cut to the right hand with +draw-knife down to two inches; finish with plane. There's your bowsprit. +On the upper edge of the keel, five feet from the end of the bowsprit, +cut a place for the mast bench one inch deep and six inches wide. Go to +work on your runners and chocks (for inside of runners) with draw-knife +and key-hole saw. All your pieces being cut out, the next thing is +putting them together. Place the keel on the centre of the runner plank, +and mark with a pencil; then turn it over, and nail the RP to the keel. +This is simply to hold it in place until you get your mast bench and +side boards bolted to the runner plank. Use quarter-inch bolts six +inches long for this. Fig. 1 shows detail, cross section of side board, +and longitudinal section of RP and MB. The plan gives the position of +the bolt holes. Screw bolts up firmly, the nuts on the under side of the +RP. Put a couple of two-inch screws through the MB to the keel. + +Now for the stern. Bend a piece of inch stuff from the ends of the SB, +and nail it firmly to keel and SB. You will notice the end of the keel +projects a little. If you find this hard to do when the wood is dry, +steam it; or if not that, just saw off a bit of your keel, and make the +stern straight across. It does look a little more ship-shape, though, to +have a curve in the stern. Turn the boat over, and nail the flooring +(F), of half-inch stuff, firmly to SB and K. Your boat is now good and +stiff; but, remember, don't attempt to turn your hull over before you've +got the side boards fastened to the stern piece, and that again to the +keel; the other ends of the side boards are supposed to be bolted to the +rudder plank. You have the main part of the hull done. Make full-size +drawings of runners and rudder iron-work, and show these drawings to +your blacksmith, and let him attend to that part of the business. Be +careful in drawing the details of the runner irons, rudder-post, etc., +to use the right scale--that marked B. + +Now for your spars. Mast, white pine, eight feet nine inches from end to +end, four inches at base, one inch at head. Put the stick in your bench +vise, and shape it with a spokeshave. Boom, eight feet six inches long, +one and a half inches thick at the middle, and one inch at either end; +fasten it to the mast with a staple and screw-eye; Fig. 4 shows it. Put +a brass ferrule on the end of the boom to prevent it from being split by +the staple. Gaff, four feet long, and an inch and a quarter thick. Make +the throat as in Fig. 4. Jib-boom, four feet eleven inches long, an inch +and a quarter thick; fasten it to the bowsprit by a staple and eye, the +former to be driven in the bowsprit. Topmast, two feet three inches +long, one inch at foot, narrow it half an inch, and screw it to the +mast. That completes the sparring. + +The standing rigging is next in order. For shrouds and back and jib +stays use hemp line; heavy cod line will do. Fasten to eyes in the mast +bench and side board, as shown in Fig. 2. Brass eyelets suitable may be +got at the sail-maker's. + +In shaping the mast you must leave a shoulder for the shrouds and stays +to rest on. The jib stay runs through the bowsprit, and is fastened to +the runner plank in the same way as the shrouds. The bowsprit stays +extend to the runner plank, under the ends of the side boards. The front +elevation gives the position. + +Make sails out of heavy unbleached muslin; when hemmed to be of the +following dimensions: mainsail hoist, six feet six inches; head, four +feet two inches; leech, nine feet four inches; foot, eight feet six +inches. Jib hoist, six feet nine inches; leech, eight feet eleven +inches; foot, five feet. + +The running rigging hardly needs a description. Small single blocks, +either of wood or metal, may be used, with the exception of the blocks +for the main and jib sheets, which should be double. The peak and throat +halyards run from blocks through screw-eyes in the mast bench, thence to +cleats on the side of the keel; jib halyards through eyes, and then to +the cleat; jib sheets fastened to eyes, then through double pulley, and +back to the cleat--one on either side, of course. For the topping lift +use blue-fish line; and for the running rigging, the same. + +Before you put your sails on, or, in fact, any of the spars, standing or +running rigging, you must remember that you have not put the runners on +yet, nor got the rudder in place. See that the blacksmith has made the +iron-work according to the drawings. Bolt the rudder to the rudder-post, +screw the irons to the runners, the chocks to the under side of the +runner plank, and then to the runners. Look at the detail drawings, and +see that everything is all right; then you may begin to put on the +finishing touches. + +Sand-paper every part so as to get the finger-marks off, and then give +your wood-work, spars and all, a coat of shellac. Step your mast; draw +taut as you possibly can the standing rigging; but don't forget to put +brass rings on your mast and jib stay, or you'll have to unrig. Then +bend your sails, reeve your running rigging, and, with a little oil on +the working parts of the rudder, you are ready to run a race with a +locomotive if one is at hand and you've got a clear sheet of ice under +you. + +Don't forget that this craft of yours is inclined to speed at times, and +requires a steady hand, a quick eye, and ready nerve to manage it, or +you'll be running into Bill A. or Charlie B., perhaps shooting yourself +out as from a catapult, or driving high and dry up the side of a hill. +Nobody knows what may happen if you don't keep your wits about you. +Above all, don't smash your boat, because it can be put to good use when +the boating season opens again. We will tell you how by-and-by. + + + + +[Illustration: A LITTLE ANTIQUITY.--DRAWN BY MISS C. A. NORTHAM.] + + + + +JIM'S THANKSGIVING. + +BY SYDNEY DAYRE. + + +"Is that your dog?" + +Jim looked around. A bright-looking boy of eight years was sitting in a +carriage which stood before a six-story dry-goods store. He was gazing +admiringly at the pretty terrier Jim held in his arms. He moved toward +him, drawn by the quickly established chord of sympathy between two boys +on the subject of dogs. + +"Ain't he a beauty! Well, yes, I s'pose he's mine. He fell off the box +of a big style carriage, somethin' like that o' yourn, one day. I picked +him up and run after it, but I couldn't ketch it. I _didn't_ steal him," +added Jim, earnestly. + +"Course you didn't." + +"I've done some mean things, but I promised mother I'd never steal. He +was lame for a while, poor little creetur, but I nussed him very +careful, and he's well now." + +"How'll you trade? I'd like to have him." + +But Jim hugged the dog closer to him, as the small boy drew various +treasures from his pockets. + +"There's a top'll spin for fifteen minutes; and look at that knife--four +blades and a nut-pick; then there's these carnelians--look--nine; +they're worth a quarter apiece. I'll give 'em all for him." + +Jim shook his head. "He's all I've got, you see, and I'm fond of him. +I've fed him when I went hungry myself." + +"I'll give you some money, then. See, you could buy--some clothes." + +Jim looked down at his pitiful rags, but stood firm. + +"Take this anyhow," said the boy, with a look of sympathy, holding out a +half-dollar. "Get something good for you and the dog." + +Jim eyed the coin wistfully. "Won't your father care?" he asked. + +"No, no," laughed the boy; "he isn't here, though. Been gone away for +six months, and he's coming home to-night, and we're going to have the +_jolliest_ Thanksgiving. Where's _your_ home?" + +"I ain't got no home. There's no Thanksgivin' for me anywheres." + +"Dear me!" the bright face lengthened into an expression of surprise and +dismay. "But my mamma says everybody has something to be thankful for"; +but he looked at Jim as if he thought there _might_ be cases in which +this was to be doubted. "I'll tell you what," he went on, after a pause. +"You come to our house to-morrow afternoon, and I'll give you such a +dinner! Say, now, will you?" + +"I don't know," said Jim, slowly. "I'd like to. Where is it?" + +"No. ---- ---- Avenue. You come there and ask for Johnny Welford. Now +do; promise, won't you?--and bring your dog. Say, what's his name?" + +"Well," said Jim, in a half-apologetic tone, "his whole name's George +Washington, but I call him George for short. You see, I ain't got no +folks, and I make b'lieve _he's_ folks, and I talks to him, and he 'most +knows all I say, and it seems 'most like he was my brother. I had a +little brother once, and my mother was a real good woman, and--" + +"There's _my_ mamma," said the boy in the carriage. "Just show her that +dog." + +But Jim drew back as a lady approached, and nodding to Johnny, "I'll +come," mingled in the crowd. He soon sought a poorer street. + +"Ho, ho, George my boy, what do you think of that?" he said, showing him +the money. "What'd you like for supper to-night? B'lony-sassage and +crackers, eh? Yes, I knowed you'd say that," as George, wagging his tail +vigorously, licked his master's face. "Or what'd you say to a reg'lar +baker's roll and a bit o' hot steak?" George's attention was just here +riveted on a cur of low degree passing by, and the short hair on his +back stood up as he answered his growl. "No," went on Jim, "I thought +you'd say that was too extravagant for the likes o' we; so we'll have +the b'lony, George. + +"And where shall we put up to-night, little feller, eh? Shall we go to +the United States, or to the Jefferson Club House? Or shall we go out to +the junction, where we slep' las' night? It's gettin' a leetle cold for +country lodgin's, but they might be expectin' us, and we wouldn't like +to disappoint 'em, eh, George? The warm side o' that straw-stack wa'n't +bad, you know. We might take our supper out there and eat, eh?" + +George wagged his hearty approval of the plan, and Jim took his way to a +suburban dépôt. Here he awaited the making up of a freight train, and in +the gathering twilight took his place on a platform unperceived. Night +closed down as the train wound its slow length out of the city, and in +the course of an hour Jim alighted amid a perfect wilderness of cross +tracks, side tracks, coal heaps, and a wonderful quantity of +freight-cars. He sought out his straw pile, and the two enjoyed a hearty +meal. Then his quick eye was attracted by the half-open door of a +box-car near. + +"Let's see, now," he said, going up to it. "P'r'aps they've been +a-keepin' one of their style rooms for us, George." + +He lit a match and peered inside. It contained a few articles of shabby +furniture, and an old carpet rolled up in one corner. + +"Splendid!" he exclaimed. "I knowed they'd be a-lookin' for us, George, +but I'm blamed if I thought they'd fix up for us like this. Quit now; +don't you be a-waggin' yourself all over the keer, and a-rappin' your +tail agin the fine furnitur'. Be genteel now." + +Jim rolled himself and his pet in the carpet, and both were comfortably +settled for the night, when voices were heard. + +"What's here?" A man looked in, and then climbed up, followed by +another. + +"It's only me and my dog," said Jim. + +"Ah, room for more, I guess." + +Jim had thought he was going to have a fine night's rest; but he lay +awake long, his thoughts going back to the little boy who had liked his +dog, who had given him more money than ever he had had at one time +before, and who had promised him a Thanksgiving dinner. He liked the +idea of going very much, not only for the good dinner, which was quite +an attraction to the poor hungry little tramp, but he wanted to see the +nice little fellow again, and see where he lived, and perhaps talk more +about dogs. The thought of giving him his dog crossed his mind for a +moment, but was cast aside as a thing impossible, the very idea +producing an almost unconscious hug so fervent as to extort a patient +howl from George. + +He wished, though, that he could "slick up" a little to go to Johnny +Welford's house. He wondered if he could get a pair of second-hand shoes +for what was left of his half-dollar, and made up his mind to search +among office sweepings early in the morning for the cleanest paper +collar he could find. He had an indefinite hope that some good might +come to him from this visit. Perhaps Johnny's father might help him to +something to do. He did odd jobs now, ran errands, swept steps and +crossings, but it was his great ambition to get "somethin' reg'lar" to +do. + +As he lay thinking, the men who shared his shelter were talking, but he +paid little heed to them till he heard the words "John Welford"--"coming +on that train," and then he listened with every nerve on a tension, till +his heart was filled with fright and horror at what he heard. + +He heard the whole plan. A large bowlder lay close to the track a short +distance from the junction, and crow-bars were hidden near. The men were +to wait till the watchman had made his last patrol out that way before +the time for the passing of the train, when they would quickly hoist +destruction into its path. + +"He sent me up for four years, but I'll send _him_ up for longer than +that," said the man, with a laugh and an oath which made Jim shudder. + +When the two at last left the car he waited till they were beyond +hearing, and crept cautiously out. He knew that if they suspected his +intention they would think no more of crushing out his life than of +treading on a worm, but he was resolved on saving that train if he died +in doing it. It was bright starlight, but dark enough to admit of his +watching the men without much danger of being discovered. He saw them +finish their work, and hide in the bushes near. Then, with trembling +hands, but full of firm purpose, he set about carrying out _his_ plan. + +Running back to the straw pile, he quickly made up a bundle of it, and +slipping off his old shoes, sped noiselessly along the track, past the +wreckers. Just beyond the bowlder the road made rather a sharp curve, +bringing a high bank between the two men and Jim's selected place of +action, and this, he hoped, would conceal from them what he was doing, +at least long enough to insure success. + +He divided his bundle of straw, and laid a heap on the track. Then he +waited and listened, with his heart beating too loudly for him to hear +any other sound. He looked up at the stars over his head. "My mother is +up there somewheres, p'r'aps," whispered the little fellow; "maybe +she'll ask some 'un to help me." + +As the head-light at last appeared in the distance he set a match to his +heap, and saw it blaze up brightly. Lighting by it the portion still in +his hand, he ran wildly forward, waving it to and fro. But the engine +came steadily forward: would it never, _never_ stop? He reached a short +bridge over a culvert, and sprang on the abutment at its side, still +brandishing his beacon, and, scarcely knowing it, shrieking at the top +of his voice. His hands were burning, the smoke blackened his face and +took away his breath; but, yes--it surely _was_ slowing. The engine +passed him; he listened, and could hear the brakes worked by the +desperate strength of frightened men. Passengers crowded out on the +platform, and saw the little figure still waving the last sparks of his +safety-light. And then a dark form stole up to him, a cruel blow sent +him crashing against the last car, and he fell. Its wheels had not +stopped moving. + +Men sprang down, raised him, and carried him into the car, where he was +laid upon a seat. + +"It's the one who stopped the train--a boy. Why did he do it?--what's +the matter?" The conductor had sent men forward on the track, and soon +knew the terrible reason. It spread through the cars like wild-fire. +Women cried and fainted, and strong men turned pale. Every one knew that +it might have been his or her life which had gone out ere now but for +the boy who lay there. A woman wiped the blood and smoke from his face +with shaking hands and quick-dropping tears. + +Presently a boy's clear voice cried out, "Johnny Welford's +father?--Johnny Welford's father?" + +A tall man turned in surprise, and bent over him. "Did you call my name, +my boy?" + +"Be you Johnny Welford's father?" + +"Yes, I am John Welford." + +"Be you a-goin' home to Thanksgivin'?" + +"I--hope so"--his voice broke--"thanks to you." + +Jim smiled. "I guess mother sent some 'un to help me. Where's George?" +The dog had crept close to his master, and no one had driven him away. +"Hello, old feller.--Give Johnny Welford my dog--he'll know. Tell Johnny +Welford I can't--come to his house--for--Thanksgivin'." The voice died +away. + + * * * * * + +Jim had his Thanksgiving dinner at Johnny Welford's house, but it was a +few spoonfuls of wine, given by the white hands of Johnny Welford's +mother. And he was the only guest, for there was no merry-making in the +beautiful house where the poor little street Arab lay in the balance +between life and death. And from many other hearts in the city went up, +with fervent thanksgiving, the earnest prayer that the little life which +had been so freely offered for others might be spared. + + * * * * * + +"And you lost your poor foot, my boy," some one said, months after. +"You'll have to go without it all your life." + +"Why, yes," said Jim, with a laugh; "but, bless me! I'm enough sight +better off with one foot 'n ever I was with two. Why, it's been +Thanksgivin' for me and George all the time ever since. Eh, old feller?" + + + + +MRS. NOVEMBER'S DINNER PARTY. + +BY AGNES CARR. + + +The widow November was very busy indeed this year. What with elections +and harvest-homes, her hands were full to overflowing; for she takes +great interest in politics, besides being a social body, without whom no +apple bee or corn-husking is complete. + +Still, worn out as she was, when her thirty sons and daughters clustered +round, and begged that they might have their usual family dinner on +Thanksgiving-day, she could not find it in her hospitable heart to +refuse, and immediately invitations were sent to her eleven brothers and +sisters, old Father Time and Mother Year, to come with all their +families and celebrate the great American holiday. + +Then what a busy time ensued! What a slaughter of unhappy barn-yard +families--turkeys, ducks, and chickens! What a chopping of apples and +boiling of doughnuts! what a picking of raisins and rolling of +pie-crust! until every nook and corner of the immense store-room was +stocked with "savory mince and toothsome pumpkin pies," while so great +was the confusion that even the stolid red-hued servant, Indian Summer, +lost his head, and smoked so continually he always appeared surrounded +by a blue mist, as he piled logs upon the great bonfires in the yard, +until they lighted up the whole country for miles around. + +But at length all was ready; the happy day had come, and all the little +Novembers, in their best "bib and tucker," were seated in a row, +awaiting the arrival of their uncles, aunts, and cousins, while their +mother, in russet-brown silk, trimmed with misty lace, looked them over, +straightening Guy Fawkes's collar, tying Thanksgiving's neck ribbon, and +settling a dispute between two little presidential candidates as to +which should sit at the head of the table. + +Soon a merry clashing of bells, blowing of horns, and mingling of voices +were heard outside, sleighs and carriages dashed up to the door, and in +came, "just in season," Grandpa Time, with Grandma Year leaning on his +arm, followed by all their children and grandchildren, and were warmly +welcomed by the hostess and her family. + +"Oh, how glad I am we could all come to-day!" said Mr. January, in his +crisp, clear tones, throwing off his great fur coat, and rushing to the +blazing fire. "There is nothing like the happy returns of these days." + +"Nothing, indeed," simpered Mrs. February, the poetess. "If I had had +time I should have composed some verses for the occasion; but my son +Valentine has brought a sugar heart, with a sweet sentiment on it, to +his cousin Thanksgiving. I, too, have taken the liberty of bringing a +sort of adopted child of mine, young Leap Year, who makes us a visit +every four years." + +"He is very welcome, I am sure," said Mrs. November, patting Leap Year +kindly on the head. "And, Sister March, how have you been since we last +met?" + +"Oh! we have had the North, South, East, and West Winds all at our +house, and they have kept things breezy, I assure you. But I really +feared we should not get here to-day; for when we came to dress I found +nearly everything we had was lent; so that must account for our shabby +appearance." + +[Illustration: MRS. NOVEMBER'S GUESTS.] + +"He! he! he!" tittered little April Fool. "What a sell!" And he shook +until the bells on his cap rang; at which his father ceased for a moment +showering kisses on his nieces and nephews, and boxed his ears for his +rudeness. + +"Oh, Aunt May! do tell us a story," clamored the younger children, and +dragging her into a corner, she was soon deep in such a moving tale that +they were all melted to tears, especially the little Aprils, who cry +very easily. + +Meanwhile, Mrs. June, assisted by her youngest daughter, a "sweet girl +graduate," just from school, was engaged in decking the apartment with +roses and lilies and other fragrant flowers that she had brought from +her extensive gardens and conservatories, until the room was a perfect +bower of sweetness and beauty; while Mr. July draped the walls with +flags and banners, lighted the candles, and showed off the tricks of his +pet eagle, Yankee Doodle, to the great delight of the little ones. + +Madam August, who suffers a great deal with the heat, found a seat on a +comfortable sofa, as far from the fire as possible, and waved a huge +feather fan back and forth, while her thirty-one boys and girls, led by +the two oldest, Holiday and Vacation, ran riot through the long rooms, +picking at their aunt June's flowers, and playing all sorts of pranks, +regardless of tumbled hair and torn clothes, while they shouted, "Hurrah +for fun!" and behaved like a pack of wild colts let loose in a green +pasture, until their uncle September called them, together with his own +children, into the library, and persuaded them to read some of the books +with which the shelves were filled, or play quietly with the game of +Authors and the Dissected Maps. + +"For," said Mr. September to Mrs. October, "I think Sister August lets +her children romp too much. I always like improving games for mine, +although I have great trouble to make Equinox toe the line as he +should." + +"That is because you are a school-master," laughed Mrs. October, shaking +her head, adorned with a wreath of gayly tinted leaves; "but where is my +baby?" + +At that moment a cry was heard without, and Indian Summer came running +in to say that little All Hallows had fallen into a tub of water while +trying to catch an apple that was floating on top, and Mrs. October, +rushing off to the kitchen, returned with her youngest in a very wet and +dripping condition, and screaming at the top of his lusty little lungs, +and could only be consoled by a handful of chestnuts, which his nurse, +Miss Frost, cracked open for him. + +The little Novembers meanwhile were having a charming time with their +favorite cousins, the Decembers, who were always so gay and jolly, and +had such a delightful papa. He came with his pockets stuffed full of +toys and sugar-plums, which he drew out from time to time, and gave to +his best-loved child, Merry Christmas, to distribute amongst the +children, who gathered eagerly around their little cousin, saying, + + "Christmas comes but once a year, + But when she comes she brings good cheer." + +At which Merry laughed gayly, and tossed her golden curls, in which were +twined sprays of holly and clusters of brilliant scarlet berries. + +At last the great folding-doors were thrown open. Indian Summer +announced that dinner was served, and a long procession of old and young +being quickly formed, led by Mrs. November and her daughter +Thanksgiving, whose birthday it was, they filed into the spacious +dining-room, where stood the long table, groaning beneath its weight of +good things, while four servants ran continually in and out, bringing +more substantials and delicacies to grace the board and please the +appetite. Winter staggered beneath great trenchers of meat and poultry, +pies and puddings; Spring brought the earliest and freshest vegetables; +Summer, the richest creams and ices; while Autumn served the guests with +fruit, and poured the sparkling wine. + +[Illustration: AT THE DINNER TABLE.] + +All were gay and jolly, and many a joke was cracked as the contents of +each plate and dish melted away like snow before the sun; and the great +fires roared in the wide chimneys as though singing a glad Thanksgiving +song. + +New Year drank everybody's health, and wished them "many happy returns +of the day," while Twelfth Night ate so much cake he made himself quite +ill, and had to be put to bed. + +Valentine sent mottoes to all the little girls, and praised their bright +eyes and glossy curls. "For," said his mother, "he is a sad flatterer, +and not nearly so truthful, I am sorry to say, as his brother George +Washington, who never told a lie." + +At which Grandfather Time gave George a quarter, and said he should +always remember what a good boy he was. + +After dinner the fun increased, all trying to do something for the +general amusement. Mrs. March persuaded her son St. Patrick to dance an +Irish jig, which he did to the tune of the "Wearing of the Green," which +his brothers Windy and Gusty blew and whistled on their fingers. + +Easter sang a beautiful song, the little Mays "tripped the light +fantastic toe" in a pretty fancy dance, while the Junes sat by so +smiling and sweet it was a pleasure to look at them. + +Independence, the fourth child of Mr. July, who is a bold little fellow, +and a fine speaker, gave them an oration he had learned at school; and +the Augusts suggested games of tag and blindman's-buff, which they all +enjoyed heartily. + +Mr. September tried to read an instructive story aloud, but was +interrupted by Equinox, April Fool, and little All Hallows, who pinned +streamers to his coat tails, covered him with flour, and would not let +him get through a line; at which Mrs. October hugged her tricksy baby, +and laughed until she cried, and Mr. September retired in disgust. + +"That is almost too bad," said Mrs. November, as she shook the popper +vigorously in which the corn was popping and snapping merrily; "but, +Thanksgiving, you must not forget to thank your cousins for all they +have done to honor your birthday." + +At which the demure little maiden went round to each one, and returned +her thanks in such a charming way it was quite captivating. + +Grandmother Year at last began to nod over her tea-cup in the +chimney-corner. + +"It is growing late," said Grandpa Time. + +"But we must have a Virginia Reel before we go," said Mr. December. + +"Oh yes, yes!" cried all the children. + +Merry Christmas played a lively air on the piano, and old and young took +their positions on the polished floor, with grandpa and grandma at the +head. + +Midsummer danced with Happy New Year, June's Commencement with August's +Holiday, Leap Year with May Day, and all "went merry as a marriage +bell." + +The fun was at its height, when suddenly the clock in the corner struck +twelve. Grandma Year motioned all to stop; and Grandfather Time, bowing +his head, said, softly, "Hark! my children, Thanksgiving-day is ended." + + + + +[Illustration: OUR POST-OFFICE BOX] + + + ROUND LAKE, HALIBURTON. + + My sister and brother wrote a letter to YOUNG PEOPLE, and I want to + write one too. I am ten years old, and my sister Nettie is seven. + She can read better than I can, but I write the best. + + This is a very wild country, and very cold. We have nearly a foot + of snow here, although it is only the 20th of October. We hear the + wolves howl, and we get lots of deer. My brother has quite a + number of horns, which are very pretty to hang on the wall. + + We are sixteen miles from the Post-office, and we get our papers + only every two or three weeks. We like YOUNG PEOPLE very much. + Mamma makes out all the puzzles and enigmas, and we love to read + the stories. We are very grateful to the kind gentleman in New + York who sends it to my sister. He comes here every fall with some + other gentlemen to hunt, and that is the only time in the whole + year when we see many people. We have no little girls to play + with, for our nearest neighbor, who lives six miles away, is an + old man seventy years old, who lives all alone. Twelve miles away + there is one more family, but we have to cross three lakes to get + there. They have two little girls. They had three, but the oldest + one went out in a boat about three weeks ago, and was drowned. We + were very sorry to hear of it. + + I have a loon's egg, and I can get a gull's eggs, and if Harry F. + Haines, who asked for those eggs, will send me a doll in return, I + will send him the eggs, together with some pretty moss which grows + on the rocks in Muskoka, near where we live. + + AGNES R. LOCKMAN, Dorset P. O., + Muskoka District, Ontario, Canada. + + * * * * * + + WEBSTER, MASSACHUSETTS. + + I have two little sisters. The youngest is not named yet. I go to + school, and am in the Second Reader. I know the table, two and + three, and up to twelve. I enjoy reading YOUNG PEOPLE. Please + excuse this letter, because it is the first time I ever did try to + write with a pen and ink. + + MABEL. + + * * * * * + + PUEBLO, COLORADO. + + We had a parrot, and I could take him and hug him, and touch his + black tongue, and do anything I wanted to him. He knew when it was + time for our meals, and would eat with us at the table. He was very + fond of butter. He would walk all around the fence, and would go to + the kitchen door to get in if the sitting-room door was shut. When + Polly Parrot was walking along the floor, pussy would run after + him, and pat his tail, which made Polly angry. + + ELEANOR MCG. + + * * * * * + + WARSAW, INDIANA. + + My brother has taken YOUNG PEOPLE ever since it started, and now we + could hardly do without it. I like "Who was Paul Grayson?" best of + all the stories. + + We have a juvenile band here, and we can play some very fine + music. We have a drum-major and all, and when we parade we look + something like the picture "Sons of the Brave." The band consists + of fourteen boys, all about the same size and age. + + LOGAN H. W. + + * * * * * + + PORTSMOUTH, VIRGINIA. + + I am seven years old. I have a very pretty rooster. I wish some + little girl would name him for me. + + I think the story about Coachy was very pretty. My sister Allie + has a hen like Coachy. + + JOHNNY B. + + * * * * * + + PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND. + + I am a little boy not quite nine years old. I take YOUNG PEOPLE, + and like it a great deal better than any paper I have ever seen. I + have a pair of pigeons, which are very tame. I expect soon to get a + guinea-pig from Charlottetown. I get my paper from Halifax. + + F. R. S. + + * * * * * + + NEW YORK CITY. + + I am six and a half years old. I live in Cranberry, New Jersey, but + I am on a visit to my papa now. He has sent me YOUNG PEOPLE ever + since it was published. I have wanted to write to the Post-office + Box for a long time, and I have at last coaxed papa to do so for + me, as I can not write very well yet, although I am fast learning. + + I have two dogs at home, one black and tan named Gyp, which papa + says is older than I am, and a hound named Juno. I also have a cat + named Pinkie, who does not love my dogs as well as I do YOUNG + PEOPLE. I save all my papers to send to a hospital, where they + will amuse some poor sick boy or girl. + + "PICKIE" VAN H. + + * * * * * + + BEAUFORT, SOUTH CAROLINA. + + I read in the Post-office Box a request from Roscoe E. E. for + information about the cotton plant. + + I live five miles from Beaufort. Cotton is planted here every + year. If they are in good soil the plants are usually four or five + feet high. Marsh grass, which grows between the salt creeks, is + sometimes used as a fertilizer for "Sea Island" cotton, which is + the only kind raised here. This fertilizer makes it grow broad and + tall. My father had some cotton once that was from six to eight + feet high, and the branches bore from twelve to sixteen pods. It + grew on what we call salt ground. + + Cotton is planted in March and April. It begins to blossom about + the 1st of June. The flowers are pale yellow when they first open, + but become reddish after the first day. The picking of cotton is + begun in August, and is continued until the first frost, which + comes about the middle of November. + + A. L. H. + + * * * * * + + WASHINGTON, D. C. + + I have been taking YOUNG PEOPLE since it was first published. The + first thing I do on Tuesday morning when I get out of bed is to + look for the letter-carrier, who brings my paper. Then mamma reads + it to me until school-time. And at night when I go to bed she reads + me to sleep with it. I like the stories very much, but the one I + like best is "The Moral Pirates." My papa and mamma like the paper + very much too, and often at night they try to work out the puzzles. + Sometimes they find them out, and sometimes they don't. I can not + read or write yet, but I hope I shall take YOUNG PEOPLE until I am + old enough to read it myself. + + H. E. W. + + * * * * * + + SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA. + + I wish Jimmy Brown would have a story in every number of YOUNG + PEOPLE. Mamma reads to us about that queer Mr. Martin, and laughs + till the tears roll down her cheeks. If the Post-office Box knows + Jimmy, I would like to tell him that I am very sorry for him. + + ARTHUR W. + + * * * * * + +The following verses are from a young correspondent: + +MY FIRST BIRTHDAY PARTY. + + I've grown to be a great, great girl, + I'm eight years old to-day. + Ted says I'm only a baby, + And have too much to say. + Brother Ted don't know everything, + If he _is_ twelve years old; + He thinks he's nearly a man now, + 'Cause his watch is real gold. + + I'm going to have a party, + We'll have ice-cream and cake; + There is no end to the nice things + My dear mamma did bake. + Then we shall have nice music, + Uncle John is going to play; + He sent me a wreath of flowers, + Just like the Queen of May. + + And we shall play all kind of games, + And maybe I'll catch some beaux, + For sister Kate always says that + When to parties _she_ goes. + There goes the bell, some one has come; + No--a large box for me; + Why, it's just the sweetest wax doll + That ever I did see. + + J. V. + + * * * * * + + NEW YORK CITY. + + If Georgie G. S., of Dubuque, Iowa, will put a handful of clean + white pebbles and five or six clean sea-shells in her globe, the + gold-fish are more likely to keep healthy. The water should be + changed every day. + + VANDERBILT O. + + * * * * * + + CHAMPION, NEW YORK. + + I like YOUNG PEOPLE very much, especially the stories of "The Moral + Pirates," and "Who was Paul Grayson?" I have no pets except a + little dog I call Watch. We have had a snow-storm here (October + 24). I am thirteen years old. + + WARREN B. + + I am eleven years old, and I have fourteen dolls. I have a little + kitten for a pet. I call it Bob Short because it is a rabbit + kitten, and hasn't any tail. + + My cousin sent YOUNG PEOPLE to my brother Warren and myself as a + present for two years, and we think she is very kind. + + EVA E. B. + + * * * * * + + PLATTE CITY, MISSOURI. + + I wish to notify my little friends that I can not send them any + more samples of crochet trimming. I have no time now to make it, as + I am going to school and taking music lessons. I have received a + great many requests, and I can not possibly get time to crochet + enough to answer them all. + + GRACIE MEADS. + + * * * * * + + I like YOUNG PEOPLE very much. I think it is a very useful paper. I + live on Big Sandy Creek near the railroad, six miles from any + neighbor. There are antelopes, buffaloes, wolves, wild-cats, + rabbits, owls, and eagles here. There are also some splendid + specimens. I have some bullion out of a mine at Leadville, also + some petrified wood, topaz, moss-agate, and other things. I sent + "Wee Tot" some specimens of wild flowers and grasses, and if she + will send me some ocean curiosities I will be much pleased, and + will send her some of my specimens. I will also exchange some of + them with any little girl or boy for ocean curiosities. + + CLARA F. R. SWIFT, + Aroya Station, Colorado, K. P. R. R. + + * * * * * + + I can never thank my grandfather too much for subscribing for this + delightful little paper for me. + + Here is a recipe for keeping barberries and mountain ash for + Christmas decorations. Fill a large jar with a strong solution of + salt and water--cooking salt is best. Put the berries in the + brine, and cork it. It need not be air-tight. + + I have three hundred and sixty-four postage stamps, and have + exchanged successfully with many of the boys and a few of the + girls. I have now some white moss which came from Muskosh Mills, a + little village on an island in the Muskoka River, which I would + gladly exchange for curiosities from the ocean or the far South. + + W. C. V. CHADWICK, + 44 St. George Street, Toronto, Canada. + +The correspondents you inquire about have probably sent you sufficient +address, and you would better try the experiment of answering them. If +they do not receive the letters, it will not be from any fault of yours. + + * * * * * + + I would like to exchange foreign and United States postage stamps + and postmarks with any of the readers of YOUNG PEOPLE. + + ALFRED C. P. OPDYKE, Hotel Bristol, + Corner Forty-second Street and Fifth Avenue, + New York City. + + * * * * * + + I would like to exchange minerals for stamps, postmarks, seeds, + shells, stones, or any other thing worth putting in a museum. I + wish to get a collection of flints from every State and from + Canada, and I will send a stone from Virginia in exchange. I will + also exchange postmarks for others. I have some from England, + Canada, and nearly every State. + + H. H. TUCKER, Box 75, Richmond, Virginia. + + * * * * * + + I have a small collection of stamps, and would like to exchange. I + will also exchange a stone from Pennsylvania or from Caen, France, + for others from different States. + + ALFRED W. STOCKETT, + P. O. Box 119, Mauch Chunk, Pennsylvania. + + * * * * * + + I am collecting curiosities, and would be happy to exchange with + any correspondent. I have about one hundred and fifty varieties of + birds' eggs. I would be glad to supply any one with a list of the + eggs of Canada. + + J. F. WELLS, + Ingersoll, Ontario, Canada. + + * * * * * + + I would like to exchange postmarks, minerals, fossils, birds' eggs, + or coins with any of the readers of YOUNG PEOPLE for minerals, + fossils, coins, birds' eggs, or shells. I very much desire to + obtain specimens from foreign countries. + + FRANK H. LATTIN, + Gaines, Orleans County, New York. + + * * * * * + + I have a large number of stamps and rare postmarks, and would like + very much to exchange with readers of this paper. + + A. W. MORSE, Cheltenham Academy, + P. O. Shoemakertown, Pennsylvania. + + * * * * * + + I want to tell you about my collection. It consists of an Indian + mortar, an Indian axe and hatchet, a large number of arrow-heads, a + nail from "Old Fort Massac," a French bullet weighing an ounce, and + a piece of a French sword. I have also a fine collection of + minerals, and I would like to exchange some specimens of purple + spar for copper ore, crystallized quartz, or shells. + + WILLIE B. MORRIS, + Elizabethtown, Hardin County, Illinois. + + * * * * * + + I would like to exchange postage stamps for birds' eggs. + Correspondents will please state the kind of eggs they have to + exchange, and the varieties of stamps they wish in return. I have + over one thousand stamps in my collection. + + FRANK MADISON, 206 Stockton Street, + San Francisco, California. + + * * * * * + + We are making a collection of postmarks and stamps, wood, minerals, + pressed leaves and ferns, and the soil of different States and + countries, and will exchange any of these things with other boys or + girls. We will also exchange flower seeds or slips for ocean + curiosities or Indian relics. + + MARY, LEWIS, MINNIE, + Care of E. M. Frazier, Lock Box No. 12, + Caldwell, Noble County, Ohio. + + * * * * * + + I will be very glad to exchange foreign postage stamps with any + readers of YOUNG PEOPLE. Correspondents will please send a list of + their stamps for exchange. + + O. L. WELCH, + 40 Bank Street, New York City. + + * * * * * + + I live on the San Jacinto River. My papa has a plantation on the + Trinity. He has a plum orchard, and we go up there and eat plums. + Mamma is going up there to preserve some. I am collecting snail + shells. I have about four hundred. + + I would like to exchange birds' eggs or postage stamps with any + little boy or girl. I am nine years old. + + PEARL A. HARE, + Lynchburg, Harris County, Texas. + + * * * * * + + I have stamps from Venezuela and Curaçao I wish to exchange for + others. + + CHARLES DE SOLA, care of B. De Sola, + 23 William Street, New York City. + + * * * * * + + I will exchange twenty-five kinds of postmarks from Georgia for + twenty-five kinds from any other State. I will also exchange + foreign stamps for their equivalent value in birds' eggs, shells, + minerals, curiosities of all kinds, or for other stamps. + + LOUIS J. BRUMLY, + P. O. Box 126, Athens, Georgia. + + * * * * * + + I will exchange postmarks and French stamps for any American and + European stamps except English and Canadian. To any one who will + send me ten stamps, all different, I will send by return mail + twenty postmarks. + + WILLIE GURNETT, + Ingersoll, Ontario, Canada. + + * * * * * + + I live near Niagara Falls. I have a white pony. She is very gentle, + and can do a great many tricks. She will lie down and let me get on + her back. + + I take YOUNG PEOPLE, and like it so much I can hardly wait from + one week till the next for it. I would like to exchange specimens + of rock from Niagara Falls for shells or sea-weed. I would also + like to exchange coins. I am eleven years of age. + + HARRY SYMMES, + The Grove, Drummondville, + Near Niagara Falls, Canada. + + * * * * * + +E. MCGARRAH.--It is said that Robert Burns, when a youth of nineteen, +became acquainted with Douglas Grahame, an honest farmer who lived at +Shanter, and who afterward figured as Tam o' Shanter in the wonderful +poem of that name. A merry story told of Grahame by his friends served +as the material which Burns long afterward turned to such good account. +The original story was as follows: Grahame had a friend named John +Davidson, the Souter Johnnie of the poem, with whom he often made merry +when in town on market-day, frequently lingering so late at night as to +cause severe displeasure to the good dame waiting at home. It happened +once, when returning later than usual, on a very dark, stormy night, +Grahame had the misfortune to lose his "bonnet," or cap, in which was +all the money he had made that day at the market. Fearing the scolding +which he knew awaited him, he took advantage of his wife's superstition +and credulity, and invented a terrible story of a band of witches which +had appeared to him at Alloway Kirk, and from which he had barely +escaped with his life. The dame was satisfied with his explanation, and +gave thanks for the miraculous preservation of her husband. Honest +Douglas Grahame, however, quietly returned by daylight to Carrick Hill, +where he was fortunate enough to find his "bonnet" and money safe in the +bushes near the Bridge of Doon. Grahame and Davidson, the originals of +Tam o' Shanter and Souter Johnnie, are buried in the church-yard at +Kirkoswald. + + * * * * * + +MANSFIELD.--In earliest times skins, cattle, corn, and other articles +were used as money. According to Homer, certain numbers of oxen were +paid for the armor of warriors; and even our modern word _pecuniary_, +the etymology of which is traced directly to the Latin word _pecus_; +signifying cattle, is a convincing proof that those beasts were used as +money by the ancient Romans. + +Precious metals were also given and taken in payment at a very early +age. Abraham is represented in Genesis as coming up out of Egypt "very +rich in cattle, in silver, and in gold," and payments made in so many +pieces or shekels of silver are frequently mentioned in the Old +Testament. It is supposed that at this period the precious metal was in +the form of lumps of different weights, but bore no stamp. Wrought +jewels are also mentioned as serving for money. + +The first coined money is supposed to have been used by the Lydians +about 700 or 800 B.C. Greek coins appeared at a little later period, the +earliest being those of Ægina. The first coins were very rough in +appearance, a rude device being stamped from a die on a lump of metal of +a certain weight by a blow of a hammer. The early Lydian coins bore a +lion's head, and the Æginetan a tortoise on the obverse, the other side +being marked only by an indentation caused by the blow. + +The oldest extant Jewish coins, specimens of which may be seen in the +British Museum, are the shekel and half-shekel of Simon Maccabæus, "the +priest and prince of the Jews," to whom Antiochus VII., the son of +Demetrius I., granted the right of coining money about 139 B.C. The +silver shekel and half-shekel had for their devices on one side the +almond rod with buds (Numbers, xvii. 8, 10), with the legend, "Jerusalem +the Holy"; and on the other the pot of manna (Exodus, xvi. 33), and the +legend, "Shekel of Israel," or "Half-Shekel." This early coinage never +bore a head, as that would have violated the law forbidding idolatry. +The value of the Maccabæus silver shekel may be estimated at 2_s._ 6_d._ +sterling, or 60 cents. + + * * * * * + +LYMAN C.--You can buy the cover for YOUNG PEOPLE of Harper & Brothers +for thirty-five cents, or forty-eight cents if sent by mail, but they +can not bind your copies for you. + + * * * * * + +NEWMAN G.--In YOUNG PEOPLE No. 36, in the story entitled "The Mohawk +Bowmen," you will find directions for making bows and arrows, and in the +Post-office Box of No. 51 the process of feathering arrows is described. +In the Post-office Box of No. 19 are instructions for making a kite. + + * * * * * + +PUZZLES FROM YOUNG CONTRIBUTORS. + +No. 1. + +BOTANICAL CONUNDRUMS. + + 1. Plant a youthful Virginian before it can walk, and what comes up? + 2. Plant a piece of bunting, and what comes up? + 3. Plant a wise man, and what comes up? + 4. Plant a large, inclosed basin, and what comes up? + 5. Plant a ruminant's lips, and what comes up? + 6. Plant an egg, and what comes up? + 7. Plant a color, and what comes up? + 8. Plant a sea-shore, and what comes up? + 9. Plant yourself, and what comes up? + 10. Plant a muff, and what comes up? + + A. and T. J. + + * * * * * + +No. 2. + +WORD SQUARE. + +First, a dead body. Second, a bay-window. Third, stiff. Fourth, a net. +Fifth, a shrub. + + BOLUS. + + * * * * * + +No. 3. + +ENIGMA. + + My first is in corn, not in grain. + My second in hail, not in rain. + My third is in lamp, not in light. + My fourth in darkness, not in night. + My fifth is in well, not in sick. + My sixth is in cane, not in stick. + My seventh in maple, not in pine. + My eighth is in back, not in spine. + My ninth is in green, not in red. + My tenth is in needle, not in thread. + My eleventh in archer, not in bow. + My whole was an emperor long ago. + + MAY E. T. + + * * * * * + +ANSWERS TO PUZZLES IN NO. 53. + +No. 1. + + S M + A T E D I M + S T O R M I N E R + E R R I M E W + M I S E R + Y A M E N O W + M A N O R O B I N + M O B W I T + R N + +No. 2. + +Marseille. + +No. 3. + +1. Winnipiseogee. 2. Niagara Falls. + + + + +NEW BOOKS FOR YOUNG READERS. + + +The early history of America is always a subject of great interest to +boys and girls; and although they may get ahead very slowly in the +school history, which is invariably dull, as its statements are of +necessity as condensed as possible, put a volume in their hand in which +the story of their country is told in picturesque and easy style, and +made more interesting than many works of fiction, and the rapidity with +which it is absorbed by young readers is wonderful. A new and very +interesting book of this description is _Old Times in the Colonies_,[1] +by Charles C. Coffin, whose earlier works, _The Boys of '76_ and _The +Story of Liberty_, are favorite volumes with boys and girls. From this +new book children will learn about the hardships and sufferings of the +pioneer settlers of the United States--how they fought with frost and +snow, and desolate, rocky lands, living in constant fear of attacks by +Indians, to whose tomahawks many a brave man and many women and little +children fell victims; and how, in spite of all obstacles, they +struggled ahead with the courage of true men, never faltering and never +stopping until the liberty and prosperity of this great country were +firmly established. + +[1] _Old Times in the Colonies_. By CHARLES CARLETON COFFIN. +Illustrated. 8vo, pp. 460. New York: Harper & Brothers. + +The few passages from this volume which have appeared in the columns of +HARPER'S YOUNG PEOPLE have found universal favor with young readers +throughout the country, and we are sure all those children who find this +handsome book in their bundle from Santa Claus will count it among their +best gifts. The volume is printed in type so large and clear that no +little eyes will ever ache over it, the illustrations are very numerous +and exceedingly attractive, and the binding is handsome and substantial. + + * * * * * + +One of the most delightful stories ever written for boys is _The Moral +Pirates_,[2] which is now published in a small, neat volume, with +fifteen full-page illustrations. This has been one of the most popular +serials published in HARPER'S YOUNG PEOPLE, and many of the little +friends of Harry Wilson, Tom Schuyler, and Joe and Jim Sharpe, will be +happy to renew their acquaintance with them in this pretty little book, +while those who have not read the story have some delightful hours in +store. The cruise of Harry and his three friends in the _Whitewing_--a +neat little boat, well stocked with provisions and camping-out comforts +by Harry's uncle John--is accompanied by many innocent and amusing +adventures. It takes the boys some time to learn how to manage +themselves and their boat, as new difficulties are constantly arising; +and when at last they reach Brandt Lake, and have become experienced +"moral pirates," their adventures come to a sudden end in a very +unexpected manner. This charming story has a new incident and new +interest on every page, and will induce many boys to attempt next summer +a cruise in the style of these young mariners of the _Whitewing_. + +[2] _The Moral Pirates_. By W. L. ALDEN. Illustrated. 8vo, pp. 148. New +York: Harper & Brothers. + + * * * * * + +All children are by nature fond of small living pets. There is scarcely +a child who, if it has a home, does not spend hours in petting its old +Maltese cat or aged dog, and the smallest tricks performed by these +common domestic animals are matters of intense interest to the youthful +master or mistress. Books containing stories of animals are always +welcome, and one of the best writers of books of this description is +Olive Thorne Miller, whose last publication, entitled _Queer Pets at +Marcy's_,[3] is destined to be very popular with young readers. There +are stories of all kinds of animal pets from lions to mice: parrots +climb about, making all sorts of funny speeches, mischievous crows make +havoc in peaceful households, and dogs and cats do most wonderful and +intelligent things. There are stories of funny baby-owls, prairie-dogs, +opossums, bears, deer, and many kinds of birds and reptiles. Indeed, +Marcy and her neighbors appear to have transformed a whole menagerie +into household pets. Delightful and wonderful as these stories are, they +are given as facts, and in reading them children will gain not only +amusement, but learn many things about the habits of birds and beasts +when domesticated. The book is beautifully bound, and contains many fine +illustrations. + +[3] _Queer Pets at Marcy's_. By OLIVE THORNE MILLER. Illustrated by +J. C. BEARD. 8vo, pp. 326. New York: E. P. Dutton & Co. + + + + +HARPER'S YOUNG PEOPLE. + + +SINGLE COPIES, 4 cents; ONE SUBSCRIPTION, one year, $1.50; FIVE +SUBSCRIPTIONS, one year, $7.00--_payable in advance, postage free_. + +The Volumes of HARPER'S YOUNG PEOPLE commence with the first Number in +November of each year. + +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 the order. + +Remittances should be made by POST-OFFICE MONEY-ORDER OR DRAFT, to avoid +risk of loss. + +Volume I., containing the first 52 Numbers, handsomely bound in +illuminated cloth, $3.00, postage prepaid: Cover, title-page, and index +for Volume I., 35 cents; postage, 13 cents additional. + + HARPER & BROTHERS, + Franklin Square, N. Y. + + + + +[Illustration] + + + + +GAMES FOR WINTER EVENINGS. + + +MACHINE SONNETS. + +Although this species of poetry has been considered hard to write, and +oftener harder to read when written, a simple recipe is here given by +which sonnets by any one, with very little effort, can be produced. One +person selects a sonnet from the works of any author--the less known the +better--and covers the printed lines with a sheet of paper, leaving the +last word of each line only visible. He then reads aloud the word which +concludes the first line, and waits until every player has composed a +line ending in this word in any metre, and on any subject. When all are +ready he reads the next word, and so on until every person present has +composed a poem, all of which differ in every way excepting that the +last words are alike. This game will be found interesting alike to +children and their parents, and is well worthy the attention of the most +experienced players. + + +STILL THERE. + +Place a small card upon the tip of one of the fingers of the left hand, +and on the card, immediately above the finger, put a coin. Now give a +smart blow to the card with the second finger of the right hand, and it +will be whirled from under the coin so swiftly that the latter will be +left on the tip of the finger. A similar feat can be performed with two +wine-glasses. Place a sheet of card-board over both, and then, with a +smart fillip, send it spinning from under the coins you have placed upon +it, and they will drop into the glasses. + + + + +LIGHT FROM OYSTER SHELLS. + + +It has long been known that certain compounds of lime and sulphur had +the property of absorbing light, and giving it out again when placed in +the dark. A simple way to do this is to expose clean oyster shells to a +red heat for half an hour. When cold, the best pieces are picked out and +packed with alternate layers of sulphur in a crucible, and exposed to a +red heat for an hour. When cold, the mass is broken up, and the whitest +pieces are placed in a clean glass bottle. On exposing the bottle to +bright sunshine during the day, it is found that at night its contents +will give out a pale light in the dark. Such a bottle, filled more than +a hundred years ago, still gives out light when exposed to the sun, +proving the persistency of the property of reproducing light. The +chemicals, ground to a flour, may now be mixed with oils or water for +paints, may be powdered on hot glass, and glass covered with a film of +clear glass, or mixed with celluloid, papier-maché, or other plastic +materials. As a paint it may be applied to a diver's dress, to cards, +clock dials, sign-boards, and other surfaces exposed to sunlight during +the day; the paint gives out a pale violet light at night sufficient to +enable the objects to be readily seen in the dark. If the object covered +with the prepared paint is not exposed to the sun, or if the light fades +in the dark, a short piece of magnesium wire burned before it serves to +restore the light-giving property. The preparation, under various +fanciful names, is being manufactured on a large scale. + + + + +[Illustration: LITTLE TOMMY'S THANKSGIVING NIGHTMARE AFTER A BUSY DAY +PULLING "WISH-BONES." + +RETRIBUTIVE CHORUS. "Now, then, all together!"] + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Harper's Young People, November 23, +1880, by Various + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 43434 *** |