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diff --git a/43885-0.txt b/43885-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..63ad6dc --- /dev/null +++ b/43885-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,2263 @@ +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 43885 *** + +[Transcriber's Note: Bold text is surrounded by =equal signs= and italic +text is surrounded by _underscores_.] + + +Our Little Philippine Cousin + + + + +THE + +Little Cousin Series + +(TRADE MARK) + + Each volume illustrated with six or more full-page plates in + tint. Cloth, 12mo, with decorative cover, + per volume, 60 cents + + +LIST OF TITLES + +BY MARY HAZELTON WADE + +(unless otherwise indicated) + + =Our Little African Cousin= + + =Our Little Alaskan Cousin= + By Mary F. Nixon-Roulet + + =Our Little Arabian Cousin= + By Blanche McManus + + =Our Little Armenian Cousin= + + =Our Little Australian Cousin= + By Mary F. Nixon-Roulet + + =Our Little Brazilian Cousin= + By Mary F. Nixon-Roulet + + =Our Little Brown Cousin= + + =Our Little Canadian Cousin= + By Elizabeth R. MacDonald + + =Our Little Chinese Cousin= + By Isaac Taylor Headland + + =Our Little Cuban Cousin= + + =Our Little Dutch Cousin= + By Blanche McManus + + =Our Little Egyptian Cousin= + By Blanche McManus + + =Our Little English Cousin= + By Blanche McManus + + =Our Little Eskimo Cousin= + + =Our Little French Cousin= + By Blanche McManus + + =Our Little German Cousin= + + =Our Little Greek Cousin= + By Mary F. Nixon-Roulet + + =Our Little Hawaiian Cousin= + + =Our Little Hindu Cousin= + By Blanche McManus + + =Our Little Hungarian Cousin= + By Mary F. Nixon-Roulet + + =Our Little Indian Cousin= + + =Our Little Irish Cousin= + + =Our Little Italian Cousin= + + =Our Little Japanese Cousin= + + =Our Little Jewish Cousin= + + =Our Little Korean Cousin= + By H. Lee M. Pike + + =Our Little Mexican Cousin= + By Edward C. Butler + + =Our Little Norwegian Cousin= + + =Our Little Panama Cousin= + By H. Lee M. Pike + + =Our Little Persian Cousin= + By E. C. Shedd + + =Our Little Philippine Cousin= + + =Our Little Porto Rican Cousin= + + =Our Little Russian Cousin= + + =Our Little Scotch Cousin= + By Blanche McManus + + =Our Little Siamese Cousin= + + =Our Little Spanish Cousin= + By Mary F. Nixon-Roulet + + =Our Little Swedish Cousin= + By Claire M. Coburn + + =Our Little Swiss Cousin= + + =Our Little Turkish Cousin= + + + L. C. PAGE & COMPANY + New England Building, Boston, Mass. + +[Illustration: ALILA] + + + + +ALILA Our Little Philippine Cousin + + +By Mary Hazelton Wade + + +_Illustrated by_ L. J. Bridgman + + +[Illustration] + + + Boston + L. C. Page & Company + Publishers + + + + + _Copyright, 1902_ + By L. C. PAGE & COMPANY + (INCORPORATED) + + _All rights reserved_ + + + THE LITTLE COUSIN SERIES + (_Trade Mark_) + + + Tenth Impression, July, 1909 + Eleventh Impression, August, 1910 + + + + +Preface + + +ON the farther side of the great Pacific Ocean are the Philippine +Islands. These form one of the many island groups that hang like a +fringe or festoon on the skirt of the continent of Asia. Like most of +the islands in the Pacific, the Philippines are inhabited by people +belonging to the brown race, one of the great divisions of the family +of mankind. + +The Philippines are shared by many tribes, all belonging to the same +brown race. People of one tribe may be found on one of these islands; +those of a different tribe are living on another; or one tribe may live +in a valley and its neighbour in the hills; and so on to the number of +eighty tribes. Each tribe has its own customs and ways. And yet we +shall call these various peoples of the brown race our cousins; for +not only are they our kindred by the ties which unite all the races of +men in this world; they have been adopted into the family of our own +nation, the United States of America. + +The people of these islands are many of them wild and distrustful +children. They have no faith in us; they do not wish to obey our laws. +If we are in earnest in our wish to do them good, and not harm, we must +learn to know them better, so that we may understand their needs. That +is one reason why we are going to learn about our little Philippine +cousin, Alila of Luzon. + + + + +Contents + + + CHAPTER PAGE + I. THE NEW BABY 9 + II. HIS FIRST PARTY 15 + III. THE CHRISTENING 21 + IV. THE BUILDING OF THE HOUSE 25 + V. FOUR-FOOTED FRIENDS 29 + VI. THE BUFFALO HUNT 33 + VII. THE RICH MAN'S HOME 39 + VIII. TAPPING FOR TUBA 46 + IX. FOREST AND STREAM 51 + X. A SWARM OF LOCUSTS 57 + XI. THE NEW HOME 63 + XII. IN THE FOREST 68 + XIII. CROCODILES 73 + XIV. TONDA'S STORY 77 + XV. STRANGE NEIGHBOURS 81 + XVI. THE STOUT-HEARTED SAILOR 88 + + + + +List of Illustrations + + + PAGE + ALILA _Frontispiece_ + "HIS MOTHER HAD BATHED HIM IN THE WATER OF THE RIVER" 21 + "SOMETIMES ALILA RIDES ON HIS BACK" 31 + "HE WAS AS NIMBLE AS A SQUIRREL" 49 + "SUCH A DIN AND COMMOTION YOU NEVER HEARD" 58 + "'AROUND ONE PART OF THE CITY THERE IS A STRONG WALL'" 78 + + + + +ALILA + +Our Little Philippine Cousin + + + + +CHAPTER I. + +THE NEW BABY. + + +ALILA is such a strong, active boy now, it is hard to imagine him in +his babyhood,--he was such a tiny brown tot! + +His nose was so flat one would hardly have noticed there was a nose at +all, except for the wideness of the nostrils. His big black eyes seemed +to be moving around all the time, as much as to say: + +"I must find out everything I can, and just as fast as I can, about +this queer place in which I find myself." + +His hair was straight and coarse and black, even on the day he was +born. It was quite warm (in fact, almost all the days are warm in the +Philippines), yet the doorway was carefully covered and the windows +closed tightly. + +Now, why do you suppose Alila found himself shut up in a close room +like that when he first entered this big round world of ours, while +there was such a soft gentle breeze outside as scarcely to move the +tops of the cacao-trees in the garden? + +The fact is, Alila's father, who is not afraid of the wild buffalo nor +the boa-constrictor, nor even the huge cayman, is constantly dreading +the evil that bad spirits may bring to him. And now he had a darling +boy of his very own! According to the beliefs of his people, no evil +spirit must be allowed to enter a home when a child is born, or the +little one might be troubled by the spirit for the rest of his life. + +So the loving parent walked back and forth over the roof waving a bolo +in his hand, as much as to say: + +"Look out, spirits, or you may get your throats cut. Keep away from +here. Do not try to get inside to trouble my little one." + +He did this very earnestly in the first hour of Alila's life, although +he was shown the foolishness of such ideas by the priests the Spaniards +sent among his people. + +He is a small man, this father of Alila. He has high cheek-bones like +the Chinese and Japanese, and no beard upon his face. + +When he felt that everything was really safe, he climbed down from the +thatched roof, and, opening the door as little as possible, went softly +up to the mat where the baby lay and kissed him. + +But, dear me! not all persons kiss the way we do, and this father of +the Malay race seemed rather to _smell_ the baby than anything else we +can think of. He placed his own nose and lips on the baby's cheek and +drew a long breath. It was done to show his love, and that is what any +kiss is given for, is it not? + +This baby's bed would not, perhaps, suit all the other babies in the +world. Some of those babies we know are cared for on cushions of +down and wrapped in soft flannels and delicate muslins. But what did +black-eyed Alila care for that? To be sure, he lay on a mat of woven +palm leaves, but it was sweet and fresh. + +And although the floor his eyes sometimes rested on was not covered +with a rich velvet carpet, it was smooth and clean, for it was made of +split bamboos flattened and fitted close together. And oh, that floor +was beautifully polished by Mother Nature herself, for the bamboos as +they grow are covered on the outside with a coating of the finest and +hardest varnish. + +If Alila could have thought about it at all, he would have considered +himself more fortunate than most babies,--for did not his own dear +mother, who lay at his side, make every bit of the spread which covered +his tiny body? She had taken the fibres of pineapple leaves and hemp +and woven them together. + +But that alone would not make the spread beautiful enough for her +dear one. It must be given a bright colour, so she searched through +the woods till she found a sapan-wood tree; then, breaking off some +branches and opening them, she took a substance from the heart of each +and made a crimson dye. + +So you can see that the cover was done entirely by Alila's mother; and +you can ask yourself if that wasn't a hundred times better than buying +cloth out of a store. That would not have the touch of love in its +making. + +There was something else in Alila's home one does not see in other +lands. Whenever the baby's eyes turned toward the light, they found +it very soft and restful, for it came through a window in which were +fitted the inner shells of a certain kind of oyster. + +It was so pretty! The colours of the rainbow shone there in pale tints, +and the flaring sunshine could not enter. The room was kept in a sort +of twilight all day long, and made it pleasant for the new-born baby +and his mamma to doze and dream. + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +HIS FIRST PARTY. + + +ALILA was not two hours old before friends began to arrive to see him. +But they did not enter suddenly! That would have been the height of +rudeness. As they reached the doorway, each in turn stood for a long +time on the outside, making many complimentary remarks to Alila's +family. That was their way of showing themselves well-mannered and +polite. + +The Tagals, for that is the name of this tribe of people, never do +anything suddenly. They do not appear to believe in surprise parties. + +When all the fine speeches which seemed proper had been made, they +entered the little house and came to the side of the new baby. They +made the young mother very proud by the praise they gave her tiny son. + +[Illustration: "HIS MOTHER HAD BATHED HIM IN THE WATER OF THE RIVER"] + +But she and her husband were not the only ones pleased. There was +Alila's grandmother, who was always the most honoured one in the +household; there was also an aunt who made her home here as she was +too poor to have one of her own; and beside these, there was a lame +old man, a friend of the family, who had come to them for shelter. The +Tagals are so hospitable they will never turn any one from their homes. + +As one visitor after another arrived, the little house became crowded. +If it had not been for the high, dome-shaped roof, the air would have +grown heavy and impure. As it was, Alila and his mother soon grew very +tired and closed their eyes in sleep. + +"That is good," said the grandmother, "we must let her rest. We will go +out under the cacao-trees and talk, and I will bring some cocoa wine +and betel to you there." + +This old woman was certainly not pretty, although good and thoughtful. +As she stood talking to the visitors in low tones, one could see how +short she was. Her coarse, black hair grew down upon her forehead +almost to her eyebrows; her wrinkled skin was dark brown; her eyes were +large and round and, like her baby grandchild's, ever turning in a new +direction. + +She was dressed in a short skirt much like those of the other women of +the party; it was of three colours,--green, white, and bright red. Over +this she wore a large piece of blue cotton cloth, cut in the shape of +an oblong, tucked in at the waist and hanging over her skirt almost +down to her knees. No shoes or stockings covered the bare legs or feet, +but she did not seem to miss them. + +She was as straight as an arrow, even if she were a grandmother. +Perhaps it was because she had been used to carrying jars of water and +baskets of fruit upon her head ever since she was a little child. + +She moved softly about the hut as she got the entertainment ready for +the company. From one corner she drew forth a large bamboo with a grass +stopple in it. This held the wine the guests would sip so sparingly, +for the Tagals are a sober people and seldom drink enough fermented +liquor to hurt them. The old woman next got some cocoanut shells +together. These were the only drinking-cups the family ever used. + +But the betel which she now placed beside the other things,--what is +that, you ask? It is not a food, and yet it often takes the place of +food; for a Tagal can work a long time without eating if he can chew +all of this he wishes. It is prepared from the nut of the areca palm, +one of the most beautiful trees in the world. A palm of this kind +grows right beside Alila's home, and, now that he is a big boy, he +climbs the tall tree himself and brings down the nuts which grow at the +top under the tuft of glossy green leaves. + +The nuts are cut into thin slices and wrapped in the leaves of a +singular plant called buyo. But, before they can be used for this +purpose, these leaves are coated with lime made from oyster shells and +then folded up. + +Alila's grandmother prepared a quantity of betel before the new baby +was born. + +Just as she was going out to offer refreshments, another visitor +arrived. It was a friend who had come from a distance, but the mother +and child must not be wakened. Oh, no! that was not to be thought of. +The souls of people leave their bodies and go away while they are +sleeping, the old woman believes; and if any one should arouse them +suddenly, they might never return to their bodies. + +So, of course, the visitor, who also had this belief, wouldn't have +disturbed the sleepers for anything in the world. She quietly turned +away and joined the other guests in the garden. + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +THE CHRISTENING. + + +ALILA was christened soon after he was born. Dear me, what a time that +was! The festival lasted several days. There was a host of friends and +acquaintances around the little home, making merry and admiring the +baby. + +Alila himself was as clean and sweet as any child in the world could +be. His mother had bathed him in the water of the river which flowed +down the mountainside near them, while the leaves of the papaw-tree +took the place of soap. + +The young mother herself was only fifteen years old. She was dressed +in her brightest skirt and fairly shone with the abundance of cheap +jewelry she wore. Her hair was combed straight back from her forehead. +She wore nothing on her feet excepting her queer slippers, of which she +seemed very proud. She had herself embroidered them to look like a pair +worn by the rich lady whose husband owned the plantation. They were +perfectly flat and had only uppers enough to encase two or three toes. + +What queer, uncomfortable things to wear on one's feet! Alila will +never own such things because he is a boy, and he should be glad of it. + +His grandmother and aunt had a fine feast prepared for the visitors. +There was a good supply of roasted buffalo and wild boar's meat. There +was a salad made from the young green tops of the bamboo; steamed rice +and stewed iguana; papaws, which tasted like melons; tamarind sauce and +guavas and bananas. And, of course, there was an abundance of betel, +cocoa wine and tuba. + +But strangest of all the dishes at the Tagal's feast was one prepared +from a kind of beetle. The guests relished it greatly and Alila's +father was praised very much for surprising them with this dainty. + +But the feast was only a small part of the entertainment. A band came +from the village to furnish music. Every instrument on which they +played was made of bamboo. Then there was dancing and singing under the +palm-trees by old and young, and when evening came there were displays +of fireworks. + +As Alila's father was quite poor, how could he afford such splendour? +The fact is, it cost him nothing! It was a free show given by Mother +Nature. Her little children, the fireflies, gathered in great numbers +and danced in circles around the trees. Any one ought to be satisfied +with fireworks like those. + +Alila's eyes watched the people eat with their fingers and looked at +the lights dancing about; he listened to the odd, sweet music for +a little while; and then those black eyes closed tightly and he lay +fast asleep in his young mother's arms. Of course, he doesn't remember +anything about it now, but his grandmother has told him the story so +many times it almost seems as though his own mind had kept the pictures +for him. + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +THE BUILDING OF THE HOUSE. + + +AND now he is a big boy, ten years old, and can do so many things to +help his parents. He has not always lived in the home where he was +born. Last summer a whirlwind destroyed that one, but he helped his +father build another just like the first, and he showed himself a very +clever worker. + +He searched through the forest for bamboos of the right size; he did +his share in cutting them down and splitting them for the walls of the +hut. When they were ready, he worked each morning in thatching the roof +until it grew too warm. Then came dinner and a nap under the trees +until the late afternoon, when work began again. + +In a few days a new home was ready and the terrible hurricane forgotten +by the carefree, happy little boy. + +Can you guess what part of the hut took the largest share of Alila's +time and attention? It must have been the window-panes, for he was +anxious to get the most beautiful mother-of-pearl he could find. He had +to take a trip to the seashore ten miles away, and then he spent many +hours finding such oyster shells as had a very delicate lining. + +"The two windows must be beauties," said the boy to himself, "for that +will please my mother so much." + +No carpenter's shop nor store was visited during the whole time. It +was not needful, for the forest near by stretched its arms toward +the workers, as much as to say: "Come to me; I will gladly give you +everything you can possibly wish." + +"How about nails," you ask, "and stout cord with which to fasten all +the parts together?" + +Nails, and a bolt in the door? Why, what could be better than a stick +of rattan, cut and whittled into shape? Cord? That was obtained very +easily, too, from a bushrope-tree growing near Alila's home. It is so +stout and strong it is not an easy thing to break it. + +When the house was finished, it looked like a great beehive. There was +only one room, but what of that? If people are perfectly comfortable +they can be as happy in a one-roomed hut as though they lived in a +palace. + +Alila has so many good times you would almost envy him. In the first +place, it takes him only a minute to dress in the morning. A pair of +thin trousers and a shirt hanging down outside instead of being tucked +in at the waist, and his toilet is made. + +When he goes out into the sunlight, he wears an odd-looking hat of +rattan. It is made in the shape of a cone, and shields his eyes nicely +from the sunshine. He goes to no school, so he does not know how to +write to his new American brothers, but that doesn't trouble him in the +least. + +He always has enough to eat, and is satisfied with a dinner of rice +and fish any day. Besides, there is always a bunch of bananas hanging +inside the house, and he has sugar-cane in abundance. + +He is hardly ever punished and is allowed to do very much as he +pleases. It is fortunate that he pleases to do right nearly all the +time. + +He swims every day in the river; he fishes from his bamboo raft; he +hunts in the forest with his father. His chief duty on the sugar +plantation is to keep the monkeys out of the cane. It was not long ago +that he shot two of the mischievous little fellows with his bow and +arrow and hung the poor things on poles like scarecrows to frighten +others away. + + + + +CHAPTER V. + +FOUR-FOOTED FRIENDS. + + +ALILA has a tame monkey at home now. He has taught him many clever +tricks. Every night when he goes to bed, the monkey curls himself up +by his side and lies there till morning. He seems to love his little +master very dearly and often rides on his shoulder while Alila is +working. + +Until a few months ago, the boy has lived on a sugar plantation owned +by a rich Tagal planter. The plantation is divided up into small farms +and rented to different workmen. The planter furnishes one buffalo and +all the needed tools to care for each little place. + +When the harvest time arrives in December, each tenant carries his crop +to the mill for grinding. He is allowed one-third of it for himself, +and, whatever price it brings, it must support his family for the next +year. + +[Illustration: "SOMETIMES ALILA RIDES ON HIS BACK"] + +Alila is not the least afraid of his father's buffalo. When he was only +three years old the huge creature would obey him and allow him to drive +anywhere he pleased. He seemed to know by the tone of the boy's voice +just what he wished him to do. + +It made an odd picture,--the tiny little fellow, holding a slender rein +in his chubby hands as he trotted along by the buffalo's side. The rein +was fastened to a piece of split rattan drawn through the animal's +nose. Yet somehow every motion of Alila was understood by him. Is it +the boy's patience that makes the beast so gentle? We like to think so. + +If we should take Alila's place the animal would not stir to obey us. +He would at once become stubborn and ugly, because he is not used to +our quick, nervous, impatient ways. + +He cannot work all day like a horse. After two or three hours, he needs +to stop and rest. But that is not enough,--he suffers if he cannot +have a bath. Sometimes Alila rides on his back when he plunges into +the river, and holds on without fear while the buffalo stretches his +head down and holds it under the water for two minutes at a time as he +searches for food. + +How Alila does love him! He has the next place in his heart to his +father and mother. But the buffalo has other good friends beside +Alila's family. They are not people, nor even other buffaloes. They +are white herons that follow him as he ploughs. They are not afraid if +Alila is the only person there. As the animal's heavy feet plod over +the ground, worms and insects come to the surface. The herons know this +and easily get a good breakfast. + +Besides these attendants, a small blackbird often keeps the buffalo +company, who will raise up his head in delight to meet it. Why is +it? Because the bird flies about his head and neck and picks off the +insects from his skin. + +This buffalo has lived on the farm from the time he was caught wild +when a baby. If he had not been so young he could never have been +tamed. A wild buffalo is a terrible thing; he is most to be dreaded of +any creature in the islands. + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + +THE BUFFALO HUNT. + + +ALILA'S father has been on several buffalo hunts, but never yet has +he allowed his boy to go with him. He says it is far too dangerous; +the little boy must wait until he is older. But it is so hard to wait, +Alila thinks, as he longs for the time to come and looks up at the pair +of horns brought home from the last hunt. + +The horns are very long and curved and sharp. The boy often wonders if +there is another animal in the world with such fearful horns. He says +to himself: + +"Perhaps the very buffalo who owned this pair was the one that gored +to death poor Olo." Alila stretched himself on the ground, closed his +eyes, and again pictured the story in his mind. This is the tale: + +In the village just below the plantation there lived a young man who +was honest and brave but very poor. It happened that he loved the +daughter of a neighbour very dearly and she returned his love. But the +youth had no money and no land, and at first the girl's father said: + +"No, you cannot have my daughter, for you can give her no wedding +portion." + +It is the custom among these people for the lover to give his bride as +fine a present as her parents think suitable. The young man felt very +sad, when an idea entered his mind that gave him hope. He said to the +father: + +"Can I not come to your farm and serve you for two years? And if I then +show myself faithful in all my duties, will you give me your daughter?" + +The father consented. It was a very common thing for such service to +be given, and he felt satisfied. + +The two years passed by. The young man had worked day after day at +the hardest labour. He had never spoken a cross word nor found the +slightest fault. But now that his service was over and the day set for +his marriage, he wished to show the father of the lovely girl how brave +he was, and he wanted to make his bride some little present, too. + +He heard that a party of men, one of whom was Alila's father, were +going on a buffalo hunt. He would join them. It was to be his first +venture of this kind, but he had no fear. + +The party was made up of six men on horseback, two tame buffaloes, and +a pack of immense dogs used to hunting. The men were armed with knives +and spears and each one carried a lasso. + +They started in the early morning and rode out over the plains till +they came to the edge of a large forest. There they waited at some +little distance from an opening through the trees while the dogs were +sent into the forest to rouse the prey. They had only a short time to +wait before the barking of the dogs was heard. + +They took their places some distance from each other and listened +breathless. The young lover was to be given the first chance in this +combat. A bull-fight is fearful enough, but it cannot compare with the +struggle between a maddened buffalo and his pursuer. + +Hark! There is a crashing of trees, a falling of branches. The ground +shakes and out from the darkness of the forest plunges a huge buffalo. +He raises a storm of dust as he comes onward. He is shining black, and +as he tosses his head one can see the wicked horns, capable of doing +such terrible injury. + +For an instant he pauses and looks at the men standing ready to +capture him; then he rushes toward the young man, who now has the +chance he begged for. With lasso in hand he urges his horse toward the +buffalo. + +It is over in a moment's time. He has hurled his lasso but has failed; +and before he can move out of danger the furious animal has thrown him +from his horse and ended his life. + +But the other hunters cannot stop a second. They, too, will lose their +lives if they are not careful and quick. One after another gallops +after the enraged animal and throws his lasso. There are several +failures, but each time the men manage to escape. At last two are +successful, and the monster, hardly able to breathe, stands quiet and +still. + +He is conquered. And now other lassos are drawn tightly around that +magnificent head and the animal is tied to the stout trunk of a tree. +The danger is over for these others, but the poor youth who longed so +greatly to succeed lies dead not far away. He will never see his dear +one again. + +The men lift his body tenderly and carry it to the place where the tame +buffaloes have been left. They place it on the back of one of them. +Then they return to their prey and fasten a rattan ring through his +nose. With one of the tame buffaloes on each side of him, he can now be +easily led to the village, where they will kill him. + +All the people came out to meet the hunters, and, when they heard the +sad news, all hearts were filled with pity for the young bride. + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + +THE RICH MAN'S HOME. + + +ONE day as the boy lay dreaming of the time when he should be allowed +to risk his life in a buffalo hunt, his quick ear heard the steps of +some one coming down the road. He jumped up and saw an old friend of +his father's, a well-known hunter. He carried a basket in each hand and +would not have stopped if Alila had not called out: + +"Where have you been the last few days? And where are you going? Father +will be home soon and he will wish to see you." + +"I am on my way to the master's house to sell these bird's nests and I +will stop here on my way back. I expect a good price for them. He told +me he would pay me well. Ah, but it was hard work getting them, my +little fellow! You never could have done it in the world." + +Alila looked at the hunter with envy, for he knew how dangerous his +work had been. Among many people in the East, no food is thought so +great a dainty as these edible birds' nests. What queer tastes they +have! At least it seems so to us. + +There is a certain kind of bird that makes its nest high up on the +sides of steep cliffs jutting out over the waters of the ocean. These +nests are like no others. The birds that build them swallow a certain +kind of glutinous weed growing on the coral rocks. They then cough it +up and use this material they have so oddly prepared in making their +nests. + +Whenever a man makes it his business to search for these nests, he +knows the danger full well. Slowly and painfully he must climb the +sides of the cliffs, often placing his feet where we should think there +was no foothold whatever. He clutches at a sharp point of rock here, +or a twig there; but if it is not as safe as he believed, woe unto him! +For down he falls into the raging waters below and is a lucky man if he +is not dashed to pieces on the sharp rocks. Again, he may grow faint +and dizzy when he has climbed only a part of the way, or he may lose +his hold from very weakness. + +The Chinese are as fond of these edible birds' nests as are the +Filipinos. Perhaps you have heard of the great Chinese viceroy, Li Hung +Chang, who came to visit us several years ago. He brought his own cooks +and a large supply of birds' nests and sharks' fins. + +Alila joined the hunter on his way to the planter's mansion. The boy +wished to have a chance to see the grand lady, the planter's wife, and +their little daughter, who plays so beautifully on the harp. + +They soon reached the house, which seemed very large beside Alila's +little cabin. It was two stories high. The lower part was of stone and +the upper half of wood. It would not have been safe to use stone above +the lower floor on account of the frequent earthquakes. + +The roof was thatched with cogon grass. When it was built the planter +said to himself: "I will not have an iron roof like many of the city +houses; it would be too hot. I like the grass thatching much better." + +Beautiful gardens where roses were always in bloom surrounded the +house. Bright-coloured birds flew about among the bushes, but they +had no songs for Alila and the hunter as they passed along. The broad +veranda was shaded by a clump of tall banana-trees, swaying to and fro +in the gentle breeze. How noble they looked, with their tufts of glossy +leaves at the very top, lapping over each other and shutting out the +sun's hot rays! + +As Alila glanced up to see if the fruit was ripening the hunter said: + +"Did you ever hear the stories told of the banana? Some say it is the +very fruit that tempted Eve in the Garden of Eden, while others think +that she and Adam made their first clothing of banana leaves." + +"I wonder if that can be so," said the little boy, thoughtfully. "Any +way, I'm glad there is fresh fruit every month in the year; I like +bananas so much." + +They reached the house as he finished speaking. The planter and his +wife were sitting alone on the veranda. Alila was disappointed in not +seeing their little daughter. + +While the hunter was attending to his business with the planter, the +boy's bright eyes noted the lady's dress. + +"I must tell mother all about it," he said to himself. "She will want +to know. My, what a long train she wears! It is so thin and delicate +I think it must be woven of pineapple fibre. What beautiful bright +colours it has! + +"And how stiff her kerchief is! It stands up so high at the back of her +neck I should think it would feel very uncomfortable. Her chemisette is +very pretty, my mother would think. What wide sleeves! Still they are +short, so she can keep cool." + +But the jewels! Alila had never seen so many before. The lady fairly +sparkled, with her gold earrings and bracelets, set with precious +stones. Surely there was going to be a party at the big house, or she +would not be dressed so finely. + +Just as the boy was thinking this, the planter's wife turned her head +toward him and spoke. + +"Alila, is it not time to tap the cocoanut-trees? Tell your father +I want some tuba as soon as possible. You are now such a big boy, I +suppose you will be able to help him get it." + +The little fellow made a low bow and answered that his father had +spoken about it that very morning and had promised that he should help +him. Perhaps you remember that when Alila was christened there was a +good supply of tuba at the feast. Did you wonder what it could be? + +On the sugar farm there is a clump of cocoanut-trees on which no fruit +ever grows. Why is this? Because all the sap which would be used by +Mother Nature in making blossoms and changing these into cocoanuts is +used for another purpose. It is drawn from the tree at a certain time +of the year to make a drink much loved by the natives. + +Tapping the trees for tuba is dangerous work, but Alila, you know, +loves danger. He went home from the planter's mansion very happy, for +now he should have an errand there every day during the next few weeks. +For must he not bring the family a fresh bamboo of tuba each night and +morning? + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +TAPPING FOR TUBA. + + +ALILA was wide awake before sunrise of the next day. He did not lie on +his mat lazily watching to see if a lizard or newt should creep out of +a corner, as he often did on other mornings. It was only the day before +that he pulled a newt by its tail just to see if the tail would really +come off in his hand. It did, for a fact! and away Mr. Newt scuttled +without any tail. + +Wasn't it a little cruel and ungrateful in Alila, when he knew how much +the newts as well as the lizards do to let him sleep comfortably? They +destroy ants and spiders and other creeping things, so that Alila's +mother never kills them nor drives them away. + +Neither did Alila stop to play with his pet cat this morning--such an +odd cat, too, with a queer little twist in her tail like that of a pug +dog. Alila was dressed before his father waked. + +While waiting, he went out into the yard to sharpen his knife. But he +had no whetstone. There are more ways than one of doing things, we have +already discovered. The boy took a piece of wood and covered it with a +paste made of ashes and oil. Then he rubbed the blade of his knife back +and forth over this till the edge was sharp enough to split a hair with +ease. + +Next he got together some vessels of bamboo and two long bamboo rods. +He was just a little bit nervous, although it was not in his nature to +be easily excited. He said to himself: + +"Oh, dear, I hope I shall not have to wait much longer." + +At this very moment he looked up and there was his kind, quiet father +standing in the doorway. + +[Illustration: "HE WAS AS NIMBLE AS A SQUIRREL"] + +"All ready!" And the two started for the cocoanut grove not far away. + +As soon as they reached the place, Alila took out his sharp knife. +Work began at once, for notches must be cut in the tree, one above +another, in which to place his toes. As one notch was made, the boy +drew himself high enough to get a foothold in it; then, reaching up, he +cut the next one and drew himself up to that, and so on until he had +reached the top, fully sixty feet above the ground. A cocoanut-tree, as +you probably remember, has no branches whatever to give any help to a +person in climbing. + +And now Alila came down again. He did it so easily and gracefully, it +was a pleasure to watch him. As soon as he was within reach, his father +handed him vessels of bamboo, which the boy fastened to his waist +and again climbed the tree. One might almost say he was as nimble as +a squirrel, yet that does not express the long, graceful movements of +his body as he rose far from the ground. + +When he was once more at the top of the tree, he made deep cuts in the +trunk directly under the great tuft of leaves, and hung his bamboo +vessels so the sap could flow into them. + +Now for the same work in the next tree. Do you think he must go down +to the ground again and go through all the work he had in climbing the +first tree? Not at all. His father reached up to him two long bamboo +rods. He took the first one and stretched it across to the next tree. +This would serve as a bridge over which he could walk. The second one +was placed above the first and would make a good hand-rail. + +Alila did not think of the danger of a walk in mid-air on such a +slender support. His head was cool, his feet were firm, his body +light, and he passed from one tree to another in perfect safety. He was +happy as a king to be trusted by his father to take such a risk. + +Think of a fall from a height like that! Suppose for one instant that +the bamboo should give way under the boy's feet or failed to hold +in the tree-top! That would have ended our little Alila's life in a +moment, or at least made him a cripple for the rest of his days. + +The fact is, however, that the boy had no accident, and every day +afterward, as long as the sap continued to flow, he went out to the +cocoanut grove, collected the tuba, and carried a good supply of it to +the planter's mansion. + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + +FOREST AND STREAM. + + +THERE is another cocoanut grove on the farm, beside the one where Alila +gets the tuba. The fruit is allowed to ripen on these trees, and it is +the boy's duty to gather it. There is a new growth of cocoanuts three +times a year. + +Alila does not need to climb the trees for them unless he wishes. He +usually fastens a sickle-shaped knife to the end of a long pole. In +this way he can reach up to the tops of the tallest trees and cut off +the cocoanuts; when thud! thud! down they fall to the ground, safe and +sound. For the delicious pulp is not only shut up in the hard shell +that we know, but this also is enclosed in a still larger and thicker +covering. + +How could the natives of tropic lands get along without this valuable +tree? It has so many uses it would take a long time even to mention +them all. + +Its roots are good to cure Alila when he is seized by an attack of +fever during the wet season. His mother believes that his life has been +spared through the use of this medicine. Alila's father made his canoe +from the trunk of a cocoanut-tree; while much of the furniture in his +employer's mansion has been carved from its beautiful wood. The boy's +mother uses a comb made from the stalks of cocoanut leaves. The husks +which enclose the fruit are made into _coir_, out of which are made +ropes, brooms, brushes, and even bedding. + +When Alila was only five or six years old he learned to weave baskets +and mats from the leaves, and he knows how to thatch a roof with them +very neatly. + +What is so delicious on a hot day as a drink of fresh cocoanut milk! It +is never hurtful and quenches the thirst as well as the coldest water. +The oil obtained from the nuts is used by Alila's mother in her cooking. + +But she also needs it for another purpose. She is always in fear of an +earthquake, and feels safer to have a light burning in readiness all +night long. She keeps in the cabin a small vessel half-full of water. +Cocoanut oil is poured on the water and a wick made of a certain kind +of pith called _tinsin_ hangs down in the middle of this odd lamp. The +Chinese taught the Tagals the value of tinsin. There is scarcely to be +found a native hut where it is not used for lamp wicks. + +But you must be tired of hearing about cocoanuts and their uses, so we +will return to Alila and his strange adventures. One day not long ago +his mother said to him: + +"My child, I should like some fish for dinner. Will you go to the +river and get some?" + +Alila has great success in fishing. He started off at once on his +errand. He did not stop to get hook and line, as you would have done; +he knew another way to fish, different from any we have in our country. + +When he got to the river he walked along by its side till he found a +place where the water ran very deep. Then he took off his clothing, and +lay quietly down on the bank. His eyes were wide open and watchful, +though his body was so still. He soon saw some fish rise near the +surface of the water. Quick as a flash he jumped in and dived down, +down under where the fish were darting. Rising as suddenly as he had +dived, he came to the surface with a fish in each hand. + +He is such a nimble little fellow that he did this several times, and +hardly ever failed. It was not long before he had a fine string of +fish to carry home. As he walked back, he stopped to gather some green +bamboos of medium size, for he knew they would be needed in cooking the +dinner. + +While his mother was cleaning the fish, Alila made a fire and cut the +bamboos at every joint. They were changed at once into baking pans, +each one large enough to slip a fish inside, together with a little +water and some spices. The ends were stopped up, and the bamboos laid +in the fire. As soon as they began to burn, it was a sign that the fish +inside were cooked enough. + +What a good dinner it was! You would have thought so if you could have +tasted the rice steamed in the same way as the delicate fish and served +on plantain leaves. + +Alila has still another way of fishing which is not as hard work as +diving, though, after all, it is not much fun. He carries a bamboo +basket in which he has put a mixture containing a curious kind of +poison. He sets it floating on the water. When the fish come near it +the poison makes them stupid, and they rise and float motionless on the +surface, as though they were dead. Then it is an easy matter for Alila +to get them. + + + + +CHAPTER X. + +A SWARM OF LOCUSTS. + + +THE little brown boy has lived, as you know, on a sugar plantation, +where the cane ripens only once a year. You also remember that last +summer a hurricane destroyed the boy's home, and a new one had to be +built. The sugar crop barely escaped ruin, when, alas! another danger +came to it, more fearful even than the great wind. It was a storm of +locusts. + +Alila was working in the cane-fields with his loved buffalo one +morning, when, looking up suddenly, he saw something which frightened +him. It was a long distance away, far as his eyes could see, and it +appeared like a dark cloud near the earth. + +[Illustration: "SUCH A DIN AND COMMOTION YOU NEVER HEARD"] + +The boy was frightened, as I have said, but it was not for himself. +It was on account of the danger threatening the plantation; he knew +very well that what seemed like a cloud was composed of millions and +millions of locusts. Unless something were done at once, all the +sugar-cane would be ruined. For, if that army of insects, perfectly +harmless to animals, should settle down upon the canes, the leaves +would be entirely eaten in a few hours. + +Alila ran as fast as his legs could carry him from one part of the +plantation to another, and gave the alarm to the working people as he +passed along. + +It was wonderful how quickly men, women, and children armed themselves +to meet the coming enemy. All the bamboo clappers, cocoanut shells, tin +pans, and red flags that could be found were seized and put into use. + +Then such a din and commotion you never heard nor saw, even on +the glorious Fourth of July. Locusts are very sensitive to noise, so +between the beating of drums and clappers, the waving of the red flags, +and the smoke from fires of wet wood at the sides of the fields, the +greater part of the army passed on. The people breathed again, since +the danger was over for the present. + +When it was all over Alila was not too tired to play for awhile with a +few locusts he had caught in a net. Their bodies looked like those of +large grasshoppers, except that they were of a brownish colour. + +They would not sting or bite, and the boy kept his new pets as long as +they lived. That was only a few days, however, as a locust has a very +short life. It is said that food passes through its body as fast as it +is eaten, so it is not nourished, and soon dies for this reason. It +also has an enemy, a small worm that forms in its body and gradually +eats it up. + +The mother locust has a queer way of making a nest for her eggs. She +extends the end of her body till it is like an auger, and with this +she bores a deep hole in the earth. She chooses spots near fields of +ripening rice or sugar cane, so the young locusts, as they hatch out, +will be near a good supply of food; for at first they have no wings and +cannot go in search of it. + +After the visit of the locusts, Alila went carefully around the edges +of the fields with the other workmen. They wished to see if any signs +of young locusts could be found. But they found none and felt that the +crops were free from danger for this year, at least. But Alila's father +said to himself: + +"How many risks there are in working on a sugar plantation! I have been +here now many years. I never know whether the crop will be a failure +or not. I believe I will go somewhere else. Up on the side of the +mountain, not far from here, is a large hemp plantation; I will seek +work there. Besides, there is fine hunting near by and Alila can see +new sights." + +When he told his family, they were all pleased, for Tagals dearly love +a change and often move from place to place merely for the sake of +change. Alila was the most delighted of all. He said: + +"Now, father, I can hunt with you and go bat shooting in the deep +forests. You know I can sell their beautiful soft skins to travellers." + +Alila's grandmother and mother were pleased, too. They liked the idea +because the hemp is gathered throughout the year and can be sold from +time to time, whenever there is need of money. But when the women +thought of the bands of brigands who hide in the mountain passes, they +began to fear. + +Many were the stories they had heard of these robbers and their sudden +attacks in the night-time on people in lonely houses. + +"You need not worry," said Alila's father, "for these wild robbers +seldom harm poor people; and they never kill unless they are obliged to +do so. I believe they are not as terrible as they are often described." + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + +THE NEW HOME. + + +SO it came to pass that Alila went to a new home. It was not hard work +to get ready, for there was little to move. The old buffalo that had +grown up with his young master was able to carry on his broad back +everything owned by the entire family. He could easily have taken more, +too! + +The women rode on ponies and the men walked beside the buffalo. No one +seemed to feel sad, although it had been an easy, happy life on the +little farm and the sugar planter had always been kind. + +Their fellow workmen were Tagals like themselves; they would find many +Chinese labourers on the hemp plantation, at least they had been told +so. But they did not care for that. + +There are many Chinamen in the Philippines, and they agree very well +with their Tagal neighbours and the people of the many other tribes. +Alila has a cousin married to a Chinese merchant in Manila and some +time he is going to visit her. + +As they journeyed onward they passed a party of Americans. Alila's +mother called: + +"Come nearer to me, my child. Stay by my side." + +She had a fear of white faces of which she could not rid herself. +The Spaniards had been cruel to her people, she well knew. And now +that these others from far-away lands had taken the power from the +Spaniards, she felt that they, too, would be hard and unkind. + +Poor ignorant mother! She did not understand that it meant such +different things,--schools for _all_ children instead of a very few; +work for any one who desired it; better care for the sick in the +cities; fewer taxes for all. Yes, all these and many other good things +would be done by the Americans to make Alila and Alila's children live +more wisely and therefore more happily. + +When the sun was setting that night, the hemp plantation could be +plainly seen. It was a beautiful sight, those rows of small trees with +their large, glossy leaves, shut in by woods of a larger growth. + +The plant from which is made what is called Manila hemp belongs to the +same family as the banana and the plantain. The leaves all of them look +so much alike it would be hard for us to tell the difference. + +It did not take many days to get settled. The neighbours were very kind +and gave the family shelter and food until Alila and his father had +finished building a cabin. This time they made the roof as well as the +sides of the hut of split bamboo, and the boy's mother and grandmother +helped in preparing it. + +Alila had never before seen hemp gathered, and he had much to learn. +He was soon very quick in separating the fibres from the pulp and +spreading them out to dry before packing. + +The boy sometimes wonders what journeys the bales of hemp will take. +To what countries will they sail? To what uses will they be put? His +father has told him that nothing else in his island home is shipped in +such quantities as Manila hemp. It makes stout cordage and sail-cloth; +it is woven into mats, carpets, and hammocks; while the finest hemp is +made into delicate dress goods for the rich ladies of the island. + +Yes, people all over the world have heard of Manila hemp, and when he +is older, Alila says he will bear it company and seek strange sights +across the oceans. + +He had lived in his new home but a short time when he had an exciting +adventure. Not far from the farm there is a dense forest. One night +Alila's father said to his friends: + +"Let us go on a hunt for wild boars. There must be plenty of boars and +deer, too, in those woods." + +The other men were ready for a little sport. They had been hunting in +the forest many times before, and knew the best course to take. + +"May I go with you, too?" whispered Alila, who was listening at his +father's side. + +When all agreed that it would make no trouble to allow the boy to go +with them, since he was brave and strong, he was greatly pleased. They +would be gone several days. What new, strange creatures should he see? +What dangers should he meet? + + + + +CHAPTER XII. + +IN THE FOREST. + + +THE party started out early the next morning. They carried very little +food with them; it would only be in their way when hunting, and they +trusted Mother Nature would supply what they needed as they went along. +Two of the men had guns; the others carried bows and arrows. Every one +was also supplied with a sharp spear and knife. + +The first day was very quiet. Nothing was shot but a few birds and +bats. When night came they found themselves far from any stream; all +were thirsty and there was no water. What should they do? Ah! in plain +sight was a _liana_. It is called the "travellers' drink" because any +one, on breaking off a stalk, can obtain a cool draught. How refreshing +it was! + +A fire was quickly made and the birds cooked for supper. They all lay +down to sleep. But, alas! that was not an easy thing to get. They had +no sooner stretched themselves by the fire than they were attacked. By +wild animals, you think at once. By no means. It was a small enemy, +fierce for their blood, which darted out from the grass and fastened +upon their bodies. + +Multitudes of leeches have their home in the mountain forests of the +Philippines, and every native who travels there is armed with a small +rattan knife to cut them off as they seize upon him. + +Alila's party knew that sleep was out of the question for this night. +As fast as our little brown brother was able to cut off one of the +bloodthirsty creatures, another took its place, till at last the +daylight came and the hunters could go on their way. + +But what a wretched sight they were! Blood streamed from their arms and +legs, and they looked like the wounded survivors of a terrible battle. +When they came to a spring of water, they were glad enough to have a +chance to bathe. + +Alila can tell you that was the worst night he ever passed in his life, +yet he hardly spoke a word of complaint through the long hours, and +in the morning laughed gaily with his friends when they gazed at each +other's sorry-looking faces. + +Small creatures can make themselves as troublesome as big ones. Perhaps +you have already found this out when mosquitoes have found their way to +your bedside and waked you in the middle of the night. + +After a hasty breakfast, the hunters were ready for a tramp, and they +soon found the tracks of wild boars. It was not long till they had +killed three of them with little trouble. They were about to make a +fire and roast some of the flesh for dinner, when a pitiful cry was +heard. + +How it rang out through the forest! It sounded almost human. What could +it be? Alila's father jumped up and crept through the woods in the +direction of the sound. His boy followed close at his heels. They had +gone but a short distance when a strange sight met their eyes. High up +on the branch of a tree lay a huge boa-constrictor. He must have been a +hundred years old, he was so large. + +His eyes were fastened upon a poor little deer in the coil of his tail, +which he had stretched down to trap his prey as it walked along. Ah! +the deer's eyes close and the piteous cry stops as he is clasped more +and more tightly in the clutch of the boa. And now the serpent raises +him from the ground, and swings him against the trunk of the tree; he +is thrown with such force he is instantly killed. + +But what were Alila and his father doing all this time? They were too +late to save the deer, but the boa did not escape. As he was about +to descend the tree to feed upon his victim, his wicked eyes saw the +hunters for the first time. Out darted his forked tongue in anger, just +as two arrows entered his body and ended his life. The rest of the +party came up at this moment and helped cut away the skin of the boa. +It would be useful for making dagger sheaths. + +Now indeed they would have a grand feast, for they could add the flesh +of the deer and boa to what they had already obtained. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII. + +CROCODILES. + + +WHEN dinner was over, they began to look around their stopping-place. +They found they were close to a deep river. Should they swim across it, +or turn homeward? + +"You must not try to cross without a boat," said one of the men to +Alila's father. "Crocodiles make their home in these waters. It is +possible we may not see any from this shore, but at the same time, +if you should try to swim to the other side, you might be attacked +suddenly, and be unable to escape. I know one poor fellow who lost his +life in this very place. + +"Still, if you wish for more sport, I will tell you what to do. Let +us all watch on the shore here for signs of crocodiles. We are in no +hurry. Have your guns and arrows ready to help if one of the creatures +should appear. I will dive into the river and attack him with my spear." + +It was a daring thing to think of. As every one knew, there is only one +place in the animal's body that can be pierced. That is directly under +the fore legs. Even bullets will fly off from any other part of the +scaly covering as though they had struck against a stone wall. + +If the hunter venture to come close to such a monster, and his dagger +fail to pierce the vital spot, there is no help for him. The great jaws +will close upon him instantly, and he will never be seen again. + +But the quiet Tagals seem to love danger, and no one tried to +discourage the hunter. They walked quietly along the river's side for +two hours, at least; they were about to turn when Alila cried: + +"There he is, close to the bamboo thicket on the shore." + +As they looked toward the spot, the fearful head and jaws of a +crocodile could be seen reaching up out of the water. + +Ready! Down dived the hunter, spear in hand. The attack was sudden and +successful. The spear reached the one place it could enter, and stuck +fast. The diver did not stop a moment longer, but swam back to the +shore to his waiting friends. The surface of the river was instantly +streaked with blood as the crocodile plunged through the water in his +death agony. + +The men waited till the great body of the monster became still and +quiet. Then with the aid of rattan nooses they drew it up on the shore, +and with their sharp knives proceeded to strip away the skin. + +"It is a good medicine for rheumatism. I know it will cure the bad +pains from which my mother suffers," said Alila's father. + +"And I will take some of the flesh and dry it as a cure for asthma," +said another of the party. "I know a man who suffers very much from the +trouble. He will be glad to be able to breathe easily once more." + +It was now near night and too late to think of starting home. They must +camp out once more. Every one hoped to be free from the persistent +leeches this time. They made a fire and stretched themselves beside it. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV. + +TONDA'S STORY. + + +"TONDA, do tell us some of your adventures," begged Alila. "You have +travelled so far and seen such wonderful things! Father says you have +even been to the great city of Manila. I wonder what a city can be +like." + +Tonda had certainly seen more of the world than any one Alila knew, and +he was always proud and glad to show his knowledge. So, although he was +tired and sleepy from the excitement of the day, he began to tell of +his visit to Manila when a young man. + +"Oh, a city is indeed a wonderful place, Alila; I believe you would be +almost frightened, at first, at the queer noises you would hear. + +[Illustration: "'AROUND ONE PART OF THE CITY THERE IS A STRONG WALL'"] + +"What would you think of long, heavy cars rushing along through the +streets with no buffaloes to draw them and a single pony in their +place? These cars run along on tracks through streets in which round +stones are set in, side by side. + +"There are great buildings divided by walls into many different rooms. +Around one part of the city there is a strong wall which was built +long, long ago, I was told. Behind those walls the people used to fight +against their enemies and were safe. + +"There is a river running right through the city, and upon it many +kinds of boats sail at every hour of the day and night. While I was +there, the Chinese had a grand festival. Great ships like floating +palaces rode up and down the river. At night they were lighted up from +topmast to stern. Bands of music kept playing, and every morning the +Chinese who filled the vessels threw squares of coloured paper over +the sides and burned incense in honour of St. Nicholas, in whose memory +they held the festival. + +"Why was St. Nicholas honoured so? Because in far distant times he +saved the life of a Chinaman from the fury of a crocodile. + +"It happened in this way. The man was sailing on the river in a small +canoe, with no thought of danger. All at once, a crocodile appeared +close to the boat, capsized it, and with open jaws was ready to devour +the man. It was a fearful moment, but the Chinaman did not lose hope. +He lifted up his voice in prayer to St. Nicholas, and begged him to +save his life. The good saint appeared before him, and, striking the +crocodile with his wand, changed it instantly into a rock. + +"The man was saved, but you may be sure he did not forget the wonderful +help he had received. He went back to Manila, and with the help of +his friends built a chapel in honour of the saint. Every year since +then the Chinese have gathered in the city and remembered the day when +their countryman's life was saved. They hold one festival after another +during two whole weeks. The people say that the city is always a gay +sight at such times." + +By the time this story was finished, the company gathered around the +fire began to nod their heads. They were so tired from the day's hard +work that they could listen no longer. A minute afterward Alila was +sound asleep. He knew nothing more till the sunlight fell upon him the +next morning. + +On the way home two more boars and a deer were shot. A bamboo hurdle +was quickly made, and the store of flesh was placed on it and easily +carried on the shoulders of the men. + + + + +CHAPTER XV. + +STRANGE NEIGHBOURS. + + +YOU can imagine how glad Alila's mother was to see him back once more, +safe and sound. She kissed him tenderly in the odd fashion of her +people. When he had told her all his adventures, he said: + +"Oh, mother, I want to go again. I haven't seen half of the strange +things in those forests. And, besides, hunters have told me of queer +people who live high up in the mountains beyond us. They are very wild, +and have such strange customs. It is said that they lived in these +islands before our people came here, hundreds and hundreds of years +ago. They must have been driven up into the thick forests to save +themselves from being captured. + +"The men call them Negritos. They are very black, and do not look at +all like us. Their hair is a great ball of curls. They do not know much +more than animals." + +"Yes, my child, I have not only heard about these savages, I have seen +one of them," replied his mother. "Your father has been among them, and +will tell you about their queer ways of living. They have no homes, but +sleep at night under the trees. If you heard them talking, you would +think at first it was the chattering of monkeys. They have very few +words in their language. + +"When they plant their gardens, they do not plough them as we do. They +only scrape away the top of the earth, and then scatter their seed. +They do not even clear places in the forests." + +While she was telling Alila these things, his father was not there. As +soon as he got back from the hunt, he went off to look over the farm to +see if the hemp was growing well. When he returned from this work Alila +went up to him, and said: + +"Why is it, father, you have never told me about the Negritos? I never +even heard of them till I went on the hunt with you and your friends." + +"I knew how you like daring deeds, my boy, and felt you would be +anxious to go among these savages and see them for yourself. So I +waited till you should be older. Now you have shown how much you can +bear, I will take you into strange places, and you shall see things for +yourself. The Negritos are a cowardly race, yet they are dangerous; +they always use poisoned arrows, and, from their safe hiding-places in +the mountains, often succeed in killing any people who dare to come +near them." + +Then he told Alila how the Negrito children are taught to use their +bows and arrows when very young. They learn to shoot so well they can +hit the fish swimming in the water. They seldom fail to hit what they +aim at. + +These savages live mostly on roots and fruits. Still, they do know how +to make a fire and cook some of their game. But they have no dishes, +and the bird or animal to be eaten is thrown among the embers and +allowed to stay there till the outside is burned to a crisp. When any +one among them is very ill, they do not wait for him to die, but bury +him alive. + +One of the most laughable things Alila's father ever saw was a Negrito +wedding. The young bride pretended to run away from her future husband. +After he had caught her, they were carried up a bamboo ladder by their +friends, and sprinkled with water out of a cocoanut shell. Then they +came down and knelt on the ground, and an old man touched their heads +together. That made them man and wife. + +Alila was much interested, and begged his father to tell more stories +of the Negritos and other savage tribes living in the depths of the +island forests. + +He listened to tales of the Igorrotes, who live in huts like beehives +and creep into them like insects. They are people whom the white men +have tried again and again to conquer and to teach of God, but they +prefer to go naked and lead their own savage life. + +And then his father described to him some of the sights he had seen. He +told him of a wonderful cave right there in his own island of Luzon. It +was equal in beauty to the cave Aladdin himself had entered. + +Wonderful pendants of crystallised lime reached down from the lofty +roof, shining like diamonds. There were pillars of the snowy lime +a hundred feet in height, glittering in dazzling beauty. There were +spacious halls leading one from another in this underground palace. It +was a dangerous journey into this wonderful cave, but sometime Alila +must go there, his father said. + +He should visit the volcano island, too,--an island in the middle of a +lake, from which terrible floods of lava and boiling water have poured +forth many times. What sorrow and destruction it has caused! + +A long, long time ago, the boy's father cannot tell how many years have +passed, there was a terrible eruption. It lasted for many days. There +were quakings of the earth and horrible sounds under ground. The air +was filled with darkness save for flashes of lightning. Great columns +of mud and sand arose from out the lake. Torrents of lava poured over +the sides of the volcano and destroyed whole villages on the shores of +the lake. + +Ah! it was a fearful time for the people, and few of those who were +there lived to tell the story to their children. + +Alila's eyes grew larger as he listened to the wonders of the world +around him. Yes, he would travel and see these things for himself. He +was growing impatient. He could not wait much longer, for now he was +nearly a man grown. + +Sometime, let us hope, we shall meet our little Alila. We will ask him +what he himself has learned that no one else can tell us. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI. + +THE STOUT-HEARTED SAILOR. + + +ALTHOUGH Alila is anxious to travel and learn more of this great round +world, yet his own people seldom leave their island home. Strange to +say, however, white travellers from distant lands began to visit these +shores hundreds of years ago. + +The first one to do this was a brave admiral named Ferdinand Magellan. +What wonderful adventures filled the life of this man! It seems almost +like a fairy tale. + +After Columbus made his famous voyages across the Atlantic and +discovered America, Magellan, who lived in Portugal, was much excited +over the news. The world must certainly be round, he thought, and he +was no longer satisfied to explore the waters near his own home. He, +too, wished to find new and distant lands; but this was not enough. He +felt sure he could discover a way to the countries of the East, rich in +silks, spices, and precious gems, by sailing west. + +The King of Portugal was a powerful ruler and anxious for new +possessions, yet he did not encourage Magellan. Instead of this, he was +ordered to go back to Africa and keep on fighting against the Moors, +for he had already won many victories there. The king was even stern to +him for leaving the war in Africa. Why had he returned to Portugal to +ask for other work than what had been given him? + +It was a sad disappointment, and Magellan turned away from the king's +presence with a bitter heart. It was almost impossible for him to keep +from bursting into tears, though he was a brave, strong man. Just as +he was leaving the palace, an old friend stopped him and whispered: + +"Why do you not go to the King of Spain and ask his help? He is young, +to be sure, but he will be glad to get the services of a brave man from +any country, for he is anxious to gain new lands and greater power." + +Magellan's first thought was, "I cannot leave the service of my own +country for that of another." But afterward he said to himself, "No, I +am not right in working for one king when I can do more for the world +in serving another. I feel that I shall do much yet. And I am willing +to dare great risks, and give my life even, for the sake of what is not +yet known." + +He went to Spain and offered his services to King Charles. You will be +pleased to know that this king was the grandson of the very Isabella +who so nobly helped Columbus. The young king was filled with the +spirit of his grandmother. He said to Magellan: + +"Your plan is good; you are daring, yet cautious; you shall have ships +and supplies. So be of good courage and prepare for your voyage." + +Magellan's heart bounded with joy. He promised the king that wherever +he should land in places not discovered before, there he would plant +the flag of Spain. He also vowed that he would do his best to teach the +Christian religion to the heathen and that a goodly company of priests +should go with him to baptise all who were willing. + +At last the great day came when Magellan set sail. Shortly before, he +was married to one whom he had long loved and whom, alas! he should +never see again after leaving the shores of Spain. He and his fair +young wife had watched the building and repairing of the ships which +were to sail away with him so soon. With her at his side, he had +studied the rude maps of the Atlantic Ocean made by earlier voyagers, +and the instruments which should aid him in managing the fleet. + +The great moment arrived at last. Amidst the shouts of the people, the +peals of the bells, and the roaring of the cannon, the anchors were +lifted and the fleet sailed into the West. + +Days passed quietly by. The weather was good, and Magellan, now Admiral +Magellan, watched constantly for land. Many wonderful things were seen +by the sailors as they crossed the broad Atlantic. There were shoals of +flying-fish, strange and interesting birds, besides immense sharks that +followed the ships for days at a time. + +After a voyage of over two months, the coast of South America came +in sight. The fleet stopped at different places; at one time finding +themselves among friendly savages, at another among a race of +unfriendly giants. Each time the ships were headed farther and farther +south. + +At this time Magellan had other troubles besides directing the fleet. +You remember that he was a Portuguese, although he was sailing under +the King of Spain. So it happened that while some of the sailors were +from Magellan's country, most of them were Spaniards. These latter were +jealous of their leader because he belonged to a different nation from +themselves. Some of them talked secretly together and made a plan to +imprison him and take possession of the ships. + +But Magellan learned of their wicked plot in time to defeat them, and +he punished them as they deserved. Only a cool and daring man could +have succeeded in defeating so many strong enemies. But he did succeed, +and the ships sailed onward as though nothing had happened. + +It grew colder and colder. A violent storm arose and the ships were +tossed about like leaves in the wind. But Magellan was without fear and +kept his men filled with courage. At length he reached a narrow passage +leading to the west. He said to his captains: + +"I believe we have come to the end of this continent. If we can make +our way through this strait we shall look upon the new ocean." + +And the brave explorer sailed safely through the dangerous strait now +named for him. The storm passed away, and one bright, clear morning +Magellan looked for the first time upon a new and vast extent of water. +It was the dreamed-of ocean. It looked so calm and peaceful that he +said, "I will call it 'Pacific,' for I have never seen the like before." + +Weeks were spent upon these waters. They were so quiet that for days at +a time the ships could not advance. There was hardly a breath of wind. + +And now it was discovered that the supplies were getting low. The +sailors thought of home so far away, of friends they might never see +again; they pictured death by starvation here in the midst of these +beautiful waters. The food was served out in smaller and smaller +portions to the unhappy men. At last they were told there was nothing +left to satisfy their hunger save the rats which infested the ships and +some ox-hides which had been used to protect the rigging. + +Think for a moment of the condition of Magellan and those with him. +They were out of sight of land in the midst of an unknown ocean. Some +were already dying of thirst; others were too sick and weak to help in +the care of the ship. Do you wonder that the sailors felt bitter at the +one who had brought them here and was the cause of their suffering? But +Magellan did not give up courage, even now. He ordered the hides to be +softened in the sea water and then boiled. For some days longer the +crews managed to live on with this for food. + +One morning, when hope was nearly gone, a fresh breeze from the east +filled the sails of the ships, and in a few hours Magellan saw land in +the distance. The men's hearts beat hard for joy at the welcome sight. +They soon reached a small island where ripe fruits were abundant, and +where they could provide fresh supplies for the ships. + +But they did not stay many days, for Magellan was not even now ready +to give up his search for the famous lands of the East. He felt that, +as the world was round, he must surely be near them by this time. So +once more the ships set sail, and soon reached the shores of one of +the Philippines, but a short distance from Alila's home. It looked so +rich and beautiful that the ships anchored once more, and the admiral +ordered the sick men to be taken on shore. Large tents were set up, +and the sufferers were nursed back to health and strength. There was +an abundance of good pure water and fresh food. All were soon well and +strong. + +There were no people living on this island, but two days after he +arrived Magellan saw some canoes out upon the water. They were coming +swiftly toward the camp. They were filled with natives of another +island near by, who had seen the ships of the strangers; they were +curious to look upon the white men who were living near them. + +These people of Alila's race had soft yellow skins and beautiful white +teeth. They wore no clothing except aprons made of bark. They danced +around the great admiral as he stood on the shore dressed in his most +elegant garments, and laughed and shouted. They wished him to see +they were friendly. They offered fresh fish and palm wine, cocoanuts +and figs, while Magellan made them wildly happy by giving them +looking-glasses and bells, ivory toys and brass trinkets. As he found +them honest and peaceful, he allowed them to go on board his ships. +He ordered his men to fire the cannon to amuse them, but the noise +frightened them so much that some of them jumped into the water and +came near drowning. + +The chief of these people came to see the Spaniards. His face was +painted, and he wore heavy gold earrings and bracelets. He was kind +and pleasant. He brought a boat-load of fruit and, best of all, some +chickens. + +Magellan learned from these people that he was near still richer and +larger islands. After a few days he started out once more. He passed +island after island, sometimes landing on their shores, sometimes +sailing slowly along, drawing a map of these new and wonderful places. + +At the island of Cebu, Magellan made friends with the king, who was +baptised by the priests, and pretended to become a Christian. A large +cross bearing a wooden crown was set up on the top of a high hill near +the shore. It was a token to all travellers who should come this way +that this land now belonged to the King of Spain. + +While the white visitors were staying here, the King of Cebu did all he +could to entertain them. He seemed anxious to show how friendly he felt +toward them. The Spanish sailors were much interested in the strange +customs and festivals of the brown people. They noticed that the food +was only half cooked and then heavily salted. This made the eaters very +thirsty, and quite ready to drink quantities of palm wine afterward. +They sucked this through long reeds of bamboo. They were always glad to +have the sailors share their feasts and entertainments. + +Just as the fleet was about to set sail again, something happened to +change Magellan's plans. The King of Cebu was in trouble. The people +of another island over whom he was also the ruler were coming to make +war upon him. Could the brave admiral refuse help, when the king had +treated him so kindly? Surely not. He said to the king: + +"Let me go against these rebels and make peace for you. I have cannons +which I will use, and other weapons of war such as they have never seen +before. They will be easily terrified, and quickly submit to your rule." + +So it was that Magellan and sixty of his followers sailed against +the enemy. But when they arrived at the island they found a large +army ready to meet them. The warriors carried sharp spears, bows, and +poisoned arrows, and each man was protected by a wooden shield. They +stood upon the side of a hill. As Magellan and his men landed and +advanced toward them, they rushed down upon the Spaniards with fury, +surrounding them on all sides. + +The great leader was calm and brave as usual, but there was little +hope for success. In another hour he had fallen, a noble victim to his +savage foes. Many of his followers fell by his side; the rest managed +to escape to the ships and sail back to Cebu to tell the sad news to +the king. + +Thus ended the life of the noble Magellan, the first white man to cross +the broad waters of the Pacific, the first one to show others it was +indeed possible to sail around the world. + +He was unlike many who lived in those old days,--for he did not care +for gold or great possessions. He only wished to know more of this +wonderful world, and to help others to greater wisdom. He gave his life +for one whom he thought had need of help. + +How did the King of Cebu act when he learned of the leader's death? He +turned against those of his followers who were left, and they were +obliged to depart in haste. + +They made still other discoveries of great value. At length, sailing +around the continent of Africa, they returned to Spain to tell of the +brave deeds of their dead leader, the great admiral and navigator, and +their own strange adventures. + +They were the first men to sail around the world. + + +THE END. + + + + +THE LITTLE COLONEL BOOKS + +(Trade Mark) + +_By ANNIE FELLOWS JOHNSTON_ + + _Each 1 vol., large 12mo, cloth, illustrated, per vol._ $1.50 + + + =THE LITTLE COLONEL STORIES= + (Trade Mark) + +Being three "Little Colonel" stories in the Cosy Corner Series, "The +Little Colonel," "Two Little Knights of Kentucky," and "The Giant +Scissors," put into a single volume. + + =THE LITTLE COLONEL'S HOUSE PARTY= + (Trade Mark) + + =THE LITTLE COLONEL'S HOLIDAYS= + (Trade Mark) + + =THE LITTLE COLONEL'S HERO= + (Trade Mark) + + =THE LITTLE COLONEL AT BOARDING SCHOOL= + (Trade Mark) + + =THE LITTLE COLONEL IN ARIZONA= + (Trade Mark) + + =THE LITTLE COLONEL'S CHRISTMAS VACATION= + (Trade Mark) + + =THE LITTLE COLONEL, MAID OF HONOUR= + (Trade Mark) + + =THE LITTLE COLONEL'S KNIGHT COMES RIDING= + (Trade Mark) + + =MARY WARE: THE LITTLE COLONEL'S CHUM= + (Trade Mark) + + _These ten volumes, boxed as a ten-volume set_ $15.00 + + + =THE LITTLE COLONEL= + (Trade Mark) + + =TWO LITTLE KNIGHTS OF KENTUCKY= + + =THE GIANT SCISSORS= + + =BIG BROTHER= + + +Special Holiday Editions + + Each one volume, cloth decorative, small quarto, $1.25 + +New plates, handsomely illustrated with eight full-page drawings in +color, and many marginal sketches. + + +=IN THE DESERT OF WAITING:= THE LEGEND OF CAMELBACK MOUNTAIN. + + +=THE THREE WEAVERS:= A FAIRY TALE FOR FATHERS AND MOTHERS AS WELL AS +FOR THEIR DAUGHTERS. + + +=KEEPING TRYST= + + +=THE LEGEND OF THE BLEEDING HEART= + + +=THE RESCUE OF PRINCESS WINSOME:= A FAIRY PLAY FOR OLD AND YOUNG. + + +=THE JESTER'S SWORD= + + + Each one volume, tall 16mo, cloth decorative $0.50 + Paper boards .35 + +There has been a constant demand for publication in separate form of +these six stories, which were originally included in six of the "Little +Colonel" books. + + +=JOEL: A BOY OF GALILEE.= By ANNIE FELLOWS JOHNSTON. Illustrated by L. +J. Bridgman. + + New illustrated edition, uniform with the Little + Colonel Books, 1 vol., large 12mo, cloth decorative $1.50 + +A story of the time of Christ, which is one of the author's best-known +books. + + +=THE LITTLE COLONEL GOOD TIMES BOOK= + + Uniform in size with the Little Colonel Series $1.50 + Bound in white kid (morocco) and gold 3.00 + +Cover design and decorations by Amy Carol Rand. + +The publishers have had many inquiries from readers of the Little +Colonel books as to where they could obtain a "Good Times Book" such as +Betty kept. Mrs. Johnston, who has for years kept such a book herself, +has gone enthusiastically into the matter of the material and format +for a similar book for her young readers. Every girl will want to +possess a "Good Times Book." + + +=ASA HOLMES:= OR, AT THE CROSS-ROADS. A sketch of Country Life and +Country Humor. BY ANNIE FELLOWS JOHNSTON. + + With a frontispiece by Ernest Fosbery. Large 16mo, + cloth, gilt top $1.00 + +"'Asa Holmes; or, At the Cross-Roads' is the most delightful, most +sympathetic and wholesome book that has been published in a long +while."--_Boston Times._ + + +=THE RIVAL CAMPERS:= OR, THE ADVENTURES OF HENRY BURNS. By RUEL PERLEY +SMITH. + + Square 12mo, cloth decorative, illustrated $1.50 + +A story of a party of typical American lads, courageous, alert, and +athletic, who spend a summer camping on an island off the Maine coast. + + +=THE RIVAL CAMPERS AFLOAT:= OR, THE PRIZE YACHT VIKING. By RUEL PERLEY +SMITH. + + Square 12mo, cloth decorative, illustrated $1.50 + +This book is a continuation of the adventures of "The Rival Campers" on +their prize yacht _Viking_. + + +=THE RIVAL CAMPERS ASHORE= By RUEL PERLEY SMITH. + + Square 12mo, cloth decorative, illustrated $1.50 + +"As interesting ashore as when afloat."--_The Interior._ + + +=JACK HARVEY'S ADVENTURES:= OR, THE RIVAL CAMPERS AMONG THE OYSTER +PIRATES. By RUEL PERLEY SMITH. + + Illustrated $1.50 + +"Just the type of book which is most popular with lads who are in their +early teens."--_The Philadelphia Item._ + + +=PRISONERS OF FORTUNE:= A Tale of the Massachusetts Bay Colony. By RUEL +PERLEY SMITH. + + Cloth decorative, with a colored frontispiece $1.50 + +"There is an atmosphere of old New England in the book, the +rumor of the born raconteur about the hero, who tells his story +with the gravity of a preacher, but with a solemn humor that is +irresistible."--_Courier-Journal._ + + +=FAMOUS CAVALRY LEADERS.= By CHARLES H. L. JOHNSTON. + + Large 12mo. With 24 illustrations $1.50 + +Biographical sketches, with interesting anecdotes and reminiscences of +the heroes of history who were leaders of cavalry. + +"More of such books should be written, books that acquaint young +readers with historical personages in a pleasant informal way."--_N. Y. +Sun._ + + +=FAMOUS INDIAN CHIEFS.= By CHARLES H. L. JOHNSTON. + + Large 12mo, illustrated $1.50 + +In this book Mr. Johnston gives interesting sketches of the Indian +braves who have figured with prominence in the history of our own land, +including Powhatan, the Indian Cæsar; Massasoit, the friend of the +Puritans; Pontiac, the red Napoleon; Tecumseh, the famous war chief +of the Shawnees; Sitting Bull, the famous war chief of the Sioux; +Geronimo, the renowned Apache Chief, etc., etc. + + +=BILLY'S PRINCESS.= By HELEN EGGLESTON HASKELL. + + Cloth decorative, illustrated by Helen McCormick Kennedy $1.25 + +Billy Lewis was a small boy of energy and ambition, so when he was left +alone and unprotected, he simply started out to take care of himself. + + +=TENANTS OF THE TREES.= By CLARENCE HAWKES. + + Cloth decorative, illustrated in colors $1.50 + +"A book which will appeal to all who care for the hearty, healthy, +outdoor life of the country. The illustrations are particularly +attractive."--_Boston Herald._ + + +=BEAUTIFUL JOE'S PARADISE:= OR, THE ISLAND OF BROTHERLY LOVE. A sequel +to "Beautiful Joe." By MARSHALL SAUNDERS, author of "Beautiful Joe." + + One vol., library 12mo, cloth, illustrated $1.50 + +"This book revives the spirit of 'Beautiful Joe' capitally. It is +fairly riotous with fun, and is about as unusual as anything in the +animal book line that has seen the light."--_Philadelphia Item._ + + +='TILDA JANE.= By MARSHALL SAUNDERS. + + One vol., 12mo, fully illustrated, cloth decorative, $1.50 + +"I cannot think of any better book for children than this. I commend it +unreservedly."--_Cyrus Townsend Brady._ + + +='TILDA JANE'S ORPHANS.= A sequel to 'Tilda Jane. By MARSHALL SAUNDERS. + + One vol., 12mo, fully illustrated, cloth decorative, $1.50 + +'Tilda Jane is the same original, delightful girl, and as fond of her +animal pets as ever. + + +=THE STORY OF THE GRAVELEYS.= By MARSHALL SAUNDERS, author of +"Beautiful Joe's Paradise," "'Tilda Jane," etc. + + Library 12mo, cloth decorative. Illustrated by E. B. Barry $1.50 + +Here we have the haps and mishaps, the trials and triumphs, of a +delightful New England family, of whose devotion and sturdiness it will +do the reader good to hear. + + +=BORN TO THE BLUE.= By FLORENCE KIMBALL RUSSEL. + + 12mo, cloth decorative, illustrated $1.25 + +The atmosphere of army life on the plains breathes on every page of +this delightful tale. The boy is the son of a captain of U. S. cavalry +stationed at a frontier post in the days when our regulars earned the +gratitude of a nation. + + +=IN WEST POINT GRAY= + +By FLORENCE KIMBALL RUSSEL. + + 12mo, cloth decorative, illustrated $1.50 + +"Singularly enough one of the best books of the year for boys is +written by a woman and deals with life at West Point. The presentment +of life in the famous military academy whence so many heroes have +graduated is realistic and enjoyable."--_New York Sun._ + + +=FROM CHEVRONS TO SHOULDER STRAPS= + +By FLORENCE KIMBALL RUSSEL. + + 12mo, cloth, illustrated, decorative $1.50 + +West Point again forms the background of a new volume in this popular +series, and relates the experience of Jack Stirling during his junior +and senior years. + + +=THE SANDMAN: HIS FARM STORIES= + +By WILLIAM J. HOPKINS. With fifty illustrations by Ada Clendenin +Williamson. + + Large 12mo, decorative cover $1.50 + +"An amusing, original book, written for the benefit of very small +children. It should be one of the most popular of the year's books for +reading to small children."--_Buffalo Express._ + + + +=THE SANDMAN: MORE FARM STORIES= + +By WILLIAM J. HOPKINS. + + Large 12mo, decorative cover, fully illustrated $1.50 + +Mr. Hopkins's first essay at bedtime stories met with such approval +that this second book of "Sandman" tales was issued for scores of eager +children. Life on the farm, and out-of-doors, is portrayed in his +inimitable manner. + + +=THE SANDMAN: HIS SHIP STORIES= + +By WILLIAM J. HOPKINS, author of "The Sandman: His Farm Stories," etc. + + Large 12mo, decorative cover, fully illustrated $1.50 + +"Children call for these stories over and over again."--_Chicago +Evening Post._ + + +=THE SANDMAN, HIS SEA STORIES= + +By WILLIAM J. HOPKINS. + + Large 12mo, decorative cover, fully illustrated $1.50 + +Each year adds to the popularity of this unique series of stories to be +read to the little ones at bed time and at other times. + + +=THE DOCTOR'S LITTLE GIRL= + +By MARION AMES TAGGART, author of "Pussy-Cat Town," etc. + + One vol., library 12mo, illustrated $1.50 + +A thoroughly enjoyable tale of a little girl and her comrade father, +written in a delightful vein of sympathetic comprehension of the +child's point of view. + + +=SWEET NANCY= + +THE FURTHER ADVENTURES OF THE DOCTOR'S LITTLE GIRL. By MARION AMES +TAGGART. + + One vol., library, 12mo, illustrated $1.50 + +In the new book, the author tells how Nancy becomes in fact "the +doctor's assistant," and continues to shed happiness around her. + + +=THE CHRISTMAS-MAKERS' CLUB= + +By EDITH A. SAWYER. + + 12mo, cloth decorative, illustrated $1.50 + +A delightful story for girls, full of the real spirit of Christmas. It +abounds in merrymaking and the right kind of fun. + + +=CARLOTA= + +A STORY OF THE SAN GABRIEL MISSION. By FRANCES MARGARET FOX. + + Square 12mo, cloth decorative, illustrated and decorated + in colors by Ethelind Ridgway $1.00 + +"It is a pleasure to recommend this little story as an entertaining +contribution to juvenile literature."--_The New York Sun._ + + +=THE SEVEN CHRISTMAS CANDLES= + +By FRANCES MARGARET FOX. + + Square 12mo, cloth decorative, illustrated and decorated + in colors by Ethelind Ridgway $1.00 + +Miss Fox's new book deals with the fortunes of the delightful Mulvaney +children. + + +=PUSSY-CAT TOWN= + +By MARION AMES TAGGART. + + Small quarto, cloth decorative, illustrated and decorated + in colors $1.00 + +"Anything more interesting than the doings of the cats in this +story, their humor, their wisdom, their patriotism, would be hard to +imagine."--_Chicago Past._ + + +=THE ROSES OF SAINT ELIZABETH= + +By JANE SCOTT WOODRUFF. + + Small quarto, cloth decorative, illustrated and decorated + in colors by Adelaide Everhart $1.00 + +This is a charming little story of a child whose father was caretaker +of the great castle of the Wartburg, where Saint Elizabeth once had her +home. + + +=GABRIEL AND THE HOUR BOOK= + +By EVALEEN STEIN. + + Small quarto, cloth decorative, illustrated and decorated + in colors by Adelaide Everhart $1.00 + +Gabriel was a loving, patient, little French lad, who assisted the +monks in the long ago days, when all the books were written and +illuminated by hand, in the monasteries. + + +=THE ENCHANTED AUTOMOBILE= + +Translated from the French by MARY J. SAFFORD. + + Small quarto, cloth decorative, illustrated and decorated + in colors by Edna M. Sawyer $1.00 + +"An up-to-date French fairy-tale which fairly radiates the spirit of +the hour,--unceasing diligence."--_Chicago Record-Herald._ + + +=O-HEART-SAN= + +THE STORY OF A JAPANESE GIRL. By HELEN EGGLESTON HASKELL. + + Small quarto, cloth decorative, illustrated and decorated + in colors by Frank P. Fairbanks $1.00 + +"The story comes straight from the heart of Japan. The shadow of +Fujiyama lies across it and from every page breathes the fragrance +of tea leaves, cherry blossoms and chrysanthemums."--_The Chicago +Inter-Ocean._ + + * * * * * + +Transcriber's Note: + +A title was added to the first page of this text to conform to the rest +of the series. + +Obvious punctuation errors repaired. + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Alila, Our Little Philippine Cousin, by +Mary Hazelton Wade + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 43885 *** |